The thunderous roar of the crowd erupted the very second Liberty Island stepped onto the track, her reputation as a prodigy having already swept through the world following her dominant performances in the Artemis Stakes and the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
In only her second year since debuting, she had already captured a G3 title and a G1 crown, following faithfully in the footsteps of her mentor.
Since her G1 victory at the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies had taken place on this very turf, no one doubted for a moment that she would claim the Oka Sho now that she had returned to Hanshin.
Standing in her shadow, the other Uma Musume competing in the race seemed to lose their luster, fading into the background.
But these girls were never short on fighting spirit. They weren't about to settle for being mere stepping stones on Liberty Island's path to glory, regardless of what the pre-race pundits predicted.
After all, hadn't even the sensational Equinox failed to secure the Triple Crown?
The race track is a place where miracles are forged, and no one could say for certain that lightning wouldn't strike for them today.
Facing the burning, competitive glares of her rivals, Liberty Island didn't flinch.
Instead, she lifted her chin and squared her shoulders, her posture radiating a silent challenge: Bring it on. Let's settle this on the turf.
In her mind, there was no room for any thought other than victory—the only rival she truly acknowledged was Equinox.
The absolute genius had descended upon the Oka Sho, and she was here to do one thing: win.
Since no single competitor could truly stand as her equal, no one sought her out for the usual pre-race banter. They knew the gulf that lay between them and Liberty Island, so they prepared in silence, eyes peeled for any sliver of an opening once the gates opened.
At the same time, they were well aware that they weren't alone in this strategy.
Everyone else was likely thinking the same thing—wait for the moment the pack swarmed Liberty Island, then seize the chaos to break free and snatch the win.
In a strange way, they were both rivals and tactical allies.
Yet, Liberty Island—the girl standing entirely alone under the weight of everyone's scrutiny—didn't show a hint of worry.
Mimicking the way her trainer used to carry themselves on the field, she waved to the stands with a vibrant, confident smile.
Eighteen Uma Musume were set to compete in this Oka Sho.
Liberty Island, third in the entry order, didn't have to wait long before the announcer finished introducing the field.
"All Uma Musume, please take your positions."
At the call, the eighteen girls marched in unison toward their respective gates.
Tucked inside her stall, Liberty Island felt no nerves. She had rehearsed this scene countless times.
Unlike ordinary school practice races, the virtual immersion device developed by Sugar Lights and Agnes Tachyon provided her with an experience that was indistinguishable from reality.
Especially when it came to the competition.
With an application submitted by Dream Weaver, the data of every past Oka Sho winner had been fed into the simulation.
Long before she set foot on the Hanshin track today, Liberty Island had already battled the champions of history over and over again.
The sessions that left the deepest impression were those where she faced the legendary Triple Tiara winners.
When names etched into the very lore of the Uma Musume world—Mejiro Ramonu, Apapane, Still in Love, Gentildonna, Almond Eye, and Daring Tact—stepped onto the stage alongside her, the pressure was suffocating, yet electrifying.
After dozens of simulations, having finally found the path to outshine those legends and claim the Oka Sho crown, Liberty Island could say with absolute conviction:
"In this world, no Uma Musume understands the Oka Sho better than I do!"
The layout of the Hanshin Racecourse was burned into her soul.
Every curve, every choice of footing was mapped out in her mind. While the others were still looking for a chance to win, Liberty Island had already found her golden path to victory.
Bang!
The gates flew open, and eighteen waves of sound surged forward.
Eighteen figures streaked across the Hanshin turf like falling stars, but the most brilliant among them was undoubtedly the one trailing a faint crimson shadow.
The striking red highlights in Liberty Island's hair blurred into a streak of fire as she tore down the track.
To those watching, it felt like a hauntingly familiar sight.
"Red, huh... what a nostalgic color," a middle-aged man in a suit and glasses murmured to himself.
His stoic, "poker face" expression—which his subordinates believed was unshakable—softened for a fleeting moment.
"Is it her? No, it must be her pupil."
"Still, it's not bad. At least we get to see that familiar red on the track again."
Up in the stands, two veteran fans shared a knowing smile.
Having watched the "Classic Uma Musume Forecast" program, they were in total agreement: compared to Equinox, Liberty Island was perhaps the true heir to that radiant legacy.
"It does feel a bit lonely, doesn't it? It's been over six months since she left the competitive scene. I wonder if we'll ever see her race again," a reporter in a baseball cap whispered, snapping a photo.
He was in a profession that usually got the inside scoop first, yet he hadn't heard a peep about Dream Weaver planning to enter the Dream Cup. It seemed she was truly committed to her new life as a trainer.
The reporter felt a twinge of regret. His career had started right alongside Dream Weaver's debut; he never imagined the journey he thought would last forever would reach its end so soon.
However, aside from those lost in nostalgia, the stands were packed with newcomers watching an Uma Musume race for the first time.
They carried no baggage from the past, their hearts entirely focused on the heat of the moment.
The positions of the runners hadn't shifted much. Liberty Island, the heavy favorite, was sitting toward the back of the pack, showing no signs of making a move.
A young spectator, who had only heard her name in passing and was attending his first live race, started to get fidgety. Was the great Liberty Island actually going to lose?
Noticing his anxiety, an elderly man sitting nearby patted his shoulder and let out a hearty laugh.
"Nervous already? The real fight hasn't even started yet!"
Though they were strangers, the young man couldn't help but shoot back, "She's been trailing at the back this whole time. No matter how you look at it, that can't be good!"
The old man just laughed harder, shaking his head at the youth's lack of experience. "Son, do you even know what 'final leg' or the 'last three furlongs' means?"
Even as a rookie, the young man knew the basics. Feeling a bit slighted, he barked out the answer. "It's the final sprint! The last six hundred meters of the race!"
The old man didn't take offense. He simply pointed toward the red blur on the track with a sly grin.
"Then let me tell you something about her."
"The girl you're looking at broke the record for the fastest final three furlongs in Japanese racing history—across all ages and distances—in her very first debut! In those final six hundred meters, no one is faster than her!"
Before the young man could even process the shock, a flash of red in the corner of his eye caught his attention. The figure was overtaking the pack at a staggering speed.
Forgetting his argument with the old man, he became utterly transfixed by that crimson light.
"Coming around the final bend! Is she moving?! Liberty Island is making her move!"
"The most explosive final sprint in history is about to set the Hanshin Racecourse ablaze once again!"
The announcer's voice reached a fever pitch as the red light did exactly as promised, tearing through the crowd from the outside lane like a physical force.
It looked as though she was going to pierce through every single soul on that track.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.