The training of her muscles was now showing its full effect; Mejiro Ryan possessed the strength to drive herself forward.
Within seconds, she had overtaken the rivals in front of her, charging straight toward Ines Fujin.
The intense wind resistance before her seemed to form a tangible barrier, making each stride feel heavier, each step bearing greater pressure.
Yet none of this could suppress her heart's yearning for speed.
The liberating sensation of running at her fullest filled every cell in her body, like an electric current tingling through her, leaving her whole being thrillingly numb.
She wanted to roar aloud, to pour everything she had into this run without restraint—to let her thoughts dissolve, let her body move on pure instinct, let her eyes see only the narrow yet boundless green track stretching before her.
This was the destiny of an Uma Musume.
"Mejiro Ryan, Mejiro Ryan with an absolutely fierce spurt! She decisively overtook every rival who stood in her way, leaping straight into third place! They've just entered the final stretch—is Mejiro Ryan planning to keep accelerating all the way to the finish?"
"Ines Fujin is in serious danger now! Her lead is being steadily eaten away by Mejiro Ryan step by step. The gap between them is already narrow—less than a length! What will Ines Fujin do?"
"Ryan, go for it!"
"Show us everything you've got!"
"You carry the honor of the Mejiro family—let the world see the standard a Mejiro should uphold!"
At the edge of the spectator stands, the three Mejiro Uma Musume had cast aside the restraint taught by their etiquette instructors.
They were cheering loudly for Ryan—though their seats were still far from where she ran, they believed this feeling would surely reach her.
'It's like I can feel everyone cheering me on!'
Mid-run, Ryan's heart seemed to brighten. Cheers she couldn't possibly hear were now resonating within her.
"Thank you for your support. Even if just for all of you, I have to win this beautifully!"
Her exhausted body seemed to summon fresh strength; her fading final kick was reignited with new power.
"Mejiro Ryan isn't backing down! She's now side by side with Ines Fujin! Can she overtake? Who will it be—Ines Fujin or Mejiro Ryan? Which of them will chase after Nearl?"
'Stop saying that… she's almost fifteen lengths ahead already. There's no catching up—if we don't get doubled in the distance, I'll count it as a success!'
Ines Fujin and Mejiro Ryan complained in unison inside their heads.
But now wasn't the time for thinking. Only 500 meters remained to the finish line. Every bit of energy had to be prioritized for the body; the brain could only enter a low-power state for now.
In short—their IQ went offline.
However, at this distance, Ines Fujin had also readied herself again. Ready for her final sprint.
'No one thinks a front-runner can't have a final kick, right? Real life isn't a game balanced for fairness—there's no rule that a fast Uma Musume can't also have high acceleration!'
Yes, although Ines Fujin came from a poor family and had been behind since the starting line, her extraordinarily exceptional talent had stubbornly pulled her to the peak among Uma Musume.
Natural adaptability to the track, decent footwork, perfect turf compatibility, and a clear head.
If all that was just the icing on the cake, then her incredibly sharp final kick and blistering speed were her greatest weapons.
Uma Musume who chose front-running tactics either did so because their personality or spirit didn't suit running alongside others, or because their innate qualities allowed them to handle the stamina drain.
After all, to stay ahead of your rivals without burning out, you had to be naturally faster than other Uma Musume from the start—otherwise, spending energy to accelerate in the first half would be pointless.
Fujin was that kind of naturally fast Uma Musume. This advantage let her easily lead her rivals, and she still had stamina left for a final sprint even as they entered the last stretch.
And when Ines decided to sprint, her truly frightening talent would be fully revealed.
Yes—as a front-runner, her final kick was sharper than many mid-pack runners', and even Mejiro Ryan couldn't gain an edge against her in comparison.
At the final moment, her sprinting speed would crush all delusions of those behind her, leaving only the trail of her figure vanishing like a passing gale.
Ines Fujin—she was a top-tier Uma Musume capable of standing at the peak of her generation.
And now, it was time for her to sprint.
'My stamina reserves aren't enough, but what's lacking will be filled by willpower! Ryan has passed me by half a body, but my final kick hasn't been unleashed yet! Nearl's figure ahead is distant, but this is the only time I've seen her so clearly!'
Her emotions surged; the aching pull of muscles throughout her body only made her more excited.
'Mom and little sister are watching. In this race, let me show everything I've got!'
"Fujin's coming through!"
A quarter-second pause—the precursor to Ines Fujin gathering her strength.
Half a second later, the pink figure shot forward along with the airflow, chasing after the gold ahead.
"Hraaaaaaaagh!!"
A roar burst uncontrollably from her mouth. Fujin truly lived up to her name—like a gust of wind, she overtook Ryan beside her and charged toward the distant front.
"What?!"
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't hesitate to keep pushing her legs harder, maintaining a tight position close to Fujin.
"Ines Fujin! Ines Fujin begins her sprint! But Mejiro Ryan refuses to yield—they're locked together, neither giving an inch!"
"So strong, Ryan. Having a rival and roommate like you… I'm honored."
From the corner of her eye, Fujin saw Ryan's gritted-teeth expression and felt a surge of admiration.
'But I won't let you have second place!'
It felt as if something shattered inside her.
A jade-green wind seemed to flow around Ines Fujin's pupils, and this nameless aura gradually enveloped her whole body, making her truly look like the Wind God.
There was no more struggle.
In that moment, having touched the edge of a "Domain," Ines Fujin and Mejiro Ryan were no longer rivals on the same level—the commentator's words already revealed the outcome.
"Ines Fujin! Ines Fujin pulls ahead of Mejiro Ryan! So fast, so fast! She's charging straight toward The Radiant Knight up front! Mejiro Ryan can't keep up!"
"But The Radiant Knight is only 150 meters from the finish line now! It's too late to catch her! Nearly half a straight's distance isn't something Ines Fujin can close now! Nearl is about to win the Satsuki Sho with a perfectly dominant victory!"
"History! History is unfolding right before our eyes!"
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 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.