Zone!
As white lightning crackled around Barbatos, every Uma Musume capable of perceiving a "Zone"—save for the already-informed Seiun Sky and the slow-to-react Special Week—experienced a significant stir in their emotions.
The race hadn't even started, yet Barbatos had already unleashed her Zone.
What was she planning?
Every girl competing in or watching this race knew Barbatos could maintain her Zone for an entire race.
But to use it before the start?
Even with immense confidence in one's stamina, this wasn't how you used it.
The physical strain of a Zone had forced many legendary names in history into early retirement due to injury.
Even though Barbatos exuded no oppressive aura, no intimidating pressure, the white lightning dancing around her was unmistakably a Zone!
"Barbatos! What are you doing?"
After a moment of stunned silence, Air Groove, acting as both a senior and a member of the Student Council, immediately stepped forward.
"The damage a Zone inflicts on the body—you understand it perfectly well. Do you intend to throw away the Takarazuka Kinen and your future career?"
Her tone carried the authority of a Student Council officer, but the genuine concern for Barbatos's well-being was unmistakable.
"Ah, that."
Barbatos smiled, nodding her thanks to her senior.
"My Zone has evolved a bit differently from others. I call it 'Zone - Full Power Mode.' It can be sustained for a very, very long time."
"It reduces stamina consumption and physical strain. Consider it my secret weapon for the Takarazuka Kinen."
She freely disclosed the nature of her Zone to her fellow competitors, seemingly without a care.
"Zone…"
"Full Power Mode?"
Air Groove and Mejiro Dober, the most seasoned veterans among the competitors, exchanged a glance, confusion mirrored in their eyes.
A Zone… could be modified like that?
Even with their years of experience wielding Zones, the term "Full Power Mode" left them baffled.
But then they remembered Barbatos was the first in history to run an entire race with her Zone active. They decided not to dwell on it.
This was probably beyond even Symboli Rudolf's understanding.
Barbatos was, without a doubt, the unrivaled master of the Zone.
"Well, it seems something quite surprising to the other competitors occurred when Barbatos entered the track. The situation appears to have settled now," commentator Akasaka Misato said from the announcer's booth.
She, a human like Trainer Yutaka Take, couldn't perceive the Zone.
Especially with Barbatos reining in her aura, any visual cue of an active Zone vanished, leaving them reliant on post-race explanations from the girls.
"All competitors are now on the track! Mr. Take, care to guess how many spectators have gathered at Hanshin Racecourse today?"
Yutaka Take played along with a smile.
"200,000?"
It was an exceptionally high number. Even some historically famous races only drew crowds in the hundred-thousands, reflecting his own high regard for this event.
"It seems even Mr. Take has slightly underestimated the figure! Today, Hanshin Racecourse has reached its capacity with a staggering 223,000 spectators!"
"Amidst this passionate roar, the question is: Can Air Groove maintain the Empress's dignity?"
"Can Barbatos achieve her post-Dream Cup resurrection?"
"Will King Halo display the running form of a Monarch?"
"Or can Mejiro Dober showcase the glory of the Mejiro matriarch?!"
Past races often featured a sole star or a clash between two or three powerhouses.
But today's Takarazuka Kinen was a showdown of titans.
Even labeling it a four-way battle between Air Groove, Barbatos, King Halo, and Mejiro Dober overlooks other monsters like Silence Suzuka, Mejiro Bright, Matikanefukukitaru, and Grass Wonder.
Any one of them would be considered a G1-level monster among champions!
"Speaking of which, Mr. Take, what are your thoughts on this Takarazuka Kinen's lineup and the race itself?"
"I believe this could even surpass the level of the 'Arc de Triomphe'—it absolutely deserves to be called a 'Summit War'!"
Yutaka Take tossed in a playful reference from the racing world. While it confused newer fans, it drew knowing smiles from the old guard.
"A 'Summit War'?! I didn't expect such high praise from you for this race, Mr. Take! So, who do you think has the best chance of victory?"
Akasaka Misato had her suspicions but asked anyway, fully expecting the answer to be Barbatos.
If Mr. Take had volunteered as a special guest, his favored pick likely wasn't Air Groove.
In a half-joking tone, Yutaka Take said, "If it were up to me, I'd root for Silence Suzuka. Don't you think leading from start to finish is just incredibly cool?"
Though still hailed as a prodigy of her era, Silence Suzuka had been edged out in the popularity polls by King Halo and Mejiro Dober, landing only in fifth place.
The lack of a G1 title ultimately cost her significant fan support.
Dominating G2 races couldn't quite compare to winning a G1.
She could lead wire-to-wire in a G2, but how would she fare against the likes of Air Groove and Barbatos?
Many dismissed Yutaka Take's playful tone as mere hype-building, choosing the seemingly underdog Silence Suzuka to spice things up.
Online analysts had already pointed out Suzuka's perceived weakness on right-handed courses like Takarazuka.
Those familiar with Yutaka Take's career knew well his fondness for front-runners.
"It seems Mr. Take is quite fond of Suzuka," Akasaka remarked.
As the commentators chatted, Barbatos and the other competitors entered their starting gates. Even the usually trash-talking Barbatos and the seemingly unserious Matikanefukukitaru fell silent now.
Every Uma Musume's focus sharpened to a razor's edge, awaiting the gate's spring open.
"AND THEY'RE OFF!"
Barbatos exploded from the gate, her intensive start training paying off. She instantly surged to the front.
The only one matching her initial burst in her peripheral vision was Mejiro Dober!
Compared to her start in the Oka Sho against El Condor Pasa, her acceleration was several levels faster!
A green-and-white racing silkwear flashed in the corner of her eye—a figure like a hunting leopard darting toward the inside rail.
"The gates are open! Number 2, Barbatos, and number 6, Mejiro Dober, are vying for the lead with extraordinary starting speed!"
"And what's this?!"
"Number 13! Silence Suzuka from gate 13 is swiftly moving to the inside!"
"Silence Suzuka! Silence Suzuka surges past Mejiro Dober and Barbatos to seize the lead!"
"The gap is already opening!"
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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.