[Victory's Beat]
"Two hundred meters left! Oguri Cap is also catching up!"
At this moment, all three of them could only see the finish line.
No, in Zero's eyes, or rather, on one side of her vision, a ethereal figure appeared.
A figure that had become her strength, moving with flying speed.
Ah... you couldn't resist either, could you?
(Of course.)
After all, so many figures that we have always pursued—
(And... my long-cherished wish!)
There were powerful opponents, but never before, for her or for it, had there been so many, like in this race.
Behind her was not just Oguri Cap; she had merely held back her burst of speed until the last moment.
The other Uma Musume were not far behind them, and she and the Emperor were running neck and neck.
It was clear that the Emperor also had a way to break through her own limits to keep pace with her.
But in this final straight, she had an advantage that the Emperor could not touch.
The last 200 meters of Nakayama Racecourse begin with an uphill climb!
[Climbing the Peak]
[Million Horsepower]
[Whole Heart and Soul]
Her speed surged once more, so much so that even Rudolph Symbol could only watch Zero's figure gradually pull away on this slope.
After the steep climb, all the Uma Musume sprinted with all their might, even desperately trying to push themselves... [In the Name of Absolute]
Although it was a great race, she would absolutely not allow anyone to get injured because of it.
As everyone had almost exhausted their stamina and burned their 'root spirit' to accelerate, this was the final straw that broke the camel's back.
"All the rear runners are losing speed! What's happening?!"
"The leader is Absolute Zero! She's completely pulled away!"
"Rudolph Symbol! Continuing to sprint, less than fifty meters left! Can a miracle happen?!"
The phantom on one side grew fainter, looking truly content... But I... I'm not satisfied yet!
[Bite]
In the last fifty meters, Zero began another burst of acceleration.
"Another explosion! Absolute Zero! Crossing—the finish line!!"
"Followed by Rudolph Symbol! Then Oguri Cap! The subsequent runners are separated by less than a horse length!"
"Absolute Zero! With nineteen wins and eighteen G1 championships, she has completed her classic three years! Let us give our final cheers to the absolute champion!"
The spectators, who had been cheering since the gates opened, shouted again, some even hoarse.
But they all knew that Zero, who was now catching her breath and taking off her scarf behind the finish line, deserved this cheer.
They had witnessed the birth of a legend, and it would continue.
"Wuwuwu... Z-chan..." Special Week cried from the stands, rubbing against Suzuka.
At the same time, whether it was Spica or Rigil, all the Uma Musume offered their applause to the winner on the track.
"Should I say, as expected of her? A child like her is rare even on my home planet," Gold Ship rambled on, as usual, in words no one understood.
Trainer Okino was also moved to tears at this moment, probably also suffering from the pain of his wallet being completely emptied tonight?
Zero had accomplished such a feat today; if he were to ask her to pay for dinner, he felt he would be dragged into the basement by other team members.
Perhaps even with several other teams and their Trainers.
As soon as Trainer Okino thought about having to deal with a large group of people, his expression immediately turned into a mask of agony, but unfortunately, no one saw it.
After resting through lunch and the afternoon, the winner's stage began in the evening.
"NEXT FRONTIER"
Zero was in the very center, with the Emperor and Oguri Cap on either side of her.
As the stirring prelude began, all three sang simultaneously.
[On this chosen path]
[I run forward with single-minded devotion]
[I've decided to stand at the summit!]
[With all my strength, I push forward]
While singing this song, everyone was surprised to find that almost every lyric of the song matched Zero's entire journey—her struggles, her efforts, her achievements... everything aligned, making it seem like her personal song.
No, perhaps this song was prepared for those Uma Musume who single-mindedly ran towards the pinnacle, and Zero was the most outstanding among them.
Because she was the shortest among them (gets hit) (crossed out).
After an impassioned song, a performance immediately followed, finally concluding with Zero's solo song—'Starlight'.
This was a song given to her by the old man who adopted her.
Singing this song in front of countless spectators was also a way to respond to their feelings.
Slightly different from the passionate music before, her voice became very gentle when singing this song, but what always remained was the pursuit of dreams and the hope for the future embedded in every lyric.
Some once commented that this gentle song did not suit her status as a champion, but they stopped speaking when they understood that it came from her deceased adoptive father.
Amidst the final notes and the cheers of the audience, the year-end Arima Kinen officially concluded.
Of course, afterwards everyone went out for a meal, bringing all the participating Uma Musume and their teams, and in the end, Zero chose to pay.
There was no other way; this time, the expenses would have been too much even if Trainer Okino sold himself (lol).
But even so, he was the happiest one.
"I'm telling you! My eyes! They can't be wrong!" A slightly tipsy Trainer Okino declared to his colleagues, and no one dampened his spirits.
As for the Uma Musume... although it had already happened once after the race, now they were once again passing Zero around like a baby.
"Look, the legendary Uma Musume is being passed around in our arms like a baby!" Tamamo Cross suddenly remarked, eliciting waves of good-natured laughter.
"Damn it, you're not even as tall as me! One meter forty!"
"My name is Tamamo Cross!"
"Tamamo Fourteen Crosses!"
"Teme!"
As joyful as ever.
In the middle of the banquet, Zero quietly left to get some fresh air on the balcony.
Then she saw an unexpected person.
"I was wondering why I didn't see you, so you were here?"
"Congratulations, Champion." Oguri Cap also smiled gently.
"What? Not eating anymore?"
"Nothing, just... very happy." Oguri Cap's gaze was fixed on the starry sky.
"Is that so..."
"Mhm."
Of course, she was happy. She had fulfilled a long-standing regret, witnessed her friend and junior reach the top, had an unreserved run with her, and then enjoyed delicious food after the race.
For Oguri Cap, this was all her happiness.
"But there's a big cake coming up soon, are you sure you want to stay here and get some air?" Zero asked with a smile.
Then a gust of wind blew, and Oguri Cap had already rushed inside.
Zero let out a chuckle, her bell-like laughter carried by the night wind into the distance.
Her prototype... or rather, her past life, also left contentedly after this race. Although a bit sad, it was probably the best destination for her.
The life of Absolute Zero as a horse in her past life finally came to an end at this moment.
"But, the life of Absolute Zero as an Uma Musume has just begun," Zero said, reaching out towards the starry sky.
If all these countless stars were opponents, she still had countless opponents waiting to be challenged, and she still had to accept more challenges as the one on the throne.
And... [Congratulations to you~]
And that ultimate goal.
[The weather is quite nice, care to join?]
Naturally.
[Hehehe, how brave you are, let's go to the track.]
With a light leap, she jumped from the balcony, landing steadily.
The track was empty; it was the perfect time.
On the way, light snow began to fall, but Zero didn't pay much attention, walking to the track as if on a stroll.
She hadn't taken off her racing uniform, waiting for this very moment.
[Then...]
Four figures appeared beside her.
Zero also took out a coin and tossed it high.
The moment it landed, she suddenly dashed out.
"Today's Goddesses are no match for me!"
[If you can do it, come and try!]
On the snow-dusted track, an unknown race was taking place.
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