"Dada-da-da!!!"
The thunderous pounding of hooves echoed like a war drum. Seiran Nichirin wasn't the least bit fazed by the announcer's excitement. Her steps remained steady as she ran atop the mud, compacted by the powerful strides of the Pace Chasers ahead.
"I can't attack recklessly... I need to conserve enough strength for the final straight!"
Her expression was tense. This track didn't just affect the others—it was affecting her too.
So, she chose to bide her time in the middle of the pack, letting the Pace Chasers clear the way and conserve her strength by avoiding unnecessary exertion in this sludgy, waterlogged course.
"Fujimasa March's adaptability to this heavy ground is beyond imagination... If I don't unleash a stronger and faster final burst, I'll lose!"
The mere thought of defeat sent a wave of icy air radiating from Seiran Nichirin, even colder than the rain-soaked air around her.
Her once-beautiful eyes now shimmered with a glacial, unforgiving chill.
"I won't lose!!!"
Up front—
Harukani Mugen was struggling, barely able to keep swinging her arms as her lungs burned like fire and her thighs turned sluggish.
"Why... Why is this happening... We've only just reached the fourth corner...?"
A pained look crossed her face. This race was only a 1700-meter mile course. She had never reached her stamina limit at such a short distance before.
Why now?
She glanced ahead—and froze in shock.
When had the gap grown this wide?
Fujimasa March, once just two lengths ahead, had now widened the distance to four lengths without her even realizing it.
"My pace was disrupted... I've been thrown off rhythm?!"
She had been too deep in the race to notice the interference. Only now, when her body was breaking down, did she realize she'd been led astray.
The slick mud, pooling water, and pouring rain—these factors combined to make the course a completely different beast from a normal dirt track.
In these conditions, trying to maintain your usual pace was suicidal. It drained too much stamina for the same distance.
"But if I don't keep up...!"
She grit her teeth hard, eyes locked on the ash-gray figure ahead of her who seemed utterly unfazed by the storm.
"I have to move! Come on, body!!"
"Ahhh!"
With a fierce roar, the usually cheerful and lively Harukani Mugen contorted her face in a grimace, forcing herself to push forward.
"They're approaching the end of the fourth corner! Number 4, Fujimasa March, is showing no signs of fatigue! Is she really going to front-run all the way to the finish in the Keihin Cup?!"
"The other Uma Musume seem too exhausted to give chase!"
Though the fourth corner was gentler, many of the racers were simply out of energy. They couldn't both resist the centrifugal force and push into the final straight.
With their pace shattered by Fujimasa March's rhythm, several even stumbled dangerously—some nearly fell and risked injury.
Tension spread throughout the pack like wildfire.
Back in the middle group, Seiran Nichirin inhaled deeply, drawing in as much oxygen as she could.
"I can't wait any longer... If I don't go now, I won't be able to catch up in the final straight!"
"Then here I go!!"
BOOM!!!
The strength she had stored exploded in an instant. Right before the final straight, Seiran Nichirin broke free from the group like a bullet!
She had gradually shifted to the outer lanes during the mid-race, and now—there was no one ahead to block her.
Her terrifying final burst struck the crowd like lightning!
That cyan-blue figure was now closing the gap with the Pace Chasers at astonishing speed!
"She's coming! Seiran Nichirin has broken through and surged from behind!"
The spent racers had nothing left to answer her with. One by one, she blazed past them like a storm.
"Seiran Nichirin is accelerating! She's closing in on the front runners!" the commentator shouted with passion.
"You've gotta be kidding me...!"
Harukani Mugen gasped for breath, catching sight of the figure rapidly closing in on her, emitting an icy chill that sent shivers through her spine.
She still had energy left?!
...
"So this is the power of overactivated True Blooming..." Kuroha said with a grave face.
"Hmph, that speed? Please. I could jog faster than that," Inari One scoffed, arms crossed, puffing up proudly. "March is definitely gonna win!"
Hearing her overconfidence, Kuroha chuckled, then replied seriously, "Yeah. March will definitely win."
...
Harukani Mugen had nothing left in the tank. She couldn't stop Seiran Nichirin.
Within seconds, that icy blue figure surged up beside her—and passed.
"Out of the way."
The voice, cold as death, carried an obsessive will that pierced the soul. Seiran Nichirin tore through the wind, bypassing the crowd, and zeroed in on Fujimasa March.
Behind them, the others could only watch in hopeless despair as the gap grew.
At the very front—
Fujimasa March turned slightly, catching the fast-approaching presence from the corner of her eye. Her lips curved upward into a smile.
"Come on, then. If you think you can catch me!"
Since Oguri Cap left the local circuit, Fujimasa March hadn't faced a rival who could match her.
In her final race at Kasamatsu, she left the others so far behind it wasn't even a contest.
But now—this opponent awakened the wild instincts she had buried deep.
The howling storm whipped around her, and from somewhere deep within, an unfamiliar force surged to life.
This power carried her remaining strength into one final, overwhelming push!
[Uma Musume Data Update Registered]
[Fujimasa March]
[Unique Skill: Ode of the Wind Lv. 1]→[Unique Skill: Ode of the Wind Lv. 2] (TL: Decided the name to be this one, I like it more.)
"Seiran Nichirin is in hot pursuit of Fujimasa March! Can she catch her? March is on the run!"
Through the driving rain and slicing winds, the two shot forward. Anyone standing near could hear the sonic booms from their pure velocity!
"Can Seiran Nichirin catch up?! 100 meters to go—distance—!"
Then the commentator's shocked voice faltered as the truth became clear.
Seiran Nichirin's eyes widened in disbelief.
"The gap... isn't shrinking?!"
There they were: two silhouettes blazing down the straight, yet the space between them had frozen in time. No matter how hard she pushed, Seiran couldn't gain another inch.
If she was riding the wind's current, then that ash-gray girl ahead was walking on air itself.
Even when she closed the gap, Fujimasa March had burst forth again—like she had infinite stamina.
"I'm supposed to be faster... stronger!!!"
Seiran's mouth fell open.
She swung her arms. She pumped her legs. But... why? Why wasn't it enough?
"I just need... a little more... I can still—"
BZZZZT—
Suddenly, a sharp jolt of pain seized her lower leg, snapping her awareness back. Her eyes darted down.
"Ah... So I'm... already tired?"
All those days and nights of endless training, the vow she swore to win no matter what—they had fueled a growth no one could match.
But no miracle is truly infinite.
Now, that unnatural growth was demanding its toll.
The two Uma Musume continued their mad dash through the rain, parallel points on the same line, racing full speed toward the finish.
"Seiran Nichirin can no longer catch up to Fujimasa March! Unbelievable—she still has that much stamina after front-running the whole way!"
"Finish!"
"She wins! Fujimasa March claims victory with a 5-length lead!"
"And second place goes to... Seiran Nichirin...!"
As Fujimasa March crossed the finish line, the final prelude of the South Kanto Triple Crown—the Keihin Cup—came to a close.
(End of Chapter)
"Holy sh*t!!!"
From the spectator stands, two middle-aged men suddenly burst out with a string of crude exclamations.
"Total dark horse! She actually won that beautifully!"
"That's the champion of the Yunotori Sho—Seiran Nichirin—completely crushed! And she was one of the favorites for the Habuto Sho too!"
A five-length victory.
To outsiders, it might not mean much.
But to seasoned fans? They understood instantly.
It meant their strength wasn't even on the same level. A five-length gap—that was like a whole different dimension!
"Is this some Central-tier graded Uma Musume come down to toy with the locals?" the two muttered.
And right now, their thoughts were shared by the majority of the audience watching the Keihin Cup on TV across the country.
The South Kanto Triple Crown... was about to be hit by a storm.
...
"Huff... Hah... Hah..."
Fujimasa March gradually slowed down and finally came to a stop.
Rain poured harder and harder across the track, but her heart was clearer than ever.
"So I've really made it this far now, huh...?"
Panting heavily, Fujimasa March felt the world around her expand like never before. The sky felt wider. The earth, endless.
Even under the downpour, the girl seemed to savor it—spreading her arms slightly like embracing the tempest.
A subtle, white firefly-like light flickered wildly in her eyes.
[Uma Musume Data Update Registered]
[Fujimasa March]
[Domain: None] → [Domain: Awakening]
Behind her—
Seiran Nichirin was doubled over, breathless and exhausted, her calves trembling faintly with every gasp.
As some hidden realization dawned on her, the light in her eyes began to fade.
"You're Seiran Nichirin, right?"
Suddenly, a cold voice called out from ahead.
Still catching her breath, Seiran looked up.
A silver-haired figure stood in front of her, hair whipping in the storm—
Fujimasa March.
"You should've had energy left for the final straight. So why didn't you catch up?"
Even though she had won, Fujimasa March couldn't shake the question in her heart.
This Uma Musume—Seiran Nichirin—had an explosiveness far beyond hers in the final leg. Even if she couldn't beat her, she shouldn't have fallen behind by five lengths.
Seiran Nichirin opened her mouth slightly, as if trying to say something, but in the end, no sound came out.
"A loss is a loss. There's nothing else to say."
Gritting her silver teeth, she forced herself upright and turned her face away, the rain running down her blue hair like a curtain.
"The Habuto Sho... I won't lose again."
Fujimasa March silently watched her staggering figure walk away.
Then, solemnly, she said, "I'll be waiting!"
...
Back inside the paddock tunnel.
Fujimasa March had only taken a few steps when a large hand gently pressed a towel over her head.
She didn't react much—just blushed, stopping in place as the hand carefully wiped the rain from her hair.
"Trainer..."
"Mm? What's up?" Kuroha replied softly as he continued drying her off.
"I won!"
"Of course you did!"
He gave her a quick rub-down before hurrying back to the waiting room, handing her the dry change of clothes he'd prepared earlier.
Even though Uma Musume had superhuman bodies, Kuroha still worried about them catching colds.
...
Inside the waiting room—
Inari One was pacing like she had ADHD, her tiny frame jittering around like a live wire, grabbing her ears, scratching her head.
"What's with you? Nervous about your own race in a few days?" Kuroha asked, confused.
"You—what the heck do you know?!"
Hearing Kuroha's voice, she turned around and lashed out, baring her teeth in a cute snarl.
"Aaagh! Whatever! I'm going outside to wait for you guys!"
Done playing hyperactive child, Inari One gave a shout and stormed out of the room.
"...?"
Kuroha had no idea what her deal was.
Tilting his head in confusion, he eventually shrugged and pulled out a Central License exam prep book to review.
Good thing he had only graduated early a few months ago—his memory was still in its prime. This kind of test material was no problem at all.
Click.
The door opened. Fujimasa March stepped in, now wearing dry casual clothes.
Her silver hair, still slightly damp, lay across her shoulders, tracing the elegant lines of her neck and collarbone. Her right ear, adorned with a bow, twitched slightly, tinged red from the warmth of her body.
Strands of her silver-white tail were still beaded with raindrops, swaying restlessly behind her.
"All changed?" Kuroha asked, putting his book away.
"Let's head back, alright? Make sure to take a shower when we get to the dorm. I don't want you catching a cold tomor—"
He stopped mid-sentence, realizing Fujimasa March wasn't responding.
"Hm? What's wrong? Did you lose something?" he asked, glancing up.
"T-Trainer... do you remember you said... if I won, you'd give me a reward?"
Fujimasa March's voice was quiet, and as she spoke, a deep blush crept up from her snow-white neck.
"...Right... I guess I did say that..." Kuroha blinked.
Then his brain exploded.
Wait—hold up—
Was she about to...?!
"I want my reward. Right now!" she declared, eyes locked onto his.
"...Here? Isn't that a bit much?"
He stood there stunned for a moment, slowly accepting that his little Uma was actually throwing herself at him.
They were about the same age—teenagers in the prime of youth. Sometimes he had a hunch something like this might happen...
But he didn't expect it this soon.
Seeing that he hadn't rejected her, Fujimasa March's tension melted away.
In a slightly bashful tone, she mumbled, "Just a kiss... isn't that okay?"
"..."
...
Just outside the waiting room door.
Inari One was squatting on the ground, bored out of her mind.
Just when she thought she'd be waiting a while longer...
The door opened, and Kuroha and Fujimasa March walked out—both looking a little... off.
"Huh? That was fast! Barely two minutes!"
Inari One stared at them in disbelief.
Smack!
"Ow!!"
In the next instant, she was clutching her head with a dramatic yelp.
"You're a little too young to be thinking that much, huh?" Kuroha grumbled, withdrawing his hand.
"I'm not that young! I'm a year ahead of March!" she huffed defiantly—though her 139cm height really didn't help her case.
"Anyway, today was a huge win! I'm treating you to hotpot!"
"Now you're talking!"
(End of Chapter)
After the Keihin Cup, Kuroha gave Fujimasa March three full days off to rest.
Whether it's studying or training, work and rest need to be balanced.
Even though Fujimasa March's victory in the Keihin Cup was a dominating one, the race itself was still high-intensity—and rest was absolutely necessary.
For even tougher races, Kuroha estimated that a ten-day break would be standard. And after that, training would need to be ramped up slowly and progressively.
While training in this world may appear indulgent and reliant on raw talent and numbers, Uma Musume's health is taken very seriously.
Among trainers, the common saying is: to ensure a Uma Musume's well-being, G1-level races should be spaced at least two months apart.
As for those three days off? Fujimasa March dragged Kuroha out with her and turned it into a "date," confidently claiming it was part of the "reward" he promised.
And Inari One?
Kuroha just let her go do her own thing. He'd already taught her everything she needed, and to prevent her from becoming a third wheel, he even called over Tatsuko Yuzuhara to supervise her and keep her in line.
...
Tokyo
Maybe it was because of last night's rain, but today's skies were clear and blue. The weather was perfect for going out and having fun.
"Mhm~♪"
Inside the dorm, Fujimasa March hummed a little tune happily, spinning before the mirror.
She'd woken up an hour early to get ready—washed up, applied a light bit of makeup for the first time in ages, and tied her hair up.
She wore a crisp white blouse and a high-waisted pleated plaid skirt, the outfit perfectly showing off her youthful curves and vibrant energy.
"Ahhh... why do you get to go out and I still have to train?!"
Inari One, seated near the entrance, was putting on her running shoes and shouting in frustration.
"Fujimasa March, you betrayed me!"
March completely ignored her, smiling as she gave her look one last check, then slung her bag over her shoulder and walked over.
"You could ask your trainer to take you out too," she said with a grin.
"What's so fun about hanging out with Boss Lady?" Inari One grumbled, muttering with her head down.
"Well, can't help you there."
March slipped on her shoes and waved at Inari One.
Click.
Inari One angrily tied her laces into tight knots, then glared up at the perfectly dressed March.
"You promised you'd help me practice for heavy tracks after the race," she grumbled, tugging at the hem of March's skirt. "And now you're ditching me... in that short skirt?"
March deftly took a half step back, dodging her grab.
"This is standard uniform length," she replied, flicking her high ponytail. The faint scent of her shampoo lingered in the air.
"No need to wait for me at dinner—we'll be eating out today!"
With that, she waved goodbye and stepped out of the dorm.
...
Outside the dormitory building, Kuroha stood leaning casually against a cherry tree, checking the news on his phone.
"Oguri Cap unable to participate in the Classic Triple Crown?!"
"A powerful transfer student from Kasamatsu can't register due to system limitations—Is URA Central at fault...?"
Articles like this were starting to pop up more and more.
Kuroha locked his phone and slid it into his coat pocket.
This was a strange transitional time—a period where past-generation stars had mostly faded and the next generation's gems had yet to fully shine.
Oguri Cap, a local horse girl who had stormed into the Central circuit and dominated her peers with overwhelming strength, had become the prime target of Tokyo's tabloids.
Right now, these were only whispers. But once Oguri Cap started racking up wins, the coverage would explode—and her name would be known throughout the country.
Just like Roger in One Piece sparked the Great Pirate Era, Oguri Cap was about to ignite an era where Uma Musume from all across the regions chased dreams in the Central circuit.
Inari One herself was one of the Uma Musume swept up by that era.
"Hm?"
Out of the corner of his eye, a familiar figure appeared.
Fujimasa March came jogging over, slightly flustered. "Trainer, did you wait long?"
"I just got here too."
Kuroha instinctively reached to pat her head—but the girl quickly dodged, then leaned her face toward him instead.
Caught off guard, he chuckled helplessly and gently smooshed her cheek instead.
"You always say that..." she murmured, eyes closed, enjoying the attention.
The usually serious, focused Fujimasa March was now acting like a lovestruck girl, her voice soft and sweet.
"It's only nine. Let's get some breakfast. I know a place that's pretty good."
This time, Kuroha reached out and held March's hand himself—he wasn't the type to let her do all the initiating.
"...Okay."
"What do you feel like doing today?"
"Anything. I'll follow you, Trainer."
The two walked off hand-in-hand.
Meanwhile, the dormitory was buzzing with Uma Musume gawking at the sight.
"Isn't that Fujimasa March, the Keihin Cup winner?!"
"Ooh a trainer and his horse girl in sweet sweet love I'm jealous!"
"Winning races and winning at life! Why is her trainer young and handsome while mine is a naggy old lady?!"
"Why does the good stuff only happen to other people in novels, huh?!"
"They need to get married. Like, tomorrow!"
"...Okay, what kind of bloodthirsty shipper are you?!"
Let's leave the gossiping little horse girls of Oi Tracen behind for now.
...
"Your dual parfaits..."
The server set two fruit parfaits down on the table.
After grabbing some noodles for a light lunch, Kuroha strolled through the streets of Tokyo with March for the first time in a long while.
"I shouldn't eat too much sugar..." March murmured, though her eyes were glued to the strawberry tart and refused to look away.
Where did this hungry filly come from...?
Kuroha pinched her soft cheek and scooped up some strawberry ice cream with his spoon.
"Ah~ Mmm!"
March immediately forgot what she just said, happily opening her mouth to be fed by her trainer.
The shopping street was lively.
After finishing their parfaits, March hugged Kuroha's arm, practically skipping with joy.
Today, Kuroha didn't mention anything about training. He just accompanied her—purely to enjoy the day.
By the time the sun began to set, they were leaving the amusement park.
While Kuroha went to buy some drinks, March pulled her phone from her pocket and changed her lock screen.
It was a photo taken at the peak of the Ferris wheel, the entire city stretching out behind them.
In it, she leaned gently against Kuroha's shoulder, flashing a shy peace sign.
It was childish—but her smile was radiant.
"March, time to go."
Kuroha's voice came from nearby. She quickly responded and ran toward him.
(End of Chapter)
Five days had passed since the Keihin Cup.
Kuroha had been quite busy during that time.
In addition to the usual training sessions with Fujimasa March and Inari One, he occasionally bumped into Obey Your Master during his walks and found time to give her a few pointers too.
And since that day, Fujimasa March had been acting like she'd been unshackled.
Her training remained as serious and focused as ever, but afterward, she loved sticking close to Kuroha. So much so that Inari One sometimes didn't even want to come to his office to slack off anymore.
...
Central Tracen Academy.
In the student council president's office.
A tall figure sat at a desk, closing a file and setting it on the corner.
Following the direction of her outstretched arm, one could see a plaque hanging on a pristine white wall. Upon it, Central Tracen Academy's motto was engraved:
"Lead the pack—leave the rest in shadow!"
The door opened, and a chestnut-haired Uma Musume stepped in. Even in the academy's standard uniform, her exceptional figure was impossible to miss.
She walked up to the desk, holding a stack of documents.
"Yo, Rudol—done with work?"
"For now."
The Uma Musume, referred to as Rudol, took the documents and nodded in thanks. "Appreciate it, Maruzensky."
Maruzensky chuckled softly as she caressed her cheek, as if something amusing had come to mind. From behind, she pulled out a folded newspaper.
"By the way, Rudol—did you hear about the Keihin Cup at Oi the other day?"
"The Keihin Cup?"
The girl at the desk paused for a moment, accepting the paper.
Symboli Rudolf—the peak of Uma Musume. The first undefeated Triple Crown champion in the history of Central Tracen Academy.
To the younger generation, she was revered as the "Emperor."
"I vaguely remember hearing about it. Something about a dark horse defeating the champion of the Yunotori Sho?" Rudol replied offhandedly as she unfolded the paper.
"Keihin Cup champion..."
Her voice gradually trailed off as her gaze settled on the photo of the conspicuous ash-gray Uma Musume.
"Fujimasa March?"
The Emperor's memory was as sharp as ever. Instantly, she recalled the name and matched it with the one on the page.
"Won by... five lengths?"
Maruzensky added gently, "She's the same one who fought for the title against Oguri Cap in a local race a few months back."
"Mm."
Rudol set the paper down, lacing her fingers on the desk as she fell into thought.
"The Yunotori Sho champion—Seiran Nichirin—I've watched her race. While she's burned some of her future potential, she definitely has the strength of a Central-tier Uma Musume."
"As for Fujimasa March," Maruzensky smiled, "I snuck over to Oi Tracen Academy yesterday. Her body's in perfect condition."
She cut off the unspoken assumption in Rudol's tone.
"No injuries, then?" The Emperor's interest was piqued.
Right now, Central racing was in a bit of a slump. Before Oguri Cap's rise, the entire generation had felt listless and uninspired.
So as the president of Central Tracen Academy, Rudol was desperate to find a new star—a disruptor to shake the system.
Any Uma Musume with Central-grade strength, she wanted to steal away for herself.
"But if it's only been a couple of months since that race, how could she have grown this much without burning out her future?"
Rudol rose from her seat, walked over to the file cabinet, and pulled out a dossier.
It was a list of Oi Tracen Academy students who had transferred circuits for the South Kanto Triple Crown.
As president, Rudol had access to certain privileges granted by the Central URA Association.
And with Oi Tracen also located in Tokyo and known as the strongest local academy, she always had access to firsthand information.
"Fujimasa March... She transferred teams before switching circuits? Got a new trainer."
"Kasamatsu... then a crushing win by five lengths in the Keihin Cup. I see."
Rudol gave a quiet nod to herself.
"You noticed even before I said it... no surprise there, Rudol," Maruzensky said with a smile.
"You went to Oi Academy yesterday. What did you think?" Rudol asked, sliding the file back into place.
Maruzensky thought for a moment before offering her judgment. "He's a very capable trainer."
She paused, then added with conviction: "Better than most of the trainers in Central."
They were both legends of their generation.
As Uma Musume themselves, they could tell—Fujimasa March's seemingly abnormal improvement was largely due to that trainer.
"Well, Rudol? Are you going to recruit him?"
Maruzensky knew how eager Central Tracen was for new talent and asked plainly.
Rudol didn't answer right away. Instead, she walked to the window, pressed her palm against the glass, and gazed out at the Central campus.
After a moment, she shook her head slowly.
"If it were just an Uma Musume, we could bend the rules. But the trainer's position is... too politically sensitive."
"Central regulations aren't something we can bend. He'll have to pass the exam and enter on his own."
"That so? What a shame..." Maruzensky sighed softly. Her mind drifted back to what she'd seen yesterday.
...
Oi Tracen Academy.
Maruzensky, wearing a cap and face mask, strolled casually along the outer edge of the training grounds.
She held a newspaper in one hand, occasionally peeking inside the fences like a mischievous tourist.
"To train so hard in pursuit of a former rival... all for the chance to meet again on the track. Ahhh, what a youthful story~"
She looked down at the photo of Fujimasa March printed on the paper and whispered softly with warmth in her voice.
After wandering past several training zones, she finally stopped.
"Oh, there it is!"
Inside the grounds, Kuroha was in the middle of directing training for Fujimasa March and Inari One.
(End of Chapter)
At the training grounds, one group after another cycled through their drills in an orderly, efficient rhythm.
Fujimasa March and Inari One were sweating buckets out on the muddy track.
Monotonous training always came hand-in-hand with steady progress.
They couldn't see it themselves—but Kuroha could. On his system interface, the numbers were clearly improving.
But his attention wasn't on numbers right now. It was fixed on a particular entry on both Fujimasa March's and Inari One's status screens:
[Domain: Awakening]
He had seen this tag once before—on Obey Your Master during one of his park encounters.
The term Domain wasn't unfamiliar to Kuroha.
It had appeared in his previous life, in the Gray Cinderella spinoff manga centered on Oguri Cap. It was said to be a mysterious power that only top-tier Uma Musume could awaken.
But even in the manga, its explanation was vague.
Roughly summarized, it was an advanced ability awakened by Uma Musume with exceptional talent, under the right circumstances.
After reincarnating into the world of Uma Musume...
Kuroha had noticed something strange: none of the formal education or training manuals for trainers mentioned the Domain at all.
Only one cryptic sentence had ever come up:
"It is a power possessed only by Uma Musume who create their own era."
Which... basically said nothing at all.
But Kuroha was no ordinary trainer. He had a system.
BOOM—!
Hooves slammed into the mud. Both girls were laser-focused on completing the drills Kuroha had assigned.
Except—
"Inari One! You trying to accelerate already? Is that all the willpower you've got?!"
"AAAHHH!!!" Inari One shrieked in frustration on the track, struggling to ignore the occasional provocation from the girl running beside her.
"Mm, not bad."
Satisfied, Kuroha turned his attention back to the system screen.
With a thought, he tapped on the "Domain" tag under Fujimasa March's panel.
Suddenly, a stream of detailed information unfurled before his eyes, revealing the secrets behind the greatest power in the world of Uma Musume.
Domain — ZONE — Also known as the Divine Limit.
It requires an Uma Musume to possess overwhelming talent, technique, training, passion, and focus, and to awaken it only in moments of extreme hardship, adversity, or desperation.
Once triggered, it pushes an Uma Musume's speed, strength, reflexes, and field awareness past the limit—beyond 100%.
This is only the first step. In the manga, it's portrayed as "Mirror Fracture"—a moment where power floods the body, and a unique tracer glow begins to flicker in the eyes.
The second step, known as "Mirror Shatter," occurs when the Uma Musume's inner world and unshakable will merge with this power, creating a visible aura and terrifying pressure that envelopes her form.
The third step... is one only the greatest Uma Musume of a generation can reach. The power materializes into a real domain, cloaking the entire race track. Any competitor without a third-stage Domain will be brutally suppressed.
It's basically like constantly proccing red-class debuff skills.
That was Kuroha's conclusion, based on what he read.
Though Domain power was overwhelming—and essential for a top-level Uma Musume—it came with heavy costs.
Much like over-triggered True Blooming, this power demanded sacrifice.
And the cost of Domain was this:
Upon entering Stage 2, the Uma Musume would fall into a hyper-focused trance-like state.
In this mode, all tactics, strategies, and planning were discarded. The only instinct remaining was to fight head-to-head—pure, instinctive competition.
"That second step... really doesn't suit March at all," Kuroha muttered, shaking his head with a wry smile. "But it sure fits that hot-blooded idiot Inari One."
Domain active: brain off, fists up.
It perfectly matched Kuroha's impression of how Tracen Academy—both local and Central—prioritized raw stats over finesse.
That said, the side effects of second-stage Domain weren't entirely unavoidable.
In the original timeline—
In the 1988 Japan Cup, Obey Your Master entered her second-stage Domain and still managed to think clearly and execute pre-planned strategies.
That's how she defeated Tamamo Cross.
Though that was due to Obey Your Master's Domain having unique conditions:
A high-speed Japanese turf course.
Comprehensive intel on every participant.
A well-masked level of strength so no one targeted her early...
Still—Kuroha's system data gave him the tools to replicate that scenario.
"May 10th... That's when the South Kanto Triple Crown begins?" he murmured.
He hoped the local contenders could handle the pressure of facing a Domain-user.
"Alright—goal set: Fujimasa March's Stage One Domain—True Self State!"
Kuroha began scribbling in his notebook, outlining a Domain training regimen tailored specifically to Fujimasa March, and giving her Stage One Domain a name.
This was something only someone with Body and Breath Perception could achieve.
As for Inari One...
He'd deal with her later.
...
On the track.
Fujimasa March had just finished a set of shuttle runs, catching her breath lightly.
Her light red eyes flicked over to Kuroha, who was writing something in his notebook. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she quickly turned away.
"A serious trainer really is... super handsome!"
Her silver-white ponytail swished, revealing the fluttering storm of emotions inside her.
"No—I can stare all I want, but I have to follow through with the plan he made! I won't let him down!"
She clapped her pale cheeks with both hands, reaffirming her resolve.
"I'm carrying Trainer's hopes—I won't lose!"
As she turned, her mind flashed back to the "reward" Kuroha had given her.
Training. Racing. Victory and dreams.
Just from the start of her run this time, she was instantly pulled back to that moment in the Keihin Cup—the feeling of Seiran Nichirin closing in from behind.
Under that powerful pressure—
A faint white glow flickered in the depths of her pupils.
...
"Hmm?"
Above, Maruzensky had been watching the training session from afar with great interest. But the moment the ash-gray girl resumed her run after a short break—her face changed.
"A glimpse of flow state... She's already seeing the Domain?"
Maruzensky's expression turned serious.
Just two months ago, this girl had been a nobody in the local circuit. Now, she had grown physically strong without relying on overactivated True Blooming...
And she was already brushing against the edge of the strongest Uma Musume power—Domain.
In all her years, Maruzensky had never seen—or even heard—of anything like this.
Then, her gaze shifted sharply to the trainer below—the one she'd been keeping an eye on the entire time.
That boy seemed to sense something and stopped writing. He walked over to Fujimasa March and gently called out to her.
Whatever he said—March closed her eyes for a moment.
And when she opened them again—
The faint tracer-light that had been flickering in her pupils suddenly stabilized.
Then Kuroha ruffled her hair gently—like encouragement—and the glow intensified?!
...?
...???
What the hell just happened?!
Maruzensky's sunglasses nearly fell off in shock.
She herself had been born with Domain ability, so she never truly understood how difficult it was to awaken one.
But even if she hadn't experienced it firsthand, she'd seen it plenty.
Over the years, she had watched countless prodigious Uma Musume. Most of them—not only failed to awaken a Domain, but didn't even see the tracer glint March was displaying now.
The few rare ones who did glimpse it—usually under life-or-death race conditions—struggled to ever reach it again.
Even someone as monstrously talented as Symboli Rudolf had trouble entering Domain again after unlocking it during the Japan Derby.
But this Fujimasa March?
She was treating seeing a Domain like it was as easy as eating breakfast!
Like the Emperor, her trigger had been the overwhelming pressure of a formidable rival.
So what was Fujimasa March's Domain trigger?
Maruzensky stared as March leaned into Kuroha's hand, smiling with her eyes closed.
And fell into deep thought...
(End of Chapter)