The sounds around her gradually began to fade.
Not because the cheers from the stands had lessened, but because Saint Halo had focused herself more and more deeply, until all of her attention was fixed on the still-shut gate in front of her.
Bang!
The gate burst open with a thunderous crack.
Saint Halo launched free at once.
Another perfect break.
But this time, both the runners on her inside and outside had broken well too. Every horse girl in the field was in peak condition, and as Saint Halo realized that, the corner of her lips lifted slightly.
"And they're off!"
Akisaka Misato's voice rang across Hanshin Racecourse, and at the same time, Shinji heard the system notifications in his head.
[Noble Lineage bond activated: All attributes +25%. The horse girl can adapt to any pace, race shape, or unfolding circumstance and display her absolute full strength.]
[Believer bond activated: Vision +20%, willpower +20%. The more devout the horse girl is toward her chosen running style, the more easily she can draw out her hidden potential. When placed in danger, she will gain Faith Power, increasing the correction granted by her running-style aptitude in proportion to the depth of her belief (maximum 20%).]
[Outer Vision (When the horse girl has clear sightlines, all attributes +5%; when there is no rival within one horse-length around her, all attributes +5%; when interfered with by things such as pace or positioning, all attributes +5%. If she fails to gain two or more attribute boosts from Outer Vision, then all attributes +10%, widened field of vision, and enhanced collision resistance. Trigger timing: end of the early phase and start of the final phase.)]
[Might Makes Right (During a race, when interfered with by rivals through positioning, pace, and similar means, the horse girl compares total attributes with the opponent. If her total attributes exceed theirs, she drains 5% of that opponent's maximum stamina. Once per opponent. During the comparison, her total attributes receive an additional 5% correction.)]
[Halo Crest (Raises competitive drive and pride. While maintaining the will to win, guts +200.)]
Just as Shinji had predicted before the race, Nishino Flower on the outside immediately surged forward to seize the lead, while Stay Gold on the rail was also accelerating hard, trying to claim an early place near the front.
"On the outside, number twelve Nishino Flower does exactly as expected and goes forward, while number thirteen Seiun Sky is also increasing speed. On the inside, Stay Gold and Air Groove are both trying to close in on Nishino Flower, but Nishino Flower is absolutely determined—one hundred meters in, she has already secured the lead. Behind her, the battle is for second among Seiun Sky, Air Groove, and Stay Gold!"
"Further back, number four Nishihiro Commander is tight to the rail, sitting near the rear of the stalking group, and just outside her is today's third favorite, Grass Wonder. Grass Wonder's rhythm isn't that quick for now—is she following Special Week on the outside? Second favorite Special Week is currently half a length ahead of Grass Wonder, sitting around the third lane—now the field is entering the first and second turns, and Nishino Flower still leads, already clear by three lengths! Behind her, the fight for second is drawing all eyes—is it Seiun Sky versus Stay Gold? Seiun Sky refuses to yield an inch, and the two are effectively forming a secondary leading line, shaping the rhythm for the rest of the pack!"
Saint Halo's gaze shifted forward.
She could clearly see Special Week's figure on the outside. Following the curve of the first and second turns, the field was already charging toward the backstretch opposite the stands. On her inside, lurking just as quietly, was Rasen Bushi.
Saint Halo could see ambition in the other girl's eyes.
She, too, was in exceptionally good form.
Even if she had never won so much as a G1 or even a G2 before, Saint Halo would not let her guard down.
She had to make sure her own run stayed smooth, so that she could begin accelerating before the final turn and still have enough room to chase even if Special Week and Grass Wonder moved early.
"The field is now in the first and second turns. Nishino Flower still leads. Behind her are Seiun Sky and Stay Gold, with Nishihiro Commander and Air Groove now level in fourth and fifth. On the other hand, Special Week and Grass Wonder are not hurrying, are they? At the very back, the number-one favorite Saint Halo still sits last, showing no sign of urgency! But the pack is strung out vertically a fair bit, and the overall tempo is actually quite fast. Saint Halo at the rear is entrusting the race entirely to her closing kick—can she catch them all? The field is now moving onto the backstretch opposite the stands! Carrying the dreams of all the fans and supporters, thirteen horse girls thunder down the course! Saint Halo has Rasen Bushi on her inside, with Matikanefukukitaru and Daitaku Helios ahead, while Symboli Indice is beginning to pick up speed!"
Akisaka Misato's excited voice echoed out.
Shinji suddenly clenched his fist.
The moment where fortune would be tested was almost here.
[Straight Line Adept (yellow)]
[Scion of Turmoil: 804, 534, 777, 1799...]
[Successful judgments: 10; failed judgments: 3]
[Scion of Turmoil (Field strength +20%, track aptitude +10%, collision resistance +20%; the horse girl loses 3% stamina, all other runners lose 6% stamina.)]
A smile appeared on Shinji's face.
Scion of Turmoil had been very different back in the Tenno Sho (Spring). At that time, Saint Halo had possessed no field at all, so the number of successful rolls had not mattered much to her enhancement.
But now things were different.
Two domains that had each carved deep marks into racing history had fused into one within the girl. Now that domain had been strengthened even further, and Shinji was already looking forward to the battle in the stretch.
On the course, the girl herself lifted her head as well.
For some reason, her field of view felt astonishingly wide.
The field ahead was stretched out. Seiun Sky should have had a chance to control the tempo thanks to Nishino Flower's reckless front-running, but Stay Gold's stubborn refusal to yield had ruined that opportunity.
"They're starting to lift the pace a little."
Saint Halo's eyes were focused, and her footwork shifted as she began moving outward.
The runner in front of her, Stargaze Reception, had no chance to react before Saint Halo had already found her path, slipping over by half a length and leaving Stargaze Reception unable to defend the lane.
It was precise judgment.
Up ahead, Special Week and Grass Wonder were already showing signs of moving, nearing the point where they intended to begin accelerating. Saint Halo felt a flash of delight at her own read of the race—but immediately suppressed it.
"The one-thousand-meter split is fifty-nine point one! Nishino Flower's front-running pace is drawing a response from the field! On the outside, Special Week and Grass Wonder are edging outward as well. There's still some distance before the third and fourth turns, but with the field strung out like this, Saint Halo at the rear is finally about to make her move! Rasen Bushi is already following!"
Saint Halo drew a deep breath.
What she did not know was that on the high platform above, Shinji had drawn one too.
In truth, Aspiration Pierces the Clouds was best suited to overtaking from the start of the final phase. This field position gave Saint Halo enough room to make that many passes, then run down the two horses most likely to be in front.
But Hanshin's stretch was under four hundred meters.
In the end, Shinji had still chosen the steadier option.
That was not because he doubted Saint Halo's closing kick. On the contrary—he believed completely that her all-around strength was now enough to support a come-from-behind victory in the Takarazuka Kinen.
"Halo... you can start picking it up now. A little more..."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 180)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter260)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter135)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (This matter is completely finished.)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 240
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 210
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 280
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 260
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 130
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 155
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 120
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 135
My Harem Is Indescribable 105
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 110
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 110
Still playing traditional Honk 91
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 95
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 90
Checking In in Demon Slayer 95
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 105
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 100
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 85
Why did they assign me to Uma 80
MYGO Beauties 75
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 80
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 90
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 105
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 65
The Uma Musume Who Became 70
I'm Definitely Not the King of 85
After Maxing Out Every Class 85
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 44
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 70
I, the Elden Sword Saint 60
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 60
No One Knows Pokémon Better 55
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 55
From Trilobites to Titans 55
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 66
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 70
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 50
Honkai: The Fire Devil 30
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