The sudden assault from Stars on Earth caused Liberty Island's stride to heavy.
However, she had long since steeled herself for a direct confrontation with a Zone.
Having lost consciousness more times than she could count to the Divine Blade during their mock races, she was well-acquainted with the shock of a sudden, head-on eruption of power.
Now, facing the crushing weight of Stars on Earth's Zone, Liberty Island found her movements slightly sluggish, the pressure mounting as her stamina began to drain more rapidly.
Even so, she felt she could hold her ground.
"Why aren't you using your Zone?!"
The sharp interrogation from Stars on Earth was a question Liberty Island truly couldn't answer. The reality was that she still couldn't deploy a Zone, nor could she transmit her will through a mental link.
Liberty Island could only fix her gaze on Equinox ahead, enduring Stars on Earth's pressure while biding her time.
She had a premonition—a phantom sensation that the moment Equinox unleashed her Zone, her own would awaken in an instant.
Furthermore, because she had been tempered countless times by Dream Weaver's Divine Blade, she knew her initial awakening would reach an extraordinary height.
Yet, no matter how Liberty Island watched, Equinox remained still.
Even as Iresine and the others drew closer in their fierce struggle, seemingly moments away from snatching her position, Equinox offered no reaction.
"Why are you only looking at her?!"
"Am I not enough? Am I not even worthy of you using your Zone?!"
Seeing Liberty Island refuse to deploy her Zone while her eyes remained glued to Equinox, Stars on Earth grew incensed.
In her frustration, she took Liberty Island's behavior as a personal slight against her status as a two crown winner of the Triple Tiara.
The sudden surge in pressure forced Liberty Island to lower her stance to compensate. She simply couldn't explain herself, nor could she clear up Stars on Earth's misunderstanding.
Under the influence of Panthalassa, the acceleration of several G1-class Uma Musume caused the atmosphere of the entire race to shift violently. Outside the track, the commentator had to speak at a breakneck pace to keep up with the action.
Iresine, Do Deuce, and Symboli Kris S were locked in a mutual struggle, gradually closing in on Equinox.
Stars on Earth continued to press down on Liberty Island, waiting for a counterattack that never came. Under the heavy burden, Liberty Island had no choice but to slip down the order, falling to second-to-last among the G1 runners.
Indeed, she wasn't last, because Vela Azul was still there.
Vela Azul watched silently as the other Uma Musume, their competitive spirits ignited by Panthalassa, deployed their Zones one after another. She did not step into the fray.
She hadn't come to this Japan Cup expecting to win. Vela Azul simply wanted to return to this place where she had once witnessed miracles and bring her racing career to a close.
Seeing the G1 runners locked in such a heated battle, she had no intention of throwing herself into the chaos to fight for a win.
Instead, she slowly eased her pace, adjusting her position from the back of the G1 pack to the very front of the other nine contestants.
But while Vela Azul had given up, the other G1 racers certainly hadn't.
Because amidst this chaotic situation, one Uma Musume had already glimpsed the dawn of victory.
To know who that was, one had to untangle the current mess and judge who, at this exact moment, was most likely to become the champion.
First, Panthalassa was out of the question. Though she held the lead, her reckless "Great Escape" style had already begun to take its toll; she would wither and lose speed before the final straight.
The trio ignited by her—Iresine and her companions—were also unlikely candidates.
Though they were nearing Equinox, the constant clashing of their Zones was undeniably sapping their speed and stamina. They wouldn't be at full strength for the final straight.
Stars on Earth, having failed to provoke a response from Liberty Island, would inevitably be drawn into the struggle with the other three.
Meanwhile, the Zone-less Liberty Island and the retiring Vela Azul had little hope.
At this moment, it seemed that if Equinox—who was about to be overtaken by Symboli Kris S and the others—simply exerted her power, she would have a massive chance to seize the crown.
Liberty Island thought so too, which was why she was certain her awakening would be triggered by Equinox. She only needed to endure Stars on Earth's pressure a little longer for the turning point to arrive.
But in truth, there was another Uma Musume even more likely to win than Equinox.
"Reckless 'Great Escape' racer, Panthalassa..."
"I will... bring you in!"
The moment Titleholder's voice fell, her Zone unfurled. A powerful gravitational pull surged toward Panthalassa at the front, causing her already flagging acceleration to drop another level.
Correspondingly, bolstered by her Zone, Titleholder stopped conserving energy. Bursting forth with everything she had, she began closing the gap with Panthalassa at a terrifying speed.
That was it. Currently sitting in the second position overall, only three lengths behind Panthalassa and one length ahead of Equinox, Titleholder was the one most likely to take the championship at this stage.
She didn't need to fight for a better position like Symboli Kris S, nor did she have to worry about losing speed due to exhaustion like Panthalassa.
With ample stamina and an unobstructed path ahead, Titleholder was undoubtedly the strongest contender in this heartbeat of the race.
The moment Titleholder moved, every eye on the track focused on her. All the G1 Uma Musume instantly recognized her advantage, and then, as one, they turned their gaze toward Equinox.
She was the only one left who could potentially win.
With her reputation as a future world-class racer and her streak of five consecutive G1 victories, she might still overtake Titleholder if she accelerated now.
And if Equinox started her sprint, she would throw the already chaotic situation into total disarray, just as Panthalassa had done before. The entire state of the race would shift again because of her dash!
To ensure they could handle the shifting tide, every G1 runner—save for the desperately accelerating Titleholder, the fading Panthalassa, and the retiring Vela Azul—fixed their sights on Equinox.
Among them, Iresine, Do Deuce, and Symboli Kris S watched most intently from behind.
If they could anticipate Equinox's acceleration and snatch the ideal path first, one of them could break free from the clashing Zones and gain the upper hand.
At the back of the G1 pack, Liberty Island also watched with bated breath.
She took a deep breath, preparing to charge forward the moment Equinox deployed her Zone, seeking the trial that would awaken her own power.
In the next heartbeat, Iresine's pupils contracted. She saw it clearly—the muscles in Equinox's thighs tensed with explosive intent.
It's coming!
To withstand the impact of Equinox's Zone, Iresine pushed her own power to the absolute limit.
BOOM!
A thunderous roar echoed across the track.
The air was torn into white vapor trails, and the turf was uprooted by a sheer, overwhelming force. Wrapped in a violent wave of sound and pressure, Equinox accelerated!
In an eye-blink, Equinox transformed into a blurred shadow of such extreme speed that the other racers could barely track her.
In an instant, the gap between her and Iresine's group widened into a chasm.
However... whether it was Iresine or Liberty Island, or any other G1 Uma Musume on the field, not a single one of them felt the aura of an unfurling Zone.
--+--
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.