"Hueh? Why da' hell did T.M. Opera O's Aura become so strange? Did' she break through 'nother level or something?"
In the stands, Tamamo Cross was perplexed by T.M. Opera O's Aura, which was slowly bulging and deforming into a vaguely familiar shape.
And, when the transformation eventually finished, Tamamo Cross became so startled that she nearly dropped the takoyaki in her hands.
On the phantom surrounding T.M. Opera O, sat a faint, human-like silhouette.
"Oguri! Oguri! Just w'at kinda thing is on 'er Aura?! Is it something good or bad?!"
"...I don't know either. This is the first time I've seen something like this."
Oguri Cap, too, was so astonished by what she saw that she actually returned the drumstick in her hands back into its paper bag.
Uncharacteristically, this 'Gray Monster' was unable to understand just what was happening before her, showing a bewildered expression for the first time in a long while.
What was going on? Why had T.M. Opera O's Aura suddenly changed so much?!
It wasn't just the unusual shape, the feeling her Aura was emitting was completely different too!
If, at first, T.M. Opera O's Aura felt like an overwhelming presence, incredibly similar to Symboli Rudolf's. Now, it felt more akin to a sheathed sword, restrained even.
But restraint doesn't mean a lack of power.
T.M. Opera O, even while facing the Emperor's fierce assault, was seemingly waiting for an opportune moment to unsheathe that power.
Oguri Cap could instinctively feel it, the moment T.M. Opera O 'unsheathes her blade,' it might even cause Symboli Rudolf to be in disbelief.
But just why had this happened? Did she suddenly gain another power boost like during the Kikuka Sho?
...No, even that wouldn't make sense. There was no way her entire presence could change so drastically after a single breakthrough, could it?
It wasn't just Oguri Cap, every other equally capable Uma Musume was absolutely dumbfounded, incapable of understanding how or what this transformation was.
Only the two Trainers, Ikezoe and Imanami, showed understanding after noticing the humanoid phantom on top of T.M. Opera O's Aura.
"Imanami, is that..."
"Take a look at Wada, I'm sure it is the case. This... is truly an eye-opener."
Imanami was also shaken by the scene before him.
It was normal for others to not know; they were either humans who couldn't see Aura in the first place, or Uma Musume who couldn't understand what they were seeing because they were inhabitants of this world.
However, as fellow transmigrators, Imanami and Ikezoe immediately knew that the humanoid being attached to T.M. Opera O's Aura right now was none other than Wada himself!
He actually merged with T.M. Opera O's Aura!
Imanami and Ikezoe should have been shocked by this, but after thinking about it a little, they suddenly felt... that it was actually quite reasonable?
"It's T.M. Opera O and Wada after all. If something like this happened to someone... it'll be them."
"So there's nothing wrong, right?"
Ikezoe nodded in equal realization, a smile on his face as he looked at the racetrack.
The tension they originally felt from T.M. Opera O's transformation immediately vanished, replaced by a sense of ease.
However, the Uma Musume beside Ikezoe and Imanami were utterly confused by their Trainers' words, not understanding what their Trainers were talking about.
"—Hahahahaha! So that's how it is! I understand, I finally understand..."
Although Sirius Symboli was also initially confused about T.M. Opera O's change, a quick glance at Wada's unfocused eyes beside her, alongside the words of Imanami and Ikezoe allowed her to generally piece the puzzle together, bursting into a guffaw.
"Emperor! Looks like the time for your impeachment is not far off! You don't even know who your challenger even is anymore!"
Sirius Symboli said with a laugh, a joyful and relieved smile on her face.
As she watched Symboli Rudolf running on the track, reminiscing on something, her eyes slowly softened, and she murmured softly:
"Now, you can finally relax, Emperor... no, Rudolf."
"To lose is not shameful. And... the passing of the new era has long been overdue, hasn't it?"
...
T.M. Opera O found it difficult to describe what she was currently feeling.
It was completely unlike the times when "T.M. Opera O" had taken over her body.
If she were to try, it was more like a transmission of 'selves.'
The things transmitted to her weren't just voices, but feelings, the deliberation behind each suggestion, and many, many more.
But it was just a suggestion in the end. She could, of course, refuse and not obey the other party's thoughts.
However, these suggestions, when transmitted to T.M. Opera O's mind, were incredibly convincing, causing her to willingly follow the advice given to her.
And... T.M. Opera O has only experienced such a feeling with one singular person and him alone.
"Are we fighting together, Ryuji?"
T.M. Opera O whispered softly.
She of course knew that she couldn't possibly talk to Wada at this moment, they were separated too far away.
But, she now could sense a certain connection between herself and Wada.
T.M. Opera O didn't know how she knew this, but she knew she just needed to listen to him.
When Wada finally transmits the feeling that everything could be entrusted to her, it would be the signal for her to go all out.
"I am no longer afraid of you, Emperor."
"Use your Aura and Zone to any extent you like, it won't matter! Today, I, the Overlord, will defeat you!"
T.M. Opera O finally understood what the part she had always been missing was.
She could run very fast, she could execute any technique she wanted, she could defeat any Uma Musume weaker or equal to her by a nose whenever she wanted.
However, when faced with a truly superior opponent, Uma Musume way stronger than herself, T.M. Opera O wasn't so brave.
She would still be timid, fearful, and unable to maintain herself as the overlord.
And, there was only a singular person in existence who can give her the courage needed to face all of this without fear.
Maybe when I'm with him, I won't run as fast.
Maybe when I'm with him, I'll hold back. I'll consider how to make it so that we can win together rather than just by myself.
Maybe, when I'm with him, I'll lose.
...
But, he is worth it for me to do so.
When I'm crying, he'll be there to cry alongside me.
When I'm happy, he'll be there to celebrate that happiness with me.
When I'm hungry, he'll be there to cook a delicious meal for me.
When I'm alone, he'll be there to keep me company.
When I'm chasing a dream, he'll be there to chase that dream with me.
When I'm lost, he'll be there to guide me on the right path.
When I'm doubting myself, he'll be there to affirm who I am.
When I'm scared, he'll be there to face it together with me.
—Only when Wada Ryuji and T.M. Opera O are together, does 'The Overlord of the Century's End' exist.
"It's unfortunate Emperor, but in this grand opera, I have declared me, The Overlord of the Century's End, and my Ryuji, the protagonists! And you, the villain!"
"Let the typical plot of a shounen manga unfold! I, the Overlord, will pierce your chest with my blade and live with my princess happily ever after!" (T/N: Princess... 💀💀💀)
At that moment, Symboli Rudolf's Aura, which had been suppressing everyone, was forcibly torn open by T.M. Opera O.
In an instant, as T.M. Opera O stepped out from the Emperor's dominion, she felt as if everything around her had suddenly opened up, and her steps became much lighter.
"WHA—?!"
Symboli Rudolf, sensing this, instinctively shouted out in disbelief, her steps even pausing slightly.
But it was only for a moment. She quickly resumed her stride, steadying her footing.
No sooner than this event had happened, Symboli Rudolf crossed the 1000-meter mark, and Akasaka Misato immediately commentated:
"The pack has passed the 1000-meter mark! Symboli Rudolf's time is— 58.4 seconds!"
"Such incredible speed! Symboli Rudolf, despite her long absence, has returned to the track with power and skill no inferior to a top-tier Front Runner! As expected of the Emperor!"
"Oh! And T.M. Opera O has also passed the 1000-meter mark! Her time is— 59.1 seconds! Less than a second behind Symboli Rudolf!"
"Worthy of her title as Overlord! Even though she was slightly behind Symboli Rudolf at the start, she has quickly adapted and is unleashing speed and power not inferior to the Emperor!"
No, Rudolf wasn't as skilled compared to true top-tier Front Runners.
Although the 2500-meter distance of the Arima Kinen was a favourable distance for her, the reason why she could so utterly dominate everyone was because of her Aura and Zone.
She was essentially brute-forcing the race, preventing the rest of the runners from even having the strength to challenge her in the first place.
But just then, Air Groove, who was the third to cross the 1000-meter mark, began to notice something off with Symboli Rudolf.
She knew that one of Rudolf's strongest moves was suppressing others. And her title of 'Emperor' wasn't given lightly either.
Even disregarding abilities like Aura and Zone, Symboli Rudolf, as the representative of the pinnacle of Japanese Uma Musume, naturally made anyone competing with her feel immense pressure.
And when including abilities like Aura and Zone, those who couldn't endure it would directly lose their will to fight, with even those like Mr. C.B. still having their abilities dampened even after enduring Symboli Rudolf's Aura.
Not to mention, during her era and even after her era, very few Uma Musume could even reach Mr. C.B.'s level to endure Symboli Rudolf's Aura.
Now, this oppressive Aura, which has had an extensive amount of time to settle, became even more impossible to resist.
Unlike an Uma Musume's physical abilities, if an Uma Musume awakens a fully functioning Zone or Aura, those abilities would never degrade in strength and would instead become stronger with time, like grains of sand that eventually accumulate into an island.
However, right before her eyes, this established fact seemed to have broken. The Emperor's oppression had failed for the first time in Japan's history.
And T.M. Opera O's steps, on the other hand, were getting faster and more stable.
—As she bore witness to all of this, Air Groove also gradually realized that today's Arima Kinen was truly going to be worthy of being called a 'century-defining event.'
"It seems... it's really time for us to step down and hand over this era to the more excellent Uma Musume who will follow."
Air Groove, who understood the general situation, showed no jealousy on her face.
In fact, her heart was filled with relief and ease.
Whether T.M. Opera O wins or loses was no longer important to her.
She now knew that this era could be safely entrusted to the generation of excellent Uma Musume.
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T.M. Opera O: It's over Symboli Rudolf, I have depicted you as the soyjack, and me alongside Wada, the chad! We've won.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.