Just like that, by the 800-meter mark, the formation of the pack had barely shifted.
Myriad Dreams remained tucked away at the very back, observing everyone.
Watching Myriad Dreams trailing in last place, Silver Charm couldn't help but smirk.
'Some "strongest opponent" she turned out to be. It looks like Trainer was worrying over nothing!'
'I've warmed up enough. Now, I'll end this race using the techniques I learned from Citation-senpai!'
Suddenly, Silver Charm's eyes sparked with electric light.
Her legs began to accelerate fiercely as she lowered her posture to an extreme degree.
The race entered the middle stage, Silver Charm finally made her move!
At the end of the curve, she suddenly activated [Lightning Raid]! A trace of electricity flickered around her body as her speed surged abruptly.
She sliced through the gaps in the pack ahead with the precision of a scalpel, leaping into the front in an instant.
"A beautiful overtake! Silver Charm takes the lead!"
Myriad Dreams wasn't flustered by this at all, still following at the back with a steady, unhurried pace.
However, just as Silver Charm established her advantage and the cheers of the crowd reached their peak, the true showdown was only beginning—
The 600-meter marker came into view!
A sharp light flashed in the eyes of Myriad Dreams, who had been maintaining her rhythm.
"Now!"
She launched her offensive first— [Final Leg Acceleration], [Dirt Dexterity]... several minor speed skills activated in succession!
Her speed ramped up violently, like a blue phantom sweeping up from the outer lane, overtaking several opponents in an instant and closing in on the lead group!
"Myriad Dreams is making her move! What incredible closing speed!"
The commentator watched Myriad Dreams' monster-like acceleration in total shock.
Sensing the threat closing in from behind, Silver Charm didn't hesitate to counterattack.
The zone, [Silver Storm] activated!
Silver light flowed around her as her speed soared once again, attempting to pull away.
But at that critical moment, Myriad Dreams took a deep breath—
"[A Dream of a Thousand Layers!], open!"
In a flash, an invisible domain expanded outward with her at the center.
Every Uma Musume on the track, including Silver Charm, suffered a fatal hallucination in that instant.
The final straightaway ahead of them suddenly appeared as a sharp turn in their eyes!
"What's happening?!"
"Is that a curve ahead?!"
Almost every Uma Musume instinctively adjusted their stride, preparing to enter a turn.
Even Silver Charm was affected, her rhythm falling into a brief state of disarray.
Only Myriad Dreams moved like a fish in water within the illusion she had created. She knew perfectly well that the path ahead was a straight stage for the final showdown.
Taking advantage of her opponents' hesitation, she poured all her power into her legs—
[Power Conversion]!
"Myriad Dreams! She's still accelerating! Incredible! She's roaring past every Uma Musume on the outside! What kind of closing speed is this?!" the commentator screamed at the top of his lungs.
By the time Silver Charm and the others snapped out of the brief hallucination, they were horrified to find that the blue figure had already surged ahead by a three-length lead!
"Dammit!" Silver Charm gritted her teeth, her zone fully open as she tried to give chase, but it was too late.
Myriad Dreams charged toward the finish line with unstoppable momentum, her long blue hair trailing behind her in a straight line.
In the final 100 meters, she even had the leisure to glance back at the struggling Silver Charm.
A flash of respect crossed her eyes before she crossed the line at full power.
"She's across! The winner is Myriad Dreams! She won this race with an absolute lead of six lengths! On the stage of the Kentucky Derby, she proved the ultimate peak of the End Closer strategy with an unbelievable come-from-behind victory!"
"In this battle of zones, hers has reigned supreme!"
After crossing the finish line, Myriad Dreams slowed down gradually and looked toward Silver Charm, who had also come to a stop not far away.
The two top-tier Uma Musume looked at each other across the track.
In the air, there was the relief of a settled outcome, and even more so, a mutual recognition of each other's strength.