Only six hundred meters remained before the champion would be decided.
And yet the Umamusume on the track had already begun to accelerate. The sprint had started early, each of them fighting for a place at the front.
...
Haa.
Haa....
Garden Gale breathed heavily. The headwind, the muddy track, the rain-soaked clothes clinging to her body—all of it drained her strength at an alarming rate. Without a doubt, she was the most exhausted runner in this race so far. She had never once been sheltered from the wind, and she had run at full throttle from beginning to end.
From Runaway to Chaser.
The spectacle it created wasn't meant to be dazzling.
It was simply the result of her conviction.
Garden Gale had believed her late charge would make a difference—but she hadn't expected T.M. Opera O to be this strong.
She loved the Runaway style. Truly loved it.
And because she loved it, she had staked everything on it.
Even if she were given another chance, she would choose the same strategy again.
Only next time she would run even farther ahead. So far that no one could catch her.
Her situation might be dire.
But Garden Gale would not give up.
She would burn everything she had. Let her heart ignite like wildfire, her iron will pounding endlessly onward.
Once more—she drew in a breath.
Suppressing the doubts in her mind, she focused forward again. Her gaze locked onto the distant figure running ahead.
Pass her—!
She had to pass T.M. Opera O!
And the distance between them was indeed shrinking.
At this moment, Garden Gale, accelerating at full power, was actually faster than Opera O.
A trace of frustration flickered in her heart.
If only she hadn't given up so early.
Not just Opera O—even Admire Vega and Narita Top Road were slower than her current pace. If nothing unexpected happened, she could catch them all.
If nothing unexpected happened.
Which meant—something unexpected was about to happen.
Closer.
Just a bit closer.
...
Once again, hunter and prey were switching places. In the blink of an eye, the balance flipped completely. T.M. Opera O sensed the killing intent closing in from behind—cold and piercing.
But her eyes remained fixed ahead.
…Completely focused.
She watched the path before her, calmly adjusting her breathing, keeping her body in perfect running condition.
That level of concentration—was a gift from heaven.
"THE RACE IS ENTERING THE FOURTH CORNER! THE FINAL STRAIGHT IS COMING!"
"INCREDIBLE! GARDEN GALE HAS CAUGHT UP! THE TWELFTH FAVORITE IS MAKING A STUNNING COMEBACK—COULD SHE PULL OFF A MASSIVE UPSET?!"
"ADMIRE VEGA AND NARITA TOP ROAD ARE IN THE MIDDLE GROUP AND ACCELERATING AS WELL! ON THE FINAL STRAIGHT, WILL THEY UNLEASH THEIR TERRIFYING FINISHING KICK TO DEFEND THEIR REPUTATIONS?!"
"AND THE SIXTH FAVORITE, T.M. OPERA O, STILL HOLDS THE LEAD!"
"THE CORNER IS APPROACHING!"
The commentator's excited voice rattled off one line after another like machine-gun fire.
...
Faster.
Even faster.
Garden Gale squeezed the last scraps of strength from her body. Would she slow down? Would she fail to catch up? Those questions no longer mattered.
All that mattered was passing T.M. Opera O.
And the gap between them continued to shrink.
Narita Top Road.
Admire Vega.
Even they were within reach.
Is Opera O slowing down because the rain drained too much stamina from her early lead?
The same doubt flickered through both of their minds.
But they didn't dwell on it.
They simply ran.
Only after the race ended would there be time to think.
Meanwhile—Garden Gale revealed her signature weapon again.
"Taking the corner without slowing down! Garden Gale is climbing the rankings again!"
The commentator couldn't hide his amazement. When basic technique was honed to perfection, it became something breathtaking to watch. Even if she'd only been the twelfth favorite before the race, many spectators would surely become Garden Gale's fans after this performance.
Closer.
Just a bit closer.
The distance between Garden Gale and T.M. Opera O had become dangerously small.
Even Admire Vega seemed poised to overtake Opera O.
…Why did the so-called Overlord suddenly look like she was faltering?
Just like Garden Gale herself had earlier.
The stray thought drifted away with her breathing.
No matter.
She only needed to keep running.
The final four hundred meters.
The moment for the final sprint was approaching.
Should she switch to Air Shakur's running style?
Or attempt the [Sky-High Teio Step]?
Garden Gale made her decision instantly.
Well it was obvious what she would choose.
She was a gambler.
She always chose the option with the highest risk—and the greatest reward.
Air Shakur's acceleration was stable, reliable… but there was still a chance it wouldn't be enough to catch Opera O.
But if she could unleash the [Sky-High Teio Step]—then she would absolutely catch her.
She began recalling the sensation.
The final straight of the Japan Derby in her mind.
She'd been so close last time—just a little more, and the technique would have fully taken shape.
And there was also the demonstration Tokai Teio had once shown her.
Every tiny detail.
She focused.
Remembering.
Understanding.
Concentrating.
—[SKY-HIGH TEIO STEP].
Rain soaked her bangs and drenched her back. The water sliding across her skin felt strangely warm.
The image of withered blue roses bloomed once more.
And her momentum—slowly gathered inward, as if coiling for an even greater release.
All for the sake of challenging an opponent who seemed impossible to defeat.
All while staking everything she had.
Like tossing a coin into the air—would the side that landed bring victory?
Would the gods favor her?
...
While Garden Gale pursued that realization—Narita Top Road overtook the Overlord.
T.M. Opera O—this so-called Overlord—really did seem to be losing speed.
Her long time in the lead seemed to have drained too much stamina.
However…
No one on the track realized that T.M. Opera O and Garden Gale were actually in the same state of concentration.
But Opera O had gone further.
Her presence had drawn completely inward.
From fullness—to zero.
Every ounce of energy gathered inside her body, feeling the precise movement of every muscle.
Her breathing… was smooth.
Her body… felt light.
This state… was incredible.
No—she was no longer aware of anything else.
T.M. Opera O didn't notice Admire Vega and Narita Top Road passing her.
She didn't notice Garden Gale running from the side.
Instead—the finish line suddenly appeared in her vision.
And then—a delighted smile spread across her face.
In that unconscious state, everything was perfect. Her body adjusted automatically, fatigue completely gone, stamina seemingly endless.
With every breath—there was only emotion.
PURE ENJOYMENT.
Garden Gale, Narita Top Road, and Admire Vega all felt their hearts shake violently.
Because an overwhelming, ferocious presence suddenly spread across the entire racecourse.
The Overlord's fangs had been revealed—ready to devour everything.
...
"THE [ZONE]?!"
Even Symboli Rudolf shot to her feet in the pouring rain, shouting the word aloud.