Yellow sand howled through the air, blotting out the sky and the sun.
Only a few days after the thunderstorm, Dubai was hit by a sandstorm of unprecedented scale. The conditions were so severe that countless residents did not dare step outside.
Even horse girls, with their far stronger constitutions, had no choice but to remain in their hotels and wait patiently for the storm to pass.
The problem was that even after the sandstorm moved on, normal training still would not be possible. The fine particles left hanging in the air would pose a serious threat to their health.
Compared with squeezing in training time and fighting for victory in the UAE Derby, there was obviously something more important: their own physical condition.
Staring at the darkened sky, Mtoto folded her arms and muttered helplessly, "Since the weather's turned out like this, there's nothing to be done. Neither our girls nor that little one over there will be able to train properly. This year's title might actually fall to an Emirati horse girl."
After all, the Emirati horse girls had lived on this land their whole lives. Their tolerance for these conditions would naturally be better than that of British horse girls like them.
Still, no one had expected a sandstorm this fierce to hit at a time like this.
"No, Senior Mtoto, we prepared for this long ago. We'll win!" one of the British entrants declared passionately.
"Exactly. Those Emirati girls are all pampered princesses. Our only real opponent is that little shrimp called Xingyun Liuge."
"Hmph. A gray horse girl? We'll make sure she never comes back!"
"That's right. As long as we follow the plan, that little shorty will be trapped inside the pack and unable to move. All glory to Britannia!"
What followed was a chorus of approval, as though victory were already theirs.
Mtoto's mouth twitched.
She felt her juniors were far too confident, and that was not a good sign. She wanted to lecture these overexcited girls properly. And while she was at it, she also wanted to say: who exactly are you calling short?!
Unlike these juniors of hers, who casually reached one meter seventy or even one meter eighty, Mtoto herself was tiny. Even though she had already fully matured, she still stood at only one meter forty. When looking at most horse girls, she had to tilt her head up.
The only time she felt at ease was when she was with little fillies. Because only then did she not have to look up at people.
Across the street from the hotel where the British horse girls were staying, Miesque lounged against a sofa, swirling a glass of red wine in her hand as she gazed at the darkened sky, a meaningful smile curling at her lips.
She was wearing a bathrobe, her long legs crossed together, her pale skin enough to stir anyone's imagination, while her generously curved chest drew the eye all too easily. She lived up to her name in every sense.
She was a horse girl from France who specialized in turf and was not an entrant in this year's UAE Derby. But because of the "hundred years of friendship" between Britain and France, once she heard that the British horse girls had their sights set on this race and seemed intent on surrounding a horse girl named Xingyun Liuge, she became interested.
An enemy's enemy might still become your enemy later. After all, there could only ever be one champion. But for now, Xingyun Liuge was unlikely to become hers. Miesque's goals were a repeat victory in the Prix Jacques le Marois and the Breeders' Cup Mile. That Xingyun Liuge girl probably was not coming to challenge her in a mile race, was she?
So Miesque was perfectly willing to cheer for her. If she could watch Xingyun Liuge smash the British horse girl "legion" in one fell swoop, she would even be willing to pop champagne on the spot to celebrate.
Thinking that, she raised her glass, admiring the color of the wine as she murmured, "I do hope the information I sent can be of at least a little use."
It was not especially valuable information, really. All she had done was send a small note that read: Don't let yourself get boxed in by the pack.
When the girls received that note, they all found it rather strange.
What kind of useful intelligence was that supposed to be?
Both Midori River and Sirius Symbol knew that British and American horse girls excelled at acting in groups, and they had already said as much. Xingyun Liuge knew it too and had been mentally prepared for it for some time. What she was more concerned about now was this: with the weather in such terrible shape, how was she supposed to let the others study her running style? How was she supposed to let them bring out their best?
Sirius Symbol, on the other hand, drew a different conclusion from that note.
"This UAE Derby is going to be a brutal fight, Xingyun. The British horse girls are coming for you. They'll lock onto you and do everything they can to beat you. This is going to be a duel to the death between you and them."
As for the Emirati horse girls? They might have some strength, but only a little. The key to victory definitely did not lie with them.
Xingyun Liuge blinked. She did not quite agree.
"Maybe there'll be a surprise," she said lightly.
The direction of the wind could not escape her senses.
Ten days later, the sandstorm's effects had mostly faded, and the horse girls were finally able to step back onto the track for their final preparations before the UAE Derby.
With so little time left before the race, the organizers could no longer afford to give them generous practice slots as they had in the beginning. Instead, they had to schedule them in batches, even letting multiple girls adapt to the track at the same time.
Under those circumstances, the British horse girls finally got the chance they had wanted. They saw Xingyun Liuge run with their own eyes, and they also found the perfect opportunity to deliver their challenge.
Xingyun Liuge was putting on a show of getting used to the course when she heard footsteps rapidly approaching from behind.
Sirius Symbol noticed it too, so she deliberately slowed down, taking up a position on Xingyun Liuge's left rear side and allowing Xingyun Liuge to hold the inside line. Not that she thought the British horse girls would resort to anything dirty, but caution was still warranted. What if some horse girl's footing slipped and she came crashing into them?
The two British horse girls rushing over immediately noticed Sirius's defensive posture and laughed.
"We're only here to say hello," one of them called out. "No need to be so tense."
But before Sirius Symbol could relax, the other one added, "Because we'll crush you head-on in the race, Xingyun Liuge. The ones basking in the glory of victory will be us."
There could only be one first place, but horse girls from the same school in Britain and America shared that glory with their companions. That was the direct reason they were called a "legion." They truly would give up their own chance at the title for the sake of a teammate. Their eyes held only victory and glory.
"A pre-race trash talk segment? Interesting," Xingyun Liuge said with a laugh. "Then I'll give you one too."
"Beasts always walk alone. Cattle and sheep move in herds."
The words had scarcely left her mouth before she kicked off and instantly left the horse girls far behind.
The two British girls exchanged a glance. There was not the slightest surprise in their eyes—only a hint of understanding, as if saying: just as we thought, her instantaneous explosive burst is exactly what needs to be contained.
Watching from above and feeling the flow of the wind, Latifa became even more certain of the details.
With the wind at her back, Xingyun Liuge's explosive power was more than twice as strong as it was against the wind. So she really was borrowing the wind's force.
But the sea wind sweeping in from above the Persian Gulf will be your downfall.
That was simply how the track had been designed. In the final four hundred meters, every horse girl would inevitably face the fiercest headwind of the entire race. That was the last stage, where pure grit would be tested.
And so, amid tense daily training, the horse girls finally welcomed the opening ceremony of the UAE Derby.
Join here to read ahead.
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