Crocodile Red's body tensed slightly.
From the stall beside her, she could see the focused look in Offside Trap's eyes, and that only made her tighten her concentration even further.
The track ahead was flat. She did not put any of the other runners in her eyes at all. The only one who qualified to be her true opponent in this race was the horse girl who had already won recognition on a world scale.
Her gaze shifted. The starter had already called out.
The race was about to begin.
The gates burst open with a bang.
Crocodile Red sprang free at once, but the smile that had started to form on her face vanished in an instant.
Only the figure in front of her remained, almost glaringly bright in her vision.
[Vassal Lord bond activated: all attribute-boosting effects receive an additional 5% increase.]
[Earthguard bond activated: Strength +30, Stamina +30, Guts +30, track aptitude correction +30%.]
[Dimensional Drift: For every 100 points in any attribute, all attributes +1.]
[Variable Supercar: During the race: within 800m, Strength +5%; 800–1400m, Intelligence +5%; 1400–2000m, Speed +5%.]
[Mockery of Preservation: All corresponding opponent attributes lower than the horse girl's are reduced by 50 points.]
[Deepsea Rhapsody: Intelligence +200.]
[First-Rate Counterclockwise.]
[Single-Minded Focus.]
Offside Trap shot straight to the front.
No one could threaten her for the lead. The runners behind her were still trying to accelerate, but her timing out of the gate and the rhythm of her acceleration were flawless. There was simply no room for them to contest it.
"And they're off!"
The British commentator's voice, stern and resonant, rang across Sandown Racecourse.
From his position near the front of the stands, Terizumi Shinji watched as Offside Trap broke away. She had not slowed just because a long stretch awaited them later. On the contrary—one of the most effective ways to make late-closing runners miserable was to force the pace early, so they could not save themselves completely for the final stretch.
Ahead lay the gentle curve leading into the backstretch. Offside Trap's gaze was fixed already on the third and fourth corners, while the runners behind had no choice but to chase.
"They're away, and as expected, Offside Trap is the one who takes the initiative! She's chosen to go straight to the front in this race. Her break is, as always, remarkably sharp—exceptionally consistent. She now controls the lead by two lengths. Behind her is Crocodile Red, easing back slightly. Along the rail, Strange Gleam, and behind her, Little Star…"
"The field is beginning to string out. Up front, Offside Trap is clearly aiming for a faster tempo this time. She has absolutely no intention of handing the horses behind her a comfortable late-speed contest. Crocodile Red has now settled around third or fourth, followed by Sunnyday Long. Behind Sunnyday Long are Whale Hymn and Ailan Yellow, while the hometown runner Economic Weight trails the field."
Offside Trap's eyes flicked sideways. Even from the front, she could already grasp the state of the field behind her.
Strange Gleam, tucked to the rail, was in excellent shape—but her face was tense and severe. Offside Trap was running at a tempo slightly quicker than what she herself found most comfortable. She could feel the determination in the others today. If she only took the pace out fast in the usual sense, the runners behind would still commit without hesitation.
On a course like this, if she could not prevent the others from entering the stretch in ideal condition, then taking the lead had no meaning at all.
She had the strength and overall quality to make use of it, so she had to think about how to stop the others from getting the best possible race.
"The crowd, which had settled a little, is stirring again! The shape of the race itself has not changed dramatically, but the pressure being applied from the front is immense. The field behind is already showing signs of acceleration!"
It was exactly what Offside Trap wanted to see.
And exactly what the crowd wanted to see, too.
The cheers rang in her ears. Her ears twitched lightly, but though she could hear the footsteps drawing closer from behind, she did not hurry.
She had never intended to build a decisive gap before the stretch.
The stamina in her body still surged abundantly. Offside Trap believed that even if she entered the stretch off this pace, she could still unleash a perfect finishing burst. Unlike Seiun Sky's old style of trickery, she was not manipulating pace with feints or slowdowns—she was simply maintaining her speed straight into the third and fourth corners.
That confidence was born from her overwhelming all-around strength and her brutally high stats.
The field behind drew nearer, but Offside Trap's gaze remained unwavering.
[Line Specialist.]
A faint yellow glow flickered around her. She continued waiting for the right moment, even though Little Star had closed to within a length.
"They've passed the 1000-meter mark and entered the third and fourth corners. Offside Trap still leads. Her rhythm is extraordinarily stable. Less than half a length behind now is Little Star. On the rail, Strange Gleam is about half a length back, and out wide, Crocodile Red is a length down. She too is clearly looking to save her last decisive effort for a clear run in the stretch."
"The field is beginning to compress as they approach the 800-meter mark. The grandstand is roaring now—deafening! All the runners are making their final preparations!"
The commentator's voice rose higher and higher.
In the stands, Shinji's eyes shifted toward the stretch. He lowered his binoculars.
From here the runners were little more than colored specks to him, and he could only identify them by the faint differences in their silks.
But he was certain of one thing.
The horse girl in front would remain in front.
Countless Japanese racing fans watching from television screens back home felt the same.
In Tokyo, one fan had beer and skewers laid out on the table in front of him, but he had completely forgotten to eat or drink.
The camera was fixed on the leading horse girl. Though Offside Trap still held the lead, and though he believed in her completely, the relentless pressure from behind made his heart race faster and faster.
An inexplicable fear took hold of him—that Offside Trap's condition might be off, that she might not suit the course perfectly, that even these relatively unheralded European runners might manage to pass her.
And that fear was not rare.
Scenes like this were playing out all across Japan.
Unlike the Coronation Cup, the Eclipse Stakes was a race whose name was even more widely known. Its association with legendary racehorses had long made it one of the premier G1s in Britain.
"The field is about to swing into the final straight! There's under 800 meters to go, and all the runners are beginning to move! Offside Trap still leads. She takes the stretch with about half a length in hand. Behind her is Little Star—but Little Star doesn't look capable of threatening her. Offside Trap is only nudging along lightly on the inside, while Strange Gleam and Little Star have no answer. Crocodile Red is still waiting for her moment out wide. Up ahead, the 600-meter marker looms, and Economic Weight is also preparing a big outside run!"
"600 meters left! 600 meters left! Offside Trap passes it first! Behind her, Crocodile Red finally begins to accelerate. Out wide, Sunnyday Long and Economic Weight are launching too. Strange Gleam, trapped inside, seems unable to find a path through. Offside Trap, meanwhile, is going stronger and stronger. Crocodile Red has begun her attack—but Offside Trap is lengthening her stride as well!"
[Full Throttle.]
Golden light flashed around Offside Trap. The abundant stamina within her was summoned instantly, surging like a great river.
This was not even her preferred rhythm. She had spent the first part of the race on the lead, setting the pace.
And yet she was still in superb condition.
That condition burst outward together with a crushing aura, and the horse girls behind her all felt their hearts tighten. Shock and disbelief began to spread through their eyes.
That horse girl who had only been one length in front moments ago—
in just a few strides, she had opened it to two... then three lengths.
"Offside Trap's acceleration—too fast! Her finishing burst—Crocodile Red behind her is still around second or third, but she cannot wait any longer! She can't wait! Crocodile Red has begun to quicken, and Economic Weight is also charging from the outside. Crocodile Red sweeps past Little Star in the middle—but Little Star and Strange Gleam are already beaten. Crocodile Red, three lengths down, simply cannot reduce it! Offside Trap looks far too comfortable!"
The cheers from the stands washed over the course.
No smugness appeared in Offside Trap's eyes.
The sounds of pursuit behind her were only growing more distant. The expectations placed upon her were, as ever, going to be fulfilled.
She passed the 400-meter marker.
Ordinarily, once a win was close to secure, the accepted wisdom—for trainers and runners alike—was that preserving condition and body came first. No matter how spectacular the victory, it had no direct bearing on the next race. Conservation often paid greater dividends than excess.
But suddenly, Offside Trap felt an urge.
She thought of the disrespect Little Star had shown Shinji.
And behind that disrespect, she thought of all the European fans who still questioned him—just like the Japanese fans once questioned her.
That was something Offside Trap could not accept.
Her trainer was one of the things she was proudest of.
And now, some of her own fans wanted to separate the two of them.
Even after that overwhelming victory, even after standing at the interview dais and publicly defending her trainer, she wanted the world to understand this clearly—
who it was that had allowed her to stand where she now stood.
She wanted the world to know that man was one of the best trainers in the world.
Not some lucky nobody who happened to crawl his way up from obscurity.
She did not want to leave it to time, or to the younger teammates who would come after her, to prove that truth. She knew they would be able to.
But because of that, she wanted to prove it herself.
So she took a deep breath.
And the instant she crossed the 400-meter marker, she drove her foot down hard.
The turf at Sandown exploded under her stride.
A pit burst open beneath her, clods of mud flying high. Even Crocodile Red, watching from behind, felt her heart jump. A primitive sense of danger made her unconsciously want to shorten her stride and avoid the flying spray.
"400 meters left! 400 meters left! Offside Trap passes it first! Her finishing burst—her legs are still full of run! Offside Trap! Offside Trap is still accelerating! This speed is absurd! They aren't even in the same class! The field behind has no answer! Four lengths... five lengths... they cannot get any closer! They cannot get any closer!"
"This will be a performance for the history books! This is not a shocking upset that makes a name overnight—this is the advent of a demon king! In one of the season's top races, the strongest has descended! Offside Trap has not merely taken the title of world number one on turf—she has become a symbol. Strength, speed, excellence, stability—the invincible overlord is proclaiming her authority to the world!"
"200 meters left! Crocodile Red, a G1 winner already this year, is still trying to close—six lengths the gap! But she cannot do it! Offside Trap, all alone in front! The final 100 meters vanish in an instant—seven lengths clear!"
The stands, which had begun in cheers, had now gone completely mad.
People were hugging each other, crying, venting every last ounce of emotion over the spectacle they were witnessing.
Offside Trap lowered herself further and further.
The finish line was right there.
"This will go down in history—not as a sudden wave, but as the birth of a tyrant! At the highest level of this era's races, she has descended! Offside Trap... hits the line first!"
"An eight-length demolition! Sent off at 1.6! She isn't telling you she lived up to your support—she's telling you that next time, that number should be even shorter! The greatest obstacle awaiting every runner in the second half of this season is right here! Offside Trap wins the Eclipse Stakes!"
join here to read ahead.
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 210)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl 285
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Completed)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Completed)
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa (Completed)
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 240
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 305
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer (Completed.)
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume5/8
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 135
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 160
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 125
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 180
My Harem Is Indescribable 110
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 115
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 120
Still playing traditional Honk 105
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 120
What Should I Do After Switchi 70
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 140
Checking In in Demon Slayer 100
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 115
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 90
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel (Completed)
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 90
Why did they assign me to Uma 95
MYGO Beauties 80
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 100
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 135
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 150
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 70
The Uma Musume Who Became 75
I'm Definitely Not the King of 130
After Maxing Out Every Class 135
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 120
I, the Elden Sword Saint 70
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 65
No One Knows Pokémon Better 65
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 69
From Trilobites to Titans 65
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 105
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 120
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 80
Honkai: The Fire Devil 115
Honkai Transformation Cards Volume2/70
Age of Heroes, I'm Just a Back 85
Uma Musume Has No Weird Fan Le 80
At age 8, she co-starred with 80
Honkai: Schicksal Media 81
An Extremist in a Slice-of-Lif 70
Chainsaw Man, but I'm Aatrox 60
Honkai Apocrypha: Are the Valk 60
An Extremist in a Slice-of-Lif 45
Morgan Shirou's Journey in Dan 43
DanMachi: Get to Work, Dimensi 70
Honkai: Star Rail—Kiana Cried! 36
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