Hanshin Racecourse.
El Condor Pasa's focus was unnaturally sharp.
Online chatters unanimously pegged her as the likely winner of this race, but her opponent was Barbatos—a rival who, even without having truly faced off against her before, had long been considered a nemesis on par with Urara.
Going all out from the very start… she must mean her Zone.
Having trained alongside Maruzensky and numerous other legends within her team, El Condor Pasa was no stranger to the concept of a Zone.
During the Winter Dream Cup, Barbatos had activated her Zone in the latter half, only to lose steam right at the end.
That possibility wasn't even on her radar.
If they were going all out from the start, then it had to be that.
The red light flashed, the starter's flag waved, the gates flew open—and an immense pressure, a terrifying aura, swept in from the left, enveloping the entire starting gate area and transforming it into Barbatos's Zone.
A white bolt of lightning flickered at the edge of El Condor Pasa's vision, trying to streak past her.
But.
Did you really think I'd let you take the lead that easily?!
After all the training she'd undergone, after being tempered by so many legendary Uma Musume, after brushing against the edges of a Zone herself and learning to perceive its presence—she wouldn't freeze up just because her opponent unleashed one.
She wouldn't be left at the gate, caught off guard by Barbatos activating her Zone the moment the race began!
So, 'going all out from the start'—that phrase had been Barbatos's warning to every Uma Musume in this race.
The instant the gates flew open, El Condor Pasa shot out alongside the white lightning bolt, neck and neck, putting distance between themselves and the other racers who were still reeling from the Zone's pressure.
Her hooves struck the ground almost simultaneously, left and right, as her falcon-like form soared low over the track, refusing to let the lightning escape her sight!
Lightning and falcon—from the very first moment, their speed defied common sense, their running styles delivering a spectacle beyond anything seen before!
"And they're off!"
"Barbatos and El Condor Pasa take the lead! Behind them is… behind them is?"
"Every other competitor aside from Barbatos and El Condor Pasa has been left slightly at the gate!"
"What's happening? They've already been left in the dust by the Wind God and the Phantom Bird right from the start!"
"Five lengths… six lengths…"
"Barbatos and El Condor Pasa—no one can catch them now! This race is solely between the two of them!"
Even with countless races under her belt, even after witnessing the clashes of countless prodigies, Akasaka Misato couldn't help but leap to her feet, emotions overwhelming her.
This Oka Sho had already evolved into a battle between the brightest stars of this era.
But why… why had all the other Uma Musume been left behind?
From her distant commentary box, she couldn't immediately find the answer.
"It's a Zone…"
Take Yutaka's lips parted slightly. Despite having trained countless famous Uma Musume, even he wore a look of astonishment now.
Among Uma Musume, those who could awaken a Zone were the protagonists of their generation—the brightest stars, or among the brightest.
He had trained no small number of Zone-users himself; there was no running style he hadn't seen.
But he had never seen one activate a Zone right from the starting gate like Barbatos.
Barbatos had many outstanding qualities as an Uma Musume—not just her position as Japan's most popular, but her sprinting and closing ability could be called the very pinnacle of this generation.
She was also infamous for her trash talk during races, often causing opponents to be left at the gate.
But… this time, it wasn't trash talk.
Take Yutaka was more certain of this than ever before.
Trash talk might delay a few racers, but it couldn't make every Uma Musume aside from El Condor Pasa late off the mark.
Those competing in the Oka Sho were the elites of their generation. Perhaps their talent and ability couldn't match Barbatos or El Condor Pasa, but their mental fortitude had been honed through numerous races.
They would certainly know about Barbatos's penchant for trash talk and would do their utmost not to be affected at the start.
Therefore, the only conclusion was the Zone.
But activating a Zone at the very beginning… wasn't she worried about conserving stamina?
--+--
In the spectator stands reserved for Team Rigil, the entire team was present at Hanshin Racecourse today. Even the Emperor, the busy student council president, was here.
They had come to witness the showdown between Barbatos and El Condor Pasa with their own eyes.
"Activating her Zone right at the start—what is Barbatos thinking?!"
Air Groove couldn't stop herself from standing up, struggling to believe what was unfolding on the track. Had Barbatos forgotten what happened during the Winter Dream Cup?
Toujou Hana stood beside her, expression grave. Out of habit, she bit her thumbnail, her mind drifting to the usually low-profile Canopus trainer, Minamizaka.
Was this Minamizaka's strategy?
He didn't seem the reckless type.
"Perhaps Barbatos has her own considerations."
Maruzensky, after a moment of surprise, quickly settled back into her seat. A mature smile graced her lips as she continued watching the race, waiting to see how it would unfold.
If Barbatos had activated her Zone on a mere impulse, then El Condor Pasa would surely win the Oka Sho.
But that was almost impossible!
--+--
On the track.
Barbatos and El Condor Pasa raced on at the front, the gap between them and the others widening rapidly—already nearing a full ten lengths.
Behind them, Uma Musume like Dramatic Development and Sakura Rambler watched the two figures ahead and began to quicken their pace.
They couldn't let this continue.
Even though common sense told them Barbatos and El Condor Pasa would inevitably slow in the latter half…
If they didn't start closing the gap now, even if the frontrunners did fade, they might never catch up. They couldn't allow that lead to grow any further.
Conserve some strength, store up stamina as much as possible—the real decider would be the final stretch!
Barbatos wasn't known for her stamina; she would definitely slow down later.
Even if El Condor Pasa didn't have stamina issues or a four-month hiatus to worry about, being forced into Barbatos's pace in the first half… would she still be able to unleash that legendary finishing kick, that dance of the Phantom Bird on the homestretch?
"We can do it!"
The thought bloomed in the hearts of all the pursuing Uma Musume.
There was a chance to defeat Barbatos and El Condor Pasa in this Oka Sho, a chance to seize the first victory of the Triple Tiara!
The group began to pour on the speed, chasing after the leading pair.
"The racers in the rear have begun their pursuit! They don't want El Condor Pasa and Barbatos to pull further away!"
"They're accelerating!"
"The gap… the gap isn't closing!"
"The gap is still widening! It's now over ten lengths!"
"Barbatos and El Condor Pasa seem to exist in a different dimension from the other competitors! They continue to run alone at the front!"
"No one can catch them!"
"What lies ahead is truly a king's domain!"
"Aside from Barbatos and El Condor Pasa, not a single racer can get close!"
"This race is a battle between Barbatos and El Condor Pasa!"
"This stage belongs solely to Barbatos and El Condor Pasa!"
"The race is past the halfway point! Just 1000 meters to go!"
"Barbatos still leads! El Condor Pasa is clinging tight! With 1000 meters left, can El Condor Pasa overtake?!"
Akasaka Misato commentated with passionate fervor.
At this moment, she had no mental space to ponder other questions—like why Barbatos, freshly recovered from injury, seemed stronger than ever, or whether Barbatos would fade in the latter half.
The two at the front seemed determined to carry their lead all the way to the finish, to settle it on the final straight!
"Through the third turn!"
"Barbatos and El Condor Pasa approach the uphill slope! Next comes the final straight!"
"The outcome will be decided on the homestretch!"
"Will it be the Wind God's triumphant return, or the Phantom Bird's glorious victory?!"
Akasaka Misato continued her commentary.
Beside her, the special guest commentator Take Yutaka lightly furrowed his brow. El Condor Pasa maintaining this speed was truly impressive, something rare even for a legendary trainer like him.
But could Barbatos really keep this up?
He didn't doubt Barbatos's strength or caliber. She was undoubtedly one of the strongest of this generation.
But!
Barbatos, while maintaining her Zone, had already run three-quarters of the race at this pace!
This was a middle-distance race. By now, Barbatos had been running with her Zone active for a full 1500 meters!
Her known forte wasn't stamina. Her greatest weapon was that unreasonable, explosive sprint on the final straight. The Winter Dream Cup had even highlighted her lack of endurance as a weakness. But now…
On the final straight, would Barbatos still have the stamina left for that signature sprint?
Take Yutaka pondered this.
Having seen countless races, having witnessed countless legendary Uma Musume, even he found himself—for the first time while commentating—unable to suppress his nervous focus on the latter stages of the race!
--+--
'Her footsteps are so close behind me. She's clinging tight.'
'On the final straight, she'll probably still have enough in reserve to launch her finishing kick.'
'The uphill slope on the homestretch is a disadvantage for me. Over these past four months, I've focused more on endurance training. I'm not unfamiliar with Hanshin's slope, but I haven't practiced it specifically.'
'In past races here, I never needed to worry about it. But today, even a slight stumble on the slope could become an irrecoverable setback.'
'Following Rigil's style, she's certainly done specialized practice for this.'
Without a trace of underestimation, without any thought of holding back, Barbatos watched the approaching slope and made her decision.
The decider was the final straight?
No. From the very start of the race, that was where victory would be determined.
If either she or El Condor Pasa ran out of steam, or failed to match the other's pace, then this race was already lost.
So then.
'Heh… you pest!'
The moment before reaching the slope, the Zone around Barbatos—invisible to ordinary eyes—the white lightning, instantly dyed itself a deep, bloody crimson.
Monstrous power left shallow imprints on the ground as she took the slope as if it were flat ground.
Her speed didn't decrease—it increased!
"She can still accelerate?!"
Far behind, nearly twenty lengths back, Dramatic Development, Sakura Rambler, and the others pushed themselves to the limit, running with everything they had, preparing to chase on the final straight once Barbatos and El Condor Pasa tired.
Once again, they felt the chasm between them.
That gap lay before them like an unbridgeable ravine.
Once again, reality reminded them that Barbatos was not an opponent from their world. She was a prodigy of this era, a queen of this generation!
'Now this is getting interesting.'
The moment Barbatos's Zone turned crimson, the pressure intensified, her aura growing even more overwhelming.
An ordinary Uma Musume might have lost the courage to run. Only those who had truly tasted G1 victory could withstand it.
But the corner of El Condor Pasa's mouth lifted. She wasn't affected by this pressure or aura.
Only a Barbatos going all out, seemingly stronger than ever, was worth defeating!
If Barbatos was using an enhanced Zone to tackle the slope, then she had her own methods.
Rigil was the academy's strongest team! Even excluding the legends, it boasted countless other powerful Uma Musume.
Through countless intra-squad races and training runs, her technique for uphill running had become even more refined than King Halo's during the Yayoi Sho.
And now, it was time for her to go all out too!
The moment she hit the slope, El Condor Pasa's form underwent a subtle shift. She ran up the incline as if it were level ground, encountering no hindrance.
Her speed even increased as she accelerated!
"One after the other! They've left the slope almost simultaneously and entered the final straight!"
"This speed!"
"Have Barbatos and El Condor Pasa already given their all?!"
Their current pace had already surpassed the finishing kick speed of most G1-level Uma Musume! And this was after they had led from the front for the entire race!
At this point, the only word to describe Barbatos and El Condor Pasa was 'monsters.'
Frontrunners typically maintained 100% effort throughout, sometimes even slowing slightly to catch their breath—this was common knowledge.
In the previous Yayoi Sho, Seiun Sky, using a frontrunning style, had accelerated again in the final stages, breaking the common understanding. Now, Barbatos and El Condor Pasa were doing the same.
Or perhaps that wasn't quite right.
Barbatos and El Condor Pasa probably weren't running at just 100%. Perhaps their style wasn't truly frontrunning at all.
It was simply that their speed was too immense.
So immense that everyone assumed they had adopted a frontrunning strategy for this race!
And now…
On the live broadcast feed and the central screen at Hanshin Racecourse, the director focused on Barbatos and El Condor Pasa. Then the frame paused.
Paused again.
It seemed they were waiting for the other racers to catch up.
This was a common trick by directors—showing the gap between the leaders and the chase pack.
But this time…
The other racers didn't appear. Before they could, the director cut back to the view of Barbatos and El Condor Pasa.
Only about 300 meters remained to the finish line, and the chase pack hadn't even reached the slope yet. Waiting any longer might mean missing the decisive duel on the final straight.
That would be a classic case of going for a small gain only to suffer a big loss.
The director knew who the real stars of this race were.
So, in the bottom right corner of the main screen, a small picture-in-picture window appeared. Another camera activated, showing the chase pack.
From that small window, one could see most of the pursuing Uma Musume, having been forced into Barbatos and El Condor Pasa's blistering pace in their effort to keep up, were now breathing heavily, their stamina mostly spent.
Some had already begun to fade.
And they still hadn't reached the slope!
A stream of "Holy crap!" comments flew across the live stream's chat.
While the live audience could see the whole field, viewers at home could only judge the situation behind based on the director's shots and the commentator's words.
This race's commentator, Akasaka Misato, had focused almost entirely on Barbatos and El Condor Pasa.
To all the stream viewers, this felt perfectly natural. This was a duel solely between El Condor Pasa and Barbatos.
But when the director split the screen with that second window…
Only then could the live stream audience clearly feel the sheer dominance, the profound sense of despair from the racers behind!
Every competitor in the Oka Sho was an elite of their generation, almost all winners of major graded stakes, the very rivals others would specifically mark in other races.
But now.
The director wouldn't even pause the main shot to wait for them to appear, instead opting for a small inset window to show their plight.
There was simply no time to wait. By the time they reached where Barbatos and El Condor Pasa had just been, the leaders would have already crossed the finish line!
Someone in the chat started it: "This… this is practically the highest level just below the Legends!"
The sentiment was quickly echoed by countless viewers. No one would deny that assessment.
Barbatos and El Condor Pasa.
Whichever one you looked at, they had displayed strength far beyond the norm, showing the very pinnacle of what lay just below Legendary status!
"El Condor Pasa is closing in! Is she about to overtake Barbatos?!"
--+--
On the track.
300 meters to the finish.
El Condor Pasa charged into the wind, a visible wind barrier already forming around her due to her immense speed.
She had begun accelerating again. Months of training were finally bearing fruit.
And because she was racing against Barbatos, her speed now surpassed even her practice runs, even her pace in the previous Kawasaki Kinen!
If a falcon's top speed was 80 kilometers per hour, then she was living up to the name 'Phantom Bird'!
The sound of her hooves striking the ground almost in unison was relentless.
Gradually, her form drew level with Barbatos, poised to overtake, to maybe even pull ahead by several lengths before the finish line.
At that very moment.
In El Condor Pasa's vision, slightly blurred by speed, Barbatos's Zone transformed once more. Blood-red cherry blossom petals seemed to bloom across its surface.
Ghost, Youmuu's Ghostblade, Highlander…
A series of abilities activated simultaneously within Barbatos. No holds barred!
The distance that had been closing, the near-parity, was forcibly stretched open again. This was Barbatos, truly giving her all!
200 meters left!
El Condor Pasa watched Barbatos's figure begin to pull away again. Behind her mask, a flicker of despair seemed to spread through her eyes—only to be utterly extinguished the next instant.
Replaced by sheer determination!
After months of relentless training, after countless practice runs with teammates and seniors—how could she fall here?!
She couldn't lose this race. She had to win, to go to the Arc de Triomphe, to become the world's number one Uma Musume!
She absolutely would not lose!
If her current self still couldn't match Barbatos, then she would surpass herself, shatter her own limits!
Her already all-out speed gained another sliver from her desperate push. But against Barbatos's acceleration, it seemed like a drop in the bucket, utterly unable to close the gap!
150 meters left!
Faster!
She had to be even faster!
The discomfort of forcing her legs to move beyond their rhythm made El Condor Pasa grit her teeth, but nothing could block her resolve to win, nothing could stifle her hunger for victory.
At that moment, the world before her seemed to shatter.
Everything looked like a reflection in a cracked mirror, fissures spreading across her vision.
"Aah!"
Under the strain of her desperate run, the fracturing world in her sight finally broke completely. Behind the mask, her pupils seemed to explode. The whole world seemed to hit the pause button.
All that remained was the track, herself, and Barbatos ahead!
Her steps suddenly felt light. Her stamina began to drain rapidly. And her speed instantly leapt another level!
She stopped losing ground to Barbatos. She even began to close the distance again, like a victor lunging for the line, throwing herself toward the finish!
100 meters to the finish!
Hearing those frantic footsteps closing in, Barbatos clenched her jaw, enduring the searing pain throughout her body as she tried to force her legs to move even faster.
Her body couldn't truly handle this top speed. Excruciating pain was already shooting through her legs, as if maintaining this pace meant she might never run again.
That feeling was probably close to the truth.
Medical exams had already flagged this very issue with her body. But she had healing abilities; she wasn't afraid of injury.
The pain from running at absolute maximum effort, however, was unavoidable.
'This time… I don't want to lose!'
"50 meters left! 50 meters! Can El Condor Pasa catch her? Can she catch Barbatos?!"
"40 meters!"
"El Condor Pasa is just half a length behind Barbatos!"
"20 meters!"
"Barbatos! Barbatos hits the line!"
"El Condor Pasa finishes a heartbreaking neck behind Barbatos!"
"This was nothing less than the highest level just below the Legends! Barbatos and El Condor Pasa are truly the prodigies of this era!"
"But this time, let's congratulate Barbatos!"
Akasaka Misato lavished praise, having never before witnessed such an exhilarating race.
Beside her, Take Yutaka shook his head with a wry smile, thinking to himself:
The highest level below Legends?
Hah.
If Barbatos had shown this level at the Winter Dream Cup, she would never have finished last.
The Barbatos and El Condor Pasa of today definitely possessed Legendary Uma Musume caliber—and not the kind that barely scrapes the bottom of that tier, either.
Of course, Take Yutaka had no intention of saying this aloud. It might offend the fans of the existing Legends.
--+--
At the finish line, both Barbatos and El Condor Pasa stood gasping for breath.
For them, stamina wasn't completely exhausted, but their desperate sprint had temporarily pushed their bodies past their limits.
'That was way too close.'
The thought crossed Barbatos's mind. This running style ultimately didn't suit her.
She was better as a closer. If she'd run from behind, even if El Condor Pasa had activated her Zone early, it wouldn't have mattered.
This time, even with her Zone from the start, she might have still been a bit overconfident.
At her absolute peak, with all her abilities unleashed, she could even surpass some of the Legends. Yet El Condor Pasa had still managed to close the gap.
If not for her, El Condor Pasa would undoubtedly be the strongest of this generation.
But both she and El Condor Pasa still had room to grow.
She couldn't wait for their next showdown!
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.