"This is practically legendary-level racing! Barbatos and El Condor Pasa are truly the prodigies of our time!"
"But this time, let's congratulate Barbatos!"
On the television screen, the voice of Akasaka Misato narrated the outcome of the first leg of the Triple Tiara, declaring Barbatos's victory.
The members of Team Spica had gathered together to watch this race.
Even though none of them were scheduled to race against El Condor Pasa or Barbatos anytime soon, if they all kept winning, a clash on the track was inevitable.
This Oka Sho was a race that every Uma Musume, and everyone involved in the racing world, would inevitably watch.
Special Week had her hands over her eyes, her fingers parted just enough to peek through.
Both El-chan and B-chan were dear friends of hers. Whichever of them won the Oka Sho, she would be genuinely happy for them.
But watching friends compete against each other always made the final outcome a bit hard to witness.
Because that's what a race was—there would always be someone who lost.
'B-chan won.'
'El-chan must be really hurting right now.'
She couldn't help but think about it. Her somewhat guileless nature meant she hadn't quite picked up on the current atmosphere in the dormitory yet.
"Whoa, now this is just excessive," muttered Trainer Okino, his expression slightly dazed. The lollipop in his mouth tumbled to the floor.
If the reason for gathering all of Spica to watch this race was to gauge just how strong Barbatos and El Condor Pasa were, to motivate his charges to train harder...
Well...
This gap seemed a bit too wide.
Just as the title 'prodigies of our time' suggested, even though Special Week, Daiwa Scarlet, Vodka, and Gold Ship had all won their debut races with impressive results...
Special Week, in particular, had shown remarkable talent. Even though she lost to King Halo and Seiun Sky in the Yayoi Sho, he had already devised countermeasures.
The gap between them wasn't insurmountable; victory in the Satsuki Sho wasn't an impossible dream.
But that was about it!
If Barbatos and El Condor Pasa had run in the Satsuki Sho instead of the Oka Sho...
Then even if Special Week wouldn't have been left too far behind, possessing that frightening multi-stage acceleration to chase them, Okino couldn't envision any scenario where Special Week could actually beat them.
Unless she surpassed her own limits and activated her 'Zone', there might be a sliver of a chance.
'Are all the prodigies in this generation just monsters?'
Thinking this, he couldn't help but glance at Silence Suzuka. She remained her usual self, showing no particular shock or surprise.
If it were Suzuka facing Barbatos and El Condor Pasa, what would that scene be like?
At least in the early stages, Silence Suzuka's 'Great Escape' would be faster than theirs, though the lead might not be huge. The real decider would still be the final stretch.
But compared to the current Special Week...
Silence Suzuka was still in the same league as them, with a greater probability of winning.
Right then.
On the TV screen, Akasaka Misato's voice rang out again.
"Third place! In a dramatic finish, it's Dramatic Development!"
"Fourth place! Sakura Rambler!"
"Fifth place!"
"..."
The Uma Musume further back crossed the finish line one after another.
But unlike usual, the electronic screen at Hanshin Racecourse didn't immediately display the time gap between third place and second, as if it had malfunctioned.
Perhaps it was because the gap in lengths was simply too large to calculate instantly.
And even among the backmarkers, aside from the third and fourth finishers, there were still considerable gaps.
Some Uma Musume, pushed by the blistering pace set by Barbatos and El Condor Pasa, had lost steam. They were overtaken again by the mid-pack, lacking the stamina to sustain speed over the full 2000 meters.
"The official result is in! Dramatic Development takes third place, 27 and a quarter lengths behind second!"
Akasaka's voice carried a certain magic, washing over the live spectators and viewers, momentarily hushing the cheers for Barbatos and the sighs for El Condor Pasa.
All the spectators fell silent upon hearing that gap.
One second, two seconds...
After who knows how many seconds, an earth-shattering roar of cheers erupted from the stands.
Viewers watching the live broadcast, those at their computers, flooded the stream with comments expressing their utter astonishment.
27 and a quarter lengths!
Nearly 30 lengths of difference!
A gap like that was like the distance between a newborn baby and an Olympic athlete.
An insurmountable chasm.
Perhaps if Barbatos and El Condor Pasa hadn't employed such a fierce front-running strategy, the gap wouldn't have been so vast. But with this running style, the difference between the prodigies of the era and ordinary Uma Musume was laid utterly bare!
Watching from the stands, even Minamizaka's mouth fell slightly open.
He recalled his conversation with Barbatos outside Hanshin Racecourse after her debut race.
Back then, he had advised Barbatos not to enter the Winter Dream Cup, worried it would shatter her confidence, believing a Uma Musume only a few months into her career wasn't ready for that level.
After Barbatos decided to participate anyway, Minamizaka had set a small goal for her.
Don't let the legendary Uma Musume open up a lead of more than 20 lengths.
But now, the prowess Barbatos displayed was like how Minamizaka had viewed her entering the Winter Dream Cup back then.
Only the roles were reversed. Barbatos was like one of the legends from the Dream Cup!
She had opened up a lead of over 20 lengths on the field behind her, with only El Condor Pasa able to put up a fight!
At the finish line.
Barbatos steadied her breathing, preparing to rise and enjoy the victor's moment.
"Tsk—"
A sharp pang of pain shot through her. The muscle strain from running at ultra-high speeds was still there. An injury like this could require a long recovery, maybe even force an early retirement.
The pain she'd suppressed during the race felt even more pronounced now that it was over.
But she couldn't show it.
She pretended nothing was wrong and stood up. An invisible healing ability activated, instantly repairing most of the damage.
Without anyone involved even noticing, a ripple of that intangible power splashed onto El Condor Pasa, who had finished just a hair's breadth behind.
Walking over to El Condor Pasa, Barbatos reached out a hand to help her up. El Condor Pasa was still catching her breath.
"What's with the downcast look? Don't tell me you're crying."
"Am not."
El Condor Pasa lifted her head. Her eyes were slightly red-rimmed. Struggling against the sting of defeat, she forced a smile and a look of confidence onto her face.
"You got me this time, B-chan. But I'll win it back in the Japanese Oaks!"
--+--
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.