Only One Year Left—I'll Become a Legendary Uma Musume!

The air seemed to grow thick.

It wasn't the heaviness that came before rain; it felt more like...

Like the air had become a dense, flowing liquid?

At least, that's how it felt to Twilight Song—as if the entire world had suddenly slowed, making even her own strides more difficult.

Slowing down was inevitable—

Of course, a slight drop in speed was no big deal.

Given the immense advantage she'd already built up during the first half of the race, a minor reduction in pace would hardly matter. She could still win easily.

After all, she'd nearly put an entire straight's worth of distance between herself and the chasing pack!

But clearly, there was another variable at play.

"Twilight Song! Yaeno Muteki is here to challenge you!"

An unexpectedly fierce presence was rapidly closing in, a wild and reckless figure accompanied by a strange aura visible only to other Uma Musume.

She was serious, betting everything on this chance to challenge Twilight Song directly, fighting desperately for victory.

In that instant, Twilight Song fully understood what the girl behind her had done to catch up:

A [Zone].

A [Zone] was the result of an Uma Musume pushing her heart, wish, and determination to the absolute limit, manifesting miraculous abilities beyond physical laws through sheer obsession.

In other words...

A unique ability akin to an X-ray or a Signature Move.

Judging from the effects she was feeling, one aspect of Yaeno Muteki's [Zone] was clearly to slow down everyone else on the track.

This was the source of the strange, sticky feeling that had enveloped the race.

Its other effect was likely…stamina recovery? Speed boost?

Twilight Song couldn't tell yet, but one thing was clear:

If she didn't counterattack now, the gap between them would shrink drastically. And if Yaeno Muteki managed to sustain her burst, there was even a small chance she could overtake!

Twilight Song clicked her tongue and quickly made her decision…

"Oh! Yaeno Muteki! Yaeno Muteki is catching up! She's closing in fast! She's still pushing forward—does the former favorite intend to prove she's still a strong contender?!"

"Yaeno Muteki!"

Instantly, the previously suppressed cheers for Yaeno Muteki erupted throughout the stadium once again.

Boosted by her [Zone], Yaeno Muteki surged forward like a tiger lunging for prey, rapidly closing the previously unimaginable gap.

Was Twilight Song panicking?

No. At that moment, she became even calmer. She adjusted her stride, matched her rhythm to the track beneath her feet, remaining patient. The more urgent the situation, the calmer she needed to be…

The stickiness caused by Yaeno Muteki's [Zone] was the biggest issue. She only needed a brief moment to adapt…

One, two, three… Twilight Song counted down the seconds she required. Only when Yaeno Muteki closed to within ten horse-lengths did she finally react.

That's close enough. You don't get to come any nearer. Beyond this point, it's forbidden territory.

Twilight Song surged explosively, pressing her hooves deeply into the turf, adjusting her posture to break through the oppressive resistance and fiercely accelerate forward.

In essence, Yaeno Muteki's newly awakened, unrefined [Zone] increased the energy needed to accelerate, imposing a heavy burden.

Twilight Song's initial running style and posture couldn't have handled such resistance head-on.

But after making adjustments, things were entirely different.

Increased resistance? Extra burden?

Did they seriously think that something like this could make Twilight Song surrender or slow down?

She hadn't even considered activating her own [Zone] yet. She merely maintained her state of [Flow], pushing her speed ever higher.

Her stamina was draining faster, but that was irrelevant. Even with increased consumption—her effective range far exceeded 2,000 meters!

There was no issue at all!

Accelerate! Race wildly!

Twilight Song didn't glance back, didn't acknowledge the desperate challenger, Yaeno Muteki, who longed to engage her directly.

Instead, Twilight Song fully immersed herself, eyes fixed firmly on the finish line ahead.

Even when a dangerous, nauseating sensation rose in her throat, she ruthlessly swallowed it back down.

If she coughed up blood mid-race in the Satsuki Sho, her Uma Musume career would end on the spot.

Hating even the thought of that scenario, Twilight Song's stride became even fiercer.

Witnessing that renewed surge of speed, Yaeno Muteki—who had begun to see hope—now felt only despair.

"Will Twilight Song directly respond to this challenge? Will she answer Yaeno Muteki's call?"

The world vanished again from Twilight Song's sight. Only the distant finish line, the turf beneath her hooves, and the roaring cheers of the audience remained.

Something was blossoming within Twilight Song's heart, growing with each passing moment of determination and speed.

But Twilight Song had neither the time nor energy to savor the feeling. Gasping roughly, she endured Yaeno Muteki's oppressive [Zone], relentlessly driving herself forward.

Unnoticed even by herself, streams of white radiance began flickering at her hooves, like supernatural phenomena signaling the activation of a [Zone].

Yet, before Twilight Song realized it, she had transformed into a blazing comet—without formally activating anything.

"The final turn! Yaeno Muteki is still clinging closely—but can she sustain this pace?"

"Twilight Song leads into the corner—and she's accelerating again!? Unbelievable! Just how far can she go?"

"What about Yaeno Muteki? Can she catch up? Can she launch a second attack? Can she assassinate the rising Caesar at this crucial moment?"

"Yaeno Muteki enters the corner—Ah, she's slowing down! Is this…is this her giving up?!"

Yaeno Muteki grit her teeth. In the end, she couldn't risk such a dangerous maneuver.

It wasn't cowardice. She felt clearly how fragile her legs had become, unable to support the burden of another reckless push. With the gap still impossibly wide, there was simply no more hope.

The brunette Uma Musume watched bitterly as the white comet streaked across the finish line ahead, irritation clear on her face as she stubbornly continued running.

She grit her teeth, forcing steady breaths to maintain composure.

That monster…who can accelerate even under my [Zone].