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

The St. Leger Stakes.

As the final race of the British Triple Crown, it had borne witness to the birth of countless legends.

...

In September, at Doncaster Racecourse, Yorkshire.

Today, the crowd was enormous, astonishingly so—and the reason needed no explanation. Everyone was here to witness the dawn of a new legend.

And Twilight Song did not disappoint their expectations. Rather, there was no real possibility of an upset—

After all, the St. Leger Stakes was the third leg of the British Triple Crown, and her opponents were mostly familiar faces by now.

Thus, Twilight Song easily crushed the 2,900-meter left-handed course, claiming yet another decisive victory.

By how much did she win this time?

Seventeen seconds.

She even broke her own personal record.

Precisely because of this overwhelming performance, expectations soared even higher for her upcoming run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The logic was straightforward:

If she could produce such a result over 2,900 meters, then how long was the Arc's distance?

Just 2,400 meters.

Among those who enthusiastically popped champagne and cheered, the Japanese fans were particularly fervent.

They had hyped Twilight Song from the very beginning—

To the point where they'd crowned her the strongest in history, indisputably the greatest beneath the Three Goddesses themselves.

Twilight Song was aware of all the hype, though she felt powerless to stop it.

She couldn't exactly go on forums and declare she was herself, right? So, she could only redouble her efforts.

More importantly, what kept her from dwelling on these trivial matters?

Time.

The date of the St. Leger Stakes was September 15th.

After burning herself once again in this race, how much time did Twilight Song have left?

[Remaining time: 38 days, 13 hours, exactly 15 seconds.]

Honestly, she was quite surprised that there was still this much time left. Perhaps, after the Arc, she might actually have time to properly say goodbye… right?

Only now did Twilight Song clearly realize something.

Now, it seemed there was something else she feared even more than death. Yet, she couldn't quite pinpoint exactly what it was.

Unable to find an answer, the little filly sat blankly in the preparation room after finishing her interview. She waited for Mejiro Ramonu so they could leave together.

However, Ramonu didn't return alone. Instead, she walked through the door alongside someone Twilight Song never expected to see—

Symboli Rudolf?

When did she arrive?

The two legendary Uma Musume didn't waste any words. Instead, they took Twilight Song's hand and began leading her somewhere urgently, explaining as they walked without pausing.

"Something big has happened. You've got a challenger," Symboli Rudolf stated.

"Yes, and she's strong. Dancing Brave—you know her, right, Ruka?" Ramonu added.

Huh? Ah, how to put this… Of course Twilight Song knew this name very well.

She'd known her even before transmigrating.

The reason was simple:

In countless fan creations, Dancing Brave was often portrayed as the protagonist's greatest rival—this alone demonstrated her strength, didn't it?

More concretely:

She had genuinely won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Twilight Song's eye twitched.

So, what's the next plot development?

Me going head-to-head with Dancing Brave? Really?

As the three spoke, they returned to the broadcast studio they'd just left moments ago.

Yet at Ramonu's gesture, they didn't enter directly but paused around the corner, quietly listening to the interview inside.

"Miss Dancing Brave, may I ask about your reason for participating in the Arc this year?"

"You're asking if it has anything to do with that sensational newcomer lately, aren't you?"

Driven by curiosity, Twilight Song glanced towards the stage.

Dancing Brave was a rather tall tan Uma Musume with shiny brown hair, clearly taller even than Symboli Rudolf. Though slender, she had well-defined, powerful muscles visible on her arms.

Of course, she wasn't bulky—yet Twilight Song understood clearly at a glance.

She was no match.

At least, not in terms of sheer physical strength.

So this is who she would face next—her destined rival, a powerful legend, an Arc winner:

Dancing Brave.

She… wouldn't really have joined just because I'm participating, right?

Just as Twilight Song thought this, she saw something shocking.

Dancing Brave turned her gaze directly toward her hiding spot, offering a faint nod.

She'd been discovered?!

"You're referring to Miss Twilight Song, correct? Allow me to be more direct. Yes, the reason I joined this race was specifically to have a showdown with Twilight Song."

Dancing Brave's frankness startled all listeners—though it wasn't entirely unexpected.

Uma Musume were creatures driven by victory.

Challenging powerful rivals was something many relished.

"So, Miss Dancing Brave, does that mean you consider Twilight Song as the runaway Uma Musume with the greatest chance of conquering the Arc?"

A runaway Uma Musume conquering the Arc—that was an unfamiliar phrase to most fans, yet it was precisely why Twilight Song was becoming a legend.

The Arc had been held countless times, yet, to this very moment—

Not one runaway Uma Musume had ever won!

Not one!

And this was exactly why everyone eagerly placed their hopes on Twilight Song.

Front-runners were always fan favorites, inspiring a fervent belief unmatched by other running styles.

"I already said I would speak clearly, didn't I? So what I'm about to say next is from my heart—but it can also be considered a declaration of war against Miss Twilight Song."

Dancing Brave didn't hide anything. Her confidence was absolute, matched only by anticipation.

"Bring out everything you've got. Let's burn our lives together on the racetrack, Twilight Song—let's have a race so fierce…"

"A race so intense, we run as if fighting each other to the death!"

Dancing Brave folded her hands gently in front of her, speaking with unprecedented seriousness:

"Yes, that's exactly my view. If there's anyone in this world who can win the Arc from the front… no—"

"If there's only one person in the world who can achieve that feat, then it must be Twilight Song."

"That's the reason—the only reason—I'm participating in the Arc."

Dancing Brave's voice was resolute. She had studied Twilight Song's race footage countless times, and the legendary Uma Musume spoke with absolute conviction:

She, Dancing Brave, had discovered the perfect strategy to defeat Twilight Song.

You're incredible, truly incredible—or rather, I should thank you for being so extraordinary, because only then could I have the chance to defeat you.

Thus, Dancing Brave declared her entry onto the battlefield.