Hishi Amazon's triumph in the Shuka Sho meant the crowns of the Tiara line were shared equally among the three distinct Umamusume of the "Big Three." It was a breathtaking rivalry that vividly echoed the legendary era of BNW.
And now, the final leg of the Classic Triple Crown—the Kikuka Sho—was about to unfold, just as it once had for Biwa Hayahide, one of the pillars of that same BNW.
Unsurprisingly, the overwhelming first choice was the undefeated dual-crown titleholder, an existence so utterly dominant she stood head and shoulders above her entire generation: Team Rigil's Narita Brian. Her greatest rival, Sakura Laurel, had made a daring expedition to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and secured an incredible second-place finish, but the grueling schedule made a Kikuka Sho appearance practically impossible.
Therefore, if one had to name a threat, only Offside Trap remained.
"Even for Trap, taking her down is going to be a monumental task."
The speaker was Mejiro Rampage. Having closely observed Narita Brian during her time as the head chief of Nemesis, Rampage was an Umamusume who frequently visited Trainer Kuronuma's office.
Trap had poured her soul into blood-sweat training, borrowing the immense strength of Mihono Bourbon. She pushed herself with a fierce, burning resolve, determined to gift the Kikuka Sho trophy to Bourbon and Kuronuma. She entered the race in absolute peak condition—a state so flawless that Kuronuma himself had given her his highest seal of approval.
Finally, the day arrived.
"And they're off! The Umamusume who have charged down the Triple Crown highway now hurtle down Kyoto's famous slope together! But look at that explosive acceleration out of the pack—it's Offside Trap! Offside Trap surges forward, seizing the initiative!"
"She's taking a slightly wide line, but she skillfully uses the slope's momentum and centrifugal force to drift outward while rocketing to the front! Offside Trap takes the lead! The Umamusume who passionately vowed to bring the Kikuka Sho crown home to her trainer and her senior is now setting the pace! Here comes the Kyoto homestretch! Can Offside Trap hold them off to the line?!"
Even while flying down Yodo's treacherous slope, Trap had brilliantly turned the terrain to her advantage. Utilizing a high-risk, high-reward strategy reminiscent of Mister C.B., she seized the lead and immediately unleashed her final, desperate spurt, completely burning away any thoughts of pacing herself.
All I can do now is shake them off! I won't let anyone run ahead of me ever again!
There was not a single shred of complacency in her run. If anything, her mind was entirely consumed by hyper-vigilance and a raw determination to give everything she had.
And yet—only a few seconds after entering the homestretch, she saw it.
Directly ahead of her was the back of an Umamusume who was undeniably, effortlessly transcending Trap's own absolute maximum speed. Her posture was incredibly low, practically crawling along the earth. As if to further amplify her already terrifying leg power, her stride underwent a violent transformation, keeping her head drastically low to the turf.
Trap recognized that form instantly. That was—the Full-Body Drive.
"Na—Narita! Narita! Naritaaa!!! From the absolute outside, Narita Brian! Narita Brian is tearing up the track! In the blink of an eye, she blows past Offside Trap to seize the lead! Narita Brian! And she's pulling away, wider and wider!"
"Offside Trap is stretching her legs with everything she has left! The massive gap to the rest of the field proves she is running the race of her life, and yet this monster is trampling all over her efforts! Is this the true power of Biwa Hayahide's younger sister, Narita Brian?! The little sister is flawless! She is absolutely flawless!"
"Offside Trap has locked down a definitive second place, but Narita Brian has done it again! She brings an Undefeated Triple Crown home to Team Rigil!!! The third undefeated Triple Crown Umamusume in history is born! Behold the Monster of the Shadow Roll, Narita Brian!!!"
Trap's final spurt had been undeniably world-class. Under any normal circumstances, it wouldn't have been a surprise at all if she had crossed the finish line first. Yet, despite being forged and perfected by Bourbon and Kuronuma, she was utterly, helplessly suppressed.
A devastating margin of over ten lengths separated first and second place. It was the definitive, undeniable manifestation of a monster's power.
"...Man, that is terrifying."
Rampage's words were short and simple, but they perfectly encapsulated the sheer shock hanging over the crowd. Just when it looked like Trap had stolen the race by seizing the lead and locking into a front-running rhythm, Brian's stride had swallowed her whole in a single heartbeat.
"Bestie... Brian-san's running form just now... Was that from your...?"
Fine Motion looked over at her, her voice trembling slightly. Rampage wore a complex expression that could have been taken as either confirmation or denial.
It wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say that Brian's form had already been complete. She was already more than powerful enough exactly as she was, but now she had unlocked an even deeper, more terrifying reservoir of strength. Rampage stood speechless in the face of that overwhelming power—a power she herself had arguably handed to Brian.
"No joke... we are looking at the birth of a Triple Crown Umamusume who might actually surpass the President."
Currently, the absolute pinnacle of Triple Crown Umamusume was recognized as the Emperor herself, Symboli Rudolf. While some might argue Tokai Teio deserved that title, Teio herself would never accept it; placing Rudolf at the apex was the undisputed truth.
And yet... looking at Brian's run, one couldn't help but feel something that transcended even Rudolf's legendary style. Her aura was so thick with raw majesty that it sent an involuntary shiver down the spines of everyone watching.
"Man, this year's Arima Kinen is going to be an absolute bloodbath."
Nice Nature, Ikuno Dictus, and Twin Turbo would surely be there, and Rice Shower would undoubtedly join the fray. On top of that, you had the BNW trio, Brian, and now Hishi Amazon likely entering the mix... It wasn't just a gathering of rivals; it was a clash of titans on a scale rarely seen in history. The only Arima that could even compare would be the one Rampage herself had run in years ago.
"With every passing generation, such incredible Umamusume continue to emerge... So this is the standard of Japan," Piccolo Player mused.
The peak strength of one era was passed down to the next, becoming a cloak that the new generation wore to grow even stronger. From here on out, the competitive level of Japanese racing would surely accelerate at a staggering pace. Because the legendary strength of the past had already been inherited by the present—and it would continue to propagate into the future.
Laurel. Next... we settle things, you and I.
For Brian, this Kikuka Sho was merely a necessary stepping stone—a race she was meant to win as a matter of course. If she were to trip up in a place like this, she wouldn't have the face to show her. Just as Sakura Laurel had desired, Brian wanted nothing more than to settle their score.
Which race would serve as their final stage? She didn't know yet. But for now...
I kept my promise, Laurel. Tell me, am I finally an opponent worthy of you?
Her chest swelled with a profound sense of fulfillment for keeping her word, tightly intertwined with a burning anticipation for the ultimate showdown to come.
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