Hishi Miracle took a deep breath. The turf, soaked by the rain, carried a lingering, gloomy scent that felt even colder and more oppressive beneath the shadow of the starting gates.
Yet, she felt incredibly hot. Her heartbeat nearly drowned out the sound of the rain, and her blood felt like molten lava surging through her veins. The pulsing energy in her limbs was a clear sign: she was ready.
All the soul-searching had been done before the race. At this moment, Hishi Miracle didn't need to ponder what the Kikuka-sho meant to her. She only had one thing to consider.
Winning.
The Kikuka-sho was second only to the Spring Tenno Sho in distance—a grueling 3,000-meter marathon. Her greatest rival, Symboli Kris S, had never shown a particular edge in long-distance races.
The Kobe Shimbun Hai, held at Chukyo Racecourse, was only 2,000 meters.
Just because Symboli Kris S had beaten her there didn't mean history would repeat itself here at Kyoto.
That was likely why Symboli Kris S's trainer had strongly urged her to enter the Autumn Tenno Sho instead; 2,000 meters was where she truly shined.
Even if entering the Autumn Tenno Sho meant an inevitable clash with Equinox, her trainer had preferred those odds over today's Kikuka-sho.
"But my strength lies in stamina."
"So, the one who stands victorious at the end of these 3,000 meters can only be me!"
The moment the thought settled in her mind, the gates swung open. The chilled, rain-heavy air lunged at her, and then—
Bang!
Seventeen figures instantly kicked up a massive spray across the track. The curtain of rain was torn asunder, and the turf was pulverized.
In that heartbeat, the raw speed and power of the Uma Musume were on full display.
A sharp glint flashed in Hishi Miracle's eyes as she ran among the pack. The movements of the girls ahead and behind her became crystal clear; she could predict their next steps before their hooves even touched the ground.
"Right there!"
Hishi Miracle's stride was like a swimming dragon cutting through the rain, fluidly finding the perfect gap within the crowd.
Months ago, Liberty Island had run hundreds of simulations in the virtual pod to prepare for the Oka Sho, even defeating every past Triple Tiara winner.
Hishi Miracle, who considered herself a fool and utterly ordinary, would repeat that process even more times for this Kikuka-sho—perhaps her only chance at a G1 title in her life!
She had challenged every past Kikuka-sho champion and every Classic Triple Crown winner in those simulations.
Though she lost far more often than she won, running the race over and over had etched this track into her very soul.
Regardless of the weather or the track condition, Kyoto was always Kyoto, and the Kikuka-sho route remained unchanged.
If one wanted to gain an advantage here, the viable strategies and positioning points were technically finite. Even if the variations were as vast as a sea, Hishi Miracle had gritted her teeth and committed every single one to memory.
It was a "fool's method." She couldn't actually predict everyone's unique running style, but their patterns had been attempted by countless others in the past.
What Hishi Miracle did was imprint that history deep into her mind.
And then, she would recreate it here!
Every footfall was near-perfect; every corner was executed with breathtaking grace. Even using a "Between" strategy, hovering in the middle-rear of the pack, Hishi Miracle's seamless flow made her the most captivating Uma Musume on the field.
"If I keep this up... I can do it!"
But just then, Hishi Miracle felt an undeniable presence looming behind her.
From the corner of her eye, she saw a dark green figure tearing through the rain with the exact same posture.
"We are one-third of the way through the race. The positions have stabilized and likely won't change much before the final straight."
"Number two, Hishi Miracle, has opted for a 'Late Surger' strategy just like in the Kobe Shimbun Hai. But you can tell from the sheer fluidity of her form that she has far surpassed her past self!"
"In a surprising turn, number six, Symboli Kris S, has also chosen to run as a 'Late Surger,' trailing right behind Hishi Miracle! Did the 3,000 meters of the Kikuka-sho make her worry that a 'Front-Runner' pace would drain her stamina?"
Indeed, the source of that overwhelming pressure behind Hishi Miracle was Symboli Kris S.
She had abandoned the "Front-Runner" style she used in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, switching instead to match Hishi Miracle's "Late Surger" tactics.
I'm watching you.
Though no words were spoken, Hishi Miracle could strangely sense exactly what Symboli Kris S was thinking.
Despite the last-minute change in strategy, Symboli Kris S was a true genius.
Simply by following Hishi Miracle, she could instinctively mimic the ideal racing lines, conserving energy and building an advantage to break out from the pack later.
If she saved enough strength, she could overtake Hishi Miracle with her finishing kick on the final straight.
Hishi Miracle couldn't think of a way out of this. She didn't possess the natural intuition to sniff out a victory mid-race; she relied entirely on the perfect points she had memorized through endless repetition.
If she changed her pace now, she couldn't be sure she'd still be able to break through the crowd later. Confusing Symboli Kris S by shifting positions simply wasn't an option.
"Is it just going to be a stalemate then...?" Hishi Miracle thought, teeth clenched.
Her only hope now was that the 3,000-meter track would sap Symboli Kris S's strength, preventing her from unleashing that deadly closing speed on the final stretch.
As she brooded, the pack swept through the third turn. Hishi Miracle maintained her position with flawless form, and Symboli Kris S stuck to her like a shadow, securing a prime spot by mirroring her every move.
There was nothing wrong with Hishi Miracle's running style. She could feel she was on the right path.
But the gaze from Symboli Kris S behind her was so intense that, despite having the "perfect answer," Hishi Miracle felt for a fleeting moment as if she were trapped in a cage.
Any other Uma Musume with less mental fortitude might have faltered under that stare, their performance crumbling from the pressure. But Hishi Miracle was a racer forged in the fires of countless simulations.
Compared to Dream Weaver in the virtual world, Symboli Kris S's gaze lacked true oppressive weight—and it couldn't even begin to compare to that "Divine Blade" that felt as though it could cleave the very heavens.
Under that unwavering stare, Hishi Miracle remained calm, desperately calculating her path to victory. She looked toward the next curve, and the layout of the Kikuka-sho unfolded in her mind.
"The Kikuka-sho is broken down into four straights and six turns, including the final straight and final corner."
"We've passed the third turn and are approaching the fourth. After this corner comes the Kyoto Racecourse's infamous long uphill straight!"
She looked past the racers ahead of her, peering down the track.
"Passing that straight leads directly into the fifth and final turn. Symboli Kris S's stamina will be chipped away bit by bit."
"If I can drain her there—if I can keep her from exploding into her final sprint—"
"I'll win!"
--+--
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.