As the commentator's passionate voice echoed over the stadium, several horsegirls were the first to step out of the tunnel.
Sunlight spilled over their bodies, and polite yet enthusiastic applause rolled down from the stands.
Right after that, the commentator's tone lifted noticeably.
"Next up, a legend from Ireland! The undefeated general of Europe's battlefields—"
"Third most popular pick of the day! Number 9—Perilous Steed!!"
The applause instantly thickened into a dense roar.
The blonde Irish horsegirl emerged from the shadows, expressionless. She didn't interact with the crowd at all—her deep-blue eyes merely swept the track in a cold, detached scan.
That powerful, keep-your-distance aura made more than a few horsegirls warming up draw a sharp, involuntary breath.
As Perilous Steed's figure vanished into the bright light, only the final two remained in the dim competitors' tunnel—
Oguri Cap, and the home competitor, Chidobo.
"Haa…"
Chidobo adjusted her breathing lightly, listening to the muffled cheers outside—cheers that still hadn't fully settled after Perilous Steed's entrance.
She knew it well: the opponent up next would be even bigger.
Because this was Hong Kong.
This was her home.
Even if, in terms of raw strength, this cute black-haired, black-eyed girl understood things as clearly as a mirror—she knew that even with home advantage, her chances against international "monsters" like Perilous Steed and Oguri Cap weren't great.
But…
"If you're on the stage, you might as well enjoy it."
Chidobo turned her head to look at Oguri Cap beside her. A bright, sunny smile bloomed across her face.
She lifted her hand and waved openly. "Then—I'll go on ahead~"
With that, she pushed off on the balls of her feet and ran toward the exit, her steps lively and full of energy.
Almost the instant she burst out of the tunnel's shadow, a roar that nearly lifted the roof detonated behind her.
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting—!!"
"That's Sha Tin's pride! Hong Kong's jet-black gale—!!"
"Second most popular pick—Chidobo!!"
"OHHHHHHH—!!"
Home advantage showed itself without mercy in that moment. A landslide of cheers swallowed the entire venue whole.
Inside the tunnel—
Oguri Cap listened quietly to the ear-splitting tide of sound.
Only when that wave finally dipped a little did the commentator draw a deep breath, voice climbing even higher.
"And finally—!!"
"The one who made all of Europe tremble! Bearing the name of the Far East, the darling monster showered in limitless adoration!!"
"Number 14—without question, the top favorite—Oguri Cap!!"
Thunk.
Crystal racing shoes struck the ground with a crisp snap.
The ash-gray girl stepped forward, walking straight into the blazing, radiant stadium beyond.
…
At the tunnel entrance, that ash-gray figure slowly stepped into the sunlight.
The moment she was fully exposed to the view of nearly eighty thousand spectators at Sha Tin Racecourse, the already-noisy stadium erupted even louder.
This was no longer the image people had of her—plain, in a simple sailor-style outfit.
Oguri Cap was wearing the brand-new race outfit Kuroha had specially made for her.
White as fresh snow, tassels dancing.
Under the afternoon sun, she looked like a peerless blade finally drawn from its sheath—cold light biting, sharpness fully bared.
Inside the top-floor VIP box, Kuroha watched through the massive floor-to-ceiling window as the girl below instantly stole every eye in the stadium.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he murmured to himself.
"Go."
"Make this Pearl of the Orient remember your name."
…
On the turf, the sunlight was a little harsh.
After the last warmups ended, the starter's serious, steady voice came over the broadcast.
"All horsegirls, please enter the gates."
With the command given, fourteen competitors from all over the world began moving—one after another—toward the starting stalls.
At Gate 4.
Chidobo took a deep breath, then gave the familiar stands one last look…
She knew it. Against those two "monsters" forged on the world stage, her odds might not even reach ten percent.
But—
"This is Sha Tin. This is my home." A flash of resolve flickered in the black-haired girl's eyes.
Even if it was a moth flying into flame, she would burn through every last shred of stamina on the highest stage.
For this moment—for the glory of the first edition—she wouldn't hold anything back.
The girl who'd been so outgoing and bright before the race now had eyes lit with razor-edged fighting spirit.
In Gate 9.
Perilous Steed stepped into the stall with frost on her face. She closed her eyes slightly, then opened them again.
Through the narrow slit of the gate, her blue pupils locked onto the green corridor leading to the finish line—yet her mind was filled with the scene from months ago, in the Irish Champion Stakes, when Elmaamul had been suppressed from start to finish by that gray shadow.
"This time… I won't lose."
She swore it in her heart, and a chilling aura seeped from her body like cold air.
In the other gates, powerhouses from Europe, Australia, and beyond all tensed their muscles as well.
No one had come here with a tourist's mindset.
Those tangible waves of blazing battle intent converged together, and for a single instant, even the normally raucous Sha Tin Racecourse fell into silence.
Eighty thousand people held their breath, waiting for fate to begin.
Under countless eyes—
The commentator's voice, tightly compressing excitement, slowly rang out.
"Sha Tin Racecourse—clear weather, turf condition good."
"Now then, G1 turf, 1600 meters—the third Hong Kong Mile Championship…"
The signal lights changed in a flash.
Clack! The gates sprang open!
"The race begins—!!!"
Boom—!!!
All fourteen steel gates burst wide!
And in the same instant the doors opened, fourteen streaks of color tore through the air like lightning, surging onto the track!
(End of Chapter)
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