April, the season when cherry blossoms bloomed.
The Tenno Sho, watched by countless people, opened as scheduled.
Amid the heated cheers from the venue, the participating runners stepped onto the platform one by one. As their red capes fluttered, so did their individual passion and dreams. A GI grand race was the highest stage every umamusume pursued. After all, not every umamusume held the ambition to chase the Triple Crown or become the strongest. For many runners, simply appearing here had not come easily. All of them were eager to show their brilliance.
That passion lasted only until the runner dressed in a pitch-black battle robe appeared.
The aura she displayed was clearly different from that of the other participants. In her deep, stagnant-water eyes, there was no dream and no radiance. Merely standing there, she seemed like a black hole, and the atmosphere of the venue cooled with her arrival.
Demon King Gold Ship looked at the Overlord on the stage, took the initiative to applaud, and gave her a look that said, I've got high hopes for you.
The Overlord decisively ignored that thrill-seeker. Her gaze swept over the other runners like a beast inspecting its prey, and finally locked onto today's main character, [Mejiro McQueen]. In that instant, the once-confident Chubby McQueen felt something was wrong. The Overlord's presence was simply too powerful.
"So she really is coming for me?"
[Mejiro McQueen]'s expression grew serious by reflex. Before the race even began, she had already regarded the Overlord as her greatest opponent.
That intense presence simply did not allow her to relax.
Backstage, Tokai Teio was stopped by staff. After receiving the news, Demon King Gold Ship laughed even more happily.
Idiot.
In the end, Tokai Teio had no choice but to give up on entering the race this way. She came to the spectator area and looked worriedly at the two girls who were like her disciples. When she saw the Overlord's figure, she still could not stop herself from clicking her tongue, then turned and searched for another figure.
Then, at the highest position, she saw Demon King Gold Ship accompanied by umamusume bodyguards. As if she very much wanted to see Tokai Teio mentally break, Demon King Gold Ship gave Tokai Teio a mocking smile.
"With the spring breeze, blooming flowers, and birdsong, the Tenno Sho begins as scheduled. Which umamusume will claim victory in today's Tenno Sho? Now, let us take a look at the situation at the venue, where these powerful runners have gathered for a single goal."
...
Once the popular runners had been introduced, the commentator began briefly introducing the other participants in one sentence each. The Overlord was among them. However, to avoid causing panic, the commentator had been instructed by those above not to speak carelessly on that subject. He only said that she was a newcomer making her first appearance in the Twinkle Series.
As for why her first official race was an older-horse GI?
With interference from higher-ups, that was not difficult.
"All right, the runners are ready."
The commentator watched as the participants began entering the gates. After finishing the introductions, he deliberately spoke in an expectant tone to stir the audience's emotions.
"The gates are filled."
The once noisy stands fell silent in an instant.
Only a few low whispers continued exchanging information.
"This is the second race [Mejiro McQueen] is participating in this year. Judging by her performance, barring anything unexpected, she intends to challenge the legendary Spring Triple Crown. But that will not be easy..."
"Mm. It is very difficult."
"But..." The man with glasses who had first brought up the topic suddenly grew excited again. "She is undoubtedly an umamusume who might accomplish it. She has already shown people that hope. Just look at today's venue. Even though enthusiasm for racing has dropped quite a bit recently, today's venue is full. Everyone came to witness [Mejiro McQueen]."
"That's amazing." The bespectacled man's friend asked anxiously, "Since that's the case, can she win?"
"Of course!" The man with glasses smiled confidently. "This is the umamusume we've watched all the way here. No one should understand better than you and me just how strong she is now!"
"Yeah. She'll definitely win."
The two of them smiled at the same time, perfectly in sync.
For fans who loved umamusume and racing, witnessing the umamusume they supported reach this point was the happiest thing imaginable. They trusted the umamusume they supported completely. How could today's [Mejiro McQueen] lose? How could she possibly lose?
But [Mejiro McQueen], who had been jinxed so hard that chills ran through her body, felt uneasy inside the gate.
What was this? How long had it been since she felt so out of form?
Could I be... afraid?
Impossible!
What kind of scene have I not seen? I even held on until the end of that final. How could I possibly be afraid?
Overlord!
To call yourself by that name, you truly make no attempt to hide your ambition. I do not know where you get the confidence to view me as your prey, but do not think everything will go as you expect. I am a woman bonded to the "strongest"!
But just as [Mejiro McQueen] comforted herself that way, the signal sounded. Only then did she realize the race had already begun. Her mind slightly disturbed, she was late at the start. Even the commentator, seeing her movement, could not help mentioning it specifically.
"Oh my, at the gate, [Mejiro McQueen]'s movement seemed a little hesitant."
As a popular runner, every move [Mejiro McQueen] made drew the attention of the entire venue. Even the other participants were watching her position. No one expected that she, a runner starting with the Runner strategy, would bring everyone such a surprise right from the gate.
"How can this be? [McQueen] had a late start!"
"No way. Is it because she's racing repeatedly in such a short time? But when the Osaka Hai ended, she looked fine. How could she be late at the very beginning?"
Hearing the audience's discussion, Tokai Teio's expression grew heavy.
Only after noticing that the Overlord had not yet begun her slaughter did she breathe a sigh of relief. Aside from its release range, [Fusion] had no real limitations. And the Overlord's Fusion was clearly more terrifying than Rice Shower's, because the Overlord could keep [Fusion] active continuously, unlike Rice Shower, who could only release it against a single target.
So...
It was truly fortunate that the Overlord had not been releasing Fusion race after race.
At this moment, the Overlord remained at the very back of the pack. In this race, she was running as a Chaser. Although she did not have Demon King Gold Ship's vulgar interests, she still chose this method of pressuring the others, because this was her only mercy. If they chose to withdraw now and flee from this place, she would not attack such weaklings. But if they chose to remain on this battlefield, then they should not blame her for showing no mercy.
"They have entered the middle straight. The current leader remains [Mejiro McQueen]. It looks like she has fully recovered her condition. In second is Mejiro Palmer, who also seems to have chosen to run all out in the race. However, compared with [Mejiro McQueen]'s mature running, Mejiro Palmer is still unable to control the pace properly."
"Next is [Tokai Teio]. Although there is currently a fairly large gap between her and the two leaders ahead, [Tokai Teio]'s performance remains calm. She has not recklessly launched a sprint."
[Tokai Teio] looked at the figure ahead, her heart surging as she thought, This is the race I wanted. As expected, [McQueen], you can make my blood boil again!
She really is strong.
But I am going to win!
[Tokai Teio] calculated the distance of the course.
The runners in the rear looked at the figures ahead with heavy hearts. As expected, [Mejiro McQueen]'s strength was monstrous. Even after a late start, she had reclaimed her racing rhythm. Mejiro Palmer's appearance was somewhat unexpected, but everyone could tell that she did not truly know how to run this style. She was merely forcing her way through with sheer grit.
At this pace, Mejiro Palmer would not last until the final phase. That threat could be ignored.
But [Tokai Teio]'s rhythm was terrifying. She had actually managed to bite onto [Mejiro McQueen]'s slipstream. From the way she ran, it was obvious she was still controlling her rhythm. Once the timing arrived, her burst would undoubtedly be astonishing.
"So they really have surpassed us by far now."
Biwa Hayahide felt the difficulty of running. Her speed could no longer continue rising, yet for those two, this was still a performance where they were holding something in reserve.
Barring anything unexpected, the victory would be decided between those two, right?
Just as Biwa Hayahide thought this, a spine-chilling cold suddenly came from behind her.
In the stands, Demon King Gold Ship and the others noticed this scene at the same time.
Although the black-hole-like figure had deliberately fallen behind the main pack during the first half of the race, as the race entered the middle phase, her patience had run out. That terrifying ZONE had unfolded. Its power was worlds apart from everyone else's, almost reaching the realm of gods and demons. It was not something these weaklings could oppose.
"It finally started. What a waste of time."
Demon King Gold Ship's words were unpleasant, but the smile on her face made it clear that she was very satisfied with the Overlord's approach. This was how it should be. The strong should ruthlessly bully the weak and teach them what power was, what despair was.
"..."
Tokai Teio clenched her fists.
Damn it. Was there truly no way to stop this?
At that moment, the two girls on the field had not immediately reacted yet, but the situation behind them had already become a wreck.
Biwa Hayahide looked at the Overlord's back with awe.
She could not react at all.
In a single instant, she had lost.
And it was not merely that she had lost. As an umamusume of her level, she could already notice her own power draining away.
In the instant she was caught, she seemed to see a bottomless abyss.
And she had already fallen.
"The Overlord is catching up! So fast! This instantaneous explosive power is terrifying, and it seems to carry a dreadful interference effect!"
In the stands, Air Groove asked Symboli Rudolf, "Are we truly not taking action? Now that her identity is exposed, she can no longer escape!"
But Symboli Rudolf remained silent.
Because she had remembered what one of the elders in her family had told her. The other party's request for a race outfit had been approved by the Three Goddesses. Although the Overlord's power truly would harm other runners, it was not an illegal method. It was the power the Overlord possessed as an umamusume. They had no standing to target her actions. After all, they could not forbid the Overlord from using ZONE in a race simply because the effect of her power was what it was.
Faced with that question, Symboli Rudolf could not find an answer.
And she could not stop this race.
Now, even the higher-ups of the Association had changed their stance toward the Overlord. After all, receiving the recognition of the Three Goddesses meant that the other party had not used any illegal method in the race.
For now, they could only keep watching.
Symboli Rudolf chose to continue observing.
This was not because she was indecisive. Her influence truly could no longer affect this matter. Perhaps, just as her grandmother had said, the only way left was to defeat the Overlord openly and honorably in a race.
Only that could stop this monster.
Thinking this, Symboli Rudolf looked toward Tokai Teio's position. Fortunately, that child had come to help them.
Otherwise, they probably would not be able to find anyone who could deal with the Overlord.
"Now!"
In the race, [Tokai Teio] activated a skill. In an instant, she threw Mejiro Palmer, who had lost her strength and fallen back, behind her and chased after [Mejiro McQueen], who had entered ZONE.
ZONE was not invincible.
In the end, ZONE was only another kind of skill. If that was the case, then as long as one used skills to raise one's own strength to that realm, one could likewise defeat ZONE!
Fire burst from [Tokai Teio]'s eyes.
Without question, although she could not control this power as perfectly as McQueen, she had awakened to it.
Under her intense desire, she could naturally do it too.
[McQueen], you are not the only one who has grown stronger!
It was true that she had not made it into that final, but she had not been eliminated in the first round either. The improvement she had gained was no less than [McQueen]'s. She had only been unlucky and failed to enter the final as [McQueen] had. So now, she absolutely could not lose!
"You actually caught up? [Teio]!"
When [Mejiro McQueen] first heard the footsteps, she thought the Overlord had caught up. She had not expected it to be [Tokai Teio]. After all, from the very start, she had not considered [Tokai Teio] an opponent today. But now, she truly felt surprised.
"Heh. Can you keep up?"
"Of course!"
Their eyes met, and they understood each other.
Then they entered the final stretch almost side by side.
"Final straight!"
While the two of them were still competing passionately, the spectators were already staring in silence at the figure flashing through the corner like a streak of black light. She had clearly fallen so far behind, yet she was visibly about to catch up. The sight was too terrifying.
"Seriously?"
"What kind of strength is that?"
"Too strong. You can see how powerful she is at a glance!"
Cold sweat broke out over the spectators.
This runner called Overlord truly was something of a monster. Was this really a newcomer appearing in her first official race?
Just as they entered the final stretch and [Tokai Teio] and [Mejiro McQueen] were about to decide the winner between them, both of them suddenly noticed that their stamina was being consumed at an abnormal rate. Their running speed had also slowed, as if something had hooked onto them.
What was this gravity?
A terrifying chill rushed from behind straight to the backs of their heads.
...
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