"Yes," Myriad Dreams nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the dirt track, which felt entirely different from the grass.
The softness and feedback of the soil required a completely different exertion technique.
She adjusted her breathing and got ready at the simulated starting gate.
The signal sounded, and Myriad Dreams lunged forward.
However, by the middle of the run, members of Team Rigil —including Air Groove and T.M. Opera O— noticed a subtle stiffness in her movements.
Her speed wasn't fully unleashed, and she didn't look like she was sprinting at full power.
"Trainer Tojo, this is..." Air Groove couldn't help but ask, a hint of confusion in her voice.
Tojo Hana looked at the figure on the track with a calm expression and explained, "The instruction I gave her was an 'adaptation run.' The focus is on feeling the characteristics of the dirt and adjusting her stride and breathing rather than chasing the limits of her speed."
"On a first encounter, reckless exertion leads to injury and makes it harder to master the essence of the surface."
Everyone realized the reason.
No longer speaking, they quietly watched how Myriad Dreams handled this unfamiliar track.
Ultimately, Myriad Dreams finished the 1,000-meter dirt sprint with a time of 55.9 seconds.
For an Uma Musume trying dirt for the first time, this was already an outstanding result, showcasing her exceptional athletic talent and fundamental abilities.
"Wooo-wah! That's pretty amazing!" A vibrant voice rang out.
El Condor Pasa rushed in front of Myriad Dreams, her eyes shining with the excitement of finding a worthy opponent.
"Myriad Dreams-san, just watching you run was interesting! Come, come, let's have a match! How about on the turf? Let me see what you're really made of!"
Facing this sudden challenge, Myriad Dreams was momentarily stunned, but soon a competitive curve tugged at the corner of her mouth.
She could feel the powerful aura and competitive spirit radiating from El Condor Pasa.
The thrill of facing a strong enemy head-on made the fighting spirit within her begin to burn.
"Alright. I look forward to it, El Condor Pasa."
The two arrived at the standard turf track.
With the simulated start signal, two figures shot out like the wind.
El Condor Pasa took the lead with her characteristically bold and heroic running style, attempting to suppress the race with her rhythm.
However, Myriad Dreams' running form displayed startling precision and efficiency.
Every step she took felt like a precise calculation, and her stride was as standard as a textbook.
Even more surprising was that she seemed able to predict El Condor Pasa's next move, cutting her off or changing lanes in advance.
This left El Condor Pasa feeling restricted at every turn, finding the race unexpectedly difficult.
'This girl... what's going on?!'
El Condor Pasa was secretly shocked. The opponent's running style felt like an invisible net, constantly compressing her space.
Entering the final corner, the deciding moment arrived!
A sharp light flashed in Myriad Dreams' eyes as she seized a tiny opening caused by El Condor Pasa's growing impatience from failing to break through.
[Power Conversion] activated instantly, and her speed surged. Like a silver phantom, she overtook El Condor Pasa from the inside with perfect movements!
[Turbo Acceleration]!
On the final straight, Myriad Dreams accelerated again, completely locking in her advantage until...
She crossed the finish line.
The scoreboard displayed a stunning time— 1,000 meters on turf: 54.6 seconds!
"Huff... huff... Incredible! That was truly incredible!"
Even though El Condor Pasa lost, she wasn't discouraged at all.
Instead, she ran excitedly to Myriad Dreams' side and slapped her shoulder hard.
"That way of running— it's like you're playing chess! Next time! Next time we're doing this again!"
Tojo Hana looked at the data on the recorder, then at the exhausted but bright-eyed Myriad Dreams and the invigorated El Condor Pasa.
A flicker of understanding and deep thought passed through her calm eyes.
She picked up her notes and wrote down a key observation.
"Extremely strong competitive consciousness. When a lead target exists, focus, tactical execution, and final-leg explosive power are all significantly enhanced."
"Having an opponent in front triggers her fighting spirit and potential more thoroughly."
This point would perhaps become a vital basis for formulating future tactics.
Tojo Hana looked at Myriad Dreams, as if she could already see the storm this Uma Musume would stir up on the dirt tracks of the American continent.