“-wn? Or will Mr C. B. defend her first crown?”

  Symboli Rudolf enters her gate, which is narrow and cold. But that doesn’t matter as she gets into position, like a statue, and her legs are like a coiled-up spring. She ignores all distractions from her senses and only focuses on the finish line.

  Mr C. B. enters the gate next to Symboli Rudolf.

  “Hey.” She grinned as she got in a running position, but Symboli Rudolf didn't respond to her words, making her chuckle excitedly.

  Her free-spirited soul is ready to fly out of the gate and defend her first crown.

  “Click… Click…” The loud cnking of the gate startled some of the umamusume as it was about to open. The tension is rising and making some of the umamusume become nervous as they wait for the gate to open.

  “...”

  The audience starts to lower their voice as they anticipatedly wait for the race to start.

  “Cng!”

  “Every Umamusume is off to a good start. Will the Beno Night push forward? Will she, or won’t she? Tropica- Oh!”

  The cheers of the audience got louder as Symboli Rudolf got the lead, striding forward at her own pace and speed to the point it looked effortless. Rudolf feels the air entering her lungs and out of her nose as she solely focuses on crossing the finish line.

  “Symboli Rudolf has taken the lead and increased the pace of the race!”

  “Onward Cameroun is shadowing…”

  Mr C. B.was easily overwhelmed by Symboli Rudolf's speed and only managed to save her spot as 2nd pce.

  “... Huh?”

  While watching the start of the race, Echo Eclipse feels something is off, as if something doesn’t feel… whole. Mr C. B. is a senior, so why is he racing his junior? That’s not right. Why would he be running this race to start with?

  Shouldn’t he be preparing for the senior circuit?

  She looks to the right to ask a question before noticing that Tazuo isn’t there anymore, or rather. She is the only one in the empty spectator ring.

  “Don’t be afraid, filly.” Echo recognises that voice. She looked down at the now-empty race track, and there was the blue-haired goddess.

  “What’s happening?”

  “A dream.” She spoke gently, and before Echo Eclipse noticed, she was now on the track, outside the gates. She rubbed her forehead in pain as she seemed to remember memories from a 3rd person view about Mr C. B. being there at that fence when Symboli Rudolf cheered her up, but did Mr C. B. really have that exact conversation?

  “Is that why… I can’t remember training the past week before the Satsuki Sho?”

  The blue-haired goddess smiled warmly.

  “...”

  “...”

  “Do you want to run alongside us?”

  “I do.”

  “What about Symboli Rudolf?”

  “I do.”

  “But what if we want you to win?”

  “I…”

  “This dream is an accumution of your deepest desire.” She gently pointed at Echo Eclipse’s chest. Her eyes are as deep as the ocean.

  “But… Isn’t it running?”

  “No, something else was born.”

  “...”

  “The desire to win.”

  “I… I do?” She looks at her hands.

  “Once you wake up, you will forget most of this. Except the burning core of desire in your heart.” She hummed as her long, blue hair swayed and she got in her running position.

  “Run with me.”

  “I will.”

  In an instant, the goddesses sprinted ahead. There were already 6 lengths between them when Echo Eclipse finally flew ahead like the wind.

  ‘I want to catch up. I want to surpass her.’ Her speed accelerated faster and faster and faster.

  She kept speeding up until it felt like the w of reality no longer chained her.

  She is catching up. 5 length. 4 Length. 3 Length. 1 length. Echo tries to reach out and grab the goddess before…

  “Mh?” Echo Eclipse wakes up from a nap on the sofa in one of the club rooms that isn’t occupied by a team. She wonders what she was dreaming about. She is usually able to remember her dreams in great detail.

  But something has changed; she doesn’t know what it is, but she wants to win. No matter what.

  [System Alert. Unique Skill.]

  [Ding! You have awakened your unique skill]

  [Run til the chain breaksWhen entering the final phase of the race, if Echo Eclipse’s spirit remains unbroken, she will accelerate freely as if nothing in this world could bind her stride.]

  …

  ..

  .

  “Trainer-san.” Echo walked up to her trainer.

  “Mh? It isn’t like you to not be running, what's wrong?”

  “When is Satsuki Sho?”

  “In 6 days, why?”

  “Will Mr C. B. be there?”

  “No?”

  She tilted her head; she thought that Mr C. B. would be racing against Sym… Symbo. Symbo Rudolf. Tazuo is confused as to why all of a sudden, Echo Eclipse took an interest in Symboli Rudolf's first cssic crown race. She would only care about running and being able to run alongside other umas.

  “Hm… Kay.” She nodded before running off.

  “Did… she change somehow?” He spoke after noticing something off about Echo Eclipse.

  ***

  “Rudolf.” She walks up to her.

  “Mh?”

  “Win the race.”

  “Obviously,” Symboli spoke before training again.

  “...”

  “...”

  They both nodded to each other before proceeding to do their own training.

  ***

  “It’s that time of the year once again! Welcome to the first race of the Cssic Triple Crown Series, the Satsuki Sho.” The commentator’s voice echoed through his introduction before the spectators started cheering.

  “Today’s condition is cloudy. But no signs of rain, and we can feel the excitement rising in the air. All eyes are on this year’s favourite and second-favourite, Symboli Rudolf and Bizen Nishiki, respectively.”

  The audience cheered loudly as Echo Eclipse stood there, her eyes focused on the tunnel where the runner exited, before tilting her head again. Wondering why she feels déjà vu.

  “Nakayama Racecourse, turf, and 2000m.” The commentator spoke swiftly, getting ready to continue the introduction by increasing the hype.

  “This year’s Satsuki Sho features eighteen entrants.”

  “The Satsuki Sho is the first race of the Cssic Triple Crown Series.”

  “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime challenge for these runners.”

  At that moment, the audience’s voices slimmer down.

  “Bizen Nishiki is making their way to the gate.”

  “The Wild Sea is making their way to the gate.”

  “Onward Cameroun is making their way to the gate.”

  “Tonight, Festive is making their way to the gate.”

  “Suzu Parade is making their way to the gate.”

  “Lea…”

  …

  ..

  .

  “Symboli Rudolf is making their way to the gate.” At the mention of his name, the audience cheers for him, and for some reason. Echo had expected this, making her confused as to why.

  “Symboli Rudolf appears to be in top form, and just listen to those cheers!”

  “Which of these runners will be taking home the first crown?

  Echo Eclipse sees Rudolf entering her gate, and despite being unable to communicate with each other. She can feel that this will be Symboli Rudolf's first entrance as the emperor… She tilted her head again, why emperor?

  Everybody in the spectator rings calmed down, and only the sound of the wind was heard. Echo stares at Rudolf with a determined stare.

  Almost simultaneously, all the umamusume burst out of the starting gates.

  They could not afford to g behind, as it could y the foundation for victory or defeat in the race. But Rudolf doesn’t care about that as she sets the pace for the race by taking the lead. Running at such speed without straining his stamina early on.

  Bizen Nishiki clicked her tongue once she saw this. She saw the speed at which Symboli Rudolf runs in the training field. If she wants to take first pce, she must surpass her.

  Bizen Nishiki shot herself ahead, her legs coiling like a compressed spring, her calves pressing against her thighs before uncoiling in the opposite direction, digging deep footprints into the firm turf.

  “Bizen Nishiki is making her way from the inside! She is now in 2nd position! Will she be able to take the lead or will she won’t!” The commentator shouted out in excitement as the uma musume, already forced by Rudolf’s set pace, sped up.

  ‘Damnit!’ Nishiki is increasing her speed in a way that defied the imagination of ordinary minds, which could hardly comprehend, reaching a velocity that ordinary and trained umas wouldn’t reach at her age. And yet! She is unable to take the first lead!

  Whenever she speeds up, Symboli Rudolf speeds up to. Whenever she slows down, she slows down too. Constantly keeping a distance of 1 length between her and Rudolf! How infuriating! Rudolf had already set the pace for the race; they would lose more stamina than normal.

  “Suzu Parade is making her way from the outer ne! Will Bizen Nishiki defend her position?”

  Her body is growing hot as she continues running, steam escaping her skin while she grits her teeth. Like hell she will lose, she will beat Symboli Rudolf!

  And yet, Rudolf doesn’t care who is trying to reach her. Because there is only one uma that is capable of reaching up to her.

  “They reached the Second corner! And Rudolf is still in the lead by 1 length!”

  Echo watches with bated breath, her hands gripped strongly on the metal railing.

  “Tonight, Festive is in 8th pce. Onward Cameroun in 7th pce. Oh Oh! Suzu Parade had almost fallen around the 1st corner! She is back in 5th pce!”

  “Bizen Nishiki defends her position!”

  “Hey.” Someone spoke during racing, and instinctively. The Uma Musume looked at the lead, Symboli Rudolf.

  “You all aren’t worthy to beat me.” Her tone now has a hint of arrogance and dominance as she continues her pace. “Bow down to your emperor.”

  Immediately, a heavy oppressive aura appears upon them, Bizen Nishiki immediately roar before speeding up once again, spending her stamina.

  “You dare rebel? Let me show you the difference between us.”

  In that instant, immediately, all Umas started sprinting to wipe that arrogant tone off Symboli Rudolf. Onward Cameroun inhaled and leaned down before kicking the ground, passing 3rd pce and 2 lengths behind Bizen Nishiki.

  “They are at the final stretch, folk! Will Bizen Nishiki be able to take the lead, or will Symboli Rudolf win with such dominance!”

  The finish line is right there. Nishiki uses all of her stamina and strength to do one st boost in speed, catching up to Rudolf. Her legs burn, her lungs hurt, and her eyes are faint. But she will not fall, she will win-

  Once Nishiki was quarter a length to Rudolf, a burst of speed appeared from Symboli Rudolf. Easily creating distances as the finish line is right there.

  “Despair. You aren’t worthy of catching up to me.”

  ‘D-Don’t. Do not humiliate me. No! Please!’ Bizen Nishiki begged in her head, but as. It was too te.

  “Symboli Rodulf has crossed the finish line with 2 lengths gap between her and 2nd pce!”

  The commentator gets louder with excitement.

  “Folks! She set a new record! 1 minute 59 Seconds! Such Dominance! Such arrogance! The emperor is born!” A loud roar of cheers fills the air from every single audience member.

  Bizen Nishiki stood there, panting heavily as she gnced at Rudolf with a shocked expression. No matter what she did or didn't do, she couldn’t beat her. Although Rudolf is panting and sweating, she doesn’t look exhausted at all! As if Symboli Rudolf was stating that this is the difference between you and me.

  Tears started coming out of her eyes as she fists her hands, gritting her teeth. Even at the end, Rudolf did not even acknowledge her as she stared at the audience with a smirk, before pointing at the sky. Creating another roar of cheers from the audience.

  “Such humiliation…”

  “Onward Cameroun has finished third with Suzu Parade in fourth.”

  …

  ..

  .