On the training grounds of Tracen Academy, the cherry blossoms had gradually faded, replaced by the deep green of midsummer.
It had only been a week since the Kikuka Sho concluded, yet the entire horse racing world was abuzz about that silver-haired, red-streaked girl who suddenly appeared at the triple crown winner’s celebration banquet—Ryo.
‘Symboli Rudolf’s Mysterious Challenger,’ ‘Exceptionally Gifted Yet Addicted to Slacking Off,’ ‘Daring to Challenge the Emperor Before Even Debuting’—a string of labels had rapidly spread her name far and wide.
And when her Trainer announced she would enter the 2400-meter turf debut race on the 18th, tickets sold out instantly.
The media even dubbed this debut race ‘The Debut of the Emperor’s Challenger.’
In the commentary booth, Akasaka Misato, with her green hair, green eyes, and glasses, adjusted her microphone.
Her flipped hairstyle swayed slightly with the movement, and the gaze beneath her thick brows was full of anticipation.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, viewers!
Welcome to the most highly anticipated debut race of the year—the 2400-meter turf debut race!
Today’s focus is undoubtedly that mysterious Uma Musume who’s famous before even racing, Ryo!’
Beside her, Yutaka Take nodded.
With his black hair and black eyes, he maintained his signature composed demeanor.
His voice, which fans jokingly called ‘the old man’s,’ carried the weight of countless races.
‘Indeed, Miss Akasaka.
This competitor’s talent shocked the entire racing world during her entrance exams.
However, she delayed her debut for a long time and even drew public disappointment from Symboli Rudolf.
Today’s race is where she must prove herself with her ability.’
Ryo remained as carefree as ever.
She appeared on the training grounds punctually every day, yet still just leisurely warmed up, strolled around, occasionally discussed race strategy with her Trainer, and spent the rest of her time either hiding in the shade eating sweets or being whisked away by Maruzensky in her red sports car for drives outside the Academy.
‘Little Ryo, are you really planning to run your debut race like this?’ Maruzensky leaned against the sports car, her brown hair casually draped over her shoulders, the ends swaying gently in the breeze.
Her eyes were full of teasing.
‘The whole of Japan is watching you now.
If you lose, you’ll be the laughingstock.’
Ryo swallowed the mouthful of matcha daifuku.
A faint glimmer of amusement flashed in her crimson eyes.
‘Lose?
How could I?’ She brushed the red strands by her ear, her tone as relaxed as if discussing the weather.
‘I am the Emperor destined to make history.’
Only late at night, when Tracen Academy fell into slumber, would Ryo shed all her laziness.
No light illuminated the room.
Three nearly transparent, sacred silhouettes quietly manifested.
The outlines of the Goddess of Victory, the Goddess of Speed, and the Goddess of Stamina flickered faintly in the darkness.
They never spoke, only using their spiritual power to guide Ryo into a deep training space.
Here, there was no grass, no racetrack, only endless darkness and howling wind.
The power of the Goddess of Speed transformed into an invisible whip, pushing her to constantly break her limits on a spiritual level, feeling every muscle contraction, every rhythm of breath, engraving every detail of the Great Escape tactic into her bones.
The Goddess of Stamina simulated every condition of the 2400-meter track, from the softness of the turf to the incline of the curves, even accurately recreating wind direction at different stages, allowing her to find the most efficient way to run through repeated practice.
The Goddess of Victory remained silently watching her.
Those eyes that saw through victory and defeat kept her absolutely fixated on winning even in moments of extreme exhaustion.
Each night’s training was a dual strain on her spirit and willpower.
Sweat soaked her pajamas, and her consciousness teetered on the edge of collapse multiple times.
But whenever she wanted to give up, the image of Wind Chaser collapsing and the promise she made with Symboli Rudolf under the setting sun would flash through her mind.
‘Just a little more,’ she told herself.
‘I must stand on that track in the most perfect form.’
On the day of the debut race, the venue was packed to the brim.
The stands buzzed with noise.
Media cameras were trained on every entrance.
Everyone was waiting for Ryo’s appearance.
Symboli Rudolf was ‘dragged kicking and screaming’ to the venue by Maruzensky.
The senior with brown hair cascading over her shoulders had one arm hooked around Rudolf’s shoulder, her tone mischievous.
‘Come on, come on!
Let’s see just how much substance your ‘Emperor’ challenger has.
If she’s no good, I’ll teach her a lesson for you~’
Symboli Rudolf frowned, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the competitors’ tunnel.
She had to admit she was looking forward to this race more than anyone.
She wanted to know if that girl who once declared with such certainty that she would surpass her had truly, as she claimed, been waiting for the right moment all along.
The competitors entered the venue one after another.
Each wore the standard sportswear, special racing shoes on their feet, and a randomly assigned number plate pinned to their chests.
When Ryo appeared, the entire venue fell silent for a moment before erupting into thunderous cheers.
She wore Tracen Academy’s standard sportswear, her silver hair tied in a high ponytail, the two red strands on the right side particularly striking.
The number plate on her chest was ’18’—coinciding exactly with the race date, as if a sign from fate.
Her crimson eyes calmly swept across the venue, showing not a trace of nervousness, but rather a composed ease.
She walked to the starting gate and lightly patted it, the gesture like greeting an old friend.
‘Uma Musume, please enter the gates—’ The judge’s voice echoed through the venue via the broadcast system.
Ryo crouched down, hands on the ground, her body assuming a perfect starting posture.
Her muscles were taut but not stiff, her breathing even, her gaze focused intently on the track ahead.
She could feel the direction of the wind, hear her own heartbeat, and even more clearly perceive the resonance of the two souls within her, and the power bestowed upon her by the three goddesses.
In the commentary booth, Akasaka Misato held her breath, her thick brows furrowed.
‘All competitors are in position!
The tension has reached its peak!’
Yutaka Take’s gaze was firmly locked on the track, his tone steady.
‘This is the crucial battle that will determine whether Ryo can establish herself in the racing world.
Her opponents are all formidable competitors as well.
She absolutely cannot afford to be careless.’
At that very moment, a clear, resounding ‘CLANG!’ echoed across the venue!
The starting gates flew open, and eighteen figures burst forth simultaneously!
Almost at the same instant, Ryo shot out of her gate like an arrow from a bow—her signature Great Escape tactic once again!
Her silver-white figure instantly seized the lead position, her speed astonishingly fast, like a bolt of lightning splitting the track.
The other competitors, unwilling to be outdone, also accelerated, trying to match her pace.
‘CLANG!
And they’re off!’ Akasaka Misato’s voice instantly rose, filled with passion.
‘Ryo!
She’s launched into an extreme Great Escape right from the start!
Her speed is incredible!
That start was simply perfect!’
Yutaka Take nodded, a flicker of approval in his eyes.
‘Extremely fast reaction out of the gate, stable stride frequency, explosive power is remarkable!
Her running form is very fluid, with none of the awkwardness of a newcomer.
It seems she’s put in a lot of work in private.’
In the stands, Maruzensky whistled, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
‘Well now, this kid’s been hiding her skills deep.’
Symboli Rudolf leaned forward slightly, her gaze tightly locked onto that silver-white figure on the track.
She could sense that Ryo’s speed wasn’t just talent; it was honed technique.
That control over rhythm, that familiarity with the track—it was absolutely not like a newcomer competing for the first time.
The first curve arrived.
Conventionally, Great Escape runners need to slow down on curves to avoid losing balance from centrifugal force.
But Ryo did not!
Not only did she not slow down, she slightly adjusted her body’s center of gravity, lowered her upper body, pushed off with her feet, and increased her speed another notch!
‘Oh my!
She’s accelerating on the curve!’ Akasaka Misato’s voice trembled.
‘This is an unprecedented move!
On a long-distance 2400-meter track, using a Great Escape from the start *and* accelerating on the curve—isn’t she afraid of running out of stamina later?’
‘It’s a very risky tactic, but it also reflects her confidence and ability,’ Yutaka Take’s tone remained steady, yet it couldn’t completely conceal a trace of awe,
The silver-white figure shot forth like an arrow from a bow.
Ryo’s Great Escape tactic stirred up a whirlwind on the track.
As she precisely cut through the arc of the final curve, she didn’t slow down in the slightest.
Instead, she pushed her stride frequency to the absolute limit.
Her silver hair streamed out like the tail of a meteor, and her crimson eyes held only absolute control over the finish line.