Charge Forward Without Fear!
18: Chapter 18: Forge the Path of Royalty!
Charge Forward Without Fear!
[“Let me run through the current field order once again, shall we?”] Since the pace remained steady during the mid-leg, the commentator naturally had little drama to report, so he resorted to reading off the runner list to fill the broadcast airtime.
[“Leading the charge in front is Gate 13, Shinjo Gyaru, with Gate 5, ‘I Love G-Cups’, stalking right behind her!”] [“Holding third place is Gate 6, World Star, running neck and neck alongside Gate 1, Rice Shower!”] [“Right behind them are Gate 9, Fast Run Star, and Gate 11, Flying Stone…”] [“The race has now passed the halfway mark, and all runners are sticking to their tactical game plans.
It looks like the decisive clash will take place at the final corner!”] The commentator offered a bold prediction based on his years of experience.
In his view, the final 600 meters of the course—which included a steep 200-meter climb followed by a sharp 200-meter downhill descent—were where the true battle would unfold.
Every runner was conserving energy for those crucial 400 meters, so no early attacks were expected.
In a 2,400-meter race, only those final 400 meters truly mattered.
The rest, according to commentators, was just setup and patience.
However, real races rarely unfolded strictly according to expectations—and that unpredictability was precisely what made racing so thrilling!
Just as the pack swept into the third corner, the aggressive World Star suddenly veered directly toward Rice Shower’s line, forcing Rice Shower to brake hard to avoid a collision!
“Heh heh~” World Star turned her head back and flashed a sneering grin at Rice Shower.
Standing nearly 170 cm tall compared to Rice Shower’s 145 cm frame, she looked like a towering giant, giving the impression that if Rice Shower hadn’t slowed down, she would have been knocked flat onto the turf.
In those few seconds of lost momentum, two trailing Umamusume who had been waiting for their chance seized the opening and surged past Rice Shower with long strides.
[“WOAH!
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!
Sweeping through the third corner, contestant World Star suddenly veered off her line, forcing Rice Shower to slam on the brakes!”] [“Rice Shower has lost her rhythm!
Gate 9, Fast Run Star, overtakes her!
Gate 11, Flying Stone, surges ahead as well!”] [“Rice Shower plummets straight down to sixth place!
Being small and lightweight is a massive physical disadvantage in a tight crowd!”] The commentator was stunned.
He hadn’t expected World Star to risk disqualification by aggressively cutting into Rice Shower’s path.
Had Rice Shower not dodged in time, she would have crashed onto the turf and suffered serious injury, which would have resulted in immediate disqualification and severe penalties for World Star.
Fortunately, Rice Shower had wisely chosen to dodge, letting the commentator breathe a sigh of relief—losing position was bad, but it was far better than getting injured.
[“The runners tighten their formation as they reach the final bend!”] [“800 meters remaining to the finish line!
Right after rounding the turn, they face a steep 200-meter climb, immediately followed by a 200-meter sharp descent!”] [“It’s fair to say that if Rice Shower cannot close the gap before the climb, the outcome of this race is pretty much sealed!”] The commentator began stating the harsh tactical realities.
The steep 200-meter climb wasn’t the main issue it was the sharp downhill descent right after it.
Even though the downhill stretch was a straight line, descending at maximum speed was inherently dangerous and prone to causing runners to lose balance.
Accelerating recklessly on a steep decline could easily cause a runner to tumble, rolling all the way from the crest to the bottom of the hill.
If that happened, even if they survived, their career would be over.
Therefore, according to conventional wisdom, no sane runner would ever launch a full sprint downhill.
Throughout this local commentator’s career, the only Umamusume he had ever witnessed who dared to launch an all-out sprint down a steep hill was the legendary Triple Crown champion of yesteryear—**Mr.
CB**!
She was one of the legendary Triple Crown Umamusume who shared equal renown alongside “The Emperor,” Symboli Rudolf.
[“The race leader, Shinjo Gyaru, begins the climb!
Trailing second is ‘I Love G-Cups’, with World Star tackling the slope in third!”] [“Right behind them are Fast Run Star and Flying Stone…”] As the field pushed up the incline, the commentator glued his eyes to the track.
For him, the most exhilarating segment of the race had finally arrived, and he couldn’t afford to miss a single second.
‘It’s time.
Go get ’em, Rice!’ Kouki, standing in the spectator stands near the finish line, stared at the big screen and muttered under his breath.
As if linked to Kouki by telepathy, a brilliant spark of fierce determination flashed across Rice Shower’s eyes.
The four-part mantra Kouki had taught her back home echoed loudly in her mind.
She drove her right foot into the turf with explosive force and launched her acceleration the instant she hit the incline!
[ Skill Activated: *Climber* (Uphill speed acceleration) ] [“HOLD ON!
RICE SHOWER IS PICKING UP SPEED!
RICE SHOWER IS ACCELERATING UPHILL!”] [“Inside rail or outside line?!
Inside or outside!
Rice Shower launches an early attack with 600 meters left to the finish line!”] [“How will the others react?!
The lead pack is starting to pick up their pace as well!”] “Break through the obstacles blocking the path ahead!” Silently chanting Kouki’s mantra, Rice Shower unleashed the full extent of her physical conditioning.
Her raw attributes—which far surpassed those of the local runners—exploded into full display!
The thunderous pounding of her heart reverberated in her ears.
For Rice Shower, this was the very first time she was running with 100% of her true power!
[“Rice Shower charges up the hill!
She instantly overtakes Flying Stone, leaving even fourth-placed Fast Run Star far behind!”] “Mountain!
Planet!” Brilliant, rainbow-colored light particles surged around Rice Shower, fusing directly into her body.
Before the stunned eyes of the two runners she had just passed, Rice Shower’s speed surged into a whole new dimension!
[ Unique Skill Activated: *Blue Rose Chaser* (Explosive overtake acceleration on the final stretch) ] [“World Star is in deep trouble!
OH!
SHE OVERTAKES HER IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE!
Rice Shower is charging straight toward the top two runners on the decline!”] [“Shinjo Gyaru and ‘I Love G-Cups’ are starting their descent!
It looks like Rice Shower won’t be able to catch up in time!”] The commentator’s concern wasn’t unfounded.
The pace of the race was already high.
Failing to control one’s speed downhill could result in a catastrophic fall, getting trampled by trailing runners and causing a massive pile-up on the track.
Thus, in everyone’s mind, an Umamusume had to slow down when descending the slope.
But…
did Rice Shower need to slow down?
Empowered by dual acceleration, Rice Shower crested the top of the hill and plunged down the decline at an unbelievable, terrifying speed!
“Forge the path of royalty!
Charge forward without fear!” “HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” With a fierce, defiant roar, a dazzling golden light engulfed Rice Shower’s entire body.
The white *Straight Downhill* skill icon on her skill bar shattered into golden light, evolving into a top-tier Gold skill!
[ Gold Skill Activated: *Downhill Specialist* (Mastery of high-speed downhill descent) ] [“WHAT?!
WHAT IS THIS?!
WHAT ON EARTH AM I SEEING?!”] [“RICE SHOWER!
CONTESTANT RICE SHOWER IS NOT SLOWING DOWN!
SHE IS NOT SLOWING DOWN AT ALL ON THIS 200-METER DOWNHILL SLOPE!”] That was right.
Not only did Rice Shower refrain from slowing down, but under the synergy of her peak condition and her new Gold skill, her downhill speed surged to a level comparable to Special Week’s *Full-Throttle*—no, even faster!
There was zero suspense left.
Rice Shower swept past the two front-runners who had led the entire race, blowing right by them on the steep decline as they watched in utter terror and disbelief.
[“SHE OVERTAKES THEM!
SHE OVERTAKES THEM ALL!
Rice Shower has blown past both Escape runners on the downhill slope with unstoppable momentum!
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!”] [“RICE SHOWER!
Leading by three lengths…
four lengths!
Her downhill sprint is the EXACT image of the legendary Triple Crown Champion, Mr.
CB, blazing down the slopes of Kyoto!”] The commentator was screaming in ecstasy the crowd in the stands was going wild!
That miraculous, legendary downhill sprint drew a thunderous ovation that shook the entire stadium to its foundation.
A feat that only the legendary Mr.
CB had ever dared to perform in racing history was being repeated right here before their very eyes!
No one could hold back their excitement!
[“The gap is STILL expanding!
FIVE LENGTHS!
SIX LENGTHS!
TOO STRONG!
WAY TOO STRONG!
Is this the true power of a Central Umamusume?!
THIS DOMINANCE IS UTTERLY UNRIVALED!”] [“RICE SHOWER CROSSES THE FINISH LINE!
RICE SHOWER!
CRUISING ACROSS THE WIRE WITH A MASSIVE SIX-LENGTH LEAD!
A VICTORY WORTHY OF A TRIPLE CROWN LEGEND!”] [“Second place goes to Shinjo Gyaru!
Third place to ‘I Love G-Cups’!”] [“THE CHAMPION IS RICE SHOWER!
THE BLUE ROSE HAS BLOOMED EARLY THIS FEBRUARY, PAVING A ROYAL ROAD TO VICTORY!”] [“THE WINNER IS RICE SHOWER!”] [“THE WINNER IS RICE SHOWER!”]