Chapter 79: The Final Showdown! The Arima Kinen! Part 2

I was walking through the underground tunnel with my Trainer when Grass Wonder emerged from the shadows and called out to me.

"Apolo-chan. Do you have a moment?"

The chestnut-haired girl stepped out of the darkness like she was melting into view, blocking our path. Her voice was gentle, but she had no intention of letting us pass. I raised a hand toward her with a quick "Hold on a sec," exchanged a few words with my Trainer, then turned to face her properly.

"Let's stick to the plan. The rest is up to how hard you push yourself."

"Got it. Say hi to my dad and mom for me."

We shared a small fist bump before parting. I would've liked to talk to him a bit more, but there wasn’t time—and with Grass Wonder standing in the way, there was no helping it. The plan was risky, sure, but it was the only one that could shut down Grass Wonder’s path to victory. I had no reason not to go along with it.

I turned to face her again, keeping my lips tightly sealed so I wouldn't tip her off. If I let even a flicker of emotion show, Grass Wonder—sharp as she was—would immediately catch on to my strategy.

"Grass-chan, what do you want?"

"I was hoping we could talk—just a little."

"The race is about to start. Not really in the mood for chatting."

"I promise to keep it brief."

I was on edge from the pre-race tension. My ears flattened as I responded, but Grass Wonder calmly approached, her horseshoes clinking as she closed the distance. She was slightly shorter than me, so I found myself looking down a bit—until, for some reason, she rose onto her toes and leaned in close to whisper in my ear.

"Apolo-chan. I want you to mark me. From start to finish—I want to go all-out against you."

"...Wh, huh!?"

Startled, I pulled back, putting some space between us. Why would she say something that would draw attention to herself? Wasn’t her whole style to lie in wait, hold her breath, and only reveal her claws in the middle of the race?

It didn’t make sense. I was already planning to keep an eye on her, but this was way too unexpected. There’s no way she actually wanted to go head-to-head from start to finish. It’s 2,500 meters, after all—if she clings to me the whole time, she risks running out of stamina…

As my thoughts raced, Grass Wonder gave me a calm, cheerful smile—and then threw out a string of completely unanticipated words.

"I’ll take care of marking the inner-lane girls to some extent. All you need to focus on is getting the lead. Once we hit the home stretch right after the start, let’s push each other with everything we’ve got."

"Wa—wait, Grass-chan, what are you saying…!?"

"Be・cause・that’s・the・only・way・I・can・win."

"—!?"

"Of course, you don’t have to listen to me. But you’ll end up having no choice but to mark me anyway. I’m sure of it. …Well then, it’s almost time. I’ll excuse myself."

"Eh, h-hold on, Grass-chan—wait, she’s already gone…"

She upended all my assumptions, threw my plans into chaos, and left like it was nothing, heading off for her warm-up trot. I couldn’t keep up. What the heck just happened? Is she really going to mark the inner-lane girls—like Seiun Sky or Machikane Fukukitaru? If that’s true, it’d be a huge help, but… is it really okay to just take her word for it?

No, Grass Wonder isn’t the type to lie—at least, I don’t think she is. So maybe I can trust her…? But then again, she’s insanely competitive and hates losing more than anyone. She could be playing some kind of mind game to steal this major title—the Arima Kinen.

……

…So, what should I even do?

"…………???"

I don’t get it…

No—I shouldn’t let it get to me.

I’ll stick with the plan: mark Grass-chan and go all-out from the front! That’s all there is to it.

Alright, time to warm up!

Still processing everything, I stepped out onto the turf of Nakayama.

The fourth week of December, Sunday. Clear skies. But the track was heavy, thanks to the rain that had been falling the past few days. The inner part of the course was a bit rough, though not as bad as the Satsuki Sho. Nothing that should seriously affect the race.

While the crowd’s cheers rained down, their hands clutching magazines and newspapers, I tested the turf beneath my hooves. Wet conditions like this are a pain—on grass tracks, the more the ground softens, the less grip you get. That means it takes more power than usual to run effectively.

I stood off to the side of the course, where no Umamusume would normally step, and jabbed the ground with my toe as if prepping for a starting dash. Black soil peeked through easily. The rain had soaked the turf, loosening the dirt and making the grass roots easier to tear out.

With the ground like this, not only is it harder to launch at the start, but there’s also a higher risk of slipping mid-race. The turf can’t hold our hooves, and the grass that used to support us ends up flying away. It takes more energy just to maintain our usual speed. Races get slower, and falls become more likely.

But of course, it’s not all bad news for me. A heavier track makes it easier for front-runners to hold their lead. That’s because stalkers and closers get their stamina drained by the bad conditions and can’t summon enough finishing kick to catch up in the final stretch.

So the takeaway here is this: we’re in for a 2,500-meter war of attrition. I need to figure out what Grass Wonder’s words really meant. I’m looking forward to it.

After a quick warm-up, the fanfare rang out over the year-end Nakayama Racecourse. One by one, the Umamusume entered the gate. I was urged forward and stepped in as well.

I didn’t meet Grass Wonder’s eyes. She didn’t try to meet mine, either. We were probably aware of each other, deep down, but too much attention would only narrow our focus. Right now, the first enemy I needed to face… was the inner-lane runner Seiun Sky.

『The December air is sharp and cold here at year-end Nakayama. But the heat of the crowd burns away the chill. The grandest race of the Twinkle Series—Arima Kinen—is about to begin! Sixteen Umamusume line up under the clear winter sky, each vying for glory!』

『You can feel the tension. It’s like each one’s aura is radiating into the air.』

『All Umamusume have entered the gate. Ready for the start!』

Without needing a cue, all sixteen Umamusume lowered their stances within the gates. Unsheathed their inner blades. Flaunted the power they’d been hiding until now. A thick, palpable fighting spirit poured out from either side of me. Especially intense were the G1 runners packed into the inside lanes—their presence was overwhelming, even from out here. I could already feel my stamina being drained…

But it made me grin. This was going to be fun. I bared my canines.

The Grand Prix was about to begin.

—Clang. The gates clattered open. In that instant, I slammed my hooves against the turf. I nearly slipped, but I dug in with every ounce of strength. My calves bulged like something inhuman, and I surged forward—faster than anyone.

『The race is on! A clean start from the outer gate by Apollo Rainbow, who’s cutting sharply to the inside! Right behind is Seiun Sky from the inner lane—she’ll stop at nothing to catch Apollo Rainbow! In third, it’s a battle between Air Groove and Happy Meek! Further back, we have Grass Wonder, Machikane Fukukitaru, and Mejiro Bright, and now—Mejiro Dober is joining them from the outside, sticking close to the flank!』

『There’s a turn right after the start in the Arima Kinen, so it’s hard for any horse to pull ahead early on.』

The Arima Kinen has a short run-up to the first turn, and the tight track layout means the inner lanes have the advantage. From that angle, it looked like Seiun Sky held the upper hand—but when it comes to turn technique, I’m better than she is. Inner lane advantage versus corner mastery—it evens out. On top of that, Seiun Sky isn’t great on bad turf. Neither am I, but I do have confidence in the strength of my legs.

Each step digs into the ground as I push forward with steady, powerful acceleration. I don’t flinch at the early 3rd and 4th turns, which trip up any speedster eager to take off. My shoulder brushes the inside rail lightly as I push through the curve. That should’ve sealed off Seiun Sky—forcing her to trail in second. She’s clearly struggling with the brutal mud.

“—Guh!”

The start was smooth—so I thought—until I felt Grass Wonder’s piercing gaze. No, not just hers. Me-ji-ro Do-ber. And Ai-r Groo-ve too.

It’s a marking technique—psychological warfare. Taking advantage of the widened field of vision that comes from leading the race, they shoot me looks filled with murderous intent. They’re suppressing me from behind without even needing to check my position.

My stamina gets shredded, and I gasp for air, mouth wide open. As if to make up for not securing the lead, Seiun Sky adds to the pressure, slowing me down. Pure malice. No—unrelenting will to win. It’s a valid strategy. Damn you, Seiun Sky—are you planning to restart?

Then—Seiun Sky, who had been trying to loop wide and take the lead, suddenly stops. Her ash-gray mane whips around as her eyes fly wide open in disbelief. Behind her, the chestnut monster chasing in seventh bears lapis-colored eyes. Grass Wonder didn’t just stop Seiun Sky. She’s halting the whole front pack: Air Groove, Happy Meek—she’s taking all the inner-lane threats head-on.

(What are you doing, Grass Wonder!? If you don’t stop Apollo Rainbow, we—!)

(No. You’ll sink—with Apollo Rainbow.)

Air Groove stumbles under the intense pressure. Even as she pushes back with the imposing aura of an empress, Grass Wonder doesn’t back down. Beads of sweat already trickle down the chestnut girl’s forehead.

To any other horse girl, this is madness. The naturally forming “Apollo Rainbow containment net” of fifteen girls is unraveling—because of one horse. And Grass Wonder’s pressure isn’t any weaker than Air Groove’s.

Even I didn’t expect her to throw the entire field into chaos like this. But just as she declared, Grass Wonder truly wants a one-on-one fight.

Mejiro Dober and Air Groove move to hold her down. But Grass Wonder doesn’t flinch. As we round the corner, she’s already recovering stamina, eyes set on crushing every other girl who isn’t me. She’s flooding the field with overwhelming pressure.

Coming out of the 4th corner, I take a deep breath and use the chaos to recover some stamina. This Arima Kinen—it’s about to get seriously out of hand.

『The 4th corner’s behind us and they’re onto the home stretch! Apollo Rainbow hasn’t escaped much—the pressure’s on!』

『She can’t be allowed to run free. Apollo Rainbow looks uncomfortable, and her movement seems sluggish.』

We enter the home stretch from the 4th corner. The crowd in the grandstands erupts with thunderous cheers, unaware of the sheer carnage taking place. Naïve of them. Right now at Nakayama Racecourse, a group of teenage girls is locked in a hellish death match they really shouldn’t be engaging in.

The gap between me and Seiun Sky in second is barely a body length. That makes this a standard front-run—nothing fancy. But this isn’t a normal race, and I knew that going in.

There are fifteen girls with their own plans, but thanks to Grass Wonder, I’ve got enough breathing room to run with some freedom. In fact, the confusion behind me is crystal clear. Race dominators like Air Groove and Seiun Sky are trying hard to shut down the “rampaging” Grass Wonder.

But every time they move, Grass Wonder rests—regains composure—and dodges their terrifying attacks. She pushes back with unmatched pressure—frightening off chasers, stalkers, front-runners alike—whispering something, stealing their stamina like a curse come to life.

She’s trading flesh for bone. Grass Wonder came into this Arima Kinen fully prepared. I thought she’d run out of stamina—but she’s clinging to the edge and fighting back hard, even dealing punishing blows to Air Groove and company.

Grass Wonder… she’s dangerous. Marking her was the right choice. But there’s no room to relax. The moment we near the first corner, a storm of pressure slams into me—binding my movements tight.

The source? Destinate and three other long-shot runners. Panic-fueled pressure. I feel my stamina draining so fast it’s nauseating. I arch my back, gasping, switching to deep breathing. If this keeps up, I won’t recover. By the time we clear the second corner, I’ve already lost enough energy to cover 2,000 meters. And that’s with recovery. This is bad. If I can’t withstand the incoming debuff storm in the second half…

『Now entering the second corner—Apollo Rainbow still in the lead! Even so, the lap time is only slightly fast! Is she conserving her run? Or is she crashing from the Stayers’ Stakes fatigue!?』

『Oh—Seiun Sky’s rhythm is off. Looks like she’s lost control!』

Toward the end of the second corner, Seiun Sky snaps. A bizarre trick from Machikane Fukukitaru eats away her stamina. And it’s not just that. Except for stamina monsters like Happy Meek or long-distance pros like Mejiro Bright, the girls who usually race at mile or mid-range are all lagging. Grass Wonder’s interference has scattered the pressure across the field—and those not ready for a stamina war are dropping one by one.

Yeah, the backfield’s a mess. The only ones holding up well are: Happy Meek (visibly rattled, but keeping wide vision), Mejiro Bright (a long-distance expert), Machikane Fukukitaru (a Kikka Sho winner), and of course, Grass Wonder—the chaos incarnate. In contrast, Air Groove, Mejiro Dober, and Seiun Sky (now running a reluctant second) are barely hanging on. Joinus and Destinate, being lightly marked, are conserving stamina and targeting me with pressure attacks.

This is the war Grass Wonder promised. Muddy track. Slightly fast pace. Hell for stalkers. And yet—she chose it. Worse—she warned us this would happen.

She’s enjoying this. Grass Wonder lives for real, serious, blade-edge battles. She’s loving every second. Just look—she’s smiling.

Honestly, it’s so unpredictable, I’m getting excited too. This is crazy fun. But still, Grass-chan… don’t you think this is a bit too fun?

Or should we… go even faster? What do you think, Grass-chan? Even on this god-awful muddy track… should I go for a full-on suicidal escape? Start clocking a record-breaking pace from here? Sounds kinda wonderful, doesn’t it? I’m already pretty close to my limit, but… maybe I’ll take the gamble. She doesn’t look like someone I can beat without risking it all.

(Tomio, I still remember the plan to shut Grass-chan down in the final stretch. But I’m going all in anyway, so forgive me, okay!?)

The moment I hit the straightaway, I burned through my already tight stamina reserves and launched into a breakneck escape—like a one-horse runaway in the Kikuka-shō. I exploited the opening just after the second corner, when the other girls were struggling to regain their speed and failed to apply pressure.

Behind me, Grass Wonder flashed a grin as she watched me bolt. Her aura swelled with such ferocity, I caught glimpses of that rapture-laced zone of dominion starting to bleed through. Without missing a beat, she unleashed a wave of pressure to crush our spirits—panic for runners, leaders, and stalkers alike.

(Yes. That’s it. That’s what I want. Come on, Apollo-chan—!)

(Catch me if you can, Grass-chan! That is… if you can!)

A wave of nausea clutched at me like something yanking my hair back. I lost speed, but immediately took a deep breath and covered for the loss. The gap between me and Seiun Sky in second was three lengths. Not bad for a sneak move—but not nearly enough.

I pushed harder, stretching the lead to five lengths by the time I reached the third corner. My reckless acceleration had burned through nearly half my stamina, but none of the others had the clarity of mind to react properly. None—except Grass Wonder.

(The farther I pull ahead, the better. No one will be in my way on the final stretch—right?)

Grass Wonder took in a deep, steady breath and cooled down—C-O-O-L D-O-W-N. My heart lurched. That technique was on a completely different level from my own deep breathing. I’d heard it took considerable time to master… and yet she already had it, even at the Classic tier?

No time to be stunned. Mejiro Bright’s S-T-A-M-I-N-A G-R-E-E-D came surging in right after.

“Ghh—aaah!”

Her dark, oppressive presence spread beneath our feet. That uncanny calmness backed by overwhelming field awareness swallowed us whole, along with the raging fire she kept buried deep inside. Both Seiun Sky and I reeled, while Mejiro Bright calmly recovered stamina just by observing our panic. That was her skill’s core—regaining poise from the sight of others in disarray. The more we panicked, the worse it got.

I forced a deep breath to regain my form, but Seiun Sky was done for. The trickster who could dash through three thousand meters like it was a stroll in the park… was already on the verge of collapse. A complete anomaly.

I’d heard applying pressure cost significant mental stamina, yet they showed no signs of strain. Air Groove and Mejiro Dober were clearly taxed, but their fighting spirit hadn’t dimmed. Long-distance required a different composure than mid- or short-range, and they held up admirably.

『Apollo Rainbow enters the third corner, keeping up a blistering pace while stealing short breaths! The stands at Nakayama are shaking as if to say this is the show they came to see! They're ready to welcome Apollo Rainbow at the finish line!!』

『As we enter the race’s final stage, the pack is making its move. No way these girls are going to let Apollo Rainbow have it her way to the end. A full-on reversal is very much in the cards!』

――The final stage. Just as we all entered the fourth corner, every girl on the track made the best possible choice to win—and in doing so, turned the lush green turf into a living nightmare.

――First, Air Groove in third launched a wave of disruptive pressure—ILLUSIONARY DISTURBANCE—to snuff out anyone behind her. The girls trailing her were struck by intense tunnel vision and lost sight of their paths.

Almost simultaneously, Mejiro Dober unleashed ALL SEEING GLARE. Every girl on the field flinched, and those already behind got hit with a double whammy—narrowed vision and crushing fear. Their stamina plummeted. Their will to fight was stolen.

At the back, Machikane Fukukitaru pulled a trick straight out of a magician’s handbook—VISUAL SEIZURE. The girls up front, myself included, were shaken. And with the turn coming right as it happened, we were forced to slow down hard. The whole second-pack group lost visibility and began bunching up in a traffic jam.

Sweat poured off Grass Wonder like a waterfall, but she was still smiling. Running in seventh, she radiated a VICTORY DOMINANCE that reached all the way forward. Air Groove, Happy Meek, Seiun Sky, and Breeze Airship were done for—out of stamina. I felt my own legs start to quiver, but I gritted my teeth and shoved my sluggish body forward with every ounce I had left.

And yet—even the girls whose torsos sagged in exhaustion refused to give up. These were the sixteen finest runners selected from tens of thousands. Not one of them bowed their head. Every eye was fixed ahead.

――Maybe that’s why it happened. As we neared the end of the fourth corner, a crushing pressure descended—one aimed at me alone.

――It was fifteen separate Intimidation: Panic Evasion skills, fired off in unison.

“――ghh, aa—!”

Machikane Fukukitaru.
Grass Wonder.
Seiun Sky.
Air Groove.
Jewel Zircon.
Happy Meek.
Ribbon Finale.
Mejiro Bright.
Breeze Airship.
Revival Lyric.
Rapid Builder.
Little Flower.
Mejiro Dober.
Join Us.
Destinate.

Fifteen girls. Fifteen perfected techniques. Fifteen desperate prayers for victory—all converging into one coordinated Apollo Rainbow Killshot. None of their pressures were the same, but every one of them carried the weight of their soul, and all of them targeted my legs.

“――ah… gah—!”

Chains. Thick, rusted chains burst from the ground and clamped around my legs. One pressure alone might be manageable, but with enough stacked together… even ordinary pressure took on the power of a zone—something transcendental.

A shiver traced my spine. Something sour rose to the back of my throat. No—some of it actually escaped. The worst possible bitterness spread through my mouth. But even then, my will to win didn’t waver. I forced the bitter slime back down, took one massive breath, and pushed forward.

No one survives being hit by fifteen girls’ worth of forced deceleration. My final sprint was crushed mercilessly. With the dregs of my stamina, I could barely muster enough to accelerate a little.

『Entering the fourth corner now, Apollo Rainbow is slowing down dramatically!! Is she injured!? No—she’s still running!! Apollo Rainbow isn’t giving up on the goal!! But here come Machikane Fukukitaru, Mejiro Bright, and Grass Wonder charging from behind, their stamina still intact!! The rest of the field is out of gas!!』

Charging in for the final spurt were Machikane Fukukitaru, Mejiro Bright, and Grass Wonder. The purebred stayers. The deadliest rivals standing in the way of the Grand Prix crown.

Meanwhile, I was dragging my feet at a snail’s pace, like it was the opening dash of the race. It was an unforeseen disaster—something no one could have predicted—but that didn’t change the fact that I was being cornered to the brink. Could it even be possible for all these competitors’ intentions to align this perfectly?

――“The Grand Prix spans 2500 meters, a long-distance race, but since it includes six corners, there are natural opportunities to catch your breath by slowing down mid-race.

Because of this, even mile- and mid-distance-specialized Umamusume can often conserve enough stamina to last. The pace tends to pick up from the third corner before the steep Nakayama hill, making late surges and comebacks more likely.”

That’s the general trend of the Arima Kinen—a widely accepted racing theory. But right now, nothing is going by the book. We’ve entered a state of abnormality where every principle has been thrown out the window. This isn’t a race of speed or timing anymore—it’s a war of attrition where the one who burns out the others first, wins.

Grass Wonder was closing the seven-length gap between us. Despite having barely a third of my stamina on paper, she was shrugging off the same level of pressure dragging me down, and each time, she recovered just enough to sink her teeth right back into the fight.

What a noble warrior she is. To challenge me, a stamina-specialist, in a grueling war of endurance—and to enjoy it? She’s twisted. She doesn’t just want to win the race; she wants to defeat me. Apollo Rainbow, in both strategy and pride. She’s a glutton for glory.

Th-a-t’s why I was afraid of Grass Wonder.

“――Uhh, AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

As if to dispel my fear, I tore open the gates to my own “Unknown Zone.”

――“Toward the End of the Silver Snow, Where the Moonbow Shines.”

I turned into the final stretch and hurled my soul’s landscape right at Grass Wonder. Cherry blossoms danced through the air. Frost coated the turf at Nakayama. A grotesque sakura tree stood in her path. And yet—there was no burst of acceleration.

At this rate, she’d catch me.

Panicking, I retracted my “Unknown Zone.”

Not here. This isn’t it. Someone inside me whispered that.

Then I remembered—the counter-strategy Tomio and I had crafted against Grass Wonder.

I forced myself to slow down, took a deep breath, and let oxygen flood my brain. 310 meters remaining. The key to our Grass Wonder plan lay in the very last leg. The early and mid-game didn’t matter. We knew from the start that she would deliberately settle into the middle of the pack, letting herself be swallowed by the field.

I turned my attention to the chasing group. Air Groove, Happy Meek, Seiun Sky, Breeze Airship—all of them were fading. They now formed a wall blocking Machikane Fukukitaru and Grass Wonder’s path forward. Mejiro Bright was swinging wide on the outside—not an issue, but she wouldn’t escape the cost of the extra distance.

But then again—when it comes to Machikane Fukukitaru, “distance loss” doesn’t apply. Her “Zone” was a bit... special. According to Tomio’s theory, her “Unknown Zone” activated when her path was blocked near the end of the race, and through some mysterious force, the way would suddenly clear.

I quickly assessed the situation. Machikane Fukukitaru, running in sixth, was boxed in—Air Groove, Happy Meek, Seiun Sky, Breeze Airship were directly in front of her, cutting off the shortest path to the inside. But—if she activated her “Zone”...

『Wait, what’s this!? Machikane Fukukitaru suddenly finds an opening in front of her! She’s diving into the innermost lane—the shortest path to victory!! There’s just enough space for 1.5 Umamusume to squeeze through!!』

Through some inexplicable force, a path had opened.

Air Groove, Happy Meek, Seiun Sky, and Breeze Airship staggered outward—and the accident of the century was now turning into Fukukitaru’s path to victory.

And Grass Wonder...

『Machikane Fukukitaru dives for the opening—but wait!! A chestnut-haired Umamusume slips in first!? Grass Wonder has surged ahead of her, stealing the path she forced open!! Coming from seventh place, she’s punched through the innermost lane in the blink of an eye!!』

Grass-Wonder will seize the shortest path and make a break for it — that’s why. We’re going to deliberately cling to the compromised inner rail and block her route.

—That was the gamble of Tomio Momozawa’s plan. Trusting in the brilliance of our enemy, reading her next move, and crushing it. Believing in a victory no thicker than a spider’s thread, we gave it everything we had. And our wish came true — Grass-Wonder dove right into the trap.

She latched onto the back of Machikane Fukukitaru and overtook her in the split-second opening just after Fukukitaru’s Domain Zone had activated. From there, she stole the shortest route straight to the finish. That was Grass-Wonder’s strategy for the final phase.

All the stamina grinding and chaos earlier had just been the setup — to weaken me to the brink. Her victory would come from this moment. By pushing herself to the edge, and using a rival she knew would do the same — a one-on-one clash with Apollo Rainbow. That’s how she’d trigger her fighting spirit, how she’d finally go toe-to-toe with me. That was her thinking.

And she was right. If I hadn’t seen through her plan, I might have flinched at the stamina cost and shied away from the rail here. But she was running on fumes too — even that chestnut monster. Which meant, if we could take away her shortest route and force her to run diagonally, the damage would be devastating.

A simulated Gold Ship-warp denial. The advantage earned in the corner would vanish down the stretch.

『Apollo Rainbow is hugging the rail!! Directly in the path of Grass-Wonder!! Grass-Wonder will have to swing wide!!』

Right as I turned into the home stretch, I shifted course tight against the inside fence. The rough track kicked up mud in messy bursts, but—whatever. Let it spray in my eyes. I won’t hand over the Grand Prix title.

Now second, Grass-Wonder had no choice but to veer outside to avoid me. She’d cleared the pack, but now had to accept a distance loss. For the first time, that monster’s face twisted. She’d been charging up from three lengths behind, but now her path curved wide.

And the moment I confirmed she was running diagonally—my Unknown Domain Zone expanded again. In answer, Grass-Wonder unleashed her Domain Zone with overwhelming force.

Her imagined world clashed with mine, every bit as intense in density.

—“To the edge of the silver snowfields, where the moonbow leads.”
—“Where there’s will, there’s a way.”

A girl brandishing a naginata, draped in auras like an asura, clashed with me—backed by a lone, monstrous cherry blossom tree. A blizzard raged. The chestnut beast did not fall. My sakura tree creaked and groaned. It screamed.

I’d activated my domain too slowly. Even with the acceleration of the Unknown Domain Zone, it wasn’t enough. Foaming at the corners of my lips, eyes bulging, I glared at Glass Wonder. She was right beside me. Even after the track disadvantage, even with the distance loss, she was still clinging tight.

(Dad, Mom — you’re watching, right?! I can’t lose!! I’m gonna win!! Win, win, win, I’m gonna wiiiiiin!!)

(Apollo-chan—!!)

『We’re in the final stretch!! 200 meters to go!! Apollo Rainbow and Glass Wonder are neck-and-neck!! The rest are far behind!! Will Grass-Wonder overtake her?! Apollo Rainbow is hurting!!』

The most brutal war of attrition. A rare, vicious tug-of-war in racing history. The others had been left in the dust. Not just the other girls — even the wind at Nakayama had been left behind, cut clean through.

Step by step, our strides became lighter, springier—like we were flying. I chased after the hyper-accelerating body of Grass-Wonder, who had broken past her limits.

The chestnut beast stared in wide-eyed disbelief. My vision flushed red. I couldn’t stop crying. It hurt so badly—my whole body, my soul—and still, I wouldn’t give up.

In that instant, shaken by my own emotions, the lone cherry blossom in my Unknown Domain Zone began to sway. Its roots swelled and hardened. I understood it immediately. This was a glimpse of the inner world that Double Trigger had spent so long honing.

From behind me, the phantom of Double Trigger began to take form. But I had no time for her. All I could do was face forward, running single-mindedly toward the finish line.

—Hey, Apollo. Still running like a mess, I see.

—Shut up.

—That reckless, desperate way you run… it's honestly kind of cool. Come on, just a little more.

In that moment, Double Trigger’s phantom turned to light, and the Unknown Domain Zone of the British Long-Distance Triple Crown champion surged behind me, pushing me forward. That decadent inner world I had seen at the Stayers Stakes spread through my mind once more, igniting my emotions.

Darker than it had been back then. European long-distance racing had faded into decline, without the feverish passion of Japan. The world was cloaked in deep darkness, nothing visible—but I could still sense Double Trigger’s broad back. Even trapped in a long, lonely night, there was something strangely hopeful about it.

The joy of running that she had once felt struck deep in my chest, and in that instant, gave me wings.

And just like that—I overtook Glass Wonder again.

『No way! Apollo Rainbow pulls ahead!! She’s taken back the lead!! Grass Wonder clings on for dear life!! But Apollo Rainbow pulls away!! This is the stride of a champion!! This is what champions run like!!』

Fragments of forgotten dreams sparkled in my mind—something at the very root of me stirred. After winning the Kikuka-shou, I’d felt uncertain about the core of my dream. But now… it felt like that unease had been blown away.

I wasn’t fully confident again—not yet. But I felt lighter. It was such a simple thing.

—This is fun.
Fighting it out with everyone on a G1 stage—this is the most fun I’ve ever had. Nothing can compare.

That’s enough for now. I’m sure this is the right dream for me.

『The gap is two lengths!! Grass Wonder roars, but the distance won’t close!! Apollo Rainbow is running with tears of blood streaming down her face!!』

Blood dripped from my eyes as I tore down the final hundred meters of turf. This transcendent sprint, made possible by overlapping Unknown Domain Zones, was no longer something a regular Uma Musume could achieve. It was reaching into the realm of gods.

And yet—not yet.
Someone’s voice seemed to say that.

A jolt. The pain in my blood-soaked right eye yanked me back to reality. My full-speed dash lost its edge. The peak of runner’s high plummeted like a crash. I was easing up—and I hadn’t even realized it.

I had instinctively sensed the finish line—and let up.

『Apollo Rainbow crosses the finish line first!! Though Grass Wonder once caught up, Apollo Rainbow answered with unbelievable tenacity and surged ahead again!! A magnificent win!! Glass Wonder finishes two lengths behind in second!! Without question, this was a Grand Prix-worthy showdown to end the year!!』