Pegasus? I'm actually a doctor!

Not just one or two late-running Uma Musume were deeply surprised; the entire group was collectively dumbfounded.

But the race continued, that scene, as if from a dream, felt like it wasn't a competition at all, but a hunt belonging to the Hunting Goddess!

It seemed that those who had fallen behind and been overtaken by that Heavenly Horse had been pierced by arrows, personally eliminated by that unknown goddess's phantom!

And this group of late-runners, originally full of fighting spirit and high morale, had fallen into hesitation, only able to watch as the silver-white Heavenly Horse galloped further and further away, recklessly running alone on the inner track.

"S-should we speed up and catch up to Platinum..."

"No one told me that if you can't outrun them in a race, you get shot!!"

"I can't do it, this heavy track demands too much strength, and there's an extremely oppressive aura. I'm afraid I'll lose speed if I continue!"

"If we catch up, will we get shot with another arrow?"

"That phantom just now... was that an illusion, or did Platinum activate some kind of domain? Is she really an opponent I can face?"

Amidst the constant cries of despair, the Heavenly Horse girl completely surpassed them.

And this time, the number of arrows in Platinum's quiver decreased rapidly, leaving only half the original amount.

Platinum could feel that as the arrows disappeared, they transformed into shooting effects and were fired at her opponents! "Piercing" each of those shocked little fillies.

Of course, this couldn't be any substantial damage; Uma Musume races couldn't turn into item races.

But for Platinum, after surpassing an opponent and firing an arrow, she seemed to hear a voice in her ear that transcended her rivals...

[One breakthrough, the Crouching Dragon emerges from the mountain!]

[Double win, instant fame!]

[Triple win, the world is shocked!]

[Four wins, invincible under heaven!]

That exhilarating feeling of being able to shoot an arrow at an opponent every time she surpassed them gave Platinum, who was supposed to be a sniper operative, a nearly joyful pleasure.

For the first time in a long time, Platinum felt a slightly joyful and expectant feeling rise within her as she surpassed an opponent!

(There are still many arrows in the quiver...)

And not far ahead to her side...

Jungle Pocket and Black Ship were within three horse lengths!

(Then, let's keep going!)

[Incredible! Truly incredible!]

[Platinum, the championship favorite known for her amazing stamina and leading runs, has changed her tactics!]

[Platinum has chosen to charge into the muddiest and most strenuous inner track, not caring even as she gradually falls behind by five or six horse lengths, becoming the most dangerous late-runner on the heavy track!]

Platinum, who was originally recognized as the strongest in terms of hard power and slightly more popular in the three-way battle, had changed her tactics and chosen a late-running style that extremely tested the body on the heavy track!

The championship had already become uncertain in the minds of the public.

But no one expected that the Heavenly Horse Platinum, running alone on the inner track, would surpass the entire late-running group after starting to accelerate!

After all, from the perspective of countless spectators in the stands, almost all Uma Musume except for the leading runners were gathered in the middle.

But Platinum... was recklessly stepping into an uninhabited territory, as if she were a monarch opening up new frontiers!

[That's a tactic and running style that breaks common sense once again. The Heavenly Horse, starting a big late-run on the inner track of the heavy track, has started accelerating early!]

[After the second turn, Platinum has surpassed all the late-running Uma Musume and is currently in ninth place.]

[Her steps are still continuing!]

[Jungle Pocket, the second most popular, and Black Ship, the third most popular, are both considered by the public to be the strongest rivals who are most likely to defeat Platinum.]

[How will they respond to the Heavenly Horse, who is constantly and aggressively approaching from the inner track?!]

As the commentator continued to explain.

In a certain seat in the audience, a Uma Musume scientist wearing a white coat narrowed her eyes, like a beast with vertical pupils discerning something sweet and interesting.

"What is... that?!"

Agnes Tachyon stared at the Heavenly Horse girl on the inner track of the grass, after the scene that appeared after she surpassed the other Uma Musume!

She couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth, the regret of not being able to participate was instantly replaced by her interest in Platinum.

"I've never seen such a sight before."

"That majestic and brilliant golden light girl phantom, shooting arrows?"

"It seems to appear when Platinum surpasses an opponent."

"Is it because of... that victory outfit she's wearing for the first time? That's really unheard of."

The sharp-eyed Agnes Tachyon, coupled with the fact that she was an observer, made her see clearly from the sidelines, and she immediately analyzed the triggering situation of that "surpassing effect."

And it had never appeared in Platinum's previous races.

The surrounding audience only showed excitement at Platinum's big late-run surpassing her opponents, and did not see the shocking beauty and brilliance of the Hunting Goddess.

"It seems that the scene of the [Maiden Phantom Drawing a Bow and Arrow] is likely a kind of aura or domain, only visible to the Uma Musume on the track and those around the stands."

"These participating Uma Musume must all be collectively stunned, right?"

"Black Ship's inherent aptitude doesn't seem well-suited for 2400 meters, and it's facing a heavy track. Isn't that gambling too much like a reckless gambler?"

"And Jungle Pocket, she knows Black Ship has no dominance on a heavy track in the Derby, so she only cares about Platinum, abandoning her best stalking race style to disrupt Platinum's rhythm! And she failed!"

"Interesting... this scene of drawing a bow and arrow, it's going to continue to play out."

After Agnes Tachyon delivered her speculation, beside her sat another dark, taciturn girl, Manchester Tea House.

In fact, Manchester Tea House is also an Uma Musume of this generation and is qualified to challenge the classic races.

The supreme honor and influence of the Japanese Derby cause countless Uma Musume to risk injury to participate, desperately trying even on a heavy track that's hard to overcome, and insisting on trying even if the distance is not within their capabilities.

But the supremely rational Manchester Tea House is not among them.

This dark Uma Musume is still getting stronger, but she is far from reaching her peak. She doesn't think she has the strength to compete with Platinum.

At least not yet...

Therefore, she chose to avoid the Japanese Derby and continue training, preparing with all her might for long-distance races.

In the Kikuka Sho, the final battle of the Triple Crown of Transformation a few months later, Manchester Tea House wants to intercept Platinum's dream at the final hurdle!

And at this moment, Manchester Tea House appeared here as a spectator, along with her friend Agnes Tachyon.

Faced with Agnes Tachyon's constant observation of Platinum, Manchester Tea House simply nodded in agreement.

Suddenly—

Manchester Tea House seemed to think of something and suddenly asked.

"By the way, Tachyon, what about that Dr. Lin?"

"Didn't you want me to buy tickets to invite him?"

These words caused Agnes Tachyon's interested and excited gaze to slightly dim.

Immediately, Agnes Tachyon's delicate face became uncertain, and she softly replied.

"Two days before the race, when I gave him the ticket..."

"Dr. Lin said he couldn't come on Derby day. He will have two Uma Musume with whom he had a very good relationship during his time in the United States, and they will be racing on those two days."

"So, he wants to watch those two races."

This made Manchester Tea House tilt her small head slightly, her expression stagnant.

In Manchester Tea House's mind, the scene of "her injured self" from a previous dream, being warmly treated by the young doctor, flickered.

To make Dr. Lin give up watching Japan's most popular Derby and choose to watch other races...

Those two Uma Musume must be very important to him, right?

For some reason, even though it had nothing to do with her, the taciturn, dark girl felt inexplicably irritated.

"Which two Uma Musume?"

Manchester Tea House rarely pursued a topic about unfamiliar Uma Musume that had nothing to do with her.

Agnes Tachyon, who was also feeling inexplicably unwell, didn't pay much attention to her friend's reaction and casually replied.

"One is a dirt Uma Musume, and one is a turf Uma Musume."

"Dahlia!"

"Secretariat!"

As soon as these two names were mentioned, Manchester Tea House had no impression and didn't remember these two names winning any international GI races recently.

"Are they, very strong?"

Agnes Tachyon immediately shook her head.

"No, they... it's beyond what 'strong' can describe."

"A year from now, when you open the world's turf and dirt Uma Musume rankings, you only need to look at the top two to see them."

In an instant, Manchester Tea House's whole body stiffened.

Only look at the top two?

The strongest on turf? The strongest on dirt?

That's securing second and contending for first, meaning that, without any other monsters appearing out of nowhere, they can become the world's number one?

"Top two... does that mean there might be other Uma Musume who can surpass or approach Dahlia and Secretariat?"

The dark girl Manchester Tea House couldn't help but ask.

"For turf, there are three super rookies, such as Lintailai, and one called Star of Kaido, and... Platinum!"

"They all have the potential to approach and rival Dahlia, and maybe even surpass her?"

"And for dirt, there are two super rookies, called Bully and Route."

"But it's impossible for anyone to surpass Secretariat. Bully and Route are expected to get close, though."

Agnes Tachyon delivered her final judgment.

"Secretariat is simply... a beloved Uma Musume blessed by the three goddesses, an absolute legend who will reign over the history of dirt tracks, a true 'Horse of God' in every sense of the word!"

"Unless—a second Heavenly Horse emerges out of nowhere on the dirt, as special, powerful, and radiant as Platinum! Only then would it be qualified to challenge Secretariat's divine right!"

But... that's impossible, right?

"The unrivaled 'Crimson Secretariat' is invincible!!"

On the grass track, just before the third turn.

Jungle Pocket frowned slightly, deeply concerned.

The seemingly ferocious and deadly Jungle Pocket wasn't just an Uma Musume who knew nothing but to make a grand escape and lead the pack.

In her analysis, Platinum should be well-suited and skilled at running up front or leading the race.

And on a heavy track, which is naturally disadvantageous to Uma Musume at the back, Platinum on the far outside lane should be cutting in to accelerate.

But why... is Platinum still not here, even though the race is more than halfway through?

(Platinum, she's not just living up to her name; she's probably seen through my plan and hasn't chosen to cut in, but has instead switched to a mid-pack stalking strategy, right?)

(Powerful and strategic, a truly dangerous monster. Even Tachyon would probably find her a handful.)

(It looks like she's planning to accelerate and tear through the front runners on the final straight...)

The chestnut-haired girl's analysis hadn't finished when her heart rate suddenly accelerated, and her pupils contracted sharply, as if she had seen a ghost.

The silver-white figure still hadn't appeared on the outside lane she had been watching, but on the inside lane, which she had never worried about much!!

The Heavenly Horse Platinum! Is she coming?!

And, on the heavy, muddy inside lane, where no one dares to challenge, where the overall strength of the Uma Musume is most tested, she is galloping freely and openly?

(Guh... you've got to be kidding me!!!)