Umamusume's days are numbered

This is how Airi Soko runs!

Episode 56 Land Flight

"Arisuko, Arisuko is too fast! She's completely left the other contestants behind!"

The commentator's voice echoed across the track, but Alice continued racing without a care in the world.

Leaving the other competitors far behind—isn't that only natural?

Fiery Steed and Forest Treasure Trove trailed far behind Elise, vainly trying to catch up.

—How tragic. Alice knew it was impossible. After her meticulous calculations, neither the Fiery Steed nor the Forest Treasure Cave could catch up with her.

Throughout the middle of the match, having already gained the upper hand, he wouldn't make any mistakes that would allow them to overtake him. At the same time, he still had enough stamina to unleash a powerful final kick.

It's normal that they, who had been leading the pack, couldn't keep up with Fiery Steed and Forest Treasure Cave. They were probably saving their energy, hoping to overtake them on the final straight.

But that's impossible. They've built a huge enough advantage early on. They can't catch up.

Platinum gritted his teeth, feeling a wave of horror wash over him.

Alice isn't running! She's practically flying on the ground!

Those were the most perfect curves in the world, legs moving with the golden ratio—flawless, every step perfectly executed. This resulted in ultimate speed and complete dominance.

If platinum is like light flying, then erythropomorphic particles are like faster-than-light particles!

The entire training ground was silent. All eyes were on these two individuals—the intensity of this competition had far exceeded that of everyone present.

Going around the corner!

Platinum was forced to slow down, leaving a clearly visible outward curve on the bend as she moved to the outside lane. Because of this, the gap between Platinum and Irisviel widened further, now to about two horse lengths.

Keep in mind that this was an all-out, explosive lead-out approach—even so, Alice was still ahead of everyone else.

Next, Platinum faced an even tougher challenge. The indoor training track was much smaller than the official track, meaning that running 2000 meters would involve navigating approximately eight turns.

---what to do?

"Following behind Eliseko are Fiery Steed and Forest Treasure Trove—they've started to accelerate, they've finally started to accelerate, leaving the other contenders behind on the final corner, and charging towards Eliseko, who has a huge lead!"

The fiery steed navigated the inner corners beautifully, as nimbly as a swallow. Steam billowed from its mouth, as if it held magma within.

"Currently, the top spot is held by a wide margin by Elise, followed by Forest Treasure Cave in second place and Blazing Steed in third. The two are neck and neck—"

They've caught up.

Catching up!

The fiery steed charged headlong up the hill, the very track she had chosen for the decisive battle—she had always hoped to surpass Alice here!

"—They've caught up!"

Inside the indoor training arena, a crowd of spectators had gathered around the two riders' track without them even noticing. One of the female racehorses gasped in surprise, covering her mouth.

"They've caught up?" Alice twitched her ears and looked back.

A platinum-gold light was tightly gripping his back.

When? No, at this point we should be thinking, how did she manage to do this?

Even though I haven't run in a long time, I've never forgotten what it's like to run. In fact, I'm in excellent condition today.

Although it sounds like boasting, Alice is willing to describe her stride today as concise and unquestionable as a mathematical theorem. Even the emperor couldn't outrun her.

So—how exactly did Platinum catch up?

First and foremost, it's important to understand that Platinum's legs are exceptionally good, truly exceptional. What she lacks is the ability to control that talent.

Ever since his race against the Emperor of the East Sea, Platinum has subconsciously slowed down. It was precisely because of this control over his speed that Platinum wasn't left off the track just now.

However, facing the powerful Alice, he knew he would never gain her approval if things continued this way.

Never mind, this is a matter of life and death! Even if Eclipse comes in person today, I still have to carry Alice back!

So after the first corner, Platinum immediately changed its strategy: to sprint without holding back on the straight!

As long as you have the stamina, run as hard as you can to the point of exhaustion.

Of course, this doesn't mean blindly charging ahead. Platinum consciously controlled his speed, accelerating at the beginning of the straightaway and then slowing down at the end to enter the curve.

So Platinum knew that while he might have temporarily caught up with Alice, this wouldn't last. He would be left behind again at the next bend.

Therefore, Platinum didn't expect to overtake Elisako midway. She wanted to face Elisako in the final straight!

"The race is entering its final stages! Eliseko maintains her lead and has taken the lead onto the ramp. After the ramp, only a smooth path remains between the finish line and Eliseko. In other words, this is the last chance for the Fiery Steed and the Forest Treasure Cave!"

right here.

"Arisako---!"

Squeezing out the last bit of air from his lungs, the Fiery Steed roared with a ferocious expression.

Please, my body, squeeze out just the last bit of your strength.

Because I really, really don't want to lose!

"So fast, the Fiery Steed is so fast! She's overtaken the Forest Treasure Cave and is heading straight for Alice!"

The blazing steed moved swiftly and rapidly, its hooves touching the ground and then quickly lifting off, lightly skimming the surface like a dragonfly, yet leaving deep marks on the earth.

The moment it stepped onto the slope, the Fiery Steed changed its running style, increasing its stride frequency as much as possible in that instant, despite the astonishing physical exertion it expended.

She wanted to accelerate uphill. Not only did she want to accelerate uphill, she wanted to overtake Alice!

"The gap between Blazing Steed and Elise has narrowed! Blazing Steed unleashed an astonishing final kick! Will Blazing Steed be able to surpass Elise?"

"They're almost done running." Someone in the indoor training area noticed the situation on the field.

Platinum remained close behind Alice, clinging to her like a piece of chewing gum.

"Heh...she's quite persistent." Alice chuckled inwardly.

But none of that matters.

In my calculations, nothing can escape my notice.

You will lose to me, Platinum.

Forest Treasure Trove is one, Manhattan Coffee is another, and Blazing Horse is yet another.

The same to you.

Episode 57 E=mc2

Alice felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She couldn't quite tell which arena she was in.

"Fiery Steed! Fiery Steed is still accelerating, and the distance between the two is constantly decreasing!"

The Fiery Steed charged forward; well done. From a researcher's perspective, the Fiery Steed's performance is quite gratifying.

But I'm sorry, Blazing Steed.

"You can't win." In a moment of pause, Alice murmured with a smile.

This is not mockery or anything like that; it's simply stating a fact. In Elise's calculations and deductions, no matter what, the Fiery Steed could not catch up.

No matter how you calculate it, there's no way to defeat Alice's legs.

Ah, if that's the case, if only I can do it—

Then I have no choice but to take up this responsibility myself.

"Elisauko, Elisauko, Elisauko!" Blazing Steed roared with bloodshot eyes, watching as the distance between him and her grew closer and closer, as if he could touch her with just a reach of his hand.

I can do it. I can do it now!

We've entered the final straight line!

Alice instantly regained consciousness, a piercing pain spreading from her calf upwards to her head.

What's wrong with me today...? I really shouldn't have gone out...

Alice frowned in distress. The pain in her calf was becoming increasingly intense, as if a crocodile was biting her lower body and writhing in agony.

My superficial tendinitis in my left foot has flared up again. I've been too indulgent with my body.

How could I have forgotten that this was precisely why I chose to retire at the peak of my career, leave the racetrack, and place my hopes on Manhattan Coffee and other racehorse girls?

For a person with normal activity levels, tendinitis is nothing more than a simple chronic illness that does not affect daily life.

But for racehorse girls, this is a terminal illness that will end their career.

A terminal illness. An incurable disease. Although a mild case wouldn't be life-threatening... it's like those annoying mosquitoes, buzzing around and around...

It lingers, it will never leave.

"We've caught up!" Alice heard someone in the crowd exclaim. She turned around again and saw Platinum's face right in front of her.

Was it the illness that affected him? Or was it because of those annoying memories? How did this pesky little mosquito manage to catch up with him?

The final straightaway was down to just 300 meters! Platinum was practically grinding her teeth in frustration. She had never before experienced such varied speed control or navigated so many curves while running. Now, she felt as if a burning stick had been stuffed into her lungs.

Running a race against a prized horse like Airi Soko is more tiring than a week of endless training.

Come on, my body!

Right here, right now, surpass her!

"Elisei! Blazing Steed! Elisei! Blazing Steed!"

"Arisako, Arisako, Arisako!"

On the Satsuki Sho racecourse, the intense shouts of the spectators nearly turned the racetrack upside down.

"It's Elizabeth! It's Elizabeth who maintained the advantage!"

The Fiery Steed leaned forward, its hair soaked with sweat.

So close, so close...

So close, we were almost there...

The gap between myself and Alice is still narrowing!

I can do it!

"It's over." When Flame Steed heard Elise sigh like that, her eyes widened suddenly.

In that instant, Elise crossed the finish line. Right behind her, the fiery steed also crossed the finish line.

The Fiery Steed ran forward a few steps in a daze, then stood on the track, circling around as if it didn't understand what was happening.

The audience's shouts, the commentator's praise, and the cheers of their companions.

After a few seconds of reaction, she realized that all of this was happening because of Alice.

I... lost. I made such a boast, yet I lost so easily.

Eliseko stood before Blazing Steed. She looked at Blazing Steed with a repulsive expression of pity.

"I told you. You can't beat me."

"---It's over!" In the indoor training arena, the atmosphere among the audience was completely stirred up. Whether they were practicing or not, all the racehorses gathered around, watching intently as the competition, a spectacle usually only seen on television, unfolded.

"That's amazing!" a racehorse girl shouted, excitedly embracing each other.

At that very moment, Alice saw someone's back for the first time.

It was a slender figure half a head shorter than her, pure white, like a type of phosphogypsum moth that Alice had seen before.

Ah, those are truly the most beautiful creatures! Every curve, every flap of their wings seems to pulsate with the very essence of life.

That's for sure. Moths have such short lives that they don't even need to eat. They just keep dancing and dancing until they die.

Alice understood. Platinum is like that moth, dancing endlessly until it burns itself out.

"Cross the finish line!" cheers erupted from the indoor training area.

Platinum crossed the finish line, his legs went weak, and he squatted down, panting heavily. He then clutched his chest and rolled around on the ground, practically rolling his eyes in exasperation.