Umamusume's days are numbered

Am I really not allowed to have a chance with them?

At this moment, Platinum's mind was no longer preoccupied with the audience in the arena. Even if he had been overwhelmed by fear the moment he stepped onto the field, now was not the time to consider those things.

When your mind is completely occupied by something, even the laziest person will become serious.

Platinum still doesn't believe he will win.

But since we've come all this way... we should lose in a more elegant way, right?

So I'm sorry, Soko. I won't listen to you.

Now's the time! I can't take it anymore! Forward, charge! Charge ...

I felt as if I had transformed into one of the thousands of stars in the sky, and then plummeted like a shooting star, my whole body burning red.

And so, to the horrified gaze of the Jade Lion, specks of dirt splashed from Bai Jin's feet onto her smooth face.

The moment the mud splashed onto her face, the small, all-white contestant's figure in her field of vision shrank by half. The explosive blast of air felt like a curtain of gas in front of her, making her feel as if she had stepped into glue.

—What terrifying acceleration! Has she been holding back her true abilities all this time?

Because Platinum had maintained a steady breathing pattern throughout the previous matches and appeared calm and composed, Shiki had assumed that she was an endurance athlete like herself.

But now...

Platinum had no time to care what the other competitors behind her were thinking. Her eyes were almost closed, and the strong wind was blowing against her face. Platinum was like a race car being driven by a novice, stumbling and struggling to maintain a straight line.

Golden Sixty is about to enter the final corner. At this point, it's pointless to worry about who's ahead or behind. Only in the corner will he have a chance to overtake. Platinum is well aware that once all the drivers are clustered together on the final straight, overtaking each other, Platinum will have no chance of breaking away.

So, this is the last possibility!

"Don't go off the path, don't go off the path, don't go off the path..." Platinum silently repeated to himself.

Please, don't forget how Nishizaki Ryu taught himself to corner!

First, what lies before me is... Haidu City!

Platinum and Hai Dudu's figures touched and then separated. Hai Dudu watched Platinum speeding forward, smiled, and then slowed down.

That's it, like flying, don't be afraid of anything, just run.

The future belongs to you. Our predecessors were great, but you will create even more miracles.

And then... the carp leaping over the dragon gate!

As they approached the carp leaping over the dragon gate, Platinum heard the ear-piercing roar growing louder and louder. She squinted uncomfortably and covered her ears.

This is···

Are they scammers?

But it's still bearable!

On the contrary, the carp that leaped over the dragon gate looked exhausted and on the verge of collapsing at any moment.

Without much thought, and almost as if possessed, Bai Jin clapped the outstretched hand of the carp leaping over the dragon gate.

Platinum himself didn't know what it meant. Encouragement? Comfort? Neither.

Perhaps this isn't a high-five, but rather... taking over the baton.

Leaping over the Dragon Gate like a carp leaping over a dragon gate!

"Platinum racer! Platinum racer is accelerating on the curve! She's overtaken Haidu City and Liyuelongmen, and is getting closer to Aili Digital! So fast! She's incredibly fast!" The commentator also noticed the unusual scene on the field.

"Incredible, absolutely incredible! The Platinum contestant has risen from ninth place at the start of the competition to fourth! Can she maintain this ranking, or will she go even further?"

This is truly beyond my expectations.

Rudolf sat in his office, his lips slightly parted, watching the scene on television in silence for a long time.

She admitted she was taken aback. Rudolf symbolized that he hadn't expected Platinum to achieve such a level of success.

"Go go go go—surpass her, surpass her, surpass her, surpass her!" In Spica's training room, Yamato Akaki grabbed Vodka's head and shouted at the TV.

Episode 112: Driving Straight In

We've already reached fourth place!

Although Platinum couldn't hear the commentator clearly, her eyesight was still good. Of the three people running in front of her—Golden Gun Sixty, the Scammer, and Alice Digital—only these three remained.

The sound of tires rolling and crushing the mud came from inside the fence. A jeep carrying a camera followed the runners from the side, its lens fixed on them.

Platinum had been running far behind the group, and the cameras following the first few people hadn't captured her. But as Platinum gradually sped up, she began to come into view.

Now, during televised matches, viewers at home can see Platinum and Aili Digital even more clearly than those at the stadium.

"The gap between Platinum and Aili Digital is still narrowing. Can she surpass Aili Digital?"

"But Alice Digital's speed has remained relatively consistent, clearly indicating she still has some reserves. Will she let Platinum overtake her so easily?"

platinum···

Alice Digital turned her head to look at Platinum, who was half a horse's length behind her. This was quite unusual, because in a race, there's no time to pay attention to other competitors; every racehorse girl is running as if trying to squeeze out every last drop of water from her body. At times like this, the most you can do is listen to the footsteps behind you.

And Aili Digital actually turned its head directly, right in the middle of the curve! Unable to see the track in front of it, the racehorse girl had no idea how to lift her foot or plan her route.

Is this arrogance... or...?

Alice Digital initially embarked on the racetrack because she admired other racehorse girls.

Like everyone else, she had a desire to win. But she also possessed a pure and sincere heart—an unconditional love for racehorse girls.

Sometimes, these two feelings are contradictory. But sometimes, they complement each other.

I hope to see more exciting and moving stories on the track. I long to witness the grand, fateful encounter I'm chasing.

This special race was like a stage from a fantasy. It brought together racers who would never have otherwise had the chance to race together: retired racers, newly debuted racers, and even racers who hadn't yet made their debut.

I feel very satisfied that I was able to step onto this stage.

Having retired, I've long lost the desire to compete. But my burning passion has never diminished.

Therefore, she absolutely had to turn back here. Aili Digital wanted to confirm it with their own eyes—

Was the raging fire burning in Bai Jin's eyes the same fire he had lit himself?

After a soft, short sigh, Aili Digital let out a satisfied sigh.

That's enough.

Platinum, just missed out on Aili Digital.

"It's still going strong! The Platinum player's momentum shows no signs of slowing down, heading straight for the Fraudster and the Golden Gun Sixty!"

"This is unbelievable... Am I dreaming?"

Alice stood on the stands, pacing back and forth, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.

"It's still too early...it's still too early..." Alice muttered to herself, "Leaving aside the Golden Gun Sixty, even the conman still has some strength left..."

"Is it going to end in third place?"

In front of the student council's television, Rudolf symbolically held his breath, almost forgetting to breathe, his eyes fixed on the television screen.

To have achieved this... Platinum is perhaps far more outstanding than I imagined...

In Spica's training room, Ryu Nishizaki jumped up as he saw the images on the television.

"Platinum rushed in recklessly; she's lost her mind!"

"They're so close to the conman and Golden Spear Sixty! Their battlefield is not one that anyone else can set foot on!"

"Losing the game is a small matter... but don't let it leave any lasting pain!"

Some were happy, some were sad; everyone's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by a giant hand.

At this moment, Platinum's mind went blank. After surpassing Ali Digital, Platinum was the closest player to the conman, second only to Golden Gun Sixty.

Only now did she realize how much pressure Alice Digital was under, and only now did she understand what Alice Soko meant.

—There is absolutely no possibility of direct confrontation. These are Alice's exact words.

The continuous rumble of thunder poured into Platinum's head, and she almost thought she was in the eye of a thunderstorm, surrounded by flashes of pale white and bright yellow lightning.

Moreover, the two in front already possess top-notch speed. The cheater is the one with the legs to run alongside the secretariat in the escape, while Golden Gun Sixty can basically be considered the pinnacle of contemporary Hong Kong horse racing.

At my current speed, surpassing them is simply a pipe dream!

Then accelerate again... No, no! Platinum felt a dull pain in her calves. She still had some stamina left, and her physical condition was excellent. But after such an intense run, from last place to where she was now, this was Platinum's limit.

Perhaps it will be possible in the future, but it is still quite difficult for Platinum, who has only been in the industry for a short time.

Forcing himself to use his legs wouldn't be impossible, but this is a curve, and at Platinum's current speed, it's already quite difficult to keep himself from falling off the track. Even if he were to accelerate a second time, he would have to wait until the final straight.

I'm already doing my best just to maintain the current distance and prevent them from widening.

Platinum sighed softly to himself.

Still not working... This result isn't entirely unacceptable.

I'm a little disappointed, but it's better than coming in last place, right?

She had already done her best. If Alice really wanted to blame her, she could just offer up her own legs.

Do you even know the meaning of "bearing thorns to apologize"?

As long as he can maintain his current ranking, that's enough for him to brag about. His efforts are obvious to everyone, and Rudolf can't really say anything about it, right?

But...but...

Platinum bit her lip tightly.

I'm just not willing to accept it! What can I do?

Having come in third place, anyone would be thinking about whether they could get second place, or even first place!

Their figures were less than three horse lengths away from him!

Please, can you be a little more efficient?

"Charge!" Platinum unconsciously squeezed out the shout from his throat.

Instantly, Bai Jin felt a lightness in her body, and the storm-like aura surrounding her vanished. She looked around in astonishment; could it be that she possessed the power of words, able to conjure magic from her speech?

Naturally, since it wasn't Platinum who gained the power of words, the problem must lie with someone else.

The swindler's footsteps pounded on the grass, his body leaning forward uncontrollably, the fiery red phoenix tattoo on his side appearing completely crimson.

She is about to fall.

Episode 113 Facing the Storm

The swindler heard a dull thud from his leg.

She felt neither anger nor fear. She simply shook her head gently.

She had anticipated this.

The swindler knew all along that his legs could no longer bear the weight of his desires. The three steel nails driven into his legs served as a constant reminder:

You're no longer suited to be a horse racer.

Not a single racehorse girl was disabled, not even by her legs.

A racehorse girl can be missing an arm, be disabled, or be blind, but she absolutely cannot be without her legs. Those legs are her lifeline. Once that lifeline is severed, her career as a racehorse girl should naturally end.

Only the con artist, like a ghost of an old era, has refused to hold a retirement ceremony.

Within her chest, her burning heart could not find rest. Day and night, her heart pounded powerfully, reminding her:

The Secretariat is still there. Are you content with that?

The con artist felt her vision tilting forward, as if the horizon was rising like a surging tide. She could barely maintain her balance.

She saw Platinum chasing after her; she saw the distance between herself and Golden Spear Sixty growing ever wider.

has it ended?

The conman thought to himself, "Indeed, I've been pushing myself too hard."