Umamusume's days are numbered

"Today's competition is truly something to look forward to. Whether it's the most popular Fuji Koji, the Koi Leaping Over the Dragon Gate making a comeback for the second time, or the Platinum who suddenly appears, they are all the focus of the audience's attention."

Standing on the stage, in front of a large audience, Bai Jin slowly squatted down, feeling waves of cramping pain in her stomach.

She covered her head and screamed silently.

"Eh—"

In the blink of an eye, the ground beneath my feet was no longer solid paving stones, but soft, lush green grass.

Looking around, outside the stadium, there were concentric circles and groups of spectators sitting in the stands, all looking very excited.

Looking ahead, a row of neat gates stood before him. Young girls, brimming with youthful energy, walked past Bai Jin, stepping confidently through the gates.

Oh no, I feel like I can't breathe, my head is starting to spin, and I'm so nervous.

Platinum covered her cheek.

How did things get to this point?!

"Strange, what happened on the field?"

"Perhaps because of excessive nervousness, the Platinum player refused to enter the gate."

The staff member gently squeezed Bai Jin's shoulders and slowly pushed her into the gate.

Platinum could only manage a muffled, mournful cry.

"Eh—"

Episode 3: Shouts and Cries

It's so tight, so crowded... Couldn't the guys who built this gate have made it a little wider? That's how Platinum feels inside the gate.

She was really about to run... She felt dizzy... Platinum's chest heaved violently, and she felt her body getting hot. Her hands were clenched tightly, and the dark mass of spectators outside the stage felt like stones pressing on her heart.

"Are you nervous?" Just then, Platinum heard a voice beside her. She looked around and saw the racehorse girl at the next gate smiling gently at her.

"Hmm...hi? Can you understand me?"

“I can understand the local language.” Platinum looked at the horse girl next door. The horse girl opposite him was tall and slender, a full half a head taller than Platinum, with long, jet-black hair like a black waterfall.

“I’m Li Yuelongmen, just call me Li.” Li Yuelongmen pointed to himself with his thumb. “I’m not a local either, I’m from Hong Kong. The guy standing on my other side is Fuji Koji, that guy is a complete local.”

The carp leaping over the dragon gate then pointed to Fuji Koji on his other side. The child there had short, warm, light chestnut hair and kept his eyes closed, not uttering a word.

"What great luck! The three most eye-catching horse girls are even standing on the outermost layer with consecutive numbers, haha."

"Oh, oh..." Platinum looked at the carp leaping over the dragon gate with wariness and confusion. The competition was about to begin, what was she going to say at this moment?

"No, it's just that I noticed you were breathing unsteadily." Li Yuelongmen squinted and smiled gently. "It's a little embarrassing to say, but I've already been through a debut battle, so I guess I can be considered your senior."

"Don't worry. In my experience, once you start racing on this field... all those other things will disappear, and your mind will only be focused on one thing."

"Okay, all the female horses have entered the gate..." the announcement began.

"Take this debut battle as a greeting between myself and this land." Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate smiled gently at Platinum, then turned to look ahead, slowly lowering his body to the ground, his muscles slightly tense.

Not only were the carp leaping over the dragon gate, but Fuji Koji on one side and the racehorse girls further away were all fully prepared, imagining themselves as cannonballs about to be launched.

This is... a well-trained racehorse...

Platinum followed the others and struck a pose. The arena fell silent; it was so quiet you could hear your own heart pounding.

Should Platinum consider this debut battle... as a greeting between himself and this land? Platinum silently pondered the words "carp leaping over the dragon gate."

Ah, whatever, it's already come to this point—

Is there any way out for me?

In short, just sprint off! Run all the way to the finish line, no matter how others are running, even if you're last, just finish the race!

Because this is how I greet the world.

"Game start!"

Almost simultaneously, all the female racehorses rushed out of the gate.

But even the slightest difference matters; there are different speeds among racehorses. Even a small start can be the foundation for victory in a race.

Like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, it took the lead, its supple legs seemingly compressed, its calves pressed tightly against its thighs, and then it pushed off in the opposite direction like a spring, leaving deep footprints on the soft grass.

These slender legs possessed unimaginable power, which propelled the carp leaping over the dragon gate like a catapult, almost transforming into a streak of light, and charging to the very front of the group.

Like a carp leaping over a dragon gate, air burst forth from between her teeth, accelerating like a female leopard... no, sprinting. She instantly increased her speed in an unimaginable way, to a degree that was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Even a car needs a warm-up and gear shifting process to accelerate. But the carp leaping over the dragon gate accomplished all of that in just a few seconds, her body becoming scalding hot. She had become a predator like a cheetah… no, even more terrifying than a cheetah!

Like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, she's the kind of person who excels at being at the forefront of the pack. With her pride and arrogance, she wouldn't allow herself to share the view ahead with anyone, not even for a second.

I will become the leader and maintain my first place all the way to the end! I'm sorry, but that's how the competition is. I will not give up this opportunity to either Fuji Koji or Platinum.

This was her second time participating in the debut battle; in other words, she had experienced a crushing defeat before. But this doesn't mean that someone who leaps over the dragon gate is weak... quite the opposite. If even a strong contender like someone who leaps over the dragon gate was defeated in that debut battle, one can imagine how intense the battle was and how terrifying the monsters were.

So this time, I have no way out! I will definitely win the crown in the debut battle!

The chestnut-haired Fuji Koji lagged behind a group of horse girls, leading the pack. Fuji Koji didn't possess the aggressive, explosive long legs of the Koi Leaping Dragon Gate, but she was remarkably calm and knew how to utilize her strengths. She stared intently at the Koi Leaping Dragon Gate, not even blinking, etching the image of the horse girl deeply into her retina.

It's only the beginning, so let you take the lead for now... Remember, the race isn't about the process, it's about the result.

As long as you show the slightest sign of weakness... seize the opportunity to rise up and leave her far behind.

You have to understand, even a cheetah... couldn't maintain that speed for the entire two kilometers!

As for the others, Fuji Koji didn't consider them any of his rivals. He only had eyes for the carp leaping over the dragon gate; once he surpassed that, he would be the undisputed victor.

Both the carp leaping over the dragon gate and Fuji Koji believe this... that in this competition, the only one who can be called an opponent is the other.

As for Platinum... neither of them meant to look down on her, but she didn't seem to have received any professional training; she looked more like a child who had been forced into it.

For a child like that, if she can finish the race, shouldn't we praise her for being amazing?

—And that was the fatal mistake of both of them.

Their judgment was correct, because Platinum was indeed an absolute novice. She had barely regained the ability to walk, let alone run.

Their judgment was also wrong. They shouldn't have ignored Platinum's existence; they should have even joined forces to surround and suppress her, giving her no chance whatsoever. Only then would the two of them have any hope of victory.

After all, the most suitable path for outsiders is to surpass their opponents.

The carp leaping over the dragon gate's pupils contracted violently, almost shrinking to pinpoints. Fuji Koji gritted his teeth, staring incredulously at the side before him.

It was a platinum-gold light.

How could this be...? The carp leaping over the dragon gate was momentarily thrown into disarray. Who? What? What was it that overtook?

That's impossible! How could anything in this world accelerate faster than a cheetah? Even an off-road vehicle...

The carp leaping over the dragon gate felt a lump in its throat. No, there are things faster than a cheetah.

—For example, light.

If it were light—it wouldn't be surprising if it accelerated to a high speed in an instant.

In that instant, the carp leaping over the dragon gate felt a wave of heat wash over its face. Its body had become scalding hot from the sudden acceleration, and touching its face at that moment might even make one suspect that it had a fever.

And yet, I could feel an even hotter heatwave!

Without a doubt, it was the intense heat generated by Platinum propelling itself forward. This scorching wave of heat even made Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate doubt its own abilities.

Is this really something a human can achieve?

Fuji Koji clenched his teeth so tightly they almost broke, his anger nearly consuming his mind.

Are you kidding me?! Are you kidding me?!

Fuji Koji wasn't angry that she had been surpassed, nor was she angry that a rival other than the legendary carp leaping over the dragon gate had appeared. She was very rational and knew how to use her mind. Even if a new opponent did appear, she could defeat them as long as she thoroughly understood their strength.

Fuji Koji was angry because... she saw it! She saw it! The moment Platinum surpassed him, he saw her face.

That platinum one—she actually closed her eyes!

With her eyes tightly closed and fists clenched, she didn't even adjust her breathing, but instead stomped heavily on the ground and rushed out!

"My God... the Platinum player just charged out! To go all out like that right at the start of the match, is this the Platinum player's strategy?"

"This is not good. Although the Platinum player is currently in first place, this kind of acceleration cannot be sustained for long. Perhaps she should consider maintaining a more stable pace."

Bai Jin heard the broadcast. It was two commentators talking.

Are they... talking about themselves? What are they saying? First? Me?

Platinum secretly opened her eyes a crack, then opened them fully. She blinked incredulously.

Before my eyes, without me even realizing it, there was no one left.

Am I... now number one?

Platinum has an unreal feel to it.

Platinum exhaled in a daze, feeling the solid texture of her feet on the grass, and the soreness from the contraction and expansion of her calves; she felt the fierce wind rushing towards her, and she felt herself splitting the wind in two like wings, flying past her sides; she felt her lungs pounding like the huge bellows of a pipe organ, and every artery, vein, and even capillary in her body was burning hot.

This is... the feeling of running.

This is... the feeling of normal breathing.

This is... what it feels like to be alive.

At that moment, Platinum became more aware of her own existence than ever before. She lived so vividly, so violently proclaiming her presence to the world—

She is Hintra. She is platinum. She is the spirit of the wind, she is light, she is the collection of billions of spirits.

She's number one!

"ha···"

It's clearly a race, at such a crucial moment.

"Ha ha···"

Although I'm currently in first place, my rivals will catch up soon. It's not time for me to relax yet.

"Hahaha···"

But why...why...

Platinum's lips unconsciously curled up, and he tilted his head back and laughed heartily.

Why am I laughing uncontrollably at this moment?

"Still number one, still number one! After the first bend, neither Koi Leaps Over the Dragon Gate nor Fuji Koji could surpass Platinum! Not only that... the gap between Koi Leaps Over the Dragon Gate and Fuji Koji and Platinum is widening, widening! Are the two of them trying to accumulate strength for a final sprint?"

"No, it's not that Fuji Koji and Koi Leaping Over the Dragon Gate didn't accelerate... In fact, the entire team on the track has already passed the first corner earlier. The pace of the race has been accelerated by Platinum, and everyone has been forced into a burst of speed! If this continues, riders with insufficient endurance will soon lose speed!"

"Under these circumstances, Platinum's gap with other competitors is still widening... It's not that other competitors aren't accelerating, but that Platinum is accelerating!"

Even the commentators were dumbfounded—Platinum, which had entered a sprint mode from the very beginning, not only did not slow down... but even accelerated?

This situation could only happen to Platinum, because she used to be a patient who couldn't even get out of bed.

She lacks a proper understanding of racing.

In the eyes of most people, running isn't about sprinting all at once, right? Normal people would stay in the group, calculating how much energy they have left and maneuvering skillfully.

Platinum, however, didn't understand any of this. For her, even walking was a luxury, let alone running. So she simply went all in: giving it her all from the very beginning.

It is precisely under these circumstances that such a horrific scene would occur.

"After another bend... ahead lies a straight, flat plain. The race has entered its final stage..." The commentator swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

"Platinum is still accelerating! Is she some kind of tireless robot motor? Such terrifying endurance and stamina are reminiscent of that terrifying emperor... no, she's like a real emperor who ruled an entire period in American history—just like that secretariat!"

"The carp leaping over the dragon gate has been overtaken by the leading group. Her speed has slowed down. Has she exhausted her stamina prematurely due to the influence of Platinum? Fuji Koji is now running alongside the carp leaping over the dragon gate!"

"But... Platinum, Platinum, Platinum! Platinum is too fast! She's left all the other contestants far behind! How did she do that?"

A sound broke out in the previously silent audience. They had been stunned by Platinum's performance, but now, as they came to their senses, they made a few soft noises.

The noise grew louder and louder, eventually merging into a torrent. It was the shouts of all the spectators in the stands, a mountain of cheers from thousands upon thousands of people gathered together.

"Platinum! Platinum! Platinum!"

They were shouting that.

"Platinum! Platinum! Platinum!"