The way Uma Musume looks at me is so scary!

Chapter 110 An Indispensable Gap

Xiu Xingmeng stood in the rain. She looked up and saw a familiar sky. This was the Tokyo Racecourse on a rainy day, the place where her dream began.

In countless flashbacks, under the same rainy sky, Xiu Xingmeng honed her abilities to the point of defeating geniuses.

That profound memory was even etched into her soul, so much so that it condensed into a skill called Tokyo Swift.

Before walking out of the player's passage, Xiu Xingmeng thought that this skill had completely disappeared after being upgraded to a domain, since it could no longer be found on the panel, right?

But it wasn't until now, until she was actually standing in the rain at the Tokyo Racecourse, that she finally realized the Tokyo Swifts had never left her.

Because she is, Xiu Xingmeng is that Tokyo swift, how could she abandon herself with the skills and instincts she honed through retrospection?

Even on the heavy grass, Xiu Xingmeng did not feel any discomfort.

Her abilities, which had been stagnant for a long time, were amplified in that instant, and Xiu Xingmeng immediately noticed this fact—

She became stronger.

Unexpectedly, such a pleasant surprise has occurred. Xiu Xingmeng smiled slightly and murmured to herself.

"system."

As she finished speaking, a half-transparent blue panel suddenly appeared in her field of vision.

【Horse Girl Raising System - Scenario Panel】

Character: Celestial Weave

Speed: B [Elite] [Locked] → A [After Enhancement]

Endurance: B [Elite] [Locked] → A [After Blessing]

Strength: B [Elite] [Locked]

Character: S [Crown-level] [Limit Break]

Intelligence: B [Elite] [Locked]

Adaptable to: Grassland (A) and Muddy (C)

Field: [Demon Sword/Murasame]

Skills: Intuition (Purple), Phoenix (Blue), Endurance (White)

This is the final panel of Embroidered Star Dream in the Japanese Derby. Her Root ability can be further improved because she successfully broke through the limit.

Unfortunately, although Chizuru Haibara could sense this elusive attribute, she didn't have a good way to improve it.

During the six months or so in this script world, his root nature was only developed through related training when he was doing other skills training; he never underwent targeted training.

Even so, Xiu Xingmeng already possessed an A-level aptitude at the start of the script mission, so under such training, she was also promoted to S-level.

This is her highest attribute, and it's also the basis for Xiu Xingmeng's tactics in order to win the Japanese derby.

However, Xiu Xingmeng wasn't paying much attention to her root attributes right now, since she already knew them. She was just a little surprised to see her speed and endurance attributes.

She clearly remembered that the Tokyo Swift, a purple skill, would have its speed and stamina greatly increased after the conditions were perfectly met.

Xiu Xingmeng originally expected that such an improvement might only reach B+ level, but she didn't expect that she would actually jump a whole level to A level.

Even though the words "Tokyo Swift" have disappeared from the panel, the power she left behind is still supporting her.

Xiu Xingmeng thought to herself, she originally planned to rely on triggering the effect of the Challenger Medal to narrow the gap in basic abilities between herself and the Gold Master.

However, now that Tokyo Swifts have regained their skills, they probably won't need the Challenger Medal this time.

Just as Xiu Xingmeng was thinking this, she suddenly heard a familiar voice from directly in front of her.

"Are they listening to the cheers of the audience?"

Xiu Xingmeng looked up and saw that the person who had come was none other than the Gold Master.

Her dazzling golden victory outfit remained eye-catching even in the rain, and the six-pointed star headdress on her head reflected the sparkling water droplets.

"It's a pity that if it weren't for your previous actions, you might have been the most popular person at the next Chrysanthemum Appreciation."

The Gold Master smiled lightly at Xiu Xingmeng, the meaning of which was self-evident: she had regained her resolve and vowed not to suffer another defeat in the Japanese derby.

"Even though you're already on the field, are you still concerned about their opinions?"

"You can't win like this."

Not to be outdone, Xiu Xingmeng met the Gold Master's provocation head-on with a retort.

To everyone's surprise, the Gold Master was not as angry as before after hearing this. Instead, he chuckled twice and said...

"As a king, I naturally have an obligation to meet the expectations of my subjects. But—"

"The only person I will ever look at is you."

Her glassy eyes did not dim in the rain; on the contrary, a dazzling golden light flashed in them when the Gold Master spoke those words to Xiu Xingmeng.

As the golden light and oppressive aura vanished in an instant, Xiu Xingmeng immediately realized that the Golden Master had completely mastered her domain.

But so what? She was already prepared to win the Japanese derby under these circumstances.

However, before Xiu Xingmeng could speak, the commentator's voice could already be heard from outside the arena.

"All players have entered the arena."

"Please take your positions, all you racehorse girls!"

The Golden Master, who had also heard the sound, narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of excitement appearing on his lips.

Her instincts as a racehorse girl were awakened. She wanted to win, not for the so-called glory, nor for the expectations of her subjects. What the Golden Master wanted most at this moment was to defeat the opponent she had already acknowledged, the archenemy of the Golden Tyrant!

"Is it finally about to begin?"

She muttered something to herself in a low voice, then looked directly at Xiu Xingmeng and gave a violent smile before speaking loudly.

"Come on! My nemesis, let us officially begin this feast that belongs only to kings!"

After speaking, the Golden Master tossed his cloak, tearing through the rain with unparalleled charisma, and walked toward his gate.

A burst of golden light flashed before Xiu Xingmeng's eyes like an illusion.

Just as she was frowning, unsure of the Golden Master's current strength, a cold, mechanical voice suddenly reached Xiu Xingmeng's ears.

"Challenger Badge triggered."

Upon hearing this voice, Xiu Xingmeng's pupils contracted slightly. She hadn't expected that even though she had triggered the Tokyo Swift effect and increased her basic attributes, the Golden Master could still trigger the Challenger Badge effect?!

Aside from the fact that his root attribute could never be one level higher than hers, the Golden Master now has at least three attributes that have completely surpassed Embroidered Dream by one level.

In other words, while Xiu Xingmeng possesses an A-level endurance and speed, Golden Master has at least one of those attributes that has reached the S-level!

"It's only been a month since the last Satsuki Sho."

"Is it possible to raise basic abilities to this level...?"

Watching the Gold Master's gleaming figure in the rain, Xiu Xingmeng murmured.

Chapter 111 Only Victory

The Golden Master, a name that had been lingering in her ears since she entered the world of the script, was a name that Xiu Xingmeng had heard from countless people, and she had always regarded the Golden Master as her most powerful rival.

Only now did she finally understand why Chizuru Haibara was so frightened by the Gold Master's terrifying rate of progress.

In just over a month, the Gold Master was able to raise one of his basic attributes to S-level.

This is calculated based on the time she started training after the Gōgetsu Awards ended. If we start counting from when Xiu Xingmeng encouraged the Golden Master, she only took less than a month.

Even if the previous attributes were already A-level, such an improvement is still amazing.

Seeing such rapid progress, it's no wonder that so many people pin their hopes of breaking the Arc de Triomphe curse on the Golden Master.

She truly possesses world-class physical talent.

Raindrops pattered against Xiu Xingmeng's face, and she felt a burning heat from the raindrops—no, it wasn't the rain that was burning, but rather—

My own heartbeat?

At this moment, on and off the field, all the sounds became insignificant; all Xiu Xingmeng could hear was the beating of her own heart.

That excited voice.

I actually feel excited?

But why do I feel excited when the Gold Master's power increases beyond my expectations, leading to a decrease in my win rate?

But Hideyuki herself understood that this was the desire ingrained in every racehorse girl's instinct—the desire for a strong opponent.

Good opera was like that in the past, the Golden Master was like that, and now The Dream of the Stars will be no exception.

However, Xiu Xingmeng gritted her teeth and tried her best to calm her turbulent emotions, walking towards her gate in the rain.

She has been willful far too many times in this script world. If she could use the excuse of not being able to stand it to convince herself before when she inspired the Golden Master, she might have been able to do so.

Now, Xiu Xingmeng absolutely will not allow herself to be willful anymore.

Xiu Xingmeng has never forgotten what has sustained her to this day. She wants to complete the main quest and earn SP points to exchange for the expensive Hope Gem to awaken her mother.

The extraordinary increase in the Golden Master's abilities turned into heavy pressure, forcing Embroidery Star Dream to abandon her so-called racehorse girl instincts.

Hsiung-sei knew the consequences of following this instinct: the racehorse girl would crave a stronger opponent to awaken the power hidden deep within her body. Good opera is like that, otherwise she wouldn't have invited Hsiung-sei to sprint together in the middle of the race.

A good opera is about running on the field with a rival who can match her, and the Golden Master is no exception. She has already likened the Japanese derby to a banquet, which proves that she is subconsciously looking forward to a showdown with Xiu Xingmeng.

But such a showdown is risky, and Xiu Xingmeng doesn't want that risk.

All she wants now is to win.

Unbeknownst to her, Xiu Xingmeng had already stepped through the gate that belonged to her.

She took a deep breath. Because of the speed at which the Golden Master was growing, Xiu Xingmeng had already made up her mind during her recent contemplation.

The original tactics must be executed more aggressively. If we approach the race with the same mindset as a good opera, expecting our rivals to get stronger, then the Golden Masters will inevitably become stronger at an astonishing speed.

Xiu Xingmeng closed her eyes, blocking out all sounds, and focused all her attention on her heart.

At Tokyo Racecourse, amidst the rain, she closed her eyes again before the gates, as if she had returned to that past experience.

There, Xiuxingmeng didn't need to think about anything else.

All she needs is victory.

"Peng!"

A gunshot, like a thunderclap, tore through the continuous rain. All eighteen gates opened at once, and eighteen footsteps instantly overturned the grass and rushed onto the track.

At this moment, the eagerly waiting audience and commentators all turned their gazes to the very front, hoping to find the red figure they had been longing for.

But this time, the red streak of light was not at the forefront.

But in—

"At the very back?! Contestant number six, Embroidered Dream, is at the very back of all the racehorse girls?! Did she come out too late?"

Before Kentaro Sugiki could finish his exclamation, Rin Akasaka, who had been watching Hideyuki, spoke up in denial.

"No, I've been keeping an eye on Xiu Xingmeng's movements. She didn't come out late; instead, she deliberately chose this position."

"but……"

"Why this spot? Is she planning to pursue me relentlessly?"

Even Rin Akasaka, who had been watching the Xiuxingmeng competition, was very confused. In her memory, Xiuxingmeng had always been leading the pack.

Even if we don't use the escape tactic this time, we still need to maintain the order of the fleeing horses, or at least have them go first, right?

But Xiu Xingmeng ended up at the very back of the group?

Rin Akasaka was not the only one confused; countless puzzled voices also arose from the audience.

Among the crowd, spectators with unique insights into the competition began to discuss it.

"Generally speaking, a female racehorse has a different level of adaptability to tactics. Racehorses that can reach the Japanese derby usually know very well what they are good at."

Tamamo Cross spoke softly in the crowd, and Oguri Hat beside her continued speaking.

"That's right. Just like the Golden Master, she is clearly a racehorse girl who is good at centering and chasing tactics. In this race, she also chose to be at the very back of the center group."

They both let out a confused mutter.

"But Xiuxingmeng has never shown any adaptability to other running styles from beginning to end."

"Is this her secret weapon that she's been hiding until now? Or..."