Chapter 448: 560

What is the proudest achievement in a horse girl's life?

Is it the joy of racing across the track year after year, or the exhilaration of defeating a lifelong rival after a fierce duel down the final stretch?

Is it the ever-growing collection of G1 trophies, or the supreme glory of standing atop the podium and basking in the crowd's cheers?

Is it earning a legendary title that fans will carry in their hearts and pass down through generations, or the profound bond forged with her Trainer over the long journey they shared?

Perhaps this question has never had a single correct answer.

Every horse girl develops a pride all her own, shaped by her personality and experiences.

But for the eleven elite Central horse girls standing on this track today, the greatest honor of their lives...

Was being set in stone at this very moment.

Many years later, when these stars who had once dominated the racetracks of the Far East had all retired, younger racers would ask them about that almost mythical Arima Kinen.

Perhaps they would answer with only these words:

"We once challenged a legend, and with our own eyes, we witnessed the majesty of the World itself..."

...

Time returned to the Arima Kinen.

The sharp crash of the gates opening suddenly rang out, and twelve figures shot forward at the exact same instant.

"The race has begun! A perfect start! Every racer appears to be in excellent condition and thoroughly prepared!"

The announcer stared down at the track, his voice soaring with excitement.

"Now the battle for position in the opening stage begins! Who will seize the lead?"

"Will it be Ines Fujin, as always, or..."

His voice abruptly died.

Everyone in the stadium saw it clearly.

The instant the purple-haired figure in pure-white signature racewear burst from her gate, she unleashed an impossibly explosive surge of acceleration.

Her terrifying acceleration carried her through the field as though no one else were there. Like a sword thrusting through an army, she instantly pierced straight to the very front of the pack.

"Wha...?!"

The pupils of Aines and Wakaba, who were following closely behind, contracted sharply.

Another Great Escape?

She was using Great Escape tactics in a 2,500-meter long-distance race?

It was true that this champion of the Mejiro family had secured victory with a Great Escape more than once during her previous thirteen races.

But...

She was way too damn fast!

With that terrifying stride length and cadence, was she running a sprint?!

"You've got to be kidding me! Don't think you can shake us off that easily!"

Wakaba's eyes widened almost to the point of splitting as she accelerated without hesitation.

Behind her, the eleven stars of Central overcame their brief shock and made the same choice in perfect unison.

Follow her!

Maintaining this pace would most likely leave them completely drained in the second half of the race.

But if they failed to keep up now...

They would lose even the right to gaze upon her back.

"..."

At the front of the race, the purple-haired girl in white suddenly turned her head and looked behind her.

When she saw what the others had chosen to do, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"If you insist on bearing witness, then do not look away..."

The girl spoke softly, but the domineering presence surging around her grew increasingly dense, almost tangible.

"Carve the sight of my back into your souls!"

BANG!

Her foot slammed into the turf like a sledgehammer.

She lowered her body and accelerated once more. Ripples of compressed air spread around her with each heart-shaking footfall.

At the same time, endless streams of pure-white light poured down from the void.

"Look at me!"

"Remember me!"

"Catch me!"

With every declaration, the pressure that seemed as vast as the heavens and as deep as the abyss grew heavier.

"Do not stop running."

"Even if you can never reach my summit in this lifetime, let it become the guidepost that drives you to keep running!"

HUM!

A reverberation seemingly born from the depths of the soul rang out as a dazzling radiance erupted from McQueen's amethyst eyes.

The next instant, the void trembled and a violent gale arose.

The vast phantom of an endless sky descended from the highest heavens, covering the world as it crashed down over Nakayama Racecourse.

The terrifying presence that had previously seemed vague and intangible transformed into crushing physical pressure, slamming into every racer chasing behind her.

[End of the Skies: World]!

The instant she entered the first turn, the strongest horse girl in the world unleashed everything she possessed without restraint.

...

In the highest section of the stands...

"Haha! I can't believe you're taking it this far. That's just like you, McQueen!"

Suave Dancer stood with one hand on her hip, silently watching the spectacle below with a smile tugging at her lips.

Unleashing so much power during the opening stage of a 2,500-meter long-distance race fundamentally defied common sense.

It was an ill-timed burst of power at the most inappropriate possible moment.

Logically, it offered no tactical advantage whatsoever. It would merely squander precious stamina and drastically increase the risk of slowing down during the latter half of the race.

Yet McQueen had done it anyway.

"Should I call that confidence..."

"Or kindness?"

...

On the track below, that pure-white figure transformed into an untouchable stream of light.

Pulling the stars of the entire Far Eastern era in her wake, she plunged into this final battle of breathtaking brilliance.