The [Tokyo Daishoten]—a G1 Dirt race, spanning 2000 meters in length. It was the very last Dirt race Central offered, and it could be said the be the most prestigious Dirt race currently available in Japan. Despite all that, it wasn't actually all that famous, with some G3 races even gathering more audience than the [Tokyo Daishoten] did.
The issue was simple; Dirt races just weren't very popular in Central Japan. The URA had spent decades popularizing Turf races in Central, and even though Director Akikawa was doing her best to try and introduce more Dirt races into Central, it was slow-going.
But today was different.
"Welcome back everyone to this year's [Tokyo Daishoten]!"
An audience that easily surpassed forty thousand roared with excitement, causing the stadium to shake due to the sheer volume of their cries. It was a complete shift compared to last year's [Tokyo Daishoten], which gathered nowhere as many people in the audience as it did now.
Even the announcer that'd spoken was shocked into silence for a few good seconds, before they quickly spoke once more. "We have a massive crowd this year, and I'm sure everyone knows why!"
Massive spotlights that surrounded the tracks suddenly lit up, illuminating the dirt track below. A few more lit up, shining their light down towards the athlete's tunnel.
"She's won the [Japan Dirt Cup] and the [Champions Cup], and now she aims for the [Tokyo Daishoten] as well!"
"There might not currently be a Dirt Triple Crown, but who is to say she can't be the very first to hold that achievement!?"
"Here comes out top favorite—the Tactician of Kasamatsu, the Divine General—"
"No.1, Belno Light!!"
The crowd cheered as Belno Light stepped out onto the track, her gaze sharp and focused as she walked forward, entirely unaffected by the huge crowd that watched her every move. Her opened gakuran swayed in the passing night winds, and the spotlights shining down on her made her distinctive shadow even more visible.
As more umamusume began entering the track, they couldn't help but sneak a glance at Belno. Since Dirt races were few and far between in Central, many of them had actually already faced off against Belno before, and they were all soundly defeated. It wouldn't be wrong to say that every other runner competing in this race were victims of the Tactician herself.
Normally something like that would cause Belno to be targeted throughout the entire race. Even if it meant losing themselves, as long as Belno wouldn't win, then it'd be worth it.
This time was different. No one was willing to even attempt to block Belno in some manner.
Because they all knew,
Trying to outsmart the Divine General only meant dropping yourselves into her trap.
"Now, our second favorite!"
"She came 2nd during the [Champions Cup], having only lost by 2 lengths. The resilience she showed after experiencing Belno Light's Domain was extraordinary!"
"No.7, Fleetstreet Dancer!"
Dancer smiled wryly at the announcer's words. Sure, they weren't wrong, but being reminded of her most recent loss made her feel slightly bitter.
Just slightly though. Losing to Belno Light was far from a pleasant experience, but she knew that it was inevitable. The Tactician of Kasamatsu was just too strong for umamusume like them. Sure, she was a Senior that regularly raced in Central, but what did that mean against divine talent?
All she could do now was to run as best as she could.
"And today, we have a special guest from Tracen Central!"
"Hai, hai~! This is Maruzensky-chan! Nice to meet you all~"
"This year's been pretty heated, so I'm here to provide some help when things start getting quite intense~"
Down below, Belno blinked as she heard that familiar voice. "Maruzensky-senpai?" She whispered, before she smiled wryly. "Isn't she part of the student council? Does she just have so much time to spend?"
She shook her head. Those were questions for her to ponder later.
"Alright~! Since everyone's at their gates already, we can start at any time~!"
Dancer took a deep breath.
Her hands were shaking slightly, and no matter what she tried, the shaking refused to go away. It wasn't much of a surprise really—feeling that energy spear pierce through her was not a nice experience to have, and knowing that she was about to go up against it again was triggering her instincts.
Yet she couldn't run. Not here. Not now.
This was the only chance she had left. The last opportunity to try and defeat the Tactician while she was still in her Classic year. She had no doubts that Belno Light would become even more formidable going into her Senior years, and by then defeating her would pretty much be impossible for her.
This was it; one last dance before the year's end.
"Ready, set~"
The world grew quiet. The wind blew gently across the track, and the air seemed to turn even colder as the night went on. Only the soft humbuzz of the spotlights broke through the ensuing silence.
Before finally,
"Go~!"
BANG!
The gates slammed open, and-
"What's this!? Belno Light has taken the lead!?"
Dancer's eyes went wide, and a surge of terror stabbed through her chest as she watched Belno effortlessly surge to the lead, displaying an acceleration easily comparable to most Seniors.
Yet as she settled just behind Belno, her terror became mired with confusion. She couldn't understand why Belno had taken the lead. Sure, her earlier races were all done by surging to the front and controlling the race's pace, but being in the lead meant depriving herself of her strongest weapon. That divine spear she created during her Domain would hit no one!
But it couldn't be. Belno was far too intelligent for such a misstep. There had to be something else!
"We're about to enter the first corner!"
"Belno Light has secured the lead, with Fleetstreet Dancer and Diurnia Palace just behind her!"
At the lead of the pack, Belno couldn't help but smile fondly as she raced forward. It'd been a while since she decided to run as a Frontrunner, and doing so once more felt like coming home.
Back then, she did this to forcibly slow down the race's pace. She just wasn't strong enough to win by her own terms, and so she had to drag the entire race down to ensure her victories. It felt a little shameful looking back, but that dirty little tactic would always have a soft spot in her heart.
She wasn't doing that this time.
Being in the front of the pack meant having most of her newer strategies unavailable to her, but that was fine. This time, she had something new to unveil.
"Wow~, we're already in the second straight!"
"Mm~, today's runners are just so amazing, aren't they~?"
"Come on…" Dancer whispered, her teeth grit and shoulders coiled with tension. She was preparing for whatever it was Belno was about to do, and not knowing what exactly she was trying to do was making her feel slightly faint.
Yet, Belno did nothing. She continued running forward, maintaining her lead with almost eerie silence as the pack advanced through the second straight. Her breathing became slightly labored. Sweat poured down Dancer's face, both from exhaustion and from growing terror.
And then, she saw it.
Belno stomped into the dirt, this time her step far louder and stronger than before. The track beneath her seemed to glitch for a moment, flashing between the familiar dirt and a strange plane of black and white squares. The world around them lost color, and that familiar coldness welled up in her chest as she saw streaks of black and white gathering behind Belno.
Dancer grit her teeth. There it was…!
The Domain!
"Oya? It looks like Belno's about to unleash her Domain, everyone~"
The crowd cheered loudly, and the umamusume in the crowd cheered even louder. For them, they could clearly see the way the world bent beneath Belno's will, as if reality itself was being rewritten by the power of the Divine General.
But down at the shifting track, Dancer quickly noticed something strange.
Belno's hand wasn't moving. She wasn't moving to create that black and white spear she'd made last time. Moreover, they were still halfway through the second straight! Wasn't this too early!?
No, whatever it was Belno was trying to do, she couldn't let herself be caught up in it!
Her decision made, Dancer screamed as she surged forward, accelerating as quickly as she could to try and take the lead before Belno finished doing whatever it was she was trying to do.
But alas,
It was too late.