Chapter 103: Fierce Battle! The Tenno Sho (Spring) – Part 3

A dark miasma erupted from Seiun Sky’s body. A premonition of despair pierced my skull—her unstoppable, overwhelming speed was coming. In an instant, the space between us distorted, twisted, and cracked. The scenery warped like peeling glass.

The black haze engulfed my limbs, already corroding them. An impossible emotion—powerful, beautiful, intense—blew through me. Then, through a blinding light that tore through the dark, her passion hit me like a wave.

I saw it—no, I was drawn into it. Seiun Sky’s inner world. Behind my closed eyes: an endless ocean, a blue sky without clouds. She stood on a raft, reeling in something heavy with a fishing rod, radiant like something out of a dream.

Her will scorched itself into my mind—fierce, blazing. A hunger for overwhelming victory. The pressure of early expectations, the agony of failure on the grandest stage, her bond with her grandfather. All of it. Tangled, burning, alive. That was Seiun Sky’s power.

—[Angling × Skimming].

Her final sprint detonated like a firework. A corner of the Kyoto Racecourse was consumed in light. Seiun Sky leaned forward, tearing out of the turbulent slipstream. She passed the 1600-meter mark—and charged. Every ounce of her conserved stamina poured into this final act.

But I’d shown her my inner world too. There was no room to hold back now. As she closed in, I activated [Unknown Territory Zone]—diving headfirst into the ocean she summoned.

—[Where the Endless Silver Snow and Moonbow Shine].

A grotesque cherry blossom loomed in a snowfield. Rainbow-colored petals bloomed beyond the miasma, glowing against a rising moonbow. Snow and embers spun in the air as her world collided with mine. Ocean spray clashed with a raging blizzard—the unshakable gray-haired trickster against the mad, front-running horse girl. Our [Unknown Territory Zones] scraped against each other, howling.

『Oh—Seiun Sky is surging forward now?! She’s chasing Apollo Rainbow with terrifying momentum!! The 25-length gap is vanishing in an instant!!』

『The race has finally ignited…!』

Backstretch. She leapt into second place, her burst of speed like a sprinter’s, but the pain was vicious. Her face twisted, muscles screaming.

(—Why… why push this far?!)

Even through the blur of runner’s high, the thought echoed. But I knew. Of course I knew. She wanted it—more than anyone. To achieve the best result in a race where only the strongest gathered. A simple wish, but so powerful it gave birth to [Unknown Territory Zone]. A power that rewrote limits.

By the midpoint of the backstretch—where the first lap began—the lead had nearly vanished. Despite my peak speed and [Zone] acceleration, she was right behind me. That 25-length cushion cut down to 18. Unreal.

It was reckless. Dangerous. But she didn’t hesitate. Her madness forced me to calculate.

Seiun Sky’s final sprint would end the moment she caught up. Or maybe she’d collapse before that. Either way, it would drain her dry. No one could sustain that pace at this distance. Not even her.

By my estimate—she’d burn out at 2800 meters. Just before the final stretch.

And yet—she smiled. Just slightly. As if she still believed she could win. Chasing at full throttle, like she held a secret. It was eerie. Seiun Sky didn’t bluff. She had something. I had to widen the gap.

First corner. Down to 15 lengths. Her insane opening charge worked, but the cost was visible. Too fast, too soon. The risk outweighed the reward.

And still—I understood. That desperation wasn’t foolishness. It came from something deeper. Her resolve for the Tenno Sho (Spring) burned hotter than mine.

I needed more. To beat her, I had to go beyond my own ceiling.

Desperately, I searched. Reaching inward, I grasped at something—anything—that could rival her will.

—But Double Trigger didn’t answer. “Find it yourself,” she seemed to say. Cruel. I was already at my limit. How could I think clearly now? But her voice echoed, half-teasing, half-tender.

—“It’s simple. Just ask Seiun Sky herself. She wants to talk to you too.”

—“What do you mean?”

—“Sometimes, races become a team effort.”

Then she vanished. No borrowed light. No boost. Just a whisper—“Not here.”

The gap: 12 lengths. Just before the Yodo slope, I entered her range. Close enough to hear her breath.

Close enough to speak.

Steeling myself, I focused on Seiun Sky’s inner world, trying to connect in this extreme state. The space between us shimmered—then, warm white light swallowed my vision.

When I opened my eyes, I stood on a small raft drifting across an endless ocean. Somehow, I was upright, face-to-face with Seiun Sky on that fragile vessel.

“—Hey, Apollo-chan. Fighting with everything you’ve got… it’s fun, isn’t it?”

The realization hit me like a slap—this wasn’t my inner world. This was hers. That meant her emotions had overwhelmed mine.

Arms folded behind her head, Seiun Sky looked half-asleep. I faced her, panting. But her clear blue eyes burned like fire.

Hesitating, I asked,
“…Sei-chan. At this rate, you’ll burn out before 3200 meters. So why are you still chasing me?”

“Straight to the point, huh? My, my, you’re impatient.”

She yawned big, then gave me a mischievous smirk.

“…Maybe it’s not just that I want to win the Tenno Sho (Spring)... I want to beat you, Apollo-chan.”

“!”

“I’m not usually like this, y’know? But I lost to you in the Japan Derby, the Kikuka Sho, the Arima Kinen… So this time, I really wanted to win.”

“――But! That still doesn’t explain why you made your move at that exact moment… does it?”

“Nyahaha~ Who knows?”

“……!?”

A flash of memory—Special Week’s merciless charge just before I reached Yodo Slope.

“—That’s why. You understand, don’t you?”

“…………”

“So, I’ve got a little favor to ask~ …I’ll give you my feelings. —And in return, will you share a little of yours, Apollo-chan?”

Amid the phantom of Special Week’s pursuit, Seiun Sky proposed an outrageous deal.

In essence—just like I’d inherited Double Trigger’s emotions—she wanted us to share the power of the [Zone of the Unknown]. But this wasn’t a question I could answer lightly. I kept my guard up.

“……Sei-chan, you’ll burn out before the finish. But I won’t. Why should I agree?”

“―Mmm, no. Apollo-chan, you know, right? Spe-chan’s closing in like crazy. Even you might get overtaken. Without my power, you won’t win. So… are you really going to ignore me? Sniff… Sei-chan’s so sad…”

She was right. Special Week’s acceleration wasn’t normal. It was a [Zone] far beyond the [Unknown]. Against that awakened sprint, Seiun Sky and I were just flickering lights.

Had she forced me to use [Where the Endless Silver Snow and Moonbow Shine] just to drive me into this corner?

My breath caught. Frustration and awe tangled inside me. This wasn’t a favor. It was blackmail. She’d predicted Special Week’s rise, calculated this moment, and lured me into her world.

This was the true power of the gray-haired trickster—Seiun Sky.

…I had no choice.

To beat Special Week, I needed her.

“―Nyahaha! Then it’s a deal!”

“Don’t misunderstand. I want to win. But I’m also looking past this race. There’ll be times I need your strength. That’s the only reason I’m cooperating.”

“So tsundere~”

And so began a strange inheritance of resolve—woven from rivalry, tinged with fragile trust.

On the gently rocking raft, we clasped hands and closed our eyes. Light bloomed between our brows, illuminating the link between our worlds. Snowflakes drifted across Seiun Sky’s ocean. Her light seeped into the roots of my twisted sakura tree. Warmth spread—her passion flooding into me.

The grotesque cherry tree sprouted a new branch. What I took from her wasn’t much—only fragments of the world she’d built through suffering—but it was enough.

The blizzard-warped trunk pulsed with new life. Her soul straightened the crooked wood, forced it to grow true.

We stared at each other, then slowly let go. Fresh snow settled on the raft. Seiun Sky caught a flake in her palm.

“……Weird, isn’t it? Taking strength from someone you have to defeat.”

“Well… these things happen.”

“……Yeah. ……Spe-chan’s coming.”

“……Mhm.”

“…Alright. ……Thanks, Apollo-chan.”

“No. I think… we both needed this.”

“……Maybe.”

We had spoken through battle, shared light, and reached beyond our limits. A thread now tied us—rivals who refused to lose but needed each other to rise.

Double Trigger’s light still anchored the base of my tree. Now, Seiun Sky’s filled its trunk.

As light washed over us again, my consciousness snapped back.

I spun around. Nearing Yodo Slope. Less than 1000 meters left—Special Week was charging, aura blazing like a demon.

“――!!”

Just like Seiun Sky warned—her closing speed was monstrous. Without both of their powers, she’d have flown past me already.

I shot a glare at Seiun Sky, now grinning like she was still playing a game. 10 lengths from me. 20 from Special Week.

At the edge of collapse, we hit Yodo Slope again—

『Apollo Rainbow leads into Yodo Slope!! Her face is strained—can she hold on!? Though ahead, Seiun Sky in 2nd and Special Week in 3rd are gaining like a storm!! The final showdown rests on these three classic-generation Horse Girls!!』

Special Week’s [the Unknown Zone] exploded—dragging the Kyoto Racecourse into night. Meteors rained down, swallowing my snowfield, flooding Seiun Sky’s ocean, erasing everything.

A [Zone] of terrifying density crashed upon us, scorching resolve searing the world black.

And then—her inner landscape began to burn through.

Special Week stood on a hill under the stars.
A shooting star streaked past—charging her racing silks with power.

A blinding, unshakable resolve.
Dreams, love for her mother—fuel for an unstoppable force.

―[Shooting Star]

Her body burst into motion. From far behind, she surged into striking range.

Now it was just the three of us—Special Week, Seiun Sky, and me—colliding with everything we had.

『Apollo Rainbow in front!! Seiun Sky trails by 8 lengths, with Special Week another 5 back!! The rest are in the dust!! This is a three-way battle to the end!!』

We hit the third corner, climbing Yodo’s slope, then dove into the downhill. Each of us carrying our own resolve, draining every last drop of stamina for one final sprint.

The slope gave me another jolt of speed—but the early aggression from Seiun Sky and Special Week was catching up to them. Their faces, drained and pale. I must’ve looked the same.
Chased by two monsters accelerating like mad, I was drowning in oxygen debt.

I had kept a sprinter’s top speed the entire race. My style was stamina-based—Bakushin through and through—but even I wasn’t built for this. My limbs were going numb. My skull felt full of lead. My jaw too heavy to hold shut.

Minutes of flat-out effort burned me from the inside. The furlong markers split and blurred, distance warping. A metallic taste rose from my dry throat, sharp enough to sting my nose.

I gagged lightly, eyes fixed on Seiun Sky and Special Week.
They were suffering too. They had to be. None of us were meant to go this far.
It was almost funny—who in their right mind would wish for a race like this?

Unbearable.
And yet—this was the dream.
The desperation spun from exhaustion. Hope buried inside despair. A perfect, unrepeatable war.

Euphoria and fatigue twisted together, stripping away what was left of my sanity. My thoughts cracked. Seiun Sky and Special Week—dilated pupils, wild-eyed—looked just as gone.

Then Seiun Sky, digging deep, surged forward. Behind me, their battle sharpened. Special Week roared, mouth open in a silent scream.

"——……——————!!!"

We rounded the fourth corner.
The end was in sight—barely visible through the haze.
I broke into the final stretch, alone, with the roar of the crowd swallowing everything.

『Around the final corner, Apollo Rainbow takes the lead into the homestretch!! Seiun Sky in second and Special Week in third are locked in a razor-thin battle!! They’re chasing hard, now just six lengths behind!!』

A 25-length lead, cut to six.
They’d broken their limits—but they were paying for it. Their legs wobbled. Their eyes burned. They looked ready to collapse.

Yet they came.
Expressions twisted, brutal and raw, they tore after me with unrelenting strides.

400 meters left.
My side screamed, brain frayed from the lack of oxygen—but I ran, barely more than a mud doll. Borrowing Ocean Var Seiun Sky’s final-corner strength, I fired off one last, rocket-fueled kick. The gap widened.

Sweat. Tears. Spit. All flung into the wind. I fought to hold the lead—two champions right behind, tearing it apart.

One slip and I’d black out.
I didn’t know how close they were.
The world had collapsed to breath and heartbeat.
Even soul-deep strength was running dry. Only grit—and sheer momentum—kept me going.

Then I saw them, blurred in the stands.
Trainers.

Special Week’s, fists raised.
Seiun Sky’s, hands clasped in silent prayer.
Momozawa and Mio, screaming their lungs out.

"Spe-chan!!!! Give it everything!!"

"Apollooo!! Keep going!!"

"Skyyy, I believe in you!!"

I shouldn’t have heard them. Couldn’t have.
But I did. Their voices cracked through my skull—lighting the fire one more time.

Three voices. Three partners.
And just like that, we shattered the ceiling again.
The ultimate dead heat.
The crowd erupted. Kyoto trembled under the weight of it.

—[Shooting Star]
—[To Where the Silver Snow and Moonbow Lead]
—[Angling × Skimming]

A second trigger—[Unknown Frontier Zone].
Like my heart being ripped open, I broke through the wall again.
The blessing held my body together. Moonbows scattered as I flew down the stretch.

Five lengths behind, a blue sky and a shooting star gave chase.
The air shimmered and split. Every blink painted sparks.
Our clashing wills scorched the track.

『200 meters left, and Apollo Rainbow holds the lead!! Seiun Sky and Special Week are right behind!! Special Week briefly pulls ahead—no, Seiun Sky digs deep and counters!! They’re neck and neck now, closing in on Apollo Rainbow!! The gap’s down to five lengths!!』

At the 200-meter mark, a faint chill struck my nose. Phantom snow swirled in my mindscape—Seiun Sky must have tapped into the light she inherited from me. But with the second [Unknown Territory Zone] distorting reality, the homestretch was chaos. Meteors, snowflakes, salt-spray—each one blurring the line between illusion and truth.

No time to look back. Just reckless, desperate steps, each one carved into the earth. Again and again. Chasing speed beyond speed.

『100 meters to go!! Apollo Rainbow’s lead isn’t shrinking!! Special Week is screaming!! Seiun Sky fights with every swing of her arms!! And yet—five lengths still remain!! Will Apollo Rainbow hold the lead all the way to the end?!』

Right foot—joint loose, power surging at impact. Scrape. Tear. Push—forward.
Left foot—repeat.

Arms loose, elbows snapping back like whips. Repeat.

The form was mechanical. Repetition, perfection.

Beyond pain, past exhaustion, my mind slipped into stillness. A quiet, crystalline peak. The inner world bled into vision—an infinite horizon stretched before me.

It felt like omniscience, omnipotence. Sprinting, second-stage acceleration from the Zone—it all felt irrelevant next to this serene supremacy.

Then, my senses snapped into sharpness. The world stretched wide. This wasn’t a dream—it had come from within my runner’s high.

I could see the blue turf breaking beneath my hooves, every blade of grass flung into the air. I felt the wind parting through my hair. Sensation returned to my fingertips. I was aware of it all.

I should never have been able to perceive this realm. Yet, somehow, I did.
Seiun Sky was reaching her limit after overtaking Special Week. Special Week’s stride was breaking as she threw herself forward in desperation.

I didn’t turn—didn’t need to. I sensed everything behind me with perfect clarity.

No pain. No confusion. It wasn’t hallucination.

This was beyond the [Unknown Territory Zone]. Something new. A realm discovered by eyes pushed past the edge of madness.

100 meters left. The chaos in the sky calmed, melting into silver moonlight. Warm snow began to fall. Special Week and Seiun Sky, just five lengths away, could come no closer.

I was running where body and soul should have broken. Past my second activation of the [Unknown Territory Zone]. Past anything.

This was it. The sprint that surpassed even top speed. Imperfect. Perfect.

My form hadn’t changed. But something within had. Neither a stayer’s stride nor a sprinter’s—it was something in between.

No excitement. Just familiarity. Like rediscovering something long forgotten.

And what emerged from within shimmered—just as I reached for it, it vanished. Light fading into the void before I could grasp what it truly was.

『Only 50 meters left, and it's Apollo Rainbow!! Neither Special Week nor Seiun Sky can catch her!!』

The finish line loomed. The glory of the Tenno Sho (Spring), right there. Less than 50 meters. This view was mine. This moment, mine.

With everything I had, I arched my chest forward and drove one final step across 3200 meters. My body collapsed, spent.

『Apollo Rainbow!! Apollo Rainbow crosses the finish line with a dominating 7-length lead over second place!! Special Week takes second, Seiun Sky third!! And—Apollo Rainbow has set a new world record of 3:06.1!! A new legend of frontrunning has been carved into Japan's ancient capital!!』

Falling into the turf, I looked up at the sky. Past the stillness above, a thin crescent moon quietly watched.