Only One Year Left—I'll Become a Legendary Uma Musume! Chapter 177: Only One Year Left—I’ll Become a Legendary Uma

"Who would’ve guessed it? Gotham Song, known as a late-stage chaser, is the first out of the gates?!"

As soon as the gate lights flashed green, jiro McQueen launched forward, feeling as though her performance exceeded any previous attempt.

Yet despite that, despite choosing the runaway tactic to seize this heaven-sent victory, she’d fallen behind from the very start?!

jiro McQueen instinctively glanced ahead at the rival who was outpacing her—her body enveloped in blazing crimson flas.

And perhaps it was just an illusion, but jiro McQueen clearly saw strands of silver blooming through that jet-black hair, spreading gently like ink diffusing into water...

Is this a trick of the sunlight?

Wait, jiro McQueen, what are you even thinking right now? What’s the real priority here?

It’s to catch up, prove your strength, and seize victory in this race!

Banishing her stray thoughts, jiro McQueen lowered her stance and pushed her body to its absolute limits.

I have my own reasons why I absolutely can’t lose this race, Gotham Song... I must defeat you.

Whoever it may be, if winning ans learning sothing about Ruka-oneesama... even if the Three Goddesses themselves stand in my way, I’ll step forward!

A strange glow ignited around jiro McQueen as well, but her aura was an unfathomable darkness beneath the blazing sun.

The power from the phantom Twilight Song fully surged forth within jiro McQueen, and with this shift, her speed surged ferociously.

"As expected, jiro McQueen is catching up! But the lead still belongs to Gotham Song, who’s chosen the runaway tactic! What a sight—I’ve never seen this before. And... doesn’t it look familiar, sohow?"

"Indeed. It’s like a replay showing a legendary Uma Musu at the front of the pack. And is it just , or is there sothing strange about Gotham Song’s hair color...?! Wait! jiro McQueen’s accelerating again! Does she plan to snatch the lead right at the start and dominate the race all the way through?"

"But can McQueen’s stamina really withstand such a fierce burst of speed from the outset?!"

Can I sustain this? I’ve never tried sothing like this before—but right now, I just need to keep running!

[If you keep chasing like this, you won’t hold out.]

jiro McQueen ignored the whisper that only she could hear. She simply ran—faster, even faster—pushing beyond the long-held limit she’d always known.

jiro McQueen wasn’t built for runaway tactics. She had no natural physique for it. Yet she’d always persisted, tirelessly improving herself. It was because of this relentless effort that she achieved results far beyond her inherent adaptability.

And now, as she desperately chased, an instinct scread within her: if she fails to catch that distant back in front of her now...

Then she’ll miss her chance forever to learn anything about Twilight Song. Chase after her. Go forward. Keep pushing, burning away life itself if needed to catch up.

Even if it’s just for an instant, I want to grab hold of her hand, interlace our fingers, and never let go again for the rest of my life...!

jiro McQueen didn’t know why she felt so intensely. But being an emotional creature, an Uma Musu whose feelings had long overflowed, she refused to endure any longer—

She exploded forward!

"jiro McQueen! Here it is again, appearing once more! The phenonon that shocked the world during the Ruka Stakes—the [Zone] so powerful that even humans could visibly perceive it! Only three such cases in history!"

"To think I’d witness this again—jiro McQueen’s accelerating further! That darkness is her absolute refusal to acknowledge defeat! Even now, she’s pushing forward, closing in behind Gotham Song!"

Catching up, huh? That’s the furthest and yet closest description possible, isn’t it? What will happen in the monts that follow?

Will jiro McQueen chase her down completely, and then they’ll run shoulder-to-shoulder into the latter half of the race?

But, McQueen!

I’ve already said I’ll use my absolute fullest strength, holding nothing back. Even if you’re right behind , I won’t hide an ounce of power. If you want to catch , you’ll need even greater determination!

Let see your growth.

Allow to fulfill that long-forgotten promise.

Here on the racetrack, we’ll both be entirely unrestrained—

As though destined, as though the curtain rises on an epic tale. And now...

My engine is about to burst into overdrive![

[Let the curtain rise—here begins the legendary story!]

The entire world seed to plunge into absolute silence—or rather, into that nostalgic, gray-white mont where ti itself ceased to flow.

This was actually only the second ti Gotham Song had fully unleashed her true Zone. The last ti she’d erupted like this was at the final stretch of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, when she’d surpassed even light, racing through her last monts.

And now...

In that suspended instant when the world froze in place, Gotham Song forced her body to its absolute limit. Then, like space itself folded beneath her feet, she launched herself forward from that mont of absolute stillness.

Flas of red and silver entwined fiercely around her feet, her body, her hair—pulled taut by her extre speed into shimring trails of brilliance, radiant and dazzling.

Gotham Song, huh...?

No.

It was Twilight Song.

It was Twilight Song’s racing style—refined to its utmost limit—returning once more to this world!

"My goodness, Gotham Song has responded to jiro McQueen’s challenge! What an overwhelming [Zone], what fierce intensity! Even seated here, I can feel it clearly. And... just what is this sight? Gotham Song’s black hair has turned silver, it’s as though, it’s as if..."

"As if the Uma Musu we all know so well has returned to the track once more! It’s just like that unforgettable race at the Arc!"

Only this ti, unfortunately, it was cloudy without any rain.

Yet despite that, everyone in the stands felt a faint mist, an illusion that ought to have existed.

All eyes turned toward the front of the racetrack, locked onto that roaring, blazing form soaring impossibly low to the ground.

Every Uma Musu fan would instantly recognize her. There could be no second guess—it was that fleeting teor who had appeared for a brief year in history!

"Gotham Song! Gotham Song!"

"Go! Claim your victory!"

Cheering rose and fell like waves, spontaneous yet powerful enough to shake the earth itself.

In that mont, Gotham Song fully revealed the aning of absolute strength, racing without restraint.

Yet through jiro McQueen’s eyes, it appeared differently.

Within that burning Zone, she saw sothing else entirely, a sight that made it impossible to look away.

Silver—silver strands flowing freely at the ends of that dancing hair... Silver?!

jiro McQueen suddenly felt everything beco absurdly clear.

Hadn’t Gotham Song always acted sowhat strange toward her? That hesitant way she tried to approach, those incomprehensible words spoken before—

"Do you truly wish to understand my feelings, no matter what?"

Do you really want to know, no matter what?!

Then right now... I’ll prove it to you. I’ll show you exactly how far I’ll go just to chase after you!

You already knew, didn’t you, Phantom?

[Only slightly earlier than you. Enough talking—if you waste more ti...]

We won’t have another chance, will we?

jiro McQueen was unwilling—truly unwilling—but what else could she do? If it was Ruka-onee-sama, even if McQueen had jumped the gate prematurely, she probably still couldn’t win.

In jiro McQueen’s world, only one absolute truth existed:

Twilight Song was the strongest Uma Musu in existence.

Under that premise, jiro McQueen herself never once truly believed from the depths of her heart that she could ever defeat Twilight Song.

All she’d ever wanted was one simple thing...

jiro McQueen wanted a chance—to run alongside Twilight Song, even if only in one race, even if only for one fleeting instant. Even if it wasn’t truly herself, but soone nad "jiro McQueen"...!

That little Uma Musu who once leaped into Twilight Song’s embrace after only two strides—that naive little sister who knew nothing back then—wanted desperately to reclaim even the briefest of monts.

She wanted to run beside Twilight Song. She wanted to remain at Twilight Song’s side.

And now, at this instant of imminent defeat, at this mont when she was about to be left behind...

At this very second, when her heart ached so intensely it threatened to stop beating—jiro McQueen fulfilled the promise she’d long refused.

Our goals are aligned, at least on the surface, aren’t they?

Then do whatever you like. Even if you use my body to run on this track, take it all if you wish.

As long as it lets chase after her...

As long as it lets overco yesterday’s regrets, reaching out toward that shining figure. Do whatever you please.

Then take it—my everything—if this is the price to fulfill my wish.

[You should’ve decided sooner... But if she’s our opponent... I suppose I’ll have to burn as well.]

Phantom Twilight Song’s voice turned hoarse, clearly trembling. She too gazed toward the far-off shadow ahead, baring a fierce smile.

I finally found you. Finally, there’s a chance. Finally, I can...

Catch you, and then show you my strength, my pain, everything I couldn’t obtain... Everything I...

Wanted you to grant .

Well then—shall we begin round two?

"It seems jiro McQueen can’t continue her challenge... My god! Does she really still have strength and resolve left to accelerate further?"

Strength and resolve? I have as much as I need! You comntators would never understand, would you? My entire existence is solely to chase down that bastard who left behind!

For that purpose, my own existence ans nothing. None of it matters. I’ll burn it all...

My life was created for this very mont. My consciousness only opened its eyes because of this!

[A sprint beyond ti, through a rainy night!]

"She’s actually launching another attack?! jiro McQueen’s [Zone] is causing an actual storm! My goodness, I’d never imagined a [Zone] could be this overwhelming! She’s catching up—she’s challenging Twili—Gotham Song head-on, openly and honorably!"

"Can she actually catch her?! With the race barely past its halfway point, with this Japan Cup just beginning, is victory about to be decided right here and now?!"

Rain began to fall at last.

Even Gotham Song, fully imrsed, briefly lost focus, genuinely startled.

But this sudden rain wouldn’t change the track conditions. At least by the ti the race ended, it would remain in good shape.

Still, the environnt montarily took her back to those only two rain-soaked races she’d ever run. The Arc—a mory Gotham Song might never forget in her lifeti.

Then the phantom born at the Arc, now chasing from behind... is she pursuing my yesterday?

Gotham Song hesitated for only the briefest mont, and then gave the most direct response possible:

Not even Death can catch . Yesterday? Don’t waste my ti. Even if you’re the "" from the past, even if you’ve resolved yourself to catch up to as I am now...

You’re still unworthy!

Gotham Song’s steps landed firmly, kicking up dirt, forging forward into a future beyond anyone’s sight.

This world itself is too narrow when I truly run. Forget yesterday and forget accidents.

You’ll never catch .

Never, ever!

A savage, unreasonable laugh spread across Gotham Song’s usually composed face. Her speed surged even higher, wild and ruthless, as if to tear through every obstacle ahead, shattering any pursuer’s will to continue.

Like an irrational beast defying every law of physics, her path had no end in sight—

Even the Three Goddesses would now bow their heads to the fully unleashed Gotham Song!

"Can anyone truly catch Gotham Song?! jiro McQueen is already performing at a world-class... no, historical level! Yet now, even now...!"

"And yet, the gap between them isn’t shrinking—not at all! Gotham Song maintains her absolute lead. In fact, the gap is widening—unbelievably, still widening...!"

"jiro McQueen... is being left far behind...!"