Has T.M. Opera O ever failed? Of course, she has.
Otherwise, T.M. Opera O wouldn't just be a contender to be the next Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume, but the next "Undefeated Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume."
Although it's was simply a single word difference, the value of these two titles vastly differed.
It wasn't just because T.M. Opera O lost to Meisho Doto in the Mainichi Hai; in fact, her Debut Race was not smooth at all.
Three. That was the number of Debut Races she had to go through before finally managing to become a winning Uma Musume.
Compared to the many geniuses in Tracen Academy, T.M. Opera O's performance was indeed considered rather mediocre.
But even so, there were still people who firmly believed she could win GI races. The first person who believed in her so strongly was Hana Toujou.
It was for this reason that T.M. Opera O was very grateful to Hana Toujou—but even before Hana Toujou's recognition, she had always been confident, calling herself the "Overlord" since middle school.
However, T.M. Opera O herself knew that her self-proclamation was basically just self-glorifying.
Even if Hana Toujou wholeheartedly believed that she had the potential to win a GI, she didn't feel she was particularly brilliant.
Until… she met a naive fool, someone foolish enough to believe that she, who had nothing to her name, could surpass the "Emperor's" seven-crown myth.
She didn't know then why that fool trusted her so much, but the moment she looked at that fool, a flood of inexplicable comfort, sadness, emotion, and joy welled up deep inside her… Watching that fool's unwavering trust in her was enough to make her confidently face any challenge she had never dared to imagine before.
Thus, she won the Satsuki Sho, then the Japanese Derby, and now, she stands on the tracks of the Kikuka Sho, becoming the closest person in recent times to attain the title of Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume.
But now that she has reached the final step, why can't she, as the "Overlord," sing and dance to this passionate and exciting century-long performance as she once did?
"Because a never-ending spiral known as 'fear' has piereced my heart, and in turn, pierced yours."
"I am that fear and regret which defines your origin. You can run away from them, but you can never overcome them, because these regrets have never happened to you."
"To understand, to accept, is the first step of moving fowards. Yet, you can't even comprehend a single thing, how are you supposed to run, let alone surpass yourself?
"Now that you remembered some of your original's memories, that fear has even turned into yours. If you no longer believe in your own strength, do you even deserve to have anything at all?"
"T.M. Opera O's" voice echoed constantly in her mind, and the race was slowly approaching the final corner.
At this moment, anyone could notice that something was wrong with T.M. Opera O.
"Mejiro McQueen has overtaken T.M. Opera O and is now in the lead!"
"It seems like the toll of facing Narita Top Road might have been too much for her to bear, T.M. Opera O is not fighting for the position at all! She's slowly getting left behind by Mejiro McQueen."
Akasaka Misato, seeing this situation for the first time, couldn't help but commentate nervously:
"Did something happen? Did her duel with Narita Top Road leave her too exhausted? Does she not have the stamina to accelerate anymore?"
"T.M. Opera O's speed seems to be declining," Junko Hosoe said with a much more serious expression from the side.
"If this continues, T.M. Opera O might not be able to catch up. And they're already approaching the final corner!"
"T- T.M. Opera O…"
On the stands, Meisho Doto's eyes trembled as she watched T.M. Opera O, whose leg was becoming slower, and she couldn't help but say worriedly:
"How could this be? With T.M. Opera O's stamina, how could she not have the power to accelerate? This is impossible, isn't it?"
"If this continues, McQueen will win! Ahhh—although that's not bad outcome either, T.M. Opera O isn't giving her all!"
Tokai Teio, was also feeling very conflicted. She didn't even know who to cheer for.
On one side was Mejiro McQueen, her most admired rival, and on the other was T.M. Opera O, who was about to achieve the title of Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume.
Whether by reason or emotion, Tokai Teio didn't know which side to pick.
But she knew that on the racetrack, even good friends should give their all.
However, in the current situation, T.M. Opera O was undoubtedly not performing at her full strength, which made Tokai Teio start to worry about her condition.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!!I don't care anymore! T.M. Opera O, run faster! Don't give up now! This is the Classic Triple Crowns!"
Unfortunately, no matter how loud Tokai Teio's cheers were, they couldn't reach T.M. Opera O.
Even the shouts of T.M. Opera O's fans couldn't penetrate T.M. Opera O's ears, as she was deep in thought.
"What on earth is wrong… T.M. Opera O?"
On another side of the stands, Curren Chan said with considerable unease, while Orfevre, next to Curren Chan, uncharacteristically said with a knowing look:
"I think… T.M. Opera O probably glimpsed her inner self during the race?"
"Hmm?"
Curren Chan looked at Orfevre beside her with some confusion, and Orfevre quickly explained:
"Although I can't really... explain it. It's like... during a race, you will begin the overthink things, but as long as you managed to snap out of it, you become way stronger."
"Ah— but, encountering such a situation suddenly at the tail end of the Kikuka Sho, I don't know if T.M. Opera O's luck is good or bad."
"If she can't wake up quickly, McQueen will definitely win."
Orfevre understood what was going on, because, as an Uma Musume of the Gold Family, she also had similar experiences.
It was for this reason that she also wasn't all that worried about T.M. Opera O.
After all, everytime she fell into that state, she could always break free within 4 seconds tops!
However, what Orfevre didn't know was that it was precisely because her head was so empty that she could always resolve such inner demons so easily.
T.M. Opera O, on the other hand, was too smart, which trapped her in this kind of dead loop, unable to break free.
It must be said that this was also a BUG ability of Orfevre. Every time she fell into confusion, she could quickly break free and become stronger again.
This kind of opportunity, which regular Uma Musume would be lucky to experience once in their lifetime, happens to Orfevre nearly everytime she races where she always easily overcomes it, which was truly enviable.
But considering that ordinary Uma Musume couldn't race with a empty skull like Orfevre, this talent was truly something other Uma Musume couldn't learn.
"T.M. Opera O…"
Wada, who was in the stands, nervously watched T.M. Opera O with Fumino Nase.
When he saw T.M. Opera O's speed drop, he truly wished that he could ride on T.M. Opera O, commanding her to accelerate and help her break free from her doubts.
But now there was nothing he could do. He couldn't command T.M. Opera O from such a distance. T.M. Opera O could only rely on herself to break free from this problem.
"Damn it—can I never do anything? So many years have passed, and I still can't help you at all, T.M. Opera O?"
"Just this once, T.M. Opera O, let me help you win, let me help you achieve the ideals we never achieved before… please..."
Please, don't lose, T.M. Opera O.
Go win, go surpass the you that I dragged down. I know, I believe in you. If you didn't have me, you would undoubtedly be stronger.
So, go win, T.M. Opera O!
It was unkown whether Wada's heartfelt words truly reached T.M. Opera O...
But it was at that exact moment, that T.M. Opera O broke free from her internal conflect.
The next moment, a confident smile, unique to her, suddenly reappeared on the face of T.M. Opera O, who had been running with her head down.
She slowly raised her head, her voice filled with unshakable conviction:
"—You're right, me."
"I'm afraid, I'm deathly afraid of losing, I'm scared that I am not enough, that I will dissapoint my friends, my family and most importantly, him."
"But, there's one thing you misunderstand— I am not you."
"Those sufferings, those sorrows, those regrets you spoke of, I will never understand them, because I am not you."
"I can never overcome this, you say? Then I don't need to! All I have to do is to run so fast that my past no longer matters anymore!"
"You think I will fail because you failed too? Well that will NEVER happen!"
"Because, I am not "T.M. Opera O", BUT T.M. OPERA O!"
"So shut your mouth and prepare to enjoy this maginificent grand opera sung to this world by me, THE OVERLORD OF THE CENTURY'S END!"
Everything went silent... and then, everything happened.
The Aura that was about dissipate from T.M. Opera O suddenly, under her renewed vigor, instantly regained the same power as when she dueled Narita Top Road.
—No, it became even stronger! Reaching a new level!
And what caused all the Uma Musume present to shudder in fear was that T.M. Opera O's Zone, which had initially been faint, began to turn terrifying.
A golden, resplendent aura, like shining gold, now occupied most of the Zone, like countless dazzling lights illuminating the 'Overlord.'
"Hoo-wee! She really is da' Overlord!!"
Tamamo Cross cried out in excitement, throwing an arm around Oguri Cap, who had instantly become serious, even stopping eating the takoyaki in her hands.
While the two girls seemed relatively calm, in reality, both of them, upon sensing T.M. Opera O's sudden surge in power, were so excited that they almost activated their own Zones.
"Strong, she's really strong now."
Oguri Cap nodded very seriously, a hint of excitement appearing on her face. That feeling of impending doom unique to the "Grey-Haired Monster" once again emerged within her.
"I really want to run against her, Tamamo, I really want to duel T.M. Opera O at her full strength."
"Hehe, I understand, Oguri, I rarely get this excited!"
Similarly, it wasn't just Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross. Every single accomplished Uma musume who felt T.M. Opera O's presence were invigorated, showing expressions of excitement, aggressiveness, or eagerness.
"Now, it's not just you, President."
Air Groove also quickly reined in her Aura, looking with amusement at Symboli Rudolf beside her, who could no longer contain herself, and Narita Brian, who had even stopped chewing the grass in her mouth.
"Looks like we are witnessing the birth of the new 'strongest.'"
Symboli Rudolf also made no attempt to hide her excitement, nodding and saying:
"This era belongs to T.M. Opera O, I can assert that."
"So, run, T.M. Opera O, go conquer this era."
And as if to confirm Symboli Rudolf's words, T.M. Opera O instantly shot forward like a taut spring.
With her newfound strength, The Overlord of the Century's End began to race towards her certain victory!
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Genuinely the hardest chapter to translate by far, spent multiple hours agonizing over what words to use. But hey, T.M. Opera O's aurafarming levels shot up a ton.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.