"Ugh, damn… so heavy!!"
During a grueling run, Rampage collapsed, grumbling. She grabbed her water bottle, the frozen sports drink now perfectly thawed, and chugged it down.
"Seriously heavy. Shinzan Iron's no joke."
Days into training with Shinzan Iron, the added burden relentlessly taxed her body. Unlike power anklets or wrist weights, it had a strange, almost profound heft—not just heavy, but significant.
"There's gotta be a reason they custom-make these…"
Minamizaka had explained the Shinzan Iron's purpose:
"Shinzan Iron is special in many ways, not just its weight."
"Special, huh…"
Pulling out her phone, Rampage looked it up. Shinzan Iron, permitted only to a select few artisans recognized by the state, was a tribute to the divine Uma Musume, Shinzan. Each pair was finely tuned for its wearer, making hers truly bespoke.
"Still, it's damn heavy…"
Standing, she felt quadruple the usual weight. A moment's lapse could make her stumble—she'd already tripped a few times. It demanded focus, power, and deliberate strides to move.
"What happens if I can run with these?"
Shinzan's legendary strength came from training with these. Could she achieve that? Or was this Minamizaka's message: fail to master it, and the Triple Tiara's out of reach? Her mind raced, but her feet stomped harder, the impact echoing as she grinned.
"Let's do this. That's where I'm headed. And the stronger I get, the sweeter the revenge."
A smirk twisted her lips. The fire fueling her was undeniable—vengeance. Slapping her cheeks, she broke into a run.
"But… this isn't Nami-chan's personal grudge, right?"
Musing on the absurdity, she headed to the training field and spotted two Uma Musume on a shaded bench.
"First, Beckenbauer, but Florida—got it?"
"Beckenbauer's already lost me! Oh, Rampage-san?"
"Yo, Palmer."
It was Mejiro Palmer, a distinguished Mejiro Uma Musume who'd swept the Spring and Fall Grand Prix. Beside her—
"Who's your friend?"
"Uh, we just met."
"Yo! Dai Taku Helios!!"
As expected, Dai Taku Helios. She and Palmer were historically tight, dubbed the "Big Escape Duo" or "Idiot Duo" for their bold breakaways.
"What's up?"
"Sorry to spring this, but… Beckenbauer? Florida? You know it?"
"Means he's bailing for a bath, right?"
"Exactly!! Nailed it!!"
"What, you got that!?"
Helios cheered her correct guess, while Palmer stared, baffled. Rampage shrugged—her old life gave her an edge with slang.
"Then MJK?"
"Maji ka—seriously?"
"Oh, that's it… Then, uh, azama—what was it?"
"Azamaru Suisan☆—thanks!"
"What!? I'm the weird one for not knowing!?"
Slang like this—party-girl lingo—was niche, fleeting wordplay. If you weren't in that crowd, it was gibberish.
"So, what's up, Heli-chan?"
"Oh, that nickname's maji manji! So, this ojou was super salty, and I was, like, totally capped out…"
"Uh…"
"No clue who that ojou is, but she gave you cold-shoulder vibes and it sucked, right?"
"Exactly!!"
The ojou was Daiichi Ruby, whose icy attitude was apparently brutal.
"You get it…"
"It's mostly abbreviations. Hear it enough, it clicks."
"Yeah, 'salty' for cold shoulder… I kinda get it."
"Anyway, Heli-chan, got worries? Hit up karaoke to blow off steam. Station's karaoke joint added new songs today—perfect timing."
"That's maji manji hype!! Let's go, Palmer!! Belt out faves and crank the vibes!!"
"What!? I'm in too!? Wait, Helios! Fine, I'm coming!!"
Helios bolted, Palmer chasing. Their brief chat was lively, their energy infectious. Rampage marveled at her generation's vibrant characters.
"Well, fancy meeting you here."
"If it ain't the Emperor! Should you be slacking?"
"Heh, I'm off to the regions soon."
Next up was the Emperor. Like CB, she handled trainer-like duties, possibly scouting talent like Oguri Cap once did. Her gaze fell on Rampage's shoes.
"Shinzan Iron, huh?"
"Spotted it right away."
"I considered them once, but my trainer vetoed it."
Shinzan Iron strengthened the body but risked straining legs or ruining form, so Rudolf was barred from using them.
"How's it feel?"
"Heavy. Legs are dead."
"You seem lively, though."
Rampage did thigh-lifts to demonstrate, the iron clanging heavily with each step.
"Is using those… for your revenge?"
"Sorta. Nami-chan ordered them, and I was shocked."
A brief pause, then an answer. The iron wasn't her idea—Minamizaka's custom order—but now she felt it was vital. Rudolf's expression sharpened.
"I don't know who you're targeting, but is this revenge necessary?"
"Absolutely. Nothing's more important."
No hesitation. This was hers alone, beyond Ryan or Mejiro. She craved it, unstoppable even if challenged.
"Revenge breeds a cycle, you think?"
"Would saying that change you?"
"Nah, being told no just makes me wanna do it more. Human nature."
Even if her Uma Soul forgave, her human soul wouldn't. Rampage would exact revenge for her pain and sorrow, no question.
"Rampage… can I ask who you're targeting and why?"
"Sorry, Emperor, your friendship level's too low for that event. Wanna know? Get closer. But meddling in my life might shake you. Think hard."
With that, Rampage walked off, her steps echoing. Rudolf clenched her fist, watching.
"Is it that serious? What happened to you… Still, I'll keep moving—for my dream, a world where all Uma Musume are happy. Knowing your truth will help us both."
With resolve, the Emperor pressed forward, believing understanding Rampage was key. But she didn't yet know Rampage's full truth.
"Nami-chan, these are way too heavy…"
"Keep at it."
"That's all you got? MJK… super yabatanien."
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