"Flora, ball-catching's done. McQueen, Teio, out of the sea—time for a break," Minami called.
"R-Right…" Flora panted.
"Understood…" McQueen gasped.
The two collapsed under a parasol, Flora joining them, exhausted.
"How's the first menu?" Minami asked.
"Squats… brutal," Teio groaned.
"We did these at Spica, but…" McQueen trailed off.
"So tough…" Flora added.
Simple drills, brutal execution. Catching balls on sand demanded split-second decisions; squats in waves forced constant balance.
"Ran did this daily?" Teio asked, incredulous.
"Last year, yeah, plus tire-pulling after," Minami confirmed.
"Every day?" McQueen gaped.
Rampage's muscular frame—thighs like steel—revealed her grueling regimen, hidden by her usual long sleeves and pants.
"She trains with Ryan, but that level?" McQueen murmured.
"Is that her strength's secret?" Teio asked.
"Not a secret. Solid fundamentals make advanced skills shine," Minami said.
Canopus's "safety-first" philosophy prioritized relentless basics. Rigil and Spica did too, but Canopus tailored stamina drills to each level, a key to their edge.
"Ran's still pulling tires…" Flora noted.
"Almost done," Minami said.
"How long's she at it?" McQueen asked.
"Two hours," Minami replied.
"Two hours?" Flora balked, half-convinced this was Blackmarsh's team.
Minami smiled, seeing Eastjo in their doubt. "You won't do exactly that. It's tailored for Rampage."
"Then what?" Teio asked.
Minami dropped a bag of power ankles, like Ticket's. "We use these to build leg strength and mental grit. I don't know your baselines yet, so we'll start with these—250g per leg, running on sand."
"How heavy?" McQueen asked.
"Starting at 250g, increasing gradually," Minami said.
"Done!" Rampage trudged up, tires in tow, slightly winded.
"You okay, Ran?" Teio asked.
"This? I'd die mid-camp if this fazed me. Sea's calm today. Rough days, waves eat you alive," Rampage said.
"No break needed, then. Rampage, power ankles on, five sand dashes with tires," Minami ordered.
"Ugh, my big mouth…" Rampage muttered, slotting lead plates into the ankles—up to six per leg.
"How many plates?" Teio asked.
"250g each, max six," Minami said.
"So… 1.5kg per leg, 3kg total?" Flora calculated.
"Unbelievable!" McQueen gasped.
"What the hell!" Teio yelped.
Rampage shot Minami a look—your Shinzan-iron training's nuts—but Minami just grinned.
"You'll hurt your legs!" Flora warned.
"Nah, trained for this," Rampage said, flexing with a wry smile.
"Here I go!" She dashed off, tires dragging, her pace impossibly light for 3kg and tires.
"She's pulling six times our weight and tires?" McQueen marveled.
"She's done this for years," Minami said.
"Can't lose!" Teio declared, upping her plates.
"No, I decide that," Minami countered. "Three sets at the shore, then three on dry sand, alternating."
"Can't let her win!" Flora vowed, Teio and McQueen nodding.
The shore's firm sand was easy, but dry sand was a slog. The weights hit hard, legs slowing, feet sinking.
"This… got tough fast!" Teio grunted.
"The weights!" McQueen gasped.
"So hard!" Flora whined.
"Lift those thighs, slow and steady!" Minami coached.
"Step it up, or you won't keep up," Rampage called, pulling tires, her concern laced with advice.
"How's she fine?" Teio panted.
"Used to it," Rampage said, accelerating past.
They grit their teeth, refusing to lag, but…
"So tough…" Teio groaned.
"Harder than Spica's…" McQueen admitted.
"Rigil's too…" Flora added.
Their past camps focused on technique, but Canopus drilled raw basics—stuff Tresen could do. They'd underestimated it.
"Advanced skills rely on strengths and tricks, but basics don't lie. Build them, and you're unshakable," Minami said.
Her words sank in. They'd fixated on flair; this was a wake-up call.
"Next, one more plate each," Minami announced.
"Ugh… bring it!" Teio roared.
Note: Basics are king. Rampage's tire-dragging, ankle-weighted grit proves it. Teio, McQueen, and Flora's struggle? A lesson in foundation over flash. (Reminder to self: never skip leg day.)
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