"Pretty harsh on Teio and the others. Squeezing every drop of data?" Rampage asked, eyeing the trio struggling in the sea.
"No way, I'm a gentleman. Fair and refined, or so they say," Minami replied.
"Fair, sure. Refined? I'd call you ruthless," Rampage shot back.
"Harsh," Minami chuckled.
Rampage, tackling her own menu, watched Teio, McQueen, and Flora grit through theirs. Tough, even by last year's standards.
"Their menu fits their level. Anything less wouldn't build their stamina," Minami said.
"No foundation, no flair," Rampage agreed.
Canopus drilled basics relentlessly. Rigil balanced basics with technique; Spica tailored to individual strengths. Minami leaned harder into foundations, even if it wasn't ideal for all.
"So, they're crazy talented?" Rampage asked.
"Pretty much. They master skills with one demo, so their teams push advanced techniques. Learn one, know ten," Minami explained.
"Fancy. Unlike our grind," Rampage said.
Their talent shone, but neglected basics left gaps. Injuries or slumps meant regrinding foundations, a longer recovery. Covering physical decline with technique was no easy feat.
"Big flaw, though," Minami said.
"What?" Rampage asked.
"They don't know their limits or peaks."
Geniuses, strong from the start, often missed their boundaries, risking unnoticed injuries—a classic pitfall.
"You know your range, right?" Minami asked Rampage.
"Yup. Mile to mid-distance is my zone. 2500m's my max," Rampage said.
"Spot on. Knowing that makes you elite," Minami praised.
"Thanks. If a world-record holder ain't elite, I'd be crushed," Rampage laughed.
Spica's constant trainer-Uma Musume talks mitigated this, but Rigil's reliance on trainers knowing the athletes' bodies was risky. Runners needed self-awareness.
"You trust us to figure it out, huh? Why?" Rampage asked.
"Simple. Your racing career's just a sliver of life. I won't always be there, so you need independence," Minami said.
"Grow up, basically," Rampage summed up.
"Harshly put," Minami smiled.
Rampage kept at her core training, boosting muscle power. "How do you measure core strength? Any benchmark?" she asked.
"Stand on one leg on a ball, motionless," Minami said.
"Circus act?" Rampage quipped.
"Perfect balance means no wobble," Minami replied.
"Long road," Rampage sighed, holding a T-shaped ballet pose on the sand, grueling but steady.
"Switch to right leg," Minami instructed.
"Aye… but will this help collisions? Why not straight muscle training?" Rampage asked.
"You've got muscle. It's about using it with balance," Minami said.
"Hm."
An Uma Musume approached, eyeing Rampage's form. "Lift that leg higher, it's drooping," she advised.
"Whoops, really? Like this?" Rampage adjusted.
"Snaps right up. Proof you've drilled basics daily," the stranger said.
"Gotta finish basics to move on—wait, who're you?" Rampage twisted mid-pose.
The Uma Musume, masculine yet elegantly dressed, radiated poise. Minami bowed deeply. "Sorry for calling you out here."
"No bother. I'm free, and helping my rare junior's a senior's duty," she replied.
Minami bowed again. Rampage, clueless, sensed her stature. Minami's formal respect signaled this was someone. A timer buzzed, but Rampage couldn't look away.
"Your name?" the stranger asked.
"Mejiro Rampage, undefeated," Rampage said.
"Impressive. Outshining my career. Alright, Minami, I'm in. A basics-driven kid like this? We'll get along," she said.
"Thank you," Minami bowed deeply.
A special guest, like Monsigny or Ramone last year. As they headed for roadwork—up a mountain—Rampage grabbed her horseshoes from a dropped bag, spotting 10x Shinzan-iron.
"Mountain run, huh?" Rampage said.
"Yup. Asphalt's bad for hooves," the stranger replied, hammering her own horseshoes. A thud—she dropped one. Rampage's eyes widened. Shinzan-iron, 10x, like hers.
"Ready?" the stranger asked, stomping to test her shoes.
"That's… 10x Shinzan-iron, right?" Rampage stammered.
"Hm? Oh, yeah, that's what they call it now. This weight's the real Shinzan-iron, not the light training ones you've used. This is the true deal."
"True deal!?" Rampage gasped.
Her gut—her inner Maya—grinned. The stranger shed her sunglasses and hat, revealing herself. Rampage knew her. She had to.
"Five crowns… Shinzan!?" Rampage exclaimed.
"Nice to meet you, kin. Thought I was the only fool using these. Let's run. Keep up with me—called a god's horse—and you'll crush anyone, even the world," Shinzan said, her smile pure, electrifying.
She bolted up the mountain. Rampage chased, heart racing.
Note: Shinzan's legend meets Rampage's grit. Basics forge gods—10x Shinzan-iron proves it. Teio's crew learns the hard way: no foundation, no glory.
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