"Hey, Rampage, know why we're climbing this mountain?" "'Cause you're a hermit?" "I'll kill you, brat."
As the camp hits its peak, Rampage and Shinzan climb again. Shinzan poses the question mid-ascent.
"It's not just 'cause it's a hill, right?" "Of course, that's part of it."
Slopes triple the load of flat ground, building legs and stamina. But there's more.
"You know Kyoto's steep hill?" "Run it. Know it." "What's its height difference?" "4 meters."
4.3 meters, precisely—Kyoto's infamous slope. Tough, but few make it their battleground; speed throws you outward. Some power through regardless.
"Right. Mountain climbing builds a body and spirit that won't bow to elevation." "I don't buckle at Kyoto." "Not Kyoto. I'm aiming for—Longchamp." "The Arc's stage!?"
Rampage reels. Shinzan's training targets the world. She knew Rampage's global ambitions, but linking mountain climbing to it? Unexpected.
"Longchamp's got a 10-meter elevation change." "No way…"
Ten meters—nearly double URA's steepest, Nakayama's 5.3 meters. Kyoto and Nakayama pale in comparison. Rampage didn't underestimate the world, but this was beyond her imagination.
"Plus, mask training's hitting hard, right?" "Hard? It's killing me…"
Added recently: climbing with a mask to boost lung and heart capacity. Distances once manageable now crush her.
"I told Minami to make Tresen use masks. Torture your lungs and heart." "Ugh… Minami's gonna get tougher…"
Re-masking, Rampage's in a rare environment. Minamisaka's precise motivation keeps her humble yet confident, never complacent.
"But Shin-san, elevation's one thing. What about turf? European grass?" "That's not easy to train for. Work it at Tresen." "With Sapporo Memorial coming? Gonna be okay?" "You're worrying for nothing. You'll win, no question."
Shinzan's certainty isn't belief—it's a verdict.
"No absolutes in racing, Shin-san. I could lose." "Won't deny it. But look."
She tosses a newspaper. Sapporo Memorial's entry list: only eight runners, including Rampage.
"Just eight? That's… low."
Long-distance races often have fewer entries, but mid-distance? Packed with talent. Eight is rare.
"Avoidance. You're in, so they bailed." "Not new, but damn, that's blatant." "It's a G1. Avoiding's rare, maybe G2 like Tokai Stakes."
This is Rampage's second G2-or-lower race this year, first on turf. Tokai was her dirt debut, different stakes.
"Only those dead-set on beating the strongest Uma Musume challenge you. Others pick different fights." "Get it. Strategy. Some skipped my trial races too."
Like Flora Stakes for Oaks—competitors chose other trials. Still, it stings a bit.
"You've won so much, avoidance is inevitable." "I know. Can't call them cowards. But those eight? They're coming to crush me. That's scary." ("They're no match for you.")
Shinzan has the Sapporo entrants' data. Decent, but not terrifying. Mejiro Palmer's there, strong in long distances, but mid-distance is Rampage's domain.
"Sapporo, huh… Gotta find a good miso ramen spot." "At least say restaurant, Mejiro heiress." "Not my style. I'm a commoner's lady." "Fine—slice 'em up with those legs." "Might be a reaper's scythe instead."
Laughing, Rampage descends, Shinzan trailing, her words tinged with sadness.
"Don't say reaper. You're alive, Rampage. Live your way, no matter what anyone says." "I am. Loud, fun, full of life every day."
"Now the final stretch! It's a two-horse race! Five lengths ahead of the pack! A Mejiro showdown—who'll win? The inexhaustible Palmer, Steayers' Stakes escapee, or ten-crown Rampage!?"
Big-front-runners clash, neither yielding, pushing to break the other. The pace obliterates the trailing field.
"No way I'm losing this breakout!"
Palmer, who dominated Steayers' Stakes, goes all-out, her grit and stamina shining. But the Uma Musume ahead matches her.
"Mejiro Palmer surges! Can she catch Rampage? Will a Mejiro hand her first loss!?"
Everyone hopes to see the undefeated fall—or prays she won't. As Palmer nears, she sees Rampage's legs dig deep into the turf.
"Here we go…!"
In a flash, turf flies. Rampage's raw power rips it apart, and she accelerates with unmatched force.
"Mejiro Rampage! She's left Palmer in the dust! Leading the whole race, yet that finishing kick—unthinkable for an escapee! Straight to the finish! Unstoppable! Mejiro Rampage's rampage knows no bounds! Japan's too small for her! 20 races, 20 wins—where will she go!?"
"Lost… Trained so hard with Helios, thought I had it…" "Tough luck, Palmer. Your legs are no joke. Want pace-escape tips?" "Hmm, I'll check with my trainer. Twenty wins? You're unreal." "Haha, easy. Join me for miso ramen after. My treat." "Really? I've been curious about Hokkaido's miso ramen!"
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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