"Eh?"
"What is training?"
Linlin tilted her head, asking in confusion.
For a five-year-old, these words were completely foreign.
"You'll know soon enough."
Reno led Linlin to a clearing. It was the largest and flattest open space on the island, perfect for cultivation.
"Roge, from now on, you are responsible for guiding Linlin's training," Reno ordered Roge, who was standing beside him.
"Yes, Young Master!"
Although Reno's current strength surpassed Roge's, Roge was far more experienced when it came to instructing others.
Roge was the strongest among the men Reno had brought. He mastered swordsmanship and two forms of Haki, possessing strength comparable to a Marine Vice Admiral.
Teaching Linlin at her current stage would be no problem for him.
Five-year-old Linlin was already incredibly strong. If Reno had assigned anyone else, he feared Linlin might accidentally kill them.
Reno remembered the events on Elbaf from the original story all too vividly. Naturally, he had to ensure nothing went wrong.
Receiving the order, Roge walked to the center of the clearing and looked at Linlin, who stood opposite him, looking a bit restrained.
To be honest, Roge had been puzzled throughout this whole process.
He was surprised that the Young Master had expended so much effort planning all of this, just for a five-year-old girl.
So far, aside from her large size, massive appetite, and love for sweets, he couldn't see anything special about this girl named Linlin.
"Linlin, attack me with all your strength. I want to see what you can do!"
Faced with Roge's demand, Linlin instinctively looked at Reno, seemingly at a loss. "Big Brother, I..."
Reno smiled and responded, "Linlin, do as he says."
With Reno's authorization, Linlin's gaze became firm.
As long as it was Big Brother's request, she would work hard to fulfill it. She absolutely could not disappoint Big Brother.
"Roge, use your Armament Haki. Use your strongest defense!"
Reno didn't forget to add a warning. He was afraid Roge would let his guard down because Linlin was just a little girl.
If he did, he'd be the one suffering for it.
Prepared, Linlin clenched her fist and charged straight at Roge.
Seeing Linlin rush towards him, Roge felt a jolt in his heart. He didn't know why, but he had the illusion that he was facing a powerhouse.
Heeding Reno's warning, Roge mobilized the Armament Haki within his body, forming a layer of pitch-black armor over his arms.
Facing Linlin's attack, Roge crossed his arms to block.
The next second, a massive fist smashed directly onto Roge's arms.
BANG!
Roge's expression changed drastically. He felt a terrifying force transmit through his arms and into his body.
Before he could even react, the force blasted him away.
He smashed through several ancient trees before finally coming to a stop.
"This... What is this?!!"
The other guards witnessing this gasped in unison, staring at Linlin in shock and uncertainty.
"Is that really just a five-year-old girl??"
"Captain Roge couldn't even block a single move?"
"And that was a move blocked with Armament Haki!"
The guards whispered among themselves. When they looked at Linlin again, the previous disdain in their eyes was gone.
If that punch had landed on them, they wouldn't have just been blown away—they would have been obliterated.
Soon, a disheveled Roge walked out of the forest, his face covered in dirt.
He looked wretched, his clothes tattered and torn.
"Such strength... I used Haki and still couldn't stop it?!"
At this moment, Roge was questioning his entire existence.
Although that wasn't his absolute strongest defense—as a Golden Sword-Lion user, his peak defense would be in his Beast Form combined with Haki—it shouldn't have been this pathetic.
Even if he couldn't block it completely, he shouldn't have been thrashed like this.
But who was his opponent?
Just a five-year-old girl!
He had thought Reno's earlier warning was making a mountain out of a molehill. How strong could a little girl's attack be?
He hadn't expected to be slapped in the face by reality so quickly.
Roge looked at Linlin with a grave expression. Now, he finally understood why the Young Master had meticulously planned everything to acquire her.
This talent was simply too terrifying!!
It was unheard of. Born with monstrous strength—she was destined to be a powerhouse!
"Roge, you were too arrogant."
Reno's calm voice rang out, making Roge snap to attention.
"Apologies, Young Master. I didn't expect..."
Roge smiled bitterly. He wanted to explain, but the facts were already in front of them, so he said no more.
As the second strongest warrior in the Karst Kingdom, Roge had his pride.
But after that one move, he felt like all his years of cultivation had been wasted on a dog.
"Roge, don't let your guard down next time."
Reno signaled them with a glance. Linlin continued her assault on Roge.
She lifted a massive boulder and hurled it violently in Roge's direction.
Roge swallowed hard instinctively. This strength was ridiculously off the charts.
What kind of freak is she?!
Is she really only five years old? It has to be fake!
"Half Burial!"
Roge didn't dare to be careless this time. Drawing the longsword at his waist, he instantly unleashed a sharp, ten-meter-long flying slash.
Compared to his Haki, his swordsmanship was superior!
The sound of the air tearing rang out. The flying slash was incredibly fast, crossing the dozen meters in an instant and slicing the giant boulder in half mid-air.
Roge moved agilely around the clearing, constantly dodging the falling debris.
Although it was just debris, many of the fragments were larger than Roge himself.
"He actually blocked it?" Linlin frowned, wrinkling her nose. "Linlin can't disappoint Big Brother.