Chapter 51: The Cautionary Tale: Charlotte Linlin

Kaido was striding purposefully toward the training grounds where Ares was working out.

The fighting spirit in his eyes burned like tangible flames, growing ever fiercer.

Streusen had to sprint with his short legs just to keep up that was the undeniable downside of being short and stubby.

The sun blazed overhead.

It was already early July, and the weather had begun to turn oppressively hot.

It had been almost a month and a half since Ares joined the Rocks Pirates.

At that moment, Ares was training beneath the searing sun, carrying a mountain-sized boulder on his shoulders comparable to a twenty- or thirty-story building as he performed squats.

The boulder weighed at least several dozen tons, but Ares supported it across his shoulders and back with ease, squatting repeatedly.

His already massive arms were now swollen to nearly double their normal size from the strain. Thick veins crisscrossed his bulging muscles like the anchor ropes of a pirate ship.

His shoulders were as broad and round as two iron shields, his chest was high and firm, and his muscles rippled with perfect definition, as solid and unyielding as iron pillars.

"Two thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven..."

"Hah!"

"Two thousand, one hundred and thirty-eight..."

"Heh!"

Sweat poured from Ares without pause. Beneath him, a large black pool had already formed, and even in the scorching heat, the ground couldn't absorb or evaporate it quickly enough.

Sitting under the shade of a large tree, Whitebeard couldn't help but marvel. "What a hardworking kid!"

Though he was in his thirties, Ares, barely in his early teens, was just a child in his eyes.

"Ares's growth in this past month surpasses what others achieve in months or even years." Golden Lion Shiki wore a look of deep satisfaction.

He casually flicked his lighter, igniting the cigar in his mouth, and took a deep, forceful drag.

Ever since Whitebeard had stolen his turn with Ares's training, their agreed-upon schedule of alternating days had become meaningless. Now, both of them often trained Ares together.

Whitebeard smiled in satisfaction. "Indeed. Ares could probably hold his own against a Marine Headquarters elite Vice Admiral right now."

"His swordsmanship is now at a solid mid-tier swordsman level, and his progress in physical combat is obvious. At this rate..." His expression turned serious. "Maybe in just two or three years, he'll stand among the top powerhouses of this world!"

It would mean that by the time Ares was seventeen or eighteen, he would already be a dominant force on the seas a staggering thought.

And Ares would still have decades ahead of him. What would his strength be when he reached his thirties? His forties?

The thought alone made Whitebeard's heart surge with anticipation.

"Yeah! Ares is the fastest learner I've ever seen and also the most dedicated. If Linlin had half his work ethic, she might have already surpassed the two of us by now," Shiki added with genuine emotion.

Charlotte Linlin.

Born with innate strength that far exceeded others, Linlin had, at five years old, destroyed an entire Elbaf giant village.

Even giants had been powerless before five-year-old Linlin.

Her natural talent was simply unmatched.

If she had committed herself to training the way Ares did or even with half his dedication she might have surpassed Rocks long ago.

But sadly...

Linlin's incredible gifts had been completely wasted.

Her entire growth came solely from battle experience. She never trained or exercised.

Whitebeard smirked, a hint of ridicule in his voice. "Why bring her up? Linlin's mind isn't right to begin with."

Shiki agreed. "Maybe she's like Ares something's off with her soul too. The difference is, Ares behaves completely normal in his day-to-day life."

Then, with a teasing grin, he added, "Linlin has always had her mind on men. Ares's mind is fully focused on training."

"That's the difference between the two. It won't be long before Ares surpasses her completely."

To them, Linlin was a cautionary tale, a wasted genius, while Ares was the shining example the one who would surely reach heights even Linlin could never touch.

What excited them the most was that they couldn't see the limits of Ares's potential.

Whitebeard elbowed Shiki lightly and whispered, "We've got company."

He stood up.

Shiki turned his gaze toward the approaching figure and grinned. "Kaido, huh? Looks like he's here to stir up trouble with Ares. He must still be bitter about losing to him last time."

He rose as well, his eyes filled with disdain as he watched Kaido.

Coldly, he sneered in his heart: "Lose once, and you'll always lose. No one can outpace Ares's growth."

"Kaido..."

"You're miles behind Ares."

Kaido, on the other hand, locked his gaze on Ares's training figure. His pupils contracted sharply, his heart pounding. "This guy... he's still training this hard!"

"But this time, I, Kaido, will win!"

He strode confidently toward Ares.

Trailing behind him, Streusen stopped and stared in shock at the sheer scale of Ares's training. His jaw nearly hit the ground as he gasped. "H-holy... monster!"

The overwhelming visual impact left him wide-eyed and utterly shaken.

This was his first time witnessing this kind of monstrous training.

Meanwhile, Kaido had closed the distance to within several dozen meters. Blocked by the slope of a hill, he called out directly to Ares.

"Ares, I challenge you!!"

His fighting spirit blazed brightly on his face. Today, he would wash away his past humiliation!

Ares paused his training, still carrying the mountain on his back. He glanced at Kaido and immediately frowned.

"I refuse your challenge."

"I've already beaten you once. You're no match for me. Your strength is far too weak."

"Not interested."

He remembered their last fight it had been effortless. Kaido's strength was nowhere near Whitebeard's or Shiki's. It would be a boring fight.

So Ares bluntly turned him down.

He resumed his squats, the mountain rising and falling on his back.

Kaido froze.

He'd been rejected?!

He looked down on me?!

His face darkened as rage surged in his chest. Ares's outright dismissal was like a slap to the face!

Teeth grinding audibly, Kaido shouted, "Ares!"

"Are you scared?!"

"Afraid you'll lose to me, that Shiki and Newgate will cast you aside?"

"Afraid of losing your place as an official crew member?!"

"Are you going to fight me or not?!"

---------------------------------------------------- 

Enjoying the chaos? Drop a review and Power Stone to fuel the next rampage!

Can't wait? Tsk, patience isn't for warriors. Come read ahead on my P@treon

p@treon.com/_theon

Change @ to "a"