Chapter 5: Roger's Shock! Law's Monstrous Talent
In a brief exchange, Rono directly picked up Conqueror's, Armament, and Observation—the three types of Haki—from Roger. And they were all advanced-level Haki!
This strength growth was simply too fast, so fast that Rono could hardly believe it.
As expected of the future Pirate King, to have such formidable strength just after setting out to sea!
In addition to this, Rono also picked up Advanced Swordsmanship and a large number of stat points.
He took another look at his own panel.
[Host: Rono]
[Age: 17]
[Strength: 1203 (Vice Admiral level)]
[Speed: 610 (Vice Admiral level)]
[Stamina: 921 (Vice Admiral level)]
[Haki: Conqueror's Haki (Advanced), Armament Haki (Advanced), Observation Haki (Advanced)]
[Other Abilities: Swordsmanship (Advanced)! Combat Experience (Beginner)!]
[Fruit Ability: None]
While all three stats had reached the Vice Admiral level, he also possessed the three types of Advanced Haki, plus Advanced Swordsmanship!
Now Rono could say without hesitation that he was already above a Vice Admiral, below an Admiral—at least a powerhouse on the level of a Yonko's high-level executive!
It was just that his three stats were probably still a bit lacking compared to a Yonko's high-level executive.
There was one more thing: combat experience.
One shouldn't underestimate combat experience. A soldier who trained every day in a greenhouse and a soldier who fought and killed on the battlefield were two completely different creatures.
Even without systematic training, a soldier who had fought their way through daily life-and-death battles on the battlefield was definitely several levels stronger than the former.
The powerful Seven Warlords of the Sea had also grown by experiencing hundreds of large and small life-and-death battles.
But it didn't matter. With Teacher Roger personally teaching him, he would catch up very quickly.
"Rono, how about it? Want to keep going??"
Roger saw Rono lying on the ground, not getting up for a while, and felt like he had won.
"Of course! Let's continue!" Upon hearing this, Rono brushed the dust off his body and stood up.
"Oh? Still have strength left? Then come on! I will definitely defeat you!"
Roger's tone was full of praise.
This guy really had that indomitable personality.
He was now feeling more and more that Rono should become his crew member.
The two resumed their stances and attacked again.
*Bang bang bang!*
After three consecutive clashes, although Rono was knocked back again, Roger's expression became more and more solemn!
Roger could clearly sense that Rono's attacks were getting stronger each time!
Whether it was strength, speed, or the use of Haki.
Roger could even feel Rono using Observation Haki to predict his moves. This guy shouldn't have Observation Haki.
Could it be... he was growing rapidly through this battle?
Roger was startled by this thought.
If that was true, wasn't this growth too fast?
Was Rono even human?
After all, his Observation Haki wouldn't be wrong. He possessed the special Observation Haki that could hear the "Voice of All Things."
It was impossible for anyone to hide their strength in front of him.
If Rono was really using this battle to grow so quickly, then this guy's future was simply unimaginable!
*Bang bang bang!*
After a few more fierce collisions, Roger could clearly feel that Rono's strength was indeed getting more formidable each time.
Even he had to start using his full strength to fight Rono, to avoid being pushed back by his increasingly terrifying power.
[Ding~ Congratulations to the host for picking up Combat Experience!]
[Ding~ Congratulations to the host for picking up 598 Strength!]
[Ding~ Congratulations to the host for picking up 456 Strength!]
[Ding~ Congratulations to the host for picking up 98 Speed!]
[Ding~ Congratulations to the host for picking up 55 Stamina!]
Rono was blooming with joy inside.
Every clash with Roger brought Rono significant gains. His three stats were growing rapidly.
"This guy really is growing rapidly through this battle!"
After exchanging a few more blows and clearly sensing that Rono's strength was indeed getting stronger, Roger confirmed his thoughts!
"In that case, I'll go all out!"
But even so, Roger didn't stop. Instead, he used his full strength, intentionally helping Rono.
This way, Rono could gain even more attributes with each exchange!
Sensing the change in Roger, Rono's heart filled with admiration.
This guy was intentionally helping him grow!
As expected of the future Pirate King, his breadth of mind and magnanimity were simply too vast.
No wonder the Pirate King's crew was so united. It was because their captain had such a powerful, charismatic personality.
*Bang bang bang!*
Just like that, the two continued to clash, not stopping even as night fell and day broke.
"Alright, I'm tired. Let's leave it at that."
Suddenly, Roger stopped fighting. He didn't want to fight anymore.
Because he felt that Rono seemed to have hit a bottleneck. There was no point in continuing the fight.
"Hey, give a warning before you stop!"
When one side in a balanced fight between experts suddenly disengages, it's very easy for things to get out of control.
Seeing Roger suddenly stop, Rono had no choice but to immediately retract all the Haki he had just released.
It was as uncomfortable as holding back a thick glob of phlegm in his chest!
If he hadn't done that, his last blow would have seriously injured Roger.
"Hahaha, I knew you'd do that." Roger saw Rono bleeding and couldn't help but laugh.
"Hmph, you still have the nerve to laugh? If you hadn't stopped suddenly, I wouldn't have gotten hurt." Rono wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and couldn't help rolling his eyes at Roger.
This guy's way of doing things was really self-centered.
However, Rono was still grateful to Roger.
Without Roger holding nothing back in his teaching, he wouldn't have grown so quickly.
Now, Rono's strength had taken a qualitative leap. He was a genuine powerhouse at the level of a Yonko's high-level executive.
Currently, Rono could no longer pick up any attributes from Roger. It could be said that Roger had been completely "drained dry" by him!
"A cage can't hold an ambitious bird. With your ability, you can go out and carve your own path." After the battle, Roger also gave up on recruiting Rono.
He had grown to such an extent from just one battle.
This guy's monstrous talent... even he might not be able to keep him down!
Roger's own talent was actually top-tier, but compared to Rono, it seemed unremarkable.
What's more, Rono was so young. His future might be even vaster than he imagined.
A person like this shouldn't be subordinate to him.
"Finally see reality?" Rono let out a sigh of relief.
It really wasn't easy to make someone like Roger give up on his persistence.
He was honestly afraid that if Roger insisted on recruiting him, he wouldn't be able to resist his charisma and would end up joining his crew.
"Hahahaha! As expected, after a good fight, you need good wine!"
The next second, Roger found some wine from who-knows-where, lay down on the deck, and began to drink leisurely.
"You guy! When did you take that out?"
Rono quickly realized that Roger had taken the wine from his own ship!
After learning Advanced Brewing Craft on the island, Rono had made a lot of wine and stored it in the warehouse. When did this guy find it?
"Is this wine you brewed? Your craft is pretty good!"
*Gulp, gulp.* In no time, Roger had finished a whole jar of wine.
But in the blink of an eye, Roger disappeared and reappeared. When he reappeared, there were more than ten jars of wine in front of him.
"It's boring to drink alone. Let's drink together." The next second, Roger threw a jar of wine to Rono.
"Hey, hey! I didn't brew that much in total!" Rono felt a pang of distress.
This wine was supposed to last him until he joined the Rocks Pirates.
"Hahaha, don't worry about it! That fight just now wore me out. Cheers!"
Roger didn't care about any of that, pulling Rono to start drinking heartily.