Chapter 4 Physique Surpassing That of a young Charlotte Linlin of the Same Era
Behind Marineford.
A vast stretch of grassland spread out here, the ground uneven and dotted with scattered trees. Compared to the noisy docks and the disciplined bustle of Marine Headquarters, this place felt strangely quiet.
Luffy craned his neck, looking left, then right, his curiosity impossible to hide. Finally, he fixed his gaze on Kyle and asked, puzzled,
"Kyle, why'd you bring me all the way out here?"
Kyle didn't slow his pace, nor did he turn around.
"You haven't forgotten the bet I made with your grandpa yesterday, have you?"
He stopped abruptly and added flatly,
"I'm here to train you."
"Even if you've already joined the Navy, if your strength doesn't improve within this week…"
Kyle halted, then slowly turned his head. A faint, knowing smile curved his lips.
"…you'll go right back to living with your grandfather."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"And I'm pretty sure you remember exactly what that kind of life is like."
"(⊙_⊙)?"
The memories hit Luffy instantly.
His face went pale. The next moment, he shook his head so hard it was almost comical.
"No! No way!! I don't wanna live with that stinky old man again—my grandpa!!"
It was easy to go from hardship to comfort—but painfully difficult to return the other way around.
Back then, Luffy had barely managed to endure Garp's "training." Being thrown into ravines, abandoned in forests, and constantly worrying about whether he'd be beaten half to death or eaten by wild animals… he'd survived it, sure—but only just.
Now, after experiencing the comparatively humane conditions at Marine Headquarters—regular meals, real beds, and no sudden life-or-death survival tests—the thought of returning to that savage lifestyle was nothing short of hell.
Hiss…
Just imagining it made Luffy shudder.
He suddenly looked up at Kyle, clenched his right fist, and spoke with unshakable resolve:
"I'll train! I'll definitely get stronger!"
Then, with complete sincerity, he added,
"And I wanna eat good food every day!!"
"Hah."
Kyle nodded in approval.
"Not bad. That's ambition."
He glanced around, surveying the terrain.
"This'll do."
"We'll train right here. I have a method—follow my instructions exactly, and I guarantee you'll be stronger within a week."
He paused briefly.
"It won't be easy. It'll hurt. Think you can take it?"
"Of course!!"
Luffy answered without hesitation, nodding hard.
Just last night, he'd been bragging to the Marines that he'd become an outstanding Navy man. There was no way he could back down now over a little pain.
Besides—
Pain was temporary.
Meat was real.
For the sake of meat, a bit of suffering was nothing.
Kyle gave another nod. His gaze swept across the meadow before settling on a large rock nearby. He walked over, bent slightly, veins bulging along his arm as he lifted it with a grunt.
The rock weighed around one hundred pounds.
Perfect.
He carried it in front of Luffy and said calmly,
"Squat."
Luffy obeyed.
"Raise your hands."
The rock was placed into Luffy's arms.
Instantly, Luffy's face flushed crimson as the crushing weight pressed down on him. His legs trembled violently, and he nearly toppled sideways—
—but Kyle reached out and steadied him before he could fall.
"Hold it," Kyle said evenly.
Then, without the slightest hesitation:
"Now jump."
"…Huh?"
"Like a frog."
Kyle stepped back, his tone utterly indifferent.
"There's no fixed number."
"Just keep jumping."
"Keep going until you reach your limit."
He leaned closer, his eyes locking onto Luffy's.
"And if you give up before that?"
"I won't scold you."
"I'll just look down on you."
Kyle slowly crouched, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
"I'll think of you as a loudmouthed failure—someone good for nothing but empty shouting."
Luffy stared back at him, breath ragged, the weight making it hard to even inhale. Still, he clenched his teeth and forced the words out:
"I can… do it…!"
"I'm not just… talking!"
"I'll prove it…!"
Kyle straightened and smiled faintly.
"Good."
"Then show me."
He turned and walked toward a nearby tree, completely ignoring Luffy from that moment on.
He'd said everything that needed to be said.
From Kyle's experience, Luffy was stubborn to the bone. Provocation might be old-fashioned, but against this kid?
It worked every time.
A hundred-pound stone was right at Luffy's current physical limit—enough to push him without breaking him outright.
Perfect balance.
Combat was undoubtedly the fastest way for Luffy to grow stronger—but that only worked once his body was tough enough to endure repeated battles.
And in that regard, Garp's brutal upbringing had done its job.
Without that near-inhuman training, Luffy would never have developed the terrifying vitality he showed later on.
Rayleigh's two-year guidance had been important, yes—but it only worked because the foundation already existed.
The body was the base.
Without a solid foundation, no tower—no matter how tall—could stand.
Kyle leaned against the tree, arms crossed, eyes glinting with anticipation.
Now that Luffy was occupied, it was finally time to check his own gains.
He closed his eyes and focused inward.
Inside the system space floated four items:
A longan-sized pill.
A purple-hued blade.
A pineapple-shaped fruit crackling faintly with violet lightning.
And a ball of pulsing red light.
Kyle's gaze locked onto the pill.
An explanation surfaced immediately.
[Physical Enhancement Pill]
After consumption, your physical talent will surpass that of Charlotte Linlin during her youth. Your physique will be greatly strengthened, exceeding others of the same age.
"…Surpass young Big Mom?"
Kyle's eyes snapped open, light flashing within them.
He might not fully grasp the system's vague phrasing—but that comparison needed no explanation.
At five years old, Charlotte Linlin had killed a giant bear with one punch, shattered a giant child's bones, and wiped out an entire Elbaf village in a single rampage.
Even among the monsters of the world, her childhood physique was unmatched.
A wasted talent.
If she'd properly trained instead of spending her life giving birth, her strength would've been truly terrifying.
On Onigashima, Kaido had fought through the Nine Red Scabbards, the Supernova alliance, Yamato, and Luffy—while carrying an entire island—before finally falling.
Meanwhile, Big Mom had been dragged down and blasted into magma by Law and Kid.
A disappointing end.
If Kyle gained a physique that surpassed Big Mom's youth—
Heh.
Pirates?
He could crush them with one hand.
The pill appeared in his palm.
Kyle didn't hesitate.
He swallowed it whole.