After learning what had happened, King Brunen had a long talk with Madalina, just the two of them as father and daughter. No one knew exactly what they discussed.
All anyone knew was that during physical training the next morning, Madalina had broken with her usual style. Her red, swollen eyes spoke volumes about how heavy the conversation must have been.
A knock sounded at the door. Luo Ya opened it and found King Brunen standing there.
The two went inside and sat down. "This is the training method for Line-Cutting Void, Lord Luo Ya. I hope Madalina can become an outstanding swordswoman."
"Heh, I'm a little curious. Why does it have to be her? With her personality, she'd be better off eating and drinking under your protection."
Luo Ya took the booklet from in front of him, puzzled.
"Madalina is my only daughter. She will one day become queen of Norberto, and she can't go on living as she did before."
King Brunen then explained what had happened.
It turned out that King Brunen had suffered several grievous injuries in battle when he was younger. He had pulled through each time, but he was destined not to live much longer.
Now in his fifties, he could drop dead at any moment. His injuries had also left him unable to father another child, even though he had taken many consorts since.
And in this world, a country without powerful military might to protect it could expect only one outcome.
That was why, when he first gave Luo Ya the sword techniques handed down through his family, the two requests had been that Luo Ya protect the country and train Madalina.
After hearing the whole story, Luo Ya scratched his head and looked at the little booklet in his hand, which contained the instructions for Line-Cutting Void.
Luo Ya might not have cared about killing and arson, but he was never one to be swayed by force. A sincere appeal, though, was another matter.
Seeing a burly man like King Brunen bow and make an earnest request, candidly explain what had happened, and even give Luo Ya his reward in advance—
King Brunen had found just the right way to win him over.
"Heh. Get a few more doctors and have them wait at the training grounds." After saying this, Luo Ya put away the booklet, stood, and headed for the training grounds.
Five royal physicians, who had originally served only the king, arrived at the training grounds at almost the same time as Luo Ya.
When Madalina saw Luo Ya, she pressed her lips together and nervously grabbed Annajia by the wrist.
Thud! Luo Ya tossed a helmet and a wooden sword onto the ground.
"Since you're ready, let's begin." He drew a wooden sword and gestured for Madalina to put on the helmet.
"Don't unleash so much killing intent on a young girl," Annajia said helplessly from the side. The moment Luo Ya picked up the wooden sword, his killing intent had become so palpable that everyone present felt a chill. Manix Island was a summer island, after all, hot all year round.
"Do you have a problem with my training methods?"
"And if I do? You're showing off against a girl who's never trained before. Does that make you proud, loser?"
"Heh. It's been a long time since anyone dared talk to me like that." Ryujin Jakka appeared at Luo Ya's waist, and his eyes glowed crimson.
Annajia glared right back at Luo Ya, her long legs covered in black Haki.
Before Madalina could figure out what was going on, one of the doctors hurriedly grabbed her and ran for a safe distance.
Most doctors at sea had a keen eye for trouble, and people rarely picked fights with them. After all, who didn't get sick now and then?
Plenty of important people had died of illness. But when titans clashed, ordinary people suffered. If a fight was about to break out, staying put and getting caught in the crossfire would leave you with no one to complain to.
As the people around them scattered, the two facing off attacked at the same time.
Support Slash! Ryujin Jakka flashed from its scabbard, sending a fine arc of fiery sword energy slashing diagonally toward Annajia.
Annajia bent her knees sharply, dodging the sword energy as she pushed off the ground and kicked toward Luo Ya's side.
The flames coiling around Ryujin Jakka suddenly flared. Luo Ya brought it crashing down in a vertical slash.
Her danger sense flared. Annajia pulled her leg back and threw herself to the side.
Boom!
Rolling across the ground, Annajia saw a long, narrow slash mark where she had been standing. It had split the training grounds' hard stone tiles in two, leaving a charred pit that still steamed.
She swallowed and looked at Luo Ya.
"Heh. Try not to die." As Luo Ya spoke, a towering pillar of fire coiled around Ryujin Jakka, raised high in his hand.
Everyone on the island could see it clearly. The heat was so intense that Madalina, hiding nearby, could feel her hair beginning to curl.
Castle Wall Flame!
Luo Ya swung his sword, and the enormous pillar of fire fell straight toward Annajia. As the terrifying column neared the training grounds, it rapidly spread outward.
Boom! When the pillar of fire finally crashed down, scorching flames filled the entire training ground.
The doctors and Madalina watching from nearby had already run well beyond the training grounds, yet they were nearly hit by flying rubble and fireballs. Fortunately, King Brunen had spotted the pillar of fire from inside the palace and hurried over in time to shield them.
Madalina stared at the sea of flames before her and stammered, "F-Father, can people really do this?"
King Brunen was just as stunned by Luo Ya's strength. He had no time to answer his beloved princess and hurriedly asked the doctors what had happened.
One of the older doctors quickly recovered from his shock and explained to King Brunen how the conflict between Luo Ya and Annajia had started.
By then, most of the equipment in the training grounds had burned away. The hard stone tiles had turned into blackened earth.
Luo Ya sheathed his sword, bent down, and picked up a burning piece of wood to light a cigarette.
"Don't worry. She won't die that easily," he said to King Brunen, who had come up beside him. Then he slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
As soon as he finished speaking, something stirred inside a mound of stone tiles and scorched earth. Several tiles that hadn't turned completely black crashed to the ground, revealing Annajia hiding beneath them.
Her long black hair, which had once reached her shoulders, was now a curled bob. She was covered in black dust from head to toe.
Looking at Annajia, now blackened like an African, Luo Ya laughed. "Heh. You won't be so lucky next time."
Then he greeted King Brunen and left with easy confidence, leaving behind a field of scorched earth and Annajia, still shaken.
"Let's call it a day and give everyone tomorrow off. We'll find a new training ground after that," King Brunen said awkwardly.
He led Madalina away, her eyes shining with excitement.
Soon, only Annajia remained at the training grounds. She rubbed her soot-blackened face, gazed thoughtfully in the direction Luo Ya had gone, and went to find somewhere to bathe.