Kuina abruptly raised her head.
"I'm not afraid!"
Lorne continued.
"Not afraid?"
"Then why can't you coat your blade with Armament Haki?"
"You're still doubting yourself, doubting the limits of women's physical strength."
"You still haven't completely broken out of the mental cage Dojo Master Koshiro put you in."
Kuina gritted her teeth and said nothing.
Lorne turned to Ethan.
"Ethan, the Independent Vanguard Squad will stay in Marineford to rest and recuperate for the time being."
"Kuina will remain at the base for rigorous swordsmanship training."
Kuina froze.
"Training?"
Lorne looked at her.
"That's right."
"Starting tomorrow, you'll swing your sword twenty thousand times a day."
"You must put everything into every swing and try to coat the blade with Armament Haki."
"I'll have Ethan add five tons to your weighted suit."
"If you haven't mastered Armament Haki Hardening by the time the Reverie ends, you won't be sailing with me anymore."
Kuina took a deep breath. The uncertainty in her eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a firm fighting spirit.
She answered loudly.
"Yes!"
"Rear Admiral!"
"I'll complete the training and show you how I've changed!"
Listening nearby, Ryan ducked his head and muttered to Bakel.
"Five tons of weights..."
"And twenty thousand sword swings. The Rear Admiral's training is practically a death sentence."
Bakel tugged on Ryan's sleeve.
"Keep it down. Do you want the Rear Admiral to hear you and make you join her?"
Ryan quickly shut his mouth and pretended to look at the clouds.
Lorne swept a cold glance over them.
"Don't think you two get to sit around either."
"Once your injuries heal, your daily physical training will be doubled."
"Ethan, keep an eye on them."
Ethan answered with a smile.
"Understood, Rear Admiral."
"I'll carry out your orders to the letter."