c2: Handsome is a Lifetime Thing
Rhodes did not pin all his hopes on the advancement of the Book of Knowledge he was pragmatic and deeply understood that only strength held in one's own hands was truly reliable.
Therefore, after unlocking the Swordsmanship Specialization talent, he dedicated himself to practicing diligently. Apart from his duties assisting the Revolutionary Army's medical division, he invested nearly all his remaining time into sword training.
The repeated slashes honed not only his technique but also his mental state his once restless mind slowly became sharpened, his temperament calm and focused, exuding a concentration that edged on trance.
At one point, during an especially immersive session, he found himself perceiving the world differently a surreal black-and-white realm where all things pulsed with subtle vibrations and unseen rhythms.
In that moment, with a seemingly ordinary slash, he cleaved straight through a wooden stake. The cut was flawless clean, effortless, as though he had merely traced a natural line that already existed in the material.
Yet, over the past three months, that fleeting state had never returned, no matter how hard he trained.
Reflecting on scenes from the original story, Rhodes likened it to the moment when Zoro, while fighting Daz Bones (Mr. 1) in Alabasta, unlocked the Breath of All Things a crucial milestone for any swordsman aiming to cut steel.
"That's the threshold of a true swordsman... It amplifies the lethality of each strike and it also allows the swordsman to unleash flying slashes, the very essence of sword aura."
"The absolute immersion in the blade absolute intent behind the slash that's what brings forth those unbelievable cuts..."
Rhodes practiced silently, letting his thoughts and sword flow in tandem.
He had consulted Kerla, who, despite her youthful appearance, possessed deep insights about the Revolutionary Army and the world's martial disciplines. Her answer had been clear.
The Breath of All Things wasn't some mystical force; it was a transcendent state of mental focus.
In that state, a swordsman becomes one with the blade able to sense the life and rhythm within all things, and with that sensitivity, even a chipped and rusted sword could cleave through solid steel.
---
Half an hour later
With his arms trembling and sore from the repeated drills, Rhodes finally paused and sat down to rest.
"This body is still way too weak, huh…"
Breathing deeply to ease the muscle strain, Rhodes closed his eyes and mentally replayed the sequence of slashes he had just executed.
Thanks to his Swordsmanship Specialization talent, he could detect and correct subtle flaws in his technique in real-time, dramatically increasing the effectiveness of every session.
A movement others might need to repeat for days to imprint into muscle memory Rhodes could internalize in one or two hours.
The difference in training efficiency was staggering like comparing a rowboat to a warship.
"Rhode, you can also join the assessment later."
Kerla appeared nearby, likely having just finished leading a physical training session. Beads of sweat shimmered on her forehead, and the freshness of her youthful energy naturally drew attention from the surrounding recruits.
"Assessment? What kind of assessment?"
Rhodes turned toward her, curious.
"It's for becoming a member of the reserve force. It usually includes two components a test of character and a test of combat skills. Anyone who passes can be admitted to the Revolutionary Army reserves and undergo advanced training."
Kerla answered with a soft smile.
Though her current role as a physical instructor was temporary, she still bore the responsibility of identifying potential talents.
The Revolutionary Army, unlike the World Government or the Marines, couldn't openly recruit it relied heavily on agents and supporters embedded throughout the world to discover and recommend candidates. This approach, however, was inefficient and made it difficult to guard against infiltration by spies or Cipher Pol agents.
Fortunately, the commander of the Revolutionary Army Monkey D. Dragon was a visionary.
From the very start, he had established a long-term strategy: begin cultivating the next generation from childhood.
The orphans gathered from all corners of the globe were brought to Baldigo, headquarters of the Revolutionary Army, and trained in both ideology and combat.
These youths, raised in an environment of revolutionary ideals, formed the most trustworthy and ideologically pure core of the movement with almost no concern about betrayal or wavering loyalty.
---
"Further training, huh…"
Rhodes wasn't particularly attached to the idea of being a reserve member per se but the prospect of receiving advanced training stirred his interest.
Self-training in swordsmanship could only take him so far. To truly grow, he needed access to a powerful system one with resources, knowledge, and elite instructors.
Not to mention
He absolutely needed to acquire advanced physical conditioning methods and, more importantly, the training pathways for Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) and Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) that only an organization like the Revolutionary Army could offer.
In the pirate world, without Haki or a comparable overwhelming ability it is basically impossible to become a true powerhouse.
"Alright, I'll give it a try later," Rhodes replied calmly.
"Relax, your Doriki strength test might be a little tricky, but I'm sure you'll pass the actual combat part with no problem," Kerla said with a reassuring smile.
She really seemed to enjoy smiling, didn't she?
Rhodes gave a slight nod and took the opportunity to rest his body.
He was used to facing challenges with composure and didn't like acting unless he had at least some degree of confidence in success.
Time passed gradually.
Today felt different there was a certain tension in the air.
Rhodes noticed many familiar faces gathered at the edge of the square, whispering and pointing toward him from a distance. Their faces were filled with anticipation and nervous excitement.
Most of these people had already settled here in Baldigo.
After all, this was the Revolutionary Army's headquarters, and whether or not a child could pass the test to become a reserve member was a major milestone comparable, in Rhodes' past life, to getting accepted into a prestigious academy or the navy.
Many adults greeted Rhodes warmly as he walked by, nodding and calling him "Doctor Rhodes." His medical expertise was well-known in Baldigo, especially after he surpassed several veteran medics.
Even more amusing were the glances from young girls peeking at him from behind buildings, a faint blush on their cheeks.
It had to be said while Rhodes' physical talent might be on the lower end, and his build was noticeably leaner than his peers, his appearance was nothing short of striking.
In his previous life, he would've been an easy face-card celebrity an idol-type actor on variety shows or the kind of person who could sell out photobooks by sheer looks alone.
And now, thrown into this pirate world, where grotesque characters, exaggerated features, transvestites, and actual giants were the norm his refined and sharp appearance stood out even more. If he wasn't the most handsome person around, he was certainly in the top tier.
Yeah no contest there.
Another thing he'd noticed: recovery in this world worked strangely.
When Rhodes watched the One Piece anime, he often saw characters get severely beaten only to sleep it off and wake up ready to fight again, as though nothing happened.
Unfortunately, Rhodes didn't possess that kind of monstrous endurance or rubbery recovery. He wasn't built like Luffy or Zoro.
But he'd come prepared with a large supply of high-energy jerky, enriched with dense nutrition and calories, sourced from the Revolutionary Army's supply depot.
The stuff was practically condensed vitality far superior to any energy drink like Red Bull from his past life.
Within ten minutes of rest and a few bites of jerky, the soreness in his shoulders and legs began to fade, and he felt as if he could dash up twenty floors without stopping.
The training square slowly quieted down.
Teenagers and girls gathered at the edge of the testing grounds, their gazes locked on the strange-looking devices being wheeled in. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity and nervous excitement.
"So that's the equipment for measuring Doriki?" Rhodes murmured, narrowing his eyes slightly.
The concept of Doriki (Dao Strength) in the original series had always been somewhat ambiguous.
According to the explanation given by CP9's Nero during the Enies Lobby arc, the average marine foot soldier wielding a standard rifle registered about 10 Doriki. Most skilled agents had 400+, and Rob Lucci hailed as CP9's strongest operative in 800 years had an overwhelming 4000 Doriki.
Rhodes couldn't help but wonder what the minimum requirement was for Revolutionary Army reserves.
It was probably on the higher side. After all, the Revolutionary Army pursued an elite path focusing on agility, secrecy, and infiltration rather than brute force numbers. Without a certain threshold of strength, a recruit would be more liability than asset in underground resistance operations.
Surprisingly, there was no speech or grand ceremony before the assessment began.
Under Kerla's efficient and firm direction, the teenage candidates were quickly lined up and began undergoing the Doriki test one by one.
From the sidelines, Rhodes observed closely, and as the process unfolded he slowly came to understand just what this so-called Doriki really represented.
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