Chapter 94: Legends of the Dragon
A beam of lightning continuously shifted within Rhodes' palm, sometimes circling and dancing like a bird, sometimes galloping and roaring like a beast, sometimes transforming into a towering, lush tree...
Every movement, every detail, was so vivid and lifelike that the passing sailors marveled at the display.
"It's much easier to control now."
Rhodes' eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
Having mastered its power, the once violent force of thunder seemed to have suddenly become docile, easily controlled.
Even without the refinement and precision of swordsmanship, it could be easily shaped and unleashed, delivering astonishing and deadly damage, like the thunder spear that instantly dispatched the black-clad assassin.
Using only lightning power now, Rhodes could unleash lethal force comparable to that of a Vice Admiral, certainly not inferior to one.
Of course, while lightning power was incredibly destructive, it lacked the decisive finality of swordsmanship.
A simple electric shock would be nearly impossible to kill the powerful monsters of this world—their endurance was immense.
Even a being like Kaido, the so-called "immortal," would likely only be paralyzed and experience pain even if struck by lightning.
As he pondered this, Yukiko finally finished her training for the day and sat down on the ground, panting and drenched in sweat.
After a while, she finally recovered and looked at Rhodes with a somewhat dejected expression.
"Rhodes-nii-san, is my talent just too poor? I've been studying for so long and haven't made any progress."
The little girl was frustrated and feeling defeated.
"You're quite talented..."
Rhodes' words instantly lifted Yukiko's spirits.
Even someone like Rhodes said she had good talent, so clearly, she had a bright future ahead as a powerful warrior.
However, the excitement on her face froze completely when he spoke the next few words.
"...at cooking."
Rhodes nodded in approval.
Yukiko, worthy of being the daughter of West Blue's most renowned chef, was a culinary prodigy with incredible range. Even with limited ingredients on board, she managed to create a different dish almost every day.
"Mou!" Yukiko turned her head away, puffing up her cheeks.
Rhodes smiled. "Come here."
"No way!"
Yukiko covered her ears, her expression adorably defiant like she was ready to jump overboard rather than listen.
"I can help you get stronger quickly."
"Eh?!"
She practically leaped three feet high, sprinting over on her short legs, then looked at Rhodes with hopeful eyes.
"You're not lying?"
Rhodes regarded her with an amused half-smile. Yukiko lowered her head bashfully, her hands fidgeting together.
"Turn around and sit down."
Rhodes had no intention of teasing a little girl further.
Yukiko obeyed.
Rhodes also sat cross-legged on the ground, then slowly extended a slender, pale finger and touched Yukiko's delicate neck.
Feeling the girl's soft skin, his eyes remained calm as he slowly released a faint, extremely weak burst of lightning power.
Indeed, he intended to use the power of thunder to temper Yukiko's body.
This type of tempering was most effective the first time, laying a solid foundation for her. As for her future, it would all depend on her own efforts.
A faint tingling sensation spread throughout her body, and Yukiko almost lost control instantly.
Unleashing his Observation Haki, Rhodes immediately observed the state of Yukiko's body.
"She's so fragile."
Rhodes mentally shook his head—it felt as if even the slightest careless movement could destroy this delicate, tender body.
The tempering began slowly.
Rhodes' vast experience and greatly enhanced control of lightning meant the danger was minimal, but the process would likely be uncomfortable, as Yukiko was still so young and fragile.
"If you need to scream, it'll help."
Rhodes said calmly.
"..."
Yukiko's brows furrowed, her face etched with pain, but she remained stubbornly silent, gritting her teeth as she persevered.
She clearly didn't want him to think less of her.
Seeing this, Rhodes nodded silently—her will was indeed resolute.
Or perhaps it was her hunger for strength?
Two hours later, the body tempering finally concluded.
As soon as Rhodes released his grip, Yukiko collapsed to the ground, her eyes staring blankly at the sky. Her petite frame curled up and trembled slightly, a faint flush spread across her fair skin, and sweat dripped down her cheeks.
The training had been effective. After a day of adjustment and recovery, Yukiko's physical abilities had been comprehensively enhanced—her strength and speed increased, and she had even grown two or three centimeters taller. However, her chest remained as flat as an airstrip, stretching endlessly as far as the eye could see.
This astonished Gates and the others, who exclaimed it was a miracle, their gazes toward Rhodes completely transformed.
It wasn't enough that he was incredibly strong himself—he even possessed the ability to enhance others!
If such a person established a crew, they could easily gain a foothold in the world, attracting powerful individuals from all corners of the sea.
A few days passed.
"Rhodes-san, our next stop is Monster Barbecue Island."
Gates said, a hint of exhaustion on his face.
He had ultimately underestimated the tracking and targeting abilities of the underworld's elite.
Their recent landings for supplies had been met with sniper attacks, resulting in the deaths of numerous sailors. If it weren't for Rhodes' immense strength—and his ability to eliminate the assassins who attempted to destroy their ship—they would have been in serious danger.
"This is our second-to-last stop. After this, it's Arabasta."
Gates said with a touch of relief.
"This island should be relatively safe. It's on the edge of the Calm Belt, and Sea Kings occasionally wander nearby. It's very dangerous. They wouldn't have guessed we'd choose this place for resupply."
Rhodes nodded casually, unconcerned.
It didn't matter if they encountered assassins—he'd just eliminate them. He was more worried about his lack of reputation.
To become a Shichibukai requires more than just strength; it also requires notoriety, enough to intimidate ordinary pirates!
And in this world where the strong rule supreme, reputation is naturally built by the enemies you defeat.
"Yatta! Monster Barbecue Island! I've heard from my mother that the monster meat here is unique and grilled to perfection, hence the name."
Yukiko said excitedly.
"I've always wanted to come here, but unfortunately, our last route didn't pass by here."
"Is that so?"
Rhodes couldn't help but look intrigued.
How delicious would barbecue have to be for even West Blue's top chef to yearn for it?
"If Luffy knew about this place, never mind Sea Kings—he'd risk everything to get here."
As the three chatted, a dark silhouette gradually emerged in the distance.
It was a medium-to-large island.
From afar, it appeared as a vast expanse of rolling, seemingly endless primeval jungle.
The human settlement was just a small port at the island's edge.
Gazing at the island and harbor in the distance, Gates explained:
"This isn't actually an island on any normal shipping route, but rather one that was discovered by explorers."
"Because someone once saw a dragon on this island, word spread, and every year people come here to test themselves, hoping to become dragon slayers. But in reality, they can't even defeat the monsters on the outskirts."
He sighed with emotion.
The pelts from this island were of exceptional quality, very popular with the nobles of West Blue, and he had made a fortune trading them.
"A dragon?"
Rhodes looked surprised.
Dragons did exist in the world of pirates.
Kaido, the King of Beasts, was undoubtedly the user of a dragon-type Devil Fruit, or perhaps even a true dragon in human form.
The legendary swordsman Ryuma had once slain a flying dragon with a single stroke, earning him the title of "Dragon Slayer" and making him a world-renowned figure.
"I wonder if this dragon is strong enough. If so, I might try slaying it myself."
"The reputation of dragon slaying would be more than sufficient for the notoriety required to become a Shichibukai."
(End of Chapter)
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