On the Island of White Soil, Baltigo.
Shrouded in endless sandstorms, this secluded land remains isolated from the world. Few know that this desolate place is the headquarters of the world's most enigmatic organization—the Revolutionary Army.
Baltigo is not merely a base. It also boasts residential areas housing the families of the Revolutionary Army, specialized talents, and orphans adopted from across the globe. These children undergo basic physical training and ideological education here.
In the bustling streets, Rhodes queued up to grab the latest newspaper.
The headline screamed:
**"Fire Fist Ace Rises to Fame in the New World, Poised to Challenge Whitebeard!"**
"Ace, Whitebeard..."
Rhodes' eyes glimmered with thought. If he remembered correctly, this would lead to Ace's battle with Jinbei, followed by his eventual induction as the Second Division Commander under Whitebeard.
Three months had passed since Rhodes arrived in this world, and the newspaper offered yet another glimpse into the unfolding events. A sense of urgency stirred in his heart.
It was now the late autumn of Sea Calendar Year 1520—just a little over a year before Luffy would set sail.
Originally, Rhodes had been a fresh medical school graduate back on Earth. One fateful night, after an all-nighter gaming session where he had just defeated the final world boss, he closed his eyes briefly... only to awaken in this new world.
He found himself in the body of a 16-year-old boy sharing his name, Rhodes.
At first, he was utterly confused and unaware of where he had ended up.
It was only through casual conversations with neighbors, where names like *Whitebeard*, *Pirate King Roger*, and others were mentioned, that the realization hit—he was in the world of *One Piece*!
Not only that, but he was on Baltigo, the Revolutionary Army's headquarters.
Luckily, his current identity was that of a medical apprentice, perfectly aligned with his expertise.
With his advanced knowledge of modern medicine, Rhodes gradually secured a foothold in Baltigo.
Lost in thought, Rhodes soon arrived at the edge of a spacious square.
Standing there was a petite yet graceful young woman.
"Koala."
Quickening his pace, Rhodes called out, "This week's newspaper."
The girl, Koala, was responsible for training the orphans adopted by the Revolutionary Army in basic physical fitness.
Nineteen years old, Koala stood at a modest height of just 160 cm. In a world filled with towering figures, her stature seemed diminutive. However, her figure adhered to this world's typical absurd proportions, often leaving Rhodes with the impression that her slender waist might snap under the weight of her curves.
Taking the newspaper, Koala glanced at it briefly before smiling.
"Thanks, Rhodes."
"Still practicing swordsmanship today?"
"Yes," Rhodes replied with a slight nod.
The *One Piece* world, when seen through the lens of Luffy and his friends, is full of passion and sunshine. However, from a broader perspective, it is a realm steeped in darkness and brutality.
The so-called Great Pirate Era is nothing more than an era of chaos.
Heroes rise, clashing in the tides of history, while the weak and powerless are left to endure silently.
The body Rhodes now inhabited was naturally frail, weaker than most of his peers—sometimes even lagging behind women of the same age.
As a transmigrator, Rhodes couldn't accept this fate.
After all, this was the *One Piece* world! Just the thought of mysterious Devil Fruits or swordmasters who could split mountains with a single strike set his blood racing.
In such a world, how could he resign himself to mediocrity?
Unfortunately, the body he now possessed was inherently lacking in talent. Despite pushing himself with the fervor of his college entrance exam days, his rigorous training yielded minimal results.
At this rate, he would likely become a forgettable background character, at risk of being swatted away by a notorious pirate at any moment.
But then, a glimmer of hope appeared.
While watching a one-armed swordsman demonstrate his techniques, Rhodes witnessed a burst of sword energy, awakening a peculiar power within him.
---
Gripping his practice sword, Rhodes narrowed his eyes slightly. With a single thought, an ethereal, blurry space appeared before him—visible only to him.
Suspended within this void was an ancient, mystical-looking book.
This was the power he had awakened: a mythical artifact—a *Book of Knowledge.*
With another thought, a status-like interface materialized before him.
---
**First Rank: Book of Knowledge (Conditions for Advancement Unmet)**
- **Attributes:** Intelligence +1
- **Talent:** Swordsmanship Specialization—Unity of Sword and Soul. Drastically enhances comprehension of swordsmanship!
- **Energy:** 100/100
---
"What am I missing? The energy is already full..."
Rhodes' gaze flickered as he stared at the interface.
There was no guiding voice or mechanical explanation. Everything had been trial and error.
Energy was accumulated through battles and training. Over the past three months, he had painstakingly gathered 100 energy points, convinced it would mark the beginning of his ascent to power.
But then, out of nowhere, the system introduced an enigmatic advancement condition.
Rhodes instinctively knew that fulfilling this condition would grant him the foundation to truly become strong.
Yet, he remained clueless about how to achieve it, leaving him both frustrated and impatient.
Still, despite the roadblock, the abilities granted by the *Book of Knowledge* were nothing short of extraordinary.
The Intelligence +1 bonus initially seemed underwhelming.
"Just one point? Really?" he had thought.
Back on Earth, his IQ wasn't extraordinary, but it was decent, around 110.
Only later did Rhodes realize the bonus mirrored the mechanics of attribute points in video games.
A single point represented a 1.5x improvement over his baseline!
This dramatically enhanced his cognitive abilities, learning speed, and observational skills. It even helped him recall much of the knowledge he thought he'd forgotten, allowing his medical expertise to surge, earning him recognition among Baltigo's seasoned doctors.
As for the Swordsmanship Specialization talent—it was a game-changer.
In the *One Piece* world, swordsmanship was straightforward and without frills. Becoming a swordmaster or even a great swordsman required decades of relentless practice.
But with the *Book of Knowledge*'s talent, Rhodes shattered those norms.
In less than three months, he had already become a formidable swordsman.
Were it not for his weak physique holding him back, his progress could have been even greater.
---
**Whoosh!**
The wooden sword sliced through the air, leaving an elegant arc before striking the wooden post with a resounding *crack.*
Despite the sword's modest strength and material, the post bore a noticeable gash.
"What is the essence of the Breath of All Things?"
Fully immersed in his training, Rhodes' focus was razor-sharp. In his mind, nothing existed but the sword.
*Crack! Crack! Crack!*
The sound of strikes echoed endlessly.
Sword light danced like a waterfall as Rhodes moved fluidly, striking the wooden post from all angles with precise, machine-like grace—a perfect blend of beauty and power.
Watching from the side, Koala nodded approvingly.
"His physical strength might be lacking, but with swordsmanship like this, he's definitely ready for the reserves. I'll have him join the assessment later."
*(End of Chapter)*
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