Baltigo, the White Earth Island.
Shrouded by endless sandstorms, this place remained isolated from the world. Few knew that this was the headquarters of the most mysterious organization—the Revolutionary Army.
Baltigo wasn't just a base; it also had residential areas housing the families of revolutionaries, special talents, and orphans adopted from all over the world, undergoing basic physical training and ideological education.
On the streets, Rhode waited in line before finally obtaining the latest newspaper.
A bold headline immediately caught his eye:
""Fire Fist" Ace Rises in the New World—May Challenge Whitebeard"
"Ace… Whitebeard…"
Rhode's eyes flickered. Soon after this, Ace would duel Jinbe and then be moved by Whitebeard's charisma, becoming the commander of the 2nd Division, right?
It had been three months since he arrived in this world. Reading the latest developments in the newspaper once again, Rhode couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency.
It was late autumn of the year 1520 in the Sea Circle Calendar. Luffy's journey to the sea was only a little over a year away.
Originally, Rhode had been a medical student on Earth who had just finished his internship. One night, after staying up late gaming and defeating a world boss, he closed his eyes for a moment—only to inexplicably wake up in this world, possessing the body of a sixteen-year-old boy who shared his name, Rhode.
At first, he was utterly bewildered, unsure of where he was.
Later, from the chatter of neighbors, he heard names like "Yonko Whitebeard" and "Pirate King Roger." Only then did he realize, with disbelief, that he had transmigrated into the world of One Piece.
And not just anywhere—this was Baltigo, the Revolutionary Army's headquarters.
Fortunately, his identity was that of a medical apprentice, which aligned with his expertise.
Using medical knowledge far ahead of this era, Rhode gradually established his footing in Baltigo.
Lost in thought, he soon arrived at a spacious square.
There, standing gracefully, was a petite and delicate girl.
"Koala."
Spotting her, Rhode quickened his pace and called out, "Here's this week's newspaper."
This girl was Koala, responsible for the basic physical training of the orphans adopted by the Revolutionary Army.
She was around nineteen years old, standing at only 160 cm—an undeniably petite height in a world where giants were commonplace. Yet, her proportions still adhered to this world's illogical standards.
The sheer weight of those two mounds always gave Rhode the illusion that they might snap her slender waist at any moment.Koala took the newspaper and said with a smile while reading, "Thanks, Rhode."
"Still practicing swordsmanship today?"
"Yes."
Rhode nodded lightly.
From the perspective of Luffy and others, the world of One Piece was undoubtedly filled with passion and sunshine. But when viewed from a broader perspective, its essence was undeniably dark and cruel.
The so-called Great Pirate Era was essentially an age of chaos.
With ambitious figures rising and dominating the scene, the common folk—or rather, the weak—could only submit to the times and endure silently.
The innate talent of Rhode's current body wasn't high. Born frail, his strength couldn't even match that of girls his age.
As a transmigrator, Rhode was naturally unwilling to accept this.
This was the world of pirates! Just thinking about the mysterious and unpredictable Devil Fruits or the awe-inspiring sight of a swordmaster splitting mountains with a single slash made his blood boil with excitement.
How could he resign himself to mediocrity in such a world?
Unfortunately.
This body's potential was truly mediocre. Even when Rhode poured in effort comparable to his college entrance exam preparations, training relentlessly, the results remained minimal.
At this rate, he'd likely end up as a mere background character, easily crushed by some pirate with a bounty over a hundred million. This left Rhode deeply frustrated.
Fortunately.
While watching a one-armed swordmaster demonstrate his techniques, the Sword Aura unleashed awakened something remarkable within Rhode.
...
Slowly picking up his practice sword, Rhode narrowed his eyes slightly. With a thought, a hazy space—visible only to him—appeared before his eyes.
Within this void hovered an ancient-looking book.
This was what Rhode had awakened back then—a book that seemed steeped in myth, and indeed, it was.
With another thought, a status panel-like display popped up before Rhode's eyes.
Tier 1: Book of Knowledge (Upgrade conditions not met)
Attributes: Intelligence +1
Talent: Swordsmanship Specialization—Man and Sword as One, greatly enhances comprehension of sword techniques!
Energy: 100/100
"What's still missing? The energy is already maxed out," Rhode muttered, his eyes flickering as he studied the panel.
No mechanical voice explained things to him—he'd been figuring everything out on his own.
Energy accumulated through combat or training.
Starting from scratch, after three months of effort, Rhode had finally gathered 100 points of energy. He'd assumed this would set him on the path to becoming the strongest—someone who could challenge the Four Emperors and Warlords, or even the Admirals and Five Elders.
Yet once the energy maxed out, an inexplicable upgrade condition suddenly appeared.
Rhode instinctively sensed that this upgrade would grant him the true foundation to become a powerhouse.
However, even now, he still hadn't figured out how to meet the condition, leaving him somewhat frustrated.
Still.
Though the upgrade condition remained baffling, the abilities provided by the Book of Knowledge were undeniably powerful.
At first, Rhode had been puzzled by the Intelligence +1 attribute—just one point seemed too insignificant. Back when he'd taken IQ tests, his score had been slightly above average, around 100.
Later, he realized this bonus worked the same way as stat boosts in the games he'd played.An increase in one attribute point represented a 1.5 times improvement! This greatly enhanced Rhode's thinking speed, learning ability, and observational skills.
At the same time, he could recall many forgotten pieces of knowledge from his past life, allowing his medical skills to advance by leaps and bounds, surpassing many veteran doctors and earning him a small reputation in Baltigo.
As for the Swordsmanship Specialization talent, it was even more formidable.
The way of the sword in the pirate world was simple and unadorned, without much flashiness. To become a swordmaster or a great swordmaster, one had to rely on day after day of slashing practice, persisting for over a decade or even several decades before possibly glimpsing the mysteries of the sword.
However, the Swordsmanship Specialization talent from the Book of Knowledge completely shattered this conventional wisdom.
In less than three short months, Rhode had risen to become an exceptional swordsman.
If not for his inherently weak physique holding him back, his swordsmanship could have been even stronger! Swish! The wooden sword cut through the air, tracing a graceful arc before landing on the wooden post with a thwack.
Despite using minimal force and a wooden sword, a noticeable mark still appeared on the post.
"What exactly is the Breath of All Things?"
Entering his sword practice state, Rhode's mind became utterly focused, with nothing else existing besides the sword.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! The wooden post echoed with a continuous series of impacts.
Sword light cascaded like a waterfall as Rhode's figure darted around, striking the post from various angles.
His movements were extremely elegant yet precise as a machine, blending beauty and power seamlessly.
Koala watched from the side, nodding slightly in approval.
"Though his physical condition is lacking, this level of swordsmanship alone is enough to qualify him as a reserve member. Let him participate in the assessment later."
New book release—seeking recommendations and favorites!