By the time Rhode arrived at the assembly point, Rez and the others were already there, their faces tense as they glanced around nervously.
The base level of the ancient fortress was vast, lined with thick stone pillars—each requiring four people to encircle—that gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen. Mysterious patterns were carved into their surfaces.
Standing here, humans couldn't help but feel insignificant.
Even Rez, the strongest among the newcomers with his nearly superhuman physique, clenched his fists, his usual arrogance subdued.
"The Revolutionary Army headquarters..."
Rhode felt no fear whatsoever. In this regard, the transmigrator possessed extraordinary psychological advantage.
His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he surveyed the surroundings.
No one truly knew how many powerful figures or secrets were hidden within this organization deemed dangerous enough to be acknowledged by the World Government.
"Tap... tap... tap..."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the distance, reverberating through the empty space.
Rez and the others turned to look.
A robust human figure in martial arts attire approached steadily.
"Hatchan the Fishman?" Rhode's eyes flickered slightly. So he's the one training the reserves?
I wonder where Sabo is now, and how strong he's become.
Standing before Rhode's group, Hatchan said solemnly, "I'll be your instructor from now on. Follow me."
Without another word, he turned and walked in a specific direction, with Rez and the others quickly falling in step.
Hatchan led Rhode's group unimpeded through countless checkpoints until they reached the fortress's second floor.
The headquarters was clearly heavily guarded, with untold numbers of powerful individuals hidden in the shadows.
Yet in the eyes of truly strong fighters, even the mightiest defenses were ultimately insignificant.
Just as Marineford had been invaded by Golden Lion, half-destroyed, then shattered completely after the Summit War—so too had the Revolutionary Army headquarters been utterly devastated by the Blackbeard Pirates.This is a world of the strong, where true power fears nothing.
After passing through several corridors, the group arrived at a spacious hall.
Inside the hall, there were many young men and women slightly older than Rhode and the others, each engaged in their own training or sparring with one another.
Upon Hatchan's arrival, they all stopped and turned in unison, bowing respectfully to the fish-man.
"Are these all Revolutionary Army reserves?"
Rhode swept his gaze briefly over them. His enhanced perception made him acutely aware of their auras—any one of these reserves was likely stronger than Rez, the strongest of Rhode's current cohort.
"Hmm, they should survive a couple more episodes," Rhode thought as he withdrew his attention, no longer interested.
Hatchan didn't linger here either. Instead, he led Rhode and the others to a smaller hall.
"Sit down," Hatchan instructed, gesturing for everyone to find a spot.
He then continued, "This is where you'll be staying from now on. Your living quarters will also be relocated here."
"Once you become reserves, it means bidding farewell to ordinary life for good."
"What lies ahead for you isn't just my specialized training—there will be real combat, battles of blood and fire. You may face ruthless pirates or savage beasts."
His words were grave, causing Rez and the others to tense up, their hearts heavy.
After a long pause, Hatchan spoke again, his tone slightly softer. "But you don't need to think about that just yet."
"Your immediate priority is to grow stronger."
Here, he paused briefly, scanning everyone present. "It doesn't matter if you're a swordsman or a Devil Fruit user—you must understand one thing."
"Physical strength is the foundation of everything."
"If your body isn't strong enough, no matter how powerful you are in other aspects, it's all just an illusion."
His words were profound and convincing.
Rez and the others seemed to grasp it vaguely, but Rhode, who knew the story well, agreed wholeheartedly. In this world, the truly strong were monsters capable of fighting for days on end, with health pools so deep they seemed bottomless.
This was also why Rhode had been so exhilarated upon developing his lightning-forged body.
In these seas, without a physique stronger than a monster's, you simply wouldn't measure up.
"Now, I'll teach you a breathing technique," Hatchan said.
"Strengthening your body is a gradual process with no major shortcuts, but there are some effective tricks to speed it up."
"The most crucial of these is breathing. A proper breathing technique ensures your muscles receive ample oxygen, accelerating training results and strengthening every part of your body—forging a flawless superhuman physique."
Rhode and the others listened quietly, attempting the breathing method as Hatchan explained.
The technique was unusual.
As a doctor, Rhode knew that normal breathing involved inhaling oxygen but also exhaling some unused oxygen, which was naturally wasted.
Hatchan's method, however, taught them to control their breathing, ensuring every bit of oxygen was fully absorbed and utilized.Changing instincts is extremely troublesome, but those present were no ordinary people—they were all semi-superhumans with Power Levels above 200, and thus could not be judged by common standards.
Rhode had mastered the state of focus and studied lightning tempering, giving him far superior control over his body compared to ordinary people. Thus, he quickly grasped the essentials and began adjusting his breathing bit by bit.
Gradually.
When he completed this special breathing technique, he immediately felt as though his entire being had transformed—there was a newfound sense of lightness.
His heartbeat grew stronger, and his mind seemed clearer than ever.
"This breathing technique… it seems to strengthen the internal organs?"
A brilliant glint flashed in Rhode's narrowed eyes.
At this moment, it was as if he had uncovered the secret behind the inhuman vitality of the world's top-tier powerhouses.
The influence of internal organs on physical prowess was all-encompassing. If they could be strengthened through training, it would naturally forge a monstrously resilient life force.
And this was even more crucial for Rhode.
The reason lightning tempering didn't dare touch the five viscera and six bowels was precisely because of their fragility. If he could use this breathing technique to gradually strengthen his internal organs to the point where they could withstand the intensity of electric reinforcement…
Only then would lightning tempering reach its pinnacle, and Rhode's body would be without a single weakness.
"Hmm? He's already mastered it this quickly?"
Suddenly, the fish-man Hatchan seemed to notice something and gave a slight start, casting a deep glance at Rhode, who was sitting at the edge.
"Is that the young swordmaster Koala mentioned?"
"Truly, the younger generation is formidable."
This breathing technique wasn't particularly difficult—what was challenging was overriding over a decade of instinct. To master it so swiftly meant Rhode's control over his body was extraordinary.
Hatchan had taught many recruits, but he had never encountered someone like this before.
Even Sabo back in the day had taken quite some time to retrain his instincts.
"Once you've mastered this breathing technique, you must strive to make it second nature, integrating it into every aspect of daily life—whether sleeping or training, you must maintain it."
Hatchan had originally planned to say this only after everyone had succeeded.