"Check the crew's potential?"
Gawain paused for a moment, surprised, then turned to glance at the pirate beside him. Instantly, a new panel appeared in his field of vision:
[Name - Wynn]
[Potential - Black Iron]
[Rating - Black Iron: A small fry who has learned basic swordsmanship.]
He shifted his gaze to the other pirates. The system interface updated in real time, displaying the potential and ratings of each individual.
Without exception, they were all Black Iron.
Gawain wasn't surprised.
By the system's standards, even with his enhanced physical strength and the awakening of swordsmanship speed, his own rating was still only Black Iron.
Even if all the pirates aboard teamed up, they still wouldn't pose a threat to him. The gap between them was wider than the gap between a man and a dog.
"So I can directly assess the crew's potential... and pick out the talents I actually need?"
Gawain quickly realized the true function of the new badge.
It wasn't of immediate use—after all, they were still out at sea—but its implications were significant.
"We'll head to the East Blue and see if there are any useful leeks growing, aside from those three…"
"If a man with top-tier talent gets proper training, he could reach his peak in just a few years."
"It just goes to show—sometimes the gap between people is wider than the gap between beasts."
Gawain shook his head and checked the potential of each pirate on board, one by one. Ultimately, he could only conclude—helplessly—that everyone aboard was just Black Iron-level fodder.
However…
Even cannon fodder had its uses. In large enough numbers, they became a field of experience points he couldn't ignore.
And more importantly, his own physique was approaching a breakthrough.
He had a hunch: once his body evolved further, his combat power would undergo a dramatic transformation—finally shedding the label of Black Iron for good.
Gawain left half the crew to maintain the warship's course and scout for nearby threats. With the rest, he gathered them on the deck to continue swordsmanship drills.
No one objected. No one dared to object.
At this point, Gawain's authority was absolute. His presence alone kept them in line.
After all…
The last person who defied him? Their body had been eaten clean.
"Hah!"
"Hee-ya!"
Metal clanged across the deck.
Under the burning sun, the pirates resumed their rigorous training, sweat pouring down their faces as they pushed through exhaustion.
Time passed. The sun dipped below the horizon, and the moon took its place in the sky.
A cool sea breeze swept across the deck, where the weary pirates lay sprawled out, letting the wind carry away their fatigue.
Gawain stood silently at the edge of the deck, nodding in satisfaction.
This was the value these men offered.
If they couldn't even function as living experience packs, bringing them along would only slow him down.
As training concluded, Gawain received his gains:
+12 Physical Experience
+15 Swordsmanship Experience
Physical - LV4: 791/800 → LV5: 1/1600
Swordsmanship - LV5: 803/1600 → 818/1600
His physique, already nearing its limit, finally broke through to Level 5.
Gawain immediately sensed the transformation.
His muscles swelled beneath his leather armor, and the sound of cracking bones echoed through his body—like beans frying in a hot pan.
His frame expanded rapidly.
In just a few seconds, Gawain's stature grew noticeably. The once-loose leather armor clung tightly to his body, and the trouser legs now exposed his ankles.
He had become visibly stronger.
"My body's gotten tougher…"
"Strength is up by 50%. I haven't tested my durability yet, but there's no doubt—I'm significantly tougher than before."
"I wonder… could I block Morgan's axe now?"
Gawain smiled faintly and raised his hand into a fist—
Bang!
The air exploded with a sonic burst, drawing stunned looks from the nearby pirates.
"Huh?"
"Did the captain… get taller?" one pirate murmured, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. "He wasn't like this before, was he?"
"The pressure he gives off… it's even stronger than when he killed Morgan!"
"Am I imagining things?"
A pirate with a mohawk weakly patted his shoulder. "You're just admiring him too much."
"Really?"
"Yeah, that's all it is…"
As their strength gradually returned, murmurs and speculation spread among the crew.
Gawain, meanwhile, turned silently toward the captain's quarters.
This transformation… was just the beginning.
Bang!
He shut the door behind him and locked it. With a thought, the system interface appeared in his mind:
"Physique upgrade detected: LV5 reached."
"Please select one of the following sub-abilities:"
—Strength
—Dexterity
—Endurance
—Balance
Gawain's eyes landed on the final option.
These four sub-abilities represented four distinct development paths—raw power, agility, stamina, and a balanced approach combining all three.
But this wasn't a game. In the real world, focusing too much on one attribute might backfire—if the others couldn't keep up.