In the room.
Having stayed awake all night, Rhode didn't feel the slightest bit of fatigue. On the contrary, he felt refreshed and invigorated, as if he'd just finished a sauna session.
He discovered that this meditative-like state seemed to replace sleep! Moreover.
After spending the entire night in a focused state controlling electric currents to strengthen his physique, Rhode had nearly mastered this special condition. With just a thought, he could enter this focused state and unleash supercharged slashes at any moment.
This was what it truly meant to be a swordmaster!
"Feeling powerful is amazing."
Rhode clenched his fists, flexing the muscles in his arms to feel the surging power within, unable to suppress a grin.
If he were to take a Power Level test now, he was confident he could easily pass the physical assessment—whether it be strength, speed, or any other metric.
"And this is just after one night."
Rhode took a deep breath, his eyes shining intensely.
With the [Thunder Control] talent, he finally possessed potential and foundation that wouldn't lose to anyone in this world.
Sooner or later, he would reach the pinnacle of the seas, challenging those legendary figures one by one, making his name resound throughout this world.
Only then would his journey in this world be worthwhile.
...
Dawn.
A ray of morning light rose from the horizon, dispelling the darkness.
After finishing his lightning tempering session, Rhode ate some high-energy jerky to fill his stomach, rested for a while, and then went to the courtyard to adapt to his increased strength.
This wasn't like gradual, incremental improvements. Such a significant boost in power required proper adjustment to achieve precise control.
However, with Rhode's swordmaster-level control, mastering this relatively frail body was still quite easy.
Thus, in just half an hour, he had fully adapted to his enhanced physique, adjusting himself to an excellent state.
"Growl, growl..."
The moment he exited his focused state, Rhode was overwhelmed by an all-consuming hunger that surged from his stomach. He felt like he could devour two whole cows!
Such a massive leap in physical enhancement, this intense bodily transformation, demanded high-energy food to replenish.
"Too hungry. Can't hold on."
Like a gust of wind, Rhode rushed back into his house and quickly finished the remaining high-energy jerky, but it was still a drop in the bucket.
"Hmm, I want a whole roasted cow, a whole roasted sheep, roasted Sea Kings!"
As he muttered these cravings, Rhode grew even hungrier and couldn't help but blush at his own lack of restraint. Just thinking about these foods was making him drool.
"Starving!"
Eventually, he felt like he could eat an entire elephant.
Whoosh! Rhode dashed out of his house at top speed and headed to a nearby restaurant, ordering a mountain of high-energy food, which he devoured like a storm.
Fortunately, in this world, Sea Kings and ferocious beasts were everywhere, making such high-energy food relatively affordable. With Rhode's income, he could manage.
Burp...
After what felt like an eternity, with a towering stack of plates on the table, the rebellion of his cells finally subsided.
"I... actually ate this much."At this moment, Rhode finally understood why characters like Luffy in the original story could eat so much.
"The stronger one's physique, the greater the energy consumption. Since humans can only replenish energy through food, it inevitably leads to a massive increase in appetite."
Rhode shook his head but didn't dwell on it too much. After all, the pirate world was filled with all kinds of high-energy creatures.
He had never heard of any powerful figure on the seas who starved to death.
After settling the bill and eating his fill, Rhode took a leisurely stroll down the street to aid digestion.
Passing by the training grounds, he casually offered some pointers to the young swordsmen practicing there.
Seeing their flushed faces and earnest expressions as they listened intently, Rhode suddenly realized—without even noticing, he had become quite the expert himself.
In fact, his skill level far exceeded what he had imagined.
During yesterday's combat test, the swordsmanship Rhode displayed was so extraordinary that many were inspired by what they saw. Convinced that swordsmanship looked incredibly cool, they had just begun their training.
Having satisfied his itch to play the mentor, Rhode ambled unhurriedly to the newly opened clinic.
Inside, a white-haired old man was puffing away at his pipe. When Rhode entered, the old man curled his lip and said with feigned disdain, "You brat, finally decided to show your face again."
Rhode, unfazed, casually pulled out a notebook and handed it to the old man. "Old man, these are my compiled medical notes. I probably won't be coming back here anymore."
The old man took the notebook, glanced at it, and immediately stiffened, his fingers trembling slightly.
After a long pause, he took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions as he said, "Are you really sure you don't want to pursue medicine further? Your talent is clearly—"
"I want to become strong. Stronger than anyone else."
After a brief silence, Rhode replied in a low voice, "Strength is the foundation of everything."
Of course, this didn't mean he intended to abandon medicine entirely.
Medical knowledge was an extremely practical supplementary skill, one that would allow him to handle all sorts of incidents with greater ease.
He would never forget how even legendary figures like Pirate King Roger and Whitebeard had been helpless in the face of illness and injury.
Had Whitebeard been at his peak during the Marineford War in the original story, how different might things have turned out?
Or perhaps, Sengoku wouldn't have even dared to initiate the war in the first place?
While the Marines possessed the strength to suppress the Whitebeard Pirates, a Whitebeard at his full power, unleashing his Tremor-Tremor abilities without restraint, would likely have caused far greater destruction than even Golden Lion ever did.
Moreover, the pirate world had no shortage of unconventional medical techniques, with explosive drugs like Chopper's Rumble Balls being far from rare.
"Sigh."
Hearing Rhode's unwavering words, the old man sighed and said no more, simply taking slow drags from his pipe.
In an era like this, nothing could stop a man from setting sail for the great seas.
"Then I won't try to persuade you further. Just be careful out there."
Here, the old man paused slightly before adding with some amusement, "Not that you need me to remind you—you're so cautious and mature you hardly seem like a sixteen-year-old at all."
Whether it was Rhode's usual conduct or his experienced, knowledgeable approach to medicine, both doctors and patients in Baltigo had been left in awe.
Even so, the old man still pulled Rhode aside and began rambling on, reminding him of various taboos one might encounter at sea.Rhode showed no signs of impatience.
He could tell the old man genuinely regarded him as a child.
"Go on. If you remember this old man's words someday, come back for a visit." Finally, the old man turned away, saying no more.
Rhode fell silent briefly. He had never been good with words, so he simply bowed in respect before walking out.
Stepping onto the street, he gazed at the distant sky obscured by dust storms, clenching his fists. Though Baligo was safe and isolated, it also felt like a cage—stifling and oppressive.
"Having come to this world, how could I not set sail and see it for myself?"
As if breaking free from invisible shackles, Rhode finally understood his own heart.
He had never been one to settle for the status quo.
He yearned for excitement, for brilliance, to clash with legendary figures, to witness epic events firsthand!
And to achieve all this, strength was the most fundamental requirement.
With his resolve steeled, Rhode strode purposefully toward a barren wasteland in eastern Baligo.
There stood a castle-like structure—far larger than any ordinary fortress, its sprawling grounds stretching beyond sight.
This was where the reserve forces gathered for training, and also the true headquarters of the Revolutionary Army.
Baligo was merely an auxiliary town in comparison.