章 13: Chapter 13: A Sudden Turn of Events
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The monitoring room was already in an uproar.
"Lightning power?"
"How is this possible? Is the equipment malfunctioning?"
Every revolutionary soldier was in disbelief, as if they had seen a ghost.
"A sword that unleashed lightning…"
Koala looked solemnly at Fisherman Hack. "Rhodes doesn't seem to be a Devil Fruit user or belong to any special race. That leaves only one possibility."
Her tone was filled with astonishment, as if startled by her own speculation.
But when all impossibilities are eliminated, no matter how unlikely the remaining possibility seems, it must be the truth.
"That's correct."
Fisherman Hack took a deep breath, his eyes full of amazement and even a hint of excitement. "It seems we've underestimated this young man's talent in swordsmanship."
"So young, yet he's stepped into the realm of a swordmaster. That alone is astonishing, but to think this isn't his limit."
"At just sixteen, he has already grasped his unique sword intent."
"And it's of the divine force of thunder."
Koala shook her head and murmured, "This is truly…"
Usually eloquent, she found herself at a loss for words.
As a high-ranking member of the Revolutionary Army, though not well-versed in swordsmanship, she understood the classifications of swordmasters.
From ordinary swordsmen to those who grasp the Breath of All Things, who can condense their slashes into a single line to cut through steel and even unleash sword energy—these are the swordmasters.
One step further are the top-tier swordmasters who comprehend sword intent, such as Vista, the Fifth Division Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, whose sword swings bring forth flower petals, or Makugai the Thunder Lord, whose blade is wreathed in lightning.
After a long while, Koala snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. "But this guy is clearly still too inexperienced. His physique can't keep up with his level of swordsmanship."
"If it comes to a real fight, any swordmaster could probably overwhelm him."
Despite her petite appearance, Koala's combat prowess was formidable. She wasn't dazzled by the striking lightning surrounding Rhodes, seeing through the flashy exterior to the paper tiger beneath.
"Even so, his potential is unimaginable. Compared to him, even Sabo is only slightly better."
Fisherman Hack shook his head and sighed. "It seems I won't be able to teach him for much longer."
A student with extraordinary talent naturally demands more from their teacher, just like the young Sabo once did.
Their conversation left the nearby revolutionary soldiers baffled, as though they were hearing celestial scriptures.
It wasn't until they heard Hack comparing Rhodes to Sabo that they finally grasped the significance.
Sabo, after all, was the student of the Revolutionary Army's leader, Monkey D. Dragon, known for his unparalleled talent and strength. He was destined to become a pillar of the Revolutionary Army in the future.
And now Rhodes was being spoken of in the same breath. Everyone understood what this meant.
Unconsciously, they etched the name "Rhodes" into their minds.
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**At the Site of the Black Ape's Corpse**
Not long after Rhodes had left, a figure clad in scanty attire suddenly appeared.
"This beast was killed? Who did it?"
Nia frowned, her expression displeased. The last time she came to this island, she was weaker and had been chased relentlessly by this black ape. She returned this time to settle the score.
But upon arriving at the scene, all she found were two halves of a corpse—oh, and an arm.
"It's a sword wound."
She stepped closer, examining the clean, precise cut with a faint charred edge. Her expression grew serious. "To sever the black ape's tough body so cleanly with one strike—this could only be a swordmaster."
"Among the recruits, there are many skilled swordsmen, but only two swordmasters: Captain Shano of the First Unit and the newly promoted rookie Rhodes."
"It couldn't possibly be Rhodes. That kid is ridiculously weak in terms of strength, though his talent in swordsmanship is remarkable."
"Looks like Shano has made great progress over the past year." She spoke gravely, drawing her conclusion.
Judging from the scene, Shano had taken only two or three strikes to kill the black ape that she had dreamt of defeating.
Even Nia admitted she couldn't have done the same.
Such is the sharpness unique to swordmasters!
"Hmph."
Failing to exact her revenge, Nia was frustrated but resigned. She had no choice but to leave.
---
Time ticked by.
Across various corners of the island, one bloody battle after another was unfolding!
Though the beasts were slightly stronger than newcomers like Reiz, humans had one distinct advantage—intelligence!
The beasts on this island had little more than animal instincts and lacked any form of advanced thinking.
As night fell, the beasts became more active. Most recruits and even the unit captains found safe spots to rest, unwilling to risk moving around in the dark.
Nighttime in the jungle, with rampant beasts and limited visibility, was a nightmare for humans.
---
**Beneath a Towering Tree**
Rhodes had built a campfire and was leisurely preparing dinner.
Tonight's menu included roasted rhino, roasted white elephant, and roasted whole deer.
"Too bad I don't have enough cooking tools to try anything fancy."
Rhodes sighed, his longing for a spatial ring growing stronger.
This was the fervent desire of a foodie!
By the fire, Rhodes gnawed on a tender bird leg while reflecting on the day's experiences.
Today's battles had earned him four energy points—four times the efficiency of regular training! Combat indeed provided the fastest energy gains. With another point expected from his evening lightning-forged body training, he felt content.
"Still, I'm a long way from reaching a thousand energy points."
Feeling the long road ahead, Rhodes took another hearty bite of the bird leg.
This was from a bird resembling a turtledove, though much larger. Rhodes had plucked it from the sky, roasted it over the fire, and found its meat incredibly tender and flavorful. It became one of his top-rated delicacies.
"Someday, I must set sail and taste all the delicacies the world has to offer!"
"I've heard there are dragons in the pirate world. I wonder what dragon meat tastes like…"
As a descendant of the culinary-rich culture of China, Rhodes had an insatiable appetite for gourmet food.
Suddenly, Rhodes felt the ground begin to tremble, as if thousands of troops were marching at once.
Soon, the distant howls of beasts filled the air, carrying a distinct sense of panic as though something had terrified them.
"What's going on?"
Frowning, Rhodes stopped what he was doing and looked into the distance.
A lithe and agile figure came rushing toward him at great speed.
"Nia?" Rhodes blinked, puzzled.
She looked somewhat disheveled, sweating profusely, and her clothes were slightly messy.
Rhodes grew even more curious. With Nia's strength, what could possibly have pushed her to such a state?
"There shouldn't be anything this strong on the island," he muttered. "Otherwise, ordinary recruits would have no chance of surviving."
The next moment, he understood.
*(To be continued…)*
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