章 8: Chapter 8: Breath
###
When Rhodes arrived at the assembly point, Reiz and the others were already there, their faces tense as they glanced around nervously.
The vast underground space of the castle was filled with massive stone pillars, each requiring four people to encircle. These pillars gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, engraved with mysterious patterns that seemed to hold ancient secrets.
Standing in such a place, one couldn't help but feel a profound sense of insignificance.
Even Reiz, the strongest among the newcomers with a near-superhuman physique, clenched his fists, his usual arrogance subdued.
"So, this is the Revolutionary Army headquarters..."
Rhodes, however, remained unfazed. His unique advantage as a transmigrator granted him an extraordinary mental fortitude in situations like this.
He surveyed his surroundings with a curious glint in his eyes.
No one truly knew how many powerful figures or hidden secrets resided within an organization recognized as dangerous by the World Government.
---
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the space.
The group turned to see a tall, muscular figure in a martial arts uniform approaching them.
"A fish-man... Hack?" Rhodes' eyes narrowed slightly. So, he would be the one to train the recruits?
He couldn't help but wonder where Sabo was and how strong he had become.
As Hack reached the group, he spoke in a deep voice, "I am your instructor from now on—Hack."
"Follow me."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Reiz and the others scrambling to keep up.
Hack led the group through the castle, passing numerous checkpoints along the way.
It was clear the headquarters was heavily guarded, with hidden sentries and countless layers of protection.
However, to true powerhouses, no defense was insurmountable.
Even the Marine Headquarters had been invaded by the Golden Lion, suffering significant damage, and later torn apart during the Summit War. Similarly, the Revolutionary Army's headquarters was eventually destroyed by the Blackbeard Pirates.
In a world ruled by strength, the truly powerful feared nothing.
---
After traversing several corridors, the group arrived at a spacious hall.
Inside, many young men and women, slightly older than Rhodes' group, were engaged in various forms of training or sparring with one another.
As soon as Hack entered, the trainees stopped what they were doing and respectfully greeted him.
"Are all of these people Revolutionary Army recruits?"
Rhodes quickly scanned the hall. Thanks to his enhanced perception, he could sense that these recruits were all stronger than Reiz, the strongest member of his group.
"Hmm, maybe they'll last a few more episodes," Rhodes thought to himself, withdrawing his gaze.
Without lingering, Hack led Rhodes and the others to a smaller hall.
"Sit down," Hack instructed, gesturing for everyone to find a spot.
After they were seated, he began, "This will be your new home. From now on, you'll live here as well."
"Becoming a recruit means leaving behind the life of an ordinary person forever."
"From this point forward, you will face not only my training but also real combat—battles of blood and fire. You may fight savage pirates or brutal beasts."
His words were solemn, and the weight of them pressed heavily on the group.
After a long pause, Hack continued, his tone softening slightly. "But for now, you don't need to worry about that."
"Your immediate priority is to grow stronger."
He looked around the room, his gaze sharp. "Whether you practice swordsmanship or possess a Devil Fruit ability, there is one thing you must understand."
"Physical strength is the foundation of everything."
"No matter how skilled or powerful you are in other aspects, without a strong body, it's all an illusion."
His words were powerful, resonating deeply with those who listened.
Reiz and the others seemed to grasp the concept only partially, but Rhodes, familiar with the nature of this world, wholeheartedly agreed.
In the world of pirates, true powerhouses were monsters who could fight for days on end, with seemingly endless stamina.
This realization was also why Rhodes had been so excited about developing his Thunder Body Refinement technique.
In a world like this, not having a body stronger than a monster's was simply unacceptable.
---
"Now, I'll teach you a breathing technique," Hack announced. "While strengthening the body is a gradual process without major shortcuts, there are certain methods to accelerate the process."
"The most critical of these is proper breathing. A correct breathing technique allows the muscles to be fully oxygenated, accelerating training results and strengthening every corner of the body to build a flawless physique."
As Hack explained, Rhodes and the others began attempting the breathing technique under his guidance.
The method Hack taught was unusual.
Rhodes, as a trained physician, understood that during normal breathing, a portion of the oxygen inhaled is exhaled without being fully utilized.
However, Hack's technique allowed one to control their breathing in a way that maximized oxygen absorption and utilization.
Changing such ingrained habits was challenging, but the recruits were no ordinary individuals. With power levels exceeding 200, they were already semi-superhuman.
Rhodes, who had honed his focus through Thunder Body Refinement and possessed exceptional control over his body, quickly grasped the essentials of the technique and began adjusting his breathing.
Gradually, as he mastered the special breathing method, Rhodes felt a profound transformation.
His entire body seemed lighter, his heartbeat stronger, and his mind clearer.
"Could this breathing method actually strengthen the internal organs?"
A spark of brilliance flashed in Rhodes' eyes.
In that moment, he seemed to uncover the secret behind the unreasonably resilient "health bars" of the world's top powerhouses.
The internal organs had a comprehensive impact on physical strength. If one could gradually fortify them through training, it would naturally result in a monstrous vitality.
For Rhodes, this discovery was even more significant.
The Thunder Body Refinement technique couldn't be applied to internal organs due to their fragility.
But if he could use this breathing method to strengthen his organs over time, eventually they might withstand the process of electric refinement.
At that point, the Thunder Body Refinement technique would reach perfection, and Rhodes' body would have no weaknesses.
---
"Impressive. You've already grasped the technique?"
Hack suddenly paused, his eyes widening as he glanced at Rhodes sitting quietly in the corner.
"Is this the young swordsman Koala mentioned?"
"What a remarkable talent."
Hack had trained countless recruits, but he had never encountered someone like Rhodes. Even Sabo had taken a considerable amount of time to adjust his instincts.
"If you've mastered this breathing method, work on incorporating it into your daily life," Hack advised. "Make it a habit, whether you're training or sleeping."
These words were meant for later, but seeing Rhodes' progress, Hack couldn't help but mention them now.
*(End of Chapter)*
I hope you're enjoying the story so far! If you're liking it, please consider leaving a review and dropping a Power Stone. Your feedback and support mean a lot to me and help keep the story going.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット