Chapter 5: Advancement

###

"Apologies."

Aiden's expression turned serious as his eyes narrowed. Though there was suspicion about Rhodes' test results, he wasn't one to underestimate a potential opponent.

As soon as the revolutionary army official announced the start, Aiden charged forward with impressive speed.

**Whoosh!**

Aiden's weapon of choice was a training blade. Gripping it tightly with both hands, he delivered a downward slash at Rhodes. The strike generated a sharp whooshing sound, its intensity earning nods of approval from the gathered youths.

This strike demonstrated Aiden's full strength.

To everyone's surprise, Rhodes stood still, unmoving. He neither dodged nor parried until the blade was about to make contact. Then, with a sudden motion, he slashed his own training sword upward.

**Clang!**

Despite both blades being made of the same material, Rhodes' sword sliced through Aiden's effortlessly. The broken blade clattered onto the ground.

Aiden froze in place, stunned.

The entire square fell silent as onlookers stared in disbelief at the severed training blade lying at Rhodes' feet.

"What... just happened?"

The would-be challengers, like Reiz, stared in shock, unable to process what they had just seen. These training weapons were designed to endure years of rigorous use, yet Rhodes had shattered one with ease.

"That truly is a swordsman's *Cutting Steel* technique," Koala remarked in awe. Even though she'd already suspected Rhodes of possessing this skill, seeing it confirmed left her astounded.

This level of swordsmanship, Koala realized, marked Rhodes as a swordsman capable of "Cutting Steel," a technique only associated with true swordmasters. However, Rhodes was still among the weakest in strength, which made the display even more remarkable.

Rhodes, calm and composed, pulled back his sword and asked, "Do you still wish to continue?"

His voice was light, but to Aiden, it carried an oppressive weight.

Aiden hesitated, his grip tightening around the remnants of his broken blade. Before he could act, Rhodes shifted, the tip of his sword resting lightly against Aiden's throat.

The icy sensation against his neck brought Aiden back to his senses. His grip on the broken blade faltered, and it fell to the ground with a dull thud.

The host of the test stepped forward, announcing the result:

"Rhodes wins!"

Without further ado, Rhodes withdrew his blade and turned his gaze toward the remaining challengers. "Anyone else?"

Though his tone was unassuming, the pressure in his question was palpable. Reiz and the others instinctively took a step back, averting their eyes.

For the first time, they noticed the clean, flawless cut on Aiden's blade. It was precise, as if it had been cleaved by one of the legendary Supreme Grade Blades.

This realization left the challengers uneasy. None of them could fathom how Rhodes had achieved such mastery over his blade. Even Reiz, with a *Douriki* of 387, couldn't produce a strike of such precision.

"How troubling," Rhodes muttered as he sheathed his sword. Seeing the challengers back away was a missed opportunity to test his skills further.

That night, as the commotion settled, Koala stepped forward, addressing the crowd with a bright smile.

"That concludes the examination," she announced. "The following individuals have officially qualified as revolutionary army recruits: Reiz, Rhodes... Barry, and 28 others. Congratulations!"

The crowd erupted in applause, with the successful candidates celebrating their achievement. Being accepted as a recruit in Baldigo was a badge of honor, signifying strength and potential.

Unsurprisingly, Rhodes, with his exceptional swordsmanship, drew the most attention and praise.

He remained indifferent to the accolades. This was only the beginning of his journey, and he knew how far he still had to climb to reach the pinnacle of this world.

---

### That Night

After completing the necessary preparations, Rhodes returned home. He intended to solidify his mastery over the focused state but habitually summoned the mysterious status panel.

**First Tier: Book of Knowledge (Ready for Advancement)**

**Attributes:** Intelligence +1

**Energy:** 100/100

His gaze lingered on the words "Ready for Advancement," and he froze.

"Is this for real?" Rhodes muttered, both delighted and puzzled.

He racked his brain, trying to figure out what might have triggered this.

"Was it the battle? No... I've fought before."

"Could it be... becoming a recruit?"

The idea seemed implausible, but regardless, Rhodes dismissed the thought. What mattered was advancing to the next stage.

With a decisive thought, Rhodes activated the advancement.

**Hum!**

The void-like space materialized once more, with the ancient book hovering at its center. A series of radiant beams of light streaked across the space, converging onto the book.

The once-dim book was now glowing faintly, radiating an air of timeless mystery.

Suppressing his excitement, Rhodes checked his updated stats:

**Second Tier: Book of Knowledge**

- **Attributes:** Intelligence +2, Perception +1

- **Talent:** Swordsmanship Specialization – Oneness with the Sword (Greatly enhances comprehension of swordsmanship techniques. Additional talent slot available for selection.)

- **Energy:** 0/1000

The new additions brought a sense of clarity and focus to Rhodes' mind.

"Energy accumulates through combat and training. Advancement seems tied to rank or achievements... Does that mean the next advancement requires something monumental, like becoming a revolutionary army officer or a Shichibukai?"

Rhodes pondered, beginning to understand the conditions for progression.

His attention shifted to the added perception attribute. Though its impact wasn't immediately apparent, he suspected it would aid in mastering abilities like Observation Haki.

Finally, Rhodes noticed the highlighted option for selecting an additional talent.

"An extra talent? Let's see what's available."

*(To be continued)*

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