Chapter 144: Spatial Movement
"As for Observation Haki..."
Rhodes focused intently, sweeping his Observation Haki across the electric eel beneath him.
"The information I'm receiving is far more comprehensive and detailed now."
He narrowed his eyes slightly in satisfaction.
Observation Haki at this level was probably no less powerful than that of an average master. If Rhodes wanted to become a sniper, it would be relatively easy now.
Of course, that wasn't the main point.
The main point was that after reaching Level 3, he could draw another talent.
"I wonder what I'll get this time..."
At this stage, Rhodes's power system was quite complete, so he no longer felt desperate need for new abilities. He remained calm and composed.
Good would be good. Mediocre would be fine too.
With Rhodes's thought, text appeared on the attribute interface.
Drawing commencing.
The interface became slightly hazy.
Buzz!
Just like the previous draw, various talents constantly shifted and flickered across the display.
Black physical-type, colorful elemental-type, golden psychic-type...
Elemental-type was naturally Rhodes's least preferred option.
With the Thunder Tome's lightning powers, other elements—whether fire, ice, wind, or otherwise—would overlap significantly, making them largely redundant.
Of course, drawing a water-based ability would be quite impressive. With a wave of his hand, he could summon massive floods, leaving Devil Fruit users completely helpless. In a world dominated by seawater, controlling water would be incredibly powerful.
As for physical and psychic types, either would be acceptable.
If he could draw defensive or regenerative talents like [Resilience] or [Iron Body], combined with his Lightning Tempering technique, he might truly challenge Kaido's title of "World's Strongest Creature."
Psychic types were equally appealing.
Not only did they offer conceptual abilities like Fortune Manipulation or Probability Alteration, but also direct combat powers like震 Vibration Force, Spatial Distortion, or Dimensional Severing that dramatically increased offensive capability.
"My combat system may seem complete, but it's actually missing something crucial—a proper escape ability."
Rhodes thought idly while watching the talents flash past.
Unlike the Logia-type Goro Goro no Mi, his Thunder Tome talent was immune to Seastone, seawater, and the Yami Yami no Mi's nullification—but it also lacked elemental intangibility.
Since he couldn't transform into lightning, Rhodes couldn't perform near-light-speed teleportation like Enel or instantly escape the battlefield.
While his Thunder-enhanced speed was incredibly fast—far surpassing average pirates—it remained within comprehensible limits. An Admiral-level opponent could easily suppress him. Against multiple top-tier enemies, he'd have nowhere to run.
As this thought crossed his mind,
the extraction finally settled on a psychic-type talent.
Before Rhodes could clearly identify which talent it was, the text disintegrated and vanished, transforming into golden particles that spiraled and merged into the attribute interface.
"Psychic-type?"
Rhodes smiled faintly. Psychic-type talents, like Paramecia Devil Fruits, could easily bring pleasant surprises—or occasionally, unpleasant shocks.
Rhodes felt genuinely curious.
The next moment,
new lines of text and data appeared on the translucent status screen.
Level 3: Thunder Tome
Attributes: Intelligence +3, Perception +2, Willpower +1
Talents:
Sword Mastery – Become one with the blade, dramatically enhancing comprehension of swordsmanship!
Thunder Mastery – The Thunder God descends, freely controlling the power of lightning!
Door-Door Mastery – Walk through space, the world lies open before you!
"Similar to CP9's Bruno and his Doa Doa no Mi?"
Rhodes's eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed his wishes had manifested.
The Door-Door ability's escape potential was virtually unparalleled. Whether Enel's near-light-speed movement or Kizaru's light-speed travel, neither could compare to true spatial traversal!
"Anywhere Door."
Rhodes felt a touch of nostalgia. He'd coveted that particular gadget from Doraemon as a child, and now he seemingly possessed something similar.
Rhodes stood on the electric eel's back and attempted to use his new Door-Door Mastery.
A peculiar power surged forth.
A small, irregular door gradually materialized in the air before him.
With Rhodes's careful manipulation and repeated attempts, the door soon became regular, resembling an ordinary wooden door.
"Creating a door in empty air isn't particularly difficult."
Rhodes casually opened the door and peered inside. Within lay a green, otherworldly space—not particularly large, rather narrow actually.
"It seems what's being consumed is mental energy?"
Rhodes narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing a hint of fatigue. This wasn't physical exhaustion but drain on his willpower and spiritual energy.
He then stepped into the alternate dimension, opened the opposite door, and stepped out again—suddenly appearing at the electric eel's tail section.
Rhodes experimented several more times, investing varying amounts of mental energy with each attempt.
Sure enough,
as his mental energy expenditure increased, the traversable distance expanded, and the alternate dimension's interior grew larger and more spacious.
"This is like constructing a shortcut tunnel between two locations—far different from true instantaneous teleportation."
"Not only can't it be used effectively mid-combat, but traversing the alternate dimension itself takes considerable time."
"Of course, as an escape technique, it's more than adequate. I can also hide within the alternate dimension to avoid overwhelmingly powerful attacks."
Rhodes's eyes gleamed as he analyzed the ability's applications.
Even Whitebeard's world-shaking Gura Gura no Mi couldn't breach dimensional barriers, making it nearly impossible for anyone in this world to counter this ability.
"Nearly" impossible—because the pirate world might contain other space-based Devil Fruit users.
"If I develop this ability to its ultimate potential, perhaps I could create portals between worlds? Maybe even return to Earth? Or travel to entirely different universes?"
Rhodes's thoughts drifted, and he couldn't help but smile, quite pleased with this extraction.
At that moment, the electric eel—previously knocked unconscious beneath him—finally regained consciousness. Its head remained somewhat dazed, but sensing Rhodes's presence, it instinctively unleashed a burst of electricity skyward without hesitation.
Crackle—!
The current from an ordinary electric eel would be enough to knock a person unconscious, but the discharge from this Sea King-class specimen was incredibly violent—like a divine lightning bolt descending from heaven.
Watching the incoming lightning, Rhodes started to dodge, but a strange sensation struck him.
He felt like he could... slightly redirect this wild, uncontrolled lightning.
Acting on this intuition immediately,
a flash of lightning suddenly ignited in Rhodes's eyes. The overwhelming electrical discharge before him suddenly parted like a tide, surging past Rhodes on either side, stirring up powerful gusts of wind but failing to harm him whatsoever.
The lightning continued dozens of meters further before slowly dissipating into the atmosphere.
The electric eel Sea King appeared utterly bewildered.
"This is..."
Rhodes narrowed his eyes and suddenly looked up at the storm clouds gathering in the sky above. He observed the thunder and lightning crackling within those dark clouds. The natural lightning that once merely inspired awe now felt... controllable?
Is this... Awakening?
[ Note – Rhodes electric power is not a devil fruit but it given by system so its act like devil fruit
its also has awakening but not sea water weakness]
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