Chapter 6: Doriki Power Test

It's been six months, and we've reached the end of the year 1495 in the One Piece timeline.

CP9's training is demanding, involving weekly tests, mid-month exams, and monthly major exams. Despite the focus being more on combat than problem-solving, Adrian can't help but sense a familiarity reminiscent of school days.

Adrian's strength has significantly improved compared to six months ago.

To cope with the escalating difficulty of daily training and showcase personal progress, Adrian spent accumulated experience to raise the level of the "Swordsman Apprentice" to LV10. Simultaneously, his overall level reached LV10, unlocking two secondary professions, "Agent" and "Chef," with a substantial increase in data attributes.

[You've gained a new profession - "Agent." Your energy receives a boost, with +1 in strength, +1 in agility, and you gain 2 attribute points and 1 skill point!]

[You've gained a new profession - "Chef." Your energy receives a boost, with +1 in strength, +1 in endurance, and you gain 2 attribute points and 1 skill point!]

In addition to the attribute growth brought about by upgrades, Adrian also discovered that attributes and skills could be improved through training and confrontation. After six months of brutal training, he gained +2 strength, +1 agility, and +3 endurance.

The most surprising revelation was Adrian's height increase—suddenly growing more than 20 centimeters!

He transformed from a 1.5-meter third-rate invalid to a 1.7-meter second-rate invalid...

Every time I think of this, I get angry. How did people in the One Piece world grow so tall? If you're not at least two meters tall, you almost feel awkward going out to meet people. The Navy Admirals are, on average, three meters tall, and some strange species can even reach a hundred meters. It's absurd...

Back to the main story.

It's a winter morning, the air is sharp, and a thin layer of snow covers the entire island. In the training ground at the core of the island's base, there's a bustling scene.

Power level, three stages—

Sorry, wrong script. Let me start over.

"Doriki, 30!"

Staring at the two shiny and somewhat dazzling numbers on the Doriki Power Testing Machine, the young man's face remained expressionless. A self-deprecating smile played on the corner of his lips, and his tightly clenched hand, due to the exerted force, caused the slightly sharp nails to pierce deeply into the palm, resulting in a moment of...

Oh well, ended up writing a string again!

Doriki is a unit in the One Piece world used to measure combat strength. Typically, well-trained soldiers have a Doriki value of 10, and anyone with a Doriki Power value exceeding 500 can be considered superhuman.

As a measure of combat effectiveness, Doriki is highly valued by CP department agents, and internal status within the organization is often determined by comparing Doriki values.

However, if someone disagrees, they can also resort to direct confrontation; after all, actions speak louder than words.

As reserve members of CP9, individuals whose Doriki value exceeds 500 can be directly promoted to formal CP9 membership by successfully completing field missions. Currently, no one in the training squad meets these qualifications.

In the near future, CP9 will welcome Rob Lucci, hailed as the [Strongest in Eight Hundred Years]. Lucci, a prodigy, achieved a power level exceeding 500 at the tender age of 13. His exploits include single-handedly defeating pirates attacking a kingdom and effortlessly dispatching 500 kingdom soldiers who were hostages, sustaining only minor injuries.

Adrian, boasting a power level of 30, surpasses the average marine soldier by far. However, within the entire training team, he holds only a mid-level position. Considering his consistent performance, this power level is well-earned, and those around him find it unremarkable.

"Next, Dawson!"

The staff in charge of the test calmly announced the next name, causing a stir in the crowd and prompting Adrian to glance over.

Dawson, known as the "muscle boy," once engaged in combat training with Adrian but hasn't done so since the initial days of recovery training. Their skill levels were mismatched, and for Dawson, it felt more like beating up a little kid than actual combat training.

"I wonder what the little muscle boy's skill level is now..."

Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly, and he discreetly scanned Dawson.

[Based on your level and attributes, you have obtained the following information.]

[Dawson] (Yellow Name)

[Level: LV25]

[Attributes: Strength 30, Agility 19, Endurance 30, Intelligence 4, Charm 3, Luck 1]

[Abilities: [Intermediate Combat], [Basic Shooting], ?]

[Danger Level: High]

Considering Adrian's current attribute data, the information obtained is more comprehensive than before.

"Tsk tsk, his improvement is quite fast with these attribute levels. Within the Four Seas, Dawson can be considered a genuine little expert, right?" Adrian muttered to himself. "His strength is more than twice mine, agility is only slightly lower, not to mention endurance. The danger level is, as always, high... He's about four meters tall, like a little giant. I dislike people taller than me, and to think he's just a child!"

Dawson was seen standing in front of the Doriki Force testing machine, delivering a punch that made the machine creak.

"Doriki, 115!"

The testing staff exclaimed in surprise. Faced with children of different potential levels, he would also demonstrate varying degrees of performance.

"A Doriki value of 115 is considered top-notch among us..."

"Truly worthy of being Dawson. Judging by this progress, it's estimated that it will take at most three years for him to become an official member of CP9, right?"

Listening to the envious and jealous voices from the crowd, Dawson maintained a cold and indifferent demeanor, as if strangers were unwelcome. When his gaze left the Doriki Testing Machine, it suddenly fixed on a figure that seemed out of place in the lively surroundings.

Dawson muttered, "What a peculiar guy! How can one have just 30 points of Doriki...?"

Little did Adrian know that Dawson, the 'Muscle Boy' in his eyes, still vividly remembered him. At present, Adrian was busy brainstorming plans for the upcoming year.

Six months had passed, and Adrian had accumulated a wealth of experience through swordsmanship practice, filling the level of 'Apprentice Swordsman' anytime, anywhere. Despite that, he hadn't found the right moment to depart.

The "Safe Zone" beyond the training base was clear and open for him. Currently, he mostly operated in the "Danger Zone" and occasionally ventured into the "Lethal Zone" for a self-imposed challenge.

While staying in the training base offered continuous growth opportunities, Adrian's adventurous spirit couldn't be contained. He yearned to leave the island and embark on new journeys!

However, it wasn't that simple. Adrian couldn't leave without orders from the base. Even if he risked escaping and navigated the beast-active zone, the vast sea remained an impassable obstacle.

He couldn't just imitate Luffy and stuff himself into a barrel, drifting with the waves, could he?

This isn't the calm East Blue! Doing that on the Grand Line would really result in casualties!

The future is long; patience is required.

What Adrian didn't foresee was that, as he patiently waited, another year and a half slipped away.