One Piece: Transmigrated as Crocodile

After experiencing the thrill of controlling power, Rosen became more energetic and enthusiastic. He began to arrive early at the training room every day to work on his physical fitness. The training room was spacious, equipped with a wide variety of exercise machines. 

Whether it was martial arts or the power of the Devil Fruit, both required tremendous physical stamina and strength. The stronger one's body, the greater the power they could unleash. As Rosen began his training, he realized his physical stamina was far beyond anything he had ever imagined. At first, he started with the simplest physical exercises: weightlifting, push-ups, one-arm push-ups, and even one-finger push-ups. 

Initially, he thought he wouldn't last long, but to his surprise, after several hours, he hadn't even broken a sweat or felt tired. It felt like walking leisurely, using hardly any energy. It was at this moment that he realized just how incredibly strong the bodies in this world were. Even someone like Crocodile, who wasn't particularly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, had extraordinary physical stamina.

He thought of Ace and Jinbei—both could fight at full strength for three days and nights. Aokiji and Akainu could battle for ten days and nights. Their physical strength was monstrous, and it was evident that it was also tied to their inherent abilities. 

But then, Rosen recalled the training scenes from when Zoro wasn't particularly strong. Crocodile, having accepted his immense physical potential, adjusted his training methods. However, he was still hindered by his left hand, which had been replaced with a hook. This limitation made it difficult for him to maximize his body's potential and strength, as the arm was an important part of the body, and many exercise machines weren't designed for one-handed use. 

Perhaps Crocodile's reliance on external weapons like the Pluton wasn't just for offensive power, but also because of the difficulty of exercising with only one arm. It was possible that this was one of the reasons he turned to such weapons. 

For now, Rosen had to focus on training his lower body, performing exercises like squats while carrying heavy steel weights. Regular exercises wouldn't be effective—he needed resistance to push his body to its limits. To strengthen his physical abilities, his muscles had to go through the process of tearing and healing, similar to regular strength training but on a much higher level.

After just half an hour of weighted training, Rosen felt his body starting to break down. His shirt had long been removed, revealing a strong body with several scars from swords and guns. His skin turned red from the intense workout, with steam faintly rising from his body, showing just how demanding his exercises were. Rosen held himself to strict standards, both in his world and in this one. He firmly believed that success could only come through hard work, and he was someone who could endure hardship.

After several days of this rigorous training, Rosen could see visible changes in his body. His martial arts proficiency increased by 2 points, reaching 302, and his Sand-Sand Fruit abilities also improved slightly, now at 603 points. Though the increase seemed small, the intensity of the effort and sweat involved was beyond what ordinary people could understand. The changes in his strength reassured him. 

Indeed, Crocodile's potential was immense, but there was still untapped strength in this body. If possible, he thought, he should find someone with the ability to regenerate limbs. Having his arm restored would make a significant difference in his training and overall power. Such a person might exist, but they would certainly be rare. If Crocodile could find someone like that, he would likely pursue it, as who wouldn't want to increase their power? After all, both he and Eustass Kid had suffered from losing arms. However, Kid didn't seem to need it. His mechanical arm was incredibly strong, and the Seastone it was made of could effectively neutralize Devil Fruit users. If Rosen couldn't find a limb-regeneration ability, a mechanical arm like Kid's might not be a bad alternative—much better than a golden hook.

Speaking of the golden hook, Rosen had already had the poison removed from it by the crew. While it was well-made, the thought of having poison in his left hand made him uneasy. Plus, he hadn't figured out the best way to use the hook yet—he couldn't properly fight with it.

Though the weather had been unpredictable lately, this was typical for the Grand Line. At first, Rosen had been surprised by the changes, but soon he grew accustomed to them.

This morning, the sweltering summer heat from yesterday had vanished, and the Dawn was now blanketed in snow. The sailors and shipwrights were busy clearing it away. 

Rosen was impressed by their efficiency. It was one of the perks of his position—he didn't have to worry about the small details. Everything was taken care of for him, and it was done in a lavish manner, allowing him to focus fully on his training.

Unbeknownst to him, the training room was no longer a place solely for Rosen. Perhaps his grueling workouts had inspired others. Now, the atmosphere in the room was more vibrant, as others, like Mr. 5, seemed to be joining in. Rosen often offered guidance, drawing from his wealth of battle experience.

"Mr. 5, when using your Bomb-Bomb Fruit in close combat, you need to concentrate the explosion's power into a single point. You can overlap explosions, or induce molecular fission for more precise damage…" Rosen spoke while wiping his sweat with a towel, glancing at Mr. 5, who was still pounding a steel plate with explosive punches. The plate, nearly half a meter thick, held up well against Mr. 5's explosive blows, with only minor black scorch marks showing. It was clear that Mr. 5 had trouble focusing his ability in a single spot.

"Yeah, I'm having trouble with that, boss. When I concentrate my power in my fists or feet, I just can't control it well. It feels weak."

Rosen considered this for a moment. "Your Devil Fruit power and your physical stamina are linked. Over the past few days, I've noticed you've only been training your Devil Fruit abilities. That's not enough—you need to balance it with physical training. I think you can improve your lung capacity too. During combat, if you can inhale enough air and store it, you can release it during an attack. That explosive air blast can catch your opponents off guard. And if you're fighting someone of similar height, that blast will be a fatal blow…"

Such a "mouth explosion" might sound absurd in the real world, but in this world, with people capable of feats that defy logic, the power of air could trigger explosions that were hard to predict. It was much harder to defend against than most physical attacks.

"I'll do my best, boss!" Mr. 5 was excited. He hadn't expected Crocodile to offer such detailed guidance. The battle experience of a former Shichibukai like him was invaluable. Many people had great potential, but sometimes it took someone willing to teach to unlock it. Like how Coby, once mocked as the author's "pet," became a capable captain in just a few years, thanks to the guidance of the strong people around him.

"Bones, your body has high defense, and your Chop-Chop Fruit has impressive offensive capabilities. Most swordsmen can't break through your defense. For them, you're a perfect counter. But you should consider what you'd do if you faced a swordsman capable of cutting through steel. You need to think about that." 

Bonis, lost in thought, replied, "A swordsman who can cut through steel? I haven't met one yet, but I'm sure they exist if you say so, boss."

"Now, you two should have a sparring match. Training alone isn't enough. You'll find shortcuts to improvement only through real combat." Rosen ordered.

The battle between the Chop-Chop Fruit and Bomb-Bomb Fruit would show who could use their abilities better and who had greater potential.

(End of Chapter)