"Anything Cage hits just explodes... it's absolutely insane! It's like he's firing a cannonball. Why do the same guns and the same bullets become so different in his hands? The power is at least dozens of times greater!"
"Could he be a Devil Fruit user too?"
Vice Admiral Momonga couldn't help but speculate. There was no other explanation; it was just too bizarre.
Every person Cage shot died instantly, without exception.
Since their departure, he had already eliminated over a dozen pirates, with a combined bounty exceeding 100 million Berries.
"Hehehe... I'm not interested in the specifics. All in all, from the looks of it, the Marines have another incredible rookie on their hands. He's bound to achieve great things in the future."
Zephyr chuckled, clearly pleased with Cage.
"That's certainly true," Vice Admiral Momonga agreed wholeheartedly.
Among the recruits, a buzz had started.
"I heard Cage has already taken down over ten pirates! That's amazing!"
All the new recruits whispered amongst themselves. Cage's legend was already spreading; among all the new recruits on this mission, Cage had hunted down the most pirates.
"Damn it, the gap between us is getting wider!"
In the crowd, Binz clenched his fists in frustration. He looked at Cage, who was holding a rifle, aiming at a pirate ship a kilometer away.
That's right, a full kilometer away!
BANG!!!
Finally, a gunshot rang out. The bullet erupted from the barrel and flew straight towards its target.
SPLAT!
On the pirate ship a kilometer away, the enemy captain's head exploded, a single shot turning it into a bloody mess. His entire skull looked as if it had been caved in by a hammer, even brain matter splattering out.
"It really is like that. No matter who the enemy is, one hit is enough to blow their head apart!" Cage exhaled heavily. Was this his secret power?!
It was practically an instant kill!
Most of the pirates he'd encountered so far couldn't withstand a single shot from him. As for why, Cage wasn't sure, but he suspected it was a power he gained after joining the Marines.
For years, he had trained his marksmanship day and night. Had he now transcended the limits of gunmanship?!
"I wonder what would happen if I hit a pirate with a bounty over 100 million Berries?" At this moment, Cage's heart was filled with a burning desire.
"Cage, Instructor Zephyr wants to see you."
At that moment, a voice sounded beside him. Cage turned and immediately bowed respectfully. "Vice Admiral Momonga."
"Haha... No need to be so formal. With your accomplishments, reaching my rank is only a matter of time. When I was young, I was nowhere near as outstanding as you," Momonga said, looking at Cage with deep emotion.
Tens of millions in bounties... taken down with a single shot. Forget about the Momonga of the past, even now, Momonga would need a considerable fight to defeat such enemies.
It was nothing like Cage's straightforward, simple approach.
"You flatter me," Cage maintained his respectful demeanor.
Momonga chuckled contentedly at his words. To have strength yet no arrogance, such a rookie was a rare sight.
"Go find Zephyr-sensei," Vice Admiral Momonga waved his hand, then declared boldly, "If you have any questions in the future, you can always ask me."
"Thank you!"
Cage bowed respectfully, while everyone else around them looked on with envy.
He had just entered his first real combat, and Cage had already earned the admiration of Vice Admiral Momonga and Instructor Zephyr.
Even though Zephyr wasn't active duty anymore, the current three Admirals were all his students. Cage was surely destined for a meteoric rise!
Inside Zephyr's cabin.
"Zephyr-sensei."
Cage's voice sounded from outside. Zephyr, who had been resting, opened his eyes. "Is that Cage? Come in."
Creak~
Cage pushed open the cabin door. Zephyr, still wearing his sunglasses, smiled immediately upon seeing Cage.
"You cunning brat... Even I underestimated you. Killing pirates with bounties in the tens of millions with a single shot, that kind of power reminds me of the first generation of recruits."
"Zephyr-sensei, you're praising me too much!"
Cage appeared flattered. Zephyr's first batch of recruits included historical anomalies like Admiral Akainu and Kizaru.
"Hahahaha... I've prepared a little something for you."
Zephyr suddenly produced a small box and pushed it towards Cage, smiling. "Open it and take a look."
"What is this?"
Cage looked puzzled. Zephyr's mysterious demeanor suggested it was some kind of treasure.
Cage took the small box and opened it. Inside were twenty or thirty bullets, distinct from ordinary ones; they were pure black.
"These are Seastone bullets," Zephyr explained.
"Thank you, Zephyr-sensei!"
Cage didn't hesitate or ask if they were truly for him, shamelessly taking them.
"You brat..."
Zephyr didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He opened his mouth and said, "Use them well. Seastone is difficult to process, and they're incredibly hard to craft. Don't waste a single bullet."
"Rest assured, Zephyr-sensei... Every single bullet will be embedded in a pirate's body."
Cage's eyes glowed crimson, filled with deep hatred for pirates.
As evening approached, Zephyr and the others found an island to rest on. This real combat exercise was scheduled to last seven days.
Today was only the first.