The dawn of the Marineford new recruit training camp was never gentle.
The shrill, piercing blast of the brass whistle tore through the dormitory block's silence like a death summons, slamming against the thin iron door of room 3A210. The timing was so precise it was like swallowing the very last drop of saliva.
"BEEEP—BEEP BEEP BEEP—!!!"
Emotionless, relentless high-pitched noise, enough to shatter the soul of anyone clinging to their bed.
On the upper bunk, Koby jerked up like a frog struck by high voltage, springing upright on his narrow bed!
His thick round glasses sat crooked on his nose, eyes bloodshot with panic. Fumbling for the frame at his pillow, his voice shook so hard it nearly broke:
"U-up up up—get up! Fast fast fast…" His flailing knocked over a cup at the bedside, sending it clattering loudly to the floor.
On the lower bunk by the window, Helmeppo's face—so smug the night before—was now twisted with irritation and exhaustion.
He grabbed a brand-new pillow stamped "Special Supply of Colonel Morgan of Shells Town", and shoved it over his ears. His growl was like a cornered beast:
"Damn it… so noisy! What kind of hell is this! What time even is it…"
Only the dusty lower bunk in the corner was already empty—its occupant moving with agility.
Luffy was no longer in his burlap jacket. Instead, he wore the same short-sleeved recruit training uniform as the others.
But the symbolic white and seagull-blue looked oversized on his small frame—the pant legs had to be rolled up several times just to reveal his ankles, and the belt was buckled on its final hole.
Yet that didn't hide his sharpness. With one flip, he landed soundlessly on the floor. His black eyes gleamed clear in the dim dawn light, showing neither a child's drowsiness nor last night's fury.
Carefully, he hung the thin ID card from his bedpost around his neck, the one engraved with "Monkey D. Luffy". The cool metal pressed against his skin, bringing a razor clarity.
"What are you dawdling for, maggots?! Three minutes! Assemble at the drill ground! Last one there runs ten extra laps!"
The gravelly roar crashed through the hallway like a shovel against stone!
It was Shuzo—kicking the door himself! His heavy boots slammed against the thin metal door with a groan, shaking the whole dorm.
Koby nearly lost his glasses again, his face white as paper. Helmeppo finally leapt up like a spring, cursing as he fumbled into an obviously expensive custom shirt, trying to fasten his golden chain.
Luffy was the first to open the door and walk out. Without looking back.
…
The sun burned away the mist, but warmth never followed. The massive square drill ground stretched wide, its floor paved with hard gray granite fragments, ringed by high stone walls.
The air carried the sting of rock dust and the sour tang of sweat long seeped into the stones. Hundreds of recruits in the same white-and-blue stood in crooked lines, heavy silence broken only by ragged breathing. Even the air seemed to freeze under the weight of the coming ordeal.
Shuzo stood like an iron statue on the central platform, hands clasped behind his back. His hawk-like eyes cut across the crowd, cold and merciless.
He said nothing, but every recruit struck by his gaze felt it like an invisible whip, their spines snapping straighter, their heads ducking lower.
"Number! Sound off!" barked a burly sergeant instructor at their squad—the "trash group" of recruits, organized by dorm. He sneered a little longer at Helmeppo fussing with his collar and Koby stumbling over his steps.
"3A210, K-Koby!"
"Here! Hmph!" Helmeppo bellowed extra loud, like it proved something.
"Monkey D. Luffy."
"Here." The voice was steady, clear, almost too calm compared to Koby's stutter and Helmeppo's bravado.
The roll call ended. Finally, Shuzo spoke, his low voice rasping like cold steel scraping stone, carrying through the drill ground:
"Today is your first lesson in the 'Furnace.' Here, sweat spilt means less blood spilt in the future! Now! First task! Weighted run—five kilometers! Move!"
No wasted words. With a swing of his arm—
BOOM!
At the same instant, the assistant instructors around the field pounced like tigers into a flock of sheep! Each hurled heavy, sweat-stained canvas packs onto the recruits' backs with brutal precision!
"AHH!!" Koby screamed as the crushing weight—dozens of kilos—slammed him forward. His glasses nearly flew off, his knees buckling as he almost collapsed to the ground! The straps bit deep into his shoulders, as if ready to snap his chest bones.
(End of Chapter)
[50 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
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