Pirates' Magic Odyssey: Unveiling Eight Skills At The Beginning - Chapter 13

At Marine Headquarters.

Under the scorching sun, on the training ground, hundreds of students were undergoing grueling training. 

Each student carried a 500-kilogram turtle shell on their backs, propped themselves up with their hands on the ground, and rhythmically performed push-ups at the sound of Instructor Zeff’s whistle.

Sweat had soaked through their clothes, and sweat drops as large as soybeans slid down their cheeks, falling onto the ground and evaporating into steam shortly after.

Whenever a student couldn’t endure any longer, they would hear the discontented roar of Instructor Zeff:

“You bunch of useless trash, move your asses! Are you telling me you can’t even compare to a little kid?”

At times like this, the students seemed to be injected with chicken blood, miraculously finding strength from somewhere to carry on.

Finally, after enduring 200 push-ups, most students collapsed on the ground and were unable to stand up straight.

Even top students like Smoker, Tashigi, Daddy Masterson, Jonathan, and Drake felt their energy wane, panting heavily.

Tashigi wiped the sweat off her chin with her hand and stole a glance at the figure standing upright at the front, her eyes shining with admiration.

“How can he endure such strenuous training? What kind of monster is he?”

With every moment, Smoker felt the turtle shell on his back getting heavier, and the ropes supporting it on his shoulders cut into his flesh, leaving shallow traces of blood.

However, when he saw Yang Ming quietly completing the training, a strong sense of competitiveness surged in Smoker’s heart. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, thinking, “How could I lose to a little brat?”

Including Drake and other students, despite their anger towards Yang Ming for intensifying their training, they had to admire him for enduring the training that was almost unbearable for them all at the tender age of six or seven.

All the students harbored a sense of resentment and were determined not to lose to Yang Ming in these training exercises. 

Otherwise, not only would Drake be marked with a historic shame, but their entire generation of students would become the Navy’s laughingstock!

The thought of graduating and becoming full-fledged Navy personnel, only to hear their colleagues mockingly say, “Look, this is the new recruit who couldn’t even outperform a little kid back then!” was a scenario too painful to imagine.

Whether for the sake of face or pride, all the students were giving it their all!

Seeing the fiery training scene, Zeff, the main instructor behind all of this and he wore a contented smile.

“This is the vigor of youth!”

42-kilometer runs, 100-meter sprints with a return, frog jumps, squats, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and wall climbing.

The training routine was carried out intensively throughout the day. After one exercise, the students rested for barely twenty minutes before moving on to the next.

There was no lunch break even at noon. Just an hour for a simple meal and rest, using lunchboxes they carried with them to satisfy their appetites.

During training, Yang Ming simultaneously employed both Flame Breathing and Six Sensei Thieves. His abdomen moved rhythmically, drawing oxygen from the air into his belly and converting it into the vital “qi” his body needed. This process continuously replenished his energy and repaired any hidden injuries sustained during training.

High-intensity training could lead to muscle strains, damage to capillaries, and the accumulation of hidden injuries. 

These injuries were invisible and had no immediate effect, but over time, they could develop into chronic issues.

Many retired veterans suffered from persistent ailments, a result of accumulating problems from their intense training during their younger years.

The consumption of qi within Yang Ming’s body was immense. When Instructor Zeff announced the end of the day’s training, the others cheered with relief but Yang Ming felt a strong hunger in his belly. He couldn’t care less about bonding with the other students; he hurriedly turned and ran towards the cafeteria.

Observing Yang Ming dash to the cafeteria without a word, Instructor Zeff thought to himself:

“What a familiar foodie style!”

“Still saying you’re not Garp’s illegitimate child?”

Instructor Zeff smirked, not imagining that even that bulky-browed fellow, Garp, would learn to be mischievous and keeping mistresses outside. He had thought Garp was an upright gentleman.

“Pah!”

“This old lecher!”

Convinced of Yang Ming’s true identity, Instructor Zeff, considering his old friend’s face, naturally had to take good care of him. He waved to Tashigi and called her over, instructing her:

“Later, you’ll be responsible for helping Yang Ming familiarize himself with the dormitory environment and arranging his accommodations.”

Although Tashigi’s legs were nearly immobile from fatigue, she knew that as a soldier, obeying orders was her duty. She reluctantly accepted the task.

Once Instructor Zeff left, Drake, looking rather sinister and he approached, “Tashigi, I need to discuss something with you.”

Seeing Drake’s unscrupulous look, Tashigi raised an eyebrow in suspicion, “What do you want?”

Drake whispered a few words into Tashigi’s ear, causing her eyebrows to furrow tightly.

“Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”

Drake smirked and said, “You wouldn’t understand, this is a familiar method between men!”

Tashigi glanced at Drake thoughtfully, seeing through but not revealing. Naturally not wanting to expose his little scheme.

Tashigi found herself rather intrigued by Yang Ming. She wanted to see how Yang Ming would handle the challenges from Drake and the others.

At this moment, Yang Ming naturally had no idea that Drake was full of mischief and he was thinking about giving him a lesson. 

The naval school had a cafeteria specifically set up, not open to the public and just only for school students.

The cafeteria had three levels, each able to accommodate hundreds of students for meals.

Since the cafeteria hired chefs from all over the world, the menu options were abundant, offering local dishes from the East Sea, West Sea, South Sea, and North Sea, as well as famous regional cuisines from various countries along the Grand Line.

Of course, the students chosen to attend the naval school were carefully selected talents. The naval headquarters was well-funded, and the meals in the cafeteria were all free, allowing people to eat heartily.

When things are free, who would decline them? Yang Ming scooped up a bowl of white rice, with a heap of grilled meat and vegetable salad on the table. He ate voraciously.

Whenever food entered his stomach, it would be quickly broken down into nutrients in the shortest time. The nutritional essence from the food was extracted by the Six Sensei Thieves.

At the same time, under the effect of Flame Breathing, the transformed Qi began to nourish the eight major parts of the body: the heart, lungs, large intestine, small intestine, stomach, triple burner, gallbladder, and bladder.

The eight major parts formed a synergy, creating a resonance that was imperceptible to ordinary people.

Yang Ming could clearly perceive that his stamina, exhausted after a day of labor, was being replenished rapidly. His body felt as if it had been rejuvenated, displaying a vibrant vitality.

When Tashigi arrived at the cafeteria, she happened to see Yang Ming finishing his meal and returning for a second serving.

Looking at the empty plates left on the table, she couldn’t even find a speck of food residue under the storm-like appetite, and Tashigi seemed to be looking at a starving ghost.

Just watching Yang Ming eat made Tashigi feel full.

Speaking of which, Tashigi still brought some food back, sat opposite Yang Ming, and said, “Professor Zeff asked me to arrange your accommodation.”

Yang Ming had just swallowed a piece of grilled meat and hadn’t even had time to chew. He simply swallowed it down and responded amidst his busy eating, “Understood.”

Immediately, Yang Ming once again immersed himself in the noble mission of a professional eater.

Are beautiful women pleasing to the eye? Is eating more important?

In Yang Ming’s eyes, the slender figure of the girl before him, with some well-developed parts, wasn’t as important as the grilled meat in his hands.

At least, beauty could fill one’s stomach, but what could beautiful girls do?

After all, he was just a kid.

Being ignored, Tashigi wasn’t upset. Instead, she also displayed a demeanor that appeared leisurely but was actually swift and efficient, quickly finishing the gourmet spread on the table. Finally, she elegantly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe off the grease from the corners of her mouth.

After being full and satisfied, the two walked side by side.

The naval school specifically established a dormitory for students to stay in.

The dormitory building faced away from the sea and towards a flower field.

As the sun set in the west, the building cast long shadows on the ground.

Unidentified plants grew in the flowerbed, blooming in various colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, emitting an enchanting fragrance that attracted numerous bees and butterflies to gather pollen.

A pink butterfly flapped its wings and gently landed on Yang Ming’s shoulder.

Yang Ming didn’t notice, listening carefully as Tashigi introduced the dormitory area:

“Due to the small number of women who enlist in the military each year, female students admitted to the naval school account for less than 30% of the total student body. Therefore, the school doesn’t have a separate dormitory building for female students, and males and females reside together in the same dormitory building.”

“The naval school has strict regulations regarding relationships between male and female students. Love affairs are prohibited during school, and any discovered will result in expulsion from the institution and ineligibility for military service.”

“The dormitory building is divided into four-person rooms, six-person rooms, and eight-person rooms.”

“Ordinary students stay in six-person and eight-person rooms. Yang Ming, you’ve already proven yourself as having the potential of a top student. You’ll be assigned to a four-person room.”

As Tashigi recounted the story, they eventually reached Room 601.

The moment the door opened, Yang Ming saw three students: Drake, Daddy Masterson, and Jonathan.

Drake flexed his wrist playfully and said with ill intentions, “Yang Ming, welcome to our 601 dormitory. How about calling me your dorm leader?” 

Yang Ming looked at this subordinate’s poor acting skills without expression and calmly said, “You’re amazing.”

“Want to be my son?”