"Oh!! Is it starting?!"
"Go! The Quinn Family never admits defeat!"
"Come on, son!"
As the towering instructor draped in a cloak of justice stepped onto the broad central platform, the entire "coliseum" instantly erupted! Since the focus was on the assessment, there was no need for excessive ceremony. After receiving Sengoku's nod, the Colonel instructor immediately raised the flag in his hand.
"The Marine Headquarters New Recruit Camp Year-End Assessment of 1514 begins!!"
"First squad! Step forward!!"
Accompanied by the instructor's heart-rending shout, the recruits, who had been warming up until now, marched onto the platform in neat formation with their heads held high and chests out. Every one of them stood ramrod straight, like proud roosters. In the eyes of officers at every rank, these recruits with an average Power Level below 500 were weak. Throw them into the vast sea, and they would not even make a splash.
But their unstoppable spirit could not be underestimated!
Even Sengoku, who had long been troubled by the gap in the Marines' top-tier strength, could not help but smile when he saw them.
"As long as fresh blood continues to replenish our ranks, the Marines will remain the Marines that suppress the seas!"
Soon, with the sound of a whistle, the New Recruit Camp's year-end assessment officially began.
The first test was the simplest one: attack Power Level!
Clang!
The cry of a sword echoed through the air as the first person in the first row drew his blade and took a deep breath. Then, beneath countless watching eyes, he charged forward fiercely!
Before him stood a Power Level testing machine designed by Vegapunk. Each one resembled a towering iron gate. Behind the testing machine was a display screen. Unless an attack could penetrate the iron gate, it could accurately display the Power Level. Of course, the machines made for recruits did not have an absurd upper limit. Shuzuo could easily smash apart a machine with a testing limit of 3,000 Power Level!
Ron recognized the first person to attack. He was Quinn Dont, the son of Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral Quinn Master.
As one of the few swordsmanship experts among this year's recruits, he wielded a Good Fast Sword and had vaguely reached the realm where sword energy could cut through the air. Even if he posed no threat to Ron now, once he mastered Armament Haki, he would become an opponent Ron could not underestimate. Even with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit in hand, Ron had never considered himself invincible within the New Recruit Camp. He understood that so-called "invincibility" depended on one's environment and opponents. Take Zoro, for instance... after being crushed by Ron, he had fallen from being one of the top hundred outstanding students to becoming utterly ordinary.
Hmm... that was a negative example.
Invincible in the New Recruit Camp, yet he might not even last a month on Hell Island...
Boom!
After charging forward and building momentum, the swordsman brought his Good Fast Sword down hard upon the gate, producing a thunderous crash. The surrounding crowd stirred slightly, but quickly restrained themselves. Once the corresponding instructor inspected it, he raised a flag to confirm the result was valid, then loudly announced it.
"Quinn Dont, Power Level, 550!!"
The crowd finally exploded into an uproar, cheers and clamor ringing without end.
"550 Power Level!! That brat from the Quinn Family is getting more impressive by the day!"
"Rear Admiral Quinn, you have to treat us tonight!"
"No, no, he still has a long way to go, hahaha!"
550 Power Level was no small number. Among recruits, it was an extremely terrifying figure. Even Zoro, one of the top hundred recruits, only had 300 Power Level. Quinn Dont's result was enough to rank in the top ten of this class!
Clearly, Zephyr had deliberately arranged for him to go first in order to liven up the atmosphere.
"I broke through? Hahahaha!!! Father, did you see that?!"
The result filled the swordsman with delight. He had not expected to erupt at the last moment and achieve 550 Power Level, so he raised his Good Fast Sword toward his family in celebration... and then!
An instructor immediately kicked him off the platform and ordered him to put away his weapon and return to formation.
As a soldier, drawing a blade at his own people in front of the Fleet Admiral and Admirals? Was he tired of living?
Amid everyone's laughter, Rear Admiral Quinn, who had been beaming just moments ago, immediately twitched at the corners of his mouth as he considered how to teach his embarrassing son a lesson once they got home.
After that, the recruits went up one after another for testing.
This was the Marine Headquarters New Recruit Camp. There were only geniuses and strong people here!!
Even graduates from the Naval Academy were not guaranteed entry into the Marine Headquarters New Recruit Camp to train under former Admiral Zephyr. When Ron joined over a month ago, his physical data had tested at 50 Power Level, five times that of an ordinary person, yet he had still nearly been branded unqualified!
Therefore, every soldier's Power Level here was no lower than three digits. The stronger ones could even reach around 300 to 500, creating a dazzling and spectacular sight!
Soon, as squad after squad completed their tests, Ron's squad finally reached the front. Seeing this, Kizaru narrowed his eyes slightly and asked Akainu with interest, "Admiral Akainu, how much Power Level do you think that kid can put out with an attack?"
Ron's talent with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was beyond question. A month ago, he had already landed an attack of "228," four and a half times his own Power Level. After that, rumors had spread through the New Recruit Camp that Ron's growth rate was practically inhuman. Now that another month had passed, no one knew exactly how strong Ron had become!
However, as fellow Logia users, they could estimate a rough figure based on their own growth rates.
Akainu actually gave the matter serious thought. After a moment, he said, "400... no, at least 500, and under 1,000..."
"Oh? You really think highly of him, Admiral Akainu..."
Kizaru looked at Akainu in surprise. Compared to 228, 500 meant that even at the bare minimum, Ron's strength had doubled in one month... something none of the three of them had managed to do!
Not to mention that the upper limit was as high as 1,000!
"Hmph! Don't forget the Lightning Stimulation Method he developed!"
Akainu snorted. Though unwilling to accept it, he had to acknowledge Ron's terrifying talent. "After Instructor General Zephyr submitted those materials, Vegapunk began researching them as quickly as possible. He guaranteed that once it was completed, the strength of Marine soldiers would undergo a tremendous leap! We may not have that convenience as the developers, but that does not mean he does not!"
Kizaru sucked in a breath upon hearing that, his tone wistful. "So that's why the Pacifista development progress has stalled lately. He's been busy with that... uh..."
Before he could finish, Kizaru suddenly felt a killing intent settle over him. His eyelids immediately twitched wildly, and he changed his tune.
"Hahaha, let's just look forward to his performance!"
Only then did Sengoku snort coldly and casually remind him, "As commander of the Science Unit, you need to take responsibility, Kizaru! The Five Elders place great importance on the Pacifistas...!"
As a Marine Fleet Admiral loyal to the World Government, Sengoku had initially disagreed with Zephyr's proposal. The reason was simple: diverting attention during the critical period of Pacifista development, even if it was only a slight sign of it, would certainly not be ignored by the Five Elders. Fortunately, Vegapunk replied that this thing could be widely adopted. The Marines could use it, and government agencies could use it as well. The benefits outweighed the drawbacks, so Sengoku finally decided to report it.
"Hahahaha, understood, understood..."
No one aside from the nearby Marine higher-ups noticed the little incident in the stands. Their attention was now focused on the young man slowly walking toward the testing machine, their expressions varied.
"So that's him? The legendary Rumble-Rumble Fruit user..."
"Look! Ron's going up!!"
"He looks pretty sturdy. His strength should be decent!"
"Tch, I heard his first test only scored 50 Power Level. He nearly failed!"
"No way? Was he really that weak?"
50 Power Level had already surpassed the limits of ordinary people in this world, but in the Marine Headquarters New Recruit Camp, could a single word like "weak" even begin to describe it?
"In just one month, he... surely he can't only manage 100 Power Level, right?"
"That's possible! Even a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user is not necessarily invincible!"
For a time, everyone turned their eyes toward him, their expressions all different. Some people, especially those who could not stand seeing others do well, secretly laughed to themselves as they waited for Ron to make a fool of himself.
Because the New Recruit Camp used closed training, aside from the upper ranks who had the authority to inquire, no one else knew what had happened inside. If Ron's roommates knew what they were thinking, they would definitely rub their still-aching bodies and swear innocently.
Ron's physical fitness had indeed been 50 Power Level during his first test. That was a stain Ron would never wash away for the rest of his life, but his talent with lightning had been 228!!!
At his rate of growth, who knew what kind of monster he had become after a month!
In order to prevent Shuzuo from losing his authority before the recruits, Zephyr had not announced that he had been defeated. But the talent Ron displayed in his daily training had already become terrifying enough to shock these recruits!
This new book is just getting started. Since the contract will not reach Yuewen until Friday at six in the evening, Big Tree has no recommendations this week. So the only chance for exposure is the signed new-book ranking. And that ranking is closely tied to data such as recommendations, tips, favorites, and so on. So Big Tree shamelessly asks here: seeing how miserable Big Tree is, please give some recommendation votes! Please add it to your favorites!
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