Chương 68: Chapter 68: Forging Discipline
The first light of dawn broke over the horizon as Vulcan strode onto the training field, the sky painted with hints of orange and pink. A dozen bleary-eyed Marines shuffled into position, stifling yawns and rubbing sleep from their eyes. They weren't used to this; a pre-dawn start was a rare demand on Sabaody. But Vulcan had been clear: from today on, things were changing.
"Hope you're all well-rested," Vulcan said with a hint of a grin, arms folded as he looked over the recruits. "Because by the time we're done, you'll wish you were."
"I wanna sleep"
"I miss my bed"
"Aaaaahhhhh" yawned one marine
"I hope this is important"
Murmurs rippled through the ranks, but Vulcan's commanding presence was enough to keep them in line. Commodore Rys observed from the sidelines, his arms crossed, as intrigued as the Marines about what Vulcan had planned.
The session began with laps around the base. The Marines blinked in disbelief at the vastness of the perimeter—stretching for miles, far more than any of them had ever run before. Vulcan's unyielding gaze left no room for complaints, and he watched as they set off at a sluggish pace, struggling to match each other's steps.
"You call that a run?" Vulcan's voice echoed. "Pick it up! This isn't a stroll through the park!"
They quickened their pace, pushing past the burn in their legs and chests. Vulcan ran alongside them, hardly breaking a sweat, urging them to go beyond their limits. By the end of the lap, some Marines were nearly doubled over with exhaustion, but Vulcan didn't give them a moment's rest.
"Ahhh, this is torture"
"When will this end"
"Please stop, PLEASE"
The Marines complained, but not a single word reached Vulcan's ear as he ignored all that the Marines said
"Weighted packs next," he ordered, tossing each Marine a sandbag. "Throw it over your shoulder and follow me."
With a groan, they hoisted the weights onto their backs, staggering under the added burden. Vulcan led them through lunges, squats, and sprints, testing their endurance with unrelenting intensity. Some fell behind, legs trembling under the strain, but Vulcan's steady encouragement kept them going.
"You think pirates are going to wait for you to catch your breath?" he snapped, his voice laced with the promise of more challenges. "You want to bring order here? Then earn it and become a man that can bring order."
The exercises shifted to strength and endurance drills. Vulcan led the group to an area stacked with barrels, ropes, and weights and demonstrated each movement himself. As he lifted enormous barrels overhead, the Marines struggled with barrels half the size, their eyes widening at the raw strength he displayed.
One Marine, wide-eyed, muttered to his comrade, "Is he really a Rear Admiral? He trains like a machine…"
"He is a monster"
"I want my mommy," Said one marine as he hugged his comrade.
Commodore Rys chuckled from the sidelines, watching the Marines try to keep pace. But after an hour, slowly but surely the recruits moved with a steadier rhythm, determination and grit replacing their earlier weariness.
By midday, Vulcan directed the Marines into pairs for combat sparring. They lined up, some still catching their breath, others nursing sore muscles.
"Now we will begin combat training, I know you are tired, but you will not fight every at full power or stamina, most of your fight you will feel like you are now."
He walked down the line, correcting stances, critiquing form, and demonstrating techniques where needed. Some of the Marines challenged Vulcan directly, taking him on with determination. One recruit stepped forward, fists raised and ready.
"Mind if I try, sir?" he asked.
Vulcan smiled, motioning for him to come forward. "Show me what you've got."
The Marine lunged, throwing a punch aimed for Vulcan's face, but Vulcan sidestepped effortlessly, redirecting the Marine's energy and gently twisting his arm until the recruit tapped out. With each challenge, Vulcan displayed controlled strength, showing the Marines the power of precision and restraint.
By the end of sparring, they had a newfound respect for him, realizing just how far they had to go.
As a final challenge, Vulcan led them to an obstacle course he'd personally set up with walls to climb, ropes to swing across, and narrow planks to balance on. The course demanded more than just strength or speed—it required agility, timing, and focus.
"This is more than just a test of strength," Vulcan said. "If you can't make it through here, you're not ready for Sabaody."
One by one, the Marines tackled the course, each struggling through the obstacles but pushing themselves to complete it. Their breaths came in heaves, sweat streamed down their faces, but they pressed on, each Marine more determined than the last to finish the course under Vulcan's watchful eye.
The sun dipped below the horizon by the time they were finished, and Vulcan gathered the exhausted recruits.
"This isn't a game," he told them. "If you want to survive here, this has to be your every day. You'll run faster, lift heavier, and fight harder, or you'll fall behind. That is the reality of Sabaody—a lawless zone where the smallest mistake can cost lives."
The Marines nodded, their faces lined with exhaustion but their eyes filled with resolve. They understood what Vulcan was asking.
From that day forward, the Marines of Sabaody Archipelago began every morning before dawn, bracing themselves for Vulcan's unyielding training sessions. Over time, they grew stronger, faster, more disciplined, and in Vulcan's eyes, he could see the transformation.
And so, four months passed.
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