3. Academy Life.

Currently we were standing on the training hall while waiting for instructors. Our first test was about to happen and it's quite simple. It is to test our current progress, we have been training with swords and guns so those are things we will be tested with.

Training hall's door's opened and there walked middle aged man who wore marine cloak with words ''Justice'' on it. He was Commander Alexander whom i have only seen twice before. The current highest ranking officer in this North Blue Academy is Rear Admiral Kerolos, even though his rank is Rear Admiral, he is far from the strength of Rear Admirals in the Marineford.

''Hello Cadets! Today is your first test, if you don't achieve passable score you will get dropped out from the Academy! Marine doesn't need weaklings!'' said Commander Alexander with cold voice

I think he is one of the Absolute Justice believers, that's why i can't but look at him with great disdain, but secretly of course.

''First will be shooting test! You will have to hit 15 targets from the 30 to get passable score!'' said Commander Alexander and then started walking towards shooting range while we followed him behind

Arriving at shooting range, we were split in groups and then we followed after other Lieutenant Commanders. We arrived to the shooting range and we were given rifle and each in their own turns went to do their shooting test. After while i saw some cadets coming, some with relieved faces while some with pale.

''Cadet 535 your turn.'' said Lieutenant Commander

I nodded and walked towards shooting range. We needed to shoot in prone position towards target which was 75m away from our current position. For some this might be hard, but even though i was never taught by my father anything related towards guns, since i am so called natural genius, which my parents kept calling me, it was easy to pick up.

I started shooting towards target and first 10 bullets all hit the target close to the center of the target.

''?!'' Lieutenant Commander was slightly shocked after seeing that since that kind of accuracy is already in level of some Lieutenants.

I finished my shooting with perfect 30/30 score and stood up and walked out of the shooting range while ignoring the shocked faces from the Instructors.

Next up would be to test our swordsmanship. So the cadets who already finished the shooting test needs to go back to the training hall to test their swordsmanship.

Walking inside the training hall i already saw few of the cadets fighting one of the instructors and of course getting beat up.

''You, what is your Cadet number?'' said one of Instructors towards me,

''Sir, i am Cadet 535!'' I said while saluting towards Instructor

''Alright, you will take your swordsmanship test with Lieutenant Commander Hatch.'' said Instructor and pointed towards one of the arena's where Lieutenant Commander Hatch was currently

I walked towards Lieutenant Commander Hatch and after i reached the arena where he was standing he threw me one of the testing swords made of wood.

''Get up Cadet, i will be testing your swordsmanship.'' said Lieutenant Commander Hatch and i only nodded and stepped to the arena.

Without further ado Lieutenant Commander Hatch rushed towards me and after he got in attacking distance he slashes his sword towards me, but i simply deflected his sword and made quick counter attack by slashing toward his wrist trying to disarm him, but Lieutenant Commander Hatch was way too experienced to lose this way and since he was way faster than me, he easily swing his sword towards my sword before i managed to reach his wrist.

''Not bad kid, keep it going.'' said Lieutenant Commanded Hatch and started slashing towards me with great momentum, but i wasn't lacking either, i kept deflecting them all swiftly, since i didn't have speed even close enough to match Lieutenant Commander Hatch, instead i used as small movements as possible, i didn't do huge swings instead after i deflected one of strikes i prepared instantly for another.

It kept going for another 20 seconds, before Lieutenant Commanded Hatch finally put more strengths in his attack and hit with his full weight behind him towards my sword which made me slide backwards 5 meters.

''You are indeed good kid.'' said Lieutenant Commander Hatch with smile, but then his face turned serious and instantly disappeared from his spot and appeared in front of me with his sword in my neck.

''10/10 Points young man, you should be proud.'' said Lieutenant Commander Hatch while putting his sword away.

'I didn't even see him move..' I blinked for a moment and then saw his sword in my neck, i couldn't even react

''You can go back to the dorms your test is over.'' said Lieutenant Commander Hatch and after that i gave the testing sword back to Hatch and left the training hall and started walking back to the dorms.

My swordsmanship wasn't quite at his level yet, but i wasn't too far away. His speed and strength was way beyond me, but with time i can overcome that.

...

''So was there any good ones?'' asked Rear Admiral Kerolos

''Well devil fruit cadres was obviously exceptional, but there was another one with special background who got perfect score from test.'' said one of Lieutenant Commanders

''Oh who that might be?'' asked Rear Admiral Kerolos with slight interest

''Black D. Dante, got perfect 30/30 in shooting range and 10/10 in swordsmanship.'' said one of Instructors of the test.

''Is he son of Vice Admiral Jack?'' asked Rear Admiral Kerolos with surprise

''Indeed he is.'' nodded one of the Instructors

''Apple doesn't fall far from the tree it seems.. make sure he doesn't injure himself, if something happens to his son then we are all doomed. Jack would wipe us out of the map, wouldn't be first time it has happened.'' said Rear Admiral Kerolos with slight fear

''What do you mean Rear Admiral?'' asked one of the Instructors curiously

''Well one of the Read Admiral's in Grand Line killed one of the Jack's childhood friend who became pirate while he could have been captured and Jack didn't like that, so he came to his base and wiped it out from existence.'' said Read Admiral Kerolos

''B-but how can Headquarters let that be?'' one of the Instructors asked

''Well usually they would punish him, but Jack knew he would get punished so he went to hunt one of the pirates with bounty of 1 billion and delivered it to Impel Down and dodged the punishment.'' said Rear Admiral Kerolos with smile

''1 Billion?! Biggest bounty in North Blue has only 98 Million..'' said one of the Instructors with disbelief

''North Blue and all the other seas are weak compared to Grand Line and New World. Even decent pirate in Grand Line standards have at least 100 Million bounty.''

...

7 Months Later.

It has been 10 months since i have arrived at the Academy and first term is going to end in 2 weeks and now we are going to go in our first trip to the sea.

All recruits was currently divided in different teams, i was part of Lieutenant Commander Recks ship crew, there was also one of the devil fruit recruit who will be in charge of all the cadres.

This will be the final test in this term and we are going to fight against pirates, well mostly actual marines with rank will while cadres will stay as chore boys or just watch from sidelines.

We started sailing towards one of the Kingdoms in the North Blue called Deul, it is affiliated with the World Government so we have to go there to subdue the pirates. It was ordered by World Government to go there to subdue the small time pirates, because it disturps Deul Kingdom's peace or something, but i bet they are hiding there something that they don't want anyone to find out.

After sailing for 5 days we finally saw the island where Deul Kingdom is located.

We reached the island and started to walk towards the Deul Kingdom while carrying a rifle and a sword.

''Follow behind the Petty Officers and don't be a hero, just stand back and watch marines do their job.'' said the Devil fruit cadet who is leading us, now that he got the power to command he instantly started made commands which was quite obvious so yep, he was ordinary power hungry fellow and i really hope he don't become one of the high ranking officers or all hell would break loose.

We reached the Deul Kingdom and marines instantly took action, they were already informed where pirates was residing and it was middle of the city in huge pub. Marines reached the pub and surrounded it fully and started pointing guns at it.

''Garmo Pirates! You are surrounded! Come out with your hands in the air or we will shoot.'' said one of the Lieutenant Commanders

'Wait shoot? Aren't there civilians inside.' I thought after hearing what Lieutenant Commander said and yes there definitely is civilians inside! It's freaking public pub!

...

[Inside a Pub]

''Captain what we do?'' said one of the crewmates with panic

''What you panicking at? I am great Garmo with bounty of 44 million berries!'' said Captain with confidence

''Yes Captain! So what we should do.'' said crewmate after stopping panicking

''Lets go out with guns blazing!'' said Captain and stood up

''Www-whaaaaaaat.'' said crewmate with panic

''Follow me! You guys trust me right?'' said Garmo

''''Yes!'''' said all the crewmates except one

'Are you guys crazy? Why did i join these idiots?' said the crewmate who was in panic

''We will feast on marines today boys! Follow me!'' said Garmo and ran outside with his crewmates, except one who ran towards backdoor and disappeared to the night..

...

[Outside of the Pub]

Suddenly the door to the pub opened with slam and there came multiple pirates while firing their guns everywhere.

''TAKE COVER!'' said Lieutenant Commander who is in charge

'Are these guys retarded?' i thought while seeing the pirates come with guns blazing without any fear.

''Return fire!'' said Lieutenant Commander

After hearing that i took rifle to my hands and aimed towards one of the pirates and pressed the trigger.

*Bam*

It hit towards one of the pirates leg and i took again aim towards one of the pirates in the back who was trying to take cover and pressed the trigger and it was another hit.

*Bam* *Bam*

Bullets were flying everywhere and the pub's wall was getting blown to pieces with bullets and i only hope that the workers there are fine, but i can't do anything about it.

'Damn it' I thought and took again aim towards pirates and kept shooting, some missed and some hit, i have hit at least 7 pirates, but not killed anyone, i only aimed at legs.

''Ready for close combat!'' said Lieutenant Commander after we fired bullets to each other for couple of minutes obviously both of us started run out of the bullets.

I unsheathed my sword and was preparing for close combat which was about to happen.

''You guys stay back! Marines will handle them.'' said our ''leader'', whom in fact i hate very much, he only got his leader role because he got lucky and ate odd looking fruit which was indeed devil fruit.

Marines started rushing towards Pirates.

''You guys stay back, i will assist them with my devil fruit!'' said our ''Leader'' and ran towards pirates as well, which i think was idiotic move, he has power of Nezu Nezu no Mi Model: Porcupine, what assist? what the fk can he do to help them huh?

And i proofed myself right as i saw one of the pirates slash towards our so called magnificent leader who got his head cut off.

One of the pirates then saw us and started running towards us with wicked smile on his face, but sorry buddy! No birthday presents here for you and i ran towards him with my sword raised up, he tried to slash towards my neck, but i crouched under his sword and slashed his leg.

''Argh!'' yelled the Pirate after i slashed his leg and then he kneeled down in pain and i simply raised my swords hilt and hit it back of the neck of pirate which knocked him out.

...

After fighting for 10minutes all the pirates were killed or captured, their Captain fought till his last breath, but didn't manage to fight off against might of 3 Lieutenant Commanders.

After cleaning off the bodies, which for some reason was left for us cadres, it was quite of a show see other cadres puking their hearts out and after finished the cleaning we rested for a hour until we started marching back to the ship.

...

[Back in the Academy]

We finally reached the academy with quite exciting trip in my opinion, while other cadres might have got some traumatic experiences, i was enjoying it, it was getting quite stuffy here in the academy.

And once again i got perfect scores in the test, because there were some Instructors watching how we would prevail against pirates and since our precious leader got himself killed, i became our units leader.

Now after 2 weeks staying in the academy it was our promotion time yay! Since we will be second years in 2 months we will get our official rank.

''Cadre 535! You are from now on Seamen Recruit Dante.'' said Commander Alexander while we both saluted towards each other.

And now that our first year was over, we can either stay in academy or go back to visit our family.

I will visit my mother for a month and after that is second year with battles against other units..