Chapter 6: 6. The Follower
Sea Circle Calendar 1499
Canos Atlas is thirteen!
Promoted to East Blue Logue town base Warrant Officer!
...
One year later, Marine Campus.
"Hu~hu~hu~hu"
Atlas diligently carried out today's training.
Even though he is already the leader of the younger generation at Logue town Marine Base, even though he defeated the 'big pirate' with a bounty of 8 million berries a year ago and was promoted to the base Warrant Officer.
He still feels weak!
Very weak!
After the battle that day, as a miscellaneous soldier, he was assigned to manage casualty statistics and material repatriation in the post-war town. What he saw was not the joy of the rest of his life after the war, but faces that were either sad or numb.
And these are the treatments for the weak.
Only then did he truly feel the cruelty of this world. This is a world where the weak are prey to the strong!
So!
He must become strong enough!!!
Thinking of this, Atlas swung his sword a little faster.
Click——!
The bamboo sword is broken...
"Art kid! Don't even think about taking another bamboo sword from me!"
The old man from the logistics department, who was taking a leisurely walk not far away, happened to see this scene. His nose was almost crooked with anger, and he shouted loudly.
This is already the fifth bamboo sword that Atlas has broken this month!
"hey-hey..."
Atlas also smiled awkwardly after hearing this. He had no choice but to do so. His body was now in the development stage; his strength was growing rapidly, and the density of his skeletal muscles was also constantly increasing.
The most noticeable change is that at the age of fourteen this year, he is already two meters tall and is expected to grow to an Admiral height of three meters by the time he reaches adulthood!
"Brother Atlas!"
Suddenly, a white-haired boy appeared outside the school grounds.
He looked about the same age as Atlas. He was panting and holding his knees, with a little admiration in his eyes.
"Yo! Smoker"
Atlas heard the sound and looked at the white-haired boy.
That's right, Smoker, the future famous 'White Hunter.'
In the early stages of the anime, he was almost invincible, forcing the protagonist Luffy into desperate situations many times.
——·Smoke-Smoke Fruit ability user, although he has not eaten Devil Fruit yet, he is just a little kid and a follower of Atlas.
Smoker also joined the Marines during the period after Pirate King Roger was executed.
Like Atlas, he started as a handyman and is now a base Seaman Recruit.
It can be said that he is the first person under Atlas.
Of course, Smoker still has a good understanding of how much he weighs, and he probably won't be able to make a single move against Atlas.
You know, Atlas didn't just sit in the base and train hard this year.
Marine's presence is essential on any outing.
He knew that the flowers grown in the greenhouse could not withstand the test of the scorching sun.
If you want to become a truly strong man, you must have experience in blood and fire. Combat skills and combat experience cannot be obtained through hard training!
Atlas returned from being injured at the beginning to basically completing the mission without any injuries, and his combat effectiveness has been greatly improved.
He estimated that now the entire base, except for Colonel Randall, was basically no match for him.
"What do you want from me? Smoker brat"
After withdrawing his thoughts, Atlas remembered that Smoker seemed to have something to do with him just now.
"Don't call me a brat! Aren't you the same age as me?!"
Smoker was a little angry when he heard this. Everyone is obviously the same age, so what's the point of always calling me a brat?
"Colonel Randall has something to do with you."
Still angry, Smoker conveyed Colonel Randall's order to Atlas.
"What do you want from me, Colonel Randall?"
Atlas was a little confused, but he still followed the instructions and walked to the Colonel's office at the base.
...
"Old man Randall, what do you want from me?" Atlas opened the office door and walked straight in without knocking.
Anyway, he has not dealt with Randall once or twice. Basically, he has to report to Randall every time he goes on a mission, so the two of them are so familiar that they are almost brothers.
"Hello--"
"Atlas brat, please respect me as a colonel and don't knock on the door every time you come in."
Colonel Randall was also unequivocal, and he opened his mouth to teach Atlas a lesson.
Randall has always had a very high tolerance for future stars in this base.
He could almost conclude that this brat's future potential would never stop at a small Logue town.
Vice Admiral may be his future.
Because Atlas basically has all the potential to become a strong player - monster's physical talent and perseverance.
"Okay, let's not talk too much. I came to you this time mainly for two things."
Atlas also looked solemn when he heard this and immediately became serious.
Randall nodded with satisfaction when he saw this and continued: "Are you interested in going to our recruiting training camp for a period of time?"
Atlas was also stunned. The headquarters recruit training camp can be said to be the Marine general training base.
Those who come out from there will basically have lieutenant-level military ranks, a proper gilded place!
Moreover, the chief instructor of the training camp is former Marine Admiral Black Arm Zephyr, and the three current monster Vice Admirals [Kizaru] Borsalino, [Akainu] Sakazuki, and [Aokiji] Kuzan came out from under Zephyr!
So, of course, Atlas wants to go there because there he can get the most complete Rokushiki Six powers and Haki's inheritance, which will be a very important cornerstone on Atlas' road to becoming a strong man!
"There are a few places at the base, so I wanted to ask about your intention."
Seeing that Atlas didn't speak, Randall continued.
"Colonel, I want to go, but not now. I have not reached my limit yet, and it is not suitable to go to the headquarters yet."
Atlas thought carefully and then said firmly to Randall.
He is too young now, and his growth in strength is far from reaching his prime.
Going to the headquarters now will only waste this opportunity. What he has to do now is to polish his foundation.
"Well, that's okay. I'll leave this spot to you first. Then you and Smoker will go to the headquarters together."
Randall praised, being able to clearly understand one's own condition is very rare at this age, which is really a good sign.
"Smoker?"
"That's right, I originally wanted you to go first, and Smoker will go after a few years. After all, he is still too weak now. I will ask you to take more care of him then."
Randall explained.
"No problem! Colonel, I will take care of Smoker brat."
Atlas replied.
Randall, didn't react at all when Atlas called Smoker.
Firstly, he has adapted to Atlas's inconspicuousness, and secondly, Atlas is indeed so mature that people will ignore his age.
"Next, let me talk about the second thing..."