Chapter 17 - Island Training

A/N: It's been quite the week, thank you everyone for your support of my fanfiction so far! I will try to continue to deliver the best content I can, but since I'm still a new author, please don't get your expectations too high.

Big announcement: I am getting a picture of my MC commissioned! It is currently in progress and as soon as it's done I'll update the cover photo with the picture of my MC. Please look forward to it.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

=======================

A new day dawns as Terumi wakes up promptly early in the morning to begin his training. It has been a week since he joined the elite camp.

As he got up from his bunk bed, he saw Smoker still lazing in the bed next to him, a sight he's gotten used to.

"Smoker-san, if you don't wake up, Zephyr-sensei is going to punish us again."

Smoker twitched upon hearing Terumi's warning. Over the past week, Terumi's come to learn that Smoker is habitually lazy, and the cause for many extra exercises as he's commonly late.

Smoker sighed with a stress mark on his forehead and sat up from his bed. He then reached into his nightstand and pulled out a cigar, promptly lighting it up.

"You sure are diligent, who cares about a couple of extra push-ups. Don't tell me you can't handle it?"

Smoker lightly taunted Terumi as he stood up, grabbing his uniform and leaving the dorm room.

Terumi shrugged his shoulders and sighed seeing Smoker's attitude.

Drake had already left before any of them, and now Binz was also preparing to go to training with Terumi.

"Don't worry about him. He's shy."

Binz casually said.

"Haha, I know, Binz-san. Let's go as well."

A few minutes later, Terumi and the other recruits gathered in front of the compound. Zephyr stood before them with his arms crossed as always.

"Okay children, today we're going on a field trip."

The other recruits immediately grimaced upon hearing Zephyr's declaration. Terumi looked confused as he didn't know what was about to happen.

Gion leaned over and whispered to him.

"Last time Instructor Zephyr took us on a 'field trip,' he dropped us on an abandoned island for a week."

Zephyr ignored Gion's whispering as he continued.

"Good news, I got us a nice boat, and we're going to check out an island on the calm belt."

The recruits immediately sighed, having their worries realized.

"Gahahaha, oh but it gets better. This time you'll be staying there for a whole month!"

"Sensei! You can't be serious!"

"Hina doesn't think this is good news at all."

"Zephyr-sensei..."

The three women, Gion, Hina, and Ain, had a look of despair on their faces.

"Gahahaha, now calm down. I'll let you pack one small suitcase. That's it."

The female group went inside to immediately start packing, leaving Terumi and the others stunned.

"You guys have 30 minutes to pack. We're leaving in an hour, go."

Terumi went back to his dorm room and packed a small suitcase. Inside, he packed his dad's fishing rod, flint to start fires, two small knives, a hammer, nails, and also his bedsheet. That was all he could pack within the small suitcase.

Happy with what he packed, Terumi got up to leave, he glanced over at the other guys in the room to see what they packed. Drake basically packed the same things, as well as Binz, but all Smoker packed was several packs of cigars.

'How are his lungs even functional? I guess it's because of his fruit.'

The group left together and started heading outside. There, they waited for their female comrades with Zephyr. Right when 30 minutes were about to be up, the trio of women joined them outside.

"Alright, that's everyone. Now, let's go to the pier."

Zephyr led his students to Marineford bay, where a naval ship awaited them.

"We'll be taking this ship to a small island on the calm belt just south of here. We'll get there in four days, after that you're on your own."

Terumi and the others nodded, and then made their way onto the ship.

...

A few days later.

"There she is! Welcome, to hell island!"

'A little on the nose, no?'

Terumi stared off towards the small secluded island in front of him. It was circular in shape, with a huge forest surrounding a giant volcano. The top of the active volcano had giant creatures flying about, as an ominous thundercloud hung overhead.

As the ship docked, Zephyr gathered up the recruits and explained to them the detail of this trip.

"You'll be staying here for one month. There are many dangerous beasts on this island, as you'll come to know, so I wouldn't recommend venturing too far. You're allowed to work together, but that's your decision to make. As soon as you get off the boat, I'll be departing, so don't expect me to bail you out if you get in over your head."

Terumi looked around as the others did the same, gauging who he should team up with.

'Teaming up would improve my survival chances, but I can survive on my own just fine thanks to my gift from the guide. The only worry is these beasts that Zephyr-sensei talked about.'

While Terumi was contemplating, Drake was the first to move, he jumped off the boat and ran into the forest on his own. Seeing this, Smoker left as well, leaving behind Terumi, Gion, Hina, Ain, and Binz.

Ain and Binz looked at the remaining members and then each other and nodded, jumping off the boat as well. Finally leaving only Terumi, Gion, and Hina. Seeing that they were the only ones left, Terumi decided to invite the two remaining recruits.

"So, do you guys want to go together?"

Gion smiled sweetly and Hina nodded as well.

"Okay, sure."

"Hina agrees."

As the remaining trio left, Zephyr then lowered the sails and started leaving.

Terumi, Gion, and Hina gathered together to plan their next steps.

"So, what do you guys think we should do? Should we try to build a hut in the forest or on the beach?"

Terumi already knew the answer, the best place to stay would be near the coast, as there are no beasts wandering around here, but he wanted to get their input.

Gion thought for a bit before shrugging.

"Hmm, I don't know. Maybe in the forest? What do you think Hina?"

"Hina thinks Terumi-kun should decide since he invited us."

"Great idea! So, what will it be, Terumi-san?"

Terumi blinked blankly as he scratched his head.

"Well okay, I think we should find a nice spot near the coasts, as I don't see any of these dangerous beasts Zephyr-sensei warned us about wandering around here. I also brought with me a fishing rod, and I should be able to procure us food without issue. What did you guys bring?"

"I have a couple of books and several pairs of clothing. The last time Instructor Zephyr did this, he didn't give us anything! I was bored out of my mind."

"Hina has cigarettes, clothing, and matchsticks."

Terumi stared blankly, almost unable to process what he has just heard.

'Did I get scammed? This is all they brought? How did they survive last time? At least Hina has something to start a fire with.'

Terumi held his sigh as he tried to figure out how to survive for the next month with his two 'helpers.'

"Okay, I understand. First, let's scout out a place to build our shelter, I'll take care of everything afterward."

Gion smiled and Hina nodded.

The trio quickly found a clearing near the coast, with a clear view of the forest to watch out for incoming beasts.

"Okay, let's get started."

Terumi grasped Asahi in his hand and started slicing several trees to get wood to make their temporary shelter. Stacking up the trees he cut down, he gracefully swung Asahi and cut the trees into even blocks of wood.

"Whew, okay, now all we have to do is to build a simple shelter, this should be enough wood for us to create two stable log tents. I have a bedsheet that we can use to avoid rain leaking through the holes, can either of you two help me set it up?"

Gion simply smiled but didn't answer, as Hina shook her head.

"Okay okay, I got it. Just, let me handle it."

'Damn it, I really got scammed, big time.'

Terumi sighed internally once more as he started to get to work, taking out his hammer and nails to start building the log housing tents.

'This is going to be a long month.'