"Zephyr, let me give it a try!"
Kong launched into the air without hesitation. Zephyr stepped aside, understanding him perfectly, and gave up his spot.
As Kong unleashed a burst of Armament Haki, Zephyr landed and looked surprised. Despite holding back his strength, the battle axe remained completely undamaged under his previous flurry of attacks.
"Hammer, this axe is top quality. Every time my fist hit it, I could feel intense heat. Most people wouldn't be able to wield this."
Even with Armament Haki protecting him, the heat had made his hands slightly red.
Hammer, unbothered, calmly explained.
"Teacher Zephyr, I forged this axe using magma that Sakazuki gave me."
Zephyr's eyes lit up, instantly becoming even more interested in the weapon.
"Magma? No wonder it's so tough and radiates such intense heat. But how did you get magma from Sakazuki?" Zephyr asked, intrigued.
Hammer grinned proudly. "Come on, who do you think I am? You've seen Winterborne, right? A named blade! Everyone wants my work. just asked him for some magma. The guy is made of the stuff, giving me some was easy."
Zephyr nodded, quietly impressed. Hammer's talent for forging was already widely known; every weapon he made was a masterpiece. Zephyr even began considering whether he should have a weapon custom-forged too... but what kind?
"Hey, Sengoku! Stop spectating and bring out your golden glitz. You're up next!"
Sengoku had started snacking on rice crackers as he watched, but Hammer wasn't about to let him get away with just that.
Crunch!
Finishing his last bite, Sengoku glared at Hammer before activating his fruit; the Golden Buddha emerged in full.
"Kong, take a break. I've got this!"
"Buddha Shock"
Just as Sengoku was about to strike, Hammer's eyes lit up, and he shouted, "Sengoku! Don't smash it! Wrap the axe with your shockwaves and maintain them!"
Without hesitation, Sengoku shifted his attack, the shockwaves enveloped the axe from all directions, refining it.
"Don't stop! I'm adding fuel to the fire!"
"Flame Hammer Spark!"
Seeing the effectiveness of the shockwaves, Hammer steadied his mind and used his own ability to assist.
Duang!
As his hammer struck, flames surged upward, forming a fiery shell around the shockwave.
Minute by minute passed.
Sengoku and Hammer both broke into a sweat, especially Hammer, who was already exhausted from the forging process. He was running on sheer willpower now.
"Are you okay?" Zephyr asked, worried for his apprentice.
"Doesn't matter. I have to be!" Hammer gritted his teeth and endured.
If they stopped now, everything would be wasted, and Hammer refused to let that happen.
Finally, a red glow began to emanate from the axe. In the next instant, a blazing surge of heat burst forth. The red light shot into the sky, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
When the light faded, a brand-new battle axe appeared before them.
[Ding! Unique composition detected, Magma-Magma Fruit derivative. Specialized Empowerment granted: [Heat Absorption] and [Heat Release] properties, as well as [Self-Recovery]. Repair material: Magma.]
"It's done!" Hammer shouted with excitement.
He leapt forward, grabbed the axe, and examined it carefully before nodding in satisfaction.
He held the axe up for everyone to see.
Zephyr stepped forward, taking it from his hands and feeling the immense power within.
"You brat… You really are a forging genius!"
Sengoku wiped the sweat from his brow and chuckled. "That was some teamwork! This axe will be a powerful asset."
Hammer collapsed to the ground, panting, but his face was beaming with joy.
Kong and Tsuru stepped up, inspecting the axe closely.
It was a single-handed axe with a razor-sharp blade. The front of the blade shimmered gold and red, while the handle glowed with a reddish hue. A protective guard encircled the grip, rimmed with sharp spikes.
Several red gems were embedded near the top of the blade, fragments of Flamweave Stone.
"This heat... just the axe's resting temperature is likely over 100°C," Tsuru commented.
"Probably only Sakazuki or Kuzan can wield it," Kong added.
Hammer nodded.
"Exactly. This was made for Sakazuki, I used his magma, after all."
"This axe has attributes: absorbs and releases heat. Plus, since it's made of magma, it can be repaired by using magma."
"You could say this is a weapon made specifically for him."
Even Tsuru's usual composure cracked with desire. A self-repairing, custom-forged weapon? Who wouldn't want one?
The four high-ranking officers turned toward Hammer, only to be dumbfounded.
He was already lying on the ground, fast asleep.
"This rascal… his passion for blacksmithing is no joke. He forged this whole thing using his Devil Fruit powers. Looks like the exhaustion finally caught up," Zephyr said after checking his condition.
"All right, Zephyr, take him back to rest."
"We'll handle the rest once he wakes."
"As for the axe, Sengoku, get the armory to build a heat-resistant case for it. Otherwise, it'll ignite whatever it touches."
Hammer slept for three days straight.
When he woke up, the first thing he did was look for the axe. He spotted a heat-resistant box on the table and instantly recognized the material.
Inside was the battle axe, its red-gold hue radiating.
purupuru puru
A voice crackled over the transponder.
"This is the communications officer aboard Vice Admiral Sakazuki's warship. Please identify yourself."
Hammer's face darkened.
"I'm Vice Admiral Hammer of Marine HQ. Put Sakazuki on the line!"
The officer was clearly startled and quickly responded:
"Yes, Vice Admiral! But Vice Admiral Sakazuki is currently engaged in battle with pirates and cannot answer right now."
Hammer: "Damn Sakazuki really is busy."
"Pass on Admiral Sengoku's direct order. Tell Sakazuki to return to HQ immediately, urgent mission."
"This is top priority. No delays."
Click.
He hung up.
The comms officer on the other end was stunned, then scrambled to notify Sakazuki.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki! HQ orders you to return to Marineford immediately. Top-priority mission!"
Sakazuki, in the middle of annihilating pirates, frowned upon hearing the message.
"Change course. Prepare to return."
He glanced at the pirate ship in front of him, now engulfed in magma, and smiled coldly.
"Great Eruption."
Magma roared forth, engulfing the pirate ship in flames.
...
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