Sakazuki was completely entranced by the battle axe in front of him.
The gold-red axe radiated intense heat, and he felt irresistibly drawn to it. As he instinctively reached out, a powerful energy surged from the weapon just before he touched it.
Surprised, he looked at the axe again. he could feel it: a magma-born energy, searing and familiar. This weapon… it was made just for him.
The others noticed his reaction, especially Hammer, who was very satisfied with how Sakazuki was responding.
"So? Satisfied, Sakazuki?"
"This axe was forged from the magma you gave me, made just for you!"
"'Divine Axe Rhitta!'"
Everyone: 'What kind of weird name is that?'
Sakazuki: 'Who the hell is Rhitta?'
"Don't just stand there, try it out! Give it a swing!"
The moment his fingers closed around it, intense heat and weight surged into his arm.
But Sakazuki was no ordinary man; he was a monster.
With a slight flex, Sakazuki lifted the weapon. The gold-red axe pulsed like a wild beast unleashed, its scorching aura intensifying.
"As expected of a weapon crafted by you, I can feel its power just from holding it."
Hammer smirked proudly. "Of course! And it gets better. The axe can absorb and release heat."
Sakazuki's right arm instantly turned molten red as he activated his Magma-Magma Fruit powers.
At this moment, he was magma, and magma was him.
The axe reacted, and it began absorbing the energy.
The blade glowed faintly, charging up.
"It absorbs magma?"
"Then I'll let it absorb all it wants!"
"Hah!"
He poured in more energy. The smell of sulfur and rising temperature made the others instinctively back away. The axe's glow intensified until it reached its limit.
Now fully charged, the Divine Axe Rhitta was glowing red-hot, its blade edged with golden radiance.
"Alright, it's fully charged. What are you waiting for, Sakazuki? Release it!" Hammer shouted.
Sakazuki paused. 'Release? How?'
He glanced at Hammer, clearly confused.
"Don't look at me. You're the only one who can power it. I just forged the thing. I haven't tested it. Just… I dunno, maybe swing it at something?"
Hammer wasn't lying. The axe was custom-made for Sakazuki's magma energy. Since Hammer didn't have that power, how could he test it?
With no other choice, Sakazuki turned toward an empty field and swung the axe downward.
BOOM.
The field exploded, leaving behind a smoldering trench. Rocks and dirt flew everywhere as smoke billowed into the air.
Sakazuki stared at the axe in his hands, stunned.
"This… is its power?"
Even Hammer and the others were speechless.
"Damn, Dog Bro!" Hammer gasped.
That single strike rivaled, no, surpassed, a master swordsman's flying slash. And thanks to the magma's innate properties, it also burned everything in its path.
Sakazuki tested another swing and found the axe suddenly light and responsive, each strike trailing fire.
"Hahaha! This is one hell of an axe!" he laughed loudly.
Hammer muttered, "Even without charging it, the Magma-Magma Fruit's energy can still be converted to enhance its power…"
Sakazuki turned to him, fired up: "Hammer, this weapon is incredible! With this, I won't lose so badly next time I face Big Mom or Kaido!"
Of course, the moment he got a new weapon, his first thought was to pick a fight.
"Looks like the forging was a huge success," Hammer said, nodding. "But don't get too excited just yet, Sakazuki."
"I still have to bill you."
Sakazuki: ???
Sengoku and Kong's faces twitched; they could already tell Hammer was about to strike again.
"While the main material was your magma, all the auxiliary materials came from my stash."
"Let me tally it up: 10 Flameweave Stones, 10 Diamonds, 5kg of Mithril. Don't worry, I won't charge you full price, just the cost
Sakazuki was dumbfounded. "How much?"
Hammer grinned. "300 million Berries! And I'm not even charging you for labor or craftsmanship. Pretty fair, right?"
'Fair?'
'300 million Berries?!'
'This guy really is a swindler!'
"Fine. I'll go capture some pirates and cash in their bounties. I'll pay you back when I'm done."
Sakazuki, ever the straight-shooter, didn't hesitate. In his eyes, 300 million for such a weapon was a great deal.
Hammer waved him off. "Relax, I'm just messing with you. I used HQ materials, no need to pay. But if you feel bad…"
"…Bring me two Devil Fruits or so. You see a lot of those in the New World."
Sakazuki: 'Suddenly, paying in cash doesn't sound so bad…'
"Oh yeah, Garp! This is for you," Hammer said, walking over to the casually spectating Garp and handing him a drill-like object.
"Huh? What's this thing?" Garp took it, feeling its weight. "Whoa, this thing's solid."
"I forged it using diamonds and refined iron-tin alloy. Incredibly hard."
"If I'm not mistaken, that bastard Chinjao has a treasure stash called 'Jewel Ice Sheet'"
"All looted goods, of course. So, I figure… we should reclaim it."
"Oh, and when you go, count me in. I've got ideas for that super-hard ice. Not hammering it would feel like a waste."
A glint of cold light flashed in Hammer's eyes.
That bastard dared wreck the Warhammer. If he didn't clean out Chinjao's entire vault, he wouldn't be satisfied.
"HAHAHA! I'm starting to feel sorry for Chinjao," Zephyr laughed. "Picking a fight with you of all people, poor cone-head."
Zephyr knew Hammer well; he was the kind who'd hold a grudge from morning till night.
Nearby, Sengoku and Kong exchanged uneasy glances, sensing a chill creeping up their spines.
"Oh, right! Teacher Zephyr, your weapon is basically ready. I need you to help me test it out and see what needs tweaking."
The moment he said that, everyone's expressions changed.
Zephyr: 'Crap! Why'd he have to say that out loud?!'
Sengoku: '!! A new weapon?! Custom-made?!'
Kong: 'Zephyr has one? Why didn't I think of that?! I want one too!'
Garp: 'Oh? Weapons?! Hell yeah, I'm stealing it for fun!'
Tsuru: 'Hmm… I wasn't going to ask… but maybe I'd like one of those too.'
Sakazuki: 'Hmph. I already have Divine Axe Rhitta. Nothing else compares.'
.....
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