What determines the outcome of a battle between two armies?
Hammer would tell you proudly: Neither! What matters most is technology!
Technology far superior to the enemy's can lead to absolute and overwhelming victory.
That's exactly what's happening on the battlefield right now.
The Warhammer was armed with cutting-edge weaponry from Punk Hazard, the World Government's top research facility.
The Happo Navy, on the other hand, is using common sea-grade weaponry.
There was no comparison.
On board the Warhammer, all firepower is unleashed.
With all guns blazing, heavy machine guns, mortars, submachine guns, and rocket launchers, the battle was one-sided from the start.
At least, it would have been… if not for their leader.
The Happo Navy's commander was no ordinary pirate.
A powerhouse among powerhouses, a feared pirate of the sea, Don Chinjao, the Drill!
"This firepower is insane!"
"How are we supposed to fight this?!" Arggh."
Screams and curses erupted from the Happo Navy's ship.
Even Chinjao's expression darkened.
Meanwhile, Hammer smirked, thoroughly enjoying the show.
"All this firepower means NOTHING against true strength!"
Furious, Chinjao clasped his hands together, veins bulging on his forehead.
A tremendous aura burst forth, stirring the air without wind.
Hammer's face changed. He immediately activated Hammering of the Soul and shouted to his crew:
"EVERYONE, BRACE YOURSELVES!"
"HE'S USING CONQUEROR'S HAKI!"
Before he even finished speaking, a deadly aura exploded from Chinjao, pressing down on the Warhammer.
The invisible force spread over the entire crew.
Hammer, having activated Hammering of the Soul, was the first to clash with the incoming Haki.
Even he was shocked by the intensity.
'So this is peak-era Chinjao's Conqueror's Haki? The manga totally downplayed this!!!'
Despite his internal panic, there was nothing he could do. Chinjao's Haki suppressed everyone on his ship.
Under the weight of Conqueror's Haki, 80% of the 500 soldiers fell unconscious, not dead, but totally incapacitated.
Hammer's face darkened.
"Damn that Conqueror's Haki!"
Only now did he truly understand the impact of such an ability in battle, and why so many were awed when Luffy unleashed it at Marineford.
"You brat! With no men left, let's see how your fancy weapons hold up!"
"FIRE AT EVERYTHING! SINK THEM!"
Chinjao shouted, giving the command.
The Happo Navy suddenly surged with morale.
The remaining 100 or so soldiers on the Warhammer tried to fight back, but they were being supressed.
"Tch! Old man, you think you're the only one with tricks?"
With that, Hammer dashed toward the forge room.
Chinjao watched him flee the deck and burst out laughing.
"Hah! Kids are kids. Running away and still mouthing off!"
The Eight Treasures Marine's morale soared again.
"You filthy pirates! Shield-Shield! Tower Shield!"
On the lookout post, Shirley, having just recovered from the Conqueror's Haki shockwave, heard the taunting laughter and flew into a rage.
Activating the Shield- Shield Fruit, she summoned several enormous shields across the deck to protect their soldiers.
"Oh? Another Devil Fruit user?"
Chinjao scoffed. As a veteran martial artist, he neither feared nor respected abilities.
"You old bastard! Who said I ran?!"
"Ever heard of the Lion's Roar Technique's secret move?!"
"MEGAPHONE SONIC CANNON!!"
Suddenly, Hammer reappeared, his body wrapped in chains and strange discs, holding a cannon-like device that looked like a giant megaphone.
The discs were connected to the device.
"Old man, feel the destructive power of sound!"
"Lance, everyone, cover your ears and get behind me!"
"CHEST-SHATTERING HAMMER!"
Instead of radiating outward, the shockwaves sucked into the plates, then funneled through the amplifier as visible sound blasts.
A deafening hammering sound, ten times louder than normal, slammed into the Happo Navy's ship.
Chinjao realized the danger instantly and tried to warn his men, but his voice was completely drowned out.
He had no choice but to cover his ears and use full-body Armament Haki to brace himself.
But his men weren't so lucky.
The dreadful sonic waves pierced their ears. Eardrums shattered.
Leaving pirates clutching their ears in agony
The shockwaves pulsed again and again, killing more and more pirates.
When the sound finally faded, less than two-thirds of Chinjao's crew were still alive.
Those who died did so with blood from all orifices, their internal organs shattered by sound.
Even then, the survivors were completely deafened.
The sound dampeners on Hammer's gear absorbed most of the blast.
While the residual noise was still intense, the crew, used to the noise of hammering, shrugged it off with nothing more than ringing ears.
"Eight-Impact Fist Technique: Drill Dragon!!"
Enraged by the deaths of his men, Chinjao jumped high into the air.
His drill-shaped head turned pitch black with Armament Haki. His head was swirling with destructive waves.
This was Chinjao's full power unleashed.
"Armament! Air Hammer, Triple Shot!"
Realizing Chinjao was aiming at his ship, Hammer roared.
His right fist coated in Haki, he launched three hammer-shaped shockwaves to intercept.
At the same time, Shirley used her powers:
"Shield-Shield! Layered Shield! One-Meter Shield Wall!"
This was her new technique: ten identical shields stacked on top of one another to create a one-meter-thick shield.
"Just Armament Haki?!"
"Watch me reduce your ship to rubble!"
"Drill Dragon Nail Spike!"
Chinjao's ultimate technique: coat his drill-shaped head in Haki and ram it into the enemy.
One hit = total destruction.
Hammer used all his strength to block it.
The Warhammer was his masterpiece. He wouldn't let anyone destroy it.
But reality is cruel.
Even his triple hammer blasts couldn't stop Chinjao's cone head. It tore right through.
Chinjao's drill pierced the one-meter shield and slammed straight into the Warhammer's steel deck.
The deck shattered. Chinjao rammed deep into the hull.
Steel plates trembled, but thanks to the ship's reinforced materials and special enhancements, his attack was finally stopped… barely.
A huge hole now gaped in the ship's side.
His expression darkened, his right hand rose instinctively, fingers spread.
A terrifying hammering sound resonated from his entire body.
At that moment, his interface updated with a notification:
[Hammer-Hammer Fruit (Paramecia) – Mastery: 95%]
[Awakening Imminent. Keep Hammering!]
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu