"Not bad, kid. You've improved."
"But did you forget who I am? I'm Black Arm Zephyr! "
Zephyr smirked, his Haki surging like liquid as it spread outward.
Wherever his Haki flowed, Hammer's Hammer Space crumbled.
Hammer's eyes sharpened, he instantly recognized this technique.
Advanced Armament Haki: Internal Destruction.
Known in Wano as "Ryou."
Just by observing Zephyr's flowing Haki, Hammer gained new insight.
Zephyr stepped toward him, each step heavier than the last, the pressure almost suffocating.
"Your Devil Fruit power's developed well. But didn't I tell you? No matter how good a Devil Fruit is, it's just support; your own strength is the true foundation!"
Zephyr roared, swung his fist, and smashed it down on Hammer.
With that punch, Hammer Space shattered completely.
'Just Armament Haki alone could break his technique?'
'So this was Ryuo, channeling power inward by flowing it through?'
"Feel it? The advanced use of Armament Haki?" Zephyr laughed heartily.
Hammer nodded. Until now, his Haki was stuck at the basic level; this was his first time experiencing it directly.
"Good. Now, ready for your beating?"
"Ouch! Teacher, don't hit the face!"
"There's more to this story!"
But Zephyr's fists rained down relentlessly, and Hammer could only yelp as the office was instantly filled with his miserable cries.
That wailing… lasted a good fifteen minutes.
"So, let me get this straight, you forged a weapon that ended up putting you in a hole?!"
"Hammer, Hammer… what am I gonna do with you?"
"You think you can just casually make weapons like that? It's only because it's in that princess's hands that you're still alive. If Big Mom got her hands on it instead, would you still be breathing?"
"Forget that, I would've smashed you myself!"
Hammer, now sporting two black eyes and a swollen nose, explained everything.
Zephyr, who'd just beaten him flat like a pancake, glared at his dear student, his beloved son.
'This brat was powerful, true, but sometimes the things he forged were more trouble than they were worth.'
'Look at poor Momnga dragging around an IOU because of Hammer.'
"It's not like I wanted this! How was I supposed to know it'd get some weird ability?"
"Same with Mihawk! I just tested the blade quality of a Supreme Grade Sword, and he ended up with a portable karaoke machine!"
"Sigh… my forging power's almost more of a curse at this point, if it doesn't screw me, it screws someone else!"
"Maybe I should just quit forging altogether. I'm a danger to myself and others…"
As Hammer poured out his tragic lament, the entire room's faces went stiff.
Kong: 'You brat, if you stop forging, where am I supposed to get my exclusive gear?'
Sengoku: 'Don't do that! I already gave you the materials!'
Tsuru: 'It's a headache, yes, but I still want my custom weapon.'
Zephyr: '…Hmph! Fine, then stay here at HQ with me. I have my exclusive, so who cares about the rest!'
"Ahem. Hammer, it's true your weapons can be a double-edged sword, but there is a way to fix this, isn't there?"
It was Sengoku who spoke. At that moment, his eyes glowed with cunning light, making Hammer think for a second that this old guy was actually a tactical genius instead of an old fart.
"Oh? Sengoku, old man, if you've got an idea, spit it out. I've been losing sleep over this."
"Dressrosa's practically my forbidden zone at this point…"
Listening to Hammer's endless grumbling, Sengoku organized his thoughts and shared his solution.
"You said that sword has an unmatched suppressive effect on you, right?"
"And it granted Princess Scarlett her Conqueror's Haki, correct?"
"Then why not forge yourself a defensive item, one that can resist that sword's power?"
"Or better yet, make something that helps you awaken your own Conqueror's Haki, so you can counter the rapier and Scarlett?"
Hammer froze. 'Sengoku… got smart all of a sudden?!'
"Based on what you said, Scarlett and the rapier suppress you mentally and spiritually. So attack the problem at its source, craft protective gear for your mind."
"As for your feelings toward Scarlett. I suspect that sword's partly to blame. Once you can resist its influence, you'll have the clarity to really decide where you stand."
"If you still have feelings for her, HQ won't stand in your way."
In Hammer's eyes, Sengoku's figure shone like a giant golden Buddha, a symbol of wisdom and awe.
"Dammit, Sengoku, stop using your power in my office, will you?!"
"Look at you, transforming mid-speech! You're gonna smash my ceiling!"
Hammer: 'Wasted feelings. I forgot this old coot is the Human-Human Fruit: Mythical Zoan, Daibutsu. Using his Devil Fruit to put on a show, unbelievable!'
Sengoku looked a bit embarrassed, quickly shrinking back down, but he kept going:
"So, Hammer, since you created the problem, solve it with your own ability."
"The one who tied the knot must untie it, right?"
Hammer had to admit, Sengoku's words really opened his mind.
'Right! If I forged a weapon that counters me, then I can forge armor that protects me!'
'And Sengoku had given me plenty of rare ores, surely enough to craft something worthwhile.'
'Maybe there'd even be an unexpected bonus!'
"Sengoku, you're right! I need to forge!"
"I'll make myself an custom piece of armor!"
"Then I, Hammer, will be back on top!"
No sooner said than done, Hammer flung open the window and jumped right out.
The four in the room gaped.
"Look at that! This is all Garp's fault, and you idiots'!"
"There's a perfectly good door, but now everyone just jumps out the window!"
Kong yelled at Zephyr and Sengoku like a furious grandpa.
Sengoku: 'Hey now, you're the one who started the whole window-jumping trend! We just learned from the best!'
Zephyr: 'Who was it, huh? Who used to drag me, Sengoku, and Garp through every window in sight back in the day?'
Tsuru: 'So frustrating. This generation is hopeless. Let's hope the next generation of top brass is better.'
Hammer: 'Oh? The next generation? The dog? The monkey? The pheasant? One by one they'll all drive you nuts, just wait!'
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu