Hammer clicked his tongue in frustration and kicked off with great force, tracing a sharp arc through the air.
Seeing this, Zephyr laughed heartily."So, you've already learned how to combine the Rokushiki techniques?"
Though he was smiling, his hands showed no mercy; he stomped hard and launched himself at Hammer, fists ready.
"You're going too far, old man!"
"Rankyaku, Hammer Style!"
Seeing Zephyr closing in, Hammer's heart tensed. He raised his right leg high and then slammed it down, unleashing a violent slash from above.
But this wasn't a normal Rankyaku; thanks to the fusion with his Hammer-Hammer Fruit, the slash transformed into a massive hammer-shaped energy strike, combining the ferocity of a blade with the raw force of a hammer.
"Very good! Keep going, Hammer, show me your limits!"
Zephyr grew more and more pleased, and his attacks more intense.
The two clashed mid-air multiple times. The resulting shockwaves blasted the already-collapsed Ji Yuan and the others off their feet.
Momonga muttered the word, eyes wide with shock.
The others silently agreed.
"Onigumo, Doberman, you two served under Rear Admiral Sakazuki. Based on what you see now, how does Hammer compare to him? Who's stronger?"
Yamakaji asked seriously, glancing at the two.
Onigumo and Doberman were both marines from the North Blue, and had come to HQ training under Sakazuki's recommendation.
"If we're judging based on what we see now," Onigumo replied, "then Rear Admiral Sakazuki is still probably stronger. After all, Logia-type Devil Fruits don't need much explanation."
"Even if he has mastered Armament Haki…"
Onigumo gave a fair answer. Sakazuki's power was extraordinary, and his destructive Devil Fruit abilities were terrifying.
"Wait, Sakazuki has Armament Haki now?"
Tokikake, nearby, chimed in with a skeptical voice.
Everyone paused and turned toward Onigumo, waiting for his response.
Onigumo shook his head. "No, not yet…"
Sigh… still a monster, then.
"You forced me, old man! I'm going all out now!"
Hammer, who had been under constant pressure from Zephyr, finally snapped. His eyes flared with anger.
"Take a look at my latest masterpiece, Gravity Gun!"
Hammer flipped backward, and a flash of light gleamed from his ring. A strange-looking weapon appeared in his hands.
It resembled a large megaphone, very odd in design.
As Hammer pulled the trigger, a purple glow began to radiate from the mouth of the device.
In the next second, the purple wave surged forward and enveloped Zephyr.
Suddenly, Zephyr felt himself being dragged downward, slamming into the ground.
"Not bad… Ten times gravity, huh?"
He moved his body slightly, noticing his weight had increased tenfold. Of course, that wasn't a real problem for him.
Muscles bulging, Zephyr let out a sinister grin.
"Got anything else, Hammer?"
Seeing that grin, Hammer flinched.
'Damn! Even that didn't work?'
"Then I'll have to use… my ultimate move!"
The mention of an "ultimate move" instantly caught everyone's attention, including Zephyr's. All eyes locked onto Hammer.
But the very next second, everyone's jaw hit the floor.
"Teacher, I give up!"
"Please go easy on me!"
Hammer surrendered without hesitation. He clasped his hands over his head, crouched down, and braced himself for the incoming smack.
Zephyr was instantly fuming, his temper flaring even under ten times gravity. Step by heavy step, he walked up to Hammer.
His large hand, coated in Armament Haki, came crashing down on Hammer's head.
This time, Zephyr didn't hold back at all.
With a cry of pain, Hammer was flattened, followed by a full-blown beating.
"Pathetic! You call yourselves Marines!? Tenfold gravity and you're already done for!?"
"Look at this bastard Hammer! Ten times his weight, and he's still strolling around like it's nothing! What's wrong with you lot!?"
Zephyr, grinning like a madman, holding the gravity gun in his hand, watched over the 100 cadets and Hammer, all trapped under the gravity field.
For a normal person, suddenly bearing ten times their own body weight meant complete immobility.
Everyone here proved that point, whether the gifted Gion or any of the other elite cadets; not one of them could move.
Only Hammer, gritting his teeth under the immense pressure, continued repairing the training grounds, occasionally spitting in Zephyr's direction.
"Hahahaha! Hammer, this gravity gun's amazing! It's mine now!"
"Fine, fine! It's yours, all yours! If I ever take out something in front of you again, I'm an idiot!"
Hammer was seething. He couldn't win in a fight, couldn't outrun Zephyr, and held no rank compared to that grumpy old man.
"Chief Instructor Zephyr!"
Just then, a messenger ran over to Zephyr and said a few words.
"Hammer, get over to Sengoku! He's looking for you!"
Hammer looked up in confusion.
"What are you standing there for? Didn't you hear me, old man? Get going!"
Zephyr lifted the gravity field from him. Instantly, Hammer felt light again and loosened up his limbs.
"What now... Seriously, none of these guys ever give me a break..."
He muttered to himself in frustration, heading toward the admiral's office, leaving the rest of the cadets behind, all watching him with envy.
"What are you softies staring at? Can't even handle ten times gravity! Hmph!"
"Admiral Sengoku, you called for me?"
"Oh hey, Vice Admiral Tsuru, you're here too."
Hammer stepped into the admiral's office. Sengoku and Tsuru had clearly been waiting for him.
"Hammer, be honest with me. The x-ray glasses and the invisibility hat that showed up at the North Sea Hydra Auction, were those your creations?"
Hammer's heart skipped a beat. Crap.
"Let me explain, Admiral Sengoku-"
"So they were your inventions!"
Sengoku suddenly stood up, golden light faintly radiating from his tall figure.
Vice Admiral Tsuru was still smiling softly, but there was a sharp gleam in her eyes.
"Wait, no, I made those to pass the assessment-"
Sengoku raised a hand to stop him.
"I didn't call you here to scold you."
"Here's the situation..."
After Hammer left, the invisibility hat caused quite a stir. What started as a small internal dispute within the Stanford Kingdom soon escalated, drawing the attention of criminals outside the kingdom.
According to Sakazuki's report, the kingdom suffered a major blow. One group in particular caught their attention, Germa 66.
The invisibility hat had been stolen by Vinsmoke Judge, the current leader of Germa 66.
"Uh… Germa 66? Vinsmoke Judge?"
Sengoku nodded. He and Vice Admiral Tsuru exchanged a glance before continuing.
"He used to be part of the outlaw science group, MADS. After the lead scientist was arrested by the World Government, Judge escaped."
"Turns out, after returning to the North Blue, he rebuilt Germa 66 and even participated in a war."
"Hammer, the reason we called you here is because we have a mission for you."
Hammer: 'I knew it. Nothing good ever comes of this!'