"Such terrifying ice energy... And yet, this freezing power is different from my Ice-Ice Fruit. It carries a sense of sharpness and solitude..."
"Is this really just a sword?"
As a user of the Ice-Ice Fruit, Kuzan was undoubtedly one of the world's foremost experts on ice. Yet, Winterborne, despite being forged from ice, was unlike any ice he had ever encountered; it possessed a will of its own.
"A sword with a soul... I've only heard of such a thing in one place."
"Sengoku, Garp, you two must know about it too, right?"
Fleet Admiral Kong's face darkened as he turned toward them.
Sengoku and Garp both nodded solemnly.
Another voice joined in, Zephyr, who had earlier been blasted away by the hammer's shockwaves.
All of them were well aware of Wano's reputation. It was a mysterious, isolationist nation, home to master blacksmiths capable of forging legendary blades. Many of the world's Great Grade Swords and Supreme Grade Blades originated from there. Unfortunately, Wano had long sealed itself off from the outside world.
As they spoke, the towering ice pillar began to crack, shards of frost raining down.
Soon, Hammer descended, Winterborne in hand.
Strangely, despite the sword's constant emission of freezing energy, enough to coat the ground in ice, Hammer remained completely unaffected.
The sight left the onlookers stunned.
"Vice Admiral Bogard..."
Suddenly, Hammer spoke, addressing the usually silent swordsman.
Bogard blinked in surprise. "Hm? Hammer, what is it?"
Hammer stepped forward, the biting cold radiating from the blade making Bogard shiver involuntarily.
"You're the only master swordsman here. I'd like you to test this sword, to see if the reforged Winterborne can unleash a slash capable of splitting the sky itself."
Slashing attacks, something the original Frostbane had been incapable of.
But now, reforged and imbued with a weapon soul, Hammer was certain that limitation no longer existed.
And among everyone present, Bogard was the only Great Swordsman who could truly unleash Winterborne's potential.
For a moment, Bogard was taken aback, then a spark of excitement lit up his eyes.
As a swordsman, he had no resistance to a finely crafted blade. Most named swords in the world were either already claimed or lost to time, otherwise, he would've hunted one down long ago.
Even now, the Miao Dao Hammer had forged for him hung at his waist. Its sharpness had impressed him, but Winterborne was on another level entirely.
"I'll test it for you."
Without hesitation, Bogard reached out and took Winterborne from Hammer's hands.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, an unbearable chill surged through his arm, seeping into his very bones.
Confused, he shot a questioning glance at Hammer.
"A normal reaction. The original Frostbane was already a named blade on par with the 21 Great Grade Swords. Now, reforged and reborn, Winterborne has surpassed even that."
"Named swords and blades have one defining trait: they choose their wielders. If you can't conquer it with your own will, you can't truly own it."
As if affirming his words, Winterborne trembled slightly in Bogard's grip.
His expression hardened. As a Great Swordsman, he had heard similar legends before. Without hesitation, his right hand darkened, Armament Haki surged forth, coating the blade in a protective layer.
The freezing energy receded slightly under the Haki's suppression.
But Hammer shook his head.
"It seems you're not its destined wielder, Vice Admiral Bogard. But with Haki reinforcing you, a single slash should still be possible."
"Try striking toward the sea."
The words stung, but they were the truth.
"Pffft HAHAHAHA! Bogard, you got rejected by a SWORD! That's hilarious!"
"BWAHAHAHA! Just swing the damn thing already!"
Garp's roaring laughter echoed across the docks, tears streaming down his face.
Bogard's eye twitched, but he couldn't refute it. He could feel it, his Haki was rapidly depleting as it struggled against the sword's freezing energy.
Not daring to delay, Bogard swung Winterborne toward the ocean.
The moment the blade descended, a blade of glacial energy tore through the air.
The slash ripped through the remnants of Hammer's destroyed ship, splitting the wreckage in two before instantly encasing it in ice.
"A freezing slash...?"
"Elemental power fused with razor-sharp cutting force... How terrifying~."
Borsalino's eyes gleamed red with Observation Haki, his voice filled with awe.
Seeing Winterborne unleash its power, Hammer's lips curled into a satisfied grin.
"It's done... This time... it's... perfect..."
Overcome with excitement, Hammer jumped, only to collapse the next second. His strength drained away, his eyelids growing unbearably heavy. Even as darkness took him, his gaze remained locked on Winterborne.
Zephyr lunged forward, catching his disciple before he hit the ground. The others rushed over as well.
"He's fine, just unconscious."
After checking Hammer's condition, Zephyr let out a relieved sigh.
"Forging nonstop, pushing himself to the limit... This idiot held on until the sword was complete. His obsession with blacksmithing is really..."
Sengoku's eyes flickered with both admiration and concern.
"Alright, get Hammer to the hospital."
"As for Winterborne... Kuzan."
With the situation stabilized, Kong began issuing orders.
Kuzan snapped to attention. "Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
"Use your ability to make a scabbard for it."
Kuzan raised his right hand, frost swirling into the shape of an ice scabbard.
But the moment Bogard tried to sheathe Winterborne.
The scabbard shattered instantly.
The sword erupted with a pulse of freezing energy, as if scoffing at the attempt.
"Kuzan, your ice got rejected too!"
"PPFFFT...BWAHAHAHA!"
Garp's laughter boomed again, this time, Kuzan's eye twitched in annoyance.
Kuzan: 'Thanks a lot, Vice Admiral Garp...'
But as he stared at Winterborne, a competitive glint flashed in his eyes.
There's no way a sword made of ice could resist him, the Ice-Ice Fruit user!
That just didn't make sense!
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 15 chapters ahead.
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