As the silver light shot into the sky, a powerful aura instantly swept across all of Marineford.
Everyone felt their hearts jolt, and instinctively turned toward the source of the energy.
"That rascal Hammer, not only did he skip the meeting, but he's caused this huge commotion too!"
"I swear, I'll make him pay for this!"
Fleet Admiral Kong slammed his hand down and shattered the table in front of him.
'How many times now? How many times had Hammer caused anomalies in Marineford?
And this time, of all times, it had to happen during my own meeting!'
"Hammer definitely needs to be taught a lesson… but this silver light, what is it?"
"Why does it feel so… calming and focusing?"
Among everyone present, Sengoku was one of the few with a truly unshakable will.
Yet ever since the silver light rose and the aura spread, he felt an unusual sense of tranquility.
"Huh? Impossible!"
"My lungs… they… they're fine?!"
A moment ago, Kong was burning with fury, but now his anger slowly faded, and the redness in his face subsided.
"It's true…"
"Alright, forget the meeting, let's go see what crazy stunt Hammer's pulling now."
Kong was the first to declare the meeting over, charging off toward the armory with a face full of curiosity.
Sengoku and the others were just as intrigued, but this was an important meeting, after all.
'Fleet Admiral Kong. Was it really appropriate to just leave like this?
And you were the one running the meeting…'
'Whatever, Hammer's latest creation was clearly more important.'
Especially for the new generation, led by Akainu, they didn't hesitate for a second.
They fell in line right behind Kong.
Most of them used weapons forged by Hammer. Powerful, reliable, they loved them so much they couldn't let them go.
In the end, the entire conference room emptied out in an instant.
At the armory gates, someone had arrived even earlier than they did.
"Whoa, what the heck is this?"
"Hammer, are you okay in there?"
It was Zephyr, standing there fully equipped with his Fist of Tekko
Why was Zephyr here? Well, it all started when he was doing maintenance on that arm.
This old man spent every spare moment wiping it down, cloth, leather, brush, anything to polish it.
But he'd gotten a little carried away. Scrubbed too hard and scratched the surface.
It broke his heart. Last time's battle with Whitebeard had already left quake marks all over it, now he'd made it worse.
Panic mode activated, he'd geared up and rushed to the forge to see Hammer.
But before he could find him, this anomaly appeared.
He was the closest, so he was the first one swallowed by the silver light.
His worry vanished instantly, replaced by pure curiosity.
Now, the entire forge was bathed in silver light.
Outside, the forge was packed with the Armory's forging crew, forced out by Hammer himself.
Now they were all craning their necks, desperate to know what he was making.
"Huh? Zephyr, you're the first on the scene?"
"Uh? Why are you wearing your gauntlet? Are you planning to kill Hammer?"
"Still not over it?"
Kong's massive frame didn't slow him down one bit. Marineford's OG Tough Old Man had arrived.
"Eh? Kong, why are you here?"
"Wait, why are all of you here?"
"Weren't you all in a meeting about the Roger Pirates?"
Zephyr turned around, 'Good grief, it wasn't just Kong. A whole army had shown up.'
One glance, and wow. Everyone from Rear Admirals to Vice Admirals, almost everyone was here.
Hammer's commotion had basically summoned the entire Marineford brass.
"Hahaha, you're one to talk, Zephyr. Weren't you here first?"
"And you're mocking us?"
Looking at the grinning Garp, Zephyr really wanted to smack him upside the head with his Fist of Tekko.
So annoying!
"I just came to fix my arm piece. That last fight with Whitebeard left some damage, and the other day, I noticed it had gotten worse."
Zephyr would never admit that he'd made the scratches worse himself, too embarrassing.
"Tch, you guys with your custom weapons, so annoying!"
"Right, Sengoku?!"
Garp's eyes turned green, staring at Zephyr's gleaming Gauntlet.
And he refused to feel bitter alone, so he dragged Sengoku in too.
"Alright, Garp, my custom piece is already in the works, hahaha!"
"Soon enough, you'll be the only one jealous!"
Sengoku stroked his beard, smug as ever. Sure, he'd butted heads with Hammer a lot, but with his brilliant Sengoku wisdom, he felt he'd saved his image in Hammer's mind.
In short, his custom weapon was guaranteed!
"So, what's actually going on here?"
Kong felt the conversation was veering way off track, so he brought it back to the present.
"No clue. The whole forge is covered in silver light. I didn't dare go in blind."
Zephyr's face turned serious. The silver light felt harmless, but he wasn't about to barge in without knowing more.
He'd been the first victim of Absolute Space, after all.
Not keen on a repeat.
"I can't sense Hammer's presence inside."
"Hmph. All this fuss, and he's gone?"
"WOW! Hammer is amazing, this spectacle is worthy of my best friend!"
The Red-Yellow-Blue Trio, Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji, spoke in turn.
But Kizaru's comment made everyone freeze.
Those with Observation Haki immediately scanned the forge.
The result left everyone stunned.
Nothing…
There was no sign of Hammer inside…
Zephyr's heart sank.
"Hammer! Are you in there?!"
Suddenly, Zephyr felt deja vu; this scene felt awfully familiar.
Last time, Hammer blew up the forge.
This time? Another mysterious incident.
'Sigh. This kid, always blowing himself up or burying himself alive.'
Honestly, maybe they should banish him from HQ before he ended up blowing the whole base sky-high.
Zephyr wasn't the only one with this thought.
Sengoku and Kong were thinking the same thing.
Hammer's ability was just that unique. Handled well, it was amazing. Handled poorly? He'd sabotage himself without hesitation.
Suddenly, the silver light began to recede, gradually merging back into the forge.
Soon, it vanished entirely, like nothing had ever happened.
But inside the forge, there was only an eerie, unsettling silence.
Then-
[Ding! Devil Fruit Development: 100%! Awakening Complete!]
A notification chimed out of nowhere.
Hammer's Hammer-Hammer Fruit had finally awakened!
And yet, even with the announcement, there was still no sign of Hammer.
That was… deeply unsettling.