"Teacher Zephyr, is that the Stone of Destiny?"
Just as Hammer returned to Marineford, he saw Zephyr standing like an unshakable rock at the harbor.
"Get lost. Is your mission over?"
"Yep, took care of a Logia user. So the arsenal doesn't need me to pay compensation anymore, I earned a free 1 billion Berries."
Zephyr was startled.
'1 billion Berries?'
"How much did you sell?"
Hammer gave a sleezy grin, he looked just like Borsalino.
"Just a bed, a hat, and a pair of glasses."
Zephyr fell silent. This speed of making money was terrifying.
Those three items were basically insignificant, yet he managed to sell them for 1 billion Berries?
Suddenly, Zephyr noticed the exquisitely crafted longsword at Hammer's waist.
"That sword's scabbard and hilt look pretty good. New creation?"
Hammer chuckled proudly and drew the sword, Frostbane, from its sheath.
A chill began to spread.
Zephyr sensed the freezing aura and was slightly moved.
"This aura... did you successfully fuse Cryolite ore with your forging technique?"
"This sword looks awesome too, nice design."
Hammer nodded vigorously.
"This sword is called Frostbane! Forged from Cryolite ore, and empowered by my ability with an even more potent ice element attribute boost. Plus, its hardness is comparable to seastone because of the steel plates. A true masterpiece!"
Just as Hammer was showing off to Zephyr, an excited voice echoed through the harbor.
"So cool! What a beautiful sword!"
"And this freezing power! Amazing!"
A young man in black clothes with curly hair, about three meters tall, suddenly appeared in front of Hammer and Zephyr, circling the Frostbane with shining eyes.
"What kind of sword is this? It's so freaking cool!"
Hammer was a little startled by the sudden appearance, but once he saw the young man's face, his expression shifted slightly.
"Cool, right? It's a sword from my hometown, it's called the Eight-Faced Hanjian."
"Just based on looks alone, I dare say, no sword in all the seas can outshine it in appearance!"
That was Hammer's confidence, he firmly believed that the design was the best. Not even one of the Supreme Grade 12 Great Blades could outshine the Frostbane in looks.
"Cool! That's next-level cool!"
"The blade! That blue glow! That icy aura! Amazing!"
The newcomer was beyond excited and speaking incoherently.
Hammer smiled at him, while Zephyr looked curiously at the youth.
The way this guy rushed over just now, so fast, so agile.
Definitely a promising recruit.
"Kid, what's your name? Who'd you come with?"
The young man looked at Zephyr's stern face and quickly stood at attention, though not quite in a standard military posture.
"I'm Kuzan. I came with Vice Admiral Garp. He said I should join the Elite Training Camp!"
When Zephyr heard Garp's name, he looked speechless. But when he heard that the kid wanted to join the elite camp, he got excited.
Hammer nodded slightly to himself.
As expected, the guy in front of him was none other than one of the future Marine Admirals, Blue Pheasant, Aokiji!
"Oh? You want to join the elite camp? Your movement skills just now were good, but what makes you think you'll get accepted?"
"You should know, the camp's entrance exam is extremely tough."
Kuzan grinned confidently and spread his arms.
"Because I'm strong! Bloom, Frozen!"
Suddenly, both of Kuzan's hands turned into ice, and a terrifying chill spread outward from him like a center point.
Frost flowers began forming in the air.
"Logia-type Devil Fruit… Ice-Ice Fruit....
Hammer muttered to himself.
At the same time, he compared Frostbane's freezing aura to Kuzan's fruit ability.
Though both involved freezing, Frostbane's frost couldn't compare to the Ice-Ice Fruit.
After all, Devil Fruits are just ridiculously overpowered.
"Good! Definitely a promising recruit! A Logia-type, and a strong one at that."
"But, kid, remember, no matter how powerful a Devil Fruit is, if your body isn't strong enough, you won't be able to use it to its full potential!"
Hammer was speechless. 'Why did Teacher Zephyr always say that line every time he saw a Devil Fruit user?'
'Sigh...'
"Cool! So you're the Chief Instructor Zephyr! I'll become the strongest cadet for sure!"
"When the time comes, I'll be the one to uphold justice!"
Kuzan looked at Zephyr with shining eyes and blurted out a sentence that made Zephyr completely satisfied.
"Good kid! That idiot Garp finally did something right!"
"Come, follow me to the training camp. Even though the third batch of cadets hasn't started recruitment yet, I believe you'll definitely become the top cadet!"
The word "top" hit Kuzan like a spell, and he immediately exploded with energy.
"Top cadet!"
"I like it. I will become the top cadet!"
"By the way, Teacher Zephyr, who were the top cadets of the first and second batches? Can I spar with them?"
Seeing Kuzan's hopeful expression, Zephyr slowly turned his gaze to Hammer nearby.
"Teacher Zephyr, don't joke. I'm not the top cadet, I was only ranked fourth. The dog, the dragon, the monkey, all stronger than me."
Hammer knew Zephyr too well. That slight head tilt told him exactly what Zephyr was thinking.
"Hammer, don't sell yourself short. Just based on how quickly you mastered Armament Haki, you're not any worse than those three!"
"Kuzan, this is Hammer, one of the first batch of cadets. He's already a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral."
If you want to spar, spar with him!
"Let's go to the training grounds!"
Hammer: "..."
Kuzan: "LETSSS GOO!!"
"Kuzan, really, I don't know how to fight. Don't listen to Zephyr, he's exaggerating..."
Hammer looked helplessly at Kuzan, whose eyes burned with excitement.
Suddenly, the words of countless fans echoed in Hammer's mind:
The kindest man ate the coldest fruit.
"Ha! Hammer, no need to say more! Come on, let me witness the strength of a Rear Admiral!"
Kuzan didn't believe Hammer at all. In his eyes, as Zephyr's top disciple, Hammer must be super strong.
"You bastard Hammer, can't you just be a good role model?"
"Fight properly!"
Zephyr shouted from the sidelines, spitting everywhere.
But Hammer, he was someone who had mastered the art of thick skin. He wasn't bothered by spit attacks.
"Come on, Kuzan, I really don't, OH HELL! You're serious?!"
Hammer tried to keep talking, but a freezing spear was already hurtling toward him.
He dodged it with a Seimei kikan technique.
"Oh? That's Marine's Six Powers, huh? Not bad!"
"But I'm no slouch either!"
"Ice Ball! Ice Spear Barrage!"
Hammer looked up at the wave of ice spears forming in the air and sighed helplessly.
"Looks like I can't avoid it…"
Sigh "Since you're an Ice-Ice Human, I'll use my freezing power too. Hope you don't mind~"
Frostbane! Unsheathed!
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 15 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu