Under Sakazuki's command, the entire armory was quickly surrounded.
Although the soldiers were full of questions, they still carried out the orders without hesitation.
"Have all the craftsmen been safely evacuated?"
"Yes, they've all been brought out safely."
"However, both the soldiers who went in for the rescue and the craftsmen who were rescued aren't in very good condition."
Looking at the soldiers and craftsmen sitting on the ground in a daze, Sakazuki and Morris both frowned.
The two exchanged glances before walking over.
"Did you wear the earmuffs?"
"Couldn't they block the hammering sounds?"
Sakazuki had specifically ordered the rescue teams to wear protective equipment before entering.
Yet something had still gone wrong.
"Huff... huff..."
A Marine colonel panted heavily, his eyes filled with shock.
Faced with Sakazuki's question, he took several deep breaths to calm himself.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, we all wore earmuffs and soundproof equipment."
"But... but those hammering sounds couldn't be blocked at all."
"I felt every strike echoing directly inside my head."
"I saw endless flames... corpses everywhere... it was horrifying..."
The colonel's face was deathly pale, as though he had witnessed something terrifying.
Sakazuki's brow furrowed deeply.
'Terrifying visions?'
'Could this be caused by Hammer's ability?'
Inside the armory.
Hammer's eyes were bloodshot.
He continued hammering the crimson-red blade in his hands with near-manic intensity.
His condition was far more frightening than anyone else's.
At some point, blood had begun seeping from his right hand.
The blood slowly flowed into the glowing red blade beneath it and was gradually absorbed.
[Ding!]
[Critical Attribute Assignment Triggered!]
[Detected forging material: Mutated Layered Cinnabar Steel.]
[Sharpness +100%]
[Hardness +100%]
[Wound Pain Intensified]
[Unique Special Attributes Activated: Demonization + Bloodthirst]
The moment the system notification sounded, a dazzling crimson light exploded from the blade.
A wave of pure malice erupted outward, blasting even Hammer, the weapon's creator, away.
BOOM!
A violent shockwave swept through the armory.
The red light pierced straight through the roof.
Outside, every soldier felt a chill run through their bodies.
They all instinctively looked toward the sky.
The blinding crimson beam was impossible to miss.
"What is that?"
"What is that red light?!"
Vice Admiral Morris, who had never witnessed Hammer forging a weapon before, was completely stunned.
"This is definitely something caused by Hammer's forging."
"But why does that red light feel so sinister?"
Sakazuki stared fixedly at the crimson glow.
Heat was already radiating from his body.
What he didn't understand was this:
If the weapon was acting up, where was Hammer?
As the crimson light intensified, the completed blade also began emitting an eerie glow.
Then it shot upward out of the armory.
Under everyone's gaze, a blood-red sword rose into the sky.
The blade's design was simple.
Its entire body was crimson.
Aside from a single blood groove, there wasn't a single unnecessary decoration.
The two-meter-long blade radiated lethal killing intent.
Yet what truly frightened people was the terrifying aura surrounding it.
The sword began trembling violently in the air.
Its tip darted back and forth as though searching for something.
Just as everyone was wondering what was happening, an enraged shout exploded from inside the armory.
"Sakazuki, help me!"
"Destroy that sword!"
"Shock Hammer!"
Terrifying vibration power instantly shattered the entire roof of the armory.
A devastating shockwave rushed toward the crimson blade.
Sakazuki was startled for only a moment before reacting.
His right hand immediately drew Rhitta from his back.
Magma surged into the axe as he charged it.
"Energy Projection!"
With Sakazuki pouring power into it without restraint, Divine Axe Rhitta completed its charge in just two or three seconds.
A torrent of scorching energy erupted from the axe's tip and shot toward the red sword.
BOOM!
Magma and vibration energy collided in midair.
The clash triggered a massive explosion.
The watching soldiers were stunned by the overwhelming display of power.
They looked toward both the armory and Sakazuki with admiration.
Even Vice Admiral Morris was shocked.
The attack that had emerged from the armory had been genuine vibration power.
It reminded him of one of the New World's greatest monsters.
That single strike significantly raised Hammer's standing in Morris's eyes.
He was now almost on par with Sakazuki.
At the same time, Morris became even more disgusted by Hammer's desire to remain in the rear lines.
"Not good!"
"It's trying to escape!"
Just as everyone assumed the crimson blade had been reduced to dust by the explosion, Hammer's alarmed shout rang out.
Everyone froze.
'Escape?'
'Who was escaping?'
'The sword?'
The moment he heard this, Sakazuki's legs transformed into magma and launched him into the sky.
As someone familiar with Hammer's forging abilities, he knew Hammer could supposedly grant souls to weapons.
Winterborne was proof enough.
"Crimson Hound!"
Since Divine Axe Rhitta required a cooldown period after releasing Energy Projection, Sakazuki switched tactics.
His left fist erupted with magma.
A gigantic molten hound formed in midair.
Opening its massive jaws, it lunged toward the crimson blade.
Just as the magma beast was about to swallow it,
The red sword released a terrifying aura.
Its tip instantly locked onto a direction and accelerated.
Its unparalleled sharpness pierced straight through the magma hound.
In the blink of an eye, it vanished beyond the horizon.
Even Sakazuki was shocked.
It was only a sword.
There wasn't even a wielder.
Yet despite merely possessing some degree of sentience, it had escaped from him.
Filled with questions, he descended to the ground.
He intended to get answers from Hammer.
"Damn it!"
"It actually got away!"
"No, I need to call old man Sengoku."
"Forget that, if necessary, I need to contact the Five Elders!"
"This time the trouble is huge!"
Sakazuki: ???
Vice Admiral Morris: ???
What kind of situation was this?'
Why did they suddenly need to contact Admiral Sengoku?
And what did the Five Elders have to do with it?
"Hammer, what exactly happened?"
"You blew up my G-5 armory, and now this?"
Facing Sakazuki's question, Hammer's face was ashen.
His hands were covered in blood.
Faint green markings had appeared on his face.
"And your face?"
"Have you been poisoned?"
Hammer sighed helplessly and nodded.
Yes.
He had been poisoned.
And he had been poisoned while forging.
The cause of it all, was that sword.
"This is a bit..."
"Ah..."
"Forget it."
"Get me a doctor first."
"I'm still bleeding over here..."