Wang Zhi edged a little farther from Tengetsu Ares. It was still blistering, but the extra space helped. He gave a wry smile. "When I first t you, I didn't believe you could temper your body past the Twelve Supre Grade Blades. But now…"
"It's clear you've already walked a long way down that road. You're closing in on your dream."
He knew every inch of that progress was bought with fights upon fights and hellish training.
Ares was only sixteen, yet Wang Zhi still couldn't help the sincere respect rising in his chest. Staring at the young man wreathed in fire those devil-forged muscles that left onlookers dumbstruck his eyes brimd with expectation. "Ares' future… I can't wait to see it. I hope that day cos soon."
Kaido chuckled beside him. " too. When that day cos, big bro Ares is gonna be the nightmare of the World Governnt and the Navy."
The flas kept licking at Ares' massive fra, turning him into a small sun.
Born into a swordsmith clan, he'd grown up on the language of forges and tempering. Quenching steel boosts rigidity, hardness, wear resistance, fatigue strength, toughness.
It makes a blade last.
Ares' twist was to substitute his own body for steel. Through this furnace-work he'd learned where flesh differs from iron yet also where it echoes. He could toughen muscle fibers, spur stronger cell growth, and raise his body's tolerance to scorching heat.
His muscles glowed like red-hot brands, gemstone-bright, almost glassy.
His physique was still climbing.
Nowhere near the limit.
"At this pace, I need another year or two to finish this quench," he gauged calmly. "When flas can't harm anymore, I'll move on to the next stage."
He kept at it for hours, then finally plunged into the sea with a hiss. Steam roared up in sheets, shrouding the water in a thick white fog.
He was, in truth, imitating the forge start to finish with his own flesh.
Four or five days later
Their ship made Harbor on Hachinosu. Kaido imdiately noticed the change: patrol craft circling the island, and the port itself transford into a fortress of war.
Gun embrasures lined the seawall like black thorns at least a dozen bunkers bristled with cannon.
Everything looked different.
On deck, Ares studied the harbor, excitent in his eyes and a pinch of disappointnt. "Looks like Newgate and big bro Shiki aren't back yet…"
No trace of their ships at anchor.
He pald the iron-clad rail, leaning out over the quay. "A year gone, and Hachinosu's a whole new beast."
"Don't worry," Wang Zhi said. "They're up to their necks sa as the rest of us. Once the jobs are done, they'll return. For now, we report to Captain Rocks. When he hears you've hit admiral-class, he'll be delighted."
Ares nodded. "Good. I've got questions for the captain."
He turned to Kaido. "I'll go with Wang Zhi to see the captain. Once I learn a few Conqueror's Haki tricks, I'll pass them to you."
With a body that could rival an admiral's and a Mythical Zoan dragon form, Ares' Conqueror's Haki was already fearso no weaker than Newgate's or Shiki's. Its potency ca from the wielder's will; you couldn't grind that higher. But as a weapon, technique mattered, and there he was still green.
With technique, his arsenal would jump again.
"Mm!" Kaido brightened. He, too, bore the king's color.
Wang Zhi scratched his cheek, sheepish. "Conqueror's techniques… I've almost forgotten them. With how fast you're growing, yours must be miles beyond mine anyway."
Silver Axe muttered, "Monster." He'd long since given up comparing himself to a freak like Ares but hearing the kid's Conqueror's Haki was "already strong" still stung a little. Not that he planned to swap brothels for bonfires anyti soon.
People have different joys. So folks never grasp why "study fiends" study; everyone knows hard work pays, but…
"Let's go." Wang Zhi led Ares down the gangplank toward Skull Castle, Rocks' seat.
Both Ares and Kaido clocked the unfamiliar faces. The Rocks Pirates looked… replaced.
They were nearing the castle when a colossal figure blocked the road. Wang Zhi and Ares stopped short.
Charlotte Linlin.
Her gaze was… odd. The at she'd had between her teeth had flown a loss she still nursed. Her brown eyes lingered on Ares, drawn to that demon-forged physique. Compared to a year ago his muscles shone smoother, denser. Even at rest, they felt one heartbeat from erupting.
Linlin let herself stare for a beat longer. Then Shiki and Newgate's warnings flashed across her mind and she dragged her eyes to Kaido instead.
"Kaido," she crooned, "when I heard you were back, Mama was so happy I couldn't sleep!"
"Co with . You're going to have babies with Mama!"
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