After giving Garp a deep, meaningful look, Ian shifted his gaze back to the axe. He bent down while bathed in sunlight, and under everyone's watch, simply lifted the golden axe with one hand.
Everyone around him froze.
Especially the Marines who had followed Garp there. They had not forgotten how heavy that crate was.
It took four marines exerting all their strength just to carry it down here!
Yet this man lifted it with one hand?
He even completely effortlessly tossed it between his left and right hands like it was a toy.
Just watching made everyone's hearts leap into their throats, terrified that Ian might accidentally drop it and punch a crater into the ground.
Everyone's eyes were wide open, and everyone's gaze was tracking the motion of the axe.
Was the axe actually not heavy? Was the crate heavy instead?
Even Garp reached out curiously, lifting the crate that the axe originally rested in. When he discovered he could casually pick up the crate, a hint of shock crossed his eyes.
Then he stared at Ian, who was fiddling with the axe, and laughed loudly. "Your strength got even stronger? Hahaha, that's surprising!"
However, Ian, holding the axe, rolled his eyes in annoyance at Garp's words.
Is this guy surprised?
Don't be ridiculous.
This guy can single-handedly lift a cannonball the size of a naval warship.
But looking at the golden axe in his hand, Ian couldn't help but curl his lips slightly. "It's indeed quite heavy!"
Although the long handle didn't make it look like a one-handed axe, it felt much better in his hand than his standard Marine's one-handed axe.
After hearing Vegapunk's words, he planned to visit a certain swordsmith at a certain dojo in the East Blue sometime and ask him to forge an axe.
Unexpectedly, the gift from Ain turned out to be an axe!
From what Garp had just said, it seemed like Ain had traded her own Devil Fruit for it?
Come to think of it, Binz had indeed demonstrated his Devil Fruit ability before, but Ain hadn't.
Could it be that her Devil Fruit was traded for this weapon?
"You seem quite satisfied."
Looking at Ian, who was frowning in deep thought, Garp chuckled again, still picking his nose, and said: "That's right. That big-headed scientist created this. It must be an incredible weapon. Shouldn't you give it a name?"
"Name..."
Hearing Garp's words, Ian snapped out of daze. He raised the golden axe in his right hand and held it upright.
His left hand touched his chin while gazing at the axe in his hand, which, bathed in the sunlight with him, radiated a fiery glow under the rays, like a sun descending upon the earth.
He pondered for a moment, then frowned. He didn't answer Garp's question. He turned and glanced around.
Seeing the sea before him, devoid of any docked ships, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Without hesitation, he raised his axe.
Before the puzzled crowd could ask, in the blink of an eye, Ian brought down the axe in his right hand.
Instantly, under everyone's gaze, a dazzling golden light emanated from the falling axe, slicing down the sea with terrifying force.
In an instant, the sea surged, and the ship tossed and turned with the surging waves.
This wasn't the end of it. A golden light blazed forward, stirring up huge waves wherever it passed.
Everyone stared at the sea in disbelief, their eyes wide open with horror.
In that instant... the sea had actually parted!
This guy... Could actually part the sea?
The Marines who came with Garp trembled. They already knew anyone Garp valued wouldn't be ordinary, but they never imagined Ian's power would be this monstrous.
As the stunned crowd slowly looked back at Ian…
Ian had already retracted his axe and admired it with a satisfied expression.
A spark of inspiration glinted in his eyes, and he couldn't help declaring: "Rhitta, Divine Axe Rhitta!"
Garp: Wouldn't it be more romantic to call it Divine Axe Ain?
As Ian finished speaking, everyone's attention shifted to the axe radiating light.
The golden axe…
No, it should be called the Divine Axe Rhitta now.
It shone like a sun born into the world.
In this instant, everyone knew a supreme weapon capable of shocking the sea had just been born.
Perhaps this weapon wasn't renowned yet, but they knew that with such a master, the Divine Axe Rhitta would one day rise to fame across the seas along with its master.
However, just as everyone was watching the impending birth of a legend in silence and anticipation…
"Rita? Forget it. Whatever."
Garp the mood-ruiner spoke up again in a cheerful tone. "You can discuss the name with Ain later. I'm sure she'll love it. As for now... Shouldn't there be a banquet? To welcome this old man, and to celebrate your new weapon!"
...
Hearing Garp's words, Ian, who had been admiring the axe, came back to his senses and stared speechlessly at Garp, who was carelessly picking his nose before him.
Didn't you, old man, ask me to come up with the name?
And didn't he just say that no one was free to prepare for the banquet?
However, before Ian could say anything, Robin stood up, smiled at Ian, and said: "The banquet is already prepared, Vice-Admiral Garp."
"Hahaha, it is already prepared?"
Garp burst out laughing and looked at Robin. "You're much more interesting than this guy. Let's go to the banquet!"
Without stopping, Garp walked off in the familiar direction.
Ian looked helplessly at Robin and said, "Isn't everyone busy?"
"Ian, even if they are busy, they still have time for the banquet."
Robin smiled at Ian and whispered, "When they heard Garp was coming, Village Chief Martin had already started preparing for the banquet. Everyone's been so busy lately, so let's celebrate tonight! And when Village Chief Martin heard you were preventing the banquet, he was very upset!"
Hearing Robin's words, Ian's face twitched, completely unsure what was going on.
He had almost forgotten that the people of this sea simply loved to hold banquets, constantly looking for opportunities to do so!
They would probably rather hold a banquet than take a holiday.
And by doing this, he was preventing everyone from holding a banquet, a serious sin in this sea!
Ian shook his head helplessly: "Forget it, let's just relax!"
However, as soon as he finished speaking...
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