The shadow shrank and surged forward at an incredible speed, almost like a flash of light.
An's speed and reflexes were undoubtedly among the best in the world, especially when coupled with her dominating power inherited directly from Roger, the strongest human.
However, even with her exceptional abilities, she barely avoided the sudden assault.
The unexpected attack from the shadow force left An feeling extremely embarrassed. Moreover, she still had no weapon in hand.
Although she hadn't been using weapons for long, she had been wielding Shadow Cutter since birth.
Now, fighting without her trusted weapon made her feel quite uncomfortable for a moment.
But she wasn't completely defenseless.
Regardless of whether she was fighting against a person or a weapon, as long as she could foresee the future with her dominating power, she could gain the upper hand.
An swiftly moved forward, only to notice that Shadow Cutter had undergone a change.
Initially, it appeared as an ordinary short sword, with a black line running down its center, nothing more.
But now, the sword seemed to be engulfed in flames, black flames to be exact. Though faint, they caught An's gaze with clarity.
Superhuman-type Devil Fruits shouldn't induce changes in objects. Such alterations typically stem from Animal-type Devil Fruits.
This meant that the changes occurring in Shadow Cutter at this moment were due to the demonic cells.
At that instant, the black, flame-burning Shadow Cutter thrust towards An.
However, this time the attack was anticipated by An's dominating power of future sight.
She gracefully dodged the thrust and used her Armament Haki to fortify her hand.
Her hand turned black from the infusion of Haki, and she was about to grasp Shadow Cutter, but the blade seemed to possess a degree of self-will. The black flame appeared to take on a humanoid form, though it was merely a phantom.
As the phantom moved, so did Shadow Cutter. An sneered, her dominating demeanor allowing her to perceive the scene clearly.
No matter how peculiar Shadow Cutter had become, it was still just a weapon, incapable of resisting her.
An exerted force with her feet, propelling herself into the air. She appeared directly in the path Shadow Cutter attempted to evade. In the next moment, she firmly gripped the hilt of the blade.
The flames on Shadow Cutter seemed to intensify, even taking on a tangible form. However, An's hand was enveloped in potent Armament Haki, resulting in an intense clash between the two.
The entire laboratory, perhaps even the sky over Pandora Island, seemed to tear open with a colossal gap?! A tremendous surge of power permeated the surroundings. An narrowed her eyes, feeling an unfamiliar sensation coursing through her body via Shadow Cutter.
At that moment, she seemed to perceive the phantom that Shadow Cutter had previously transformed into. It appeared as if the phantom, with its claws and fangs, sought to devour her.
"Wishing to be your own master?" An spoke coldly. "However, you seem mistaken. With your current strength, controlling me is impossible. You should merely be my weapon."
Following the integration of their powers into Shadow Cutter, the changes it underwent were astonishing. It seemed to possess its own will and soul. Now, she was melding with Shadow Cutter's essence. The sensation was remarkable.
An's dominating power overwhelmed the black flames on Shadow Cutter, gradually quelling the clash of powers.
After a while, tranquility returned to the laboratory.
An breathed slightly heavier. She inspected Shadow Cutter, finding it had reverted to its original form—a nondescript short sword with a black line down its center. No black flames burned, and no dark phantom lingered.
Yet, she had a sensation that with a mere thought, Shadow Cutter would instantly surge forth, carrying her power to pierce through enemies. Such a feat wasn't just a singular fighting style; undoubtedly, numerous combat modes would follow.
However, this was a style unique to her in the world, and she would need to develop it herself.
"How was it?! How did it feel?" An was still lost in thought when she heard Vegapunk's voice behind her. She swiftly turned to see Vegapunk's ecstatic expression. His curious demeanor, coupled with his fervent expression, almost caused An's heart to leap out.
She coughed, feigning composure. "Doctor, your experiment was successful! I can sense the changes in Shadow Cutter and its synergy with me."
"Oh?" Vegapunk responded eagerly. "Tell me more!"
"My Haki adheres better to Shadow Cutter now, and its performance seems closely tied to mine. The more Haki I infuse, the stronger Shadow Cutter's various abilities become."
This was expected. After all, Haki could enhance weapons and abilities. Now, when combined, weapons and abilities could also be augmented by Haki. An was curious about what would happen next.
So she inquired, "Doctor, I have a question. If a Devil Fruit were to be incorporated into a weapon, would it still awaken?"
Vegapunk frowned, clearly contemplating. After a moment, he replied slowly, "This phenomenon isn't clear yet, but I believe awakening is possible. However, reaching that stage would likely be more challenging than human awakening."
Indeed, when the body and mind catch up with an ability, awakening occurs. Originally, the fusion of a Superhuman Devil Fruit and Devil Cell created a core. So if this core catches up with its ability, would it also awaken?
"I think it's better to name it Swastika."
Before An could respond, a voice interrupted from outside the door. An tensed, turning to see Makima strolling over, hands clasped behind her back.
Accompanying her was Sengoku, now the general of the Black Order.
"Swastika?" An was surprised, while Vegapunk inquired curiously, "Why such a name?"
"Utilizing demonic power requires balancing it with the elements of Buddha. Once such a weapon awakens, it's akin to 'evil enlightenment,' hence the name Swastika," Makima explained with a smile. "What do you both think?"
"Although... it's premature to discuss awakening and Swastika."