And with the Ice-Heart Pendant now equipped, Hammer's stats panel had changed, too.

Name: [Hammer]

Age: [23]

Devil Fruit: [Paramecia-type Hammer-Hammer Fruit, Awakened. Awakening Ability: Assimilation Granting. Note: Must be triggered together.]

Developed Devil Fruit Abilities: [Small Hammer Strike, Air Hammer, Omnidirectional Hammer, Hammering of the Soul, Chest-Breaking Hammer, Spark Hammer, Absolute Space, Hammer Space, Hypnosis Hammer, Malleable Hammering.]

Armament Haki (Activated): [45%, no longer beginner level, has reached mid-level strength.]

Observation Haki (Activated): [25%, Prediction + Perception (low strength).]

Conqueror's Haki: [Shameless! Awakened through external means, an improper Conqueror's Haki! You're only worthy of being a Slacker King!]Ptooey!]

Abilities: [Rokushiki (perfectly mastered), Rokushiki Variant Techniques (mastered).]

Special Ability: [Critical Crafting! Allows for ability extension and specialized attributes. Note: Usage consumes resources, host, please be mindful!]

The biggest changes were clearly the Devil Fruit and the Conqueror's Haki, one awakened, the other unlocked.

Even though his Conqueror's Haki could only be used to generate presence, it was still better than having none. If he ran into other Conqueror's Haki users in the future, he wouldn't be totally on the back foot.

Thinking about it, Hammer felt like he'd really gotten a massive payoff.

Suddenly, that month of forging felt absolutely worth it!

"Unbelievable, completely unbelievable."

"First, you awakened Conqueror's Haki for Scarlett, and now you've even awakened it yourself."

"Hammer, be honest, is there any way you can help someone else awaken Conqueror's Haki?"

Sengoku was so excited that he grabbed Hammer's arms with both hands and started shaking him madly.

"Oi! Sengoku, old man! Easy!"

"What the! Let go!"

BOOM!

The Slacker King's Haki burst out again, and Hammer shoved Sengoku away with force, leaping backward.

Two massive handprints were clearly visible on his forearms.

"You old bastard! Who uses Conqueror's Infusion on their own people?!"

Hammer gritted his teeth in pain, and both arms felt half-done for.

Yes, under the influence of Conqueror's Haki, Sengoku had unconsciously used its highest-level application: Conqueror's Coating.

"Uh, got a bit carried away, my bad! Don't mind it!"

Sengoku realized how out of line he'd been and quickly withdrew his Haki, bowing his head with apologies.

"Sengoku, you old troll, forget about your pension for the next ten years!"

"I mean it!"

Hammer totally ignored Sengoku's pleas; he shakily raised a hand and flashed him a classic international "friendly gesture."

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't be like that! I just want to know if you can help anyone else awaken Conqueror's Haki!"

"It's for the Marines' future, Hammer! Don't take it so personally!"

Sengoku panicked instantly, ten years! That was ten years of pension!

His whole retirement fund, how could he just let that get milked away?

"Hmph! You think Conqueror's Haki is some cabbage you pick up at the market?"

"Scarlett doesn't count, do you know how much blood and sweat I poured into forging that one pendant?"

"Besides, not to brag, but does anyone here have more cultural knowledge than me?"

"If anyone thinks they do, stand up and recite three hundred poems right now!"

Hammer puffed out his chest proudly.

Come on, he was a modern man from the 21st century, his brain overflowing with knowledge. Never mind Mihawk or the future Zoro, when it came to poetry, Hammer could school them both blindfolded and backward.

Seeing Hammer strut around like a peacock, all the Marine top brass fell silent, their expressions unreadable.

Some were already reaching for their sword hilts.

A wave of sulfurous heat, biting frost, and blinding golden light began to gather.

"So you think you're hot stuff just because you awakened Conqueror's Haki, huh, Hammer?"

"Hehehehe, I'd like to test how tough Conqueror's Haki really is, Hammer-kun!"

"Amazing! Hammer, come fight! I'm all fired up!"

Red, yellow, and blue, Sakazuki, Kizaru, Borsalino, and Kuzan, stepped forward together, moving in on Hammer.

The other new generation also stepped closer, weapons drawn, eyes brimming with mischief.

"Uh… wait, that's not what I meant!"

"Stop! Don't come any closer!"

"Big bros, big sisses, please, hold your steps!"

Seeing a bunch of bloodthirsty maniacs closing in, Hammer freaked out.

"Red Lotus!"

"Yasakani no Magatama!"

"Ice Block! Pheasant Beak!"

"OH NOOO!!"

Three days later, Fleet Admiral Kong presided over another meeting.

This time, Hammer was there too.

He sat obediently in a corner of the conference hall, covered in wounds and bruises.

Kuzan and Borsalino sat on either side of him.

"Hey, Hammer, that ice chunk you gave me? I've fully converted it now. So when are you forging me a weapon?"

"I already know what I want, a long spear! It'll look super cool!"

Borsalino chimed in with his trademark smile:

"Yes, Hammer-kun, I've also decided on my exclusive weapon. I want a sword, just like my Ame-no-Murakumo blade."

Oh, so they really weren't shy about it.

Hammer shot them both a sideways glare.

"Hmph, custom weapons? You two sure hit me hard enough back there!"

"Kuzan, I'll have you know, I've already drafted your 'custom weapon'!"

"And you, monkey, yours too!"

They ignored his first complaint entirely, hearing that he'd already planned their custom weapons made them both grin happily.

Little did they know did they really thought Hammer was so easy to deal with?

Custom, sure. But would it actually be a weapon? Well, that was another story!

After the meeting, Kuzan dragged Hammer straight to his warship and handed over the fully converted Jewel Ice Sheet piece.

Hammer couldn't help but marvel at how perfectly it had fused; clearly, Vegapunk's method really worked.

Under Kuzan's eager eyes, Hammer hauled the Jewel Ice back into the forge.

"Stay here at HQ for a few days, once I'm done, you can go."

With that, Hammer knocked Kuzan out cold with a hammer strike, shattering him into chunks of ice, then walked alone into his forge.

"Hey, Lance, get Hina over here. I need her help for a little project."

Yep, Hammer was about to make Chicken Bro a special little surprise. He'd need Hina's power to pull it off.

He promised himself: he'd make sure Chicken Bro got a custom "weapon" he'd never forget!