A Tri-Effect Custom Weapon.

Hammer was extremely satisfied with this creation. After all, ice was much more versatile than magma; if he only kept it locked in one form, it would be a waste of its potential.

Besides, Chicken Bro loved using his powers to make tridents, spears, and the like, so this fit perfectly.

Just imagining Kuzan, with his three-meter-tall frame and curly hair, wearing those black suspenders… Hammer couldn't help but laugh.

'The troll factor was maxed out, hahaha.'

To stop the freezing air from spreading further, Hammer canceled the transformation and sealed the Ruyi in a box, storing it in his ring.

With the source of the chill gone, the armory's furnaces would soon bring the temperature back to normal.

Having finished Chicken Bro's custom gear, Hammer sat down and absently fiddled with the Ice Heart Pendant on his chest, sinking into thought.

At the moment the forging succeeded, besides the successful weapon, he'd also heard a prompt that caught his attention:

[Ding! Critical Crafting activated, special skill formed based on user's idea!]

[The weapon's materials are top-tier, and the skill formed is extremely powerful. Empowerment is now entering a cooldown period.]

[Cooldown: Cannot generate custom special skills again until the period ends. Time remaining: 3 months.]

Well, Hammer had been in a great mood, but that message wiped the grin off his face.

'So self-selecting skills came with a cooldown, huh? Great, that meant Sengoku's and Monkey Bro's exclusive weapons would have to wait again.' Unless he left it up to random forging, but then the precious materials might get wasted.

In other words, if Hammer wanted to manually define a skill and craft it, he'd need to wait a while.

Still, thinking about it, that made sense. The damn system that bailed on him had to leave behind some limits, too.

And now he'd found it: the cooldown period.

Luckily, only a few people really needed custom weapons at the moment.

Of them, Sengoku was the most desperate.

Next was Monkey Bro and Chicken Bro.

Chicken Bro's was done, so next up would be Monkey Bro and Sengoku.

'That old coot… all he thought about was his custom. Hmph.'

'Fine. For the sake of the precious materials, I'll put him ahead of Monkey Bro.'

Rank has its privileges, Monkey Bro probably wouldn't mind.

The Light Crystal was ready, but how to craft it was still a problem.

Maybe… he should ask Vegapunk again?

Thinking of this, Hammer suddenly realized Vegapunk really was a treasure, a walking encyclopedia with a superhuman brain and all sorts of weird knowledge.

"Guess I'll have to go to Punk Hazard again. But sailing back and forth is such a pain…"

"Isn't there any way I could just fly straight there…?"

Just thinking about the journey and all the monsters he might run into made Hammer frustrated.

He was just an honest man hammering metal at home, but why did he keep bumping into monsters every time he went out?

'Sigh…'

The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he got; a thousand ideas about flying devices ran wild in his head, but not one solid plan came out.

Stepping out of the foundry, the long-lost sunlight fell on him, and he couldn't help but let out a low groan of contentment.

Just as he was enjoying the warmth, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed.

"Hammer! You're finally out!"

"So? My custon weapon, it's done, right?!"

It was Sengoku.

The moment he got the news, he'd literally jumped through a window, leaving the group of officers reporting to him stunned in his office.

They stared at the shattered glass on the floor, their mouths twitching.

Vice Admiral Tsuru, standing by, just closed her eyes in resignation.

Ever since Hammer started jumping out windows, all their top brass had stopped using doors.

'Sigh… so exhausting.'

Hammer: '…Can't I just have a moment of peace, you damn old goat?'

"Nope. This time it wasn't yours, you glowing types are a headache. The materials are ready, but I don't know how to start. So I'm planning another trip to Punk Hazard."

"Since Vegapunk solved the Jewel Ice Sheet, I bet he has an idea for the Light Crystal too."

Sengoku instantly turned to stone, frozen in place.

'Not my custom.'

'Not my custom.'

Those words looped endlessly in his mind.

Thinking of all the daydreams and fantasies he'd had about wielding his custom weapon these past days, Sengoku's chest tightened until he could barely breathe!

He'd already felt something was off when the cold had spread, but he'd forced himself to stay hopeful.

And now, hearing it really wasn't his, the crushing disappointment was impossible to put into words!

"What's wrong, Sengoku? Chest pains? Got any meds?"

"If not, I can hammer you a few times, might help!"

Hammer grinned wickedly. Of course, he knew exactly why Sengoku looked like this. But for some reason, it felt oddly satisfying!

"Screw you! You damn brat, you made me …never mind!"

"Hmph!"

'Since it wasn't my custom, there was no point hanging around, back to work!'

'So annoying!'

"Hey, hey! Don't just leave, Old Man Sengoku!"

Hammer grabbed him by the sleeve.

"What now? You made me get my hopes up for nothing, and now I can't even walk away?"

Sengoku's face was twisted in pure misery.

Hammer: 'Wow. What a drama queen.'

"I'm heading to Punk Hazard. Mind arranging some protection?"

"I always feel like whenever I set sail, something dangerous happens…"

"You don't want your custom to become a when-I'm-dead series, right…?"

Sengoku: '…You little #%!@#%…'

"Who do you want as protection?"

"Doesn't have to be much. Just assign me a couple of Vice Admirals. You know my combat skills aren't exactly top-tier."

'A couple of Vice Admirals?'

Sengoku felt his blood pressure spike.

"Screw you! I'll give you two Rear Admirals at most! Take it or leave it!"

Rear Admirals? Sure, Rear Admirals were fine. As long as Hammer didn't have to throw hands himself, it was all good!

"Perfect! Rear Admirals are plenty!"

"Two, though! Gotta be two, or I don't feel safe!"

Sengoku: '…Shameless brat. With your combat skills, unless you run into a major pirate, who could even touch you??'

But Hammer really did have the pull; Sengoku needed him to forge those weapons. Plus, after what happened with Whitebeard, Sengoku fully understood how crucial Hammer was, absolutely irreplaceable!

Look at how Zephyr had dominated with that custom gear; Hammer was a treasure!

Might as well keep him protected.

"Fine! I'll send them to your place later!"

"Hmph!"

With a final huff, Sengoku turned and left without a shred of hesitation; he didn't want to see Hammer for another second.

Hammer grinned. Sengoku's mood was the least of his concerns.

What mattered was staying safe. After so many beatings at sea, his sense of security was at rock bottom.

purupuru puru

"Hey, Lance, I'm done. Come over for dinner tonight."

"Yeah, of course there'll be others, I got Sengoku to send me two bodyguards. I'm heading to Punk Hazard tomorrow."

"Mm-hm. That's it. Don't forget to bring booze and meat."

"Huh? Me? I'm going home for a shower, obviously. Just get your receipts reimbursed at logistics."