It was already rare for the System to respond to specific questions, so it naturally ignored Ash's complaints.
Still, Ash was satisfied.
At least the doubts that had lingered in his mind were now resolved.
He recalled how he once tried to ask about the awakening conditions for Armament Haki and Observation Haki, yet received no response at all. Now, the pattern was clear.
The System only answered questions directly related to him.
Back then, those questions had nothing to do with his own state, so they were ignored. This time, however, both Conqueror's Haki and Devil Fruit Awakening were tied directly to his growth, which explained the response.
Ash focused on the panel and expanded the relevant sections.
As expected, Conqueror's Haki was only at Level 1. Its effect was simple, knocking out weak-willed opponents. Useful against fodder, but not particularly valuable in real combat.
In Ash's case, it was even less appealing.
Anyone he defeated would ultimately be converted into energy. Knocking them unconscious first only added an unnecessary step.
That said, it was not entirely useless.
Unlike most who awakened Conqueror's Haki naturally and struggled to control it, Ash could already wield it with precision from the start.
That alone gave it some value.
Next, he checked the Devil Fruit Awakening section.
It was even simpler.
A single line displayed an awakening progress of 64 percent.
Nothing more.
Ash tried to calculate the relationship between his Physique and the percentage, but no matter how he approached it, there was no clear pattern.
After spending some time on it, he gave up.
Whatever the logic was, it did not matter much. Whether awakened or not, his current strength was already more than enough.
Shifting his attention, Ash glanced over the rest of the panel. The auxiliary Devil Fruit abilities and Physique Amplification continued to grow at an absurd rate as he created more fruits.
There was nothing new worth noting there.
What did catch his attention, however, was his energy reserve.
Nearly seven thousand.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Looks like it's time for another large-scale distribution."
He lifted the gourd in his hand and took a sip of fruit wine, his gaze drifting toward Pini and Youki, who were still locked in a fierce drinking contest by the bonfire. Around them, their companions cheered and laughed.
Each Devil Fruit he created was more than just an increase in his own strength.
It was also an opportunity.
An opportunity for someone to stand beside him, to gain power, and to extend their lifespan.
Cathay Village still had many young and capable individuals. Since relocating to the Sky Island, and with Sali and others venturing out to sea, those who remained had only trained harder.
Their intentions were obvious.
Perhaps that was why the elders always refused the fruits.
They wanted to leave those opportunities to the next generation.
Ash took another sip, his thoughts deepening.
"The next distribution will be held in Cathay Village."
"If I present seventy Devil Fruits at once, the elders won't be able to refuse anymore."
He paused briefly before continuing his silent calculations.
"Beyond Cathay Village, a few candidates can be selected from the Shandians and Angel Island. Strength and shared benefits will keep both sides firmly aligned."
Then another issue surfaced.
Robin.
"She has already eaten a Devil Fruit. She cannot gain the same constitution as the others through that method."
"The previous designs failed to replicate that effect."
Ash's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then I'll try a different approach."
The night passed quietly as his plans took shape.
---
The next day, the world was thrown into an uproar.
News of Silvers Rayleigh's defeat aboard the Dawn Ship spread like wildfire.
Reports stated that Pini and Youki, known as members of the Ten Demon Saints, had fought Rayleigh to a standstill. That alone was enough to elevate their reputations across the seas.
But what truly shocked the world was what came next.
Rayleigh, the former right-hand man of the Pirate King, had been severely wounded and defeated by Ash in a single move.
The images published alongside the report left no room for doubt.
Countless people stared at the newspapers in disbelief.
That was Silvers Rayleigh.
Even at seventy-two, he was still a legend of the sea. Not someone who could be casually defeated by a rising figure.
Yet the evidence was undeniable.
Among the younger generation, the reaction was relatively calm. Many simply acknowledged that Ash, the so-called Heavenly Emperor, remained monstrously powerful.
Some changed their routes to avoid him. Others chose to stay hidden.
Keeping their distance was enough.
The older generation, however, reacted very differently.
Aboard the Moby Dick, Edward Newgate, known to the world as Whitebeard, sat silently for a moment after reading the news.
At sixty-eight, he had not yet reached the frail state he would later suffer. Still, years of constant battle in the New World had taken their toll, and the strain from his Gura Gura no Mi had left hidden damage within his body.
After a brief silence, he lifted a massive bowl of sake and drank it down in one go.
"Gurararara! Another old rival has fallen!"
His laughter echoed across the deck.
"The young ones are full of fire. But I'm not as old as Rayleigh yet! Drink up, sons!"
The crew roared in response, pushing aside any lingering unease.
Elsewhere, in Totto Land, Charlotte Linlin had a completely different reaction.
"Mama Mama! Ash, Pini, and Youki… all of them are excellent men!"
Her eyes gleamed with interest.
"If I married them, I'd have perfect children, Mama Mama!"
Standing nearby, Charlotte Katakuri stiffened slightly.
At forty-two, he found it difficult to imagine his mother marrying someone younger than himself.
He exchanged a glance with Charlotte Perospero. Neither of them dared to voice any objections.
Katakuri could only hope this was another passing whim.
If she truly pursued it, Totto Land might gain a dangerous new enemy.
After all, when the Pirate King had once infiltrated her territory decades ago, Katakuri had witnessed Rayleigh's strength firsthand.
Even with age, Rayleigh's experience and mastery would only have sharpened.
Yet he had still been defeated.
As for the claim that it happened in a single move, that was clearly exaggerated.
Everyone knew how Morgans operated.
Sensational headlines were his trademark.
No reasonable person would take that part seriously.