After thinking it through, Ash moved the experiment to the rear section of the Dawn Ship's castle.
If the test failed, the result could be fatal. Consuming two Devil Fruits could cause the body to explode. Even if the probability was low, Ash had no intention of turning his own room into a blood-soaked mess.
He rarely used the bedroom at the top of the tower, but it was still his space.
The thought alone made the decision easy.
Looking at Ulti and Page One lying unconscious like corpses, Ash silently opened his editor.
The changes on his personal panel were minimal but steady.
After sixty-two days, his Physique had increased by 310 points, reaching 5800.
His Spirit rose slightly, now at 176.
His Energy had grown from 6798 to 7413, an increase of 615 points. Ash was unsure if all of it came from the Donquixote Family, or if Vergo and the others stationed at Reverse Mountain had also contributed.
Either way, energy was energy.
Fruit Awakening progress had also climbed from 64 percent to 74 percent.
A ten percent increase over two months was acceptable.
After reviewing everything, Ash moved on. Designing a Devil Fruit required little effort for him now.
His gaze fell on Ulti.
With a casual motion, he spent one hundred Energy points and created a Paramecia-type Head-Iron Fruit.
He lifted Ulti with one hand, pulled off her mask, forced her mouth open, and shoved the fruit inside. A quick motion at the back of her neck ensured she swallowed it.
Once he confirmed the pulp was gone, Ash tossed her aside.
He stepped back and activated his space ability, sealing the area around her.
Time passed.
Ulti showed no signs of her body breaking apart.
A faint smile formed on Ash's lips.
Then, a stream of bluish-purple energy rose from her body, visible even to the naked eye.
Ash frowned and extended his hand toward it.
At first, the energy drifted aimlessly within the sealed space. But the moment Ash reached out, it broke through the barrier, rushed into his palm, and disappeared.
Ash examined his hand, finding nothing unusual. With a thought, he reopened his panel.
A notification appeared.
One hundred Energy points had been returned.
His total Energy still read 7413.
The result made his smile widen.
Still, he quickly restrained himself.
"This isn't enough."
He pressed his lips together.
"There are anomalies in this world, like Marshall D. Teach. One successful case doesn't prove anything. I need more tests before I let Robin try it."
His gaze shifted to Page One.
Then he paused.
"They're siblings. That reduces the reliability of the result. It's possible both of them are exceptions."
With that thought, Ash waved his hand. The space around the two tightened.
He did not stay to watch.
His figure vanished, reappearing at the battlefield near the coast.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Sasaki, who lay unconscious with a swollen lump on his head. Another flash, and he appeared beside Who's-Who, who was in a similar condition.
Only after securing both did Ash take a moment to observe the battlefield.
Pini was already beginning to suppress King.
On Kaido's side, Youki and two others had returned to the fight.
Meanwhile, Jack had been defeated, and Wyper was back at the bow, eating and drinking.
Ash's sudden appearance drew attention.
"Carry on," he said briefly.
Then he disappeared again.
On the bow, the others exchanged glances. Curiosity was obvious, but no one spoke.
Everyone except Vander Decken.
He swallowed a mouthful of meat and laughed. "What do you think Ash is doing, taking four of the Tobiroppo?"
No one answered.
Decken grinned wider. "Then think about it. Why Ulti and Page One earlier, and now Sasaki and Who's-Who?"
Robin tilted her head slightly, then smiled. "Because Ulti and Page One were close together, making them easy to take at once. And this time, he chose the smaller ones instead of someone like Black Maria or Jack."
"Exactly!"
Decken snapped his fingers, laughing. "He's just too lazy to carry the big ones!"
Beside him, Wyper slammed down his drink and stood up.
"I'm ready. What about you?"
Decken laughed and got to his feet. "You're already going for a second round, I'm not missing that. I want to see what a Yonko can really do!"
Wyper grinned. "Then let's go!"
With loud shouts, the two charged back into battle, leaving the women staring after them.
Carina blinked. "We were just talking… how did they suddenly get so fired up?"
Nami covered her mouth with a smile. "That's just how men are."
Before the conversation could continue, Ash returned.
This time, the women clearly saw the expression on his face.
He looked satisfied.
The experiment had succeeded.
Without giving them a chance to ask, Ash leaned back into a lounge chair and opened his panel.
Energy: 8686.
Ash frowned slightly.
"The experiment worked, but why did my Energy jump by nearly thirteen hundred?"
He shook his head.
"Those Tobiroppo really are useful."
Then he spoke.
"Robin."
"Yes?" she replied.
Ash looked at her with a faint smile. "If I could replace your Devil Fruit, remove your weakness to seawater and Seastone, and extend your lifespan significantly… would you accept it?"
Robin's eyes widened in surprise.
"A fruit like the others? Of course I would. I didn't even think it was possible to replace a Devil Fruit someone has already eaten. That's incredible."
Ash's smile deepened.
His gaze shifted briefly toward the others.
That was the kind of reaction he appreciated.
Robin understood value.
Unlike certain people who spent their time arguing with him or teasing him endlessly.
Some people really needed to learn from her.