NOVEL WEB Chapter 56: CHAPTER 56
Ulti's resilience was truly astonishing. Even when facing the combined attack of Big Mom's three Homies, she hadn't been defeated outright.
In terms of feats, as recorded in the original story, Ulti arguably ranked the highest among the Tobi Roppo.
This female tyrannosaurus, now enraged beyond reason, abandoned her hybrid form and transformed into a full Pachycephalosaurus—a more savage and powerful state.
The sheer weight of her dinosaur body caused the ground beneath her feet to crack with every step. Her sharp claws gleamed in the dim light as a low, guttural roar escaped her throat, creating an overwhelming presence.
Alastor's blood boiled in excitement.
"This is what makes fighting fun!" he exclaimed.
He casually tossed aside his shirt, revealing chiseled abs and massive pectoral muscles. His muscular arms, taut with veins, radiated explosive strength.
Alastor wasn't just talk when he advised Page One to train. Exercise had always been central to his own growth. He routinely lifted weights that exceeded several tons, relentlessly pushing the limits of his body.
"It's not just my feet that can ignite flames through friction," he said with a grin. "My fists can do it too—or, to be precise, my entire body. Every part of me is just as tough!"
His eyes sparkled with a crazed excitement as he lunged toward Ulti, engaging her head-on in a brutal, close-range fight.
---
Compared to using weapons, this kind of direct, hand-to-hand combat exhilarated Alastor far more.
Throwing caution to the wind, he adopted a reckless, injury-for-injury fighting style. Every wound he sustained added to his growing defense, making this battle perfectly suited to his abilities.
"Magic Flame Punch!"
By moving his fists at incredible speed, Alastor created friction against the air, generating flames that wrapped around his hands.
He looked like a feral humanoid beast, his fiery punches hammering into the thick neck of Ulti's Pachycephalosaurus form.
In response, Ulti's claws slashed mercilessly across Alastor's chest, leaving deep, bloody gashes.
[The host has received moderate damage. Defense +15.]
Alastor licked his lips, completely ignoring the crimson streaks across his torso. His tone brimmed with exhilaration.
"Let's go again!"
Ulti's eyes widened. Her neck throbbed, and her vision blurred momentarily. Even in her beast form, Alastor's heavy punch had left her shaken.
"This guy… he's crazier than me!" she muttered in disbelief.
The fight had raged for over an hour, and Ulti found herself increasingly unnerved.
Alastor's willingness to trade injuries was unnerving enough, but what truly shocked her was his growing strength. As the battle wore on, his attacks became more powerful, and his body seemed to grow even tougher.
"This lunatic is getting stronger as we fight!"
The realization filled Ulti with a rare sense of dread. She had landed countless blows, yet none of them seemed to faze him. If anything, they only spurred him on, making him more dangerous with each passing moment.
"This is insane! What kind of body do you have?" she roared in frustration.
Alastor chuckled.
"This is the result of training. If you can't kill me, you'll only make me stronger."
Ulti's face contorted with fury.
"Don't compare me to that idiot Pay Pay! As if you could get a body like this just by training! Who are you trying to fool?"
She bellowed at the top of her lungs.
"My body's backed by an ancient Zoan ability! There's no way I'll lose to you in hand-to-hand combat!"
The battle continued with unrelenting ferocity.
---
Five hours later, the first rays of dawn broke over the horizon.
"Super Headbutt Cannon!"
"Magic Flame Iron Head!"
Alastor met Ulti head-on, colliding skulls with her Pachycephalosaurus form.
The impact was immense. Both fighters stumbled backward, the force sending shockwaves through the ground.
Ulti's beast form teetered unsteadily before collapsing with a resounding thud.
Alastor wasn't unscathed, either. He swayed as dizziness clouded his senses, the result of slamming directly into Ulti's hardest point—her reinforced forehead, boasting over 4,000 defense points and augmented by Haki.
As he massaged his temples, Alastor reflected on the night's events.
"This fight helped me lay the foundation for a new combat style," he thought, already planning his next steps.
He glanced at Ulti, still sprawled on the ground.
"It seems you can't fight anymore," he said aloud. "I've got things to do today, so let's call it a draw."
He reached for his shirt, but before he could put it on, Ulti stirred.
To his surprise, she forced herself to her feet, swaying but resolute. Her breathing was labored, and she looked utterly drained, yet her fiery spirit remained unbroken.
"Don't… stop… I haven't lost yet! Come on!" she growled, defiance burning in her eyes.
Alastor paused, then burst out laughing.
"Looks like you still need to be taught a lesson," he said.
His expression turned serious as his muscles tensed. Taking a deep breath, he assumed a stance, energy radiating from his entire body.
Ulti, despite her exhaustion, immediately snapped to attention, her instincts warning her of the danger.
"This is my ultimate physical technique," Alastor declared confidently.
The words sent a shiver down Ulti's spine.
She watched him charge toward her, every step bringing him closer.
The distance between them shrank rapidly.
Just as Ulti was deciding whether to strike first, Alastor suddenly accelerated. Moving with lightning speed, he rolled behind her and positioned himself between the hind legs of her Pachycephalosaurus form.
Then came Alastor's shout:
"Physical Technique Secret Art: Thousand-Year death!"
Even for an ancient Zoan-type user like Ulti, it was impossible for every part of her body to have the same unyielding defense as Alastor's. Under the unexpected attack of the Thousand-Year Kill, she was undoubtedly left severely injured.
Her massive dinosaur body began to shrink, reverting back to her human form.
Her eyes were wide with shock, almost bulging from their sockets. Her flushed cheeks, now an intense red, stood out starkly—even through the mask that partially obscured her face. Her mouth hung open, frozen in disbelief.
Ulti's entire expression screamed confusion and disbelief, as though questioning everything she knew about life itself.
"Ahem..."
Alastor slowly stood up, casually dusting himself off as he put his shirt back on.
"If you're feeling unwell, you should rest here for a while," he said nonchalantly before walking away.
A Quarter of an Hour Later
A piercing scream erupted across the Flower Capital, shaking the skies with its intensity.
"AHHHHH! YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU!!"
The deafening cry sent birds scattering and echoed across the entire city.
The Flower Capital
People stopped in their tracks, looking around in confusion.
"Whose voice is that?"
"It's so loud! It sounds like someone's being tortured!"
"Poor soul. Someone must've done something terrible to her."
Another added, "The new Shogun Yamato isn't like the former tyrant Orochi. If there's a crime, she'll make sure justice is served!"
---
At the Shogun's Mansion
Yamato, buried under a mountain of official documents, frowned as she heard the scream.
She muttered to herself, "Why does that sound like Ulti...? No, that can't be right. Ulti's usually on Onigashima. Besides, I haven't stolen her food in a while. I kinda miss her angry little tantrums."
Yamato smiled wistfully, recalling how much she enjoyed teasing Ulti back in the day, especially seeing her throw a fit while unable to do much about it.
---
On the Streets
Alastor, strolling through the Flower Capital, also heard the scream.
"Was that really necessary?" he mused aloud. "Good thing no one was nearby, or they'd think I did something unspeakable to her."
Shaking his head, he muttered, "Ulti sure knows how to blow things out of proportion."
At that moment, Page One emerged from the samurai school and spotted Alastor.
"Brother Alastor!" Page One called out. "Did my sister find you last night?"
Alastor remained calm. It was pointless to deny it—Ulti's unmistakable voice had practically broadcasted her situation to the entire capital. He nodded slightly.
Page One's expression turned awkward. After hesitating for a moment, he stammered:
"Luo... Brother Alastor, you didn't... uh... do anything weird to my sister, did you? She sounded... pretty miserable."
Alastor's expression didn't change as he replied matter-of-factly, "I simply showed your sister the benefits of exercise. If she keeps training, she won't have any complaints in the future."
Page One let out a relieved sigh.
"Thank you, Brother Alastor. My sister can be so stubborn and childish sometimes. I really don't know what to do with her."
"Focus on yourselves," Alastor instructed. "Now, take me to meet the new students."
---
At the Samurai School
The Flower Capital's samurai school was the central hub, gathering the most promising students from Kuri, Ringo, Hakumai, and other regions.
Despite the years of strife under Orochi's rule, Wano Country still had a wealth of talent. These students were to be trained as loyal warriors, though such development would take years to bear fruit.
However, Alastor was here to scout for exceptional talents who could rise to prominence more quickly.
Page One led the way.
The teachers at the samurai school, tasked with instilling loyalty and the samurai spirit, were former nobles of the Flower Capital. These individuals had survived the Orochi era by either maintaining neutrality or showing remarkable adaptability.
After conducting a thorough background check on them, Alastor deemed them trustworthy enough to serve as educators.
As for combat training, it was handled by Page One and Alastor's other capable subordinates. Alastor himself would occasionally step in to demonstrate advanced techniques.
When Alastor arrived, the students immediately straightened up and greeted him in unison:
"Lord Alastor!"
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