NOVEL WEB Chapter 57: CHAPTER 57
Alastor nodded slightly, first glancing at the twenty students who had arrived earlier, then turning his attention to the ten newcomers—all teenagers.
Without wasting words, he said directly, "Let me see your abilities. Fight him."
Alastor gestured toward one of his subordinates, known for his skill in combat.
Though Alastor considered the subordinate's strength to be merely average, for these thirty young trainees, he was undoubtedly a daunting mountain to overcome.
The subordinate, grinning fiercely as he stepped into the ring, barked, "Come on, you little runts. I promise to hold back just enough not to kill you!"
The teenagers, rather than cowering, seemed eager, their eyes lit with anticipation. It wasn't just youthful fearlessness; each of them had been selected from tens of thousands of hopefuls and was confident in their abilities.
A burly, broad-shouldered boy stepped forward first. "I'll go!"
The boy, brimming with determination, summoned all his strength, hoping to defeat the fighter. He thought that winning would earn him Alastor's favor—guaranteeing not just ample food but also a comfortable life for himself and his family.
But reality was cruel. Within moments, the boy was beaten down, sprawled on the ground and unable to move. Medical staff quickly carried him away.
One by one, the students took their turns. Barely ten seconds passed between each replacement.
By the time twenty-nine students had stepped into the ring, only a few had managed to last longer than thirty seconds against the fighter.
It wasn't surprising. After all, the subordinate, though average in Alastor's eyes, was still leagues above these rookies.
Finally, the last student climbed into the ring.
Alastor, who had grown increasingly disappointed as the challenge progressed, suddenly raised an eyebrow. There was something different about this boy—an aura that set him apart.
Alastor's intuition proved correct.
The boy was a swordsman. His movements were swift, his instincts sharp. Despite the fighter's overwhelming strength, the boy managed to hold his ground for more than a minute without faltering.
Frustrated and embarrassed, the fighter snarled, "You little brat, you're really starting to tick me off! Watch this!"
He charged with a powerful punch aimed directly at the boy's slender frame.
But the boy didn't panic.
At the last second, his legs twisted in an almost unnatural way, narrowly avoiding the blow. Then, in a shocking display, his blade turned pitch black.
Armed Haki!
With the added power of Haki, the boy's blade left a shallow cut on the fighter's hardened skin—a feat no other student had managed.
The crowd was stunned.
Alastor, his voice calm but commanding, declared, "Enough. Don't fight anymore. You—come with me."
The boy, momentarily frozen in disbelief, quickly broke into a grin and eagerly followed Alastor.
They entered an empty room.
Alastor turned to face him, his expression unreadable as he studied the young swordsman. Finally, he said, "I didn't expect this. Just after Orochi's death, the Devil Fruit has already been reborn—and it's appeared here in Wano Country."
His tone sharpened. "Tell me, are you the wielder of the Snake-Snake Fruit, Model: Yamata no Orochi?"
The boy's eyes widened in shock. Dropping to his knees, he bowed deeply, striking his head against the floor hard enough to bleed.
"Yes, Lord Alastor," he confessed. "I… I accidentally ate this Devil Fruit!"
The young man responded without hesitation: "Because Master Alastor saved my mother and sister! I swore in my heart that I would dedicate my life to serving Master Alastor."
"I saved your mother and sister?" Alastor asked, genuinely surprised.
Then, a memory flashed in his mind. The first time he had delivered food from Kuri to pay tribute to Orochi, he had passed through the Nozomi area. A mother and daughter had nearly been killed by his short-sighted subordinates, but he had intervened.
Alastor's expression grew contemplative. "You mean Nozomi's mother and daughter, right? Your sister still wears a shofar braid?"
"Yes, Lord Alastor," the boy confirmed with a quick nod.
Alastor couldn't help but sigh. Life worked in mysterious ways. That brief moment of mercy had now brought him a fiercely loyal and talented youth.
Softening his tone, he said, "Since we share such a connection, there's no need for you to kneel. Stand up."
"Yes, sir." The boy stood, though his demeanor remained deeply respectful.
"What is your name?"
"Reporting to Master Alastor, my name is Shimotsuki Onimaru."
Shimotsuki...
Alastor's eyes narrowed slightly. If his memory served him correctly, the Shimotsuki clan had once been loyal followers of the Kozuki family. He recalled eliminating a rebellious Shimotsuki family during his campaign to stabilize the Flower Capital.
Sensing the tension, Onimaru quickly added, "My family hasn't had contact with the original Shimotsuki clan for hundreds of years. More importantly, I completely disagree with their actions and the stupidity of the Kozuki royal family."
"Oh?" Alastor arched an eyebrow. "Go on."
Onimaru continued, "I heard from an elder in the village that the Shogun before Orochi was Kozuki Sukiyaki. His son was supposedly very powerful but abandoned Wano for years, leaving the country vulnerable to Orochi's takeover."
"And when that son finally returned, instead of rallying the people or fighting back, he danced naked in the streets. It's ridiculous! No matter his reasons, such foolishness is beyond justification."
Alastor chuckled, thoroughly amused. "Well said. That's a rational reaction, unlike those fanatics who were moved to tears by Kozuki Oden's antics."
Onimaru straightened his back, his voice resolute. "When I arrived in the Flower Capital, I realized it was Master Alastor and the current Shogun who saved Wano Country. And after witnessing Master Alastor's kindness to my family, I swore to repay that debt with my life."
The young man's fervent declaration was sincere, his voice unwavering.
Alastor's doubts dissolved. He smiled approvingly and said, "If you possess such clarity and determination, then you may follow me from now on."
Overjoyed, Onimaru knelt again to formalize his loyalty.
"Your surname is Shimotsuki," Alastor noted. "The swordsmanship you displayed earlier must be Shimotsuki-ryu, correct?"
"Yes, Lord Alastor."
"Shimotsuki-ryu, coupled with your skill in Armament Haki—if not for the Yamata no Orochi Fruit, you'd still be a rare genius," Alastor said, his praise making the sixteen-year-old blush slightly.
Alastor grew serious, his tone carrying weight. "But talent alone isn't enough. The Yamata no Orochi Fruit could just as easily produce mediocrity like Kurozumi Orochi. If you want to remain worthy of following me, you need a higher goal."
He fixed Onimaru with a piercing gaze. "Tell me, Onimaru, what is your ultimate pursuit?"
Onimaru froze, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword. After a deep breath, he declared, "Beyond my loyalty to Master Alastor, I've always held a dream: to surpass my ancestor Ryuma and become the strongest swordsman!"
Ryuma.
The legendary dragon-slaying hero of Wano, the creator of Shimotsuki-ryu. Onimaru's ambition was bold and intriguing.
Alastor's smile returned. He patted Onimaru on the shoulder and said, "Though I've never seen Ryuma, I imagine he was a swordsman of the highest caliber—perhaps even equal to the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk."
"But with the power of the Yamata no Orochi Fruit, coupled with relentless effort, you may one day surpass even Ryuma."
"Come, Onimaru, let us see how far you can go!"
Onimaru, deeply moved by Alastor's encouragement, nodded with determination.
Alastor spent the next hour advising Onimaru on refining his swordsmanship and mastering Haki, ensuring a smoother path toward his goal.
Before parting, Alastor gave one final command:
"Don't squander the power of your fruit like Kurozumi Orochi did. Use it to push your swordsmanship to its peak."
With that, Alastor left. Though Onimaru had pledged his loyalty, he would remain at the samurai school to complete his training for now.
Outside, Alastor turned to his subordinate, Billy, and said, "Deliver food to Onimaru's mother and sister in Nozomi. Ask if there's anything else they need."
Billy nodded and went on his way, while Alastor pondered the potential of his newest protégé.
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