LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 53: CHAPTER 53
The mace descended ever closer.
Kurozumi Orochi, paralyzed with fear, lost control of himself. "No... no! Don't kill me! Someone, save me!" he screamed desperately.
Despite the presence of many guards who hadn't left with Fukurokuju, none came to Orochi's aid. Yamato's overwhelming Conqueror's Haki had frozen them all in place.
Orochi's face contorted in despair. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Alastor. Like a drowning man clutching at a straw, hope surged in his chest.
"Lord Alastor!" Orochi cried, his voice cracking with desperation. "Save me! I'll give you anything—money, women, power! Whatever you want, it's yours!"
In his panic, the arrogant Orochi even addressed Alastor with respect, calling him "lord."
Alastor stepped forward, his expression calm as he approached the groveling shogun. Orochi's eyes lit up, thinking salvation was near.
But Alastor's smile was cold, and his voice carried a mocking gentleness. "Anything I want? Then give me your head."
Orochi froze.
In that moment, realization dawned—Kaido had ordered his execution.
Bitter rage filled his heart. Without him, how would Kaido have exploited Wano's resources? How would Kaido have risen to such heights?
"That ungrateful monster!" Orochi roared internally.
As Yamato's mace came crashing down, Orochi's last defiant cry echoed through the air:
"Kaido!"
With that, the shogun's head was smashed, and his body fell lifelessly into a pool of blood.
Yamato stood over him, her gaze icy. "Your death wasn't because of Kaido. It was the will of Wano and my mission as Joyboy—in the name of Yamato!"
Turning, she faced the stunned crowd. Raising her voice, she declared: "Kurozumi Orochi is dead! From this moment, I am your new general and the guardian of Wano Country!"
The people stared in disbelief, as if trapped in a dream.
Alastor's subordinates knelt on cue, shouting in unison: "Hail General Yamato!"
The cry jolted the citizens awake.
The geisha who had narrowly escaped death was the first to kneel, tears streaming down her face. "Hail General Yamato!"
One by one, more people followed.
"Hail General Yamato!"
The chant grew, spreading through the crowd like wildfire.
When news reached them that Orochi's entire clan and loyal lackeys had been wiped out by the Beast Pirates, the truth became clear to everyone: Orochi's tyrannical reign had ended. Wano's leadership had changed.
From that day forward, nobles and commoners alike would address one name:
General Yamato.
The Fall of Orochi
Unknown to the crowd, Orochi's story didn't end there.
Thanks to the powers of the Snake-Snake Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Yamata no Orochi, the shogun possessed multiple lives.
But Alastor had anticipated this.
As Yamato moved on to the General's Mansion to consolidate power, Alastor remained behind, watching Orochi's body. When the shogun revived, Alastor was ready.
With precise, calculated strikes, Alastor severed Orochi's heads, one after another. The cursed sword glinted with lethal intent, ensuring the shogun could not escape.
By the time Orochi's final life was extinguished, he was filled with resentment.
"Why? Why did Kaido betray me? Without me, Kaido would never have succeeded! Ungrateful beast!"
Alastor offered no answer, merely delivering the final blow.
"Burn his body," Alastor ordered his men. "Scatter the ashes. Leave nothing behind."
With Orochi truly dead, Alastor turned his attention to other matters.
---
The New General
Back at the General's Mansion, Yamato took her seat as Wano's new leader. Her transformation was evident. The naïve and impulsive girl had matured, her demeanor now reflecting the authority of a true general.
"Summon the nobles of Hakumai, Ringo, and Kibi to the General's Mansion," Yamato instructed her subordinates. "Include the remaining leaders of the Flower Capital as well."
The servants obeyed swiftly, their respect for Yamato unmistakable. Compared to Orochi, who had ruled through fear and capricious cruelty, the strong yet composed Yamato was a welcome change.
They had seen her strength firsthand. Just the day before, Yamato had crushed Orochi's most loyal retainers, including elite ninjas, with ease. Her power inspired both awe and hope.
In Yamato, Wano saw not just a general, but a savior who would lead them into a new era.
That scene did not go unnoticed by Orochi's former followers.
Witnessing Yamato's overwhelming strength and decisive actions, the remnants of Orochi's forces hastened to swear allegiance to her. It was human nature to submit to the strong, and Yamato had proven herself to be unstoppable.
Half a day later, nobles from the regions of the Flower Capital, Kibi, Ringo, and Hakumai hurried to the General's Mansion.
As for the missing regions: Kuri and Udon (Rabbit Bowl)—Kuri was Alastor's domain, making it secure. As for Udon, which had been promised by Yamato to Kaido as a weapons base, she had already relocated the remaining civilians there to safer areas.
---
The Nobles Assemble
Now, in the General's Mansion, nobles from the four major regions stood trembling in the hall. They didn't dare to breathe too loudly, their fear palpable.
Despite Yamato's outward demeanor, which seemed approachable, they knew she was far more fearsome than Orochi.
After all, it had taken Yamato only one day and one night to completely dismantle Orochi's empire of over a decade and stabilize the chaos that followed. Such ruthless efficiency was not something they could overlook.
But Yamato didn't care about their fears or inner thoughts. She went straight to the point.
"I've summoned you here to inform you that all weapons factories—except those in Udon—will be dismantled. Once this is done, the environmental damage they caused will cease. Your task will then be to lead your people in cultivating farmland and growing food as quickly as possible."
She paused, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room.
"Food is the root of all problems in Wano. Many people are starving. When you return, distribute the food stored at the Paradise Farms to the people immediately."
Each word struck the nobles like a hammer.
By the time Yamato finished, their faces were marked by shock.
Distributing food from the Paradise Farms to the commoners? It was unthinkable during Orochi's reign. Safe, uncontaminated food had always been reserved for the elite.
But as shock turned to realization, excitement and hope bloomed within their hearts. Yamato wasn't just a general—she was a protector of Wano.
"We obey, General!" they said, bowing deeply. For the first time, they addressed her with genuine reverence.
Yamato nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then get to work."
The nobles left, hurrying back to their regions to carry out her orders.
---
A Nation Revitalized
Soon after, the first distributions of food began.
When the starving citizens of Wano heard the news, many were stunned, their faces blank with disbelief. Could it be true? Was food really being distributed?
The officials in charge of the distribution shouted loudly:
"This is General Yamato's order, a gift from your new general. Be grateful to her!"
When the people saw the food being handed out—fresh, uncontaminated, and plentiful—they were overcome with emotion.
Some elderly citizens, who had never seen such food in their lives, didn't dare eat it. Instead, they clutched it in their hands, fearing it might vanish like a dream. Tears streamed down their weathered faces as they cried out:
"God has finally opened his eyes and sent General Yamato to save Wano!"
With trembling voices, they shouted:
"Long live General Yamato!"
Their cries carried an almost magical resonance, and soon the entire nation echoed with the chant:
"Long live General Yamato!"
Eventually, the chant was shortened to a single, resounding title:
"Long live the General!"
The name Kurozumi Orochi was erased from their lips, his reign reduced to a bitter memory.
In the days that followed, the General's Mansion issued a series of landmark decrees:
1. The abolition of all oppressive laws enacted during Orochi's rule.
2. Distribution of food from Paradise Farms until farmland could once again produce crops, ensuring that no one starved.
3. A mandate to dismantle the weapons factories across the nation, except in Udon, and repurpose the land for agriculture.
The swift changes and the clear prioritization of the people's welfare solidified Yamato's reputation as a fair and benevolent leader.
From nobles to commoners, Wano had begun to hope again.
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