Chapter 2 New Shogen
Hiyori bit her lips and took one step, just as the wind howled around her and cuts appeared on her body.
"Ahh…" she winced in pain.
Then she took another step.
The wind became violent as it started pushing her back.
"You can always quit. No one expects anything from you."
She bit her lip, ignoring the voice, and took another step.
The wind became fiercer as it grew colder.
"Huff… huff… I want to be the Shogun of Wano," Hiyori muttered as tears started falling.
"It hurts, right?"
"Yes."
"It's cold."
"Yes."
"Then stop. No one expects you to suffer so much. Wouldn't it be easier to let others do all the work?"
The voice became gentle, almost caring.
Hiyori started crying.
"It hurts… it's cold… but I want to be the future. I want to be strong."
She took another step, then another.
The wind grew colder with every step. Soon, it mixed with snow, turning into a small blizzard.
Hiyori kept walking.
"One more step…" she kept mumbling.
Her eyes grew hazy, her legs and body trembled from the cold, yet she kept walking. Her body stopped feeling anything.
"O-one… more step…"
She collapsed from exhaustion. Her eyes grew heavy.
"One more step…"
"Will you keep going even if it means death?"
The voice asked.
Hiyori fought the sleepiness.
"I-I have nothing to lose…"
"Will you keep begging for someone to look at you? Why can't you just stop and be Momonosuke's shadow?"
"I want… I want to be the light. The future!"
Hiyori shouted with everything she had left, as something inside her broke free from its shackles.
Her Conqueror's Haki burst out everywhere.
She lost all strength and collapsed.
The mist fell silent.
Then the wind began flowing again—but this time, it was warm.
Hiyori opened her eyes.
A boy was standing in front of her as a beautiful aurora formed in the sky.
She tried to keep her eyes open.
The boy, with long white hair, smiled at her.
Hiyori fell asleep from exhaustion.
The boy walked toward her.
"Well, that was a surprise… To think she awakened Conqueror's."
He picked her up and transformed.
A green dragon emerged—long and serpentine, its body stretching gracefully like a living river. Golden markings flowed across its scales like glowing veins, shimmering faintly with power. Its form was elegant yet powerful, with a divine presence, far more refined than a beast of brute force.
The mist began fading.
"Wororororo… to think she awakened Conqueror's Haki."
A massive azure dragon, over a thousand meters long, laughed as it descended.
"Oi, old man. I'm taking her, so stay away from her."
The smaller green dragon said, glaring at the massive one.
"Wororororo… brat, watch your tone. And I'm not interested in her. You wanted her, now you have her. Tomorrow morning, be ready to be the Shogun of Wano."
Saying that, the azure dragon flew toward the Shogun Castle.
The small dragon shook his head.
"Sigh… what kind of father asks an 8-year-old to rule an entire country?"
He flew away, carrying the sleeping Hiyori.
---
Soon, the green dragon landed on a massive skull-shaped island.
He transformed back into his human form.
A tall boy stood there—long white hair tied in a messy ponytail, sharp red eyes. Two curved horns rose from his head. His expression carried confidence, with a faint smirk. He wore a black, red, and white outfit with a rope belt tied around his waist, giving him a wild yet royal presence and an effortless presence that drew attention without trying. Even at his age, there was something naturally captivating about him.
He walked toward his room, carrying Hiyori.
As he passed, all the pirates bowed.
"Young Master."
"Beast Prince."
He ignored them and entered his room, placing Hiyori on his futon.
Just as he walked out, a white blur pounced on him.
"Ragnar, you bastard! You left me behind!"
Ragnar caught the white-and-green-haired girl, spun her around, and hugged her.
"I missed you, Yamato."
Yamato puffed her cheeks.
"You liar! You left me alone and went out. I'm not talking to you."
Ragnar started massaging her shoulders.
"Come on, don't be mad. I promise I'll take you out tomorrow."
Yamato perked up.
"Promise?"
He pinched her cheeks.
"Promise."
She laughed and hugged him.
"Stupid Ragnar."
"My stupid Yamato."
Both laughed.
---
Yamato and Ragnar walked into the room.
Yamato looked at the sleeping Hiyori and poked her cheek.
"Who is she?"
"A princess I picked up," Ragnar replied.
Yamato's mouth twitched. She hit him on the head.
"What kind of nonsense is that? You went out and picked up a stray princess? Are princesses that common?!"
Ragnar raised his nose proudly.
"Well, I do have a hobby of admiring princesses."
Yamato puffed her cheeks.
"Then go to your princess!"
Ragnar hugged her.
"Well, aren't you also a princess? And you're my favorite one."
He pecked her cheek.
Yamato pounced on him, hitting him.
"Who said you could kiss my cheek?!"
They started fighting and laughing.
Two 8-year-old kids fought and laughed.
---
Inside the Shogun Castle in the Flower Capital—
Kaido walked in, Hassaikai resting on his shoulder.
Orochi came running, grinning like an idiot.
"Wahahaha! Kaido, let's celebrate! From now on, Wano is ours!"
Kaido looked at the disgusting man.
"Not ours. Mine. My kid will be the Shogun of Wano. Anyone who has a problem—stand up."
All the daimyo froze.
Orochi was too shocked to even speak.
"Kaido, what's the meaning of this?!" he roared in anger.
"Do I need to explain everything?" Kaido asked, looking around.
"Who agrees and who doesn't?"
Orochi transformed into his Yamata-no-Orochi form in rage and attacked.
Kaido sighed in pity.
"Such a strong Devil Fruit… wasted on a coward like you."
He smashed Hassaikai down, crushing one of Orochi's heads.
Then he grabbed the others and tore them off one by one.
"K-Kaido… we can talk…"
With only one head remaining, Orochi regained his rationality.
But it was too late.
Kaido crushed the last head.
"Now… who agrees? And who doesn't?"
Fukurokuju stepped forward and bowed.
"The Oniwabanshu acknowledges Kaido-sama's son as the Shogun of Wano."
Soon, the other daimyo followed.
"Worororo… good. Then announce it tomorrow morning."
Kaido transformed into a dragon and flew toward Onigashima.
---
The next morning—
News of Orochi's death spread across Wano.
"Orochi is dead?!"
"We are free?!"
People began cheering in relief.
But soon others shouted—
"What's the point of him dying? The Beast Pirates still rule Wano!"
Everyone gathered in front of the Shogun Castle as everything was broadcast throughout Wano.
Ragnar walked out in his kimono and looked at the people below.
His voice was carried by the wind.
"People of Wano… I am Ragnar, the new Shogun of Wano."
No one cheered.
But Ragnar wasn't done.
"From now on, people working in mines will receive a salary. They will only work from morning 8 to evening 5."
"Wano will focus on farming, mining, and weapon production."
"I promise that within one year, everyone will be able to afford three meals a day. No one will go hungry."
Silence.
Then whispers spread.
Slowly… voices rose—
"Shogun Ragnar…"
"Shogun Ragnar!"
Ragnar grinned.
He transformed into his green serpentine dragon, golden patterns glowing faintly across his body as he rose into the sky.
The weather itself changed.
Rain began to fall.
A rainbow appeared.
And that was it—
The entire nation erupted in cheers.
"SHOGUN RAGNAR!"
---