Chapter 233: Otherworld Fiery Clouds, Icy Land Aurora!
[Thump, thump, thump, thump]
A series of heart-shaking footsteps approached from far away. Those familiar with this sound could immediately tell it was the sound of the Army's latest configuration of Tall Leather Boots stepping on the ground.
At the Star Gate Base of No.0001 Kabaneri World, the entire Steel Gate was completely wide open.
Senior Director O'Connor, who was in charge of managing this place, was leading four Subordinate Officials, also dressed in Suits and leather shoes, gazing towards the other end of the red ground. A Battalion of soldiers appeared, all dressed in black, with black boots, black guns, and Black-Sheathed Long Sabers at their waists.
Their neat footsteps seemed to make the red ground tremble slightly. Even the personnel from various departments who hadn't come out of the Base could clearly feel a strong Sense of Oppression.
"Is this the Aura of twenty thousand Army soldiers?"
Senior Director O'Nakon stood with his hands behind his back, watching the approaching army. His mood was also inexplicably affected, becoming stirred.
He had received notification from the Higher-ups that, in order to facilitate the comprehensive Development by subsequent Administrative Personnel, Technicians, and laborers, the Army Headquarters would dispatch twenty thousand Military Strength to the Kabaneri World. Lieutenant General Douglas Barrett would lead them to clear out the Kabaneri World within Hinamoto, occupying all large and small 'Stations' and important Mineral Vein Resources.
Adding the seven thousand Soldiers already there, the Kabaneri World was about to face the Conquest of nearly thirty thousand Army troops!
"It will take who knows how long to send so many people over," one Division-Level Official also sighed with emotion.
One must know, when people number in the tens of thousands, they are boundless. What's more, these were twenty thousand fully armed Soldiers. Just the Scale of the vermilion dust kicked up in the distance was enough to inspire awe.
The Width of the Small Star Gate was only two meters, at most allowing two people to enter side-by-side. But for those with larger Body Sizes, only one could pass at a time.
"Compared to the Time, is there enough Disinfectant Spray at the Biochemical Safety Station?" Senior Director O'Connor turned his head to look at another Division-Level Official.
"It's already full, no problem!"
"Good."
Senior Director O'Connor nodded in satisfaction. At this moment, he heard another subordinate laugh and say, "Actually, I think this disinfection process might be unnecessary. Didn't the Biochemical Research Institute say that no Harmful Substances were found in the Air of the Kabaneri World, and the Kabaneri Virus isn't transmitted through the Air?"
"You are mistaken. The Biochemical Research Institute said they haven't found Harmful Substances *yet*. Besides, if we don't disinfect, what if our people carry some kind of Virus to the Kabaneri World?"
Senior Director O'Connor strongly disagreed with this person's view and said, "As long as the Biochemical Research Institute hasn't sent a Report cancelling the disinfection process, we must act according to regulations. Don't find it troublesome!"
"Yes!"
More than ten minutes later, the Biochemical Safety Station within the Base became busy, especially with the several Electric Gates constantly opening and closing.
Even so, the line of Army Soldiers waiting at the entrance stretched out of sight. On the other side, at the Stag Star Gate Base in the Kabaneri World, managed by Senior Director Addison, the Electric Gates were also constantly opening and closing, sending out batch after batch of Army Soldiers.
Not far away, Douglas Barrett stood with his arms crossed over his chest, chin raised high, quietly watching his Military Strength continuously grow, and grow stronger.
The Fiery Clouds in the Sky at dusk seemed to hint that this Country, and even the entire World, was about to be engulfed in War. They shone bright red, like fire, and also like blood.
At this moment, he inexplicably felt fortunate that he had been captured by the Marines before. Otherwise, he might not have had this opportunity to lead tens of thousands of troops to conquer Another World.
Compared to now and the Future, his past experience as a Pirate, to be honest, felt a bit petty to him.
Compared to a Colossus of the World Government's Size, let alone the Roger Pirates, even adding the Whitebeard Pirates, Big Mom Pirates, and Flying Pirates together would only be considered 'nothing special'.
Multiverse, Multiverse, tens of thousands of worlds. Looking at the Name 'New World' for that Sea Area now, it truly sounds laughable and nonsensical!
What Douglas Barrett didn't know was that on the other side of the World, on the Extreme Ice Continent of Planet Sea Homeland, there was also a man looking up at the Sky.
Only here, it was already night.
The snow-capped Snow Mountains stood in the Starry Sky, like silver Giants, overlooking the entire world of Ice.
But magnificent as it was, it still didn't make the man's Gaze waver, because the Aurora above the Iceberg, flickering between light and dark, from shallow to deep, from green to red, drifted lightly between the infinite Milky Way.
"There is actually such a stunningly beautiful sight in the World. Just this scene makes me feel that this trip was not in vain..."
The man standing by the window of the Ice House sighed sincerely.
"But Vice Admiral Aokiji, the Mission we traveled all this way for hasn't been completed yet. If we go back without getting anything, all the travel Time will be wasted!"
Captain Charles, also wearing a White Justice Coat behind him, complained helplessly upon hearing this.
"Ara la la, that is indeed a headache..." Kuzan rubbed the back of his head in distress, finally moving his gaze away from the Aurora.
They had been on this Continent of white snow and Ice for several days. The day before yesterday, they finally managed to Find the so-called 'Jewel Iceberg'.
At that time, all the Marines and Officials gasped when they saw the Treasure Light like a river of Golden Water under the transparent Ice Layer, because there was simply too much Treasure. Some people even felt it was more exaggerated than the Great Treasure ONE PIECE that was Live Broadcasted in Mary Geoise before.
However, before these people could cheer for long, they heard Vice Admiral Aokiji say that he seemed unable to open it!
After subsequent Experiments, it was proven that he indeed could not open it.
Although he was a Logia System Ice-Ice Fruit Ability User, without Awakening, he could only Control the Ice he created himself, and was completely unable to manipulate the Natural Ice from the outside World.
This greatly disappointed everyone. Some people even lay on the ice surface, looking at the Treasure inside and sighing, as if it would be theirs once taken out...
But they couldn't possibly return empty-handed after a Voyage of nearly a month and only staying for a few days, could they?
Therefore, Kuzan decided to wait and see. Deep down, he had a Feeling that his opportunity for Awakening was most likely in this place, but after Researching for two days, nothing had happened yet.
"Vice Admiral, News from Headquarters says they want us to return to Marineford within a month if possible. They say the Supreme Political Conference is about to be convened!"
"What does the Political Conference have to do with us Marines?"
Kuzan looked at the Colonel with a confused expression. The latter, however, smiled and said, "They say the Marines will also hold an internal High-Level Meeting that day. Except for those who cannot return due to special circumstances, all Vice Admirals must attend."
"Ara la la, then it has nothing to do with us, does it? We are currently in a special circumstance~~"
At this moment, Kuzan, maintaining Hot Blood, disliked meetings the most. Of course, even if he weren't Hot Blood, he wouldn't like them.
Immediately after, Kuzan's Gaze fell upon the Icebergs and Snow Mountains under the Aurora, sighing inwardly, "Awakening, Awakening, how exactly does one Awaken?"
He didn't understand how Borsalino and Sakazuki could Awaken so easily, while he had to put in so much effort and thought.
"Awakening occurs in a suitable opportunity when the Ability User's body and mind catch up to the Ability."
This was the most striking sentence among the Data/Files on Devil Fruit Ability Awakening that Kuzan obtained from Marine Headquarters.
"Could it be that my Strength hasn't reached the level for Awakening?"
(End of this chapter)