Chapter 44: Resolving the Rebellion
The cold white jade plate hung high in the sky; tonight’s full moon was very bright, tinting the heavens a faint blue.
Moonlight spilled onto the vast desert, making it seem sowhat desolate. Occasionally, there was unusual movent on the sand – likely so disturbed local inhabitants.
"Makes it look just like Hueco Mundo," Reiner murmured. The desert night, under the bright moonlight, appeared grayish-white, unconsciously reminding him of a certain figure. "Maybe find a suitable template soti... creating a little Ulquiorra would be pretty cool too."
In the desert, several clusters of flas blazed fiercely. A group of people sat around chatting; perhaps because it was their first night camping in the desert, they found it novel, and the conversation was extrely lively.
Sanji had set up several firewood racks. One he used himself for cooking, while the undead tended the others, burning Dance Powder.
There was also a skeleton undead standing nearby, continuously rotating two Clima-Tact pieces in its hands. Nami, only after her arms got sore, realized how foolish she’d been – did she really need to do this kind of thing herself?
So, she directly conscripted Reiner’s help, while she sat to the side watching and directing, "Too many Heat Bubbles! Make more Cool Bubbles, you idiot!"
"You scold the undead too? Skeleton lives matter too!" Reiner said speechlessly.
"Dinner’s ready, everyone!"
Sanji’s voice rang out, like a magic command word that always elicited a corresponding response.
"Woahahaha! Coming, coming!"
Luffy eagerly scooted closer, banging his bowl and chopsticks together, making ’ding ding’ sounds, and calling out with a grin:
"Sanji! Can we roast that poisonous snake I caught earlier?"
"How can you eat that thing? You just said it was poisonous, idiot," Sanji exhaled a smoke ring and replied coolly.
"What about the poison lizard then?"
"Changing the animal doesn’t make it okay, idiot! The point is the poison!!"
Sanji finally couldn’t help but yell, scooping out a large bowl of at to shut Luffy up, then handed a bowl to Reiner.
"You worked hard today, Reiner."
"No problem. It’s part of the logistics job..." Before Reiner could finish, Sanji had already run off.
Then ca his exaggerated voice, "Miss Nami~ Princess Vivi~ I saved the best portion for you~~"
"Pervy cook."
"Pervy Curly Brows."
"You got a problem too, Moss Head?!"
"Ah, thank you," the two won thanked Sanji. "But maybe give this to Reiner instead? We’ll just eat whatever. He must be exhausted today."
"Aiya~ Miss Nami and Princess Vivi are so captivating even when being considerate~" After laying on the flattery, Sanji turned back around, his face darkening as he said to Reiner:
"Damn it! Eat every last bite! Not a single drop left behind!"
"Hah? Are you barking?"
"Damn Four Eyes!"
"Hahahaha..."
And so it went. The Dance Powder was kept burning continuously by Reiner’s controlled undead. After eating, everyone soon crawled into their sleeping bags to rest, continuing until the next day when the sky was just beginning to turn a dim gray.
Cock-a-doodle-doo~!
Eh? What the heck was that?
Never mind.
Reiner slowly opened his eyes, shaking the crowing sound from his mind, and pushed himself up with his hands.
"Hey everyone! The rain clouds are gathering!"
Looking at the gray sky, Reiner couldn’t help but shout, startling everyone else awake.
anwhile...
Outside the headquarters camp of the Rebel Army in Katorea, the sky was just dimly lit at dawn. Most people were still asleep; only those on duty and a few early risers were active outside.
"Hey! Look at the sky!"
A voice cried out, imdiately drawing everyone’s attention.
"Th-this is... This is?!!"
"How could..."
"It’s rain clouds!!!"
The crowd stared at the sky not far away, where dense black clouds covered the entire expanse. Everyone looked utterly stunned, mouths agape, unable to close them for a long ti, standing frozen, gazing blankly upwards.
"Quick! Quick, go tell the Leader!!"
"Ah... ah! Yes!"
Inside the Rebel Army camp, it was completely silent; most were still deep in dreams. On a walkway, a figure dashed frantically towards the depths of the camp, shouting urgently as he ran:
"Leader!!"
"Leader! Clouds!"
"The rain clouds are here!!!"
His shouts naturally woke many still sleeping. Those getting up were inevitably annoyed, so with severe morning temper even cursing aloud.
However, after processing the words, without exception, they all exerted their full strength, violently threw off their blankets, leaped out of bed, and rushed outside into the streets without even bothering to put on shoes.
Drip—
A single raindrop hit the cheek of a rebel soldier, just below his eye socket. It felt a little damp, a little cold, and slightly itchy, but he paid it no mind.
He simply tilted his head up towards the dark, oppressive sky, his entire body trembling uncontrollably, tears welling up and spilling ceaselessly from his moist eyes.
"Rain clouds... They’re really rain clouds..."
"Three years! It’s been three years!!"
Looking at the clouds above, the man couldn’t stop himself from kneeling, bowing his body forward until his head rested on the ground, sobbing bitterly.
Tap—
Tap— Tap—
Tap tap tap tap tap...
The dripping sound grew denser and denser. Excited voices gradually rose from the streets, followed by激动 (excited/agitated) shouts, and then heart-wrenching wails.
The drizzling rain soon covered the entire city. Everyone forgot how to think, forgot the war, forgot everything...
They just stood in the streets, greedily savoring the feeling of their bodies being soaked by the rain...
"Don’t just stand there愣着 (stupefied/愣着)! Quick, find containers to collect the water!!"
"Leader!?"
"Leader! It’s raining!!"
"Yes! Collect water! Collect water! Everyone, get moving!"
A tall figure stood in the middle of the street; he was the one who had just ordered people to start collecting water.
The Rebel Army leader, Kohza, tilted his head of golden hair upwards, staring entranced at the sky. Unlike the others, after a brief mont of joy, his expression returned to calm.
"Why is there rain? Didn’t the Royal Capital use Dance Powder to steal all the rain from the entire country?"
Kohza unconsciously clenched his fists, murmuring to himself:
"Could it be that Heaven itself doesn’t wish to see war and has bestowed this grace out of pity?"
Rembering battle after battle, comrade after comrade dying before his eyes to protect him, Kohza, usually composed and calm, couldn’t stop a single tear from escaping the corner of his eye.
"I’m really so tired..."
No soldier enjoys war. Shattered bodies, bloody wounds, the unwilling look in the eyes of dying brothers-in-arms...
They detested fighting; they were forced into having no choice but to fight.
"Kohza!"
A clear voice rang out. Hearing the familiar call, Kohza abruptly turned his head. What ca into view was a head of sky-blue long hair deeply etched in his mory.
"Vi-Vivi?"
Kohza stared incredulously at the figure before him, surrounded by several others.
"Looks like this approach is quite stable."
Reiner observed the surrounding scene and couldn’t help but comnt. The continuous fighting had stretched the rebels’ nerves too thin. When the thing they desired most deep down suddenly appeared, their tightly wound hearts instantly collapsed.
When his group arrived at the rebel base, practically no one paid them any attention, making Reiner briefly question their military discipline.
"Looks like I underestimated the depth of their despair and their thirst for rain."
"I think I can understand so of it," Sanji said, trying to light a cigarette but having it repeatedly dampened by the rain. His expression was lancholic.
"If soone had offered food back when I was starving to death, I would have wolfed it down even if they told it was poisoned."
"Vivi, what are you doing here?"
"I ca to tell you about the conspiracy behind this war! This is a manipulated war!"
Hearing this, Kohza’s face remained unnaturally calm. "It’s not convenient to talk here. Let’s go inside first."
With that, Kohza turned directly and walked into the camp. Vivi looked back at Reiner and the others. Seeing Luffy nod, she led the group into the camp.
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