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The ten Marine warships traversing the South Blue waters commanded an undeniable presence.
Their purpose wasn't to cause trouble, but given their might, no one in the region dared challenge them.
These warships, emblazoned with the symbol of justice, moved without obstruction, asserting their dominance.
With over 500 Marines on each ship, totalling more than 5,000 well-trained and well-equipped troops, and the leadership of ten Vice Admirals, their strength was undeniable.
Even in the New World, few dared provoke such a formidable force.
"Notify me as soon as we reach the location of the golden Den Den Mushi," ordered a commanding voice from one of the ships. "Complete the mission quickly I'd like to return and rest."
The voice belonged to Vice Admiral Gion, better known as "Peach Rabbit." Her authoritative tone left no room for hesitation.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Gion!" replied a Marine officer, saluting.
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Meanwhile, in the Tru Kingdom's royal capital, the kingdom's army was working diligently to calm the people.
They explained that the strange phenomena unfolding at the palace's back hill posed no threat to their daily lives.
The army's influence reassured most of the citizens, and the unease began to subside.
Amidst the bustling streets of the capital, a blind man with a cane wandered quietly.
Though his eyes could not see, he tilted his head toward the palace's mountain, sensing the swirling dark clouds overhead.
Within his spiritual world, he perceived everything as a massive vortex of energy, lightning crackling around it. Despite his presence, no one in the city recognized him.
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At the back hill of the palace, ominous dark clouds churned, lightning and thunder raging as the black vortex expanded.
Loose rubble scattered around the site was drawn into the swirling mass, swept away as if the storm were cleaning the area.
On the other side of the Space Gate, located in Skypiea, chaos erupted. The rubble drawn into the vortex from the Tru Kingdom was now raining down on the Sky Island's guards.
They were caught off guard by the barrage of debris, uncertain of its origin.
"We must report this immediately!" one guard exclaimed. "Something is happening in the Tru Kingdom!"
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Back at the palace, Anos worked tirelessly to complete the construction of the teleportation gate.
The black vortex grew larger, drawing more and more debris into its swirling mass.
Unlike the previous gate built on Skypiea, the pace of construction here was much faster, progressing in a fraction of the time.
In just 20 minutes, the vortex began to stabilize. A massive, 100-meter-tall black frame was erected around the vortex, forming the structure of the Space Gate.
This new gate dwarfed its counterpart on Skypiea, with the vortex itself being nearly three times larger.
Anos's reasoning was clear this would not be the only gate constructed in the future.
As the Tru Kingdom's base of operations, the teleportation network needed to accommodate future expansions, connecting numerous locations across the world.
As he raised his left hand, a gigantic black portal descended from the sky, slotting perfectly into the vortex.
The once chaotic power of space was immediately confined within the gate's frame, stabilizing the portal.
In less than 30 seconds, the dark clouds overhead began to dissipate, marking the successful completion of the Space Gate.
The gate loomed ominously a swirling black vortex encased in a colossal frame. Its eerie presence was unmistakable, yet it remained unguarded.
The only access to the site was through the palace grounds, making it nearly impossible for outsiders to approach undetected.
While the Space Gate could not yet connect directly to Skypiea, this limitation served as an additional safeguard.
For now, the gate stood as a testament to the Tru Kingdom's ingenuity and ambition.
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As the dark clouds dissipated, the Marines aboard their warships took note.
"Strange... The storm is clearing up," a Marine officer remarked. "We're still two hours away from the Tru Kingdom, even at full speed."
Vice Admiral Gion, standing at the helm of her warship, narrowed her eyes at the horizon. "Keep heading toward the kingdom. This isn't a natural phenomenon. Something is happening there."
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In the Tru Kingdom, Abona observed the newly completed Space Gate with a sense of pride and anticipation.
At the foot of the mountain, he turned to Zen and asked, "Would you like to see it up close?"
"Really? I'm not sure His Majesty would allow it," Zen replied, his curiosity evident.
Abona smiled knowingly. "This has been prepared for you. Don't worry His Majesty won't mind."
Excited, Zen eagerly followed Abona up the mountain. Though he didn't fully understand the gate's purpose, he couldn't resist the chance to witness it firsthand.
Abona, however, knew exactly what the gate was capable of. He had seen the first Space Gate constructed on Skypiea and was awed by the progress made here.
The thought of instantaneous travel between distant lands left him both curious and exhilarated.
As they reached the summit, Zen stared in amazement at the towering black gate. "This... This is incredible," he murmured.
Abona nodded. "And this is only the beginning."
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