Chapter 134: Make Marley Great Again!
Marley.
To further verify the controllability and potential of this new power, Marleyan command wanted to understand the "scale" of a wish. Days later, a small-scale "wishing ceremony" was held in secret, personally overseen by the Minister of Defense.
A young Marleyan military officer had volunteered. He was a brave soldier, but his impulsive temperament had repeatedly cost him promotions. At this moment, his desire for power and achievement burned in his eyes.
"My wish is," he stood before Kyubey, his voice trembling with excitement, "to make Marley great again! For Marley to crush the world! For all nations to tremble before our great Marleyan Empire! For Marley's flag to be planted in every corner of the world!"
The wish was vast, far exceeding the Karmic Load he personally carried.
Kyubey looked at him calmly. "The contract is made."
A blinding light flashed. Magic enveloped the young officer. His uniform instantly transformed into a bright blue Magical Girl outfit. The design was complex and garish, the hem of the skirt embroidered with a distorted Marleyan eagle in gold thread. He even wore a lopsided small crown. He felt an infinite power surging within him and let out a maniacal laugh.
"It worked! I did it!" He spun around to face the high command, his arms raised high, his expression twisted with fanaticism. "Listen! Marley is the strongest! We've already won! We've won so hard! The Marleyan Empire is number one! All our enemies are trembling beneath our iron hooves! The world has already submitted to Marley!"
He waved his arms, spouting nonsense, proclaiming the "truth" as he saw it. He tried to demonstrate his "world-crushing" power, thrusting out his palm and shouting, "Destruction Ray!"
Instead, a stream of harmless, colorful soap bubbles floated from his palm and popped in the air. This did nothing to dampen his euphoria. He pointed at the bubbles and yelled, "Do you see?! A salute of submission!"
To Magath and the others, he looked completely insane. Magath's brow furrowed. The man's behavior was absurd. His so-called "power" was nothing more than the brutish strength of his own delusion.
"This—this is the power you spoke of?" one of the generals couldn't help but ask, gesturing at the raving officer and directing his question to the air. Kyubey was not always visible to them. The officer, meanwhile, was still chasing his own bubbles, shouting, "Marley is invincible!" The general's voice was filled with ill-concealed disappointment.
Kyubey emerged from the shadows in another corner. "The wish he made far exceeded what his soul's Karma could bear. Therefore, to 'grant' the wish, his perception had to be distorted. In his eyes, his wish has come true. He even believes that this level of power is enough to 'crush the world.' The actual enhancement is limited, highly unstable, and the magical effects tend to be symbolic and harmless. This was the wish he chose, and he naturally bears the price for it."
Hearing this, a chill ran down the spines of the Marleyan high command. They gained a clearer understanding: this power was tempting, but it required measure. The scale and content of a wish needed to be strictly controlled and designed.
One general said in a low voice, "Even so, this power… is still a sharp blade for Marley." Several others nodded almost imperceptibly.
And so, Pandora's Box, once opened, could not be easily closed.
Pieck's successful "demonstration" and the "example" of the over-ambitious officer had planted a seed of "hope" in the hearts of Marley's leaders. But this hope was warped from the very beginning.
The situation was so dire that Kyubey didn't even need to actively "tempt" or "search." The extreme desire for power, the desperate need to break their reliance on Titans, and their obsession with Paradis Island's resources—driven by these things, Marley completed the entire process of "selection" and "sacrifice" all on its own.
Batches of Eldian Warriors and Marleyan researchers were brought before Kyubey. They had been strictly vetted for their absolute loyalty to Marley. Their wishes were carefully designed and categorized.
Researchers wished for knowledge of new materials, new energy sources, and new weapons. Limited but profound theories flooded their minds. They worked tirelessly to process this information, combining it with existing technology to fuel Marley's war machine.
Agricultural experts wished for methods to increase crop yields and improve soil, hoping to alleviate the resource shortages caused by Marley's constant warring.
Aircraft designers wished for the inspiration to break the limits of the sky, dreaming of creating an aerial armada that would surpass all other nations.
Eldian soldiers, led by Gabi, were given the promise of "Honorary Marleyan" status. Their faces glowed with pride. They stood tall, their eyes shining with a longing for a bright future and for the status they were currently denied.
A young Eldian soldier completed his contract, his uniform changing into a Magical Girl outfit in the colors of the Marleyan flag. He trembled with excitement, saluted the Marleyan officer in charge, and shouted, "For Marley!" The officer nodded in satisfaction, a faint, imperceptible sneer on his lips that was, however, caught by Magath.
These Eldian "Magical Girls" were then "asked" to make wishes for more destructive combat abilities, becoming the vanguard for Marley's expansion.
Marley's military strength, built upon these twisted wishes and sacrifices, began a new, grotesque expansion.
"Latest battle report! The Mid-East Allied Fleet has been completely routed with support from our new 'Tidal Wave' class magic-artillery!" a general reported in a briefing room, standing before a world map, his face flushed with victory.
"The new 'Griffin' aerial magic-assault division is fully operational!" an air force general added, his fists clenched, his eyes fanatical. "Air superiority will belong to Marley, absolutely!"
"Marshal, can we move up the timetable for the Paradis Island plunder operation?" a more aggressive voice chimim.
Marley's ambition and greed grew. They once again coveted the Founding Titan's power, which had brought such destruction to the world, the power of the Rumbling, and the island's rich, unique resources. Technology and magic.
Kyubey, in some unknown corner, continued to swish its tail. It didn't need to do anything. It just watched.
…
As night fell, workers in Liberio were busy erecting a massive propaganda poster. On it, a female figure in a gorgeous Magical Girl outfit—which fused elements of the Marleyan military uniform—pointed heroically toward the distance. In the background, an enemy encampment burned, and the Marleyan flag rose high. Her face was indistinct, but her eyes were firm, filled with loyalty and devotion.
Beside her, a slogan was written in huge, bold letters:
"FOR THE GLORY OF MARLEY! BECOME A MAGICAL GIRL WHO PROTECTS THE EMPIRE!"
"YOU... ARE THE NEXT MIRACLE!"
[Non-Human Chat Group]
Tom Cat: [Cat_is_sleepy_curling_up_in_the_bed_Haibara_made_him.gif]
SpongeBob SquarePants: Oh nooo, how did it turn into this? They're really making all those people make wishes? Didn't Kyubey tell them the price of becoming a Witch this time?! Why do they still want this?!
Squidward: [Squidward_slams_his_tentacles_on_the_cash_register.jpg] I TOLD YOU! STUPIDITY IS CONTAGIOUS! And now we have a bunch of perverted lunatics in skirts and magic wands getting ready to conquer the world! What a great idea!
Monokuma: Upupupupu! SpongeBob-kun! See? When you wrap it up in pretty paper labeled "Greatness," "Glory," and "Duty," it doesn't matter how awful the thing inside is, there will always be fools who trample each other to eat it! Upupupu!