WiseTL

Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [45]

Drake considered calling for Kanto League backup.

But he dismissed the idea just as quickly.

The S.S. Anne was far from port by now, and even if the League sent help, there was no guarantee they’d arrive in time.

In any case, unless they sent an Elite or a battalion, reinforcements wouldn’t be of much use here.

Not that it mattered—any message for help wouldn’t go through. Team Rocket had jammed all signals around the S.S. Anne. Until they completed their opera...

Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [44]

Salamence’s injury made Drake realize this fight might not be as straightforward as he’d hoped.

Still, a single setback didn’t mean the battle had shifted in Luo Yuan’s favor.

“Altaria, Dragon Breath!”

“Salamence, Dragon Pulse!”

Altaria supported, while Salamence led the charge, the two Pokémon synchronizing their attacks perfectly.

With both pressing the offensive, Dragapult couldn’t afford to take any risks and had to swiftly dodge in mid-air...

Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [43]

While Luo Yuan was battling Drake, Team Rocket had already begun their operations in other parts of the S.S. Anne.

---

The Ballroom

A grand ball was in full swing, with nearly all passengers gathered in the lavish hall.

Suddenly—bang!

The ballroom doors were kicked open, and every head turned toward the entrance.

A large group of Team Rocket operatives stormed into the hall with their Pokémon.

“This ship is now under Team Rocket�...

Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [42]

Drake sat in the cabin, hand resting on his belt, remaining vigilant.

Five days earlier, when the S.S. Anne first docked, he'd received a warning from the Kanto League. They'd learned that Team Flare was planning to steal his Evolution Keystone and Mega Stones.

Drake hadn’t believed it at first.

After all, he was the formidable Dragon-Type Elite of Hoenn—thinking Team Flare could swipe something under his nose seemed like a joke.

But when the Kanto League agents ar...

Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [41]

"There are others..."

Hearing Sabrina's words, Luo Yuan sat up in bed.

"Are you sure? Maybe it's just room service delivering food or something..."

With that many security personnel around, it wouldn’t be unusual for someone to be bringing them food and drink.

"I can tell the difference," Sabrina replied, her tone calm. "My psychic sensing may not be precise, but I can determine they're all trainers."

With a casual wave of her hand, a pen and paper floated out ...

Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman [45]

Gringotts, Underground Vault.

The sound of a loud thumping echoed through the vault, as though something was ramming against its iron door.

The goblins on duty noticed the commotion, immediately suspecting an intruder.

But before they could even confirm, the heavy door of a vault burst open, and a golden cup shot out, blasting through the floor and soaring toward the sky, knocking over a goblin on its way out.

Dazed, the goblin sat up, stars dancing in his vis...

Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman [44]

The appearance of Godric Gryffindor was the biggest game-changer in the battle.

With his presence, the weight on Dumbledore’s shoulders lightened considerably, and the professors watching from the sidelines felt a renewed sense of hope.

A thousand years ago, Godric had wielded both wand and sword to defeat countless opponents, earning his title as the greatest duelist of his age.

And now, he had even conquered death.

After a thousand years, just how powerful had Gryf...

Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman [43]

The battle on the stone bridge had already alarmed the staff and students within Hogwarts.

Professor McGonagall, acting as Deputy Headmistress, quickly ordered all students back to their dormitories, then led the other professors to the castle gates.

They initially believed that, by gathering together, they might offer Dumbledore at least a bit of assistance.

However, the shriek of the Ravenclaw house ghost, the Grey Lady, shattered their confidence entirely.

“Mother...

Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman [42]

Salazar Slytherin!

Hearing the name spoken aloud, Dumbledore felt his heart sink.

He glanced at Jason standing smugly behind Salazar, filled with an unspeakable fury.

No wonder Lupin had come to him to confess—disturbing the rest of Hogwarts’ founders was an act of ultimate desecration.

“Surprised?” Jason said. “With just a diluted Dionesium factor and a little dark magic ritual, your founders can serve me just fine.”

As he spoke, he made sure to flau...

Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman [41]

Dumbledore apparated onto the stone bridge just outside of Hogwarts.

“Bruce has still gone in, hasn't he…”

His heart was heavy. A gifted child had still strayed onto the wrong path.

Quirrell was one thing, but now Bruce, too, had his sights set on the Philosopher's Stone.

Dumbledore was utterly disappointed. He had made up his mind; after Tom’s example, Hogwarts could not be allowed to foster another dark lord.

“Bruce, I gave you a chance…”

He...

Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [45]

In the grand, sacred halls of Qlipoth Forth, a young woman, elegantly dressed and poised, was presenting her strategic plans for the ongoing battle to the Supreme Guardian.

Her resolve was as solid as a fortress, her words sharp yet precise. Most striking of all, her gaze was unwaveringly focused, no longer carrying the trace of admiration it once held.

Beside her, the intelligence officer looked at her with admiration, as did other members of the Architect Council, who were capti...

Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [44]

Bronya woke up in her room, her clock silently pointing to the afternoon.

She had returned at dawn, around five o’clock, reported on her duties, and reached home by six. Then, she’d gone down to the underworld with Venti and experienced so much in just one trip.

It added up to around nine hours…

A short span that felt like she’d been dreaming.

This hazy, dreamlike sensation lingered until she changed back into her uniform. As she looked at herself in the mirror...

Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [43]

For a brief moment, Bronya felt an urge to abandon everything and witness the world that Venti spoke of.

But as her gaze touched the colored lights hanging around them and the empty houses below the town…

The responsibility in her heart outweighed all else. Her impulsive thoughts faded as quickly as they had appeared. She knew that if she asked, Venti would never refuse her.

But if she did that… wouldn’t it make his efforts a wasted trip?

Though there was a linge...

Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [42]

“Mm... that’s right. Just follow this path, and at the end, we’ll reach our final stop.”

Walking ahead, Venti explained their destination to Bronya, who took the opportunity to observe the surrounding shops and signs, a faint sense of familiarity surfacing in her heart.

“Why… does this place feel so familiar?”

Especially the steps leading up to the hilltop—it seemed like they should be wider, not this narrow.

“I think I’ve been here before,” Brony...

Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [41]

"Venti, do you think I’m foolish?"

Bronya’s head hung low, her heart weighed down with an overwhelming sense of helplessness and frustration.

"As the heir to the Guardian, I’ve undergone endless training and conditioning, yet all I can do is watch Silvermane Guards sacrifice themselves on the front lines each day. And after that? Lie to their families, telling them that their loss had some noble purpose."

"I know that the underworld suffers, but I can’t offer any hel...

I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [45]

Flames.

Flickering softly, leaving no ashes.

Beautiful, pure flames.

Since that day, this flame had always been there, lingering in her dreams, within her very soul.

If something were thrown into it, it would burn to nothing.

If sin were cast into it, it would be seared away to pristine white.

If memories were tossed in, they would dissolve into void.

“Cursed energy is born from human negativity. It’s a form of negative energy, symbolized by a ‘...

I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [44]

Jasmine’s cursed energy and stamina were running low.

After taking out so many monsters, she was immediately confronted with a Special Grade curse without a chance to recover.

Unlike her, the bizarrely moving curse had yet to use any techniques of its own, yet it wielded a massive amount of cursed energy. Simply by gathering and hurling cursed energy blasts, it created destructive power that Jasmine, in her current state, struggled to deflect.

She’d never seen such a was...

I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [43]

The monsters swarmed Jasmine in endless waves, surging toward her like a tide.

They varied in appearance, each more grotesque than the last, testing the limits of human aesthetics and revulsion alike.

But Jasmine was unfazed. As the battle raged on, her mind, body, and spirit sharpened to a singular focus, with black lightning erupting around her with every strike.

Each punch sent gusts rippling through the air, every blow lethal, and no matter how many monsters approached, ...

I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [42]

The so-called "Black Flash" occurs when the delay between physical impact and cursed energy output is less than 0.000001 seconds, creating a spatial distortion. Its power is calculated by raising the product of physical and cursed energy strengths to the 2.5th power—a "critical hit" wrapped in a burst of light.

For instance, during Gojo Satoru’s fight with Ryomen Sukuna, a single Black Flash from Gojo had Sukuna reeling, eyes rolling back in unconsciousness, making one wonder if Suk...

I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [41]

“Baobhan Sith, sister…”

Inside the moving taxi, Jasmine was practically glued to the window, frowning as she stared at the passing scenery.

She could see things invisible to ordinary people—a huge black dome covered the spot where Baobhan Sith had gotten out earlier, obscuring anything within from her sight.

She believed her sister was the strongest, undefeated.

But still…

“When will I be able to stand by her side…”

She wanted to be of help ...

Type-Moon: The Human Love Simulator [138]

Suren entered the infernal realm of Tartarus.

He had a favorable relationship with the Underworld’s ruling couple, so gaining access to the Queen’s garden and persuading Persephone to open the gates of Hell posed no challenge.

Curiously, the entrance to Tartarus lay directly beneath the palace of the King and Queen of the Underworld, accessible through the garden.

The moment Suren stepped foot in Tartarus, he immediately sensed the differences here.

"Even the Sacre...

Type-Moon: The Human Love Simulator [137]

Under the Golden Age of Prosperity, Greece had become a land of wealth and abundance, its divine productivity fulfilling nearly every need that wasn’t man-made.

For example, filling one’s belly or even building a Gundam with one’s bare hands wasn’t difficult. Yet, there were always those who felt that oppressing others to serve them aligned better with their status as a superior being.

Suren served as the wedge between gods and mortals to prevent this, establishing a new w...

Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [170]

Noticing Xiao’s intense, almost probing gaze on him, Gu Sanqiu turned to size up the weapon in the adeptus’s hands, a similarly evaluative look in his eyes.

An exclusive weapon, boosts critical rate… he mused.

He wondered if the weapon’s supposed “crit rate” was from some sentient spirit, allowing it to target an enemy’s weak spots automatically. Or, if he were to put it scientifically, maybe it was something like an “optimized combat analysis module....

Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [169]

Whoosh—

The massive pressure of wind came at him from all directions. Even with his cultivation, all Gu Sanqiu could do was channel the power of Decarabian within him to shield his face—lest he be permanently disfigured.

After he’d shared the exact coordinates of the Sanxuan Guild’s hideout, Xiao had clamped his hand on Gu Sanqiu’s shoulder, leaping straight into the sky and rocketing forward in a streak of green light.

No doubt, to anyone observing, that ...

Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [168]

In a secluded and secretive spot capable of remotely influencing all matters in Liyue Harbor… well, that’s just the kind of setup that certain rats in the shadows absolutely love.

But, if someone has been there and someone knows about it, then there must be memories of the place.

And where there are memories, Gu Sanqiu’s paper talisman art can find the vital information, uncovering everything about that hideout.

Not to mention, Gu Sanqiu’s home is filled with strange...

Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [167]

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

Gu Sanqiu pulled out a handful of donkey-hide gelatin cakes and other potent energy restoratives, stuffing them all in his mouth in one go.

The Wraith Bone Brush was now latched onto his arm—or more accurately, its tip had stabbed into his arm, greedily siphoning his blood.

“I didn’t tell you to drain me that fast!”

Dropping his snacks, Gu Sanqiu snatched up his Dragon Scale Shield and gave the brush a solid thump.

"What are you, so...

Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [166]

The events that followed far exceeded Gu Sanqiu’s expectations.

One after another, the cursed remnants continued hurling themselves onto the point of his spear, as if eager to complete some bizarre achievement he’d call “Divine Skewer.”

Of course, before they impaled themselves, most of these cursed beings charged in with the sheer will to obliterate him.

The creatures were as bizarre in appearance as they were relentless in their single-minded drive to kill Gu Sanqi...

This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [135]

Several days passed.

From a distance, Luo Qing spotted the Shogunate reinforcements led by Kujou Sara. He then glanced back at the neatly arranged line of resistance soldiers still dancing on Nazuchi Beach. With a casual wave, he turned off the phonograph.

As soon as the music stopped, the resistance fighters halted their dance. But their bodies, still adjusting, instinctively turned to look at Luo Qing, as if asking: Is it early dismissal today?

"Congratulations, y...