The crew all turned to look at Kyle, their eyes filled with shock and confusion.
The prophecy was too vague, too terrifying.
Was he the embodiment of disaster? The one who would end the apocalypse? Or just a spectator standing at the world's edge, composing music for destruction?
Facing everyone's complicated gazes, Kyle felt rather puzzled himself.
"Three down!" Roger's wild laughter echoed through the Sea Forest as he held up the rubbing of the Poneglyph like a kid who'd just gotten his favorite toy. "Just one more until we reach the final island!"
The crew erupted in deafening cheers. The end of their journey had never felt so close.
Days of sailing fatigue vanished in an instant, every face glowing with excitement and anticipation.
Neptune watched this band of lawless pirates and shook his head helplessly, though he...
At this very moment, after sitting down in front of his computer screen, Kairos withdrew his gaze from the system panel, took a deep breath, and refocused his attention on the game development panel before him.
The Team Rocket storyline he'd specially arranged had reached a temporary conclusion for now, but the entire Emerald game still had a much larger world and story content waiting for him to continue creating.
He took a deep breath and threw himself back into game production....
The coating craftsman Roger found was a scruffy, booze-reeking guy who was fast asleep on a carousel at the amusement park.
No matter how much Roger tried to coax or threaten him, the man just rolled over and mumbled, "Lemme sleep a bit more."
Finally, Rayleigh arrived. After saying something or other to the guy, he immediately perked up, crawled to his feet, and slapped his chest, promising to get the job done.
Soon, the Oro Jackson was moored beneath a massive red tree roo...
The title of "Chief Musician" brought Kyle no actual benefits whatsoever, except for being dragged away by Roger on a whim to serve as a "million-dollar tuner" for a bunch of tone-deaf drunks.
Half a month later, when an archipelago made up of countless giant red trees appeared on the horizon, the ruckus aboard the Oro Jackson finally came to a temporary halt.
Dreamlike bubbles floated through the air like soap suds, and sunlight filtered through the massive canopies, casting dapp...
Bullet's departure was like a stone tossed into a lake, sending brief ripples across the Oro Jackson before being swallowed by the vastness of the sea and the crew's boundless spirit.
This ship never stopped for anyone who left. It carried too many dreams, and they weighed too heavily.
Several days later, sailing on the calm waters of the Grand Line, the day's clamor was gradually染上了 painted with the lazy gold of the setting sun.
"Well then, may fortune favor you all in battle." Standing on the cloud shore of Angel Island, Gan Fall stroked his long beard and bid farewell to Roger and his crew.
"Oh! Thanks for having us, Gan! I'll come drink with you again next time!" Roger hoisted a huge sack stuffed with Sky Island specialties over his shoulder, not the slightest bit embarrassed.
Kyle: Gan! You're a goddamn genius! (wrong show)
"Captain, how are we getting down?" Buggy tugged at Roger's sleeve, star...
Kozuki Oden carved the final stroke and sheathed his blade, fine beads of sweat dotting his forehead. He stepped back two paces, looking at that proclamation coexisting with ancient text yet brimming with fresh, domineering spirit, his chest surging with heroic passion.
"Gu ha ha ha! Well done, Oden!" Roger patted the stone base with satisfaction, as if it weren't cold stone but the shoulder of some future old friend.
The two kids Shanks and Buggy, though they couldn't fully grasp...
The Oro Jackson's hull rubbed against the sea of clouds, producing a gentle "swish swish" sound as soft as a lover's whisper.
The crew carefully descended the gangplank, their feet landing on the soft, springy clouds, the sensation both novel and absurd.
Buggy crouched down and curiously poked at the "ground" beneath his feet. His finger passed through easily, bringing up a small tuft of cloud fluff. "Hey, Shanks, this thing can actually hold people!"
The sails of the Oro Jackson filled with wind, carrying a crew with varied thoughts and one ecstatic "guest" as they bid farewell to the Whitebeard Pirates.
Kozuki Oden was like a rare beast just released from its cage, filled with boundless curiosity about everything on the ship.
One moment he'd dash to the bow, feeling the sea breeze blow through his long hair with abandon. The next, he'd crowd next to the helmsman, pointing at the complex wheel and sea charts, exclaiming "Oh oh...
The hearty, boisterous drinking mood that had surrounded Whitebeard vanished the instant Roger's request landed.
In its place came an oppressive silence, deep as the ocean floor.
Roger's words rang out with conviction, each syllable echoing clearly across the giant mushroom, yet they seemed to fall into a bottomless abyss without any response.
"Gu ha ha ha..."
A low laugh rolled from deep in Whitebeard's throat, carrying no trace of humor. Instead, it made the very air...
The two could only be described as having made it into the forest by the skin of their teeth. Almost the very second they dove into the trees, the deafening explosion behind them, accompanied by flames, completely consumed that secret exit.
Scorching shockwaves mixed with metal shrapnel and dust came surging out, only to be quickly blocked by the dense trees.
They had successfully escaped into the forest.
Immediately after, an even more violent internal explosion came from u...
At the critical moment, the character Lance was controlling immediately retreated a few steps. The glow surrounding Eevee's body dimmed slightly, but vigilance remained in its eyes.
"You found it? Take it slow, Lance."
Cynthia's voice came through the headset. She seemed to have temporarily paused her exploration to focus on Lance's situation.
"It's endured mental and physical torment far beyond what we imagined. Building trust takes time and a completely non-threatening att...
His hand gripping the mouse had turned somewhat pale from excessive tension. He immediately grabbed his phone nearby, wanting to tell Cynthia everything he'd found here.
She was the first person he could think of in this moment.
However, just as he pulled up his contacts—
"Looks like a few restless little rats have scurried into places they shouldn't be."
A cold, authoritative voice suddenly rang out from the entrance they...
"Tsk, Chris cooperating with Umbrella, returning to Raccoon City to take down Umbrella, and then Jill will probably join in too. Wonder what expression those S.T.A.R.S. survivors will have when they see Chris showing up with Umbrella's mobile units to rescue them... How absurd."
Vera walked to the one-way floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the industrial park below.
Sunlight streamed down, dancing across countless silver metal surf...
Through the rain, two figures—one tall, one short—stumbled desperately from the completely blocked Raccoon Street into the outer city's Arklay Scenic Boulevard. Drenched by rain, stepping through muddy sidewalks, they struggled to run forward.
"Not yet, hurry, sweetheart, faster! You can do it—we have to get away from here as quickly as possible!"
Umbrella Industrial Park, California U.S.F. Security Forces Training Base.
"Ah, let go of me! This is kidnapping! I'm a police officer..."
A young woman in civilian clothes with a black hood obscuring her face—though her voice sounded quite young—was being forcibly escorted indoors by two Umbrella security guards in black suits, passing through multiple security checkpoints.
"Rebecca? Hey, let her go!"
The woman was pressed into a chair. She had been struggling con...
A sudden explosive sound accompanied by intense white light, followed immediately by the soldiers' exclamations. Amid the commotion, seeing the Pentagon general's gaze turn to her again, Vera responded with a smile, then set aside her considerations about Raccoon City.
Temporarily.
Her current money-making scheme and getting on the Pentagon's good side were more pressing.
"General, you and your team are very talented. You figured out derivative uses for civilian ...
After a quick shower at her Westbrook home and a healthy breakfast prepared by her robotic chef, Vera took her usual hover car to the company plaza and landed at Arasaka Tower’s internal pad.
Whirr... whirr...
As the landing gear touched down, Vera stepped out of her customized luxury hover car, breakfast wrapped in parchment paper in hand. She glanced back at the landing pad, scanning it twice. In terms of size and defense, her Excalibur was still the most heavily armored.
Perhaps from all the travel lately—or simply from boredom with her current assignments—Vera dozed through most of the trip to Night City. When the AI flight attendant made the arrival announcement, her subordinate gently woke her from her brief rest.
With her mind cleared, Vera leaned back, then sat upright at the sound. Through the porthole, she watched Night City gradually come into view beneath the night sky.
The low roar of airflow filled the cabin as the door sealed shut. Vera sat still, watching through the porthole as the Sydney skyline receded, slowly shrinking into the distance. Her expression was indifferent—utterly uninterested in the so-called suppression mission they'd just completed.
"Commander Russell, Intelligence Division has already identified and screened the main agitators. Are we really leaving this early?"
For the first time, David Martinez understood the meaning of the word "stunning."
Never before had he seen such beautiful colors in Santo Domingo's grimy, run-down neighborhoods.
A gorgeous silhouette that stood out completely from everyone else there, and even here.
She leaned lazily yet elegantly against the railings of the waiting area behind the ceremony platform, her tailored high-end Arasaka women's uniform showing off her graceful, tall figure to perfection.
The deafening explosion mixed with scorching, acrid airflow suddenly burst forth from the deepest part of the passage. Lance's screen was instantly flooded with blinding red light and billowing dust!
In reality, he was so startled by this sudden violent impact that he instinctively jerked back, nearly losing his grip on the mouse—though it was all pixels, this game's immersive experience had always been incredibly realistic.
After maneuvering his character through a thorough search, Lance finally found a hidden mechanism deep within the secret passage. He clicked the dialogue option to confirm, and the hidden compartment popped open, revealing a black screen resembling a computer interface. As the screen lit up, a line of numbers and letters appeared at the top.
Clearly, this was a locked door that required a password to open.
Lance stared at the unassuming input device before him, his fingers hoverin...
The air thick with moisture, mold, dust, rust, chemicals, and the acrid stench of blood.
On the rain-slicked street, shattered storefront windows had left debris everywhere. Glass shards and broken fixtures were scattered across the pavement, catching dull reflections in the wash of rainwater.
Overturned trash cans lined the road, their contents mingled with protest signs, flags, plastic bottles, bricks, and even discarded clothing. All...
For the first time, David Martinez understood the meaning of the word "stunning."
Never before had he seen such beautiful colors in Santo Domingo's grimy, run-down neighborhoods.
A gorgeous silhouette that stood out completely from everyone else there, and even here.
She leaned lazily yet elegantly against the railings of the waiting area behind the ceremony platform, her tailored high-end Arasaka women's uniform showing off her graceful, tall figure to perfection.
