Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert - Chapter 258

Based on the popular Vocaloid series, by HoneyWorks, called “Kokuhoku Yokou Renshuu (Confession Rehearsal)“:

Natsuki, a third-year at Sakuragaoka High School, who holds unrequited feelings for her childhood friend, Yuu, who’s in the Film Club. However, instead of being honest about her feelings, she makes him be her confession “rehearsal” partner. Unable to say her true feelings, things start to get complicated when Miou and Akari, who are also in the Art Club, get involved! Will she ever be able to confess for real!?

Xu Jinzhi lived a healthy life until she was seventy-five, passing away without much suffering, and seemingly without any major regrets or dissatisfaction.However, looking at her son, daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren beside her bed, Xu Jinzhi couldn't help but think of her late husband who died young in an accident, wondering if she would be able to see him again—if only she could.Upon opening her eyes next, Xu Jinzhi shockingly finds herself transported back several decades in the past, at a time when the Xu and Xie families were negotiating a business marriage. Without hesitation, she mentions the name 'Xie Yanchuan.'In her previous life, marrying Xie Yanchuan was a reluctant choice, but in this life, she chooses him decisively!The Xie family holds significant influence in City A, Xie Yanchuan, however, is the overlooked member of the family, overshadowed by his older brother carrying familial responsibilities and a younger, frail brother.This setup doesn't bother Xie Yanchuan much; he is content with living quietly.One day, the marriage arrangement with the Xu family lands unexpectedly on his shoulders, resulting in his marriage to the woman named Xu Jinzhi!Xie Yanchuan initially prepares for a marriage of mutual respect or non-interference. However, why does Xu Jinzhi always surprise him with her unexpected actions?

In a world where 80% of humanity has awakened supernatural talents, life is a brutal competition.College loser Kim Do-hyun is barely surviving on game bots, instant noodles, and debt. That is, until a government-mandated awakening throws him into the spotlight… only to declare his power total trash.Cloning? Level one? Cooldown? One body? What a joke.But this clone is real. It sweats. It works. It eats. And when it trains… Do-hyun's stats increase.Now, while the clone grinds 24/7—running, working, even getting beat up—Do-hyun chills in bed, reaping the rewards.His strength rises. His body transforms. His life begins to change.But power attracts attention.And when an S-Rank hunter known only as The Jumper starts watching, Do-hyun realizes something terrifying:He might not be the only one cheating the system.

By the coast, a hundred-meter Star Gate shimmered with flowing light.Beyond the Star Gate, an army forged of steel stretched as far as the eye could see.Above the Sky Dome, squadrons of fighter jets streaked across, weaving an iron curtain.In the distant ocean, scores of aircraft carriers, destroyers, and frigates dotted the seascape, ready for action.All cannons were aimed at the figure who emerged from the Star Gate.“In the name of the Federation Command Center, I order you to stand down, or what awaits you is total war,” said the voice.“War?”Gu Jinlai took a step forward, and his form swelled against the wind, in an instant growing from less than two meters tall to a colossal Chaos Demon God thousands of kilometers high, emitting the brilliance of a white dwarf star from his being, his own gravity causing thunder and lightning, as well as tsunamis and tides within a thousand-mile radius.He looked down...At the war weapons that seemed like toys.He reached out, and a hydrogen bomb fell into his hand.Within him, the electron-degenerate star core released Helium, Helium elements expanded, and the terrifying high temperature instantly caused Deuterium and Tritium, Hydrogen's isotopes, to fuse, the energy bursting forth, forming a blazing white brilliance on the ocean's surface that was like igniting a sun.Before this sun's energy could be released, he clapped his hands together, and the dazzling white, mixed with heat in the billions of degrees, was compressed and sealed within his palms, not a fragment escaping.“I think, you should choose peace.” he suggested.