Pencil (2)

Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat

lvl 80 Overlay lvl 1

The limelight cast on the boxing ring is bright, but no brighter than all those beads of sweat running down his back. He has long been determined to use his two fists to protect those he cherishes the most. After all, they are the ones who ignited his determination in the first place. They are the ones who have always been there for him, be it inside or outside the boxing ring.

Moment of Victory

lvl 30 Overlay lvl 1

"If you want to cry after your loss, Gepard, then cry." "But you need to stand back up even when you are crying, until you can defeat me... Even if it takes years." A few years later, the boy no longer cried or lost to his sister. Now on the battle field, the courageous Silvermane Guard captain will defend till the end no matter what — all to find the moment to completely destroy the enemy.

We Are Wildfire

lvl 80 Overlay lvl 1

She got used to people losing their homes. And she got used to people losing their lives. But crying alone was useless. "Wear this red scarf, and then we shall share each other's pain." "We are family. We are Wildfire." The moment that pair of big hands held her head, she could no longer hold back her tears.

Whereabouts Should Dreams Rest

lvl 80 Overlay lvl 1

This is the edge of the Asdana system. The ocean of memoria roars with mountainous waves and she, like a singular tiny spark, may be doused at any moment in the storm. "For one who cannot dream to enter the Synesthesia Dreamscape, they would have to pay a price comparable to death." She can still hear her companions' concerned voices next to her ears. She takes a deep breath and dives into the Memory Zone. As the vessel silently sinks into the depth of the Memory Zone, small pinpricks of firefly lights dissipate from the cracks and are then immediately swallowed up by the endless darkness. "Wherefore do you hurtle unto death?" In the ocean of memoria that grows deeper and deeper, the weak light emitted by the Memory Zone creatures are like faraway eyes that nonchalantly glance at her. Dreams remained too distant for her. She gazes emptily out at the boundless darkness, her body and soul having reached the breakdown threshold long ago under the heavy pressure of memoria. Though she realizes her consciousness is gradually fading, only those remaining memories are playing over and over in her brain — The Swarm that covered the sky tore through the frontline defenses as she flew towards the Swarm while enveloped in fire. The charred ash of the Swarm faded like snow, under which lies the pitch-black carcasses of the knights. She didn't even have the time to take a bouquet and offer her final acknowledgement to knights, who were dying one after another. Their lives bloomed in the blink of an eye and went out equally fleetingly. Like a string of genetic code, they never possessed names and only had numbers allotted instead. "Wherefore do you live?" In the deathly silence, like flames dissolving in the sea, she is reduced to a singular spot of fire and unendingly progresses towards the light... She opens her eyes after what seems to be forever. She sees the "future" looking like a pearl, radiating with a soft and vague light. Tears stream down her face — "I do it to find... my own 'dream'..."

Poised to Bloom

lvl 80 Overlay lvl 1

Dawn's first light whispers. In the stillness of the flower grove, a shifting form dances, startling birds into flight one after another. Silently reciting sword techniques, she moves with the flow, her once-clumsy moves now gaining finesse. Where the sword's cuts rend the air, petals fall like rain, swirling chaotically as they fall. Unbeknownst to her, the cool mist has dampened her hair. "Nice swordplay!" Startled, she instinctively turns her sword— Behind her, a young {F#woman}{M#man} with gray hair lowers the camera in hand. "Beautiful memories won't just fade away with the wind."

Dance! Dance! Dance!

lvl 80 Overlay lvl 1

"Why couldn't Hook do a spinning dance move, just like how Clara does?" She clenched her tiny fists and pouted her cute lips, her chubby little face looking redder than ever under her signature felt hat. "Please, Mr. Svarog, can you please help Hook with this?" Without saying any words, Mr. Svarog began to hold out his robotic arm. "I'm g—gonna be sick!!! Put me down now! Please!"

Dance at Sunset

lvl 80 Overlay lvl 1

In the resplendent twilight, a swift figure darts across the rooftops. "Lili, Guoguo, let's see who makes it to the finish line first!" Scaling the eaves, evading the guards, swaying with the wind, the girl moves like a nimble critter, chasing the last sliver of sunlight. The warm evening breeze caresses her face, and the setting sun bathes the cat in a kaleidoscope of colors. "You guys won!" She declares, wiping sweat from her brow and cradling the cat in her arms. Amidst a rising galaxy of stars, her unguarded smile dissolves into a bloom of innocence, akin to the layered twilight hues adrift in the sky.

Hey, Over Here

lvl 80 Overlay lvl 1

Three girls stroll in the darkness, and the surroundings seem to gain a hint of eeriness. "Huohuo, hurry up, or we won't wait for you!" She steps forward confidently with her phone clutched in her hand, seemingly unaffected by the paranormal ambiance. "I—I'm over here!" The girl standing ahead responds timidly. "Huh? So you were in the front all along, then who is following Shangshang and me..." The perfect end for this scene would definitely be a girlish scream.

Cruising in the Stellar Sea

lvl 80 Overlay lvl 1

Coursing 'tween the sea of stars, THEY cruise with the speed of a rainbow's chromatic flash. A journey of hunting undying abominations, collecting cures and miracles, and seeking deliverance. Akin to a vow unbroken, THEIR voyage will be, ad infinitum.

Thus Burns the Dawn

lvl 1 Overlay lvl 1

Once again, at the journey's end, the man's silhouette was swallowed by the sweltering golden sun. "So... that golden blood, the last hope of deliverance, was really..." His tears never had the chance to fall — they vanished into steam. "Snowy, see you tomorrow!" "Deliverer, remember to stay alive till the final act!" "Go be the dawn of Amphoreus..." ... The people's wishes echoed in the void. The Nameless Hero crumbled, his fierce and tragic death laid bare. "If rage can't burn this twisted fate to ashes..." He climbed toward the peak, over and over, only to fall and be shattered, again and again— "Then let me burn with it!"

Something Irreplaceable

lvl 50 Overlay lvl 1

"Should a day come when even I'm not here anymore, please look after this database, Svarog." (Who is this... Why is this message in my records...) "Do you have something that's irreplaceable, Svarog?" (Irreplaceable... broken parts... can simply be replaced...) "You'll definitely find it one day, Svarog." (Such things... will only cause trouble...) "When that time comes... You should leave this place behind."

Past and Future

lvl 60 Overlay lvl 1

The wings of the paper kite in her hands were broken, brutally reminding her of her beloved's tragic passing. She kneeled next to the fire of war, eyes full of sorrow. "If you are the only one left to do this, then our sacrifice would..." Gunfire raged on, painting the sky red without dampening its majesty. She looked up at the sky, eyes full of fury.

Along the Passing Shore

lvl 60 Overlay lvl 1

Flowing in the narrow border between "existence" and "nothingness," the ice-cold tides eternally lap against the shores and bring all things to their final end. In this place, the drowned ask for help, lament with songs, find their happiness, enjoy sweet moments, and suffer great agony... All these are reflected in the water. She cannot experience these, but she can feel them — There are still many roads to walk, many sounds to listen to, and many things to change before she arrives at the end. She reaches out and saves the drowning from the temptations of Nihility, and one mirage after another bursts apart behind her figure. She keeps walking in this boundless world, all for an end that does not exist. — And it's always raining here.

Victory In a Blink

lvl 1 Overlay lvl 1

The Titankins' all-consuming roars sweep across the battlefield. Two lightning-quick figures slaughter their way out of combat. "I alone will be enough to handle them." Every punch unleashed by the warrior sends spears of blood through the bodies of the enemy. "Brute force and nothing more. Watch my blade!" As a blade of pale silver slices in a curve, monsters drop like falling leaves. "A contest of speed?" The two charge at the other side simultaneously. Howls of anguish sound as the stealthy beasts behind them are struck down at once. Two voices can be heard at the same time. "That was my kill!"

Post-Op Conversation

lvl 60 Overlay lvl 1

"You're awake... Thank you." "You... saved my life, Natasha. The one who should be saying thanks... is me." "No, I should be thanking you... for holding on until I finished the surgery." The doctor and patient smiled wearily at each other and said nothing more.

Dance! Dance! Dance!

lvl 80 Overlay lvl 1

"Why couldn't Hook do a spinning dance move, just like how Clara does?" She clenched her tiny fists and pouted her cute lips, her chubby little face looking redder than ever under her signature felt hat. "Please, Mr. Svarog, can you please help Hook with this?" Without saying any words, Mr. Svarog began to hold out his robotic arm. "I'm g—gonna be sick!!! Put me down now! Please!"

The Birth of the Self

lvl 40 Overlay lvl 1

In the beginning, it had the exact same pose as the previous portrait. Looking at the face identical to hers, she was convinced that this was not her. "Impossible. How can two portraits be exactly the same?" She tweaked its joints, opened its eyes, and made its fingers softer. She looked happy when all the changes were done. "Completely different from yesterday. This is more like who I am today."

The Seriousness of Breakfast

lvl 20 Overlay lvl 1

Though the table is set... Some people want a cup of tea first. Some people want to take a picture first. Some people want to read the newspaper first. Some people want to write a page in their notebook first. Some people want to play on their phone first. "All of you, eat while the food is hot!"

Shared Feeling

lvl 40 Overlay lvl 1

When the doctor found the wounded girl, she was clinging to a machine that had stopped working, with all sorts of parts filling her pocket. She took the girl back to her clinic and treated the wounds. Drops of sweat slowly rolled down the girl's cheek, but she remained silent and her hands didn't stop fiddling the machine. To the doctor, the way the girl was attached to the machine was very much like how she was attached to her patients who needed help. So the doctor did not try to comfort the girl nor did she nag her about being more careful; but rather, she sat down with her to give her a moment of peace.

Data Bank

lvl 1 Overlay lvl 1

A drop of strength condensed from time itself. All the seemingly insignificant moments come together to form the magnificent choir of fate. "Human extinction is inevitable, but the library will live on: Lonely, immobile, and hidden from the public. Its vast collection is useless, yet pure from corruption."

What Is Real?

lvl 70 Overlay lvl 1

"If all the clocks are displaying the wrong time..." "If those bound to promises fulfilled their vows through betrayal..." "If those who sink into the realm of dreams never truly fell asleep..." "If the dead return to life, only to discover their names have been stripped..." "If... if..." He blows out the flame, and in darkness, there is but the eternal ticking of the timepiece.