Master’s Smile - Chapter 71

Some exist with pride, others struggle with pride, some compete with pride, and there are those who fail with pride, but very few can walk away with pride.Congratulations, for as you read these lines, you have witnessed the whole lives of many great basketball players.This pronunciation was embodied when Stephen Curry, after facing defeat in 2021, claimed that no one would want to face them the following season; When Tim Duncan was convinced before the start of the 2014 Finals that they would not mess up; When Kobe Bryant promised at Old Buss's memorial to take the Lakers to the playoffs; When Nowitzki, shedding his label as a soft player, retreated to the locker room in tears at night; When Kevin Garnett let out a skyward howl after holding the championship trophy; When the 2004 Detroit Pistons won and the F4 Lakers lost…Our story begins in an era when pride still mattered.

-Picture is not mine, I do not own the right for it, so if owner wants it to be put down, please message me on the comment-

In a usurped kingdom , amid a war-torn and blood-soaked Italy, Conradin's battleground is set. To reclaim his birthright the crown of Sicily, he must tread a path paved with blood, learning that he must do whatever it takes to ascend the throne.

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In the year 1266, the tale of Conradin, the last scion of an ancient imperial dynasty, unfolds. His once-great kingdom, Sicily, has been ruthlessly usurped first by his own uncle and now rests in the hands of the cunning French Count Charles. Through a treacherous plot involving the Pope, Charles managed to oust the Hohenstaufen from the Kingdom of Sicily and crowned himself as its king.

In the East, powers such as the Despotate of Epirus are keenly observing the instability in Sicily, poised to seize any advantage that may arise from the chaos. Meanwhile, the small Italian communes are caught in the political crossfire, aligning themselves with one side of the conflict or the other based on the prevailing political party in power and their vested interests. These shifting allegiances turn the Italian peninsula into a powder keg, where all-out war seems inevitable.

As the shadows of history close in around Conradin, the world watches with bated breath. Will he emerge triumphant, his name forever etched in the annals of Sicilian glory as the rightful king who defied insurmountable odds, toppling both the Pope and the usurper? Or will he, in his valiant struggle, become a tragic figure, a symbol of lost opportunities and shattered dreams? The future of Sicily hangs in the balance, and Conradin's destiny remains uncertain, poised on the precipice of history.

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The ClockA Divine Object that looms eternally in the sky, casting its silent shadow over every corner of the earth. No one remembers when it first appeared—only that it has always been there. And it ticks.Once every ten years, the hand moves. With it, millions are randomly chosen and sent to another realm, forced to fight for their survival. These chosen few are known as Chronists—individuals granted supernatural abilities by the Clock itself.***Jack has always been seen as a misfit—an odd boy with a strange way of thinking. After a life-changing accident, he finds himself shuffled between psychiatrists, as his parents search for answers they can’t seem to find.But everything changes the day a mysterious woman appears before him.From that moment on, Jack's life begins to unravel—and so does his place in a world far stranger than he ever imagined.

Zhou Yuanjue, who has achieved Great Success in the Red Falcon Fist, embarks on the path to pursue the limits of humanity.Despite all the genteel charm as a history teacher, Zhou's true identity is an underground boxer.“Tonight at 9 PM. Binjiang Tianhai Boxing Arena. Opponent: Wu He Mountain of Southern Myanmar, Fierce Tiger Fist.”“This is the last time.”“Win first, then we'll talk.”