Following the previous post here’s a recap of the 6th day from the 3rd week of the "World Wide League 07" project (full playlist of it can be found here).
Some notes:
You can find descriptions of each division as well as the teams participating in them on the Week 1 posts previously submitted in this subreddit.
Every time you see a team with their name in bold, it's a team of which every match will be recorded.
For ordering the leaderboard table, I simply use whatever the game displays (when there are full ties, it simply orders the teams at random) and then do some correlation since once the week of matches is done, the first match of the next week happens automatically offscreen.
WEEK 3 DAY 6
6th Division (Morning)
The results of the 11 matches from this division’s 3rd week were the following:

HOME	RESULT	AWAY
Hearts	1-1	Reggina
Atalanta	3-1	Rangers
AS Nancy	1-0	Brøndby IF
Cruz Azul	0-1	Sheffield Utd
Real Betis	2-0	Sochaux
Cruzeiro	2-1	Nantes
RC Santander	0-6	Reading
Tarragona	2-1	Toulouse
Hannover 96	0-1	Corinthians
FC København	2-1	West Brom
Palmeiras	1-0	Birmingham

Now for a short description of the 8 recorded matches and their facts (stats and events):
Match 2: Atalanta vs Rangers
Quite simply, the home team outclassed their opponents for most of the match, being gifted the initial goal and then building upon it. The away team did manage to score a goal of their own, but it was far too late to make any difference.

Atalanta	Stats	Rangers
2+1=3	Goals	0+1=1
6+4=10	Shots	5+5=10
4+3=7	On Target	2+4=6
17+22=39	Tackles	8+19=27
1+1=2	Fouls	1+0=1
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
1+0=1	Corners	0+2=2
0+0=0	Offsides	0+0=0
65%->65%	Passing	71%->71%
48%->45%	Possession	52%->55%
66%->70%	Accuracy	40%->60%

Atalanta	Events	Rangers
Goal (Ventola)	'37
Goal (Ventola)	'44
Sub (Zampagna->Soncin)	'57	Sub (Buffel->Boyd)
Goal (Soncin)	'59
	'86	Goal (Prso)

Match 3: AS Nancy vs Brøndby IF
Despite the away team's several chances, it was the home team and their one shot on target that resulted in the only goal of the match.

AS Nancy	Stats	Brøndby IF
1+0=1	Goals	0+0=0
3+2=5	Shots	6+7=13
1+0=1	On Target	3+1=4
10+9=19	Tackles	11+20=31
2+0=2	Fouls	0+0=0
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
0+0=0	Corners	2+0=2
0+0=0	Offsides	0+1=1
71%->67%	Passing	67%->67%
50%->49%	Possession	50%->51%
33%->20%	Accuracy	50%->30%

AS Nancy	Events	Brøndby IF
Goal (Dosunmu)	'13
Sub (Duchemin->Brison)	'61	Sub (Rasmussen->Peguero)

Match 4: Cruz Azul vs Sheffield Utd
Poor shooting overall, and the only goal of the game had some help from the home keeper's inaction to a close-range shot.

Cruz Azul	Stats	Sheffield Utd
0+0=0	Goals	0+1=1
3+4=7	Shots	7+5=12
1+1=2	On Target	1+1=2
22+18=40	Tackles	12+17=29
2+0=2	Fouls	1+1=2
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
0+0=0	Corners	1+1=2
0+1=1	Offsides	0+0=0
68%->68%	Passing	77%->74%
50%->48%	Possession	50%->52%
33%->28%	Accuracy	14%->16%

Cruz Azul	Events	Sheffield Utd
Sub (Carmona->Dominguez)	'59
	'65	Sub (Davis->Sommeil)
	'66	Goal (Hulse)

Match 5: Real Betis vs Sochaux
Not very accurate shooting, but the home team took full advantage of 2 very easy chances to achieve victory.

Real Betis	Stats	Sochaux
0+2=2	Goals	0+0=0
5+7=12	Shots	4+2=6
0+3=3	On Target	3+1=4
20+20=40	Tackles	17+11=28
1+0=1	Fouls	0+1=1
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
0+0=0	Corners	2+0=2
2+1=3	Offsides	0+0=0
68%->71%	Passing	68%->71%
59%->53%	Possession	41%->47%
0%->25%	Accuracy	75%->66%

Real Betis	Events	Sochaux
Goal (Robert)	'49
Sub (Maldonado->Miguel Ángel)	'81	Sub (Séne->Isabey)
Goal (Robert)	'85

Match 6: Cruzeiro vs Nantes
After the home team took the lead in the 1st half, the away team equalized with a very silly goal, but just as the match was closing to an end the home team managed to score again and take the win.

Cruzeiro	Stats	Nantes
1+1=2	Goals	0+1=1
4+2=6	Shots	3+6=9
3+1=4	On Target	1+2=3
14+10=24	Tackles	11+21=32
0+1=1	Fouls	0+0=0
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
0+0=0	Corners	0+0=0
0+0=0	Offsides	1+1=2
69%->67%	Passing	70%->71%
44%->43%	Possession	56%->57%
75%->66%	Accuracy	33%->33%

Cruzeiro	Events	Nantes
Goal (Carlinhos Bala)	'14
	'74	Goal (Diallo)
Goal (Élber)	'85

Match 7: RC Santander vs Reading
The biggest blowout of the season so far, it was an absolute massacre from the moment one of the home team's defenders got red carded, and the visitors showed no mercy.

RC Santander	Stats	Reading
0+0=0	Goals	4+2=6
3+3=6	Shots	7+5=12
0+2=2	On Target	5+3=8
17+8=25	Tackles	22+18=40
1+0=1	Fouls	0+1=1
1+0=1	Bookings	0+0=0
2+1=3	Corners	0+1=1
0+0=0	Offsides	1+1=2
67%->68%	Passing	66%->66%
56%->55%	Possession	44%->45%
0%->33%	Accuracy	71%->66%

RC Santander	Events	Reading
	'14	Goal (Doyle)
Red (Álvarez)	'33
	'36	Goal (Doyle)
	'39	Goal (Doyle)
	'45+1	Goal (Doyle)
	'55	Sub (Harper->Gunnarsson)
	'78	Goal (Kitson)
	'88	Goal (Kitson)

Match 8: Tarragona vs Toulouse
Plenty of easy goals on the 1st half, though the goalkeepers were in good form for the rest of the match.

Tarragona	Stats	Toulouse
2+0=2	Goals	1+0=1
8+5=13	Shots	9+5=14
7+2=9	On Target	5+1=6
16+18=34	Tackles	18+16=34
1+1=2	Fouls	1+1=2
0+1=1	Bookings	0+0=0
2+=2	Corners	2+0=2
0+1=1	Offsides	0+0=0
64%->62%	Passing	69%->70%
40%->42%	Possession	60%->58%
87%->69%	Accuracy	55%->42%

Tarragona	Events	Toulouse
Goal (Portillo)	'6
	'21	Goal (Emana)
Goal (Abel Buades)	'32
Yellow (Merino)	'53	Sub (Mathieu->Ebondo)
Sub (Merino->Generelo)	'84

Match 9: Hannover 96 vs Corinthians
Away team took the lead with a nice goal and the only reason there were no more goals were 2 good goalkeepers and defences making use of offside traps.

Hannover 96	Stats	Corinthians
0+0=0	Goals	1+0=1
8+6=14	Shots	9+5=14
1+2=3	On Target	3+3=6
16+20=36	Tackles	15+18=33
0+2=2	Fouls	1+1=2
0+1=1	Bookings	0+0=0
1+1=2	Corners	1+1=2
1+1=2	Offsides	1+1=2
72%->67%	Passing	73%->70%
53%->53%	Possession	47%->47%
12%->21%	Accuracy	33%->42%

Hannover 96	Events	Corinthians
	'31	Goal (Tevez)
	'53	Sub (Nilmar->Rafael Moura)
Yellow (Cherundolo)	'65

With all that in mind, the leaderboard after this division’s 3rd week of matches is as follows:

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1(↑2)	Reading	3	3	0	0	9	1	8	9
2(=)	Palmeiras	3	3	0	0	5	2	3	9
3(↑1)	Corinthians	3	2	1	0	6	2	4	7
4(↑4)	Tarragona	3	2	1	0	4	1	3	7
5(↓4)	Toulouse	3	2	0	1	6	4	2	6
6(↑4)	Real Betis	3	2	0	1	4	2	2	6
7(↑7)	Atalanta	3	1	2	0	5	3	2	5
8(↑5)	AS Nancy	3	1	2	0	3	2	1	5
9(↓4)	Brøndby IF	3	1	1	1	5	4	1	4
10(↓3)	Nantes	3	1	1	1	4	3	1	4
11(↓5)	Rangers	3	1	1	1	5	5	0	4
12(↑5)	Sheffield Utd	3	1	1	1	2	3	-1	4
13(↑5)	FC København	3	1	1	1	3	5	-2	4
14(↓5)	West Brom	3	1	0	2	4	4	0	3
15(=)	Reggina	3	0	3	0	3	3	0	3
16(↑4)	Cruzeiro	3	1	0	2	4	6	-2	3
17(↓6)	Hannover 96	3	1	0	2	2	4	-2	3
18(↓6)	Cruz Azul	3	0	2	1	4	5	-1	2
19(↑2)	Hearts	3	0	1	2	3	6	-3	1
20(↓4)	Birmingham	3	0	1	2	1	4	-3	1
21(↑1)	Sochaux	3	0	0	3	1	6	-5	0
22(↓3)	RC Santander	3	0	0	3	1	9	-8	0

5th Division (Afternoon)
The results of the 11 matches from this division’s 3rd week were the following:

HOME	RESULT	AWAY
VfL Bochum	1-1	Trabzonspor
Mainz	0-0	Nice
Anderlecht	2-0	Livorno
Empoli	1-0	R. Sociedad
Getafe	0-1	Wigan Athletic
Feyenoord	1-2	Rec. Huelva
Fluminense	0-2	Panathinaikos
Toluca	0-3	Siena
Brugge	2-0	RCD Mallorca
Guadalajara	1-2	Santos
Monterrey	1-4	Besiktas JK

Now for a short description of the 8 recorded matches and their facts (stats and events):
Match 2: Mainz vs Nice
Despite many attempts, neither team managed to create a good enough chance to score througout the entire match.

Mainz	Stats	Nice
0+0=0	Goals	0+0=0
5+5=10	Shots	7+4=11
1+1=2	On Target	1+1=2
16+14=30	Tackles	20+12=32
0+2=2	Fouls	2+0=2
0+0=0	Bookings	1+0=1
0+1=1	Corners	1+0=1
1+0=1	Offsides	0+1=1
69%->65%	Passing	67%->69%
49%->47%	Possession	51%->53%
20%->20%	Accuracy	14 %->%

Mainz	Events	Nice
	'38	Red (Echouafni)
Sub (Rose->Pekovic)	'59
	'60	Sub (Balmont->Ederson)

Match 3: Anderlecht vs Livorno
The home team took advantage of a poor defense from their opponents to score twice, and losing a player didn't affect this lead, as the away team was still unable to shoot accurately enough.

Anderlecht	Stats	Livorno
1+1=2	Goals	0+0=0
8+4=12	Shots	6+6=12
4+2=6	On Target	1+2=3
15+21=36	Tackles	12+18=30
1+2=3	Fouls	3+2=5
0+1=1	Bookings	0+0=0
0+0=0	Corners	1+0=1
2+0=2	Offsides	0+2=2
69%->67%	Passing	67%->73%
52%->48%	Possession	48%->52%
50%->50%	Accuracy	16%->25%

Anderlecht	Events	Livorno
Goal (Frutos)	'17
Goal (Frutos)	'49
Sub (Juhász->De Man)	'66
Red (Deschacht)	'69
	'75	Sub (Grandoni->Pavan)

Match 4: Empoli vs R. Sociedad
The home team kept trying and trying but nothing seemed to work to get past the away keeper, until a big opportunity near the end of the match finally gave them what they were looking for.

Empoli	Stats	R. Sociedad
0+1=1	Goals	0+0=0
8+10=18	Shots	2+3=5
4+4=8	On Target	1+1=2
17+14=31	Tackles	15+11=26
0+1=1	Fouls	1+1=2
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
0+2=2	Corners	0+0=0
0+1=1	Offsides	0+1=1
69%->70%	Passing	65%->69%
53%->52%	Possession	47%->48%
50%->44%	Accuracy	50%->40%

Empoli	Events	R. Sociedad
Sub (Almirón->Ascoli)	'52
	'65	Sub (Gerardo->Garrido)
Goal (Vannucchi)	'89

Match 5: Getafe vs Wigan Athletic
It was a close match, but in the end the away team was the only one that managed to find their way to the back of the net.

Getafe	Stats	Wigan Athletic
0+0=0	Goals	1+0=1
7+4=11	Shots	6+5=11
5+0=5	On Target	3+1=4
15+20=35	Tackles	17+19=36
0+2=2	Fouls	4+0=4
0+0=0	Bookings	1+0=1
0+0=0	Corners	1+0=1
0+0=0	Offsides	0+0=0
62%->66%	Passing	67%->64%
51%->53%	Possession	49%->47%
71%->45%	Accuracy	50%->36%

Getafe	Events	Wigan Athletic
	'27	Goal (Valencia)
	'34	Yellow (Baines)
Sub (Manu->Jajá Coelho)	'61
	'80	Sub (Baines->McMillan)

Match 6: Feyenoord vs Rec. Huelva
After a goalless 1st half, the away team finally took the lead after the goalkeeper left too much of the goal uncovered, then the home team responded by equalizing in a rather bumpy moment between players. However the away team had the last laugh as they scored again and took the win.

Feyenoord	Stats	Rec. Huelva
0+1=1	Goals	0+2=2
6+5=11	Shots	3+7=10
1+4=5	On Target	1+4=5
15+17=32	Tackles	12+19=31
2+2=4	Fouls	2+0=2
1+0=1	Bookings	1+0=1
1+0=1	Corners	2+0=2
1+0=1	Offsides	1+0=1
64%->71%	Passing	68%->70%
46%->50%	Possession	54%->50%
16%->45%	Accuracy	33%->50%

Feyenoord	Events	Rec. Huelva
	'38	Yellow (E. Moya)
Yellow (Lucius)	'39
Sub (Lucius->De Ceulaer)	'58
	'61	Goal (Cazorla)
	'61	Sub (Cheli->Barber)
Goal (Huysegems)	'65
	'75	Goal (Ik. Uche)

Match 7: Fluminense vs Panathinaikos
The away team can owe big part of their victory in this match to their goalkeeper, who just kept on making saves and denying any chance of recovery to their opponents.

Fluminense	Stats	Panathinaikos
0+0=0	Goals	1+1=2
8+=14	Shots	4+=11
4+4=8	On Target	3+4=7
12+11=23	Tackles	13+18=31
0+1=1	Fouls	2+1=3
0+0=0	Bookings	0+1=1
4+3=7	Corners	2+1=3
0+0=0	Offsides	0+0=0
70%->71%	Passing	68%->66%
47%->56%	Possession	53%->44%
50%->57%	Accuracy	75%->63%

Fluminense	Events	Panathinaikos
	'29	Goal (Papadopoulos)
Sub (Lenny->C. Pitbull)	'52
	'56	Goal (Salpigidis)
	'71	Sub (Victor->Nilsson)
	'90+3	Yellow (Salpigidis)

Match 8: Toluca vs Siena
Away team had a bunch of luck to score their first 2 goals, while their opponents were unable to make anything work overall, and they were dealt a final stab right at the end.

Toluca	Stats	Siena
0+0=0	Goals	2+1=3
2+8=10	Shots	7+4=11
1+5=6	On Target	4+3=7
13+15=28	Tackles	17+17=34
2+2=4	Fouls	1+2=3
0+1=1	Bookings	0+0=0
0+1=1	Corners	0+1=1
1+0=1	Offsides	1+1=2
75%->72%	Passing	74%->70%
54%->54%	Possession	46%->46%
50%->60%	Accuracy	57%->63%

Toluca	Events	Siena
	'24	Goal (Bogdani)
	'43	Goal (Bogdani)
	'72	Sub (Chiesa->Frick)
Yellow (Da Silva)	'90+1
	'90+2	Goal (Frick)

Match 9: Brugge vs RCD Mallorca
A match with plenty of saves in which the home team took an early lead that the visitors couldn't manage to equalize back, and a great goal in the 2nd half sentenced the match in favor of the former.

Brugge	Stats	RCD Mallorca
1+1=2	Goals	0+0=0
5+7=12	Shots	4+4=8
2+3=5	On Target	3+2=5
14+24=38	Tackles	17+16=33
0+1=1	Fouls	1+1=2
0+0=0	Bookings	1+0=1
1+2=3	Corners	1+2=3
0+0=0	Offsides	0+0=0
72%->69%	Passing	73%->70%
40%->43%	Possession	60%->57%
40%->41%	Accuracy	75%->62%

Brugge	Events	RCD Mallorca
Goal (Ibrahim)	'3
	'31	Yellow (Pereyra)
	'57	Sub (Piscu->Jordi)
Sub (Daerden->Leko)	'59
Goal (Vermant)	'76

With all that in mind, the leaderboard after this division’s 3rd week of matches is as follows:

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1(↑4)	Besiktas JK	3	2	1	0	7	2	5	7
2(↑6)	Wigan Athletic	3	2	1	0	2	0	2	7
3(↑8)	Panathinaikos	3	2	0	1	4	1	3	6
4(↓3)	Getafe	3	2	0	1	6	4	2	6
5(↑9)	Siena	3	2	0	1	6	5	1	6
6(↑7)	Anderlecht	3	2	0	1	5	4	1	6
7(↑5)	Empoli	3	2	0	1	4	3	1	6
8(↓6)	Guadalajara	3	2	0	1	4	3	1	6
9(↓6)	Monterrey	3	2	0	1	3	4	-1	6
10(↓6)	Mainz	3	1	2	0	6	3	3	5
11(↓5)	Trabzonspor	3	1	2	0	4	3	1	5
12(↓3)	Nice	3	1	1	1	5	2	3	4
13(↑4)	Rec. Huelva	3	1	1	1	2	2	0	4
14(↓7)	RCD Mallorca	3	1	1	1	1	2	-1	4
15(↓5)	Feyenoord	3	1	0	2	5	5	0	3
16(↑4)	Brugge	3	1	0	2	3	3	0	3
17(↑5)	Santos	3	1	0	2	2	4	-2	3
18(↑1)	VfL Bochum	3	0	2	1	2	6	-4	2
19(↓4)	R. Sociedad	3	0	1	2	3	5	-2	1
20(↓4)	Toluca	3	0	1	2	0	4	-4	1
21(↓3)	Livorno	3	0	1	2	2	7	-5	1
22(↓1)	Fluminense	3	0	0	3	1	5	-4	0

4th Division (Night)
The results of the 11 matches from this division’s 3rd week were the following:

HOME	RESULT	AWAY
Auxerre	1-2	F.C. Porto
América	0-0	Le Mans UC 72
Cagliari	0-1	Udinese
AZ Alkmaar	0-1	Aston Villa
Monchengladbach	2-0	Rennes
Tigres	2-0	PSV Eindhoven
Parma	3-2	FC Nürnberg
Ein. Frankfurt	0-0	Levante
Sporting Lisbon	1-1	Dep. La Coruna
Arm. Bielefeld	2-0	ES Troyes AC
Benfica	0-1	RC Celta Vigo

Now for a short description of the 8 recorded matches and their facts (stats and events):
Match 2: América vs Le Mans UC 72
Pretty boring match with barely any chance created. The only interesting bit was the home goalkeeper saving 2 free kicks in a very similar manner during the 2nd half.

América	Stats	Le Mans UC 72
0+0=0	Goals	0+0=0
2+3=5	Shots	6+6=12
1+0=1	On Target	0+2=2
15+12=27	Tackles	11+15=26
0+2=2	Fouls	1+0=1
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
0+0=0	Corners	0+0=0
1+0=1	Offsides	1+1=2
59%->67%	Passing	76%->72%
43%->47%	Possession	57%->53%
50%->20%	Accuracy	0%->16%

América	Events	Le Mans UC 72
	'56	Sub (Grafite->Bangoura)
Sub (Cabañas->N. Cuevas)	'68

Match 3: Cagliari vs Udinese
Away team scored the only goal of the match despite having many less chances, as the home team was simply too wasteful.

Cagliari	Stats	Udinese
0+0=0	Goals	1+0=1
5+10=15	Shots	3+3=6
2+4=6	On Target	2+0=2
19+17=36	Tackles	16+15=31
2+2=4	Fouls	1+1=2
0+0=0	Bookings	0+1=1
1+0=1	Corners	0+0=0
0+0=0	Offsides	0+0=0
68%->70%	Passing	60%->59%
57%->59%	Possession	43%->41%
40%->40%	Accuracy	66%->33%

Cagliari	Events	Udinese
	'36	Goal (Iaquinta)
	'51	Sub (Obodo->Pinzi)
Sub (Esposito->Conticchio)	'53
	'66	Yellow (Pinzi)

Match 4: AZ Alkmaar vs Aston Villa
Apart from the one goal (which was pretty silly), there were no other serious chances as most shots were simply too weak to bother the goalkeepers.

AZ Alkmaar	Stats
0+0=0	Goals
4+3=7	Shots
0+1=1	On Target
15+15=30	Tackles
0+1=1	Fouls
0+0=0	Bookings
0+0=0	Corners
0+0=0	Offsides
69%->68%	Passing
57%->55%	Possession
0%->14%	Accuracy

AZ Alkmaar	Events	Aston Villa
	'22	Goal (McCann)
Sub (Luirink->Opdam)	'53
	'75	Sub (Baros->Moore)

Match 5: Monchengladbach vs Rennes
Home team was superior with their chance taking on the 1st half, while the visitors were marred with terrible shooting. The 2nd half was rather uneventful overall.

Monchengladbach	Stats	Rennes
2+0=2	Goals	0+0=0
7+1=8	Shots	6+5=11
6+0=6	On Target	2+0=2
14+17=31	Tackles	24+24=48
1+0=1	Fouls	0+0=0
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
2+0=2	Corners	1+=1
0+0=0	Offsides	1+1=2
68%->67%	Passing	70%->69%
49%->54%	Possession	51%->46%
85%->75%	Accuracy	33%->18%

Monchengladbach	Events	Rennes
Goal (Neuville)	'18
Goal (Insúa)	'25
Sub (Polanski->El-Fakiri)	'63	Sub (Utaka->Briand)

Match 6: Tigres vs PSV Eindhoven
The home team took good care of their initial chances to go to half-time with a 2 goal lead which stood still for the remainder of the game.

Tigres	Stats	PSV Eindhoven
2+0=2	Goals	0+0=0
5+1=6	Shots	2+2=4
4+0=4	On Target	1+1=2
10+14=24	Tackles	10+25=35
3+1=4	Fouls	0+1=1
0+1=1	Bookings	0+1=1
0+0=0	Corners	0+1=1
0+1=1	Offsides	0+0=0
62%->66%	Passing	69%->65%
48%->51%	Possession	52%->49%
80%->66%	Accuracy	50%->50%

Tigres	Events	PSV Eindhoven
Goal (Zárate)	'7
Goal (Zárate)	'38
Sub (Balderas->Ramírez)	'54
	'55	Yellow (Ball)
Yellow (Chamagol)	'66
	'81	Sub (Farfán->Väyrynen)

Match 7: Parma vs FC Nürnberg
The home team started strong with 2 goals in the first 10 minutes of the match. The visitors cut the gap just before half-time and then drew level in the 2nd half, but their opponents didn't let that stand and scored the winning goal in the closing stages.

Parma	Stats	FC Nürnberg
2+1=3	Goals	1+1=2
4+4=8	Shots	5+3=8
3+3=6	On Target	3+1=4
13+27=40	Tackles	24+22=46
1+0=1	Fouls	0+0=0
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
1+0=1	Corners	1+0=1
1+2=3	Offsides	0+0=0
67%->67%	Passing	63%->66%
55%->50%	Possession	45%->50%
75%->75%	Accuracy	60%->50%

Parma	Events	FC Nürnberg
Goal (Morfeo)	'9
Goal (Budan)	'11
	'45+1	Goal (Schroth)
Sub (Budan->Muslimovic)	'56	Sub (Wolf->Paulus)
	'59	Goal (Vittek)
Goal (Kutuzov)	'84

Match 8: Ein. Frankfurt vs Levante
A goalless match mainly thanks to the home goalkeeper's several saves throughout the game.

Ein. Frankfurt	Stats	Levante
0+0=0	Goals	0+0=0
4+8=12	Shots	7+1=8
0+3=3	On Target	6+1=7
12+15=27	Tackles	16+20=36
0+0=0	Fouls	0+3=3
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
0+0=0	Corners	4+0=4
0+0=0	Offsides	0+0=0
75%->76%	Passing	69%->71%
51%->52%	Possession	49%->48%
0%->25%	Accuracy	85%->87%

Ein. Frankfurt	Events	Levante
	'52	Sub (Carmelo->Ettien)
Sub (Fink->Preuß)	'65

Match 9: Sporting Lisbon vs Dep. La Coruna
Home team took an early lead thanks to a rebound goal, but said lead was lost in the 2nd half during a chaotic cornet where a striker from the visiting team ended up with the goal in front of an almost empty goal.

Sporting Lisbon	Stats	Dep. La Coruna
1+0=1	Goals	0+1=1
4+6=10	Shots	6+6=12
3+3=6	On Target	2+2=4
17+27=44	Tackles	18+19=37
0+1=1	Fouls	0+0=0
0+0=0	Bookings	0+0=0
0+0=0	Corners	0+3=3
0+0=0	Offsides	0+0=0
65%->65%	Passing	81%->77%
50%->45%	Possession	50%->55%
75%->60%	Accuracy	33%->33%

Sporting Lisbon	Events	Dep. La Coruna
Goal (Djaló)	'10
	'63	Sub (Arizmendi->Verdú)
	'64	Goal (Bodipo)
Sub (Abel->Miguel Garcia)	'67

With all that in mind, the leaderboard after this division’s 3rd week of matches is as follows:

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1(=)	Aston Villa	3	3	0	0	8	0	8	9
2(=)	Monchengladbach	3	3	0	0	8	2	6	9
3(=)	Dep. La Coruna	3	2	1	0	5	1	4	7
4(↑3)	Tigres	3	2	1	0	4	1	3	7
5(↑3)	Udinese	3	2	0	1	6	3	3	6
6(↑3)	F.C. Porto	3	2	0	1	7	5	2	6
7(↓3)	FC Nürnberg	3	2	0	1	6	4	2	6
8(↑5)	Parma	3	2	0	1	5	4	1	6
9(↓3)	América	3	1	2	0	3	2	1	5
10(↑5)	RC Celta Vigo	3	1	2	0	1	0	1	5
11(↓1)	Levante	3	1	1	1	4	3	1	4
12(↓7)	ES Troyes AC	3	1	1	1	2	2	0	4
13(↓1)	Ein. Frankfurt	3	1	1	1	2	2	0	4
14(=)	Sporting Lisbon	3	1	1	1	5	6	-1	4
15(↓4)	PSV Eindhoven	3	1	0	2	3	5	-2	3
16(↑4)	Arm. Bielefeld	3	1	0	2	2	4	-2	3
17(↓1)	Auxerre	3	0	2	1	1	2	-1	2
18(↓1)	AZ Alkmaar	3	0	1	2	2	4	-2	1
19(↑3)	Le Mans UC 72	3	0	1	2	0	9	-9	1
20(↓2)	Rennes	3	0	0	3	0	4	-4	0
21(↓2)	Benfica	3	0	0	3	0	5	-5	0
22(↓1)	Cagliari	3	0	0	3	1	7	-6	0

Last but not least, here’s a highlights video of Week 3 Day 6, a compilation of the best goals, saves and fails from the 24 matches that were recorded.
Next post will be a recap of Week 3 Day 7 on Monday 17th.

Gibt es irgendwelche (gesetzliche) Regelungen zu den Nachweisen in Bezug auf Form, Inhalt, Aufbau, Länge und Zeit? Mein Ausbildungsbetrieb gibt mir nichts vor un bestätigt einfach jeden Bericht. Da die IHK am Ende drüberschauen wird, obliegt es ja denen.
Zudem weiß ich auch nicht, bis wann die Ausbildungsnachweise gemacht werden müssen. Wir müssen monatlich einen Nachweis hochladen, aber wann wir den hochladen müssen, weiß weder ich noch mein Ausbilder wirklich.
Hat da jemand Erfahrung oder Ahnung? Danke im voraus!

Romabet973, Romabet 973 güncel giriş adresi olarak hizmete girdi.

****Romabet Giriş Tıkla****

Romabet973 , Romabet 973 üyelik kapsamında oyuncuların yönelecekleri ilk adres, firmanın ana sayfası olacaktır. Çünkü üyelikler sadece buradaki formun doldurulması ile yapılmaktadır. Forma ulaşmak için sağ üst bölümdeki ‘kayıt ol’ butonuna tıklanabilir.
Form iki aşamalıdır. Bahisçiler hem hesaba yönelik hem de iletişim anlamında bazı bilgilerini site ile paylaşmaktadır. Herhangi bir sorun çıkmaması adına bilgilerin doğru olması büyük önem taşımaktadır. Daha sonra sitenin şartları kabul edilerek form gönderilir. Oyuncular hesaplarını doğrulayarak sitenin ürünlerini kullanmaya başlayabilirler.
Romabet Giriş
Romabet giriş sürecinde bahis oyuncuları güvenlik konusunda herhangi bir sorun yaşamazlar. Bu noktada tarayıcılar aracılığıyla bir teyit yapılabilir. Tarayıcılardaki Romabet giriş adresinin solunda bir kilit sembolü yer almaktadır. Bu sembolün anlamı bağlantının güvenli olduğudur. Yani bilgiler site dışına çıkmamaktadır. Bu da güvenli girişleri kanıtlar niteliktedir. Söz konusu güvenli atmosfer tüm giriş seçenekleri için geçerli olmaktadır.
Romabet Kaç Oldu?
Romabet kaç oldu sorusu, sitenin son adresinden haberdar olmayan bahisçilerin sorularından biridir. Bu doğrultuda adresin ‘romabet768’ olduğu söylenebilir. Söz konusu güncelleme ile birlikte eski adresler devre dışı kalmıştır. Oyuncular bir sonraki adres bilgisine ana sayfanın en üst kısmından ulaşabilirler. Ayrıca ‘Roma’ yazıp 4609’a SMS atmak da olanaklıdır. Bu sayede kayıtlı cep telefonunuza güncel adres mesaj olarak gönderilmektedir.

Also ich würde da bei mir zwei nennen:
Erstens die Jahre um die Jahrtausendwende, Ende der 90er und Anfang der 2000er. Ich hab damals als kleines Kind Ende der 90er angefangen mich für Fußball & Bundesliga zu interessieren, und da nimmt man ja die ersten Jahre eh durch eine Brille der Begeisterung wahr, weil alles so neu und spannend ist. Ich bilde mir jedoch ein, dass jene Zeit damals auch abseits von meiner Kindheitsnostalgie eine besondere Ära war. Es waren die Jahre der Bundesliga-Herzschlagfinals (2000 Bayern/Leverkusen, 2001 Bayern/Schalke, 2002 Dortmund/Leverkusen), es war eine Zeit, in der es so manche prägenden und schillernden Figuren in der Bundesliga gab, die für Emotionen und Entertainment gesorgt haben (um ein paar zu nennen: Werner Lorant, Uli Hoeneß, Rudi Assauer, Christoph Daum, Otto Rehhagel, Oliver Kahn, Mario Basler, Andy Möller, Stefan Effenberg, Jan Age Fjörtoft, usw). Wesentliche Erinnerungen, die ich mit dieser Zeit verbinde, haben auch damit zu tun wie ich jeden Samstag bei uns daheim im Wohnzimmer mit meinem Zwillingsbruder laut das Radio aufgedreht habe und wir die Bundesliga-Radiokonferenz gehört haben. Wenn ich heute noch manchmal irgendwo die markante Stimme von Sabine Töpperwien höre, löst das sofort positive Erinnerungen in mir aus und ich fühle mich in meine Fußball-Kindheit zurückversetzt.
Die zweite Zeit wäre, und das hat unmittelbar mit meinem BVB-Fansein zu tun, die Jahre Ende der 2000er und Anfang der 2010er. Die Klopp-Ära. Als Fan war das damals der „perfect storm“, der damals zusammenkam: Man war durch die schwierigen Jahre der 2000er von Erfolg entwöhnt, hat viele Jahre miterlebt, wo die Emotionen und die Schlagzeilen bezüglich des Vereins eher negativ waren - und dann kamen plötzlich diese Jahre, in denen alles passte: junges, talentiertes und hungriges Team, sympathischer Trainer, riesige, unerwartete Erfolge, schöne Spielweise. Der Verein hat sich plötzlich zu etwas entwickelt, von dem man als Fan nicht geglaubt hatte, dass er das nochmal tun würde.
Ich schließe da übrigens die ersten beiden Klopp-Jahre (als es mit Platz 6 und 5 noch nicht den ganz großen Durchbruch gab) explizit mit ein. Es war damals schon, Ende der 2000er, überall im Verein zu spüren, wie eine neue Energie & Dynamik in den Verein Einzug hielt, es wurde zunehmend klar, dass es jetzt wieder nach oben gehen würde, man war in freudiger, gespannter Erwartung auf das, was da in den nächsten Jahren noch kommen würde (auch wenn einem damals noch nicht klar war, wie groß das werden würde). Das war damals auch die Zeit rund um das 100-jährige Vereinsjubiläum und die Feierlichkeiten rundherum, die einem auch nochmal die Liebe und Verbundenheit zum Verein verdeutlicht haben, wo ja auch die existenzbedrohenden Zeiten damals noch nicht lange her waren.
Wenn ich über die Nationalmannschaft nachdenke, dann waren die 2000er für mich als Fan die schönsten Jahre. Auch hier würde ich erstens darauf verweisen, dass das die Jahre meiner Kindheit/Jugend waren, die man wahrscheinlich noch durch eine besondere Brille der Begeisterung wahrnimmt, aber es war auch ansonsten besonders. Denn es gab damals eine günstige Mischung aus einerseits dem Umstand, dass man eigentlich immer eher als Außenseiter in die Turniere ging, dann aber trotzdem meistens überraschend gut abgeschnitten hat. Die WM 2002 und dann die Turniere von 2006-2010 (mit dem Höhepunkt Heim WM 2006) waren für mich die schönsten Jahre mit der Nationalmannschaft. 2012-2016 war mal zwar immer noch sehr erfolgreich (da war man dann auch im Vorfeld Top-Favorit), aber da hatte das ganze Thema Nationalmannschaft für mich schon ein bisschen an Magie verloren. Ich muss aber sagen, dass ich mich jetzt durchaus auch wieder wirklich auf die EM 2024 freue - was bei den letzten Turnieren im Vorfeld eher nicht mehr der Fall war.
Was war für euch als Fußballfans die schönste Zeit? Kann natürlich auch die jetzige Zeit sein. Es kann mit eurem Lieblingsverein zusammenhängen, muss aber nicht.

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- - - - -
It had been a few weeks since Altier was brought to the run-down shack that his black-scaled companion likely called home, and he could now comfortably say he was accustomed to the…household’s routine. The kobold typically left at the crack of dawn, returned a little after noon, and occasionally left again to forage until nightfall. When the weather was bad or there wasn’t a particular need for something, they half-heartedly chased their rabbit around for a bit, which usually ended with a bout of quiet petting while everyone got ready for the night. It was always amusing to see the energetic side of what he had come to know as a relatively lazy loaf of an animal. As for the routine of the ferrorabbit in question… Well…it was at least more interesting than expected.
Hoppit would begin his own series of activities as soon as his caretaker left—the first of which being a check of every nook and cranny in the shed. He sniffed at anything that caught his interest, varying from morning to morning, but he gave every object or corner its due attention. Once he was satisfied with that, he would eat some of the ragged plants that made up most of his diet, take a drink from his bowl, then jump onto the tro— table and plop himself down, his ears pivoting towards the door. It was hard to say if the lounging spot had been established before Altier’s arrival, but it was somewhat amusing to pretend that the little rabbit was standing guard over his core—if it wasn’t for one particular part of the morning ritual, that is.
Indeed, the ferrorabbit had a habit of licking the obsidian orb that sat in the middle of the room, which thankfully didn’t seem to perturb the system enough to give Altier a headache. He was confused when it first happened, but it was commonplace enough now that he barely acknowledged it. A part of him liked that he was getting attention as a core, even if it was delivered via a strange grooming method. The closest he got to being acknowledged as something other than ‘the dungeon’ was through an unfortunate misunderstanding that he could never properly rectify. He supposed that was hardly worth thinking about now, though; too much time had passed for there to be anyone left to correct. The little oddity of his mornings would have to suffice.
There wasn’t much to comment on as far as the rest of the day’s happenings. Hoppit would end his loafing by shaking his head and ears in a way that filled the silence with soft clacks, give the core a customary tongue bath, then jump off the table to nose his way out of the shed through a hole that was hidden by the storage cart against the wall. Where the rabbit went was anyone’s guess, but he always returned before anyone noticed he was gone, and often did so while covered in small cuts and scratches. Any blood from the lacerations was quickly licked off before it could be seen by the kobold, and in the event that the scaly caretaker happened to return earlier than expected, Hoppit would scurry over to the bundles of blankets to finish the cleanup in secret.
Today looked to be following the usual pattern. The kobold left bright and early with various gardening tools and a wooden pail, and Hoppit had since set off into the great unknown for one reason or another. Hopefully, he returned less injured than usual. It was frustrating to admit that Altier had begun to grow rather fond of the fluffy creature, and seeing the thing come back hurt was bothersome. Was it off looking for food? There wasn’t a whole lot given to it, so that was a possibility, and it could be getting into fights over whatever it found. That still didn’t explain why the animal was so thin, and Altier didn’t have enough to go off of to think of a potential solution. He wanted to help it in some way, like by summoning a creature to act as an escort, or maybe just by manifesting something edible like he once could. No, he could only stare at the ‘Synchronizing…’ that occupied his menu, wishing he had more information to work with.
He never thought he would miss the bombardment of notifications and their lingering presence that filled the edge of his mental vision; at least with that he could surmise enough to hazard some kind of action. Even knowing why the menu was acting the way it did would be a start. Yet, try as he might, there wasn’t a history for him to reference anymore, and he had nothing to work with. He was confident the last message had asked him to ‘accept’ something, then took his befuddled ponderance as an answer, but he was no closer to an explanation for what it wanted, nor why it prompted him in the first place. He just didn’t have another experience to compare against, since nothing like that had ever happened before. Not that he was ever in much of a position to allow it.
The entire purpose of having Altier inhabit a core was for him to become a dungeon of Decay, which entailed all the skeletons, poisons, acids, and whatever else came to mind when one pictured the concept. ‘Living’ creatures were something he only had the chance to experiment with near the beginning of his new existence, though he never dabbled past the first few insects before transitioning to the mindless undead. Having a thinking, feeling, breathing entity touch his core was a rite reserved only for the adventurers and soldiers that bested his trials, and that was usually a painful experience. Now, he had spent what he could only guess was hours being held by a kobold, followed by having a rabbit bump against him, and neither felt like what he came to expect. Instead, both had led to a completely novel reaction from the system. The strange circumstances put him at a bit of a loss as to what it all meant for him.
Sure, he could dismiss the deluge of errors from his companion’s involvement by pointing to the numerous ‘corrupted’ messages before it, and Hoppit was a part of mostly unexplored territory, but the lack of clarity nagged at the back of his mind constantly. Being exposed to activity after potential decades or centuries of unchanging solitude made him despise the informational dead end. If he couldn’t make sense of the rabbit’s circumstances, then he didn’t have much hope of deciphering the reason for why his system was misbehaving so terribly. He also didn't know much about the one who owned the decrepit holdings he was housed inside.
He still wasn’t sure what drove the kobold to take him from the cave. His suspicion of becoming traded goods fell flat after the first week or so, and he hadn’t noticed any cult-like behaviour, which was promising. Granted, a lack of nefarious behaviour didn’t mean there was a lack of nefarious intent, but he didn’t get the impression his companion held that either. The kobold itself didn’t seem quite settled on an opinion of his core, though it was up for debate if the hesitation was due to knowing what he was or not. They seemed to mull something over before bed each night, yet never reached a satisfactory conclusion, staring at the obsidian orb through weary grey eyes until they eventually forced themselves into sleep.
Whatever the underlying reasoning for his abduction was, he had observed enough to know that the kobold didn’t deserve to live in destitution. As beaten as the shed might be, they cared for it as best they could, and did so without a single groan or grimace of complaint. The floors were cleaned with a tattered rag and fresh water, dust was removed regularly, and any stray mess that Hoppit made was dealt with promptly. They even took the time to wipe off his core, which was possibly where the ferrorabbit got the idea to start licking him. The only time Altier had seen discontent from the kobold was when they didn’t find much during their foraging, and thus couldn’t give any treats to the excited and bouncy herbivore.
He wasn’t aware that a creature’s face could make such a painfully broken expression, and he was quick to decide that he never wanted to see it again.
Vexingly, his metaphorical hands were tied; a dungeon could only influence their Domain, and given the state of his system, not even that option was available to him. All he could do was glare at the rotting wooden beams that held up the roof and remember when such an issue didn’t exist. It would have taken a mere flicker of thought and a paltry sum of mana to mend the struts when he was a proper dungeon. He could even outright reinforce the structure by weaving in other materials, leaving the appearance as it was while making everything stronger than iron. Well, he once could. Working with other affinities was something that came to him after absorbing the coloured motes left behind by adventurers, and the accursed stone that stole his mana had taken that ability as well.
An attempt was made anyway, his will ordering the deteriorated wood to absorb any trace metals from the ground, but it was no use. He couldn’t feel the iron or stones beneath the shed like he would have been able to before, all but confirming his suspicion that his connection to the Earth element had slipped away. Nature was much the same; the only way he knew when Hoppit had returned most days was from the subtle noise and the essence of injury. The other attributes—Air, Flame, Luma, Shadow, and so on—were ones he never experimented with to any real extent, so it was less noticeable when he lost his grasp on them. Perhaps they faded early. Either way, all he had left was a waning cognizance of his own alignment, and that wasn’t of much use to him. If he had any appreciable mana income, then perhaps he could do something, but he wasn’t even sure what the upkeep of his current Domain might be. It was entirely possible that he was running on a deficit, which would offer a reason for why his system had been so—
[Do#$@n Ex@#d$%^&d! CRe@#r H-H-H-HoPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP—]
[Errrrrrr—]
[Sy$%^hroni%^$zing…]
[Creeee-tu— Hoppit ha@$ esttttb-hed terrrrrrr-ity f^#% t$e dun@&$n!]
- - - - -
“Well then,” he mumbled to himself, taking in the strange scene behind the shed. For one, he could actually view a small distance beyond the structure now, and two, there was a rather proud-looking Hoppit sitting on his haunches before a pair of significantly less prideful examples of the species. They looked quite a bit bigger than the lazy loaf Altier had come to know, yet they were more cut up and dejected than his furry friend. That answered where the injuries had been coming from, he supposed. Hoppit was probably running off to bash heads with whatever animal population existed here beforehand, and they had only just reached a consensus on who was in charge. Impressive.
One of Hoppit’s ears turned back towards the shed, his head following suit as he gave a lagomorph’s approximation of a ‘Look what I did!’ smile. Altier blanked out mentally, but didn’t have time to question anything before the new leader of the local rabbits imperiously pointed a paw towards the surrounding forest, which was equally surreal to witness. Most surprising of all, the…subordinates? The other ferrorabbits did as commanded, keeping their forms small as they took off into the foliage. Soft clacks came from Hoppit’s pleased shake of his head, then he too left the area with only a slightly lopsided bounce to his stride.
The man-turned-core could only gape at what he saw. Were animals always so…expressive? Had Hoppit heard him? What in the world was happening? Why had Hoppit’s personal conquest led to Altier’s Domain expanding?
He lamented not having fingers, nor temples to rub with them. His system was a garbled mess of errors and inconsistent messages, his residence was falling apart at the seams, his companion was someone who abducted him from the dungeon, yet never did anything past that, and his first real experience with an animal was turning out to be more confusing than he thought possible.
All of this was after an unknown amount of time spent commanding legions of undead to strengthen the very people who he would later learn had lied to and manipulated him, making him into a nightmarish entity just to bolster the power of their forces. He almost missed the days spent gazing out of a mossy window. At least then he knew what to expect.
Nothing made sense anymore.
= = = = =
The soft sound of roots ripping free from soil suddenly stopped, only to be followed by a dull thud of Ceele’s palm slapping against the ground to catch her fall before she landed on her rear. She righted herself with her tail and tossed the stubborn weed into a pile with the others. No matter how many mornings she did this, they always seemed to replace themselves faster than she could remove the pesky things. A sigh slipped from her muzzle as she set about grabbing the next one embedded in the vegetable garden.
Aches and spreading stiffness flared up, but went ignored as she neared the end of her duties, though she was well aware that they would come back with force once she tried to settle down for the day. The impending soreness was an inevitable byproduct of spending so much time working. Still, she knew that if it wasn’t for the kindly old couple that allowed her to call their shed home, she would still be sleeping beneath the stars while making sure nothing tried to get at her Hoppit. Even if it was just a part of the deal, they were owed this much in return, and she would see it done properly.
The sun bore down on her back as she did her usual tasks, which was a departure from the slightly overcast weather as of late. It looked somewhat promising when she checked in the wee hours of the morning, yet as her gardening duties dragged on, so too did the intensity of such a clear sky. A disappointed glance at the empty wooden bucket on the edge of the field was quickly corrected. She hadn’t thought to refill it at the river after watering the crops, and her parched throat was making its protests known, while also reminding her that there wasn’t much water left at home either. One more thing to take care of when she was done.
A gruff cough brought her attention towards the old kobold resting his back against a tree some distance away, safely shaded from the unforgiving rays beaming down. Her displeasure at having yet more to do was hastily wiped away. She was undecided on what to think of the detached audience, but looking so sour while upholding her side of the agreement wouldn’t reflect well on her. Hopefully, he hadn’t seen it. Not that she could tell if he did; he always had the same expression when he watched her work. The elder kobold’s arms were crossed, a finger tapping absently against his bicep, while his tail sat motionless on the grass, the muddy red colour of his scales standing out amongst the greens and browns. ‘Makis,’ was his name, assuming her memory served.
Makis had taken to observing her every so often, usually propping himself against this or that at a distance, the unwavering scowl being as unnerving as it was belying of his age. Somewhat loose skin sagged a bit around his jowls and neck, yet the rest of his face was still taut from how much time he spent examining red-hot metal, and his arms were marred with countless burns and cuts from his profession. He held an oppressive aura, though the crinkles around his eyes and muzzle suggested he smiled as frequently as he glowered, even if Ceele was yet to see the former. There was only the same judgmental expression aimed at her when he was around. She could only hope that he didn’t take offence to some unintended slight, but she didn’t know him well enough to say what might be considered one.
They hadn’t spoken since she took up residence on the outskirts of his land. His wife was the one to introduce them, but it was quickly established that he had no intention of being a chatty individual. He led Ceele to the shed hidden amongst the trees on the edge of the property, then dismissed her with only a grunt coming from the elderly kobold. She supposed that it was for the best. Her experience in socializing was centred around convincing others to employ her, and there hadn’t been much of an opportunity to expand her horizons while living a life on the road. If that had been the end of their interactions, she would have swiftly written the terseness off, but he appeared every few days, taking up residence beneath the shade as he watched her work, never speaking a single word. At least he didn’t openly protest her presence, yet she figured that would be easier to manage. He wouldn’t be such an enigma then.
There wasn’t a whole lot she knew about him besides his penchant for ‘supervision,’ and anything beyond that was what his wife had volunteered during the rare opportunity they had to chat. She was told that Makis worked the smithy out front, and although he had retired from doing so in an official capacity, she could still regularly hear his hammer as she tended to the garden, so she figured he kept himself busy most days. It made her wonder what was so interesting about a vagrant like herself, but when there was so little else to do, she could see how anything could be made worth the attention. It was just him and his wife living in the once bustling home, after all; the couple’s children had long since grown up and made families of their own.
She noticed his gaze shift elsewhere as she tugged yet another stubborn intruder from the soil, his arms falling from across his chest and the perpetually worn displeasure melting to that of curiosity. He wandered off shortly after, and she had to make an effort not to fall onto her tail as the pressure on her shoulders unexpectedly evaporated. Did something happen?
Ceele shook her head free of the distracting thought. It wasn’t her business if he grew bored with watching her work. As long as no one voiced any complaints, she could only assume that she was doing a satisfactory job. Maybe he finally decided that he didn’t need to be so watchful because she was doing well! That could be it, right?
A glance at the somewhat sloppily maintained garden erased the false confidence from her face, but she was just as quick to focus on finishing up, unwilling to allow darker musings to fester. Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be anything else that needed her intervention. The weeds were all uprooted, the soil was appropriately dampened, and her check for pesky insects or wildlife turned up nothing to worry about. She was free for the rest of the day!
…Or she would be free—as soon as she finished the last of her tasks, anyway.
The black-scaled kobold got up from her crouch unsteadily, shivering and wincing from the pins and needles in her legs. She would have to remember to stretch more often; it was far too easy to forgo that kind of thing just to make the overall work go slightly faster. Her hand reached out to grab the pile of weeds and put them into the bucket as she ran through what needed to be done before she could properly relax. Hoppit’s food needed to be washed, she needed to bathe, and they were running low on water anyway, so she would have to visit the river. Just the thought of dragging herself into the forest again made her muscles protest, but she wouldn’t have the energy to do it later. She forced the smile that had started to fall and took the first of many steps.
- - - - -
The river wasn’t too far away, only taking a few minutes of traipsing through the dense woodlands until she reached her destination. It was an idyllic little spot. The trees thinned out to allow a grassy bank along the water, and there was an appreciably gentle slope from shallows to depths, making for a convenient place to take care of various needs. She had discovered this place during her travels, and it was where a kind older woman found her.
Ceele was washing off at the time, with Hoppit safely taking shelter from the outside underneath the bundled blankets while he waited. The trickle of the stream brushing against rocks covered the sound of footsteps, so she was rather surprised when an aged voice called out to ask if she was okay. Her first reaction was to distance herself and apologize—the why didn’t matter, but she had learned that most people were more lenient of her presence if she seemed apologetic for it, and she usually was. The elderly kobold just laughed at her scrambling, tacking on an assurance that there was no need for modesty. The woman was blind, apparently, which explained how Ceele’s blackened colours hadn’t deterred her.
Strangely enough, there was a comforting sense of ease around the one who introduced herself as Hira. It was a sort of presence that Ceele could only vaguely remember, and it drew her close enough to speak as she finished bathing. The conversation wasn’t anything profound, of course—they hardly delved deeper than surface-level small talk—but Hira lost her smile as she listened to the younger kobold. By the end of it, the old woman posed a series of questions with a dark inflection to her voice, and Ceele struggled to find an answer.
‘Are you tired of looking for something that only slips away? Are you tired of running? Do you really want to be scared and alone?’
If the silence bothered Hira, then it didn’t show. She had simply held out a hand and offered Ceele a way of life that didn’t involve wondering where she would be spending the night, nor entailed cowering in the brush while fearsome predators roamed freely. It would be a simple existence of few fortunes, but it was safe, and it was honest. All she had to do was say yes.
Ceele denied it at first, partially because she knew most people despised Hobbit's species, and partially because she couldn’t shake the offer being too good to be true. Hira was quick to propose a compromise; Ceele could take residence in the gardening shed that had fallen from use, and to satiate the nagging sense of an unfair deal, she would be put in charge of maintaining the garden itself. All Hira wanted was to ‘see’ her favourite space bloom again, since she couldn’t take care of it anymore. The black-scaled kobold stared longingly at where Hoppit was, his little body shivering from the prolonged cold and fear that he would be hurt if he left the blankets hiding him. It was with a heavy guilt that she accepted Hira’s offer, keeping quiet about her true reason for doing so.
That was in the past, however, though she thought about it every time she stopped by and saw the smooth rocks where she and Hira first met. Eventually, she might gather the courage to admit that she was housing a ‘pest’ and beg for forgiveness. Until then, she would just work her hardest to prove it wasn’t a mistake to give her a home. That her endless efforts weren’t meaningless. That Hoppit deserved to be more than a ‘pest.’
That Ceele was more than something she had no control over being.
She cleared her head a bit and started on the reason she came all this way. Her dress was rather easy to wash in the meandering water, and the trees provided a suitable place for it to dry in the sunlight and light breeze. The weeds were fine with a thorough rinse near in the shallows, but taking care of her own hygiene required her to wade farther in, though it only came up to her chest in the middle of the rill. Still, she could scrub off the soil and grime, which was all she really needed. Perhaps some simple soaps would help rid her of the pervasive black that stained her skin and scales, but that was beyond her meagre means for the time being, as well as being mere wishful thinking.
She worked past the dreary mindset that settled in when she allowed it, focusing on how serene the river was. The soft birdsong from the trees helped make for a peaceful experience, and she could feel the somewhat chilled liquid basically pour into the aches and pains throughout her body, washing away the stiffness from spending so long under the unerring sun. It was nice to escape reality and let thoughts drift while held buoyant by calmer waters.
Yet the bliss was short-lived. Even if winter was gone, spring was still far from warming the waters enough for her to laze about for too long. She dragged herself from the soft current and fetched her dress from the low-lying branch she left it to dry on. It was still a touch damp, but it wasn’t anything a bit of time in front of the fireplace wouldn’t fix.
Ceele was only a short distance away from home when she heard a gravelly male voice, but it was the flicker of sight between the trees that made her drop what was in her arms and lunge into a sprint.
Makis stood just outside the gardening shed, a ferrorabbit held at arm’s length by rusty crimson hands placed on the scruff and haunch, the rabbit’s little ears flattened as fear filled its tiny face. Her eyes widened further when she noticed the small stains of blood in his light brown fur. They found out about him. Ephemeral claws of blackness clutched at her soul, ripping the very fabric she was made of as an unseen beast smiled, eager to take yet one more thing from her. Her Hoppit. Her baby. Her everything.
“Hoppit!” she shrieked, her words all but tearing out of her throat in desperation. Frozen blood coursed through her veins, yet poured into exhausted limbs. She broke through the treeline with no regard for the branches slashing against her flesh, panic making each sting fade before it could be processed. The grizzled glare of the older kobold snapped towards her, his usual scowl picking up an actual air of intensity that she never thought could be absent, the promise of violence lurking in his eyes. She skidded to a stop a few paces away, the lump in her throat threatening to clog her airway. “S-stop hurting him!”
“Didn’t,” he barked back, his tone even yet firm. “Cuts ain’t me. I’d’a done worse if’a had ta mind ta.”
The blatant declaration snapped her from blind panic, although his apparent anger didn’t do her fear any favours. “B-but… Then how…”
“‘Hoppit.’ Named it, did’cha?” he grunted, ignoring her confusion and bobbing the rabbit to get her attention again. His gaze shifted back to the animal, the flames of ire cooling slightly. “I was wonderin’ why yer plots ain’t dead yet. Suppose this critter’s why.”
One of her hands hesitantly reached out until she pulled it back, while the other clutched at her chest to stop her heart from hammering against her ribs. She couldn’t act rashly. Not while her baby was in his arms. “I—”
“Soft thing, ain’t it,” the elder kobold commented curiously, cutting her off.
“Y-yes?” she returned reluctantly, struggling to stop herself from lashing out to reclaim the ferrorabbit in his grasp.
“Like fine silk.” Makis tipped and tilted the animal, inspecting this and that with a deep-seated frown, all while Hoppit silently looked to her for help. The pit in her stomach grew. She needed to get him back, but how?
Ceele swallowed the dense dread as she tried to formulate some sort of plan, stumbling over her words and forced smile. “I-it’s nice! Isn’t it nice?”
His eyes snapped back to burrow into her own with hatred. “Wasn’t a compliment, girly.”
“B-but you—”
He released Hoppit’s lower half to jab a claw at the various spikes around his body, plying them with minimal force. “Look. See this? These’r suppose ta break bone. ‘Specially when he’s stiff like this. Ain’t no way I should be able ta bend ‘em. He’s barely more than a walkin’ carcass—all skin ‘n stick. He’s gonna get picked up by a wandering pecker if he keeps pissin’ about out ‘ere. It’s a wonder he’s still kickin’. What’cha feeding ‘em?” His gaze dropped from her face to the rest of her, disgust curling his muzzle into a snarl. “N’ver mind. I can guess.”
She felt the dampness build at the edges of her vision, unprepared to not only worry for Hoppit's immediate health, but also to face such harsh criticism while she was so vulnerable. “I… I try to make sure he has…”
Makis crouched to release the ferrorabbit onto the ground, Ceele dropping to her knees the moment he did. The terrified lagomorph wasted no time, bolting towards his adoptive mother and leaping into her arms, shaking uncontrollably. The rust-coloured ‘bold stared as she started soothingly stroking the animal’s back.
“Yer given’ em the weeds, aren’t ya?” he stated rather than asked. She gave a teary nod when her voice wouldn’t respond for her. The old kobold drew a breath, letting it go in an exasperated sigh as he stood back up, his expression becoming more impatient than antagonistic. “What else?”
“I— Um…”
“What. Else?”
“W-whatever I c-can find!” she sputtered out. Hoppit tried to hide against her neck, prompting her to tighten her hold. She couldn’t stop herself from shrinking, the guilt and confusion pulling her head down. “R-roots, vegetables, fruits… I give them as often as I can.”
His glare continued unimpeded, his cadence cold. “That it?”
There were a million things Ceele wanted to say. A part of her wanted to beg him not to kick them out of the first safe place she had in longer than she could remember, but she couldn’t find the words. She wanted to deny the judgmental tone that stabbed into her insecurity surrounding how good of a job she was doing with Hoppit, but the deadened void in her chest swallowed her pride whole. She knew he was right to critique her. That she was failing in the only thing that mattered anymore. That the feeling of loss would return.
“I try,” she whispered through the beginnings of a sob. “I try to find more, but he needs someone around, and I have to work the garden, so there’s only so much time I can spend looking. He won’t even eat all of what I bring back…” Tears dripped off her cheeks as she aimed a desolate smile at her furry friend. “He wants to make sure I have some too.”
“Yer killin’ em,” Makis pointed out plainly, crossing his arms. “He’ll be dead ‘fore the summer at this rate.”
“I know!” she shouted, forcing back the memories of insidious murmurs that lurked in the back of her mind, eager to creep into her ears again. The hate-filled stares that followed her, the rumours that arrived in towns before she had the chance to make an impression, and the guilt that loomed over her like an executioner's axe… “I know I am… I just… I don’t know what he needs. I don’t know how to make him happy…but I try. I’m trying…”
“…Yer an idiot, girly.”
She looked up to see the elder kobold walking away without another word. Her eyes fell to Hoppit, the ferrorabbit pressing himself against her as much as he could. He was small, thin, soft, and growing weaker by the day, but he never let it keep him down for long. No, he always showed his best for her, giving her joy that wasn’t provided anywhere else. She saw the thin cuts and dried blood, though she didn’t know where they came from, nor how he got out of the shed in the first place. But that was okay. Hoppit was okay, and she had Hoppit, so everything was okay, right?
…But how much longer would everything stay okay? How much longer until her efforts weren’t enough, and she was left desperately reaching for fading memories of what once was? How much longer until she killed her baby too?
How much longer until she was alone again?
Soft footsteps drew near, pulling her from the spiralling thoughts that threatened to gnaw at her soul. Damp, blurry eyes fell on Makis returning with a small wooden crate, the older kobold stopping a few steps away. He dropped the box, a deep, rattling thud produced as it impacted the ground, making Hoppit flinch in her arms. Ceele blinked as she kept him calm, then blinked again, looking up at the man for answers.
“The name, girly,” he spat in irritation. “Ferrorabbit. Ther’ Earth aligned creatures; they need metals. They don’t care where they get it, but they need lots of it. Iron, copper, tin, lead—raw crystal, if they can find it. You name it, they’ll take a chunk out of it. It's why they bother farmers so much; the best soil’s usually top’a gem deposits, ‘n the little bastards have no issue burrowing deep to get it. Dries up the element’s energy ‘n makes the crops weak.”
Ceele’s mouth opened and closed, each unsuccessful attempt to speak making her feel smaller and smaller. More and more lost. Why was he telling her this? How did he know? What was in the—
He kicked the crate with the side of his foot. “Scraps. Don’t’cha look at me like that. I’m a smith, girly. I might be old and retired, but I still work a forge. Now, this ain’t anything pure—it’s just slag and hunks—but I’m sure the critter won’t mind. Your little gardenin’ project pays off, ‘n I’ll see which of my contacts can get in some better ore.”
She ripped her eyes away from the box and met the perpetual scowl of the old kobold, seeing a warmth behind the hostility that she had never noticed before. “…Why?”
He scoffed in amusement, which looked somewhat menacing on such a hardened expression. “Yer a touch stupid, girly, but the missus adores ya, ‘n yer a good worker.” A shadow of a smile formed on his face. “Hira spent more evenings asking ‘bout how the plots are doin’ than I got time in the day. She’d bite my head off if I noticed a critter like that sufferin’ and didn’t lend a hand. ‘Specially when it’s obvious you ain’t tryin’ ta hurt the thing.”
“B-but the garden… Isn’t he a problem?”
Makis rolled his eyes, turning with a dismissive wave of his hand. “If he was, he’da killed it by now. I’d say he’s been keepin’ the others clear ‘n got scratched up for the trouble. That’s more reason to feed ‘em right in my eyes; pay the poor bastard his dues.” He paused after a few steps, shooting her one last incredulous glance. “‘N the rabbit’s right. You’re not much better off than he is. Eat. Before the missus takes my head, preferably. I ain’t need ta hear her worryin’ over you more than I already do.”
And with that, he walked off back to the house, leaving Ceele to sit stunned on the ground with Hoppit quietly nuzzling into her.
“Hoppit…?”
The ferrorabbit perked an ear and gently licked her collar. Fresh tears ran rivulets down her face, yet they didn’t weigh her down. They felt freeing. She adjusted her hold on the rabbit and held him out, taking in the small cuts and numerous other injuries she had never noticed before. He stared back at her with worried eyes.
“You’ve been busy, huh?” she cooed quietly, doing her best to keep her voice from cracking. He shrunk in her hands. “I told you to stay home, baby. What if something happened to you? I wouldn’t know where you went, and…”
Her protests died out as she saw what was unmistakably guilt on his little face. She brought him back to her chest and cleared her throat.
“It’s alright, Hoppit. If… If you want to help momma, then we can work together, okay? Just…please don’t go off getting hurt… I don’t know what I’d do without you…” The rabbit didn’t reply, and she was pretty sure she had never heard him make any sounds that weren’t his happy little ear clacks, but she chose to interpret the nuzzling as an agreement. “Such a smart boy…”
She took a breath and wiped off the excess moisture from her cheeks, setting Hoppit down on the ground. “Let’s bring Mr. Makis’ gift in, and then I need to go get more water so we can clean you up, okay?”
He bounced his way to the door of their home, waiting patiently for her to lug the surprisingly heavy crate into the shed. He was even still behaving himself by the time she returned from picking up the things she dropped in her haste. There wasn’t a single protest from the ferrorabbit as she washed over his wounds with warm water, nor when she asked him to wait as she cut up a small salad for him using an extra portion of her rationed vegetables. Finally, once everything else was gone, she tentatively sifted through the box until she found a chunk of something that didn’t look so sharp, then offered it to Hoppit skeptically.
As startling as it was to see him bite through metal without issue, she couldn’t help but tear up again at how pleased he looked with the bizarre addition to his diet. He munched through the first piece, then stared at the box while pawing at the air, asking for more. She obliged through wet laughs, feeling lighter than she had since he first gazed at her from his burrow, alone and afraid, just like she was.
Her little baby was happy, and that made it okay.
Next
—
A/N: Thank you to my Patrons, new and returning! No Thanks, Emmanuel, and Megathor join the others who get to read 1 chap ahead!

Last night's Eurosong had an incredible setlist with all sorts of ESC and Dora performers playing their own songs as well as covers of other songs. I wanted to try and recreate the setlist from last night, but I can't remember all the songs or the order they were played in. Some of the songs were new to me so I didn't know all the names but I did the best I could.
Below is the setlist, as much as I could recall of it.
Emmelie de Forest

• ?
• Eres tu (English version) (Spain 1973)
• Only Teardrops (Denmark 2013)

Emilija Kokic

• My Number One (Greece 2005)
• Euphoria (Sweden 2012)
• Hajde da ludujemo (Yugoslavia 1990)
• Rock Me (Yugoslavia 1989)

Albina

• Tick Tock (Croatia 2021)
• Marija Magdalena (Croatia 1999)
• ?

Eugen

• Tišine (Dora 2024)
• ?

Selestia

• Neka mi se svane (Croatia 1998)
• Moja štikla (Croatia 2006)
• ?

Marko bosnjak

• Moli za nas (Dora 2022)
• Dancing Lasha Tumbai (Ukraine 2007)
• Lejla (Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006) (did he sing this or was it someone else?)

Domenica

• Indigo (Dora 2019)

Efendi

• Cleopatra (Azerbaijan 2020)
• Running Scared (Azerbaijan 2011)
• Mata Hari (Azerbaijan 2021)

Jorge González

• Soldi (Italy 2019)
• Patrá (new single)
• Caliente (Benidorm 2024)

Devin Juraj

• Llámame (Romania 2022)
  
• Cha Cha Cha (Finland 2023)
  

Lara Demarin

• Arcade (Netherlands 2019)
• Ne Vjerujem Ti (Dora 2024)

Devin Juraj

• ?
• Zitti e Buoni (Italy 2021)

Lara Demarin

• Wild Dances (Ukraine 2004)
• Waterloo (Sweden 1974) (with two other singers)

Jovanka Broz Titutka

• Audience chanting song

House of Flamingo

• Loco Loco (Serbia 2021)

Alessandra

• Queen of the Kings (Italy 2023)

Marcela

• Gasoline (Dora 2024)
• Ovako Ne Ide (new single)

Baby Lasagna

• Rim Tim Tagi Dim (Croatia 2024)

Baby Lasagna Encore

• Rim Tim Tagi Dim (Croatia 2024)

Druid is finally here after the test server and there were a lot of changes, some good, bad, and ugly.
I think it's not really a point of contention that Druid is very overtuned right now, but I think it breaks some of DaD's gameplay fundamentals.
Good

1. The shape-shifting scales now. Test server damage of shape-shifting was pretty much equivalent to punching. Hopefully demonform gets the same treatment. You should be looking to build strength or agi, regardless of spell casting.
   
2. Shape-shifting abilities are relatively balanced. Each form's niche ability has some use and interacts well within each form's kit.
   
3. The spells are diverse, and besides a couple spells, they are mostly balanced. The versatility is pretty high for the class as both a caster and melee character.
   
4. A lot of skill expression through spell casting and balancing shape-shifting. Very engaging gameplay.
   

Bad

1. Scaling on the shape-shifting is way too overtuned. Bears can hit for 300+ damage with 200hp and 50%pdr. They are clunky, which can be a rightful downside, but has a weird upside. You can 180 as an enemy swings and they will do limb damage as they hit your giant ass. Panther can hit move cap and deal massive damage. Even the chicken can hit for over 100 if you stack enough resourcefulness.
   
2. Entangled vines and treant are busted. Vines last way too long and can change the tide of a fight in an instant, and you have 4 charges. In duos and trios, it's a no-brainer to use this and a free kill a lot of the time. Treants are a bit too damaging or tanky depending on how you look at it. I don't think it's as powerful as vines, but still very strong.
   
3. Despite nerfing dark reflection, thorns is back for some reason despite feedback on the test server on complaints about DR on live.
   
4. Instant shape-shifting is very overpowered, will get into more next line.
   

The Ugly

1. Rat fundamentally breaks the game. You can get into areas of the map that are not intended, very exploitable, and I'm surprised it even got added after the test server. If it weren't for Druid's lack of ranged, they'd be absolutely dominating across the board.
   
2. Instant shape-shifting breaks the flow of combat, fights feel silly and literally feels like a game of cat and mouse, but not in a fun way. Compared to the past, it feels like the most drastically different combat change, and that can be good or bad depending on your perspective, but it feels off as you try to kill this shape-shifting juggling hooligan. If you aren't getting one shot in HR, your dealing with shape-shifting spam in norms. Juggling between rat/human/beapanther. Druids pretty much have access to sprint with panther, and savage roar with bear in an instant is another way of putting it too, with no downsides when used correctly, they are very bloated in terms of power creep.
   
3. Overall clunkiness of the shape-shifting should be addressed at some point and probably will.
   

Mal eine Frage, hat jemand eine Statistik wie oft Final Fantasy in irgendeiner Form bei Game Two erwähnt wird? Ich bilde mir ein dass das in jeder zweiten Sendung mit einer News, Beitrag, etc. auftaucht. Gibt es da wirklich so viel zu berichten, ist es einfach ein Favorit der Redaktion oder bilde ich es mir ein da ich überhaupt kein FF Fan bin. Ist es ein Trigger für mich? Brauche Facts, Prozente, Zahlen!

Alguém se lembra de um programa que passava no Cartoon Network que se chamava "Zé Bola"?. O programa era sobre uma bola de futebol, com animação em 2D, que sempre se dava mal. A aparência da bola de futebol era com se fosse um geodude, com um rosto com aparência embriagado ou de doido, ele tinha dois braços que ficavam fazendo hang loose se não me engano, não me lembro se ele tinha pernas.
O ano provavelmente era entre 2004-2006. Não era bem um programa, eram episódios curtos que duravam entre 5-10 minutos no máximo. Provavelmente brasileiro, feito com relação a copa do mundo.
Eu nunca achei nada na internet sobre esse desenho. Alguém consegue se lembrar de algo assim? Teria alguma dica ou pista sobre o que deve ser?

Anstatt einem eventuellen rechtsextremen Hintergrund nachzugehen, ermittelte die Mordkommission, die Nürnberger Kriminalpolizei in Zusammenarbeit mit dem BKA, im direkten Umfeld von Yaşar. Sie vermuteten Verbindungen zu türkischen Drogenhändlern aus den Niederlanden. Dabei hörten die Beamten Angehörige von Yaşar ab und führten Observationen durch verdeckte Ermittler durch, stellte der NSU-Untersuchungsausschuss des bayerischen Landtags im Juli 2013 fest. Sie bauten z. B. Dönerstände, um Schutzgelderpressungen zu provozieren, da sie in diesem Umfeld Täter vermuteten.
Hinweisen auf Täter aus dem Umfeld des NSU ging die Polizei hingegen nicht oder nur zögerlich nach, obwohl es viele Zeugen gab. Eine Zeugin beispielsweise erkannte einen Täter auf Überwachungsaufnahmen zum Nagelbombenanschlag von Köln.
Der Journalist Hans-Jürgen Deglow vom Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger wies die Polizei 2006 auf die frappierende Ähnlichkeit der Phantomzeichnungen im Fall Yaşar und dem Anschlag in Köln hin. Ein Polizeisprecher erklärte dem Journalisten, es gebe keinen Zusammenhang zwischen den Taten. (Aus dem Wikipedia-Artikel "İsmail Yaşar").

I'm 27 now, recently dumped by someone I still would give my life for, even though she ghosted me.
As a child, I had massive paranoia, especially when both my parents had to work, leaving me alone at home with nothing but the internet to distract me. Around 2006-2007, I was in a new town without neighborhood friends or any outlet for my frustrations. I spent hours on ArmorGames, Newgrounds, or chronically on YouTube, consuming the lowest forms of humor to pass the time (just as I still do today). I felt guilty calling my mother every time I heard a creak or the air conditioner kicking on. I lived in a constant state of fear and panic, which was not normal for a child. The television was always blaring some loud, obnoxious show like Drake and Josh or SpongeBob to distract me from the loneliness in a house that felt like it had too many windows.
The Newgrounds Mature section was the dopamine rush I needed when I had nothing else. It felt comforting. The adrenaline rush was exciting, and I’ve been chasing that initial high for 17 years now. Seventeen years of failed relationships, missed connections, overbearing communication, lack of self-confidence, unachieved potential, depression, ignoring my parents' divorce, and avoiding accountability for my actions and shame. I completely and utterly shut away anything I couldn't handle with things that induced an adrenaline rush.
I recently used the Wayback Machine to retrace my steps. I remember the girl with the purple hair blowing kisses at the "Are you over 18?" option menu, the list of games, the exact game I would rush home to play to escape a bad day. I was my own worst enemy, constantly blaming everyone around me for my bad behavior. I kept going back to strip quiz games so often that I became an expert in geography, surpassing my classmates because I knew where obscure African countries were due to my addiction to pornography at 11.
Reflecting now, seeing my cousin play a dating sim with my sister probably imprinted on me more than I realized, even though it was just MS Paint-level art. I recognize this behavior in my nephews. I see how they can't look at themselves in the mirror, their frustrations, their traumas, and how they use Roblox to escape reality just as I did at their age. I was so proud to show them my hats from logging in back in 2008, not realizing how alone I felt at that moment. Now, as an adult, I can recognize how alone that child was.
The internet has poisoned a generation of men, telling them it's okay to escape using social media or pornography. Brothers, it's not okay. You should be able to sit in silence with your thoughts without feeling guilt. I blamed my inability to do this on everything but my own guilt and shame.
At 27, I realize I haven't progressed since that day. I've constantly fallen back on pornography and the internet to self-soothe, to find excuses, to escape, to avoid confronting reality, to pretend I'm okay when I'm not. This behavior hurt the one person I loved unconditionally because it became conditional. I only loved her when i could watch porn or find a way to use porn when she wasn't around, if i keep at this it was going to keep escalating until i don't have a way to control it anymore.
I had such deep love for this person. I would have protected her from anything, faced any adversity for her, and protected her at all costs. What hurt her was the 10-year-old me who was scared of reality, who never aged and was too scared to explore the neighborhood or take a sports seriously. The same 10-year-old who felt the world was constantly judging him for having a homosexual father and a confusing family dynamic. The one who questioned his sexuality at a young age because he thought it was hereditary.
please heal your inner child guys, you're abusing shit because you don't want to face reality and take on discipline.

Project Africa, Meet: Project Eurasia
… Don’t settle for one continent, when you can run the length of two… or even The Three Americas.
What’s up, you extraordinary freaks of nature:
I hear Reddit is the place to make things happen.. A small task is afoot
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ultra marathoners: will no one best the King, Russ?
Or is he a generational talent?

• Russ Cook opens the international “eye” of human capability?✔️
• Runs all of Africa like a Tuesday fkn morning?✔️

This remarkable achievement left the world stunned and at least one person motivated to find those who are dedicated to match or exceed this accomplishment:
Shock the world: surmount these odds and rewrite the rulebook. I seek to ignite this pioneering spirit once more, to help contenders achieve the unthinkable…
I offer new stakes:
Shanghai to Lisbon (Yes, it is possible)

• 20-23 countries, 16,000km

Similar objective; entirely different story.

• Indeed it is the same distance to run the width from Asia to Europe.
• Yes, I understand it’s not ‘furthest east’, if it were, you’d probably die— I’m up for it— However, nobody has done our proposed distance yet.. Let's start there.
• Geographically speaking point to point is only 8,191km, almost exactly Africa’s 8,061km
• And wouldn’t you fkn know it, Shanghai is 861.2377km (535 miles) DUE south of Cabo’s true east along the latitudinal line, as in exactly in line with Shanghai as its furthest east point! These numbers are starting to come together..
• Europe’s entirety will be crossed.. Cabo Da Roca was made to look like a finish line anyway..

I certainly acknowledge that this mission has the potential to become a groundbreaking documentary. I am very excited to watch as it unfolds its powerful message to the world.
Diluted by our own self-imposed limits, we humans are a remarkably capable species.. We’ve been doing this for hundreds of years.
Though I consider myself to be in phenomenal condition & an extreme limit pusher— I’m in no way capable like Russ and these others to endure that run— however, that’s not why I am compelled to write my first post in 29(M) years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Russ & co. have set the bar high for the rest of the under-funded and highly “un”qualified lunatics.
They’ve shown there’s always room to redefine what’s “possible”..
At this moment I am seeking to assemble a capable and committed team to donate 8 or more months of their lives towards the task at hand. ⏳ that’s all— what else have we to do anyway?? Maintain the image we’ve spent our whole lives masquerading?
Or must we prefer to wait in line through Americas underfunded and overcrowded/ever-expansing parking lot system, inching our way towards the “American Dream” and ultimately that final day...
Which was the dream again?
Take your life back.
We intend to honor the world through impossible stories, still remaining to be experienced & uncovered: showcasing the grit, resilience, and sheer audacity of those who dare to undertake this relentless pursuit of the extraordinary—a journey that will leave us all forever changed.
Separate yourself from the crowd.
I believe us to be underestimating our opportunities and the great potential of this story: The Life changing ones, forget the instant global recognition coming on day one..
Here’s an opportunity to embrace and spread cultures,
The potential to make a difference in your life and that of others,
To transcend border.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As executive producer and logistics manager: I volunteer my leadership services and resourceful intuition/travel instinct, including the assistance of planning and organizing this expedition and routes associated. I will help assure the success, safety and effectiveness of the expedition.
Passionately-skilled as an adventurist, photojournalist & travel videographer, they tell me I have “it”. The goal isn’t monetary compensation, but instead— a global impact. The type of shit you’d do for free
Though Russ’ crew were not “professionals” by the Hollywood definition of the word, you’ll soon remember the power of a great story and a lens!
Furthermore, I’d have no hesitations documenting this expedition: offering a pivotal perspective behind the camera as well as a pen. Similarly, I’ve no objections to acting as director in such cases. I’d just prefer to focus more on the logistical side: I will recruit people better than me.
Show me the runner and I will do all I can to help turn this into reality. I’ve no choice now..
I live for the journey and its story, You can send us in a Toyota Corolla, I will accompany the runner on a bike, I don’t give a single fuck. This has to get done.
What I have:

• All the above necessary qualifications
• Like you, A life worth living.
• Mavic 3 pro Drone (yessir!)
• Newest iPhone & iPad Pro
• Go pro
• Potential funding opportunities

What we need:

• Like-minded people equally as daring and motivated
• A confident runner that is experienced and knowledgeable
• A Vehicle (inconspicuous please)
• Additional talented film crew

After sleeping on Russ, sponsors are ready & eager to jump on that next opportunity. Show the commitment. Fortunately, in this limelight we’re gifted with little resistance attaining their attention. The market is proven and it is susceptible to our impression.
Redbull, I don’t even like your shitty drinks— but isn’t this like exactly the opportunities you search for? You basically sell “ideas” in a liquid form.
Go pro? Where did you go?
A team makes all the difference, which is why I stress to possess the same desire, commitment and determination towards this goal- just as the “goal achiever” would.
It’s a story waiting to be told.
I will promptly, and without hesitation, quit TFOO my job and drop it all to buy a flight to Shanghai when a determined team is assembled for this. I swear on ALL mothers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Proceeding forth:
Charitable causes provide the leverage. It seems to be the best course of action. (Y’all don’t understand how fuckin’ strong my wife is)
*It includes dangers beyond our preconception— tis not a death wish, but a once in a lifetime experience.
*Don't expect a cute vacation or comfort. A price to pay in order to break records and achieve the unthinkable. I for one do not wish to limit our possibilities on our search for the “impossible”.
*Burn the boats at shore, we’ve no choice but to succeed. 80% of the journey is adapting in the field, the other 20% is simply getting yourself there.
Eurasia carves its own path.
-Offering unique perspectives in new environments, with new culture, and new hurdles to overcome.
People love watching others achieve these goals; they feel they are right alongside you, similarly achieving theirs. After all, it is you who is in their pockets.

• “Day one of….” -Shut up, I am already completely invested.

Through this triumph, we garner worldly attention, shedding the illusion of “borders”, connected— all cheering one person: united as one team. Isn’t a “movement” simply when a goal is achieved simultaneously by the whole?
What is evident is that the opportunity of its expanse hasn’t been fully explored, recognized and realized.
(Thanks for paving the way, Russ!)
You see, Eurasia is primed to happen.. The hints began to amass since Russ’ completion of the goal just nearly a month ago.. One might infer it’s on its way to be somewhat of a trend, but at the very least: a statement.
Must we sit out again? Project Earth is upon us:
*Alexander_campbell- currently walking the world now.
*Liamtheimpaler- biking from Alaska to Argentina.
*France: entirety biked.
*Germany: In the midst of being run.
*Lambros running Australia.
*Several are traveling the width of the US; one biking Alaska to Chile, others running barefoot?
*Katherine Lowrie ran the totality of South America. Over 17,000km with her husband.
***Countless in Asia.. but no runners..
(Edit): the list keeps expanding..
Perhaps this is an opportunity to compete for the finish line involving two or more teams? Fuck it, bring in the sport of competition for the great world race.
Dream big.
This your call to action
Understand the TREMENDOUS amount of work put into planning and ensuring the arrival of the goal— the athlete will also have to be physically prepared as well as mentally. But when the right pieces of the puzzle are brought together, we could do this ASAP.
May this message not fall on deaf ears — Our dreams remain as dreams until first action is taken. There’s no limit to our possibilities as a species. Let’s step into that world.
because i think that’s the whole point of this..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this thread… offer your schemes, comments or productive critique:
If you aspire for something extraordinary and think you’re up for this task, come forth and tell us why you make a good fit. Hell, if you would even like to help fund or sponsor, I won’t stop you. Make your voice known.
Project_Eurasia is on Instagram, you can tell me I’m delusional there.
Let’s make it happen.
No "influencers".
No sellouts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This message unto the realm of universal possibility. Awaiting to unfold and materialize as it will
and all it takes is a single moment to change everything.
. . . -Andy

Tenho um Pc que uso pra jogar, fazer lives e estudar nas horas vagas. Quero fazer futuramente um upgrade nesse Pc, queria recomendação de qual peça vale a pena fazer o upgrade, já comprei uma RX 6600 da ASrock, então estou sem nenhum fundo pra atualizações por enquanto, mas quero acompanhar promoções das peças que vocês recomendarem.
Placa mãe: A520M-K Processador: Ryzen 5 5500 Placa de vídeo: RX 580 8gb - RX 6600 Memória RAM: 2x8 genérica SSD Nv2 500G WD HD 1T seagate SSD 500G Genérico Fonte Genérica 500w Gabinete genérico sem fans adicionais
Acredito que seja isso, o que faltar me avisem.

Olá pessoal 👋🏼,
sou estudante da Alemanha passando um ano no Brasil e como parte da minha tese de bacharelado, gostaria de investigar o estresse e o gerenciamento na população brasileira em várias regiões. Estou procurando participantes motivados para o estudo! 🤓🎓
✨Fatos importantes✨
🧑🏽‍💼 Tópico : Estresse e gerenciamento
👥 Grupo-alvo: Cidadãos brasileiros com 18 anos ou mais; não-estudantes também são bem-vindos! 😊
⏰ Duração: 10-15 minutos
❔ Anonimato: A pesquisa é anônima
💰 Recompensa: A participação é voluntária, mas participando você pode concorrer em 4 sorteios valendo R$ 50,00
🗓 Período de tempo: agora - 23/06/2024
Link de participação: https://forms.gle/wA8Bk7gP4EhP1aQS8
Obrigado por sua participação e por apoiar minha tese!

Our primary source for time travel in the Mario canon is Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, since it explores the concept of time travel in the most depth out of all the games. Other games involving time travel as plot points are Yoshi's Island DS, Yoshi's New Island, and Mario's Time Machine (the latter of which isn't canon). Dr. Mario World, as well as any Mario Kart or Mario sports-games featuring Baby Mario alongside adult Mario imply some sort of time travel involved. To understand how time travel works in the Mario universe, we first need to examine how Time Holes, the primary means of time travel in Partners in Time, work.

How Time Holes Connect Two Points in Time

Time Holes don't lead to a fixed point in time. If they did, the following examples would happen:

• Mario & Luigi travel to Yoshi's Island through the Time Hole leading there. They destroy Sunnycide, deactivate Yoob, and retrieve the Cobalt Star Shards. They return to the present using the same Time Hole. If they jumped into the same Time Hole again, they sequence would effectively be reset: Sunnycide still exists, Yoob is still online, and the Cobalt Star Shard is still in Baby Bowser's. This duplicates the Shards, creating a time paradox. If there is only a single timeline, it also duplicates Mario & Luigi (effectively creating 4 more Bros with each repeat visit), making them meet each other.
• Mario & Luigi travel through a Time Hole from the present to the past. When they return from there, they would emerge from the Time Hole in Peach's Castle of the present immediately after entering it, since no time passes in the present while they are in the past. This is not implied to be the case, as Professor Elvin Gadd usually remarks when the bros return that some amount of time has passed ("Hey now! Back at last!", "About time you boys showed!"). The shop in Peach's Castle also stocks up on wares periodically, implying that time needs to pass between shippings.
• Mario & Luigi travel to Toadwood Forest through the Time Hole leading there. They get their Cobalt Star Shards stolen by Baby Bowser, who escapes to Yoshi's Island. Mario & Luigi return to the present and travel to Yoshi's Island through the Time Hole leading there. If all Time Holes connect to the same point in time, Baby Bowser is still at Toadwood Forest and not on Yoshi's Island when Mario & Luigi arrive there.

From this we can infer that Time Holes do not lead to a fixed point in time. Rather, they seem to connect two points in time, but these points are still affected by the same flow of time. This means that the same amount of time passes in the past and present. Let me demonstrate with another example:

• Mario & Luigi travel through a Time Hole from the present to the past. In the present, the date is November 28, 2005, and the Time Hole sends them back exactly 20 years. They arrive in the past on November 28, 1985. They spend 2 days there, until November 30, 1985, before returning to the present through the Time Hole. They arrive in the present on November 30, 2006, as the same two days have passed in the present while they were away in the past.

This eliminates the previous errors that would arise with Time Holes connecting to fixed points in time and adds up with what we see in the game. Time Holes don't lead to a fixed point in time. Rather, they send anything that passes through them to a point in time relative to the point in time when the Time Hole was entered, the amount of time travelled through being fixed. I propose to call this fixed amount of time travelled through the Time Hole the Time Hole's depth (THd). The Time Hole from the above example would then be 20 years deep.
We can assume that Professor E. Gadd's time machine works by opening its own Time Holes, travelling through them, and then closing them again. This is supported by E. Gadd stating that the Time Holes used by Mario & Luigi in the game have appeared due to the time machine's return tearing holes in the time continuum. These Time Holes seems to be equal in depth to the time hole initially opened by the time machine at the start of the game, and it's reasonable to assume the machine can be used to set the depth of a the Time Holes it opens, at least as long as it is powered by the Cobalt Star. When E. Gadd appears in the past with the time machine after Mario & Luigi defeat Elder Princess Shroob, he states that he has "engineered it to run off energy from the time holes", raising the possibility that it can only open Time Holes equal in depth to the already existing Time Holes while not powered by the Cobalt Star.

How Temporal Interference Affects Causality

Now that we've cleared up how Time Holes connect two points in time, we start trying to explain how time travellers from the present can change the present by interfering with the past. For this, we look at how E. Gadd's memories are rearranged after the eruption of Thwomp Volcano. Mario & Luigi put out a fire in E. Gadd of the past's lab using the Baby Pump technique. Past E. Gadd witnessing this event leads E. Gadd's memories to be rearranged. The E. Gadd of the present notices this a THd after the event happens. Present E. Gadd then invents the Hydrogush 4000 as a result.
Thus, Mario & Luigi cause the course of history to change with their actions in the past. In a fixed timeline, changing the course of history is not possible, so the only options left are a dynamic timeline or a multiverse. However, since time travel in PiT is limited by the depth of the Time Holes linking the past and present, there is another parameter to factor in. It is generally assumed that when the course of history is changed, that change takes place immediately and universally. However, since time continues to pass at the same rate in the past as in the present, the change might also take place in real time over the depth of the Time Hole. This presents us with four possibilities for how a change in the course of history affects the present:

	Change in course of history doesn't create an alternate universe	Change in course of history creates an alternate universe
Course of history is changed immediately and universally	A: The present and everyone's memory is adjusted as if the course of history had always been as changed.	B: The course of history and the present in the original universe are unchanged. The present and everyone's memory in the alternate universe is according to the changed course of history.
Course of history is changed only at the point in time when its cause happened, taking place in real time from this point, until the past catches up to the present	C: The present and everyone's memory is adjusted over time relative to the THd and according to the state of the course of history.	D: The course of history and the present in the original universe are unchanged. The present in the alternate universe does not yet exist.

Comparing these possibilities, we can compare them to what happens in the game and rule out three of the four possibilities.

• Possibility A would cause present E. Gadd to be unaware that his memories have been rearranged, because he would not be able to remember a time where his memories hadn't yet been rearranged. This can be ruled out because E. Gadd is aware of his memories having been rearranged.
• Possibility B would cause the memoires of present E. Gadd in the alternate universe to be the same as in possibility A, which has been ruled out.
• Possibility B and D would cause the memoires of present E. Gadd in the original universe to be unchanged. This can be ruled out because E. Gadd's memories are changed.
• Possibility D would cause present E. Gadd in the alternate universe to not yet exist.

This only leaves possibility C. It could be argued that this possibility would not immediately provide the present E. Gadd with enough of a change in memory to experience the sudden flash of inspiration that he does in the game, prompting the following question:

• Why would past E. Gadd not immediately construct the Hydrogush 4000 if this event had inspired him that much?

It can be assumed that not the memory of this event alone causes the sudden inspiration in present E. Gadd, but rather the combination of that memory and his later memories that past E. Gadd did not yet have (memories of constructing F.L.U.D.D. being a possible example).
From this we can conclude that an action in the past changing the course of history will cause it to change from that point forward and from a point exactly a THd afterwards, without creating an alternate universe. So time travel in the Mario universe operates on a special form of dynamic timeline. To explain this a bit clearer, I will demonstrate it using an example:

Gary the Goomba is presently 40 years old. He lives in Hollijolli Village, is missing a fang, and is married to Gina the Goomba. Until Gary was 20, he had lived in Toad Town with his family. When Gary was 20, he had just built his own house in Toad Town. When Gary was 25, lightning destroyed his house and prompted him to move to Hollijolli Village. When Gary was 30, he lost one of his fangs in a sledding accident in Hollijolli Village. When Gary was 35, he married Gina, whom he met in Hollijolli Village.

In the present, Mario & Luigi travel through a Time Hole that is 20 years deep. They meet 20-year-old Gary who has just finished his house, but can't afford to install a lightning rod, so they kindly give him enough coins to do so, changing the course of history. When Gary is 25, his house is struck by lightning, but it isn't destroyed, so Gary keeps living in Toad Town. When Gary is 30, he doesn't have an accident because he doesn't live in Hollijolli Village to go sledding. When Gary is 35, he doesn't marry Gina because he doesn't live in Hollijolli Village to meet her.
Exactly 20 years after Mario & Luigi change the course of history, when Gary is 40, Gary's memory is rearranged to remember Mario & Luigi giving him some coins when he was 20 and him using them to install a lightning rod on his house. When Gary is 45, he suddenly remembers that his house in Toad Town wasn't destroyed. However, he also recalls living in Hollijolli Village for 20 years because of lightning destroying his house, albeit more hazily, as he does not remember the original memory and this memory is only constructed from recalling the original one over the last 20 years. When Gary is 50, his missing fang somehow reappears in his mouth, as if had never been gone. He recalls missing it for 20 years. When Gary is 55, he is not married to Gina. The two of them still have all the memories they shared together in the last 20 years. When Gary is 60, he can recall a clear timeline from when he was 20 to when he was 40, just as he always could from his birth to age 20, but has conflicting memories between age 40 and now.
As you can see from this example, the new past quite literally catches up to anyone affected by the change in the course of history. What we don't know is what happens when all the Time Holes are closed. The course of history could continue to change until caught up with the present or it could cease changing.

How Time Travel Works in Yoshi's Island DS, Yoshi's New Island and Mario's Time Machine

Before the events of Yoshi's Island DS, in the present time, Kamek's crystal ball foretells that seven powerful stars fell during the time period in which the game takes place. Him and Bowser travel to the past in order to obtain these stars. We don't see any direct effects this time travelling has on causality, as this event is never mentioned again by any of the characters. However, an assumption can be made about the means by which Kamek and Bowser have travelled to this time. Bowser's Castle in this game notably features an adult Bowser's emblem on its front, which implies that it was built for an adult Bowser, likely in the present time. Even more interestingly, the castle features a large clock face on its central tower, giving off the impression that the entire castle is able to travel through time. Whether this is accomplished in the same way as E. Gadd's time machine or by some other means is unclear. At the end of the game, the castle explodes as it falls from the sky and Kamek, Bowser, and Baby Bowser are seen escaping by flying away. If the castle is indeed the time machine used by Kamek and Bowser to travel to this time period, its destruction could leave the pair to be stranded in this time period for an indefinite amount of time.
Yoshi's New Island notoriously gives us the line "Suddenly... warping through time and space... King Bowser appears!" without any further explanation for why or how Bowser has travelled to this time period. The game takes place immediately after the original Yoshi's Island, so it must take place before YIDS (in which Baby Mario seems familiar to Yoshi), and this couldn't be a stranded Bowser from that game. On top of that, Mario himself has also travels to this time period, donning the guise of Mr. Pipe, providing indirect help to Yoshi. Why Mario would act in secret instead of taking direct action like he does in PiT is and how he travelled through time is also a mystery.
While not canon, in Mario's Time Machine, Bowser travels to the past using a machine called the Timulator to steal artifacts from all over the world. Depending on the game's version, the Timulator either opens a portal to a certain point in time or travels to a certain point in time, taking passengers with it. The destination to which the Timulator can send a user is determined by inputting a location's name, a four-digit date and whether that date is BC or AD. The Timulator can't send a user to travel to every point possible to be inputted in it, sending them to the Cretaceous Period or back to the present if the destination is incompatible. The Timulator seems to be limited to destinations on Earth. Notably, Mario worries about history being changed forever by the artifcacts stolen from their time periods, so changing the course of history is possible. with no alternate universes created by it. We see history books missing certain words, but not all of their information as an effect of the changed course of history, which would lead to believe that the 'delayed' form of a dynamic timeline does apply as well. However, the causality of how exactly these items would change history in this specific way is dubious in most cases.
None of these examples directly contradict the time travel mechanics constructed from Partners in Time.

Potential Plot-Holes in Partners in Time Caused by Time Travel

Returning to PiT, two questions that are frequently brought up while discussing the game are the following:

1. Why do Mario & Luigi not seem to remember the Shroob invasion?
2. If the Shroobs conquered the Mushroom Kingdom in the past, then why do the Shroobs not control the kingdom in the present?

These two questions can be answered as follows:

1. Mario & Luigi were too young to remember any of the events properly. Adults are usually unable to recall memories of specific events experienced before the age of 3.
2. The Shroobs were eradicated by a force other than the time-travelling bros during the unchanged course of history.

There is, however, a question which is much more glaring, yet not as frequently discussed:

• Why do the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom not seem to remember the Shroob invasion?

The characters most importantly affected by this are Toadsworth (and by extension Peach) and E. Gadd. How could anyone ever agree to sending the princess back in time to a point where a historical cataclysm befell the Mushroom Kingdom less than 25 years ago if they had even an ounce of historical knowledge? I certainly would not travel back in time to 1986 to visit Chernobyl.
This question can't be answered under the assumption that the Shroob invasion was a normal historical event. The invasion must have been either of the following:

• A conspiracy covered up by mass-revisions in history. People directly involved in the event like Toadsworth, Kamek, or Bowser would have to be silenced in regard to the invasion.
• A course of history that itself is different from the original one, caused by time travelling to the past.

Since the first option would require a level of control over the population of the Mushroom Kingdom that seems next to impossible, the following theory presents itself:

• The Shroobs had been using time travel themselves.

The Time Travelling Shroob Theory

We have already established that when the course of history is changed, the changed historical events are rewritten in real time from that point on, with people in the present only remembering what has already been rewritten up to the same point exactly a THd before the present. The beginning of the Shroob invasion coincides almost perfectly with Peach and the time machine's arrival in the past. Thus, nobody remembers the invasion prior to the point a THd after it begins to warn the princess of her voyage to the past. The sudden memories being rearranged might also be what causes Toadsworth to fall into a state of shroomshock.
This simply offers an explanation for why the Shroob invasion had been unknown by the entire populace of the Mushroom Kingdom prior to the events of PiT. Following this, I will outline arguments that point towards the Shroobs being able to use time travel:
In the final battle against Elder Princess Shroob, she is shown to have the ability of opening Time Holes at will herself. She uses this to shoot down Shroob saucers to fall into the Time Hole and later remerge from it as a means of delayed attack. It is unknown whether she has had this ability before the events of the game or if she received it by fusing with the Cobalt Star. While the former would point to this theory being true, arguments for and against it can be made just as well. The Cobalt Star's primary function seems to be to provide the time machine with power, being referred to as the machine's energy or fuel source a number of times. The ability to travel through time by opening Time Holes would instead be attributed to the machine itself. On the other hand, the Cobalt Star Shards by themselves have demonstrated the ability to open Time Holes, being responsible for the one leading to Toadwood Forest. However, this could also be the work of Elder Princess Shroob sealed inside the shard.
If the Shroobs are capable of using time travel, then it's possible that Younger Princess Shroob and Elder Princess Shroob are same entity from different points in time, equivalent to Baby Mario and Mario, respectively. The existence of two Shroob Princesses is presented by in-game text as them being sisters. However, if we assume that this claim is based on misinterpretation, figurative language, or deception by the characters presenting the claim and therefore not truthful, then the relation between the Shroob Princesses becomes open to interpretation. The claims that they are sisters are made by Younger Princess Shroob, Princess Peach, and Elder Princess Shroob:

• Younger Princess Shroob speaks exclusively in the Shroob language throughout the entire game. Subtitles are added to her speech somewhat consistently starting from the encounter between her and the bros aboard the Shroob Mother Ship. This implies that Mario & Luigi have learnt to understand some of the language over the course of the game. However, it also means that their understanding might not be completely accurate and the subtitles unreliable as a result.
• Princess Peach explicitly calls Elder Princess Shroob Younger Princess Shroob's twin sister. Due to her not knowing about the Shroobs' nature before imprisoning Elder Princess Shroob within the Cobalt Star, it could be that her statement is either based on her own assumptions or simply metaphoric in nature. It's unlikely that Peach would know the exact familial relation between the Shroob princesses.
• Unlike Younger Princess Shroob, Elder Princess Shroob is capable of speaking fluent English and unlike Princess Peach, she most certainly knows the exact relation she has to Younger Princess Shroob. Elder Princess shroob also refers to Younger Princess Shroob as her sister, and while it could be that she is deliberately masking the truth, the reason for doing so is not clear.

There is also the fact that the game's UI when targeting both Elder Princess Shroob and Younger Princess Shroob reads "Princess Shroob" for both of them, making no distinction in their names.
Perhaps the strongest counterargument against this point would be the fact that when Younger Princess Shroob is killed, Elder Princess Shroob is unaffected. Causality demands that if a person of the past died, their present version would also immediately cease to live (which is also the explanation for why you get a Game Over if Baby Mario & Baby Luigi fall in battle even if the adult Mario & Luigi are still around). A possible explanation for this is that fusing with the Cobalt Star has caused the two to become a separate entity that exists independently from Elder Princess Shroob. This entity would be able to exist until the changed course of history caused by Younger Princess Shroob's death caught up with the present.
We also need to evaluate the Shroobs' motivations for their invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom and why they would resort to using time travel:

• The Shroobs were searching for a new home. This is possibly due to the Shroob planet showing signs of regression, being unable to sustain the Shroob population. As a result, the population might already have declined drastically by the present day. This would prompt Princess Shroob to travel back in time in order to have more troops and/or people to save.
• The Mushroom Kingdom of the past is weak compared to its present version. The kingdom's rule is unclear, as Princess Peach is a baby and her parents seem to be absent, implied further by Toadsworth caring for her like a father. The Koopa Kingdom is also less of a threat with Bowser being a child whose goals primarily revolve around cookies and treasure. Most of all, Mario & Luigi as adults pose a major threat to the entire operation. Thus, travelling back in time to attack the Mushroom Kingdom in the past era is less of a risk.

From these points, it can be concluded that if the Shroobs themselves are indeed able to travel through time, doing so would be highly advantageous.
As a final point, let's look back at a question raised before:

• If the Shroobs conquered the Mushroom Kingdom in the past, then why do the Shroobs not control the kingdom in the present?

With the assumption that the Shroobs are time travellers themselves, a new answer to this question presents itself.

• The Shroobs never conquered the Mushroom Kingdom in the original course of history. They changed the course of history by invading after travelling back in time. However, this change was further altered by Mario & Luigi travelling back in time, eradicating the Shroobs and leaving the present kingdom unconquered.

“Before I met the Savior, I was a worthless piece of garbage, barely a human being,” Lovebug droned at the front of the enormous room. Lovebug was a monster of a man, two-hundred and fifty pounds of hard tattooed muscle. Like myself, he was a high-ranking member of the Church.
His flat gray eyes scanned the room with a fanatical gleam. I sat in the first row, watching and waiting. Followers of the Savior would tell their stories, how the Savior had reached down and lifted them out of sin and filth to bring them up to the divine. The bright fluorescent lights overhead droned on with a low hum. Thousands of men crammed together in seats or stood at the back of the room.
The Savior taught only two commandments: to murder is holy, and to die for the Savior is the highest bliss. An army of warriors followed the Savior, knights on a holy crusade, priests who wouldn’t hesitate to burn the foul bodies of any witches or demons we encountered. I thought of myself as a knight for the holy king, our Savior, the mouthpiece of the eternal.
“Now, it is like the hand of God has reached into my heart and loosened all the knots there, the knots of anxiety and fear and uncertainty.” He raised his black, military-style rifle into the air for emphasis. “I never realized the true nature of reality before- the fact that we are living in a simulation where the final battle of good versus evil is playing out before our very eyes. And I will be on the side of the good, until my dying breath. I will be on the side of the Savior and of God!”
The crowd roared and clapped. Men got to their feet, sweating heavily in the boiling hot conference room. I felt the surge of energy pass through me like a tidal wave, the pure confidence and iron will of truth. Lovebug lumbered down off the stage as the Savior came out from behind the red curtains, walking with the straight spine of a soldier. He wore a silky black robe that fluttered softly around him, the hood pulled back.
The Savior had horrific burns running the length of his body. His arms had melted folds of keloid scars visible all the way to the tips of his fingers. His scalp had also melted, and the Savior had no hair except for his eyelashes and eyebrows. But the fire that had nearly killed him had spared his face, an aristocratic visage with ferocious green eyes like those of a cat. That face seemed like it had been sculpted out of marble by DaVinci himself, the high cheekbones jutting out over a chin so sharp that it looked like it could have hammered nails into boards. He stared out at the crowd for a long moment, his gaze unblinking.
“The final battle has begun,” he said in a low voice, no more than a whisper. Yet, in the deathly silence of the hall, his words rang out loud and clear. “Those in charge of this illusory world know that we see them. We see them very well, how they hide behind the curtain. They control the world economy, the justice system. Every government, whether they call themselves communist, authoritarian or democratic, is no more than a puppet in their dancing fingers.
“When anyone tries to stand up and lead the masses of suffering people towards freedom from slavery, they are vilified by the mainstream media, brought up on false charges or killed, their bodies staged to look like a suicide. Look what they did to Jesus, and for what? For telling people to love God more than their rulers? And those who speak out today are also crucified, murdered in prisons or killed by their governments. Truth is the most precious commodity, after all. It is one that can only be purchased with blood.
“So what can we do? How can we fight against such evil?” There was a quiet muttering among the pale, frozen faces that stared up at the stage with adoration and love.
“We can fight it by using their own weapons against them!” the Savior said, his voice rising in speed and pitch. He raised his fisted hands to his chest, accentuating each syllable with a back and forth stab of his hands. “Fight fire with fire, and pay back blood with blood! The only thing these global terrorists understand is greater levels of force. We must show them death on a scale they have never before imagined.” I felt nervous as the Savior delivered his message. I saw other men shuffle anxiously in the crowded auditorium, most of them having high-caliber rifles slung around their shoulders.
I felt the rising violence and bloodlust in the air like electricity before a lightning storm. At that moment, I knew we would all have to fight before too long.
***
The Savior called me and Lovebug back to his office after the speech had ended, sending his squirrely assistant over to deliver the hand-written note in the Savior’s blocky, copperplate handwriting. For a long moment, I simply watched the crowd filtering out of the doors, heading back towards the complex where all the holy soldiers of the Savior lived. Feeling dissociated and light-headed, I followed behind the massive muscular form of Lovebug, the heavy weight of the M16 bouncing against my chest. We pushed through the blood-red velvet curtains, winding our way past stage equipment and down a hallway of pure marble.
Mystical paintings similar to those of Alex Grey covered both walls, showing the inside workings of the human body through art. It was as if the painter had X-ray vision and could see the heart chakra and the countless thin vessels that spiderwebbed up to the crown. But, unlike Alex Grey’s hopeful depictions of mysticism, these showed men and women being burned alive, crucified, decapitated or strangled. Dark colors composed the paintings: the dark blue of a suffocating face, the clotted red of an infected stab wound, the black of death. They captured the essence of struggle perfectly.
The Savior’s office had a thick mahogany door with silver engravings of leaves and vines running the length of it. At the top stood a single staring eye with twelve wavy tentacles emerging from the perimeter of it- the symbol of God, who the Savior had seen personally. God would sometimes speak through the mouth of the Savior, always during times of great tribulation or suffering. Lovebug knocked at the door. The Savior’s deep voice echoed out faintly.
“Come in.”
We entered slowly, the sprawling desk of the Savior filling half of the room. He sat in a comfortable chair behind it, reclining. On the walls behind him, he had pictures of Jesus, Saint Stephen, Gandhi, Hitler, Jim Jones, Shoko Asahara and others who he taught had fought against the world elites and been killed for it.
The Church of the Final Rapture was not a church in the conventional sense. The main teachings didn’t revolve around the divinity of Christ or the nature of original sin. What the Savior taught was far more profound- an illusory or simulated world where every single person could become their own Christ, could awaken to the truth and perform miracles, but only if they believed fully and followed the Savior.
“Sit down, please,” he said in his gravelly voice. “I have a mission I would like to discuss, and you two are the only ones competent and loyal enough to carry it out.”
***
“There is another anomaly spreading,” the Savior said, staring between me and Lovebug with his fanatical emerald eyes. “It is located in a rural part of the United States, in a town called-” he glanced down at the sheet of paper in front of him- “Frost Hollow. Supposedly, there are black-ops sites located nearby, secret alphabet agencies experimenting with magnetic distortion systems and creating rips in the fabric of spacetime with micro-wormholes.
“I don’t think it is much of a leap to say that the anomaly was likely started, either intentionally or unintentionally, by the government, as part of their research. The Cleaners would like to control that power, after all. They have been sending their men after it for years like sheep to the slaughter, expending billions of dollars researching it. If they and the US government end up being able to control the creation and spread of anomalies, they will use it to enslave the world. There is no question about it in my mind.” He leaned forwards towards us, his eyes growing cold.
“There is only one path forward I can see. We need to spread the anomaly, make it become unstable so the demons of Hell contained within it can spill out onto the real world. Perhaps it will awaken the downtrodden masses enough to begin the final revolution. We must fight terrorism with greater terrorism, and violence with greater levels of violence. For this mission, I am sending the two of you into Frost Hollow.
“Your job will be to find the Titan or Titans and lead them out to the border of the anomaly. These are horrendous beasts- indeed, the Church has seen them before. They are nearly impossible to kill. I want you two to go inside, bait it and have it follow you back to the edge, beyond the veil.”
“What’s a Titan?” Lovebug asked, his eyes flicking left and right nervously. The Savior stared at him stonily for a long moment. Then his eyes rolled back in his head, showing only the whites. All the blood seemed to drain from his face. His teeth chattered, his mouth opened, and through it, God spoke, the words pouring out like crashing stones. The voice did not sound anything like the Savior’s. It sounded much deeper, more mechanical, more alien somehow.
“I see you very well. I saw you when you were no more than a blood clot in your mother’s body. I see you even as corpses, rotted, putrefying, crawling with scavengers and insects. I see everything, every moment of time. But, in the anomaly, there are things I cannot see. For this, my holy ones must go forth.
“In the center of Hell, you will find a rose, a bird and a stone. These will be your salvation, if salvation can be found at all. Go with the blessing of Yaldabaoth.” The voice cut off abruptly, the silence deafening. I could hear my own heart pounding in my ears.
The Savior’s eyes came back down, looking confused and uncertain. His pupils were dilated and he was sweating heavily, even though it was cool and air-conditioned back here in his private office. We stared at each other across the table, a no-man’s land that protected me like a shield. For there seemed to be something dark in the Savior along with the light, and I didn’t know if any man could contain that power.
But there was no question of disobeying. Within the hour, Lovebug and I were on one of the Church’s private jets flying to the town of Frost Hollow.
***
The gently rolling hills of Frost Hollow loomed below us as the plane circled the small dirt airstrip in the middle of some cow farms. I looked up at Lovebug, trying to judge his stony expression. He had done many years in prison before joining the Church and finding salvation, even being the leader of one of the gangs. I knew he wasn’t afraid of violence. He had never told me what he did, what tortured him so much.
The Savior had told us much secret knowledge- how to find a Titan, a massive, bloated abomination that could come into being only within an anomaly, a combination of many rotted body pieces fused together in some sort of hellish black magic. The Savior had spies around Frost Hollow and the surrounding towns who had been monitoring the anomaly, watching the unstable gateways leading in and out and mapping them as best they could. We would be given a fast car, plenty of weapons and some body armor. I had no idea how nightmarish the journey would become, however.
“I’m driving,” Lovebug said as we descended the steps. A man in a black suit with the symbol of the eye and tentacles pinned on his black button-up shirt pulled up with a Mercedes AMG-One. It was a sleek, silver thing of immense luxury and power. The craftsmanship made it look like a work of art. I sighed, keeping my finger nervously on the trigger of my rifle as I glanced around the strange, empty town.
“If this thing won’t outrun a Titan, then nothing will,” I said, trying to break the tension. I looked at the speedometer, seeing it went up to 220 miles an hour.
“Damn fucking right,” Lovebug growled as we slid into the futuristic-looking leather seats. The engine turned on like a softly purring kitten. The GPS automatically turned on as well, the soft robotic voice leading us toward one of the more stable portals to the anomaly.
Lovebug sped down the empty forest roads of Frost Hollow, going twice the legal speed limit the entire way.
“The speed limit is only for the lowest common denominator,” Lovebug said pedantically, waggling a tattooed finger for emphasis. The GPS said we would reach the gateway to the anomaly in five minutes. Based on Lovebug’s speed, I thought it would be more like two. “Someone who actually knows how to drive and isn’t drunk or high can easily do 80 in a 40. Easily.” I glanced nervously at the speedometer, realizing he was going over 100 miles an hour now. The sports car hugged the tight corners of the winding forest roads with absolute precision.
“Turn right onto Snake Island Road Extension in five hundred feet,” the robotic female voice. Lovebug slammed on the brakes a few seconds later, the tires skidding and locking up. We looked around frantically, seeing no streets anywhere except the one we were on.
“What the hell?” Lovebug asked. The night was crawling in by now, the darkness covering the forests like a curtain. I squinted, looking at the thick grove of trees on our right, scanning it back and forth over and over. After a few seconds, I realized there was an overgrown dirt path there with no sign. It was nearly impossible to see at night, however, and calling it a road was somewhat of a joke.
“Oh, damn,” I said. “They should’ve given us an SUV.”
***
According to the GPS, our destination was only a thousand feet down Snake Island Road Extension. The low clearance of the Mercedes was a problem as Lovebug tried to navigate the flooded forest path. Deep tread marks flooded with black, stagnant water marked the entirety of Snake Island Road Extension. But ahead, the headlights illuminated something unusual.
Cutting straight across the trees and brush like a razorblade was a shimmering wall of translucent energy. It reminded me of a mirage, curving upwards in wavy spiral patterns. I could see through it easily, but it gave everything a dark, sinister covering. The forest seemed to be in constant motion as the grayish light distorted it.
“Look how huge it is!” I said in awe, staring up at the starry sky. The flat wall rose up seemingly forever, disappearing in the cold void of infinite space. Lovebug slowly ambled the car towards the anomaly, trying to keep the Mercedes from getting stuck with its low clearance.
“You ready for this, man?” Lovebug asked in a quavering voice as we inched towards the anomaly. It was only seconds away now. He grabbed my shoulder. “This is it. Remember the commandments.” I closed my eyes, concentrating my heart on the Savior’s words. Dying for the good is the highest bliss, he had told us.
“Let’s do this,” I said, my eyes flying open from my silent prayer as the hood passed through the anomaly. It disappeared in front of our eyes. We could see the forest on the other side, but the Mercedes looked like it was going through some sort of teleportation portal, being ripped apart layer by layer and sent somewhere else. Lovebug nervously grabbed my hand.
“For the Savior and for the Good,” he whispered as we passed through.
***
I heard screaming and wailing, full of agony and unimaginable horror, like the screams of those burning in Hell. My vision went white. A carpet of morphing dark colors covered everything as the shrieking intensified, until I thought my eardrums would explode.
“Stop!” I cried, feeling the pressure in my head like a splitting migraine. “Stop screaming!” I started kicking, punching, trying to get away.
“Calm the fuck down!” someone whispered, slapping me hard across the face. Stunned, I looked up, seeing Lovebug holding me down in the seat. He was covered in sweat, his face a blank mask of terror. “Don’t scream. There’s things outside that are looking this way.” I blinked fast, my senses coming back to me. I felt like a man waking up from surgery, confused and disoriented, my memories only returning in small trickles and drops.
We were sitting in the Mercedes on a road that looked like it had been made of human skin. The headlights showed the ragged patches of pale, leathery flesh sewn together with black thread. The road disappeared ahead of us in a straight line. The land here looked as flat as Kansas. Like a mirror world, it had houses and restaurants and churches lining both sides of the road, but they were all wrong.
The stone church looked like it was constructed of some kind of red volcanic rock. Baphomets and upside-down pentagrams covered the outer walls, engraved deeply into the glossy surface. Mutilated bodies covered the front lawn, impaled, crucified, skinned alive or burned at the stake. Hundreds of men, women and children lay dead in front of the Satanic temple.
Overhead, the sky bubbled and frothed with red clouds and constant explosions of blue lightning. Like missile flashes, the lightning illuminated the world around us, shining brightly before going dark. The incessant strobing gave the entire place a kind of circus freakshow vibe.
Many of the homes looked like they had been constructed from bones and covered in human skin, like some sort of hellish teepee. Arm and leg bones wrapped in razor-wire formed the pillars. Grinning skulls lined the top of the flat, rectangular roofs, thousands of bleached human heads staring down.
Staring out of the dark doorways, I saw gleaming, silvery eyes. They loomed eight or nine feet in the air on spidery bodies. Their limbs looked as thin as bones, jet-black and dull. The only color from these still revenants was from their unblinking eyes and grinning mouths, where teeth like those of a dragonfish jutted out. Every pair of eyes on that street was fixed intently on the Mercedes, the sick rictus grins on their alien faces never faltering.
“Jesus Christ, I’m sorry,” I whispered, feeling weak. “I thought I was in a nightmare for a minute there.” Lovebug shrugged his massive shoulders.
“Yeah, I felt it too, though I came out of it a lot faster than you did,” he said, glancing over at the Satanic church as we passed. It had protective black spikes rising high into the air all around it. The broken body of a child who had been burnt at the stake stood in front of the gates like a death omen, his small, withered hand holding a black rose. Lovebug choked, retching. He nearly rolled down the window, until his eyes met the silvery ones of a nearby abomination.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, looking closer at the church. On top of the roof, I saw an enormous statue of a black raven, its wings spread as if it were flying. It had three gleaming, silvery eyes embedded into the dark rock.
“That boy just reminds me of my son,” Lovebug whispered glumly, inching along the streets.
“I didn’t know you had a son,” I said, surprised. Lovebug had never mentioned a family. He shrugged.
“I don’t. Not anymore. I killed him. I got drunk and high one night back when I was selling drugs. Fell asleep in the living room with a lit cigarette and burned down the whole house. I killed my wife and son, burned them. They sent me to prison, but what did that matter? The prison up here is far worse.” He tapped the side of his temple.
I was about to say something, but at that moment, many things happened at once.
***
Lovebug was staring at the corpse of the child when an inhumanly long arm reached up from the side of the car. It had fingers like spikes, as sharp as a knife and twice as long as normal human fingers. I gasped, a warning shout welling up in my throat, but the hand came smashing down into the driver’s side window and grabbed Lovebug’s neck.
The window exploded in a shower of safety glass, shattering like brittle bones. Lovebug’s scream was cut off as he was dragged, kicking and screaming, out of the car. I swung open my door, leaping out and bringing my rifle around.
The Cheshire Cat grin of the abomination never faltered as it held Lovebug in front of its body like a human shield, holding him by the neck above the ground. Lovebug’s legs kicked and squirmed, his face turning blue as he slowly suffocated. His eyes bulged from their sockets, panicked and rolling, uncomprehending in their total animal panic.
I flicked on the laser sight. It danced over the ground, flashing over the body of Lovebug and the abomination. But I couldn’t aim for its torso or face, as I would probably hit Lovebug in the process. It was far too close.
I aimed for the monster’s thin, skeletal feet, the black toes twisting over each other like the roots of a tree. The gunshots rang out as a deafening counterpoint to the thunder blasts.
The monster gave a hissing gurgle as two bullets caught it in the right ankle. The creature seemed bloodless, and only dust and ashes rolled out of the exploded insectile flesh. It tried to skitter away, but its destroyed ankle caused it to fall forward, throwing Lovebug.
His body rolled across the road, the soft leather that looked like it was made from tens of thousands of human skins. Gasping, his lips still showing a faint blue cast, he struggled to crawl away.
I saw furtive movement from all around us. The creatures in the houses and doorways were moving forwards, drawn by the bloodshed or noise. Hundreds of glowing, silvery eyes surrounded us. I sprinted forward, dragging Lovebug to his feet.
“The church,” I hissed. “It’s the only place.” Still pulling the weak, confused Lovebug behind me, we staggered towards the black gates. They opened with a shriek of rusted metal.
***
The creatures stopped at the gates to the blood-red church, simply staring at us like statues. They didn’t even seem to breathe, their lidless eyes never blinking, the silvery glow never fading.
“I think this is the place we’re meant to go,” I whispered as we made our way towards the massive pointed doors. “When God spoke to us, he said something about a stone, a bird and a rose, that we would find the Titan through that.” I pointed back at the burnt body of the boy. “He’s holding a rose. On top of the building, there’s a bird. And the church is all stone. Maybe this is the place where God wanted us to go all along.”
“Maybe,” Lovebug muttered through heaving gasps, still grabbing at his bruised neck. “God, this hurts. It feels like I got hanged.” Side by side, we pushed open the doors to the Satanic church and walked inside.
***
Row after row of pews stretched out in front of us. Thousands of black candles were set up all around the perimeter of the enormous chamber. They sputtered and flickered constantly, throwing dancing shadows in every direction.
A small pair of bright eyes glanced up at us from under one of the nearby pews. I nearly jumped out of my skin, pointing the rifle at them and yelling.
“Show yourself! Come out now, or I shoot!” Lovebug looked at me, confused. He hadn’t seen it. But a few heartbeats later, a little girl crawled out, her eyes big and blue, her body an emaciated wreck. She wore ripped strands of what looked like leathery human skin to cover herself, tied together with black string. In one small, grime-streaked hand, she held a half-eaten raw mouse.
“Please, don’t kill me,” she said in a small voice. “I’m Emma. My mommy and daddy got dragged away and I’m scared.” I felt sick and weak looking at this small victim. I reached down and helped her up.
“I wouldn’t hurt you,” I said, kneeling down to her level. “I thought you were one of the bad guys. This is Lovebug, and I’m Jack.”
“This isn’t part of the mission, man,” Lovebug said nervously. “What are we supposed to do with her?”
“Well, we can’t just fucking leave her here,” I whispered back. “We need…” But I never got to finish that thought. Because, at that moment, the church woke up.
***
A red glow started at the front of the chamber, the altar where the priest would have stood and given speeches or holy communion. Here, they had a podium that looked like it was carved from a single block of obsidian. Reflected in it, I saw the screaming faces of people burning in Hell, grinning demons ripping off strips of human flesh and spiraling waves of flames, all sculpted by an artist who was able to capture the most miniscule details of agony and torture.
I looked around, realizing Emma had gone. I hadn’t seen her scurry away and hide, but her absence gave me a feeling of crushing dread in my chest.
“Lovebug, something’s wrong,” I whispered, still staring up at the altar. I heard a floorboard creak behind me. I glanced back just in time to see a man wearing full SWAT gear. I caught the flash of a pistol coming down, the butt aimed at my forehead. I heard the cracking, felt the immense pressure and pain. For a few moments, I swam in the currents of consciousness, trying to stay awake, but then the blackness crept in and stole me away.
***
I awoke suddenly, my hands tied so tightly behind my back that I couldn’t feel my fingers. I felt sick and wanted to throw up. I quickly choked those feelings back down. I tried to shake my head, to clear it, but that just brought jolts of pain like electricity shooting through my skull. Nearby, I heard a gunshot, then another.
“Bring it, fuckers!” Lovebug screamed in an insane voice. The explosion of a grenade rocked the building, and I smelled choking black smoke. I opened my eyes, seeing three men in SWAT gear laying dead, their bodies scattered haphazardly around the chaotic scene. One wall of the church had blown outwards, the stone still sending out gray wisps of wavy smoke into the air. I looked at my partner, seeing he had a bullet hole in his left arm and another one in his stomach. He was bleeding heavily, but the adrenaline and insanity seemed to keep him afloat- for now, at least.
I saw something walking towards us from the stage. It looked like a small boy, but black shadows spiraled up around his chest and face, translucent and shimmering darkly. He looked about five or six, his skin pale and smooth. As Lovebug’s face grew slack and distant, the boy abruptly erupted into flames.
“Don’t kill me again, Dad,” the small boy whispered in a hoarse voice choked with pain. The flames rose from his head and skin, melting his flesh, blackening it. Drops of boiling fat dribbled off his nose and chin. “Don’t send me to the dark place again, Dad…” He continued creeping closer to Lovebug, moving like a lion stalking an antelope.
“I didn’t know!” Lovebug cried, his face going paler. Tears streamed from his eyes as the rifle trembled wildly in his shaking hands. For a long moment, he looked torn, the finger tightening on the trigger as sobs escaped his chattering lips.
“Kill it, Lovebug!” I screamed. “Don’t let it get to you!” But as he dropped the rifle and knelt before the small boy, I knew it was too late.
The shadows spun faster and faster around the burning, dying body of the boy. He gave a scream of soul-shattering agony, reaching out to a small hand towards Lovebug.
“Help me!” the boy cried. Lovebug hesitated before bringing an arm up to take the boy’s hand.
“I missed you, Robbie,” Lovebug said before his fingers brushed the boys. The boy lunged forward, grabbing Lovebug’s hand with an iron grip. I saw Lovebug’s eyes widen in shock and surprise. A moment later, I heard the bones in his hand grinding together before breaking with a sound like snapping tree branches. The boy’s eyes darkened into jet-black orbs, the melted lips splitting into a sadistic grin.
“I missed you, too,” the thing hissed as its right arm changed, melting and reforming into something black and blade-like. The insectile limb swung forward in a blur, coming straight at Lovebug’s heart. He gave a panicked squeal a moment before it hit, trying to pull away with all of his considerable strength, his face turning chalk-white as the shattered bones in his hands ground together.
I closed my eyes, rolling away, trying to undo the knots that held my hands in place. Lovebug must have been greatly outnumbered. He would never have let that man tie me up. I heard the sounds of tearing meat and crunching bone nearby. Lovebug’s final breaths gurgled through the air, but I still kept my eyes closed, not wanting to look.
I felt a small tickle on my wrists, then heard a little voice next to my ear.
“I’ll get you out of here,” Emma whispered. I waited a few moments, then I heard the ropes snap. I looked back, seeing her holding a piece of sharp, broken glass in one tiny hand. In her other, she had the car keys. I wondered how she had gotten them, the little pickpocket.
“Thank God,” I said, rubbing my wrists. I looked around for my rifle, seeing it was laying next to the body of one of the SWAT guys. I wondered who these men were. I crawled towards it slowly, not wanting to draw attention.
“Don’t move another step,” a voice growled behind me. I glanced back, seeing the small boy, his features morphing into those of a demon. Curving horns spiraled from his temples. His jet-black eyes stared down at me with hatred and coldness. “You’ll follow your friend who killed my servants. His soul will stay alive forever within my body, a sickly thing wrapped up in an eternal shriek.”
“Fuck you,” I cried, lunging for my rifle. Emma disappeared behind a pew, running on all fours without looking back. I spun as I hit the ground, turning the barrel towards the morphing face of the shape-shifter. Its jaw unhinged, a snake-like tongue flicking out as it flew through the air towards me. Hollow fangs dripping clear venom grew from its mouth in a heartbeat, elongating and sharpening before my very eyes.
I fired twice, the bullets entering through its mouth and coming out the back of its head. Its flesh disintegrated in an instant, the body turning into light, gray ashes that disappeared in the breeze. Breathing hard, I waited, wondering if it was all over.
I heard a rumbling far below me, as if an earthquake were starting. A moment later, the church floor exploded upwards, sharp rubble and splintered boards flying in every direction.
***
“It’s coming!” Emma screamed, running over and grabbing my hand. I lay there, shell-shocked and unmoving for a long moment. In hindsight, the girl was a natural born survivor with much sharper reflexes than me. It was likely the only reason she survived as long as she had.
“The Titan,” I whispered grimly, trying to pull myself up to my feet. But it was like trying to walk on a heaving, sinking ship. Parts of the floor collapsed down into a seemingly never-ending abyss beneath us.
Near the stage, I saw hundreds of long, pale arms pulling something bloated and monstrous out of the ground. It was a Titan, and no explanation can ever convey the true horror of that thing.
It looked like countless human corpses had been melted together, fused into a ball with sagging, boneless chests, deformed faces and millions of writhing maggots. It groaned and gurgled with many lungs, exhaling a rotting, sulfurous breeze that made me want to retch. A soft susurration of many pained, muttering voices continuously emanated from the Titan.
“Emma, run!” I screamed, but she was already sprinting back towards the front door of the church. I backpedaled, afraid to look away from the creeping monstrosity, the juggernaut of rotting flesh moving towards us.
I heard the Titan closing the distance as I sprinted through the front door. The abominations with the silver eyes still slunk around the gate, blocking the car. I raised the rifle, firing blindly at the creatures, careful not to hit the little girl.
“Go to the car!” I screamed at Emma, feeling around for the keys. As the abominations saw the Titan, those still alive scattered, moving in a blur back into the shadows and homes of this rotten place.
The Titan broke the front wall of the church, sending splinters of red stone flying in every direction like bullets. It groaned and gurgled faster, its sickly cries more insistent. I ran to the Mercedes, starting it up and pressing the accelerator to the floor. I pulled a U-turn, heading back to the border of the anomaly.
***
The engine roared, the car bucking like a wild stallion as it pressed me and Emma back into our seats. But the creeping Titan continued gaining speed behind us, and for a few seconds, I feared we would be crushed to death under its massive weight.
The anomaly shimmered ahead of us. I crashed through it at two hundred miles an hour, skidding wildly as the Mercedes hit the dirt road. I nearly flew into a tree. I managed to right it at the last second, pulling onto the paved street as the Titan broke through behind us.
It followed us out. It’s in the real world now.