Against the Clock: The Team Leader's Pursuit of Glory - Chapter 146 - If you wanted to catch me off guard, you almost succeeded

Takahiro Nao, a 25-year-old drowning in debt and despair, lives only for his struggling family. Every sacrifice he makes is for them—until a selfless act costs him his life. Instead of the end, Nao encounters a Goddess of Benevolence who offers him a miraculous deal: “Live in a new world, and your efforts there will support your family back on Earth.”Reborn into the dead body of Naoki von Blackmore, the so-called “Failed Hero,” he finds himself burdened with the daunting task of saving the world by defeating the Demon King—all while supporting the family he cherishes. Armed with formidable powers yet haunted by his past failures, Nao steps into a dangerous realm of swords, magic, and ferocious monsters. Facing relentless enemies, harrowing trials of life and death, and an unyielding fate, he’s forced to confront the ultimate question: how far is he willing to go to protect the people he loves?Filled with emotional struggles, determination, unexpected humor, and a touch of romance, this story asks a powerful question to the readers: What would you sacrifice for the people you love?

On the night of his marriage proposal, Xu Yang was dumped by his ex-girlfriend.Feeling heavy-hearted, he went to a bar to drown his sorrows.He didn’t remember much about what happened that night, but he woke up with a stunning beauty lying next to him. At first glance, she looked somewhat familiar.Wasn’t she his ex-girlfriend’s sister?And it seemed like she was about to wake up!What should he do? He’s anxiously waiting…

In a world intertwining magic, knights, and burgeoning technology, young Leonard grapples with memories of a past life in the modern world after waking up reborn in this new, tumultuous reality. Separated from his family amidst a devastating conflict, Leonard's life takes a precarious turn when he is taken under the wing of Alfonso, a reclusive and somewhat deranged wizard. Under Alfonso's tutelage and the rigorous demands of a daily task panel that rewards him for mundane chores with experience points, Leonard finds himself thrust into a harsh survival regime, far removed from his previous life's comforts. His daily life oscillates between mastering arcane spells, learning the delicate art of Earth Ring meditation, and handling the meager sustenance at the prison-like estate where he and Alfonso reside.As Leonard's skills grow, so too does his awareness of the wider conflicts that plague this world, blend of industrial revolution-era technology and dark magical forces. The task panel becomes a strange companion, guiding him through tasks that blend the mundane with the magical, pushing him to grow stronger. Amidst the backdrop of this grim reality. The complex interplay of power, survival, and the echoes of his former life drives Leonard to not only master his new abilities but to unravel the mysteries of this world and perhaps find a way back to his family, despite the cold indifference of his master. Each experience point earned and each new ring formed in his meditation brings him closer to understanding this world's brutal truths and his own place within it.

When low-level healer Elias Vale stumbles upon a cursed cocoon in a forgotten ruin, the last thing he expects is to hatch the reborn soul of the Demon Queen Revantra—in the form of a scared little girl.To save her from divine execution, she binds herself to him through an ancient soul pact, fusing their fates. Now, Elias is stuck raising the former destroyer of worlds—who can barely tie her shoes, but occasionally melts furniture when she pouts.What starts as reluctant guardianship soon spirals into something far more dangerous. As Rhea (her new alias) grows stronger, older, and far too attached, Elias must keep her identity hidden from zealous church inquisitors, ambitious heroes, and the remnants of her own loyal followers—some of whom want her dead... again.But the longer he protects her, the deeper the bond grows—and the harder it becomes to tell who’s really taming who.Because the world once burned beneath her wings……and this time, she’s not letting him go.