Lirik Diamond

The only game in my life that makes me laugh: The Lands of The Lunerra... I played this game for six thousand hours in three years, and the day I thought I had done everything I could in this game, I felt a great emptiness inside me. I thought nothing in my ordinary and monotonous life could make me happier than when I played this game. But it didn't take long for me to realize that I was wrong with an e-mail I received the night I finished the game. ---- Hi! Thank you to everyone who came to read this story. There are two things I want to tell you. First of all, I first started writing this about two years ago, but I was writing in my native language, Turkish, and on a different site. But unfortunately, the website where I published the series came to the brink of collapse. While I was thinking about where to publish the series, I remembered Webnovel and here I am. So this is my first English novel and I believe I will make mistakes while translating. Please forgive me for these if you encounter some of them. I will do my best. Second... yes, while writing this novel I was inspired by most of the novels I've read so far. Like TNE, that novel is a pure diamond for me and I don't think I will ever reach the level of that thing. So I want to say the first few chapters may feel familiar to you, but I'll do my best to smooth it out. Discord: https://discord.gg/eRZTrv6Y49

Everyone transmigrated to the High Continent and became a Lord to participate in the conquest between Lords from all the other races. A few lucky Lords would receive Lord Talents. “Hah! My talent is the Knight’s Hall, a Diamond-Tier Lord Talent! My subjects can job change into a unique warrior class, the Combat Spirit Knight!” “My Lord Talent is the King of Abyss. I can summon demons to become my subjects!” “I have a lot of subjects who are scientists! I can create advanced technologies!” “My Talent allows me to cultivate! I’ll become a celestial!” Zhou Zhou received a Legendary-Tier Lord Talent — 100% drop rate! Not only could he see the things he would receive from an enemy, but his enemies would drop all of their loot when they were defeated. “Watch as I make you drop your Talents!”

“Did you just marry the richest man in the country… by accident? How does that even happen?” Delphinia sighed dramatically. “I know, I’m such an overachiever. But it’s easy, really. Step one: drink too much. Step two: find the perfect man. Step three: say ‘I do’ before he realizes I’m a walking disaster.” “And the revenge?” She raised her glass. “Served cold, with a diamond bigger than my ex’s ego.” — After years trapped in a loveless, abusive marriage, Delphinia had one plan: leave her toxic past behind and never look back. But freedom isn’t as sweet as she’d hoped. With no family to turn to and no place to go, she crashes with her best friend…only to end up at a party where one too many drinks lead to one tiny (accidental) marriage to Evander Walton. Handsome, rich, and absolutely off-limits, Evander is everything Delphinia thought she’d never have. And he has just one condition if she wants to break things off: she’ll have to pay him back…for the huge diamond ring she barely remembers accepting. Broke and in no position to negotiate, she’s got no choice but to play along with her accidental husband and the lavish life that comes with him. Now she’s living in luxury, holding her head high, and plotting the sweetest revenge against the ex who tried to ruin her. Because if there’s one thing Delphinia knows, it’s that payback is best served in designer heels.

Athen had always lived a solitary life, as without any family or friends, he struggled to survive in his poor, forgotten hometown. The only escape from this grim reality came in the form of tales of magic told by rare visitors from the distant capital. That was, until one day, Athen discovered that magic wasn't just a dream. It was within him. With his newfound power, Athen completed a desperate heist, stealing a priceless diamond. But his triumph was short-lived when he realized the diamond was a fake. Yet... what seemed like a cruel trick turned out to be a blessing in disguise, for the fake diamond held the key to unlocking Athen’s greatest desire: the chance to truly learn magic.

Unexpectedly, Chen Hansheng, a social elite and diamond bachelor, was reborn and woke up as a senior high school graduate. Chen Hansheng at the crossroads is also hesitating. Who should he choose between treasure girl Shen Youchu and Bai Yueguang Xiao Rongyu? The ceiling of urban rebirth novels, a love guide that young people must not miss!

A world with magic, mythical creatures, mystical herbs, labyrinths, and treasures. A world where the strongest adventurers get to be the ones to enjoy fame and riches. A world where various rankings decide your worth. This is the world where Shye Crowley and his sister were born. As the children of two fairly known diamond-ranked adventurers, Shye and his sister, Maia, enjoyed a prosperous lifestyle. Unfortunately, after departing for a mithril-ranked quest in hopes of ranking up, their parents couldn’t return. Years passed and life went downhill fast for the siblings. Fortunately, a fateful encounter bestows him a system that could change their fate.

Diamond: The Spark Within is a powerful and emotional romance about a young girl, Serena, who transforms from a carefree child into a resilient woman, all while navigating life's darkest challenges. From the moment her mother’s tragic death at a young age shatters her perfect world, Serena is thrust into a life of grief, abuse, and uncertainty. Once a joyful, spirited girl, she becomes withdrawn, haunted by the scars of her broken family. Her elder brother’s violent nature and her father’s overwhelming depression push her further into isolation. But even in the darkest of times, hope has a way of finding its way back. At sixteen, Serena meets her best friend, who helps her heal and rediscover her confidence. With newfound strength, she begins to chase her dreams, determined to overcome her past and build a future for herself. As she matures, love unexpectedly returns into her life. A boy she once had a childhood crush on, now her boss, reappears—helping her not only heal from the traumas of her youth but also reigniting the love she had long since buried. Together, they embark on a journey of healing, love, and self-discovery. Through heartbreak, growth, and the pursuit of her dreams, Serena learns that, like a diamond, she too has been shaped by the pressures of life, only to emerge stronger, more beautiful, and ready to embrace the love and happiness she deserves. Diamond: The Spark Within is a story of resilience, redemption, and the undeniable spark of hope that lies within us all

I’m just a regular guy, a gamer, a virgin, and stuck in the same boring routine. My parents? Always working from dawn till midnight. Honestly, I can’t even remember the last time we had a conversation. All I ever wanted was a girlfriend, someone to share my life with. But that dream? Well, it’s as distant as the stars. Then came Maltraxus, a demon lord, of all things, dropping into my life like some kind of bad joke. He handed me an egg and said, “Raise my kid for 18 years. I’ll come back for it.” Yeah, right. Like I signed up for babysitting a demon child. Now, my life’s a mess of awkward parenting moments, sleepless nights, and a little demon girl who somehow calls me “Daddy.” Raising her isn’t just about surviving her tantrums and bizarre powers, it’s also about dealing with the weird secrets lurking around this whole deal. I thought my life was ordinary. Now? It’s anything but.

Everyone transmigrated to the Endless Continent and became lords to participate in the battle against the Chaos. A Few lucky Lords would awaken lord talents. “Great! My Lord Talent is the Class Awakening, a Diamond Tier talent. I can awaken my subjects to awaken into their most compatible class upto classes of certain rarity.” “Haha, my talent is Hefty Discount and I can buy things at 50% discount.” … While others flexed their Lord talents to gain fame and more underlings. Evan received a Legendary- Tier Lord Talent- Game Mechanisms Store. His talent was complex and weak but it had the most potential because with time he can buy more and more game mechanisms to improve his survival. [ Game Mechanisms Store ] [ Inspect- Skill- Free (Once lifetime )] [ Mosnter loot- 2,500 G points. ] [ Skill books- 5,000 G points. ] [ Treasure Fishing- 10,000 G points. ] [ … ] [ Respawn- ? ] [ G points- G points are Game points which are collected after meeting certain hidden achievements. There are more than one way to earn them, so explore with the heart and passion of Gamer. ]

The year is 2080, the world has changed and people have been divided into wealth classes, the upper class AKA the Elite, the middle class, and the low class. The system is corrupt and those in the lower classes suffer in the greedy hands of the wealthy. Living in a world that was never fair, Beau Langley a street smart, book smart, and a kleptomaniac who only steals from the Elite, does what he can for his community to survive, some may call him a hero. However, when he meets Elite, Lanet Hines, he learns that not all rich people are the same, some won't just let you get away with stealing their diamonds, they'll let you steal their hearts too, but not before stealing yours.

In a grand room shrouded in gloom, the dim light of an oil lamp cast faint glimmers on the black marble floor. The ornate decor created an eerie atmosphere, with shadows dancing in every corner. At the center of the room, a young man sat leisurely in a large chair. He wore a black suit paired with a white shirt, a neatly tied long tie, and matching black trousers. His black hooded cloak seemed to blend with the darkness, as if swallowing him into the mystery. His face was covered with pale white makeup like a mask, with simple lines beneath his eyes that emphasized an ominous impression. Red paint formed a faint smile on his lips and adorned his eyes, creating an unnatural contrast, evoking a disturbing yet captivating aura. This figure was known as Mr. Fool, a mysterious man whose name was feared by criminals and nobles alike in the city of Landlum. In front of him stood a young woman named Audrey, exuding elegance. She wore a high-cut noble gown adorned with lace and diamonds, radiating luxury without excess. Her intelligent and confident gaze matched the oppressive aura of the man before her, while her bright smile added a touch of warmth to the room. Their conversation was an exchange of information laced with tension. Audrey, though appearing friendly, carried the cunning of a skilled political player. With respect yet confidence, she requested Mr. Fool’s assistance in obtaining information about a nobleman named Lord Althric. In return, she offered a secret that might pique the man’s interest. Silence hung in the air as Mr. Fool listened to Audrey's offer. Beneath his eerie makeup, a faint smile formed. The man, with a calm and cold demeanor, stated that the price for any information he provided was always equal to its value. Audrey responded with nothing but a smile, unfazed even in the presence of someone so enigmatic. Their meeting was the beginning of a dangerous game, where every word spoken carried unseen risks. Beneath the polite exchange of words, they measured each other's strength, fully aware that in this world, information was the deadliest weapon.

It’s a fantasy world with dungeons and magic. however, the awakened characters all carry soul lineages of gods. class and ranks: to rank up your class you have to complete tasks related to your lineage. Humanoid classes: 1: unawkened 2:awakened 3:exalted 4:revered 5:absolute 6: living god monster classes 1:unawakened 2:awakened 3:wretched 4:exiled 5:rouge 6:void to rank up is different than classes. ranking is connected to dungeons and the monsters. ranks are also only for the non monster characters. ranks: Bronze Silver Gold Diamond mithril oricalcum soul lineages: they are someone’s signature of their soul. These signatures are passed down from the god in the ancient times. however some with lineages can stay unawakened if their soul isn’t strong enough. I’m hoping to make this story pretty long so bare with me if it feels slow.

"Tell me everything you know about the diamonds, and in return, I'll give you your first orgasm." Angel Thornton has been kidnapped by the ruthless Mafia Ares, as vengeance for her father's evil deeds. What she doesn't know is that he has other plans for her. He also wants the diamonds. Everyone wants the diamonds. Including her father, and the other mafia lords that were involved in that deal gone wrong many years ago. She becomes a pawn in their game of power. But when Ares catches a glimpse of the broken child, inside the rich brat, he's compelled to protect Angel, one orgasm at a time.

Title: Forbidden And Secret Love In the midst of her senior year of college, Valerie Diamond's life is turned upside down when she finally catches the eye of Leon Anderson, the star basketball player. For three years, they've attended the same college, yet Leon has never noticed Valerie until that fateful day after practice. As they begin to secretly date, they realize their families' long-standing feud makes their love impossible. The Andersons and Diamonds have been sworn enemies for years, and their families will stop at nothing to keep them apart. Torn between loyalty to their families and their growing passion for each other, Valerie and Leon must navigate the treacherous landscape of their families' animosity. As they fight to be together, they uncover secrets and lies that threaten to destroy their love and their families forever. Will Valerie and Leon find a way to overcome the hatred and hostility between their families, or will their love be doomed from the start?

Dominic chuckled and tucked his hands in his pockets. "This is what you signed yesterday, darling. You agreed to be my wife and the contract cannot be broken, you'll be mine forever." He whispered into her ear. Celine broke down in tears and pushed her away. She had said it that this man was dangerous! No wonder she doesn't want to have anything to do with him in the first instance. Why is her life so full of troubles? First, she was living in fear of being harassed by the loansharks and now she's married to a man she barely knows- this is even worse! "You fooled me and I can never forgive you for this!" Dominic moved closer, grabbing her waist and Celine pushed him away. Why was he so fond of grabbing her by the waist?! Dominic pulled her closer and placed a kiss on her neck. "You pervert! How could you?" She seethed. Dominic brought out a diamond ring box from his inner pocket, he took the ring and slipped it into Celine's fourth finger. "You should never take that ring off your finger. I don't want anyone to snatch you away from me because you're only for me and I'm serious about this. Always put if on!" He told her seriously. Celine tried to remove the ring but he held her hand. "Don't Celine! Don't take it off! I want to see it on you every time!" He declared. Celine wept more, her life had been ruined just in a matter of days! Dominic who was touched by her tears, wiped it with his handkerchief. "Cry no more, my love. I hate to see this way." "CEO Dom….." "Do not doubt my love for you. I promise to protect and cherish you all my days. I'll give you anything you want, Celine. You're my world." He said as their gaze locked. *** All she thought she signed was a business agreement, she thought she signed the documents for the loan grant but turns out Celine signed a forever marriage contract with the Vampire CEO. Will Celine be able to cope with her marriage? What is Dominic Davenport's hidden agenda? What would be Celine's reaction when she realized she's married to a vampire? Join me to unravel these secrets in this intriguing book. You'll surely love it.

“I'd give you my soul, if that's what you want.” Eleven. Silver locks. Amethyst eyes. Shiny skin. Blood sweeter than wine. Most sought after 'good' in the Kingdom. She was everything a man would need, and also everything a man would kill to have. Whoever touched Eleven's hair would be granted good things. Whoever plucked her eyes out would get gems richer than the kingdom's currency. Whoever scrapped her skin would be getting a warm coat. Whoever tasted her blood would be granted immortality. She was a Goddess. Goddess of Life. * “I'd burn the fucking world for you, if that's what you want.” Zeiss. A rare man. Has the power of invisibility. The power to turn anything into flames. The power to end a person's life with just thoughts. The power of all wicked things a person wouldn't wish to have. The same world he promised to give her, the same world he would burn to the ground, if she wished for it. He was a God. The God of Death. When Zeiss meets the sought after Goddess of Life. He is reminded everything about his mother. Her silver locks and her eyes that shone brighter than gems and diamonds. Eleven, a woman who spoke to him like no other. A woman who made him believe he had a soul in him after he had thought he had none left. A woman who could bring him life and also be his damnation. The first and only woman he was loved by and ever loved.

"If only I knew that my going out will cost me from being a straight guy to be pursued and disturbed by a Rich Bent guy...I would not have thought of leaving my room to go and drink at a gay bar" Things to get complicated when Aiden begin to grow fond of Damien a business mafia and a public figure known to be a gay,Aiden finally knows that Damien is a rough precious diamond with a tough and rough life since childhood. Damien smith being a man feared by everyone who knows him also starts to have a soft spot for Aiden after he spent a night out with him As fate has it, no matter how Aiden ttys to avoid Damien, he just can't avoid him forever Will Aiden be able to accept his new sexual preference? will Damien be able to unfold his past? Find out in this exciting story

Jason Miles is a nineteen year old guy, he's very handsome but comes from a poor home. He happened to get a scholarship into a school meant for rich kids "Diamond College" where he met someone who promised to ruin him Tiffany Watson, a very spoilt brat and the biggest bully in Diamond College. She's from one of the three elite family in the US. She bullies anyone she likes and no one cares to stop her except Jason. What happens when they had to be partners for a school project? What happens when crazy meet cold? Will they fall in love? What happens when another girl who happened to be Tiffany cousin has an obsession for Jason? Shawn Henderson is the son of the owner of RHS(Royal High School). He has a very cold personality. He's extremely introverted. This stopped when he met a cute girl, Alayah Miles Alayah Miles a scholarship student in Royal High School is always being bullied, but she doesn't tell her brother Jason. But all this stopped when she met Shawn. How did the love story start? Why did she never tell Jason that she's being bullied?

“Your mission is to retrieve an artifact that was lost a long time ago. But that artifact wasn’t here in our realm. You have to find it on Earth. Someone had stolen the item ages ago and escaped. It was time to search for it again and try to have it back. It is destructive for Earth. We know their world was much more fragile than ours. And I chose you for this mission, General Rizika, for I believe in you. The kingdom as well. Will you accept the mission?” The king announced. [System: Mission: Retrieve the Autonus artifact.] [System: Please confirm.] “System, confirm.” She announced with a hard tone. [System: Mission: Retrieve the Autonus artifact confirmed. The tasks would start upon reaching Earth.] When she crossed the portal. [System: Hello, Rizika. Welcome to Earth.] [System: Checking your body...] ‘Wait, your voice changed.’ The male robotic voice that her system had in Albria had turned into a girly voice with a high-pitched tone. It wasn’t robotic at all. It seemed like there was a teenager in her head. [System: Loading resources...] [System: Opening..] [Makeup: Cool, Chic, Vibrant, Natural, Hot, Sunny. Select which one.] Each one was showing an image of her face with the makeup. [Footwear: Flipflops] [Jewelries: Star-studded earrings, bangle bracelet, diamond pendant necklace] [Other accessories: None] [Gold chest: None] [System: This is a Goddess system. Start with the mission to earn and visit beauty shops.] “A Goddess system? What the hell?! This is a fucking scandal!” She wasn’t done rampaging yet. “An—” She was panting in furiousness. “An insult! A debauchery to my career!” She went to a nearby tree and punched the sturdy bark. She had never even touched any makeup in her life. She was solely focused on training, fighting, and drinking beer with the knights. She’s a respectable general in her kingdom. Never in her life did she even wear a girl’s clothes outside of her standard military dress robe uniform. Sure, she had suitors, for despite how manly her actions and status are, her natural beauty was remarkable in the entire kingdom. She did not even pay attention to it. “System, do you know what’s the freaking mission?” It was a sarcastic question. “It’s to ret—” [System Mission: Tame the Mafia Boss] "What the actual fuck?" AN: Be warned for cursing, vulgarity, and sexiness. This is also the first time I write about systems. But it would focus in romance. > Please do check out my other story, THE RUNAWAY HUNTRESS. Thank you so much.

Rayah was not meant to live more than 5 years having a heart failure condition but the eldest princess of Montis has been able to live past it due to the power of the diamond but now she has just two months to live. What could have gone wrong? Rayah hops on a journey to find The Healer but can she be able to do it on her own with the symptoms showing up too frequently. **** Rayah began to feel lightheaded. "No no please, not here in the middle of nowhere please." She begged her body, she was on the verge of tears. "Your highness" Rayah heard someone call her. A guard approached her. Rayah herself was beyond relieved to see that it was a guard from the palace and knew he could help her. She was feeling very lightheaded, she reached out to him. Other guards stood by in order not to cause a scene. "Water quickly" Rayah asked while tapping her temples with her eyes closed.

A Tale of friends reunited, of love rekindled and past revisited along with new legacies created, Two souls connected by the thread of emotions and service find themselves rekindled and embark on a voyage through life to make the world a better place , for you and for me and the entire human race. They encounter difficulties and pains but their love and bonds of friendship prevail all

UOP is the diamond of the world, living in unprecedented prosperity with unmatched military might. College student Rocke lives in its greatest technological marvel, its capital, Vladus. While unlucky in love, what's to complain about life? His uncle has already promised him a lucrative job in his company once he finishes business school. But not everything is perfect in paradise. A strange prophet has appeared, declaring the UOP will fall if it doesn't repent. For all their prosperity, the people of UOP have become cold, selfish, and proud, willfully ignoring the poor and downtrodden. For their pride and sins, judgment has been pronounced on the nation by the Most High Sovereign. Repent, or in forty days the UOP will be destroyed.

Colossals, Titans, and Demonic Beasts rule over a world where no weapon, no bullet, and no missile can pierce their nearly impenetrable hides. Ruthless, cunning, and more brutal than any human, these creatures brought humanity to the edge of extinction. When half the population fell, a harsh truth emerged: only a monster could defeat a monster: ONLY A MONSTER COULD KILL A MONSTER. Humanity became monsters. In this world, one could only become stronger by fusing, merging and splicing their cells with monsters to become Exomorphers! Ezra reincarnated into this world with a cheat system that allowed him to fuse ordinary farm animals into higher grade monsters! [You have fused 100 sheeps, 100 horses, 100 cat-fishes and 100 chicken together!] [Congratulations, you have acquired a Mythical Qilin!] … [You have fused 100 lions, 100 eagles, 50 magma salamanders together!] [Congratulations, you have acquired a Mythical Inferno Griffin!] … [You have fused 100 parrots, 100 diamonds, 100 fireflies, and 50 flamingos together!] [Congratulations, you have acquired a Mythical Crystal Phoenix!] … While others risks their lives and spend their family fortunes to tame legendary beasts, Ezra only fuses farm animals to create mythical beasts! Ezra’s Dad: “W-where are my chickens!?” Ezra: “ A flying mythical beast attacked and ate them all!” Ezra’s Dad: “A thousand of them!?” Ezra: “Uhm. It was very hungry.” (Note: This is not your regular beast taking novel. The beasts are no where near cute nor is there a special cuddly bond between Host and Symbiote!)

Asmit Adelio died from an explosion in his car and...he felt... quite happy about it. "Finally done with this boring shit called life." No, he isn’t mentally unstable...or maybe he is.. Anyways, he reincarnates! With a system? [Of course] Now, given a new chances In a world which isn’t the word where no powers existed. Monsters and Demons and angelic creatures roamed the universe. With of course, Humans being the lowest??? [NOPE!] They own a large part of the universe. Sadly their technology isn’t anything special, since most of the geniuse are those with brute strength so room for brains to be admired is less. Discrimination against weak? [Check] Mc looks weak? [Check] Which ability he manages to conjure in this sinful and cruel world? A Seed! Amazing! Now he gets bullied! So he shall use his system to change and conquer the world!... [WRONG!] "Weak deserves to die! I am just being treated rightfully. But.... MUHAHAHA! When I grow strong! NONE SHALL ESCAPE MY WRATH!" Are the brave thoughts of our mc. One day, on his path to another venture in hopes of finding the awakeneing that would allow him to shine like diamond in coals! He gets a pretty neat looking fruit! Of course, he... Gulps it down without hesitation and starts.... to grow a little! "I MUST REMAIN UNDISTURBED! For my love and I require some private time." "MY LOVE! BEAR FRUIT ALREADY!" ***

Drake, an eighteen-year-old ordinary boy, was unexpectedly summoned from Earth to the magical realm called Elandor by Lena, a powerful Water Dragon Queen. She needed him to rid her body of bloodbane poison, and the only way to do so is through intimacy, an ancient ritual. But when the ritual ended, Drake absorbed not only Lena’s poison but also her fabled reverse scale, granting him incredible powers and marking the beginning of his transformation into a mage. Banished from the water dragon’s territory after the ritual, Drake is left to fend for himself in this unfamiliar world. To survive, he joined the Diamond Mage Academy and began to forged his own path. As he honed his powers, he made loyal friends and, along the way, found himself irresistibly drawn into the lives and struggles of the dragon monarchies. His once simple existence spiralled into something much larger as he formed deep bonds and built a harem filled with dragon queens from different territories. Drake’s hope for a normal life got shattered when he’s swept into a world crisis, facing a man known as Tiberius Victor, the mastermind behind the Crimson Rot catastrophe that plagued Elandor. Battling Tiberius across fierce wars, Drake realised Elandor is only a small fraction of a vaster world known as Avalon, a realm filled with mages of unimaginable power. This larger world doesn’t attract him, though, until his four dragon queens, Lena, Xena, Rena, and Zena, ascended to Avalon, leaving him behind. Drake committed to mastering his powers, reaching the pinnacle of magic in his current world (Elandor) as an archmage (9th Circle Mage), determined to reunite with his wives. Yet, as he journeys forward, he uncovers shocking truths about Avalon, his own mysterious origins, and the existence of entire worlds beyond his imagination. ***join my discord for group**** (share your thoughts) https://discord.gg/chcBMzXW

There was a young boy named Diamond who had a younger sister named Aika. They lived with Sofia and Mark, who were their stepmother and stepfather. Diamond and Aika had been found by Sofia and Mark in a dark alley, and they took them in as their children. Although they had developed a strong bond as a stepfamily, the details of their past remained a mystery. It was speculated that their biological families had abandoned them, but in truth, there was a more complicated reason for their evacuation from a dangerous situation. Since their adoption, Sofia and Mark had been curious about the children's unique appearances. Diamond had bright yellow hair and mismatched eyes—yellow on the right and light blue on the left. His eyes had an unusual ability to glow and shine, a trait that ordinary humans do not possess. Aika, on the other hand, had light blue hair and similar eyes, though her colors were reversed. While their distinctive looks attracted curiosity from others, Diamond felt happy in his new family. In reality, he was aware of the reason his original family had abandoned them—a tragedy that had left him traumatized. Despite his fears, he longed for the warmth and love of his new family to last forever. However, the shadow of that past loomed over him, and he stood there, filled with fear, tears, and disbelief as the tragedy he had witnessed unfolded before his very eyes.