Jojo Shoulders

In the heart of the Azure Star Continent lies the legendary Celestial Clan, rulers of an unbroken legacy of power, wealth, and influence. At its helm stands Xian Tianyang, a prodigy born with unparalleled talent and destined to inherit the mantle of leadership. Calm, calculating, and relentless, Tianyang has forged a reputation as an unshakable force, a young master whose genius is rivaled only by his ambition. But the path to supremacy is fraught with danger. In a continent where alliances shift like desert sands and rival factions sharpen their blades, Tianyang must navigate a world of intrigue and betrayal. When his childhood fiancée, Lin Yuqing, the “Blooming Empress” of the Eternal Bloom Clan, enters his life, their union threatens to spark both alliances and rivalries that could reshape the continent. With ancient secrets lurking in the shadows, enemies plotting from every corner, and the weight of his family’s legacy on his shoulders, Tianyang must prove that he is more than just a prodigy—he is the heir to the Celestial Throne. Will their fates intertwine as destined rulers, or will the fires of ambition and duty tear them apart? Prepare for a tale of genius, power, and forbidden emotions, where every choice has the power to change the fate of nations.

In the lands of myths and the time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rest on the shoulders of a young man, his name is ......., just kidding. what will you do? if you find your self in a foreign world far from home and all the legends( in this case all the Greek legends ) are true. if you are interested, follow the story of Diomedes and his epic journey towards survival in a world with its own rules. All the legends are true.

"In a world scarred by ten cataclysmic disasters, the dawn of the eleventh looms near. As the sole resistance against The Void, will Satoya Kamiyama, now 17, uncover the truth of his existence in time? Is he destined to be a sacrifice or a savior? With the echoes of thousands of years of suffering behind him, the weight of this world’s fate rests on his shoulders. Will this disaster be another step towards the inevitable end, or will Satoya rise to meet his destiny?" — The Scribe of the Ancient Crucibles Satoya Kamiyama, a young man with a dormant ability reminiscing of a infamous warrior. As Satoya and his allies combat the impending warriors of past history, Join Satoya on an epic journey of betrayal, redemption, and the battle against people who could potentially destroy the world itself. Novel has short chapters (Occasionally longer ones) Viewer discretion is advised, warning as some of the later chapters could get pretty gorey

Everything functions in a cycle, be it an ant, bird, lion, human, or even a celestial body. This cycle initiates with one's birth and governs one's end, yet there exists the potential to surpass it. Among the billions of planets floating in the cosmos, destined to merely occupy a void, some have the capacity to ascend, reaching new dimensions, standing shoulder to shoulder with realms like Heaven and Hell. --- Vlad, a young man, found himself ill-fitted in a world that scarcely offered him any luck, weighed down by a mysterious secret that initially seemed more of a burden than a boon. Yet, the powers he had dismissed as trivial eventually became his most formidable strength when the apocalypse broke, unleashing literal pandemonium as angels and demons walk among the human race. ---- Discord link: https://discord.gg/am5hkAdmhp Weekly updates: 14 chapters 100 Power Stones: 2 extra chapters 200 Power Stones: 4 extra chapters 300 Power Stones: 6 extra chapters.

Teela married King Heavenly because she loved him, but life in the Heavenly household was anything but euphoric. Lettie, her hard-as-nails mother-in-law, treats her like an unpaid servant. The family treats her like an outsider. King treats her like a shadow, transparent and forgettable. When Lettie presses Teela to prove her value to the family or get out, Teela has a decision to make. But she’s not leaving without a fight. King Heavenly rules Heavenly Industries with an iron fist, but he leaves his home life to his mother to manage, and that includes the management of his boring little wife. Teela has never complained. She’s never done anything interesting, for that matter. She’s just one more responsibility in a long line of responsibilities that King shoulders on a daily basis, and that is exactly how he treats her — as a responsibility that he’s delegated to his mother. Suddenly Teela steps out of the shadows and into a fight with him and his whole family, and King is baffled by the ruthless actions of his now daring wife. He’d always heard that vengeance is a dish best served cold, but Teela is coming in hot!

In the far future of the Milky Way, ambition and courage are key to a civilization's survival. Follow Lucius von Vasilier, a young aristocrat third in line to a fledgling noble house within the Holy Empire, where noble families obsessed with genetic purity vie for dominance. House Vasilier is on the rise, but its meteoric ascent from common soldier to aristocracy may soon rest on Lucius' shoulders. Meanwhile, alien races, some ancient, some newly encountered, watch from the shadows, their motives unclear, while humanity is about to encounter long-lost, ancient cousins whose existence could unravel everything the Empire strives to build. Before he can shoulder this responsibility, however, Lucius must first secure a marriage. Will he succeed in solidifying his family's position, or will the challenges of the universe crush him like a bug?

Kat grumbled a little before reluctantly quieting down, allowing Lucian speak. He continued, his eyes locking onto hers. "The second thing the mark does is tie your fate to the Kelpie's. I injured it badly. stabbed it in the back and it's neck. If it dies because of those wounds, you will die too." She felt a cold shock wash over her. "What? That's insane! Why would I die if it dies?" "The mark it put on you," Lucian explained, his hands never stopping their motion with the pen. "As the Kelpie suffers, so will you. It's dying now, and if it succumbs to its injuries, you'll follow soon after." "Wow, Katherine, way to go. You really outdid yourself," Kat muttered to herself, taking a deep breath. "Seeing a wet horse despite the dry weather wasn't enough for you to think something was wrong." "You saw it wet?" Lucian asked, his eyebrows frowning slightly. "Huh?... Yeah, is something wrong with that?" Kat asked, wondering why the horse being wet was more important to him at the moment than her dying. Lucian didn't say anything but just stared at the girl in front of him. 'There is something more to her, I just can't tell what it is' he thought. To further confirm his suspicion, he moved closer to Kat, closing the distance between them. He reached for the shoulder of her dress and pulled it down. The sudden action startled Kat. She exclaimed, "What do you think you are doing, pervert? Get away from me!" She tried hitting him, but she barely had the strength to sit up, let alone push him away. Lucain paused, staring at her bare shoulder. Kat followed his gaze and gasped. "What is that?" she asked, her voice trembling. On her shoulder was a strange mark, like a tattoo of a hoof print with foreign writing within it. Lucain hummed thoughtfully, his expression still impassive. 'As I thought, she shouldn't be able to see it, but she can. That's unusual for a human.' Kat frantically tried to wipe the mark off. "Why won't it come off?" "That's the Kelpie's mark," He pointed out, his tone remained indifferent. Panic surged through Kat. She hadn't just narrowly escaped death; it was now chasing her, bound to her by an invisible tether. "Is there any way to break the bond...mark whatever it is? I don't want to die," she asked desperately, her eyes searching Lucian's for any sign of hope. Lucian's expression stayed the same. "I don't intend to let you die so soon," he said. "We can replace the Kelpie's bond with another bond." Kat clung to this glimmer of hope. "How do we do that?" she asked, leaning forward, eager for a solution. "It requires a new bond, a stronger one that can override the Kelpie's," Lucian explained, his demeanor calm and composed. Before she could ask what he meant, Lucian reached out and gently pecked her on the forehead. Kat froze, completely caught off guard by the unexpected action. The brief contact sent a jolt through her, and she barely had time to react before he pulled her into a gentle embrace, careful not to hurt her already pained body. Her mind raced, trying to process the sudden shift from their conversation to this intimate moment. The warmth of his embrace contrasted sharply with the cold fear that had gripped her moments before. She caught the scent of rosewood and felt his firm body against hers, making her heart skip a beat. "What are you doing?" she whispered, her voice shaky. Kat's heart pounded in her chest. She felt Lucian's face bury itself in the crook of her neck, his breath warm against her skin. His grip on her waist tightened slightly. She winced as she felt a sharp pain. Lucian's fangs sank into her neck, causing her to gasp and grip his shoulder, her fingers digging into his shoulder.... **** disclaimer: cover not mine.

What happens when you bring your imaginary friend to life? Anne in trying to end her insomnia, brings her imaginary friend,Deon, to life. Having to balance her regular life and caring for Deon becomes a heavy load on her shoulder. as time passes she ends up confused if she's falling in love with her now real imaginary friend.

"In the spaces between ones and zeros, worlds are born and die at the whim of their creators. Each keystroke births new lands, each click shapes civilizations, and every careful adjustment weaves the fabric of reality itself. Time flows differently in these digital realms—centuries can pass in moments, while a single day might stretch across millennia. Within these spaces, creators are gods, architects of existence who breathe life into empty bytes, crafting histories that span eons and cultures that echo through carefully constructed time. " Before a glowing screen in a quiet room, Estelle sat in front of a monitor displaying the map of the World of Astris. Her eyes were hollow with exhaustion, finger hovering over the deletion prompt—just a single click could wipe away twelve years of creation in an instant. What began as an escape had become a prison, each of its 67,934 item files a weight upon her shoulders, every revision another chain binding her to this digital realm. Yet as she prepared to end it all, an unexpected option presented itself, one that would blur the line between creator and creation in ways she never imagined.

"I can't be pregnant for my uncle!" I muttered under my breath, staring at the results in a state of incredulity. Skylar has life's struggles all put into one burden on her young shoulders: the fight to balance school and work, to help with her mom under her uncle's hard rule. Life spirals right at the turn of one weird incident that humiliates her, costs her her job when it is discovered she is pregnant. Then, when it feels like Skylar's world is falling apart, her mother remarries a very wealthy man whose twin sons immediately complicate her life. One has quietly watched her every move, while the other suddenly comes to her rescue, finding her torn between gratitude and suspicion. As secrets unravel and hidden agendas finally surface, Skylar must manage a world of deceit, temptation, and betrayal. Can she find the way to retrieve her life, or is the danger too much to bear in this new family?

Lin An's life underwent a drastic change. The basketball under his bed had turned into a bleeding head, which would hop next to his pillow and hum softly by his ear at midnight. The subway racing into the station had become a gigantic lizard, opening its gaping maw, waiting for him to line up and feed it. The world was not as simple as he had imagined. Behind the bustle of the city, the Witch Hunter Knights roamed in search of evil wizards to slay. The ordinary worker, Lin An, inadvertently became a member of the Antler Witch-Hunting Knight Order, shouldering the glorious mission to protect humanity. He must be careful, careful, and then even more careful. Careful not to reveal his true identity as a wizard. … "Why Hunt a Cowardly Innocent Wizard?!"

A young boy who recently turned into Muslim from Catholic enters his mother's village, which is secluded and peculiar. People are all Catholic but they believe in superstitions like vampire, dark arts, rituals and others. The village is beautiful and works like the 18th century Britain. Their culture is also different. The boy joins the villages only academic institution and makes a couple of friends. As time passes he discovers that there has been two murders in the area from a policeman. He tries to discover the truth but as he tries hard, he encounters supernatural events which disencourages him to investigate further. Even his family and friends starts to give him cold shoulders. But the boy is determined to discover the mystery behind it. Follow the young boy as he tries his best to overcome the hardship and discover the truth. My sincerest apologies if I write anything that make any religion look down upon. I don't want any religion to look bad. I'm just writing about a village that bends the religion through superstitions, no more no less.

In a world ravaged by the Void—a malevolent force born from a fallen star that corrupts all it touches—humanity teeters on the edge of collapse. The once-great noble family of the protagonist has fallen into ruin, their prestige as earth mages shattered by the death of their patriarch and the relentless spread of the Void. While his mother struggles to hold their barony together and his elder siblings shoulder the family’s responsibilities, the protagonist is overshadowed, seen as just another "background character" in a world spiraling into chaos. But everything changes when he discovers an ancient, forgotten tome infused with the power of a god named Truth Seeker.

Asim Binger, a seventeen year old hunter, shoulders the responsibility of providing for his sister, Calida, in a world where their parents are little more than a memory. A chance encounter with Anemone sets off a series of events that change his life completely. He finds himself embroiled in a perilous journey far beyond the forest and village he once knew. Together, the two join the knight force, confronting a brewing darkness. Secrets from the past begin to resurface bringing forward a plot that manipulates time and reality itself. Together, they battle formidable opponents, uncover hidden truths and form bonds that will decide their fates. From village skirmishes to royal intrigues, they traverse a land teetering on the edge of Chao.

In a world scarred by war and betrayal, Orion Vex, a reclusive technomancer, struggles with the haunting memories of his past. Living in the ruins of a once-great civilization, he has isolated himself from the remnants of humanity, fearing the pain of connection. When a group of settlers seeking refuge from a ruthless faction known as the traitors arrives at his doorstep, Orion is reluctantly drawn into their fight for survival. As he joins forces with Kaelin, a determined leader, and Mira, a fierce warrior, Orion uncovers the dark plans of the traitors, who have allied with the sinister Zarkai. Together, they forge a fragile alliance, combining their strengths to fortify their defenses against an impending assault. With the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders, Orion must confront his fears and embrace his legacy as a technomancer. As the battle looms closer, the settlers rally around him, igniting a flicker of hope in the face of despair. In the chaos of war, Orion learns that true strength lies not only in power but in the bonds forged through trust, loyalty, and the courage to stand against the darkness. In "Echoes of the Celestial Realm," the fight for survival evolves into a journey of self-discovery, where the echoes of the past guide the way toward a brighter future.

Chu Yunxi , the only child of her parents, a talented Businesswoman , dies after she inherits her parents business due to the pressure of workload on her shoulders. She never had the passion for business, but she didn't have a say in her life decisions. Her parents dictated and controlled all her actions. She ran away so many times, but was always caught by her parents. And returned back home to a heap of work as punishment. When she was dying, she was ecstatic to be relieved of the shackles her parents put on her. After all the good deeds she had committed in her life, she was expecting to open her eyes to the wonderful view of Heaven. But……. Fate was cruel.

When an ancient truce shatters, humanity becomes the prey in a growing war between rogue devils and the Demon Realm. Shiro Tachibana, a carefree high schooler, finds his ordinary life obliterated when he accidentally bonds with Kageboshi, a powerful demon prince seeking refuge on Earth. Burdened with immense power and dangerous responsibilities, Shiro must navigate a treacherous path between hero and harbinger of destruction. Forced into a reluctant partnership with his fierce rival, Chiyo Tanaka, and placed under the harsh mentorship of the enigmatic warrior Kenzo, Shiro embarks on a journey of survival and discovery. As rogue devils rise and chaos spreads, Shiro learns the horrifying truth: he might not just be fighting to save humanity he may be destined to become its greatest threat. In a world where alliances are fragile, enemies lurk in every shadow, and the weight of a kingdom rests on his shoulders, Shiro must decide if he will embrace his fate or defy the legacy that calls him. This is a thrilling tale of power, destiny, and the line between salvation and destruction.

Max died and transmigrated into a classic fantasy world. Excited to get transmigrated, he waits for his golden finger to appear, and the golden finger did he get. [The monk system welcomes the host; we shall tread the path of enlightenment and abstain from any worldly desires, Amithaba!] “....WHAT THE FUCK!!?” Instead of getting a harem system or a golden rod, all Max got was a system that actively tried to turn him into a monk. And to add salt to the wound, the body Max transmigrated to is a gigolo for a beautiful countess! “Ara~ Max, you look so lovely~ Come, massage my shoulders!” [Ding!] [A New Quest: Subdue that thot!]

In a world where the strong rule and the weak perish, Lin Fei will rise to become the most powerful being in the universe. His quest for revenge and redemption leads him toward an unimaginable power, but it also reveals a shocking truth: the fate of the entire universe may rest on his shoulders. Will Lin Fei achieve his ultimate goal of conquering the universe and fulfilling the prophecy that was destined for Xiao Qing? Or will the forces of darkness succeed in plunging the world into eternal chaos? In the end, Xiao Dong, now reborn as Lin Fei, will have to decide—will he live for the ones he loves, or will he sacrifice everything to become the supreme being who rules over all?

He had his hands in his pockets as he walked quietly to school . Backpack slung lazily on his right shoulder as hw seemed to be mumbling to himself, he was lost in his own thoughts . " Where is it ......, I can ......smell it , but I can't find it " He mumbled to himself as he looked around to see if he could find the demonic spirit. Milo could see spirits ......, all spirits , that walk upon the earth , and not just that .....he could also kill them . And eat them too. No one else can see these spirits , only he can . Today, he missed most of math class to hunt for a particular spirit. It would probably add a few more weeks to his life . If he could find it that is.

Benjiro is the new guy in town. He came from a life that he barely survived and wants nothing more than to live quietly. Soon, he will meet four different, seemingly perfect girls. But behind these masks of perfection, is pain. One is afraid of getting hurt. One is afraid of being left alone or invisible One is afraid of being seen as weak. One feels like a life is on her shoulders. And he will be forced find a way to help each of them overcome their own trauma, to help him process his own. Will helping them with their problems, make Benjiro stronger or will the weight of the past finally become too much?

What will happen when Nitya, a happy-go-lucky girl, finds out that she is the reincarnation of the Princess of a Healer tribe, whose own forbidden love story was the reason for the annihilation of her own tribe? What events are going to unfold now, when they come face-to-face in the modern set-up, and she figures out that her fears are rooted in the events of her past life? Is this a love story fated to end in heartbreak, because of a slight unknown mistake? How will Ji-hun deal when he comes to realise that he is the one behind all the heartbreaks and pain in their life, and most devastatingly, the death of the one and only love of his lives? The animal healer, Reneé, who was raised to be the shield of the plant healer Princess of the Healer tribe. Because being the older one inevitably brings the responsibility on one's shoulders! What will be her decision when she finds out that the partner destined for her was the very reason for the unfulfillment of her duties? After twelve hundred years, will she be able to forgive him when she finally encounters him? Will Surbhi, a leading architect, be able to forgive the love of her life for the mistakes he has made in the past, after remembering everything? In its own grounds that lie beyond the concepts of time and place, Destiny takes hold of the reins and brings all four to a crossroads on a journey of love, reincarnation and secrets with the tangled threads of Fate! ATTENTION! For the coin code, you can reach me on either discord or Instagram. Discord- @JoJo_17_34 (#2655) Instagram- @entangled_writes Come say hello, and the code is only valid for the first 10 readers, so hurry! The dates and status of the giveaway will be updated in authors note in the chapters, so keep an eye on that! The cover photo does not entirely belong to me. I have actually merged two picture: and the two pictures that have been used for the cover are by 'Wall Zencafe' (Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.) and 'UHDPaper 2021'.

" My child, you were always there for me. Always present like a gift so precious and priceless. Your existence so welcoming and accepting i couldnt start but to feel sorry because i know you are worthy of so much more. I'm sorry I couldn't give you my all. You deserve the world and even beyond, so I hope you can find your own happiness and adore that life which I have given you. I know my apology will not fix the wound I have placed onto you or the burdens you have decided to carry on your shoulders, but you need to always remember that mum has always and will always love you. Even if shes not around. My lovely son...." Those were the last words she had uttered.

"Get your hands off me!" she wrestle against my grip, so I held her even tighter. "Put this on!" I groaned, toiling to keep her in place and wishing again I’d worn the damn gloves. The feel of her warm skin under my arm and palm wasn’t helping my focus. "I'm not taking you home like this!" "You don't tell me what to do!" she snapped, thrashing to break free of my hold as I fumbled with the cloak in my other hand, trying to drape it over her bare shoulders. "I'm not going home! Let me go, I said!" "Did you really think I got you out of there just to let you wander the streets, almost naked, like a lunatic?" That stopped her. "What did you call me?!" "LU-NA-TIC." "You... You…! Take your hands off me, you insolent brute!" Enraged, she yanked her arm too abruptly and lost her balance. I caught her, wrapped her in the cloak, and threw her over my shoulder. "PUT ME DOWN!" She shrieked and flailed, but I ignored her, making my way to the Commander’s house, which, thanks to Braa, was only two streets away. Since the entire population was in the square for the ridiculous festival, no one intervened at the frantic cries of the wild creature. No wonder in the ten years I've known the Commander, I've never heard that he has a daughter. She must’ve been kept locked away. Strangely, she suddenly went still and quiet. Had she grown tired, worried about attracting attention, or finally realized how inappropriate it was to show up at her parents' doorstep in this state? She didn’t seem to care before. With every step, my anxiety grew—she was limp. "Hey!" No answer. Seriously?! "Hey, you!" Nothing. A bad feeling crept over me, so I pulled her off my shoulder and into my arms. Her head fell against my chest—unconscious. "Hey! Hey, you!" I shook her, but she didn’t react. Panic surged through me. Had she fainted? Had I held her too tight? Lifting her more securely, I sprinted toward the Commander's house.

In a world torn apart by the relentless war between the radiant kingdom of Valoira and the dark forces of Arcanan, a young warrior named Zephyr carries the weight of destiny on his shoulders. Gifted with the sacred Holy Sword, he is Valoira's last hope to turn the tides against the overwhelming monster waves that threaten their lands. Amidst the chaos, Zephyr crosses paths with Elira, a fiery and determined soul whose secrets could either save the kingdom or doom it to ruin. As their fates intertwine, forbidden emotions spark, but the shadow of war looms ever closer. When a black dragon, the harbinger of destruction, emerges as the puppet master behind the monster wave, Zephyr faces a harrowing choice: embrace the role of a savior or lose everything he holds dear. With love, loyalty, and kingdoms on the line, will Zephyr’s light prevail, or will the shadows of Arcanan consume them all?

"Swish... Swish..." Sounds of trickling water came from the yard, and Wang Daniu groggily opened his eyes, subconsciously reaching down to his crotch, thinking he had wet the bed. But there was nothing. Wang Daniu tiptoed out of bed and peeled open a sliver of the door, under the moonlight he saw a charming woman, scooping water and pouring it over her shoulders, ladle by ladle. Someone was bathing, it turned out…

The Foretelling of the Beasts In a world on the brink of destruction, the mysterious prophet Jackeal rises, foretelling the coming of ten demonic Beasts that will devastate all in their path. As these powerful entities threaten to consume everything, Jackeal, a reluctant savior, must grapple with his newfound strength and divine guidance. Betrayed by those he seeks to protect, Jackeal is sentenced to death, only for the heavens themselves to intervene in a spectacular display of power, casting Lucifer into a dimension of torment. With the Beasts unleashed and mankind helpless, Jackeal's true abilities awaken. But the true battle is yet to come. In a world that questions his purpose, Jackeal will face enemies both human and otherworldly, as the last hope of humanity rests on his shoulders. Will he rise to become the Christ-like figure the world needs, or will he fall to the chaos that threatens to consume everything he holds dear?

In a world ravaged by war, Ryojin Yukimura stands as a broken man, scarred by loss and haunted by his past. His life crumbles even more, when an unstoppable force leads an army of destruction, leaving his city and everything he built in ashes. Now, with nothing left to protect, Ryojin finds himself battling not only powerful enemies but his own inner demons. As dangerous foes gather and new threats emerge, Ryojin must confront the chaos within and around him. With the weight of countless lives on his shoulders and his own guilt pulling him down, he must decide if he can rise again or let the darkness consume him. Perhaps, the second chance he receives could be his key to finding his own path. In this high-stakes, action-packed journey, loyalty, betrayal, and redemption collide, The guild that Ryojin Yukimura made known as the arcane guild fell back down due to his death and many others. He is now not burdened with everything on his shoulders and he intends to live a simple life. To do that he needs to bring the arcane guild back to its glory days.

Jian rue gazed back at the ugly gray alien while stumbling and running. he clumsily tossed a stone at it "Fuck just leave me alone!!!" Suddenly a warm pair of hand grabbed his waist and tossed him over a study shoulder. "Xing yu!! let me down! you fucker!!! The said man chuckled and playfully smacked his butt. "Honey, I'm saving your life~" "I had it under control. Now, let me go!" Jian rue bit his shoulders hard until the sweet taste of blood filled his mouth. "Hiss.. baby, you're making me hard~" Jian rue froze. "W-why are you following me! why me.." Xing yu stopped running, and with a swing of his sword, the ugly tentacle alien was slayed. He gentnly pulled him down and hugged him close. Peering into his eyes, he smirked, "Because you are my betrothed,"

Alastair, a young boy, is at the school bus stop, feeling the weight of his father's disapproval and the constant reminder of his failings. He has been a victim of ridicule and isolation, with classmates teasing him about his appearance and hair. As the bus rumbles along the deserted streets, Alastair feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, knowing that his father treats him like a soldier. As he enters the schoolyard, he sees Eren, the school's poster boy for ignorance, loitering near the bike racks. Alastair feels humiliated and surprised that someone dares to stand up for him, and that it is a girl, Liana Castellanos. Liana's determination and strength make Alastair feel a spark of hope ignite within him, a warmth that battles the coldness of the rain. As they walk together, Alastair feels a sense of solidarity and hope, a feeling he had almost forgotten about having an ally. The weight of his father's disapproval has been a constant companion for so long, and Alastair's journey continues to shape his perspective on life.