The smell of horse manure.That was the first thing that hit Joshua's sense of smell as his consciousness slowly returned. The smell was thick, warm, and pungent, mixed with the aroma of wet, rotting straw. It was a stark contrast to the smell of bus exhaust and clogged sewers he usually inhaled in Jakarta."Ugh... am I in a horse stable that has an emergency room?" he mumbled hoarsely. His tongue felt thick, as if he had just licked hot asphalt.Joshua opened his eyes with a jolt of surprise, hoping to see hospital neon lights or the angry face of a doctor because he hadn't paid his national health insurance. But what he saw was the sky. Blue. Too blue. White clouds drifted slowly, unobstructed by skyscrapers or pollution haze.He tried to sit up. His head spun violently, vertigo hitting him like a sledgehammer. His stomach was nauseous. It felt like seasickness after riding a carnival swing boat for three hours non-stop."Okay, Jo. Inhale. Exhale," he instructed himself.His hands f

The journey to Liu Bei’s camp was physical torture for Jo Fan.Every ten steps, his head throbbed painfully, as if a construction worker were drilling into his skull from the inside. This was the System’s "tax." Giving Zhang Fei those fries earlier had drained his Mana, or in the System’s terms: Mental Calories."You look like death warmed over, Master Strategist," Guan Yu commented flatly. He walked upright, stroking his long beard, his steps light, as if the iron armor on his body were made of cotton. "We’ve only walked two *li* (about 1 km), and your breathing sounds like an old water buffalo.""This isn't fatigue, General Guan," Jo Fan replied, panting, trying to maintain his dignity even as cold sweat soaked his back. "This... my brain is processing millions of future calculations. The weight of my thoughts is heavier than your Guandao."Zhang Fei snorted roughly from behind, still licking the leftover salt from his fingers. "Nonsense. You're just weak. If it weren't for those ta

The midday sun was scorching, baking the yellow dust into hot granules that stung the skin. Before Jo Fan's eyes stretched a sight that made the biggest music festival in Jakarta look like a neighborhood social gathering.The Anti-Dong Zhuo Alliance.Tens of thousands of military tents stood packed across the vast plain of Suanzao. Giant banners fluttered proudly with various family names: Yuan, Cao, Sun, Kong. A forest of spears and halberds glittered, reflecting the sunlight, creating an intimidating sea of iron. The sound of marching soldiers, the neighing of horses, and the thud of training drums created a deafening cacophony of war."Crazy..." Jo Fan muttered, his eyes squinting behind a hand shielding the glare. "This isn't just a schoolyard brawl anymore. This is World War, local edition.""It is magnificent," Liu Bei stared at the sight with sparkling eyes, but there was a trace of sadness on his face. He looked back at his "elite" forces: Three men (him and his two brothers),

Hua Xiong’s head stopped rolling on the silk carpet. His bulging eyes seemed to stare at Yuan Shu with a silent accusation: "You didn't defeat me, bastard."Thick blood seeped out of the cleanly severed neck, forming a dark red puddle that slowly touched the tip of Yuan Shao’s tiger-skin boots.Inside the magnificent command tent, time seemed to freeze.No one spoke. No one moved.The only sound was the rhythmic *crunch-crunch* coming from Zhang Fei’s mouth as he finished the last of the french fries in Jo Fan’s woven basket. The sound of chewing was utterly impolite, crude, and somehow... deeply satisfying for Liu Bei’s faction."Impossible..." Yuan Shu finally hissed, breaking the silence. His thin face twitched with suppressed shame and anger. "This must be a coincidence! Hua Xiong must have been exhausted after killing Yu She and Pan Feng! This lowly archer merely stole the victory at the last moment!""Coincidence?"Cao Cao's voice cut through Yuan Shu's excuse like a hot knife.

The thunder of Red Hare's hooves sounded like the final gavel strike of a judge pronouncing a death sentence.Amidst the dusty plains before Hulao Pass, Gongsun Zan the Governor of Youzhou, usually so dashing with his White Horse Corps was now fleeing frantically like a mole chased by an eagle. His silver helmet was gone, his hair was disheveled, and his white robe was stained with dust and blood.Behind him, Lu Bu pursued him casually. Too casually.The God of War wasn't even pushing his horse to full speed. He played with the Fangtian Huaji (Sky Halberd) in his hand, twirling it slowly while grinning at the panic of his prey."Run, Governor! Run!" Lu Bu mocked, his voice booming without needing to shout. "Show your troops how their leader saves his own hide!"On the observation hill, Jo Fan swallowed hard. The cassava chips in his hand crumbled from an unconscious squeeze."System... Power analysis," Jo Fan whispered, his lips trembling.[SCANNING TARGET: LU BU][Strength: 100 (MAX)