Duels should be played with a smile.

With each movement, the sword tip moved closer to the top of the head, and with each step, the flame of life on the clock dimmed a little.

Filled with boundless hope, BlueAngle felt the card in her hand responding to her call, and she gently turned the card over...

"..."

A good card... but it seems somewhat redundant under the cover of three Disguised Dragons.

As the card was revealed, BlueAngle's heart sank to the bottom.

Her mind raced, trying to find a way to break through the blockade of the three disguised dragons from her limited hand of cards.

However, after much deliberation, she had no choice but to give up.

Mischievous Fairy Star is very strong, Red Lotus Thunder Slider is also very strong, and the combined power is something that anyone who uses it knows. However, all of this is based on one premise—first strike is everything.

“I…” BlueAngle opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to give up as she would in any other duel, but she suddenly realized that this was not an ordinary duel.

"What? Out of ideas?" Leo crossed his arms. "If you don't want to stand on the stage, have your disguise peeled away by the audience's gaze and the spotlight, and be shown your true self, then you can just surrender."

"I've said it before, and maybe you don't believe me, but I truly only pursue the truth and only want to see the most authentic world, a world full of truth!"

Perhaps because he was already certain of victory, Leo suddenly reverted to his previous somewhat charlatan-like demeanor. He patiently coaxed BlueAngle, using the immense pressure emanating from the three disguised dragons, in an attempt to induce BlueAngle to utter the word "surrender."

In fact, he didn't know what would happen to his opponent if he won, because to this day, none of his good brothers and sisters had returned victorious...

The reason he would act ahead of time to find BlueAngle in the virtual world was largely because he wanted to know what kind of "reality" would be revealed after defeating his opponent in this world.

"Pointless persistence is meaningless. When it's time to give up, just give up. Win or lose, when it's all over, you'll still be your true self..."

"What nonsense!"

A sharp shout rang out from afar, startling the two combatants. The sound of the D-wheel engine grew louder as it approached, arriving before them in an instant.

But what first catches the eye is not the person piloting the D-Wheel, but the majestic figure soaring in the sky, like the guardian deity of the D-Wheel.

For example, compared to the flashy and somewhat exaggerated disguised dragon, the giant dragon dancing with flames is superior in every respect.

"There can only be one king! And that king is me, Jack Atlas!"

The signature words announced the newcomer's identity. Under the gaze of countless people, and under Leo's incredulous eyes, Jack, driving the D-Wheel and riding the Crimson Dragon, forcefully entered the duel like a divine warrior descending from the heavens.

In this duel, there shouldn't have been a third person.

"How is this possible?!"

Leo stared wide-eyed at the nine magical short swords he had set up around the arena, completely undamaged, and then at Jack, who had already parked his D-Wheel with a cool 180-degree drift and was standing next to BlueAngle with his Duel Disk out. He was at a loss for what to do.

"How did you manage to barge into this duel?!"

Leo wasn't the only one wondering; everyone else watching the duel was also puzzled.

Many quick-witted and physically agile individuals caught up with Jack immediately after he landed, only to find themselves battered and bruised outside the intact blockade, their experience serving as a demonstration to others that just because Jack could get in didn't mean they could too.

[Intruder detected]

[Penalty for intrusion: LP-4000]

【BlueAngle·Jack LP: 4000】

Without any warning or permission from either duelist, Jack joined the duel on his own. To the astonishment of both duelists, the World Will simply and readily accepted this intrusion.

The cost is only half of the initial LP...

"Wait?! Only 4000 LP? Are you rushing in to your death?!" In her desperation, BlueAngle didn't bother with politeness and spoke to Jack in an unfriendly tone.

Even for experienced players, as long as LP is not 0, it doesn't matter. However, when the opponent has a fake dragon on the field, you really can't pretend you don't see it.

Jack's personality is actually a variant of tsundere, and he didn't have a very good attitude when BlueAngle spoke in that tone.

"Hmph, step aside! Leave this duel to me. This mere disguised dragon is nothing but cannon fodder in front of me, Jack Atlas!"

His arrogant demeanor was worthy of his title as king, even if it was only in the past.

Jack's appearance was like setting off a powder keg; his immense fame caused a frenzy among the viewers in the live stream and the surrounding media.

But Jack never cared about any of that; all he wanted to do now was collect some interest...

Leo narrowed his eyes, his expression somewhat unfriendly: "Although I don't understand how you managed to interfere, it doesn't matter. No matter who you are or what your abilities are, in the theater I've set up, under the spotlight of the stage, you will be exposed for who you truly are, stripped of all pretense, and your 'true self' will be revealed."

"Shut your mouth! I don't want to hear another word of your nonsense!" Jack shouted again, interrupting Leo who was about to say something. He then deftly unfolded his Duel Disk and drew five cards with fluid movements.

"My turn! Draw a card!"

It seems no one noticed that Jack had forcibly ended BlueAngle's round.

"Savor the taste of defeat!" Jack declared again, then drew a card, ready to begin.

"Then I'll wait and see... I'm very curious how you're going to defeat me with a measly 4000LP, which is like a candle flickering in the wind, under my blockade," Leo said with a sinister smile, then fell silent.

"Then you'll see! Your blockade is no match for me!"

The next moment, Jack played three cards in a row, and instantly, blazing crimson flames erupted from the ground, outlining the phantom of a demonic dragon.

"If the lockdown effect is activated, then it's better not to activate it!"

"Normal Summon LV1 Tuner Monster [Blended Gum]!"

"By the effect of [Wind King Wild Wind] in your hand, summon it from your hand!"

"By the effect of [The Magician King Moonstar] in your hand, summon it from your hand!"

Without Jack giving any orders, a star-tuning ring appeared in the air, and the Wind King and the Magic King immediately followed, transforming into a dazzling light.

Within that light, the figure of a demonic dragon appeared.

"From the moment I appeared here, your defeat was already sealed!"

"There's only one reason you failed! It's that you and your accomplices angered me!"

Chapter Thirty-Six: Your Power, the Real Deal

"The roar of the king will now shake the heavens and the earth! Engrave this unique power of the overlord upon your body! Synchro Summon!"

"LV8! Berserker Soul! [Crimson Dragon - Right Crimson Mark]!"

[Dark 8★ Dragon 3000 Attack Power]

Having learned a painful lesson unknown to others, the Crimson Dragon descended upon this place in an even more ferocious manner, its right hand bearing the emblem of "Overlord," highlighting its unique nature.

The raging dragon appeared on the field after ignoring the disguised dragon's blockade. Surging flames surged around it, ready to erupt at any moment and burn the enemy to ashes.

“3000 attack power... is indeed enough to defeat my disguised dragon, but it’s meaningless, I have three disguised dragons.”

Leo wasn't worried at all.

He knew Jack, and precisely because he knew that Jack had once lost to his "colleague," he also held Jack in some contempt.

His biggest impression of Jack was probably that he was just a "brute" who only knew how to use brute force.

He was a seeker of truth. Although he was tall and strong, like a berserker, he was actually a mage, a refined man, unlike a brute like Jack.

“Foolish!” Jack shouted, his eyes filled with disdain for Leo’s dismissive attitude.

In his earliest days, he possessed power that was considered formidable at the time, and his personality also gave him equal pride, or rather, arrogance.

Of course, thanks to his group of good partners and good friends, his initial arrogance has been worn away, leaving only the refined and pure light of his solitary pride.

However, while it wouldn't be accurate to say he died from complacency, having gained greater power but without the sense of crisis or motivation, Jack had to admit that he had become somewhat lax on his path forward.

Fortunately, he was lucky enough.

His Series D funding round was named "Lucky," and it often crashed, making him seem unlucky at all. But it seems that the luck he lacked was made up for by himself.

His luck allowed him to escape a life-or-death crisis, and his luck allowed him to return to the path he was meant to follow.

He possessed immense power, and after experiencing life and death once again, he saw things even more clearly.

"In the face of absolute power, no matter how many weaklings there are, they are still weaklings!"

[BlueAngle Jack LP: 4000 → 2200]

Like a venomous snake lurking in a sewer, the pitch-black flames silently climbed up Jack's body. Although it was in the form of flames, Jack felt an icy chill.

Beads of cold sweat appeared on Jack's forehead, but his expression remained unchanged.

His voice did not tremble at all.

BlueAngle, standing to the side, held his breath, watching the duel between Jack and Leo like an outsider.

Her gaze fell on You Honghen, recalling the power he possessed.

"After paying the necessary price, I can activate the effect of the right red mark!"

The raging crimson flames were instantly ignited and rose, the soaring flames completely suppressing the dark flames that wanted to devour Jack, and there was even a faint sign of a counterattack.

"Once per turn, during your Main Phase, you can activate this effect: Destroy all Special Summoned Effect Monsters other than this card that have an ATK equal to or less than this card's ATK! Then, inflict damage to your opponent equal to 500 for each monster destroyed by this effect!"

"Suppress with absolute power!"

With Jack's command, and Leo's sudden realization, Right Red Mark, who had been holding back his power, no longer suppressed it. The raging flames surged unstoppably towards the comically disguised dragons, who resembled clowns.

As Jack said, before absolute power, everything is in vain...

Jack had this idea a long time ago, and he still does today.

However, he also gained a new understanding.

Power is not just about fists; anything that can be used can be called "power".

The power of the mind should not be underestimated.

The flames of the Crimson Dragon buried the Jokers. Even though Leo made a last-ditch effort with the effect of Aruba in the graveyard, having lost all his ability to interfere and having no cards in hand, he could already foresee the outcome of this duel.

Not to mention, this was a fair two-on-one match.

After the disguised dragon was defeated, the duel returned to the state of "as long as there is LP left, it doesn't matter how much is left".

Compared to the 8000 LP, the 2200 LP seems like a candle flickering in the wind, but those in the know understand who is truly the one flickering in the wind.

Without interference, Jack launched another attack, easily accumulating 8000 attack power. With a single command, Leo was completely defeated.

At this moment, BlueAngle had only one question on her mind.

Whose duel is this anyway?

If the occasion weren't inappropriate, she might even ask the thought-provoking question: "And what about me?"