Duels should be played with a smile.

This sentence perfectly captures Leyou's mood at this moment.

Leyou, who always considered himself a fun-loving person, never imagined that one day he would meet someone who seemed to be even funnier than himself—and this guy really did seem to be having a good time.

"I'll assume you're telling the truth... So, after your perverse pleasure is satisfied, what are you planning to do next?"

Leyou continued asking questions, trying to take the initiative. In this situation, only by taking the initiative could she steer the conversation in a direction that was favorable to her.

"Would you like to have a tense and exciting duel with me? I'm ready anytime."

Having been taken to unknown territory by the enemy, Leyou was not as calm as he appeared, because he knew very well that regardless of whether the "theories" he had just mentioned were correct, the fact that he was at a significant disadvantage could not be changed.

Reality is not a game; it doesn't present all the information you want to know on the UI so you can respond accordingly. Most of the time, people can only make inferences based on limited information and their own experience.

Unfortunately, Leyou felt he didn't have any useful information, and his usual experience probably wouldn't be of much use when he encountered Leziren.

Only those who truly enjoy themselves can understand what others are thinking—the answer is no one knows what others are thinking.

Although it may seem contradictory, it is indeed the case that people's thoughts can change at any time, and Leyou itself is no exception.

One second they might be thinking about a thrilling game of Yu-Gi-Oh!, and the next they might be in jail in Shenzhen.

"No, no, no, dueling is not suitable for me at all."

Somewhat unexpectedly, K flatly refused the duel proposal. He seemed quite relaxed, showing none of the imposing presence of a gatekeeper boss.

"Why do we always resort to fighting and killing? Why can't we sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk?"

Speaking in a gentle tone as a "pacifist," K now resembles an approachable, ordinary office worker.

He's completely lost his boss-like demeanor.

Upon closer reflection, it makes sense. In recent years, bosses who look like villains are no longer popular. The ones who are popular now are villains with more prominent character designs. Of course, the most important thing is that they have to be handsome. As long as someone is handsome or cute, it's perfectly normal for their values ​​to follow their looks.

Leyou had to admit that K's current appearance was quite attractive, and if it weren't for the fact that he was male and had a female preference, he might have let his guard down.

We've seen similar storylines far too many times.

but...

"You want to have a heart-to-heart talk with me? I don't mind, but you know what I mean, right? A heart-to-heart talk naturally requires a lot of 'honesty.' If both parties are trying to fool each other with lies, the talk probably won't amount to anything, will it?"

Even the invincible Shinigami Elementary School Student needs a certain amount of information to make deductions. No matter how far-fetched the information or the deduction process is, information is indispensable.

Having prepared more than ten contingency plans before setting off, Leyou felt that they could continue to linger here.

“You’re right.” K nodded seriously, as if he had really thought about the topic Leyou had raised. “In that case, I promise that I won’t lie to you during our heart-to-heart talk, as long as you also promise—of course, I will simply not answer some questions, I believe you can understand that, right?”

Looking at K, whose expression seemed genuine, with a hint of surprise, Leyou took a deep breath and nodded slightly.

This guy... is tough to deal with.

……

Under the dim yellow sky, the snow-white elf was flying towards her destination, which was becoming increasingly intense. Behind her were snowflakes fluttering about, but in this somewhat hot world, those snowflakes could only stay for a brief moment before disappearing without a trace.

"This is a bit tricky... I'm almost there, but Ella still has no clue about the exit."

"I wonder what that damn guy is up to now... If I'm not mistaken, this is a carefully prepared trap by the enemy. It even manages to weaken our senses; that's just too much..."

The Snow Woman's expression was not good as she lightly touched the silver-red crystal that had just appeared on her chest with her fingertips.

She naturally knew what the crystal represented, as did Ella and Philvo. And because they knew more than Leyou, they usually chose to hide their crystals.

It wasn't until just now, after Ella defeated K, that they suddenly realized that the crystal, which was usually hidden, had appeared on its own and could no longer be hidden away as they wished.

"I have a feeling that something big is about to happen... I also feel like I have something to remember... Ugh, this feeling is really annoying."

"Although it feels good to follow him, it's really annoying when you encounter these strange and unclear situations."

As the person flew in the sky, the Snow Woman's mouth never stopped complaining about Leyou. She kept muttering and grumbling, but occasionally, while complaining, she would recall some interesting moments and reveal a touching smile in that instant.

Then, the next second, she switched back to complaining, continuing to grumble and point out someone's faults.

She stopped, landing in an open space that wasn't much different from where she had flown before.

The Snow Woman can only locate herself by relying on her memories and the location of Ella that she senses. This terrible world is not only hot, which the Snow Woman doesn't like, but the scenery is also unchanging.

Along the way, there were only red clouds in the sky and dry, cracked earth on the ground. The occasional gusts of dry, scorching wind were the biggest relief during the flight.

This place... feels like a world heading towards death.

In this desolate world, in an ordinary place, the Snow Woman sensed the existence of the inherited fiberglass.

There was nothing in front of her, but the sensation from the crystal in her chest told her that it was right in front of her.

"This is... such a hassle, I hate this kind of trouble the most."

With a hint of helplessness, she touched the crystal on her chest. As a flash of icy blue light appeared, the Snow Woman instantly changed her clothes and took up a sharp naginata in her hand.

Simply put, it means connection 2 becomes connection 4.

Having transformed into her battle form, the Yuki-onna, who was even more sensitive to temperature, didn't want to waste a second. She grabbed her naginata and slashed at the space in front of her.

Even though there was nothing there, under the blessing of a mysterious power, the blade of the naginata truly felt as if it had struck a solid object, splitting the unknown in two—it was truly undeniable.

The crystal light faded, and the naginata lost its divine power. The snow woman gasped for breath and, without wasting a second, immediately reverted to her previous form.

"That's enough..."

After resting for a while and catching her breath, the Snow Woman put a hand to her forehead and stepped into the small alternate dimension she had just cleaved open.

The scent of fiberglass is already clearly perceptible.

"Let me think... it seems like if things are settled on Philvo's side, then all of this will be over?"

"After all... Wanchuang Shengli Long Lao Ai, they're all just external personnel..."

"The fake 10+3, the 3 is the anaconda water purifier's silver and gold; the real 10+3, the 3 is Wanchuang Shengli Long Lao Ai..."

"I wonder if that guy has even noticed that..."

……

Synchronous Dimension, Conflict Town.

As a hidden data stream appeared in a secluded corner, Philvo's figure also appeared there.

And it wasn't just her; behind her followed twelve men dressed in black cloaks.

These guys have all different body types, and they are particularly eye-catching when they are all huddled together.

"I'm too lazy to even comment on how much attention you'll get," Philvo said, looking at the group of "clowns" with a sense of exhaustion.

I don't know if these guys have been locked up for too long and their minds have become a bit abnormal, but they haven't stopped making a fuss since we brought them out and returned to the Synchro Dimension.

Throughout the journey, they had been trying to create trouble. If it weren't for Philwar using her authority as the leader to keep them in check, who knows what they might have done.

“You guys…it’s no wonder you’re locked up. I think it’s really necessary to seriously consider the feasibility of that idea we had before.”

Knowing he didn't have a good way to deal with these guys, Philvo didn't want to waste any more energy on them and instead focused his attention on the current situation.

On her way back to the Synchro Dimension, Philvo noticed that the crystal that had recently appeared on her chest was occasionally flashing. Given this anomaly, even while traveling, she still managed to multitask, contacting some of the people she had previously assigned to try and understand the current situation.

The code talkers in the electronic world didn't report anything unusual, only mentioning that the people guarding the Synchro City were sending out communication signals regularly, so it's estimated that the situation has been stabilized for the time being.

After learning a little about the situation at the Magic Academy, Philvo brought the Twelve Beasts to provide support.

She had a vague premonition that what was being shown was only the surface, and that something else was hidden beneath that surface.

"I have this feeling that I've forgotten something crucial... This is very illogical. All my memories are backed up, so this feeling proves that something is capable of interfering with my memories..."

"Even K doesn't have that kind of authority. What on earth has tampered with my memories?"

Feeling inexplicably uneasy, Philvo wanted to find out what was going on with this sudden feeling, but after some thought, she decided to take the twelve beasts with her to support the Magic Academy.

"The more rational approach would be to understand one's own situation, but in the current circumstances, it seems that blindly rushing in is more effective..."

"I feel like... I was clearly influenced by him when I had that thought just now..."

With a silent sigh, Philvo transformed back into her dragon form, revealing an aura of majesty far surpassing her human form—primarily in relation to the other elves, such as... the twelve beasts.

Exuding an aura of "whoever dares to disobey will be beaten," Philvor in her dragon form stared indifferently at the twelve beasts. Within seconds, the previously unruly creatures quieted down and, under her supervision, set off together.

Several hours later, Philvo, traveling at full speed, arrived at the gates of the Magic Academy.

only...

She felt an incredibly strange force suddenly envelop her, and her consciousness began to blur the moment she caught a glimpse of Leyou's back.

In the second before she closed her eyes, she saw that the whole world seemed to be frozen in time. The three of them stood still, motionless, while Leyou disappeared from her sight.

She didn't know how much time had passed when a gust of hot wind woke her up.

Having shrunk his target into human form, Philvo carefully observed his surroundings, finding nothing unusual—except that he had entered a world that seemed like the end of the world.

"The twelve beasts have all become stuck and returned to my crystal... The virtual world can't even sense them, let alone connect to them..."

"Where am I? Why is the internet down... Wait a minute?!"

Unable to sense the existence of the virtual network, Philvo was somewhat alarmed, yet he also sensed other presences.

"Those two...are they here too?"

"It seems that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, my premonition has come true..."

"It seems there's no other way. All we can do now is go find out what happened from the two of them... I hope he's alright."

"If something really happens..." Philvo murmured to himself, a nostalgic look flashing in his eyes, as if recalling a distant past.

"Then there is only one more time to fall asleep with you... my 'Eternal Calamity' lord."

……

"I lost, but I still achieved my goal," K said confidently to Leyou.

To Leyou's surprise, he had thought K would avoid the question, but instead he answered it seriously.

"If I win, there's no need to say anything more. If I lose, then I'll just trap you all as I am now, and it won't make much difference."

"I know better than anyone the rules of the world I created. As that world has gradually evolved, it has developed its own consciousness, though not yet fully developed, but it already knows how to disobey me."

K looked wry and continued, "You should understand, right? According to you, it's because the child has reached the rebellious phase and is disobedient."

"That's enough. I really hate the term 'rebellious phase.'" Leyou rolled her eyes at K, who was pretending to know everything, and said irritably, "Everyone has an independent will. Parents can only educate and guide, not force their children to do things according to their own ideas. Besides, you're not exactly a parent from that world."

"Whatever you say, I don't care." K ignored Leyou's words and continued, "Anyway, I used this little trick to separate you from those main characters."

“I’ve been following all those main characters. I know how powerful they would be if they came together. But thanks to you, they’ve lost the chance to come together now.”