Fighting you is like being in jail.

Immediately afterwards, the golden wheel behind him began to spin, making a grinding sound.

"I was just unlucky before! But it's different now! I won't make the same mistake twice!" Leng Chang shouted defiantly, his voice bursting from his throat.

"Once I unleash my ultimate move, you'll have no future! Witch! Your life is as fragile as a candle flickering in the wind!"

"The goddess of victory prefers me, Common Cold!"

"Flash Draw Card—!!"

Thud!

Ultimate skill extraction completed!

The ring behind her suddenly stopped spinning. The inertia of the stop created a huge airflow that surged in all directions, instantly spreading the debris and dust from the ground that had just been destroyed by the Rose Witch, blurring the view considerably.

The ultimate skill has been drawn – [I am your father]. The target must call the caster "father" and automatically hand over all money on their person.

"..."

It was cold, stiff, and filled with an awkward atmosphere.

The moment Leng Chang saw the ultimate move clearly, he was shocked. He looked up at the Rose Witch and couldn't help but smile, his eyes shining with certainty.

"The perfect hand card DA☆ZE!"

Damn it! I can't keep making this up... What kind of killer move is this?

You foul-mouthed jerk, you're a god among men in our country!!

Putting aside the issue of their special moves, do you think the opponent looks wealthy? Have you ever seen a witch carrying money during battle?

Urgent! I am the King of Urgency! Where is the promised magnetic field rotation?! Where is the promised ultimate move?!

I am #%JPY@%……

But it doesn't matter!

Leng Chang's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he glanced at the Rose Witch. His smile stiffened, cold sweat trickled down his chin, and his brain was working frantically.

Calm down and think about it carefully again.

There's no chance of winning anymore; we have to retreat!

This ridiculous finishing move offers absolutely no hope of victory!

That's right! I'll leave immediately after activating my ability! I believe that by now, Mami Tomoe has already noticed the witch's barrier here.

I've seen it—the key to victory!

Victory will be achieved as long as I hold on until Mami Tomoe arrives.

After some thought, Leng Chang exuded an air of domineering victory, his eyes filled with the resolve to win. He stood calmly before the Rose Witch's enormous body, small yet undaunted by the storm.

The Rose Witch opposite him didn't give Leng Chang much time. Tentacles shot out from her side, and this time, unlike before when she couldn't be targeted, they flew precisely and accurately towards Leng Chang.

But Leng Chang did not panic in the face of the attack. He watched the approaching tentacles without mercy and opened his mouth slightly to chant.

"My heart and actions are as black as sunglasses, and skill card draws are going to kill me."

"Activate your ability!"

"Ah! I'm your father—!!"

A powerful roar erupted just before the tentacles touched Leng Chang.

Suddenly, the Rose Witch's tentacles froze in mid-air, even trembling slightly—this was the effect of her skill taking effect!

Leng Chang's pupils trembled, all the pressure dissipated in that moment, and the corners of his mouth turned up infinitely, squeezing out wrinkles, both ferocious and excited.

Who is it in this very moment!

From the shadows, Homura Akemi glided towards Leng Chang with lightning speed, sliding to her knees halfway down the slope, holding up her bank card. She slid through the pebbles on the ground and knelt before Leng Chang, her body trembling as she knelt.

"Dad, this is my bank card, a gift for you."

"?"

"..."

The silence at that moment was deafening.

Leng Chang tilted his head to look at Homura Akemi, his expression full of incomprehension. Homura Akemi looked up at Leng Chang, her eyes filled with a clear light, completely bewildered as to what she was doing.

Finally, the Rozen Maiden knelt on the ground and used her tentacles to hand over a worn-out bank card with some of its coating peeling off.

"??"

“？???”

"???"

For a moment, all three were dumbfounded, and no one spoke.

No? What's going on?

Why did someone fly over here?!

Chapter Four: The Rise of the Gate Type

Who am I? Where am I? Aren't I fighting?

What's the situation now?

Leng Chang stared in disbelief at Xiao Meiyan, who suddenly flew out and knelt in front of him. Her slender hands were raised above her head, and her sincere and humble posture was full of filial piety towards her father.

But those deep blue eyes flashed with a cold light, and deep within her soul lay an incomprehensible bewilderment. Her trembling body felt as if she were fighting against a mountain, determined to resist to the very end, even if she couldn't defeat it.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the old bank card in the Rose Witch's tentacle, which was suspended in mid-air, remained still.

The two were filled with a cold, unyielding attitude that they wouldn't take anything unless it was taken away.

"What's going on?" Leng Chang leaned back, his chin wrinkling, and he even seemed a little smug.

"I still want to ask what's going on! What exactly happened! What did you do?!" Akemi Homura, kneeling on the ground, flashed a fierce look in her eyes, as if she wanted to devour everything in them. Her lips were tightly closed, and the corners of her mouth were twitching as she pulled down. She was furious.

Leng Chang gradually understood everything. He took a deep breath and exhaled weakly, "So, why are you hiding anything? If you're here to help me, do you really need to do this?"

"So what exactly happened?!"

Homura Akemi's body trembled slightly, a tremor of resistance, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free from her current state.

"This is my true power, Common Cold!"

"what?"

"The moment I activate my power, everyone will slide to their knees and call me father, and offer me their wealth as a tribute."

"..."

A chill ran down Homura's spine, her eyes widened in shock, and a feeling of wanting to speak but being unable to was stuck in her throat. No words could alleviate the bewilderment, shock, and utter utterance she felt at that moment.

"Then why can't I move now?" Homura Akemi suppressed the urge to blow Leng Chang's head off with a shot, gritting her teeth and trembling as she stared at Leng Chang.

Leng Chang grinned, as if an evil demon had opened its eyes, and confidently declared, "That's because I haven't taken your money yet. You might not believe it, but right now, I can't do anything else but take your money!"

"..."

I can't hold it in any longer!

Homura Akemi's body trembled even more violently, and she had completely lost control of herself.

"Then take it away quickly!" she shouted in despair, her mouth agape, her eyes wide as if she wanted to swallow Leng Chang whole.

As a result, Leng Chang's expression gradually turned merciless. With the shift of light within the witch's barrier, three-quarters of his face was now obscured by shadow. His lips unexpectedly curled backward, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his gaze swept over Homura Akemi's body.

"Young lady, you don't want to keep kneeling like this, do you?"

"What...what do you want to do?" Homura Akemi's face darkened. She tried to create distance but only managed to tremble. She did not give up and resisted again, causing her body to tremble once more.

"Promise me, I'll take your bank card and then kill the witch! As a reward, I'll return the bank card to you." Leng Chang's expression turned serious as he stared at Akemi Homura with righteous indignation.

“…”

You used my money to get me to do things?

Homura Akemi's eyes twitched uncontrollably, her lips twitched involuntarily, and her silence was deafening.

Faced with silence, Leng Chang took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing with a domineering air, and slowly and heavily asked, "Are you uneasy?"

"..." Homura Akemi did not answer, but could only feel the corners of her mouth twitching uncontrollably.

"Do you know? People live for peace of mind. Everyone lives to overcome anxiety and fear and gain a sense of security. Gaining fame, dominating others, and making money are all for the sake of peace of mind. Serving others and striving for love and peace are all for the sake of peace of mind. The pursuit of peace of mind is the purpose of humankind."

“…”

"So... what's there to be uneasy about fulfilling my request? You can easily find peace of mind just by helping me. Instead, you're refusing me even though you know there's no way to do it. Isn't that even more unsettling?"

“That’s true. As long as we help you, we can both get out of this situation.” Homura Akemi said, her face dark as she looked down at the situation. Her voice was calm and steady.

“That’s right, that’s exactly it.” Leng Chang nodded, his eyes filled with certainty. This was the only perfect outcome given the current situation.

To everyone's surprise! Akemi Homura suddenly looked up and stared at Leng Chang with eyes full of realization.

“But I refuse!” She tilted her head back, her black hair cascading down her cheeks, her deep blue eyes unusually resolute.

"What?! Why?!" Leng Chang's pupils contracted and his whole body trembled as he stared in shock and confusion.

"I, Homura Akemi, will absolutely not agree to this! I won't lose if it comes down to willpower!" Even kneeling on the ground, Homura Akemi's eyes still shone with unyielding spirit.

Leng Chang's pupils contracted as he felt a huge blow to himself. He looked at Homura Akemi with anger in his eyes, and questioned her through gritted teeth.

"What are you doing?! This has stuck us here! Do you really want this stalemate to continue?! Think about it carefully. The current situation is disadvantageous for both of us. If we cooperate, everything will be fine. So, promise me!"

"I refuse!" Homura Akemi's answer was more resolute than ever, her eyes defying everything.

Leng Chang gritted his teeth, staring at Akemi Homura in disbelief, and asked with a mournful face, "W-why?! Am I really that untrustworthy? Even a stranger on the street deserves some trust, right? Trust me! Trust me like you would a stranger when asking for directions!"

"Ask yourself honestly, is there really such a good thing in the world as using my money to do things for me?" Homura Akemi narrowed her eyes slightly, her eyelashes trembling slightly at that moment.

"..."

What you said makes so much sense, I'm speechless.

Leng Chang paused, looking at Homura Akemi with surprise, realizing that he was indeed in the wrong, and even felt a pang of conscience upon reflection. He glanced at Homura Akemi three times guiltily, then, unsure how to begin, his words caught in his throat.

But it doesn't matter!

As long as I apologize quickly enough, the mistakes won't be able to catch up with me!

"Um... I'm very sorry!" he said sincerely, making a firm decision to admit his mistake.

"Yes, I accept your apology." Homura Akemi responded softly, feeling much better and seeing a glimmer of hope.

She looked expectantly at Leng Chang, her gaze passing over the hands that were holding up the bank card.

"Take my money now! And end this situation!"

Unexpectedly, Leng Chang's expression hardened, his eyes gleaming with unyielding strength, and he said righteously:

"But, I refuse!"

"What?!" Homura Akemi shuddered, incredulous and puzzled.

"Honestly, you think you can get me to do things without paying me? There's no such thing as a free lunch! Hehehe!"

"..."

It feels like I've just seen this situation before...

You absolutely did it on purpose! How can you be so petty!

Homura Akemi's lips twitched, her head lowered slightly, letting the shadows obscure half of her eyes, her expression filled with fierceness and disdain. She even subconsciously clenched her teeth, as if she were witnessing a brand new Gatekeeper rising up.

"Then, what will it take for you to agree?" She gritted her teeth, her eyes wide, and uttered a defiant sound. She had to admit that Leng Chang was now far more powerful, and she had no choice but to submit.

Leng Chang took a deep breath, his gaze falling on Homura Akemi, and said in the most sincere tone, "Join me!"

"Ok?"

"I said join my team. Once you join, we're on the same side. No problem will be a problem anymore! We will be invincible!"

I can't let myself be the only one ruined by the chat group! With teammates, I'm not alone!

A sharp glint of realization flashed in Leng Chang's eyes as he gazed at Homura Akemi with more seriousness than ever before, as if at this moment Homura Akemi was his only hope, a little sun in his dark world.