The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　As the two areas connected, a giant hourglass appeared in the center of the arena, vividly illustrating the passage of time.

　At the same time, both players' "Life Cards" were activated. Dark's "Character Card" was slightly different from the "Life Card," except that it included a costume-changing process.

　However, this was the first time he had used a "character card" in a formal duel, and the feeling was quite novel.

　The "character card" itself only has the function of increasing health points and does not have a "meltdown" mechanism.

　It's like giving duelists a 360-degree life shield with no blind spots. While it's very useful in actual combat, damage exceeding the life shield's value will still affect the human body.

　However, using a "character card" in the duel arena will trigger the duel arena's protection mechanism, granting a "meltdown" mechanism that prevents damage exceeding the shield value from further affecting the player.

　In addition, the damage caused by slicing attacks to the human body will be weakened. Although pain and impact will still be felt, scenes of limbs being severed will basically no longer occur.

　The duel ends immediately once the damage exceeds the victim's health. "Feels pretty good."

　Dark raised his hand and waved it above his head, feeling as if a health bar would appear above his head.

　Of course, he had watched other people's duels at the breakfast shop and knew that duelists did not have health bars above their heads.

　The health points on your [Life Card] will be displayed as a numerical value. However, they will not be shown during actual combat.

　Only within the duel area can you see the other's health points on either side of the area.

　In addition, duelists can also accurately know their remaining health points through magical perception.

　In this duel, both Dark and Charles used second-tier life cards. Therefore, both of them started with 4000 life points.

　Under normal circumstances, these 4000 health points are their maximum health points.

　Because the life points of a "Life Card" are not affected by healing-type ultimate skills.

　Duelists cannot use healing abilities on themselves. However, this is not entirely certain.

　After all, the "Life Card" has only been developed recently. Later, through in-depth analysis of the "Life Card", mages may be able to create magic cards that can replenish life points.

　—We'll only know once we encounter it. Dark put down his hand and began constructing his deck.

　To win the first duel in the preliminary rounds, I must win. Let's start with a deck that we're already familiar with.

　He looked up at the surveillance golem and knew that the duel had been focused on and was most likely already being shown on the projection screen, but he didn't know which stage it was on.

　I heard that when there's a crucial showdown, the backstage director will put up a banner under each TV station to attract viewers.

　I don't know if I'll get the chance to have my banner displayed. "Probably not."

　With that in mind, he completed the construction of forty magic cards in just one or two minutes.

　Afterwards, he organized his deck, placed it in the Duel Disk, and looked up at the opponent.

　Charles seemed to have prepared a special deck, placing the Domain directly into the Duel Disk as soon as it was deployed, and appeared to be waiting patiently. Their eyes met, and they nodded in acknowledgment.

　The rules of the duel arena begin to operate, and the duel disk is automatically shuffled under the guidance of these rules.

　“So you’re a student at St. Mary’s College.” Charles suddenly spoke up during the shuffling.

　Remembering that he hadn't introduced himself yet, Dark politely replied, "Yes, I'm still a third-year student. My name is Dark, and I'm here with the academy team for training."

　Charles scratched his head and said, "Your academy-trained mages are quite extraordinary. When the duel begins, be sure to go easy on them."

　Dark said, "The referee said you are a seasoned adventurer, so you must have a lot of combat experience. Please give me your guidance."

　Charles said, "Well... please enlighten me." The two stepped back and nodded to each other.

　The countdown hourglass located in the center of the arena has finally run out of sand, and the duel has entered "Preparation Phase 2".

　Dak calmly began to draw cards.

　"Preparation Phase 2" has only 30 seconds of strategy time.

　Once the 30-second countdown ends, the battle will begin.

　However, thirty seconds is not a short time for duelists who are skilled in dueling.

　When a mage infuses magic into their brain, it can also accelerate the flow of thought and enter a state of high concentration.

　Dak had studied this subject in detail, and his thinking was much faster. Sometimes he even felt that thirty seconds was a bit too long.

　"One, two, three, four, five, let's go up the mountain to fight the tiger."

　With the five magic cards acquired in succession, he memorized the hand after just a glance.

　v

　"Blue-Eyes Dragon Egg" [Triangle Defense] [Milky] "Wind Blessing" [Devimon] A

　The fifth Magic Card – "Devimon"!

　The Samsung "Little Demon Beast" is not a familiar, but a regular magical spirit card that has been reforged.

　Dark heard Impmon's voice as soon as he acquired the magic card. Clearly, Impmon's consciousness resided within this magic card.

　He felt a surge of joy, and a smile naturally appeared on his face. "Looks like I'm in luck today."

　In the first duel, he drew "Little Demon Beast" from his starting hand of five magic cards, which was clearly a good omen.

　And it's not just "Devimon", but also "Blue-Eyes Dragon Egg" and "Milkyr".

　Although the "Blue-Eyes Dragon Egg" can only hatch into a purple-level "Blue-Eyes Baby Dragon," even a purple-level "Blue-Eyes Baby Dragon" is a genuine six-star magical spirit.

　—Don't underestimate the strength of a six-star magical spirit just because you're used to high-level duels.

　Furthermore, this "Blue-Eyes Baby Dragon" can also use "Call of the Baby Dragon" to Special Summon "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" from the deck, enough to overwhelm most duelists. As for "Milky Rush", this is a Level 6 "Milky Rush", which can be Tributed to Summon "Blue-Eyes Baby Dragon".

　In addition to the three Magical Spirit cards, Dark also drew two Magic cards.

　Both of these magic cards were learned from textbooks, and they were magic cards he specially crafted for the World Cup.

　First is (triangular defense).

　This is a defensive magic card that can release a closed barrier consisting of four triangles in a tetrahedron shape.

　The first thing a traditional mage does upon entering the battlefield is to create a defensive barrier to protect themselves.

　This "triangular defense" is the most basic defensive barrier. However, basic does not mean weak.

　The "Triangle Defense" magic card can achieve different levels of defense depending on the mage's crafting skill.

　Dark's "Triangle Defense" has 3000 points of defense and 3000 points of magic power, which is already a very high level of barrier.

　However, the "Triangle Defense" has a fatal flaw and no point of attack (POIP). While protecting the mage, it also restricts the mage's movement and attacks.

　hit.

　Unless the mage actively dispels the barrier, it seems that even the magical spirits he summons cannot pass through it.

　Furthermore, the "Triangle Defense" is not very large, so it is impossible to summon large magical spirits within it.

　High-star magical spirits generally tend to grow larger.

　Therefore, this magic card is basically used in the early or middle stages of a duel.

　To maximize its value, you need to draw "Triangle Defense" in your starting hand. The other spell card is "Wind Spirit Blessing".

　[Wind Spirit Blessing] is also a defensive magic card.

　However, its defense level is low, with only 1000 points of magic power and 1000 points of defense.

　However, in addition to defense, "Wind Spirit Blessing" can also provide the Archmage with a short-term speed boost.

　In other words, this is a movable type of defensive barrier. Additionally...

　Both "Triangle Defense" and "Wind Spirit Blessing" last for 180 seconds, which is three minutes and six rounds.

　Both of these magic cards have their own uses and are very useful.

　"The opponent is a seasoned adventurer, and cannot be judged from the perspective of an ordinary duelist."

　"Let's start with the 'Triangle Defense'." Darke quickly devised a strategy.

　He then looked up at Charles and saw that the latter looked flustered, with beads of sweat on his forehead. It was obvious that he had drawn the "Joker".

　—That's probably what the audience watching the projection would think. But it was clearly a deliberate performance.

　Even without referee Crowe's deliberate reminder, he could sense the changes in the other person's mind and discern their true intentions from their false ones.

　This is because he has mastered the art of mind reading.

　Moreover, compared to his opponent, his mental power completely overwhelmed her. Therefore, her mental state was utterly exposed before him. Such childish deception was utterly laughable. "Beep—"

　The familiar turn-switching sound quietly entered the air. The duel had entered the "Battle Phase".

　A countdown of "30 seconds" appeared above the field. Dark summoned without hesitation.

　"In the name of Darkdemon, I summon the magic—'Triangle Defense'!"

　He did not intentionally cast the spell silently; he clearly pronounced the words "triangle defense."

　As magic rapidly flowed in, a triangular array quickly appeared beneath his feet. Then, straight rays of light extended from the three corners of the array, converging at a single point above his head.

　Almost two seconds after the "triangle defense" was formed, a black light flashed in the air.

　"boom!"

　A kunai-like projectile pierced the triangular barrier and became stuck against its triangular walls.

　The spectators gasped in surprise. That brief exchange was enough to make anyone break out in a cold sweat.

　Although Charles is an adventurer, his magical skills are surprisingly high, and he can summon magic very quickly.

　Moreover, his first move was a powerful item card – "Heart-Piercing Poison Arrow." This arrow possesses armor-piercing properties and is imbued with deadly poison. While its attack power is only 1000 points, its armor-piercing ability allows it to penetrate barriers with higher defenses, striking the duelist directly. Once hit by this arrow, the opponent will be severely poisoned. If the opponent lacks the ability to purify themselves, they will fall under Charles's control until they die from the poison.

　This is an extremely risky game.

　Although it may seem extremely "insidious" to the audience, it is part of the duel and game.

　Charles had known all along that Dark was a student at St. Mary's College; all his previous actions were merely to lull Dark into a false sense of security.

　Defeating a highly prestigious noble student would undoubtedly enhance his social standing.

　In his understanding, academic mages all belong to the traditional category of mages.

　Traditional magicians pay great attention to

　Prioritize protecting yourself.

　After the duel rules changed, the likelihood of starting with a defensive barrier is very high.

　The same is true.

　In the duel being projected, there are so many duelists starting with a defensive stance that it's almost become a distinct style.

　In the end, Charles undoubtedly won his gamble. In this psychological game, he was the victor.

　The "Piercing Poison Arrow" has armor-piercing properties that are highly effective against defensive barriers, armor, and shields. However, if the opponent summons a magical spirit at the start, it cannot penetrate the magical spirit's body to poison the opponent.

　However, even if the opponent summons a magical spirit at the start, a low-star magical spirit with insufficient defense will be instantly killed by his hidden weapon.

　Even if it doesn't kill instantly, it can still poison the enemy.

　Everything was as wonderful as he had imagined.

　Aside from the fact that Dark's "Triangle Defense" stat is too high, the "Piercing Poison Arrow" attack power and strong armor-piercing properties can only penetrate a barrier with a maximum of 2000 points of defense, while the "Triangle Defense" has 3000 points of defense.

　Dak lowered his foot back down.

　Even without a defensive barrier, he had enough foresight and reaction time to dodge this seemingly unexpected hidden weapon.

　Because he has already opened six chakras, and is only a hair's breadth away from opening the seventh chakra.

　And in that very instant, under that almost imperceptible danger, that thin line was broken without warning.

　The crown chakra above his head was forming, and in his own perception, it felt as if all the energy in his body was surging upwards, forming a vortex. Some insights into "energy" rushed into his mind and occupied part of his thoughts.

　In close combat, he should be able to unleash his "momentum" instantly, pouring out this understanding.

　However, he is a mage, and in a mage duel that is more inclined to use his brain, those insights actually occupy his brain's memory.

　He frowned slightly, as if he were dissatisfied with the hidden weapon.

　An imposing aura, though not angry, quietly erupted.

　But within the dueling arena, only Charles, standing opposite him, could sense it.

　Charles's follow-up move suddenly faltered.

　Then he saw Dark begin summoning the second magic card. He quickly snapped back to reality and, under pressure, performed the second summon. In that instant, he felt a sense of dread, as if he dared not face Dark directly.

　He couldn't help but speed up the summoning process, breaking his own four-second limit and completing the summoning spell in just three seconds.