Chapter 163: Act One — Magic Show
A lady in a tight leather outfit, holding a whip, elegantly stepped out from within a card with graceful dance moves, appearing on Chumley's Field.
[(Performapal Show Dancer)][Level 3 / LIGHT][Spellcaster / Effect Monster][ATK 800 / DEF 1000]
"Oh? A Monster with the same Effect as (Cyber Dragon)?" Pegasus looked at the "(Performapal)" prefix, feeling a silent warning in his heart. "Could this prefix indicate an Archetype Deck like (Ojama)? But, a Monster with only 800 ATK in Attack Position? Next Turn, me can start my Attack, no?"
"Heh heh, Pegasus, haven't you ever seen a circus show?" Chumley chuckled lightly, playing a Card from his hand. "Before the Magician responsible for the spectacular performance takes the stage, the ladies' role is merely to set the mood."
"I haven't performed a Normal Summon this Turn yet, so I Tribute (Performapal Show Dancer) and Tribute Summon this Card from my hand!" Chumley smiled. "The show is about to begin! Let us offer thunderous applause for the grand Magician's entrance!"
"Appear, my Ace Card, my Soul, (Performapal Sky Magician)!"
With a "boom," (Performapal Show Dancer) on Chumley's Field was suddenly enveloped in smoke, and her figure vanished. A new figure flew out from the top of the smoke, its white cape spreading like wings in the airflow.
(Performapal Sky Magician) — Descend!
[(Performapal Sky Magician)][Level 7 / WIND][Spellcaster / Effect Monster][ATK 2500 / DEF 2000]
Looking at (Performapal Sky Magician) appearing on his Field, Chumley couldn't help but be moved. Finally, after so long, he had a standard Ace Monster with 2500 ATK.
(Gaia): ?
"A new Monster? Is this the Trump Card Chumley prepared for Pegasus?" Yugi was not familiar with the (Performapal) Archetype Chumley was using. Knowing about the (Millennium Eye)'s existence, Chumley had only previously mentioned to Yugi that he would be changing his Deck.
"Oh ho ho, it's a great Magician performing magic, no? Indeed, Chumley-boy, you too are full of childlike wonder. The Monster you use is truly amusing, no?" Watching (Performapal Sky Magician)'s appearance, Pegasus seemed quite excited, seemingly looking forward to the magic performance to come. "But, (Performapal Sky Magician) is a Level 7 Monster. It requires two Monsters as Tribute, no?"
"When (Performapal Show Dancer) is Tributed for a (Performapal) Monster's Tribute Summon, she can count as two Tributes. After all, even a great Magician needs assistance to perform a Magic Show."
Chumley played a Card: "Though she left for a moment, the great Magician's performance is about to begin, so his assistant naturally can't be absent! Spell Card (Magician's Encore) Activate!"
"When this Card is face-up on the Field, I can activate its effect: Special Summon one Level 3 or lower Spellcaster-Type monster from my Graveyard."
"Break time's over, back to work, (Performapal Show Dancer)!"
(Performapal Sky Magician), hovering over Chumley's Field, first bowed to the surrounding audience, then tossed one of the four rings he held. After the ring landed on the ground, it seemed to become an exit to an underground passage, and a coffin rose from beneath the ground.
With a "snap," the coffin lid was pushed open, and (Performapal Show Dancer), previously Tributed, made her reappearance, returning to Chumley's Field.
[(Performapal Show Dancer)][DEF 1000]
"W-Wow, that's amazing! He Summoned a High-Level Monster with 2500 ATK in just one Turn, and even Revived the Tributed Monster back to the Field! He still has three Cards in hand!" Joey exclaimed in surprise. "To defeat Pegasus, has Chumley, who always likes to keep things hidden, finally shown his true strength?"
Chumley: "Also, because of (Magician's Encore)'s Activation, (Performapal Sky Magician) also has an effect that can be activated. Once per turn, if I activate a Spell Card, this Card gains 300 ATK permanently!"
The coffin that had just Revived (Performapal Show Dancer) and the ring on the ground vanished in a "boom," turning into smoke. Specks of Magical Energy drifted towards (Performapal Sky Magician) in the air. Absorbing this excess Magical Energy, (Performapal Sky Magician)'s ATK increased.
[(Performapal Sky Magician)][ATK 2500 → 2800]
"No, no, no! If you successfully raise your ATK, the spotlight that me worked so hard to get for (Dark Magician) will be completely stolen! That won't do!" Pegasus said, looking as if he had a headache. He flipped his face-down card. "I must give you some interference! Trap Card, (Fiendish Chain)!"
Just as (Performapal Sky Magician) was absorbing Magical Energy, a large number of iron chains suddenly burst forth from Pegasus's Backrow, wrapping around him layer by layer. His limbs, cape, neck, waist, and even the three remaining rings in his hand — the iron chains firmly bound (Performapal Sky Magician).
Pegasus grinned triumphantly, explaining: "(Fiendish Chain) is a Card specifically designed to counter Spellcasters. Originally, me prepared it to guard against Yugi-boy's (Dark Magician of Chaos) in his Deck, but who knew it would be used on you, Chumley-boy?"
"What?!" Yugi was somewhat surprised. Because in the Duels that had taken place on Duelist Kingdom Island in the past, Yugi had never used (Dark Magician of Chaos), which lay dormant in his Deck. Even in his Duel against Mai Valentine, he had only revealed his (Black Luster Soldier).
He had saved that Card until now, specifically to surprise Pegasus, but who would have thought Pegasus already knew about the Card in his Deck?!
After thinking calmly, Yugi immediately figured out what had happened: "Did he install hidden surveillance cameras in the Duelist Prep Room early on? Collecting information on other people's Decks and using that with his Mind Reading ability to prepare countermeasures — that's too despicable, Pegasus!"
"me don't know what you're talking about, Yugi-boy~" Of course, Pegasus wouldn't admit it. "A Monster bound by (Fiendish Chain) will be stripped of all ability to resist. It cannot use its Effect, nor can it Attack."
"Chumley-boy, the (Performapal Sky Magician) you worked so hard to Summon is useless now~"
"Heh heh, is that so?"
Chumley looked at Pegasus, as if he had anticipated this. He played a Card from his hand: "Don't underestimate the abilities of great Magicians, Pegasus. To fulfill people's hopes and fantasies, they are capable of anything!"
"The next act is: Magic — Great Escape Show!"
(end of chapter)