Chapter 165: The Toon Monsters' Deadly Offensive
(Toon World), the core card of the Toon Deck, possesses the effect of transforming regular monsters into uniquely styled Toon monsters and providing them with protection. The only cost for all this is paying 500 Life Points each turn this card is on the field, and even that is refunded if it's destroyed.
As Pegasus, the privileged cheat, printed this one-of-a-kind exclusive card for himself, the entire book of (Toon World) screamed "broken." Emerging from beneath the two words "broken" were the now-transformed (Dark Magician) that had been taken from Yugi, and the (Maiden of the Aqua) that had just been sucked into the book.
No, perhaps it wasn't quite right to call them that anymore. After being transformed into Toon monsters with an art style completely different from other monsters, the names of these two Duel Monsters had also changed, and they even possessed unique effects.
(Toon Dark Magician) [ATK 2500]
(Toon Mermaid) [ATK 1400]
"How about it, Yugi-boy? Isn't (Toon Dark Magician) much cooler than your original (Dark Magician)?" Pegasus deliberately provoked Yugi, showing him a card from his hand. "After becoming a member of the Toon monsters, (Toon Dark Magician) has been preparing for his debut for a long time."
"Now then, (Toon Dark Magician), begin your magic show. Consider it a reply to Hayato-boy's magic." As Pegasus spoke, he sent the card from his hand to the Graveyard. "By sending one Toon card to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon one Toon monster directly from my Deck."
"Ta-da, a hat trick!"
Along with Pegasus's exaggerated tone, the (Toon Dark Magician) on his field smirked sinisterly with its chibi-style face. It took off the hat on its head and placed it on the ground, then lifted it again. From within the not-so-large hat, a monster emerged. Though its appearance was different, it was one Hayato was quite familiar with.
(Toon Barrel Dragon) [Level 7/DARK]
[Machine-Type/Toon/Effect]
[2600/2200]
"(Barrel Dragon)!? Isn't that Bandit Keith's card?" Hayato narrowed his eyes. "Could it be that before you threw Bandit Keith out of the castle, you swiped his Deck? How enviab—no, I mean, how infuriating!"
You just said it, didn't you? You said you were envious! Yugi looked speechlessly at Hayato beside him. Plucking a feather from a passing wild goose and considering it a loss if you don't pick up something you find on the street—these phrases perfectly described Hayato. After every Duel, Hayato always liked to fleece something. Yugi even once suspected his name wasn't actually Hayato, but something closer to 'Looter' Kobayashi.
Pegasus also seemed a bit helpless. "Not at all, Hayato-boy, you mustn't accuse me like that. I am not using Mr. Bandit Keith's card. This card was originally one of my Toon monsters."
Pausing for a moment, Pegasus revealed a sly smile. "However, although it's different from the original, there's no rule that says a Toon monster can't be better than the original, you know~"
"The effect of (Toon Barrel Dragon) can be used once per turn. Target one card on the field, then toss three coins. If two or more coins land on heads, the targeted card is destroyed." Pegasus said with a smile, pointing to (Magician's Encore) in Hayato's Backrow. "That card can Revive a monster from your Graveyard, Hayato-boy, can't it? No, no, the dead should stay quietly in the Graveyard."
'It's the destruction effect from the real card, not Bandit Keith's triple attack?' Hayato breathed a sigh of relief. If it had been the latter, with his current resources, he likely wouldn't have been able to withstand Pegasus's offensive. He and Yugi might have been defeated on the spot.
"Now then, (Toon Barrel Dragon), load and fire!"
Just like the (Barrel Dragon) used by Bandit Keith, Pegasus's (Toon Barrel Dragon) aimed its three gun barrels at the Set Card in Hayato's Backrow. However, unlike Bandit Keith's realistic version of (Barrel Dragon), his card could genuinely instill the sense of crisis of being aimed at by a gun.
As for Pegasus's (Toon Barrel Dragon)... what does it feel like to be aimed at by three small, miniature toy pistols?
"Pop!" "Pop!" "Pop!"
With three crisp sounds, Pegasus's luck was quite good today. The three illusory coins that appeared above (Toon Barrel Dragon) all landed on heads. (Toon Barrel Dragon) truly unleashed a Full Salvo, firing three green BB pellets from its three very-plastic-looking gun barrels.
The "quite dangerous" BB pellets easily shattered Hayato's (Magician's Encore). Luckily, Pegasus had shown mercy and not used the "even more dangerous" water pellets, otherwise Hayato would have simply vanished.
But upon seeing his card destroyed, Hayato actually started to laugh. "Hmph, Pegasus, you fell for it! The essence of magic lies in novelty; you can't rely on one trick to get by forever. As long as (Magician's Encore) is on the field, its effect to Revive a monster from the Graveyard can only be used once! Your destruction effect was wasted!"
"Not only that, but when (Magician's Encore) is destroyed, I can Activate its second effect!" Hayato began to Search his Deck. "I can add one 'Magician' Continuous Spell Card, other than (Magician's Encore), from my Deck to my Hand!"
"I choose (Magician's Right Hand)."
"Oh my, I've been had," Pegasus said with a mock-pout, but his expression immediately turned serious again. "Hayato-boy, you truly are a difficult person. But, can you stop me from defeating Yugi-boy?"
"Toon monsters are residents of the (Toon World). As long as their stories exist in people's hearts, Toon monsters are invincible." Pegasus's gaze shifted to Yugi. "In other words, only Toon monsters can stop Toon monsters. When the opponent's field has no Toon monsters, they can Direct Attack!"
"My Battle Phase begins, Yugi-boy~" Pegasus commanded. "First is (Toon Mermaid)! By paying 500 Life Points, the princess from the fairy tale—little (Toon Mermaid), Direct Attack Yugi-boy!"
[Pegasus: 7000 -> 6500 LP]
The "homebody" (Toon Mermaid), who had been huddled inside her shell, reached into the shell on her chest and magically pulled out a toy bow and an arrow. The tip of the arrow wasn't an arrowhead, but a harmless suction cup.
"Mmmph!"
Drawing the toy bow, the chibi mermaid let out a cute cry, and the arrow, defying the principles of archery, flew straight over Yugi's set monster and hit him.
[Yugi: 4000 -> 2600 LP]
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Author's Notes:
Both (Dark Magician) and (Toon Barrel Dragon) exist as real cards, but they never appeared in the anime. Instead, it was Dark Magician Girl who was taken.
Looking at it this way, Pegasus's deck does have a Minotaur theme. Did this guy really become a Minotaur to take revenge on the "Pure Love" Faction because his childhood sweetheart died? (Oh wait, I'm a Minotaur too, so never mind.)
Also, if I update on schedule every day (12:00, 15:00, 18:00), it means there are only three chapters for that day. However, if the second update appears before 15:00, it means there will be an extra chapter that day.
(end of chapter)