In the Audience Seating outside the Field, although some people had only been invited by Pegasus due to the factions behind them, the number of duelists was not small. A considerable portion of them had also noticed the change that had come over Pegasus.
"Pegasus, is he finally getting serious?"
The expression on Sheppard's face was unprecedentedly grave, leaving Tristan, who was standing beside him, completely bewildered. "But didn't Yugi already Counter Pegasus's (Toon World)? And Chumley cleared his entire Field. That guy's bound to lose, right?"
"No, in fact, this Duel is just beginning." Sheppard wore a thoughtful expression. "I don't know if you remember, but there's a special type of Monster that exists in Duel Monsters—a Ritual Monster."
"Hmph, I couldn't forget it if I tried," Mai Valentine said resentfully. She had been defeated by one of Yugi's Ritual Monsters—(Black Luster Soldier), Summoned by tributing one LIGHT and one DARK monster. How could she so easily forget the monster that had defeated her?
"We haven't seen many of them, but we've encountered two types of Ritual Monsters so far," Joey recalled. "The first time we saw a Ritual Monster was the day before the school's cultural festival, in a Duel for our class's booth, where Gorō the Pig-Head from another class used (Hungry Burger). Then there was Yugi's (Black Luster Soldier), making for a total of only two."
Compared to the number of other monsters, Ritual Monsters were indeed extremely rare; many people had never even seen one.
"Ritual Monsters are High-Level Monsters that can only be Summoned when the monster itself, its Ritual Card, and the necessary Tributes are all gathered. While their summoning conditions are strict, most of them are also quite powerful monsters," Sheppard explained. "The biggest restriction on Ritual Monsters is that summoning them often requires consuming a large number of monsters to meet the Level requirement."
" (Hungry Burger) needs a total Level of 6, and (Black Luster Soldier) needs a total Level of 8. It seems that's right," Tristan said with a nod, confirming that it was just as Sheppard had said.
Sheppard looked toward Pegasus. "But I once heard a rumor that Pegasus possesses a super Ritual Monster that requires only a Level 1 Tribute and has an ultimate Effect described as 'the deepest darkness in Duel Monsters'."
"According to the rumor, that monster is even more powerful than (Blue-Eyes White Dragon)."
"A Ritual Monster that only needs Level 1 to be Summoned and is even stronger than (Blue-Eyes White Dragon)?!"
Joey frowned. "How can there be such an shameless monster? The person who printed this card must be despicable, right?" He couldn't help but glance at Pegasus.
Oh, it's Pegasus. Never mind then. This guy was a notorious card printer, always thinking about printing powerful cards for himself. This wasn't the first time.
"The leisurely Game Time is over. Start Now, me will show you my greatest respect and Strategy to defeat you two Duel Kings!" Pegasus's expression was stern as he drew a Card from his Deck and played it on the Field. "I Activate the Spell Card, (Advanced Ritual Art)!"
"From me Deck, me will send Normal Monsters whose total Levels are equal to the Ritual Monster's Level to the Graveyard, to satisfy the Ritual's requirements!" Pegasus drew a card from his Deck and Sent it to Graveyard without a second thought. "The monster me is sending to the Graveyard is (Thousand-Eyes Idol)."
"It's a Level 1 monster! It seems that rumor was true after all." Sheppard watched Yugi and Chumley on the Field nervously. "That monster is coming. You can do it, Yugi, Chumley!"
Watching Pegasus send the Level 1 (Thousand-Eyes Idol) to the Graveyard, Yugi was full of doubt. "A Level 1 monster? Is he actually planning to Summon a Level 1 Ritual Monster? Heh, Pegasus, you've run out of tricks."
"No, that's not it, Yugi. It's the exact opposite; the most dangerous monster is on its way. Look closely at Pegasus. The Dark Power around him is swelling to an unprecedented degree," Chumley said grimly, looking at Pegasus. "I'm not entirely sure, but I'll Activate the Effect of my (Magician's Right Hand)! Once per Turn, while a Spellcaster-Type monster is on the Field, I can Negate the Activation of one Spell Card!"
Just as the Dark Altar, overflowing with Dark Magic, was about to be completed and its surging power was on the verge of release, Chumley's (Performapal Sky Magician) on the Field raised its right hand, which was bathed in Holy Light. A burst of sacred, light-based Magical Energy erupted, bringing the construction of Pegasus's altar to a halt.
But before Chumley could breathe a sigh of relief for having successfully stopped the monster's Summon, the construction of the Dark Altar, which should have stopped and crumbled, resumed. (Performapal Sky Magician), radiating its holy light, was suddenly cut off from the field by a blizzard that felt as if it could freeze one's very Soul.
"How is this possible!?"
"Nothing is impossible, Chumley-boy~" Pegasus revealed the Spell Card he had just activated. "The Effect of (Snowstorm) is to target one Spell Card on you Field and Negate all its effects, as well as the effects of all cards with the same name. Don't think you can stop me so easily~"
As Pegasus spoke, the Dark Power that had long been brewing within his (Millennium Eye) finally materialized, rapidly spreading across the Duel Field. Yugi's (Millennium Puzzle) and Chumley's (Millennium Ring) lit up as if in resonance, and an invisible confrontation between the equivalent dark powers began on the Field.
But the confrontation didn't last long before a new power intervened. The three forces from the three duelists were suddenly drawn in, guided into the now-completed altar on Pegasus's Field. Using the tributed (Thousand-Eyes Idol) as its vessel, a grotesque-looking ball of flesh appeared on Pegasus's Field, swallowing all three powers whole.
"Kuri-kuri!" (Rainbow Kuriboh) appeared on Chumley's shoulder, chirping urgently. It was trying to say that it felt an unprecedented sense of pressure from that monster, a pressure even greater than what it felt from Bakura back then.
"This is me true Ace Monster! The deepest Dark Power of Duel Monsters, the ultimate Illusion Monster that stands at the very pinnacle of Duel Monsters!" The expression on Pegasus's face completely lost control, twisting into a contorted visage that could rival the "sunshine boy" Marik, with veins bulging around his right eye. "Come, Yugi-boy, Chumley-boy, go ahead and try to surpass this Monster!"
"But all your efforts are useless! Because me is the creator of Duel Monsters, the invincible God among Duel Monsters! My (Relinquished) is invincible!"
(Relinquished) [Level 1 / DARK]
[Spellcaster / Ritual / Effect]
[ATK/0 / DEF/0]
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Author's Notes:
- (Relinquished), the pioneer of the "ATK 0/DEF 0 monsters are terrifying" trope, has finally made its appearance.
- In this novel, its anime version's effect will be used—the one that can infinitely absorb monsters and reflect damage.
(end of chapter)