"ATK and DEF are both 0? That really matches its Level." Tristan asked Samejima beside him in a doubtful tone. "Although I'm not very good at Duel Monsters, I still understand a bit because of Yugi and the others."
"Is a Monster like that really stronger than Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon?"
Joey Wheeler shook his head. "No, Tristan, that Monster is definitely not simple at all. Look at its ATK, it's 0!"
"Hayato told me that even a Monster with Infinite Attack Power is just that. The most troublesome Monsters in Duel Monsters are those with 0 ATK, and Monsters with both 0 ATK and DEF are even more difficult."
"Aniki, look at that Relinquished, it's so lame, its ATK and DEF are both 0!" Ojama Yellow didn't notice the heavy atmosphere on the Field at all. Seeing that Pegasus's Ace Card Relinquished's Stats weren't even as good as its own, it suddenly got arrogant. "A Monster like that, I could do it too."
"Activate, Relinquished's Special Effect." Veins bulged on Pegasus's face, and a dark light flashed in his Millennium Eye. "Once per Turn, it can Suck In one Monster into its Body, gaining all of that Monster's Power!"
"Sky Magician! You, who are Hayato boy's strongest Ace Card, become the bait for my strongest Monster—Relinquished!"
The "tumor" on Pegasus's Field began to deform. Two fleshy wings, resembling both white bones and the fascia on meat, opened up, revealing Relinquished's deformed true form within the tumor—a top-heavy, bottom-narrow conical Torso, a long, snake-like twisting neck topped with a head made of a single eye, Claws flashing with cold light on its five fingers, and a constantly writhing void in its abdominal cavity like the mouthparts of some kind of Ocean creature.
Although spending every day with Ojama Monsters had given him some Immunity to such ugly and disgusting-looking Monsters, that didn't mean Hayato could suppress the disgust in his Inner Thoughts towards Relinquished.
"Activate, devour, turn everything into your nourishment, Relinquished, Dark Hole!"
The giant mouth in the abdominal cavity suddenly expanded and opened at Pegasus's command, becoming the size of a normal person. Relinquished's eye emitted a purple light, locking onto Sky Magician. Deep purple evil Mystical Power expanded outwards. Although Sky Apprentice and Performapal Helper Ant tried to help, they still couldn't stop Sky Magician from being swallowed and absorbed by the Dark Hole in Relinquished's abdomen.
Relinquished [0/0→2800/2000]
"After absorbing Sky Magician, Relinquished will gain all of his Power, whether it's ATK or DEF, or even his Effect!"
"Bond? Friendship? Trust? Ridiculous!" A fierce Expression appeared on Pegasus's face. He raised his hand and pointed at Yugi. "Regret it under the Attack of your Friend's Ace Monster, Yugi-boy!"
"Relinquished Direct Attack on Mutou Yuugi! Illusion Sky Magician!"
From the "wings" behind Relinquished, the figure of the recently absorbed Sky Magician emerged. However, his eyes were lifeless, and his body was drained of Mystical Power, leaving him in a sorry state. Receiving Pegasus's command, Sky Magician, under Relinquished's control, raised the hand holding the Ring and mercilessly launched an Attack towards the empty space on the Field where Yugi stood!
"He's actually using Hayato's Monster to Attack Yugi?!" Téa stood up from her seat worriedly. Although the people sitting in the row behind her complained discontentedly because their view was blocked, she couldn't care less. "Yugi, hang in there!"
"If I let this Attack go through, Yugi's Life Points will be wiped out, and I won't allow that!" Hayato glanced at Yugi. Yugi nodded, signaling Hayato to continue. Hayato then played the last Card from his Hand. "When an opponent's Monster declares an Attack, I Activate the Effect of Rainbow Kuriboh from my Hand!"
"Come forth, the invincible Kuriboh!"
Riding the brilliance of the rainbow, Rainbow Kuriboh bravely intercepted Sky Magician's Attack. The seemingly fragile rainbow wall perfectly blocked the Attack and transformed into seven-colored light bands that wrapped around Relinquished, making it unable to Attack for a moment.
"Onore, you actually interfered with me again, Hayato Kobayashi!" As the Darkness Mystical Power of the Millennium Eye continuously spread and dissipated, Pegasus's mental state seemed to be subtly affected. The pattern of the "Eye of Wjat/Udjat", common to all Millennium Items, began to faintly appear on his forehead. "My Turn Ends!"
[Pegasus: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
Relinquished (Sky Magician, Rainbow Kuriboh) [ATK 2800]
"A-Aniki, that guy seems really off!" Ojama Yellow only realized the horror of Relinquished at this moment. Its legs trembled, and it couldn't help but say, "Aniki, how about we Surrender? We can't beat that guy."
"Yeah, Aniki, Surrender and lose half!" Besides Ojama Yellow, the other four Ojama Monsters also popped out. Even though it wasn't their Battle, they were so eager to Surrender. As expected of the Ojama tribe, famous for being Useless Cards, cowardly, and self-preserving, they really couldn't be relied on.
"Bullshit, stop spouting nonsense. Where did you hear about Surrendering and losing half?" Hayato waved his hand, shooing away the troublesome Ojama Monsters, and focused on the Duel. However, the gradually deranged mental state of Pegasus on the other side brought him immense Pressure.
Of course, perhaps the contrast of Pegasus, who always liked to insert a few English words into his speech, suddenly starting to speak properly also contributed to the feeling.
'Is it because the Duel is at a disadvantage, he Summoned Relinquished, and he's repeatedly pushing the Millennium Eye's Power, that the corrosion of the Millennium Eye is accelerating due to multiple reasons? No, perhaps 'the Millennium Eye is controlling Pegasus' is a more fitting statement than 'Pegasus is being corroded by the Millennium Eye'.'
Looking at Pegasus, who was like a Puppet he had once controlled, with the "Eye of Wjat/Udjat" already appearing on his forehead, Hayato sighed, and his gaze became firm again. 'Whether you're Pegasus, Millennium Pegasus, or Ultimate Pegasus, if you dare to steal my Monster, I'll utterly crush you within three Turns and scatter your Deck!'
"My Turn, Draw a Card!" It was Yugi's Turn again. He Drew a Card and added it to his Hand.
Looking at the Card he had just Drawn, Yugi had an idea in his Heart and acted on it immediately. "Face-up Defense Position Summon Mystical Elf, then Activate the Spell Card, Trap Booster! By Discarding a card from hand, I can Activate a Trap Card directly from my Hand!"
"I Discard Dark Ruler Ha Des from my Hand and Activate the Trap Card, Reversal of Graves! I Special Summon Man-Eater Bug from my Graveyard to your Field!"
The Flip Monster Man-Eater Bug, which Hayato had given to Yugi, was sent by Yugi to Pegasus's Field. However, because it was Summoned in Face-up Defense Position, it likely wouldn't have a chance to Activate its Effect. Moreover, Yugi didn't Activate this Trap Card out of kindness.
"Because a Monster was Special Summoned to your Field, this Card on my Field has finally met the timing for activation." Yugi smiled and revealed the Card he had Set earlier. Dark Magic Curtain! By Tributing the Man-Eater Bug Special Summoned to your Field and the Mystical Elf on my Field, absorb the Dark Power and Revive from the Graveyard, dwelling within the Spellcaster's Torso!"
"My most loyal servant, Dark Magician!"
After many twists and turns, Yugi's Ace Monster—Dark Magician—was finally Summoned to the Field. Appearing for the second time, this time he was no longer the corrupted, blackened Toon Monster controlled by Pegasus, but a powerful Magician who wielded Magic Tricks.
This time, he was going to settle the score with Pegasus for being controlled before.
Dark Magician [ATK 2500]
The Duel is already nearing its end. As usual, here's a preview (it's useless):
"The Bond of Friendship will create a brand new Path of Radiance"
"Can the debts accumulated over the years still be settled?"
"Duels are meant to bring smiles to people"
"Jackpot"
The above will not appear in the following text.
(End of this chapter)