The room was thick with pressure, like the heavy pause before a storm unleashed its fury. Even the dim overhead lights seemed to flicker in anticipation, casting jagged shadows across the dueling arena. Pegasus's crimson coat fluttered faintly as though in an unseen breeze, his silver hair catching the light with an almost spectral glimmer.
His smile, the trademark smirk that had unnerved countless opponents, curved wider than usual. Yet behind the polished façade, a tremor of unease betrayed itself in the corner of his lips. He adjusted his glasses, forcing composure. Across from him stood the Duelist Exterminator, silent as stone, trench coat unmoving, eyes like dark glass. There was no hint of emotion, no spark of rivalry—just cold calculation.
Still, Pegasus was not one to let dread dominate him. He tapped the top of his deck with theatrical flair, his voice carrying the sing-song charm of a ringmaster.
"I'll take the first turn, my grim-faced guest," he cooed, flipping his first card with exaggerated showmanship.
Turn 1 – Pegasus
"First, I activate the Spell Card: Toon World!"
A whimsical fanfare erupted as a massive pop-up book sprang to life behind Pegasus. Its pages flapped open, revealing colorful, cartoonish landscapes. Each time a page turned, squeaky noises filled the chamber, mocking the severity of the duel. Stars and confetti-like sparkles tumbled out, dancing across the stone floor.
"I pay 1000 Life Points to activate it."
[Pegasus LP: 4000 → 3000]
The strain flickered across his features as his life force poured into the book, but he masked it with a chuckle.
"Next, I summon Toon Mermaid in Defense Mode!"
[Toon Mermaid – DEF 1500]
A splash echoed unnaturally as the cartoon sea-dweller flopped onto the battlefield. She swam in a puddle of shimmering ink that materialized beneath her, winking playfully with oversized eyes.
"I set two cards face-down," Pegasus announced, sliding them into place with flourish, "and end my turn." He tipped his head slightly, letting his visible eye gleam with practiced mischief. Yet a faint line of sweat traced his brow.
Turn 2 – Duelist Exterminator
The Exterminator drew his card in one smooth motion, the action devoid of drama, his face void of expression. It was as though the duel itself were a foregone conclusion he was simply executing.
"I activate Mystical Space Typhoon."
The calm words were followed by a sudden violent gust. A cyclone ripped through the battlefield, tearing through the animated pages of Toon World. The book screamed in a high-pitched, almost comical wail before it burst apart in a shower of shredded paper and fading sparkles.
Pegasus staggered, clutching his chest as if stabbed. "Nooo! My lovely book!" he cried in mock despair, though his heart tightened with genuine alarm. Without Toon World, Toon Mermaid fizzled into static sparks, vanishing into nothingness.
The Exterminator's eyes narrowed. "I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior."
[Breaker – ATK 1600 (+ Spell Counter: 1900)]
A figure of armored steel and crimson cape materialized, staff blazing with arcane light. Energy surged through the room as Breaker raised his weapon, absorbing raw magic.
"I remove his Spell Counter," the Exterminator continued, "to destroy your left set card."
Breaker unleashed a blast of sorcery, striking down Pegasus's Toon Mask before it could flip. Shards of shattered holographic glass rained down.
"Breaker attacks directly."
Breaker leapt forward, staff slicing through Pegasus in a storm of sparks. The impact sent Pegasus reeling, his crimson coat whipping around him. His smirk faltered, his body trembling. For the first time in years, the pain of defeat registered on his face.
[Pegasus LP: 3000 → 1400]
The Exterminator's tone was ice. "I end my turn."
Turn 3 – Pegasus
Pegasus staggered upright, gasping faintly but forcing his composure. He drew with his trademark flourish, though the tension in his wrist betrayed him.
"How rude!" he snapped, voice half-pout, half-mockery. "You destroy my world and don't even bring me flowers?"
He slammed down a card. "I activate Toon Table of Contents!"
A floating bookmark with cartoon eyes popped up, flipping through invisible pages. Pegasus searched and plucked his card, sliding it triumphantly from the deck.
"I add Toon Kingdom to my hand, and now… behold!"
The field shimmered, then erupted as a massive golden tome locked itself upright in the arena. Chains of glowing script bound it in place, radiating an aura far sturdier than its predecessor.
"Toon Kingdom demands I banish the top three cards of my deck, and so I do!"
[Banished: Toon Goblin Attack Force, Toon Masked Sorcerer, Toon Table of Contents]
"Now my kingdom shall serve as Toon World, and my dear Toons shall be protected from your brutish spells and destruction!" Pegasus's confidence surged, his showman's grin tightening.
"I summon Toon Masked Sorcerer!"
[ATK 900]
The cartoon magician popped onto the field, oversized mask tilting mischievously.
"But he won't stay long," Pegasus sang. "I tribute him to a special summon, a greater demon of comedy and calamity! Behold… Toon Summoned Skull!"
[Toon Summoned Skull – ATK 2500]
Lightning crackled as a skeletal fiend burst forth, its oversized eyes bulging in animated malice, jagged grin stretching too wide. The creature flexed its clawed hands, sparks dancing comically with each motion.
"Alas," Pegasus sighed theatrically, "my darling Toon cannot attack this turn. But I set one card and end."
Turn 4 – Duelist Exterminator
The Exterminator's movements were measured, precise. He drew, eyes never leaving Pegasus.
"I summon Ally of Justice Cyclone Creator."
[ATK 1400]
The mechanical monstrosity hovered into the arena, gears grinding, its body exuding static menace.
"When I discard a card, Cyclone Creator can return a Spell or Trap on your field to your hand," he explained calmly. "But I won't need it to deal with your Toon Kingdom."
His next words were a death sentence. "I activate Heavy Storm."
The chamber howled as a massive gale engulfed the arena. Pages of the golden tome were ripped apart, scattering into a blinding whirlwind. Pegasus shielded his face, his eye wide with genuine panic. His final face-down was obliterated, the arena stripped bare.
Without Toon Kingdom's protection, Toon Summoned Skull exploded into pixels of shattered laughter, leaving Pegasus defenseless.
The Exterminator's tone was final. "Breaker. Direct attack."
Breaker surged forward, staff crashing down upon Pegasus with brutal precision. Sparks and force slammed into Pegasus's chest. He stumbled backward, coat flaring, body nearly collapsing under the onslaught.
[Pegasus LP: 1400 → 0]
The blast knocked Pegasus back a step, his polished shoes skidding against the stone floor. His duel disk sparked violently, lights flashing once, then fading into silence as it powered down—the loss was definitive.
His silver hair fell slightly over his face, and his glasses had slipped askew from the impact. His breath came ragged and shallow, yet, to the surprise of all watching, a smile curved across his lips. It wasn't arrogance this time, nor defiance—something quieter, more resigned, but still edged with the cunning glint that defined Pegasus J. Crawford.
"You certainly don't duel like any man I've faced before," Pegasus said, his voice lower now, rougher, as though scraped raw by the intensity of the duel.
The Duelist Exterminator gave no response. His duel disk powered down, his stance unchanged. He stood still, shoulders squared, his gaze locked on Pegasus with an intensity that was neither triumphant nor merciful. The silence that followed was heavier than any taunt could have been.
Pegasus coughed lightly, clutching his side where the feedback of the duel had struck hardest. Yet even as pain rippled through him, he let out a soft chuckle—half amusement, half disbelief at his own defeat.
From the shadows of the chamber, Jason finally stepped forward. He had been watching silently, his coat billowing behind him as if the darkness itself clung to him. His brows were furrowed, a reflection of the sharp focus in his eyes, but pride sat firmly in his posture.
"Your deck," Jason demanded, his voice cold but steady. "Hand it over. That was the ante."
The words cut deeper than the duel's conclusion itself. Pegasus hesitated, his fingers lingering on the still-warm surface of his duel disk. For a man who had built entire empires on the foundation of imagination and cards, surrendering this deck was more than payment—it was giving away a part of his soul.
Slowly, with deliberate care, Pegasus slid open a concealed compartment in the side of his duel disk. From within, he drew his beloved Toon Deck, the very cards that had carried his twisted sense of humor, his artistry, and his legacy. His hand trembled slightly—not from fear, but from the weight of letting go.
Jason's arm shot forward, quick and merciless, snatching the deck from Pegasus's grip before sentiment could interfere. Without a second glance, he tucked it beneath his coat.
Pegasus, still catching his breath, leaned against the duel disk strapped to his arm, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. His voice was hoarse, but steady.
"Enjoy it," he whispered, each word dripping with a strange mixture of sincerity and mockery. "But remember—" He paused, tilting his head just enough for the dim light to reflect off his glasses, hiding his eyes. "Even in defeat, a creator's influence never truly dies."
_____________________________________________________________________________________
If you'd like to support my work, consider donating to my Patreon!
By becoming a patron, you can gain access to up to 10 chapters ahead of public releases. My Patreon is patreon.com/SecondVoidlord.