Chapter 104: The Despicable Card-Printer
Hearing Bandit Keith's words, Mai Valentine turned to look at him, thought for a moment, and asked tentatively, "You wouldn't happen to be that All-American Champion, the 'Bandit' Keith who's plundered countless tournament prize money, would you?"
"Hmph, you've got a sharp eye, little lady," Bandit Keith said, his chin raised arrogantly now that his identity had been recognized.
Yugi and Joey shot him an angry glare.
"Yugi, you guys know this guy too?"
Hearing Mai Valentine's question, Joey replied with irritation, "This bastard ordered his men to kidnap me and force me into a duel in a cave. After his lackey lost, he even sent people to block us all inside. If we weren't lucky, we might not have gotten out."
"See, I told you you're nothing but a burden to Yugi. Getting yourself kidnapped, hahaha. In the end, the only thing you've got going for you is luck," Mai Valentine teased after hearing Joey's story. She had once challenged Joey and, despite having a massive advantage, was defeated by a comeback from his [Time Wizard] combined with [Baby Dragon]. Losing to such a gambling card was clearly still a sore spot for her.
"Why you...!"
While Joey and Mai Valentine were "heatedly" interacting beside him, Chumley noticed that Yugi's gaze towards the Field was filled with worry.
"That Kaiba fellow's specialty is overpowering opponents by combining powerful monsters, but the [Toon] Monsters have the ability to not be destroyed by battle," Chumley analyzed. "Although Pegasus still takes the overflow battle damage, it's obvious his Life Points are decreasing much slower than Kaiba's, who is taking direct attacks."
The events in the Audience Seating had no effect on the duel between Kaiba and Pegasus, which was raging fiercely. Using a Set Trap, Kaiba managed to capture one of the constantly moving [Toon] Monsters and then attacked with two Blue-Eyes to annihilate it. The resulting overflow battle damage dropped Pegasus's Life Points all the way down to a mere 1000.
Meanwhile, Pegasus had been relentlessly using his [Toon] Monsters to direct attack. Although Kaiba had blocked some of them with cards like [Attack Nullification], his own Life Points were now only at 1500.
After the intense exchange, both duelists had nearly exhausted their resources. Kaiba's [Lord of D.] had been destroyed in a previous battle, but that shameless [Toon World] on Pegasus's Field remained.
Looking at the three Set Cards in Pegasus's Back Row, Kaiba hesitated. True to his usual style, he would have already attacked with his two invincible Blue-Eyes on the Field. But his opponent in this duel was Pegasus, the creator of Duel Monsters, and the stakes were his own younger brother. Kaiba had to be cautious, extremely cautious.
Drawing his card for the turn, Kaiba's heart leaped with joy. He had drawn the third [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] from his Deck. In his Hand, he also held one [Polymerization], one [Ancient Rules], and one [De-Fusion]. An idea formed in his mind.
'Pegasus has three Set Cards. I'll first attack with one Blue-Eyes to test the waters. If it gets caught, I'll activate [Polymerization] to dodge the Trap's attack and Special Summon [Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon]. Even if Pegasus activates another Trap, I have [De-Fusion] to dodge one more time. After that, that bastard Pegasus will have no chance of winning!'
At this thought, the corner of Kaiba's mouth curled into a smirk, and he was about to activate [Ancient Rules] from his Hand to Special Summon [Blue-Eyes White Dragon].
But just as Kaiba was about to play the card from his Hand, Pegasus on the opposite side suddenly shouted, "Stop!"
"Stop, Kaiba-boy! Don't you move, don't you let me see that card~" Pegasus said with a smile as he revealed a Set Card on his Field. "The card I Set on the Field is [Prophecy]. Targeting the card you just drew, the effect of [Prophecy] is that I get to make a prediction."
"Using 2000 as the threshold, I will guess whether it is higher or lower. If I guess correctly, that card in your Hand will be added to mine."
Yugi's pupils shrank. "This is bad! Pegasus's [Millennium Eye] can perform mind reading. If that's the case, this card's effect will be 100% successful!"
And indeed, Pegasus spoke with supreme confidence, "I predict that the Attack of the card in your Hand is above 2000."
"What!" Kaiba wore an expression of utter shock.
In the past, he had once seen Pegasus duel at a Duel Monsters tournament. His opponent then was none other than Bandit Keith, who was now sitting in the Spectator Stands. At the time, Pegasus hadn't even participated personally; instead, he wrote on a slip of paper and had a spectator duel for him. That spectator wasn't even ten years old.
Back then, Bandit Keith had been furious, thinking Pegasus was looking down on him. But to everyone's surprise, the note Pegasus left had predicted every move Bandit Keith would make. The child, following the instructions on the paper, had actually defeated Bandit Keith, who was already the All-American Champion at the time.
Kaiba had watched it all from the sidelines, but he had concluded it was just a staged performance by the two. After all, there had been quite a few betting pools on that duel. It was possible Bandit Keith had been paid off to throw the match, just to get a huge payout.
"Oh my~ Kaiba-boy, you seem to have quite a shocked expression on your face," Pegasus said, his eyes smiling into slits. "In that case, I shall make my prophecy even more precise."
"The card you just drew and added to your Hand is a Level 8, LIGHT Attribute Dragon-Type, with 3000 Attack and 2500 Defense. It is your Ace Monster,"
"[Blue-Eyes White Dragon]!"
"You bastard, don't tell me you can actually read minds?!" Kaiba was completely stunned. Pegasus's prophecy could no longer be described as a "guess." His Hand was utterly exposed, as if laid bare before him. With a look of unwillingness, he placed the Blue-Eyes onto the Field. The Duel Arena's mechanism flipped, sending the card over to Pegasus's Hand.
In the Spectator Stands, Téa complained, "I bet that's another one-of-a-kind card, isn't it? Making cards that only work in his favor... he's so despicable!"
Watching Pegasus add the Blue-Eyes to his Hand, Kaiba's face darkened. No longer caring about the two unknown Set Cards, he immediately commanded his Blue-Eyes to attack.
"Burst Stream of Destruction!"
With only the defenseless [Toon World] on the Field, Pegasus showed no fear in the face of the two incoming blasts of white dragon's breath. He activated a card from his Back Row. "Such a reckless attack, Kaiba-boy~ The effect of [Absorption Shield] allows me to recover Life Points equal to the Attack of your Blue-Eyes, which is 3000 points~"
[Pegasus: 1000 LP -> 4000 LP]
"Damn it, but I still have my other Blue-Eyes!"
Seeing Pegasus's Life Points restored to their starting value, Kaiba said with displeasure. But before he could feel triumphant, the breath of light heading towards Pegasus was suddenly shattered by a series of chains. The unbreakable chains followed the path of the attack back to its source, tightly binding one of the Blue-Eyes.
"[Dark Binding]. A Monster entangled in these dark chains loses its ability to attack or change its Battle Position," Pegasus said, his expression as composed as ever. "Not only that, due to the conflict of Light and Darkness, your Blue-Eyes's Attack will also decrease by 700 points, Kaiba-boy~"
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] [ATK 3000 -> 2300]
"My turn, Draw!" Pegasus drew a card, a smile gracing his face. "Kaiba-boy, this duel is mine!"
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*He only knows how to print his own cards, so despicable, unforgivable, Pegasus!*
*Unless you print cards for me too, I won't forgive you!*
(end of chapter)