Meanwhile, Yugi, or rather, Yami Yugi filling in for Yugi Muto, was undergoing Pegasus's trial.
Looking at his empty Field and the few Cards in his Hand, Yugi was hesitant, unable to decide which Monster to Summon.
In the duels over the past few Turns, no matter what Monster he Summoned, Pegasus in the Videotape seemed to foresee exactly what Cards he, the viewer, would play. He always set up suitable Traps in advance to counter. From "Dragon Seal Pot," targeting Dragon-Type Monsters, to "Pot Fiend," which could release Fiends from a pot, the cards were interlinked, making Yugi feel like he had stepped into a Trap.
'Could it be that Pegasus, this guy—'
"See into your mind."
Even the guesses that momentarily surfaced in Yugi's Mind as he struggled were accurately Mind Read by Pegasus in the video.
Thinking this, Yugi's gaze involuntarily flickered to Pegasus's left eye, which he had been curious about from the very beginning. What rested there was not a human eyeball, but a gleaming golden metallic "Millennium Eye," whose design couldn't help but remind Yugi of the Millennium Puzzle hanging around his own neck.
Almost as soon as Yugi's gaze met Pegasus's "Millennium Eye," an extremely subtle, imperceptible power passed through their eyes from Pegasus's "Millennium Eye" to Yugi's. Involuntarily, Yugi lowered his head to look at his Hand. When he saw a Zombie-Type Monster in his Hand, his hand reached out on its own, about to play that Card.
Just then, a loud "dong" suddenly echoed from behind Yugi, pulling him back from his dazed state. Puzzled by his strange condition from moments before, Yugi couldn't help but turn his head to look behind him.
His body and limbs controlled like a puppet by several ethereal Duel Monsters, Chumley pushed open the living room door like a Zombie, stumbling into the Duel Field. Noticing Yugi's gaze, sweat dripped continuously from Chumley's forehead. He forced a smile and said, "Yo, Yugi-boy, no, 'Yami Yugi,' you wouldn't refuse a visitor joining, would you?"
"Chumley-boy? What an unexpected encounter, I didn't think you'd be able to move freely within the realm of this Shadow Game." Pegasus in the Videotape was also surprised by Chumley's appearance. He elegantly spread his hands. "At least 'me' has no objections to your joining. Duel Monsters is the greatest Game, worth being known by more people!"
Yugi, however, looked at the Card Spirits attached to Chumley's limbs with concern: "Chumley, your condition—"
"I'm just using the power of the Card Spirits to fight against the power of the Millennium Item. If I don't move around, the consumption isn't too great." Chumley sat down on the sofa, looking at Yugi with a smile. "The principle is simply using the Card Spirits to 'control' my body."
"Hahaha, that starfish head over there, our collective power is the strongest!"
"That Kuriboh bastard only gets to be proud for so long, the rest still depends on us."
"Big Bro's strongest subordinate title will definitely be ours, neh~"
Chumley unceremoniously slapped his right hand—or more accurately, the Ojama Yellow attached to it—with his left hand, which was possessed by Gaia: "You subordinates shut your mouths and quietly watch the Match!"
"Yes!" *3
Chumley's appearance was just an unexpected interlude, but when Yugi shifted his attention back to his Hand, he couldn't help but stare blankly: Why had he just wanted to Summon that Zombie-Type Monster?
'Card Spirits controlling Chumley's body allowed him to move, control—' Realizing this, Yugi's eyes widened. He vaguely guessed Pegasus's true ability in the Videotape. It definitely wasn't precognition; otherwise, he would have known about Chumley's appearance. His real ability was—
Drawing a Card from the top of his Deck and glancing at it sideways, Yugi Summoned that Monster to the Field: "The Monster I'm Summoning is—"
"It's a Zombie-Type Monster, isn't it? Hoho~ Yugi-boy, I already predicted what Monster 'you' would Summon." Pegasus interrupted Yugi, and nonchalantly Flipped a Set Card in his Back Row: "'Me' will Activate the Trap Card, [Sunbath]. The sacred 'sun' will Destroy all Zombie-Type Monsters on the Field."
"Is that so?"
Yet, no surprise showed on Yugi's face: "Pegasus, the essence of your ability is actually seeing my Hand, isn't it? I already predicted that you would prepare Cards targeting the Monster in my Hand, but unfortunately! This Card of mine isn't a Zombie-Type; it's the Spellcaster-Type [Dark Magician]!"
A stern-faced man appeared, clad in a handsome wizard's robe. The emerald-green staff in his hand was twirled a few times like a long pole, looking quite impressive.
"NO! It's not a Zombie-Type Monster, after all~" Pegasus looked at the [Dark Magician] Yugi Summoned, feigning a sad expression.
Yugi waved his hand: "[Dark Magician], go and strike down my controlled [Archfiend Dragon]!"
Pegasus's exaggerated expression suddenly returned to normal. Yugi's Attack Target clearly wasn't limited to [Archfiend Dragon]. "Why use [Dark Magician] to Attack [Archfiend Dragon] instead of the weaker [Pot Fiend]? If you had, this Game would have ended, Yugi-boy?"
"Because [Archfiend Dragon] is my own Monster. My own Monster should be buried by myself; it would be too regrettable for the Battle to end under your control." Yugi's face showed a confident expression, because in his opinion, Pegasus's feigned Magical Energy had been completely seen through by him. "Also, your habit of saying 'boy' is really annoying to listen to."
"Because 'me' is an American, speaking this way is normal. And Chumley-boy also calls you that often, so 'you're' being quite hypocritical, Yugi-boy~"
"Enough talk, [Dark Magician], Attack!"
First, like a martial monk from Shaolin Temple, he rotated his long staff like a cudgel in his palm, endlessly and ostentatiously. After showing off for a moment, [Dark Magician] finally remembered the command his master had just given. With a gentle wave of his staff, a surge of dark magical energy erupted, effortlessly turning the [Archfiend Dragon], which Pegasus had taken from Yugi using "Dragon Seal Pot," into dust.
As [Dark Magician] definitively annihilated [Archfiend Dragon], Pegasus looked at his Life Points, which had dropped to 1200 in one go, and burst out laughing: "Yugi-boy, this trivial obsession of yours will cut off your Life Points."
"To be able to discern 'a part of my' ability's truth, Yugi-boy, you've passed. It's time 'me' got serious!"
On another note, Pegasus was actually one of my childhood crushes! I find him super interesting, sometimes handsome, sometimes humorous, and his way of speaking is so cute. Also, white hair really is a special attack, and the way it covers [his eye] really hits the spot.
(end of chapter)