VS Pegasus the Toon Enthusiast and Asuto’s Challenge (Or the chapter where Pegasus burns)

MAXIMILLIAN PEGASUS: 2000

ASUTO KIRIHARA: 2000

"Since you were so kind to bring me here against my will, I'll go first Draw!" I wasn't going to let him go away with that previous stunt of him; I know that asked for it, but dammit that felt disgusting in every sense of the word.

"And I will begin with my Branded Fusion, which let me Fusion summon 1 Fusion monster that mentions "Fallen of Albaz" as material from my Extra Deck, using 2 monsters from my hand, Deck, or field as Fusion Material" I said while sending one Fallen of Albaz from my deck and the Dramaturge of Despia from my hand to the graveyard.

[BRANDED FUSION]

[TYPE SPELL]

[PROPERTY NORMAL]

Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster that mentions "Fallen of Albaz" as material from your Extra Deck, using 2 monsters from your hand, Deck, or field as Fusion Material. You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck, except Fusion Monsters, the turn you activate this card. You can only activate 1 "Branded Fusion" once per turn.

To later see how both Albaz and Dramaturge were absorbed by the colorful blue, orange and green vortex, only for a sea of flame to come on out and engulf the entire dark space, making Pegasus, that for some reason hadn't started his usual mind game of 'I know that card that you are going to play', recoil against the searing flames, which I have to admit, literally made the temperature to rise up, making the already dreary atmosphere even more suffocating.

[DRAMATURGE OF DESPIA]

[ATTRIBUTE DARK]

[TYPES Fairy / Effect]

[LEVEL 8]

[ATK 3000/ DEF 1500]

If a Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, or Link Monster is Special Summoned (except during the Damage Step): You can target 1 Effect Monster on the field; negate its effects until the end of this turn. If this card in your hand or field is used as Fusion Material, and sent to the GY or banished: You can Special Summon this card. You can only use each effect of "Dramaturge of Despia" once per turn.

[FALLEN OF ALBAZ]

[ATTRIBUTE DARK]

[TYPES Dragon / Effect]

[LEVEL 4]

[ATK 1800/ DEF 0]

If this card is Normal or Special Summoned (except during the Damage Step): You can discard 1 card; Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters on either field as Fusion Material, including this card, but you cannot use other monsters you control as Fusion Material. You can only use this effect of "Fallen of Albaz" once per turn.

Dragon born of the forced union of the lost dragonoid and the first heretic

Burn away this once fertile land and graze everyone with the flames of dark crimson purgatory

Rejoice! For today the hour of reckoning has come!

"I Fusion Summon! Masquerade the Blazing Dragon!" what appeared next could be easily described as a jester in the form of a dragon, with a neck and wings of black and red that seemed to resemble a circus carpet, a long neck followed by long wavy crimson hair, a body with scales and muscles of white, red and black, with one golden knee guard in each one of his knees, powerful looking marble white claws, and with an red marble adorned in both chest and in his forehead, as well as inverted golden cross like ornaments and two blank and purple backward curved horns, ended in a face of pure black from which came out a long slithery purple tongue.

[MASQUERADE, THE BLAZING DRAGON]

[ATTRIBUTE DARK]

[TYPES Fiend / Fusion / Effect]

[LEVEL 8]

[ATK 2500/ DEF 2000]

1 "Despia" monster + 1 LIGHT or DARK monster

While you control this Fusion Summoned card, your opponent must pay 600 LP to activate cards or effects. If your opponent controls a Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, or Link Monster, while this card is in your GY (Quick Effect): You can Special Summon this card, but banish it when it leaves the field. You can only use this effect of "Masquerade the Blazing Dragon" once per turn.

The dragon sole presence gave a feeling of playful despair, like if everything in front of his presence would be nothing more but a joke, and how his face which resembled a mask, only worked through his eyes to convey a feeling of joy at the misfortune of everyone that dared to cross his path.

"Thanks to my Branded Fusion I can only Special Summon Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck for the rest of the turn" I said while Masquerade gazed at me, and slowly chuckled at the situation I found myself in, this dragon had a really twisted sense of humor.

Still, he was exactly what I needed to win this Duel, nonetheless…I will make sure that Pegasus never forgets who he is fighting against to.

...................

This wasn't what he expected.

He, Mazimillian Pegasus, was man of many gifts and talents, during his life he has been recognized as an excellent artist, and enthusiast of good classical music, an eccentric man of refined tasted and as wonderful husband and lover, though the later should be changed to a widower after the love of his life, his true light, his Cecelia passed away.

Life hasn't been the same for him since them, he remembered the time they meet each other for the very first time, during an extravagant and unnecessary party that his father forced him to attend, when the only thing he ever wanted was to keep painting and watching his daily episode of his always favorite Funny Bunny cartoon show.

Ahh~

What a wonderful mix of chaotic, mischievous and cunning bunny he was, always escaping the claws of the righteous but hysteric Ruff Ruff McDogg, the brave but foolish police officer always trying to catch such an elusive and tricky bunny.

Reminiscing his favorite cartoon always made him elated to watch once more the more than three thousand chapters that the series had before its eventual annulment.

Oh~ what a sad day indeed!

But thanks to his fortune left by his deceased parents he was able to recuperate, every single chapter even building a theater for his personal enjoyment, where he could see again and again the crazy adventures of his favorite bunny.

But sadly not even that was able to top, the experience of that day, when that beautiful and delicate little girl of long golden hair of his same age appeared in front of him, oh he knew at that time that they were fated to be, he never stopped thinking about her, and later during his teenage years she became his muse, his reason to live, to breathe and exist, she was his everything.

Oh and after years of knowing each other, and finally reciprocating each other feelings in countless occasions, knowing it couldn't have been more perfect than the time we swear our vows in my private chapel, it was the happiest moment of my life.

But that happiness ended too quickly, she fell to incurable decease which not even the greatest doctors of the world were truly able to identify nor cure, I had to see little by little my lovely Cecelia became a shade of her former self, seeing her in our room draped in white sheets with her bones showing through her sking and her pale complexion didn't weaken the love that I held for her.

NO!

It pushed even harder to look for a cure, for something, anything! I wanted to live my life with her and only her, I needed her, I loved her too much to think of a life without her by my side for eternity.

And still

In that lonely morning, with the sun radiating her white pale face, she laid there in my arms while I sobbed and mourned her passing, from that moment…life lost its meaning to me.

The colors were gray

Everything tasted bland

And my imagination was filled with white static noises

I could only draw her in my private study, crying for her to come back to my arms, to fill the hole that her departing left in me.

For most of the time, I spend what little remained in me in my private study, igonoring the call of my servants, the food that they prepared and the water they served me, I just painted, over and over again.

Her visage, the only constant in my life.

Until I couldn't tolerate it anymore, I was desperate; I wanted everything, anything that could bring her back to me and only me!

So I researched the many mysteries of the world, knowing that I was only lying to myself, that there was no real way to bring back the dead, until a rumor came to laid in my hands from the mouth of my closest servant Croquet, telling me about powers and magic, were great kings of old disputed many great battles with the fate of the world as the ultimate prize.

One sane man would thought that all of that was rubbish, nothing more, but a man that has lost his path will take even the devils hand only to find his way home.

Making a trip to Egypt was nothing to me, but finding the elusive tomb was another dilemma, still it seemed that day fate favored me, for I stumbled upon the ancient tomb alongside their protector.

Shadi

He was san enigma in itself, there was something about that I couldn't grasp, like if he were there but at the same time not; nonetheless his presence didn't disturb me, what got my attention was the stone beside him, in the form of a sarcophagus there lay many trinkets of pure gold.

"So you choose not to heed my warning" Shadi was a man of few words and many mysteries, it was thanks to him that I was able to found the place of rest of the millennium items; of course he warned me against it, but I didn't pay attention to him, in contrast I made my way to hells gate, not knowing that this was just part of my destiny.

In that moment two men grabbed me, I tried to force myself out of their clutches but they proved to be stronger than I expected, they dragged me in front of the stone were Shadi stood and forced me to my knees, I have never been so rudely treated in my life, not even when my father disciplined me for my actions.

"I am a guardian of the Millennium Items, once this sacred place has been discovered, the only way to leave is to be chosen" now closer to him his words seemed to reverberate in the entire room, adding a sense of mystery to everything "It must be your destiny" he said that while grabbing what now is my Millennium Eye

At that time I was doubtful, how could this trinket would be part of my destiny? I didn't understand, but, it was just a matter of time by then, he presented to me the Millennium Eye it didn't seem like much I suppose, it was just a slightly bigger golden eye, honestly at that time I was just getting more and more confused, a part of me thought that maybe this Shadi loved theatrics, he had the flair to it.

He told me that each Item awaits the day its fated possessor appears to claim it and punish those who are unworthy of their powers, I didn't realize at that time, but he was uncomfortably close to me, little by little getting closer and closer with his hands grabbing the Millennium Eye pointing at me.

"Now if you pass its test, it will empower you to see more than you've ever seen" what could I see? It was a question that resonated in my head, but I was still skeptical of all of this "And if I fail its test?" I shouldn't have asked.

With a sadistic smile he answered my question even though a part of me couldn't believe what I was hearing at all "If you are not the one destined to possess it, all that awaits you are nightmares beyond your imagination" before my mind could process what I was hearing he pressed the Millennium Eye against my left eye, and then blinded by a light of brilliant gold, I experimented one the most gut wrenching sensations of my life, letting me experiment like someone was toying with whole being and reshaped it to their liking, even though it could have been only seconds, minutes or even hours, the truth it's that I don't know for oh so long I was screaming my lungs out while feeling one of the biggest perversions done to me in my life.

But Shadi seemed rejoiced, happy if I dare to say, he congratulated me, for not succumbing at the power of the Millennium Eye, in contrast Shadi just kept talking, but I couldn't hear exactly what, my mind and my body were still numb thanks to pain like I have never experienced before in my life.

Until something happened, a miracle itself!

Because in that moment, a paradise was open to me, an in said paradise there she was, Cecelia, she was descending into my arms once again, I could feel her, touch her, smell her, and hear her! It was her, it was my Cecelia there was no doubt about it, I could recognize her voice anywhere, and for a moment in that painfully short embrace I felt like everything made sense once again, but…

It wasn't mean to last.

For in the next instant, she disappeared, once again leaving my side to Gods knows where, that couldn't be right, she was there! I know it was her, I would recognize my lovely Cecelia without a doubt, it has to be her…It has to.

But, this didn't break me, no, on the contrary, since I saw you in that moment Cecelia I knew it, there was a chance to bring you back, I just needed to find a way to do it, and that led me to another discovery, the stone tablets of mighty monster once used as a way to summon powerful monster from beyond.

A mix between artistic inspiration combined with my sole desire to see you once again, drove me like a mad man to create something entirely new, the biggest sensation of our era my very own Duel Monsters.

A card game like no before, simple in design and play, but always ready to surprise the duelist both old and new, nonetheless that couldn't be enough, it was only a step, one of many may I say, but I accomplished it, I thought that I f I were to recreate the era when this mighty monster resided maybe I could summon you soul as well, but a soul needs a body, now imagine my surprise when that little girl Kaiba presented such an innovative way of fueling with her hologram technology.

Marvelous! Revolutionary!

It was something extraordinary, as a businessman how could I say no to a contract with the infamous Kaiba Corp, which now seemed to shine in an entire new light, thanks to its new and youngest CEO in history, oh and poor Gozaburo Kaiba, I suppose the surprise of seeing his only daughter to triumph over his arms dealing empire drove to misstep in his own company rooftop.

A shame, he won't be sorely missed.

Now then, I was static, with the power of my Eye, Kaiba Corp technology and my, thought short, understanding of Duel Monsters, I gave away to more than a decade of polishing my card game, to the point that I finally was able to create my Duelist Kingdom, the place where the King of Duels will be decided, but at the same time, the place where the souls of the strongest and most talented duelist will be reunited, their souls will be the soil to my Cecelia great come back.

Nonetheless, "Duel Energy!" ah the young man that beat young Kaiba he was a surprise in itself, I got so accustomed to read someone mind from the get go that I forgot what it felt to have a literal enigma in front of me, for one of the curses of my Eye was that this mind reading ability of mine, even though I could control it at will, sometimes it will flare without control.

Forcing me to endure more than my poor brain could process, though in his hour of strife a man should always show its strongest side.

That why too I only had my most loyal servants in my private island with me, I suppose I will have to endure the considerable amount of participants for now, coming back to the boy, he really was able to irritate me, how dare he-?! To say her name! In my face and treat it like it is a game, unforgivable, absolutely unforgivable.

I could have attacked him, there was no way to affect his mind but his soul, in this space dominated by a combinations of the shadow games and my Millennium eye was bare to me and my will; I should have punished him, but the information he gave was what I have been trying to find for so long, an energy, no a type of energy, exclusive od the duelist, part of their life force at that, of course, it means that my efforts weren't in vain, there was a way for Cecelia to come back to me.

I just need a way to harness it, to extract it and store it, combined with the power of my Eye and the technology of Kaiba Corp, there was a glimpse, a future where my Cecelia could be by my side once again.

Of course he started to talk about some machinery, but I knew that he was bluffing, I was going to milk him of the information I wanted, as for the necessary technology for it? I am sure that a union between the greatest mind of Illusion Industries and Kaiba Corp would be able to make a way to understand and manipulate Duel Energy, I wasn't that concerned.

Still, I overexerted myself, using such amount of power only to teach this boy a lesson took out more from me than I like it, but I think it was worth it, of course there was too the matter of their bet, I was sure that I could win against him, my Eye hasn't failed me once, but with the…inconvenience of not being able to read his mind and much less of learning his core strategy, didn't mean that I wasn't going to be in control of the game.

It has been a while since someone could give me a challenge, I suppose I could put a little bit of effort in this game, though, I was curious what the second challenge would entail.

"Since you were so kind to bring me hear against my will, I'll go first Draw!" how rude, it seems like someone didn't learn his manners when he was a child, it will be better if I contact his parents, surely that will annoy him quite some especially coming from some one of my status, ah let's not forget why a came to meet him Pegasus you old fool, you may be in your early thirties, but that doesn't mean that you have to act as if you were way older.

Focus Maximillian…outside of my impromptu monologue now was the tie to act since I could finally seethe cards of the boy that bested that silly girl, only to find out through my eyes that I have never seen these cards before! Where?! How?! And more importantly who?!

Does this mean that Illusion Industries finally had an adversary? Or could they be fake? No, just like the especial paper used exclusively to imprint bills there was a special type of cardboard that I, and only I and my subsidiaries use to imprint our cards, there was no way that someone else was able to get the exact formula for their making.

MY rambling was suddenly cut off by a sea of blazing flames, so hot and fiery that made me recoil in fear of getting burn.

Dragon born of the forced union of the lost dragonoid and the first heretic

Burn away this once fertile land and graze everyone with the flames of dark crimson purgatory

Rejoice! For today the hour of reckoning has come!

"MASQUERADE THE BLAZING DRAGON!"

What?!

No, wait!

What is happening?!

...............

"I will activate the effect of my Dramaturge of Despia in the graveyard, if this monster was used as a fusion material and was either in my hand or field and was sent to the graveyard in the same turn; I can special summon him to the field from the graveyard" I said while placing my Dramaturge of Despia in attack position, right to Masquerade.

"But before summoning a friend of mine please let me set the stage with Despia, Theater of the Branded!" I said while an iconic titanic golden and red demonic theater surrounded us, replacing the disgusting shadow like realm from before.

[DESPIA, THEATER OF THE BRANDED]

[TYPE SPELL]

[PROPERTY FIELD]

During your Main Phase: You can Fusion Summon 1 Level 8 or higher Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as material. If a face-up non-Fusion Fairy monster you control leaves the field by an opponent's card effect, or is destroyed by battle: You can target 1 Level 8 or higher Fusion Monster in your GY; Special Summon it. You can only use each effect of "Despia, Theater of the Branded" once per turn.

"Any good theater needs a Jester, and thanks to that I will summon my Aluber, the Jester of Despia in attack position" I said while in the great curtains of Despia a mysterious figures make it itself known, through a series of acrobatics, only to land in the field a young boy dressed in an intimidating red, black, and purple demonic jester outfit.

[ALUBER THE JESTER OF DESPIA]

[ATTRIBUTE DARK]

[TYPES Fairy / Effect]

[LEVEL 4]

[ATK 1800/ DEF 0]

If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can add 1 "Branded" Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand. If a face-up Fusion Monster you control is destroyed by battle, or leaves the field because of an opponent's card effect, while this card is in your GY: You can target 1 Effect Monster your opponent controls; Special Summon this card, and if you do, negate the targeted monster's effects until the end of this turn. You can only use 1 "Aluber the Jester of Despia" effect per turn, and only once that turn.

"If Aluber is normal or especial summoned; once per turn, I can add 1 "Branded" spell/trap card form my deck to my hand, and I will choose my Branded Lost" while this happened Aluber started doing some impossible but crazy stunts, while finishing with a shower of purple colored like paper in front of portals from which I grabbed one and took out from it the previous mentioned card.

"Now I will activate my Branded Lost and with this I will be able to protect my Fusion summoned monsters for now" while I activated said card the ethereal purple light that once appeared in my Duel against Kaiba made itself known once again.

[BRANDED LOST]

[TYPE SPELL]

[PROPERTY CONTINUOUS]

The activation of your cards and effects that include an effect that Fusion Summons a Fusion Monster cannot be negated, also your opponent cannot activate cards or effects when a monster is Fusion Summoned this way. If you Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster: You can add 1 "Fallen of Albaz", or 1 monster that mentions it, from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Branded Lost" once per turn.

"That's not all, now I will activate my Pot of Greed to draw two cards from my deck" I said while drawing to cards and looking exactly at what I needed to keep my next paly

[POT OF GREED]

[TYPE SPELL]

[PROPERTY NORMAL]

Draw 2 cards

"The effect of my theater activates!" my shout brought out life to the theater making it seem more ominous than spectacular at sight "Letting me Fusion Summon 1 Level 8 or higher Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, using monsters from my hand or field as material." I said while the curtains slowly but surely revealed a new sight to me, this time with the Fusion Vortex swirling with malicious purple energy.

"And now I will offer my Aluber and my Dramaturge, to Fusion Summon…" Aluber and the Dramaturge laughed at my play, taking joy from what it's to come next, and for Pegasus eventual demise.

Dragon born of the union of the dark fairy like Jester and Playwright

Burn away this once fertile land and graze everyone with the flames of dark crimson purgatory

Rejoice! For today the hour of reckoning has come!

"…Come on out! My second Masquerade, The Blazing Dragon!" in another fiery blaze this time with some purple colors added to the mix, a second Masquerade made itself known to the non-existent public; releasing a roar alongside his twin that shook the entire Theater.

"Now, to end this turn once and for all, I will activate my spell card Branded in White form my hand" The picture was once of Albaz seemingly ready to unleash his true power once and for all.

[BRANDED IN WHITE]

[TYPE SPELL]

[PROPERTY NORMAL]

Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as material, including a Dragon monster. You can also banish monsters from your GY as material, if you use "Fallen of Albaz" as Fusion Material from your hand, field, or by banishing itself from your GY. During the End Phase, if this card is in the GY because it was sent there to activate the effect of "Fallen of Albaz" this turn: You can Set this card. You can only use each effect of "Branded in White" once per turn.

"Branded in White let me Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, using monsters from my hand or field as Fusion Material" earning a frown of confusion from Pegasus, at seeing that I only had my two masquerades in the field.

Heh, I could see how he was sweating and nervous, Masquerade didn't exactly gave a good feeling at all, on the contrary, it was the clear opposite to Albion, the Sanctifire Dragon

"Nonetheless, Branded in White has an exception and that is if I use one Fallen of Albaz as Fusion material from my graveyard, I can banish him alongside any other monster from my graveyard and treat it a s Fusion Material…" I said while retiring my Fallen of Albaz and my Aluber, The Jester of Despia from the graveyard.

Dragon born of the union of the twin brothers

Burn away this once fertile land and graze everyone with the flames of dark crimson purgatory

Rejoice! For today the hour of reckoning has come!

"…To Fusion Summon my last Masquerade, The Blazing Dragon!" and with this, I was finally able to Fusion Summon my three Masquerades to the field, without Pegasus knowing what its coming to get him, poor guy, I dint let him have any time to read my cards, now hope he is ready to become barbecue.

OH damn, his face is too funny, it was a mix between holding up himself from screaming mixed with a sheer feeling of despair, or maybe he already knows about Masquerades effect.

Sad, he didn't pull an Enel

Anyway "Now, I will send my The Bystial Lubellion from my hand to the graveyard letting me add 1 ""Bystial monster from my deck to my hand" sending Lubellion to the graveyard I was able to retrieve from it my Bystial Magnamhut.

[THE BYSTIAL LUBELLION]

[ATTRIBUTE LIGHT]

[TYPES Dragon / Effect]

[LEVEL 8]

[ATK 2500/ DEF 3000]

Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must be Special Summoned (from your hand or GY) by Tributing 1 Level 6 or higher DARK Dragon monster. You can only Special Summon "The Bystial Lubellion(s)" once per turn this way. You can send this card from your hand to the GY; add 1 "Bystial" monster from your Deck to your hand, except "The Bystial Lubellion". During your Main Phase: You can place 1 "Branded" Continuous Spell/Trap from your Deck face-up in your field. You can only use each effect of "The Bystial Lubellion" once per turn.

"And let's see what more, ahah! By banishing one Dark or Light monster form any of our graveyards I can especial summon my Bystial Magnamhut from my hand to the field in attack position" with that said I retired my Dramaturge form my graveyard while I summoned Magnamhut to the field, this one being a bipedal red scaled dragon that seemed to have been jailed at one point, only to slowly but surely break the constraints that subdued him so long ago.

[BYSTIAL MAGNAMHUT]

[ATTRIBUTE DARK]

[TYPES Dragon / Effect]

[LEVEL 6]

[ATK 2500/ DEF 2000]

You can target 1 LIGHT or DARK monster in either GY; banish it, and if you do, Special Summon this card from your hand. This is a Quick Effect if your opponent controls a monster. If this card is Special Summoned: You can activate this effect; during the End Phase of this turn, add 1 Dragon monster from your Deck or GY to your hand, except "Bystial Magnamhut". You can only use each effect of "Bystial Magnamhut" once per turn.

"Thanks to his effect, once he is especial summoned I can add one Dragon Monster from my deck or graveyard to my hand" I said while taking out my second Albaz from my deck.

"And finally, to end the first act, I will tribute my Bystial Magnamhut to especial summon from my graveyard my The Bystial Lubellion in defense position!" Magnamhut was surrounded by a mixture of flames and thunder, releasing a roar of pain while being engulfed in the fiery hell, only to be replaced by a bipedal gigantic silver scale dragon, with blue horns, a black colored body and the membranes of wing, and finally adorned with shining red gems locate in bot his hands, chest forehead.

With his summoning, that resemble a firestorm nearly at the same level at Masquerade blazing fire, Lubellion released alongside the three Masquerades a roar that not only shook but even cracked the almost indestructible Theater of the Branded, at which Pegasus could only try to cover himself from the heat and the wild dancing flames and thunder, at the same time he tried in vain to cover his ears with his own hands to mitigate the effect that the roar of my four dragons had on him.

"And with this my distinguished audience, the first act has ended, I end my turn" with a flourish in total mockery as well as in combination with my theater I bowed as gratitude for such an eloquent and well mannered audience.

.........…..

'UGH' my head was splitting; I could feel how my Eye was transmitting information, not about the card but the monsters themselves, it was one of the most horrible sensations that I could ever experience, and one that I would never forget.

Since the moment that the first dragon was summoned, disorganized images of fire and brimstone, mixed with madness and the laugh of those filled with the sweetest despair overcame my very sense.

Wait…?

NO!

GET OFF ME!

Despair wasn't sweet, it was a horrible feeling born from the loss and sadness of losing your loved one, there was nothing sweet about it, nothing to rejoice at all!

WHO ARE YOU?!

My mind was fighting against something? Someone? I could feel like ethereal whispers and shades materialized around me, only visible to me thanks to my Eye, but I didn't want any of that!

Nonononononononononononononoononooonono

I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here; I need to get out of here;

"HEY!" his shout brought me out of my crumbling mind, in this I was a God, I could feel even the shadow realm answering to my call through my Eye, but what I felt in that exact moment, it couldn't have been anything but any kind of wrong done to this poor world of mine, I didn't realize that I actually was nearly catatonic trying to hide myself from the flames and trying to cover my ears in an attempt to silence the voice, no, millions of voices that rejoiced in a purgatory of eternal madness.

It was like not only mind but my soul was besieged the moment I saw that abomination in the form of a dragon materialize and roar towards me, I couldn't accept it, how was it possible for someone that didn't have anything special, not Item, ability, talent or power to affect someone like me, someone that even disregarded any notion of honor and pride in my pursuit to recover the love of my life.

Unacceptable!

I was going to show him not to underestimated me "Hey, are you okay?" ignoring his empty words, I tried to force myself to keep my mind of the Duel, while actively ignoring the three?! When?! And what's that hideous white scaled dragon?!

Was my mind so far gone that I couldn't keep track of his actions through the Duel?

It doesn't make sense!

No, calm down Maximillian you are in control here, remember who you are doing this for, remember the promise you made to her the day you received your Eye, remember who you are, Maximillian Pegasus, husband of the most beautiful and perfect woman in the world, and someone that swore to even defy the Gods only for love!

I chuckled at that, my inner theatrics followed me even here, I suppose Cecelia was right I was quite goofy sometimes to the point of being nearly dramatic in some aspects.

"Of course Asuto-Boy~" there was nothing to be wary of, I couldn't still look at those abominations without feeling the edge of my mind being assaulted by whatever was trying to get inside me, but I could still play my own game of course "I was just perplexed at such level of skill, for you be able to summon four monster in one single turn, not many had the same ability as you" I said trying to be amicable, I knew it wasn't his fault, it seems he didn't know the effect that his dragons had on me or the space around us.

Good

The less he knows, the less he will be able to learn how to use it or even know that he had that kind of power.

"My turn, I draw!" time to teach this young man, why I am known as the Game Master,

...............…..

"My turn, I draw!" after Pegasus got out of his…little episode, he was finally ready to start his main phase, and while my mind was trying to lead me back to what happened just moments ago, a little bit of concern could have been read in my face, I didn't hat Pegasus, not at all, he was one of my favorite characters of the show, but the last time he acted like this was during his final Duel against Yugi.

Was his Eye, corrupting him?

It couldn't be Darkness, right?

Wait, focus Asuto

"I will begin by playing one of my favorites, say hello to my Toon Kingdom~" now we are talking, it seems Pegasus has the updated version of the Toon Deck, heavily focused in many of the cards that appeared in each one of his Duels in the anime, of course, there is too, that Toon Kingdom, contrary to Toon World you didn't need to pay 1000 LP to activate, but only needed to banish three cards from the top of the deck, depending on your type of play it could easily help to make some good chains directly from the banished pile.

[TOON KINGDOM]

[TYPE SPELL]

[PROPERTY FIELD]

When this card is activated: Banish 3 cards from the top of your Deck, face-down. This card's name becomes "Toon World" while in the Field Zone. Your opponent cannot target Toon monsters you control with card effects. If a Toon monster(s) you control would be destroyed by battle or card effect, you can banish 1 card from the top of your Deck, face-down, for each of those monster(s) instead.

"Once my Toon Kingdom has been activated successfully, I will banish the three top cards from my deck, a small cost compared to the many wonders that resided inside my wonderful kingdom, don't you think?" he said maintaining that serene smile of his, oh boy, if only he knew what he unleashed upon himself,

At that, I hate to admit it, but I just pulled a Kaiba by laughing at his actions, of course, there was the point that maybe he knew, thanks to his Eye, the effect of my cards, but at that time I didn't realize how dangerous and especial they were, and much less about the almost psychotic attack he suffered after the first Masquerade appeared in the field, it was many years later that I would find out about it.

But that wasn't here and now, no, I was still laughing like a certain billionaire while trying to calm myself, this obviously made him frown thinking that I went mad or something.

"Uff, Uff; I am so sorry" I said while regaining my breath, haven't had such a laugh in a long while, truly someone misfortune or pain, sometimes gave me a good laugh…

I suppose I could understand where a certain priest was coming from, even though I am not particularly proud of that aspect of mine, doesn't mean I don't have limits thanks God.

Now then, I think Pegasus should have realized something already, and that's it…

............…..

Wait, why its feels like the temperature has just risen up?

I didn't know how could this be, but just like before something that shouldn't exist in a space which entirely different rules were established, now a new variable presented itself upon it, my mind once again was being pulled to another place, but this time I was able to fight against, to which only I can say that it was a mistake, I should have let that thing drag me somewhere else.

For in front of me, those abominable jester like dragon started little by little to be consumed in flames, more specifically, one in red flames, another in purple flames, and the last one in normal looking fiery flames, there was no time to dodge, for in the next second the flames expelled from their bodies rushed at me making me feel pain like never before.

FIRE!!

I CANT BREATHE!

THE PAIN! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

MAKE IT STOP!

I AM BURNING!

I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning! I am burning!

................

You know when something its going wrong when the person in fornt of you not only was set on fire but even when what he received was real pain, this is a shadow game after all, we both knew the risk but…this was too much.

"Enough, all of you!" my dragons heed my call not looking apologetic at all, more than that they seemed to enjoy seeing Pegasus on fire.

This wasn't right, I could feel it in me, and this was just supposed to corner him not hurt to the point of leaving scars on him, nonetheless this was more mental damage than anything else but still!

What I saw was something close to a charred corpse, but it was Maximillian Pegasus himself, with his skin melted and boiling in some parts, his fine red suit melted with his skin giving him a more scarlet color to it, while what little remained of his hair still had some flames refusing to fade away, his entire skin though resembled more the color of charcoal than anything else, and his face didn't exist anymore except for his even present Millennium Eye that seemed to be the only thing not affected by the fire.

I was growing concerning, this wasn't supposed to go this way, only to remember my promise made to him just before the Duel began, and indeed I saw him burn, dammit, this shadow games became even more dangerous than before, pretty sure I damaged his soul, or with a little bit of luck the Eye protected in exchange of one of the most painful feelings in the earth.

He still wasn't moving, I was about to get up from my imaginary chair when the 'charred corpse' started to convulse before my eyes, with the extremities of his body being bend in unnatural shapes or position, just to little by little, pink human skin began to replace the charred one, long locks of silver platinum hair made way for a fashionable? Hairstyle unique to him, a face known to the world made way next and finally his extravagant but nice red wine suit followed suit, to finally see him on his knees, trying to regain his breathing.

I didn't say anything at the moment, I was waiting for him to recover his wits but…"This was enough Pegasus" I called him, in contrast he flinched when I called his name, I wasn't going to wait for to recover this must end now and here.

"My Masquerade, The Blazing Dragon main effect activates forcing my opponent to pay six hundred Life Points every time a card effect, indifferently if it's a monster, spell or trap card, activates and right now you took the equivalent to one thousand eight hundred points of effect damage" I said while his sole remaining good eye, widened in realization of wha happened

MAXIMILLIAN PEGASUS: 2000-1800= 200 LP

ASUTO KIRIHARA: 2000 LP

"All of that thanks to activating your Toon Kingdom" I warned him, if he followed from here on then only pain and suffering will be his merry companions.

His eye widened and his entire body started to tremble in realization of what could happen, if he keep going on, his face seemed to morph in a series of frowns, grimaces of pain and neutrality, pretty sure debating if it was worth the pain recently experienced.

"Give up Pegasus, no matter what you do nothing will change, and even if you were able to cleanse my field with that neat Black Hole in your hand" I said pointing to the card last from the right to the left in his hand, making his eye widen in surprise, the silent of question, hoe did he know? Hanging without an answer in the air.

"My dragons will burn you this time to nothingness, not even the ashes will remain" I told him what would happen, not realizing that my eyes once again gained a tainted crimson color, making them shine ominously in the darkness.

He once again flinched, now closer to making a decision than before, I was waiting for the his final decision, only to finally see him rise "I surrender" he said without fanfare, his expression a mix between fear and deep exhaustion.

I just nodded seeing how my monsters disappeared and the board went with them too.

"And you win completely, there is no need for a second challenge" he was now wary of what could have been the second challenge, honestly I was just going to propose a Toon War between himself and me, but fine.

"I will fulfill my part of the deal" I answered with a nod

He seemed to take it as his cue to go but before he could do it, I stopped him; I need to tell him, there was no way that I would be fine with myself if I didn't do this correctly "I am sorry" he reacted at my apology

"It wasn't my intention to hurt you so much, I was just repaying the favor form before" sincerity can be sometimes the best of weapon, but at the same time it's what separates you from the common thug or delinquent "and I am sorry for lying regarding the machinery and what not necessary to extract Duel Energy, I honestly have no idea how to build it" I wasn't going to be a liar in this life, I have had enough for a lifetime, not for two.

Though something tells me that he always knew

"Duelist Kingdom will happen in two weeks, that's enough time for you to recover and contact me at a later date to talk about the three favors from our bet" I wasn't going to let him go so easily neither, better to let him know that I was thoughtful of his condition but letting him know weight of our bet, even though he confirmed that he will uphold his part of the deal, with this guys it was always better to made them understand that they won't be able to escape so easily from their promises, they always had a loophole to escape through.

Fat chance that I could trust them

He nodded at me with tired eyes, and with a flash of gold I found myself once again back in my room, but…with my damn VHS melted and on fire.

OH SHIT!