The mind reading ability of Millennium-Eyes Restrict is indeed quite formidable. In duels, even a duelist like Tenjo Hikari can be subjected to mind reading.
However, Tierra has never cared about these things.
It's quite simple, really. Whatever she wants to do, she will do, and if she can achieve it, she will announce it to the world, letting everyone know she's about to make a move.
Compared to these matters, being unable to play a duel where "you speak, and I operate" or "I possess you, your consciousness detaches, and you operate with closed eyes" makes her feel somewhat regretful.
Because she thinks that this strategy would easily handle Millennium-Eyes Restrict.
Although she has learned a vast amount of duel knowledge through Tenjo Hikari's influence and is quite knowledgeable about Polymerization, asking her to master Tenjo Hikari's "Polymerization" deck is too difficult.
In such a situation, she can't immediately see the use of the cards she draws. Even if Millennium-Eyes Restrict truly were invincible, capable of reading the heart of even her, a Goddess of Rebirth, it would probably be useless, and might even lead to questioning its own abilities.
"Oh my, isn't Tenjo Hikari a world-renowned duelist? How is he so mindless?"
Unfortunately, Tenjo Hikari wants to challenge himself and try a new branch of Polymerization.
This fun endeavor, which cannot be pursued, leaves Tierra feeling somewhat regretful during her idle times.
After all, there aren't many opportunities for such entertainment.
But she can understand.
Tenjo Hikari wants to pursue a more extreme and ultimate form of Fusion. Depending solely on "brains," "strategy," and "game theory" has already become very slow; cross-category understanding is an essential part that must be attempted. Otherwise, following only one path cannot be labeled as "absolute" or "ultimate."
After a while of chatting, the laboratory door finally opened again. Mr. Pegasus and his group walked out of the lab, the members of Industrial Illusions looking quite heavy-hearted, while the Maze Brothers and Pegasus had expressions of relief.
Tenjo Hikari stood up.
"Thank you, Tenjo BOY~" Pegasus smiled again, spreading his arms open to thank Tenjo Hikari.
Tenjo Hikari looked toward the opened door, curiously asking, "Mr. Pegasus, Millennium-Eyes Restrict?"
Pegasus gently clapped his hands, then pointed with his right index finger to his left eye's prosthetic eye.
Did it directly reside in his body?
Tenjo Hikari was quite surprised.
"I must thank you again, Tenjo BOY~~ If it weren't for you, ME might never have reached a consensus with Millennium-Eyes Restrict." He lowered his hands and began to muse aloud.
Tenjo Hikari furrowed his brows in confusion, asking, "So, Mr. Pegasus, what exactly happened?"
"This... hehe..."
He began to explain the specifics to Tenjo Hikari.
The matter is quite simple.
Although Pegasus no longer participates in duels, he has always loved Toon Monsters and wished to see Toon Spirits, so he continued to train his Spirit Power.
As his training progressed, his Spirit Adaptability increased, and being a world-class millionaire, the father of Duel Monsters, and once a possessor of a Millennium Item, his training was quite smooth.
In this situation, he gradually attracted certain spirits related to him.
Just like most duelists in the world.
Heroes attract heroes, warriors attract warriors, the messenger of the White Dragon attracts the White Dragon.
However, the problem lies here—the first to appear at Pegasus's side wasn't [Toon], but [Relinquished]!
The ancient Evil God, Millennium-Eyes Restrict, a powerful monster he designed, under the influence of his power, finally found him.
It infiltrated Industrial Illusions Company, intending to observe Pegasus's character, only to find he had completely abandoned "Relinquished."
What's more, to prove he had let go of the "past," Industrial Illusions Company periodically reprinted Millennium-Eyes Restrict and Relinquished so that even students from Duel Academy could throw Relinquished cards into a well.
Because things were different from its imaginings, and because it felt ignored, Millennium-Eyes Restrict, on this island, fused with some past "images" and the power Pegasus once wielded with the Millennium item, ultimately evolving unexpectedly into "Millennium-Eyes Restrict," not only reigniting Pegasus's mind-reading ability but also running amok.
"This is ME's mistake." Pegasus gently touched his left eye.
He was too focused on art, cards, and career, desiring only to see Toon Monsters, consequently disregarding other existences in his deck, which led to such an outcome.
"The cards are innocent." He couldn't help but sigh deeply, "Back then, I used Millennium-Eyes Restrict to defeat Yugi BOY and fulfill my ambition..."
That intention was evil, but the card itself bore none of Pegasus's intentions.
Therefore, treating Millennium-Eyes Restrict coldly was undoubtedly a mistake.
And it was precisely this displeasure with Pegasus that caused Millennium-Eyes Restrict to oppose him continuously, even going as far as conducting operations that made Pegasus wish to hide, invisible to others.
Such as reading minds, then performing Mind Crush.
Actually, in the previous duel with Millennium-Eyes Restrict, which left him bedridden for more than a month, Millennium-Eyes Restrict's anger had slightly subsided. However, Pegasus still couldn't comprehend the situation, so Restrict continued to sulk.
While although Pegasus somewhat discerned some thoughts of Restrict during the duel, after the duel, his mind was full of the power of the Millennium Eyes and new species potentials, caring less about such emotions.
This is why, despite the situation having nothing to do with Maeda Hayato and France, he still brought these two designers along.
He wanted to see if he could inspire these two outstanding juniors during this duel.
Until Millennium-Eyes Restrict fully revealed itself, only then did he realize the foolish things he'd been doing all this time.
"Random, future, Tenjo BOY, you gave me a new perspective." Pegasus pondered deeply, "Perhaps, my earnest expectation for Toon was originally mistaken because our future is never certain.
The people encountered, the events experienced, are all uncertain... just as I believe Duel Monsters should be more artistic, more aesthetically pleasing rather than the current trend due to dimension development of pursuing trendier, more powerful cards."
Pegasus gently tapped his forehead, appearing to be engaging in a mental brainstorm: "Even as the so-called father of Duel Monsters, I cannot definitively conclude them... Oh dear..."
He looked at Maeda Hayato and France, both of whom tensed up nervously. Then Pegasus smiled lightly: "No need to be nervous, both of you—the design of future Duel Monsters would surely rely on your subsequent designs."
"Yes! President!" "Alright, okay, President!"
Then Pegasus turned to Tenjo Hikari and said: "Now, Tenjo BOY, regarding the matter of [New Species], in fact, I have gleaned some insights, and in the future, ME will likely invite you again, so look forward to it~~"
Tenjo Hikari nodded quickly.
Illusion-Type, how exciting!
Then Pegasus drew a card from his deck: "And…this card wishes to go to you."
He handed over a card.
Fusion Monster.
Millennium-Eyes Restrict!
Tenjo Hikari was suddenly shocked, then looked up at Pegasus.
"This card is [its] decision to gift to you…unfortunately, with your victory over it, the power of the Millennium Eyes lingering on this island has entirely dissipated. I and it will, from now on, probably never be able to read others' minds.
However, I believe, both it and I sincerely think this card suits you better, suits YOU, the world's most FUSION duelist!"
He spoke while spreading his arms to declare to the sky.
The Maze Brothers, Ansueeru, Maeda Hayato, France, and several guards around all nodded in agreement.
"Well, I will accept it." Tenjo Hikari did not hesitantly chat but simply took the card without hesitation and said to Pegasus, "Thank you very much, Mr. Pegasus. I will surely let this card accompany me on the path of Fusion."
"HAHAHA~~ That is just perfect!"