Toon Kingdom, activate!
A giant book appeared on Beckas's field, opening with a flurry of pages. A small cartoon castle emerged from the book, with torches burning at either side of the gate, and red flags flapping in the wind at the top.
"Toon Kingdom can only be activated by banishing the top five cards of your deck from the game." (Original effect)
Beckas slowly drew the top five cards from his deck.
"I banish the top five cards of my deck from the game."
"Toon... Kingdom?"
Joey felt a bit strange and braced himself to respond.
Beckas was said to be retired, but it seemed he hadn't been idle all these years. Joey was sure that Beckas didn't have this card back then.
He knew Beckas used the "Toon" series, which was Beckas's exclusive deck printed for himself as the Father of Duel Monsters, unique in the world. The monsters were all characterized by mischievous and cute appearances.
But back then, the key card of Beckas's Toon series was the Continuous Magic "Toon World," and all Toon monsters had to rely on Toon World being on the field to maintain their existence. At least, Joey had never heard of "Toon Kingdom" before.
Toon Kingdom first appeared when Beckas made a comeback in GX. However, Toon Kingdom hadn't immediately become a physical card; it was only included exclusively in the classic game "Card Power" at that time.
The Toon Kingdom in Card Power had effects that were completely consistent with those in the animation, and both were Continuous Magic. But after becoming a physical card, Toon Kingdom was modified into a Field Spell, with its effects adjusted to a certain extent.
Compared to the animation, the physical version added the resistance of "Toon monsters cannot be targeted by opponent's effects," which should be considered an enhancement overall.
"Be careful now, Joey Boy." Beckas smiled, "My Toons are firing on all cylinders from the get-go.
I Normal Summon 'Holy Elf'!"
A blue-skinned elf with golden hair appeared on the field, hands clasped in a prayer position.
[Holy Elf, Attack Power 800]
"Then I activate the Quick-Play Magic 'Dimension Magic'!" Beckas said, "This card can only be activated when there is a Mage Race monster on your field.
Sacrifice one monster on your field and Special Summon one Mage Race monster from your hand!"
Beckas pointed to the newly summoned elf girl.
"I sacrifice 'Holy Elf' to Special Summon a Mage Race monster from my hand..."
Beckas cheerfully revealed the card in his hand.
"Come forth, my cutest Toon monster—
——Cartoon Black Mage Girl, Summon!"
The giant Toon Kingdom book closed and then reopened. A petite magical girl did a series of flips and lightly landed, her fair long legs stepping in round-toed boots, her face both pretty and youthful, carrying a hint of playfulness.
[Cartoon Black Mage Girl, Attack Power 2000]
"Cartoon Black Mage Girl?"
Joey stared wide-eyed at the Black Mage Loli jumping onto the field.
"You, you even turned Game's Black Mage Girl into a Toon..."
Back then, Beckas delighted in converting others' big monsters into his own Toon versions. Like when he turned Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon into Toon Blue-Eyes, and Game's Black Mage into Toon Black Mage, even Toon Demon's Summon...
But Joey remembered there shouldn't have been a Toon Black Mage Girl back then, as the Black Mage Girl hadn't even been summoned by Game during Duel Kingdom. This magical girl idol first appeared in Duel City.
"That's right. Isn't this much cuter?"
Beckas gestured proudly at his Black Mage Loli.
"No way! The original is plainly cuter!" Joey adamantly replied.
Tsk tsk.
Beckas shook his head.
"Really no appreciation for the cuteness of my Toon monsters... Well, you'll come to understand her power physically soon enough."
Beckas waved his hand broadly.
"The follow-up effect of Dimension Magic isn't over yet!
After a Mage Race is summoned through this effect, destroy one monster on the opponent's field!"
Pointing at Joey's field, Beckas smirked.
"It's nostalgic seeing Joey Boy's True Red-Eyes... But it's time for it to leave."
BOOM!
The True Red-Eyed Black Dragon was sucked into an invisible force, trapped in a golden coffin-like container, bound by crossed iron chains, and with a blast, both the dragon and coffin turned to ashes.
"True Red-Eyes!"
Joey threw up his arm as if to shield himself, shouting involuntarily.
Beckas chuckled softly.
"I said so, from the start, my Toons are firing all guns. A little negligence and... hmm?"
He frowned slightly.
As the smoke cleared, the majestic True Red-Eyed Black Dragon still stood on the field, as if it had narrowly escaped its sealed coffin just before the blast, like a magician narrowly escaping a trap.
Moreover, behind the smoke, Joey's field seemed to hold another dragon silhouette.
Still a dragon with a jet-black body, closely resembling True Red-Eyes, but slightly smaller, still fierce in appearance, roaring defiantly.
"Did you think I've been standing still all these years?"
Joey chuckled.
"The effect of 'True Red-Eyed Time Travel Dragon' in my hand.
When a 'True Red-Eyes' monster of Level 7 or lower on my field is destroyed by an opponent's attack or card effect and sent to the graveyard.
Special Summon this card in defense position from my hand. Then, revive as many destroyed monsters in their original states as possible!"
[True Red-Eyed Time Travel Dragon, Defense Power 1600]
[True Red-Eyed Black Dragon, Attack Power 2400]
"Unfortunately, my True Red-Eyes isn't so easily dealt with, just like myself." Joey stood tall and proud.
"I see, maybe you're a bit different from back then."
Beckas paused, then chuckled lightly.
"But, undoubtedly, my Toons can't be judged by standard logic either, remember that?"
"What?"
"Battle." Beckas declared, "Cartoon Black Mage Girl, direct attack on Joey!"
Joey: "!"
"Toon monsters can only be blocked by other Toon monsters, forgotten that? Ha ha ha!" Beckas laughed heartily, "If there are no Toon monsters on the opponent's field, Toon monsters can attack the player directly.
Go forth, Cartoon Black Mage Girl!
Cartoon Black Mage Blast!"
The Black Mage Loli did a somersault, stepping over the heads of Joey's True Red-Eyes with an air of arrogance, reaching Joey directly. She raised her staff with both hands and landed a direct tap on Joey's forehead.
Joey saw stars from the hit, and the mischievous Magic Loli stuck out her tongue at him, rebelliously, shouldered her little magic staff, and gracefully leapt back, landing beside her master.
[Joey, LP4000→LP2000]
"Haha, nicely done, my Cartoon girl!"
Beckas said coldly with a smile.
"It's been a pleasant reunion, but alas, it's almost over.
I now activate the Magic Card 'Shadow Cartoon' from my hand!
This can only be activated when 'Cartoon World' exists on the field... Although I don't have Cartoon World on the field.
But as long as the Continuous Magic 'Toon Kingdom' exists, the card name can be counted as 'Cartoon World'.
The Magic Card appeared on his field, transforming into another book-like image. The book opened, and ghostly shadows flew out, mimicking the appearance of Joey's True Red-Eyed Black Dragon.
"True Red-Eyes?" Joey was surprised, "What's happening?"
"Haha, this is the effect of Shadow Cartoon, choosing an opponent's monster and dealing damage equal to that monster's Attack Power!
And of course, I'll choose... True Red-Eyed Black Dragon!"
[True Red-Eyed Black Dragon, Attack Power 2400]
[Joey, LP2000]
Joey: "!"