Joey was actually mentally prepared, knowing Beckas might be difficult to handle.
After all, despite his downfall, he's still the Father of Duel Monsters, once chosen by the Thousand-Year Eye. He single-handedly designed divine-level monsters like the Three Phantom Gods and the Three Evil Gods — the latter even after he lost the Thousand-Year Eye.
It's impossible to achieve without a Duelist with powerful Destiny Power.
But still, starting off with an OTK was indeed a bit surprising.
Actually, you can't blame Joey for not remembering; when he first saw cartoons, it was back in the Duel Kingdom. Back then, the rules were different, players only had two thousand life points, and there was no rule allowing monsters to directly attack Duelists.
So naturally, cartoon monsters were also different from now. Joey remembered that back then, cartoon monsters could only be attacked by other cartoons. All the monsters summoned during Yugi's turn were dodged with exaggerated comical poses, unable to hit them, but he never expected this feature to be changed to "can directly attack the opponent's player" in today's standardized effect.
This first encounter couldn't help but make Joey feel a bit exasperated.
Cartoon monsters usually have attack power around two to three thousand, if they can all attack directly, that's quite the cheat, isn't it?
Just like now, the Cartoon Black Mage Girl whacked him on the head with her staff, and another strike took him out instantly.
...If he didn't have this second plan prepared.
"Activate Cover Card!" Joey said, "Counterattack Trap 'Blackboard Eraser Trap'!
This can only be activated when an effect that inflicts damage other than battle damage is activated, negating the damage I would have taken, and then choosing one card from the opponent's hand to discard!"
Joey's counterattack beautifully blocked the ghostly True Red Eye's charge conjured by Beckas, with all damage kept at bay by the trap.
Beckas, in an exaggerated gesture, slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Oh No! Unbelievable, Joey Boy!
Not only did my OTK fail, but I also have to discard a card from my hand!"
After two seconds of exaggerated acting, Beckas gave a smiling expression.
"If the last card I have wasn't this, it would have been quite the problem."
He displayed the card in his hand.
"The only card left in my hand is the Monster Card 'Electric Snake'. If this card is discarded to the graveyard by the opponent's card effect, I can draw two cards from my deck."
Joey's mouth twitched.
Isn't this too much? What a coincidence, right?
"I only have one card in my hand, so I have to discard it."
Beckas leisurely discarded his card.
"Then, the effect of 'Electric Snake' activates, allowing me to draw two cards from my deck."
Joey: "..."
Well, it just proves Beckas still holds his own. Even without the Thousand-Year Eye, unable to cheat by reading minds, he remains a formidable opponent worthy of the legendary title.
But soon after, Joey puffed up his chest confidently.
Hey, who isn't legendary around here?
Perfect, didn't get the chance to face Beckas back then; let's make up for it today and prove myself.
"Set one card facedown in the back row, turn ends."
Beckas said.
"Alright, let's give it our all!" Joey declared, "My turn, draw!"
Joey swung his arm grandly.
"I sacrifice the 'True Red-Eyed Time Travel Dragon' on the field to perform an Upper-level Summon!
Call upon the demon that commands the power of dark lightning —
——Demon's Summon, arise!"
The calm air ripped apart, its flame-like blazing red body, covered in intricate white bone structures, summoned black clouds in response to its will, shrouding all light, with golden thunder striking like divine punishment, erupting smoky darkness.
[Demon's Summon, Attack Power 2500]
This was originally a monster possessed by Yugi. After Yugi fused Demon's Summon with Joey's True Red Eye, Joey's card deck began to develop into derivatives related to Demon's Summon, now he also has that series.
"Then activate Magic Card 'Substitute Fusion'!"
Joey played the magic card in his hand.
"This card is treated as 'Fusion' by rule, but can only use monsters on the field as Fusion Material!"
Treated as Fusion by rule, this isn't a card effect but what is noted on the card's description. Meaning, this card is entirely regarded as Fusion, and even in card deck configuration, "Fusion" and "Substitute Fusion" together can only be included as three copies.
Unlike Fusion that can fuse from the hand, Substitute Fusion can only fuse monsters from the field. However, the new effect achieved by this trade-off is to banish this card from the graveyard, retrieve a Fusion Monster from your graveyard back into the deck, and draw another card from the deck.
Belonging to a more longevity-focused type of Fusion Magic.
"I fuse 'True Red-Eyed Black Dragon' and 'Demon's Summon' on the field!"
"Oh! The fusion of True Red Eye and Demon's Summon!" Beckas remarked, "Are you showing me the Dark Evil Dragon, Joey Boy?"
Beckas referred to the monster Yugi summoned during the Duel Kingdom by fusing his Demon's Summon with Joey's True Red Eye, a testament to their friendship.
"Haha, not exactly."
Joey dropped the smile, his expression turning serious.
"Though I don't know where Yugi is now, and we haven't seen each other in a long time, our bond, our friendship, will never change because of time and space.
If anything, time only solidifies our friendship further.
Look, this evolved True Red Eye is the proof!"
Joey raised his hand.
An evolved friendship crystallized into something new, now it descends here——
——Fierce Demon Dragon - Dark Evil Dragon, be summoned!
The same materials as back then, the same formula, yet distinct in its taste. A new evolved and upgraded fusion of True Red Eye and Demon's Summon, coalescing into a sky-blazing flame!
Black flames and lightning intertwined, with boiling black clouds and golden thunder surrounding it, the Demon Dragon, enshrouded in bones, stands as if atop a volcanic peak.
Fierce Demon Dragon - Dark Evil Dragon, be summoned!
[Fierce Demon Dragon - Dark Evil Dragon, Attack Power 3200]
"Dark Evil Dragon has evolved into a new form."
Beckas muttered, his expression more solemn.
"Go, Fierce Demon Dragon - Dark Evil Dragon, display your evolved stronger form!
Attack 'Cartoon Black Mage Girl'!"
The Dark Evil Dragon let out a powerful roar, and the light and electricity gathered into the black flame on its claws, flames bursting forth sky-high!
"Although I don't know what it evolved into but..."
Beckas's eyes flashed.
"Just to be safe, better have you exit right away here.
Activate Cover Card, Trap Card 'Divine Protective Shield - Reflective Mirror Force'!
When the opponent's monster declares an attack, destroy all the opponent's monsters in attack position!"
"Kida!"
Joey interrupted the cast domineeringly.
"When Fierce Demon Dragon - Dark Evil Dragon engages in battle, from the encounter until the end of the damage step...no Magic, Trap, or Monster Effects can be activated!"
Beckas's expression drastically changed.
"Nani!?"