"My turn, draw a card."
Beckas stood straight, appearing to be thoroughly serious.
"Activate the Magic Card 'Celestial Treasure Scroll.'
Beckas directly revealed the card he drew.
"Both sides draw cards from the deck until their hand becomes six cards."
Both sides drew cards from the deck.
"Next, activate Ritual Magic 'Preparation for the Ceremony!'" Beckas said, "Choose a Ritual Magic Card from the deck, then select a Ritual Monster listed on that Ritual Magic Card from the deck or graveyard, adding two cards to the hand."
"Ritual Magic?" Joey quickly associated, "Could it be..."
"Indeed, it's that could it be."
Beckas coldly laughed, pulled out the deck mounted on the Duel Disc, spread it in his hand, and quickly selected a card to add to his hand.
Yes, that's right, as the Father of Duel Monsters and CEO of the International Fantasy Association, President Beckas surprisingly used the old-style Duel Disc which didn't have the automatic search and shuffle features of Kaiba Company's new models.
However, President Beckas is a very nostalgic person. In fact, during the Light Pyramid movie era, when Duel Discs were already fully popularized, Beckas never used Duel Discs, insisting on using his heavy, old duel field equipment, which President Kaiba mocked as an antique.
Even the current Duel Disc is something he only started using recently.
"Add the Ritual Magic 'Fantasy Ritual' from the deck, as well as the Ritual Monster 'Sacrificial Demon' listed on Fantasy Ritual to the hand."
"It's going to appear, isn't it, Sacrificial Demon?" Joey prepared himself in full alert.
Sacrificial Demon, of course, he couldn't forget. It's a beast that once put Yugi in a tough battle and left deep psychological shadows on the then young crowd in early NTR times.
He knows this is Beckas's ultimate reserve, the trump card Beckas reveals only against opponents he feels are beyond his cartoon's capability.
"Ritual Magic 'Fantasy Ritual' activate!" Beckas said, "By using monsters with a total level over One-Star from your hand and field as sacrifices, perform Ritual Summon for 'Sacrificial Demon' in your hand!
I sacrifice 'Cartoon Black Mage Girl' on the field!"
The cartoon magical girl fearfully covered her eyes with both hands and was swallowed by a swirling darkness.
Emerald light pierced through the dark mist, as a gigantic mysterious altar stood in the void. Sharp claws like blades from the abyss, a massive body with a glowing emerald eye, seemed like a gaze from another dimension, exuding an indescribable fear.
[Sacrificial Demon, Attack Power 0]
"It appeared, Sacrificial Demon." Joey gritted his teeth, "A monster that once left Yugi completely helpless..."
"Hahaha, that's right, you seem to remember that fear." Beckas laughed, "Let me help you relive it!
Sacrificial Demon's effect, once per turn, can absorb a monster on the opponent's field as an Equipment Card, gaining that monster's Attack Power and Defense Power!"
Beckas proudly waved his hand.
"The crystallization of your friendship, Fierce Demon Dragon - Dark Evil Dragon, will be mine!"
Sacrificial Demon's emerald eyes slowly opened, followed by a tide of immense darkness, intangible and bodiless black fog. Even a powerful Fierce Demon Dragon couldn't resist. The unquenchable flames in Demon Dragon's hand seemed to dissipate within the darkness, until completely swallowed and vanished.
Then, when the flames rekindled, they were no longer on the opponent's field.
Fierce Demon Dragon - Dark Evil Dragon has been absorbed into Sacrificial Demon's body.
[Sacrificial Demon, Attack Power 0→Attack Power 3200]
"Oh, look at it, such a beautiful heroic figure!" Beckas taunted, "Your friendship's crystallization is indeed impressive."
Joey's mouth twitched.
"Damn Beckas..."
Let's see if I can't kill you later.
"It's battle time." Beckas cheerfully said, "To die at the hands of your friendship embodiment, you'd die a fitting death, Joey Boy.
Sacrificial Demon, direct attack on Joey Boy!"
Sacrificial Demon unleashed another mass of black fog, as if an invisible hand wielding the constrained Dark Evil Dragon. The Dark Evil Dragon moved mechanically like a marionette, with claws swinging, and burning fireballs moving straight towards Joey.
"But Sacrificial Demon can only absorb attack power, it doesn't have monster effects!"
Watching as the fireball was about to hit, the rolling flames were vividly reflected in Joey's pupils. At the critical moment, he pressed the button on the backfield of the Duel Disc.
"Activate Cover Card, Trap Card 'Stamina Booster Super Z'! In situations where you take over two thousand battle damage, during damage calculation, you recover 4000 Life Points!"
[Joey, LP2000→LP6000]
The exploding flames followed immediately. Partially converted into real damage, it almost blasted Joey completely off the ground, spun in midair several times, body smoking and crashing heavily to the ground.
[Joey, LP6000→LP2800]
Such exaggerated effects of being blown away; if it were a normal person, they'd either be dead or seriously injured from such a blast.
But it is widely known that long-time card players have physical qualities beyond the ordinary, let alone someone like Joey, who could physically fight Balrog armored-up in Dark Duel matches back then as a super soldier.
After being blown away, spinning several times, he only lay there for three seconds before quickly supporting himself up, even wiping the corner of his mouth.
"Damn Beckas, that really hurt now..."
"Your mental state is pretty good, Joey Boy."
Beckas grinned playfully.
"You might indeed have improved quite a bit, but unfortunately, that doesn't change anything."
Joey furrowed his brow.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're hailed as a legendary Duelist, but in reality, you're insignificant."
Beckas calmly said.
"People call you a legend, but whenever people talk about you, at most, they'll mention 'First Generation Duel King's closest friend.'"
"But if you discard that filter, you should understand yourself that you're merely a mortal."
Half of Beckas's face was hidden under long hair, and the other half shrouded in shadows, appearing quite eerie.
"You're an insignificant mortal, merely caught up in the world of the extraordinary due to various coincidences. But even so, it doesn't mean you've become one of them."
"Having survived each battle between gods and demons, what you relied on was nothing but luck. But luck will eventually run out one day, and when that day comes, what will you do then?"