"Thousand-Eyed... Sacrificial Demon??"
Pegasus Moonwalker widened his eyes, not expecting this sudden change in plot.
Of course, he recognized this monster, as it was the trump card of his foster father, Beckas.
He also knew that last time Yugen came, he acquired the replica of Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon from Nightwalker, so logically he shouldn't be surprised that Yugen possesses the Sacrificial Demon.
But what shocked him was not the Sacrificial Demon itself, but...
"Transforming a scapegoat into a Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon?"
The Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon was originally a Fusion Monster, with one of the fusion materials being the Ritual Monster "Sacrificial Demon," and the other being a fusion-exclusive mortal bone material "Thousand-Eyed Evil Cult God." The fusion difficulty was quite high, making it hard to summon.
But using the combination of "Scapegoat" and "Sudden Mutation" allowed for an almost bug-like trick to easily swap out this powerful board-controlling monster.
In fact, this was one of the main reasons why "Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon" turned into a Forbidden Card in the competitive environment of its time. This card was initially seen by players as a Forbidden Card with only ornamental value, only some fans with a sentiment for the animation built specialized decks to perform some tricks.
Back then, perhaps no one expected that it wouldn't take long for this card to become a universally owned, board-resolving Divine Artifact due to its simple bug-like summoning conditions...
[Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon, Attack Power 0]
But Moonwalker soon recovered from the shock of "dad's card" suddenly appearing, calmly speaking.
"But even so, when 'Angel O7' is on the field, all your monsters cannot activate their effects. Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon is no exception."
If monster effects cannot be used, the threat level is immediately reduced by more than half.
"Mr. Pegasus's trump card is indeed troublesome."
Yugen nodded, and a golden glow emitted from the graveyard, with a Trap Card emerging from it.
"Therefore, I activate the Trap Card - Skill Breakthrough from the graveyard!"
Moonwalker was shocked: "Activating from the graveyard...the Trap Card used in the first turn!?"
"Correct. As long as Skill Breakthrough is in the graveyard, it can only be used during my own turn," Yugen explained. "By removing 'Skill Breakthrough' from the game in the graveyard, one monster on the opponent's field has its effect negated until the end of the turn!"
"Therefore, I negate the effect of 'Angel O7'!"
If the opponent's setup at this moment were in the Physical Card version, then the "Dark Marquis Belial" on Pegasus Moonwalker's field should theoretically possess "While this card is on the field, the opponent cannot target your other monsters for attack, nor can they target other monsters for Magic Trap effects" protection capability.
In other words, if it were the Physical Card version, Yugen would have to use another move, and "Skill Breakthrough" couldn't target "Angel O7" for its effect.
But the "Dark Marquis Belial" in the comic original version in Moonwalker's hand has the effect of "This card can negate the attacks of all opponent's monsters below Level 7," unlike the Physical Card which doesn't provide teammate targeting resistance, having only attack defense capability.
Furthermore, Belial's original effect, similar to the "Electronic Angel - Nasadiya" that was just printed on Yugen's side, is an attack-negating blockade without a once-per-turn restriction, making it a rather impressive defensive effect.
However, while benefiting from the unique ability lock suppression of the Angel O7 comic version, they simultaneously lost protective resistance due to Belial's original effect, so there are pros and cons.
"The effect of Skill Breakthrough applies, rendering 'Angel O7's effect invalid!"
The halo of the Artificial Angel dimmed instantly, the Light Sanctuary contracted, and eventually retracted into the angel itself, while the effect suppression on Yugen's side was also lifted.
"From the first turn... already a countermeasure..." muttered Moonwalker.
"Then activate the Ritual Magic 'Fantasy Ritual' from the hand," stated Yugen, "By sacrificing monsters with a total of 1 star or more from the hand or field, perform a Ritual Summon for 'Sacrificial Demon'."
It was another card Yugen had obtained from Nightwalker before. The Sacrificial Demon is one of the fusion materials for "Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon," and naturally, they wouldn't just give the fusion monster without the material.
Moonwalker was further surprised: "Within one turn, you're going to summon both 'Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon' and 'Sacrificial Demon'?"
He immediately thought that even the original designer and holder of the Sacrificial series, his foster father Beckas, might not be able to achieve this.
"Although the 'Sheep Derivatives' Summoned by 'Scapegoat' cannot be used as a tribute for an Upper-level Summon, there's no issue for a Ritual Summon," Yugen explained, "Therefore, I sacrifice a level one 'Sheep Derivative,' Ritual Summon!
The enchanting fantasy demon of the Sacrificial series, descend through the Fantasy Ritual--"
The Ritual Card was slapped onto the Duel Disc, revealing a sinister beast with a protruding single eye, appearing amidst the flames of the ritual, causing a sanity-drop-inducing scene.
[Sacrificial Demon, Attack Power 0]
Moonwalker was already somewhat dazed.
Two sheep, within a single turn, transformed into the two Sacrificial trump cards that Beckas had crafted for himself...
Is this how the Sacrificial series is played?
At that moment, a rebellious thought suddenly flashed through his mind—
—Could it be that his dad doesn't actually know how to play the Sacrificial of Demons?
"Firstly, the effect of Sacrificial Demon."
Yugen calmly waved his hand.
"Once per turn, absorb one monster on the opponent's field as an Equip Card, and gain that monster's attack and defense values... Of course, I'm sure you know this effect."
He pointed at the Dark Marquis Belial on Moonwalker's field.
"Then, let's absorb 'Dark Marquis Belial' as equipment first."
The massive cavity on the chest of the Sacrificial Demon opened up, unleashing an overwhelming force. It was like an irresistible black hole, pulling Belial in without any resistance and absorbing him until he vanished without a trace.
"The Sacrificial Demon gains Belial's equipment, and its Attack Power increases by the value of the equipped monster's Attack Power."
[Sacrificial Demon, Attack Power 0 → Attack Power 2800]
Moonwalker gritted his teeth.
"Next is the effect of the 'Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon'... Of course, you should know it as well." Yugen smiled. "As a Fusion Monster, the Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon also inherits the effect of the Sacrificial Demon.
Similarly, it can absorb one monster as equipment once per turn, and gains its Attack Power and Defense Power values.
This time it absorbs 'Earth Giant-Gaia Stone Tablet'!"
The Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon also unleashed a mass of darkness, pulling the monster into the endless abyss like a massive gravitational pull.
[Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon, Attack Power 0 → Attack Power 2800]
"Even Gaia got absorbed..." Moonwalker gritted his teeth.
The animated and real-life versions of the Sacrificial series have differences. In the real cards, the Sacrificial Demon and Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon are weakened to "only absorb one monster as equipment at most," whereas in the animation, they can absorb as many as they like, and their Attack Power becomes the sum of the absorbed monsters' Attack Powers.
However, whether in the animation or real-life, the effect of the Sacrificial series has a restriction of "once per turn," only allowing them to absorb one monster per turn.
And now both of Yugen's Sacrificial Demons have already activated their effects, so they shouldn't be able to continue absorbing 'Angel O7.'
Theoretically, that's how it should be.
"Next, I normally summon 'Tsukuyomi.'
[Tsukuyomi, Attack Power 1100]
"When Tsukuyomi is successfully summoned, it can turn one monster on the field into a face-down Defense Position."
Moonwalker felt puzzled.
Turning a monster on the field? Could it be to cover his 'Angel O7'?
But turning Angel O7 into a Defense Position at this moment would only help him strengthen his defense and reduce damage...
"I turn my own 'Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon' into a face-down Defense Position."
"What!?"
Moonwalker was shocked.
Covering his own Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon? What kind of move is this?
He then watched in bewilderment as a crescent moon rose, and the Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon returned to a card form and was covered on the field.
"Naturally, because the 'Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon' was turned face-down, the 'Earth Giant-Gaia Stone Tablet' equipped on it was also destroyed."
The Gaia Stone Tablet regained its freedom, and the image of the Rock Giant briefly flashed as the Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon was covered, before shattering into light particles and dissipating.
"Next, I activate the effect of 'AD Changer' from the Graveyard!" Yugen said, "By removing this card from play from the Graveyard, I select one monster on the field, and its position changes!"
Moonwalker's expression changed slightly: "When did this card get into the Graveyard..."
"Just last turn, discarded by 'Angel's Charity,'" Yugen smiled, "I change the 'Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon' that was covered face-down back to Attack Position!"
The Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon, now without equipment, re-emerged from the covered card, its single eye gleaming with eerie and insightful light.
"The state of the 'Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon' has been reset on the flip, allowing it to activate its effect once again," Yugen said, "once per turn, absorb one monster on the opponent's field as equipment.
Absorb 'Angel O7' as equipment!"
Moonwalker watched helplessly as his Soul Card was also pulled into the abyssal vortex by the overwhelming gravity, becoming part of the Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon. He felt nothing but deep powerlessness.
"So that's how the Sacrificial Demon is used..." he murmured to himself.
The real-life version of "Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon" on the field has the suppression effect that "no monsters except this card can attack," including those on your side.
However, the original effect used by Beckas in the animation only has "monsters on the opponent's field cannot attack," so it doesn't impose any attack restrictions on Yugen's side.
"'Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon' and 'Sacrificial Demon,' attack Mr. Pegasus directly."
The two sinister monsters simultaneously opened their cavities, releasing the absorbed "Angel O7" and "Dark Marquis Belial."
Moonwalker could only lift his Duel Disc helplessly in front of him, pressed to the ground under the successive dual attacks of his two trump cards, his eyes still filled with deep skepticism towards the world until the end.
Two scapegoats transformed into two Sacrificial Demons, taking away three of his big monsters in one turn...
Why would he have such a strange dream?
[Moonwalker, LP 3000 → LP 0]