Evolution of Friendship

Joey Wheeler had been mentally prepared for the possibility that Pegasus might be difficult to deal with.

After all, even if he had fallen on hard times, he was still the Father of Duel Monsters—the man once chosen by the Millennium Eye. He had personally designed godlike monsters such as the Three Phantom Gods and the Three Evil God Cards—the latter even after losing the Millennium Eye.

No duelist without powerful Destiny Power could accomplish that.

But even so, opening with an OTK was honestly a little unexpected.

It was not that Joey had a poor memory. The first time he saw Toons had been back in Duelist Kingdom. The rules were different then; everyone only had two thousand Life Points, and there was no rule allowing monsters to attack duelists directly.

So Toon Monsters naturally differed from their modern versions. Joey remembered that Toon Monsters back then could only be hit by other Toon Monsters, while every monster Yugi summoned had its attacks dodged by exaggerated, comical movements. He had never expected that trait to be standardized into "can attack the opponent directly."

This first encounter left Joey feeling rather sore.

Toon Monsters casually had two or three thousand attack points. If they could all attack directly, was that not completely broken?

Just like now: Cartoon Dark Magician Girl had smacked him over the head with her staff, then followed up with another slash that would have taken him out instantly.

If he had not prepared this backup plan.

"Activate my Set Card!" Joey said. "Counter Trap, 'Blackboard Eraser's Trap'!

It can only be activated when an effect that inflicts damage other than Battle Damage is activated. The damage I take becomes zero, then I choose one card in your hand and discard it!"

Joey's counterattack beautifully blocked the