9. Burden of the Mighty.

When Mallow defeated Witch of the Black Forest we finally caught up with Geno, or at least a statue version of Geno.

Bowyer a member of the Smithy Gang had defeated Geno and transformed him into a statue as his punishment for losing the Shadow Game.

Now I face Bowyer and the wrath of his Dark God.

Witch of the Black Forest laid on her back, she slowly managed to sit.

'Mallow...' She whispered. 'Valentina is...' She couldn't finish the Witch dissolved into black leaves they slowly disappeared.

'Valentina.' Mallow muttered.

'She is dangerous, if she can get Duel Spirits to this world.'

'Mallow we have no time to think about that.' Mario said.

'Our enemy is right over there.' Mario pointed toward the exit of the Forest Maze.

They walked for what seemed hours when suddenly they stood in front of a rather large cave.

'You think it's safe?' Mallow asked.

'Safer as through the trees I think.' Mario replied and they entered the cave.

It was deep dark and dank.

'So you reckon Geno got the Star Piece?' Mallow asked.

'I don't know, if he has it's likely he is gone by now.'

Mallow sighted.

They kept walking not knowing where they were heading through when they suddenly saw light, Mario started to run followed by Mallow and so they reached the exit of the cave.

'STOP!' Mario shouted and Mallow stopped he tripped and fell.

'Look.' Mario said pointing at the ground there was a large deep gap filled with human skeletons.

'So thats why nobody returned, they must have fell down that gap.' Mallow muttered.

'And I could've been next if you hadn't warn me.' Mallow whispered.

'Look there is a small passage there, it's just a wooden plank on the ground, someone must have put it there and I bet it was Geno looks like he knew this forest to begin with.'

Bowyer looked at Geno then he looked at the two Star Pieces in his hand.

'Lucky I am, go tell Smithy I shall.'

Bowyer suddenly heard birds flying away.

'Stay here I shall.' Bowyer said, and he thought back about his past life he lived in the Middle Ages around the same time as Mack, he was an excellent sharpshooter with his bow and an excellent scout.

His king had sent him on a scouting mission Bowyer accepted and departed that night he found a knight, the knight was lost, Bowyer had noticed the man carrying a bow and a sword, the knight said he was also a sharpshooter they decided to held a contest who could hit the most far off tree would win, Bowyer was first, because of the night the two couldn't see where the arrow was Bowyer went to look and then he felt a sharp pain in his back the knight had shot him from behind, Bowyer fell to the ground everything went dark, then he met Smithy who offered him a body if Bowyer would scout for him.

Mario and Mallow ran out of the forest they ended in a large open area surrounded by more trees.

'No exit yet?' Mallow complained, suddenly a lot of birds flew away.

'Let's go.' Mario said and he followed the road.

After half an hour or so they approached a large open space.

Mario saw Bowyer, then he saw the petrified Geno.

'Nya? More of them?' Bowyer asked as he turned around.

'Mallow stay back somehow that man changed that Geno into a statue I shall take him down.' Mallow nodded.

'Take me down you shall not.' Bowyer said.

'I think I will.' Mario answered and he activated his Duel Disk, Bowyer did the same.

'Mario you are, orders to take you down I have.' Bowyer simply said.

'I have a similar mission, to take back the Star Pieces and you have two of them.' Mario said.

'Enough talking, Duel we now shall.'

(Mario: 8000) - (Bowyer: 8000)

'And I shall start.' Mario said drawing his first card, Bowyer laughed and the Shadows appeared inside the forest.

'A Shadow Game I could have expected that.' Mario mumbled.

'Alright Bowyer I start with Nanobreaker in attack mode.' Mario said and the female in futuristic armor appeared on the field, she looked and nodded at Mario. (1600 ATK)

'I set one card and end my turn.' Mario said and a concealed card appeared.

'Nya draw I shall.' Bowyer said and he made his draw.

'Set one monster I will.' Bowyer placed the card on his Disk and a reversed monster appeared.

'Now use Book of Moon I do.' Bowyer said and his monster appeared it was Slate Warrior. (1900 ATK- 2400 ATK)

'Nya nya nya stronger now he is, attack your Nanobreaker he shall.' Slate Warrior created his wind sickles.

'Reveal facedown card!' Mario shouted. 'Electric Shock!'

Slate Warrior stopped his assault. 'This Trap card negates your attack, and your monster loses 500 points.' Mario said and Slate Warrior fell back to his base score of 1900.

'One card I set.' Bowyer said and his facedown card appeared.

'Your move.'

Mario made a draw.

'I activate Double Summon.' Mario stated as he played the Spell card.

'Now I summon Y-Dragon Head and X-Head Cannon!' Mario shouted first the red mechanical dragon appeared. (1500 ATK) next to him the blue machine with the cannons appeared. (1800 ATK)

'I set one card and I end my turn.' Mario said and the card appeared.

'Your move.' Mario said looking at the Z-Metal Tank in his hand.

Bowyer quickly drew his card.

'Summon Giant Germ I will.' Bowyer said and the ugly purple blob appeared on the field. (1000 ATK)

'Attack Y-Dragon Head!' Bowyer shouted and the ugly blob leaped at Y-Dragon head the machine charged a laser and blew the blob away.

'We both have lost 500 points in that attack, why did you do it?' Mario asked.

Mario felt that his skin was pulled tighter.

'For you to know that is.' Bowyer said and he gestured two new Giant germs appeared. (1000 ATK x2)

'Slate Warrior destroy his X-Head Cannon you shall!' Bowyer shouted and Slate Warrior fired his wind sickles again.

'Negate Attack!' Mario shouted revealing his facedown card the sickles bounced off.

'Nya? A facedown card I set.' Bowyer said and the concealed card appeared.

'Your move.'

(Mario: 7500) - (Bowyer: 7500)

Mario made his draw. Now what could be the meaning of this, he tries to swarm the field, but fails at it, he uses the wrong techniques or he needs weaker monsters to quickly summon stronger once. Mario thought.

'I activate Spellbook Inside the Pot!' Mario shouted he and Bowyer drew three cards.

'Next I summon Z-Metal Tank!' Mario shouted and the yellow tank appeared on the field. (1500 ATK)

'I now Remove from Play my three monsters so I can summon XYZ-Dragon Cannon.

'Nya nya nya, reveal facedown card I shall!' Bowyer shouted and his Trap spun around.

'Imperial Iron Wall?' Mario was dumbfounded.

'Nya, no more Removing from Play for you that is.'

Mario sighted.

'Nya nya nya, watched your Duel against Mack I did, figured out you would use this against me I did, block your strategy with Imperial Iron Wall I did!' Bowyer sounded crazy now.

'Y-Dragon head destroy his Germ!' Mario shouted and the monster fired his blast.

'Waboku!' Bowyer shouted and three priests blocked the attack.

'I change my monsters to defense.' Mario said and Nanobreaker (1800 DEF), X-Head Cannon (1500 DEF) and Z-Metal Tank (1300 DEF) crouched down.

'I set one card and I end my turn.' Mario said his facedown card appeared.

'Nya nya nya draw a card I will.' Bowyer said drawing.

'Sacrifice my three monsters I do now.' Bowyer said and all three of his monsters disappeared into orbs of darkness.

'From the depths of Hell arise The Wicked Eraser!' Bowyer shouted and his evil God descended from the sky it roared. (5000 ATK)

'So that is the thing that defeated Geno.' Mario said.

'It did, destroy your Y-Dragon Head it shall.' Bowyer said and the God fired his terrible blast incinerating Y-Dragon Head.

(Mario: 4000) - (Bowyer: 7500)

'I activate Damage Condenser!' Mario shouted he wanted to press the button to activate the card but his arm moved slower and his skin was turning gray.

'What the?' Mallow shouted Mario had his card activated.

'I discard Double Attack and I special summon Machine King from my Deck!' Mario shouted as the huge robot appeared on the field. (2200 ATK- 2600 ATK)

Erasers attack dropped to 4000.

What is happening to me? Mario thought.

It feels the same as with that heart attack Mack caused.

'Nya nya nya, Statues I want more statues!' Bowyer said.

Mario looked at Geno.

A statue, the Shadow Game is slowly changing the loser into a statue?

Mario wondered, he looked at his cards.

Malevolent Catastrophy, and Roll Out, I have a plan, and a lot of luck is needed to make it, but I feel lucky. Mario touched the pieces of the Millennium Puzzle.

Yugi had extreme luck with this Puzzle, maybe the effects are already working for me.

'You make a move?' Bowyer asked.

'I change Machine King to defense mode.' Mario said and Machine King crouched down. (2000 DEF)

'I set a card facedown.' Mario said and Malevolent Catastrophe appeared facedown on his field.

'Your move Bowyer.'

Bowyer drew.

'Activate Stop Defense I will.' Bowyer said playing the card and Z-Metal Tank changed to attack mode. (1500 ATK)

'Eraser destroy your monster, now he shall.' Bowyer commanded and Eraser fired his terrible blast.

'I activate my facedown card!' Mario shouted and Malevolent Catastrophe was activated. 'This destroys all your Spell and Trap cards!' Mario shouted and Imperial Iron Wall scattered just as Z-Metal Tank.

(Mario: 2500) - (Bowyer: 7500)

'By activating that Trap Eraser became weaker and now that you destroyed my monster he becomes weaker again.' Mario said and Erasers score dropped to 4000.

Mario looked at his body he couldn't move his legs anymore his arms were heavy his sight became blurry.

'Nya nya nya a nice statue you will make, your move it is now.'

'I will.' Mario said drawing his card.

'I set two cards.' Mario said and both of his cards appeared facedown.

Eraser's score rose to 6000.

'I end my turn.' Mario said.

'What are you doing?' Mario mumbled. 'You make that thing stronger, that is not right.'

Bowyer made his draw.

'Giving up you are?' He asked.

'No.' Mario replied.

'Then destroy your Machine King Eraser will.'

That was lucky now I didn't have to use Interdimensional Matter Transporter to save X-Head Cannon.

'Turn end.' Bowyer said.

Mario wanted to draw his card but he hesitated.

Only one card that can save me now. He thought.

I can never pull this off. Mario thought.

But Yugi he did it as well, time after time he just managed to draw the card he needed.

He believed in his cards, and so do I. Mario touched the top card of his Deck.

Come on. 'Draw!' He shouted and he drew the card.

'Perfect.' Mario said with a smile.

'I activate my Trap card Roll Out!' Mario shouted.

'Now I Equip Z-Metal Tank to my X-Head Cannon!'

Z-Metal Tank appeared on the field.

'Now I combine my Z-Metal Tank and X-Head Cannon!' Mario shouted and the two monsters disappeared leaving Eraser with 3000 attack points.

'I summon XZ-Tank Cannon!' Mario shouted and the hatch on Z-Metal Tank opened X-Head Cannon landed in it. (2400 ATK)

Eraser rose to a score of 4000.

'Help you defeat my Eraser, how that will?' Bowyer asked.

'Just watch.' Mario said and Nanobreaker changed to attack mode.

'I activate my Spell card Limiter Removal!' Electricity surrounded Mario's monsters Nanobreaker rose to a score of 3200 while XZ-Tank Cannon rose to an score of 4800.

'Now my Tank Cannon destroys your God!' Mario shouted and the machine fired his twin shot Eraser screamed when he fell on the ground bleeding.

(Mario: 2500) - (Bowyer: 6700)

'Destroy all monsters on the field, Eraser's blood will.' Bowyer said, as the forest ground was soaked with the blood.

'Trap card activate!' Mario shouted.

'Interdimensional Matter Transporter!' A weird device appeared on the field sucking XZ-Tank Cannon in then it disappeared.

'Now I end my turn.' Mario said.

The device appeared on the field again this time XZ-Tank Cannon came out. (2400 ATK)

'Destroyed my Eraser you did, lost the Duel I have not.'

'Summon second Slate Warrior I will.' Bowyer said and a new Slate Warrior appeared. (1900 ATK)

'Play Tribute to the Doomed I shall.' Bowyer said and he played the Spell card, he discarded one of his cards XZ-Tank Cannon was mummified and dragged underground.

'Attack directly Slate Warrior shall now.' Bowyer commanded and Slate Warrior charged in attacking Mario with his wind sickles.

(Mario: 600) - (Bowyer: 6700)

'Set four cards facedown I shall.' Bowyer said and the cards appeared.

Mario who could barely move managed to draw his card.

'I play Monster Reborn.' Mario said the Ankh appeared and the black mist packed together The Wicket Eraser came out. (5000 ATK)

'Nya? A Dark God, you can control?'

'It was a gamble Bowyer, I didn't know for sure, now Eraser attacks your Slate Warrior!' Mario shouted.

Eraser hesitated.

'Attack!' Mario shouted and the huge dragon fired his blast.

Slate Warrior was destroyed and Eraser dropped to an attack of 4000.

(Mario: 600) - (Bowyer: 3600)

'Eraser isn't affected by the effect of Slate Warrior.' Mario said.

'I end my turn, and that would mean that a Divine Beast that is Special Summoned would return to the Graveyard, but Eraser's effect prevents him from leaving the field except when he is destroyed by battle.

Bowyer started to sweat he saw that his plan backfired at him.

Damn. He thought.

Activate two Foolish Revival, give him two monsters, then use Call of the Haunted I would have, summoned Eraser I would have, then used Big bang Shot, making him stronger I would have, ending the Duel in victory!

'No impossible this is!' Bowyer shouted.

'Make your move Bowyer.' Mario said.

'Shadows won't disappear, disobey me they do!' Bowyer was now in panic.

With a flash Grave appeared on the field.

'I see Bowyer had finally lost it, finish him Mario, he refuses to move.'

'Grave, I won't, I won't take another life.' Mario said.

'Then I do it, Eraser obey your true master.' Grave said and Eraser looked at Grave. 'Attack Bowyer directly.'

Eraser charged his attack and fired it at Bowyer who now completely changed into a statue.

(Mario: 600) - (Bowyer: 0)

The shadows disappeared and Mario slowly changed back to normal, Geno also slowly started to change back.

'I am back to normal.' Geno said when he could move again, the two Star Pieces laid on the ground, Grave, Geno, mallow and Mario were looking at them.

'They are yours Mario.' Geno said.

'Why Geno?' Mario asked.

'You have defeated Bowyer the one who defeated me so that makes the Star Pieces yours.'

'No they are mine.' Grave said, he took a jump to the Pieces but Geno mumbled something and a blast of black magic pushed Grave away Mallow quickly grabbed both Pieces.

Grave grabbed The Wicket Eraser card.

'Now tell me where can I find Rozalin?' Mario asked.

Grave looked at him. 'I promised to tell you that, so I shall, she is in Booster's Tower, it is past Moleville, a mine collapsed there and a Star Piece is trapped inside.' With these words Grave turned around, he looked at Bowyer. 'Pathetic.' Grave said he kicked the statue down it started to crumble then Grave disappeared.

'Geno!' Mario shouted when he saw Geno walking away.

'What do you want? Leave me alone!' Geno shouted.

'I have a question.' Mario said.

Geno stood still.

'Ask.' Geno said.

'Why are looking for the Star Pieces?' Mario asked.

'I need them to fix the Star Road, so I can cure the one I love.'

'Then why won't you come with us?' Mario asked.

'We also want to fix the Star Road, so we can clear this world of that Smithy.'

'Seems we have similar goals and a common enemy, but that doesn't make us friends.' Geno said and Mario nodded.

'Geno we are connected by the same goals, but I have the upper hand, two Star Pieces, you have none, you have to come with us or deal with Mallow and me.' Mario said.

'I could simply use the Millennium Key to take them from you again.' Geno said.

'Your Key shall not work anymore because a power to oppose has awakened in this Duel.' Mario said and he took the pieces of the Puzzle out of his pocket.

'The Millennium Puzzle? In pieces, but how did you get it?'

'I gave it to him.' Mallow turned around and Frogfucius appeared from behind the trees. 'Long time no see Geno.' Frogfucius said.

'I have nothing to say to you Frogfucius.' Geno replied he turned around.

'Mario if you want me in your team you have to come and find me in Moleville I'll be waiting there.' Geno said and he walked away.

'Frogfucius why are you here?' Mario asked.

'I felt traces of Valentina nearby so I checked out, when I came here you were already gone, I have watched the Duel Mario, nice beating on that Dark God.' Mario nodded.

'Grave finished the Duel, I couldn't do it.' Mario said.

'You will be able to in the future Mario, you have to or else the world is doomed.' Frogfucius sighted.

'But grandpa please tell us why did you broke the Puzzle?' Mallow asked.

'To prevent it for falling into Smithy's hands.' Frogfucius exclaimed.

'Yaridovich one of Smithy's henchman came looking for it, I broke the Puzzle in front of him, and I told him I knew how to fix it.

Yaridovich wanted to kill me but he couldn't, if he did the Puzzle would be lost forever.'

'Why did you gave it to me then?' Mario asked.

'Your heritage lies in Egypt, that is why you can control the Gods and handle a Millennium Item, but you have to find that out for yourself.'

'Come with us grandpa it isn't save here.' Mallow said.

'Don't worry if Yaridovich comes back I'll tell him the Puzzle was stolen, when he comes after you to find it you'll have to Duel him and defeat him, for him it is the only way to get the Puzzle, if a Millennium Item has an owner, that owner must be defeated in order to take the Item.'

In the same dark room Mack once was Bowyer appeared now, Bowyer looked at the statue of the knight who had killed him, he noticed the sword was real.

'Interesting.' He heard a voice and Azrael appeared in the room.

'What to do now...' Azrael thought for a moment.

'You had Geno defeated, you had two Star Pieces and a Millennium Item, you could have run after that Duel, yet you chose to stay and confront Mario with whatever stupid reason you could have.'

'Smithy said...' Bowyer started.

'Smithy said you had to take down Mario because of that Star Piece, the Star Piece Geno stole from Mario, so you really had no reason to stay there at all!' Azrael shouted.

Bowyer quivered.

'You know what we have lost? Two Star Pieces and a Millennium Item.'

Bowyer gulped.

'You are lucky Grave recovered The Wicked Eraser.'

Azrael pointed at the statue and Bowyer felt he was pulled into it the bow on the back of the knight turned from stone to normal like the sword had.\


Next time:

Mallow: It is time for my revenge.

Mario: Revenge for what?

Mallow: Simon I see you, come out and face me you coward!

Simon Croco: Bah, seems I have no choice, okay then be prepared to lose another Deck!


Card details

Electric Shock

Normal Trap card

Activate only when an opponent's monster declares an attack while you control a face-up Machine-Type monster. Negate the attack. The attacking monster loses 500 ATK.

Note: This card was first used by Axel Brodie during the Yu-Gi-Oh GX manga chapter 49.