With the sacrifice of Harkon the Blades were able to retreat to their secret hideout.

Miraak who lost the scent of his opponents retreated to his temple to await the final battle.

Meanwhile Jack returned from his quest to get a Black Book, clearly shaken however when asked what happened he didn't respond.

52. The Black Book.

Jack drove down the road he used Juliet's D-Wheel, he didn't want Richard with him right now.

Seril, the High Elf curator had the Black Book and he made clear that he wanted to see Jack alone.

'Bloody High Elves.' Jack muttered.

As he approached the corner he hit the brakes Juliet's D-Wheel was treating him well but it was vastly different from the one he had lost days ago, he didn't dare to go full speed.

'Always with their rules and customs, Seril knows what's going on, he knows he can help save this country and yet!'

The Dragonborn slowed down he approached the museum, the entire street was ruined, the road was destroyed large gaps laid across the asphalt sewer pipes stuck through the ground, sewer water flooded the sidewalks, all the buildings except for the museum were damaged or completely destroyed, it was clear to Jack one of the Earthbound Gods were summoned in this area, if anything it was a miracle the museum was left standing.

Jack tried the door of the museum to his surprise it was open.

As he stepped inside the museum was completely empty clearly they moved all the stuff away to a secure location, Kailyn had given Jack very detailed instructions of where he needed to go.

As he made his way through the museum he had the feeling someone or something was watching him, it gave him the chills eventually he reached the end of one on the many hallways somewhere on the upper floor, normally off limits but all the doors were open, then he found the door he was looking for.

Jack softly knocked on the oak-wooden door.

'Come in.' A modest voice answered, carefully Jack opened the door afraid it would make a sound, he didn't want to upset the Elf.

'Jack.' A tall figure spoke the moment Jack closed the door, you could clearly see this man was an Altmer, he was tall and lanky his white hair was tied into a ponytail on his back, the man wore a gray suit with matching pants and black, sleek shoes.

'Mister Seril?' Jack asked.

'Please Seril will suffice.' The man spoke as he turned around.

Seril wore the suit jacket open under it he wore a black shirt and a gray tie loosely around his neck, he had a neatly trimmed beard and mustache, a small pair of glasses sat atop his nose.

Unaware people would see a man around the seven feet tall far in his eighties, in terms of Elven age he barely hit his fifties.

'Can I call you Jack?' The High Elf calmly asked.

'Yes.' Jack replied being flustered a bit, Seril carefully observed the Dragonborn.

'Please take a seat.' The man said he waited until Jack sat before he sat down himself.

After offering Jack some tea and after his personal assistant was gone he finally spoke up.

'One of your friends told me you were looking for a Black Book.' Seril said it more as a fact than a question.

'Yes but you said you wanted to see me personally.' Jack replied carefully choosing his words.

'Yes the leader of the Blades requests an artifact of incredible power and a one-of-a-kind item at that.' The Elf sipped his tea.

'I need it to safe this realm.' Jack said.

'You have business in Apocrypha?' Seril replied at first Jack was shocked then he remembered this guy knew a lot about artifacts and relics.

'Sorry but I can't let you have it.' Seril said as he stood up he walked up to a metal cabinet he opened it and out of a drawer he took out a completely black, leather book with runes etched in the cover.

Carefully he placed the book on the table then he took a few steps back.

'Door isn't locked, I've send security home there is nothing holding you from taking it.' The High Elf turned around to his window.

'I won't Seril I want you to freely give it to me, I will find a another way to get to Apocrypha if I need to.'

Surprised the High Elf turned back around.

'So there are honorable people left.' He spoke as he sat down in his chair again, he took the Black Book on his lap.

'You know I only work here as part timer?' He then suddenly changed subject.

'Yes you're a librarian.' Jack said the High Elf nodded.

'My passion lies at this museum I didn't want my hobby and my passion to be my job, that is why I became a librarian so I have a steady income and I can increase my knowledge there and here in the museum I can live out my passion.'

Jack finished his tea he placed the cup on the table.

'So I assume your passion lies with relics of the ancient past?' Jack spoke Seril replied with a chuckle.

'You'd say that yes, I like all fields to be honest but my real passion lies with dinosaurs.'

Jack was surprised to hear this.

'Before I started to work as a librarian I ran excavations on fossils, but my human age became too high to go on, in Elven years I was just a rookie but you need to keep your guise up, you know dinosaurs fascinate me a whole world we know almost nothing about, they were gigantic and one day gone, just like that with only their skeletons left as a proof they once walked here.'

Seril stood up holding the Black Book in his arms.

'But I digress, I can spend a whole day talking about dinosaurs.'

Suddenly Jack felt a shift in magic.

'Don't be alarmed.' Seril spoke: 'My master want to see you.'

Before Jack could ask the window disappeared in it's place appeared a gigantic eyeball surrounded by tentacles.

'Hermaeus More.' Jack growled.

'Dovahkiin, my favorite.' The Daedric Prince replied: 'You have met my embodiment.'

Jack looked at Seril: 'Should have known.' He growled.

'My poor embodiment is not allowed to let go of my Black Book.' Hermaeus spoke.

'Forget it Hermaeus.' Jack started to get annoyed.

'It is not what you think Jack, I didn't give Miraak access to my realm, he managed to get in himself, he thinks he got me beat, the fool I merely allow him to stay.' The giant eyeball spoke.

'To what end?' Jack replied.

'My own amusement, I want to see what will happen besides I had no knowledge about the Earthbound Gods, I take this chance to learn.'

Jack remained silent.

'Miraak is awfully close to winning, so I make you this offer come to Apocrypha to serve me and I will banish the pest Miraak for good.' Hermaeus said.

'Leaving my team to fight whatever controls things from the shadows? No deal.' Jack replied.

'You drive a hard bargain, but I am curious the Black Book is yours...'

Seril's gaze slowly moved to his master, Jack said nothing as he expected a ''but.''

'If.' Hermaeus continued: 'You Duel my embodiment.'

Both Jack and Seril were surprised by this.

'Now why would I do that?' Jack sceptically asked.

'No strings attached Jack.' The Seril said it was clear he was under the influence of Hermaeus.

'You just Duel win or lose doesn't matter see the Duel as an alternative for paying with your soul.' The High Elf continued, he touched the table two Duel Fields appeared in the surface their Life Points appeared etched in the table before them.

'No Duel Disks Jack, this office needs to stay clean.' Seril spoke before he sat down.

(Seril: 8000) - (Jack: 8000)

Both players drew their opening hand Seril didn't bother to look at them.

'Dragonborn.' Hermaeus spoke.

'Seril found an Elder Scroll I've found him a Moth Priest the Elder Scroll showed three futures each one ending in your failure.'

Jack placed his cards on his lap facedown.

'Hermaeus I do not believe in a future set in stone, that is what Akatosh taught me.' Jack replied.

'You dare question me?' Hermaeus said he sounded amused.

'I would never.' Jack sarcastically replied.

Seril then cleared his throat.

'I am afraid my master is right Jack, you should reconsider, give my master your soul, let him deal with Miraak.'

Jack felt sweat coming down his forehead he wiped it away, he was getting nervous.

'My master said that you would lose in all situations, the people behind the scenes they need a Duel between you and Miraak if you Duel Miraak you will lose the Duel, your fear of the Earthbound God will be your downfall, your friends don't stand a chance against the onslaught of Miraak.' Seril continued.

'The second time line however.' Hermaeus then said: 'That one is the most interesting, by a miracle you defeat Miraak that gives the ones in the shadow what they need, one by one you and your friends will fall.'

Then Seril started to speak again: 'But if you give my master your soul now Miraak will be removed that forces those in the shadow out, you might be gone but your friends can defeat them and save the world.'

Jack said nothing he picked his cards back up.

'Five turns Jack.' Seril said Jack had a confused look on his face.

'Five turns and one attack from me then this Duel will be over.'

Seril took a card from his hand.

'I Special Summon Gilasaurus a Monster resembling the Velociraptor a quick predator often hunting in groups.' A small dinosaur appeared on the card that Seril had placed on the table, as he had said it clearly resembled the Velociraptor a thin and speedy dinosaur with a light-brown skin, it had small arms ending in mean-looking claws hit's maw was filled with rows of sharp teeth. (1400 ATK)

'When Special Summoned my opponent can Special Summon a Monster from their Graveyard which you don't have yet.'

Seril took another card: 'Now I Normal Summon Sabersaurus.'

'This one is based on the normally friendly Triceratops, a real plant eater, but don't make it angry.' Another small dinosaur appeared this one was indeed a Triceratops covered in red scales, the beast looked angry on top of the three horns on it's head it had two more on the side of it's front legs and it had a mean-looking sword attached to it's tail. (1900 ATK)

'Before I end my turn I'll show you something.' Seril said, he grabbed a piece of paper and a pen he started to write something down then he folded it and gave it to Jack.

'Open this after you end your turn, it shows the proof you need, I'm giving it to you so you can be sure I do not tamper with it in the meantime.'

Jack placed the piece of paper next to him before he drew his card, he tried not to think about it a sense of unease fell over him.

'First I shall Discard Quillbolt Hedgehog so I can Special Summon The Tricky.' When Jack placed the card on the table the jester-like man appeared above it. (2000 ATK)

'Next I Normal Summon Junk Synchron.' Jack quickly placed the second card on the table, above it appeared the small, orange robot. (1300 ATK)

'It's is time for a Synchro Summon! I Tune Level three Junk Synchron to Level five The Tricky.' As Jack wanted to do his chant the Monsters were pulled towards each other, a green light surrounded the two, Jack quickly took a card from his Extra Deck he swapped some cards around, the green light disappeared and Stardust Dragon hung above the white card. (2500 ATK)

'I attack Sabersaurus with Stardust Dragon.' Jack stated his Dragon did no theatrics it simply threw it's head back and a second later the dinosaur exploded in pixels, the Life Points on the table in front of Seril were reduced by a bit, Seril quickly removed the card from the table.

(Seril: 7400) - (Jack: 8000)

'Now I Set this one.' Jack stated he placed the card on the table under Stardust Dragon.

'I end my turn.'

Jack looked at the paper with shaking hands he took it after reading it he started to tremble even more he let the paper go, every move he had made was described even his facedown Call of the Haunted was right.

Jack sat across from Seril a wildly confused look on his face.

'How can you guess? You must be cheating.' Frantically Jack looked around in search for a camera or something, anything deep down Jack knew better.

'Now Jack it is my turn again.' Seril stated he took a card from his Deck.

'First I shall activate Trade-In.' The High Elf placed the Spell card on the table.

'I send my Level eight Ultimate Tyranno to the Graveyard so I can draw two cards.' Seril explained.

'I now Release my Gilasaurus for Dark Driceratops, said to be the mythical creature Griffin, however that rumor has been debunked, we still know barely anything from this creature.'

On the table appeared a dinosaur covered in mostly green scales it had sharp claws, two wings on it's back and a collar made of yellow and orange feathers, it had a large yellow beak with sharp teeth in the back. (2400 ATK)

'Now Jack I will activate Book of Moon on Stardust Dragon.'

Jack turned his Synchro card around so it was facedown, the small image of Stardust Dragon disappeared.

'Next I activate Tale Swipe.' Seril stated as he played another Spell card.

'When I control a Level five or higher Dinosaur I can Target it then up to two Monsters my opponent control whose Level are lower than the Dinosaur I control or are facedown will be returned to the hand.'

Jack growled something through his teeth as he took the Stardust Dragon card and placed it back on top of his Extra Deck.

'Of course my effort here is in vain, Stardust Dragon will hit the Field once more next turn.' Seril said as he waved as a sign he ended his turn.

'Of course he says that, one of the easier predictions, then again he managed to guess my first turn.'

Jack was deep in thoughts as he mindlessly drew his card.

'Can't let him get to me, the future is not set in stone, I will beat his prediction.'

He looked over his hand then took a card.

'Since you control a high-level Monster I can Special Summon Junk Giant.'

On the table appeared the normally giant robot, it looked more like an action figure in this form. (2000 ATK)

'Next Junk Changer.' Jack continued next to Junk Giant appeared the smaller robot with the cylinder as a body and no head. (1500 ATK)

'I use the Effect of Junk Changer to reduce the Level of Junk Giant by one from six to five.'

'I'm not done yet Seril, since I control a Tuner I Special Summon Quillbolt Hedgehog from my Graveyard.' Jack retrieved the card above it appeared the small, orange rodent. (800 DEF)

'And finally Call of the Haunted.' Jack said as he turned his facedown card around, he took Junk Synchron from his Graveyard and placed it on the table, the orange robot appeared again. (1300 ATK)

'Now Seril I Tune Junk Changer and Junk Giant to Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon and I Tune Junk Synchron and Quillbolt Hedgehog to Synchro Summon Junk Warrior.'

Jack placed the four cards on his Graveyard then he played the Synchro cards both Stardust Dragon and the fearless Junk Warrior appeared on the table. (Stardust: 2500 ATK, Junk Warrior: 2300 ATK)

'Stardust Dragon attacks Dark Driceratops and Junk Warrior attacks directly.'

First Stardust threw back it's head and roared, the dinosaur exploded after that Junk Warrior did a series of punches and kicks and the Life Point counter of Seril decreased.

(Seril: 5000) - (Jack: 8000)

'Why do you continue to struggle Jack? I told you you cannot win, I predicted your move again.' The High Elf drew his card.

'And I told you I don't believe in your nonsense.' Jack replied.

'Fine then, I'm quite enjoying this Duel to be honest, for now I shall Set those two.' Seril quickly placed two cards on his Spell and Trap card Zone.

'That's all from me for now.'

'My turn.' Jack stated as he drew his card quickly he added it to his hand, he looked at Seril's side of the table.

'I attack you directly with Junk Warrior.' The Dragonborn spoke.

Before the Warrior could act Seril quickly flipped over one of his cards.

'I activate Sakuretsu Armor to Destroy your attacking Monster.'

Then the High Elf turned over his second card.

'I also activate Grave of the Super Ancient Organism which prevents the Effects of all Level six or higher Special Summoned Monsters from activating and to add to that they cannot attack either.'

The small Junk Warrior exploded in a bunch of pixels, Jack removed the card from the table.

Jack looked at his cards there was not much that could help him at this time then he remembered what Hermaeus Mora told him.

'Only one attack to defeat me.' He muttered then he took a card from his hand. 'This Scrap-Iron Scarecrow will put a stop to that.'

Jack quickly placed the card on his side of the table.

'My turn.' Seril said he drew his card.

'I activate Card of Demise, I Draw until I have three cards and at the end of my turn I discard my entire hand.

Quickly the High Elf drew three cards he gave them a quick glance then placed them all facedown in the back row of his Field.

'Not much more I can do for my turn.'

Jack hesitated Seril let out a chuckle: 'This turn is your last turn Jack.'

Jack gritted his teeth then drew.

'First I shall activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Grave of the Super Ancient Organism.'

Seril shrugged as he removed the Trap card from his Field.

'Since Stardust Dragon can attack again I attack you directly!'

The Signer Dragon threw back it's head.

'Not yet Jack, I activate Ego Boost.' Seril said Jack's expression changed to sheer surprise.

'Since Stardust is the only Monster it gains 1000 Attack Points extra.' Seril needlessly explained the Signer Dragon roared. (2500- 3500 ATK)

Then the Life Point counter on Seril's side decreased.

(Seril: 1500) - (Jack: 8000)

'Jack I just took more than 3000 damage from one attack, this means I get to activate Inferno Tempest.'

The High Elf flipped over a Spell card.

'All Monsters in our Deck and Graveyard are now Banished.'

Jack was horrified as he saw Seril taking thirty cards from both his Deck and Graveyard he placed them next to him on the table, now there was only one single card left in his Deck, Jack had only a handful of cards left.

Jack knew he couldn't celebrate yet his eyes moved to the one facedown card Seril had left.

'This is carefully calculated.' The Dragonborn said.

'For now I can't do anything so I end my turn.' Jack said as he looked at his facedown Scrap-Iron Scarecrow.

'He'll draw his last card I can block one attack, even if he can Summon a Monster there is nothing he can do.

Seril drew his last card.

'Before I go to my Main Phase One I activate my facedown card Pot of Acquisitiveness.' Seril flipped over his last facedown card which was a Spell card.

'With this card I can move three of my Banished Monsters to my Deck then I shuffle and draw one card.'

The High Elf showed Jack three of the same Monster.

'No need to shuffle since we both know what Monster I will get.' Seril stated as he added one of the three cards to his hand the other two were placed on the Deck space.

'Now Jack my Main Phase One starts.' Seril took a card from his hand.

'Jack I told you that you can't win this, I will prove it I activate the Spell card Cold Wave.'

Jack gasped for breath as Seril showed the card.

'Until my next turn no Spell or Trap cards can be played or Set, you hoped to hold me off with Scrap-Iron Scarecrow you cannot use that now.'

Seril played another card before him appeared a mini Tyrannosaurus Rex. (? ATK)

'This here is my Tyranno Infinity it's Effect gives it 1000 Attack Points for each of my Banished Dinosaur Monsters, if you payed attention I Banished thirty then retrieved three by my Pot of Acquisitiveness.'

Red sparks of electricity appeared around the dinosaur. (?- 27.000 ATK)

The creature roared as red sparks flew across the table and tore through Stardust Dragon.

(Seril: 1500) - (Jack: 0)

In the background Jack heard Hermaeus Mora laughing he was still in shock, slowly the table returned to normal, Seril stood up he placed the Black Book in the exact center of the table.

'As per agreement.' The curator spoke as he slowly walked towards his window, the image of Hermaeus Mora disappeared.

Slowly Jack reached for the book.

'The seed of doubt has been planted.' Seril said, he sounded tired.

Jack picked up the book he stared at it with a blanc stare.

'You should have taken my master's advice.' The High Elf said.

Jack quietly left the office still in shock.


Next time:

Set on a path of defeat Jack returns to base with a Black Book but before they can enter Miraak's temple they need two keys to dissolve two runes that seal the entrance.

Don and Drake head over to an old courthouse where one of the escaped criminals was last seen, the ex-lawyer Ren. ''The Monarch of Crime'' coming next.