Yu Gi Oh! 5Ds X Wizard 101

Chapter 17: Emperor's Retreat

Yusei and his team of fellow wizards followed Shalek the Wise into the Emperor's Retreat. Upom entering the dungeon, the elderly Krok looked around for a bit before laying out his plans.

"Just as I expected," sighed Shalek. "This place is heavily guarded. Manders toil while Krokhotep relaxes in his chamber."

"How do we reach him?" asked Yusei.

"Krokhotep is known for his intricate defenses. You will find two guardians at the first gate, both princes of the Sokkwi family," explained Shalek. "Even with Balance, I would not stand a chance at my age. Please, fight bravely to defeat them, and return to me safely."

"Will do, Shalek," nodded Yusei.

The team then followed the map that Shalek provided and entered the door to the first prince, Suten Sokkwi. The icy Krok snarled at the intruders and put up a shield to protect himself while his guard tried to defend his master by attacking them. However, Jack and Crow managed to out-maneuver the Krok guard and defeat him with a combination of Fire and Storm. Kalin and Akiza focused their attacks on breaking Prince Suten Sokki's shield until they shattered. Yusei finished off the defenseless prince with a Locust Swarm attack. As the prince fell, the guards on his side of the hall retreated.

"Alright! That's one prince down, and one more to go!" exclaimed Leo.

They ran to the other side of the hall to confront the other Sokkwi Prince, Kebi Sokkwi. He fought in the same manner as his brother, putting up a shield while his guard tried to fight them. Leo and Luna on the other hand, used their childish antics to run circles around the guard as Yusei focused on battling Kebi. After a few minutes, Kebi surrendered and retreated, opening the passageway to the south.

"We have defeated the two princes, now what?" asked Jack.

"You've done well, wizards," nodded Shalek. "The lever should work now. Open the door and I'll meet you up ahead at the lake."

Shalek followed slowly behind the wizards as they went up to the large stone door. Crow pulled the now-unguarded lever and the ancient doors creaked open. They walked through the opening and were met with an amazing sight. They stood before a large cavern covered by a sheet of ice that was cracked in several places, revealing a lake and some fish. There were a few ships scattered across the Frozen Lake.

"Wow, I take it back when I said the Vault was refrigerator," remarked Crow. "Now THIS looks more like one!"

"This is very unusual," said Akiza.

"Let's ask Shalek what we should do next," said Kalin. The old Krok entered the Frozen Lake and stopped to take his breath. As he looked around the cavern, he sighed and shook his head.

"Oh, my heart! This place is filled with enslaved Manders. Krokhotep knows I can't stand to see them suffer…but he does not know that you're on my side."

"The Manders really can't catch a break, huh?" asked Jack.

"Let's free the Manders from their bondage! If we can do this, surely they will fight alongside us!" stated Shalek.

"Poor guys," stated Luna as she looked at a chained-up Mander.

Yusei used his hacking skills to open the looked imprisoning the Manders scattered throughout the lake. The blue lizards jumped for joy when the chains came undone and jumped for joy. The Manders then followed the team back to Shalek, who smiled.

"We've done it! But we need to ensure that they are not enslaved again," said Shalek.

"What's next, oh wise one?" asked Leo.

"Next we must deal with the Overseer Paniwi. Don't think me foolish for not rushing at once to get the Krokonomicon," replied Shalek, his eyes filled with regret.

"Sir, please don't blame yourself…" assured Akiza.

"If we do not save the Manders, we are no better than the Tuts. But see no harm in hurrying. Defeat Overseer Paniwi and return to me at once!"

"Will do, sir!" exclaimed Crow.

The team left the Frozen Lake and almost immediately, they ran into Paniwi. He snarled at them when he realized his plans had been foiled.

"You fail to see just how outmatched you are!" yelled the overseer.
"We are doing what is right!" scolded Luna. "Enslaving innocents for your own selfish gains is cruel!"

"Luna is correct! We will stop you!" agreed Akiza.

"Take the fury of my soul!" yelled Jack as he summoned a Fire Elf on the guard and Overseer Paniwi to burn them. The Sokkwi Kroks were overwhelmed at how powerful the team was and crumbled before them in no time flat. After Overseer Paniwi fell in battle, they returned to Shalek who praised them.

"Excellent job! You've shown the Manders we mean to defeat the Tuts, and they are ready to join the fight," smiled Shalek.

"So all that remains is the big guy himself, right?" asked Crow.

Shalek shook his head. "Krokhotep cowers behind a door sealed by a combination. The Manders we freed tell me you must vanquish the Sokkwi Keymaster to get it."

"Of course they had to do that…" muttered Crow.

"Once you've defeated the Keymaster, the combination will appear in his room. Use that combination to open the door and take our vengeance on Krokhotep," said Shalek.

"Alright," nodded Yusei.

The team ran to the southeastern part of the map and entered the chamber of the Keymaster. The holder looked like a golem made of ice and he attacked the team with his icy sword. Everyone dodged the blade, but not before getting a taste of frostbite. The team then struck back with their own spells and before long, knocked the Keymaster to his knees. Upon surrendering, he gave them the combination to Krokhotep's chamber.

"The combination looks like: Krok, Snake, Tree," said Kalin.

"Alright! Time to use it and defeat that leader!" exclaimed Leo.

They ran to the final hall way and came across a room filled with obelisks. One by one, they lit up the ones hinted by the Sokkwi Keymaster and the door to Krokhotep's Throne opened. Upon seeing them, Krokhotep looked shocked.

"Don't provoke me, Wizard. I was just thinking about letting you live. In my service, of course…"

"Krokhotep! Your reign over the Manders ends today!" shouted Yusei.

Krokhotep powered himself up with several buffs and attacked them with several ice blasts with his wand.

"Ack! Cold!" cried Leo as he shivered from the frost.

"I had just about enough of this refrigerator of yours, so how about we heat things up?" asked Jack as he summoned a Heck Hound. A fiery dog emerged from the card and blasted Krokhotep with a blast of flame. Kalin and Yusei then attacked the minions before they could do anything to fight back. Krokhotep withered and burned into ash from the Heck Hound's flame and dropped a golden artifact.

"Hey, what's this thing?" asked Crow as he picked it up.

"Looks like something priceless," said Akiza. "Let's bring it back to Shalek.

"I agree," nodded Yusei, and with that, they all returned to the Entrance Hall. The elderly Krok saluted them as they emerged from the doors.

"You have fought bravely. It sickens me to know one of the Order's members gave the Krokonomicon to Queen Krokopatra!" cried Shalek.

"Say what?!" exclaimed Crow.

"One of the members betrayed the Order?" gasped Luna.

"And even though it is never easy to defeat one of our own, it was the right thing to do," sighed Shalek.

"Wait, you don't mean to tell us that Krokhotep was a member of the Order?" frowned Yusei.

Shalek nodded sadly. "I fear more troubles wait us, wizards. Krokopatra wields the Krokonomicon and Krokhotep spoke of a new army. The Order has much to discuss. We may not have always acted with wisdom in the past, but you've set us on the right path. Come join us in the Balance School."

After giving his speech, everyone exited the Krokosphinx and returned to the Balance School. Upon entering the school, they were greeted by not only Professor Alhazred and Shalek, but also Khai Amahte the Great and General Khaba as well.

"Young wizards," announced Shalek. "You have my eternal gratitude. I heard what you did in the Krokosphinx. I feel we are no longer strangers, but comrades- in-arms!"

"Wow! Really?" grinned Leo.

"Shalek, General Khaba, Khai Amahte and I all wish to honor you," stated Alhazred. "Please take this Golden Scarab as a symbol of your entry into the Order of the Fang. No one deserves it more."
"Thank you Professor," smiled Yusei. "It has been an honor."

"We will continue to fight the Tuts here, using the wisdom of Balance rather than the Golden Fang. We leave it to you, young wizards, to find and protect the Krokonomicon," said Shalek.

"Do you know where it was taken?" asked Kalin.

"You will need to investigate Krokopatra's lair, the Tomb of Storms. Go see Sergeant Major Talbot, for he may be able to help you," said Shalek.