8. Child of Bones.

Mario and Goombella retrieved the Moon Key and the Sun Key from Shhwonk Ruins, breaking the curse of the Nephilim Shhwonk in the proses. The road to Hooktail's castle is wide open.

As soon as the sun was rising Mario and the others left Petalburg for Hooktail Castle, Mayor Koops walked with them to the main gate.

'You know Petalburg is in your dept, first you dealt with that Shadow Thief then you lifted the curse placed by Shhwonk.' Koops thanked Mario.

'Koops these two were the least of your problems, we still have Hooktail.' Mario sighted. 'I hope for your sake, and our sake you find a way to beat that dragon.' The Mayor said

Koops watched as Mario and his friends left Petalburg, he smiled.

'I really hope you will find your way to the dragon.' Then Koops turned around and walked away.

Mario and the others reached Hooktail's Castle without any problems, in front of the huge gates stood two pedestals, there was a carving in the pedestals, one the shape of a moon the other the shape of a sun.

The moment Mario placed the keys the heavy doors slowly started to open, without hesitation they entered the castle.

They now stood in a large hallway several staircases led to the first floor and the dungeons, the castle really was old the windows were broken, cracks covered the walls, several tiles in the floor were missing and vines grew through the broken windows torches decorated the walls. 'Okay guys listen.' Mario started: 'We need to cover this floor, the first floor, the dungeon, the roof and the towers, we will split up in two groups, Luigi and Mallow you cover this floor, Goombella and I take the first one, when the sun sets we meet up here.' The rest agreed with Mario and they started their search.

After searching for a few hours Mario and Goombella met up with Luigi and Mallow, the dusk was setting in, with the sunlight gone from the holes in the walls the castle was plunged into complete darkness, Luigi took a lighter from out of his pocket and lighted up some wall torches.

The hallway looked more eery now with the shadows dancing in the light of the torches. 'We searched this floor and no Crystal Star on our half.' Luigi spoke. 'Not on our half either.' Mario replied.

'This leaves only too much Mario.' Goombella sighted.

'Yeah I have a list of possibilities.' Mallow said: 'It can be in Petalburg, I mean Koops doesn't know all secrets of his village, the old Mayor could have hidden the Crystal Star somewhere.' They all looked at each other.

'I could also be in Shhwonk Ruins, can be a secret room here, can be a secret room in the castle, we still have the second floor, tower, roof and dungeons to search and it can be well hidden somewhere around the castle exterior or somewhere buried on the road to Petalburg!' Mallow pulled his hair and sank to his knees.

After a few minutes they created a small campfire in the door opening.

'We need to sleep now, tomorrow we continue the search.' Mario said, they had sleeping bags from the Inn, the keeper of the Inn was so kind to give these sleeping bags to them.

Halfway the night Mario opened his eyes, an eery fog crawled over the floor. 'Come to me. Find me.' A creepy voice sounded through the castle, Mario looked at his friends they didn't notice, Mario knew that someone wanted him, carefully not to wake anybody Mario stood up he took a torch from the wall and followed the mist and the voice to the stairs leading to the dungeon.

Mario slowly walked down the dark, stone stairs, he had a torch with him but the light wasn't much, Mario heart rats running around, every now and then Mario walked into a cobweb. 'Damn who tries to lure me, they better have a good reason...' Mario muttered, the staircase let to a small hallway, Mario walked down the dark, cold hallway, one hand against the wall the torch in his other hand.

After a minute of three walking the hallway came out into a huge room. 'This has to be the dungeon.' Mario muttered to himself while he looked around, there were small cells in the wall, some steel doors were locked there were skeletons behind them, other doors were open and some door were completely missing. 'Reeks of fungus, can't be healthy here.' Mario sighted.

Suddenly Mario was startled as torches were lighted out of nothing, Mario could see better, the stones covering the floor and walls were old, dirty and full of holes, bones littered the corners of the room. 'And no Crystal Star here.' Mario said. 'Will your bones rest with the rest of them?' A sinister voice then sounded through the room Mario was immediately on edge.

'Show yourself!' Mario shouted. 'I am right here.' The voice said, Mario heard footsteps behind him he quickly turned around. 'Grave.' Mario growled.

'You missed me?' Grave asked with a grin.

Suddenly Mario grabbed Grave by his neck. 'The hell is wrong with you!' Mario yelled in his face. 'You damned, worthless piece of CRAP!' Mario howled, Grave leisurely removed Mario's hands. 'Come now Mario, I thought we were getting along.' Mario narrowed his eyes. 'The hell we are.' Mario replied Mario pointed his finger at Grave almost touching his face, Grave took a step back. 'First you torment us, then you get your sister back and disappear, the next time I see you is when I am about to fight Princess Shroob, halfway you disappear, but return to help me beat Princess Shroob, then you disappear again! Reappear again to kidnap Rozalin! Disappear yet again and now you reappear AGAIN!'

Grave looked at Mario a bit dumbfounded. 'So you mad?' Grave sneered.

Mario let out a roar. 'You are driving me mad!' Mario bellowed. 'Now prepare yourself to Duel that is why you are here right!' Grave shook his head. 'We are here for the same thing.' Grave said.

'My orders were clear, find the Crystal Star and bring it back, beat you if I had to, do not kill Mario at all costs, but kill his friends if you need to.' Grave summed up his mission: 'But do not worry I have no intention to kill your friends.

'You know Grave that is a relieve.' Mario sarcastically said.

'No need for your sarcasm Mario, I have searched all over this dungeon and I searched the first floor and roof as well no Crystal Star.'

Mario looked at Grave. 'We searched the ground floor.' Grave nodded.

'There are no hidden rooms here.' Grave confirmed. 'And Mario I have been watching you, I can tell you there were no hidden rooms in Shhwonk Ruins I searched there when you were done with that Nephilim.

Mario simply looked at Grave. 'Any other places you looked?' Mario asked. 'The roads around this castle, Petalburg and Shhwonk Ruins.' Grave answered. 'May I ask how? I don't think you dug through everything.'

This time Grave gave Mario a dirty look. 'I would have sensed it if a Crystal Star was there, they are magical artifacts.' Grave replied.

'So only the tower left then.' Mario said.

'Yeah couldn't search there.' Grave shrugged: 'A powerful magic lock seals the door to the tower.' Grave continued.

'A bit of magic stopped you Grave?' Mario sounded serious now.

'I can break it you know, but my magic must be in perfect sync with the magic of the door, one bit off and you're dead.' Mario scratched his chin.

'Any way to get past it?' Mario asked. 'Yes.' Grave replied: 'There is a key that is synced with the lock, only safe way to open it.' Grave explained.

'So we need a key, to get into the tower where they probably keep the Hooktail Robot.' Mario summarized. 'And the Crystal Star.' Grave added.

'Grave you know more of this whole situation, what do you keep from me?' Mario seriously asked. 'The one who locked the door, controls that Hooktail robot and must possess powerful dark magic.' Grave said.

'Your point?' Mario asked. 'My magic is more powerful, so we play a Shadow Game, if you beat me you can beat him.' Grave slowly said.

'Why will you help me Grave?' Mario asked. 'I do not, if I beat you, you need to clear out and I get to find the Crystal Star, or I would have to wait until you get it and then beat you to steal it.' Mario rubbed his chin. 'Good choice Grave, you have me alone now, after I get the Crystal Star I probably be weakened by the Shadow Game, but my friends are still there and I don't think you can beat me and three of my friends.' Mario said.

'Indeed, that is why I lured you here.' Grave walked to the other end of the room a black fog started to roll in. 'This is just magic Mario, no torture.'

Mario activated his Duel Disk and D-Gazer. AR vision - link established.' The robot voice said, Grave's skin around his eye disappeared revealing bone his eye started to glow.

'Two more questions before we begin Grave.' Mario said.

'Shoot.' Grave said.

'You know where the key is?' Mario asked.

'I did found it, but then a shadow thief took it.' Grave answered.

'Popple? We defeated him and we found no key on him.' Mario said.

Grave shook his head. 'No the thief was not a male, it clearly was a woman but I didn't see her face.'

Mario thought for a second. 'I'll search her out once we are done, and now my second question, where is Rozalin?' Mario asked, he saw Grave wanted to say something but he hesitated. 'I can't tell you, the Shadow Queen casted a spell on everyone, we cannot reveal any information about her plans, or the X-Naut's hideout, but I can say Rozalin is safe, she is with Pandora, I even lent Rozalin my Deck and she Dueled with my sister a lot of times.' Grave said, Mario was full of relieve. 'Okay Grave I'm ready.' Mario said. 'Duel!' They both shouted.

(Grave: 8000) - (Mario: 8000)

Grave smiled as the fog got thicker. 'I might not agree with the Trinity, but I do enjoy a Shadow Game.' Grave looked over his hand. 'I summon Skull Servant in attack mode!' Some bones in the corner of the room started to rattle, they pieced together to form a small skeleton, purple robes appeared around the skeleton. (300 ATK)

'I also set one facedown card.' Grave stated the card appeared behind his monster. 'Turn end.'

Mario closely observed Grave, his facial expression didn't reveal much.

'Obviously this is a Trap, Sakuretsu Armor? Mirror Force? He can have it all in his Deck, the sooner I take down those Trap cards, the better.' Mario thought. 'Grave, since you control one monster I control none I Special Summon Heroic Challenger - Assault Halberd from my hand!' Mario played the card and out of the darkness stepped a warrior clad in thick armor, he held a halberd in his hands. (1800 ATK)

'Next I Normal Summon Heroic Challenger - Double Lance!' Next to Assault Halberd a warrior clad in blue and white armor appeared he held two lances in his hands. (1700 ATK)

'Double Lance! Attack Skull Servant!' Mario shouted, the warrior rushed forward his lances aimed at Skull Servant, Grave closed his eyes as his small monster was run down, the small skeleton fell apart, then Grave felt his shadows shifting, slowly he opened his eyes only to see Mario wearing some kind of shadow armor, covered with sharp edges, he wore a helmet covered with horns out of his back sprouted wings of darkness. Mario pointed his finger at Grave a powerful shock-wave of darkness knocked Grave off his feet.

(Grave: 6600) - (Mario: 8000)

Quickly Grave leaped back onto his feet. 'Damn, since when can you control Shadows?' Grave muttered. 'I killed Dimentio, that scarred my soul, Dimentio's Shadow Game left another mark on my soul, a mark of darkness, when Princess Shroob died I inhaled some-kind of gas she exhumed, further strengthening my Shadow Powers.' Mario looked at the ground.

Grave grinned, then he started to laugh. 'You keep this from everyone?' He asked, Mario nodded. 'I don't want to worry my friends.' Mario said, Grave scratched his chin. 'You ought to talk to Merlon, he probably can help you.'

Mario sighted. 'I know, but I wait for now, I guess this power is useful to deal with the Shadow Queen.' Grave clenched his fist. 'That power can destroy you Mario!' Grave shouted. 'You don't need to worry about me Grave, I know what I'm doing.' Mario replied. 'You don't and I will show you.' Grave growled.

'Anyway Assault Halberd direct attack on Grave!' Mario yelled, Assault Halberd charged in, powered up by Mario's Shadow Power.

'I activate my Trap card!' Grave yelled, his remaining card spun open. 'Dimension Wall!' Grave blocked Assault Halberd with his hand, then he spread his arms, shadows started to swirl around him, Mario watched as Grave was lifted from the ground, the darkness came out of his eyes.

'Can you handle this?' Grave asked, as he send Mario's attack back at him, Assault Halberd charged at Mario hitting him square in the chest, Mario gasped for air as a part of his armor crumbled, then Grave's Shadow Power hit Mario knocking his chest armor clean off, Mario was launched backwards but he used his shadowy wings to land safely.

(Grave: 6600) - (Mario: 6200)

Mario checked if nothing was broken. 'Time for round two.' Grave said: 'Draw!' He placed the card in his hand then he took another from his hand.

'First I summon another Skull Servant.' The bones of the Skull Servant that was destroyed came back together. (300 ATK)

'Next I activate a Spell card, Ties of Brethren!' The Spell appeared on the Field, a red line of energy shot out of Grave he cringed, as his Life Points depleted.

(Grave: 4600) - (Mario: 6200)

'I shall explain this card, because I am a nice guy.' Grave sneered.

'This card only activates if I have at least one monster on the Field and if I pay 2000 Life Points.' Grave took his Deck and searched it until he found two cards, then he reshuffled his Deck. 'I now target 1 monster I control, in this case Skull Servant, now I Special Summon two monsters from my Deck with the same Level, Attribute and Type but with a different name from each other and a different name from the monster on my Field.' Grave finished his explanation. 'So I summon Wightprince and Wightmare!'

Two piles of bones started to combine until one formed the skeleton of a child he was dressed in what used to be fancy clothing he waved a scepter around. (0 ATK) The next one was a skeleton of an adult, dressed in a fancy suit it had a blonde wig on its head, it sat on a chair and held a cup of tea in its hand. (300 ATK) 'Next I set one card and I end my turn.' Grave stated, it appeared behind his monsters.

'My turn, draw.' Mario said, he drew his card. 'I create the Overlay Network with my two monsters.' Mario stated, Double Lance and Assault Halberd changed into two brown orbs, above Mario the black portal opened. 'Xyz Summon! Come forth Zubaba General!' Out of the portal fell a warrior clad in heavy white armor, he wore a red cape and held a claymore in both hands, he casually heaved the sword on his back. (2000 ATK) 'Now I use his effect by Detaching one monster.' Mario continued, he removed one of the cards and one of the colored orbs disappeared. 'Now I can Equip one Warrior Monster from my hand to this card and so it gains ATK equal to all the monsters equipped.' Mario explained, he played a card on his Duel Disk, the image of a card appeared in front of Grave it was called Heroic Challenger - War Hammer a 2100 ATK monster.

Zubaba General let out a war-cry as its attack rose. (2000- 4100 ATK)

'Then I summon Heroic Challenger - Spartan.' Next to Zubaba General a monster dressed as an old Spartan soldier appeared clad in yellow tunic, cape, armor and a helmet in one hand he held a spear in the other a huge shield. (1600 ATK) 'Zubaba General attack Wightprince!' Mario commanded.

'Again you act without thinking.' Grave sneered. 'Go Trap card! Attack Guidance Armor!' Zubaba Knight stopped short when a demonic looking armor appeared around Spartan. 'This Trap redirects your attack to an appropriate target.' Grave said, Zubaba turned around then charged at Spartan, cleaving the monster in half with his claymore.

'Mario!' Grave bellowed he pointed his finger a stream of darkness shot out of it, Mario rose his arms a wall of mist surrounded him, Grave's attack was blocked the rest of the mist formed a new armor, then a second blow struck Mario in his chest.

(Grave: 4600) - (Mario: 3700)

Mario gasped as the air was blown out of his lungs. 'This teaches you not to trifle with dark...' Grave stopped as Mario slowly stood up.

'Haven't you learned your lesson?' Grave growled.

'I told you Grave I know what I do, you don't need to teach me anything.'

Mario looked at the cards in his hand. 'I activate Monster Reborn.' The holy ankh appeared on the Field, next to Zubaba Skull Servant appeared it knelt down crossing its arms. (200 DEF)

'Turn end.' Mario stated.

Grave drew his card. 'Smart move trying to keep my Graveyard empty, you fear King of the Skull Servants I can tell that much.' Grave sneered.

'Just move.' Mario growled. 'Fine!' Grave spat: 'I create the Overlay Network with my three monsters!' Grave shouted, his three monsters changed into black orbs, the black portal opened. 'Come out Baby Tiragon!' Grave yelled, the creature that appeared was a small cute-looking dragon with huge ears, it turned its back to Mario and yawned. (900 DEF)

'Next.' Grave continued: 'I summon King of the Skull Servants!' Grave played his card, many bones fell down until a whole piles was formed, bones that were scattered around the room formed a huge skeleton who rose atop the pile of bones, it wore a purple cloak much like the one Skull Servant wore. (0 ATK)

'I use Baby Tiragon's effect, by Detaching a monster one Level 1 monster I control can attack directly, and I choose King of the Skull Servants.' Grave said while he removed a card from under Baby Tiragon, now that there was 1 Skull Servant in Grave's Graveyard the King became stronger. (0 - 1000 ATK)

Mario looked at the King then he saw Grave taking another card from his hand. 'I activate a Spell card Share the Pain.' Grave casually played the card. 'I Tribute one monster then you do the same it is simple as that.' Grave pointed at Baby Tiragon a black mist devoured the cute monster, King of the Skull Servant became even stronger. (1000- 3000 ATK)

'Then I Tribute Zubaba General.' Mario sighted his warrior also got devoured by the black mist.

'Smart choice.' Grave sneered: 'If you had chosen my Skull Servant you would have lost the Duel, now my King direct attack!'

King of the Skull Servants roared black lightning crashed down around Mario followed by three blasts of Grave's Shadow Power, Mario screamed as his armor scattered and his wings dissolved.

(Grave: 4600) - (Mario: 700)

Mario laid on his belly, his cards sprawled around him, he was bleeding from several flesh-wounds, Grave walked up to Mario to check for his pulse. 'Still alive, this should teach him, I had to hold back but still, the magic of the guardian is equal to fifteen percent of my power, I used twenty percent of my power on Mario, had to scale it to thirty to keep up with Mario's power, most impressive but not quite it.' After Grave confirmed Mario's situation he turned around and wanted to walk away.

Suddenly Grave stopped. 'You've got to be...' He muttered then he turned around only to see Mario standing. 'Draw.' Mario coughed he drew his card. 'I sacrifice Skull Servant so I can summon my second Heroic Challenger - War Hammer!' A new warrior appeared on the Field, fully clad in blue armor holding a huge hammer in his hands. (2100 ATK)

King of the Skull Servant became stronger. (3000- 4000 ATK)

'You know you can surrender Mario.' Grave sneered.

'You know you can shut up Grave.' Mario replied.

Mario took the two remaining cards from his hand. 'First I Equip War Hammer with Heroic Growth.' A second Spell card appeared. 'This means as long as my Life Points are lower the attack of the Equipped monster is doubled, when they are higher they are halved.' He explained, War Hammer let out a war-cry. (2100- 4200 ATK)

'Next I Equip him with Heroic Chance which doubles attack again.' Mario explained the second Spell card appeared, War Hammer got struck by black lightning as Mario enhanced his monster. (4200- 8400 ATK)

'Attack that King!' Mario commanded, War Hammer heaved his hammer as he charged in, King of the Skull Servant was crushed with one mighty swing. Mario spread his arms the darkness formed around him, Grave crossed his arms a shield made of mist formed in front of him.

'Grave!' Mario bellowed he clenched his fists then thrusted his fists forward firing two black streams of Shadow Magic.

Grave's barrier was blown apart by the first stream the second stream send Grave flying.

(Grave: 200) - (Mario: 700)

Suddenly War Hammer sank to his knees as he grew weaker. (4200- 1050 ATK) 'I also Equip your King to my War Hammer.' Mario said, King of the Skull Servants disappeared.

Grave sat on one knee. 'I knew this would happen.' He whispered, Grave was bleeding really bad, he breathed heavy, he felt a throbbing pain in his head, it turned black in front of Grave's eyes, he shook his head to clear it. 'I added this card to my Deck for just a case like this.' Mario saw his opponent shivered. 'The Spell card Tremendous Fire! Which damages both our Life Points!' Black flames appeared around both Duelists, the flames licked at their body Mario heard Grave howl, Mario felt his power slowly disappear, he sank to his knees.

(Grave: 0) - (Mario: 0)

'You forced the Duel to a draw?' Mario gasped.

'I had to.' Grave coughed up some blood: 'I nearly died, this was the only way for me to end the Duel, fast.' Grave chanted some words and a black portal appeared in front of him. 'We both have thing to attend to, we neither can die, think about that before you use your Shadow Magic again.' Grave stepped through the portal.

Mario watched Grave disappear through his portal, only a few seconds later Mallow and Goombella came storming in, followed one minute later by a cowering Luigi. 'Mario you okay?' Mallow asked, Mario wiped some blood from his face. 'Yeah I'm fine.' He replied.

'What happened?' Goombella gasped as she saw Mario's clothes were torn and he was bleeding from several cuts. 'Shadow Game, nothing serious.' Mario tried to sound calm. 'Goombella, Luigi whoever did this might still be around, I still feel a trace of Shadow Magic, return outside we meet you there.' Mallow issued the rest agreed and they left.

'Mario be honest I sensed two sources of Shadow Magic here, I waited to enter until one of the two was gone.' Mario looked Mallow in the eyes. 'The second was me.' Mario bluntly said, Mallow simply nodded. 'I figured as much, the other power was Grave wasn't it?' Mallow asked. 'Yes it was Grave.' Mario confirmed: 'He was send here to get the Crystal Star but he got stuck, the Crystal Star is at the tower accessible from the roof, but the door is sealed by powerful magic, only the key that is enchanted with the same magic can open the door.' Mario quickly explained.

'Grave thought you had it?' Mallow asked.

'No he didn't he only wanted to test me, there was something odd, like Grave didn't want to face the guardian of the Crystal Star he said that his Shadow Magic was more powerful, if I could withstand Grave I could beat the guardian.' Mario said: 'But then I used my Shadow Magic, Grave turned his magic up a notch but I still managed to beat him.'

Mallow looked worried. 'You know Grave could have killed you.'

Mario looked away for a second. 'His mission was not to kill me, but to kill you, he didn't want it but I had to hurt him just to make sure.' Mario said. 'Then why didn't you just kill him?' Mallow asked.

'Grave told me he has Rozalin, but the Shadow Queen placed some powerful magic on her henchmen so they cannot talk about her plans or whereabouts of the X-Nauts.' Mario explained.

'So Grave keeps Rozalin safe?' Mallow was really surprised.

'Mallow, Grave hates the Shadow Queen, he want to quit but he can't, I won't kill him yet, if we can work something out we might gain an ally.'

Mallow looked worried. 'Mario about your Shadow Magic I won't tell the others but Merlon must know this, he might be able to get rid of it and how did you get it anyway?'

Mario chuckled: 'Grave said the same thing about seeing Merlon, he was actually worried about me, probably because he knows I might be his only way out of the Trinity, but I got it after the fight with Dimentio, his death left a mark on my soul, but it was only after the fight with Princess Shroob I actually started to notice I had these powers, I practiced with them in secret, but Mallow I will only keep them until we are done with the Shadow Game then I want to get rid of them.'

Mallow turned around. 'I know you will Mario, you showed today you can handle them, if you would have given in to the darkness Grave would be dead now.'

Rozalin and Pandora sat on the ground, Rozalin had some spare cards they were rebuilding her Deck, all of a sudden a black portal opened, some blood dripped out of it, Rozalin gasped, a few seconds later Grave dropped out, he landed on his right hand and knees, his left hand he used to cover a deep cut across his chest. Pandora started to shake, Rozalin placed her arm around Pandora. 'Grave, who did this?' Rozalin asked as Pandora tried but she got no sound out of her throat.

'Pandora, don't you worry.' Grave growled. 'I'm fine, it was a rather rough Shadow Game underestimated my enemy, give me your hand Pandora.' Grave said, Pandora reached out to her brother Grave took her hand then they both started to glow Grave's wounds healed.

'Luckily for me my foe didn't had the time to inflict permanent wounds.' Grave stood up. 'As for who did this...' Grave paused for a moment, he looked Pandora in her eyes: 'It was the guardian of the Crystal Star, I left it weakened for Mario to finish off.' Grave turned around. 'I need to report to Azrael, he won't be happy.' Grave sighted.

Pandora now knew the truth about what happened, Grave didn't want Rozalin to know Mario had Shadow Magic that would only worry her.

'Pandora I never knew you could heal people.' Rozalin said.

'It isn't like that.' Pandora replied: 'My and Grave's magic are connected, that is why I can heal him and he can heal me, if we are close we can also share thoughts.' Pandora said then she sat down between her cards Rozalin followed her example.

Grave entered Grodus' office, a large square room, with a huge desk in the center of it, several chairs stood around the room, there was a small cupboard with some important documents in them, on the floor was a red carpet with the X-Naut insignia in front of Grodus' desk, there was a steel door behind the desk behind the door was Grodus' private chamber, the most imposing thing was the aquarium completely decorating one wall, several piranhas swum in it.

As soon as Grave stepped in everybody in the room went silent, there was Lord Crump who looked nervous, next to Crump stood an old-looking woman, her face was wrinkled, she had a long pointy nose, she wore a purple old-fashioned dress and a blue and white striped witch hat.

Grodus sat behind his desk, his elbows leaning on the wood his head resting in his hand leaning against the aquarium was Azrael, he had his eyes closed. 'So Lord Crump, you were saying?' Sir Grodus said while looking annoyed at Grave.

Grave ignored it, he took a chair and sat down, he saw Azrael smirk.

'As I said, we have uncovered the location of a Crystal Star, I only need the assist of the X-Naut Scouts.' Sir Grodus then stood up. 'That has been compromised, the new X-Naut Scout leader Johnson has died.' Grodus turned to face Azrael, the latter opened one of his eyes. 'You want to blame me?' He asked before he closed his eye again. 'It was your advice to let Grave guard the prisoner and it was his sister who let the prisoner escape, the prisoner used Pandora's Deck to take out Johnson and so I was forced to kill him.' Grodus spat out the words, Azrael shrugged. 'Pandora is not part of The Trinity, nor the X-Nauts, that Johnson lost showed us he was not able to handle his job.' Azrael stayed calm.

Sir Grodus abruptly turned around. 'Crump you go to the site where you found the Crystal Star.' Lord Crump saluted. 'And you Beldam!' Sir Grodus shouted to the woman next to Crump. 'You and your sisters must assist Lord Crump!' Beldam also saluted then she disappeared through the floor.

'Damned Nephilim.' Grodus softly cursed, Lord Crump also walked away, then Grodus turned around and followed Lord Crump.

'So you lost?' Azrael asked he opened his eyes and sat down on Grodus' chair. 'Yes Mario bested me, I couldn't enter the tower so I decided I would try to get Mario out of the castle so I could continue the search.' Grave replied. 'What happened? Your Shadow Magic would have been strong enough to beat him.' Azrael replied. 'Mario has Shadow Magic himself, I couldn't use more or else it would have killed him, I needed to keep up with him, but in the end Mario's Deck was stronger.' Grave shrugged: 'Well the guardian might kill Mario, in a day or two send in a recovery team, either the guardian is dead and the Crystal Star is gone, or Mario and his friend lay there dead and the guardian is weakened.' With these words Grave stood up and walked away.

'Your opinion?' Azrael said, shadows appeared in the room and with them Exodus appeared. 'An interesting turn of events, I want a shot at Mario at the Thousand-Year Door, if he beats the guardian of course.' Exodus spoke. 'Fine, then I'll head to Lord Crump's location, maybe I can have some fun myself.'


Next time:

Only one place left to search, the highest tower of the castle, the place where Hooktail seems to be and the Crystal Star.

But the door to the tower is locked with a magical key and a mysterious woman has it, will she still be in the castle? And who is it? Find out next time: 'Lock and Key' coming next.


Ties of Brethren

Normal Spell card

Pay 2000 LP, then target 1 Level 4 or lower monster you control; Special Summon from your Deck, 2 monsters with the same Type, Attribute, and Level as that monster, but with different names from each other and that monster, also you cannot Special Summon monsters for the rest of this turn. You cannot conduct your Battle Phase the turn you activate this card.

Note: The above card is only released for the OCG for now.


Heroic Growth

Equip Spell card

Equip only to a Warrior-Type monster. While your Life Points are lower than your opponent's, the ATK of the equipped monster is doubled. While your Life Points are higher than your opponent's, the ATK of the equipped monster is halved.

Note: The above card was used by Nistro during the Yu-Gi-Oh ZEXAL anime, all credits goes to the creative writers of the episode.


Attack Guidance Armor

Normal Trap card

After activation, equip this card to a face-up monster. Your opponent cannot select a card other than the equipped monster as an attack target.

Note: The above card was used by Seto Kaiba during the Yu-Gi-Oh anime on several occasions, all credits goes to the creative writers of these episodes.