16. Mechanical Rhythm.
With Azrael out of the way, the backbone of the X-Naut Army is defeated, Crump is alone with a handful of leftover soldiers.
But Crump is not done yet, he lures Mario into one final trap on board of The Blade.
Mario was staring at The Blade, then suddenly they heard a speaker being turned on. 'Buh buh huh huh, I must admit I am impressed.' The voice of Lord Crump sounded through the Boggly Woods.
'Taking down Azrael like that, buh huh huh, that guy was full of himself yet he failed, now it is up to me to deal with this!'
Suddenly a small platform descended from The Blade it was attached to some thick wires. 'I welcome you all aboard!' Lord Crump shouted then the speaker turned off.
Mario, Luigi and Mallow stepped onto the platform, as soon as they stood on it it was being lifted back up.
The inside of the ship was messy, the walls were covered up by metal studs, two X-Naut soldiers were waiting for the three, Mallow and Luigi activated their Duel Disks.
Ten minutes later both soldiers laid on their back, Mario pushed open the doors, they entered a small hallway, there were four doors, Mallow opened them one-by-one two of the doors contained barracks the other two were empty except for a few empty weapon racks.
There were three more of those hallways after the third they entered a bigger room, the room was filled with tables and chairs. 'Seems to be a mess hall.' Mallow noticed then two doors at the other end opened and six soldiers came rushing out of it, this time everyone activated their Duel Disk.
at the end of the Duel four of the soldiers had ran away one was sitting on his knees the last one was laing on his back, knocked down by Mario's shadow powers.
'So how many of these soldiers are there?' Luigi sounded annoyed.
'I don't know brother, but Lord Crump is tiering us before he faces us.'
Mallow nodded: 'But we cannot lose here.' He said.
They walked down three more hallways with the barracks and the empty storage rooms, after that they reached a different hallway, there were four doors, Mallow opened the first door there was a staircase leading down, Luigi took a quick look: 'That is the engine room.' He said, Mario opened the second door it was a big room, in the middle stood a massive wooden table and a luxurious chair, there were several computers spread out through the room. 'This seems to be some office.' Mario muttered.
Mallow opened the third door: 'A second entrance to the engine room.'
Then Luigi opened the last door there was a staircase leading to a floor above them.
At the end of the stairs they found a really small hall with only two heavy doors. 'Well let's check out where these doors lead us.' Luigi whispered.
Mario opened the door to the hangar, Mallow stepped in first followed by Luigi and finally Mario.
It was dark, then all of a sudden the lights turned on blinding the three,
Mario immediately saw they were surrounded by X-Naut soldiers.
'Buh buh buh huh huh huh, I knew you would come here.' Crump stood in front of the deactivated robot.
'Crump we're here now let Goombella go.' Mario said in a threatening tone. 'You really think I am that stupid? Look around do you see her?'
Mario looked around the room, no Goombella. 'Okay Crump, no more games.' Mallow said. 'Where is Goombella!'
Crump laughed: 'You see the robot behind me?' He casually said, Crump stepped aside the body of the robot opened, Mario saw an unconscious Goombella chained inside the robot.
'Listen Mario, this how this works.' Crump then said: 'This robot is Magnus Von Grapple, a top-of-the-art Duel Robot I build for one purpose only, to beat you guys. Now Magnus is equipped with a bomb that would destroy him the moment you will leave this room, don't think I'm joking there were sensors at the door the moment you stepped in the sensors recognized all of you, when you activate the sensors again the bomb will blow.' Crump took a remote control he typed in a code, the robot started to buzz: 'Of course if you win you can save your friend and leave without problems. If you lose Magnus is equipped with a program to knock you all down with one attack.' Crump turned around.
'Soldiers!' He bellowed: 'Let's go! Thanks to Mario we know the entrance to the location of the Crystal Star! We shall claim it!'
The front of the robot closed, it rose to its full length a Duel Disk grew out of its arm, a display on its head showed 8000.
'Duel mode engaged.' The robot said. 'Luigi will you do it?' Mario asked, Luigi nodded he activated his D-Gazer and Duel Disk.
(Magnus Von Grapple: 8000) - (Luigi: 8000)
'Duel mode engaged.' Magnus said in a robotic voice.
'Opponent Luigi, Deck recipe found, Elemental Heroes, counter measures taken, chances of winning the Duel 98 percent.'
Mario and Mallow looked at each other. 'That thing is really sure of itself isn't it?' Mallow muttered. 'We shall see.' Mario replied.
'You, tin-man you can start the Duel.' Luigi said.
'First turn initiated, cannot draw cards in first turn.' Magnus took three cards from his hand. 'Summoning Jinzo - Jector.' A man appeared before Magnus, he wore some blue and green leather suit, red sniper goggles and a metal mask in front of his mouth, his skin was purple and thick wires stuck out of his back. (800 ATK)
'The name of this monster is treated as Jinzo as long as it is on the Field, further Effects irrelevant at the moment.' Magnus said, Luigi scratched his head he was annoyed already. 'Activating the Spell card The Dark Door.' Magnus continued the Continuous Spell appeared on his side of the Field. 'Only one monster may attack per turn.' Magnus explained.
'Setting one card facedown.' The Duel robot continued it appeared next to The Dark Door. 'Ending turn.'
'I betcha that facedown card is a Scrap-Iron Scarecrow, combined with the use of a Jinzo monster, this could spell trouble.' Mario sighted.
Luigi drew his card. 'I call Sparkman!' Luigi shouted, the electric-charged hero leaped onto the Field he stuck a heroic pose. 'Attack Jinzo - Jector!'
Sparkman created a bolt of lightning in his hands. 'Attack called, activate counter-measure.' Magnus said. 'Scrap-Iron Scarecrow.' The scarecrow made of junk appeared before Sparkman the electricity shocked the thing.
'Scrap-Iron Scarecrow negates one attack, then returns to facedown position.' Magnus said, the junk disappeared and a reversed card reappeared on Magnus' Field.
'Then I set a facedown card of my own and end my turn.' Luigi stated, a card appeared in his Sell/Trap Zone.
'The turn is mine, I draw.' Magnus stated the robot drew his card.
'Activating relevant Effect of Jinzo - Jector. Part one of Effect, sacrifice Jinzo - Jector to move Jinzo from Deck to hand.' Magnus explained, he took a card from his Deck, it was the regular Jinzo.
'Part two of Jinzo - Jector's Effect activates, all Set Spell and Trap cards of the opponent are checked, then I am allowed to Summon Jinzo monsters up to the amount of Trap cards opponent controls.' Luigi's only facedown card spun around it was Call of the Haunted. 'Trap card detected, Call of the Haunted, allowed to Summon Jinzo.' Magnus played the card from its hand, this time the more famous Jinzo appeared on the Field with its leather clothing and red skin. (2400 ATK)
'Jinzo's Effect: All Trap cards are negated and no Trap cards can be activated.' Magnus took another card from his hand: 'Activating Spell card Amplifier.' Magnus played the card and a weird helmet full with antenna's and whatnot appeared on Jinzo's head. 'Amplifier allows me to use Spell cards even if I control Jinzo.' The Duel Robot explained.
Then Magnus took another card from his hand. 'I activate Monster Reborn, which allows me to Special Summon a monster from any Graveyard.'
The holy Ankh appeared on the Field, and Jinzo - Jector appeared beneath it. (800 ATK)
'I sacrifice Jinzo - Jector so I can summon Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6.' Jinzo - Jector disappeared, then a roar bellowed over the Field, a monster dropped down from the ceiling, it was a bird-like dragon it stood on two legs and was completely covered in metal armor. (2300 ATK)
'This monster is unaffected by Spell cards, when this card destroys a monster by Battle I can Special Summon Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 from my Deck.' Luigi took a look at Mario, Luigi's brother nodded.
'Horus attacks Sparkman.' Magnus said, the dragon exhumed a ball made of black fire, Sparkman screamed when he got incinerated.
(Magnus Von Grapple: 8000) - (Luigi: 7300)
'I end my turn, which means I summon Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8.' Magnus stated, the bird-like dragon started to glow slowly the monster grew to twice its original size, its tail grew longer, its legs got thicker, the monster grew two small arms, it let out a terrifying roar. (3000 ATK) 'During either player's turn when a Spell card is activated, the Spell card can be negated and destroyed.' Magnus explained.
'This is bad, Luigi is in real trouble.' Mario whispered, Mallow turned his attention to Mario. 'Come on Mario this is a lock, Magnus needs his combo's to win.' Mallow replied.
Mario shook his head: 'Yes that might be true, but Mallow remember Luigi cannot attack because of Dark Door and Scrap-Iron Scarecrow, even if he manages to destroy either Dark Door or Scrap-Iron Scarecrow he still has to beat a 2400 ATK and a 3000 ATK monster, not to mention that has to be done without the use of Spell or Trap cards, in this case Luigi's only chance is Monster Effects, and most of Luigi's monsters don't have that kind of Effects.' Mallow looked away. 'Mario, Luigi can win, I know he can, he will be able to overcome the odds.'
Mario scratched his chin: 'You are right Mallow, he might be able to do it, there is one card in his Deck that can do it.'
Luigi started to sweat, he wiped his brow clean then he drew his card.
'Okay, I'm playing with less then a half Deck here, my Spells and Traps are useless, but as long as I have monsters I am safe, Magnus is hindered by his own Dark Door as well.' Luigi thought then he drew his card.
'I Set a facedown card and end my turn.' He stated a card appeared in his Monster Zone.
Magnus drew his card. 'Jinzo attacks the defending monster.' He stated, Luigi's facedown card disappeared a muscular man appeared, he had long black hair tied in a tail, he wore only pants and had red tribal-like tattoos on his shoulders and chest. (1600 DEF)
'Elemental HERO Wildheart is destroyed.' Magnus said, Jinzo created his orb of darkness and fired it at the Hero, Wildheart got sucked inside the orb then it exploded.
'I shall end my turn.'
Luigi drew his card. 'This card, if I can use this, it will be a long-shot but it's my only chance.' Luigi thought, he sighted.
'I activate E - Emergency Call!' Luigi shouted the Spell card appeared on the Field. 'Horus negates the Spell card.' Magnus said, Horus fired a stream of darkness from its maw melting away the Trap card.
'Okay let's try R - Righteous Justice next!' A second Spell card appeared Horus simply destroyed this one as well. 'Third is a charm they say, I play Silent Doom!' The third Spell appeared and also got destroyed by Horus.
'Maybe this'll work, Skyscraper!' Luigi activated the Field Spell the city appeared and immediately got wrecked by Horus.
'I set a card and end my turn.' A facedown card appeared in Luigi's Monster Zone.
'Luigi did lose it.' Mallow sighted: 'He's playing reckless.'
Mario chuckled. 'On the contrary, he has a plan.' Mario replied.
'By spilling his Spell cards?' Mallow continued. 'Just watch Mallow, this will be Luigi's long-shot, his only chance he needs to trust in the heart of the cards.'
Magnus meanwhile has drawn his card. 'I Equip Horus with Fairy Meteor Crush, which gives the Equipped monster a Trampling Effect, which means...' Magnus rambled on. 'I know what a Trampling Effect means!' Luigi yelled. 'Skipping explanation, commencing Battle Phase.'
Horus fired a beam of darkness from its maw, first Luigi's facedown card turned into Avian. (1000 DEF) The Hero got vaporized by the beam then the beam continued to Luigi, Mario's brother leaped out of the way to evade the attack.
(Magnus Von Grapple: 8000) - (Luigi: 5300)
'I end my turn.' Magnus said.
Luigi drew his card. 'I activate Heavy Storm!' Luigi played his Spell card.
'Horus negates the Spell card.' Magnus replied, the dark beam vaporized the Spell card before it could appear.
'Good, you machines are all stupid, only thing you can do is follow protocol, I have been emptying my hand on purpose but you probably cannot calculate human thinking.' Magnus simply stood there not reacting.
'Yeah that is what I mean, now the monster I have here can be Special Summoned when my hand is empty, and when it is Special Summoned I can draw two cards if I control no other cards.'
Luigi placed the card on his Duel Disk. 'I Summon Elemental HERO Bubbleman!' Before Luigi a man wearing a skintight dark-blue suit appeared, over the suit he wore thick, light-blue armor and a white cape, he had waterspout attached to his wrist and two water tanks attached on his back. (1200 DEF) 'Now I can draw two extra cards.' Luigi closed his eyes he thought about Mario, in his mind's eye Mario gave a thumbs-up, Luigi took the top two cards from his Deck, slowly he opened his eyes.
'Got it.' He grinned.
'Magnus your lock does not scare me! I still can Summon a monster and I summon Elemental HERO Stratos!' Suddenly a monster dropped from the sky it looked like an armed pilot with two rotors attached to his back which enabled him to hover. (1800 ATK)
'Stratos allows me to destroy Spell and Trap cards up to each Elemental HERO I control except for himself.'
Mallow suddenly slapped his fist in his hand. 'Great move Luigi! Using Bubbleman to draw Stratos so you could use Stratos' Effect to destroy Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!' Mario shook his head. 'He won't destroy that Scarecrow, just watch.' Mario replied.
'Okay Magnus now that I can destroy one card! I destroy Amplifier!'
Stratos used his rotors to create a small storm the helm was blown off of Jinzo's head. 'Now that Amplifier is destroyed Jinzo is also destroyed!' Luigi said, suddenly Jinzo grabbed his head, then he exploded.
'I set a facedown card.' Luigi continued, the card appeared in his Spell/Trap Zone. 'Turn end.'
Magnus drew his card. 'Important cards missing in strategy, chances of winning the Duel 88 percent.' Magnus took a card from his card. 'Setting facedown card.' The robot stated the card appeared in his Spell/Trap Zone.
'Horus attack Bubbleman.' Magnus continued, Horus fired his beam of darkness again Luigi leaped out of the way of the beam.
(Magnus Von Grapple: 8000) - (Luigi: 3500)
'This is the part I was waiting for.' Luigi then spoke: 'I activate my Trap card! Soul Fusion!' His card spun around. 'By paying 1000 Life Points I can Banish Hero monsters from my Graveyard so I can Fusion Summon! And for this one I need to Banish one Hero monster and a Wind monster!' A beam of light surrounded Luigi, the souls of Wildheart and Avian appeared before the beam of light the two monsters leaped in, when the light disappeared a new monster stood on the Field, he was a warrior clad in heavy green, black and yellow armor, most of his body was covered by a cloak strong gusts of wind surrounded the monster. (2800 ATK)
(Magnus Von Grapple: 8000) - (Luigi: 2500)
'This is Elemental HERO Great Tornado and when it is summoned all Attack and Defense of all monsters my opponent controls are halved.'
Great Tornado pointed at Horus, a strong gust brought the dragon to its knees. (3000- 1500 ATK) 'Since attacking has no use, I shall summon a monster.' Luigi took the card from his hand. 'I summon Elemental HERO Ocean!' Next to Great Tornado a creature appeared it looked like a cross between a man and a shark, his skin was blue the only armor he wore was around his waist and on his legs, he carried a spear in his hand. (1500 ATK)
'While I control Ocean, once per turn I can move a Hero from my Graveyard or my Field back to my hand.' Luigi explained, suddenly Stratos disappeared from the Field, Luigi took the card back in his hand.
'Turn end.' Luigi stated.
Magnus drew his card. 'Activating Call of the Haunted.' Magnus said, his facedown card spun around. 'Summon Jinzo from Graveyard.' The robot continued and Jinzo appeared in a puff of black smoke. (2400 ATK)
'Changing Horus to defensive position.' Magnus turned the card sideways, Horus crouched down and shielded himself with his wings. (1800- 900 DEF)
'Jinzo attacks Ocean.' Magnus stated, Jinzo fired his famous black energy ball, Ocean scattered.
(Magnus Von Grapple: 8000) - (Luigi: 1600)
'My turn again, time to wrap this up Magnus.' Luigi drew his card.
'I summon Stratos again!' The pilot-like Hero leaped back onto the Field. (1800 ATK) 'This time I destroy The Dark Door!' Luigi shouted, the Hero created his storm blowing away the Spell card.
'Stratos attack Horus!' Luigi shouted, Stratos leaped into the air, aimed his turbines at the dragon and blew it away with a powerful gust of wind.
'Great Tornado destroy Jinzo!' The second hero pointed at Jinzo a small tornado appeared blowing away Jinzo.
(Magnus Von Grapple: 7600) - (Luigi: 1600)
'Next I activate my facedown Call of the Haunted!' Luigi shouted, his Trap that was there from the beginning of the Duel spun around and Sparkman leaped onto the Field. (1600 ATK)
'I end my Battle Phase because an attack is useless because of Scrap-Iron Scarecrow.' Luigi said then he took the card from his hand. 'I activate Monster Reborn!' He shouted, the Ankh appeared on the Field together with Jinzo. (2400 ATK)
'Turn end.'
Magnus drew his card. 'Chances of winning the Duel 22 percent.' Magnus stated. 'Activating Pot of Greed, which allows me to draw two cards.' The happy pot appeared on the Field Magnus drew two cards.
'Activating Spell card Misfortune, I target a monster my opponent controls then opponent takes damage equal to half the attack of targeted monster, my monsters cannot attack this turn.' Magnus explained, the Spell card appeared. 'Targeting Great Tornado.' Magnus said, a beam of light shot from the Spell card piercing Great Tornado then Luigi, Mario's brother gasped for breath when the attack hit him.
(Magnus Von Grapple: 7600) - (Luigi: 200)
'Activating Scapegoat, summoning four Sheep Tokens.' Magnus stated, our small sheep appeared on the Field they were colored: Orange, pink, blue and red.'
'Finally I activate Wave-Motion Cannon!' A weird device appeared before Magnus, it had a huge cannon on the front the machine was silent for now.
'Chances of winning 99,9 percent, next Standby Phase Wave-Motion Cannon can do 1000 damage during my Main Phase.' Magnus explained.
Luigi slumped down on his knees. 'I'm sorry Mario, I tried but I cannot win this, with all my monsters even if I can clear his Tokens I cannot bring his Life Points to zero.' Luigi was nearly crying.
'Don't you dare give up.' Luigi suddenly heard a voice in his head. 'Goombella?' Luigi gasped. 'Luigi, when Mario faced Hooktail things looked bleak, but he never gave up! You shouldn't give up! Trust in the heart of the cards!'
Luigi slowly stood up. 'Magnus I'll take that 0,001 percent.' Luigi closed his eyes, then he pictured Mario, Mallow and Goombella, they all placed their hand on Luigi's hand then he drew, when Luigi opened his eyes he looked at his card. 'I Equip Great Tornado with Double Buster Swords!' Luigi shouted, two swords appeared before Great Tornado the warrior took them. 'This card might destroy the Equipped monster during the End Phase but it gives my Great Tornado a Trample Effect and he can attack twice.' Luigi explained.
'Chances of winning Duel 0 percent, calculating loss, this should be impossible.' Magnus rambled.
'Suck on your calculations! You need human strategy not calculations! Great Tornado attack!' The warrior threw the two swords away boosted by his wind powers, they skewered the orange and the red sheep.
(Magnus Von Grapple: 2000) - (Luigi: 200)
'Stratos, Sparkman attack!' Luigi continued, the pink sheep was blown away by Stratos the blue one got zapped by Sparkman.
'Jinzo! Cyber Energy Shock!' Luigi bellowed the ball of darkness hit Magnus the robot shut down and toppled over.
(Magnus Von Grapple: 0) - (Luigi: 200)
Mario looked at the door he saw the lasers were gone: 'Luigi good job.' He said. 'Mario, we're not done yet.' Mallow noticed, meanwhile Mario had pried open the chest of Magnus Von Grapple with a crowbar that was laying around, he then used unchained Goombella, she fell out of the robot slowly her eyes went open. 'Mario?' Goombella whispered. 'It's okay, you're safe now.' Mario replied while stroking her hair.
'So now what?' Luigi asked: 'Lord Crump probably has the Crystal Star now.' Mario chuckled: 'I don't bet on it, remember when we opened the secret room in the basement? I took a look in that hallway, thing was rigged with traps, even if Crump managed to get through it he can't be far.'
Mario helped Goombella up then he lifted her.
'Mallow, Luigi I have an idea, this ship runs on one generator, it enables the ship to fly and to use its cloaking device.' Mario said.
'I see what you mean.' Mallow replied: 'Must be a strong generator, Mario, you think it is powered by a Crystal Star?' Mallow wondered.
'Not entirely.' Mario replied: 'The X-Nauts have a Crystal Star at their base, what if Lord Crump infused the power of the Crystal Star with the generator? So the Crystal Star is safe at their base and the generator is as strong as the Crystal Star.'
Suddenly Luigi slammed his fist in his hand. 'We take the generator, build it into the secret room under the Great Boggly tree, then Punio still has his power source and we have the Crystal Star.' Mario nodded.
'Exactly, and maybe this generator is even more powerful than the Crystal Star, maybe the Boggly Woods can expand making Rogueport a nicer place.' Mario added.
'Well how do we exactly get the generator?' Mallow wondered.
'Magnus has an powerful explosive in it.' Mario started: 'We take the explosive, blow out the engines of this ship, escape and salvage the generator from the wreckage, we got here with that lift if we set the timer for ten minutes we will make it.'
Lord Crump held the Crystal Star above his head. 'Soldiers!' He shouted: 'We survived that deathtrap! We have our prize! We shall make our...'
Lord Crump was stopped by a bright light in the sky, followed by a ball of fire and a very loud explosion, then pieces of The Blade rained down from above. '... Well...' Lord Crump stammered: '... there goes our ride...' He slowly continued, then he saw four figures descending with the lift. '... And Mario and his gang survived! Soldiers we run for the exit now! If Mario catches up with us...' Crump didn't have to finish his sentence all soldiers started to run like maniacs.
Next time:
Crump's trap failed, but he did manage to get the Crystal Star.
We shall go back in time a bit to see how Crump actually manage to get it and Mario's effort to stop Crump from escaping.
But Lord Crump has one last trick up his sleeve... 'Fall of the Boggly Tree?' Coming next.
Card details:
Soul Fusion
Normal Trap card
Remove from play Fusion Material Monsters from your Graveyard and pay 1000 Life Points to Special Summon a Fusion Monster.
Note: The above card was used by Jaden Yuki in the Yu-Gi-Oh GX manga, all credits goes to the creative writers of the chapter.
Double Buster Swords
Equip Spell card
Equip only to a Warrior-Type monster. It can attack twice during each Battle Phase, and if it attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing Battle Damage to your opponent. Destroy the equipped monster during the End Phase.
Note: The above card was used by Yuma in the Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal manga, all credits goes to the creative writers of the chapter.
