20. Mystery Foe.

Mario officially joined the Glitz Pit tournament, but to get his hands on the Crystal Stars he need to beat Rawk Hawk the current champion.

Mario easily wins his first few Duels until he is challenged by a more powerful foe.

'Mario how did it go?' Goombella asked when Mario entered his hotel room, it was a luxurious room, there was some basic furniture, a small furnace and refrigerator, Mario was surprised to see Goombella. 'I hope you don't mind sharing a room.' Goombella said: 'The hotel was already overbooked but that letter we got from Don Pianta got us the most luxurious rooms they had, Mallow and Luigi share the room next to ours.' At that moment Luigi and Mallow entered. 'Guys we have a problem.' Mario started: 'I have seen a glimpse of Rawk Hawk Dueling he used a monster named Dirty Fighter: Low-Blow, when I asked information on the card my D-Gazer didn't recognize it.'

Mario paused for a moment: 'We also have missing contestants, the first one Prince Mush disappeared the night he fought Rawk Hawk for the champion title, other Duelists disappeared right after Rawk Hawk defeated them, also a couple of Duelists found out something mysterious and they disappeared overnight.' Mallow scratched his chin: 'We have to tackle things one at a time, our first objective is to secure the Crystal Star, Mario tomorrow you best start working on it, we shall try to figure out what that Dirty Fighter Deck is.' Mallow said, they all agreed to this then went to sleep.

Mario walked to the Duelist entrance of the Glitz Pit his friends went on ahead to find a place in the stands except for Mallow who was searching for information about the Dirty Fighter Deck.

Mario entered the locker room, it was empty, he walked up to the console and pressed the button, Grubba appeared on the screen.

Five minutes later Mario entered the arena. 'New to the Minor League! Here is Mario!' Grubba shouted, only Luigi and Goombella started to clap. 'And now the number nineteen on the list, Mario will be his first challenge in a wile give it up for The Meteorite Hardhead!' A rather small guy entered the room, he had an impressive beard and mustache but the top of his head was bald.

Fifteen minutes later The Meteorite Hardhead sat on one knee, Mario was surprised to see his opponent used a basic Rock Deck, based around Golem Sentry, of course this was no match for Mario.

'Ladies and gentlemen Mario won his first official match! He now rises to rank nineteen!' Grubba roared but only Luigi and Goombella were clapping.

When Mario entered the locker room again there were two others, one man wore a green sweater with hood and a white mask, the other one had a yellow mohawk, wore multiple piercings in his eyebrows and ears, he wore a dirty yellow shirt with matching pants.

'Mario Saw your match just yet man, quite impressive.' The masked man said: 'By the way I am Andy but people call me Bandy Andy around here, and the guy in yellow here is known as King K.'

Mario looked at the punker. 'Sup.' King K. said.

Then King K walked to the console. 'King K. will be your next opponent.' Andy said: 'And I am the number fifteen.' Mario looked at King K then Mario walked to the console to reserve a match. 'Seems we're up against each other.' King K said before he walked to the exit. 'Cheery fella isn't he, King K. has just entered the tournament as well and he plans to take the stage by storm.' Andy said before Mario also left the room.

When Mario entered the arena King K. was already there, he was waving a few punker-looking guys were cheering, obviously these were friends of King K. as nobody else in the stands reacted, some even left the arena.

Then Mario entered the arena, this time more people were clapping.

King K. had used a Skill Drain Beatdown Deck, it had given Mario a bit of a trouble, but once he had removed Skill Drain with his Mystical Space Typhoon the Duel was a peace of cake it only lasted twenty minutes.

'Mario did it again! He defeated King K. and so he rises up to rank eighteen!'

Mario returned yet again to the locker room, King K. was sitting there Andy was gone, when Mario entered King K. said nothing. 'King K. I'm sorry about your loss.' King K. looked up: 'Man no hard feelings here, you were the better Duelist but I just got a message they want me to face Rawk Hawk as some kind of promotion match.' King K. stood up: 'I need to prepare that match is over an hour.'

Mario walked up to the console and he pressed the button, Grubba appeared on the screen. 'I have a match for you against Pokey, think you can finish within an hour?' Mario nodded: 'That should be possible.' He replied, before Mario left the locker room he got a message from Goombella, Mallow needed her and Luigi.'

Mario entered the arena, a kid was waiting for him, he was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt he also wore a hat with a propeller on it, Mario knew he shouldn't underestimate him. 'I shall defend my place! I am not afraid of you!'

Mario's feeling was right not to underestimate this kid, as soon as the Duel started the kid became more serious, he mostly used Fiends with Dark Necrofear as his ace monster, but Mario could hold his ground and slowly manage to deplete Pokey's Life Points.

This time more people in the stands were clapping and cheering.

'Three times in a row Mario managed to win! He rises to rank seventeen!'

Mario entered the locker room again, Andy was back. 'Nice going man, rank seventeen, one more win for you and you will face me the number fifteen!' Then they both a notification that in ten minutes the exhibition match between Rawk Hawk and King K. would start.

'You coming to see the Duel?' Andy asked.

'I'm sorry there is something I need to check out.' Mario replied.

Mario entered the hotel lobby, the Duel between Rawk Hawk and King K. was on, although the Duel hadn't started yet.

'So found out anything about that Dirty Fighter Deck?' Mario asked.

'Yes we have.' Mallow replied: 'Dirty Fighter only appeared once, five years ago during a regional tournament.' At that moment Goombella and Luigi entered, they had some food and drinks with them.

'Now the Dirty Fighter Deck.' Mallow continued: 'It was used by an unknown Duelist at a regional tournament as a test, the Dirty Fighter Deck managed to win the tournament although he used an unlicensed Deck he never officially won, but the staff who needed to rate the Deck decided it was too unbalanced.' Mallow concluded his story.

'So we all can assume the guy who tested the Deck was Rawk Hawk?' Mario asked. 'Well Goombella and I found that out.' Luigi said: 'Rawk Hawk his real name is Roger Hawk, he is listed as a regional champion several times and one time as an American champion he also ranked second as a world champion once and one time as the tester of a new Deck during the regional championship, the book stated he won that tournament but wasn't listed as the official champion because he used a test Deck, the book even stated he got to keep the cards when the Deck was rejected.'

'I wanna check the Duel.' Mario said as he turned on the television they could just see how Rawk Hawk finished off King K. the camera zoomed in on King K. who now had dark circles around his eyes, the color had gone from his skin. 'The hell happened to him? When I Dueled King K. he was fine now he looks awful.' Mario noticed then he jumped up. 'Guys I need to go to the Glitz Pit!' He shouted before he ran off leaving his friends with confused looks on their faces.

Mario entered the locker room Andy was waiting there. 'Mario King K. disappeared!' He shouted in panic.

'I saw him on television he looked bad.' Mario replied.

'Yes I was waiting for him in here but he never came back I looked everywhere, Mario activated his D-Gazer. 'Mallow, check the blimp look for King K. if he isn't there he might have disappeared.'

'Andy I need another round in the arena, need to check something.' Mario wanted to walk away.

'Wait man.' Andy said: 'I'm out of here, I have discovered things

Mario entered the arena yet again this time a woman stood there, she was dressed like a Gothic Lolita. 'I am known as the Bone Rattler, I have seen your performance Mario, but this is where your journey stops.'

Of course these words meant nothing, after fifteen minutes the girl sat defeated on the ground, her Vampire Deck stood no chance against Mario.

'No surprises here! Mario rises to rank sixteen!' Grubba shouted.

Mario entered the locker room Goombella, Mallow and Luigi were waiting for Mario there. 'And found him?' Mario asked, Luigi shook his head: 'No nothing and the blimp pilot haven't seen him as well.' He replied, then their D-Gazers went off, on screen appeared a person hidden in the shadows. 'My name is X.' The person used a voice morphing device: 'I am not your enemy, I have been investigating the disappearances as you might know King K. has disappeared, the same goes for Bandy Andy, he figured out too much things, if you want to survive you best do as I say.' With these words X turned of the D-Gazer breaking the contact.

'So Andy disappeared because he found out something.' Mario muttered.

'That means two people in one day.' Mallow sighted.

'I'm taking one more Duel then it is good for today.' Mario said as he pressed the button to reserve a match.

Mario entered the arena, at least half of the stands were filled with cheering people. 'Mario.' Grubba said: 'You should have faced Bandy Andy, but he seem to have ran away from the tournament so all Duelists will rise in the ranking, so you are hereby rank fifteen.

'I have a different proposal!' A very familiar voice bellowed through the arena. 'Bwa ha ha ha ha! Mario I have finally found you!' Bowser stepped into the ring.

'Seems we have a mystery challenger!' Grubba roared: 'What is your name?' Grubba pointed his microphone at Bowser. 'The name is Bowser and I am here for the champion's belt!' He roared.

Grubba started to talk through a walkie-talkie.

'Bowser we have searched for your name, with the championship titles you have on your name you are allowed to enter this tournament.' Grubba said.

'Mario this is the proposal.' Bowser said: 'I am your rank fifteen opponent, you win you continue, you lose and you are kicked out!' Bowser roared.

'Deal.' Mario said as he activated his Duel Disk, the projectors around the arena activated. 'Gwa ha ha ha! Don't think you can win Mario! I have improved my Blue-Eyes Deck, you cannot win now.'

'You know Bowser you lost every Duel against me, why think you can win now? I know your Blue-Eyes tricks through and through.' Mario stated, Bowser laughed: 'And you think I'm stupid, I said I improved my Deck, those years of work you had as a plumber broke your ears?'

Then Bowser turned to face the public he spread his arms: 'Ladies and gentleman! Today is the day I flush a plumber down the drain!' He roared before he turned to face Mario again. 'Duel!' Both Mario and Bowser shouted.

(Bowser: 8000) - (Mario: 8000)

'And I shall have the first turn as the challenger!' Bowser said he drew his opening hand. 'I summon Maiden with Eyes of Blue.' Bowser said, a bright light appeared in front of him, a woman with a beautiful voice started to sing in an unknown language, slowly the woman appeared, she was young and wore a simple yet elegant dress decorated with images that looked like the head of Blue-Eyes White Dragon, she had long silver-colored hair and blue eyes that pierced the soul. (0 ATK)

'Next I set a facedown card and end my turn.' Bowser continued the card appeared behind his Maiden.

Mario had never seen that card before. 'Seems they updated the Archetype.' He sighted. 'Bwa ha ha ha ha ha! In the name of Seto Kaiba they did! On my behalf of course! This gives my Deck new meaning. Mario! You might have defeated me in the past but you won't beat me again!'

Mario felt Bowser's soul burning with renewed passion. 'Seems you want to put your entire soul in this.' Mario said as he closed his eyes: 'I shall give it my all.' When Mario opened his eyes also burned with renewed passion, Mario drew his card.

'I summon Double Lance!' Mario shouted the warrior carrying the two lances leaped upon the Field. (1700 ATK) 'Through the effect of the my monster I summon a second one!' Mario shouted, next to the first Double Lance a second appeared kneeling. (900 DEF) 'I create the Overlay Network!' Mario roared the crowd started to cheer as Excalibur descended from the void. (2000 ATK: 2 ORU)

'Excalibur attack!' Mario roared and the crowd roared with him.

'Don't think so Mario!' Bowser shouted: 'I use the effect of Maiden!' Slowly Bowser's monster put her hands together she started to sing a barrier appeared around her and Excalibur slammed against it.

'Maiden can negate an attack, then when I change her battle position I can summon reinforcements!' Maiden slowly sat down on her knees. (0 DEF)

Then a loud roar filled the arena, people started to cheer as a Blue-Eyes White Dragon swooped over the Field then landed in front of Maiden. (3000 ATK) 'I set one card facedown and end my turn.' Mario stated as a card of his own appeared behind Excalibur.

'Watch me Mario! It's my turn to draw!' Bowser drew his card he took a quick glance at it before adding it to his hand. 'I summon The White Stone of Legends!' Bowser shouted, before Bowser a stone appeared it shone with a bright light. (300 ATK)

'The White Stone attacks Excalibur!' Bowser roared, the stone started to shine but was crushed under the foot of Excalibur before it could do anything.

(Bowser: 6300) - (Mario: 8000)

'Now I can add one Blue-Eyes White Dragon to my hand.' Bowser said as he searched his Deck until he found his beloved card.

'Now I activate my facedown card!' Mario shouted, it spun around the card was Threatening Roar, a roar bellowed over the Field, Blue-Eyes drew back. 'Time to counter attack.' Mario said, quickly he drew his card.

'I Detach my two monsters to double the attack of Excalibur!' The sword started to glow with power. (2000- 4000 ATK) then the warrior charged at the dragon. 'Go Shrink!' Bowser bellowed, his facedown card spun around, the power disappeared from Excalibur's sword and the warrior's attack dropped back to 2000, Blue-Eyes inhaled then blew away the warrior with its mighty attack.

(Bowser: 6300) - (Mario: 7000)

'I can still summon a monster.' Mario growled: 'I summon Ambush Soldier!' The small warrior wearing military attire appeared. (0 ATK)

'Next I set a card...' Mario continued, a reversed card appeared behind the Ambush Soldier. '...And I end my turn.'

'A desperate attempt Mario, I told you, you cannot win.' Bowser drew his card. 'I activate the Spell card Ancient Rules!' The Spell card briefly appeared on the Field. 'This allows me to summon Blue-Eyes without Tributes!' Next to the first dragon Bowser's second Blue-Eyes White Dragon appeared with a loud roar. (3000 ATK)

The crowd went crazy when the second dragon appeared.

Then Bowser took another card from his hand. 'I activate Stamping Destruction, since I control a Dragon I can destroy one Spell or Trap card and deal 500 points of damage to your Life Points!' A huge dragon foot crushed Mario's facedown Mirror Force. 'Blue-Eyes Double Burst Stream of Destruction!' Bowser roared, the two dragons charged their attack, the first one blew away Ambush Soldier the second attack was so fierce it forced Mario to almost fell out of the arena, he laid at the edge on his back.

(Bowser: 6300) - (Mario: 500)

'You see now Mario, you can't defeat me, I have improved my Deck, it is in perfect balance.' Bowser was taunting slowly Mario stood up, people started to call his name. 'And it seems the crowd made a swing from Bowser's side to Mario!' Grubba roared: 'Two attacks from the Blue-Eyes and Mario is still standing!' The announcer continued.

'These measly five-hundred Life will be gone before you know it!' Bowser roared the people cheered again.

Mario drew his card. 'I activate Pot of Greed!' The happy pot appeared on the Field, Mario drew two new cards.

'Bowser you only care about power, pounding down upon your opponent, but you can't see strategy, I know a way to destroy your dragons.'

Bowser looked stumped. 'Yeah, big words from a small man, I am the great Bowser! You won't trample me!'

Mario chuckled, that stopped Bowser's bragging. 'Alright then Bowser, if you are so certain I cannot defeat your dragons then show me.' Mario replied, he took one card from his hand.

'I activate my Spell card Riryoku!' Mario shouted, the card appeared on the Field. 'First I target your Blue-Eyes then I target your Maiden...' Mario started but Bowser began to laugh. 'I activate the Effect of my Maiden! When she is targeted I get to summon a Blue-Eyes White Dragon!' Bowser took a card from his Deck and he played it, with a roar the third Blue-Eyes White Dragon appeared. (3000 ATK)

'But my Riryoku still continues!' Mario shouted, light surrounded both Bowser's monsters. (Blue-Eyes: 3000- 1500 ATK, Maiden: 0- 1500 ATK)

'And this is an obvious trap set up by Mario!' Grubba roared the crowd started to cheer. 'Trap?' Bowser gasped. 'Exactly!' Mario shouted: 'This is a trap you fell into! I wanted your dragons all three on the Field, so I could do this!' Mario took another card from his hand. 'The Spell card! Dark Hole!' Bowser gasped as the black void opened behind him, his three Blue-Eyes White Dragons and Maiden were sucked into the vortex.

'Now your precious dragons are in the Graveyard, but there is still Dragon's Mirror which you can use, so I use my Monster Reborn!' Mario shouted he played the last card from his hand, with a roar the Blue-Eyes White Dragon appeared on his side of the Field. (3000 ATK)

The crowd met really crazy now. 'Attack Bowser! White Lightning!'

Blue-Eyes charged its attack, Bowser wanted to protest but was knocked back by the force of his own dragon's attack.

(Bowser: 3300) - (Mario: 500)

'Little Mario always so clever...' Bowser muttered: '...But I'm not through yet, I have a Monster Reborn of my own right here in my hand, so let me draw my card first.' Bowser drew one card from his Deck. 'Now I activate Monster Reborn!' He shouted, the holy Ankh appeared and with it his Blue-Eyes White Dragon. (3000 ATK)

'Attack!' Bowser roared, both dragons fired their White Lightning, the attacks collided in mid-air a loud explosion followed, when the smoke was cleared both dragons were gone.

'Gwa ha ha ha! Now I have you! I activate Dragon's Mirror!' Bowser bellowed, he took the three Blue-Eyes White Dragons from his Graveyard and pocketed them, the Fusion vortex appeared in it the three dragons appeared. 'Mario you worked so hard to stop me from summoning this beast, but in the end you failed! Welcome the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!' With a terrible roar the three-headed beast stepped out of the vortex. (4500 ATK)

The crowd went nuts at the sight of this dragon. 'And it seems nothing faces Bowser! Mario had him on the ropes but still Bowser managed to summon his trump card! Can Mario overcome this?' Grubba roared.

'I already attacked so I shall end my turn here Mario.' Bowser said.

Mario quickly drew his card. 'I activate Swords of Revealing Light!' Mario shouted, the swords on light descended on the Field. 'Turn end.'

For the next three turns both Bowser and Mario used the opportunity to fill up their hands. 'I set two facedown cards and end my turn.' Mario stated the two cards appeared in his Spell/Trap Zone. 'Turn over.'

Bowser started to laugh. 'Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon finish him off!'

Bowser's dragon started to charge its attack. 'I activate one of my Trap cards!' Mario shouted. 'Xyz Reborn!' The card spun around: 'With this card I can revive one Xyz Monster and attach this card as a material.' Mario explained a bright light appeared and out of it stepped Excalibur. (2000 ATK: 1 ORU)

'Bwa ha ha that won't save you! Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon blow it away!' Bowser roared. 'And that is why I don't need power to beat an opponent, Bowser you act without thinking, this is what was your downfall! I activate my Trap card Battleguard Howling!' Mario's second card spun around. 'This card activates when you target my Warrior for an attack or effect, I target one of your monsters then you take damage equal to that monster's original attack.'

Suddenly a barrier appeared around Excalibur the attack of Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon was fired back straight at Bowser, who was forced back by the sheer force of the attack and knocked off the stage.

(Bowser: 0) - (Mario: 500)

'And that ladies and gentleman is how it is done!' Grubba roared the crowd was cheering and clapping, Bowser in the meantime stepped back on stage. 'This display of raw power versus strategy! A Duel that could have been a champion Duel!' Grubba concluded.

'MARIO.' Bowser then bellowed. 'You might have beaten me today, but I'll always get what I want! Enjoy your Crystal Stars for now, cause next time we meet they will be mine!' With these words Bowser turned around and ran away. 'With this victory Mario rises to rank fifteen! He is now halfway the Minor League!'

Mario wanted to return to the locker room when suddenly his D-Gazer went off, there was a spoken message. 'Gwa har har har, you think you're so tough, winning over the Minor League, those losers are where you belong, you cannot play with the big boys! Just make it into the Major League and I shall RAWK you so hard you end up in a hospital bed!' There the message stopped, right after that another message appeared, this time there was a live call, when Mario opened his D-Gazer X showed on screen. 'Listen, there is a poster in the lobby with your face on it, tear it down, it will be worth your wile.' With these words X hung up.

When Mario entered the lobby it was crowded, Rawk Hawk stood on a podium in the center, Mario pushed his way through the crowd, when Rawk Hawk saw Mario he leaped off the podium. 'Okay Hawk, I know you don't like me, but sending those threatening mails ain't tough.'

'You hit yer head or something? The Rawk never threatens, well whatever time to go.' Rawk Hawk walked away waving to his cheering fans.

Mario shrugged then he saw his poster, when Mario pulled it down a paper fell on the ground.

Mario entered his hotel room everyone else was there as well. 'So Mario what is so important you called us here?' Luigi asked.

'Rawk Hawk send me a threatening mail, when I found him in the lobby he seemed surprised when I confronted him, X also send me a message I followed his instructions and I found this piece of paper.'

Mario unfolded the paper this was what the paper said:

Seven wonders of the Glitz Pit.

1. The sealed wall - A wall in an old Minor locker room is plastered by a strong substance, wall cannot be broken by ordinary means.

2. The man-eating toilet - A toilet in an old Major locker room, attempts to eat anyone that uses it, need to see what is going on there.

3. The stairs of mystery - A room in Glitz Pit has a second floor but the stairs is missing, voices are often heard in that room, door is locked, key is missing.

4. The haunted boudoir - Voices of those who lost to the champion are still heard in the champion's locker room. No chances to investigate, off limits to anyone except the champion.

5. The spooky ring-light - Mysterious lights are seen from under the doors to the arena at night, when lights appear doors are locked, most times when lights appear someone disappears.

6. The missing ones - Some Duelists went missing, never left Glitzville.

7. Grubba and Jolene - These two are shrouded in mystery, nothing is known of Grubba's past and Jolene sometimes disappears and can be found nowhere.

When Mario was done reading everyone was thinking. 'So we need to investigate, but we do so tomorrow.' Mario said. 'Where do you want to start?' Goombella asked. 'By the first point the wall that cannot be broken, I have seen it in the locker room I need to use, I think it is breakable but I need the help of someone I believe is already here, I'll find him tomorrow and try to go a few ranks higher in the process.' Mario said, then they all went to bed.

Bowser reached the landing strip, Kammy was waiting for him there.

'So how did it go?' She asked. 'Mario won.' Bowser simply said as he hopped into the fighter jet. 'So this is it, you lost and you return home?' Kammy asked. 'Of course not, Bowser won't give up that easily! I simply need to reform my plan.' Bowser replied, he started the engines, then the jet took flight.


Next time:

Mario said he needed help from someone, who could he mean?

Find that out next time, when Mario continues to take the tournament by storm. 'A Grave Encounter.' Coming next.