24. Rawk the Hawk.
This is it.
Mario managed to become the number 2 in the ranking.
Now only Rawk Hawk remains, but as a champion he won't go down easily.
But Mario has no choice to win, hopefully he finds the cards needed to beat Rawk Hawk or else all will be for naught.
Mario was sitting in his hotel room in front of a computer, Grave sat next to him, Goombella silently sat in a corner the rest was in the Watering Hole.
'Grave what about this one?' Mario said, he typed in a command, Excalibur appeared on the screen. 'Calculating.' A computer voice spoke, then Rawk Hawk's pictured appeared showing he had six cards in his hand. 'Normal summon and special summon calculated. The computer continued, four monsters appeared on the screen then Mario's picture was shown. 'No Life Points remaining, Mario lost the Duel.'
Mario turned the computer off. 'Grave we tried all possible combinations, if I cannot find Prince Mush's cards we really have a problem.' Goombella stood up, she hugged Mario: 'It will be alright, you'll find something to win I know it.'
That evening:
Mario was waiting in the locker room, then the door opened, two security guards entered the locker room. 'Mario?' The first one asked. 'Yes that is me.' He replied, the two agents looked at each other, the second one took a needle before Mario could react the security guard jabbed the needle in Mario's neck, quickly Mario's vision blurred, his legs gave way, one of the guards caught him and lifted him over his shoulder. 'Rawk Hawk should be happy now, well as long as we get paid we do what he want.' That was the last thing Mario heard before he passes out.
Rawk Hawk stood in the arena, his wing-shaped Duel Disk activated, he was tapping his foot, Grubba stood next to the champion.
'Now give it a warm welcome for the challenger...' Grubba started, then he started to name some of Mario's victories.
Grave sat in the stands: 'I'm in position, Rawk Hawk took the stage almost time for Mario to show up.' Grave said through his D-Gazer.
'I was in the Watering Hole.' Mallow replied: 'But because of the Duel the place closed down early, I am now in the main hall of the Glitz Pit.'
Then Goombella came in: 'I tailed Jolene to the Glitz Pit Arena, she entered a restricted area so I have teamed up with Mallow.' Goombella said.
'Hotel and casino area is abandoned, nobody is here, I am moving to the arena as well.' Luigi finally reported.
'GIVE IT UP FOR MARIO!' Grubba roared but the door stayed close.
'Har har har, it seems Mario is really a chicken, he ran!' Rawk Hawk roared. 'Mario has five more minutes to show up, if not Rawk Hawk wins by default!' Grubba shouted.
Mario slowly opened his eyes, he found himself in what seemed a locker room, there were cobwebs everywhere, the beds were filthy, a nice collection of dust was gathered in the place: 'An old locker room.' Mario muttered, he checked the door it was locked. 'So this is how Prince Mush disappeared? Rawk Hawk had him locked up in the old locker room.'
Then his D-Gazer went off, it was X. 'Mario, Rawk Hawk has entered the arena, Grubba has given you five minutes, where are you?'
'I don't know, two security guards entered the locker room, they drugged me, I passed out and woke up here.' Mario replied, he still tried to get his head clear.
'What? Security guards? Are you sure?' X replied.
'Yes before I passed out one of them said Rawk Hawk would be happy and that they got payed to do this.'
At that moment Mario's head became clear again: 'Rawk Hawk is the Nephilim, for some reason he takes strong Duelists, Prince Mush was strong but he never showed up, what if he was taken away the same way?'
X remained silent for a few seconds: 'Why? Other Duelists disappeared right after their matches, there must be something about you and Prince Mush...' X muttered.
'I know, Prince Mush had a way to defeat Rawk Hawk so he disappeared, I am getting to close to exposing Rawk Hawk as the Nephilim, both Prince Mush and I were a thread to Rawk Hawk.'
X muttered something to himself: 'Mario I have located your position, you are in the old Major League locker room, rumor has it the man-eating toilet is located in that room, maybe that provides a way out? I need to go now.' With these words X broke contact.
Mario had only two minutes left to get to the arena, he walked up to the toilets, one of the toilets was out of commission, Mario checked the walls, one tile was loose, when Mario pressed it part of the floor opened and the wall together with the toilet disappeared into the floor.
Mario followed a short hallway, then he heard the sound out of the Duel arena. 'We give Mario five more minutes! If he don't show up in that time the Duel is forfeited!' Grubba roared, then Mario came in a small room, there was only a chair and a small table, on the table was an envelope, Mario opened it, first a letter fell out.
To whomever reads this, you have found my hideout.
My name is Prince Mush and if you read this letter, that means I have disappeared.
Rawk Hawk's Deck is illegal and unbeatable by normal means, use the cards in this envelope to beat him.
Prince Mush.
Mario shook the envelope and five cards fell out.
'Just as I thought.' He said with a smile, Mario pressed a button next to the chair, another wall shoved open, Mario opened the metal door behind the wall and he stepped out of the Major League locker room.
'Ten seconds left!' Grubba roared, Rawk Hawk laughed, then the doors swung open and Mario slowly walked up to the stage.
'Rawk Hawk! You have to fight fair! Locking me up in the old locker room so you would win by default!'
Rawk Hawk looked hard at him: 'I don't know what you talking about punk! Well it doesn't matter! It is time you will feel the Rawk!'
The crowd exploded with cheers and roars.
'Har har har! Let the Rawking begin!'
(Mario: 8000) - (Rawk Hawk: 8000)
'Har har har I heard you rocking a new Deck! No matter what you do you cannot beat my Deck!' Rawk Hawk boasted, Mario casually drew his opening hand, he closely looked at his cards. 'I set one monster facedown.' Mario stated the reversed card appeared before him. 'Next I activate the Spell card, Card Destruction!' Mario discarded the remaining three cards he had and drew three new cards, Rawk Hawk drew five new cards, Mario looked over his hand, he briefly smiled.
'I'll end my turn.' Mario stated.
'Har har har, you ended your turn! That means it is the turn of the Rawk! Time you get rawked punk!' Rawk Hawk pumped his fist in the air, the crowd roared. 'Draw!' The champion drew his card.
'Oh you're getting it now punk! The Rawking begins with Dirty Fighter: Eye-Goucher!'
Before Rawk Hawk a man-like monster appeared, he wore brown pants and black combat boots, his upper body was muscled and naked, he had a bald head, his arms reached to the ground, his index finger and middle finger were extremely long and had sharp nails. (1500 ATK)
'Are you scared yet Mario?' Rawk Hawk taunted: 'My army will grow, because I use the Spell card Unfair Advantage!' Briefly the card appeared on the Field, Eye-Goucher cracked his knuckles. 'This Spell card allows me to special summon a Dirty Fighter from my Graveyard, as long as we both control one monster, then its attack points are doubled until my End Phase.' The champion explained: 'I summon Dirty Fighter: Long-Knee!' Next to Eye-Goucher a new man appeared, he wore some kind of metal armor covering his chest and stomach, he had normal-sized arms but ridiculous long legs covered in metal armor. (1000- 2000 ATK)
'Ladies and gentleman! It is time I lay Rawk to the Mario! Because when I special summon a monster I get to special summon Dirty Fighter: Knuckler from my hand!' Next to Long-Knee another map appeared with long black hair and a beard, he wore a black tank top with matching training pants, as his name suggested he had some sharp-looking knuckle dusters. (2000 ATK)
'Long-Knee take the stage!' Rawk Hawk roared, the monster bent his knee then charged forward, Mario's reversed card disappeared and a cute monster shaped like a marshmallow appeared. (500 DEF)
Long-Knee kicked the monster but it simply bounced back. 'My Marshmallon cannot be destroyed by battle, and since you attacked it you take 1000 points of damage.' Mario said, an electric shock hit Rawk Hawk, the champion took a step back but he recovered himself quickly.
(Mario: 8000) - (Rawk Hawk: 7000)
'Har har har! Building a defensive wall are we? Well I don't care because Eye-Goucher attacks!' The monster walked up to Marshmallon. 'When Eye-Goucher attacks I can negate his attack but the next monster can attack directly, but only when you control one monster.' Rawk Hawk explained, Eye Goucher quickly jabbed his fingers in the eyes of Marshmallon, the monster and Mario were surprised the crowd started to cheer.
'Knuckler attacks directly! And when he attacks directly he deals 500 extra points of damage!' The champion roared, Knuckler quickly charged in, first he punched Mario on the right, Mario staggered but Knuckler knocked him to the ground with a second jab.
(Mario: 5500) - (Rawk Hawk: 7000)
'I'll end my turn here, and when Long-Knee attacks a monster and that monster is still around during the End Phase that monster gets destroyed!'
Long Knee quickly grabbed Marshmallon, then kicked it in the back, Mario looked away, then the attack of Long-Knee dropped. (2000- 1000 ATK)
'Rawk Hawk is executing his tactics ruthlessly, Mario is already at a disadvantage!' Grubba roared, Rawk Hawk laughed, Mario quietly drew his card. 'I'm not giving up Hawk, I know you use an illegal Deck, I will destroy it.' Mario played a card the Pot of Greed appeared, Mario drew twice, he looked at the two cards, he slightly nodded as he saw what he got.
'I activate Swords of Revealing Light!' Mario shouted, the light swords descended around Rawk Hawk's monsters. 'I shall end my turn with two facedown cards.' Mario concluded his turn, first a hidden monster appeared followed by a Spell or Trap card.
'Har har har! What do you hope to gain? You want to stall me until I get Decked out or something? That won't work punk, I don't need to attack to dish out the pain!'
The crowd started to cheer again, Rawk Hawk drew his card. 'I summon Dirty Fighter: Ax-Kicker to the Field!' Before Rawk Hawk a man in full army gear appeared, he wore sunglasses and he had really short hair, Mario could see his legs were muscled. (2000 ATK)
'Now I need to pay 1000 Life Points or else Ax-Kicker is removed from the Field.' The champion said, the Life Point counter above Rawk Hawk's picture decreased.
(Mario: 5500) - (Rawk Hawk: 6000)
'Next I activate the Back-Stab Continuous Spell card!' Rawk Hawk roared, the crowd roared with him. 'Back-Stab allows me to negate my Battle Phase then I target one monster and you take damage equal to half that monster's attack points, but said monster is destroyed during my End Phase.' Mario saw Ax-Kicker preparing his attack, quickly the monster stormed forward knocking Mario on the ground, then he dealt one might kick to Mario's face.
(Mario: 4500) - (Rawk Hawk: 6000)
Mario felt a stinging pain in his face, then his nose started to bleed, Mario wiped the blood away then he stood right back up, the crowd started to chant Mario's name. 'Won't you know when it is over punk?' Rawk Hawk said: 'Well whatever, I shall enjoy Rawking you some more! Since Ax-Kicker dealt damage you must skip your next Draw Phase!'
'In that case I activate my Trap card! Jar of Greed!' A brown pot with blue eyes and a wicked grin on its face appeared, the pot was filled with riches.
Mario drew one card then the pot scattered. 'I hope you drew a good card there. because I end my turn.'
'That means Ax-Kicker is history!' Mario said, Rawk Hawk laughed as a reply. 'Sorry punk, but Ax-Kicker cannot be destroyed by card effects!'
Mario took a look at his hand. 'I must admit, you survived longer than most opponents I had, why is that? Are you such a fan of mine that you want to get Rawked?'
Mario sighted and shook his head.
'Anyway it is my turn now.' Mario stated, he took a card from his hand. 'I Equip Ax-Kicker with Axe of Fools!' A fancy-looking silver and gold axe appeared in the hands of Ax-Kicker. (2000- 3000 ATK)
'Har har har! You lost it?' Rawk Hawk laughed. 'No I'm perfectly fine, Axe of Fools removes all effects from your monster.'
'You did what?' Rawk Hawk gasped.
'Next I flip my monster, Medusa Worm, and when this monster is flipped I get to destroy one monster on the Field.' The ground started to shake, Ax-Kicker looked around him when suddenly the ground broke open, a huge worm leaped half out of the hole, the worm was a reddish and purple color, covered in hundreds of small horns, the circular gaping maw of the creature was filled with sharp teeth, Axe-Kicker fell in the gaping maw and the worm disappeared back underground.
'Once per turn Medusa Worm can be flipped facedown.' Mario explained.
'You've got some guts punk, but I know your strategy now, stalling trying to Deck me out and destroying my monsters, that ain't gonna work on me! I shall Rawk you before my Deck is Decked out!' The crowd started to cheer and chant Rawk Hawk's name, the champion drew his card.
'I summon the fan-favorite!' He roared the crowd started to chant: 'Low-Blow!' The man wearing the gray sweater, sport pants, red sport shoes and boxing gloves appeared. (2500 ATK)
'I end my turn with two facedown cards!' Rawk Hawk stated, the cards appeared behind Low-Blow. 'Now I shall discard one card to keep Low-Blow on the Field.' The champion discarded one of his cards.
Mario knew that one of the cards Rawk Hawk played had to be Gut-Punch. 'I activate Spellbook Inside the Pot!' The Pot of Greed appeared on the Field, this time an old-looking book flew out of it. 'Now we both draw three cards.' Mario said, Rawk Hawk drew his cards first, then Mario drew, his eye fell on one of the three cards.
'Time for Medusa Worm to eat again!' The ground under Low-Blow started to shake. 'I don't think so! I activate the Trap card Meat Shield!' This turn when a monster will be destroyed by a card effect another monster is destroyed instead!'
The ground broke open Low-Blow leaped away, he landed behind Long-Knee and kicked the warrior to his doom, Long-Knee tried to escape but Medusa Worm leaped out of the ground and devoured Long-Knee, then Medusa Worm disappeared back into the ground.
'In that case I activate Soul Taker to destroy Low-Blow!' Mario continued, first Rawk Hawk started to glow as he gained some Life Points then a beam of light shot out of the sky. 'I activate Meat-Shield again!' Rawk Hawk said, the light got redirected to Knuckler, the warrior was incinerated by the beam of light.
(Mario: 4500) - (Rawk Hawk: 7000)
'Har har har, I like your spirit! But you won't be surviving for long.' Rawk Hawk laughed as he drew his card, then he took a card from his hand. 'I activate Training Dummy to your side of the Field!'
A straw-doll stuck to a wooden pole appeared on Mario's side, on the front and back it had a wooden target tied to it. (0 ATK)
'This Dummy counts as a monster, but it cannot attack or defend, but you can increase its attack points by destroying one Spell or Trap card you control.'
Mario sighted, he removed the Swords of Revealing Light from his Duel Disk, the swords disappeared from the Field, the Dummy became stronger. (0- 2000 ATK)
Low-Blow attack that Dummy!' The warrior started to run then with one mighty punch he shattered the Dummy. 'And remember when Low-Blow destroys a monster the damage is doubled.
(Mario: 3500) - (Rawk Hawk: 7000)
'And now!' Rawk Hawk roared.
'Gut-Punch, Gut-Punch!' The crowd chanted, the Trap card spun around it was indeed Gut-Punch. 'Har har har! Get Rawked!' The champion roared, Low-Blow charged in again hitting Mario below the belt, Mario fell to the ground groaning from the pain.
(Mario: 1000) - (Rawk Hawk: 7000)
'Time to remove your last defense! Eye-Goucher destroy that Medusa Worm!' The ground beneath Eye-Goucher started to shake, Medusa Worm broke out. (600 DEF) Eye-Goucher jumped onto the monster, he started to pull out the horns, Medusa Worm cringed from the pain, then Eye Goucher found the eyes of the worm and did what he was meant to do: Poking out its eyes. 'I shall end my turn.' Rawk Hawk stated, he discarded one of the cards in his hand.
Mario slowly stood up, he was clearly in pain, slowly he drew his card.
'I activate Fissure.' He groaned, the ground beneath Eye-Goucher broke open he fell in, then the ground closed.
Quickly Rawk Hawk drew his card. 'You did well punk, surviving my onslaught, but it is over now! Time for you to feel! The! Hawk!' Low-Blow charged in but a fiendish monster with long white hair, clad in thick red and silver armor appeared, Low-Blow destroyed the monster with one punch. 'Necro Gardna? How long will you struggle punk?'
Mario wiped some sweat from his brow. 'He didn't use Back-Stab, maybe he can only use it when he controls two or more monsters.' Mario thought then he drew his card. 'Better to eliminate the threat. 'I activate Mystical Space Typhoon!' The small tornado wiped away Back-Stab. 'Next I activate Monster Reborn!' The holy Ankh appeared together with Marshmallon. (500 DEF)
'Argh! How long will you continue? Give it up punk!' Angrily Rawk Hawk drew his card. 'Damn, nothing useful to get past that Marshmallon!'
Mario chuckled: 'That, Rawk Hawk is the one fatal flaw in your Deck, only using support cards for your monsters, no Spell or Trap cards to deal with things like Marshmallon.' Mario sneered.
'That does it!' Rawk Hawk roared: 'A Duel is a display of power! Raw power of your monsters! Not some kind of kids magic show!' The champion raged, the crowd started to laugh, they chanted Mario's name.
Mario was waiting while Rawk Hawk was cursing and raging.
'Rawk Hawk I'm sorry but your turn took to long, I must end it.' Grubba whispered. 'WHAT!' Rawk Hawk roared, Grubba took a few steps back.
Casually Mario drew his card, he smiled as he saw the card he got.
'I shall end my turn.'
Rawk Hawk aggressively drew his card.
'Low-Blow destroy that puny monster!' Low-Blow started to punch Marshmallon but every time Marshmallon reappeared, this continued until Low-Blow was out of breath, Mario again drew his card. 'I set one monster and I end my turn.' He stated, a reversed card appeared next to Marshmallon. 'DESTROY IT!' The champion roared, Low-Blow charged in, the three-eyed Fiend Sangan appeared. (600 DEF)
With one blow it was punched to oblivion. 'Rawk Hawk, let me search the card I need to win this Duel.' Mario searched his Deck and found the card almost at the bottom of his Deck, he showed the card it was Left leg of the Forbidden One.
Rawk Hawk gasped, chains appeared out of mid-air, Grubba wanted to say something but he couldn't for the first time the crowd went silent as well.
slowly the Egyptian guardian appeared bound by magical spells and chains, Rawk Hawk stared into the face of the Egyptian guardian.
'Ladies and gentleman this is unbelievable!' Grubba roared: 'Not only is Rawk Hawk defeated but by Exodia of all things!'
Mario crossed his arms. 'Exodia! Obliterate!' Mario roared, the chains broke, Exodia put his hands together, a blinding light followed, the scream of Rawk Hawk filled the arena and after that silence, the crowd was silent for the first time.
'Mario did it! Rawk Hawk is defeated!' Some people in the crowd shouted, then everyone started to chant Mario's name over and over again, Rawk Hawk laid on his back his cards sprawled around him.
(Mario: 1000) - (Rawk Hawk: 0)
Grubba took Mario's hand and rose it in the air, the crowd started to cheer and chant Mario's name once more. 'He did it! Only a few days ago Mario entered here as a rookie! Now he is the diggety-dang CHAMPION! And how? Exodia! Who had expected this! Give it up for the new champion MARIO!' After his small speech Grubba was slightly out of breath, Rawk Hawk in the meantime has gathered his cards.
'Grubba.' He said: 'You told me that this Deck was unbeatable, but it isn't.' Then he turned his attention to Mario: 'You taught me a lesson punk, no champ, Spell and Trap cards to support your monsters, you showed me that is needed.'
Suddenly Rawk Hawk took Grubba's microphone. 'The Rawk got Hawked! But I ain't down yet! I will continue in this tournament! I will fight to become the champ once again! But I will do so with a new Deck! A Deck that is legal, I shall earn the title of champion.' He returned the microphone to Grubba.
'Mario what you said, paying the guards to drug you, believe me that wasn't me.' Rawk Hawk gave Mario the champion's belt then Rawk Hawk walked away.
Grave was waiting for Mario in the hallway. 'Grave we did it, Rawk Hawk is stopped, by the way where are the others?'
Grave sighted: 'Back at the hotel room, Rawk Hawk was not the Nephilim.'
'Grave I did notice something during the Duel, whenever I lost Life Points I felt this strange feeling like my actual life energy was drained.' Mario said. 'I felt the same thing, it came from under the arena, a powerful dark magic, since you can resist it the magic didn't affect you.' Grave explained.
'Grave the champion's room is now my room the boudoir which is said to be haunted, I'm gonna check it for clues.' Mario said as he wanted to walk away. 'Wait.' Grave spoke: 'The Nephilim is Jolene, she was in the VIP room the entire Duel, the energy of the Nephilim came from there, she was the only one there.'
Mario turned around. 'That complicate things, Jolene knows what we are doing, Grave inform the others, whatever Jolene want it is under the arena, she won't leave without it, we confront her as soon as I return from the champion's room. But first return to the hotel room.'
Back at the hotel room everyone congratulated Mario.
'So another Crystal Star in the pocket.' Mallow said, Mario put the belt on his bed and removed the Crystal Star. 'Not yet, this thing is fake, but the map cannot be wrong, it must be here somewhere else.'
Next time:
All mysteries are unraveled, is Jolene truly the Nephilim?
And where could the Crystal Star be?
And not Mario but Grave will take the stage to fight the Nephilim.
''The Soul of Battle.'' Coming next.
Card details:
Spellbook Inside the Pot
Normal Spell card
Both players draw 3 cards.
Note: The above card was first used by Jaden Yuki in the Yu-Gi-Oh GX manga. All credits goes to the creative writer of that chapter.
Dirty Fighter: Eye-Goucher
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 3
ATK: 1500
DEF: 800
Activate only during your Battle Phase, when your opponent controls exactly 1 face-up monster. When this card attacks negate the attack of this card, then the next monster you control can attack directly.
Dirty Fighter: Long-Knee
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 3
ATK: 1000
DEF: 300
When this card attacked a Monster, when the attacked monster is still around during the End-Phase destroy it.
Dirty Fighter: Knuckler
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 4
ATK: 2000
DEF: 1500
When you Special Summon a monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand. When this card attacks directly this card gains 500 ATK during Damage Calculation.
Dirty Fighter: Ax-Kicker
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 4
ATK: 2000
DEF: 1200
When this card is summoned pay 1000 LP or else this card is send to the Graveyard. This card cannot be destroyed by card Effects. When this card deals damage (Effect or Battle) your opponent must skip his Draw Phase.
Dirty Fighter: Low-Blow (updated)
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 4
ATK: 2500
DEF: 1800
Any Damage dealt by this card is doubled except for direct attacks.
During your End Phase send one card from your hand to the Graveyard or else destroy this card.
Gut-Punch (updated)
Normal Trap card
When ''Dirty Fighter: Low-Blow'' destroys a monster ''Dirty Fighter: Low-Blow'' gets a second attack.
Meat-Shield
Counter Trap card
During the turn this card is activated Target a Dirty Fighter you control, whenever it is Targeted for a card Effect, Target another monster you control.
Unfair Advantage
Normal Spell card
When you control a Dirty Fighter target 1 Dirty Fighter in your Graveyard with 1000 or less ATK, Special Summon that card and double its ATK until the End Phase.
Back-Stab
Continuous Spell card
Target 1 Dirty Fighter you control, skip your Battle Phase then deal damage to your opponent equal to half the ATK of the Targeted monster (this counts as damage dealt by the monster not this Spell card). You must control 2 or more Dirty Fighters to activate this Effect. During the End Phase destroy the targeted monster.
Training Dummy
Continuous Spell card
Summon 1 Training Dummy Token (Warrior-Type/DARK/Level 12/ATK 0/DEF 0) in attack mode, this Token cannot be removed from the Field except for being destroyed by Battle, this Token cannot be used as an Xyz Material, this Token cannot change its Battle Position and it cannot Attack. You can Destroy 1 Spell or Trap card you control to make the ATK of the Token 2000.
Note: The above 10 cards were created by me, nobody is allowed to use these cards.
