26. Spirit Zone.

With Grubba defeated Mario and his allies need to return to the Thousand-Year Door.

What terror will await them there?

Time to find out.

Mario looked at Grubba who was trying to stand up, but he wasn't able to, Mario looked at the machine with a concerned look on his face.

Grubba tried to say something, but words couldn't come out of his mouth.

Mario wasn't looking at Grubba he was doing his best to stop the machine suddenly the Crystal Star stopped spinning, then all of a sudden the Crystal Star started to spin in the other direction.

The moment the Crystal Star started to spin again, Grubba started to cry out on pain, slowly he shrunk back to his original size.

In the meantime Mario's friends entered.

'What is going on?' Luigi asked.

'I wonder that myself.' Mario replied without looking away from Grubba, a weird silvery mist appeared out of every hole from Grubba's body, the mist was sucked into the Crystal Star and every second Grubba became older until he looked much like a skeleton with some skin, his hair was stiff and white.

'Interesting turn of events, seems that all the life force Grubba absorbed is sucked back into the Crystal Star, this means Prince Mush must hold it all, Mallow call Jolene and let her come here with the Duelists ASAP.' Mario commanded, in the meanwhile he had shut down some of the machine's functions the jamming device had stopped.

Mario closely observed the Nephilim. 'You're companion took it all from me, why don't you just kill me? You were here to do just that.' Grubba said his voice sounded weak, Mario looked at Grubba: 'That is not my call, you made a contract with one of the Necro Lords from the Dark World, I think he is not too happy that his avatar got defeated. You said it yourself, the Necro Lord needs a soul as prize, since I didn't fight you and Grave got away, there is only one soul left...'

Grubba's eyes widened as suddenly a pentagram appeared around him, a bright light appeared around Grubba, when the light faded Grubba's body was still there laying lifeless on the cold floor.

At that moment Jolene came rushing in closely followed by Gonzales and the medical team who had the Duelists.

Jolene looked at Grubba, she spat on the body.

'Mario, I knew you and your friends could do it, but I haven't been honest with you.' She started.

'First of all I am X.' She said with the distorted voice: 'I was onto Grubba for a while.' She continued with her regular voice, Mario didn't seem that surprised. 'But I didn't had prove that Grubba was behind it, when Prince Mush disappeared I decided to start a job here, slowly I worked myself to the position of secretary only to get closer to Grubba, since all channels here are followed I needed X to make contact with you.'

Jolene walked to the machine she started to inspect it: 'When you arrived here Mario I didn't thought much of you, but when you started to win I got more and more faith in you, as X I could provide you with hints. Understand that I was happy when you found those dubious papers, but before I could do anything with them Grubba confiscated them, later I learned he payed some security guards to take Mario out of the picture, I made sure Mario was thrown into the old Major League locker room where I knew Prince Mush kept his Exodia cards.'

In the meantime the medical staff were done arranging the Duelists.

Mario typed in some commands, the Crystal Star started to spin even faster the silvery mist came out of it and slowly disappeared into the Duelists, when there was no more mist the Crystal Star stopped spinning.

'Take the Duelists back to the hospital, they should awaken soon.' Jolene said.

When the medical staff was done, Mario typed in some more commands, the door of the machine opened and Prince Mush fell out, Jolene caught him, Prince Mush was literally the male version of Jolene. 'Mario thank you for saving my brother, I knew you could do it.'

'Brother?' Luigi repeated her: 'Well I can see the resemblance.' He added.

'I need to bring him to the hospital, I will meet you in the Watering Hole in an hour.'

'What do we do about the machine?' Goombella asked when Jolene carried Prince Mush out. 'First we do this.' Mario said whilst typing in commands, the wires holding the Crystal Star fell on the ground and Mario took the Crystal Star out of the machine. 'The walls in the room the machine was kept in are reinforced.' Mallow noticed: 'We're thinking the same.' Mario replied, he typed in some more commands, slowly the machine sank back into the ground, the arena shoved back on its place. 'Everyone cover your ears.' Mario said, a few seconds later a loud explosion shaking the entire island followed.

1 hour later: Watering Hole.

When Mario, Luigi, Mallow and Goombella entered the Watering Hole Jolene, Rawk Hawk and Gonzales were there, after everyone had thanked Mario for his efforts they all sat down.

'So now what?' Mallow asked: 'The Duelists are slowly waking up, they are all unharmed, same goes for my brother, he is fine, a little bit hyperactive, they are letting him run to loose some energy.' Jolene replied.

'I'm glad there is no permanent damage.' Luigi said.

'Mario I take it that that explosion was the machine?' Jolene asked changing subjects. 'Yes but the arena is undamaged.' Mario replied.

'So Mario are you continuing as a champion?' Rawk Hawk then asked. 'No I cannot, I only came here to help you guys out and for the Crystal Star, both goals are achieved so there is no reason here for me to stay.'

'Then it is settled!' Rawk Hawk roared: 'I shall make a return! I will become a champion once more but this time with a fair Deck!'

At those words Gonzales stood up: 'Then Rawk you have to get through me because I will enter as well!' He reacted.

'And my brother said he would return as soon as he was better, and I will become the announcer this time, but first I have to renovate the arena a bit, getting the other locker rooms back in order, remove the man-eating toilet and remove the machine.

Jolene, Gonzales, Rawk Hawk and Prince Mush stood at the blimp port.

'Mush, thanks to your Exodia cards I could win, so I want you to have them back.' Mario handed over the cards to Prince Mush.

A few minutes later Mario and his friends were on the blimp, Glitzville became smaller and smaller.

Unknown location: Grave's room.

Rozalin was vast asleep, Pandora was keeping watch over her, suddenly a portal opened and Grave stumbled out. 'Grave!' Pandora shouted waking Rozalin. 'Grave? Talk to me!' Pandora was panicking.

'No worries, I'm fine thanks to Mario.' Grave dragged himself onto his bed where he laid down. 'Grave, did you Duel Mario again?' Rozalin wondered.

Grave laughed: 'No, that Nephilim did this, turned out he was a bit more powerful, well he can now be all powerful in hell!'

Pandora sighted from relieve then the door to their room opened, Azrael slowly stepped in.

Rozalin crawled back, Pandora stood up she stood in front of Rozalin with her arms spread..

'How cute.' Azrael scoffed: 'I am not here for the prisoner, Grave Sir Grodus needs us in his office, now.'

Grave and Azrael entered Grodus' room.

'I have an assignment for both of you.' Grodus started without hesitation.

'Twilight Town, your next target.' Grodus stood up from behind his desk: 'A powerful Nephilim has been sighted around that place, but that isn't the real reason I send you there.' Azrael and Grave looked at each other: 'Azrael that woman Bow who was at Boggly Woods, I have investigated her case, she was a Nephilim, apparently humans who turned to Nephilim can be cured, now the problem is, Twilight Town is a community set up by Bow where all cured Nephilim are living.'

Grodus sat down again, he folded his arms: 'The Shadow Queen sees the danger in that place, she want it wiped off the map.'

Grave stood up, Azrael followed his example. 'Grave, Azrael there is more.' Grodus continued: 'That Nephilim I mentioned, it is a powerful one, Grave your primary goal will be to deal with that Nephilim, Azrael there is another powerful creature there, I do not know who it is, what it is or what its motives are, find that out and deal with it accordingly, finally there might be a Crystal Star in that area so that might attract Mario, I want him dead, whoever of you find Mario make it a life or death Duel, bring me his Crystal Stars! Oh yeah before I forget, the Shadow Sirens are there with a bomb, when you are done with your business tell Beldam, she will wipe that place from the map.'

Grave entered the room, Pandora and Rozalin were playing poker. 'Pandora, Rozalin, yet again I need to go...' Grave stopped, Pandora noticed something was wrong. 'Grodus issued an order, there is a place where cured Nephilim live, he wants it wiped from the map, also he issued an order to kill Mario, a life-on-death Duel.'

Tears welled up in Pandora's eyes, Rozalin was speechless.

'I'll find a way around it, I can only Duel Mario if I find him right? But Rozalin just in case inform Mario, TEC is likely to help you.'

Rozalin entered TEC's room. 'Welcome back Rozalin, do you need to send a message?' The computer asked. 'Yes I do, and I'm in quite a hurry.'

'I see.' TEC replied. 'One more thing TEC I need to send a bit of information about an ongoing mission.' TEC remained silent for a few seconds. 'I can help you with that, but you have to do something for me in return.' Rozalin said nothing, TEC continued: 'I hear about the thing you humans call fun, I do not experience fun but I read all about it, one way of having fun seems to be Dueling, I analyzed Dueling and ran some test with popular Decks. I came up with strategies to flawlessly beat any Deck, yet I am not satisfied.' Suddenly hatch opened and a Deck came out. 'Rozalin, take this Deck and Duel me, maybe you can teach me fun.'

Some time later the Duel ended, Rozalin ended up the victor. 'You seem to had any fun, Rozalin I need to analyze this, you helped me a great deal, I shall allow you to send your message.'

West Rogueport: Blimp station.

Bowser was sitting on a bench, he seemed to be quite annoyed.

'Damn that Mario, I was defeated by him for a live audience, and I don't have a Crystal Star!' At that moment the blimp came into view.

A few minutes later the blimp landed, Kammy stepped out of it.

'And? What did you find out?' Bowser asked.

'Well Mario won the championship, then retired and the Crystal Star is still on that champion's belt.' Kammy reported, Bowser looked confused: 'Gwa ha ha! That means I still have a chance! Kammy I shall come up with a plan to get that Crystal Star!'

Rogueport Sewers: Thousand-Year Door.

Mario stepped into the room first, it seem to be empty, he motioned his friends to come in, as soon as they stepped inside black fire appeared at the entrance. 'Tricks only a Duelist of the Darkness can do.' Mario muttered carefully he looked around. 'Mario!' Goombella suddenly yelled, Exodus had appeared on the pedestal. 'Mario this time I will end you.' Then Exodus was blown off the pedestal. 'What the hell?' Mallow gasped, then a familiar face appeared on the pedestal, he wore ragged clothes and an old crown on his head. 'Now, now Exodus, did you forget? It was my turn to deal with these freaks.'

Exodus quickly stood up: 'King Boo! I shall not allow it! They're mine!'

Boo laughed: 'You do not control me.' Boo looked at Luigi: 'The first time we met I lost, Exodus wanted to send me back to the darkness, but I managed to hold on to this realm...'

Exodus took a dagger from under his cloak. 'No, no, no naughty Exodus!' Black flames appeared around him, with a scream he disappeared. 'Now he won't interrupt us.' King Boo casually said, then he looked at Luigi again: 'This time I shall end you.' Suddenly Luigi was pulled into the middle of the room a circle of black flames appeared around Luigi and Boo, then an empty painting appeared behind each of them: 'Nothing beats a good Shadow Game, when a player takes damage his image appears in the painting behind him, when your Life Points reach zero your soul is pulled into the painting, now prepare!' King Boo's eye started to glow, Luigi activated his D-Gazer and Duel Disk, King Boo flicked his hand and five cards appeared in his hand, Luigi drew his five cards. 'Duel!' They both shouted.

(Luigi: 8000) - (King Boo: 8000)

Luigi looked at King Boo. 'Since you won't start the Duel I shall start!' Luigi said, he took three cards from his hand: 'I Fusion Summon Flame Wingman!' Luigi shouted, first Polymerization appeared on the Field, followed by Avian and Burstinatrix, the Fusion Portal appeared and the two monsters were sucked into it then Flame Wingman leaped out of the portal. (2100 ATK)

'I'll leave it at that.' Luigi stated, King Boo held up his cards a sixth card appeared in his hand.

'First I activate Double Summon.' The Dark Duelist calmly said, one card disappeared from his hand it briefly showed on the Field.

'Wonder what Ghostrick he brings out and what his Field Spell will be.' Luigi mumbled.

'First I summon Inaba White Rabbit!' Before King Boo a machine appeared, it seemed to be some kind of missile seated on a launchpad with a white rabbit was clamping itself to the missile. (700 ATK)

'O no, that is no good.' Mario muttered.

'Why? That thing ain't strong, oh you mean King Boo will sacrifice it for a higher Level monster.' Goombella replied, Mario shook his head: 'That is a Spirit Monster, these Spirit Monsters return to the hand during the End Phase, the Spirit Deck was a collectors Deck, not meant for Dueling, Gregor is King Boo's host, a rich kid he probably had the Spirit Deck in his possession.' Mario quickly explained.

'I also summon Kawanokami!' Next to Inaba an elder-looking man appeared, this creature was clearly a Kappa, a creature with greenish skin, he wore robes and was leaning on a cane the creature had white hair and a long beard on top of his head it had some kind of basin that contained water in his right hand he held an orange orb. (1800 ATK)

'Your brother said it, Spirit monsters return to my hand during the End Phase, and Kawanokami can treat any monster on the Field a Spirit monster.' Kawanokami tapped his cane on the ground, Flame Wingman started to glow. 'Now Inaba White Rabbit attacks! And it can attack directly!' The rocket was launched by the launchpad, Luigi followed the projectile with his eyes, then suddenly it crashed upon his head, Luigi fell on the ground clutching his head in pain, the painting started to change a part of a fire-filled sky appeared followed by a part of Luigi's hat.

(Luigi: 7300) - (King Boo: 8000)

'Next I set two cards facedown.' King Boo stated, the two cards appeared facedown behind his monsters. 'Turn end.'

Inaba White Rabbit disappeared from the Field, followed by Kawanokami and Flame Wingman.

Luigi laughed: 'Your Field is empty now it's my turn!' He drew his card.

'I summon Sparkman!' Luigi shouted, the electric-charged hero appeared in a flash. (1600 ATK) 'Direct attack!'

Sparkman charged forward. 'I activate my Trap card!' King Boo roared: 'Wall of Revealing Light!' A multicolored barrier rose up between King Boo and Luigi's Field. 'I pay Life Points and as long as Wall of Revealing Light remains on the Field any monster my opponent controls with an attack power lower than the Life Points I payed they cannot attack.'

The Painting behind King Boo started to fill itself until it was exactly filled for the half, it showed a dead Gregor sitting on a throne while a white spirit touched his cheek, the room the throne stood in was filled with paintings.

(Luigi: 7300) - (King Boo: 4000)

'I'd say 4000 is a safe number! Now Luigi! Come at me!' King Boo shouted, Sparkman slammed against the barrier and was forced to retreat.

'I set one card facedown.' Luigi growled, it appeared behind Sparkman. 'I end my turn.'

'Let me show you another terrifying trick.' King Boo said: 'I summon Nikitama!' A greenish flame-like soul appeared before King Boo, Luigi looked closely at the monster he saw a woman inside the soul. (800 ATK)

'Nikitama allows me another summon.' Boo took a card from his hand. 'I sacrifice Nikitama so I can summon Dark Dust Spirit!' Nikitama disappeared in its place a man-sized demon appeared with red skin, purple markings all over its body, long white hair and spikes on its shoulders. (2200 ATK)

'First the effect of Nikitama, when it is send to the Graveyard and there is another Spirit Monster on my Field I draw one card.' King Boo drew it and added the card to his hand. 'Next when Dark Dust Spirit is summoned all other monsters are destroyed!' Lightning struck Sparkman, Luigi gasped. 'Direct attack on Luigi!' King Boo cackled, Luigi braced himself but the force of the attack knocked him against the circle of darkness

(Luigi: 5100) - (King Boo: 4000)

Quickly Luigi's painting started to fill, it now showed a building behind him, the building was in flames, Luigi appeared to around his middle, his face had a look of terror, a skeleton was tied to a pole behind him it wore Mario's clothes. 'That painting will become your reality once I'm done with you!' King Boo cackled, Luigi grabbed himself together slowly he managed to stand up. 'You don't scare me King Boo, I defeated you before and I can do it again.'

King Boo merely scoffed at Luigi. 'Fine, in that case I activate Fires of Doomsday which summons two Doomsday Tokens on my side of the Field.' Two small black creatures appeared, they had small arms, no legs and one eye. (0 DEF x2) 'Turn end.' King Boo stated, Dark Dust Spirit disappeared from the Field.

Luigi drew his card. 'I've got an idea but his facedown card worries me, it is clearly there to protect his Wall of Revealing Light, probably Dark Bribe, I need him to trigger that card then I need to draw that specific monster.' Luigi smiled: 'I set two cards.' Luigi said, the cards appeared horizontally on his Field. 'I'll leave it at that.'

'Hee hee hee, now you just do something! You're giving up?' King Boo cackled, he drew his card. 'I sacrifice one of the Doomsday Tokens so I can summon The Great Long Nose!' One of the Tokens disappeared in its place an older-looking man appeared, he had red skin, long white hair and matching beard, and like the name suggested he had a long nose. (1900 ATK)

'When Great Long Nose attacks and deals damage you must skip your Battle Phase! Now attack!' The demonic monster inhaled some air. 'I activate my Trap card! A Hero Emerges!'

King Boo's eyes narrowed, he looked at Luigi's facedown card then at the only card in his hand. 'Must be Bladedge, one of the oldest tricks in the book, make sure Bladedge is the only card left in your hand, then use A Hero Emerges, can't have him do that.' King Boo pointed his hand at Luigi. 'I activate Dark Bribe!' He shouted, A Hero Emerges exploded Luigi quietly drew his card. 'The attack continues!' King Boo roared The Great Long Nose inhaled then let out a powerful sneeze, Luigi was blown back once again.

(Luigi: 3200) - (King Boo: 4000)

More of the painting became revealed, part of Luigi's legs and a part of the foreground, there was another part of a skeleton, only its head was visible, the skeleton wore Goombella's helmet and scarf, now several screaming souls appeared in the background around the house.

Luigi didn't look at the painting, his hands and legs were shaking, slowly he managed to stand up. 'Draw!' He shouted.

'Since I cannot attack this turn I set a monster and I leave it at that.'

This time a vertical card appeared on Luigi's Field.

King Boo cackled. 'You like to be beaten down?' He said, a new card appeared in his hand.

'Mario, I'm worried about Luigi.' Goombella said, Mario looked at his girlfriend. 'Don't worry, Luigi knows what he is doing, he's setting up, though King Boo doesn't notice it, just wait Luigi will win.'

King Boo looked at the Field. 'That facedown monster, that is Clayman, so in that case I summon Inaba White Rabbit!' The rocket with the rabbit clamping on it reappeared. (700 ATK) 'Direct attack!' King Boo bellowed, this time Luigi saw the Rabbit coming he blocked it with his Duel Disk.

(Luigi: 2500) - (King Boo: 4000)

More of the Goombella skeleton appeared on the painting, even more souls appeared in the background.

'I Equip Inaba White Rabbit with Mirror of Yata, which makes sure that Inaba White Rabbit stays on the Field.' King Boo waved as a sign he ended his turn, Inaba White Rabbit stayed on the Field.

Luigi drew his card, he looked at it. 'Inaba White Rabbit, a sacrifice material for Dark Dust Spirit, his remaining Doomsday Token can only summon The Great Long Nose, we'll see what happens in any case Clayman cannot be destroyed by Dark Dust Spirit's effect.' Luigi took a card from his hand. 'I activate E - Emergency Call!' Briefly the card appeared on the Field, a card slipped from Luigi's Deck he took it in his hand. 'Good everything is in place now.' Luigi smirked: 'I end my turn now.'

A new card appeared in Boo's hand. 'I sacrifice Inaba for Dark Dust Spirit!'

Luigi laughed in himself, the Rabbit got replaced by the demon. (2200 ATK) King Boo's remaining Doomsday Token got struck by lightning.

'Next I activate my second Double Summon!' The card appeared briefly on the Field. 'I summon a second Nikitama!' The spirit reappeared on the Field. (800 ATK) 'I sacrifice Nikitama for The Great Long Nose!' Again the red-skinned man with the long nose appeared. (1900 ATK)

'I will settle this in the next few turns, but just to be sure I activate the Spell card Spiritual Energy Settle Machine!' The Spell appeared on the Field.

'Dark Dust Spirit attack that defending monster!' King Boo roared, Clayman appeared in place of the facedown card. (2000 DEF) Dark Dust Spirit tore the Elemental Hero apart with its claws.

'Great Long Nose direct attack!' The Great Long Nose sneezed over Luigi again, this time Luigi was prepared.

(Luigi: 600) - (King Boo: 4000)

The painting was nearly complete now, more skeletons were revealed wearing the clothes of Luigi's friends, the whole sky was now filled with souls, only Luigi's left foot was missing.

'I end my turn, and thanks to Spiritual Energy Settle Machine my monsters stay on the Field.' King said with a grin, only thing is I need to pay one card.' King Boo explained he took a card from his hand and discarded it, it was Kawanokami.

'And this King Boo is your downfall, you cannot use the Effect of your Dark Dust Spirit now.' Luigi drew his card. 'I set one card facedown.' Luigi said, the card appeared in his Spell/Trap Zone. 'Next I use Miracle Fusion this allows me to Fusion Summon from my Graveyard by Banishing the monsters!' Avian and Burstinatrix appeared on the Field, the Fusion vortex opened and Flame Wingman leaped out of it. (2100 ATK)

'Since I must skip my Battle Phase I just end my turn.' Luigi stated.

King Boo cackled like a maniac. 'Time to end it! I summon my second Inaba White Rabbit!' Yet again the monster appeared on the Field. (700 ATK) 'Direct attack!' King Boo roared, Inaba White Rabbit launched itself. 'Go Negate Attack!' Luigi bellowed the Rabbit slammed against a barrier.

'King Boo growled some curse words Luigi couldn't understand.

'Whew, now I can attack I can end the Duel.' Luigi said.

'Hee hee hee, just show me, I shall end my turn and by doing so I discard one card.' King Boo stated.

Luigi drew his card. 'First I activate my facedown Call of the Haunted!' Luigi roared, his Trap card spun around Sparkman leaped onto the Field. (1600 ATK)

'Boo I knew your facedown card earlier was Dark Bribe, I had you trigger it to negate my Hero Emerges! That last card in my hand wasn't even a monster card!'

King Boo gasped. 'You mean you did that to safeguard your Call of the Haunted?' Luigi nodded. 'And now I control two Heroes, I summon Stratos! The one I got with E - Emergency Call!'

King Boo took a step back, with a strong gust of wind the Hero with the jet-pack leaped onto the Field. (1800 ATK)

'And when Stratos is summoned I get to destroy Spell and Trap cards equal to the Elemental Heroes I control except from itself!'

King Boo looked at his two cards, Stratos leaped into the air, strong gusts of wind appeared, first the Wall of Revealing Light scattered followed by Spiritual Energy Settle Machine. 'No! When the Settle Machine is destroyed...' King Boo gasped. 'All Spirit Monsters return to the owner's hand.' Luigi finished.

Slowly Dark Dust Spirit disappeared, followed by The Great Long Nose and finally Inaba White Rabbit. 'Sparkman!' Luigi shouted, the Hero pointed at King Boo the Dark Duelist got shocked.

(Luigi: 600) - (King Boo: 2400)

King Boo's painting started to change, the throne now stood in darkness, Gregor was still dead, but King Boo was looking behind him, where a large vortex had appeared.

'Stratos!' Luigi continued, a strong gust of wind blew King Boo against his painting, the thing toppled over.

(Luigi: 600) - (King Boo: 600)

The vortex on the painting had grown larger, Gregor was now alive sitting on a normal chair.

'Flame Wingman!' Luigi roared, King Boo screamed as the flames licked at his flesh.

(Luigi: 600) - (King Boo: 0)

King Boo cackled. 'Don't think I would disappear this easily!' King Boo's painting suddenly went up in flames. 'I can cancel my own Shadow Game, but this took a big deal out of my power, Luigi you win this round!' With these words King Boo disappeared.

'Well done Luigi, I knew you could do it.' Mario said while he gave Luigi a pad on his shoulder.

'Mario I don't want to be here any longer.' Goombella said.

Mario stepped on the pedestal he held the map up high, it started to glow.

Back at Frankly's house they put the map on the table. 'So Twilight town huh.' The professor said.

'Twilight Town? Isn't that the town Bow had founded where the cured Nephilim live?' Mallow recalled.

'Yes it is.' Mario confirmed. 'She said there was a Nephilim there, that the map shows us this place that only means that there is a Crystal Star and that Bow is probably in trouble.' Mario said.

'We need to help her!' Luigi said.

'I agree but we don't know where the entrance is.' Mallow said.


Next time:

Mario and his allies need to find the entrance to Twilight Town.

While Bow plans to make an assault on the Nephilim's hideout.

But the Nephilim hides a terrifying power...

Act 5. Shadows over Twilight Town - For Pigs the Bell Tolls.' Coming soon.