33: Grave's Stand.
Now that the Nephilim has taken Mario's identity, the former Mario now merely a shadow is forced to survive without his memories.
The Nephilim however has now all the Crystal Stars, but he still want to execute his plan, but there is one man now who is able to face and stop the Nephilim.
The entire group was sitting in a restaurant enjoying their victory over the Nephilim, Goombella was having some tomato soup, Mallow was having steak just like Luigi, Bow was enjoying a seafood platter, Mario had spareribs he was simply looking at them.
'This feels weird, thanks to Mario I know who these guys are, it seems they completely trust him, but they cling around him. I need to ditch these guys and fast, need to return to Creepy Steeple.' Mario shoved his chair backwards. 'I'm not hungry.' He spoke, Goombella looked worried at him. 'I'm fine Goombella, there is just something I need to do, the Crystal Star we just got is a fake one, the Nephilim must have swapped it and hidden it inside Creepy Steeple, I will search that place and get the real Crystal Star, I'll be back before you know it.'
Mario looked behind him to see if nobody was following him, when he was walking to the town's exit then he saw someone familiar, it was the real Mario, literally a shadow of his former self, their gazes crossed each other, Mario grinned at the shadow before he continued.
The real Mario and Vivian just made their pact.
'So now what?' Vivian asked.
'I have no clue really, I have a nagging feeling I'm supposed to do something important.' Mario replied, at that point the Nephilim in Mario's body walked past them, their eyes met, Mario clutched his chest, he gasped for breath, Vivian grabbed him by his shoulders. 'Are you okay?' She asked. 'That man who just past us, I felt a sharp pain when I looked at him.' Vivian looked at the Nephilim in Mario's body who was passing the town's gates.
'Mario huh? You do look like a Nephilim though...' Vivian observed the real Mario. '… My sister Beldam always goes on about how evil Mario is, maybe he did something to you to wipe your memory, we should follow him see where he is going.' Vivian grabbed the confused Mario by his hand and started to walk toward the exit.
Halfway Twilight Trail Mario and Vivian passed the abandoned shack, Mario stopped and checked inside.
'Why did you do that? That shack is abandoned.' Vivian asked.
'I don't know, it was just a weird feeling I had to look inside.' Mario replied, then he sighted: 'I really am grateful for what you try to do, but I can't remember a thing.'
Vivian sat down, Mario followed her example.
The Nephilim, was running through the forest, he was quickly approaching Creepy Steeple, he know he had won but still an uneasy feeling was stuck in his chest. 'Don't you worry.' He muttered to himself. 'Mario is a shadow without memory, his friends are probably wasted in the bar by now, Azrael has been chased out, only Vivian remains inside Twilight Town but she is with ex-Mario and she doesn't even pose a threat, yet I have the nagging feeling I'm forgetting something.' The Nephilim shook his head, he was close to Creepy Steeple now.
'Thanks to the real Mario the sequence was broken, the machine was nearly fully charged, give it an hour to reboot.' Mario was muttering to himself: 'I will change them all into pigs and I will be home-free, thanks to Mario's efforts I have some Crystal Stars and the treasure map.'
'Mario!' Someone shouted, Mario stopped and looked around only to see Grave. 'You.' Mario growled.
'Yes me.' Came the reply from Grave: 'I've told you that the next time we meet we would Duel, a Duel to the death as the Trinity demands!' A circle of darkness appeared around Grave and Mario.
'Really Grave, a Shadow Game? Heh, you don't know who you are facing slick.' Both Duelists activated their Duel Disk, a piece of skin disappeared around Grave's eye, the eye itself started to glow, Mario's eye also started to glow. 'Duel!' They both shouted.
(Mario?: 8000) - (Grave: 8000)
'I know what Deck you use Grave a D/D/D Deck, now that Deck ain't fun, you will use a Deck of my choosing slick.' Suddenly Grave's cards started to glow Grave looked at his cards and saw they were slowly changing.
'So you're not Mario, like I thought I have been following you ever since you left Creepy Steeple, I thought you acted weird, now you have confirmed that, all the more reason to take you down!' Grave drew his first five cards, the Nephilim did the same thing.
Grave took a card from his hand. 'I summon Wightprincess!' Before Grave a small skeleton appeared, it wore a wig of long brown hair, it wore a fancy-looking light-pink dress, several skeletons of small dogs ran around it. (1600 ATK)
'When Wightprincess is summoned, I can send one Wightprince from my Deck to my Graveyard.' Grave explained, the card slipped from his Deck and he discarded it. 'Now that Wightprince is send to the Graveyard I can send a Skull Servant and The Lady in Wight to the Graveyard as well.' Two more cards slipped from Grave's Deck and he discarded them. A lot of bones came falling down out of a vortex in the sky.
'I shall end my turn with a facedown card.' Grave concluded, a card appeared behind Wightprincess.
'My turn.' The Nephilim spoke with Mario's voice, slowly he drew his card. 'Since you control a monster and I don't I special summon Assault Halberd!' Before the Nephilim the warrior clad in blue armor appeared, his halberd resting over his shoulder. (1800 ATK)
'Next I normal summon Spartan.' He continued and next to Assault Halberd the ancient warrior holding the shield and spear appeared. (1600 ATK) 'You don't mess with Super Mario slick! Assault Halberd attacks Wightprincess!' The skeleton looked the warrior in the eyes before her bones were violently scattered and crushed by Assault Halberd.
'Spartan attacks...' The Nephilim started but Grave stopped him. 'I activate my facedown Michizure!' Grave pressed a button on his Duel Disk, his facedown card spun open. 'I destroy your Spartan before you can attack.'
However the Spartan did charge forward, then the ground broke open and the warrior plunged to his death.
'You're stalling Grave, you cannot defeat Mario slick! I end my turn.'
(Mario?: 8000) - (Grave: 7800)
'You're right, Mario I cannot defeat, but you are just a sad, little Nephilim who must use trickery to take Mario's body and memories, you aren't the real deal, so I will beat you!' Grave drew his card.
'I summon my second Wightprincess!' The scattered bones of the first one came back together, slowly the skeleton came back together. (1600 ATK)
'Through her effect I send a Wightprince to my Graveyard.' The card slipped from Grave's Deck and he discarded the card. 'And through the effect of Wightprince I send another Skull Servant and The Lady in Wight!' Even more bones fell down littering the Field.
'Now I use the second effect of Wightprincess, by sending her to the Graveyard and all monsters on the Field lose 300 Attack Points times their Level or Rank.' Grave crossed his arms, Wightprincess fell apart, then bones appeared around Assault Halberd pinning him down. (1800- 600 ATK) 'Next I use Monster Reborn to special summon Wightprincess again.' The bones that fell apart a few seconds ago now came back together again. (1600 ATK)
'Then through her Effect I send a Wightprince to my Graveyard, and through its effect another The Lady in Wight and Skull Servant!' Grave discarded another three cards and even more bones fell from the sky, there were several piles of bones covering the Field.
'Wightprincess attack Assault Halberd!' Wightprincess pointed at the warrior, her small dogs leaped at the warrior tearing it apart.
'I end my turn ''Mario''.'
(Mario?: 7000) - (Grave: 7800)
'Damn, I made a mistake I thought Grave's Wight Deck was the weakest Deck he had, he swapped to a D/D/D Deck to become stronger, I can't beat his Deck.' Grave saw the Nephilim smiling, a black mist entered the Deck of the Nephilim.
'You're cheating Nephilim, I don't know what you did but it can't be good.'
The Nephilim laughed: 'You're right slick, I cheat because I can! I changed your cards to a Deck from your memory, well I changed some of my cards so I can win.'
Grave merely chuckled: 'Do what you want, if you were the real Mario you could have won without cheating, Mario's heart is in that Deck and his soul is into his Duels, he inspired me to become stronger, but the reason he fights overpowers mine, that is why I cannot beat him, but you fight for selfish reasons, you cannot win without cheating but I fight for something this time, I will stop you and deliver Mario's body back to him! I have a reason to fight now, so whatever you do it won't make a difference!'
The Nephilim closed his eyes. 'Good point slick, but I can make you draw any card I want and I can draw any card I need.' The Nephilim drew his card.
'I activate Pot of Greed!' The Nephilim shouted, the happy pot appeared and the Nephilim drew two cards. 'Then I activate a second Pot of Greed!' Again the pot appeared and again the Nephilim drew two cards. 'And my third Pot of Greed!' Again he drew twice. 'Next I activate two Monster Reborn!' The Nephilim continued, now cackling two holy Ankh appeared and Spartan reappeared, (1600 ATK) followed by Assault Halberd. (1800 ATK) 'Then I normal summon Double Lance!' The warrior in white armor holding the two lances appeared. (1700 ATK) 'And through Double Lance's effect I summon a second one from my hand!' The Nephilim continued and next to the first one a second one appeared kneeling. (900 DEF) 'And to finish it off I activate Double Summon so I can summon another Spartan!' The Nephilim played the Spell card it briefly appeared on the Field and a second of the ancient warriors appeared. (1600 ATK)
Grave looked at the five monsters on the Field. 'Impressive is it not slick? Tell me would the ''real'' Mario be able to pull off such a move?'
Grave spat on the ground but he remained silent.
'Lost your words ey slick? Well you simply gasp at the awesomeness of Super Mario!' The Nephilim showed his hand slowly black numbers started to appear on them. 'I use my five monsters to build the Overlay Network!' The five monsters changed into five orbs, they disappeared into a vortex in the sky. 'Xyz Summon! Appear Number 86: Heroic Champion Rhongomyniad!' Out of the vortex leaped the warrior clad fully in heavy, white armor, he held the fabled spear in his hands. (1500 ATK)
A black mist appeared around Mario's body, the Nephilim cackled. 'With the full five Xyz Materials Rhongomyniad cannot be destroyed by battle, gains 1500 attack points, is unaffected by other card effects, prevent you from normal and special summoning monsters and can wipe your side of the Field clean once per turn!'
Rhongomyniad eyes glowed sparks of electricity appeared around the warrior. (1500- 3000 ATK ORU: 5)
'Now my might Number, destroy that Wightprincess and attack directly!' The Nephilim yelled, Rhongomyniad pointed his spear in the sky, electricity struck the spear and Rhongomyniad directed the lightning at Wightprincess, the bones scattered and were blown away, then the warrior leaped at Grave and struck him with his mighty spear.
(Mario?: 7000) - (Grave: 4800)
'I set one card and end my turn slick.' The Nephilim stated, a card appeared behind Rhongomyniad.
'Nephilim I know how that Number works.' Grave stated: 'At your end phase you must Detach one monster from Rhongomyniad and thus he loses one of his effects.' The Nephilim cursed as he removed one card from the warrior. (Rhongomyniad: 5- 4 ORU) 'So now you cannot wipe my Field clean anymore.' Grave said, quickly he drew his card and added it to his hand. 'I set one card and end my turn.' Grave stated, the card appeared vertically on the field.
The Nephilim laughed, he drew his card. 'I activate Threatening Roar!' Grave shouted, the card he just set on the Field turned around, a roar sounded over the Field. 'Your Rhongomyniad might be unaffected by card effects, but this card prevents you from declaring battle.'
'You think you are so clever ey slick? Since I cannot attack I end my turn.' The Nephilim stated. 'Yes and that means you Detach another monster from Rhongomyniad thus allowing me to be normal or special summon.' (Rhongomyniad: 4- 3 ORU) Grave said, he drew his card. 'Here it comes Nephilim!' Grave took a card from his hand. 'I activate Tri-Wight, this card allows me to special summon three Level two or lower normal monsters from my graveyard!'
Several bones started to rattle, slowly they formed three small skeletons, purple robes appeared on the skeletons. (300 ATK x3)
'This time I create the Overlay Network with my three Skull Servants!'
The three skeletons changed into three orbs. 'I Xyz Summon Baby Tiragon!' The vortex opened and the small, cute dragon with the large ears dropped out of it. (900 DEF ORU: 3)
The Nephilim started to laugh. 'You want to destroy me with that slick?'
Grave laughed back, this surprised the Nephilim. 'No I want to destroy you with King of the Skull Servants!' Grave played a card and behind him a rather large skeleton appeared on a huge pile of bones, he wore purple robes. (0- 8000 ATK)
'My King gains 1000 attack points for each Skull Servant in my Graveyard, three Lady in Wight, three Wightprinces and two Wightprincess' they all count as Skull Servants in my Graveyard!' Grave explained. 'Now I use the effect of Baby Tiragon, by Detaching a monster one Level one monster I control can attack directly!' One of the orbs circling around Baby Tiragon disappeared. (3- 2 ORU)
Some bones fell on the Field, King became stronger. (8000- 9000 ATK)
'King of the Skull Servants attack directly!' Grave roared, electricity appeared around the huge skeleton, he shot a jolt of electricity straight past Rhongomyniad. 'You wish you would have won slick! I activate Damage Diet! This halves any damage I would take!' The Nephilim shouted, his Trap card spun around, a barrier appeared around him, the lightning broke through the barrier, the Nephilim managed to hold his footing.
(Mario?: 2500) - (Grave: 4800)
'I set one card and end my turn.' Grave growled, the card appeared behind King of the Skull Servants.
'So I gave you one chance to die slick but it seems you refused it, now I will draw my third Double Lance and end your life!' The Nephilim roared, he drew his card and played it, Double Lance appeared next to Rhongomyniad, (1700 ATK) the ground broke open and a second Double Lance crawled out of the ground. (900 DEF)
The Nephilim started to hiss as a black mist appeared around him, he showed his other hand slowly the number 39 appeared. 'I will destroy you slick!' He bellowed the two Double Lance changed into orbs, mere seconds later Utopia crashed down on the Field. (2500 ATK: 2 ORU)
'I activate a Spell card!' The Nephilim took a card from his hand. 'Riryoku! I take half the attack power of your King of the Skull Servants and add it to Utopia!' A beam of light suddenly shot through King of the Skull Servants before it disappeared into Utopia. (King: 9000- 4500 ATK, Utopia: 2500- 7000 ATK)
'Now Utopia destroy that King of the Skull Servants!' Utopia drew his sword and with a few quick blows he scattered the skeleton.
'I use the effect of my King, by Banishing one Skull Servant I special summon it.' The scattered bones came back together. (0- 8000 ATK)
(Mario?: 2500) - (Grave: 2300)
'Rhongomyniad destroy that Baby Tiragon!' The small dragon tried to flee, but the warrior threw his spear hitting the dragon in its head, King of the Skull Servants became a bit stronger. (8000- 10.000 ATK)
'I shall end my turn with a facedown slick.' A card appeared in the Nephilim's Spell/Trap Zone.
'That means Rhongomyniad loses another material and can be affected by effects again.' Grave said, the Nephilim growled something as he removed a card. (Rhongomyniad: 3- 2 ORU)
'My turn.' Grave said, he drew his card. 'I activate Breakthrough Skill, this ignores all the effects of Utopia!' The Trap card spun around, Utopia sank to its knees as he got drained from his power. 'My King destroy Utopia and end this!' The Nephilim crossed his arms, then multiple lightning bolts struck Utopia destroying him instantly, a cloud of dust covered the Field, then the Nephilim leaped out of the dust cloud, a barrier was protecting him. 'I activated Defense Draw just before impact slick, now I get to draw a card.' The Nephilim did as he said. 'You'd really thought it would be that simple slick?'
'No I didn't but I aimed to wreck Utopia, now I set one card and end my turn.' Grave stated as the card materialized vertically behind King of the Skull Servants.
'My turn slick.' The Nephilim drew his card. 'I activate my Dark Core.' He played the Spell card, it briefly appeared a small black hole appeared in front of Grave. 'Now I discard one card.' The Nephilim continued, he showed the Spell card Shrink before he discarded it. 'Now your King of the Skull Servants is removed from the game slick!' King of the Skull Servants slowly fell apart and the bones were sucked into the black hole.
'Rhongomyniad destroy him!' The Nephilim roared.
'Go Negate Attack!' Grave replied, his Trap card spun around and a barrier appeared around him, the warrior slammed right into the barrier.
'Gah, you make me angry slick, I shall end my turn.'
Grave chuckled: 'That means you must Detach a card and thus your Rhongomyniad loses half his attack power.'
The Nephilim cursed as he removed the card. (Rhongomyniad: 3000- 1500 ATK ORU: 2- 1)
'You didn't feel it right?' Grave suddenly said.
The expression on Mario's face changed as the Nephilim realized something.
'Yes Nephilim, without the Crystal Star in your machine your magic is disappearing, I destroyed Utopia with a reason, I wanted it in your Graveyard, so I can summon it.' Grave said, the Nephilim started to laugh. 'Stop making a fool out of Mario if you will.' Grave snapped, the Nephilim stopped laughing. 'I draw!' Grave shouted, he didn't look at his card. 'I activate the Spell card Autonomous Action Unit!' The card briefly appeared on the Field. 'I pay 1500 Life Points so I can summon Utopia!' The number 39 started to burn on Grave's hand, the ground broke open and Utopia leaped out of the hole. (2500 ATK)
(Mario?: 2500) - (Grave: 800)
'Mario, this one is for you! I create the Overlay Network!' Utopia started to glow. 'Chaos Xyz Summon! Number C39: Utopia Ray!' Utopia slowly changed into his darker version. (2500 ATK)
'I needed to reduce my Life Points to below 1000 to be able to summon this monster or else it would have been destroyed, also Utopia became a material for Utopia Ray.' Grave explained. 'Now I shall Detach the only monster from this card.' Grave said, he removed Utopia from under the card. 'Now Utopia Ray gains 500 attack points and Rhongomyniad loses 1000!' Electricity appeared around Utopia, while Rhongomyniad sank to his knees. (Utopia Ray: 2500- 3000 ATK, Rhongomyniad: 1500- 500 ATK)
'Attack.' Grave calmly said, the Nephilim looked in horror as his warrior was finally struck down by the sword of Utopia Ray then the warrior gave the Nephilim a wallop with his sword sending him flying across the field.
(Mario?: 0) - (Grave: 800)
The Nephilim landed on his back, Grave folded his arms.
'Why? How did I lose slick?' The Nephilim tried to stand up but he couldn't.
'I know, it is this body, Mario's body isn't fully attuned to my magic, Grave's magic is strong he could break through my magic and cancel my Deck Manipulation. A mistake I won't make again slick, once the Crystal Star is back in place my power will be absolute.' The Nephilim laughed.
'What are you doing?' Grave then sneered: 'A prayer won't save you Mario or whoever you are. Now how about you tell me who you are.' Grave spoke, he was looking down at his rival. 'You know who I am slick.' the Nephilim spat.
'Yes you're the Nephilim from this area, your name is unknown, looks like you took Mario's body and name, where is the real Mario?'
The Nephilim chuckled: 'Last time I saw him he was in town with one of those Shadow Sirens, he seemed lost, well doesn't matter, soon they will all be rolling around in the dirt as little pigs.' Quickly before Grave could react the Nephilim leaped back onto his feet then he leaped backwards out of Grave's reach.
'You know why the moon is always red here Grave?' Grave knew the question was rethorical. 'The moon is red here because of a spell that cursed Bow used, this curse allows former Nephilim to be safe here, but what many don't know is that the moon here was red way before that.' This piqued Grave's interest. 'The Palace of Shadows, if that place had a moon it would be red as well, this Twilight Town and the Palace of Shadows are placed in a different dimension that can be accessed from your realm, the spell Bow used merely hides the entrance to this realm, but this realm was created by the man who defeated me before it was created to seal me here, when Bow came along she broke the seal and set me free.'
The Nephilim rose his hands, suddenly a black fog appeared along the ground, Grave looked at the sky, it was turning black until only the red moon was visible. 'You lost slick, I shall return to Creepy Steeple now, within the hour when my machine is charged with the power of the Crystal Stars not only will it change all the people here in pigs, it will also bring this realm back to your realm, the red moon will turn to normal and my full power will be returned!'
Grave stretched his arm, his scythe appeared in his hand. 'You're no Nephilim, you are one of the Ancient!'
The Nephilim laughed: 'You realized, but only too late!' Grave leaped at the Ancient One, the scythe passed through him, with a cold laughter Grave saw the Ancient One appearing in the distance.
'Damn, I can't stop him, the shadows here are suppressing any form of magic, the real Mario doesn't remember a thing, but he should be with Vivian, I need to point her to Creepy Steeple.'
Mario and Vivian were approaching the forest.
'I don't know but you have something familiar.' Vivian suddenly said.
Mario looked at her and shook his head. 'Sorry I can't remember.
Vivian sighted: 'Well going to the Twilight Trail didn't seem to do anything. You seem to be a Duelist, can I look at your Deck?'
Mario took his Deck out of his Duel Disk and handed it over to Vivian she looked through the cards. 'Nope they are all blank.'
'Well aren't you a sorry bunch.' Mario and Vivian looked up.
'O no it's Grave.' Vivian drew back a bit in fear: 'Grave, I'm sorry, I can't fix the bomb.' Grave shook his head. 'I'm not here about that bomb, you must know the Nephilim who lives in Creepy Steeple.' Vivian looked at Grave's feet she slightly nodded. 'Well that Nephilim turned out to be an Ancient One.' Then Grave explained about the realms and how the Ancient One wanted to escape. 'That is terrible.' Vivian said, her voice was trembling a bit, she now looked at Grave. 'Vivian, the Ancient One holds the secrets to the shadow next to you.' Grave looked at Mario, Mario looked back at him, but he felt nothing familiar.
'Vivian go to Creepy Steeple, enter the basement there you will find the answers you need, then confront the Ancient One, you have about an hour.' Grave wanted to walk away. 'Grave, where are you going?' She asked.
'Back to the base.' He replied he wanted to open a portal but nothing came. 'I mean I go to the Inn, get something to drink, that Ancient One blocked all magic and he sealed the exit.'
Next time:
Time is running out, the Nephilim restarted his machine and within the hour everyone would be changed into pigs, then the barrier holding Twilight Town in a different dimension would brake and the Nephilim with all Mario's Crystal Stars would have a free pass.
His plan would have succeeded if Grave hadn't Dueled him.
Grave has bought the real Mario and Vivian some time but it isn't much. ''The Name Game.'' Coming next.
