39. Ghost in the Cave.

Keelhaul Key is cursed, is what they say.

Saying it is cursed is putting things lightly, the place is overrun with spirits, King Boo was controlling them, the moment we arrived on Keelhaul Key it was one battle against countless spirits and King Boo, however Exodus showed up separating King Boo and Gregor, when we engaged Exodus he escaped before we could finish it, with King Boo gone the spirits are less present on the surface of the island, now we can enter the caves and face Cortez ourselves.

Mario and Jonathan looked at the ceiling of the now empty cave. 'So that was Exodus?' Jonathan broke the silence.

'Yes, that was Exodus.' Mario replied while he walked up to the unconcious Gregor, Mario tried to wake him up but when that didn't work Jonathan easily heaved the body over his shoulder. 'So what is the deal with this kid?' The ex-pirate asked.

'I don't know his story, only thing I know is we met this kid on boat to Rogueport, he knew me back then, well that sounded logical because I defeated Bowser on an official tournament, strange thing was he challenged Luigi to a Duel calling out my brother, while Luigi never participated in a tournament and I never mentioned Luigi's name, it was shortly after the Duel started Gregor changed into the creature known as King Boo, later it was revealed King Boo was a spirit of the Dark World and Gregor was his host, all of that was done by Exodus.' Mario explained.

Jonathan nodded: 'I see, but where does Exodus fit in?' He wondered.

Meanwhile Mario and Jonathan entered a series of small pathways leading back to the surface, when they stepped outside the cave the sky was clear, the sun was shining through the jungle trees, a wide variety of birds and other animals could be heard. 'Jonathan I don't know where Exodus fits in, I don't know his real name, I only know that he hangs out with the Trinity and sometimes fights in their name, fact is that Azrael accepts Exodus' help.' Mario concluded, Jonathan softly cursed. 'Mario, when I accepted this mission Star Heaven gave me one mission and two warnings, the mission was to break the curse on Cortez, or take him out when breaking the curse was impossible, the first warning was to watch out for Synna, the Fallen Celestian who killed a lot of Celestians, she disappeared but Star Heaven picked up her activity scouts saw here following the same road Faust walked before he was defeated in Smithy's factory, Synna is looking for Faust and that can't be good, the second warning however was Exodus, they told me to stay clear of him, but here we are facing Exodus and surviving.'

'Jonathan, Exodus is dangerous, Luigi and I both stood against him we managed to win because of Utopia the fact we defeated him today was because Exodus was here for King Boo, he wasn't interested in us that is why he escaped before we could land the finishing blow.'

'Aye, that Exodus is dangerous indeed.' Jonathan muttered: 'Mario it is clear to me that Exodus will stand in your way, when you get the chance to take down Exodus do that and knowing you at one point you probably cross paths with Synna, when you do capture her alive, Star Heaven want that and there is a huge bounty on her head for taking her in alive.'

While Mario and Jonathan were talking about Smithy and the time after that battle they reached Jonathan's ship, inside they found Mario's friends eating and listening to Bobbery. 'Bobbery, good to see you're feeling better.' Jonathan said while he slapped his friend on the back, the rest were staring at the still unconscious Gregor over Jonathan's shoulder.

'Mario are you crazy bringing him here?' Luigi growled.

'Easy brother, we ran into King Boo in the caves, turned out that Exodus wasn't too happy about King Boo's little adventure he took the evil spirit out of Gregor leaving him to die.' Mario quickly explained, Jonathan meanwhile put Gregor on a couch, Flavio was watching it all from out a corner of the cabin, he sat there on Jonathan's chair his feet on the small bar, he had a few beers you could tell from the six bottles laying on the ground.

An hour later when Mario and Jonathan were discussing how to take down Cortez Gregor woke up. 'Where am...' He moaned but fell silent as he saw Mario and his friends, quickly he jumped up and checked his hands, like he expected to be tied up, Mario quickly explained what happened in the cave. 'You know I remember nothing of that.' Gregor said, Mario handed over a glass of water to Gregor who greedily took it. 'What can you remember?'

Gregor closed his eyes as he started to talk: 'Well I was watching the finals of that Duel tournament Mario defeated Bowser, shortly after those people called Shroobs appeared, I remember I ran for my life, I thought to take a shortcut by passing through an ally, there I bumped into a man wearing a cloak and a mask, the one you call Exodus, he asked me if I was interested in Dueling him, when I refused he forced me into a Duel, after only two of his turns he defeated me, the last thing I remember hear him say was that my body was suitable then I remember hearing a voice in my head taunting me the only thing I remember after that was darkness, being trapped in eternal darkness until some time ago, I managed to push that King Boo back, he begged me to take his place so he could stay, as he was switching his consciousness with my I remember pushing him back out and then he was suddenly gone.'

'Gregor.' Mario said as he sat down next to the boy: 'We are trying to find out who Exodus is, he is dangerous and he is working together with one of my enemies if we know who Exodus is we can take him out.'

Gregor shook his head: 'Sorry I don't know, all the time this King Boo possessed me he was in total control, King Boo could retreat to the darkness he trapped my mind in then I gained control back over my body, but I couldn't see or hear, King Boo controlled my movements when King Boo was in the darkness I couldn't hear him that is when he talked with Exodus, King Boo feared Exodus, I could hear him mutter from time to time he claimed to know who Exodus really was and that he would expose the identity, he never specified if Exodus was a man or woman always spoke about Exodus as ''it''.'

'Well.' Jonathan then said: 'Most important thing is that Gregor is safe and the same goes for Bobbery, I will make a deal with my superiors to make sure both of you will be safe, now Mario we need to go.' Jonathan stood up, Flavio also stood up. 'I should go as well have to find this Skull Gem.' He ran off without saying anything else.

'Gregor and Bobbery you stay here rest up a bit, Vivian you stay here to protect the ship, only danger here should be Cortez but you'll never know.' Vivian nodded in agreement.

The group with Mario on front slowly walked through the jungle, they reached the cave. 'Okay everyone.' Mario started: 'From here on out this is Cortez's turf, we don't know who he is, what he is or what he can do, be on your guard.'

After passing through the cave system they entered another one of the many large rooms, there was an opening in the wall that lead outside, however the opening was blocked by a rock slide leaving only small gaps were a bit of sunlight came through, most of the room was filled with water in the middle of the body of water laid an old-fashioned pirate ship, mostly build from black wood and finished with details made of dark-brown wood, the ship had ragged, black sails with a skull and crossbones on them.

The group stepped into the cabin of the Black Skull, the ship that once belonged to Cortez, the moment they entered a chill ran down their spines.

Mario tried the wooden stairs, decorated with what once was a red carpet, the stairs seemed sturdy enough so they made their way down, entering the cabin they saw an incredible sight, the cabin was mostly made of dark wood, with wooden decals all over the walls, several torches, burning with purple flames, gave the room a moody vibe, the floor of the cabin was decorated with the same red carpet as the stairs, a massive, wooden table stood in the middle of the room, it was probably nailed to the floor, a luxurious chair was flung against the left wall, it was broken down in two pieces, silver cups and platters laid across the room.

Mario looked to the back end of the room, he saw a gigantic pile of golden coins, several gems and a blue star-shaped object on top of it, also in front of the treasure pile laid a pile of bones.

Mario slowly approached the pile of gold. 'I wouldn't do that amigo.' A ghastly voice spoke, sending a chill down Mario's spine he shivered, not knowing where the voice came from Mario looked around the room.

'I am right in front of you!' The voice cackled, the pile of bones started to shake violently, suddenly a large skeleton burst out of the pile, it was twice the size of Mario only consisting of a inhumanly long spine, with a skull mounted on top of it, the lower jaw of the skeleton was attached to the head through two golden rings, a crack, that was supposed to be a scar ran across the creature's left eye socket, it had long red hair and wore a black pirate hat with a skull on it, the creature started to laugh, bones that were spread around the room flew to the creature forming four arms directly attached to the spine, blue lights resembling the creature's eyes appeared in the empty sockets.

'You dare to wake me from my slumber? You got guts amigo, I give you that.' The skeleton slowly spoke.

'Are you Cortez?' Jonathan asked.

'Who is asking amigo?' The skeleton replied.

'The name is Jonathan Jones.'

'Jonathan Jones, aye that rings a bell, the sea has spoken clearly about you, a self-proclaimed pirate lord, drowned in the sea and yet here you stand before me, now tell me amigo, you here to steal this treasure?' The eyes of Cortez seem to pierce right through Jonathan, the ex-pirate didn't show any signs of fear.

After a few second Cortez's gaze shifted to Mario and then the rest of the team. 'I can read you all except for this Jonathan, but it doesn't matter I will keelhaul you all!' Cortez roared, one of his eyes changed into a golden color, a Duel Disk made out of bones appeared around one of its four arms, Bow walked to the front, her D-Gazer activated. 'If this creature is cursed then let me deal with it, the Nephilim I help are cursed as well, I can cure them, maybe I can cure Cortez with my magic.' Mario saw Bow was determined to do this so he simply nodded in agreement. 'Duel!' Bow shouted, Cortez let out a cackling roar.

(Bow: 8000) - (Cortez: 8000)

Bow drew her first five cards, five spectral cards appeared before Cortez.

'I Set this card.' Bow stated and one card appeared horizontally above the table. 'I end my turn.'

Goombella was watching Bow's opening. 'Mario, did she got a bad hand?'

Mario turned his head to look at his girlfriend. 'No I don't think so, Bow has faced many Nephilim in the past, sometimes it is easy to predict the Deck of your opponent, but with Nephilim you cannot, there are many Nephilim and all use a different Deck, Bow has learned not to reveal her strategy, that facedown card is probably Gellenduo, a card that cannot be destroyed by Battle, she can learn her opponent's strategy and stall a turn.'

Cortez was also looking at the facedown card. 'Bad draw amigo?' He snickered: 'Makes things easier for me.' A sixth spectral card appeared before the skeleton. 'Time to bring us to my home turf! I activate the Field Spell Umi!' One of the spectral cards disappeared as did the pirate ship and the cave they were in Bow and the rest of her friends all stood in the air on invisible platforms, Cortez's pile of bones and the skeletal pirate itself were placed on a small rock in the middle of the ocean

'Next I activate Painful Choice.' A spectral card disappeared. 'I choose five cards from my Deck, you choose one I can keep amigo and the rest are discarded.' Five spectral cards appeared before Bow three of them were named: Codarus the other two were called: Amphibious Bugroth MK-3.

'You can keep the Bugroth.' Bow said, the Bugroth card appeared in spectral form before Cortez the other four disappeared.

'I give you one chance to run amigo.' Cortez said, his blue eye was fixated on Bow, the latter said nothing. 'Fine, don't say I didn't warn you, now I Summon Lekunga.' Before Cortez appeared a plant-like creature consisting of a brown eyeball surrounded by a case of plant-like materials with several tentacles attached to it, the end of the tentacle resembled a durian. (1700 ATK)

'I use the Effect of Lekunga, by Banishing two Water Monsters I can Special Summon a Lekunga Token, I Banish one Amphibious Bugroth and three Codarus.' The spiritual cards appeared before Cortez right before they scattered, then two durian fruits appeared on either side of Lekunga. (700 ATK x2) 'This seems a bit much only to Special Summon two weak Tokens.' Bow said more to herself then to the others.

'That is right amigo, but my next move will make a big splash! I activate the Spell card Big Wave Small Wave!' The water became wild, suddenly a huge tidal wave washed over Lekunga and the tokens dragging them into the deep waters. 'Now that my Water Monsters are Destroyed I can Special Summon up to three Water Monsters from my hand.' The last three spectral cards before Cortez disappeared. 'I Special Summon Amphibious Bugroth MK-3, Mermaid Knight and The Legendary Fisherman!'

First a loud buzzing sound filled the air, a red air craft fell out of the sky, the cockpit was empty two arms stuck out of the underside of the cockpit, for the rest it had two wings and two jets on top, underneath the backside of the machine opened two hatches two legs appeared out of them, the machine landed on the water, since it was a Machine Monster it became a bit weaker due to Umi. (1500- 1300 ATK) Next a mermaid crawled onto the rock Cortez was on, she had long pinkish hair, wore purple armor, her tail was green and in her hands she held a sword and a shield. (1500- 1700 ATK) Finally a wild looking and very muscular man surfaced, he was riding a ferocious shark, the man had long, black, wild hair, the only thing he wore was a green loincloth, he had several tattoos on his body and in his hand he carried a mean-looking spear. (1850 ATK)

'The Legendary Fisherman attacks the facedown Monster.' Cortez commanded, the ferocious warrior dived underwater, suddenly the spear of the Fisherman pierced through the card, the green and pink Fairy who formed Gellenduo appeared circling around the spear. (0 DEF) The Fisherman retreated the moment he noticed attacking the creature had no use. 'Aye you think you are safe amigo, but when you take damage, Gellenduo is gone, since I control Umi Amphibious Bugroth can attack directly.' The machine submerged, Bow scanned the water suddenly it started to ripple under her, the machine shot out of the water punching Bow in the guts.

(Bow: 6700) - (Cortez: 8000)

The two Fairies looked at Bow, they were scared, suddenly they exploded in clouds of green and pink smoke.

'Mermaid Knight your turn to attack amigo.' The mermaid dived into the water, quickly and with grace she moved forward leaping out of the water she bashed Bow with her shield, then leaped over her landing in the water again. 'Behind you amigo, Mermaid Knight can attack twice!' Mermaid Knight leaped out of the water again, this time she slashed Bow with her sword.

(Bow: 3300) - (Cortez: 8000)

'It is your turn amigo.' Cortez stated as the Mermaid Knight crawled back onto his rock.

Bow stretched her arm a few times to get the feeling back after the attack, then she drew her card. 'I'm not impressed Cortez, I've faced worse.' She taunted. 'I'll show you what I can do.' Bow took four cards from her hand. 'First I activate End of the World!' A huge portal opened up in the sky, blue flames appeared all over the water. 'Now I sacrifice Kelbek and Dunames Dark Witch.' A purple-haired Fairy with mechanical wings wearing fancy armor appeared, this was Dunames next to it a weird mechanical-looking creature appeared, it had sharp claws, it had something that looked like the Millennium Eye was etched into its head, the creature had no legs instead it kept itself airborne through some antenna-like things that created a forcefield under it, then two beams of blue flames devoured the two Monsters. 'Queen of destruction, let the nightmares of a long forgotten age relive! Ritual Summon, Level eight! Ruin, Queen of Oblivion!' The portal suddenly got devoured by blue flames, a huge pillar descended down, when the blue flames faded a beautiful woman stood on the water, she had long silver-colored hair reaching almost to the ground, she wore a black and red bow on her head, a sleeveless blouse with the same color of red as her bow, the blouse revealed her midriff, and a black, long skirt under it leaving the outer sides of her legs bare, in her right hand she held a staff ending in a dual-bladed axe. (2300 ATK)

'Now I Normal Summon Mudora.' Bow continued, the half-naked man with the Egyptian jewelry and headdress leaped onto the Field, quickly he drew his sword. 'Since there are three Fairies in my Graveyard, Mudora gains 600 Attack Points.' Bow said, Mudora let out a war-cry. (1500- 2100 ATK) 'Mudora attacks Mermaid Knight.' Bow stated, the warrior leaped forward plunging his sword into the stomach of the surprised mermaid, with a soft shriek she fell off the rock and sank beneath the water.

'Now Ruin takes down Amphibious Bugroth!' The Queen of Oblivion swung her staff, Bugroth violently exploded Bow watched as pieces of it fell into the ocean.

(Bow: 3300) - (Cortez: 6600)

'I activate the Effect of Ruin, when she destroys a Monster she can attack again and I believe that when Umi is on the Field The Legendary Fisherman cannot be attack, so Ruin attacks directly!' The woman threw her staff at the Fisherman, the shark quickly submerged, the staff missed the Fisherman and slammed against Cortez's spine, the pirate shuddered a bit.

(Bow: 3300) - (Cortez: 4300)

'I end my turn.' Bow said.

'Don't get too smart amigo.' Cortez growled, one spectral card appeared before him. 'I Set this card and I end my turn.' The single spectral card Cortez had disappeared and a facedown card appeared vertically in front of him.

'My turn.' Bow quickly drew her card. 'Ruin attacks directly again!' The queen threw her staff again. 'I activate Tornado Wall!' Cortez shouted, a Trap card appeared on the Field, several waterspouts shot out of the water, blocking the staff. 'As long as this card remains I cannot take damage from attacks amigo.' Cortez laughed.

'In that case I shall end my turn.' Bow said.

'My turn.' Cortez stated and a spectral card appeared. 'I activate Salvage.' A Spell card appeared before him. 'This card allows me to take two Water Monsters from my Graveyard.' Cortez explained, two spectral cards appeared before the pirate. 'Now I Normal Summon Amphibious Bugroth!' The red machine reappeared on the Field. (1500- 1300 ATK)

'Bugroth attacks directly!' The pirate shouted Bow braced herself as the red machine slammed into her this time.

(Bow: 2000) - (Cortez: 4300)

'I end my turn amigo.' Cortez stated.

'I draw!' Bow shouted, she looked at her card and smirked. 'I activate Mystical Space Typhoon!' Bow shouted: 'I destroy Tornado Wall!' The tornado swept over the Field taking away the Trap card.

'Ruin attacks Bugroth!' Once again Bugroth exploded when Ruin casted her magic. 'Ruin and Mudora direct attack!' Cortez let out a roar as the two Monsters attacked him.

(Bow: 2000) - (Cortez: 0)

Goombella and Luigi started to cheer, Mallow and Mario were silent. 'This doesn't feel right.' Mario muttered as he watched Cortez crashing down to the ground, shortly after the bones started to rattle, two of the arms broke off, a ribcage formed around the spine, a blue, human heart-shaped gem appeared in the chest, an eerie, cackling laugh filled the air as slowly Cortez came back up.

(Bow: 2000) - (Cortez: 8000)

'Surprised amigo? I cannot die, no matter how many times you put me down, I shall rise again until all of you are wiped from existence!' A second spectral card appeared before Cortez, suddenly an entire city appeared half submerged out of the water. 'Now A Legendary Ocean is the field of battle amigo.' The Legendary Fisherman leaped out of the water, the shark he sat upon changed into a more dolphin-like form, the loincloth the fisherman wore became blue, his hair grew slightly and was tied behind his back into a ponytail also he now wore a red headband and instead of a spear he now held a crossbow. (2200- 2400 ATK)

'And The Legendary Fisherman became The Legendary Fisherman II.' Cortez said. 'Now I Summon Mermaid Knight.' One of the spectral cards disappeared and the mermaid crawled back onto the rock. (1500- 1700 ATK) 'Finally I activate the Spell card Aqua Jet, increasing the Attack Points of Mermaid Knight by a 1000.' A jet-pack appeared on the mermaid's back. (1700- 2700 ATK)

'End her!' The pirate roared, first Mermaid Knight used the jet-pack to fly into the air then crashed down on Mudora sword-first, in the meantime the Fisherman shot an arrow straight through the heart of Ruin, Bow watched as her Monsters both disappeared into the ocean, then she got knocked down by a shield bash from Mermaid Knight, she landed in the water.

(Bow: 0) - (Cortez: 8000)

'Bow!' Luigi roared as he saw the girl disappearing under water. 'Luigi no!' Mario bellowed he grabbed his brother by the shoulder, then Jonathan leaped into the water, a few seconds later he surfaced again with Bow, Mario and Mallow pulled Bow to safety while Jonathan easily climbed out of the water. 'I'm sorry Mario.' Bow whispered.

'You found a weakness Bow?' Mario asked.

'No I didn't, he truly seems cursed.' Mario turned around to Mallow: 'Mallow, keep Bow safe okay, I have an idea on how to deal with Cortez.'

Then Mario looked at Jonathan: 'Jonathan can you take over for now? Just buy me some time.' With these words Mario ran off, he disappeared from their sight as he disconnected his D-Gazer.

'Aye, you make a right decision Mario, pitting my Water Deck against a Water Deck.' Jonathan looked at his Deck. 'Those who make a contract with Numbers can only use them against other Number users, however as a Celestian I can use Numbers whenever I see fit without consequences, I'd say this is one of those situations.' Jonathan entered the Field, his Duel Disk turned on. 'Cortez! Star Heaven has ordered me to deal with you and your curse, and that is what I will do!'

Cortez merely chuckled: 'Fine by me amigo, you call yourself a pirate, now show me what you're made off!'

'Duel!' They both shouted.

Mario ran through the jungle it has been twenty minutes since he had left the cave, thoughts raced through Mario's mind he needed to hurry before all his friends would lose against the skeleton pirate.

After running through the jungle for a while Mario came across a rope bridge, some of the planks were missing or broken carefully, one step at a time Mario crossed the bridge, after he arrived on the other side there was a small, straight path overrun by weed the sides of the path were filled with exotic trees and flowers, Mario could see some of the weed was flattened because someone walked over the path.

After a few minutes of following the path Mario reached a dead end.

A huge mountain blocked the path, as far as Mario could see the mountain ran around the skull cave in the middle of the island, in front of the mountain stood a pedestal on the pedestal stood a red-colored crystal in the shape of a skull, in front of the pedestal stood Flavio.

'Finally! The Skull Gem is mine! Now the only thing I need to do is take it to the museum then I have all the money I need! Screw buying my own cargo freighter! I will buy a cargo company, have others do all the work for me and I rake in all the money!' Flavio was laughing.

'I don't think so Flavio.'

Flavio leaped into the air, surprised by Mario's voice, slowly Flavio turned around.

'You won't take this from me Mario, the treasure is mine!' Flavio yelled.

'No this treasure is the cause of all that happened on this island, Cortez then pirate lord is cursed and this Skull Gem in the source, I will destroy it.' Flavio's eye started to twitch. 'No, no you won't take this from me! This Skull Gem is my future!' Flavio took a fighting stance. 'Bring it Mario.' He growled through his teeth.


Next time:

The Skull Gem, the source of Cortez's curse and Mario has to destroy it.

Will Mario be able to defeat Flavio and destroy the Skull Gem?

Will Jonathan be strong enough to survive the onslaught of the invincible Cortez? Find that out next time! ''The Invincible Cortez'' coming next.