41. The Pirate Lord.
Finally when we managed to break the curse placed on Cortez and figured out a way to give Cortez a place in this modern age Lord Crump the X-Naut commander attacks.
Wanting to destroy the island Crump arrived with a behemoth of a battle ship.
Mario looked at Crump who triumphantly stood on the small plateau on his ship. 'Buh buh buh huh huh, how do you like me now!' The X-Naut Commander roared, the X-Naut ship was a massive piece of work, it was more like a floating fortress, the ship was completely made of metal, the underside of the ship was made with the same technology that kept Glitzville floating there were two gigantic hatches in the front of the ship, the deck could hold several fighter jets but instead of jets the thing was completely filled with X-Naut Soldiers, then there was the captain's cabin, which was a massive bunker-like building positioned on the back on the ship a white ''X'' the signature of the X-Nauts was visible on both sides on the front of the ship, on the hatches and the front of the cabin, dozens of cannons were visible in the side of the vessel, the main cannon that destroyed the rock wall stood on the front of the ship.
'Mario hand me over the Crystal Stars and I won't destroy this island. Heck come with me quietly and I will even let your friends go.'
Mario shook his head. 'No deal Crump, to me you are simply a terrorist and I do not negotiate with terrorists.' Mario replied. 'So you won't give up your Crystal Stars then?' Crump sighted: 'Seems I have to deal with this mess, luckily for me I have this vessel, top of the line quality, a design of the late Smithy himself!' A console then appeared out of the plateau Crump stood on, he connected his Duel Disk to the console. 'If you won't give me the Crystal Stars I will take them, by force! Buh buh huh huh!' Crump laughed, he placed a card on his Duel Disk, slowly the front hatches on the ship opened up, first thing that came out was a rail that rapidly formed a track around the skull-shaped rock, ending in the cave, then a red, modern-looking locomotive shot out of the hatch onto the rail, it had yellow bumpers spikes on the hubcaps, the grill and the front window formed a fiendish face. (1800 ATK)
The locomotive rushed over the track on high speed, Luigi then jumped onto the rail and onto the locomotive the speed made Luigi tumble over the locomotive but managed to grab on.
'Buh buh buh huh huh, you just got hit by Ruffian Railcar, by giving up the Battle Phase I can deal 500 Damage to my opponent.'
(Lord Crump: 8000) - (Luigi: 7500)
'Mario! You go get the others back on Jonathan's ship! I'll deal with this X-Naut goon!' Luigi yelled, Mario waved his hand as a sign he had heard his brother.
As soon as Luigi had said it he turned his attention to Crump he held on tight to the Ruffian Railcar as he drew his card. 'I activate Polymerization!' Luigi shouted, the vortex opened up in the sky, Avian and Burstinatrix appeared inside the vortex, a few seconds later Flame Wingman dropped out of it, landing on the back of the locomotive, not even fazed by the high speed, the Elemental Hero stood firmly on his two legs. (2100 ATK)
Luigi waited for a few seconds until the Ruffian Railcar was near the X-Naut ship. 'Flame Wingman attacks Ruffian Railcar!' Luigi commanded, the Hero jumped into the air, meaning to crash through the train, Luigi at that time leaped off the Railcar, landing on the ship, he rolled a few times to break the fall.
'I activate the Effect of Construction Train Signal Red!' Crump shouted, he quickly took a card from his hand and played it, a hatch on the front of the ship opened up, a platform rose out of it, it was a piece of rail with a red train locomotive standing on it, on the front it had two, small, green windows resembling eyes, two thin mechanical arms appeared out of the sides of the train. (1300 DEF)
Flame Wingman stopped in the middle of his dive. 'When Construction Train Signal Red is Special Summoned by this Effect, the attacking Monster must attack it instead, for this battle only my Construction Train Signal Red cannot be destroyed by battle.' Crump Explained, Flame Wingman jumped on top of the train and started to wallop it several times before retreating. 'I end my turn there.' Luigi stated as he approached Crump, the X-Naut Soldiers took fighting poses. 'Calm down men!' Crump bellowed. 'This a Duel now, I can handle this punk on my own!' After Crump's words the soldiers lowered their fists but they stayed alert.
'Buh buh buh huh huh, I'll make you walk the plank after I am done with you!' Crump chuckled, he quickly drew his card.
Jonathan's ship:
Mario arrived at the freighter they used to come to the island, Cortez and Vivian were still there.
'Guys what is going on? And where is Luigi?' Vivian asked.
'Well we cured Cortez.' Mario pointed at the cured pirate: 'Right after that Crump attacked, Luigi is on the X-Naut warship fighting Crump, we must go after him.' Mario quickly explained, Jonathan had started the engines.
Crump's ship:
'You made a big mistake coming here, but I am not the bad dude here, so green Mario you get off my ship and you live deal?' Crump said, Luigi shook his head. 'No deal.' He replied.
'Buh buh huh, then deal with this, I Summon Express Train Trolley Olley!' A second rail came out of the front hatch of the ship, this track started to form over and around the X-Naut ship, when the rail was there a red train came out it had a few wagons behind it filled with sand. (1800 ATK)
'When I Summon an Earth, Machine Monster I get to Special Summon Heavy Freight Train Derricrane, at the expense of half of it's attack points.' Crump continued, a hatch opened up on the far end of the ship, a piece of rail with a gigantic, yellow train on it appeared, there was a wagon behind the train with a crane on the end of it. (2000 DEF)
'Next I build the Overlay Network with Trolley Olley and Ruffian!' The rail switched so that the two locomotives were on the same rail, they approached each other fast. 'Xyz Summon Rank four! Heavy Armored Train Ironwolf!' The two trains crashed together when the smoke cleared a new locomotive was driving on the tracks, a blue one with a wolves head on the front of it, an iron bumper under it forming the jaw of the wolves head and flames painted on the side of the locomotive. (2200 ATK: 2 ORU) 'Since Trolley Olley was used as an Xyz Material my Ironwolf gains 800 attack points.' The locomotive sped up a bit. (2200- 3000 ATK)
'Next I Detach the Ruffian Railcar from Ironwolf.' Crump stated, one of the two orbs circling around the Xyz Monster disappeared. (2- 1 ORU)
'Now Ironwolf can attack directly!' The heavy train came straight for Luigi.
'Luigi!' Mario suddenly roared, Luigi looked around he saw Mario standing on the bow of Jonathan's ship, the two ships almost touched each other, Ironwolf came really close, Luigi leaped out of the way, through the speed of the train Luigi was knocked against the rail of Crump's ship, he quickly stood up then leaped overboard landing on Jonathan's ship, the two vessels slowly started to circle around each other.
(Lord Crump: 8000) - (Luigi: 4500)
'Nice escape punk! You're lucky if the Effect of Ironwolf is used other Monsters cannot attack this turn, so I end my turn and that means since Ruffian Railcar was send to my Graveyard this turn I can add a Level ten Monster to my hand and I choose Derricrane.' A card slipped from Crump's Deck he added it to his hand.
'My turn!' Luigi shouted, he drew his card. 'I activate the Field Spell, Skyscraper!' The moment Luigi played the card a complete city rose behind the two ships on the island.
'Now I Normal Summon Sparkman!' Luigi shouted, sparks of electricity appeared around the highest building on the island, when lightning struck the building the electric-charged hero appeared on the rooftop striking an heroic pose. (1600 ATK)
'Time to take down your Monsters, first Sparkman attacks Derricrane!' Sparkman charged up his electric attack.
'Let's see here Flame Wingman with the help of Skyscraper is the only one who can destroy Ironwolf now, that Derricrane had 2800 attack points since it's attack points are halved it has 1400, but it has 2000 defense, since Sparkman's attack is higher he won't get the boost from attacking Derricrane.'
'Sparkman attack that Construction Train Signal Red!' The lightning created by Sparkman struck the locomotive, it started to smoke and small flames came out, then the thing exploded leaving a small hole in the deck of the ship.
'Flame Wingman attack Ironwolf!' Luigi roared, Flame Wingman who had taken position on the top of a building leaped off of it, landing on the X-Naut ship, the Hero waited until the train came at him at high speed, with it's maw it created a stream of flames, Ironwolf started to smoke and suddenly exploded leaving another crater in the deck of the ship, then the Hero leaped at Lord Crump, the X-Naut Commander ducked behind the platform he stood on but not before Flame Wingman managed to scorch his butt.
(Lord Crump: 5700) - (Luigi: 4500)
Lord Crump peeked over his cover to see if Flame Wingman was still there, the moment he saw the Hero was gone Crump leaped back onto his platform. 'Gah! You dirty! You destroyed Ironwolf, well that means I can add a Level four Monster to my hand and I choose Ruffian Railcar!' The card slipped from Crump's Deck he quickly took it in his hand.
'I end my turn.' Luigi stated.
'Oh man, now you gonna get it!' Crump roared: 'Ready? I Normal Summon another Ruffian Railcar!' A second of the of the rough-looking locomotives shot out of the front of the ship onto the rail that lead to the island. (1800 ATK) 'When an Earth Machine Monster is Normal Summoned I can Special Summon Heavy Freight Train Derricrane!' Next to the first of his Freight Trains a second one appeared. (2000 DEF)
'I build the Overlay Network again with my two Level ten Monsters!' The two trains connected behind one another, then they changed into two brown orbs. 'Xyz Summon! Rank ten! Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max!' Slowly a huge hatch on the deck of the ship opened up, from the entire ship lights started to flash and alarms sounded, as the hatches opened up a lot of steam escaped from the hole, slowly a platform rose, the first thing Luigi saw was a gigantic chrome barrel from a cannon aimed at the sky, the sun blinked off of the chrome paint, as the construction rose further a gigantic metal bunker was revealed covered with green armor-like plates, the thing rose even further to reveal the construction was based on a even bigger train wagon. (3000 ATK)
'Sweet mother...' Luigi was baffled by the gigantic construction.
Back in the cabin of Jonathan's ship Mario slapped Jonathan on his shoulder: 'Johnny, you'd better get going.' Mario slowly said: 'You've seen what the exploding locomotives did to the deck of that X-Naut ship? Well I can imagine what a grenade from that weapon can do to our ship.'
'What is that guy even using?' Goombella pondered.
'I can answer that.' Vivian said: 'I've overheard Sir Grodus and Beldam discuss this, the Superbombomb, Magnus Von Grapple, the X-Naut Ship all technology made by their R&D team under the supervision of Smithy, the technology Crump now uses is the last invention of Smithy before you took him out, don't ask me how it works but that machine solidifies holograms.' Vivian explained.
'So if the grenade of that cannon Crump has there hits us it is over?' Jonathan confirmed: 'Simply won't get hit.'
Crump was laughing like crazy just as he wanted to make his next move, Jonathan's ship stopped circling around the X-Naut ship and went to open sea. 'Buh buh huh! You cannot run punks!' Crump bellowed as his ship started to chase that of Jonathan.'
'I Detach a Derricrane from Gustav Max, by doing so Gustav Max deals 2000 Damage and because Derricrane was Detached I can Destroy a card on the Field!' Gustav Max moved the barrel up a bit and adjusted it's position then released three grenades they landed on the island completely wrecking Luigi's Field Spell, the pieces of the broken down buildings left holes in the sand, then Gustav Max adjusted itself again this time aiming at Jonathan's ship, a single grenade was fired, Jonathan quickly evaded his ship to the right, the grenade landed in the water and exploded, Jonathan's ship nearly capsized, a lot of water washed over the deck, Luigi held on tight to a metal brace.
(Lord Crump: 5700) - (Luigi: 2500)
'Buh buh buh huh, now Gustav Max attacks Flame Wingman!' For a third time the weapon adjusted itself, another grenade was fired, it was about to land on the deck of Jonathan's ship where Luigi's Monsters now stood, Sparkman however the Hero grabbed the grenade out of the sky and dived into the water, an explosion marked the end of Flame Wingman.
'Ruffian Railcar attacks Sparkman!' The locomotive gained more speed, Sparkman was nowhere near the rail, then the rail started to move going after Sparkman, the Hero tried to evade but he became tired and finally the locomotive ran the Hero down.
(Lord Crump: 5700) - (Luigi: 1400)
'Buh buh huh huh, next turn you're done for punk!' Crump laughed, the X-Naut Soldiers laughed with their commander.
'I only have to take down that Gustav Max this turn.' Luigi said with sour look on his face, quickly he drew his card.
'Well I already got a plan.' Luigi said, he took a card from his hand: 'I activate Miracle Fusion!' Luigi played the Spell card, the Fusion vortex appeared on the Field. 'I Banish Avian, Burstinatrix and Sparkman from my Graveyard!' The trio of Heroes appeared in the vortex, they disappeared into it and a new Hero leaped out, clad in heavy, metal armor, with a red, glowing core in the middle of the stomach, several red lines were painted on the armor. (2700 ATK)
'Elemental HERO Core attacks.' Luigi said, then his finger pointed at Ruffian Railcar. 'Darn! If that Hero destroys a Monster in battle, it must be able to Destroy another one!' Crump cursed, then he started to laugh. 'Won't work! I Special Summon a second Construction Train Signal Red!' A smaller hatch on the deck opened up and another one of the red locomotives appeared. (1300 DEF)
Core leaped forward, slamming his fist down on the locomotive the thing withstood the attack.
'Now you didn't Destroy your Monster, you cannot Destroy my Gustav Max!'
'In that case I end my Battle Phase.' Luigi smirked, the red orb in the stomach of Core started to glow. 'You were wrong Crump, at the end of my Battle Phase when Core Battled I can Destroy a Monster!'
'What...' Crump gasped, a red beam shot out of the orb cutting straight through Gustav max, first the bunker construction broke off from the wagon, an explosion destroyed the wagon and a large part of the deck, then the bunker crashed on the deck leaving another crater, after that happened through the weight of the barrel the entire construction was dragged into the sea where it exploded damaging the X-Naut ship even further.
Crump's eye was twitching. 'Oh now you did it!' He bellowed as he drew his card. 'I use the Effect of Ruffian!' Crump bellowed, the rail changed direction going after Luigi, at the last moment Luigi rolled out of the way of the Ruffian Railcar.
(Lord Crump: 5700) - (Luigi: 900)
'I continue with Dark Hole!' As Crump played the Spell card a vortex opened, his Ruffian Railcar, Construction Train Signal Red and Luigi's Core were sucked in then the vortex closed. 'Now that my Field is empty I can Special Summon Rocket Arrow Express!' Alarms sounded all over the X-Naut ship, the rails that had appeared out of the front of the ship were pulled back in, then without warning with a high speed a rather long, rocket-shaped train with a fighter-jet-like construction on top of it was launched out of the ship, the construction started to circle around the X-Naut ship at high speed. (5000 ATK)
Luigi was speechless as he looked at the huge construction.
'You're lucky punk that Rocket Arrow Express cannot attack the turn it is Summoned, so I end my turn.'
Luigi's hand was slightly trembling as he drew his card. 'Man, this has to work, or that thing will definitely sink us.' Luigi then took two cards from his hand and placed them in his Duel Disk, both appeared facedown vertically.
When Crump saw Luigi's cards he bended over laughing he slapped his knees a few times, tears welled up in his eyes. 'You try to stop my 5000 attack point Monster with two Spell or Trap cards?' He snickered.
'Crump! If you are so full of yourself then bring it!' Luigi showed Crump the back of his hand then motioned him to come over, this send Crump into a rage. 'Oh you arrogant!' Crump bellowed he drew his card. 'Due to Rocket Arrow Express I must discard my entire hand.' Crump simply discarded the card he had. 'Now Rocket Arrow Express attacks directly!'
The gigantic train-jet quickly set a course for Jonathan's ship.
'Don't worry I've got this.' Luigi muttered: 'I activate Call of the Haunted!'
Flame Wingman leaped out of the water, Rocket Arrow Express went after the Hero. (2100 ATK)
'That Monster won't save you! Rocket Arrow Express run that thing down!'
'I was waiting for that.' Luigi said with a smirk: 'I activate Battle Fusion! You attacked my Fusion Monster! Now Flame Wingman gains attack points equal to that of your Monster!' Flame Wingman let out a war-cry, sparks appeared around it. (2100- 7100 ATK)
The two Monsters then crashed into each other, immediately Rocket Arrow Express started to spark and smoke, then it caught fire and finally exploded, Crump ducked for cover as the debris fell all around him, in an attempt to escape Crump ran for the sea. 'And with that...' He started then leaped overboard. 'POW I'm gone!' He yelled as he dived into the water.
(Lord Crump: 0) - (Luigi: 900)
More and more debris fell down all around the warship, Luigi watched as more and more X-Naut Soldiers leaped overboard, then the biggest piece of Rocket Arrow Express which contained the engine crashed into the X-Naut Ship, breaking the thing into two, slowly the two pieces together with the remains of Rocket Arrow Express sank to the bottom, as the holo-projectors were destroyed the Monsters and their remains disappeared.
Jonathan's ship:
'Luigi you did great!' Mario complimented his brother, Mallow slapped Luigi on his shoulder.
'We should head back to Rogueport, I need to get the Crystal Star to the Thousand-Year Door.' Mario then said.
'Hold it friend.' Jonathan then spoke, he opened a beer with his teeth and took a sip from it. 'We won't go today, we all need to rest, tomorrow we go back, then when we get there I will help Cortez and Bobbery with their project before I will return to Star Haven to bring out my report.'
That night the entire group had fun for the first time in a while, playing poker with seashells as money, drinking some beers, telling stories and teaching Cortez some thing about the modern age.
X-Naut Base:
Crump was sitting in Grodus' office, he looked at the table, his boss was standing with his back turned to him.
'First Magnus Von Grapple, now a ten-million Dollar war ship.' Grodus sighted, he turned around then slammed his fist on his desk. 'What were you thinking!' Grodus yelled, Crump drew back in fear.
'Cut the man some slack.' Exodus entered the room.
'Why are you here? Your deal is with Azrael not with us.' Grodus stated.
Exodus chuckled: 'From my point of view you are losing the war.' Exodus simply said, Grodus growled something. 'Sir Grodus, why don't you let me take it from here.' Exodus motioned Lord Crump to leave the latter gladly took this opportunity to escape Sir Grodus' wrath.
'So what can you offer me?' Grodus asked.
'I can offer you salvation Sir Grodus, both Grave and Azrael failed in the past, they didn't have access to the same resources as I have.' Exodus took something from under his cloak, it was a small bottle filled with a black goo. 'This weapon will distract Mario if not kill him.' He put back the bottle.
'What else will you do Exodus?' Grodus asked now his curiosity was awakened. Exodus stood up. 'Simple Sir Grodus, I've figured out where the last Crystal Star is, one big city I will distract Mario long enough but I need two of your Shadow Sirens to do so, when Mario will overcome my trials I will be waiting for him in the end and I will kill him.' After saying that Exodus turned around and walked away.
When Exodus was away Grodus sighted and shook his head. 'I'm losing control here.' He slammed his fist on the desk.
'Crump get in here right now!' Grodus roared, a few seconds later Crump came rushing in. 'Crump I have important business for you!' Grodus stood up. 'What about the warship?' Crump asked alerted as Grodus never forgot anything. 'Well that is forgiven, you see whatever Exodus or Azrael says I NEED those Crystal Stars, so I am giving you all the remaining resources the X-Nauts have, rebuild Magnus Von Grapple to your insights then crush Mario!'
Next time:
Before Lord Crump can execute his plan we have a long way to come so we leave that be for now.
For Mario there are only two Crystal Stars left one of them being secured by the X-Nauts the other one on an unknown location, however Exodus knows where it is and he moving to get it, however before Mario will be able to get the location of the Star on his map he has to face Azrael at the Thousand-Year Door, but another adversary shows their face being at an disadvantage Mallow stands in to help his friend. ''A Four-way Encounter'' coming next.
