Act 8: The Heart of Darkness.
50. The Palace of Shadows.
The time has finally come, we bring the fight to the Shadow Queen.
With Azrael dead one of the Queen's most prominent allies is gone, however Grodus went into the Palace ahead of us and not to forget Syn is still on his side, we cannot be distracted now, we have only one goal destroy the Shadow Queen no matter the cost.
'Before we head inside, what is our battle plan Mario?' Merlon asked.
'Merlon stays here, deal with the rest of the remaining X-Nauts, once inside we need to find Grodus and save Rozalin, as long as we have the Crystal Stars we can seal the Shadow Queen away, getting to her will be the problem, now that Azrael is dead Syn took over, Geno told me the Palace was build as a straight path of numerous small halls and several smaller and bigger rooms, Syn would have placed Duelists on strategic locations.'
Mario took the time to look at all his allies.
'Grave is most definitely be waiting in one of the last rooms, Grave and I will Duel after Grave I will need to deal with Grodus so I need to conserve my powers since there will be no time to rest, that means we have at least Syn, Beldam, Marilyn, Doopliss and Crump left, not to mention Syn still holds the soul of King Boo and we don't know what the Shadow Queen has in store.' Mario said, he then paused for a moment.
'I will take Crump.' Goombella suddenly said breaking the silence: 'With the new cards Mario gave me I'm sure I can take him.'
Luigi wanted to protest but Mario nodded: 'I agree, facing Crump was a traumatizing experience, Goombella became a lot stronger since that Duel, she needs the chance to deal with the demons of her past.'
Then Vivian stepped to the front: 'I'll take Beldam, she is still my sister I know there is some good in her, I feel I need to take the chance and try to let her see reason.' She said with a fierce voice.
'What if you can't convince her?' Mario then asked.
'I will free her from her suffering, either I convince her or I will need to kill her, I can't allow Beldam to harm anyone else.' Vivian replied.
'What about Marilyn?' Mario asked, Vivian shook her head.
'Marilyn is a lost cause, Beldam fed her darkness from a young age, what was left of the kind soul she used to be is dead, killing her would be granting her mercy.'
Mario was shocked to hear how Vivian talked about killing her sisters, yet he could understand after all those years of torture under Beldam.
'So who wants to take on Marilyn?' Mario asked.
Mallow rose his hand, Mario simply nodded as an agreement.
'Doopliss is mine.' Bow then spoke: 'After everything he did I personally want to deal with him.'
Again Mario nodded in agreement.
'Since Syn is a problem for Star Heaven I think Geno needs to deal with her.' Mario continued.
'I agree.' Geno replied: 'Besides Syn at this point might even be stronger than Azrael, Mario and I are probably the only two who can deal with her.'
Finally Luigi stepped to the front: 'If Syn does something with the soul of King Boo I will deal with it.'
'Everybody!' Mario roared.
'We know what to do, I could give a big speech now, but that would be wasting time, we move now!'
Mario and Geno marched up front, Mallow and Luigi followed behind them then Goombella and Bow and finally Vivian and Ruby.
From one of the rooftops two figures were watching the scene.
'Gwa ha ha, that Mario, always charging into battle head-first, we'll let him after he won the big battle we crash in stealing those Crystal Stars for ourselves.' The figure reached in his pocket, he took a small star-shaped object out of it, the thing was glowing with a blue light.
Mario and the others reached the huge room the doors to the Palace of Shadows was now fully open, black mist freely flowed into the room.
'Let's go.' Mario said, as soon as they all walked through the doors they shut behind them.
The inside of the palace was cold, there was barely any light, the only source for lights were small candles hanging on the walls, the flames were black, as Mario's eyes got used to the darkness they could see they stood in a long hallway, the walls were build of a purple material Mario had never seen before, the ceiling was so high up that Mario could not even see it, the floor was decorated with a deep-red carpet.
Mario took a deep breath, slowly he started to walk they went from one hallway into the next, every hallway looked the same.
Suddenly Mario stopped. 'Heads up, there is a big room beyond here, could be a trap.' Mario whispered before he stepped through the gate.
As soon as they walked through the opening the heavy gate slammed shut behind them locking the group into what looked like an abandoned factory hall, there were countless machines lined against the walls, several smaller machines and computers were placed seemingly at random throughout the hall, wires and tubes, some of which were leaking black liquids hung from the ceiling, the ceiling itself consisted of small square plates, most of the plates were either damaged or completely missing, the floor of the hall was covered in dust, liquids and oil, a penetrating stench of several chemicals, gasoline, oil and something unidentifiable filled the air, the room was not well lit as for some lamps were broken, some were flickering and the lamps that did work were covered in cobwebs and layers of dust, in the back of the room they could see the disfigured form of the first Magnus Von Grapple which was defeated back in Boggly Woods.
Suddenly a hatch in the floor slowly opened up, a platform came out of the hole, on the platform stood Lord Crump, he looked different then before, he still wore his X-Naut uniform but he had ditched the viking-like helmet, he was completely bald under it, he had also ditched his goggles, now wearing a regular D-Gazer his eyes were glowing with a red light, the white of his eyes were completely black, there were numerous small cracks visible in his skin, a thin, black smoke poured of the holes.
'Welcome.' Lord Crump spoke, his voice sounded like his own voice, yet his entire demeanor was different.
'Mario be careful.' Geno whispered: 'This man got a taste of the Shadow Queen's powers, it makes him stronger for a short time, after the power boost works out he'll probably dies.'
Mario and Goombella's gaze crossed, Goombella nodded before she stepped to the front.
'So back to where it all began.' Crump said with a smirk on his face.
'I defeated you back in Rogueport, stole your Crystal Star, you people stole it back and now we're here, me and the girl for the second and final round.' Both Duelists activated their Duel Disks and D-Gazers, then both drew their opening hand.
'Last time tying you to an anchor so I could use you as leverage seemed like a good idea, this time I will simply kill you.'
(Lord Crump: 8000) - (Goombella: 8000)
'I will start this.' Crump stated as he took two cards from his hand, the cards were slightly tattered and dirty, there were blood splatters on some of the cards in his hand.
'I Normal Summon Machina Soldier.'
Machines started to buzz, chains on the ceiling started to move, revealing they were part of a crane system, the crane picked up a humanoid looking machine made with a steel exoskeleton and green armor plating, the robot had a big sword for a right hand, As soon as the crane put the robot down it sprang to life. (1600 ATK)
'Since Machine Soldier is my only Monster on the Field I can Special Summon a Machina Monster from my hand and I choose Machina Sniper.
This time the crane picked up a slightly more taller and thinner robot, it's exoskeleton was almost entirely covered by beige armor, it held a mean-looking sniper rifle in it's hands, again as soon as the crane had placed the Monster it sprung to life. (1800 ATK)
'Next I activate the Continuous Spell card Machina Armored Unit.' Crump continued, the card materialized in front of him.
'Next I Set one card and end my turn.' The X-Naut Commander said, a new card materialized next to Machine Armored Unit.
Goombella looked at the bloody cards in Crump's hand before she drew her own card.
Suddenly Mario stepped to the front: 'Tell me Crump, why are you really here?' He asked.
Crump took a second looking at the card: 'The Shadow Queen showed me my true purpose, I lead the X-Nauts, not Sir Grodus. Grodus funds us and gives us our missions, I lead the army! You see these cards?' Crump removed his Deck and showed the cards, all of them were old and dirty, some were covered in blood.
'These cards belonged to Johnson one of the better X-Naut Soldiers under my command, when the princess tried to escape Johnson was to get her back, he ended up Dueling the princess, who used a stolen Deck, Johnson lost and Grodus killed him because of that failure.'
Crump put the Deck back in the Deck holder.
'I would have punished Johnson for his failure, extra guard duty unpaid, I would never have killed him.' Crump's eyes started to glow brighter, the black mist pouring out of the cracks in his skin became thicker.
'Grodus told me he tripped and fell while chasing the princess and fell down the stairs, the fall killed him.' Crump calmed down a bit.
'Once this is over I will start the Neo X-Nauts, I will succeed where Grodus fails.'
Goombella looked over her hand.
'I'll start with a Continuous Spell card, Supply Squad.' She started the card materialized in front of her.
'Next I Set the Pendulum Scales with Performapal Smile Sorcerer and Performapal Kaleidoscorp.' As Goombella played the two cards first a blue crystal came out of the ground, a tall man wearing a purple suit decorated with red decals and a white cape was hanging in the crystal his arms were crossed, his outfit gave him the appearance of a stage magician, on the other side appeared a red crystal in this crystal stood a scorpion it was mostly red, the pointed end of it's tail was gone and got replaced by blue tubes decorated with stars that could shoot confetti, the claws were replaced by pink shields with a yellow star drawn on them.
'The Pendulum Scale has been set to one and four.' Goombella stated then she took two cards from her hand.
'The Pendulum swings to bring light back into the world, swing my soul's pendulum!' Goombella shouted: 'Come forth my Monsters, Ojama Yellow and Ojama Green!'
She played the two cards and the two comical Monsters appeared before her both showing off their red knickers. (0- 300 ATK x2)
'As long as Kaleidoscorp remains in the Pendulum Zone all Light Monsters I control gain 300 Attack Points.'
'Next I activate Ojama Country.' Goombella continued, her Field Spell activated, several of the Ojama houses appeared around the factory, for the rest the hall remained the same.
'Time to swap the Attack and Defense Points of all Monsters.' Goombella stated.
(Ojama Yellow and Ojama Green: 300- 1300 ATK, Machina Sniper 1800- 800 ATK, Machine Soldier: 1600- 1500 ATK)
'Ojama Yellow attack the Sniper!' Goombella commanded, the small creature leaped to the front, in mid-air it turned around showing it's knickers to the robot before comically slapping the robot's head off with it's bare hand, the body fell down afterwards.
(Lord Crump: 7500) - (Goombella: 8000)
'Now Ojama Green attacks the Soldier!'
The green creature stood up, closed it's one eye and charged in blindly only to get skewered by the robot's sword.
(Lord Crump: 7500) - (Goombella: 7800)
'First since my Monster was destroyed I get to draw a card thanks to my Supply Squad.' Goombella said before she drew her card.
'Now since the Attack Points of Ojama Green were higher than it's Original Attack I can now Special Summon Smile Sorcerer to my Field and since he is a Light Monster he benefits from Kaleidoscorp.'
The crystal cracked then scattered the sorcerer slowly descended to the Field. (2500- 2800- 2000- 2300 ATK)
'Smile Sorcerer has an Effect when he is Summoned which I cannot activate.' Goombella explained.
'Smile Sorcerer attack Soldier!'
A fountain of stars and colored smoke exploded around the robot, when the smoke cleared the Soldier laid on the ground in pieces.
(Lord Crump: 6700) - (Goombella: 7800)
'I use the Effect of Machina Armored Unit, I Special Summon Machina Defender from my Deck!' Crump stated, a smaller blue robot got lifted from behind a set of crates, the machine stood on caterpillars and had two missile launcher attached to the top, again as soon as the machine touched the ground it buzzed to life. (1200- 1800 ATK)
'You see wench, you cannot take me down, no matter how many times you strike my Monsters down I'll always find a way back.' Crump spoke.
The X-Naut Commander drew his card.
'I Summon Commander Covington.' Lord Crump stated, instead of the crane picking up a Monster this time a robot made of red armor plating marched from behind a set of crates. (1000- 600 ATK)
'Now I activate Monster Reborn from my hand and Call of the Haunted which I have Set earlier.' The two cards flashed onto the Field.
'I Special Summon Machina Soldier and Machine Sniper!'
The Monsters started to reform but before they could Crump interrupted them.
'I activate the Effect of Commander Covington, I Send Machina Soldier, Machina Sniper and Machina Defender to my Graveyard!'
Machina Defender fell apart in parts all the other robot parts started to float, under directions of Covington the pieces all formed a gigantic robot that had the body of Sniper the head and upper-legs of Soldier, the sword-arm of Soldier was attached to the back of the robot, the lower-legs came from Defender, the missile launcher of Defender attached to the shoulders of the robot and finally the creature took the sniper from the ground. (4600- 4100 ATK)
'Machina Force takes 1000 of my Life Points to attack, but I gladly pay those! Now destroy Ojama Yellow!'
A red stream of energy left Crump's body, Machina Force aimed the missile launchers at Ojama Yellow, the small creature cowered in fear behind a crate then a barrage of missiles homed in on it completely destroying the Ojama and the crate.
(Lord Crump: 5700) - (Goombella: 5000)
'Because there are no more Ojama on the Field Attack and Defense are returned back to normal.' Crump said with a grin.
'Machina Force: 4100- 4600 ATK, Commander Covington: 600- 1000 ATK, Smile Sorcerer: 2000- 2500 ATK)
'Before you continue Crump, I get to draw one card due to Supply Squad.' Goombella interrupted the Commander while she drew her card.
'One extra card matters not, to end my turn I activate Mystic Wok.' Crump played a Spell card, a wok the size of a house appeared on the Field.
'I Sacrifice Commander Covington so I can add it's Attack Points to my Life Points.'
The robot was pulled into the wok by some magic, after a few seconds the wok disappeared, Crump got surrounded by a warm light.
(Lord Crump: 6700) - (Goombella: 5000)
'Crump has become strong.' Mario whispered to Geno he sounded worried.
'Don't worry Mario, Crump is high on power right now, the Shadow Queen's magic did take away his fears but that makes him reckless, Crump pulled out his Boss Monster to end the Duel quickly, but he did it too soon wasting some good resources, if Goombella stays calm she can pull through.'
Geno's words calmed Mario down a bit.
'I change Smile Sorcerer to Defense Mode.' Goombella stated, her Monster knelt down on one knee and crossed his arms. (2000 DEF)
'Next I Set two cards.' She continued, one card appeared horizontally next to Smile Sorcerer the second one vertically behind the first one.
'I end my turn.'
'Hiding, hiding always hiding!' Crump cackled as he drew his card, the mist pouring out of his body became thicker.
'Machina Force obliterate that Smile Sorcerer!' Crump yelled, a dozen missiles came flying at the sorcerer.
'I activate Compulsory Evacuation Device!' Goombella shouted, her Trap card opened up, Smile Sorcerer waved before he got launched off the Field, Goombella covered her head as the missiles struck all around her.
'Attack!' Crump bellowed, another volley of missiles was launched at the hidden Monster, Ojama Black appeared on the Field, before the creature could do anything it got obliterated.
(Lord Crump: 5700) - (Goombella: 5000)
'I Draw a card due to Supply Squad.' Goombella calmly spoke as she drew her card.
'You can't escape my Monster wench, I end my turn.'
Goombella quickly drew another card.
' I activate my Spell card Tri-Wight.'
The Spell card appeared before Goombella.
'I Special Summon my Ojama from the Graveyard.' She stated, the ground broke open Ojama Yellow, Ojama Black and Ojama Green crawled out, they were covered in bandages. (0- 1000- 1300 ATK x3)
'Now I activate Ojama Delta Hurricane!' Goombella shouted, as she played her Spell card the three Monsters put their butts together and started to spin wildly, together they created a gigantic hurricane Crump braced himself his entire Field got blown away, Machina Force managed to hold on but eventually even the giant was blown into pieces and scattered all over the room.
'Now direct attack!' Goombella roared over the sound of the hurricane, as sudden as it started the storm stopped, Crump looked up only to see the three Ojama crashing down on him butt-first.
(Lord Crump: 1800) - (Goombella: 5000)
'Finally I activate Polymerization!' Goombella stated as she played another card, again the three Ojama put their butts together this time they started to glow and slowly they changed into the gigantic, white, fat creature with it's green cape and red knickers. (0- 3000- 3300 ATK)
'Your move again Crump.'
Crump stood there speechless his mouth open, black mist coming out of it.
'Told you Mario.' Geno said: 'He Summoned his ace too early now it is gone, with only one card in his hand Crump cannot do much, only if the next card he draws is a good one.'
Goombella folded her arms, Crump was gritting his teeth, it seemed like he was about to burst into a fit of rage, then suddenly he calmed down, the mist puring out of him became less thick.
'I will do whatever it takes to win, since I am out of soldiers I will use my friends instead.'
Crump took a ridiculously large remote control out of his pocket, it had one, big, red button in the middle nothing more, the moment Crump pressed it a hissing sound filled the room, several valves sprung open pouring out smoke, slowly three mechanical arms equipped with Duel Disks appeared out of the ceiling.
(Arm 1: 1000 LP, Arm 2: 1000 LP, Arm 3: 1000 LP)
'This entire hallway is build for me to win! There is no way Lord Crump, leader of the X-Nauts can lose!' Crump bellowed, Mario wanted to step to the front but he was stopped by Goombella.
'Mario, trust me I can handle him.' She said, Mario backed down.
'Okay, but if anything goes wrong I will step in.' Mario replied.
'Now wench behold my true power!' Crump roared, the three arms all placed a single card in their Duel Disk, first appeared the blue X-Head Cannon, followed by the red Y-Dragon Head and finally the yellow Z-Metal Tank.
'Now I will combine the three Monsters my mechanical friends just Summoned!' Crump shouted, the three smaller Monsters started to combine together a few seconds later XYZ-Dragon Cannon stood before Crump all of it's cannons aimed at Goombella. (2800 ATK)
'I use the Effect of Dragon Cannon to destroy Ojama Country!' Crump stated as he discarded one of his two cards, a multitude of lasers fired by the Dragon Cannon blew away all the Ojama houses, Ojama King became weaker. (3300- 300 ATK)
'Now I Normal Summon Machina Sniper.' Crump continued, one of the cranes grabbed another Sniper from behind one of the cranes. (1800 ATK)
'Sniper kill that Ojama King!' Crump howled, the mechanical soldier took aim and with one shot Ojama King bit the dust.
'XYZ-Dragon Cannon direct attack!' Goombella braced herself an overload of lasers, bullets and missiles hit her, she was shoved back to the back of the area but she managed to hold on.
(Lord Crump: 1800) - (Goombella: 700)
Goombella drew her card.
'I Set the Pendulum again with Smile Sorcerer.' The Spellcaster reappeared inside the empty crystal.
'Next I activate another Ojama Country.' Goombella continued, Crump looked around at all the small houses that popped up around him.
'Now I discard Ojamagic from my hand so I can activate the Effect of Ojama Country, which allows me to Special Summon an Ojama from my Graveyard.' Goombella explained, the moment the card entered her Graveyard the ground broke open and Ojama King burst through the gap. (Ojama King: 0- 3000- 3300 ATK, Dragon Cannon: 2800- 2600 ATK, Sniper: 1800- 800 ATK)
'Since Ojamagic just got discarded to my Graveyard I get to add Ojama Yellow, Ojama Green and Ojama Black to my hand.' Goombella stated as she grabbed the cards from her Deck.
'Then I Pendulum Summon all three of them.'
A yellow, green and red light shot out from the cards in Goombella's hand, the three Ojama appeared before her. (0- 1000- 1300 ATK)
'Ojama King take out that XYZ-Dragon Cannon, Ojama Yellow take out that Sniper!'
Crump watched as the giant Ojama King crushed his Dragon Cannon, the yellow Ojama simply pushed his butt in the face of Sniper which was enough to make it fall to the ground in pieces.
(Lord Crump: 600) - (Goombella: 700)
'Ojama Black, Ojama Green direct attack!' Goombella bellowed, both creatures charged at Crump butt first but two of the mechanical arms blocked the monsters.
Crump was looking around him for an exit, both exits were still sealed, then Crump leaped backwards he quickly climbed inside the remains of the first Magnus Von Grapple, the robot started to buzz to life though it was severely damaged.
(Magnus Von Grapple: 2362) - (Goombella: 700)
'I told you wench, this hall is build for me to win.' Crump gloated from out of the robot, in that moment the entire hall seemed to buzz to life, countless mechanical arms appeared out of the floor, walls and ceiling, in a matter of seconds the entire hall was flooded with X-Head Cannons, Y-Dragon heads and Z-Metal Tanks.
(Mechanical Arm: 1000 x?)
'Behold my victory!' Crump laughed as all the smaller monsters started to combine into countless XYZ-Dragon Cannons. (2800- 2600 ATK x?)
'You see? You have no hope, well I give you one turn, sadly all those arms and Magnus entered the Duel this turn so they cannot attack this turn.' Crump spoke he sounded annoyed.
'Mario, please give me the strength to win.' Goombella whispered then suddenly a golden light surrounded Mario and slowly spread out to Goombella, the girl felt a warm feeling filling her body, she drew her card.
'Time to end this Crump, I activate Gold Star: Power Lift.'
The Crystal Star appeared on the Field the moment Goombella played her card.
'This is how this works Crump, I Target one Monster I control that has an Original Attack that is lower than any Monster you control, which will be Ojama King with an Original Attack of zero, now by paying half my Life Points and then my Monster gains 1000 Attack Points for every Monster you control with an Original Attack that is higher than the Monster I choose.'
The golden star started to shine, a bright light filled the factory hall, then Ojama King started to grow until it almost touched the ceiling, then the creature flexed his arms growing inhumanly large muscles. (3300- ∞ ATK)
'Guess what even the Duel Disk lost count of how many XYZ-Dragon Cannons you control, gave my Monster infinite Attack Points! Now Ojama King attack! Ultimate Flying Belly Flop Drop!' Goombella roared, the gigantic creature simply toppled over crushing all the Dragon Cannons in it's way, the top of Magnus Von Grapple sprung open Crump jumped out right before the robot got crushed.
Crump dodged left and right evading flying debris eventually he was caught in a gigantic explosion and flung against the wall where a huge piece of debris fell on the lower half of his body.
(Lord Crump: 0) - (Goombella: 700)
Crump was laying on the floor, coughing, black mist poured out of his mouth and nose.
'You destroyed yourself Crump, you were smart enough to know that the power of the Shadow Queen would kill you.' Geno stated, Crump looked at him with his blood-red eyes. 'I won't die Mario. I am the greatest. The true leader of the X-Nauts.'
Mario knelt next to Crump: 'No Crump you are not neither is Grodus, the X-Nauts are gone, but I can promise you Grodus won't escape his judgment.'
Crump tried to laugh but he started to cough again, slowly he pulled out the remote control he had before, now Mario saw a smaller button on the top.
'Grodus will get what he deserves... not by you... when I press this button this room will explode killing all of you...'
Slowly Crump's hand moved to the button: 'And with that...' He started then a loud gunshot sounded through the room, Crump dropped the remote his head fell to the side, Crump's eyes became empty, the black mist slowly died out.
Blood began to drip out his mouth. 'POW... I'm...gone...' Crump whispered.
Mario turned around he saw Don Pianta standing in the door opening a smoking gun still in his hand.
'Don Pianta?' Mario gasped.
'Dat fool Crump had it coming slick.' Don spoke.
'Doopliss.' Mario growled.
With a small explosion of smoke Don Pianta changed into Doopliss.
'Damn, how did you figure me out slick?' The creature asked.
'I have no clue slick, call it a hunch.' Mario sarcastically replied.
'Beldam wants to see you slick, she is waiting up ahead.' Doopliss said, then he disappeared into the shadows.
Next time:
The final battle has finally started, sadly Lord Crump was the first victim, fallen victim to the Shadow Queen's power.
I am afraid of what more her power can do.
However before we can take a rest the Shadow Sirens challenge us to one of their games. ''The Sirens' Gambit - Part 1'' Coming next.
Card details:
Gold Star: Power Lift
Quick-Play Spell card
Activate this card by halving your LP. Target 1 Monster you control with an Original ATL lower than the Original ATK of 1 Monster your opponent controls, increase the ATK of the targeted Monster by 1000 for every Monster your opponent controls with an Original ATK higher than that of the targeted Monster.
