63. Deluge of Darkness - Part 1.

The end is near, Mario and Geno fought back the Shadow Queen, when Grodus realized what he had done he tried to harness the power of the Egyptian Gods to end Kali, however his plan backfired leaving him dead. As Grave felt the power of the Shadow Queen growing he decided to turn around and head back, on his way to Mario he found Princess Shroob who just had escaped from Geno's prison spell, quickly Grave dispatched the Nephilim, now he and Mario are all that stand between Kali and humanity.

Meanwhile in Star Haven Caedis tries to get information from Faust on how to stop Kali in case things end badly.

Star Haven

An old Celestian with shoulder-length, white hair, wearing white robes was walking towards a rather unpleasant looking building. For a moment the old man stopped, his face looked tired, it was full of wrinkles, he had a hooked nose, which looked like it had been broken in the past at least a couple of times, the green eyes of the man were stern, his mouth looked like he hadn't smiled in a long time. This man was Caedis the building he was on his way to was the prison, ever since he had captured Faust the Celestians were trying to get information out of him, every form of torture seemed ineffective, Caedis was on his way to see if he could break Faust, he was the cause of the Trinity, Caedis knew Mario was fighting the Shadow Queen and that soon either Kali would be gone or Mario would lose, in case that happened the Celestians needed to have the information on how to stop the Trinity and kill Kali.

Caedis walked through the cold halls of the prison, there was no light, as a Celestian he could perfectly see in the dark, the walls were made of concrete, there was no warmth in the halls, the cells were barely big enough to have a bed in them, the prisoners had nothing to do except for lying on their bed staring in the darkness, being in here was torture even if he was not in a cell Caedis hated this building.

The wing Faust was in was build to house the most terrible criminals for now Faust was the only prisoner.

Caedis stopped before the cell Faust was in he took a deep breath before opening the door, on the bed sat a man meditating, he had long, grayish hair, his once beardless face now had a full, messy beard and mustache, he wore only orange pants, his white socks and gray, cotton shirt hung over the edge of his bed, the man looked emaciated, he only got the minimum amount of food and water he needed to survive.

Slowly the man opened his eyes, his dark eyes pierced through Caedis' soul, a grin formed on his face. 'So they send their top dog.' Faust's voice sounded rough since he hadn't spoken much since his arrest.

'I'm not here to joke Faust, I know ways to make people talk.' Caedis replied, Faust coughed as he tried to laugh. 'I'm not afraid Caedis.' Slowly the man stood up from the bed. 'You're running out of time.' He turned his back to Caedis as he stared at the window-less wall of his cell.

'I won't tell you anything, you're not going to kill me my life is too valuable, you will try to push me to my limits but I won't budge, then Mario loses.' He slowly turned around to face Caedis he looked almost serene. 'You won't dare to push me to beyond my limits, afraid I will die.'

Caedis snapped his fingers Faust's arms were forced behind his back, shackles of light appeared around his wrists. 'You talk too much, Mario is winning.' The Celestian replied.

Faust let out a chuckle: 'You know I can still fell their energy, I know who is winning and it's not your champions.'

Caedis snapped his fingers again and Faust lost consciousness.

Minutes later Faust woke up only to find himself strapped to a cold, metal table his arms and legs spread, he wore nothing but his underpants, this room was well lid and except for the table he was strapped to and a smaller table full of torture devices it was empty.

'Really Caedis, I'm not into this stuff you know.' He said Caedis said nothing instead he poured a strange liquid over Faust's chest immediately an intense burning feeling spread through his chest, Faust screamed as it felt his insides were ripped out of his body, after a few seconds Caedis threw some cold water over Faust's chest the pain disappeared immediately.

'Liked that Faust?' Caedis asked: 'This liquid make you experience the worst pains imaginable, the more I use the more pain it does, it won't kill you, it won't do permanent damage and it only goes away when I wash it away with water.' The Celestian started to phase up and down. 'Other torture methods couldn't go far enough because they could kill you, this liquid is normally forbidden and only I'm allowed to use it if there is no other way, but this is the only way to brake you without killing you.'

Meanwhile Caedis grabbed some cotton swabs, he started to dip them in the liquid. 'You know Faust, I know the most painful points to apply this liquid, with these cotton swabs I can put them on the exact points, way better than pouring it all over a spot.'

Suddenly Caedis turned around he held the cotton swab close to Faust's neck. 'There are a lot of nerves in the neck, if I apply this liquid to the exact point where the nerves come together, you would wish you were dead.' As the cotton swab came dangerously close the sound of an explosion sounded in the distance, the ground started to tremble violently Caedis fell on the ground the cotton swab rolled under the table, then the electricity cut out making the torture room dark, finally alarms started to sound in the distance.

Caedis stood up, seconds later the lights turned back on as the emergency generators turned on, Caedis let out a loud curse as he saw that Faust was gone.

Caedis took out a communication device out of his pocket. 'This is Caedis, Faust has escaped, we've been fooled should have seen it coming.' He said while he started to run, for an old man he was surprisingly quick.

'What happened?' The voice of a Celestian asked Caedis over the device.

'A trick, I'm giving chase, lock everything down, Faust didn't reacted to torture knowing I would try to get answers, he was waiting for the moment he was lead out of his cell.' The voice on the other side remained silent for a few seconds. 'Caedis sir, orders?' The voice then asked.

'Leave Faust to me, he had help, that explosion came from the Sacred Hall, secure that place, send some teams to capture any escaped criminal.'

Caedis was running through the streets, there were no Celestians around all of them must have fled to their security bunkers, in the distance another explosion broke the constant wailing of the alarms, the ground started to tremble slowly at first as the trembling became worse an ear-piercing sound spread all throughout Star Haven, Caedis covered his ears as a sharp pain shot through his brain, then a beam of multicolored light lit up the sky it came from the Sacred Hall. 'No!' Caedis screamed as he wanted to move towards the Sacred Hall a man appeared before him out of nowhere.

It was Faust, now looking younger, no longer emaciated, his grayish hair was now short, his beard and mustache gone, Faust was wearing black robes, a standard issued Duel Disk strapped to his wrist.

'What incredible power you hold here.' Faust spoke his voice wasn't rough any longer, it now had a sinister tone: 'The moment I felt that power I wished to be younger and my wish was granted.' A sly grin formed on Faust's face. 'How'd you do it?' Caedis asked.

Faust chuckled: 'My sister has been on your Earth as my sleeper agent for a time now, she had found my perfect puppet, the Shadow Queen weakened the veil between all realms, that's what my sister was waiting for.' Faust spread his arms his Duel Disk activated. 'But Caedis you should not worry yourself about this, I still have a score to settle with you and this time I'd make damn well sure I kill you!' A barrier of black energy appeared in a circle around them.

(Faust: 8000) - (Caedis: 8000)

Faust took his time to draw his cards. 'My sisters Deck would have to do for this.' Faust took one of his cards. 'I Summon Fiendish Rhino Warrior.'

A large, bulky creature appeared before Faust, a rhino-like beast standing on two legs, it's right arm full with tribal-like tattoos, a sharp, mean-looking horn on top of it's nose, glowing yellow eyes and a wicked-looking dagger in it's right hand which he held in front of it's face, the only thing the beast wore were some red pants. (1400 ATK)

'I end my turn.' Faust stated.

'I've been waiting for this.' Caedis spoke as he drew his card, his eyes glowed up as a fiendish grin appeared on his face. 'I should have killed you back there in Smithy's Factory when I had the chance, a mistake I now can correct.' Caedis showed the Spell card Foolish Burial when he played it he took Breaker the Magical Warrior from his Deck then discarded it.

'You've made a mistake Faust, our counsel gave you protection, from me I must add I was not too kill you. Now you've gone and busted out, your protection's gone and I have free reigns.'

The Celestian then showed Thunder Dragon, quickly he discarded it then added two more from his Deck to his hand.

'You know what happens when light and dark combine together don't you?' Caedis asked Faust said nothing as he knew the question was rhetorical.

'I Banish Thunder Dragon and Breaker the Magical Warrior!' Caedis shouted, lightning struck the field, an ominous cloud appeared in the sky it slowly started to swirl more lightning came out of it. 'I Special Summon Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning!' A knight dropped out of the swirling clouds, wearing heavy armor painted mostly blue with some golden accents, it had sharp horns on the pauldrons and and three on the top of his helmet, in his left hand he held a small, round shield in his right, resting on his shoulder a curved sword. (3000 ATK)

'I needed a Light Monster in my Graveyard, Thunder Dragon is easy to get in there with it's Effect, but why not utilize the other two copies?' Caedis said as he took another card: 'I activate Polymerization! Fusion Summon Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon!'

Two green serpents appeared on the Field, they had a helmet made of scales covering the top of their heads, the same material covered their backs, they had two bat-like wings on their backs. The two serpents swirled together the Fusion portal opened up a new beast appeared, reptilian in appearance with a red, scaly hide it stood on four, three-clawed legs, it had a long tale, a gaping maw with a green tongue, a second maw opened up in it's neck, on the middle of it's head it a nasty-looking purple horn. (2800 ATK)

'Next I activate Primal Seed.' Caedis continued a Spell card flashed on the Field. 'When I control Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning I can add two of my Banished cards to my hand.' He took the two Monsters out of his pocket added one of them to his hand and played the second one.

On the field appeared Breaker the Magical Warrior, a knight clad in red armor that resembled the clothes of Dark Magician, instead of a staff the knight held a sword and a large, heavy shield with a blue gem in the middle. 'When Breaker is Normal Summoned he gains a Spell Counter increasing his attack by 300.' Caedis explained the gem on the knight's shield started to pulsate with a blue light. (1600- 1900 ATK)

'Black Luster Soldier attacks Fiendish Rhone Warrior!' Caedis commanded, Faust only showed a grin when his beast got beheaded by one clean strike.

(Faust: 6400) - (Caedis: 8000)

'When Fiendish Rhino Warrior gets send to the Graveyard I can send another Fiend there as well.' Faust said he quickly searched a card from his Deck it was Giant Germ, casually he discarded it.

'That matters not, when Black Luster Soldier destroys a Monster by Battle he can attack once again.' The knight grabbed his sword with both hands.

'I Special Summon Battle Fader, ending your Battle Phase.' Faust crossed his arms before him appeared a small creature, it was an X-shaped creature with a clock-like mechanism in the center with a clapper attached to it, the creature had two wings with a bell that swung from wing to wing. (0 DEF)

'So you managed to live through my one-turn-kill? Let's say I'm impressed and slightly amused.' Caedis spoke he then waved as a sign that he ended his turn.

'My turn.' Faust stated as he drew a card. 'I activate my own Foolish Burial.' Faust quickly searched out a second Giant Germ and he discarded it. 'Now I Banish both Giant Germs and Fiendish Rhino Warrior.' Faust quickly retrieved the cards from his Graveyard he put them inside his robes. 'I Special Summon Dark Necrofear!' Purple smoke appeared in front of Faust a cackling laughter sounded over the Field, out of the smoke stepped an eerie Doll-like woman, her body was made from a steel cage, her chest was covered with blue plastic with her breasts being orange, her head was bald, she had pointed ears and glowing yellow eyes, her arms looked like those of a mannequin, her legs were covered by boots, in her arms she held a deranged-looking doll that was perhaps more eerie than she was. (2200 ATK)

'Next I activate Dark Sanctuary.' Faust continued, the sky got dark as a red and purple mist quickly rolled in, countless creepy eyeballs and grinning mouths with human teeth appeared inside the mist, behind Faust appeared a small, winding road leading up to a castle on a mountain, the castle had multiple tall, pointed towers more details weren't visible from Caedis' position. Faust quickly placed another card in his Duel Disk which appeared behind his Dark Necrofear. 'Dark Necrofear attack Breaker the Magical Warrior.' Faust commanded the eyes of the blue mannequin glowed, Breaker shuddered then collapsed screaming, seconds later he violently exploded in a black mist. 'I shall end my turn here Caedis.'

(Faust: 6400) - (Caedis: 7700)

Caedis drew his card, he had the advantage but he knew he shouldn't underestimate his opponent. 'I start with Monster Reborn.' Caedis stated, the holy symbol appeared under it rose Breaker the Magical Warrior from the ground. (1600 ATK)

'Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon attacks Dark Necrofear!' The lizard opened it's maw electricity started to charge between it's teeth. 'Dark Sanctuary activates.' Faust stated: 'I toss a coin if it lands on heads the attack is negated and you take damage equal to half the attack power your Monster has, if it lands on tails your attack goes through.' A coin appeared in Faust's hand he threw it up the coin bounced on the ground a few times before it landed on tails, Caedis' Monster unleashed the charged lightning the creepy doll exploded, black mist rose from the smoldering ashes.

(Faust: 5800) - (Caedis: 7700)

'Black Luster Soldier go!' Caedis commanded, Faust flipped another coin this one also landed on tails, Caedis' knight charged in with one powerful slash Battle Fader was cleaved in half.

'Now Black Luster Soldier attacks directly!' Caedis commanded this time the coin landed on head, the knight turned around and slashed Caedis across his chest.

(Faust: 5800) - (Caedis: 6200)

'Let's try that again, Breaker!' The magical knight charged in, the coin landed on tails, the knight stabbed Faust through his chest, Caedis' opponent simply laughed as he shrugged off the attack like it was nothing.

(Faust: 4200) - (Caedis: 6200)

'I Set this card.' Caedis then stated the card appeared facedown behind his line of Monsters.

'Before you end your turn I activate Destiny Board!' Faust roared, a giant Ouija board appeared in the sky, the pointer slowly moved to the ''D'' a white, ghostly letter resembling the ''D'' appeared above the Ouija board.

Palace of Shadows

Slowly the magic that surrounded Pandora disappeared, when she opened her eyes they were completely black. 'Finally.' Pandora said her voice was cold, there was no hint of her own voice only that of the Shadow Queen.

'Mario.' She then addressed her adversary: 'I must thank you, bringing the Crystal Stars here and for helping Grave free Pandora, I am a fair queen and for your help you will be rewarded.' Kali paused for a second. 'Join my side Mario, you can be my right hand man, you will know unlimited power, no more fear no more mortality, I can even bring back anyone you've lost, I can make your loved once immortal.'

Geno looked at his friend as he slowly walked towards Kali.

'I refuse.' He whispered in her face: 'I will never side with a foul being like yourself!' Mario stared Kali right in her eyes without blinking.

'Fine, I will find another one to serve me you lot however will die now.'

Kali spread her arms Mario felt magic gathering around her, the moment she wanted to unleash it a blast of pure shadows hit her, Kali staggered backwards then a figure gracefully landed between her and Mario.

'Grave?' Mario stammered.

'I told you to protect my sister didn't I?' Grave asked without looking at Mario: 'Now I don't want your excuses, I want my sister back and you're going to help me do it.'

Suddenly a barrier appeared around Kali, Mario and Grave they could hear Geno chanting behind them. 'This barrier disables her powers outside a Duel, what she can do in a Duel I can't stop but this at least prevents her from destroying everything.'

Kali chuckled: 'How cute that you think you can contain my power.' She slowly rose her arms.

Rogueport

The last of the X-Naut soldiers were loaded into the prison transports, Mallow gave the sign they could go, one by one the helicopters departed, at that moment the ground started to shake violently, a circle of light appeared around the gallows in the middle of the square, slowly runes appeared etched into the ground. 'Everyone run!' Mallow roared the people barely managed to get out of the circle as the ground caved in a pillar of black smoke shot out of the ground it covered the sky making it pitch black then out of the ground rose a clear platform made of magic on it stood Mario, Grave, Geno and Kali.

'Outside at last.' Kali spoke she looked down at the people an amused smile on her face. 'So these maggots are my subjects?' She wondered then her gaze moved to Mario and Grave. 'You've saved them for now, the moment you die however.' She laughed.

'Enough Kali.' Mario said he then looked at Geno: 'You good?' He asked Geno nodded: 'I can keep this protective barrier up for as long as you have Life Points. 'Good enough.' Mario replied.

More and more people gathered around the main plaza, some people were murmuring others were deadly silent.

'Grave, those people, Rogueport no the entire Earth and possibly all other realms are counting on us.' Mario said.

'No pressure at all.' Grave replied he was serious Mario hadn't seen him like this before.

'Grave you ready?' Mario asked.

'Born ready, let's kill this witch.'

(Kali, the Shadow Queen: 8000) - (Mario & Grave: 8000)

'I shall start this slaughter.' Kali stated five cards appeared in her hand.

'I activate Necro Field!' Kali stated the purple mist that swirled around in the pitch black sky started to spread further down to the Field, a black ooze poured through the stones that made of the streets, the foul stench of surfer filled the entirety of Rogueport.

'My turn.' Mario stated as he drew his opening hand Grave gave his partner a look. 'I can't attack this turn Grave, but you can, I'm counting on you to do this.' Mario casually spoke Grave noticed his new friend was awfully calm. 'You sound like you're on the verge of giving up.' He replied.

'On the contrary, I just think you should get the credits for ending this evil, you of all people suffered most under her reign.'

Grave closed his eyes then chuckled. 'I appreciate this.'

Mario took two cards. 'Grave let me pave the way for your victory today, I activate Ancient Rules so I can Special Summon Elemental Hero Neos!' First the Spell card flashed on the Field, for a brief moment the darkness in the sky broke open as a beam of silver light crashed down on the Field, slowly Neos stood up as he struck an heroic pose. (2500 ATK)

'My turn.' Grave stated as he drew his card. 'I activate Dark Fusion!' Before Grave appeared the evil-looking versions of Avian and Burstinatrix. 'Kali, I'm through with you I'll show you what I can do when not under your control!' Grave roared his Heroes started to swirl together. 'Corrupted souls bathed in the light of evil. Purge this realm with the flames of the underworld! Dark fusion appear! Evil HERO Inferno Wing!' The purple mist that hung around the area was pulled on the Field in front of Grave, slowly the corrupted version of Flame Wingman took form. (2100 ATK)

'I attack Kali directly!' Grave shouted, purple flames created by the Evil Hero emerged around the Shadow Queen she smiled as the flames licked her skin.

(Kali, the Shadow Queen: 5900) - (Mario & Grave: 8000)

When the flames died out a Trap card was opened up on Kali's Field.

'You've played right into my Trap.' She spoke: 'I can activate Call of the Necro Acolytes from my hand only when I take damage.' Two small pillars of black fog appeared on the Field, when they dissolved two human sitting on their hands and legs wearing black robes sat on the Field praying. (1000 ATK x2) 'This Trap card allows me to Special Summon a Necro Acolyte Token for every 1000 points of damage I took.' Kali explained then she drew her card.

'Now I shall Release these two Tokens!' She shouted the purple mist that filled the sky slowly disappeared at the sound as a horse let out a loud neigh, the sound of galloping sounded over Rogueport, out of the darkness behind Kali rode in a figure sitting on top of a white horse, the beast had demonic horns mounted to a helmet it wore, the sides and legs of the beast were clad in armor as well the red eyes of the beast glowed with an unholy light, seated on top was a scrawny, sick-looking man, his face was emaciated, his skin had a sickly, grayish color ulcers covered a large part of his body, a greenish pus oozed out of the wounds, the man wore tattered robes revealing most of his gross chest and stomach, his face was covered by a medieval plague mask, his glowing red eyes pierced through the eye openings of the mask, as the man breath he let out a sickly gurgling sound, on the neck of the horse rested the weapon of the man, a black longbow a quiver was strapped to the back of the man from the tip of the arrows came a thin, sickly green mist. (2000 ATK)

'This!' The Shadow Queen spoke she did not raise her voice yet it was heard all over Rogueport: 'This is my Necro Lord - Pestilence of the Four Horsemen, the harbinger of the end of humanity!' She cackled.

Mario looked at Grave then they both looked at the evil being that stood in front of them, the horsemen grinned showing his yellow, decayed teeth, he let out a gurgling laughter.


Next time:

The Duel for the faith of the Earth continues as Kali unleashes her true power upon Mario and Grave, meanwhile in Star Haven it seems Caedis has Faust on the ropes with the overwhelming might his Monsters possess, yet Faust doesn't seem concerned at all.


Card details:

Necro Field (full effect)

Field Spell card

When there is no ''Necro Lord'' on the Field this card's Effects are negated. During the start of your turn you can skip your Draw Phase then add 1 Monster with ''Necro Lord'' in their name from your Deck to your hand.


Necro Lord - Pestilence of the Four Horsemen

Type: Fiend/Effect

Attribute: Light

Level: 10

ATK: 2000

DEF: 2000

Effects unknown.