The Black Crest Chapter 5

The dungeon was dark. Dr. Gromm and Hejigonne were both sitting in a corner while watching the other prisoners. One prisoner started attacking another, and three guards went to break them up. Two guards with giant axes blocked the exit.

Dr. Gromm: So, what was your plan on escape?

Hejigonne: Even though security is tight, the only thing blocking our path is the guards… if we can get past them, then we can leave here.

Dr. Gromm: But aren’t there gates, how will we get passed those?

Hejigonne: Guards have keys, we could just take them…

Dr. Gromm: Still, your plan seems suicidal…

Hejigonne: Well, it’s either that or be executed today.

Dr. Gromm: I’m not the one being executed.

Hejigonne: Well, you don’t want to be in here the rest of your life, do you…

Dr. Gromm: Well, no, but…

Hejigonne: Stop complaining, if we attack those guards right now, we could cause a riot… that’s our chance of escape…

Hejigonne rose to his feet and walked to the two guards. They both grabbed their axes tighter trying to scare him into backing off. Both the guards were disfigured and rose to be ten feet tall. Hejigonne then kicked one of the guards. The guard he kicked didn’t move at all, as if he had just kicked a brick wall. Hejigonne then had a facial expression that had the ‘I’m screwed’ look to it. Both the guards raised their axes and swung down. Dr. Gromm pushed Hejigonne out of the way and put both his hands in the air. Each axe hit a hand of the doctor’s. There then was a loud cling sound. The sound you hear when metal hits up against metal. After pushing back the axes, completely unharmed, the doctor removed both his gloves and pulled up his sleeves. Both of his arms were mechanical. The doctor then opened his left arm and pulled out a duel monster’s deck. His right armed opened up to become a duel disk and placed a card in the spell/trap slot.

Dr. Gromm: Heji… cover your eyes.

After activating the card, a bright flash was emitted, blinding both the guards. Hejigonne and Dr. Gromm then ran past the guards.

Hejigonne: How’d you get those, I thought they confiscated everyone’s duel discs and cards.

Dr. Gromm: Like most prisons would check inside your arms…

Hejigonne: Well, I didn’t have my cards with me when the arrested me, so we need to stop by my hideout when we get out.

Dr. Gromm: Let’s focus on the ‘get out’ part for now.

As the two ran, a guard appeared before them. Hejigonne tackled him and continued, Dr. Gromm stopping to grab his keycard. As Dr. Gromm continued to catch up to Hejigonne, a door shut in front of him. This was an emergency door, and had nowhere to swipe the keycard. Dr. Gromm then went back and took a different path. As the doctor was running, a man started trailing him from behind. The doctor looked back to see that the warden, Talon, was following behind.

Talon: Stop! You know you can’t run forever…

Dr. Gromm: You can’t make me…

Talon then pulled out a duel disk…

Dr. Gromm: You think I’m going to duel you?

Talon: You haven’t got a choice, I blocked off all paths, the only thing you can do is run in circles, you win and the door will open…

Dr. Gromm: Fine then…

Dr. Gromm: and Talon: DUEL!!!

Talon: I draw…

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 6
Dr. Gromm LP: 4000 - Hand: 5

Talon: I set two cards facedown and play “Flare Wing” in attack mode.



Talon: That ends my turn…

Dr. Gromm: Alright then, I draw…

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 3
Dr. Gromm LP: 4000 - Hand: 6

The doctor draws his card, already starting to be out of breath from running from Talon…

Dr. Gromm: I set two cards facedown and set one monster in defense mode.

Talon: Well, it that’s all, then I draw…

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 4
Dr. Gromm LP: 4000 - Hand: 3

Talon: I play “Darkend Harpie” in attack position.



Talon: Now! Flare Wing, attack his facedown.

Dr. Gromm: Activate trap, “Mirror Force”.

Mirror Force Trap

Activate only when an opponent's monster declares an attack. Destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls.

Talon: Well, I activate my own trap, “Dark Bribe”…

Dark Bribe Trap/Counter

Negate the activation and effect of an opponent's Spell or Trap Card and destroy it. Your opponent draws 1 card.

Dr. Gromm draws a card from his deck. Flare Wing then destroys his facedown monster.

Talon: Now the effect of Flare Wing activates, I now special summon another one… now, Flare Wing, attack.

-1700 LP
Dr. Gromm LP: 2300

Talon: Now, Darkend Harpie, attack…

-1600 LP
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700

Talon: That ends my turn.

Dr. Gromm: Then I draw…

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 4
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700 - Hand: 5

Dr. Gromm: I play “Conversion of the Darkend Soul”.



Dr. Gromm: Now, I play “Poison of the Old Man”.

Poison of the Old Man Spell/Quickplay

Select and activate 1 of the following effects: ● Increase your Life Points by 1200 points. ● Inflict 800 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points.

Dr. Gromm: I choice to increase my life points, and due to the effect of Conversion of the Darkend Soul, I gain double that amount…

+2400 LP
Dr. Gromm LP: 4100
Conversion of the Darkend Soul Counters: 1

Dr. Gromm: I now set one monster in defense mode and end my turn.

Talon: Well then… (Draws card)

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 5
Dr. Gromm LP: 4100 - Hand: 1

Talon: I summon “Winged Sorcerer” in attack position…



Talon: Now, Flare Wing, attack his monster…

Dr. Gromm: You attacked my “Field Medic”



Dr. Gromm: Now I can summon “Underground Surgeon” from my deck…



Talon: Well, now I special summon another “Flare Wing” to my side of the field. That ends my turn…


Dr. Gromm: Hmm… (draws a card)

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 5
Dr. Gromm LP: 4100 - Hand: 2

Dr. Gromm: I place one card facedown and remove Underground Surgeon from play, to take out a Flare Wing… that ends my turn…

Talon: Leaving yourself open, huh… I draw…

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 6
Dr. Gromm LP: 4100 - Hand: 2

Talon: I play “Hatching Chick” in attack mode…



Talon: Now, I remove hatching chick from play to special summon “Sunset Tiger”.



Talon: Now I used Mystical Space Typhoon on your only facedown…

Mystical Space Typhoon Spell/Quickplay

Destroy 1 Spell or Trap Card on the field.

Dr. Gromm: Well, I had better chain with my “Threatening Roar”

Threatening Roar Trap

Your opponent cannot declare an attack this turn.

Talon: Well, that’s all I can do for now…

Dr. Gromm: I’ll draw then…

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 3
Dr. Gromm LP: 4100 - Hand: 3

I activate the spell card, “Lightning Vortex”.

Lightning Vortex Spell

Discard 1 card. Destroy all face-up monsters your opponent controls.

Dr. Gromm’s Hand: 1

Talon: My Sunset Tiger is unaffected by your spell… in addition, I draw 1 card.

Talon’s Hand: 4

Dr. Gromm: I set one monster and end my turn.

Talon: Is that all, I draw one card…

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 5
Dr. Gromm LP: 4100 - Hand: 0

Talon: I play another hatching chick in attack mode… now I remove it from play to special summon “Bird Rider” in attack mode…



Talon: Now, I destroy your facedown monster and special summon Winged Sorcerer from my grave… Now I use my winged sorcerer’s effect, by removing Flare Wing from my grave, I can special summon Darkend Harpie from my grave. Now the only card on your field is that spell card, so now, Darkend Harpie and Winged Sorcerer, attack his life points directly…

-1200 LP
-1600 LP
Dr. Grom’s LP: 1300

Talon: One more attack and it’s game for you… now, Sunset Tiger and Bird Rider, direct attack…

Dr. Gromm’s LP
Bird Rider’s ATK: 1600
Sunset Tiger’s ATK: 2400

Talon: And that’s game…

Dr. Gromm: Not quite, there were two monsters sent to my grave without your knowing… now, I remove both of them from play to negate your attacks…

Necro Gardna

DARK Level 3 Warrior

Remove from play this card in your Graveyard to negate 1 attack from a monster your opponent controls.

600 1300

Talon: Hmm, barely hanging on, huh? End Turn…

Dr. Gromm: -Come on, give me something good- (Draws)

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 3
Dr. Gromm LP: 1300 - Hand: 1

Dr. Gromm: Now that it’s my second standby phase, Underground Surgeon returns to my field. I now remove him from play to take out your Sunset Tiger… I play one card facedown and end my turn…


Talon: If that’s all, I draw…

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 4
Dr. Gromm LP: 1300 - Hand: 0

Talon: I now attack your life points directly with Bird Rider.

Dr. Gromm LP: 1300
Bird Rider ATK: 1600

Dr. Gromm: Activate trap card, “Aegis of Gaia”

Aegis of Gaia Trap/Continuous

Gain 3000 Life Points. If this face-up card is removed from the field, lose 3000 Life Points.

Dr. Gromm: Now, due to the effect of Conversion of the Darkend Soul, I gain double that amount…

Dr. Gromm’s LP: 1300
+6000 LP
-1600 LP
Dr. Gromm’s LP: 5700
Conversion of the Darkend Soul Counters: 2

Talon: Ah, you cheeky little… Darkend Harpie and Winged Sorcerer now attack you directly…

-1600 LP
-1200 LP
Dr. Gromm LP: 2900 LP

Talon: That ends my turn…

The doctor started running out of breath… he could no longer keep up with the running needed to finish… Talon kept gaining on the doctor… Dr. Gromm then draws a card…

Talon LP: 4000 - Hand: 4
Dr. Gromm LP: 2900- Hand: 1

Dr. Gromm: I play “Kerri - the Witchdoctor” in attack position…



Dr. Gromm: I now remove my Field Medic in my grave from play to gain 500 life points, which is now doubled…

+1000 LP
Dr. Gromm LP: 3900
Conversion of the Darkend Soul Counters: 3

Dr. Gromm: Now, I attack your Darkend Harpie…

-100 LP
Talon LP: 3900

Talon: That’s the first time you’ve touched my life points…

Dr. Gromm: Strange how our life points are now tied…

Talon LP: 3900
Dr. Gromm LP: 3900

Talon: You can’t keep top-decking for long… sooner or later, you’ll have no move to make…

Dr. Gromm: We will see about that… your turn…

Talon: Well then, I draw…

Talon LP: 3900 - Hand: 5
Dr. Gromm LP: 3900 - Hand: 0

Talon: I set one facedown and end my turn…

Dr. Gromm: Well, if that’s all, I’ll draw…

Talon LP: 3900 - Hand: 4
Dr. Gromm LP: 3900 - Hand: 1

Dr. Gromm: Now for a familiar friend to return to the field… I special summon my Underground Surgeon back to the field.

Talon: That card is starting to get on my nerves…

Dr. Gromm: Well, I remove my Underground Surgeon to remove your Winged Sorcerer from play… Now I activate foolish burial to discard my “Garth’ol - the Fire Healer” from my deck… now, I use my Kerri’s effect to remove it from play, and gain 1000 LP

+1000 LP
Dr. Gromm LP: 4900
Conversion of the Darkend Soul Counters: 4

Talon: Looks like your Conversion of the Darkend Soul card is filled with counters… I guess you can’t heal yourself anymore…

Dr. Gromm: Kerri, attack his Bird Rider…

-100 LP
Talon LP: 3800

Dr. Gromm: That ends my turn…

Talon: Very well then, I draw…

Talon LP: 3800 - Hand: 5
Dr. Gromm LP: 4900 - Hand: 0

I activate “Monster Reborn” to special summon Bird Rider…

Monster Reborn Spell

Special Summon 1 monster from either player's Graveyard to your side of the field.

Talon: Now Bird Rider’s effect activates, destroying your Kerri and special summoning Darkend Harpie to my side of the field… Now, I attack with both Darkend Harpie and Bird Rider…

-1600 LP
-1600 LP
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700

Talon: That ends my turn…

Dr. Gromm: I draw…

Talon LP: 3800 - Hand: 4
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700 - Hand: 1

Dr. Gromm: Sweet card… but for now, my Underground Surgeon returns to the field once again… now, the card that Kerri removed from my grave last turn returns to the field, “Garth’ol - the Fire Healer”…



Dr. Gromm: Now I activate the spell card “Soul Taker” to destroy your “Darkend Harpie”.

Soul Taker Spell

Destroy 1 face-up monster your opponent controls. Then, your opponent gains 1000 Life Points.

Talon: Hmm, your going to let me gain LP…

Dr. Gromm: The amount you would have normally gained is doubled due to the effect of Conversion of the Darkend Soul… however, because there are four counters on it, it is negated, and you will take that damage instead…

-2000 LP
Talon LP: 1800

Dr. Gromm: Conversion of the Darkend Soul is now removed from the field. Now, Garth’ol, attack his Bird Rider…

-300 LP
Talon LP: 1500

Dr. Gromm: Now, Underground Surgeon, finish this…

Talon: Now so fast, I activate my spell card, “Offerings to the Doomed”

Offerings to the Doomed Spell/Quickplay

Destroy 1 face-up monster. Skip your next Draw Phase.

Talon: Finally I have gotten rid of that pesky surgeon…

Dr. Gromm: Well, that ends my turn…

Talon: My Drawphase will now be skipped…

Talon LP: 1800 - Hand: 4
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700 - Hand: 0

Talon: -Hmm, if I can destroy his Aegis of Gaia, he will take 3000 damage, and I’ll win the duel…- I place two facedowns and play my last hatching chick in attack mode… now I remove hatching chick from play to summon “Goddess of the Birds”.



Talon: Now my Goddess, attack his Garth’ol…

-500 LP
Dr. Gromm LP: 1200

Talon: That ends my turn…

Dr. Gromm: Well then, I draw…

Talon LP: 1800 - Hand: 0
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700 - Hand: 1

Dr. Gromm’s Field: Aegis of Gaia
Talon’s Field: 2 Facedowns; Goddess of the Birds

Dr. Gromm: I activate “Monster Reborn” to revive my good pal… Underground Surgeon… now I remove him from play to take out your Goddess of the Birds… that ends my turn.

Talon: Well then, I draw…

Talon LP: 1800 - Hand: 1
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700 - Hand: 0

Talon: -I can’t believe it… I have nothing…- I end my turn…

Dr. Gromm: That’s good with me, I draw…

Talon LP: 1800 - Hand: 1
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700 - Hand: 1

Dr. Gromm: I set one card facedown and end my turn…

Talon: Well then, I draw…

Talon LP: 1800 - Hand: 2
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700 - Hand: 0

Talon: I activate Mystical Space Typhoon…

Mystical Space Typhoon Spell/Quickplay

Destroy 1 Spell or Trap Card on the field.

Talon: This will take out your Aegis of Gaia and the rest of your life points…

Dr. Gromm: Not if I activate my Dark Bribe…

Talon: Hmm, I draw…

Talon’s Hand: 2

Talon: I end my turn…

Dr. Gromm: Draw…

Talon LP: 1800 - Hand: 2
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700 - Hand: 1

Dr. Gromm: I set one card facedown and end my turn…

Talon: I draw…

Talon LP: 1800 - Hand: 3
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700 - Hand: 1

Talon: I play Cyber Harpie in attack position…

Cyber Harpie

WIND Level 4 Winged Beast

This card's name is treated as "Harpie Lady".

1800 1300

Talon: Now, I activate “Shield Crush” to destroy your monster.

Shield Crush Spell

Select 1 Defense Position monster on the field and destroy it.

Dr. Gromm: You destroyed my “Infected Doctor”



Dr. Gromm: Now, I can special summon 1 more Infected Doctor to the field.

Talon: Cyber Harpie, attack his Infected Doctor…

Dr. Gromm: And now, another one takes the field.

Talon: That Ends my turn…

Dr. Gromm: Now, I draw a card…

Talon LP: 1800 - Hand: 1
Dr. Gromm LP: 1700 - Hand: 1

Dr. Gromm: Now, my Underground Surgeon returns to the field… now I tribute my Infected Doctor to summon “Zin - Holder of Forbidden Power”



Dr. Gromm: Now, your Cyber Harpie is removed from play…

Talon: -Oh no, I haven’t got anything to counter it…-

Dr. Gromm: Now, Zin, direct attack…

-2600 LP
Talon LP: 0

The door opens in front of the doctor, ten guards standing in the door way. The other door closes, making a hallway where Talon awaits at one side and the guards from the other…

Talon: There’s nowhere to run, doctor, just give up…

Hejigonne: Don’t listen to that crap…

A door opens, Hejigonne walking through…

Hejigonne: It’s amazing what a keycard can do…

Talon: Guards, siege them…

Hejigonne and Dr. Gromm then run… after a few doors and a couple of card swipes, they reach the end… a door opens and light shines from it… the bright light from the sun blinds the two for a second, then they both run. Talon exits from the door, thinking things couldn’t get any worse… after looking to the side, a man opens up the door to a luxurious looking ship and the King walks out…

King Avarice: I was looking forward to the execution of that man, warden…

Talon: Sire, I can explain…

King Avarice: I relieve you of your position as warden, Talon…

Talon: Sir, give me a second chance… I’ll make it up to you…

King Avarice: Capture the two prisoners and I will give you your position back, Talon…

Talon: I will sir, I won’t disappoint you.

The King then returned to his ship and flew off… With no sign of Hejigonne or Dr. Gromm, Talon reenters the prison and grabs two guards… the first being Henna, a female guard with long blond hair and a white mask covering her face, the other being Dejano, a man with baggy clothes, oversized shoes and wore face paint.

The King’s ship was driving off, but the King started noticing strange things. Originally, there was only one other person in the ship, the driver, but now there were two. The man in the passenger seat was laying dead-like to the side and the man driving had a symbol on his shoulder. It was two black circles overlapping inside of a crest… it was… it was the Black Crest… the King shrugged at the site of this, but a man then cupped his hands over the King’s mouth from the seat behind him… The man then talked to him…

???: I wouldn’t struggle too much if I were you… I’ll release your mouth… (uncovers the mouth, still holding on.)

King Avarice: What do you want?

???: You know who I am and what I want… I want only what the King can have, the land and all it’s power…

King Avarice: The… wait… your Cyrus Notch, aren’t you?

Cyrus: Glad you remember me, after what happened last year…

King Avarice: You tried to take over the planet, my planet… Ezin…

Cyrus: And now, you will no longer be able to stop me…

Cyrus take out a knife and cuts the King’s neck from ear to ear… the King shrugs, and then remains motionless…

Cyrus: Driver, take me to the King’s mansion, I have a package to drop off…