//------------------------------// // Duel 5: The Rock Fortress of Granmarg // Story: Yu-Gi-Oh! Friendship is Dueling 4: Cyber Duel Saga // by Bahamut0 //------------------------------// "Let's see." Ace pulled out the map they had bought from the town shop. "According to the wiseman, there's six monarchs we have to defeat. Granmarg the Rock Monarch, Raiza the Storm Monarch, Mobius the Frost Monarch, Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, and Caius the Shadow Monarch. From what I can tell, the closest Monarch to us is Granmarg." "Then he's the one we're taking down first!", Ice said as he cracked his knuckles. "Let's turn him into pebbles!" "Hmmm. It looks like Granmarg's Fortress is underground. Of course the monarch that uses earth would make his lair underground." "So how do we find it?", Ice asked. "Look for a bunch of random tunnels and hope one of them leads to Granmarg's fortress?" "Maybe we could try looking for any icons that make the entrance to stand out?", Dark Magician Girl suggested. "You got a good points DMG.", Ace said. "Even if it's hidden a boss lair is ALWAYS obvious. So let's try looking for it! According to the map, it should be somewhere in this valley." The group headed for the valley, and started looking around. At the same time, they also noticed a lot of rock-type monsters around the area. "Huh. I thought for sure they'd be attacking us." "Rock-type monsters are usually gentle creatures.", Gorz noted. "Their more known for defense as opposed to attack. Considering that, maybe we can ask around. Maybe one of them knows where Granmarg's fortress is." Ace noticed a Giant Soldier of Stone, and decided to ask him. "Excuse me? You wouldn't happen to know where the fortress of Granmarg is?", Ace asked. "I don't have much of an idea.", Giant Soldier of Stone answered. "But look for Castle Gate. He's being used as the guard for Granmarg's Fortress." "Thanks for the info." Ace and the others left to try and find Castle Gate. They didn't have to look too far. "Wow. No wonder this guy's called Castle Gate" The monster they were looking for. Castle Guard was snoring until he heard Ace and the others talking. "Nguh! What?! Who?" Castle Gate then looked down at Ace, Ice and their monsters. "You must be seeking Granmarg." "Yeah!", Ice said with a nervous smile. "So let us through!" "...Finally! Do you know how bad it is?! Having to sit still and guard this place everyday? I haven't been able to move for weeks! I think my joints are stiff. Hold on." Castle Gate opened the doors that made up his chest, and the entrance to Granmarg's Fortress was revealed. "Be sure to follow the illuminated ceiling. That place can be a labyrinth." The group headed inside, and made their way to Granmarg's throne room. "Man! Granmarg must be pretty inflexible.", Ice joked as they journeyed to the throne room. The group then bumped into something! "Ow!" Three monsters had bumped into them! "Sorry!" They had run into monsters who looked like they were made of magnets. "Our bad. I'm Alpha.", Alpha said. "Name's Beta." "I go by Gamma. Together, we are the Magnet Warriors." "Nice to meet you.", Ace said with a smile. "So are you seeing Granmarg too?" The Magnet Warriors nodded. "Huh. I guess we're going the same way. Wanna come with us?" "Lead the way!", Alpha said. The group continued to follow the trail, and soon arrived at what looked like a throne room. And when they saw the throne, they saw a gigantic statue! But the craziest thing is, it seemed to be snoring! "So this is Granmarg. How do we wake him up?" "Like this.", Alpha said as he picked up a pebble and tossed it at Granmarg's head! The statue started to move, and shattered out of the stone encasing it! Granmarg stretched his arms, and caused the ground to shake as he sat up. "Nnnnnhhh. Huh? Who woke me up?" Granmarg then looked down at the group. "Ah. More pebbles tossing themselves against the mountain. You Magnet Warriors defended this valley during my hibernation. I bested you on your own, and I shall best you again! But first..." Granmarg started to pulse with energy, and transformed into a stronger form! "Let me show you what my little nap has done for my strength!" Granmarg punched the ground, and caused an earthquake! "I can command the very ground you stand on!" With a single touch, Granmarg made the ground the heroes stood on continuously shift and alter pillars would shoot up whenever they even got close to Granmarg! "Even with my boosted strength, this new form of his is still stronger!", DMG cried as she fired blast after blast at Granmarg! But none of them even fazed him! "And this stone is pretty tough!", Gorz complained. He then turned to the Magnet Warriors. "Didn't you guys take him on before?!" "Yeah! But that was each of us on out own!", Alpha said. "And he handed our butts to us!", Beta added. "He was too strong for each of us!", Gamma panicked as he dodged boulder after boulder thrown their way! Ace then got an idea! "But not if you fight together! You're stronger together! Fight as one, and nothing can stop you!", Ace cried out! The Magnet Warriors then looked to each other, and nodded! Together, they charged at Granmarg! But as they advanced, something odd happened! Their bodies began to merge and shift! "No! It's impossible!", Granmarg bellowed! "I am whole once again!", the new Magnet Warrior cried out! "Valkyrion has returned!" "So you've returned! No matter! I will shatter you back into your weaker forms!" Granmarg swung at Valkyrion, but he used his wings as a shield! Both titans stood still for a minute before Granmarg's arm crumbled into dust! "WHAT?!" "You call yourself a rock-type monster, and yet you've got such lousy defense?", Valkyrion jokingly asked. "I SHALL DESTROY YOU!", Granmarg roared! Valkyrion readied his blade, and charged it with elemental energy! "MAGNA SLASH!" Valkyrion unleashed a mighty slash! Splitting Granmarg down the middle! Granmarg then crumbled into nothing but debris! "Once again, we are free to live peacefully here. And I can now stand as the guardian once again. Thank you, my friends." "No problem!", Ice said with a smile. "And now to tend to one last bit of business." Valkyrion walked over to a statue that was by Granmarg's throne. The statue came to life, and was revealed to be a woman. "Mystical Sand! Are you alright?" "A little stiff, but I'm fine. Nice to see you again Valkyrion. Thanks for getting me out of there before Granmarg could use me to revive Five-Headed Dragon." "Well, it looks like things are gonna be fine here.", Ace said with a smile. "Next stop: Mobius!", Ice said with a grin!