"Journey to the Witch"

***"Journey to the Witch"*** is the 3rd chapter in the Didin Fragment series. This chapter serves to build more character for Crusher and Gombit, as well as build their relationship, while facing the challenges of the outdoor world.

## Summary

Crusher and Gombit are crossing the Brovolian Hills to reach the Lekurthroth Valley, where the city of Lekturin resides. While entering the Marshenskull Valley, a thick fog rolls over. Gombit expresses concern, stating they should prepare in case something comes out of the shadows. Crusher agrees. They are both aware this is a dangerous area. They consider the alternative of climbing the seven mile tall Hiprachian Mountains, but quickly realize it will be much faster, and by proxy safer, to enter the Marshenskull Valley. While in the fog of the valley, they enter into the midst of a Skeleton Trap, in which several skeletons rise from the ground armed with swords, armor, and shields. They approach Crusher and Gombit, who both nod to each other, agreeing to stick their ground and fight.

Crusher pulls out Schlagenheim and uses the Ring Shaker move, taking out a whole row of skeletons. Gombit uses The Fastest to reach each skeleton and hit with the Arise of the Marsh Turtle each in order to break their legs, immobilizing them, before using the Downward Bullet technique, which he picked up from watching Crusher. He does not perform it to the same level as Crusher, but it's enough to take out a whole trove of skeletons in under a minute.

A loud ominous voice congratulates the two of them on clearing the Brittle Bones, but that it was their turn to face Yerem, the Legendary Skeleton King. A light flashes and Yerem steps forth. Crusher and Gombit prepare themselves, but Crusher says he'll fight Yerem. He steps ahead as Yerem reaches for his cruciform, Hellpraiser. Crusher charges ahead first as Yerem raises his defense, with Crusher using the Dungeon Slam technique on Hellpraiser. Yerem retaliates by swiftly changing his blades' direction, but Crusher reacts in time to stop it from piercing his body. Crusher attempts a Wantanbo-Stance Swing, but is ineffective against the hardened bones of the Legendary Skeleton King. Yerem begin to gather Undead Energy, which materialized as green smoke surrounding his body. His eyes started glowing green. Yerem has achieved his Legendary Skeleton King Form.

In his Legendary Skeleton King Form, Yerem possesses a vigor that increases the force in each swing of his sword. Crusher attempts a Wantanbo-Stance Leftdriver, which proves to be successful by knocking Yerem off of his balance. He swings Hellpraiser sideways to prevent Crusher from advancing. Crusher stops the blade with his hammer, and uses a Single-Foot Leg Bomb to deal heavy damage to the legs of Yerem. Yerem stumbled back as Crusher attempted the Oppransi High Crush, when Yerem shot out a beam of Undead Energy, called the Yosjbosh technique. It mostly absorbed into Crusher's hammer, and left Crusher unaffected by the energy itself, but the blast negated his forward momentum and eventually knocked him back. Crusher landed as Yerem began to gather even more Undead Energy, with it becoming entirely opaque around Yerem's body. He grabs his sword, which is now lit with green fire, and he swings at Crusher with all hit might, which pushes him back even with his hammer up.

Crusher needs to re-evaluate, and decides he must find a way to distract Yerem in order to hit him with a powerful technique. Crusher performs the Skarab Hit by rotating his body 180 degrees before turning the hammer with him, then turning with the hammer back around to hit him in the head with it. Then, Crusher lets go of the hammer, and uses another one of his martial arts forms, the Kanin Style. He performs an Iron Bar Bash, punching Yerem with the force of an iron bar, before hitting him with his signature martial arts technique, the Pom-Yo Kayo. This generates enough shockwave energy to crack all of the bones in Yerem's body, and he falls apart. He gets absorbed into the soil by vines, informing Crusher he has not seen the last of the Legendary Skeleton King, before being taken under for good.

Crusher and Gombit continue through the Marshenskull Valley, fighting three hordes of skeletons on the way out. Upon getting out of the Marshenskull Valley, traversing the Jumpine Flats, the Schrondi Valley and over the Schrondic River, and spend the night in the Undertunnel Pass. They settle in, and Gombit says he knows he's thanked Crusher enough, but wants to give him something in return, and offers him a special item, a Strengthening Herb, which will make him more focused just by sniffing it once. He says its something his Tribe uses a lot, and it's very effective. Crusher appreciates the gift, and thanks Gombit for this opportunity to get rid of evil, and protect others being harmed by this evil witch. The chapter ends with the two of them taking turns keeping watch until the sun came up.

## Fights

* Crusher and Gombit vs. The Legendary Skeleton King's Forces

## Appearances in Order

### Characters

* Ryu Crusher
* Gombit
* Skeletons *(first appearance)*
	+ Brittle Bones *(first appearance)*
* Yerem *(first appearance)*

### Locations

* Brovolian Hills
	+ Lekurthroth Valley *(first mention)*
		- Lekturin *(first mention)*
	+ Marshenskull Valley *(first appearance)*
		- Skeleton Trap *(first appearance)*
	+ Hiprachian Mountains *(first mention)*
	+ Jumpine Flats *(first appearance)*
	+ Schrondi Valley *(first appearance)*
		- Schrondic River *(first appearance)*
	+ Undertunnel Pass *(first appearance)*

### Creatures

* Human
* Icarian
* Cyan Goblin
* Mega Ant *(first appearance)*
* Low-Flying Tucan *(first appearance)*
* Skeleton *(first appearance)*
* Legendary Skeleton King *(first appearance)*
* Skeletal Roots *(first appearance)*
* Red Monkey
* Bright Toucan *(first appearance)*
* Mighty Eagle *(first appearance)*
* Witch *(mentioned)*

### Techniques

**Martial Arts**

* ***Crusher-Style Hammer Form*** *(first appearance)*
	+ Ring Shaker *(first appearance)*
	+ Dungeon Slam *(first appearance)*
	+ Wantanbo Stance *(first appearance)*
		- Wantanbo-Stance Swing *(first appearance)*
		- Wantanbo-Stance Leftdriver *(first appearance)*
	+ Oppransi High Crush *(first appearance)*
	+ Skarab Hit *(first appearance)*
* ***Red Rabbit Style***
	+ The Fastest
	+ Arise of the Marsh Turtle
* ***Tara nom Zomsu***
	+ Downward Bullet
		- Gombit-Style Downward Bullet *(first appearance)*
	+ Leg Bomb
		- Single-Foot Leg Bomb *(first appearance)*
* ***Legendary Skeleton Swordsmanship*** *(first appearance)*
	+ Revenge Swing *(first appearance)*
* ***Kanin Style*** *(first appearance)*
	+ Iron Bar Bash *(first appearance)*
	+ Pom-Yo Kayo *(first appearance)*

**Undead Energy** *(first appearance)*

* Strike of Terror *(first appearance)*
* King's Vigor *(first appearance)*
* Yosjbosh *(first appearance)*

**Transformation** *(first appearance)*

* Legendary Skeleton King Form *(first appearance)*
* Full Power Skeleton King *(first appearance)*

* ***Sword Transformation*** *(first appearance)*
	+ Shinigami Form *(first appearance)*

### Items

* Schlagenheim
* Crusher's Backpack
* Gombit's Bow
* Swords
	+ Skeleton Sword *(first appearance)*
	+ Hellpraiser *(first appearance)*
* Skeleton Armor *(first appearance)*
* Skeleton Shield *(first appearance)*
* Strengthening Herb *(first appearance)*

## Narrative Impact

* Shows how strong Crusher really is.
* The relationship between Crusher and Gombit is formed.
* Undead Energy is introduced as a power system.

## Trivia

* Yerem wasn't even considered until the final drafts of the chapter were being written.
* The name of this chapter is a reference to *Journey to the West*, a 16th century chinese novel that was the first to depict Sun Wukong.