Welcome back to Prophecy of Masks! Last time, Diend called upon Spyro and Cynder to give aid to Kamen Rider Blade in finding his allies, the other three Blade Riders. But as the quartet sets off, the Albino Joker appears in the distance, proclaiming this moment to be the start of his "game". So, what is going on? Read on to discover...

(Our tale resumes with Spyro, Cynder, Diend, and Blade walking up to a peculiar location, looking like some kind of ruin)

Spyro: So... what is this place exactly?

Blade: The ruins of BOARD headquarters. The last place the trio I told you about was seen.

Cynder: BOARD?

Blade: The organization that created the technology I use. Long story short, we thought they were the good guys, only to learn the founder was completely nuts and attempted to create a new world order. The building was demolished shortly after... well, it's a really long story. Let's just say BOARD was shut down and will never be recreated.

Diend: (Confused) Didn't that race-car driver get sponsored by BOARD? What was his name again...?

Blade: That Kyoichiro guy? He removed that sponsorship years ago, once he saw what they were really all about.

Diend: Fair enough.

Spyro: So what makes you think your allies will be here?

Blade: I'm not thinking they're here. I'm thinking we might find a clue to where they went

Cynder: Makes sense. This is the last place they were seen, according to you.

Diend: Alright then, let's get searching.

(Within mere minutes of setting foot in the ruins, an army of black and green insect-like humanoid creatures emerge out of the rubble, and surround the quartet of heroes)

Blade: Darkroaches?!

Spyro: Do I even want to know what that means?

Diend: They're vermin. (Pulls out the Neo Diendriver) Nothing more.

Cynder: Then it looks like we're the exterminators.

Blade: Be warned. These things are not easy to kill.

(Within seconds of Blade's response, the Darkroaches charge. And just as Blade stated, they are not easy to kill, as when Spyro engulfs one in flames, it turns into a green mist, which then turns into two more.)

Spyro: (Seeing this hydra-esque replication) You weren't kidding!

Blade: That happens every time one is destroyed!

Diend: (Shooting a Darkroach in the head) Hold on, how the hell do these things still exist!? I thought after what happened to you, they were supposed to have died out!

Cynder: What the heck is he talking about?

Blade: Trust me, if I knew what was going on here, I'd tell you! With two Jokers in the world, these guys shouldn't exist!

Spyro: (Snapping a Darkroach's neck) Joker? Like the Albino Joker that Malefor revived?

Diend: Yep. It's a long story. (Shoots another Darkroach in the head) And one we really don't have time to tell!

(And just as the monster is mentioned, Blade spots someone out of the corner of his eye. A man in a black jacket with black gloves, as well as a black shirt and pants, just standing near the battle, watching from the distance)

Blade: Tachibana! Why are you watching?! We need some help here!

Garren: (Morosely) I can't...

Blade: (Completely stunned) Why not?!

(Just as Blade asks why his comrade is unable to help, the Darkroaches stop attacking and move back apparently in reverence, as the Albino Joker enters the scene, the Mark of Malefor glowing upon his shoulder spike as he arrives)

Albino Joker: Because he's working for me.

Diend: (Pointing the Neo Diendriver at him) Nice try. None of us are falling for your tricks.

Albino Joker: Oh it's no trick. Tachibana, if you would?

(With a sigh, Garren enters the battlefield, and pulls out a device similar to the Blay Buckle, and a card similar to Blade's "Change Beetle" card, only is a Diamond suit Ace rather than a Spade, and is labeled "Change Stag" rather than "Change Beetle". Just as with Blade, Garren places the card into the Blay Buckle like device before placing it on his waist, forming the belt from cards just as before.)

Garren: (Morosely) Henshin.

(Now just as Blade did before, Garren pulls a switch on the right of his belt device, causing the panel holding the card to flip over, revealing a green background with a gold diamond on it)

Garren Buckle: Turn Up!

(With the announcement made, a blue card-like screen featuring the stag beetle from the "Change Stag" card appears from the Garren Buckle, and passes over Garren, providing him his suit of primarily red and silver, with two silver horns representing the pincers of a stag beetle emerging from above the green eyes, and forming a red and gold gun, with a similar counter to the one on Blade's sword, in his hand)

Blade: (Now in disbelief) Tachibana, have you really betrayed us?!

Garren: (Pulling up the gun) I'm sorry...

Cynder: (To Albino Joker) What have you done to him?!

Albino Joker: Physically, nothing, yet. (Pulls out some sort of belt with a buckle of twin snakes and what appears to be a U and a D conjoined into some sort of symbol) Just convinced him to be a pawn in my game. And now, to collect the next one.

(With that, the Albino Joker throws the belt, aiming for Cynder, but Spyro sees this and pushes her out of the way causing the belt to wrap around his arm, opening up revealing two hearts and a red 2 in it)

Spyro: What the...?

Albino Joker: Okay, not exactly my plan, but I can tell Lord Malefor is going to like this! Now then, let the game begin!

(With his proclamation made, the Mark of Malefor glows brightly upon the Albino Joker's shoulder spike, casting a translucent violet barrier, causing Blade and Cynder to be thrown back, but Spyro, Diend, and Garren are kept inside for some reason.)

Cynder: (Getting up and trying to break the violet barrier) What is this?!

Albino Joker: You weren't marked for participation, traitorous one. And neither was my fellow Joker over there. So you had to go before I started my little game.

Spyro: This is all just a game to you?!

Albino Joker: The biggest game in the universe, violet disgrace. Bigger than the Battle Fight could ever be!

Diend: That battle determined the species that would reign supreme on Earth! What could be bigger than that?

Albino Joker: A little twist I threw in. The survivor lives to tell the tale, but the loser... they go extinct.

Cynder: (Shocked) What?!

Albino Joker: That's right! If anyone dies, they take all living members of their species with them!

Spyro: How would that even work?!

Albino Joker: Don't ask too many questions, it ruins the game! (To Blade) And don't think your Joker status can make this work. I've accounted for you, Kenzaki Kazuma. (As the Mark of Malefor glows upon his shoulder spike) You became a Joker by choice, only a natural Joker can stop this game. And don't go counting on your buddy Hajime to save you.

Blade: (Thinking the worst) What have you done to him?!

Albino Joker: Didn't you notice the suit on your friend's arm? Two of Hearts. I ripped the crest from him and now the violet disgrace has taken his place. But enough talk! You'd better enjoy the next few moments. They're likely all you have left!

(With that, the Albino Joker starts laughing as Spyro joins with Cynder at the barrier)

Spyro: Go. You've got to get out of here. Warn the others, do whatever you must. I'll keep the fight going as long as I can.

Cynder: I'm not leaving you to die here! Not when everything, and everyone, we care about is on the line!

Blade: Hold on. It's not over yet Cynder. I've got a plan that should stop this game.

(Cynder does hear Blade, but she still has her attention directed at Spyro, who places a paw on the barrier, right where hers is on the other side)

Spyro: Don't worry about me. Diend and I should be able to hold them off. You go with Blade, see if his plan will work.

Cynder: I will be back for you. Please, don't die on me...

Spyro: I wouldn't dream of it, Cyn...

(With her determination renewed, Cynder begrudgingly leaves the barrier as her and Blade run off to enact his plan, leaving Spyro and Diend to face Garren and the Albino Joker.)

Diend: You sure we can hold them off?

Spyro: No. But we have to try.

(And as the confrontation appears to begin, our story ends for today)

Okay, that was a lot to take in. Of course, I couldn't go through the Blade Arc without referencing two of the Blade Rider memes right off the bat. If you spotted them, good for you, bask in the hilarity. If not, that's no problem. They are pretty obscure for most people. But, that aside, now we know the Albino Joker's game: Extinction. If Spyro loses, dragons go extinct. If Garren and presumably Diend lose, humans go extinct. Not good. But there's still so many questions! Why is Garren doing this? Where are Chalice and Leangle? All these answers will be revealed in the finale of the Blade Arc. So be sure to tune in for that! Same time... same channel!