Welcome back to Prophecy of Masks. Last time, Kabuto and Gatack arrived on the scene and exposed the Gryllus Worm, who was apparently possessing Ignitus, rather than straight up mimicking him. Meanwhile, Decade and Diend apparently have located where Oma Zi-O had Geiz hidden away, wanting to get Spyro and Cynder involved asap, but instead only get Woz to join them while the rest stayed back to track down the Gryllus Worm, who has just fled as the last chapter ended. So, what awaits? Read on to discover...

(Our story resumes out in the Temple Gardens, where Spyro, Cynder, and Tsukuyomi are catching up to Kabuto and Gatack, only to see the two are, of all things, fighting each other. Seeing as the trio had previously seen these two fighting alongside one another, seeing them fight each other is rather confusing)

Spyro: Wait a second, weren't they just on the same side?

Cynder: Gryllus must've possessed one of them, like he did to Ignitus.

Spyro: Going to make judging which is possessed a lot harder, since we don't really know them.

Tsukuyomi: So how are we supposed to tell who's who?

Spyro: (Pulling out Decade's Kabuto Card) I think this may do it.

Cynder: (Seeing the card) It's a risky maneuver, but we have to try. Presumably Gryllus wouldn't set off the card like the last few did.

Spyro: It's not just the card, I'm planning on... (Whispers the plan to Cynder)

Cynder: (Seeing where he's going) Spyro, you're a genius!

Spyro: I have my moments.

Tsukuyomi: (Not seeing it) Am I the only one going in completely blind?

Cynder: I'll explain on the way down.

(With that, Spyro, Cynder, and Tsukuyomi leap into the fray and attempt to separate Kabuto and Gatack before they kill each other)

Kabuto: Thank goodness you got here when you did! Gryllus possessed Kagami and tried to kill me!

Gatack: Don't believe him! Gryllus possessed Tendo, not me!

Spyro: Calm yourselves, we've got a plan.

(With that, Spyro pulls out the card Decade gave him and throws it to Kabuto. And the card immediately activates, revealing the full color photo of Kabuto. Beneath his helmet, Gatack appears to be sweating nervously. But just as he is about to fill his helmet with sweat, Cynder sees this, and kicks Kabuto in the head, knocking the Gryllus Worm out of him)

Gryllus Worm: How did you know?!

Cynder: We didn't. All I needed was to see the reaction when that card activated.

Spyro: Those cards activate when the Rider is present. Seeing how nervous your friend here looked, that gave everything away. You looked so assured, despite not knowing how they worked.

Cynder: In short, your own ignorance gave you away.

Gryllus Worm: Why you little...

(But before the Gryllus Worm can do anything, Kabuto gets up and punches him square across the face.)

Kabuto: You ever try to possess me again, I'm going to lose it.

Gatack: Not like that possession ability would work again, all five of us would know it's him.

Spyro: Good to know we've rendered Malefor's power upgrade useless.

(With that, the Gryllus Worm starts laughing)

Gryllus Worm: You think that's the only blessing my master gave me? That was a minor one if anything! (Holds his arm into the air) THIS is what my master has blessed me with!

(At the Gryllus Worm's seeming command, some kind of spacetime distortion opens up, allowing some sort of robotic wasp, undoubtedly a Zecter like Kabuto and Gatack use, which attaches to his hand underneath his wrist spike before it turns around, turning into some sort of stinger)

Kabuto: The TheBee Zecter?!

Gatack: I thought that thing was destroyed!

Gryllus Worm: When Lord Malefor is involved, anything is possible. And with this Zecter, there's nothing the five of you can do to stop me.

(As the Gryllus Worm starts to move into offensive, our quintet of heroes holds their ground)

Cynder: There may only be five of us, but you'll find we're tougher than you'd think.

Gryllus Worm: It doesn't matter.

?: Then how about 10 of us?!

(This seems to catch everyone off guard before we transition to the edge of the garden, where five figures now stand, two looking like they're fresh out of a metal band audition, another wearing some sort of dark beige ensemble complete with beret looking like he just left a movie studio's makeup trailer and holding some sort of gun grip, the next a man dressed in white like some kind of prince wielding a purple and black sword, and the last looks exactly like Kabuto out of suit.)

Kabuto: (In stunned surprise) Kusakabe? You survived?

Dark Kabuto: (Showing off the yellow glow of a ghost) No. But lets just say I thought you could use some help. So I came back and gathered some friends.

Sasword: (Putting his sword in the ground as he glows yellow) I wouldn't call us friends just yet.

Dark Kabuto: Come on, Tsurugi, lighten up. (To one of the metal figures) At least you're glad to be back, eh Shun?

PunchHopper: (Glowing yellow) The afterlife was getting pretty boring anyways.

Gatack: Daisuke? So? You came back too?

Drake: Figured you'd need as much of the core quartet as possible.

KickHopper: And no fight would be complete without the Hell Brothers.

PunchHopper: (Fist-bumping KickHopper) Agreed.

Dark Kabuto: (To his companions) Ready? (All four agree) Then let's do this!

(With that proclamation, five spacetime rifts open, revealing five new Zecters, a black version of the Kabuto Zecter, two grasshopper looking ones, a purple scorpion one scuttling along the ground, and a blue dragonfly flying through the air.)

Sasword Zecter: Standby!

(As all of this happens, Dark Kabuto slings on a belt similar to Kabuto and Gatack's, as KickHopper and PunchHoppers pressing a button on the top of their belts, causing a track to be revealed behind the silver plate as each catches their Zecters, and as this happens, each Rider grabs their Zecters save Drake, who's Zecter just settles into the gun grip, while Dark Kabuto goes through the same motions as normal Kabuto, PunchHopper and KickHopper just slide theirs onto their belts, and Sasword places his onto his sword)

Dark Kabuto, PunchHopper, KickHopper, Drake, and Sasword: Henshin!

Zecters: Henshin.

(With that, each Rider starts generating armor like Kabuto and Gatack did earlier, only PunchHopper and KickHopper are already battle ready, in suits if silver and brown with yellow eyes for PunchHopper and silver and green with red eyes for KickHopper, but with both having a golden extender resembling a grasshopper leg, on PunchHopper's arm and KickHopper's leg)

Hopper Zecter 1: Change: PunchHopper!

Hopper Zecter 2: Change: KickHopper!

(While PunchHopper and KickHopper transform, the armor forms completely for the rest: Sasword in a purple and brown armor covered in what look like hydraulic tubes, Drake in some sort of aviation gear, and Dark Kabuto looking exactly like Kabuto, save with yellow eyes. And like Kabuto, Dark Kabuto pulls back the horns on his Zecter to finish his transformation while Drake pulls the hammer on his now finished gun while Sasword lifts up the tail on his scorpion)

Sasword, Drake, and Dark Kabuto: Cast Off!

Zecters: Cast Off!

(And just as with Kabuto and Gatack before them, the armor on these riders starts to break apart before exploding off, as Dark Kabuto's horn folds up, revealing the black and red Kabuto suit he uses. Meanwhile, Sasword reveals a more purple armor as he slams the tail of his scorpion back down, revealing a scorpion tail headpiece over green eyes and generally purple and silver armor. And Drake reveals his blue and silver armor with dragonfly wing visor)

Dark Kabuto Zecter: Change: Beetle!

Drake Zecter: Change: Dragonfly!

Sasword Zecter: Change: Scorpion!

(With that, the original group of five joins up with the new group, ready for a final battle. But the Gryllus Worm seems unphased)

Gryllus Worm: Bring it on.

(With the Gryllus Worm's taunting, the battle begins. Kabuto and his allies rush in against their foe, who due to the possession of the TheBee Zecter, can infuse his attacks with some kind of lightning, only to be joined swiftly by Spyro, Cynder, and Tsukuyomi. After a few minutes of this, the Gryllus Worm reveals he's just been toying with them)

Gryllus Worm: You really think this is all I can do?

(With this threat known, the Gryllus Worm seems to disappear before everybody in the field starts getting hit by something unseen)

Spyro: (Wiping blood from his lip from his injury) What the heck was that?!

Kabuto: Of course I forgot Worms exhibit super speed.

Gatack: You seriously forgot?!

Kabuto: It's been a while since I fought Worms specifically. Work with me here!

Dark Kabuto: Can we just get into this? (Hits a button on the side of his belt) Clock Up!

Dark Kabuto Zecter: Clock Up!

Kabuto: Agreed.

All Zecters: (As each Rider with one hits the side of their belt) Clock Up!

(This pronouncement made, each of the Zecter wielding Riders vanish only for random sparks to appear in the sky as everybody else stands back, confused as to what is happening here.)

Cynder: Okay, they can do this? (To Spyro) This may be a good time to break out your Time element!

Spyro: My thoughts exactly.

(With that, Spyro channels the golden energy of his seemingly forgotten Time element into his eyes, allowing him to see the fight scene playing out, familiarizing himself with the locations of each of the players.)

Cynder: Got your eyes on them?

Spyro: Barely.

Cynder: You can see the future using this power, but you can hardly keep an eye on them?

Spyro: I can see a possible path of the future, usually the most likely one. In actuality, I'm more trying to accelerate the way my brain processes information to the same state it's in when I use Dragon Time. And since these guys are likely moving a significant portion of the speed of light, it's not easy to keep a good track on them.

(As this conversation is going on, Kabuto, who is at a stalemate alongside the rest of his team, sees that Spyro is trying to actually see them. As soon as he realizes that's what's going on, Kabuto uses some sort of hand signs, which Spyro is at first confused by, but then puts it together.)

Spyro: Got it. (To Tsukuyomi) Tsukuyomi, think you can trigger that light you used to destroy Sagittarius?

Tsukuyomi: (Conjures the exact light Spyro was talking about) The Luminous Fractor? No issue.

Spyro: Wait, since when did you call it that?

Tsukuyomi: Made it up when we got back. Anyways, your point?

Spyro: I need you to throw a bolt of it, where I say, when I say to.

Cynder: Sounds like Kabuto's got a plan.

Spyro: At least I think this is it.

Tsukuyomi: (Forming the Luminous Fractor into a blade) Just say when and where.

Spyro: Hold... (Sees the signal from Kabuto, then points at a spot ahead of where he sees Kabuto being) NOW!

(Just as planned, Tsukuyomi extends the blade of the Luminous Fractor right to the point where Spyro indicated, managing to hit the Gryllus Worm in the arm, knocking the TheBee Zecter off of it, and tripping him up. Seeing the enemy is down, the invisible Riders hit the sides of their belts again to slow down, as each materializes)

Zecters: Clock Over.

Kabuto: (Picking up the TheBee Zecter) Not exactly what I was planning, but excellently done regardless!

Gryllus Worm: (Seeing Kabuto has his Zecter) You haven't even set me back, fool!

(Just as the Gryllus Worm is about to insult Kabuto, another space time distortion appears, revealing a red and silver beetle Zecter, with a lever for a horn, which Kabuto catches in his other hand)

Kabuto: As much as I'd love to hear what you have to say, I'm afraid we've got better things to do.

(With that, Kabuto attaches the new Zecter to the side of his belt, the same point that engages the Clock Up, twisting it so it's horn faces his shoulder)

Kabuto: Hyper Cast Off!

(With his battle cry known, Kabuto presses the lever horn on his second Zecter)

Hyper Zecter: Hyper Cast Off! Change Hyper Beetle!

(As the announcement is made, Kabuto's armor changes, turning from entirely red to red and silver on the chest plate, with the displaced red moving to his knees and around his legs as his horn changes to be a bit wider)

Kabuto: Time to finish this off.

(With that, Kabuto appears to tear apart spacetime itself and grabs what looks like a red, black, and gold sword with four buttons on it, the buttons matching Kabuto, Drake, Sasword, and the TheBee Zecter in terms of color, before closing the rift)

Drake: (Realizing what Kabuto intends to do, while folding up the Drake Zecter's wings to form a rail sight) Let's do this.

Sasword: (Taking up his sword) Agreed.

(With that, Drake pulls back the hammer on his gun again, as Sasword lifts and rests the Sasword Zecter's tail again)

Drake: Rider Shooting!

Sasword: Rider Slash!

Drake Zecter: Rider Shooting!

Sasword Zecter: Rider Slash!

(With their pronouncements made, Drake channels a stream of electricity through his visor and into his gun, before releasing the blast. Meanwhile, a surge of power moves through Sasword, turning into a viscous purple venom at the blade of his sword, giving him the sign he needs to charge forward and slash into the Gryllus Worm just as Drake's blast hits, and which point, both Riders take their Zecters from their weapons and throw them into the air, causing them to head straight to Kabuto, just as he releases the TheBee Zecter, all three of which merge with his sword, TheBee forming a point, Drake attaching near the hilt, and Sasword on the underside of where Drake rests.)

PunchHopper: Time for things to kick off!

KickHopper: I couldn't agree more!

(With this statement, both of the Hopper Riders adjust the legs on their Zecters)

Hopper Zecters: Rider Jump!

(This move causes energy to arc through their legs, and as both leap into the air, they reset the legs on their Zecters to make their finishers)

KickHopper Zecter: Rider Kick!

PunchHopper Zecter: Rider Punch!

(With the pronouncements made, the two Riders land their blows on the Gryllus Worm, each shot amplified by the golden extender on their legs and arms respectively. The blows knock Gryllus off his feet, and directly into the path of Dark Kabuto and Gatack)

Dark Kabuto: Shall we?

Gatack: Let's.

(With that, Kabuto presses down on the legs of the Dark Kabuto Zecter at the side of his head, right to left, while Gatack presses a button on the front of the Gatack Zecter, before resetting their Zecters to their insect form)

Dark Kabuto Zecter: 1! 2! 3!

Gatack Zecter: 1! 2! 3!

Dark Kabuto and Gatack: Rider Kick!

Dark Kabuto and Gatack Zecters: (As their respective Riders set their Zecters back into the activated state) Rider Kick!

(With energy coursing through them, Gatack runs forward first, and delivers a devastating side kick to the barely recovered Gryllus Worm, before Dark Kabuto leaps over his head and brings in a devastating flying kick, which knocks the Gryllus Worm back far enough so Tsukuyomi can extend the Luminos Fractor again and use it like an actual sword, actually severing the Gryllus Worm's arm spike)

Tsukyomi: He's all yours now, guys!

Spyro and Cynder: (Standing at Kabuto's side) With pleasure.

Kabuto: Time to finish this!

(With that, Kabuto presses the four buttons on his sword, channeling immense amounts of energy through them)

Perfect Zecter: Kabuto, TheBee, Drake, Sasword Power! All Zecter Combine! Maximum Hyper Typhoon!

(As energy flows through the Perfect Zecter, Spyro and Cynder charge up blasts of Aether and Dark Aether. And then all three unleash their attacks at once, the energy from Kabuto's slash merging with the power of the twin Aethers, tearing the Gryllus Worm apart as it hits him. And as the Mark of Malefor glows upon his severed arm spike, Gryllus is obliterated in a burst of green flame resembling the beetle horn on Kabuto's head, as his severed arm spike dissolves into ash, revealing a red and silver Ridewatch with Kabuto's face on it, claimed by Cynder as each Rider returns to their civilian forms)

Cynder: Well, only six left.

Sasword: (Reclaiming his Zecter) I'll say it, that was the most excitement I've had in years!

PunchHopper: Hey, anything beats being dead.

Kabuto: (To Dark Kabuto) Can we count on you to show if we need you again?

Dark Kabuto: (With a slight chuckle) As sure as your shadow.

(And just like that, Dark Kabuto, Sasword, and Punch Hopper dissolve into golden light, as the prior ghosts have done, leaving the rest alone)

Drake: I will never get used to this.

Gatack: You and me both.

Spyro: Well, with that bit of excitement out of the way, we've really got to get moving. We've got to catch up with Decade and find Zolda some help for catering.

KickHopper: What's the occasion?

Kabuto: If I had to guess, their wedding.

Cynder: (Surprised) Yes. How did you know that?

Kabuto: The bond between you two is so strong it's almost palpable. It's no wonder you two are about to tie the knot. (Thinking about it) You know what? Tell old Goro I'll help him out.

Spyro: You sure?

Gatack: Believe me, he's an awesome cook.

Kabuto: And besides... (Holding his hand to sky) Grandmother said this: "The first meal shared in matrimony is the one all that follow will be in memory of, so make it the best". I could think of nothing better to do on a slight vacation. I'll get acquainted with the menu from Goro.

Cynder: Well... thank you, thank you very much!

(And just as things appear to be going well, an Aurora Curtain opens up, and Woz stumbles out, looking bruised and beaten)

Spyro: Woz?

Woz: Lord Spyro! Lady Cynder! There's... (Seeing what's going on here, including the Perfect Zecter embedded in the ground) One moment, got to to my thing. (Opens his battle damaged book) Rejoice! Another of the Malefic Villains has fallen! And Lord Spyro and Lady Cynder have claimed their newest Rider Allies: Kamen Riders Kabuto, Gatack, Drake, Sasword, KickHopper, PunchHopper, and Dark Kabuto! May their alliance last until light no longer speeds to the future!

Cynder: Wait, how did you even know that many people were here?

Woz: I was watching the battle through an Aurora Curtain. But that's not important now, milady. It's Tsukasa, he and Daiki have been captured in their attempt to rescue Geiz. I was the only one to make it out. We have to rescue them. Now!

Spyro: Then we haven't a moment to lose!

(Seeing the urgency, Spyro and Cynder run through the Aurora Curtain, taking Woz with them. And just as it closes, we get a glimpse at their destination, a land divided by a massive grey wall, branching in three places, with a tower slowly being constructed where the points meet, being observed with worry by a man in a white and black striped shirt, khaki jacket, and black hair, clearly in an incredulous state.)

Build: How is this possible? He was erased from existence!

(Just as Build starts pondering how this happened, a patch of his hair springs up, as if triggered to do so by the stress. As Build smooths it back down, he leaves the scene, ready to do something about this, as our story ends for today)

And that wraps up the Kabuto Arc! I'll admit, this probably wasn't my best. I really had nothing for Kabuto. He's really one of those Riders that didn't interest me. So I just did something quick to set up the next story. Which as we can see, will center around the Rider from another reality, the genius scientist and master of physics: Sento Kiryu, Kamen Rider Build! In other words, the first Rider who's adventures I never observed. But I do know this series was utterly ridiculous in it's comedic senses. So expect to see a bit of that starting next time, as the Build Arc begins! So be sure to tune in for that! Same time... same channel!