-Several hours after the battle, Otto, Spike and Riley are standing in front of a map-
Riley: They got the jump on us there, but not all is lost. Their next target will be the Saskipellian Mines.
Otto: How can you be so sure?
Riley: According to Clydger's ancient prophecy, the three keys were scattered at three isolated points of the world. Our Tope ancestors found the Leviathan Emerald, and the post-Globonitz Beanish must have discovered the Titanic Topaz. Both our civilizations have searched for the Gargantuan Sapphire for hundreds of years. We've scoured the world, searching for it. All attempts ended in failure. After all this time, there is only one more place to look: the area directly surrounding Clydger's lair.
-Riley points to a bright red section of the map-
Otto: Why is there such a deep red color over this section of the map?
Riley: Because this section is off-limits. The Sakipellian Mines lie at the foot of Mount Cleaver, whereas Clydger's fortress sits at the top. This area is constantly being affected by Clydger's magic and thus the territory is rather unstable. People who journeyed there never came out with their minds intact.
Spike: So, why would anyone want to go there? I mean, come on!
Riley: The prophecy also states that once two of the three keys are combined, as Durgen has just done, the magical fluctuations that constantly plague the area will cease. The place should be habitable for just about anybody now.
Spike: That means we need to go there and wipe those Beanish off the map when they strike!
Riley: That might not be so wise. There are always wild creatures that make their home at Mt. Cleaver, and they are some of the most vicious things on the planet! Clydger made them to eliminate those who are unworthy of entering his lair and apparently from the mines, too.
Otto: Now I'm confused. Should we go there or should we sit here and wait for the wild specimens to chase them off?
Riley: We shouldn't rely on the creatures. The Beanish have gotten much more powerful since Clydger created them. Thus, we shall prepare the Topes to enter the Saskipellian Mines and search for the Gargantuan Sapphire. If we find it before Durgen does, we can enter Clydger's lair and warn him about the impending danger. After that, all we do is wait for the old wizard to take them all out himself.
Spike: Enter the mines? What about those deadly animals?
Riley: We'll enter the mines through the northern end of Mt. Cleaver. That's where Clydger's influence was the weakest. They'll be calmer there. Let's just hope that the Beanish go through the direct eastern route. That's far more dangerous, but it's the closest one to their city.
Otto: Speaking of which, where are Rayman and Clyde?
Riley: They're fine. All we need to do is pay a visit to our medics. As unharmed as they were in the battle, they still need to be checked upon. You two go. I'll call the army over and breif them.
Spike: Okay. Let's go, then.
MEANWHILE…
-Durgen and the entire Beanish army are heading towards Mt. Cleaver. He is talking with one of the generals-
Durgen: Ah, good old Mt. Cleaver. Just the place to find the third key. I'm sure Riley and his band of rogues will attempt to stop us by infiltrating the mines before we do.
General: Sir, by all means, we must be careful. Are we planning to enter the mines via the eastern route?
Durgen: No. That would be foolish. As strong as we are, we cannot stand up to the might of those meat-whale Crufts. Those things have the most voracious appetites. We will instead enter through the southern gate. While we will avoid Cruft territory, there's still the matter of the Kamazes and the volatile Boomskys.
General: Boomskys? You mean those giant insects that can explode if they feel threatened?
Durgen: Yes. We need to hit them hard from a distance. Then they'll be of no threat to us. As for the Kamazes, kill them on sight. We can't let those parasites infect us.
General: Understood. We should reach the southern entrance within an hour.
Durgen: Excellent.
-Some time later, the Beanish army stops-
Durgen: We're getting very close to the mountain. Everyone, keep your eyes open for-
Soldier: There! Kamaze swarm, incoming from the east!
General: Ranged attackers! FIRE!
-Several thousand arrows are launched into the sky. Many of the locust-like Kamazes are taken down, but some manage to attack-
Durgen: Blast it! Since when do Kamazes travel in swarms??? Take out the infected soldiers, they will only live a life of suffering now.
-The Beanish that were bitten by the Kamazes are rolling on the ground, screaming. The army advances and puts them out of their misery. More Kamazes are shot down and the remainder flee-
Durgen: Casualties?
General: Eight dead from the Kamazes and twenty-three are down from friendly fire from the ranged attackers.
Durgen: What? Friendly fire? Well, serves them right for being careless. Let's press on them. We've still got two million soldiers where that came from! Collect the Kamaze carcasses. We need all the rations we can get.
General: Kamazes? ………… -gag- uh… Yes, our numbers will overcome any obstacle. FORWARD, HO!
-The Beanish army continues to head towards the base of Mt. Cleaver. Meanwhile…-
Otto: So, you two are all right?
Rayman: We're fine. We just had a few bruises.
Clyde: So, now what?
Otto: We need to go towards the Saskipellian Mines. Riley and the Tope army should be coming shortly.
Rayman: Right, the Topes. I was wondering what those tall red things were.
Spike: Hey, there they are now. Let's go!
Rayman: I can see that this will lead to another adventure. Hopefully, it won't all go down the drain like with the Cyber Freaks.
Clyde: Why do I get the feeling that this is going to be a rather difficult trial?
-The four meet with Riley, who is grouping the Tope army-
Otto: Is everything ready?
Riley: Yes. Our forty thousand troops are ready. While we might have a disadvantage in numbers, we are far ahead of the Beanish in technology. Come along, men! To the northern enterance!
-A while later, the Topes are getting close to their destination. They have not encountered any sort of wildlife resistance-
Spike: Man, this is boring. When are we going to get to the good stuff?
Rayman: Is that all you care about? Blasting things?
Spike: Well… yes. I'm a sadist!
Riley: Quiet down. We musn't rustle up any unwanted attention.
Otto: Hey, did anyone else hear an explosion?
-The Tope army stops and looks to the left. They see several explosions in the distance-
Clyde: What's going on over there?
Riley: Boomskys. They're giant insects that can self-destruct when attacked, although they do sometimes go off from gas buildup… say, why are so many exploding?
Spike: Look over there! It's those Beanish things!
-Indeed, it is. The Beanish army is seen attacking Boomskys, but they look like nothing more than tiny specks from the Topes' perspective-
Riley: Ack! So they are heading towards the mine after all! But, why are they going for the southern entrance? The shafts are highly unstable and a cave-in can easily occur there.
Spike: Say, what's that red thing?
Riley: What? Oh no… DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER STEP!!!
-Everyone stops-
Rayman: What's the big deal? It looks like a long red root that's sticking out of the ground.
Riley: That's not a root. It's an antenna of the most feared predator on the planet, the Cruft. Whatever we do, we must not disturb it. Everyone, slowly and quietly! Work your way around it!
-The Topes begin to slowly march away from the antenna and seem so go rather widely around the area-
Spike: Bah! It's just a stupid bug! Nothing I can't handle!
Clyde: Don't be an idiot! Just listen to what he says and go!
Spike: Hey, I only look out for number one. Take this, insect!
-Spike takes out an explosive and tosses it at the antenna. It explodes, chopping it off cleanly. An earthquake seemingly occurs-
Riley: Oh no… Don't tell me it's waking up!
Otto: Spike, you idiot! Why did you do that?!
Spike: BECAUSE I'M A SADIST! You don't learn very quickly, don't you?
-Suddenly, a tremendous black insect arises from the ground-
Riley: All Topes! Fire weapons on my mark!
-The Cruft reveals what appears to be a large pair of pincers. Saliva oozes from a mouth-like orifice. It lets out a deafing cry-
Rayman: Now that's a big bug. I don't think we should even go near it, though. As much as I hate to say this, we need to run!
-The Cruft begins to crawl towards the Tope army-
Riley: …FIRE!!!
TO BE CONTINUED…