27- Knight of the Lowest Kind

The page was taken back to Arachna castle where he could rest. He still hadn't woken up, but Corona kept constant watch over him.

'What was he trying to tell me?' she wondered to herself. 'He knows who I am?' It was true that Corona didn't remember anything from before the time Seena and Mina found her. She did wonder at times who she really was. But yet, if this man really knew something, did she really want to hear it? Corona was now realizing exactly what the bad feeling she got was about.

"Hm?" Before she realized it, tears were streaming down her face. Although no one was there to watch her, she tried her best to rub them away.

"Hey, Corona!" It was then when Hunter barged into the room.

"H-Hunter?!" Corona stuttered, and tried to look away. Bad timing.

"Is something wrong?" Hunter asked.

"Oh… it's nothing," Corona replied.

"Cheer up," said Hunter. "Why don't you come out and hang with us?"

"I… I guess," Corona replied. She was glad that Hunter was trying to help her. Of course, she always enjoyed spending time with him. She didn't know just how she felt now, but probably, she could get her mind off her worries if she was with Hunter.

Smiling, Corona followed him out of the room.

"Grasshop, you have failed me again," Mantid's voice echoed through the dark fortress.

"M-Mantid-sama, forgive me. Hunter gained a new power. It's like nothing I've never seen before."

"No more excuses," Beerain chided. "You can't do anything without messing it up."

"I suggest Grasshop be punished," said Buguese. "Now it will be even more difficult for us to reclaim the Keys, with Hunter Steele having mastered a new power."

"Grasshop already knows the price of his failure," Mantid replied.

"I do?" Grasshop asked worriedly. "I hope it's not too painful though. I don't really like pain."

"You were expecting pain?" asked Mantid, mockingly.

Grasshop nodded slowly.

"Pain will not teach you a lesson," replied Mantid. "You are fired from the Insector army, Grasshop. I don't want to see you ever again."

"F-fired?" asked Grasshop. "Wait, I think there was something in my ear." He started poking at the side of his head. "Can you say that again?"

"You don't have ears," Beerain pointed out.

"Right, I don't," Grasshop realized. "Then… why did that sound like I was fired?"

"I have no reason to answer that," Mantid said. "Buguese, take care of him. And once you're done, return here. I have something to discuss with you."

"Yes," Buguese replied.

Hunter was staring at the two Oracle Keys, a wide grin across his face.

"Hey Sparkle, you should have seen me out there, yesterday. I was awesome!"

"Sounds nice," said Sparkle. "You really used two Oracle Keys at once?"

"Kyu kyu!" Hotarla added.

"Of course," Hunter gloated. "I took that big bug down with only one shot."

"Would you lay off the ego?" Shadow groaned.

"Well look who's talking," Hunter replied. "And besides, this isn't baseless boasting. I really did do it."

"Can Hotarla and I see?" asked Sparkle.

"Yeah," said Hunter. "Oracle's Power!" He transformed as usual.

"Oracle Key!" He transformed again with the two Keys.

"Nice, huh?" he said.

Corona watched the exchange between Hunter and Sparkle with amusement. Hunter was always so bright and optimistic. It was enough positive energy to make anyone feel good.

"Hunter." Igneous walked up to him, looking bothered.

"Oh, hey Igneous! What do you think?" said Hunter.

"It's a very impressive form," Igneous replied.

"I know, right?" said Hunter. "I must be the strongest Spider Rider ever. I'm like the Hero Brade. Going to Nuuma should be no problem now. I can go alone, and I'll just take Stags down with a single blow."

"Hunter, do you really think it will be that easy?" Igneous asked.

"Well… yeah," said Hunter. "If you saw me in action, you would understand."

"You're overestimating yourself," said Igneous. "Stags isn't your only opponent, you know? There will be many Insectors there. And even then, Stags himself is far more powerful than any machine."

"Says you," Hunter replied. "It's going to be so easy."

"Alright," Igneous replied. "Then why not show me your power? It's been a while since we had a duel."

"A duel?" Hunter looked surprised. "Well, alright. But you don't stand a chance."

Buguese returned to Mantid's room as he was ordered.

"I trust Grasshop was disposed of," said Mantid.

"Indeed," Buguese replied. "He would be truly foolish to try and return here. But Grasshop is more cowardly than foolish. He ran for his life."

"Good," said Mantid. "But that's not what I wanted to talk with you about. I've made a decision, Buguese. Stags power alone is not enough. You must go to Nuuma, and ensure we get possession of the final Oracle Key. That is the only way to make sure of our victory against the Spider Riders."

"Right," said Buguese.

"Of course, you'll take Aqune with you."

Buguese was surprised.

"Shouldn't she stay here, and continue chanting?"

"I don't expect you will be away for long," Mantid answered. "And you may need her abilities to capture the Key."

Hunter prepared himself to fire at Igneous, who made no delay to charge at Hunter, atop Flame's back.

Hunter tried to move away from the incoming blow.

"I missed my chance," he muttered to himself. Igneous swung his weapon down, forcing Hunter to counter.

"Where's your mighty power now?" Igneous asked, as he was quickly taking control of the combat situation.

"Just you wait," said Hunter.

Hunter, always determined, mustered up enough strength to push Igneous away. For a minute, anyway. Igneous knocked Hunter to the ground with a quick movement.

"But how?" Hunter said in shock. "Well, it's not over yet!"

He leapt into the air at his opponent, who countered the blow. Before Hunter realized it, Igneous had him pinned to a wall, sword to his neck.

"I think it's clear who won this fight," Igneous said.

"That's impossible," Hunter replied, though he had resigned to his fate. Somehow, Igneous has overpowered him, despite having his two-key form.

"What happened to the old Hunter?" Igneous asked.

"What do you mean?" questioned Hunter. "I'm still me."

"The Hunter I know was the truest Spider Rider. With his noble heart, he would never, ever give up, until he saved everyone. He wouldn't be fixated on using a single power and quit because it didn't work."

Igneous' words hit Hunter hard. He looked down at the floor, clenching his fists for a moment, before facing Igneous again.

"You're right, you know," Hunter said. "I really was a fool. Thank you for making me realize it, before I really messed up."

"As long as you've learned your lesson, I'm glad," Igneous said.

"Hunter!" Corona too was glad at the outcome of things.

"Guys," said Hunter. "I couldn't ever consider myself a true Spider Rider if we don't go to Nuuma. Please, we have to go."

Before Igneous could answer, Lily ran towards them.

"The page is awake!"

Grasshop, stripped of his power, even his robes that indicated his former place on the Big Four, wandered through the Insector lands.

"I really messed up this time," he thought out loud. "What is my family going to do without me? Will they starve? How could I ever face them again? When they hear I was fired, they'll probably disown me."

Clenching his fists, he decided to keep walking.

"I'll find a way to get my position back. Somehow, I'll make it so far I actually become the Big Four top. Spider Riders, I'll crush you, and get those Oracle Keys!"