AN: Alright, this chapter is a bit different from the norm. I suppose it's sort of similar to the anime's episode 47. Except, I always thought that episode was a ridiculously mundane waste of time. I hope this version is a bit more exciting. I'm usually not one to include OCs (other than villains), but for my idea to work, it had to happen just for this chapter.

42- The End of the World

Hunter was sulking around the castle. No one else was ready to just run out the door and head to the Insector's fortress.

"We can't wait until morning!" Hunter yelled, frustrated. "We don't have much time left!"

"Hunter, would you calm down?" Shadow replied. "I understand how you feel. I want to go there too and stop Mantid. But we shouldn't do anything rash either."

"I guess," Hunter mumbled. "But still-"

"I know it's hard for someone as insensitive as you to see," interrupted Shadow. "But everyone else has their own worries now. Give them some time to rest."

"Okay," Hunter said, though he was slightly offended by the 'insensitive' comment. "We still have two of the Keys anyway. As long as we protect them, Mantid can't win!"

"That's the spirit!" Shadow replied.

"Yeah!" Hunter cheered. "It's going to be alright!" He started walking to the direction of his room. "Maybe I'll get a little rest myself, then. I want to be in tip-top shape to fight against the Insectors."

Once Hunter got to his room though, he saw something that startled him.

"Y-you're the Hero Brade!"

"Not too loud," Brade replied.

"How did you get here?" Hunter asked.

"I have my magic tricks," said Brade.

"Oh yeah, right," replied Hunter. Even though he'd seen it first hand, it was still weird to him.

"I came here because I wanted to speak with you, Hunter," Brade spoke.

"Oh, cool!" replied Hunter. "About what? Should I get the others?"

"No, just you," Brade replied. "And definitely don't get Magma." A chill went up his spine just from mentioning Magma's name.

"Alright," said Hunter, though he was kind of confused.

"I hear that you're going to face Mantid," Brade began.

"Yeah," replied Hunter, nodding.

"It brings back memories," said Brade. "Painful memories."

"What do you mean?" asked Hunter.

"Did you know that Mantid has tried to gather the four Oracle Keys before?" Brade questioned.

"No," replied Hunter.

"Yes, more than once," Brade replied. "I recall one of those times, he nearly succeeded."

"Please tell me what happened," Hunter asked, enthusiastic.

"Yes, I'd like to hear this too," Shadow added.

"I was going to," Brade replied. "Mantid had already gathered three Keys. And the fourth, we learned, was buried in an abandoned underground temple. My team of Spider Riders… well, those who hadn't yet lost their lives… raced to get there before Mantid. And in those days, Mantid didn't stay confined in the castle. He was a strong warrior in his own right, who was willing to fight on the front lines."

"Which Spider Riders were there?" Hunter asked, curiously.

"Your grandfather Digger was one of them, of course," Brade answered, laughing. He knew that was the one Hunter was curious about.

"Awesome!" Hunter exclaimed. "So he helped you stop Mantid?"

"Indeed," Brade replied. "There were two others who joined us on that mission. One of them was called Quartz. He was a strong, muscular man. In a way, he resembled your friend Magma. He was a very reliable comrade. The other was Ruby. She had a small build, but she was a powerful fighter. And quite a beauty too."

"I see," said Hunter. "It's a shame I never got to meet them."

"So the temple is beneath us?" Digger asked.

The four warriors had just arrived on the scene, and were becoming a bit anxious, as Mantid's forces could arrive at any time.

"Then let's go down!" Quartz declared. "Earthquake!"

He fired his signature attack on the ground below them, and it began to shake. As they were on top of a temple after all, a deep hole was created.

"Be more careful," Digger suggested. "We don't want to crush the Key by accident."

"Well I don't suppose you had a better suggestion," Ruby pointed out. She flipped her long red hair behind her, which had been blown around in the shockwaves.

"Hmm… fair enough," said Digger. "Well, let's go in, team!"

"Hold it right there!"

A large black cricket-type Insector appeared before him, many grunts behind him. "You will not get in Mantid-sama's way, Spider Riders!" he declared.

"It's Crick!" Brade shouted.

"Brade, Digger, hurry and get down there!" Ruby yelled. "We can handle him, right, Quartz?"

"Don't think any less of me," replied Quartz.

"Thank you, guys!" said Digger, leaping in.

"Please be careful," added Brade, quickly following.

"Pyra, Spider Out!" Ruby declared, and a fierce-looking red spider appeared before her.

"Sky, Spider Out!" Quartz had an enormous pale blue spider.

"We've got to find the Key!" Brade was frustrated, as they'd yet to have any success.

"Never give up!" Digger declared. "It's got to be here, and we will find it. To me, it's not just the world that's at stake. Unless I can reunite the Keys, I'll probably never see Spirit Oracle again."

Finally, they came across it. The Key sat atop an altar, glimmering. Digger reached out and took the Key. But then, when the two turned around, Mantid stood behind them.

"Good work finding the Key for me, Spider Riders," he said, cruelly. Mantid lunged at Digger with one of his pincers.

"You will not harm him!" Brade declared, managing to pull Digger away.

"Looks like we won't get out of this without a fight," said Digger. "Lunar, Spider Out!"

Digger quickly boarded his spider, pitch black aside from a white stripe across his back, and leapt at Mantid.

"I'll protect this Key, and get back the ones you've stolen!" declared Digger.

Mantid blocked Digger's attack, and didn't seem remotely concerned though.

"Digger, watch out!" Brade cried. Mantid launched an enormous blast of dark energy, resulting in a big explosion.

Quartz and Ruby, who were still locked in combat outside, were concerned to see this. Then, from out of the smoke, Mantid emerged.

"The Oracle Key is mine!" He held it up for all to see.

Brade and Digger made their way back to the surface. Though they were injured, it wasn't enough to keep them from fighting.

"Now I have all of the Keys!" declared Mantid. "And at last, I will have my revenge. All who stand in my way will perish!"

Brade and Digger could only watch in horror as Mantid released a terrible amount of energy, even stronger than before. Quartz and Ruby were caught up in it, as were Crick and some of the other Insector soldiers.

"You… would destroy your own comrades?!" Brade asked, angrily. Not to mention, at that moment two more of his friends were lost forever. He could tell there was no hope in saving them.

As for Digger, he lunged at Mantid with such intense force, knocking the Keys away from him.

"I'd rather… they be scattered around the world once again, then be used for your wicked ambition!" He screamed furiously.

"Then let it be done!" Tapping his staff, Brade cast a spell, and the Keys all went flying. "Please, forgive me my friends. For we fought so hard to protect these."

"No!" screamed Mantid. "I had them! I had all of them! Hero Brade… Digger Steele… you will pay with your lives!"

It seemed Mantid was ready to retaliate. But instead, he fell to the ground, in pain.

"No… my body! Why at a time like this?! I need the power of the Oracle Keys!"

"It's finally over for you, Mantid!" Digger ran toward him, murderous intent in his eyes.

"Don't think… I'll make it… that simple," replied Mantid, weakly. "Brade isn't the only one with tricks." And somehow, he disappeared then.

Having heard the story, Hunter looked sad.

"It's hard to believe. Mantid would even kill his own followers with no remorse?"

"Yes," said Brade. "That is the kind of treacherous man he is. He sees no one as a true friend or comrade."

"I can't believe those Spider Riders also had to die like that," Hunter said.

"I miss them very much," replied Brade. "They stayed back to protect us. Had they been in our place, they would still be here now."

"I'll make sure that things are different this time!" Hunter declared.

"I believe that you may be able to do it," said Brade. "However, you must be extremely careful. I thought that you should know the true ruthlessness of Mantid before you faced him. Know that anyone's lives could be lost."

Much to Hunter's confusion, Brade was just staring at him for a moment.

"You really do resemble Digger," he commented. "Now that the Brave has returned to this world, brighter days are certainly in store."

"Brade, I'll tell this story to the others," Hunter said. "They really need to hear it too."

"That is a good idea," he said. And at that, Brade disappeared before Hunter's eyes.