The air around the Spiders Palace shimmered with dusk’s final golden rays, casting long shadows across the web-strewn trees and stone pillars that marked the outskirts of Roaracryst’s birthplace. The palace itself loomed with quiet reverence, a place older than the brawlers had ever seen — twisted towers and silk-draped halls like ghostly monuments from another age.

  Roaracryst’s eyes glowed faintly. He took a few slow steps forward, his claws trembling slightly as he touched the tangled webs stretching across a fallen log.

  Roaracryst: “This is… where I came from.”

  Kouchu: (blinking) “Wait, this creepy palace is your hometown?”

  Sakuro: (raising an eyebrow) “No offense, but I expected something less… haunted.”

  Shauna: (gently) “It’s kinda beautiful in a strange way.”

  Roaracryst didn’t reply. Instead, his gaze suddenly sharpened, ears twitching as he dashed ahead with urgency. The brawlers called after him, chasing into the palace grounds.

  ?

  They followed him to a clearing webbed high above the forest floor — a nest of glimmering silk platforms. In the center, a massive spider-like Crystal Monster lay wounded. Its exoskeleton shimmered with dull purple and green hues — a once majestic being now slumped, struggling for breath.

  Roaracryst: (gasping) “Spindrax!”

  Without hesitation, Roaracryst skittered over, lifting the weakened spider into his arms with care. Small spiders scuttled from the shadows, eyes wide.

  Spindrax: (weakly) “You… you returned… Roaracryst…”

  A deep voice boomed from above. The brawlers looked up to see Roaraking (キクモキング Kikumoking) descend from an ornate perch of silk and steel.

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  Roaraking: “Roaracryst… you saved Spindrax, just as you were saved once before.”

  The towering spider lord stepped forward, his eyes glowing with regal pride.

  Roaraking: “You are the chosen one, Roaracryst. I name you worthy heir of the Spider Throne — if you can best Roara#11 in the Trial of Silk.”

  From the shadows emerged a lean, sleek spider Crystal Monster: Roara#11 (キクモエーレビヌ Kikumo11). The challenger hissed, ready and eager to compete.

  ?

  Scene: The Trial of Silk – The Web Race

  The palace transformed — webs spun into winding paths between towers, through tunnels, and across thin strands miles above the forest floor. The brawlers watched in awe from the ground as Roaracryst and Roara#11 crouched at the starting line.

  Kouchu: (clenching fists) “You got this, Roaracryst!”

  Shauna: “We believe in you!”

  A bell echoed. The race began.

  The two spider-like Crystal Monsters dashed across the web paths at incredible speeds — leaping, flipping, twisting through the air. Roara#11 moved with fluid grace, his style polished and precise, but Roaracryst burned with something else — heart.

  Each jump was fueled by memories — training with Kouchu, fighting beside Plantmore, saving Mouselette, laughing at Sakuro’s jokes — it all pushed him forward.

  As they neared the final stretch, Roara#11 attempted to sabotage the path ahead — slicing at the web Roaracryst needed to cross.

  Roaracryst: (growling) “Not this time!”

  With a mighty roar, Roaracryst leapt into the air, creating a temporary silk line with his claw thread, launching himself past Roara#11 and landing at the finish in a cloud of dust.

  He had won.

  ?

  The palace erupted in cheers from the other spiders. Roaraking approached and knelt.

  Roaraking: “You have surpassed all expectations. The throne is yours.”

  The other spiders bowed, chanting Roaracryst’s name.

  But Roaracryst turned to Kouchu, who was staring wide-eyed from the side.

  Roaracryst: (softly, in monster-speak) “…But I don’t want to be a king.”

  Kouchu: (stepping forward) “Roaracryst…?”

  Roaracryst walked to Kouchu, placing his claw against Kouchu’s chest.

  Roaracryst: “My strength doesn’t come from being king. It comes from being with you.”

  Kouchu’s eyes welled up. Shauna wiped her tears too.

  Sakuro: (half-smiling) “Told you he wasn’t going anywhere.”

  Roaraking watched quietly, then nodded.

  Roaraking: “You’ve made your choice. A true leader knows where he belongs.”

  ?

  As the brawlers left the palace, the spiders watched from the high towers, waving. The sun rose behind them, bathing Roaracryst in light as he turned one last time to the place of his birth — and then to Kouchu, his best friend, and continued walking forward.

  Kouchu: (grinning) “Let’s go get the next medal.”

  Roaracryst: (smiling in monster-speak) “Together.”

  To be continued…