Chapter 10
Super Battle
Everyone was giving it their all and some were starting to do some kind of damage to the Phantoms, but not near enough to stop them. The smoke was clearing as the fight continued, everyone was fiercely battling. The Resistance was doing its best to keep the Phantom Troopers from getting to the altar, but slowly they were getting closer. The smoke was almost gone as both sides were in the heat of battle to notice what was occurring at the Altar of the Emeralds, except for the Phantom Emperor, who hovered above everyone in battle through the remaining smoke. The smoke had completely cleared as the Phantom Emperor landed at the bottom step of the altar and looked up; at the top of the steps revealed five powerful figures with brightly colored aura.
"We'll take it from here!", said Super Knuckles as he looked down at the Emperor of the Phantoms. Everyone stopped fighting and looked over at the magnificent site of the five heroic figures standing at the top of the steps of the altar. The Chao even came out from behind the altar to witness their great presence, but with great caution. Super Sonic, Super Shadow, Super Silver, and Burning Blaze flew over to the others and looked down at the Phantom Troopers, while Super Knuckles kept his eyes focused on the Phantom Emperor. "You're mine.", Super Knuckles said.
Time seemed to be slow as the site of the transformed heroes shocked and surprised everyone, except the Phantoms. The eerie silence was broken as Sonic made the next move, flying down into the group of Phantom Troopers and attacking them with seemingly impossible speeds! Super Shadow, Super Silver, and Burning Blaze joined in as the Resistance gathered on either side of the Altar of the Emeralds with Chao watching in their numbers as well. Super Knuckles and the Phantom Emperor continued to glare at each other before the Emperor backed up away from the Altar of the Emeralds and got into a stance. Super Knuckles jumped off the top step and landed a few feet away from the Emperor, and also got into a stance, prepared for battle.
Super Knuckles punched and slid forward at the Emperor at high speed. The Phantom Emperor didn't move as Super Knuckles made contact with the chrome armor. The attack didn't even scratch it; "What!?", said Super Knuckles, surprised. The Phantom Emperor quickly struck Super Knuckles with his free hand, backhanding his head. "Agh!", yelled Knuckles as he fell to the ground and left a crack in it. He got up and then smirked at the Phantom Emperor as he dusted himself off. "I hope you can do more than that.", Knuckles said with a cocked attitude as he wiped the blood from his mouth. The Emperor gave no expression as he hovered back and grabbed his staff with both of his hands. Knuckles came at him again but faked a punch and did a kick to the side at the armored Emperor. It hit but the Phantom Emperor didn't budge; meanwhile, the Phantom Troopers were dealing with the other heroes in their super forms.
Super Sonic was zipping through the Phantoms and mopping the floor with them with the help of Super Shadow and Super Silver too, while Burning Blaze was shooting large balls of fire at them. The Phantom Troopers were flying out of the group in all directions as Super Sonic, Super Shadow, and Super Silver punched, kicked, homing attacked, and used their Chaos powers to dent and crack the armor that the Troopers wore. They couldn't keep up with all three of the hedgehogs and missed Blaze when using their weapons because of her speed. Within a matter of minutes, the Phantom Troopers were destroyed, the heroes finishing the job with a Chaos blast performed together, leaving the ground cracked and broken! The others cheered but focused back on the fight between Super Knuckles and the Phantom Emperor.
Super Knuckles pulled himself up near the rock that he was hurled next to by the Phantom Emperor. He punched the large rock, shattering it into pieces, then he punched and kicked the pieces at the Emperor. The Phantom Emperor spun his staff around and it either deflected or broke the pieces. "He's good.", commented Super Sonic as the four others in super form landed near the Master Emerald. They all watched the intense battle between the Phantom Emperor and Super Knuckles, but Super Knuckles wasn't doing too well.
"I am the leader of the Resistance!", Said Super Knuckles as he expressed a determined and angered look. "I-", Knuckles said but couldn't finish as everyone watched the Phantom Emperor appear right in front of Super Knuckles with his fist in his gut. Super Knuckles hit the ground and lost his super form instantly. "Knuckles!", yelled Sonic. "Oh no!", yelled Amy. "Ahw!", yelled Tails, while others were gasping or yelled something similar. Knuckles stirred around on the floor trying to get up, but the Phantom Emperor floated down as his feet lowered from the saucer-like object he'd been using to float. He walked over to the injured Knuckles and kicked him into the wall then began to punch him with his free hand at an incredible speed in quick succession. 'That's the leader! He has the Phantom Ruby!', Espio thought as he saw the being more closely. "No! Knuckles, no!", yelled Amy; meanwhile, the commotion was faintly heard by Tikal as she regained consciousness.
"Ohhh! My head!", she said aloud as she held it and sat up. Vector was next to her on one side and Amy on the other as they both tended to Tikal and explained what was going on, as Tails felt concern for Knuckles. 'What should I do?', he thought. The Phantom Emperor stopped and turned as Knuckles coughed up blood and fell forward into the dirt, knocked out. 'Damn! I thought he'd be able to do something!', Super Sonic thought as he looked at Knuckles, and he and Burning Blaze hovered over to the Altar and landed next to the steps. "Let me try.", said Super Shadow as he hovered over to the Phantom Emperor and landed a few feet in front of him.
The Phantom Emperor stared at Super Shadow with no emotional expression as Super Shadow stared back. Super Shadow darted forward at super speed, but he instantly stopped as he was mere inches away from the Emperor. The top of the Phantom Emperor's staff was against Super Shadow's head as a noise came from it (Phantom Ruby sfx) and Shadow couldn't move. He kicked Super Shadow away as the gold hedgehog with red stripes flipped backward off the cliff. Super Shadow managed to recover himself and flew back over to continue the fight. He started to fly around the Emperor at high speed, causing a visible rotation of air to form around him. It became a vortex that sucked up debris and rocks around the area, but the Phantom Emperor tapped the ground with his staff and the Phantom Ruby beckoned, causing the vortex to disappear and reappear around the Resistance! "Grrr!", growled Super Shadow as he stopped and saw everyone except those in super form and the Phantom Emperor get sucked into the vortex. Super Sonic and Burning Blaze sprung into action, grabbing them and the Chao from the clutches of the vortex. They set them down near Knuckles so they could use the large boulders for safety. Super Shadow flew up into the air and hovered, looking down at the Phantom Emperor. "Chaos Spear!", shouted Super Shadow as he swiped his hand to the side, releasing a blast of energy in the shape of a spear at the Emperor. The Phantom Emperor held out his free hand as the energy approached and redirected it right back to Super Shadow. "Huh!?", Super Shadow said while performing the move again. Both Chaos Spears collided, and split each other apart into pieces and faded away. "Whoa! He sent the attack back!", said Tails. "Just what are you?", asked Super Shadow, but the Phantom Emperor stayed silent.
'This guy needs to be finished off soon', thought Super Silver as he watched the fight. The Phantom Emperor's eyes flashed and an array of purple energy pulsed from both of his eyes. Super Shadow's body jolted and as the white of his eyes turned black and his eyes turned magenta. 'That's it, I'm not waiting!', Super Silver thought as he rushed at the Phantom Emperor. He was met by a knee to the stomach that was delivered by Super Shadow. "What are you doing, Shadow!?", Super Silver asked after he coughed and groaned. Super Shadow then grabbed him by the neck and slammed him down into the ground, causing it to bust. "Shadow, what's your problem!?", asked Super Sonic as his facial expression showed concern. Super Shadow laughed wickedly as he quickly dropped down towards Super Silver and stomped on him with both feet at the same time. "That's enough!", commanded Super Sonic, as he flew at Shadow. "What's going on here?", asked Espio. "Hmm.", Eggman remarked as he rubbed his chin.
Sonic came at Super Shadow with a punch, but Super Shadow grabbed his fist and twisted Super Sonic's arm. "Agh!", yelled Super Sonic as he then tried to kick at Super Shadow, but it was blocked by his other hand and then pushed away. Super Shadow then turned to the side quickly while lifting his leg up to kick, and sent Super Sonic back; "Ugh!", exclaimed Super Sonic as he crashed into the remaining stairs of the altar, further destroying them. "I see what's happening now.", said Eggman. "What would that be?", asked Espio. "Well, isn't it obvious? He's being controlled.", Eggman said, rhetorically. "I see now. So he's now Phantom Super Shadow.", said Espio. "Controlled?", Super Silver said questionably as he slowly got up, but Phantom Super Shadow kicked him up and then punched him back down before kicking him away. Super Silver growled as he got to his feet. "If that's how you want it then!", said Super Silver before flying around Phantom Super Shadow while firing Chaos Energy at him. Phantom Super Shadow blinked and appeared at one point then another repeatedly, avoiding each shot. "No way you can be that fast!", said Super Silver. "Snap out of it, Shadow!", shouted Vector. Super Sonic got back up and saw the Phantom Emperor jump up towards Super Silver. "Silver, watch out!", Super Sonic exclaimed, but as Super Silver turned to face the Emperor, it was too late.
Phantom Super Shadow punched the side of Super Silver's head as The Phantom Emperor stuck out his free hand and a clear magenta structure, in the shape of the Phantom Ruby formed around Super Silver as he began to blink. Super Silver lost his super form, while he was being encased. The Phantom Emperor then sent out a pulse of purple energy that made everyone watching unable to move. The Phantom Emperor's staff transformed into a golden blade with the magenta gem in the handle. He struck and slashed at the magenta enclosure around Silver at impossible speed as Phantom Super Shadow used Chaos Energy to attack the other side. With a vertical slice to the structure, the Phantom Emperor pulled back his sword and a magenta aura formed around it. Sonic finally forced himself to move and headed over towards them. The Phantom Emperor stabbed at the magenta enclosure before Super Sonic made it and the enclosure was shattered as it exploded, everyone else could only watch helplessly. Both Silver and Phantom Super Shadow were now out of their super form and both fell to the ground, completely limp, while also, the Phantom Emperor released his control over Phantom Super Shadow.
Super Sonic descended to the ground and fell to his knees as he looked down. "I couldn't do anything...", he said. The Phantom Emperor hovered down and landed in front of Super Sonic. Super Sonic was kicked away without time to think, and he flew backward towards the altar. His head collided with the destroyed steps and he bounced upwards and rolled to the Master Emerald. His head was bruised, battered, and was bleeding. His body was in serious pain, but he wasn't going to quit now or ever until his last breath. He balled up his fists and hit the ground as he got to his knees. He tried to stand as he grabbed the top of the Master Emerald to pull himself up. 'This isn't over yet! Not until I give it everything I've got! I can't quit, and I won't, not now, or ever! I must protect my friends at all cost!', Super Sonic thought to himself.