Chapter 14: Ambush

After Shadow had agreed to join with the Empire, he and the Empire head on back to the Capital to report back to the Emperor on their success of defeating Numa Seika and his army and found a new ally to join the Empire. Esdeath drinking a glass of wine waiting patiently for the arrival to Capital. Shadow crossing his arms with his eyes close minding his own business and remaining quiet during the ride. Esdeath takes a sip before proceed to speak with the ultimate life form.

"You seem to be very quiet. You're not much of a talkative type aren't you?" Esdeath questioned.

Shadow open his eyes and say just one word.

"No." Shadow responded.

"You're very dark and different. I like that. Perhaps my men and the three bodyguards should learn a thing from you." Esdeath exclaimed.

"Three bodyguards?"

"Yes. They're called the Three Beasts. They served me and the Empire as their leader."

"You don't say. If you're trying to add me into the team don't. I don't any part of."

"I wasn't planning to. You're power is greater from what I've seen. Tell me, are you the only one that possess the power of Chaos?"

"No. I assume that my rival wields the power as well. From our last fight, it somehow given me new powers and the abilities that I've used from our previous fight."

"Yes. I remember. With your powers, it will be a great use for the Empire to take down the Revolutionary army."

"There rebels here?"

"Yes. People that rebel and fight the Empire and it has been going on for some time now and we won't let the rebels destroy the Empire no matter what it takes. They also used Imperial Arms."

"Imperial Arms?"

"You've never heard of the name?"

"No but I'm guessing that they're like special weapons that contains various abilities and techniques while wielding one of those weapons."

"Yes. I believe you are correct. Long ago, the Emperor of the Empire decided to create the Imperial Arms to protect the Capital and the world from different Danger Beasts that hold special abilities."

"How many are there?"

"Forty eight weapons."

"That many. Has anyone find all total of 48 Imperial Arms?"

"Not exactly. We found some and they're in good use. Perhaps there could be one for you to use back at the Capital."

"I prefer using my powers and my sword. I still have a score to settle against my rival."

"Tell me about this rival of yours?"

"He's a hedgehog like me but he's blue. He's very fast, he's the fastest hedgehog I've known I'm also fast too so we have the same speed but my rival's speed is beyond incredible. He's even a hero and lives up to his name."

"A hero huh? Sounds more like a revolutionary hero to me."

"Say what you want, I don't care. All it matters that I find and finish what I started."

"You seem to have a personal vendetta against this rival of yours. If you don't mind me asking what has he done to you that made you like this?"

"He always finds a way to beat me. Everytime we fight and when I put full force against him he always comes on top and outclassed me."

"He's bested you many times."

"Yes and I refuse to let that scumbag defeat me anymore and I will proof to him that I AM the Ultimate Life Form and not wanted to be messed with."

Esdeath couldn't help but to lick her lips seeing this side of Shadow that made her have goosebumps.

"Mmm. You're my kind of guy Shadow. I'm quite certain that we will get along just fine." Esdeath stated.

"Just don't get in my way."

"I'll try to remember that."

As the Empire continue their way back to the Capital until all of sudden, one of the troops was exterminated by an arrow that was shot out of nowhere and it alerted the entire army as they stand guard. Esdeath find out the carriage is stopped and steps out to find out what's going on.

"What the hell is going on here." Esdeath questioned demanding an answer.

"Someone attacked our own ma'am." The guard informed.

All of sudden, a few of the attackers pop out of nowhere and start killing a few Empire guards. One of them try to get Esdeath but the general freeze the attacker and breaks the ice, killing the victim into pieces.

"We're being ambushed by the Revolutionary Army, kill them all!" Esdeath commanded.

"Yes ma'am!" the guards obeyed.

And with that the Empire counter off the Revolutionary army from their ambush as they fought back working together. The Revolutionary army kill the guards many as they can showing no mercy and try to exterminate Esdeath. As for Esdeath, the ice queen using her speed, quickness, and her swordswomanship as she draw out her sword and killing a few that stand in her wall then even freeze a few of the army before killing them into pieces of ice.

Shadow exit out of the carriage seeing the mess and the fight breaks out. Shadow soon realize that it has to be the Revolutionary army that caused the ambush. The ultimate life form crack his neck and draws out his sword and hold it backwards in a reverse grip. Shadow slice one of the attackers in half after sensing an incoming attack. Shadow then use his speed and start going on a killing spree as he takes out multiple Revolutionary army attackers during the ambush that left the Empire speechless including Esdeath witnessing Shadow's speed, agility, endurance, and strength.

Shadow using his martial arts to kick them away from then swung his sword killing a few more then blasted a barrage of Chaos Spears to multiple attackers that pierce them through showing no mercy. Slowly, this violence start to affect Shadow and he doesn't know it at least not yet. After feeling anger and the humiliation that Sonic had put Shadow through beating him numerous times had affected him and made him to what he will slowly become. Shadow slowly will become the hedgehog that he used to be back at the Space Colony Ark incident.

Esdeath watching on seeing Shadow being brutal and attacking the attackers to stop this ambush. Shadow slice the attacker's head off and kicks it over to another attacker then knee kicks him up in the air and slices him in half that cause the blood and gore to splatter out the body. Shadow had begun spilling blood and just kept showing his unique skills, abilities, techniques that the Revolutionary Army as seen including the Empire.

After finishing one of the attackers, the Revolutionary Army attackers begin retreating, falling back from the massacre. Shadow was just about to go after them but Esdeath stop him there.

"No. Better let me take care of it and show you what I can really do." Esdeath insisted.

Shadow sheathe his sword and let the general take care the rest. Esdeath with that sadistic grin, she summon multiple icicles of ice and hurls them over to kill the remaining of the Revolutionary Army, spilling a lot more blood and killing the remainder of the attackers. After the problem is dealt with, the Empire guards attend to the wound from the ambush and Esdeath takes Sonic back inside the carriage.

"We made a pretty good team Shadow, perhaps we should team up some more again." Esdeath complimented.

"Humph. Whatever, I just did what I have to do. I don't take orders from anyone." Shadow countered crossing his arms.

"You're free to do whatever you please. Seeing a side of you is exciting."

"Are you trying to seduce me? Don't try."

"Just a compliment Shadow. However, I've been doing some thinking."

"What's that?"

"I want to find love."

"You want to find love?"

"Yes. I've been thinking about it for some time now."

"I'm sure that the Emperor can provide that for you."

"I'm quite certain he will. I'm quite loyal to the Emperor and the Empire."

"You don't say. So how long will be arriving to the Capital?"

"Days. We won't be long so we'll be getting there as fast as we can after all I'm still needed by the Emperor and must come up with new plans to counter off the Revolutionary army."

"Humph. This could get interesting. Hopefully I'll find Sonic at the Capital, if not I'll hunt him down if I have to." Shadow thought.