Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story.

Chapter 25: Floor 10: Knuckles vs. Lexaeus

In the black tower the platform with the heroes on it came to the tenth floor. "Well here we go with the tenth floor," Danny said as the heroes started to explore the floor.

As they traveled thought the floor they noticed that it was becoming more like a cave. "What's going on here?" Samus asked.

"They must of have this place to be like a cave to give Lexaeus an advantage," Riku answered.

Soon the heroes came to the next arena with Lexaeus in the middle. "Hmph, it seems you fools got this far, but you'll never pass me," he said as a tomahawk appeared in his hand.

"Well I'll like to see you beat me," Knuckles said as he stepped forward with his shovel claws on.

"Fine then, prepare to die!" Lexaeus said as he stomped the ground making a rock fall and punching it towards Knuckles, but Knuckles dodged it easily.

"You have to do better then that!" Knuckles shouted as he charged at Lexaeus.

"I'm just getting started!" Lexaeus shouted as he slammed his tomahawk into the ground creating spike pillars. Knuckles stopped and jumped back to avoid the pillars, but Lexaeus appeared in front of him and punched him into the ground.

"Not bad, but I still have a tricks up my sleeve," Kmuckles said as he charged at Lexaeus, who was behind the spike pillars.

"You think that will work a second time?" Lexaeus said with a snicker. But when Knuckles was close to the pillars, Knuckles jumped in the air and spin in the air with his fist out in front, and broke though the pillars and hit Lexaeus.

"That was good, but can you fight me head on?!" Lexaeus shouted as he started to swing his tomahawk at Knuckles, but Knuckles was able to dodge all the swings. Lexaeus then started to pick up rocks and throwing them at Knuckles. When the rocks came flying at Knuckles, he used his claws to toss them back, but Lexaeus punch the rocks, only to have the rock shatter to bit.

"It's seems that you underestimated me," Knuckles said with a smirk.

"Looks like I did," Lexaeus started, "but the battle isn't over." Lexaeus then punched the ground making pillars surround Knuckles and trapping him.

"Hey that's cheating!" Ben shouted.

"Yeah, how can he fight back?!" Sora included.

Sonic and Shadow smirked at the same time, "Don't worry, Knuckles always pulls though," Shadow said.

"What do you mean?" Link asked.

"Watch," Sonic answered.

Lexaeus swung his tomahawk at the pillar, but there was nothing inside. "Where did he go?" Lexaeus wondered.

"Thunder Arrow!" Knuckles shouted as he burst out of the ground and hitting Lexaeus, "And if that's not enough then try this! Maximum Heat Knuckles!" he shouted as his body glow red and he dashed at Lexaeus at with full force and punched him into the wall. And then Lexaeus turned into a ball a light.

Soon a weird object appeared in the middle of the arena. "What's that?" Shadow wondered as he approach the object, and in a bright flash Shadow was gone.

"Must be a teleporter," Sonic said as he and the heroes approached the object and disappeared.

A/N: another five chapters in the tower done, next chapter we'll check how the other heroes in the war. Eight more chapters till the end of the war.