Chapter 9
Cyber unleashed another burst of flame against the Shadow androids in front of her, but she was having to be sparing about it. The battle before had already drained her Burst Wisp so much that she couldn't risk too many more blasts, or it could turn into a Nega-Wisp. Hand to hand combat wasn't much help either, but thankfully, her mechanical limbs, combined with the joint supports built into her compression suit, gave her great flexibility in bobbing and weaving around the battle field until she came upon the blaster of one of the earlier Egg Pawns. Even with her hands, it was still a bit clumsy, but it was better than nothing. If she had been a later ECS unit, of course, she wouldn't have to worry about this, but sadly, Eggman hadn't even bothered weaponizing her. Sometimes, it really sucked to be the prototype.
Then, with a mighty blast from his Void Wispon to the androids in front of her, Jack swung into the battlefield, and landed right next to Cyber. "What's our status?" He asked Cyber, getting back to back with her as they both blasted at androids. "!" Cyber replied, quickly filling him in on most of what had happened since he and Shadow left. "Oh, and where's Raccoon?" Cyber pointed over to where he and Omega, now out of ammo, were doing their best to smash through the android horde with their fists, both seeming to enjoy the effort. "Well, at least someone's having fun." Jack mused. "JACK!" Rouge called out from across the room. "Where's Shadow?"
"He had to take care of the source of all these things!" Jack said, unleashing his energy sword onto some green striped androids. "And you let him do it ALONE!?" Rouge shouted in disbelief. However, even past his facemask, Rouge could see something of a small smile forming on Jack's face. "Don't worry." He said, sheathing his blade. "He's in good company."
"Give in, Shadow! And don't worry. I'll be happy to take your place as the Ultimate Lifeform!" The android said, as he bombarded Shadow and the laser Wisp with his sonic beam. Shadow knew he couldn't give up, couldn't let this imposter win...But he also knew that this weapon would mean the end of him if he didn't act quickly.
FRENZY!
Rang the cry across the room as a Frenzy Wisp suddenly activated its power and bit off the android's left arm, taking the sonic cannon with it. As Shadow rose to his feet, he noticed more Wisps, of various types, surrounding him in a protective stance. The same ones he had saved earlier now intended to help save him. Shadow smirked as he realized this was Jack's doing, and approached the android, who was now clutching where his arm once was. "You know...Twice today, I've had to correct people about my resemblance to Sonic...It's not a comparison I welcome, but I can't deny trying to emulate him sometimes. His determination, his will to do what he feels is right, no matter what it takes...I try to live by these same principles in my own way. And sure, we both fail people in the process, but in the end, I think we do more good than harm." Shadow looked over at the laser Wisp that had been following him this whole time, almost over its wooziness from the sonic ray. "And you know what? I think now is the perfect time to embrace at least ONE similarity." The laser Wisp flew over in glee as it realized what Shadow meant, and promptly gave his open palm a high five.
LASER!
The cyan beam that was Shadow flew across the room, bouncing on every reflective surface to hit the android multiple times until the energy ran out.
DUPLICATE!
Golden energy clones of Shadow quickly formed and gave the android a variety of hits, freezing him in time until the real Shadow gave an upward kick, sending him into the air with the force of all those hits.
ROCKET!
Quickly, the orange blast of the rocket form came up under the Shadow android, crushing it against the ceiling before the energy ran out.
RHYTHM!
Energy constructs of musical notes formed in a spiral pattern as the purple form of Shadow danced down safely to the surface, while the android felt the full brunt of the fall.
SPIKE!
Before the broken form of the android could properly recover, Shadow performed a spindash right into his torso with the power of the pink Spike Wisp, shredding most of the cloned flesh of its torso, and exposing the location of its power core.
GHOST!
Shadow stuck his transparent jade arm through the power core of the android, then, turning his hand solid, pulled it straight out from its back, effectively incapacitating it. With its last power banks fading, the android...Laughed? "Well done...Shadow...But if I can't be the Ultimate Lifeform...Then neither can you." Before Shadow could react, the android shot a missile out of its remaining arm, creating a large hole for water from the river to pour through. "We've got to get out of here!" Shadow told the Wisps, who all quickly conversed amongst themselves and flew off save for one Wisp that would serve as Shadow's way out. Only the laser Wisp took a moment to look back. "GO! I'll be fine!"
ASTEROID!
Rang out as Shadow used the flight and portal powers of the Asteroid Wisp to find the others.