Yes, ladies and gents, it's the moment you've been waiting for! The final battle begins NOW!

Chapter 8: Duel

Rowan shot a hailstorm of arrows toward Shadow, who dived out of the way. He looked back to see the spots where the arrows hit erupt in explosions.

Shadow's eyes widened. The explosion modification! She's not holding back!

Shadow withdrew his MP5 machine gun. Well, I won't either!

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Rowan loosened another volley at Shadow. Explosion after explosion rocked the clearing.

A hailstorm of bullets flew toward her in retaliation, with Rowan executing a dodge roll in response.

"Didn't you learn from your little friend?" she sneered while firing an arrow into the thick of the gunfire.

A voice floated out to her in the smoke. "I did."

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Shadow outstretched his arm and nimbly caught the arrow in mid-flight.

"Let's see how you like a taste of your own medicine!" Shadow yelled, skating right for Rowan.

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For every arrow Rowan shot off, Shadow fired a dozen bullets at her. This is pointless. Time to finish it. she thought.

Rowan started firing fewer arrows, taking time to aim. Her efforts were rewarded as Shadow had to dodge quicker to avoid her arrows.

Shadow darted into a cloud of smoke, hoping to lose her. An arrow whistled after him.

Rowan heard a strangled gasp – then silence.

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Elm watched the events unfold on a screen atop his time machine. Without warning, Ivy suddenly appeared behind him.

Elm showed no sign of surprise. "I do wish you wouldn't do that," he muttered.

Ivy narrowed her eyes at the display. "The girl is inexperienced," she stated flatly. "I should go to make sure she doesn't screw this up."

Elm's face tightened in annoyance. "She might be knighted soon," Ivy continued. Elm turned to glare at her.

Ivy returned the glare. "The least you could do is let me succeed where she will fail."

Elm remained silent. "Only if she is defeated, " he said at last.

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Rowan smirked as she lowered her bow. "Ultimate life form…" she scoffed. She started to walk away.

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Knuckles gasped in shock from his hiding place. Impossible! Shadow can't be dead!

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Tails' eyes widened. No! I'm too late! The girl doesn't even know that she has no reason to kill Shadow! Tails ran toward the clearing.

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Shadow lunged out of the smoke, heading straight for Rowan. She whirled, her face lit with shock. Shadow kicked her in the gut, causing her to fall over.

With all the strength he could muster, Shadow plunged the arrow in his fist right into Rowan's quiver. "Game over," he whispered, before using his rocket shoes to propel himself away.

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"Now," said Elm.

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The explosion ripped apart Rowan's quiver, destroyed all her arrows, and threw her bodily into the side of the altar. Rowan struggled to sit up. She reached for her bow, just out of her grasp-

Shadow put his foot down on the bow. "You lost," he sneered.

Rowan slowly moved into a crouching position. She looked at him with a hollow expression.

"Well? Aren't you going to finish it?" she asked dully.

Shadow turned away. "You're not worth my time," he said contemptuously.

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"I knew you'd fail," came a voice from partly inside the forest.

Shadow spun around. "Who's there? Show yourself!" he ordered.

A black and purple striped wolf in a black cloak emerged from the foliage. "M…Master Ivy!" Rowan said feebly.

Ivy strode over towards Rowan and picked her up by the front of her tunic roughly. "Do you have any idea how much you've screwed this up?" she hissed in Rowan's ashen face.

"I'm sorry Master Ivy… I tried my best…. But I failed…" Rowan whispered.

Ivy's eyes turned hard. "In the Darkraisers… we do not tolerate failure." She slowly unsheathed a small axe and held it against Rowan's throat.

Uh oh...Looks like it's the end for Rowan! NEXT TIME: Shadow finally learns why he's been hunted...Another great fight scene coming up, I promise!