"What do you mean 'it stopped'?" Eric asked as they looked at the screens.

"Sir, it seems that Atlantis has stopped just outside of New Mobotropolis and is maintaining its altitude," one of the techs replied. "Still no communications from the Lt. Cmdr. or the city." A blip on the screen drew his attention as he pulled up the details. "Sir, it would seem the Lt. Cmdr. is now on the ground within the barrier. If he and Arias were indeed taken..."

"Then it would be safe to assume that Arias is in there with him," Eric finished and the tech nodded. The hedgehog patted him on the shoulder and made his way back to his office with Mina close behind.

"I know that look," she told him. "I've seen that look on Sonic when he's about to do something stupid."

"That's him, not me," Eric said as he pulled up the coordinates of the villages Arias had attacked from his computer. "Right now everyone's attention is focused on Arias and my son. They won't notice if I slip out to do a little investigating."

"Take me with you." Eric stopped as he stared at the mongoose. "It won't do me any good to worry about Sonic. Besides, he can handle himself against Arias. And if Arias really was up to something it'd be good to have two pairs of eyes."

"Would I be right in saying that there's no point in arguing with you?" he asked and Mina smirked mischievously. "My son is starting to rub off on you. Fine, you can come with." He tossed her a Vanguard jacket that she quickly put on. Eric gave her a once over as she zipped up the midnight blue jacket. "You look good in that," he commented.

"Still don't like the military," she replied. "Well, not enough to join them at least. Should we 'do it to it'?" Eric let out a loud laugh before they disappeared in a burst of static.

Sonic looked around as the wind died down to see that he really was in Mobotropolis. Secretly he'd been hoping he'd dreamt the entire thing up but didn't expect his luck to come through for him this time. This is weird, he thought as he jumped down from the rooftop the tigress had dropped him on. I'd almost forgotten what it feels like to not have my Guardian powers. It's just like being stuck in the tunnel at Devil's Gulag or even on the Highwind.

Above him he could see the outline of a barrier and his mind wandered back to his fight with Kinos. It wasn't as large as the one he'd made but it would be easier to contain the fight to a small area. He also wasn't planning to level the city like last time. As he turned his attention to his other surroundings he looked back at the house he'd landed on. He placed his hand on the door and felt a shiver go down his spine. "Right on top of the freaking Temple," he muttered as he walked away, scanning the streets for any sign of Arias. "So is this 'Libra' thing connected to Xiaxos somehow? And why the hell did they pick me?" He massaged the bridge of his nose with a heavy sigh. There were too many questions and he didn't have a single answer.

A small twinge at the back of his mind told Sonic that someone was coming towards him. Another chill ran down his spine and he put his hand on Kaiyō Mujō. After a moment Arias walked onto the street. Sonic felt a surge of anger swell up as he released his sword and send a ryūkai tsume flying towards the human. Arias blocked it with ease and stared at the hedgehog in surprise. "I'm not sure what your problem is, Sonic," he said as Sonic readied another strike, "but you should know how this ends. This won't be the first time that I've had to put you in your place."

"Like you did to all those Mobians you murdered?!" Sonic snarled as Kaiyō Mujō began to glow. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"That's what you're so worked up over?" Arias sighed and shook his head. A cruel smile crossed his lips as he started to laugh. "Why should someone like you care about those worthless one-tails? The only thing they're good for is cannon fodder." Arias' coat fluttered in the wind as he cut his laughter short. Sonic was now behind him and a small trickle of blood fell from Kaiyō Mujō. Arias brushed his cheek and stared at his own blood.

"The last time we fought you'd already beaten me to a bloody pulp before I got a hit on you," Sonic said as he craned his neck to look at the human. "Correct me if I'm wrong but I think I got the same cheek as last time."

"Indeed you did," Arias replied as his anger built. "And just like last time you will regret that." He spun to face Sonic only to feel a familiar wind rushing past him. Once more Sonic stood behind Arias and the human felt a trickle of blood down his other cheek. "You've just signed your own death warrant, hedgehog."

"Bring it on...Libra."

The human's eyes widened slightly at the name but his smile quickly returned. "I'm not sure where you heard that name," he said as he and Sonic turned to face each other, "but I promise you that they didn't prepare you for what's ahead."

With that Arias/Libra charged Sonic and let loose a flurry of punches. Sonic did his best to block them but Libra still got in a few good hits. He dealt with the pain as Kaiyō Mujō changed to her gauntlet form and he countered with a punch-kick combo. Libra blocked the punch with ease but winced when Sonic changed the kick to a stomp and crushed the human's foot. Realizing his guard was down Sonic rammed his right knee into Libra's gut, knocking the wind out of him, and then following up a with a downward elbow strike that planted him in the pavement. Sonic jumped back as Libra got up, laughing lightly as he cracked his neck and wiped the blood away from the corner of his mouth.

"Not bad!" he praised Sonic. "I suppose it's to be expected after everything you've been through over the last year. Keep this up and I might actually take this fight seriously."

Sonic didn't get a chance to ask what he meant. Libra's kick hit him square in the gut and sent him skidding across the blacktop. Just as he regained his composure Sonic's head was slammed into the ground hard enough the crack street. Libra didn't let go, instead choosing to spin around with Sonic's head in his grip before throwing him into nearby wall. The dust settled after a moment to reveal a hedgehog-shaped dent and Sonic on the ground coughing.

"It's one thing fighting an opponent with a sword," Libra said as he strolled towards him. "But you've never fought someone in true hand-to-hand combat, have you?" Sonic didn't answer as he stood up so Libra decided to go for a straight punch. Sonic deflected the punch, much to Libra's surprise, before slipping off to the side and knocking the human off-balance. Sonic then grabbed his head and spun, gathering energy around his hand as the gauntlet formed.

"Ryūkai tsume!" he yelled, releasing the energy directly into Libra before launching him across the street. The aqua energy surrounded the human like flames and erupted when he hit the storefront window. "That's what you get for underestimating me, jackass. I know that didn't do any real damage so get out here already." Libra stepped through the broken window, his jacket and undershirt torn to shreds and various light burns marred his skin. Sonic changed back to his sword and energy began to gather around the blade. Libra came at him and Sonic let loose with a cross-shaped ryūkai tsume that the human dodged with ease. The human realized too late that Sonic had wanted him to dodge as an aqua arrow slammed into his chest, throwing him back into the building he'd just crawled out of.

So he is using some kind of shield, Sonic thought as he moved his sheath to his side. I can hit him but I need to actually start trying instead of testing his limits. If he's anything like my old man then he's just getting warmed up. He sheathed Kaiyō Mujō and waited for Libra to emerge from the store.

He didn't have to wait long as the storefront exploded from the force of Libra's exit. The human's eyes were wild with rage as he charged Sonic. The hedgehog dropped his stance and nudged Kaiyō Mujō from her sheath. As Libra swung so did Sonic and the two passed each other. After a moment a small spray of blood came from Libra's shoulder.

"How the hell could I have missed him at that range?" the human growled as blood ran down his torso. In response Sonic dropped to one knee, holding his ribcage. "I see. Instead of letting the attack throw you back you took the full force of it just so you could cut me. How pathetic."

"Look who's talking," Sonic replied with a laugh. "That blow should've broken my ribs at the very least and the best you can do is give me a nasty bruise." Libra turned around to try and put Sonic in his place only to have Sonic slam his sheath into his ribs. Libra reeled giving Sonic enough time to sheath his sword and draw it again, ramming the pommel into his sternum and then following up with an upward slash on Libra's other shoulder.

The human staggered back, trying to comprehend how Sonic was so much faster than him compared to the last time they'd fought. "If I didn't know better I would say that you want me to push this up another level," Libra commented as Sonic jumped back. "Have it your way, hedgehog. Seeker Mode, engage."

Libra's body pulsed with orange energy as the veins in his hands began glowing with the same energy, working their way up to his elbows where it stopped. His muscles bulged twice before shrinking in size but becoming more defined. A visor formed over his eyes as the energy died down and Libra let out a long breath. He smirked as several targets appeared on Sonic.

Sonic saw Libra move but by then it was too late. The human hit Sonic all across his torso, throwing him back. Before he could hit the ground Libra planted his knee into the small of his back, causing Sonic to let out a yelp of pain. He then grabbed Sonic by the skull and spun, emulating the attack that had been used on him. He spun until he looked like nothing more than a blue tornado and released Sonic. The hedgehog spun around, a small crater forming in the concrete wall where he'd landed. He rocketed back towards Libra only to have the human dodge at the last second. Sonic shot upward only to have Libra plant a spinning kick into his back, throwing him back down. He landed on all fours and immediately rolled out the way. Libra came down with a crash, his foot breaking through the blacktop. Sonic swung Kaiyō Mujō in a wide arc, wide enough that he knew Libra would dodge. When he did Sonic brought his sword in close and thrust forward, an arrow of energy rushing out straight towards Libra's gut. With no time to block the human took the full brunt of the attack. When he landed he dropped to a knee and spat blood on the ground.

"You increased your speed at the cost of defense," Sonic realized as he saw the bloody mess on Libra's torso. "At this rate you're almost as fast as me." He gave the human a smug grin. "Almost."

"This must be fate," Libra said as he stood, a smile on his face. "Your father said the same thing to me just before I beat the living hell out of him. I see that I'll have to go to the same measures to deal with you." His smile disappeared as he glared at Sonic. "You're the first person to ever force me to change from Seeker so quickly, Sonic. I wouldn't consider yourself especially lucky."

A pulse of energy wiped the grin from Sonic's face as the ground beneath Libra started to crack. The veins in his arms pulsed with energy as they reached further up. When they hit his neck they worked their way down, glowing even through his clothes, until they reached his toes. Once they did Libra's body flashed and his muscles expanded. "Fortress Mode, engage," he commanded. The glow increased in intensity, forcing Sonic to shield his eyes. When he could see again Libra was covered in glowing orange plate armor with only his head exposed.

"This is something else," Sonic said with a nervous chuckle as he felt the reiatsu pouring off of Libra. "I might have bitten off more than I can chew."