Shadow the Hedgehog of the Colossus
Chapter 15: Phalanx
Shadow was captivated by this next chapter of Maria's past as this was the first one that revolved around him after his creation at the end of the last one. Word quickly spread throughout the station on Gerald's success in finally delivering the Ultimate Lifeform he'd promised, though he left out Black Doom's involvement. His team have had their eyes on that comet since it entered their atmosphere. Should anyone find out he was conspiring with a possible alien threat would be the death of his career, and himself.
Past Shadow was introduced to the residents of the ARK. Everyone was surprised to see the famed Ultimate Lifeform turn out to be another Mobian Hedgehog. How could the professor go from a giant lizard to a hedgehog? They wondered.
But both Shadows from the past and present knew it would take more than words to convince them that he was the real deal. To demonstrate his feats, Gerald had him undergo a series of tests of his abilities. It started with a couple of G.U.N robots shooting at him within the same testing area they sealed the Biolizard in. It was there Shadow tapped into the power of chaos for the first time and unleashed perfectly aligned Chaos Spear shots at the drones.
But combat was not the only feat that was tested. The primary function was his immortality. They needed to see if Shadow's immune system was strong enough to fight through any disease. To do that, they pumped various infections into the sealed room and checked his vitals.
Maria didn't like this process and saw it as cruel despite her grandfather's reassurance that it was required to ensure he's truly succeeded in creating an immortal life form. If Shadow's blood could fight every known fatal disease on the planet, then it could be used to finally cure her of her Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Present Shadow remembered the frustrations behind this test. Though his body was immune to all diseases, it was still unpleasant and disgusting having to just stand there and breathe in all that foul filth they were pumping into the chamber.
"Back then I didn't even imagine what it must've felt like to get sick. But now that I've lost my powers, I feel I can finally relate to these humans." Present Shadow commented to himself.
The test subjects came back promising for the team. Shadow hadn't gotten infected by any of the diseases they'd been pumping into him. Some of the gases they released were lethal enough to kill any person who breathed them, but Shadow was still standing strong, completely immune to the effects. This was all the proof Gerald needed. He is the Ultimate Lifeform. And the key to Maria's salvation.
With no time to lose, Gerald pushed to have Shadow's blood extracted and used to synthesise a permanent cure for Maria. He and Maria spent almost a whole Earth day in the hospital wing lying on their respective operating tables. Gerald didn't want to rush this. He examined Shadow's blood using every device at his disposal to be absolutely sure it wasn't dangerous.
Some of his team thought he was being paranoid, whilst others thought it was the smart choice. There's still so much they don't know about Shadow's genetic structure. If his blood isn't compatible with Maria's, she could die or become something far worse than the illness. He'd come this far; he would not lose her to his impatience.
Present Shadow went forward one day later to see the results of the final stages of the experiments. He already knows what the outcome will be, but there was no harm in seeing his past self accomplish his first mission in life. Save the life of Maria Robotnik.
Finally, after years of trial and error. After all the sacrifices he's made to get here, he'd done it. Maria was free of her family's disease and could live a full, healthy life without the fear of slowly withering away the same way her mother did.
Shadow proved to be everything Gerald had hoped for, possessing immortality, high intelligence, their own identity and independence. In addition, Shadow became very close to the residents of the ARK, especially Maria.
It was at this moment that Gerald began to share Past Shadow his true purpose. To protect the ARK and its residents from any threat. And one day when they return to Earth, he will extend that protection to the rest of the planet's inhabitants. Past Shadow had no complaints. He didn't know any better. If his creator says his purpose is to be a protector of the planet below, then that is what he shall be.
More time passes over Present Shadow as he watches his past self adjusting to his life aboard the ARK. Though he's unsure how long it's been, he remembers this signature moment. He once reminisced on this moment in his past when he was helping Eggman gather the Chaos Emeralds to power the Eclipse Cannon.
That same cannon was being built in secret around this period in time. From outside the window, Past Shadow could see various robots constructing the underside of the ARK and equipping it with the planet-destroying laser. Back then he couldn't understand what the purpose behind this weapon was. But after facing Black Doom, he realised that it was intended to destroy the Black Comet should the Black Arms return and fulfil their plan to annihilate the Earth. It coincided with Shadow's purpose to protect the planet from all threats. If the Black Arms surfaced again, he shall deal with them.
"Are you going to stare out that window all day, Shadow?" Maria asked as she approached him.
Past Shadow acknowledged her without taking his eyes off the Earth. "… I've seen photographs from down on the surface, but I wonder what it's like to be there… What is it like to see the sky above your head? I'd like to visit there and find out."
"Me too," Maria responded softly. "I was very little when I first came here. I don't remember much about my life down there. Only the sad parts… Like my parents' deaths. My mother died when I was born, and my father passed shortly after."
Past Shadow glances over to his right at her. "Your father was killed by your disease too?" He asked.
Maria gently shakes her head. "No. Grandfather said he died of a broken heart."
"… I don't understand," Shadow replied with confusion.
"The people down there suffer from many problems. Most of them are strong enough to fight through them while others aren't strong enough. You were created to help people with their problems and make their lives better, like how you did for me."
"You didn't answer my question." Shadow interrupted. "How can one die of a broken heart?"
"Oh…" Maria wasn't sure how to answer that question. She knows very little about the human heart and the probabilities it carries. She was only ten years old; she was too young to understand love and relationships. But the black hedgehog was patiently awaiting her response, which only added to the pressure.
"Well… I think it's because my father loved my mother so much that he couldn't bear to live a life without her in it. When she died, his heart broke and put him into a deep sleep. Grandfather tried to wake him up but he couldn't. My father ended up dying in his sleep shortly after. I only had Grandfather and Julian left." She spoke slowly and softly as she reflected on the worst moment of her life.
"Who is Julian?" Past Shadow asked.
"He was my cousin. He was meant to be here with us, but certain circumstances ensured he couldn't. We had to leave him behind. The last time I saw him, he was angry with me and Grandfather… I always wonder where he is now down there. I hope to see him again someday. See what kind of man he's grown up to be."
"If you only knew." Present Shadow thought to himself. He too began to wonder what Maria's first reaction would be to seeing her cousin grow up to become the mad scientist, Doctor Eggman everyone knows today. Would she be upset? Would she blame herself that he'd gone down this path? Whatever the outcome, he won't be here to witness it.
As his body grows weaker, Maria's is growing stronger. With luck, maybe she will carry on his legacy as the new Ultimate Lifeform. Though he couldn't bear the thought of seeing Maria harm anyone. He's always viewed her as a sweet, innocent girl who wouldn't harm a fly.
"If he is suffering as much as the rest of them are, I will help him too." Past Shadow assured the young Robotnik.
Maria smiles and takes hold of Shadow's right hand as the two of them watch the Earth rotate on its axis together.
"Shadow… I know you can do it. I know you will help everyone and make the world a beautiful place to live."
Twelve Shades crowded around the severely weakened black hedgehog as he murmured and stirred in his sleep. The statue of Pelagia cracks and crumbles away into smaller chunks of stone and dust on the far-left side of the hall, closing in on the entrance.
Shadow takes longer than usual to awaken this time around. Another sign of how weak he's grown since he's began his mission. His body felt achy all over like he'd been battered and bruised all over. It took him a while until he was able to regain enough strength just to stand up on his two feet.
He felt physically worse than the last time he woke up here. A wise decision would be to drink another elixir. But he only had two of them left and he hadn't had much luck getting all the ingredients needed to make more.
Before addressing Dormin, he opens up his satchel and rummages through it for the documents that hold instructions on how to concoct more elixir. But he soon realised that there was a major problem. The documents were gone.
Frustration and panic took over as he held the satchel upside down and emptied its contents on the floor. He was smart enough to take the two potions out first before doing so to avoid spilling them. If he has lost the instructions on how to make more of the tonic, then these two were vital to the remainder of his mission.
Unfortunately for the Ultimate Lifeform, the instructions were nowhere to be found. The only explanation as to what had happened he could come up with was that he must've lost it during his battle with Pelagia when he fell into the lake. Even if he'd recovered them, the water would've damaged them beyond repair.
"Damnit!" He frustratedly vented aloud. He was on the thirteen Colossus now, meaning he only had three more to go after defeating this one. His best course of action would be to conserve the two remaining elixirs he has and only drink them when necessary. He has no idea how strong the last four Colossi will be. He can't afford to waste a single drop.
The sun's light shines down on the second to last right-side statue. The next Colossus was dubbed "Phalanx". It was another serpentine-like Colossus. If this one were anything like Dirge then Shadow could implement the same strategy. But if it resided in a lake environment like Hydrus then he'd have a tougher time.
There's no way he has to battle two Colossi on the water twice in a row, right? Hopefully, Dormin will give him some insight into what type of Colossus he'll be fighting this time.
"Thy next foe is… The vast desert lands… a giant trail drifts through the sky… Thou art not alone."
"Drifting through the sky? That sounds like another flying type like the giant bird I fought yesterday." He uttered.
This could be troublesome for the black hedgehog. His battle with Avion had shown to be one of the most challenging, and that was when he still had some of his powers. If this battle is gonna be anything like that then he may be forced to consume the second elixir.
He slowly walks over towards Agro who had been sitting by the altar Maria's body was still lying atop of. She nuzzles Maria's cold cheek before lightly trotting down the stairs and lowering to his level for easy access to her back.
Heading outside, Shadow draws the scared sword yet again and turns it until the beams converge and point them towards the south. A direction they feel like they haven't gone in a while. Usually, it was either east or west.
Shadow's body had grown so weak to the point that riding a horse was starting to become a chore. He could feel every bump from the rough terrain Agro was running across. But instead of asking his companion to slow down and make the journey easier for him, he fought through the uncomfortable sensations and continued at a fast pace.
Agro did slow down once they've entered the forest which was a relief for the not so Ultimate Lifeform. As much as he was enjoying the smoother ride, he kicked her side to get her to pick up the pace. There's no time to waste.
Shadow and Agro once again find themselves in the vast desert plain. With several smaller ruined structures strewn about. They've passed through this biome several times, using it as a shortcut to the previous Colossi. But now the light was pointing further in. Phalanx was hidden somewhere in this desert.
Normally that wouldn't be so bad. But last time they came through here the skies were calm and he could see where he was going. Now it was windy and a sandstorm had hovered over the land, obscuring his vision. He could barely see the blue beam bouncing off his sword.
Agro hesitated to go in any further due to the sandstorm blowing dust in her eyes and mane. But Shadow pressured her to fight through it and keep moving forward. She obeyed but did so at a slower pace.
They come across one of the ruins directly in front of them and take shelter inside, though there wasn't much cover to hide behind. But something strange occurred once they reached the centre of it. The sandstorm suddenly stopped. All the dust it was kicking up dropped out of the sky and blended in with the rest of the grain. The area that was moments ago roaring with whistling winds has now fallen silent. This was so bizarre, even for the Forbidden Lands.
Shadow deduces that this may be the Colossi's doing. And according to the sacred sword, it was somewhere underground.
The earth quivered the moment the sword's light shined down on the ground a few feet from where the duo were standing. It only grew stronger until Phalanx finally revealed himself and blasted right out of the sand.
Its head was like a spear, piercing the ground followed by an intense bird-like cry. Shadow and Agro watched in awe as Phalanx came out of the ground and soared into the sky. The rest of its elongated body kept on climbing, showing off just how long he was. It was as if his body stretched on forever.
Eventually, all of him emerged from the sand and flew into the sky. This was by far the largest Colossus Shadow had ever encountered. Its body reaches a length of over 557 feet long and has a wingspan of over 200 feet. And speaking of wings, he appeared to have fifteen of them from what he could tell. Though they appeared too small and solid to allow it to fly, which explains the massive three sets of air sacks attached to its underside.
This monstrosity didn't look like a bird as he was expecting. He had a feeling Phalanx was a flier but didn't realise how long he was. It was like a giant flying sand snake with a spear-shaped head and four eyes instead of two. The creature growled as it began to circle the sky around its domain. For reasons unknown, it was incapable of leaving the area.
Shadow had never taken the time to wonder why until now. The Colossus Clan must've used some kind of ancient magic, or technology, to trap the Colossi in their respective habitats to prevent them from roaming the lands and even going beyond them into more civilised lands.
As he was thinking that, Agro had managed to carry him towards where Phalanx was circling until they were standing in its shadow.
"This one will be a real challenge. Its weak spots must be atop its back. But getting up there isn't possible without forcing it to come down… Hmm, those air sacks are what's keeping it airborne. Shooting those should bring it down."
Shadow quickly re-sheathes his sword and draws his bow and arrows. Agro continues to run after it as he points the bow upwards. In his weakened state, aiming a bow had proven to be very difficult. He couldn't keep it steady while Agro was running full speed on soft sand.
He ended up missing the first shot, wasting an arrow. He cannot afford to waste them now that he was down to only ten. He steadies his breathing before aiming the next one, trying his hardest to line up the shot before letting go.
This time he was able to pierce the first sack. Black smoke sprayed out of the hole he'd made and the sack started deflating like a balloon. This caused Phalanx's front end of his elongated body to lower itself whilst the rest of him stayed afloat.
Agro lightly slowed her pace so that Shadow could line up the next shot with the middle sack. He was able to hit it on his first try this time much to his relief. Phalanx's body lowers even further with only his tail hanging high.
The duo repeated the process once more and managed to take out the last set of air sacks. This didn't knock Phalanx out of the sky completely but lowered him to the point his wingtips started draping the sand.
"Get me as close to the Colossi's wings as you can!" Shadow ordered as he placed the bow back over his left shoulder.
Though she was frightened of being swept away by the giant flying snake's wings, Agro obeyed her master and picked up speed. She and Phalanx's forward right wing were now side by side.
Now was the time for Shadow to do something that had become highly risky ever since he lost his powers. He holds onto Agro's mane as he carefully stands himself up on her back. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before performing a leap of faith right onto the wing.
His fingers tightly grip the edges. He slowly climbs up the wing until he reaches the joint that connects it to the body. By this point, Phalanx had finished building up air within its sacks, allowing it to start climbing again. Its wings rise to the sides, allowing the black hedgehog to jump onto the back. The fur cushioned his fall.
Now the hard part begins. Drawing his sword once more, he starts tracking down the symbols that will reveal the weak points to him. There were three in total from what he could tell. All of them were underneath the base of the three dorsal fins that are currently raised.
Stabbing the first one was easy enough since he was only a few feet away from it. But the other two were further down the body. Getting down there proved to be even more difficult than traversing Avion's body. The intense G-force of the wind hit him harder than ever compared to Avion now that he had no super strength. He couldn't even make two feet at a usual walking speed.
What's worse, Phalanx was attempting to shake him off by swerving his body from side to side. Tilting left and right. And worst of all, rotating around like a plane performing a barrel roll. Shadow immediately grabbed the fur beneath his feet and held on tight until he levelled out again.
It took a moment for him to readjust to being right-side up again. His hands were shaking from the fear of almost losing his grip and plummeting to his doom. He was afraid. Normally he doesn't get scared easily. He'd fought a plethora of monsters and villains in the past and his eyes never had a shred of fear in them. So why was this one any different?
Whatever it was, now wasn't the time to think about it. He still had two more symbols to find and stab. He edges his way over to the middle part of the body, using his sword as an anchor point. It didn't damage Phalanx, but it helped him reach the second flap.
He only had moments to stab it was the flap started to close down upon him. He managed to pull his sword free before that could happen, but now he was in real trouble. Phalanx was diving into the ground below. There was no way he could reach the final flap in time. And there was nowhere to go. In his weakened state, jumping off would result in his death or the breaking of his bones.
He held on tightly as Phalanx sunk deeper and deeper into the sand, waiting until the right moment to jump off. Even though he was inches away from the ground and landed on soft sand, the impact still hurt him a lot. He ended up rolling across the sand until he ended up crashing into a rock back first.
Things only got worse from there as his crashing into the rock caused his bow to break in two and the two elixirs to fall out of the satchel. Fortunately, they were still in one piece and still contained within the flasks.
Agro rushes to his side and helps him up by biting down on the satchel strap. The greatly injured Shadow puts all his weight on the rock, using it as a counterweight to help him stand back up again. He looks down at his broken bow and clenches his fists in frustration.
"Damnit! Now I have no means of shooting that thing down again when it resurfaces." He takes off the quiver with the last few arrows off his back and tosses them aside. He can't use them without a bow, so he might as well discard the extra weight.
Thankfully he still had the potions. With his body damaged from the fall, now would seem like the best time to use one. He pops the cork and downs it as quickly as possible. Almost immediately he can feel the effects kicking in. Blue energy courses through his veins and light up his eyes. He could feel the pain in his body fading and his strength returning. He was almost back up to full strength. He had forgotten what a rush taking these elixirs was.
The ground began to tremble beneath his feet again. The tremors were much stronger than they were the first time. That could only mean one thing.
"Phalanx is directly below us!" Shadow tosses aside the empty flask, places the last full one back in the satchel, climbs atop Agro's back, and gets her to run out of the blast zone before it emerges.
She only cleared a few feet until the living, breathing zeppelin burst out of the ground. The shockwave knocked Agro off balance, causing Shadow to fall off and her to tumble forward. Thanks to the potion's effects, the black hedgehog managed to nail the landing.
On good conscience, he would check on Agro, make sure she was ok. But the noble steed encouraged him to ignore her and focus on Phalanx. Resurrecting Maria had become just as important to her as it did for Shadow to the point she prioritised his success over her well-being. She might even be willing to die if it meant he'd win.
Shadow acknowledges her request and runs as fast as he can towards the rapidly rising Phalanx. He leaps onto its back at the end of the tail moments before he can come out of the ground entirely. His grip strength and stamina had improved extensively thanks to the elixir, allowing him to climb up the back much quicker than he did the wing.
Phalanx levels himself out once more, allowing Shadow to stand up and make his way over to the last flap where the last weak point was located. The gigantic sky snake performs another barrel roll. The Ultimate Lifeform held on tight until he was right-side up again and closed in on the symbol.
In one fell swoop, Shadow plunges the blade deep into the centre, delivering the killing blow to Colossus number 13. Black smoke sprayed out from all three stab wounds. The air sacks deflate completely. Phalanx's torso was the first to hit the ground followed by its tail and head. Shadow maintained his grip on the sword's handle as the giant came crashing down.
Shadow takes a couple of deep breaths as he pulls the sword free and places it back in his sheath. He was exhausted. This was perhaps the toughest fight he had against the Colossi so far. He barely had enough strength to stay standing. The effects of the potion were wearing off.
Instead of running or resisting the tendrils, Shadow collapses on his front and lies atop the blackened Phalanx's body and lets the tentacles enter him, resulting in him passing out once again.
Agro had just recovered from her injury and watched the black fog consume Shadow yet again. She can't help but feel sorry for him. Those tentacles were what was draining him of his strength. He was already in worst shape the last time he woke up. Just how much worse could he get after that?
To Be Continued