Chapter 95
Duel in the Dungeon
"Are you serious?" Sonic leaned over the pit. A vast expanse of empty darkness loomed up to smile menacingly back at him.
"That is where the devils are taking refuge." The Underking had assigned one of his guards to escort Sonic and Levi back through the Burrow. He was a tall, slender weasel with a scrunched up face and the air of constant annoyance. They had hiked through a series of tunnels and side streets until finally stopping at the entrance to the pit.
"Are there any ladders or stairs?" Sonic wondered.
"Not anymore. Once the brigands turned rogue they cut off every entrance. There is no way down, but to jump."
"How do they get out?" Levi asked pointedly. "Are you telling us that they willingly isolated themselves underground?"
"They have taken control of all of our laboratories. We were running tests on Sol Gems we had managed to steal from the empire. Our scientists have been able to open portals which have allowed scavenger teams to travel to different planets. They are not stuck down there." The weasel clicked his tongue. "I told my lord that there was no point in bringing you here. It will take an army to root out these traitors, our only recourse is to make a deal. Something I told-Hey!"
Sonic jumped, flipped casually in the air to give Levi a thumbs up, and then plummeted down into the darkness. Cold air whipped against his face as he fell. Sonic directed himself towards the walls of the pit and he gracefully transitioned from falling to running. A light at the bottom finally dispelled the darkness. Sonic whistled and the guards stationed at the bottom of the well looked up in surprise. They raised their blaster rifles, but it was too late. Sonic rolled into a ball and dropped down between them with such force that they were knocked backwards. He unfurled into a seamless series of homing attacks, knocking them out one by one. Sonic twirled in the air before striking a pose as he finally landed.
"You still alive?" Levi's voice drifted down from the top of the pit.
"Don't worry about me!" Sonic shouted back. "I've got this." Without a second thought, Sonic plunged into the open lane in front of him. Unlike the tunnels of the Burrow, the depths Sonic had entered were carved out of cold, metallic walls. A narrow corridor stretched out ahead of him, reminiscent of the derelict hallways he had once traversed on the Space Colony Ark. The passage was lined with rusted metal panels, remnants of a once advanced station long abandoned to time. Eerie shadows danced on the walls, distorting the shapes of the corroded metal pipes that hung loose from the ceiling transforming them into ghostly figures of menace.
As Sonic ventured deeper into the metallic labyrinth, the silence was shattered by blaring sirens. The dimly lit hallways were suddenly bathed in a pulsating crimson glow. Sonic smiled as he heard the rush of footsteps up ahead.
Without hesitation, Sonic launched himself into an attack before they had even turned the corner. He rolled into a ball, his speed turning himself into a blue bullet. Sonic ricocheted off the walls, crashing into the unsuspecting guards with incredible force. The impact sent them sprawling, unable to defend against his onslaught. Sonic transitioned his aerial assault seamlessly into a drop dash, barreling through the next set of guards like a bowling ball. "Strike!" Sonic backflipped out of the attack so he could stick his tongue out at his enemies before flipping around and sprinting away.
Despite his danger, Sonic could not suppress his enjoyment. It was exhilarating and incredibly cathartic to finally be on his own. Nothing existed except the enemy ahead of him. In combat, he could push all his other anxieties to the periphery and simply exist in the moment. There was no one to protect, no kingdoms to save, just a base he needed to infiltrate, just as he had been doing all his life.
Sonic pushed through three more hallways before emerging into a wider passage. He stood in the center of the room and considered his three options of where to go. A floodlight cascaded from the ceiling and temporarily blinded him. As Sonic covered his face, footsteps rang out all around him. By the time Sonic lowered his hands, he found himself surrounded by a sea of soldiers, with guns raised. A mischievous grin crept across Sonic's face as he raised his arms in a feigned surrender. "This could get embarrassing for you guys. But if you just put your weapons down now, I won't have to-"
"Enough!" A harsh, snarling voice echoed through the room, cutting off Sonic's words. At the command, a lane parted within the crowd of soldiers, revealing the largest Echidna Sonic had ever seen. Towering over the others, his fur was a deep twilight purple, illuminated by the sporadic lights. Stripes of white adorned his chest and arms, forming strange symbols that added an air of mysticism to his appearance. He was draped in mismatched pieces of iron armor, each one bearing the scars of countless battles, and a long silver cape billowed from his broad shoulders.
Sonic's flippant attitude persisted as he addressed the imposing figure before him. "Are you ready to surrender?"
The Echidna studied Sonic intently, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. His grueling face seemed etched with a permanent scowl, as if he struggled with complex thoughts. "Who're you?" he slurred, his voice carrying the rough, brutal tone of a seasoned lackey.
"I'm Sonic. Apparently, you've double-crossed your boss. I'm here to retrieve what you stole."
The Echidna's yellow teeth flashed as he snarled, a glimmer of defiance in his eyes. "There's only one of you?"
"Don't take it as an insult. Sending me is kind of overkill if you really think about it," Sonic retorted, his smirk unwavering. Sonic held out his empty palm, a confident smirk playing on his face as he brazenly challenged the Echidna to hand over what he stole.
"I have an army," the Echidna threatened clumsily.
"And you can still have one, if you give me what I want."
Frowning, the Echidna's face contorted with the struggle to comprehend the situation unfolding before him. He seemed to be physically in pain, as if the gears of his mind were grinding to a halt. "Come with me. We talk."
Sonic decided to play along, realizing that engaging in conversation might provide him with an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the treasure he was here to retrieve. "Lead the way," He said with a nonchalant shrug.
Led down the center passageway, Sonic and the Echidna entered an abandoned factory. Towering machines, once vibrant with activity, now stood silent and lifeless overhead. Within the shadowed crevices between the machines, Sonic caught glimpses of dark figures scurrying about. Scavengers, covered in soot and grease, gathered scraps of metal and salvaged parts from broken imperial sentinels.
But it wasn't just imperial technology that caught Sonic's attention. More than once, he spotted guards wielding what appeared to be human guns. He couldn't stop to investigate further, but the sight piqued his curiosity. He was certain he had not seen a weapon like that since he had arrived in Arvana.
Continuing beyond the factory, the tunnel sloped downward, forcing the Echidna to crouch. They passed through a high stone archway, emerging into a brightly lit chamber. Sonic's eyes widened as he took in the scene before him. They stood in what seemed to be an ancient aqueduct, its purpose long forgotten. The walls of polished limestone shimmered in the light of hundreds of torches that lined the chamber.
In the center of the room rose a grand structure, resembling a temple. Its top formed a bowl-shaped basin, indicating its former function as a reservoir for water. Now, the bowl lay dry, encircled by metal stands that had been hastily erected. At the foot of the temple, a series of computer terminals had been haphazardly set up, their wires trailing onto a metal platform on the ground. Sonic's curiosity tugged at him, but his attention was quickly drawn elsewhere.
Perched atop a floating chair, reminiscent of the ones Eggman often used, sat a massive bear. The chair, far larger than any Egg Mobile, barely contained the beast's monstrous size. Its head was almost as large as Sonic's entire body. But what truly gave Sonic pause was the chain of skulls, at least a dozen in number, hanging ominously around the bear's neck.
As Sonic and the Echidna approached, the bear lazily waved his hand. "What is this, Demise? You were supposed to be guarding the entrance," he grumbled.
"Lord Typhon," Demise knelt. "This one has come for the jewel. The Underking sent him."
Lord Typhon barely spared a glance at Sonic. "And why is he still alive?
"Beat guards. He is faster than our weapons."
Raising an eyebrow, Lord Typhon sat up in his chair, allowing him to get a better look at Sonic. "Why would a rebel do the dirty work of the Underking?" he pondered aloud.
"How did you know that I'm with the rebels?" Sonic blurted out before he could stop himself.
"Because you just told me." Typhon replied with a smile. His canines were as long as daggers. "Besides, I recognized the weapon on your back. That is Caliburn, the sword of the princess. So either you killed her and took it, or she has loaned it to you for some great errand."
Sonic shrugged. "Good guess. It doesn't change anything though. You stole something from your boss, and unfortunately for you, he sent me to get it back."
Typhon drained the last of his drink. With a mere flex of his hand, the skull cracked into white powder. "You're not in the position to be making demands."
"Give me ten seconds."
Typhon's smile widened. "You are either incredibly stupid or far more powerful than you appear," he mused, stroking the white hairs beneath his chin. "I'm guessing the latter. Princess Blaze would not entrust her sword to any common warrior. Though I wonder what need could be so pressing that she would send you away."
"I'm not in the mood for long talks," Sonic pressed.
"Is this what you want?" Typhon reached into his belt, retrieving a sparkling red gem. Sonic had to suppress his excitement—it was a Chaos Emerald. He maintained a neutral expression, but Typhon had already caught his recognition. "Where did you get that?" Sonic couldn't help but ask.
"One of my scouts retrieved it from the transporter," Typhon answered, holding the emerald between his razor-sharp claws. "With the power of the Sol Gems, we should be able to transport ourselves anywhere in the universe. But for some reason, we are always drawn to the same planet. Something acts as a beacon, drawing us there. My scientists believe that the connection is related to this emerald." Typhon stowed away the emerald and leaned forward. "The empire has made itself invincible with the Sol Gems. We survive for now because Lord Mesto has a use for us, but that won't last forever. Once his vendetta against the Thirteens is over, the empire will turn its sights on us. Only those with power will survive the coming storm, and this jewel may hold the key to our survival."
"It doesn't belong to you," Sonic declared boldly.
"If you want it so badly, then you'll have to earn it. What say you to a challenge?" Typhon proposed.
"Bring it on," Sonic accepted confidently.
"Very well, the terms are simple. A one on one match, you versus me. The winner keeps the jewel."
"Sounds fair enough."
Five minutes later, Sonic waited inside the bowl at the pinnacle of the temple. The stands brimmed with scavengers, their fervor akin to avid spectators at a sporting event. A palpable energy coursed through what Sonic now understood to be a stadium.
Sonic's footsteps echoed inside the colossal bowl as he anxiously awaited the commencement of the fight. The arena spanned a considerable twenty feet in diameter, and while Lord Typhon would command most of the space with his imposing size, Sonic knew he could utilize the bowl's slope to his advantage. If I use the slope of the bowl I can run around him so fast, he'll never be able to hit me.
A thunderous roar erupted from the crowd as Lord Typhon descended into the arena, his absence from his chair only magnifying his size. Lord Typhon guarded himself with jet black armor and a huge kite-shaped shield that was four times Sonic's size. For a weapon, Typhon carried a huge claymore that probably weighed nearly three hundred pounds. "Is that sword big enough?" Sonic taunted.
A sly smile curled upon Lord Typhon's lips. He raised his sword, prompting the cheering crowd to fall silent. "Though we may be criminals and outcasts, we are not entirely without honor. Let this serve as my solemn pledge to honor the results of this battle. If I am defeated, Sonic may have the jewel." Lord Typhon turned and inclined his head towards Sonic.
Sonic did the same, feeling slightly surprised by how much respect the bear was showing him. Suddenly, Typhon's smile turned into a mischievous smirk. The bowl trembled. Gazing upward, Sonic's eyes widened as a glass dome descended over the arena, trapping the combatants within its confines. Before Sonic could comprehend this change, the ground started to rumble. Sonic jumped back as the floor of the bowl started to retract. A foul order perfumed into the air. SPLACH! Sonic's foot sank into a gelatinous, black morass that replaced the solid floor of the bowl. The black pitch pulled his leg and it took a stupendous effort to free himself.
Lord Typhon's laughter pierced the air, a sound laden with cruel amusement. Sonic was trapped. Before he could shout 'no fair' Lord Typhon charged. Sonic tried to move, but the thick mud made it almost impossible. It required every ounce of willpower to slip past Typhon's sword as Sonic narrowly escaped its lethal arc. Yet, the bear's follow-up attack proved inescapable. Typhon's colossal shield crashed into Sonic's back, launching him skyward. The impact jolted through his body as he collided with the glass dome, his breath stolen away. Plunging face-first into the muck, Sonic struggled to breathe amidst the pitch that invaded his nostrils and mouth. Mocking laughter reverberated above him as he desperately sought to rise, only to find his hands ensnared by the treacherous muck.
Suddenly, he was plucked out of the mud. Lord Typhon held him overhead and basked in the glowing praise of the crowd. The bear's strength was undeniable as he slammed Sonic back into the ground with bone-shaking force. A spark of defiance ignited within Sonic, and he scooped a handful of mud into his hands and when Typhon held him up again Sonic threw into the bear's eyes.
"Argh!" Typhon screamed and dropped Sonic. Seizing the opportunity, Sonic propelled himself into a spin dash, slicing through the muddy terrain to reach the far side of the bowl. He could taste blood along with the foul mud in his mouth as he tried to catch his breath.
"You're tougher than you look!" Typhon yelled. "I thought that first attack would break you in half."
Sonic had no witty comeback. His breath was labored and his body battered. The mud completely negated Sonic's one advantage. I always said I want a challenge. He thought to himself with a grim smile. There was no avenue for escape, nor any more ground to yield.
His only recourse was to meet Typhon head on. Sonic reached back and drew Caliburn from its sheath. The sword glowed with a red menace. Sonic still harbored doubts about the sword, considering it more of a hindrance than an advantage. Yet, in this dire situation, it was his only hope.
The sight of Caliburn made Typhon hesitate. His smile faded and his nostrils flared as he stole himself from the coming clash. The crowd, captivated by the sudden turn of events, held their breath in anticipation.
Sonic didn't wait. With a burst of energy, he lunged forward, the mud splattering with each determined step. The clash of metal reverberated through the arena as Sonic's strike met Typhon's imposing shield. A dance of steel erupted in the center of the arena. The force behind each collision sent tremors down Sonic's arm, threatening to loosen his grip on the hilt. My arm will break if I keep this up. Typhon seemed to be thinking along those same lines. He hammered down on Sonic repeatedly, using his sword like a hammer. Sonic held Caliburn as tightly as he could, the vibration of the metal made his jaw ache and he tasted more blood as he bit down on his tongue.
CLANG! The clash of their blades smoked the air as Sonic met Typhon's powerful strike with equal force. To the astonishment of both combatants, Lord Typhon's massive sword snapped in half upon impact. Momentarily thrown off balance, Typhon staggered forward, his momentum working against him. Seizing the opportunity, Sonic swiftly disengaged and maneuvered away from the corner, narrowly evading the broken half of Typhon's sword that whizzed past him. Lord Typhon roared in fury, his frustration evident. "Lucky again!" he snarled.
Sonic agreed. Caliburn had saved his life, but he doubted it could pull a trick like that again. I have to get out of this mud. Sonic looked around wildly for inspiration. He was completely trapped within the dome. The ceiling. He tried to jump up, but his feet were too firmly stuck in the mud. "Prepare to die!" The hairs on Sonic's back stood on end as Typhon let loose a blood curdling roar. MOVE! Sonic's instincts took over. He reared back and stabbed Caliburn into the mud, it pierced through until it struck the hard bottom. Sonic used it as a pole to vault himself into the air. He leapt over Typhon and kept his momentum by running as soon as his feet hit the glass.
Now this is more like it. As long as he kept up his speed, Sonic could run around the roof of the dome. He spiraled around and around Lord Typhon waiting for his chance to strike down like a bolt of thunder. Now! Sonic dived with the point of Caliburn coming down first. Typhon made an effort to get out of the way, but Sonic managed to stab him in the shoulder. Typhon screamed in pain, and Sonic quickly leapt back into the air and resumed running around the dome.
A smile spread across Sonic's face. Though all seemed hopeless only moments before, flirting with danger was the kind of exhilaration that Sonic lived for. "Look out below!" Sonic dived a second time. This time he managed to cut Typhon across the back before retreating. Again and again, Sonic repeated this process. His swift and calculated assaults rained down , crumbling Typhon's once formidable defenses. The crowd's cheers waned as their former champion struggled under Sonic's relentless assault.
Typhon growled in frustration but there was nothing he could do. Though he could move fairly easily in the mud, he could not jump up to reach Sonic. "You should have fought fair. It would have been less embarrassing," Sonic taunted, his words dripping with satisfaction. He launched another attack, slicing a long gash across Typhon's chest.
"Die!" Typhon threw his shield. It spun in the air like a frisbee. Sonic ran past it, but the shield's impact against the dome sent shockwaves through the structure. Sonic lost his footing and was knocked off balance. He managed to land on his feet, but his shoes sank into the clinging mud, hindering his movements. In an instant, Typhon closed the distance, his long claws slashing at Sonic with relentless ferocity. Forced onto the defensive, Sonic fought to ward off the bear's onslaught.
The crowd resumed cheering loudly as Sonic was slowly pushed backward. With the dome getting closer, Sonic attempted a lackluster stab which Typhon countered. Sonic drew back, but not quick enough. The ends of the bear's claws grazed the hedgehog's back, tearing a chunk of flesh and fur.
Sonic stumbled and Typhon used his chance to wrap both of his massive hands around him. The bear lifted Sonic into the air and pinned him against the dome. Sonic's head snapped back and struck the glass causing him to see stars. Slowly, the world around him regained focus, and he found himself face-to-face with Lord Typhon. The bear's breath, heavy with the stench of blood washed over Sonic as he opened his jaws, revealing a menacing display of razor-sharp teeth. "What do you prefer? Eaten or squeezed to death?"
Desperately attempting to break free, Sonic squirmed against Typhon's iron grip, but it was futile. He felt the tightness constricting around him as Typhon began to squeeze. The air was forced out of his lungs, leaving him gasping for breath, while an agonizing inferno engulfed his body. Sonic still had Congeria in his hand. The blade was locked against his side, but if he could just raise it an inch…"Squeezed to death it is!" Sonic's mouth flew open in a scream of pain. The whole world condensed to the narrow space an inch in front of him. Sheer desperation and instinct took over him and Sonic bit down as hard as he could on Typhon's hand.
The bear's grip momentarily loosened, allowing Sonic to raise Caliburn upward. The clash of steel against flesh resonated in the arena as the blade cut through Typhon's hand, freeing Sonic from his vice-like hold. Sonic landed in the thick, muddy ground, his body trembling with exertion.
Typhon shook his injured hand, spraying blood all over the arena. "You're resilient. It is almost a shame that a warrior like you has to die this way. I'll make you an offer. Yield and I'll allow you to join my operation."
Sonic smiled faintly. His legs were shaking beneath him and felt on the verge of collapse. "Sorry, but I like to direct my own course, if you know what I mean."
Typhon sneered, the curl of his lips accentuating his disdain. "Whatever gives your death meaning," he spat.
"I never said I'd lost." Sonic rolled into a ball and started revving into a spin dash. Chunks of the black mud sprayed in every direction. Lord Typhon paused before crouching down and preparing for a final charge. Sonic waited for the bear to move first. Time seemed to slow as Typhon thundered toward him, an unstoppable force. But Sonic held firm, patiently biding his time. Not yet. Not yet. He couldn't rely solely on his speed this time. To achieve victory, he had to trust in Caliburn. Let's show everyone what we're made of. At the last possible second, Sonic unfurled out of the spin dash and threw his sword. Caliburn spun in the air with the speed and momentum of the spin dash, but free from the mud. Lord Typhon was too close to dodge. The blade struck him in the collarbone and delved hilt deep into his fur.
The crowd fell silent, their thunderous cheers replaced by an eerie hush as Typhon plummeted face-first into the muddy ground. Sonic slogged through the mud to stand over his fallen foe. He reached down and pulled Caliburn out of the bear's shoulder. Typhon yelped in pain and slowly rolled over onto his back. Sonic lowered the tip of Caliburn onto the bear's exposed neck. "Yield."
Typhon's eyes narrowed with menace. He spat out a glob of blood and mud. Slowly, he reached into his belt and drew out the Chaos Emerald. Typhon handed the gem over to Sonic. The red light of the emerald twinkled in the gloom.
"I am a man of my word," Typhon rasped, his words laced with bitter acceptance. "I said you may have the emerald, but I never said you could leave with it."
A hiss pierced the air as the glass dome above them retracted, revealing the onlooking crowd. The crowd, once passive spectators, now stood as a formidable force with weapons drawn, their red laser sights converging on him. Every inch of Sonic's body was bathed in a crimson lattice of impending death.
Lord Typhon's laughter echoed through the arena, a sinister symphony that filled the void. "I never get tired of seeing that expression," he taunted. "That moment when the hero realizes he has failed and has nowhere left to run.
"Who said anything about running?"
Typhon's amusement morphed into a chilling menace. "Defiant to the end? So be it, die with your honor intact. Fire!"
As the onslaught of projectiles hurtled towards him, Sonic clutched the Chaos Emerald tightly in his grasp, its pulsating energy resonating through his fingertips. Closing his eyes, he summoned the last remnants of his strength. "CHAOS CONTROL!"