Chapter 24: Rivals, Justice, and Change
City of Shang Mu – Streets of Shang Mu, Morning Hours
The streets of Shang Mu were engulfed in chaos. Smoke billowed from shattered buildings, while the terrified cries of citizens echoed through the city. Some ran wildly through the streets, desperate to escape the destruction. Others huddled inside their homes, cowering as the deafening sounds of explosions and crumbling structures reverberated through the air.
Amidst the chaos, a white-furred fox woman peered cautiously from the window of her small apartment. Her heart ached at the devastation raining down upon her beloved city. The tremors from nearby explosions shook her building, and despite her fear, she leaned closer to the window, drawn by the sounds of something massive approaching. With trembling hands, she opened the window, daring to peek outside.
She gasped loudly, her eyes widening in terror.
Before her, a towering mechanical beast—a monstrous, golden, cat-like machine—stormed through the streets. Its enormous metal paws gouged deep scars into the asphalt with each step, and its glowing red eye scanned the destruction with cold indifference. Flattening everything in its path. Windows shattered, streetlights toppled like twigs, and entire buildings collapsed in its wake.
As she watched in horror, she saw two figures atop the beast. In one cockpit, on the back, sat Robotnik, his face gleaming with triumph. In the other, on the head of the beast, was Serpentine, his eyes alight with malicious glee as the Robo-Panther's tail lashed out, tearing through a nearby structure with ease.
The fox woman's heart raced as the beast's tail whipped in her direction. She screamed, ducking inside just as the tail struck the side of her apartment complex with a devastating blow. The impact was catastrophic—her entire building shook violently, chunks of the structure crumbling around her.
"Ahhhhhh!" she screamed, her voice drowned out by the sound of her home collapsing. The fox woman found herself falling, her body plunging toward the streets below. Her life flashed before her eyes. Time seemed to slow down, and all she could see was the ground rushing up to meet her.
But before she could hit the ground, a blue blur swept in from the chaos, catching her in midair with ease.
"Gotcha!" Sonic's confident voice reassured her as he cradled her safely in his arms. The woman blinked, her breath hitching as she realized she wasn't falling anymore. She opened her eyes to the sight of the blue hedgehog, his spiky quills highlighted by the morning sun.
He set her down gently, giving her a reassuring smile. "You okay?" he asked, his tone light, though his eyes quickly scanned the surrounding destruction.
The fox woman, still in shock from what had just happened, trying to steady herself before nodding. "Y-yes, thank you, darling!" she stammered, her voice trembling with relief.
Sonic's smile widened. "No problem," he said with a playful wink. "Gotta go, though—big metal cat on the loose!" He gave her a quick salute, then dashed off, becoming a blur as he sped away from the scene.
"W-wait!" the fox called out after him, but it was too late. Sonic had already disappeared into the distance, leaving behind a streak of blue light. She was about to turn away when, with a gust of wind, Sonic suddenly reappeared in front of her.
"Quick question!" Sonic said, startling the fox woman. "Do you know of a place nearby that's wide open and clear of buildings? You know, somewhere that can take a bit of action without, y'know… collateral damage?"
The fox thought for a moment, her mind racing as she tried to recall a safe spot. "I… w-well, not far from here is the waterfront, but—"
"Cool! Thanks!" Sonic gave her an appreciative nod before speeding off once again, not even waiting for her to finish her sentence. The wind ruffled her fur as she watched him vanish into the distance once more, marveling at the speed and ease with which her hero moved. She stood there, her heart still pounding, as she processed the surreal encounter with the blue blur.
Ahead of him, the Robo-Panther continued its rampage through the city, its massive claws leaving deep gouges in the streets. Inside the cockpits, Robotnik and Serpentine were both in high spirits, their sinister laughter mixing with the destruction they unleashed.
"Tsyahaha! I'll admit, fat man, this is one spectacular show back there!" Serpentine's voice dripped with malicious glee as he watched the city crumble beneath their feet.
"Hehahahaha! And your craftsmanship on this beast is impressive, snake!" Robotnik chuckled, his fingers moving swiftly over the controls. "Truly a masterpiece of destruction!"
It was a rare moment of camaraderie between the two, their shared enjoyment of the chaos uniting them in twisted harmony.
"Geez, if I'd known you two were gonna get all chummy, I'd have brought a barf bag."
But their moment of triumph was abruptly interrupted by an unexpected voice.
Both Serpentine and Robotnik whipped their heads around, eyes wide with disbelief. Sonic was running backwards alongside the Robo-Panther, effortlessly keeping pace with the massive machine. His smirk was as infuriating as ever.
"What the—" Serpentine's voice was filled with confusion and frustration. "How can that hideous creature keep pace with my machine?!" he hissed, glaring at the hedgehog with disbelief.
Sonic ignored Serpentine, his smirk widening as he turned his attention to Robotnik. "So, Eggman," he began, his tone dripping with mockery, "When were you going to tell us about your little partnership with that Brevon guy, huh?"
Robotnik's face darkened instantly, his playful mood shifting to anger. "Huh, so the duck finally spilled the beans, huh? Decided to tell you the whole scoop of the situation?" he sneered, his voice filled with venom.
"You betcha!" Sonic grinned, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Told us everything." His smirk deepened as an idea popped into his head. "Can't believe you'd stoop so low, though. Kinda disappointing."
"What do you mean by that, rat?" Robotnik's eyes narrowed suspiciously, his fingers tightening around the controls.
Sonic's smirk grew wider, clearly relishing the opportunity to poke at Robotnik's pride. "I mean, c'mon, Eggman. You've really fallen if you need help from someone like Brevon. Guess you're not as biiiig and baaaad as you used to be, huh?"
Robotnik's eye twitched, and a vein throbbed on his forehead. "What did you say?!" he growled, his voice dangerously low.
Sonic wasn't done yet. "And Brevon? Really? That guy's about as impressive as a wet paper bag. I mean, you could've teamed up with anyone, but him? Lame."
Serpentine's eyes flared with anger. "You… How dare you mock the name of Lord Brevon?!" he shouted, his voice filled with rage.
Robotnik's fury matched Serpentine's, his hands clenching the controls with rage. "Don't you dare call me weak, you insufferable rodent!"
The Robo-Panther suddenly changed direction, no longer simply destroying the city as it fled. Now it was chasing Sonic, both Robotnik and Serpentine's eyes locked onto him with murderous intent.
"Im going to crush you!" Robotnik roared.
"For Lord Brevon!" Serpentine hissed with uncontained fury.
Sonic smirked to himself. They had taken the bait. Now, he just needed to lead them away from the population and the buildings and towards the waterfront—wherever that was. "Eh, I'll figure it out," Sonic thought as he sped forward, weaving through the Robo-Panther's attacks as it tried to stomp him into the ground.
Robotnik's Egg-Mobile shifted as two turrets emerged from its sides, priming themselves for an assault. At the same time, Serpentine opened the Robo-Panther's massive jaws, revealing a pair of laser cannons hidden within its fangs.
With a yell, both villains unleashed their firepower, lasers and bullets raining down on Sonic in a relentless barrage. But Sonic was ready. He danced between the attacks, his movements fluid and graceful as he dodged each blast with ease, his mind focused on one thing: driving them toward the waterfront and out of the city.
City of Shang Mu – Main Plaza
Meanwhile, in the main plaza, the battle raged on as Carol, Milla, and Tails fought tirelessly to protect the fleeing citizens from the relentless onslaught of mechanical invaders. Carol's claws flashed as she ripped through a Motobug with deadly precision, dismantling the Badnik before it could charge at a group of civilians. Her body a blur of green as she darted from one enemy to the next, taking out robot after robot.
Milla, with her alchemic powers, hurled glowing green energy cubes at clusters of Badniks. Each time one of her cubes hit, it exploded in a burst of green light, shattering the robots into pieces and freeing the trapped animals inside. Her heart soared with relief every time she saw a squirrel or bunny darting away to safety.
Above them, Tails hovered as he carried civilians out of the battlefield. The young fox had just set down Leslie, the goat receptionist from the hotel, in a safe corner away from the chaos. She was trembling, her eyes wide with shock.
"Thank you," Leslie breathed, her voice shaky and filled with disbelief. "I… I can't believe… that he would do such a thing." Her thoughts consumed by the image of Robotnik, who had once pretended to be an ally. The shock of his betrayal was clear on her face.
Tails looked at her, his own expression mirroring the sadness she felt. "I'm really sorry," he said softly, his voice tinged with guilt. Even though Robotnik's actions weren't his fault, Tails couldn't help but feel responsible for the damage and fear the mad scientist had caused.
Leslie shook her head. "No, don't apologize. You and your friends are doing everything you can to stop this madness. That's what matters."
Tails offered her a small, grateful smile. As he turned to rejoin the fray, something caught his eye—movement in the sky above. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the sky battalion of Shuigang slowly retreating, their airships floating away to the north.
"They're retreating!" Tails called out, a flicker of hope rising in his voice.
Carol, Milla, and the citizens who had gathered around looked up in surprise. For a brief moment, relief washed over them. The ships were pulling back, leaving the city behind. It seemed like the worst was finally over.
"Yay!" Milla cheered, her face lighting up with joy. "Everything will end up okay!" she added, her youthful optimism shining through.
But just as those words left her mouth, their hope was quickly shattered. From the Shuigang airships, dozens of floating, flying eyeball drones, the creations of Brevon, began to rain down. As soon as they touched the ground, they began to assimilate with the surrounding machinery, bringing to life everything from bulldozers to traffic lights, turning them into hostile weapons ready to attack the populace once more.
"You just had to jinx it, huh?" Carol grumbled.
Milla whimpered softly, her ears drooping. "Sorry…"
Tails, now refocused, looked up once more. His eyes were drawn to the rooftop of a nearby building, where another battle was unfolding.
On the rooftops, Torque was locked in a fierce duel with Heavy Gunner. The two combatants exchanged blows, Torque's laser shots precise and focused, while Heavy Gunner unleashed a relentless barrage of lasers of his own.
Torque's aim was sharp, managing to land several direct hits on Heavy Gunner's armor, causing sparks to fly. For now, he and Gyro were handling the situation well. But Gunner, despite taking damage, did not relent. With a guttural growl, the massive robot fired a well-aimed laser at the roof where Torque stood, the explosion sending Torque flying backwards. He barely managed to catch himself mid-air, using his rocket boots to stabilize his fall.
"Ugh…" Torque grunted, quickly pushing himself up, brushing off the dust. Determination burned in his eyes. "No… they trust me on this," he muttered to himself, aiming his wispon yet again, ready to fight back.
"Stop resisting!" Heavy Gunner shouted, clearly irritated by Torque's refusal to give up. He fired another round of a laser, but Torque was faster, his hover boots propelling him out of harm's way. "You will face the consequences of your actions!" Gunner's voice boomed with authority, each word punctuated by another rocket.
"What actions? Saving lives? Protecting people? Stopping you?" Torque retorted, his voice steady. With a quick trigger pull, he fired a laser blast that hit Heavy Gunner squarely in the chest, causing sparks to fly. The robot staggered back, a growl of frustration escaping its speakers.
Heavy Gunner's optics glowed brighter with rage. "You criminals are all the same! Disrupting order, sowing chaos! But you will all fall to the power of the LAW, brought down by the rockets of JUSTICE!" His words were filled with righteous fury, his belief in his cause unshakable.
Torque's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "Justice?" he repeated, almost incredulously. "This isn't justice. You're terrorizing civilians, destroying their homes. That's not justice; that's tyranny." He knew too well the difference—having fought against Brevons forces for years.
Heavy Gunner glared, his robotic voice crackling with contempt. "What would a criminal like you know about true justice?"
"True justice?" Torque's grip on his gun tightened. Memories flooded his mind—his fallen comrades, the innocent lives he'd seen destroyed, and the people he was determined to protect now. He took a deep breath, his voice rising with conviction. "I've fought across worlds to protect the innocent from an alien warlord. I've seen true evil, and I've fought to give people hope. Today, I fight for the freedom of this world, for my fallen comrades, and for the friends I've made here." Gyro floated beside him, the cyan wisp chirping in agreement.
Heavy Gunner remained unmoved. "Your so-called 'justice' is meaningless in the grand scheme of things," he spat, though something in his voice wavered.
The guards and citizens who remained in the plaza looked up, their eyes glued to the scene on the rooftops. Even in the middle of the chaos, Torque's words resonated, inspiring those who could hear him.
"Perhaps," Torque admitted, his voice thoughtful for a moment, but his resolve never faltered. "But I won't fail them." His gaze sharpened as he remembered his comrades, his fallen friends, and now, the new bonds he had made. "I am Commander Torque of the Spinner Chasers, and I will not let them down!"
With that, Torque raised his hand toward Gyro, who chirped excitedly before high fiving him and diving into him, merging with his body in a flash of cyan light. Heavy Gunner's optics widened in surprise as Torque's entire form began to glow with the energy of the wisp.
Torque smirked, his body now pulsating with power.
LASER!
In an instant, Torque transformed into a massive cyan beam, his body disappearing into a streak of pure light with only two glowing yellow eyes visible. He shot forward, the beam zigzagging through the air and heading straight for Heavy Gunner.
Gunner, panicking at the sight of the massive laser, launching his own laser, the two beams clashing in mid-air. Sparks flew, the intense energy of the two attacks creating a blinding light as they collided.
Heavy Gunner grunted, straining against the power of Torque's attack. He couldn't afford to lose—not when so much was at stake, not just for himself or his Chief, but for his entire squad. He fought with everything he had, pushing back with all his strength. "This determination… this guts…!" he growled, the words escaping him.
But Torque's determination proved stronger. His beam surged forward, breaking through Heavy Gunner's defenses. The cyan laser pierced through the robot's chest, creating a gaping hole. Sparks flew as Heavy Gunner staggered, his systems failing.
Torque rematerialized in his original form, hovering with the help of his hover shoes as Gyro floated happily by his side. They had won.
Heavy Gunner turned to face Torque, clutching the gaping hole in his chest. But instead of anger, there was something else in his optics—respect. His voice crackled, weak but resolute. "Haaaa… If... this is truly the TRUE JUSTICE you claim…" he rasped, his systems failing, "…then… show me… I want to see you deliver it." With a final salute, Heavy Gunner collapsed, his body sparking and smoking as he crashed to the ground. A small explosion marked the end of his fight.
Torque hovered above the wreckage for a moment, a sense of bittersweet victory settling over him. As the smoke cleared, he noticed a small piglet scurrying out from the remains of Heavy Gunner's body, oinking in gratitude before disappearing into the chaos.
A soft smile tugged at Torque's lips. "I think… the guys would've loved that," he muttered, remembering his old crew. But before he could dwell on the past, he noticed that his hover boots were running low on fuel. "Uh-oh…" he muttered as the engines sputtered out.
With a comical yelp, Torque began to fall, Gyro looking in alarm. But before he could hit the ground, someone caught him in mid-air.
"Now that's what I call an A-tier speech!" Tails said with a broad grin as he slowly descended Torque down to safety, his twin tails spinning. "Also, you're way less heavy without that shell on your back," he added with a cheeky grin.
Torque chuckled awkwardly, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. "Yeah, sorry about that." He said before his expression grew more serious as they both looked down at the plaza below, where another wave of robots had begun to emerge. "Let's finish this!"
"Roger," Tails said with determination, "But you're definitely going to tell me what that was back there!"
Torque laughed, and together they flew back into the fray, ready to face the next wave of enemies and protect the city.
City of Shang Mu – In a Secluded Building
Inside an abandoned building near the devastated plaza, a massive explosion echoed through the halls, filling the air with dust and debris. Lilac and Spade crashed through a wall, landing hard on the floor of what used to be a kitchen. They both staggered to their feet, their breathing labored as the conflict between them grew fiercer by the second.
Spade wiped the sweat from his brow, a grim smile curling on his lips despite the pain. "Cough, cough... Yeah, just like old times..." His hand pressed against his chest, revealing that he hadn't fully recovered from his battle against Sonic back on Relic Island, but he didn't waver.
Lilac glared at him, frustration clear in her features as she stood back up. "Spade, will you just... listen?" Her voice was tinged with desperation. Every time she tried to get through to him, it was like talking to a brick wall.
Spade sneered, pulling out another deck of explosive cards. "Sash, you said you'd have to reach me with your fists if you really wanted to talk..." His voice was laced with bitterness.
Lilac's eyes flared with both anger and sadness. "Why are you so difficult?!" she shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. She was tired of fighting him, but he was giving her no choice.
Spade didn't answer with words. Instead, he hurled a flurry of explosive cards directly at her. Lilac spun into a Cyclone, deflecting the cards away from her. The explosions erupted behind her, but she stayed focused, her movements fluid and controlled as she darted forward, launching a fierce Dragon Uppercut aimed directly at Spade.
He dodged at the last second. In retaliation, he grabbed a nearby chair from the wreckage and hurled it at her. The chair struck her in the forehead, knocking her back as she stumbled, clutching the wound.
"Ow!" Lilac winced, rubbing the sore spot on her head as her vision blurred momentarily. "This was supposed to be one-on-one, no weapons!" she growled, glaring at the panda through narrowed eyes.
Spade smirked arrogantly. "Didn't hear that rule." He wasn't going to play fair, and Lilac should've known better. With a flick of his wrist, he launched more cards at her, followed by random debris from the crumbling kitchen.
Lilac reacted quickly, using a nearby table as a shield, flipping it over just in time to block the incoming objects. She pushed the table towards Spade, forcing him to slice it in two with one of his cards. But as he focused on the table, Lilac seized the opportunity, grabbing the dangling ceiling lamp. She swung herself forward with a fierce Dragon Boost, rocketing directly into Spade and slamming him into the far wall with brutal force.
Spade crashed through the wall, debris flying everywhere as he landed in the living room of the house, the impact knocking the wind out of him. "Ugh…" he muttered weakly, struggling to his feet. Despite the pain, his resolve was ironclad. His thoughts were consumed by a single purpose: Dail... for Dail. "No... not this time..."
"Spade, please!" Lilac called out, her voice filled with desperation. But Spade's eyes were cold, unrelenting.
"Not another word!" Spade snarled, Flash Jumping towards her in a blur of speed, ready to land another strike. He wouldn't let himself be defeated again.
City of Shang Mu – Waterfront
Far to the north of Shang Mu, the city's waterfront stretched along the gleaming shores, its crystal-clear waters lapping against pristine docks and piers. The area was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos that had engulfed the city. The wide, open space was perfect—away from the citizens, away from the crumbling buildings.
The chase between Sonic and the Robo-Panther had reached its climax. The massive mechanical beast roared as it tore through the empty streets near the waterfront. Sonic dashed in front of it, effortlessly weaving through a barrage of missiles and laser blasts. His movements were fluid, like water, slipping between the attacks with practiced ease.
The Robo-Panther's laser beams shot from its fangs, attempting to strike Sonic. But the blue blur was too quick, spin-dashing out of the way in a flash, then hopping onto a nearby lamppost, spinning around it before launching himself directly at the machine's face. With a powerful kick, he cracked the already damaged jaw of the panther, weakening its armor.
Inside the cockpit, Robotnik and Serpentine were frantic, their previous confidence replaced with frustration.
"Fire, fire, fire!" Robotnik screamed, his voice reaching a high-pitched squeal as he furiously pressed buttons, trying to hit Sonic with every weapon at his disposal.
"What do you think I'm doing?!" Serpentine snapped, his hands flying across the controls. "I'll show you the true power of the Robo-Panther, porcupine!"
Sonic smirked, his expression playful as he continued dodging their attacks. "Panther? It's mostly gold! You sure it's not something more like a puma?"
"Stop making up nonexistent creatures!" Serpentine roared, his anger getting the better of him. He slammed a button on the control panel, transforming the Robo-Panther's legs into sharp, rotating wheels. With a lurch, the mechanical beast shifted into a bipedal stance, towering even higher as it adjusted for combat.
"Hey, you idiot! I'm in the back; I can't shoot him like this!" Robotnik yelled, struggling to reposition his Egg-Mobile inside the machine. The awkward design clearly wasn't built for two pilots.
"Shut up! I need to teach this rodent a lesson!" Serpentine snapped back, his eyes blazing with fury as he tried to line up a shot on Sonic.
"Don't steal my lines!" Robotnik retorted, their bickering growing louder as they momentarily lost focus on their target.
Sonic seized the opportunity. He spotted another lamppost nearby and, with a swift spin, used it to launch himself at the Robo-Panther once more. This time, he aimed directly for the already cracked jaw, landing a powerful blow that shattered the remaining armor and exposed the machine's weak point—a glowing red eye nestled under the metal plating.
"There you are," Sonic said, grinning as he prepared for the final strike.
"No!" Serpentine and Robotnik yelled in panic.
With a burst of speed, Sonic unleashed a flurry of attacks on the exposed weak spot, each hit driving deeper into the core of the machine. Sparks flew as the Robo-Panther's systems began to fail, and with one final, well-placed kick, Sonic sent the giant machine skidding across the ground. The mechanical beast twisted and turned, its massive body crashing into the edge of the waterfront, leaving deep gouges in the concrete before it finally came to a stop near the water's edge.
The dust settled, revealing the wreckage of the once-formidable Robo-Panther. Robotnik and Serpentine lay amidst the debris, groaning in pain as they struggled to pull themselves free from the broken cockpit.
Sonic approached the wreckage with a satisfied grin on his face. "Whew, that was close," he muttered, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow. As he glanced up, he saw the Shuigang ships retreating into the distance, their engines roaring as they finally abandoned the battle. "And it looks like they're finally calling it quits," he said to himself, relieved that the immediate danger had passed.
He turned back to the wreckage, ready to retrieve the Chaos Emerald and Kingdom Stone. "Game over, Eggman," Sonic said with a smirk. "Looks like after all of this, you're no better than before." He stepped closer to Robotnik, eyeing the scattered pieces of the machine as he prepared to grab the precious items.
But as he neared, Robotnik began to murmur to himself, his body twitching slightly. A low, sinister chuckle escaped his lips, and Sonic's ears perked up. Something was off.
Robotnik slowly stirred, his eyes gleaming with a familiar madness, and a sinister smile curled on his lips.
City of Shang Mu – Main Plaza
The battle in the main plaza raged on, but the tide was turning. Carol, Tails, Milla, Torque, and the local soldiers fought with everything they had, gradually pushing back the alien robots and the remaining Badniks.
A white tiger soldier named Katheryn stood back-to-back with Torque, her eyes scanning the battlefield. "S-sir, any suggestions for holding them off?" she asked, her voice filled with urgency.
Torque, momentarily taken aback by being addressed so formally, quickly assessed the situation. "Destroy the eyes of the traffic lights, aim for the sound speakers on the soundwave robots, and target the red areas on the bulldozers. We need to corner them in the plaza so they can't escape," he said, his voice calm and authoritative.
Katheryn nodded, saluting him before rushing off to relay the orders to the other soldiers.
Carol, catching Torque's serious expression, smirked as she took down another robot with a swift kick. "Wow, Torqui, you've got a knack for leadership, huh?" she teased, throwing him a playful glance.
Torque blushed slightly, clearly not used to the compliment. "I-I, it wasn't that hard..." he stammered, scratching the back of his head.
"Don't sell yourself short, dude! That speech about justice even got the civilians to fight back!" Carol pointed out, gesturing to the determined citizens battling alongside them.
Amidst the chaos, citizens who had remained in the plaza, inspired by the bravery of the heroes, began to fight back with whatever they could find—sticks, rocks, even broken machinery. The combined efforts of soldiers, civilians, unified front against the mechanical invaders.
Torque's face lit up with a proud smile. As he watched the scene, the fear replaced with resolve. Despite everything they had been through, they were fighting back—and winning.
"Alright, gotta help Milla and Tails! See ya, commander!" Carol called as she spotted a towering Brevon robot heading toward her friends. Without hesitation, she leaped into the fray, her claws slashing through the air as she joined the battle with gusto. Torque, rushed to assist the others as well a proud smile on himself.
The battle continued fiercely, but the tide was shifting in favor of the heroes. Together, they fought back the robotic forces, dismantling each enemy with precision.
"Everybody, one last push!" Torque shouted, his voice carrying across the battlefield as they coordinated their final assault on the remaining robots.
Carol, Tails, Milla, and Torque moved in sync, delivering their finishing blows as the last robot was destroyed in a flurry of sparks and shrapnel. The last of the robots finally fell.
The plaza fell quiet for a moment, the destruction around them settling like dust after a storm. For the first time since the attack began, there was a stillness in the air. The white tiger soldier, Katheryn, her uniform tattered and covered in grime, looked around in disbelief.
"W-we won?" Her voice quivered, her eyes wide with shock. The realization spread like wildfire through the plaza.
"We won!" she repeated, her voice rising with excitement. Soldiers and civilians alike erupted into cheers, the tension of the battle melting away into relief and celebration.
The group of collapsed to the ground, exhausted but victorious. Even Mayor Zao, who had been hiding in a trash can for most of the battle, peeked out with wide eyes, watching them with newfound admiration. His fear was momentarily replaced with awe.
"Hah...hah... So…how was your first time saving a city?" Carol panted, leaning heavily against a piece of debris. Her fur was matted with sweat.
"Huff... I'd prefer if this doesn't become something we do daily," Tails replied, slumping down beside her. His tails lay limp on the ground, all of his energy drained.
Milla curled up next to them, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. "I didn't know adventuring could be so tiring..." she murmured, her tongue lolling out in exhaustion.
Torque, standing with Gyro floating beside him, lifted a hand in a weary salute. "We all did our best. Great job, everyone!" His voice, though tired, carried a note of pride and relief.
But then Torque's face paled as Gyro nudge him, pointing out his face and back, reminding him of something important. "A-ah, I forgot my disguise..." he muttered, clearly embarrassed that his true alien form had been exposed this entire time, with everyone here...
The others couldn't help but laugh, the sound a brief moment of levity in the aftermath of chaos. Their laughter, however, was abruptly cut short by the sound of an explosion.
Everyone's heads snapped toward the source of the disturbance. A nearby building crumbled, sending a cloud of dust into the air. From within the smoke, two figures darted upwards, streaking across the sky like comets—one a purple blur, the other a green trail.
Lilac and Spade, locked in a fierce aerial battle, burst into view, both battered and bruised but refusing to back down. The intensity of their fight was palpable as they traded blows in mid-air, their movements fast and furious.
"Spade! One last chance!" Lilac's voice rang out, desperation and determination mingling in her tone as she tried to get through to him one final time.
"Shut up and let's finish this!" Spade retorted, his eyes blazing with anger, unwilling to listen.
"Why can't you understand that I'm doing this for the best of everyone!" Lilac shouted, her frustration pouring out as she tried to reason with him.
Spade's face twisted with bitterness, his voice rising with hurt and anger. "The best? Like when you left the Scarves with Carol by your side? When you abandoned everyone?!" When you left me.
Before Lilac could respond, Spade delivered a powerful kick, catching her off guard. She raised her arms to block, but the force of the blow sent her hurtling toward the ground. She crashed into the rubble below, the impact knocking the wind out of her as she struggled to breathe.
"LILAC!" her friends screamed, their voices filled with fear. They rushed to her side as Spade descended, his body trembling from the strain of the battle. He landed heavily, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.
"Ha... 75-74... I'm in the lead, Sash..." Spade's voice was thick with bitterness, a cold reminder of the broken bond between them. He reached for a card, his hand shaking as he aimed it at Lilac.
"You should've left me alone..." he muttered under his breath. But as he prepared to throw the card, he hesitated. His expression wavered, torn between his anger and something deeper.
Lilac, lying on the ground, gasping for air, raised her head weakly. Her eyes still glimmered with the same determination that had carried her through the battle. "S-Spade... Please... don't trust... him..." she whispered, her voice faint but pleading. "Please…"
Spade's hand shook violently as he bit his lip, the inner turmoil clear on his face. He looked at her, then back at the card in his hand. His fingers tightened around it, but something in him stopped.
"Dammit!" with a frustrated growl, Spade hurled the card at the ground instead. The explosion created a thick cloud of smoke, obscuring him from view. When the smoke cleared, Spade was gone, leaving only a scattering of regular cards where he had stood.
Lilac blinked in confusion, trying to process what had just happened. But before she could think any further, her friends closed in around her.
"Lilac!" Carol cried, dropping to her knees beside her fallen friend. She cradled Lilac's head in her hands, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "You okay? Please be okay..." she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Milla, tears streaming down her cheeks, threw her arms around Lilac. "Lilac, you're okay! You're okay!" she cried, her voice filled with relief.
Lilac gave a weak smile. "I'm okay, guys... I... I think I reached out to him..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but there was a fragile hope in her words. Maybe… just maybe, she had gotten through to Spade.
"You better have," Carol choked out, her voice trembling as she gently stroked Lilac's hair.
"We need a hospital! Or more life petals! Or... or..." Torque babbled, his eyes darting around as panic set in. His mind raced as he tried to figure out how to help.
"Worry not, friends!" A booming voice interrupted their frantic conversation. They all turned to see Mayor Zao striding out of the trash can, his clothes rumpled but his grin wide and confident. "Because I, Mayor Zao, will ensure you have the accommodations necessary! It's the least I can do for saving not only me but this city as well!" He struck a dramatic pose, basking in the crowd's attention.
The group exchanged weary glances, a collective sweat-drop forming at Zao's dramatic flair. Despite the ridiculousness of it all, they couldn't help but feel a bit of relief at the mayor's presence. At least now, some things were starting to return to normal.
But their moment of calm was abruptly shattered by the sound of evil laughter echoing from the distance. Their heads whipped around to see a small vessel speeding toward one of the Shuigang ships in the sky. The laughter was unmistakable—it was Robotnik.
"Wait... Where's Sonic?" Milla asked, her voice trembling with concern. The realization dawned on them.
What happened to Sonic?
City of Shang Mu – Waterfront
Just moments before...
Back at the waterfront, Sonic stood over the wreckage of the Robo-Panther, eyeing Robotnik with suspicion. The evil doctor was still stirring, murmuring to himself, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
Sonic's eyes narrowed, his instincts on high alert. "What's with the grin, Eggman?" he asked, his voice edged with caution.
Robotnik chuckled darkly, his smile widening. "You're right, Sonic," he said, his tone dripping with malevolence.
Sonic raised an eyebrow, confused. "Pardon?"
"You're right," Robotnik repeated, his voice growing more excited. "I need to do better... go further... improve everything…"
Sonic leaned in, curiosity piqued despite himself. What was Robotnik planning?
But just as Sonic took a step closer, Robotnik's hand shot out from the wreckage. "Gotcha!" With lightning speed, Robotnik pulled out one of Serpentine's twin laser guns and fired a direct shot at Sonic's chest.
The blast was brutal, knocking Sonic off his feet and sending him flying off the docks. He tumbled through the air before crashing into the cold waters of the waterfront below.
Robotnik's cackle filled the air as he rose from the wreckage. He scrambled into his Egg-Mobile, quickly grabbing the Chaos Emerald and Kingdom Stone, and reluctantly hoisting the dazed Serpentine into the vessel.
As the ship rose into the sky, Robotnik's laughter echoed across the waterfront. "Hope you enjoy the swim, Sonic! Farewell!" The ship ascended, heading north toward the fleeing Shuigang ships.
From the safety of his Egg-Mobile, Robotnik momentarily glanced back at the water. He knew Sonic would survive the blast and the fall, but that didn't matter. This was just the beginning.
"You better not fail me, Sonic," Robotnik muttered under his breath, his smile darkening as he soared into the sky, his evil laughter ringing out once more.
In the cold waters below, Sonic struggled to stay conscious. The impact from the blast and the numbing cold of the water sapped his strength, making it hard to stay afloat. He gasped for breath, his mind racing.
He's really changed… Sonic thought to himself as his vision blurred. Robotnik wasn't the same villain he had fought all these years—he had become something far crueler, far more dangerous. But even as Sonic's consciousness began to fade, he knew one thing for certain.
No matter what, he would stop Robotnik. He always had. He always would.
As darkness began to close in, the last thing Sonic saw was a figure diving into the water alongside him. Then, everything went black.