The cave systems around Sonic rumbled as a massive burst of energy rang out from ahead. "Man! Been a while since I've seen you go all out, Shadow!" Sonic said with a whistle. He rolled into a ball as he noticed a slope, using the momentum to carry him further with less effort. He had to save some energy for Infinite, after all!
Deeper within the caves, the battle of two titans raged without limit. Infinite's robes began to tear and fray as he desperately dodged and blocked Shadow's near-feral flurry of attacks, but he got his licks in, too. "Just accept your fate! I AM THE ULTIMATE NOW!"
"SHUT UP ALREADY!" Shadow retorted, summoning a barrage of eight Chaos Spears to converge on Infinite. Three he managed to block, another flew right past him, while the rest found their target, giving him deep cuts on his arms, legs, and torso. Finally, the one that had flown past him returned, deeply wounding his right shoulder.
Infinite fell on one knee, panting heavily. "Well played...Hedgehog...But you have your limits!"
Shadow felt a sudden weariness as his power began to fade, his energy reserves depleted. Infinite took this opportunity to gain his second wind, dashing forward and grabbing Shadow by the face. "But me!?"
"I!" Infinite threw him into a small rock formation before using his Phantom power to draw him back.
"AM!" The jackal's fist connected with Shadow's torso as he flew towards him, sending the hedgehog into a spin before Infinite launched him up into the air.
"INFINITE!" Rocketing upward, Infinite slammed Shadow down to the ground, creating a crater around him. Infinite placed his boot atop the defeated hedgehog, cackling maniacally in victory. "DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD BEAT ME!?"
"...No." Shadow coughed out, before a devious grin formed on his face. "But I knew I could wear you down!"
Infinite gasped as he realized something he had been ignoring for a good chunk of this fight. A faint whistling of the breeze, gradually getting louder, closer, roaring like a hurricane as it approached. He stepped back, almost fearful as he realized what it was:
The Wind.
Quick as lightning, the blue form of Sonic the Hedgehog smashed its way into Infinite's view, rolling up into a ball as he collided with the jackal's face at top speed, shattering his mask in the process. The blow wouldn't have taken him down normally, but after Shadow's assault, it was the last straw.
Infinite finally slammed into a wall before collapsing to the ground, defeated. Sonic quickly picked up Shadow's limiter rings and handed them to the black hedgehog. "So...That was risky!"
"I knew you would show up in due time. You have this annoying habit of always pulling through." Shadow said, placing his limiter rings back on his wrists as he got up, still weary from his massive output of energy. Infinite was trying to get up too, but was much shakier in his stance, his eyes burning with hatred behind what was left of his mask.
"I...Cannot be defeated...I am Infinite! I am-"
"You're done!" Shadow said, simply, as he slapped Infinite with his open hand, knocking the jackal out cold.