Rail Canyon
[Rail Canyon - Act One: Sonic x Shadow Generations Starts Playing]
Shadow plummeted from the sky, landing with practiced precision on one of the gleaming blue rails that snaked and spiraled through the rugged terrain of Rail Canyon. The interwoven tracks shimmered faintly in the sunlight, carving through jagged rock formations and plunging into yawning chasms. As his grinding air shoes sparked against the rail, memories surged unbidden—his first mission here with Rouge and Omega, the chaos, and the weight of decisions made.
"So much has changed since then," Shadow muttered, his voice carrying a rare trace of reflection. "Yet, this place feels frozen in time."
The hedgehog crouched slightly, increasing his speed as he transitioned smoothly to a parallel rail with a graceful leap. The wind howled around him, tugging at his quills, but he remained unshaken. Ahead, the rail steepened into an unforgiving incline. Shadow leaned forward, pouring his energy into a boost. A trail of red light streaked behind him as he shot up the rail, the steep ascent no match for his skill.
At the peak, the rail dipped sharply, twisting into a curve that hugged the canyon walls. Shadow adjusted his balance instinctively, leaning into the turn as jagged outcrops loomed close, the gap between the rail and rocky terrain narrowing. His crimson eyes scanned ahead, calculating his next move.
The grinding track carried him to a flat platform, where he launched himself with a burst of speed. He landed lightly, only to spring forward again, clearing the gaps between platforms as if they were mere stepping stones. The canyon echoed with the hum of his movement and the faint screech of grinding rails.
As he reached a taller platform, Shadow's sharp gaze caught movement above. Winged Heartless hovered, their grotesque forms stark against the sky. These were Air Soldiers, their bat-like wings beating rhythmically as their clawed hands flexed menacingly. Their jagged aviator caps and dark, sinewy bodies glinted ominously in the sunlight, the inverted Heartless emblem on their gear marking them as enemies born of darkness.
"Heartless here too, huh?" Shadow muttered, his tone carrying equal parts annoyance and resolve. "No matter."
Without hesitation, he sprang into the air, his figure a blur of motion. The first Heartless disintegrated in a dark mist as his homing attack connected, his lithe form disappearing and reappearing in streaks of blue light. The second fell to a spinning kick, the force of his strike obliterating it instantly. The final Heartless flailed as Shadow materialised above it, delivering a decisive blow that shattered it into nothingness.
Landing with practiced ease on the next platform, Shadow smirked. His crimson streaks glowed faintly as he skated forward, eyes fixed on the next set of rails winding deeper into the canyon.
"Their numbers don't matter," he murmured to himself, his voice as cold and sharp as the desert air. "I'll destroy anything in my way."
With a powerful leap, Shadow descended onto the next rail, resuming his relentless journey.
The blue track hummed beneath his grinding air shoes, a faint glow tracing his path as the wind screamed around him. Rail Canyon stretched ahead like an endless maze of metal and stone, its intertwining rails a labyrinth of peril. Shadow's crimson streaks cut through the canyon like a vengeful comet. His sharp gaze darted between the paths ahead, calculating his next moves as he advanced deeper into enemy territory.
A sudden roar of jet engines snapped Shadow's attention upward. Three Cannon Flappers descended from the sky, their turbines whirring menacingly. The glint of their missile launchers caught his eye, followed by the hiss of rockets locking on.
"They never learn," Shadow muttered darkly. With a twist of his body, he leapt off the rail, spinning mid-air as a barrage of missiles streaked toward him. Time seemed to slow as he extended his hand.
"Chaos Control."
Reality distorted in an instant. The missiles froze in place, their trails suspended like ominous streaks of fire against the canyon backdrop. Shadow smirked, maneuvering effortlessly through the frozen projectiles. Emerging from the chaos, he reappeared atop a higher rail, gripping it with expert balance as he slid along its gleaming surface. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed Doom Spears, the dark, crackling projectiles tearing through the missiles, igniting a fiery cascade in the air.
The explosions rocked the canyon, and Shadow wasted no time. He leapt into the air, targeting the Cannon Flappers that had regrouped. The first went down in a burst of smoke and metal as his spinning kick smashed through its turbine. Without missing a beat, Shadow vanished in a blur of blue light, reappearing behind the second flapper. A precise Chaos Spear pierced its missile launcher, causing it to spiral out of control before crashing into the canyon below. The third attempted to retreat, but Shadow fired another Doom Spear, the dark projectile shattering its flight visor and sending it plummeting to the ground.
As Shadow landed back on the rail, the air grew thick with a foreboding presence. From the corner of his eye, he spotted a squad of Air Soldiers circling above, their bat-like wings slicing through the sky. Below, Egg Pawns marched in formation, their metallic limbs clanking against the rocky platforms.
"So they've sent everything they have," Shadow mused, his tone devoid of concern. "Let them come."
The Air Soldiers swooped down in formation, their claws gleaming as they aimed for him. Shadow crouched slightly, his speed increasing as he grinded down the rail. At the last moment, he jumped, somersaulting above the Heartless and striking them mid-flight with rapid Doom Spears. The dark energy shattered two instantly, their forms dissipating into black mist. The remaining Heartless regrouped, but Shadow was already upon them, homing onto one with a crushing kick before pivoting into another with a devastating punch. The sky cleared as the last of them fell.
Shadow landed on a lower platform where the Egg Pawns awaited, their mechanical arms armed with blasters. They fired in unison, their energy bolts sparking against the terrain as Shadow darted between the shots with ease. He unleashed a burst of Chaos Energy, a wave of power scattering the pawns like debris. Their attempts to regroup were futile as Shadow's fists and feet tore through their ranks, leaving nothing but smoldering wreckage in his wake.
Ahead, another squad of Cannon Flappers appeared, their missile launchers primed. Shadow narrowed his eyes, focusing his energy. He leapt from the platform onto another rail, speeding toward the airborne enemies. They fired in tandem, the missiles streaking toward him in a deadly barrage. Shadow smirked, twisting his body into a corkscrew spin as he dodged the projectiles with precision. Using his momentum, he hurled another wave of Doom Spears, the enhanced energy striking multiple targets at once. Explosions rocked the sky, and the flappers fell one by one.
The final Cannon Flapper attempted to dive-bomb him, but Shadow activated Chaos Control, freezing time once more. He approached the enemy with calculated steps, placing a hand on its undercarriage before the flow of time resumed. With a surge of Chaos Energy, the flapper detonated, its fragments scattering harmlessly around him.
As Shadow skated off the rail and onto another platform, a fresh wave of Soldiers emerged from the shadows. Shadow stood his ground, his crimson eyes blazing.
"Enough games," he growled.
The hedgehog raised his gloved hand, summoning a barrage of Doom Spears that rained down like a storm of destruction. The ground quaked as the Heartless disintegrated under his relentless assault, leaving the platform scorched and empty.
Shadow exhaled sharply, his gaze locked on the canyon ahead as he jumped onto a nearby rail. The intertwining rails twisted into increasingly elaborate patterns, their paths an intricate labyrinth suspended over yawning chasms. The faint hum of danger lingered in the air, but Shadow smirked. The thrill of the challenge fueled his determination, sharpening his focus.
However, as he rounded a bend and entered a metal tunnel, the terrain began to betray him. The walls shimmered unnaturally, their solid form giving way to an unsettling, liquid-like distortion. The air grew heavier, the very fabric of the environment bending and rippling around him.
"Not this again," Shadow muttered, his voice a low growl of annoyance.
The tunnel buckled and warped, much like the halls of the Space Colony ARK when they'd been consumed by similar chaos. Shadow narrowed his crimson eyes, instantly recognising the telltale signs of the entity responsible.
"It has to be him," he hissed, his tone laced with disdain.
As if on cue, the rails beneath him twisted violently, lashing out like serpents imbued with malicious intent. Shadow leapt from one to the other with precision, his air shoes igniting as he fought to maintain his balance. The grinding sound of metal against metal screeched in his ears, the distorted environment playing tricks on his perception.
Suddenly, a sharp impact slammed into his back, sending him hurtling off the rails.
"Gah," Shadow called out.
Shadow tumbled through the air, the distorted void around him pulsing and twisting like a living entity.
Doom's Eye hovered ominously around Shadow as he plummeted, its voice echoing through his mind like a dark whisper carried on the wind.
"You cannot escape your destiny, Shadow. All roads lead to me," it intoned, its words dripping with malice.
"Stay out of my way!" Shadow roared, twisting his body mid-air as he fought to regain control.
The tunnel around him dissolved completely, its metallic walls melting into an endless expanse of distorted sky. Beneath him, the ground shifted and warped, transforming into a surreal, bending cityscape. Roads, buildings, and highways coiled and twisted unnaturally, as though they were reflections in a shattered mirror. The oppressive darkness typically associated with Black Doom's domain was absent, replaced instead by an eerie, unrelenting daylight. The sun hung unnaturally in the sky, its pale light casting cold, sterile shadows across the warped terrain.
Shadow's freefall came to an abrupt halt as his air shoes ignited, stabilising him mere moments before he would have collided with the cracked, misshapen surface of a highway. Sparks flew as his shoes skidded against the jagged asphalt, his landing precise despite the chaotic environment.
Doom's Eye darted ahead, moving with purpose before vanishing into the warped horizon, but his voice still rang out.
"This way, Shadow," it mocked.
"You again!" Shadow remarked with annoyance.
Shadow's crimson eyes narrowed, his expression hardening with resolve. Without hesitation, he surged forward, boosting across the twisting highway, the hum of his air shoes slicing through the warped silence.
Doom Zone
[Radical Highway (2nd Encounter) - Sonic x Shadow Generations Starts Playing]
Shadow hit a speed ramp, launching into the air like a crimson meteor. High above, Air Soldiers hovered in formation, blocking his path to a higher highway suspended in the distance. Shadow's instincts kicked in—his body twisted mid-air as he activated his Homing Attack.
In flashes of blue light, Shadow appeared and reappeared, each strike shattering an enemy into wisps of dark mist. One after another, the Heartless were obliterated, their jagged forms breaking apart beneath his unrelenting assault. With a final leap, Shadow cleared the last gap, landing firmly on the next highway. The metallic ground shuddered beneath him as he continued his relentless pursuit of Doom's Eye.
The distorted cityscape spiraled around him in chaos. Roads bent into corkscrews, glass skyscrapers twisted into impossible loops, and gravity itself seemed like a suggestion. Shadow boosted forward, taking a sharp turn along a fragmented overpass that climbed into a steep incline—straight up the side of a massive building.
As he scaled the wall, glowing debris floated ominously in the air—jagged chunks of buildings, twisted metal from shattered bridges, and shattered lamp posts, all encased in a sickly red and purple aura. The distortions had intensified, warping reality into a dangerous, ever-shifting maze.
Shadow reached the top and launched himself off the building, free-falling through the open sky. The wind tore past him, but he kept his form tight, accelerating his descent with a controlled boost. The fractured city stretched out below him, an infinite, bending horizon of chaos.
Doom's Eye appeared suddenly, gliding alongside him.
"Keep following, Shadow."
"Why should I follow you?" Shadow demanded, his voice sharp.
The eye's response was as cryptic as ever, its tone dark and foreboding.
"Can you afford not to?"
Shadow gritted his teeth, adjusting his trajectory as floating debris loomed in his path. Massive chunks of concrete and warped steel spiraled through the air, forcing him to twist and spin to avoid collisions. The entire world around him seemed intent on tearing itself apart.
A flash of yellow caught his eye—a lone rail extended below him, winding through the chaos. Shadow shifted his weight, aligning his fall, and his air shoes connected perfectly with the rail. Sparks burst beneath his feet as he began grinding, speeding across the glowing rail that twisted in loops and sharp turns.
The rail plummeted into a steep, 90-degree drop. Shadow narrowed his eyes, leaping mid-fall to land seamlessly on another rail below. His balance remained unshaken, even as the path curved and twisted like a rollercoaster through the broken skyline.
Doom's Eye floated ahead, its presence as unnerving as ever.
"You'll understand soon enough."
The rail ended at a platform, and Shadow launched forward, landing on another stretch of fragmented highway. The surface trembled beneath his steps, but he pressed onward. The distorted sunlight cast jagged shadows across the ruined cityscape as more Heartless rose from the darkness.
Soldier Heartless emerged in clusters, their armour clanking as they surrounded him.
"Out of my way!" Shadow growled, his voice reverberating with anger.
In a flash of motion, he activated his boost, becoming a streak of light as he charged through the enemy ranks. The first wave of Heartless was sent flying, their armour breaking apart like brittle glass. More materialised ahead—five of them, raising their clawed hands to strike.
Shadow skidded to a halt and raised his hand, summoning a volley of Doom Spears. Dark, crackling energy surged around the spears as they launched in rapid succession, each projectile finding its mark with pinpoint accuracy. The Heartless disintegrated in bursts of black mist.
Above him, Doom's Eye zipped around, watching with an almost mocking tone.
"Hahaha, very good, Shadow. Come to me, if you can."
Shadow didn't respond. Instead, he rocketed forward, hitting a speed ramp at the end of the highway that launched him high into the air once more. He soared over the crumbling remains of a red bridge, scanning the fractured skyline below for his next landing point.
The hedgehog plummeted downward, his speed increasing with the rush of freefall—but the obstacles grew more sinister. Massive, spinning tendrils of red and black energy spiraled into view, their grotesque forms writhing like serpents. Yellow and red eyes blinked open along their coiled lengths, pulsating with dark energy as they twisted toward him.
Shadow's crimson gaze locked onto the grotesque shapes.
"Tch. You'll have to do better than that."
With a flick of his hand, he summoned a volley of Doom Spears, dark energy crackling as they streaked toward the glowing eyes. Each projectile struck true, detonating in bursts of red and purple light. The tendrils shuddered as their glowing eyes dimmed, and the spinning masses slowed before dissolving into lifeless debris.
Shadow sped past the fading remnants, unharmed and undeterred. His focus remained sharp as he spotted Doom's Eye hovering ahead, a faint red glow trailing behind it like an ominous beacon.
With a sharp burst of energy, Shadow activated his Homing Attack, accelerating through the void in a streak of blue light. In an instant, he materialised directly in front of Doom's Eye and delivered a powerful kick.
"Gah!" Doom's Eye let out a distorted cry of surprise, spinning erratically in the air before recovering.
The entity's single glowing eye fixated on Shadow as it drifted back.
"Well done, Shadow," it remarked, almost mockingly. "But it's still not enough."
Before Shadow could respond, Doom's Eye was enveloped in a swirling red void, vanishing from sight. The sudden absence left an eerie silence in its wake.
Shadow continued his descent, the chaotic air rushing past him as the warped skyline below began to take shape once more. His sharp gaze caught sight of his next destination—a suspended highway stretching across the distorted horizon.
With a final adjustment to his trajectory, Shadow landed gracefully on the highway, his air shoes sending out a burst of sparks as he touched down. The metal surface shuddered slightly beneath his weight before stabilizing. Shadow straightened and scanned the road ahead.
A lone speed ramp waited for him at the end of the highway, just in front of a massive, half-open metal door embedded into the side of the canyon wall. The mechanical groan of shifting gears echoed faintly as the doors continued to slide apart. Shadow's thoughts lingered for a moment on Doom's Eye's cryptic words.
"'Not enough'? What did he mean?" Shadow muttered, his expression darkening as he pondered the meaning behind the taunt.
The question nagged at him, but he knew standing idle wouldn't bring him any closer to answers. With a sharp exhale, he crouched slightly, his air shoes glowing as he surged toward the speed ramp.
The moment he hit the ramp, he was airborne once more, propelled forward like a streak of black and red lightning. The metal doors finished opening just as Shadow flew through, revealing a long rail that extended deep into another tunnel.
Shadow landed deftly on the blue rail, his grinding air shoes locking onto the track as he began to glide forward at high speed. The distorted cityscape behind him flickered and faded. The surreal chaos of the Doom Zone melted away, replaced by the familiar yet treacherous surroundings of Rail Canyon.
[Bullet Station Remix (Rail Canyon Act 2) - Sonic x Shadow Generations Starts Playing]
Shadow raced through the tunnel, the metallic hum of the rail beneath him a familiar yet unsettling sound. The tunnel continued to reconstruct itself around him with precise, mechanical efficiency—walls snapping into place, reinforced girders sliding into their slots as though reality itself was rebuilding. The overhead lights flickered to life, casting long, pale beams across the narrow passage.
"Back here again..." Shadow muttered, his tone quiet but resolute. Even with Rail Canyon's familiar structure returning, the cryptic weight of Doom's Eye's final words lingered in his thoughts like a shadow he couldn't shake.
The end of the tunnel loomed ahead, bright daylight spilling through the exit. With one final boost, Shadow shot forward and emerged into the open expanse of Rail Canyon once more. The jagged cliffs stretched out below, the intertwined rails gleaming against the rocky backdrop. A familiar gust of dry canyon wind brushed past him as he landed on another rail, skimming effortlessly along its length.
As the tunnel behind him disappeared from view, the distant sound of mechanical grinding reached his ears. Shadow's eyes narrowed as he looked back, catching sight of several bulky shapes speeding toward him on the distant rail.
Rhinoliners.
The first of the rhinoceros-like machines rocketed into view, its turquoise armour gleaming in the harsh sunlight. Its bulky frame was mounted on grinding wheels, allowing it to charge down the rail at blistering speed. Shadow could make out the cannons mounted on their backs, glowing ominously with energy, and the golden horns at the front of their helmets. Their cartoonish eyes, red-pupiled and mechanical, tracked him with eerie precision.
"Tch... these guys again," Shadow muttered, his mind flashing back to his previous mission here with Rouge and Omega. The Rhinoliners had been a pain then—and it looked like they hadn't gotten any easier to deal with.
The lead Rhinoliner locked onto Shadow, its cannon charging with an audible hum. The weapon fired, a glowing blue shell spiraling toward the rail just ahead of Shadow. The impact caused an explosion that tore the rail apart, sending jagged shards of metal flying in every direction. Shadow's eyes widened as the rail crumbled beneath his feet.
Without hesitation, Shadow launched himself off the broken rail, twisting mid-air and landing seamlessly on a parallel track below. Sparks erupted beneath his feet as he resumed grinding, his balance unwavering even as the rail twisted around sharp turns. Behind him, the Rhinoliners followed, their grinding wheels screeching as they accelerated. One of them jumped rails, landing directly behind Shadow, its horn lowered in a charging position.
The hedgehog's instincts kicked in as he glanced back.
"You want to play rough? Fine."
Shadow crouched slightly and boosted. The sudden burst of speed put distance between him and the pursuing Rhinoliner, but they weren't giving up. Three more of the mechanical beasts shifted onto different rails, spreading out to corner him.
The first Rhinoliner fired again, the glowing missile arcing toward Shadow with a deafening shriek. Shadow leapt just as the projectile detonated, the explosion shaking the entire rail system. The rails bent and groaned under the pressure, and pieces of the platform ahead began to break apart.
Shadow landed on another track, only to find that it, too, was shaking apart from the previous attack. The Rhinoliners were systematically destroying every rail around him, cutting off his options.
Shadow skidded to a halt on a connecting platform and clenched his fists.
"Enough of this!"
He raised his hand, summoning Doom Spears that crackled with dark and red energy. With precise movements, he hurled the projectiles at the charging Rhinoliners. The first spear struck the lead machine's cannon, causing a violent explosion that engulfed it in flames. The second and third spears found their marks, puncturing the wheels of two more machines and sending them careening off the rail into the canyon below.
But the remaining Rhinoliner was defiant, charging straight toward Shadow. Its cannon fired one last shot, aiming to destroy the final stretch of rail ahead. Shadow had mere seconds to react.
"Chaos Control!" Shadow called out.
Time slowed to a crawl as Shadow sprinted forward, maneuvering around the slowing fragments of debris. The shattered rail pieces hovered in the air like floating islands as Shadow used them as stepping stones, bounding from one to the next with precision.
Time resumed as he reached the intact rail on the other side. The Rhinoliner, unable to adjust in time, crashed into the canyon's abyss, its parts scattering below.
Shadow landed gracefully on the final platform—a large, flat expanse where a glowing Goal Ring spun slowly at the center. The sound of the wind whistling through the canyon filled the air as the dust settled behind him. Shadow stood still for a moment, surveying the area.
"Persistent, but predictable, " he muttered before turning towards the Goal Ring.
The ring shimmered as he stepped through, its radiant light engulfing him in a soft glow. The world around him began to dissolve. He could feel himself being pulled back to The Void.
"Let's see what's next."
With that final thought, Shadow vanished into the light, leaving the chaos of Rail Canyon behind.
Rank: S
The Void
Shadow exited the Rail Canyon hub. The void around him pulsed faintly, fragments of light and colour bleeding into the once-bleak landscape as the restored Rail Canyon flickered into place behind him. Shadow turned to glance at the now-saved remnant of his past adventure, his crimson eyes narrowing with contemplation.
Yet, his mind drifted elsewhere—to the unsettling influence of Doom's Eye. The Doom Zone lingered at the edges of his thoughts, like a shadow he couldn't quite outrun. His fists clenched involuntarily as he recalled the oppressive power he'd faced.
Before he could delve further into his thoughts, a voice broke through the silence, firm and familiar.
"So, you survived."
Shadow turned sharply, his eyes locking onto Cloud. The swordsman stood in his usual stoic pose, the massive Buster Sword resting on his shoulder like it was an extension of himself. Cloud's piercing blue gaze seemed to scrutinise every detail of Shadow's form, as if measuring the strength that had carried him this far.
"Yes," Shadow replied with a curt nod. "But I still need answers."
"Don't we all," Cloud admitted, his voice heavy with resignation. He exhaled slowly, as though the weight of his own quest pressed down on him.
"No luck finding who you're looking for?" Shadow asked, tilting his head slightly.
"Not yet," Cloud said, his tone firm but tinged with frustration. His eyes scanned the void around them, searching for something unseen. "But I can sense them. I'm getting closer."
"Them?" Shadow folded his arms, his curiosity piqued. "You're looking for more than one person?"
"Yeah," Cloud confirmed, his gaze steady. "Tifa is missing in this place. I can feel her presence, faint but real. She's somewhere in this void."
"Tifa?" Shadow echoed, the name unfamiliar.
Cloud's expression softened, a rare vulnerability breaking through his hardened exterior.
"Tifa's… important to me. She's strong, capable, but even she wouldn't have come here willingly."
Shadow remained silent, sensing the weight behind Cloud's words. It was clear Tifa was more than just an ally to him.
"And then there's Sephiroth," Cloud added, his voice darkening.
"Sephiroth," Shadow repeated, his tone measured. "I've heard of him. A rogue warrior, linked to darkness. Some say he's more force than man."
"Sephiroth is more than that," Cloud replied, his voice laced with a quiet intensity. "He's a part of me—a reflection of everything I wish I wasn't. Wherever he goes, destruction follows. It's like he thrives in places like this, where the boundaries of reality are thin, where the rules bend to his will. If he's here…"
"Sounds like my connection to Black Doom," Shadow interrupted, his tone carrying an edge of bitterness.
Cloud's eyes narrowed as he turned his full attention to Shadow.
"Black Doom?" he asked.
"An alien warlord," Shadow began, his voice low but firm. "The leader of the Black Arms. He's the one who helped create me—his DNA runs through my veins. Everything I am, everything I've endured, traces back to him. Even when I try to escape it, his shadow is always there, lurking."
Cloud's expression hardened, and he cast a glance upward, toward the murky expanse of the void.
"Is he linked to that Black Moon you mentioned earlier?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost contemplative.
Shadow followed his gaze to the Black Moon, its ominous presence dominating the ashen sky. The faint, swirling rings encircling it seemed alive, pulsating with latent energy. The closed eyes etched along the outer rings remained shut, but even in their dormancy, they exuded a sense of foreboding.
"Possibly," Shadow admitted, his voice heavy with conviction. "The Black Moon is connected to the Black Arms. I'm sure it's tied to everything happening here."
Cloud studied the celestial object for a moment, his brows furrowed as if trying to piece together its significance.
"Sephiroth and Black Doom," he murmured. "It's strange. The way you describe him—your connection to him—it's almost like we're facing two sides of the same coin."
Shadow's crimson eyes flicked toward Cloud.
"How so?"
Cloud lowered his gaze, his expression shadowed by memories.
"Sephiroth isn't just an enemy to me. He's tied to my very existence, just like Black Doom is to you. Everything I've fought for, every step I've taken, has been influenced by him in some way. No matter how far I go, I can't escape him. He's always there, waiting."
Shadow folded his arms, his stance rigid.
"And you think that connection gives him power over you?" he mused.
Cloud's lips pressed into a thin line.
"It's not about power. It's about understanding. As long as I keep running, he'll always have control. The only way to truly break free is to confront him head-on. But it's not that simple. Not with someone like Sephiroth. And, I suspect, not with Black Doom either."
Shadow's gaze drifted back to the Black Moon as he unfolded his arms, its presence gnawing at the edges of his mind.
"You might be right," he said, his voice low.
The two warriors stood in silence for a moment, their shared understanding forging an unspoken bond. Both knew the weight of their burdens, and the scars that came from the fires of someone else's ambition.
Cloud broke the silence, his voice softer now.
"I've come across something in this void during my search," he explained. "It might not tell us everything, but it could point us in the right direction. I think you should see this find, Shadow."
Shadow eyes narrowed, his instincts urging caution. But the weight of Cloud's words and the growing unease of the void compelled him to act.
"Lead the way," he said at last.
Rail Canyon is finally completed! This chapter took a little longer due to the holiday season, but I'm excited to share that it's done at last!
Thank you all for your continued patience and support—it really means a lot to me. The next couple of chapters are well underway and are almost finished. The first boss gates are just around the corner, and I've got some exciting plans for the encounters ahead for both Shadow and Aqua.
Your feedback and reviews have been a huge source of motivation and truly keep me inspired to keep pushing forward.
The next chapter is in the final stages—it just needs some tidying up and editing before it's ready to go live. I can't wait to share what's in store and surprise you with some twists and turns in the upcoming chapters!
Thanks again for sticking with me on this journey! Stay tuned—more is coming soon!