Chapter Text
Part 2
[What I'm Made Of - Crush 40 Remix - Phase 1 (Sonic x Shadow Generations) Continues to Play]
"IT'S TIME TO SHOW YOU WHAT I'M MADE OF!"
Metal Overlord's metallic voice roared across the storm choked Archylte Steppe. It was a furious declaration, drowning out even the crackling thunder above. Its wounded frame lowered slowly, sparks and thick, viscous oil dripping from the jagged fissure Lightning had carved into its metal back earlier. The acrid scent of scorched circuits hung thickly in the air, mixing unpleasantly with the biting ozone from the charged sky.
For a tense moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Lightning tightened her grip on the hilt of her gunblade, eyes narrowed, locked onto Metal Overlord. Fang shifted beside her, fingers flexing anxiously along the shaft of her spear, ready to strike. Vanille and Hope stood close together, breath quickening as their heartbeats pounded against their ribs. Sazh let out a weary sigh, pistols raised, while Snow cracked a brash grin.
"'Show us what you're made of?'" Snow echoed incredulously, eyebrows raised. He let out a disbelieving laugh, sweeping his arm wide. "Seriously? Is every giant murderbot required to drop cheesy one-liners?"
Lightning shot him a cold, sidelong glare.
"Snow, shut up."
Snow shrugged, undeterred, spreading his hands dramatically.
"What? I'm just saying, that's about the lamest thing I've ever—"
"YOU MOCK ME?!" Metal Overlord's metallic voice cut in, low and dangerous, trembling with suppressed fury. Its crimson optics flared ominously. "VERY WELL, FOOL. LET YOUR FINAL MOMENTS BE OF REGRET!"
"Great... nice work, Snow!" Sazh groaned in annoyance, giving Snow a hard glare.
But before Snow could respond, panels shifted along its armored frame, exposing rows of deadly missile pods, glowing red in the dim storm light. In a flash, dozens of sleek, crimson and grey projectiles screamed forth, cutting jagged trails of smoke through the air as they locked onto their targets.
Lightning's pulse surged, her eyes wide.
"Incoming!" she cried out with urgency.
Instantly, the battlefield exploded into frantic motion. The Steppe was under attack once again.
Snow darted forward first, fists raised and arms braced as several missiles homed directly at him.
"Oh, hell yeah! Bring it!" he exclaimed.
"The hell is wrong with you!" called out Sazh exasperated, trying to look for cover.
"Damn it, Snow! You idiot!" Lightning snapped, sprinting in the opposite direction to avoid a pair of missiles streaking her way.
She vaulted over a jagged crystal shard embedded in the earth, twisting midair as an explosion detonated behind her, showering her with dirt and shrapnel.
Hope threw up his arms, a protective barrier flickering to life around him and Vanille. The missiles slammed into the shimmering shield, erupting into a blaze of fiery orange as cracks rapidly spiderwebbed across the magical barrier.
"I—I can't hold this for long!" Hope shouted, straining visibly as sweat trickled down his temple.
Vanille grabbed his arm, pulling him away just before the barrier shattered under the next barrage.
"Over here!" Fang yelled sharply, spinning her spear in a blurred arc, shattering two missiles that streaked toward her with pinpoint accuracy. Her open toe boots skidded across the torn earth as metal fragments clattered around her feet. Her gaze snapped towards Vanille and Hope, and she gestured urgently. "Move it!"
As another missile bore down on them, Sazh swung his pistols around, firing rapidly into its casing. Sparks flew as it detonated prematurely, sending him tumbling backward.
"Oh, I really hate this job!" he groaned, staggering upright, his afro smoking slightly from the near miss. His Chocobo chick chirped frantically from his afro.
"Sorry little guy," Sazh said apologising to the yellow chick.
Snow, meanwhile, stood defiantly in the missile's path, eyes gleaming with reckless confidence. He brought both fists together with a yell, slamming them downward into the projectile at the last possible moment. The missile exploded on impact, flame and smoke billowing around him, momentarily obscuring him from view.
"Snow!" Hope shouted, alarm tightening his voice as smoke billowed around the explosion site.
For a tense second, nothing.
Then, the haze parted—and Snow stepped out, brushing soot from his coat with a cocky grin.
"Pfft, nothin' to it. Steelguard, baby!" he declared, pounding a fist against his chest.
Before anyone could respond, another explosion detonated nearby, the shockwave nearly knocking him off his feet. He staggered, arms pinwheeling briefly before regaining his balance.
Nearby, Fang let out a dry laugh.
"Yeah? Looked like 'nothin' nearly turned you into roadkill."
Snow scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Okay, okay—maybe I didn't see that one coming..."
"Focus, hero!" Lightning barked from across the battlefield, her voice like a whip crack through the chaos.
"Right, right—eyes on the prize!" Snow replied sheepishly, raising his fists.
Ignoring Snow's reply, Lightning ducked beneath a missile, slicing upward with her gunblade and splitting the projectile cleanly in two. The halves detonated harmlessly behind her, showering her cape with sparks.
Snow gave her a cocky salute.
"Way to go, sis!"
"For the last time—I'm not your damn sister!"
Lightning rolled her eyes, irritation flaring hotly beneath her calm exterior. He really was an idiot. But as much as his bravado grated on her nerves, she couldn't deny it was useful right now. Snow's reckless taunting and defending had Metal Overlord's missiles scattering wildly, unpredictable but easier to pick off.
Another wave of missiles surged forward, this time twisting erratically, their paths chaotic. Lightning pivoted swiftly, tracking their trajectories. Her eyes narrowed.
"Split up!" she shouted. "They're unstable!"
The group scattered immediately, weaving through explosions and smoke, a coordinated dance born from countless battles together. Lightning spun and sliced through another missile, Fang shattered two more with precise thrusts of her spear, and Hope's barriers formed briefly before shattering again beneath the relentless assault. Vanille scrambled, rod glowing desperately as she healed cuts and bruises mid-motion.
"This is endless!" Vanille cried breathlessly. "How many more can it throw at us?!"
"Too damn many!" Sazh shouted back, dodging another near miss, his coat trailing smoke. "Ain't nothing we can't handle though, right?"
"I admire the optimism," Fang growled, leaping over a smoldering crater, "but we're gonna run out of stamina before it runs out of missiles!"
Lightning knew Fang was right. They couldn't keep dodging forever. Her icy eyes flicked back up to Metal Overlord, its massive frame silhouetted against the dark, stormy sky. The mechanical monstrosity hovered arrogantly, observing their struggles like a predator savoring wounded prey.
Her teeth clenched in frustration. They needed to strike back. They needed a new plan.
But before Lightning could call another Paradigm Shift, Metal Overlord's voice cut through the chaos, cold and mocking.
"YOUR STRUGGLES AMUSE ME. BUT THIS FARCE ENDS NOW."
Metal Overlord's voice cut through the storm, sharp and absolute. Its core flared, the sickly green light bleeding across the battlefield. A deep hum reverberated in Lightning's chest, heavy and suffocating, like the air itself was resisting the pull of something unnatural.
"Brace yourselves!" Lightning called out, her eyes locked onto Metal Overlord's core. "It's up to something!"
"Hah! Bring it, Rust Bucket!" Fang taunted, twirling her spear as she launched herself skyward. The storm raged around her as she coiled her body, ready to drive her weapon straight through Metal Overlord's core.
"Fang, wait—!" Vanille's voice rang out, shrill with panic. Her outstretched hand grasped at nothing.
Metal Overlord's red eyes flared, locking onto Fang like a predator watching prey sail into a trap.
"CHAOS CONTROL!"
A pulse of blinding green light exploded outward, warping reality with a soundless tremour.
Lightning's breath hitched as the world froze. Her body refused to move. Archylte Steppe itself was trapped in this unnatural stillness.
Snow's fist hovered mid-clench, frozen in his usual reckless charge. Vanille's expression was locked in terror, her body twisting as if she had tried to move, but time had betrayed her. Hope's eyes were wide, his arms raised mid-shield. Sazh stood further back, both guns trained on Metal Overlord, a half-formed curse frozen on his lips.
Lightning's own movements felt sluggish, like she was wading through thick, unseen chains.
However, Metal Overlord was still moving. It was floating through the warped space with an eerie grace, positioning itself behind Fang. Its flamethrower arm shifted, heat shimmering from the nozzle as it reared back to strike.
Lightning's body screamed at her to react. To do something. But time refused to let her.
Then—time snapped back.
A deafening shockwave erupted from Metal Overlord's core, an explosion of raw force that crashed into them like a hurricane made of pure, destructive energy.
Lightning's world turned upside down. The ground was suddenly gone. The sky and dirt blurred into one, her body rocketing backward as if she had been yanked by an invisible force. Her lungs emptied in a painful gasp as the impact rattled her bones.
Somewhere nearby, Snow slammed into a jagged rock formation, his broad frame leaving a crater in the stone. He let out a sharp grunt, rolling onto his side.
Hope spun mid-air, barely controlling his descent before smashing into the dirt. He landed in a heap, his boomerang slipping from his grasp.
Vanille's scream cut through the chaos. She hit the ground hard, rolling until she collided against a collapsed stone pillar. Her staff clattered uselessly beside her.
Sazh barely had time to shield himself. The shockwave ripped through his defenses, sending him sprawling backward, his guns flying from his hands.
Lightning forced herself up, ignoring the fire burning in her ribs. The ache in her body was nothing compared to the fear tightening in her chest.
Her gaze snapped to Fang.
"FANG!" she cried out.
The name tore from her throat before she could stop it. Fang, still mid-air when time resumed, never had a chance.
Metal Overlord's flamethrower arm struck her like a battering ram, slamming into Fang with brutal force. The impact sent a deep, metallic clang reverberating through the battlefield, the sheer force of the blow folding her body in mid-air before violently launching her toward the ground.
She hit the earth hard. A sickening thud cracked through the ruined Steppe as her body skidded across the dirt, rolling from the momentum before coming to a crumpled stop. Her spear slipped from her grip, bouncing once before settling uselessly beside her.
For a moment, there was only stillness.
"FANG!" Vanille shouted in distress, she was already moving to her friend's side.
The pain in her own body didn't matter. Her limbs ached, her breath came in ragged gasps, but none of it registered. Her only focus was on the still form in front of her.
She nearly collapsed to her knees beside Fang, her hands gripping her shoulders.
"Fang! Hey, come on!"
She shook her gently, her voice rising in desperation.
There was no response.
The world blurred. Vanille's heart slammed against her ribs. This wasn't happening. Fang was always the strong one. The unshakable one.
Lightning, Snow, Hope, and Sazh staggered closer, each of them battered but still standing.
"Shit," Snow muttered, looking down at Fang on the ground.
"Is she breathing?" Hope asked, his voice tight.
Vanille barely heard them. Her hands trembled over Fang's chest as she drew in a shaky breath.
"Cure!"
A pulse of magic flared, green light enveloping Fang's body. The magic soaked into her, but still, she didn't move.
"Cure!" Vanille tried again, voice shaking.
Another flash of green. Nothing.
"Come on, come on…"
Vanille's breathing grew uneven as she kept channeling the spell over and over, each incantation more desperate than the last. The soft glow of healing light flickered against Fang's skin. Her body twitched slightly.
"It's working-" Vanille remarked, but the world suddenly spun around her.
A wave of exhaustion crashed over Vanille like a tidal wave. Her head pounded, her vision darkening at the edges. Her body felt like it was being drained dry.
"Vanille—!" Lightning shouted. She grabbed Vanille's shoulder, shaking her roughly.
Vanille gasped, eyes wide as she swayed.
"Enough." Lightning's tone was firm, bordering on anger. "You're overdoing it."
"But—!" Vanille turned to her, eyes pleading. "Fang, she—!"
"She's breathing. You're no good to her passed out," Lightning snapped, her grip tightening.
Fang stirred then, a groggy groan slipping from her lips. Her eyes cracked open, clouded with exhaustion.
"Ugh… what the hell just hit me?" she muttered, shifting slightly.
"FANG!" Vanille exclaimed with relief. Her green eyes teary.
Pain rippled through Fang's limbs, but she forced herself upright, her hand gripping Vanille's arm.
"I can heal you again," Vanille said, her voice broken due to the high emotion.
"Sunshine..." she rasped, meeting Vanille's tear-filled eyes. "I'm good. Save your magic. We need you standing."
Vanille sniffed, biting her lip as she quickly wiped at her eyes.
"Guess Light's right, for once," Fang muttered, voice hoarse but laced with her usual stubbornness. A weak smirk tugged at her lips as she forced herself onto shaky feet.
Lightning exhaled sharply as she watched Fang regain her footing.
"For once?" she muttered under her breath.
The moment of relief was short-lived. A deep rumbling echoed across the battlefield, vibrating through the ground beneath them.
The group tensed. Metal Overlord had moved. It loomed above them once more, gleaming red optics burning with twisted amusement.
"PATHETIC." "WAS THAT YOUR FIRST TASTE OF TRUE POWER?" he taunted coldly.
Lightning tightened her grip on the gunblade, she was barely containing her rage. Her icy eyes never wavered from the metallic monstrosity above.
"Don't flatter yourself," she growled through clenched teeth.
Metal Overlord's gaze locked onto her, its red optics narrowing.
"YOU DENY THE TRUTH BEFORE YOU? SUCH ARROGANCE."
Lightning glared silently, muscles coiled and ready, but inside, unease twisted through her stomach.
"What the hell was that move?" she thought. "Can it... Can it stop time?"
Snow stepped forward, brushing the dust from his coat with a defiant smirk.
"Yeah? Well, whatever that trick was, it sucked. Screw you and your 'true power.'"
Hope shifted nervously, casting a glance toward Lightning before focusing back on the metal behemoth. His brow furrowed deeply, thoughts racing.
"You called it... 'Chaos Control', right?" he questioned, looking to the metal beast.
Metal Overlord's crimson gaze snapped to him instantly, filled with disdain.
"YOU SPEAK THE NAME, YET YOU COMPREHEND NOTHING."
Sazh rolled his eyes, frustration etched plainly on his tired features.
"Oh, fantastic. The evil robot's gonna lecture us," he moaned.
"CHAOS CONTROL," Metal Overlord continued, its voice resonating deeply, almost reverent in its intensity, "IS THE DOMINION OVER TIME AND SPACE—THE POWER TO BEND REALITY TO MY WILL."
Lightning felt something cold twist inside her chest. A dark, unsettling realisation gripped her.
"That's how it moved while we couldn't," she thought, her expression dark.
Time itself had betrayed them. No wonder she couldn't react. How do you fight something that manipulates reality itself?
Vanille moved closer to Fang, instinctively taking comfort in her companion's steady presence. Her eyes widened as the implications sunk in.
"That's…that's impossible. Nothing should have that power!" she said, shaking at the thought.
"YET YOU HAVE WITNESSES IT," Metal Overlord replied coldly, optics flickering ominously. "EVEN WITH MY CONNECTION PARTIALLY SEVERED FROM THE TRUE CHAOS ENERGY OF MY DIMENSION, I REMAIN YOUR SUPERIOR."
Snow scoffed, disgust twisting his lips.
"So what you're telling us is that your big move wasn't even working properly? Some 'King of Creation' you are," he mocked.
Metal Overlord's massive wings flexed slightly, irritation visibly rippling through its mechanical frame.
"DO NOT MISTAKE A MINOR GLITCH FOR WEAKNESS. YOU ARE INSIGNIFICANT SPECKS OF DUST BEFORE MY POWER."
Vanille shuddered, edging closer to Fang.
"It felt...wrong," she murmured shakily. "Like... We weren't in control. I couldn't feel anything."
"Speak for yourself, Vanille. I definitely felt something when that metal bastard knocked me down!" Fang retorted, moving a hand to her ribs.
Lightning clenched her teeth, stepping boldly forward, determination blazing in her eyes.
"You think we're afraid? Your arrogance blinds you, Metal Overlord. We don't bend to cowards like you!"
Metal Overlord's frame shuddered with barely-contained fury. Its voice lowered dangerously, echoing with chilling finality.
"OH, BUT YOU WILL. I WILL BREAK YOU, BODY AND SPIRIT, UNTIL NOTHING REMAINS BUT DUST AND MEMORY."
Lightning raised her chin defiantly.
"We won't fall to the likes of you," she retorted firmly, holding her ground. "Not now, not ever!"
"THEN SO BE IT. WITNESS MY EVOLUTION!"
"'Evolution'?" Hope repeated, confusion and dread mixing in his voice.
Sazh groaned loudly, clearly exasperated. His pistols raised high and locked onto Metal Overlord.
"Oh, I really don't like where this is going. Hell, I haven't liked where this fight has been going since the start."
Without warning, Metal Overlord's crimson optics flashed brightly, processing unseen data. Its body vibrated as internal components shifted.
"DATA COPIED," it announced chillingly.
The voice was clinical, emotionless, and cold.
The group looked in disbelief and confusion by what Metal Overlord just announced.
'Data copied'? What does that even mean?" Vanille asked, her face etched in confusion.
"I don't like this..." Sazh remarked with a sigh.
Lightning's breath hitched. An icy realisation crept into her bones.
"No..." she muttered in realisation.
Before she could react further, Metal Overlord's damaged body shimmered, the sickly green aura pulsing violently around its core.
"ACTIVATING PARADIGM SHIFT—MEDIC."
"What the actual hell?!" Snow shouted, eyes widening in disbelief. His fists trembled in barely-contained anger.
"No way!" Hope gasped, looking on in doubt.
The large machine's broken armour began to reform, pulling itself back together with an unnatural, mechanical precision. Jagged metal fused seamlessly as microscopic nanomachines whirred, clicked, and stitched together wires like veins reattaching. Sparks danced along Metal as circuitry repaired itself, the deep gash on its back, which Lightning caused, sealed shut. A gentle green glow enveloped the machine. Unmistakably to the group, it was a Cure spell. The group looked on horror.
"No way..." Hope whispered, stumbling backward, heart sinking. "Did it just—?"
"—heal itself?" Vanille gasped in horror, her hand flying to her mouth. Her voice cracked with fear.
Lightning's jaw clenched tighter, eyes blazing in rage and disbelief.
"Damn it!" she cursed, her focus still locked on Metal Overlord. "It's copied one of our abilities!"
Sazh let out a bitter, humourless chuckle. But he's mind was racing.
"Oh, hell no. It did not just pull that trick on us..."
"CORRECTION." The machine interrupted sharply, its voice clinical yet taunting. "WHILE YOU WERE WASTING TIME WITH THAT PATHETIC WOMAN, I WAS ANALYSING YOUR METHODS."
Fang jerked upright, glaring murderously at Metal Overlord.
"You piece of—!"
"You... You monster!" Vanille blurted out in disgust, cutting off Fang. She was shaking now, fury and despair battling within her.
"THE MEDIC'S CURE ABILITY," Metal Overlord continued mercilessly, reveling in their despair. "COPIED. STORED. IMPLEMENTED."
A heavy silence fell, smothering the Steppe, punctuated only by the distant rumble of thunder.
Snow finally spoke, grim resignation settling across his features.
"Well... crap," he groaned with a heavy sigh.
"ARE YOU SHOCKED, ORGANIC?" the machine taunted coldly.
"No shit, genius!" Snow spat back, fists shaking in rage. "You think?"
Metal Overlord tilted its head slightly, mocking amusement coloring its words.
"DOES THE REALISATION TERRIFY YOU?"
For a moment, no one moved. No one breathed.
"That's...that's impossible," Vanille stammered, voice thin and trembling.
"AND YET, YOU SEE IT BEFORE YOU."
Lightning felt something inside her snap—a sharp, furious anger. Her glare hardened, fingers painfully tight around the hilt of her blade.
"So now you steal our abilities, too?!" she growled, disgust dripping from every word.
"STEAL?" Metal Overlord's voice flared with genuine offense. "NO. IMPROVE. EXCEL. EVOLVE!"
Electricity crackled wildly along its body, violent arcs of power snapping through the air. Metal Overlord's crimson eyes locked onto Lightning.
"THANKS TO YOU, PRIMARY TARGET, I CAN NOW US THIS."
Hope felt his stomach churn, turning to Lightning.
"Primary—?"
Lightning's eyes widened. She already knew what was coming. She could feel it in her gut.
Metal Overlord's frame flickered once again, bathing the battlefield in chilling azure energy.
"PARADIGM SHIFT—RAVAGER."
"No—" Lightning started, eyes wide in suprise.
"THUNDARA!"
A searing bolt of lightning shot from Metal Overlord, impossibly precise, slicing through the air toward the team.
There was no time.
The blast struck like a thunderclap, detonating at their feet, scattering them violently across the battlefield.
"HELL NO!" Sazh cried, narrowly diving away.
"IT COPIED THAT TOO?!" Snow shouted, digging his heels into the dirt, barely avoiding the blast.
Hope struggled upright, electricity crackling painfully across his skin.
"THIS WORLD IS A TREASURE TROVE OF NEW DATA." Metal Overlord remarked, its voice dripped with malice. "YOUR POWERS, YOUR STRENGTH, YOUR STRATEGIES, ALL OF IT WILL BELONG TO ME!"
Fang rose painfully, gripping her spear tighter than ever. Her gaze was fierce, unwavering.
"Not if we have anything to say about it."
Sazh groaned softly, shaking his head grimly.
"Man… we are so screwed."
[What I'm Made Of Fades Out. Blinded By Light from Final Fantasy XIII begins playing]
Snow spat into the dirt, his muscles tightening in frustration. The taste of blood lingered on his tongue. He glared up at Metal Overlord, fury blazing hot beneath his battered features. The metallic, blue monster hovered arrogantly, its crimson eyes glowing mockingly.
"Alright, that's it!" Snow growled, steadying his stance. His fists were clenched. "I've had enough of this metal asshole. He's going down hard!"
Lightning turned sharply towards him, her eyes narrowed with concern. Exhaustion was already clawing at the edges of her endurance.
"Don't do anything reckless," she warned curtly. "That's how it learns."
Snow cracked a confident smirk, dusting off his beige trench coat as he straightened, feigning a bravado he wasn't entirely feeling.
"Then we'll hit him so fast, he won't have time to copy anything else!" His eyes locked seriously onto Lightnings. "We need to bring in the big guns. And I know who to call!"
Lightning tensed visibly, conflict flickering across her face. She knew exactly what Snow was implying, and the risk twisted sharply in her gut. Her gaze flickered toward Metal Overlord, a cold knot forming deep in her chest.
"You really think summoning is the answer right now?" she questioned, her voice edged with doubt, skepticism weighing heavily in every syllable. "If it manages to copy—"
"Look around, Lightning! We're barely standing!" Snow shot back, frustration boiling over. His voice was raw with urgency. "We need to end this now!"
Lightning quickly surveyed the team, assessing the damage. Her icy eyes landed first on Fang—bruised, battered, and barely holding herself together despite Vanille's desperate healing. Yet her defiance burned bright, refusing to betray the exhaustion visibly dragging at her limbs.
Vanille hovered anxiously beside her, pale-faced, those vibrant green eyes wide with fear but unwavering. Dirt streaked her cheek, and her trembling grip on her rod was an unsettling reminder of how drained she was. Yet she held firm, silently vowing not to falter again.
Sazh stood slightly hunched, breath ragged, pistols trembling faintly in his weary hands. Sweat clung to him, soot and grime dampening his coat. Yet despite it all, he remained alert, a stubborn resolve burning in his tired eyes.
Deep within his afro, the baby Chocobo had burrowed as far as it could, its tiny form barely visible beneath the mess of dirt and ash. It, too, was filthy—its usual bright yellow feathers dulled by soot. But thankfully it was alive, chirping softly in anxious confusion.
Hope, trembling slightly from exertion and stress, held his boomerang defensively. His boyish features hardened now, taking in the desperate state of his comrades. Though fear still lingered in his eyes, determination shone brighter. His quiet resolve steadied Lightning's own frayed nerves.
Snow's voice pulled her back sharply from her assessment.
"Look," Snow continued forcefully, his eyes blazing with fierce determination. "If we don't go all in now, we might as well lie down right here and roll over. I'd rather go down swinging, wouldn't you?"
Lightning exhaled sharply, her eyes softening slightly as she recognised the unshakable truth in his words. They had come too far to hold back now.
"Fine," she agreed tersely, raising her chin as her resolve firmed. She turned swiftly to the battered group, her voice commanding and clear. "Everyone! We're supporting Snow. It's now or never—we don't fall here. We don't surrender!"
The group exchanged weary but determined nods, steeling themselves against exhaustion and despair. Lightning's words were their anchor, holding them steady amidst the chaos.
"Hope, you're now our Medic. Keep everyone standing, no matter what," Lightning ordered decisively.
Hope nodded firmly, gripping his boomerang tightly, resolve firm in his gaze.
"I'll keep you all alive," he declared with courage.
Lightning's eyes flicked quickly to Vanille, Fang, and Sazh.
"Fang, you're on Sentinel. Keep Metal Overlord busy. Vanille, Saboteur. Cripple it as best you can. Sazh—"
Sazh sighed heavily, forcing a tired grin.
"Synergist, I know. Buff, reload, repeat. Got it," he remarked with a nod.
Fang adjusted her stance, cracking a bitter smirk despite the pain clearly etched across her features.
"He wants a fight? He'll damn well get one!"
Vanille took a steadying breath, her voice wavering but strong.
"I'll give it everything. We've got to stop this thing!"
Lightning turned back to Snow, hesitating for only a brief moment, the slightest flicker of worry shadowing her gaze.
"Snow… don't screw this up," she said firmly.
Snow flashed her a cocky grin, cracking his knuckles theatrically.
"Aw, c'mon, sis. It's me... When have I ever let you down?"
Lightning rolled her eyes, the ghost of a reluctant smile twitching at her lips.
"Don't make me answer that..." she replied, exasperation in her tone.
Above, Metal Overlord's voice thundered impatiently, echoing across the storm ravaged Steppe.
"FOOLISH ORGANICS! YOUR RESISTANCE IS POINTLESS!"
"Oh, shut your rusted trap!" Snow snapped angrily, rage bleeding into his voice. His gaze snapped upwards defiantly.
Lightning stepped back swiftly, signaling the others to brace themselves. They scattered strategically, already shifting into position. Hope shifted smoothly into Medic, calling out urgently as magic surged around him.
"HEAL!" he declared loudly.
A refreshing pulse of Cura surged outward, sweeping across the battlefield in a wave of comforting warmth. Lightning felt her aching muscles loosen, the deep burn of exhaustion easing with every heartbeat as the magic swiftly closed cuts and soothed bruises. Fang stood a little taller, the rigid tension in her shoulders softening momentarily, her breath steadier, the fire in her gaze reignited. Beside her, Vanille inhaled deeply, colour returning to her pale cheeks as renewed strength filled her limbs, while Sazh straightened visibly, a weary grin forming as the rejuvenating energy restored some of his fading stamina.
"Good work, Hope," Vanille called out supportively.
"Man, I needed that," Sazh remarked with a sharp grin. His pistols at the ready.
Even Snow felt the soothing magic ripple through him, but he barely acknowledged it; his gaze remained locked fiercely on Metal Overlord, every muscle coiled, ready and utterly determined to bring the fight to an end.
With the team healed and ready, icy winds exploded violently outward from Snow, swirling with furious intensity. The air crackled as frost bloomed sharply across the cracked and scorched battlefield, racing outward in jagged lines of crystalline ice. Snow stood at the epicenter, eyes blazing fiercely as the chilling energy surged around him. A confident smirk flashed across his face, raw determination overriding any lingering doubts.
"HA! LET'S SEE HOW LONG YOU LAST!" Metal Overlord mocked sinisterly, observing with calculated curiosity.
Snow thrust his gloved fist skyward, his voice booming defiantly into the storm-wracked heavens.
"Twin Sisters! Show 'em how it's done! We're countin' on you!"
Suddenly, a fierce gust whipped around him, pulling moisture from the stormy air, rapidly forming an immense sphere of ice, suspended high above the battlefield. Pale blue, crystalline glyphs traced themselves swiftly around the orb, glowing fiercely against the blackened clouds. A deep, resonant hum echoed forth, ancient and powerful, reverberating in every heart present.
Lightning watched on, her eyes narrowed in tense anticipation, her pulse quickening despite herself. Her mind raced, weighing the risks, analysing each move. Snow's choice was bold, reckless even. But right now, it was exactly what they needed. Her gaze flicked briefly to the others.
Hope stood firm, his youthful face set in grim determination, hands poised to cast healing spells the moment they were needed. Vanille's eyes widened with wonder as the sphere continued its intricate dance above, her lips parted in awe despite the tension wracking her slender frame. Fang tightened her grip on her speared lance, defiance clear on her weary, battered features, her eyes gleaming with renewed resolve. Sazh stood behind her, shaking his head slightly in disbelief, a wry smile betraying admiration and nervousness in equal measure.
Lightning's jaw clenched slightly, the faintest flicker of worry shadowing her thoughts.
"Make it count, Snow," she thought sharply. They couldn't afford mistakes now.
As the winds intensified, Snow clenched his fist tightly. His eyes flashed, the orb above vibrating with gathering power. Suddenly, clear and resonant, words appeared etched upon the sphere's shimmering surface in flowing Latin script, gleaming bright and pure in the storm's gloom:
"By the grace of Etro, twin rulers arise from your icy thrones.
Come forth, sisters of Winter wastes.
A name in blood, a pact of ice. Shiva shall rise, her bond eternal and unyielding.
Aurora Borealis
Aurora Australis."
In that instant, the sphere erupted magnificently in a cascade of shimmering ice shards and luminous, swirling frost, illuminating the Steppe with ethereal beauty.
From within the frozen brilliance, two forms gracefully descended.
Stiria emerged first, gliding elegantly through the falling ice crystals. Her dark blue skin shimmered, accentuated by a pale, claw-shaped marking etched fiercely over her right eye. Her lithe, slender form moved fluidly, bronze highlights catching the fading sunlight. The wheel atop her head spun rapidly, generating a sharp hum as frost cascaded gracefully behind her. Her piercing gaze locked directly onto Metal Overlord, radiating icy fury.
Nix swiftly joined her sister, descending with fierce precision. Her pale blue skin glowed beneath the storm's unnatural light, clad in tight-fitting azure garments adorned with gleaming silver armor. Beneath her gleaming visor, a matching claw-shaped mark mirrored her sister's, etched deeply across her left eye. Her headdress, bearing Etro's name in beautifully scripted lettering, shone brilliantly as her floating wheel orbited her, crackling with frost and power.
Together, the Shiva sisters landed gracefully beside Snow, frost radiating fiercely beneath their feet, spreading outward to engulf the battlefield in brilliant white ice. Their presence was commanding, elegant yet deadly.
Snow flashed them a confident grin, giving a nod of respect.
"Glad you ladies could make it."
The Shiva sisters regarded him briefly, a silent promise to stand by their summoner until the end.
Lightning exhaled slowly, reassured somewhat by the sisters' powerful aura, yet she remained wary. Her attention returned sharply to Metal Overlord, whose crimson gaze had locked onto the sister's arrival.
"Good," she thought, muscles tensing. "We've got your attention now."
Sazh let out a low whistle, clearly impressed despite himself.
Hope steadied his breathing, fingers already trembling slightly from the effort of channeling his magic, yet his eyes shone bright with determination.
"Just don't get yourself killed out there... Ok?" he remarked.
"Aw, c'mon, kid," Snow flashed Hope a cocky thumbs-up, never breaking his gaze from Metal Overlord. "That's not my style."
Fang's lips curled slightly in a fierce smirk as she spoke up.
"Just hit him hard and fast. We've got your back."
Vanille gave an encouraging nod, forcing a brave smile despite the tension gripping her.
"We believe in you, Snow!"
Lightning raised her weapon sharply, cutting through the chatter, voice ringing firm and clear.
"Enough talk. Get ready, this ends now!"
Snow met her gaze briefly, acknowledging the seriousness in her eyes with a determined nod.
"You got it, sis."
Before Lightning could correct him, Metal Overlord's voice boomed furiously, resonating through the ice-choked air.
"YOUR PATHETIC DISPLAY OF RESISTANCE ENDS HERE! I DON'T CARE WHO YOU SUMMON HERE. ALL SHALL FALL!"
Snow stood proudly between the Shiva sisters, his voice loud and unwavering.
"You want a fight, scrap-metal?" Snow growled fiercely, raising his fists as ice crackled sharply around him. "You've got one!"
With a surge of power, the Shiva sisters immediately swept into motion, their elegant forms a deadly blur of frost and fury.
Stiria moved first, gracefully gliding forward, her dark blue skin glistening with icy radiance. She spun rapidly, ethereal frost coalescing at her fingertips as she unleashed a precise volley of crystalline ice daggers at Metal Overlord.
"Blizzara!" Snow shouted confidently, recognising the deadly precision of her spell.
The projectiles sliced through the air, embedding themselves deep into Metal Overlord's reinforced chassis. The machine shuddered violently, sparks erupting from its frame as the icy blades fractured metal plating.
"NOW we're talking!" Snow roared, fists clenched in excitement.
He turned swiftly to Nix, who raced into battle alongside her sister, pale skin gleaming fiercely beneath her armour. Her headdress shimmered as frost condensed rapidly around her hovering wheel. With a graceful yet aggressive gesture, Nix hurled her weapon forward, striking Metal Overlord with punishing force.
"Wheel Grind!" Snow called out enthusiastically. "Hell yeah!"
The wheel tore across Metal Overlord's steel, shredding sparks and metal fragments into the stormy sky. The mechanical monstrosity reeled back slightly, optics flaring in rage and alarm. The so called 'King of all Creation' was being rocked. It couldn't keep up with the Twin Sisters of Shiva.
Lightning seized the moment. She snapped her gunblade up, her icy-blue eyes fierce and commanding.
"Everyone, shift now! We take this thing down!"
The team responded instantly, moving with the sharp precision of warriors who had fought together through fire and fury.
"Paradigm Shift!" Lightning commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos like steel.
In a flash, their stances changed: Hope fell back, hands already glowing as he assumed Medic duties, ready to weave rapid heaving spells to keep the team on their feet.
Fang shifted into Sentinel, spinning her spear before planting it firmly into the ground, her stance strong, unyielding. She was ready to take the brunt of the Metal's wrath.
Sazh quickly transitioned into Synergist, golden light crackling around him as he infused the party with Haste and Bravery.
Vanille stepped forward, gripping her rod tightly as it pulsed vibrantly. Her voice rang with focused intent as she cast her spell.
"Deprotect!" she shouted, hurling the incantation toward Metal Overlord.
In a flash of light, a wave of energy surged forward, wrapping around the massive machine like a creeping curse. The effect was immediate, its armour shimmered violently as the spell took hold, weakening its defenses.
Metal Overlord's optics flickered dangerously as it processed the sudden change, its voice laced with disdain.
"INSOLENT WEAK CREATURES. YOUR MAGIC IS A PATHETIC MOCKERY OF TRUE POWER!"
Vanille straightened, her usual cheerful demeanour replaced with unwavering resolve.
"You think we're afraid of you?" she snapped, fire burning in her voice. "You're nothing but a pile of scrap metal throwing a tantrum!"
Fang smirked, shifting her stance, her grip tightening on her spear.
"You've got a lot of nerve calling us weak when you're the one crying about a little magic," she taunted, rolling her shoulders. "What's wrong? That thick blue hide of yours feeling a little exposed?"
Metal Overlord's red eyes flared, its massive frame vibrating with fury.
"FOOLS! I AM BEYOND YOUR PITIFUL TRICKS! I AM INEVITABLE!"
Fang didn't miss a beat, her tone bone-dry as she narrowed her eyes.
"Inevitably annoying," she muttered, hefting her spear with a tired sigh.
Lightning barely registered the quip. Her instincts had already taken over. Without hesitation, she shifted into Commando, her body moving like a thunderbolt through the shattered landscape. The wind screamed around her as her boots slammed against fractured earth, propelling her forward in a blur of motion.
Her gunblade gleamed like lightning itself, a silver arc cutting across the storm-dark sky. She lunged in, relentless, striking at the green glow of Metal Overlord's core. Sparks flew as steel met steel, the sheer force of her assault ringing out like a battle hymn.
"The madness ends here!" she shouted, voice cutting through the storm like a whip crack.
Metal Overlord reeled. Its voice rising in furious static.
"ANNOYING WOMAN!"
It swung a massive claw toward her, but Lightning was already gone. She flipped backward, twisting mid-air with a precision honed by countless battles, landing in a slide that kicked up a spray of dirt and debris.
"Shiva—go for it!" she commanded without looking back.
Snow grinned, his adrenaline spiking as Shiva responded to Lightning's order.
"You heard her," he said, already stepping aside as frost coiled around his feet. "Go freeze his shiny metal ass!"
Shiva's relentless assault continued. Stiria swiftly spun around Metal Overlord, her hands flowing elegantly through practiced motions. With a delicate yet commanding sweep, icy crystals exploded forth, encasing parts of Metal Overlord's body in jagged layers of frost.
"Diamond Dust!" Snow roared approvingly.
Chunks of ice erupted violently, each impact echoing like a cannon shot, forcing the enormous machine backwards in stunned disarray.
Metal Overlord, however, quickly adapted. It let out a guttural, synthetic growl, the sound reverberating ominously through the storm lashed Steppe.
"YOU WILL NOT BEST ME WITH YOUR PETTY ICE TRICKS!"
Snow wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, flashing a cocky smirk.
"What's wrong? You freezing up on us?" he taunted.
A brief, eerie silence followed—then, Metal Overlord's red eyes flared.
"A POOR ATTEMPT AT HUMOUR. ALLOW ME TO SHOW YOU HOW IT'S DONE—WITH ICE-BREAKING RESULTS."
"Wait, did it just..." Snow remarked in bewilderment, blinking in confusion.
"Did the murderbot just try to crack a joke?" Sazh questioned with a frown. "I can't tell if I should be impressed or terrified."
Vanille stifled a nervous laugh as she spoke up.
"It's definitely terrifying."
With an irritated whir of shifting mechanisms, Metal Overlord's flamethrower arm contorted, plating snapping into place as the weapon reconfigured itself. A deep glow built at its core, thrumming with ominous energy. The very air around them grew thick, charged with oppressive heat and static as the cannon powered up.
Snow's smirk faltered slightly.
"Oh… that's probably not good," he admitted.
"You think?" Sazh replied, taking an urgent step back.
"Watch it!" Fang barked sharply, gripping her spear tighter. "Big attack incoming!"
"Brace yourselves!" Lightning called out, already rolling to the side as a thunderous blast erupted from Metal Overlord's cannon.
A colossal energy beam tore through the battlefield, carving deep, molten gouges into the earth, shattering the remnants of Shiva's ice into glittering dust. The sheer force sent shockwaves rippling outward, distorting the air with heat. The team barely managed to escape the blast zone, their movements a frantic blur against the hellish onslaught.
But Shiva's sisters were faster.
Stiria and Nix wove through the storm of destruction with effortless precision, their forms streaks of blue and white against the chaos. Nix, seizing an opening, flipped through the air in a graceful arc, her floating wheel spinning violently as frost coalesced around it.
Then, with a devastating strike, she slammed it directly into Metal Overlord's back, sending shards of frozen steel and circuitry flying.
Metal Overlord screeched in fury, a garbled, glitching sound filled with static rage. Its mechanical frame convulsed slightly from the force of the impact, its wings faltering in midair.
"Froststrike!" Snow bellowed, pumping a fist. A wild grin split his face. "Bring the chill! Yeehaw, ha!"
"Idiot..." Lightning muttered under her breath, weaving through the battlefield, already lining up her next attack.
Metal Overlord staggered heavily, its armour buckling beneath the ice's punishing force. Stiria followed up seamlessly, launching a volley of razor-sharp ice blades. The projectiles zipped through the air in deadly arcs, striking Metal Overlord's limbs and torso with precision. One shard drove itself deep into its green core, sending a pulse of flickering energy through its frame.
Metal Overlord screeched again. The sound was blood curdling as is spread through the darkened Steppe.
"Great hit!" Hope called out, watching intently as the core briefly dimmed from the strike.
"Quick, Light! Aim for the bastard's core!" Fang shouted, already repositioning herself for another strike.
"I'm going in!" Lightning instructed sharply, adjusting her trajectory mid-run. "Vanille, hit it again!"
"Got it!" Vanille called back, gripping her rod tightly. A pulse of energy erupted from it, swirling toward Metal Overlord. The debuff took hold instantly, its steel-plated form flickering with unstable energy.
"YOU DARE—" Metal Overlord spat, its form twitching violently.
Snow took the opportunity to taunt it further, planting his fists on his hips.
"Aww, what's the matter, you overgrown scrap heap? Not feeling so high and mighty now, huh?"
Metal Overlord's wings snapped outward, the force sending a gust of wind rushing across the battlefield. Its red eyes flared dangerously as it bellowed, voice laced with synthetic malice.
"INSOLENT ORGANICS! YOU WILL KNEEL BEFORE ME!"
"Man, you just don't quit, do you?" Sazh remarked. He swiftly shifted into Synergist mode once more. Energy was crackling between his hands as he amplified Lightning's speed and strength. "Alright, Lightning! Let's turn this up a notch!"
Lightning felt the surge instantly. Magic coursed through her veins, her movements sharpening, her body feeling lighter. She barely needed to think as her instincts kicked in, her grip tightening around her gunblade.
"That's more like it," she muttered, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
As she was moving, her boots barely touched the ground before she launched herself into the air, flipping fluidly with the grace of a trained predator. Her gunblade gleamed under the flickering light of the storm, its edge a silver blur as she brought it down in a brutal arc.
The blade met metal with a screeching clash, cutting deep into Metal Overlord. Sparks exploded outward, twisted shards of steel peeling away beneath the force of her strike.
Metal Overlord convulsed, its voice glitching between synthetic rage and distorted feedback.
"YOU—!" It roared in heated frustration, its massive claws swiping blindly in retaliation.
Lightning pushed off just in time, twisting midair as she landed back on the battlefield, skidding slightly before snapping her gunblade back into position.
She turned to the others, determination burning in her gaze.
"We've got it reeling. Keep up the pressure!"
Fang grinned, tightening her grip on her spear.
"Now that is more like it!"
Snow pounded his fists together.
"Hell yeah, let's show this rust bucket what happens when it messes with us!"
Metal Overlord, its arms and wings twitching erratically, let out a guttural, robotic growl.
"YOU… WILL… FALL! I...WILL... CRUSH YOU!"
Now fully enraged, Metal Overlord unleashed a devastating pulse of chaotic energy, the sheer force distorting the air around it. Lightning barely had time to react before the shockwave slammed into her, sending her flying backward. The world spun violently as she crashed into the ground, pain jolting through her body on impact.
"Lightning!" Snow shouted, his voice laced with concern, fists clenched in frustration.
Gritting her teeth, Lightning forced herself up, ignoring the searing ache in her ribs. Blood trailed from the corner of her lip, but she wiped it away with the back of her hand, eyes blazing with defiance.
"I'm fine!" she barked, voice sharp and unwavering. "Keep going!"
A soft pulse of warmth enveloped her as Hope's healing magic washed over her injuries, dulling the pain and restoring her strength. She exhaled briefly, nodding to the boy in silent gratitude before snapping her attention back to Metal Overlord.
The monstrous machine bellowed furiously, its voice booming across the battlefield like thunder.
"YOU ARE BUT INSECTS BEFORE ME! WITNESS TRUE POWER!"
Panels along its massive frame slid open with a mechanical hiss, revealing rows of primed missile pods. In an instant, a relentless barrage of missiles erupted from its body, slicing through the sky in streaks of smoke and fire.
"Incoming!" Fang shouted, her sharp voice cutting through the chaos. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, bracing herself against the onslaught. "Everyone, behind me!"
The team barely had time to move before the first wave struck. Fang slammed her spear into the ground with raw force, summoning a shimmering defensive barrier that flared to life in a burst of golden light. Explosions rained down, detonating violently against the protective shield, shaking the very earth beneath them. Ice, grass, rock, and dirt blasted outward, fragments flying in all directions.
Fang winced as the force of the bombardment pushed against her, but she gritted her teeth and held firm, muscles burning with exertion.
Snow narrowed his eyes, fists clenching tightly as his focus locked onto the Shiva Twins
"Time to finish this!" he growled, his voice low and filled with iron determination.
He raised a fist, icy energy coalescing fiercely around him as Shiva responded instantly. Stiria and Nix gracefully positioned themselves, their bodies seamlessly shifting, fusing rapidly into their iconic motorcycle form—a powerful, shimmering vehicle crafted of ice and magic. Stiria's torso formed the front half, the wheel atop her head spinning furiously as it became the front wheel, her arms forming sleek handlebars, legs becoming elegant exhaust pipes. Nix shifted smoothly behind her sister, armor seamlessly merging into the chassis, her intricate headdress creating a graceful backrest.
Snow vaulted swiftly atop the icy motorcycle, revving the engine aggressively, eyes locked onto Metal Overlord.
"You ready for this, big guy?" Snow taunted loudly, challenging his enemy directly. "Let's see if you can copy THIS!"
Lightning smirked faintly, confidence returning. She raised her gunblade firmly, signaling the team forward.
"Everyone! Support Snow—take it down!"
With a roar, Snow sped forward, engine roaring like thunder. Ice erupted violently beneath the wheels as he raced straight toward Metal Overlord, the full fury of Shiva's power blazing behind him.
However, the machine had other plans.
[Blinded By Light - Final Fantasy XIII - Stops Playing. Metal Sonic: The Ultimate Overlord - Sonic Heroes - Begins Playing.]
Metal Overlord hovered, observing impassively as Snow charged. At the last possible moment, with an eerie fluidity, it shifted sideways, effortlessly avoiding Snow's devastating rush. Snow spun the bike sharply, sliding across the ground and coming to a halt, confused frustration blazing in his eyes.
"What the—?!"
A cold, mocking laugh echoed across the Steppe, metallic and devoid of mercy. Metal Overlord spread its massive wings, its red eyes burning with sinister delight.
"CURE!" it called out coldly, a sickening green aura enveloping its damaged frame, rapidly mending the jagged wounds and cracked plating inflicted by Shiva and Lightning's furious assaults. The group watched, horrified, as the monster restored itself once again.
"Oh, shit..." Sazh breathed, disbelief etched plainly on his weary face. "It just won't stay down!"
Metal Overlord's eyes flashed with a sinister gleam. Its mechanical voice echoing sharply over the storm wracked Steppe.
"PARADIGM SHIFT—SABOTEUR. DEPROTECT!"
A violent shockwave of energy burst outward from its core, sweeping mercilessly across the Steppe. The team recoiled instinctively, raising arms in defense, but the wave struck them with brutal force, tearing painfully at their defenses. Fang grunted harshly, forced to one knee, spear trembling in her hands as her defenses shattered. Hope staggered, gasping sharply as pain radiated through his chest. Sazh cried out, doubling over briefly before forcing himself back upright. Lightning stumbled, gritting her teeth as her muscles screamed beneath the weakening spell.
Vanille's eyes widened in dread, breath catching sharply in her throat.
"He stole THAT too?!" she cried in dismay, voice breaking.
"That metal bastard," Fang spat in disdain, feeling physically weaker.
Metal Overlord tilted its head mockingly, dark amusement dripping from its tone.
"SHIVA DATA COPIED."
The chilling announcement fell heavily upon the team, a suffocating dread gripping them instantly.
"No..." Lightning whispered sharply, her heart sinking into a cold pit of despair.
Sazh shook his head furiously, eyes wide in horror and disbelief.
"Oh, hell no!"
"Shit," Fang muttered grimly, staggering upright despite the ache burning through her limbs.
Before the group could react further, Metal Overlord surged forward with frightening speed, tail whipping around with brutal precision. Snow barely had time to brace himself as the massive appendage slammed viciously into him, sending him sprawling violently from Shiva's motorcycle. He crashed hard into the dirt, rolling several times before coming to a painful stop.
"Snow!" Hope shouted anxiously, reaching out desperately.
Metal Overlord immediately turned its attention back to Shiva. Its claws swung brutally downward, tearing violently through the summoned sisters' motorcycle form, ice shards exploding outward in a cacophony of shattering crystal and steel-like impacts. Stiria and Nix were violently separated, their forms battered and broken by the relentless assault.
Snow pushed himself desperately to his knees, panic and anger gripping him fiercely.
"NO!" he shouted in anguish, reaching helplessly toward his fallen Eidolon.
But Shiva's battered forms glowed faintly, flickering weakly before finally fading into nothingness, leaving only glistening ice crystals drifting gently to the scarred ground below.
Metal Overlord slowly hovered higher, wings spread wide with arrogant triumph. Its crimson optics locked coldly onto the stunned group below.
"NOW," it bellowed, mockingly imitating Snow's earlier bravado, "WITNESS TRUE POWER!"
"Don't you dare!" Lightning growled furiously, desperation cracking through her composure.
Metal Overlord raised its arms high, chilling frost rapidly condensing around its clawed hand. A brilliant aura of crystalline ice erupted around its massive frame, the Steppe trembling violently as the stolen power surged uncontrollably.
"DIAMOND DUST!" it announced chillingly.
The monster swung its arm downward, unleashing a violent, blinding tempest of frozen fury. Jagged shards of ice surged forward in a relentless tsunami of pure devastation, slamming brutally into the battlefield.
Lightning tried desperately to shield herself, but the sheer force overwhelmed her instantly. The frozen storm lifted her from her feet, tearing violently at her body, pain searing her limbs as she crashed helplessly into the earth, tumbling through dirt and shattered ice.
Snow was hurled backward by the merciless blast, limbs flailing helplessly. He collided harshly into jagged stone debris, the impact knocking all breath from his lungs.
"AHH—!" Fang shouted defiantly, spear raised, trying vainly to brace against the unyielding storm, only to be thrown violently backward. Her spear flew from her grip, spinning uselessly into the distance as she slammed hard into the dirt.
Hope and Vanille screamed simultaneously, their bodies thrown wildly into the swirling chaos. They landed painfully, rolling until they came to a battered halt, sprawled weakly and coughing violently.
Sazh, eyes wide with dread, had barely managed a defensive stance before being violently swept away by the relentless force of Shiva's stolen power. He crashed harshly into shattered crystal formations, groaning heavily as pain ripped through every nerve.
The dust and frost settled slowly, an oppressive silence descending over the battered Steppe. The team lay scattered, bruised, and broken across the icy, scarred earth. Each struggled painfully, gasping ragged breaths as they forced themselves onto shaky limbs, eyes wide with shock and disbelief at what had just transpired.
Metal Overlord slowly lowered itself, hovering with sinister grace upon the devastated land. Its crimson eyes burned fiercely, glowing contemptuously at the warriors sprawled out on the ground.
"YOUR EFFORTS WERE AMUSING," Metal Overlord mocked cruelly, the jagged teeth of its monstrous visage glinting in twisted satisfaction. "BUT ULTIMATELY POINTLESS. NOW, ACCEPT YOUR INEVITABLE END."
With those chilling words, the massive machine ascended slowly back into the tempestuous heavens. Thick bolts of lightning arced furiously around its gleaming form, thunder booming like a dreadful, rhythmic chant heralding the heroes' doom.
Beneath the Overlord, the weary team gingerly forced themselves upright. Their bodies were trembling and bloodied, with their resolve worn thin. But Lightning staggered forward first, jaw set and eyes blazing with defiance. Her voice cracked sharply through the storm's roar, unwavering despite her exhaustion.
"Go to hell you bastard!" she growled fiercely, raising her gunblade with determination. "We stand together... Until the end."
"Always," Snow groaned beside her, stumbling upright despite bruised ribs and aching limbs, knuckles clenched tightly. "We're still breathing, so we're still fighting."
"Too damn right," Fang snarled, leaning heavily upon her spear. Her eyes narrowed in steely resolve, despite the deep injuries crisscrossing her battle-worn body. Vanille stayed beside her friend, clutching her rod tightly, her breath trembling yet steady. Hope forced himself upright beside them, limbs shaking from strain, eyes flickering with determined strength. Sazh wiped blood from his brow with a shaky hand, his breath ragged but eyes still set firmly on their foe.
"FOOLS!" Metal Overlord snarled, its wings flaring wide like a god descending upon a broken world. Raw, chaotic energy crackled violently around its armoured frame, tendrils of crimson and green lightning arcing outward, splitting the storm-choked sky. The air itself trembled beneath its presence.
"I AM THE KING OF ALL CREATION! METAL OVERLORD! THE ULTIMATE LIFEFORM! I AM THE REAL SONIC!"
Snow, bloodied and leaning forward with fists clenched, let out a bitter breath. His voice rang clear across the storm.
"Would you just shut the fuck up already?" he snapped. "Are you gonna talk us to death?!"
"We don't care what you claim to be," Lightning yelled, stepping forward with her blade raised. Her voice cut through the storm like steel. "End it or don't—but spare us the ego trip. We're done listening to delusions."
"HA! AS YOU WISH!" Metal Overlord chuckled darkly, a low, grinding sound like metal tearing through bone. "LET ME GRANT YOU THE DEATH YOU'VE BEEN BEGGING FOR."
The heavens buckled under the weight of its power. A blinding emerald glow surged from its core, casting grotesque shadows across the ravaged Archylte Steppe. Wind howled like a dying god as fragments of shattered earth floated into the air, caught in the machine's spiraling chaos.
The team stood together—wounded, staggering, but not broken. Each of them took their stance, breath ragged, weapons trembling in exhausted hands. Yet none stepped back. Not an inch.
And at the front, Lightning stood her ground.
She stepped forward with unflinching resolve, her boots crushing fractured crystal underfoot. Her gunblade hummed with energy, held steady despite the tremor in her arm. Blood streaked her cheek, her red cape tattered from battle, but her eyes… her eyes were pure steel.
They would not run. Not now. Not ever.
If this was their last stand, they would go down swinging.
But suddenly, like a blade cutting through silence, a voice rang out. It was rough, cold, and unmistakably certain.
"I FOUND YOU!"
The voice echoed over the wind, piercing the mechanical screech of the storm.
Lightning's eyes snapped skyward. Her breath hitched.
"What the—?"
Metal Overlord turned, but it was too late.
[Metal Sonic: The Ultimate Overlord - Sonic Heroes - Stops Playing. All Hail Shadow: Symphonic Version - Sonic x Shadow Generations Starts Playing]
Reality was distorted. The air warped violently around the machine, space itself trembling as a black-and-red blur erupted from a newly formed sapphire rift, which was high above the Steppe. The blur struck with terrifying precision.
A whirlwind of fists and kicks crashed into Metal Overlord's green core, faster than the eye could track. In less than a heartbeat, dozens of rapid-fire strikes hammered against the same point, each hit punctuated by concussive bursts of red energy.
The figure was a storm given form. A weapon of vengeance.
Punch. Kick. Spin. Slam. Again and again.
Crimson and black sparks exploded with every impact. The rhythm of violence rang out like war drums, it was relentless and devastating.
Metal Overlord reeled from the assault. It was being battered pillar to post.
Snow's jaw dropped, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"What—is that?!" he exclaimed.
Before an answer could form, the blur pivoted mid-air, charging its leg with a searing pulse of red energy. With a final flash, it delivered a vicious front kick square into Metal Overlord's core. The impact detonated like a bomb, sending the towering machine spiraling backward, its metallic scream drowned by the thunderclap of its fall.
It slammed into the Steppe with earth-shattering force, carving a deep, ragged trench through the battlefield. The ground trembled. Debris exploded skyward in a plume of shattered stone and smoke.
"That thing literally kicked Metal Overlord's metal ass!" Sazh exclaimed, his eyes wide from what he just witnessed.
"Wowzers!" Vanille gasped in awe.
"That's some power alright," Fang remarked, seemingly impressed.
Suddenly, the mysterious assailant vanished in a brilliant flash of blue light, warping away faster than eyes could track.
A stunned silence gripped the battered heroes. Their breaths catching anxiously as their eyes scanned the darkened Steppe.
"Where did it go?" Hope remarked, bewildered and surprised.
Suddenly, a burst of blue energy flashed again, right in front of the group. They instinctively staggered backward, raising weapons in shock. Sazh jumped violently, raising trembling pistols. Vanille gasped, moving protectively closer to Fang, whose sharp eyes glared warily. Snow blinked rapidly, confusion clear on his face. Hope was dumbfounded, his mouth slightly open. Lightning just stared ahead, her icy-eyes analysing what was happening thoroughly.
The figure had landed, crouched low before them, one knee touching the shattered ground, one gloved fist clenched firmly against the scarred earth. Wisps of dark energy radiated gently around him, fading slowly into the air.
Slowly, deliberately, he rose to his feet. As he straightened, the storm light illuminated him fully—an anthropomorphic hedgehog with jet-black fur and sharp crimson streaks running along his limbs and quills. The strange creature stood calmly, its white-gloved hands relaxed by his sides, rings of brilliant gold shimmering on wrists and ankles. Sleek air shoes adorned his feet. His fierce red eyes remained locked coldly upon the distant crater where Metal Overlord had landed.
Lightning stared sharply, suspicion and cautious awe warring within her.
"Who—or what—are you?" she asked firmly.
Finally, the creature turned, calmly regarding her and the others with piercing red eyes set within a tan muzzle, white chest fur shifting slightly beneath his controlled breathing.
"My name is Shadow," he answered evenly, voice deep, rough-edged, and resolute. "I'm here to end this."
Lightning blinked, her mind racing to piece together his sudden appearance, his impossible speed, and the fury with which he attacked their enemy. There was no mistaking it, this creature wasn't just powerful. He was deliberate, calculated, and dangerous.
Hope took an uncertain step closer to Shadow.
"Shadow…?" he mused.
Vanille stood frozen, her green eyes wide with a mix of awe and cautious curiosity.
"What… what are you?" she asked, her voice gentle, searching.
Shadow met her gaze without hesitation. His posture was calm, composed, unshaken even under the scrutiny of these war-worn strangers.
"I'm a hedgehog," he said simply. His voice carried weight. Finality. "...The Ultimate Lifeform."
"The Ultimate Lifeform, huh?" Sazh muttered, with a brow arched. "Funny. That metal maniac said the same thing not five minutes ago."
Shadow's eyes narrowed, his tone turning colder than the wind whipping across the Steppe.
"Metal Overlord is a failure," he said flatly. "He's a broken machine who copies abilities and clings onto someone else's identity."
Sazh blinked, the bluntness hitting like a gut-punch.
"Well, damn," he retorted simply.
"That's one way of putting it," Lightning added dryly, and for the first time in a while, there was a flicker of approval in her icy eyes.
Fang shifted, still leaning on her spear for support. Her gaze remained locked on Shadow, skeptical but intrigued.
"So I'm guessing you've got a real personal score to settle with that metal bastard?" she mused.
"He escaped me at Final Fortress," Shadow revealed coolly. "I had him beaten, dead to rights. Then… a rift opened." His crimson gaze darkened. "He fled. Like a coward."
Hope, now a little steadier on his feet, tilted his head thoughtfully.
"So… that explains the rift we saw earlier. The one Metal Overlord came through."
"And you followed him through another? Right?" Vanille added, piecing it together.
Shadow gave a curt nod as he replied.
"Yes. A second rift opened when I returned to White Space."
"White Space…?" Lightning repeated, eyes narrowing as she studied him. "What is that?"
"Do we really want the answer to that?" Sazh groaned, dragging a free hand down his face.
Shadow remained silent for a moment. Then, with a grunt, he turned away.
"It doesn't matter," he said firmly, his voice tight. "The explanation would only complicate things. And we don't have time for questions."
"So let me get this straight," Snow said, pacing slowly around Shadow, still half in awe. "You're a talking hedgehog from another dimension who just flew out of a portal, drop-kicked a god-tier war machine like it owed you money, and now you're acting like that's just another Tuesday?"
Shadow didn't respond at first.
Then, without turning, he said plainly, "Again... Questions for later."
The hedgehog's eyes narrowed, scanning the smoke rising in the distance.
"Metal's getting back up," Shadow remarked, his voice becoming low and grim.
The wind seemed to die around them, as if the world itself held its breath.
Lightning stepped up beside him, blade lowered but ready.
"Then let's make sure he doesn't get a second chance," she affirmed sternly.
Shadow nodded once. Red and black energy beginning to pulse faintly around his gloves and fingers.
Metal Overlord slowly began to rise, its battered armour crackling violently with barely suppressed rage.
"YOU—!" Metal roared furiously, distorted voice dripping hatred. "THE MISERABLE FAILURE! YOUR INTERFERENCE ENDS HERE!"
Shadow stared coldly towards Metal Overlord, utterly unafraid.
"Your obsession blinds you. You're nothing but a desperate copy," he replied coldly, glaring a hole into the machine.
Metal Overlord seethed visibly, its optics glowing hotter with rage.
"I AM PERFECTION!" Metal Overlord shrieked, its voice crackling with static and fury. "YOU ARE A FAILED EXPERIMENT—A FAKER!"
"Failed Experiment...?" Lightning mumbled, looking towards Shadow. "Faker?"
The group turned their attention to the dark hedgehog with intrigue. What did Metal Overlord mean?
Ignoring their stares, Shadow tilted his head slightly. His voice was low, razor-sharp.
"Idiot. I don't need validation from a broken imitation."
His tone was devoid of fear. It was calm, confident, lethal. Every syllable was a rejection of Metal Overlord's ego, cutting deeper than any blade.
Lightning watched him, struck not just by his power, but by his resolve. There was no doubt in him. No hesitation. His confidence wasn't arrogance, it was purpose.
And it ignited something in her.
She stepped forward, dragging her tired body into motion, each step filled with renewed fire. Her gunblade rose once more, trembling with the echo of strength rediscovered.
Now standing next to Shadow, she faced the towering machine without flinching.
"Then let's finish this," she said, voice steeled with defiance. "Together."
Shadow gave a single, sharp nod. He turned his head up to meet her gaze fully for the first time. They were two warriors, worlds apart, but bound by battle.
In her icy eyes, he saw a fighter. Someone was disciplined, stubborn, and unyielding.
In his crimson eyes, she saw the same.
A silent agreement passed between them.
Snow straightened, cracking his knuckles despite his wounds, grinning fiercely.
"Hell yeah. I'm tired of listening to this scrapheap brag. He talks too much!"
Hope nodded firmly, courage returning.
"We'll back you up!" he remarked, ready to assist.
Vanille smiled weakly, determination clear in her green eyes. Fang smirked sharply, retrieving her spear with stubborn resolve. Sazh groaned dramatically but stood firm, pistols raised confidently despite his exhaustion.
Shadow regarded the group briefly, silent approval flickering within his piercing gaze. Then he looked back to Metal Overlord, clenching his fists tightly as red and black energy flared around him once more.
"Good," he growled deeply. "Let's end this."
Above, Metal Overlord ascended again, chaotic power surging violently. Its armour rapidly repaired itself, readying for a final, desperate battle.
"YOU ALLY WITH THE FAKER," Metal Overlord thundered, its voice a warped fusion of static and rage. "NONE CAN DEFY THE TRUE KING OF ALL CREATION!"
Shadow didn't flinch. His crimson eyes narrowed, expression unreadable, voice cutting through the chaos like ice.
"You're not a king. You're just a shadow of a shadow… clinging to someone else's legacy."
Metal Overlord shrieked in fury, its wings flaring wide as if to strike down the insult alone.
Snow raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Okay, not gonna lie... that line was pretty badass," he remarked, turning his head to Shadow.
Shadow glanced sideways at him without breaking stride.
"Do you always talk this much in combat?"
"What can I say? Gotta keep morale up, right?" Snow replied, throwing up his hands.
Shadow's gaze shifted next to Lightning, his tone flat.
"Is he always like this?"
"Afraid so," Lightning replied with a sigh, barely suppressing an edge of exasperation in her voice.
A low, dry "Hmph." escaped Shadow, his expression unchanging.
"Funny. He reminds me of someone I know," the hedgehog replied dryly.
Metal roared in fury, launching into a reckless charge, energy blazing violently. Lightning tightened her grip upon her weapon, shifting quickly into a battle stance, resolve burning fiercely once more.
"Get ready!" she commanded sharply.
Shadow stepped forward, his crimson eyes narrowing. Powerful energy radiated dangerously around him, coalescing into a fierce scarlet and dark glow.
"For the last time," he growled fiercely, determination ringing clear in every word, "this ends now!"
The battle scarred Steppe trembled violently beneath their feet as Metal Overlord rushed towards them, burning with rage. But this time, hope flared brightly alongside resolve. Shadow's arrival had changed everything. Together, they stood prepared, ready for the final confrontation.
To Be Continued!