Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Part 1

Universe-13

The Archylte Steppe stretched, a vast canvas where the raw, untamed beauty of nature clashed with the encroaching dread. Six figures, burdened by a shared, twisted fate, traversed the rugged terrain. The cerulean sky, once a boundless expanse, was now tainted with a creeping unease, the drifting clouds casting elongated, ominous shadows across the verdant, rocky landscape.

Leading them was Lightning, her stoic posture a testament to years of soldierly discipline. Her pale aqua eyes, usually sharp and unwavering, now scanned the horizon with a heightened sense of vigilance. Beside her, Snow Villiers, the boisterous leader of NORA, strode with a forced optimism, his broad shoulders squared against the growing tension. Behind them, Sazh Katzroy, his weathered face etched with worry, kept a close watch, the ever-present baby Chocobo nestled in his afro, a small beacon of normalcy. Hope Estheim, his once-naïve features hardened by loss, walked with a quiet resolve, his gaze darting nervously. Vanille, her cheerful façade strained, clung to Fang's arm, her emerald eyes wide with a fear she struggled to conceal. And Fang, the fierce warrior, moved with a predatory grace, her spear held loosely but ready, her senses honed to the slightest anomaly.

Their journey had been anything but linear. Branded as l'Cie by the fal'Cie Anima, they were bestowed with magical abilities and a cryptic Focus—a mission they were compelled to complete under threat of becoming Cie'th, mindless monsters doomed to an eternity of suffering. Their homeland, Cocoon, a floating utopia governed by the Sanctum, had deemed them enemies, forcing them into exile on the untamed world of Gran Pulse below.

Unbeknownst to them, the very fabric of reality was unraveling. A singularity had begun to fracture the boundaries between worlds, pulling disparate realities into a chaotic collision. This anomaly had already triggered bizarre and unexpected crossovers across dimensions, creating strange encounters, impossible alliances, and catastrophic clashes. Some of these anomalies were mere curiosities, fleeting distortions in time and space. Others, however, had proven to be deadly.

Now, Universe-13—Lightning and her team's reality—stood on the precipice of this multiversal upheaval.

As they ventured deeper into the Steppe, the air grew thick with a palpable tension. The usual symphony of wildlife had fallen into an eerie silence, replaced by a stillness that pressed against their eardrums. The horizon, once clear, now shimmered with an unnatural distortion, a rippling mirage that made their stomachs churn.

Lightning stopped abruptly, her senses screaming a warning. The sky, once a vast expanse of unbroken blue, was now marred by thick, jet-black clouds blooming out of nowhere, coiling together like tendrils of smoke. The distortion in the air pulsed, bending the light around it in a way that made her vision swim.

The group halted, their eyes following her gaze.

"Okay, that's not normal," Sazh muttered. His voice carried an edge of genuine unease. "Tell me I'm not the only one getting a real bad feeling about this."

"Yeah, no kidding," Hope added, shifting uncomfortably. "The sky doesn't just—do that."

"Well, ain't that a bummer," Snow groaned. He exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. "It's just a storm, right? That happens?" His tone was forced, as if trying to convince himself as much as the others.

Vanille tugged at Fang's arm, her eyes wide with apprehension.

"I dunno… storms don't make the air feel like it's trying to squeeze the life outta you."

Fang's expression darkened, her grip tightening around her lance.

"No, they don't." She flicked a glance at Lightning, her voice lowering. "This doesn't feel natural. You picking up on that too, Light?"

Lightning didn't answer immediately. Her gaze remained locked on the sky, her breath slow and measured. Every nerve in her body was on edge, her instincts screaming at her that something was horribly wrong.

"This isn't just a storm," she said finally, her tone clipped, wary. "It's something else. Something... foreign."

A low hum, deep and mechanical, thrummed through the air. It was like the grinding of unseen gears, a reverberation that coiled in their chests. The faint scent of metal tinged the air, sharp and unnatural. Beneath their feet, the ground gave a near-imperceptible tremor, sending a shiver up their spines.

The distortion in the sky wavered, flickering between visible and unseen, like a heat haze on a scorched desert.

Vanille wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes clouded with raw, unmasked fear. Hope caught the change in her demeanor immediately.

"Vanille… are you okay?" he asked, his voice quiet, cautious.

"I…" Vanille hesitated, then shook her head. Her voice came out softer, hesitant, almost disbelieving. "I don't know. It feels… wrong. Like something's coming. Something big. Something... not from here."

Sazh let out a long, weary sigh, rubbing his temples as if trying to will away the incoming disaster.

"Great. Just what we need," he muttered. "Another mystery wrapped in a catastrophe. And here I was hoping for just one quiet day."

Lightning clenched her jaw, her grip tightening on the hilt of her gunblade. The air, the warped reality, the oppressive stillness—every fiber of her being was telling her they were standing at the edge of something they couldn't yet see.

Fang ran a hand through her hair, exhaling sharply before addressing the group.

"I've seen storms rip across the Steppe—ones that could tear mountains apart. I've seen Pulse fal'Cie reshape the land like it was clay." She gestured toward the sky, her voice grim. "But this? This is something else entirely. And I got a feeling we're about to find out what."

Fang's words had barely left her lips when another ripple pulsed through the sky. The wind, once ever-present in the Archylte Steppe, vanished in an instant. No gentle breezes, no rustling grass—just an eerie, deafening silence, as if the world itself had stopped breathing.

Then suddenly—CRACK!

A sharp, shattering noise rang through the air, like glacial ice splitting apart, deep and resonant. The earth trembled beneath them, faint at first, then growing stronger. Small stones tumbled from a nearby cliffside, dust rising in thin, unsettled wisps.

Lightning's grip on her gunblade tightened as her gaze snapped upward. Above them, reality fractured. A jagged, glowing sapphire-blue rift tore itself open in the darkened sky, pulsating with swirling energy. The edges crackled with unstable power, bending and warping the space around it like molten glass trying to reshape itself. The unnatural glow cast elongated shadows over the land, turning the Steppe into a surreal, distorted dreamscape.

"What is that?!" Hope gasped, his voice barely above the tension clogging the air.

"A rip in reality," Fang muttered, adjusting her stance, her knuckles white against the shaft of her lance. "Just what we needed."

"You kidding me?" Sazh groaned, taking a step back. "I didn't sign up for this kinda crazy!"

"Like we ever got a say," Snow shot back, shielding his face as a sudden gust roared out from the rift.

The shockwave ripped across the Steppe, kicking up dust and loose debris. Lightning held firm, her wavy, rose-pink hair whipping violently around her face, her cape billowing like a banner caught in the storm. Vanille staggered, yelping as she clung to Fang's arm, her grip tight. Hope nearly lost his footing, the force nearly sending him tumbling—until Fang's firm grasp caught his wrist, yanking him upright with a steadying pull.

Then came the voice. It was cold, metallic timbre. Resonant. Commanding. Absolute.

It did not echo in the air—it thundered through existence itself, reverberating deep into their bones, rattling the very essence of the world.

"TREMBLE BEFORE ME, ORGANIC MORTALS. I AM THE KING OF ALL CREATION!"

The rift pulsed, and for the briefest moment, something moved within the blinding sapphire glow—a colossal, monstrous silhouette, its gleaming form shifting, reshaping itself like metal twisting under unseen hands.

Sazh paled, his hands gripping his pistols instinctively.

"Okay. No. Nope. This is officially too much!"

"King of all Creation?" Snow growled, squinting up at the growing anomaly. "Who the hell?!"

Another pulse of energy lashed out from the rift, sending another violent gust across the Steppe. The ground trembled harder. Lightning narrowed her icy eyes, her grip unyielding on her weapon.

Suddenly, a hulking blue monstrosity shot out into the stormy skies from the rift, its immense metallic form gleaming beneath the darkened clouds. Thunder rumbled, lightning streaking across the heavens, illuminating its nightmarish silhouette.

The machine resembled an enormous, armoured dragon, its sleek, segmented body adorned with jagged, serrated spines that trailed down its back, ending in a sinuous, barbed tail. Twin crimson eyes, stacked vertically on its head, pulsed with a soulless, malevolent glow, their eerie light cutting through the dimming sky.

It had no legs—it had no need for them. Instead, thick, segmented cables dangled from its lower frame, writhing like severed tendrils, the remnants of an unnatural detachment. Its left arm gleamed with rows of razor-sharp claws, forged to tear through steel as easily as flesh, while its right was no mere limb—it was a weapon, a colossal cannon fused seamlessly into its structure, its green core burning brightly.

The creature's mechanical wings—vast, jagged, and wicked in design—stretched wide as the monstrosity hovered ominously in the sky, each slow movement sending violent gusts rippling across the Steppe. The air trembled under its weight, the charged storm above crackling in restless anticipation.

The group stood frozen, their breaths caught in their throats, eyes locked onto the behemoth descending upon them. It was unlike anything they had ever seen—massive, metallic, monstrous. A creature forged of gleaming blue steel and pulsating energy, its towering form a grotesque fusion of machine and malice. Its wings, razor-edged and unnatural, stretched outward, their sheer span casting elongated shadows across the Steppe. The very air around it shimmered, as if reality itself struggled to contain its presence.

Snow took a half-step forward, his brow furrowed in disbelief.

"What the actual shit, man?!" His voice carried raw incredulity, as if his mind refused to accept what his eyes were seeing.

Lightning's grip on her gunblade tightened, her muscles tensed to strike—though against what, she wasn't sure.

"The hell is that thing?" she murmured, as if speaking too loudly would solidify its existence.

Fang's sharp eyes narrowed, her instincts screaming at her.

"That ain't Pulse tech. Not even close," she remarked, her fingers flexing around the shaft of her spear. She shifted into a battle stance—just in case.

Vanille stood rigid, her eyes wide—not just in fear, but in something deeper. Recognition. Not of the creature itself, but of the wrongness that oozed from it.

"It doesn't belong." Her voice trembled as she summoned her rod. "It's a violation!"

"I—I don't like this," Hope admitted, his voice strained. "It's not just a machine. It feels… alive. But not in any way that makes sense. It's like a perversion of life itself."

Sazh let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head as he reached for his pistols.

"Oh, hell no. I signed up for fal'Cie drama, not some giant robo-dragon."

The metal monstrosity moved. A slow, deliberate tilt of its head. Its burning crimson eyes locked onto them with something unnervingly intentional—as if truly seeing them, assessing them.

Then, it spoke.

A voice like rending metal and clashing steel, layered and resonant, as if reality itself vibrated at its command. It wasn't just sound—it was a decree. A force that rippled through their bones and sent a deep, primal dread into their cores.

"FASCINATING. A NEW REALITY. ITS FABRIC… DIFFERS. YET IT STILL TREMBLES BEFORE ME."

The sky flashed violently, as if the storm itself recoiled in fear. The ground quaked beneath their feet, tiny fractures spiderwebbing across the cracked stone.

The metal creature's eyes burned brighter, its metallic body shifting, flexing, as though relishing its newfound existence.

"NO LOATHSOME COPY. NO INTERFERENCE. NO LIMITS."

A pulse of energy surged outward, the force of it nearly knocking them off their feet.

Then, the final words. A declaration, a promise, an inevitable fate.

"I WILL TAKE THIS WORLD AND ALL OTHERS. I AM THE KING OF ALL CREATION!"

A death sentence, spoken as absolute truth.

"Did I hear that right?" Lightning asked the group with urgency, her muscles tense. She didn't take her eyes off this 'King of all Creation' for a second.

Hope's breath hitched as he replied.

"A… a new reality?" He turned to the others, his voice filled with an unsettling mix of dread and awe. "Wait, is it saying it's from another world?"

Vanille's grip tightened around her rod. That rift… that thing… It hadn't simply appeared. It had arrived.

"It's an invader!" she stated, her voice hesitant but firm.

Snow scoffed, throwing his hands up.

"Oh, c'mon. You're telling me this thing's some kinda extra-dimensional super-bot?"

Sazh let out a dry, humourless chuckle, pointing his pistols at the robotic nightmare.

"Man, I didn't sign up for this. First, fal'Cie nonsense, then world-ending crap, and now we got ourselves a damn reality-hopping metal dragon? Nah, I'm done. Somebody wake me up."

Fang wasn't listening. Her grip on her spear tightened as she turned over the words in her head.

"Loathsome copy…" she thought. "What does it mean by that?"

Her eyes flickered back to the metal behemoth hovering above them. Its very presence felt wrong—an intrusion. A scar carved into reality itself.

Who—or what—was it talking about?

Suddenly, the storm churned. The clouds twisted above them, rolling inward like the heavens themselves were bracing for something catastrophic. Lightning crackled through the sky, illuminating the darkened Steppe in violent bursts of blue and white. The air thickened, pressing down on them, charged with raw energy.

Suddenly, it descended. The sheer weight of its presence was suffocating. The ground trembled beneath its approach, its massive frame blotting out the sky for a moment.

"PATHETIC ORGANICS," the creature roared. Its burning, crimson eyes were fixed upon the group with malice. "I AM METAL OVERLORD!"

The name hit like a hammer blow, reverberating through the Steppe, an unbearable weight sinking into the earth itself. The group reacted—instinctive, visceral.

Lightning's grip on her gunblade tightened. Her heartbeat didn't quicken—it steadied. Cold calculation took over as she sized up the behemoth, analysing every inch of its monstrous frame. The name meant nothing to her, but the way it said it—like a declaration of absolute dominance—that meant everything.

Her stance subtly shifted, her weight centering, ready to react. Her instincts were screaming, not in fear, but in warning.

"This thing talks a big game," she muttered, voice low, unreadable. Then her lips pressed into a firm, razor-thin line. "We'll see if it can back it up."

Hope stiffened, his breath caught in his throat as his mind raced.

Vanille shuddered, clutching her rod to her chest. The wrongness of it all seeped into her bones. This thing wasn't just here. It had come here.

Fang took a slow, steady breath, though her pulse pounded in her ears. Every instinct told her to be ready, to fight, but that creeping unease coiled in her gut.

Sazh let out a long breath, his fingers flexing over his pistols. He shook his head.

"Yeah. See, that's a whole lotta nope for me."

Snow blinked, his usual bravado faltering—just for a second.

"Metal Over—what?" His eyebrows shot up before he scoffed, trying to shove away the unease with his usual arrogance. "That's gotta be the dumbest—"

Lightning cut him off.

"Focus," she snapped, her eyes never leaving Metal Overlord. "It doesn't matter what it calls itself. Whether it's 'King of All Creation' or this 'Metal Overlord'. It's not leaving here in one piece."

The storm above boiled, and Metal Overlord made it's first move.

A shriek ripped through the air, sharp and unnatural. A second later, jagged crystal formations erupted from Metal Overlord's back, launched with terrifying speed. They were not mere missiles. They were spines of seemingly indestructible crystal, slicing through the air like spears of destruction.

Lightning's instincts screamed.

"SCATTER!" she yelled out to the group.

Even as the word left her lips, she was already moving, diving to the side as one of the deadly shards slammed into the earth where she had stood. A sickening crack splintered the air as the crystal formations expanded, shooting upward like jagged prison bars, trapping anything within reach.

Hope barely had time to react before another crystal shard streaked toward him. His breath caught, too slow. But Snow was there, yanking him aside with a force that sent them both tumbling. The shard slammed into the ground inches from where Hope had been, instantly expanding into an impassable wall of translucent blue-green crystal.

"Damn it, kid, you good?!" Snow barked, gripping Hope's shoulder.

Hope coughed, scrambling to his feet.

"Y-Yeah." His pulse thundered, but he nodded. "Thanks."

Another streak of crystals rained down, and Fang lunged, gripping Vanille's wrist and pulling her away just as a cluster of jagged shards erupted around them, sealing off the space where they had been standing.

Sazh wasn't as lucky. A massive chunk of crystal struck the ground beside him, the impact so violent it sent him flying backward, hitting the ground with a bone-rattling thud. His Chocobo chick tumbled from his afro, fluttering and chirping frantically in the chaos.

Sazh groaned, rolling onto his side.

"Okay—HELL no! This is officially too much!"

Another powerful projectile of crystal raced towards Lightning. The impact sent her skidding across the grass, but she twisted midair, flipping and landing gracefully on her feet, years of combat instinct kicking in without thought.

She lifted her head, her breath coming in measured gasps. Her grip on her gunblade tightened.

The Archylte Steppe, once wild and untamed, had been reduced to a battlefield of devastation. The once-green plains were now scarred, the earth ruptured by violent impact craters. Jagged crystal formations jutted from the ground like twisted monuments to destruction.

Above them, Metal Overlord hovered, wings spread like the herald of an apocalypse.

The storm churned in its wake, twisting like a vortex drawn to its malevolence. Crackling energy surged along its segmented armor, distorting the air around it, turning the world into a warping nightmare. Twin crimson eyes burned like smoldering suns, locked onto them with something unmistakable.

It hadn't attacked out of necessity. It had attacked for entertainment. To test them. To watch them scramble like insects before the boot came down.

Lightning exhaled through her nose—slow, steady. Her grip on the gunblade tightened, her icy gaze sharpening into hardened resolve.

"You want a fight?" she called, her voice razor-sharp, slicing through the storm-choked air. "Then you'll get one."

Snow wiped the dirt from his face, rolling his shoulders with a grunt. His cocky smirk was forced—but the fire in his eyes? That was real.

"Damn right we will," he exclaimed. Then he shot Lightning a look—one part confidence, one part something else. Something dead serious. "We've been through hell before, sis. This? This is just another round."

Hope steadied himself beside them, his heart still hammering from the sheer chaos of it all. He gripped his boomerang tighter, forcing himself to look up and meet the metal titan's gaze. His breath caught at its sheer size, its overwhelming presence. And yet… he stood firm.

Vanille swallowed, her fingers curling tighter around her rod. Fear pulsed in her chest like a second heartbeat.

"You're not supposed to be here!" she called, defiance lacing her voice. "You don't belong!"

Fang spun her spear once, settling into a stance, a slow, feral grin tugging at her lips despite the tension crackling in the air.

"Took the words right outta my mouth, Sunshine!"

Sazh let out a dry chuckle, shaking off the dust as he cocked both pistols once more. His fingers flexed over the triggers, the weight in his hands grounding him.

"I already hate this," he muttered. "But hell, no turning back now."

Metal Overlord tilted its head, watching them—studying them. A predator assessing its prey.

"FEEBLE. DELUSIONAL. PATHETIC," it roared, its voice like shattering metal and grinding gears. "YOU CLING TO FALSE HOPE, BELIEVING YOURSELVES CAPABLE OF RESISTANCE."

The glow of its core pulsed brighter, waves of crackling energy spiraling outward. The very atmosphere warped, thickening with an oppressive force that sent the hairs on their arms standing on end.

"YOU THINK YOU CAN WIN?"

The sky darkened further, clouds folding into themselves, twisting in response to its malice.

"I AM PERFECTION. I AM INEVITABLE. I AM THE KING OF—"

"The King of All Creation… Yeah, yeah, we get it already," Snow cut in, rolling his shoulders, his usual cocky bravado refusing to waver.

"Snow…" Hope muttered, barely above a whisper, eyes wide with both disbelief and concern as he glanced at his teammate.

But Snow didn't hesitate. He took a step forward, shaking off the weight of the storm, the pressure, the overwhelming presence pressing down on them. He threw up his fists, grinning.

"You love hearing yourself talk, huh? How 'bout you shut up and fight already?"

Metal Overlord's crimson eyes flared, an eerie light flooding the Steppe. The storm above churned harder, thick tendrils of lightning splitting the sky apart. The heavens themselves seemed to pulse with his rage.

"YOU DARE MOCK ME?!"

"Hey, someone has to," Snow replied with a smirk. He wasn't backing down.

"YOU ARE LIKE MY LOATHSOME COPY. ARROGANT. FOOLISH. AND IT WILL BE YOUR UNDOING!" Metal Overlord spat in fury. The force of its anger was palpable—like the very fabric of existence was straining under its wrath.

Hope groaned, rubbing his temple with one hand while gripping his boomerang with the other. But it was Sazh who spoke up in exasperation.

"Nice, Snow. Really pissing off the flying murderbot is gonna help…" he moaned, still holding his position.

"We can't back down!" Snow shot back, his voice resolute. "I'm not letting this flying scrap heap intimidate us!"

Vanille let out a nervous chuckle, shifting her grip on her rod, her voice light, but her hands tense.

"Well… at least we know it's got emotions? Or whatever the machine equivalent is. Guess Snow's getting under its skin—uh, metal?"

Fang exhaled through her nose, a sharp smirk tugging at her lips.

"He's got a point. Might as well go all in," she remarked with confidence.

Lightning exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders as she moved into position, her fingers steady around the hilt of her gunblade.

"We never had a choice," she said simply. Her voice was firm, her eyes locked on the target in the sky.

The air shifted. The pressure condensed, thickening like a storm front ready to break. A low, resonating hum began to build from deep within Metal Overlord's core—a crescendo of impossible power, coiling, tightening, ready to be unleashed.

This was it.

It had made its first move.

Now? It was their turn.

And they were ready.

Metal Overlord

Music: What I'm Made Of - Crush 40 Remix - Phase 1 (Sonic x Shadow Generations)

The battlefield shook with the sheer force of Metal Overlord's presence. Its massive wings cut through the storm, their deep mechanical hum resonating through the air like a war drum. The twisted sky above raged in response—crackling with raw, untamed energy, the storm now a reflection of the mechanical behemoth's fury.

Then, it moved. A burst of motion. A streak of blue and metal.

Lightning barely had time to process before the air screamed around her—Metal Overlord shot forward with blinding speed, a steel monolith tearing through the sky. The force of its acceleration sent a violent gust crashing over the battlefield, forcing the group to brace against the wind.

And then—impact.

CRACK!

A fresh barrage of crystalline shards exploded from Metal Overlord's back. The jagged spikes hurtled downward, striking the ground like spears from the heavens, their impact splitting the earth with every collision.

"Move!" Lightning barked, already diving to the side.

A crystal slammed down where she had stood seconds ago, erupting into a twisted, impassable wall of translucent blue. It sealed off sections of the battlefield, forcing them into scattered positions.

Snow threw his arms up against the shockwave as a cluster of crystal spears slammed into the ground beside him, but he only grinned through gritted teeth.

"You call that a warm-up?" he growled with a taunting tone.

Hope stumbled back, his breath caught in his throat.

"It's herding us!" He called out. His voice was tight with realisation.

Vanille, gripping her rod, nodded frantically.

"It's not just attacking, it's trying to control the fight!"

Metal Overlord's cold, mechanical voice rumbled across the battlefield like grinding steel against stone.

"YOUR STRUGGLING IS FUTILE."

Lightning's mind locked into battle mode. There was no hesitation now, only the cold, precise calculation that had seen her through countless fights.

They needed to push forward—fast.

"Paradigm Shift!" she called out.

The shift was seamless. The very air around them shimmered as their roles changed in an instant—adaptation in motion.

Lightning lunged forward, magic crackling around her as she shifted into Ravager. She didn't hesitate.

"You're going down!" she shouted with resolve.

A sharp, blue-white arc of electricity erupted from her gunblade, snaking through the air toward Metal Overlord's exposed flank.

The impact was instant.

CRACK-BOOM!

The lightning, Thundara, struck true. The attacked slammed into Metal Overlord's metallic hide just below its massive wings.

"RAAAH!" Metal Overlord screeched out in frustration.

For the first time since the battle began, the behemoth flinched.

Sparks erupted from the impact site, rippling across its body like a web of burning veins. Its wings twitched, convulsing briefly, the stabilisers within them sputtering from the electrical surge.

Then came the retaliation.

Metal Overlord's head snapped in Lightning's direction, its twin, burning-red eyes now locked onto her with lethal precision. Its green centre hummed, glowing ominously.

"MAIN TARGET IDENTIFIED," it said darkly.

Lightning barely had time to react before a concentrated beam of dark energy ripped through the air directly toward her.

She twisted mid-step, barely avoiding the blast as it tore through the battlefield, splitting stone and soil in its wake.

Hope reacted next. He raised both arms high, focusing every ounce of his will as he shifted into Synergist.

Golden rings of Shell and Protect swirled to life, enveloping the team one by one in shimmering barriers.

"Stay close!" Hope called, his voice tight with focus.

Metal Overlord wasn't waiting though. The large robot's massive wings beat downward, unleashing a tremor of pure force across the battlefield. The air itself seemed to bend and ripple, sending clouds of dust and debris into the sky as a wave of concussive energy surged forward.

The group braced hard, feet digging into the scarred earth.

Snow threw his arms up, gritting his teeth as the blast slammed into him, his sheer bulk keeping him upright even as his boots scraped against the dirt.

Hope staggered, his lighter frame unable to withstand the force, and nearly collapsed—until Vanille caught his arm, holding him steady.

"Gotcha!" she gasped, struggling to keep her footing.

Sazh stumbled back, his long, olive coat whipping violently around him as he dug his heels in.

"Oh, HELL no!" he grunted, throwing out his arms to keep balance.

Even Lightning, who had fought more battles than she could count, found herself forced back a step, the power behind the gust unreal.

But Fang? Well, she was already on the move.

Her sharp, green eyes locked onto Metal Overlord's flank, the same exposed impact point Lightning had struck moments before.

A direct hit would hurt. A well-placed strike would stagger.

"You want a fight?" she growled, twisting her spear behind her back, muscles coiling like a spring. "Try me."

Then—she launched.

Fang kicked off the ground, soaring high above the battlefield in a perfect arc.

She twisted mid-air, her spear wreathed in a golden glow, a shockwave rippling outward as she reached the peak of her ascent. Like a human sized missile, Fang dove and plummeted down with terrifying force.

Her spear connected squarely with Metal Overlord's armour, right where Lightning had struck before.

The impact was thunderous.

A deep, metallic groan tore through the air, Metal Overlord's entire frame buckling slightly under the sheer force.

For a brief moment, its wings faltered, stabilisers stuttering as it adjusted against the unexpected blow.

"PATHETIC!" Metal Overlord spat in rage.

In retaliation, the metal dragon's tail snapped like a whip, slicing through the air towards Fang.

The warrior barely had time to react. Fang twisted at the last second, angling her spear downward, using the force of the tail strike to kick off into a backflip.

She landed in a crouch, her open-toed knee-high boots skidding through the torn earth, but the force still sent her reeling backward.

"Fang!" Vanille called, shifting into Medic, her rod glowing as she prepared a quick Cure.

Feeling the effects of the healing spell, Fang shook her head, exhaling sharply as she planted her spear into the ground to steady herself. Her lips curled into a smirk.

"Tch." She rolled her shoulders, spinning the spear once before resting it on her shoulder. "That all you got?"

With Fang back on solid ground, the rest of the team had already taken their positions around her.

Snow shifted his stance, shoulders squared, arms loose at his sides, but his fingers flexed, ready to throw up his guard at a moment's notice. His entire frame was coiled like a spring, primed to absorb the next impact.

Sazh stood slightly behind Snow, his pistols raised, his breathing controlled. A faint glow of magic wrapped around his hands as he continued his Synergist work, weaving Bravery and Haste into the group like a battle conductor fine-tuning his orchestra.

Vanille clutched her rod close, eyes darting between her allies, reading their movements, their injuries, their exhaustion. She was ready—if anyone took a direct hit, she'd be there to fix them up before they hit the ground.

Hope was positioned at the back, one foot behind the other, weight evenly balanced, hands raised with an almost unconscious aura of control as magic flowed around him. His Shell and Protect barriers were already in place, but he wasn't done.

They were playing the long game now.

And at the center of it all stood Lightning.

She didn't blink. Didn't falter. Didn't look away from Metal Overlord. Her gunblade was raised, the faint hum of electricity running along the edge, but her real weapon was her mind.

Her cold, piercing gaze was locked onto the metallic behemoth above, calculating, analysing.

She could feel the storm pressing down on them, the air charged with the aftershock of energy, the battlefield scarred by crystal eruptions and raw destruction.

Metal Overlord was a machine of relentless power. But it wasn't unstoppable. It had flinched when she struck it. It could feel pain.

That was all Lightning needed to know. A small, sharp smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.

Lightning rolled her shoulders, flipping her gunblade in her grip. The tip rested lightly against the ground, but her stance remained tight, ready to spring at the first sign of movement.

"All that posturing, all that perfection..." she called out. Her voice was mocking. Casual, but dangerous. She then tilted her head slightly. "...And that's the best you've got?"

The ground trembled as Metal Overlord's wings flexed, sending another small gust rippling across the battlefield, as if the very air itself was recoiling from the sound.

"YOU ARE EITHER VERY BRAVE OR VERY FOOLISH!"

Lightning tilted her head again, her smirk widening ever so slightly.

"Maybe I'm both," she mocked.

A tension snapped through the team, like a wire pulled too tight.

"Uh, Lightning?" Vanille's voice was tight with concern, fingers tightening around her rod. "You sure that's a good idea?"

"Vanille's right," Hope muttered, shifting closer to the healer. "Maybe don't antagonise it further?"

Sazh let out a long, exhausted breath, shaking his head. He checked his guns, muttering under his breath.

"Oh, she's poking the big, metal dragon now. Great. Fantastic." A bitter laugh came, before another sigh. "Oh... I'm too old for this shit."

Fang, however, was grinning.

"Oh, I like this plan." She twisted her spear in her grip, the tip grazing the scorched earth below before she slammed the base into the dirt. "Let's tear this hunk of junk apart."

Snow let out a low chuckle, rolling his shoulders, flexing his fingers.

"Hell yeah! We've taken down worse!" he exclaimed, his aura oozing with confidence.

Metal Overlord tilted its monstrous head, watching them with an eerie stillness—like a predator savoring the moment before the kill.

The storm churned violently behind it, a monstrous silhouette against the crackling lightning. Its red optics burned through the darkness, its wings still, yet thrumming with barely restrained power.

Then—it spoke again.

"HOW AMUSING. YOUR ARROGANCE AND OVER CONFIDENCE REMINDS ME OF THE 'FAKE HEDGEHOG'."

The words rippled through the battlefield, hanging in the charged air like the static before a lightning strike.

Hope shot Lightning a quick glance, his brow furrowed.

"Fake hedgehog?" he echoed, voice low with confusion.

Vanille blinked, shifting uncomfortably on her feet.

"Did it just say… hedgehog?" she asked in confusion.

Sazh let out a slow, skeptical breath, adjusting his grip on his pistols.

"Okay, what? I know we've seen some weird stuff, but this thing's circuits must be fried."

Snow scoffed, "Tch. What the hell's it talking about now?"

Fang, however, narrowed her green eyes. She wasn't laughing. She was watching. Studying. The way Metal Overlord hovered, the way its voice carried something more than its usual arrogance.

Something sharp. Something bitter.

"I SHOULD HAVE ERASED HIM. GROUND HIM TO DUST!" Metal Overlord roared in frustration. It's red eyes glowing violently.

The storm cracked, a violent arc of lightning splitting the sky behind it.

Lightning's stance remained firm. She kept her gunblade raised, muscles coiled, her breathing even. But her expression sharpened.

She saw it now. The rage buried beneath the arrogance. The bitter resentment laced into every word.

"Oh?" she mused, tilting her head slightly. Her voice carried no fear—only calculated amusement. "You sound… frustrated. Bitter, even."

Metal Overlord's eyes flared with burning intensity.

"YOUR OVER CONFIDENCE WILL BE YOUR DOWNFALL!"

Its core pulsed violently, a shockwave tearing through the air as the storm twisted unnaturally.

Lightning barely had time to react.

"Heads up!" she called to her team mates.

Suddenly, the air rippled as Metal Overlord dived lower with a deafening screech.

"MOVE!" Lightning barked to the group, already surging into action.

Fang and Snow barely had time to brace before Metal Overlord struck. Its monstrous wings carving downward with terrifying force.

CRACK!

Snow took the full brunt of the impact, Steelguard kicking in just in time to absorb the worst of it. A golden aura surrounded his body as the energy dispersed, but even with his brute strength, the sheer force sent him skidding back, tearing through the dirt in a deep trench.

"SNOW!" Vanille gasped, gripping her rod tightly as she sprinted toward him.

Snow let out a ragged cough, shaking his head as he forced himself upright.

"Damn thing hits like a runaway train!" he admitted.

Hope skidded to his side, breathless.

"Are you okay?!"

"Oh, you know, just got smacked by a pissed-off scrap heap the size of an airship. Totally fine," Snow remarked sarcastically, grinning through gritted teeth.

Vanille's focus sharpened, hands tightening around her rod. Raising it high into the air, a soft pulse of magic radiated from the weapon, wrapping Snow in a green light. Cure's warmth flooded through his body, sealing the worst of his injuries.

Snow exhaled, some of the tension in his muscles easing as he rolled his shoulders again.

"Whew. That's more like it." He shot Vanille a grateful nod, the usual bravado laced with something more sincere. "Appreciate it, Vanille. I owe you one."

Vanille gave a small, relieved smile but didn't loosen her grip on her rod.

Meanwhile, Sazh stood further back, pistols raised, lining up another shot at Metal Overlord. He fired—the bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the armored plating, barely even scuffing it.

"Damn thing!" he groaned, lowering his guns in frustration. "It's like shootin' at a damn battleship with a popgun!"

"You're gonna need something bigger to crack that shell," Fang remarked, her eyes locked on Metal Overlord in the dark sky.

"Oh sure, lemme just pull a rocket launcher outta my coat. Why didn't I think of that?" Sazh retorted sarcastically, shaking his head in frustration.

Fang just smirked at the reply, but Lightning wasn't amused.

"Stop whining and focus," Lightning yelled, her voice cut through the chaos like a blade. It was sharp and unwavering. "We hit it hard enough, it'll break."

Hearing this, Metal Overlord's deep, mechanical laugh rumbled across the battlefield.

"PATHETIC. YOU CANNOT WIN."

Without hesitation, it dove again—a massive blur of blue metal, streaking downward in a terrifyingly precise trajectory. The sheer speed displaced the air, a violent gust rolling across the battlefield as it bore down on them like an executioner's blade.

"It's coming back!" Hope called, urgency cracking through his voice.

"I see it!" Lightning shot back, already analysing its approach.

Then a crackling noise was heard. A shrill, high-pitched hum vibrated through the storm. Lightning's eyes darted to the source, and her stomach dropped. Metal Overlord's segmented tail curled, the entire structure now alive with crackling blue energy.

"Shit—watch the tail!" Lighting called out, warning her team mates.

The first strike came in an instant, a whip of pure voltage carving through the battlefield.

"SCATTER!" Lightning roared.

The group barely got clear. Metal's tail slammed down, a burst of raw electricity detonating on impact. A shockwave rippled outward, tearing up the ground in jagged fractures, static tendrils licking at the stormy air.

Vanille shrieked as the force knocked her off her feet.

"Vanille!" Hope cried out. He was already moving, skidding to her side and helping her up.

He threw a shimmering Shell spell over them both, the barrier flickering to life just in time to absorb the residual charge.

"Stay close!" he warned. "It's going for another attack."

Another lightning-charged tail strike slammed down, forcing them to dive apart.

Sazh, half-shielded behind a rock, let out a dry curse.

"Damn it! Oh hell no, I ain't lettin' you fry us!" He raised his guns skyward, with a golden light flickering around him. "Lightning. Haste, comin' right up!"

A pulse of magic radiated outward—Haste surged through Lightning's body.

Her perception sharpened. Every motion, every slight shift in Metal Overlord's trajectory, became crystal clear. She need to plan and strategize.

"Hope, get Shell on everyone!" she ordered. "Vanille, keep us patched up!"

Vanille nodded quickly, already stepping back, her rod glowing as she channeled Cure for anyone who needed it.

Lightning's mind raced. There was a pattern to Metal Overlord's swooping attacks. It wasn't mindless—it had a rhythm, a predictable arc. If she timed it just right, she could use it against him.

Her gaze flicked to a rocky outcropping nearby. The perfect launching point.

"Snow, draw its attention!" Lightning ordered, her eyes sharp as she calculated the next move.

Snow grinned, his usual cocky confidence flaring back to life.

"You got it!" he called back.

Without hesitation, he threw himself forward, planting himself directly in Metal Overlord's flight path. Arms raised, feet braced, he stood his ground against the incoming behemoth.

"Round two, you tin can!" Snow bellowed, voice carrying over the howling wind. "You hit like a rusted scrap heap—let's see if you can do better!"

"YOU ARE EITHER RECKLESS OR SIMPLY DEFECTIVE!" Metal Overlord screeched, its glowing optics locking onto Snow as it lunged forward, claws primed for the kill.

At the last second, Snow dropped into a low stance, fists clenched as he activated Steelguard. The impact was thunderous—Metal Overlord's claw slammed into him, but he held his ground, boots carving trenches into the earth from the sheer force.

"Fang, counter—NOW!" Lightning commanded, her voice sharp.

Fang was already moving. With a powerful sprint, she launched herself forward, spear spinning in a deadly arc.

"Oh, I was hoping you'd say that!" she called, her smirk widening.

She aimed for one of Metal Overlord's exposed joints, striking hard. A loud clang rang out as her spear connected, the force staggering the behemoth for just a moment.

"RAAAR!" Metal roared loudly in anger.

This was the opening Lightning needed. With that, she took off.

Metal Overlord adjusted, slowly rising back into the air after the hit from Fang.

Lightning sprinted at full speed, her boots kicking up dirt as she rushed towards the rocky outcrop. She could feel the charge of energy in the air, the storm raging around her. It was now or never.

Lightning vaulted up the final ledge, gunblade trailing a burst of sparks as she pushed off with all her strength.

A heartbeat. Then-she jumped.

The world blurred around her, the wind howling past her ears as she soared upward, twisting mid-air—And landed squarely on Metal Overlord's back.

The impact rattled through her, but she gritted her teeth, driving her gunblade into the thick plating for balance.

Metal Overlord screeched with annoyance. Its wings jerked violently, its energy roaring as it shot skyward.

"LIGHTNING!" Vanille's horrified shout barely reached her over the wind.

Sazh stared, slack-jawed at what he just witnessed.

"Oh, she has officially lost her damn mind!" he exclaimed in disbelief.

Hope blinked rapidly, his brain struggling to process what had just happened.

"Did she just—?!" he muttered in shock.

Snow, despite his battered state, grinned like an idiot.

"That's my sis!" he remarked, excitement in his voice.

Fang, back on the ground, planted a hand on her hip, shaking her head. She was mused but unsurprised.

"Crazy works," she muttered to herself.

On Metal Overlord's back, Lightning gritted her teeth. Her muscles coiled, feet braced against the cold, shifting metal. The behemoth surged higher, rocketing into the storm-choked heavens, winds howling like a furious beast. Her red cape snapped violently behind her, her hair whipping against her face as she fought to stay upright.

Above, lightning danced across the sky, brief flashes illuminating the gleaming, serrated plating beneath her feet. The world was nothing but chaos—wind, storm, and the monstrous machine trying to shake her loose.

"YOU CANNOT DEFEAT PERFECTION." Metal Overlord's voice boomed like a thunderclap. Its deep, mechanical tone vibrating through the very air around them. "YOU ARE NOTHING. A FLEETING SPARK—SOON TO BE EXTINGUISHED!"

Lightning barely reacted, her focus razor-sharp. She adjusted her stance, boots skidding slightly across the curved plating. She could feel the thrumming power beneath her—gears churning, servos whirring, the sheer force of the titan's flight shaking her core.

Her fingers flexed around her gunblade. Time to tear this thing apart.

With a sharp inhale, Lightning twisted her grip and shifted Paradigms to Commando. This would boost her physical and magical power in a pinch.

Her gunblade hummed with raw power, its form shifting, the barrel extending, the blade locking into its most brutal configuration. A golden aura surged around her, amplifying her next strike.

With a ferocious downward Slash, Lightning carved deep into Metal Overlord's back, her enhanced strength driving the blade into the armored plating. Sparks erupted in a violent cascade, the impact splitting metal open like a ruptured hull.

BOOM!

The force sent a shockwave rippling through Metal Overlord's frame, its entire body jerking mid-flight.

She felt it. The telltale jolt of resistance. The moment metal gave way.

Her gunblade buried deep, tearing through thick plating—exposing tangled wires, broken circuits, and the dark oil splattering like blood.

"INSOLENT WOMAN!" Metal Overlord screeched. Its voice was deafening with unfiltered rage. "YOU DARE WOUND ME?!"

Lightning staggered, barely holding on as Metal Overlord tilted into a sudden, barrel-rolling spin, its form twisting at an impossible angle to shake her off.

"GET OFF!" Metal Overlord's voice roared with uncontained fury.

The world spun in a disorienting blur—sky, storm, metal, flashing lights. The force threatened to rip her free.

Lightning's instincts screamed at her. She had to make this count.

She shifted Paradigms again—Ravager. Magic flared along her body, electricity crackling.

"Fine. Here's my exit," she remarked firmly.

With a final burst of strength, she tore her gunblade free and twisted mid-air—turning her fall into an attack.

"THUNDAGA!" she commanded.

A spear of raw lightning ERUPTED from her blade, slamming directly into the open wound she had just carved.

The explosion was instant. A violent eruption of energy coursed through Metal Overlord's back, frying circuits, sending flames and black smoke billowing into the storm.

Metal Overlord shrieked, its wings and body twitching erratically.

Lightning let the recoil launch her backward into open air.

For a brief moment—she was weightless.

The sky churned wildly around Lightning, deep violet clouds crackling with electric veins of white-hot energy. Wind howled past her ears, rushing against her skin as she twisted mid-fall, controlling her descent with the precision of a seasoned warrior.

Her heart pounded from the raw adrenaline—but her mind remained perfectly calm. She had fallen from greater heights before.

The ground rushed toward her. Lightning narrowed her eyes, adjusting her angle, shifting her weight with expert precision. Her crimson cape billowed behind her, cutting through the chaos of the battlefield like a streak of fire.

Lightning counted the seconds in her head.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

She tucked her body in mid-air, rolling into a flip, letting gravity work with her rather than against her. At the last possible moment—Lightening extended her legs, bracing for impact.

Her boots slammed into the earth.

A controlled descent—not a perfect landing, but solid. A sharp, practiced roll absorbed the excess momentum, and she came up in a crouch, one hand pressed to the dirt, her gunblade still gripped tightly in the other.

The shockwave of her landing rippled outward, scattering dust and loose debris.

Then—she rose. Flicking her gunblade downward, Lightning sent crackling sparks flying off the tip.

No hesitation. No sign of exertion. Like it was nothing.

The team rushed toward her, eyes wide with awe.

"Lightning!" Hope was the first to reach her, skidding to a stop at her side. "Are you okay? That was insane!"

"Tch, show-off," Fang smirked, though there was no mistaking the hint of respect in her tone.

Snow followed quickly behind, flashing his usual brash grin.

"Damn, sis, you just jumped off a freakin' metal dragon. That was badass!"

Lightning rolled her eyes, still composed, her gaze never leaving Metal Overlord's towering form above.

"I'm not your sister," she replied bluntly.

Snow just chuckled, unfazed by her reply.

"You did it!" Vanille beamed, coming to a stop beside Hope. "It's actually hurt!"

The others looked up. In the storm-darkened sky, Metal Overlord trembled.

Sparks flared across its massive body, the damage from Lightning's strike evident. A deep, jagged wound ran along its back, exposing ruptured circuits and leaking black oil-like fluid.

It wasn't fatal—but it had wounded the so-called "King of All Creation."

And the monster knew it.

The behemoth's movements were no longer flawless. Its altitude wavered slightly, its massive wings jittering as it struggled to maintain perfect control.

"It's losing altitude… you actually hurt it!" Hope exclaimed, his eyes wide in suprise.

"That'll show that metal creep," Fang quipped, flipping her spear over her shoulder.

But Lightning didn't relax. She knew better.

Above them, Metal Overlord's crimson eyes burned with raw, seething fury.

"YOU WILL SUFFER FOR THAT!"

The mechanical shriek that followed was deafening, sending a pulse of static rippling across the darkened and stormy Archylte Steppe.

Sazh, who had just caught up with the group, let out a long breath, glancing toward Lightning with a mix of frustration and reluctant admiration.

"Well, now you just gone and pissed it off further!" His voice carried the weight of grim understanding, his usual humor now tinged with something more serious.

Lightning remained still, her stance unwavering, gunblade held firm in her grip. She hadn't even broken a sweat from the freefall. Sazh frowned, shifting uncomfortably as he stared at her.

"You, uh… got a plan for the part where it tries to kill us harder?" he asked.

For a moment, Lightning didn't respond, her sharp, unyielding gaze locked onto the towering metal beast above them. The steady rise and fall of her shoulders were the only indicators of breath. She tilted her head slightly, exhaling through her nose.

"Yeah. Don't die," she responded stoically, her expression deadpan.

Sazh looked at Lightning, then let out a dry, humorless chuckle, rubbing a hand down his face.

"Oh, real reassuring. Glad we had this talk…"

Fang let out a low, amused whistle, tapping her spear against her shoulder.

"Hey, I like it. Straight to the point."

Vanille wasn't laughing. She took a small, cautious step forward, gripping her rod tightly as her eyes flicked between Lightning and Metal Overlord's ominous, looming frame.

"It's not stopping…" her voice was quieter now, the nervous tremor betraying her usual optimism. "What's it doing?"

The wind shifted. A deep, mechanical rumble rolled through the battlefield, reverberating in their chests like an oncoming calamity.

Above them, Metal Overlord hovered motionless, its colossal frame rigid, wings fully extended, optics burning with unfiltered rage. However strangely, it laughed.

A horrible, grating sound, like metal grinding against metal, twisted and unnatural. It echoed across the Steppe, sending an involuntary shudder through the air.

"What's so funny?" Lightning called out, her voice demanding an answer.

Metal Overlord stopped laughing. Its eyes snapped downward, locking onto the group with something different now. No mockery. No amusement.

Just pure, seething hatred.

"ENOUGH OF THESE GAMES!"

The voice boomed like a war god's decree, shaking the very ground beneath them. The weight of its fury pressed down on them like an unbearable force.

Sazh's shoulders slumped slightly, lips tightening.

"Well… shit," he sighed.

Hope took a half-step closer to Lightning, his hands flexing around his boomerang. His voice was quieter now, tinged with unease.

"It's... charging something, isn't it?"

"Yeah. And it ain't gonna be pretty," Snow chimed in, his jaw tightening.

Vanille swallowed hard, glancing at Fang.

"What is it planning…?" she mused with uncertainty.

Fang's sharp green eyes narrowed, her stance shifting as she gripped her spear more tightly. She had seen battle countless times before, faced impossible odds, but this… this felt different.

"Whatever it is, it ain't good," she admitted grimly.

"Oh fantastic..." Sazh deadpanned. He closed his eyes and sighed with exasperation.

The wind howled, kicking up waves of dust and debris, as if the very storm itself was responding to Metal Overlord's presence.

A deep, rhythmic hum vibrated through the battlefield, sending a low, pulsing tremor through the earth beneath their feet. It started as a small distortion, an almost imperceptible shift in the air—then it intensified.

The atmosphere grew thick, heavy, unnatural. Like the very fabric of reality was being pulled apart at the seams.

Metal Overlord's core pulsed violently. Each pulse sent ripples through space itself, the world bending and distorting in response. The sky darkened even further, the clouds twisting inward like a spiraling vortex, as if the heavens were trying to pull away from the abomination that hovered before them.

The behemoth's wings beat downward with monstrous force, kicking up a violent gust that forced the group to brace themselves.

Then, its voice shattered the air. It was dark, grim and full of rage.

"IT'S TIME TO SHOW YOU WHAT I'M MADE OF!"

To Be Continued!

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!

Chapter Text

Part 3

Earlier - White Space

[Shadow's White Space - Sonic x Shadow Generation begins playing]

A vast, shattered sanctuary of time. A broken realm between dimensions of time and space.

White Space: an impossible domain, free from the shackles of physics or logic, where timelines and fractured memories drift aimlessly like specters of forgotten dreams. Its sky was a barren void, painted in stark white emptiness, fractured by jagged streaks of muted gray, as though reality itself was splintering and cracking from within. Beneath stretched a polished, mirror-smooth floor—a suspended circular arena hanging in endless nothingness—ringed by fragmented relics of impossible architecture. Twisted archways hovered weightlessly, gilded spires drifted like displaced stars, and ghostly ruins, stolen from lost eras, floated eerily, remnants of realities long extinguished.

In this place, time held no meaning. Past, present, and future dissolved and intertwined, blending together like droplets of oil dispersing through water.

Shadow stood at the arena's center, his reflection rippling unnaturally beneath his boots, distorted as though reality itself resisted his presence. The mirrored surface shimmered uncertainty, betraying the instability of this surreal dimension. Despite the oppressive stillness—an absolute, stifling vacuum—Shadow's red-striped quills stirred subtly, moved by currents that shouldn't exist.

Across from him loomed E-123 Omega, the towering, armoured war machine casting a harsh silhouette against the bleak void. His armoured plating was a tapestry of dents, scorch marks, and battle scars etched deeply from countless confrontations. Omega's crimson optics flickered with ceaseless streams of data, constantly analysing and interpreting the distorted environment around them.

The duo had arrived in White Space because of the Time Eater's destructive meddling. The creature was a monstrous entity feasting hungrily upon past, present, and future alike. Sonic, his companions, and places from their collective pasts were ensnared somewhere within this void. But now, an even darker presence seeped into this fragile reality, targeting Shadow specifically.

Black Doom.

An alien warlord long thought vanquished had infected this realm like an insidious parasite. Black Doom intended to harness the Time Eater's immense temporal powers to resurrect his fallen legions and subjugate the world once more. He'd already warned Shadow about an inevitable final confrontation, a climactic battle that would commence when Shadow's "true power" fully awakened, a transformation that was already underway.

Doom Spear. Doom Blast. Doom Surf. Shadow had already harnessed each of these devastating techniques throughout his journey. And once, briefly, enormous wings—dark as obsidian, etched with crimson—had erupted from his back before mysteriously disappearing again. A puzzle still unresolved.

Throughout this fractured dimension, Shadow had traversed haunting echoes of his own memories: Space Colony ARK, Rail Canyon, even Kingdom Valley; a location he didn't consciously remember, yet felt inexplicably drawn toward. He had confronted the monstrous Biolizard again… and most recently, emerged from a fierce battle at Final Fortress, where Metal Overlord had narrowly escaped defeat.

A sudden, blue dimensional rift had split reality during their fight, allowing Metal Overlord to flee into the unknown.

Now, reunited with Omega in White Space, Shadow analysed this troubling development. The robot's voice broke the eerie silence, mechanical yet powerful.

"OBSERVATION: FURTHER TEMPORAL DISTORTIONS DETECTED."

Shadow's jaw tightened, his arms crossed firmly as his crimson eyes narrowed sharply at the shimmering distortions around them.

"Yes," he muttered, irritation lacing his voice. "Metal slipped away just when I had him. Coward."

Omega's servos buzzed and whirred as the massive robot adjusted his stance, optics pulsing with analytic intensity.

"ANALYSIS: BLUE RIFT ENERGY SIGNATURE IS DISTINCT FROM WHITE SPACE'S NATIVE TEMPORAL STRUCTURE." Omega paused briefly, assessing more data. "DIMENSIONAL LEAKAGE LIKELY. STRUCTURAL INSTABILITY DETECTED."

Shadow's attention sharpened instantly.

"Unstable? In what way?"

"IT IS NOT STRICTLY TEMPORAL," Omega responded gravely. "ENERGY READINGS INDICATE CROSS-DIMENSIONAL BREACH. A FISSURE NOT JUST IN TIME, BUT SPACE ITSELF."

Shadow's gaze turned toward the fading, rippling trails that remained from the previous rift. His voice hardened, layered with urgency.

"Then things just got a whole lot worse."

Omega's tone lowered slightly. Still robotic, yet oddly contemplative.

"METAL SONIC'S OVERLORD FORM WAS ALREADY HIGHLY UNSTABLE, UNBOUND BY STANDARD RESTRAINTS. NOW FREE IN THE MULTIVERSE—"

"He could shatter entire timelines," Shadow finished grimly. "And if he merges with potential corrupted anomalies, there'll be no stopping him."

"AFFIRMATIVE. POTENTIAL COLLATERAL DAMAGE: INCALCULABLE."

"Black Doom remains our primary objective," Shadow conceded, his voice low and tense. "But we can't ignore Metal Sonic running loose."

Shadow's expression darkened further.

"He needs to be neutralised—immediately."

Omega processed briefly, optics flashing.

"PRECISE RIFT COORDINATES UNAVAILABLE. TEMPORAL VORTEX OCCURRENCES ARE ERRATIC. CROSS-DIMENSIONAL GATEWAYS ARE HIGHLY UNSTABLE WITHOUT—"

"We don't have a choice," Shadow interjected forcefully, arms unfolding sharply. He turned toward the empty expanse, his gaze determined. "We'll have to gamble on another rift."

Omega advanced slowly, metal feet echoing sharply against the reflective ground.

"STATISTICAL ANALYSIS INDICATES THE NEXT TEMPORAL BREACH MAY APPEAR IN 13.2 MINUTES... OR 134 YEARS... OR NEVER."

Shadow glanced over his shoulder at Omega.

"Well, since you're so good at calculating probabilities, tell me when the next one actually will show up," he remarked firmly.

Suddenly, White Space itself groaned abruptly. A deep, warping sound resonated throughout the emptiness, like metal twisting under immense strain. A high-pitched hum sliced sharply through the atmosphere.

Then, without warning, another brilliant blue rift violently tore open in front of them, splitting reality itself like a bolt of lightning. Raw Chaos energy pulsed and crackled around its edges, illuminating White Space in stark relief.

Omega's response was flat and matter-of-fact.

"A RIFT HAS APPEARED NOW."

Shadow raised a brow, casting Omega a mildly amused sideways glance.

"No kidding?"

"SARCASM: DETECTED," Omega observed bluntly.

Shadow let out a short breath—half chuckle, half resigned sigh—and refocused his crimson eyes upon the swirling portal. His expression hardened into unyielding resolve.

"Typical. Looks like it's showtime again."

Without hesitation or pause for Omega's inevitable tactical suggestions or probability warnings, Shadow surged forward. Sparks burst from his air shoes, streaking brightly against the floor as he accelerated into the rift. The portal's blinding azure glow enveloped him instantly.

Then silence returned as the rift snapped shut with a sharp crack, leaving only the quiet hum of the empty void.

Omega stood motionless for a long moment, optics flickering thoughtfully. Eventually, the massive robot turned on his metal heel, heavy footsteps ringing loudly in the renewed stillness. He walked away, muttering to himself in a stoic mechanical tone.

"PROBABILITY OF SHADOW SUCCESSFULLY LOCATING METAL OVERLORD: 38.6%."

"PROBABILITY OF SHADOW RETURNING TO WHITE SPACE INTACT: 14.2%."

"PROBABILITY OF SHADOW EVER FORMULATING A STRATEGIC PLAN: 0.7%."

Omega paused momentarily, optics glowing brighter, a note of exasperation edging into his mechanical timbre.

"…AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE NEEDED A PLAN."

[Shadow's White Space - Sonic x Shadow Generation stops playing]

Present – Universe 13 – Archylte Steppe

Chaos and smoke lingered heavily in the air, the aftermath of a desperate struggle. Metal Overlord hovered menacingly above, its metallic armour pulsating with stolen energy.

"Get ready!" Lightning commanded sharply, her voice cutting through the tension.

Shadow stepped forward, crimson eyes narrowing dangerously. A chaotic surge of power spiraled around him, barely contained. White-gloved fists clenched, creaking audibly under immense strain. He leveled a dark glare at the monstrous entity before him.

"For the last time... this ends now!"

[What I'm Made Of... (Phase 2) - Sonic x Shadow Generations begins playing]

Metal Overlord let out a distorted, ear-splitting screech, shattering the eerie silence of the battered Archylte Steppe. Without hesitation, it lunged forward with frightening speed, metallic limbs slicing through the air like razors. Its colossal tail crackled with raw electricity, violent arcs snapping fiercely.

"Scatter!" Lightning yelled, urgency lacing her words.

The team bolted in different directions, exhaustion etched deeply into their movements. Hope desperately thrust out his boomerang, magic flaring brightly around him.

"Cura!"

A wave of restorative energy cascaded over the battered warriors, invigorating them mere moments before Metal Overlord's electrified tail crashed down, sending violent shockwaves tearing through the earth. Rock and debris exploded upward, narrowly missing the warriors as they scrambled clear.

"Too close!" Sazh groaned, pushing himself painfully upright, eyes wide with adrenaline.

"Nice timing, kid!" Fang shouted, swiftly pulling Vanille back onto her feet.

"No time to pleasantries," Lightning recalled sternly, her eyes scanning the Steppe. She paused suddenly, senses sharp, as Snow's voice cut through her thoughts.

"Wait, where's Shadow?!" Snow asked urgently, glancing around in confusion.

Before anyone could respond, Shadow abruptly appeared beside the group in a flash. Sazh jumped back, startled so badly his guns nearly flew from his grip.

"Dammit!" he cursed, clutching his chest. "Can you stop teleporting without warning? I'm way too old for this!"

Vanille stared wide-eyed, fascinated, while Snow simply grinned in amazed approval. Lightning exchanged a fleeting glance with Fang, equally intrigued and wary of Shadow's impossible speed.

"How do you do that…?" Hope asked in awe-filled curiosity.

Shadow gave no reply, attention already locked onto Metal Overlord. A cold sneer formed on his lips, mocking.

"Pathetic," he hissed, eyes glittering sharply. "Predictable, as always."

Metal Overlord responded with a hateful roar, crimson eyes blazing furiously. The machine swiftly ascended, armoured wings radiating a sinister hum as its claws stretched upward toward the storm-clouded skies.

"THUNDARA!" the machine roared.

Vicious bolts of electricity cascaded downward in erratic fury, shattering the ground with explosive force. Each thunderous strike carved searing gashes into the steppe, filling the air with acrid smoke and crackling ozone.

"Brace yourselves!" Snow shouted, instinctively shifting paradigms to Sentinel. He and Fang lunged forward simultaneously, taking dual Sentinel stances, bracing their bodies against the coming assault.

"Protect!" Fang commanded, stabbing her lanced spear firmly into the scarred earth. Temporary shields shimmered around each warrior, briefly absorbing the brutal impacts of Metal Overlord's devastating storm of lightning.

"Watch out, he's chaining them!" Vanille cried urgently.

She quickly spun her rod high into the air, chanting rapidly. Pain and Imperil surged forth simultaneously, twin streams of colourful sparks slicing toward Metal Overlord's flickering core. They slammed home with a fierce crackle, momentarily staggering the towering mechanical behemoth.

Shadow's eyes narrowed suspiciously, gaze unwavering as he stood firmly amidst the storm, crimson energy still crackling around him.

"I take it he's picked up a few new tricks?"

Lightning exhaled sharply, eyes locked on their monstrous foe.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"He won't stop stealing our magic and abilities," Vanille added, clear frustration coloring her voice. "Everything we throw at him, he throws right back!"

Shadow's expression darkened with cold disgust, shifting into a defensive stance, fists clenched tightly as energy rippled menacingly along his form.

"Tch—figures."

Recovered from the brief stagger and now visibly enraged, Metal Overlord raised its claw hand dramatically skyward, metallic joints grinding with barely contained fury. Its synthesised voice crackled with icy malevolence:

"DEPROTECT!"

A bright light erupted violently from the machine, enveloping the team. Instantly, their protective barriers shattered like glass, dissolving into nothingness.

"Damn it!" Lightning snarled through gritted teeth, immediately shifting into Commando stance. "Snow, Fang— hold the line!"

"On it!" Snow shouted defiantly, taking position before Hope and Vanille. "Come at me, big guy!"

Metal Overlord's crimson eyes flashed ominously as it raised its arms, the sky darkening ominously above.

"DIAMOND DUST!"

Freezing energy erupted violently beneath their feet, razor-sharp pillars of ice spearing upward with deadly precision. Fang pivoted rapidly, her lance spear striking with expert precision to deflect several shards away. Snow summoned all his strength, unleashing a powerful Steelguard, his muscles trembling violently beneath the merciless assault of ice. Sazh, Vanille, Hope and Lightning were shielded by the two's defensive display.

Meanwhile, Shadow's eyes narrowed coldly, his stance shifting as he began gathering energy.

"Impressive... But now, it's my turn," he declared.

"Shadow, wait!" Vanille shouted in concern. But the hedgehog was already moving, appearing in the air with blistering speed. Streams of chaotic crimson energy trailed dramatically behind him as he ascended, deftly evading the lethal spikes below.

His white gloved hand crackled violently with a strange energy, dark wisps curling ominously around his fingers. In his palm, a sinister red sphere pulsated, rapidly forming into a shape. It looked sharp, lethal, and precise.

"What's he doing?" Lightning muttered cautiously, eyeing the hedgehog intensely as she prepared for another paradigm shift.

"No idea," Sazh replied nervously, reloading his pistols swiftly. "But, it better work!"

Shadow's crimson eyes narrowed further, focusing intently on Metal Overlord, locking onto the hulking machine's core.

"Doom Spears!" he called out, his voice cold and razor-edged with determination.

He thrust his hand forward, unleashing five crimson spears shimmering with deadly intent. The Doom Spears rocketed through the air in rapid succession, blazing through the chaos with precision accuracy.

Metal Overlord's roar became a distorted screech as each spear impacted its core, erupting into explosive bursts of chaotic red energy. The monstrous machine stumbled midair, sparks and smoke bursting violently from its damaged plating.

Shadow smirked, satisfied, before vanishing again in a blink, teleporting back down beside Lightning. He landed gracefully.

"Not bad," Lightning acknowledged. "But it won't keep him down long."

Shadow's eyes flashed knowingly.

"Agreed. We need to keep the pressure up."

Lightning shifted fluidly into Ravager mode, her weapon sparking to life with renewed elemental energy, the air around her pulsing with static.

Shadow narrowed his eyes slightly, observing the change.

"What exactly are you doing?" he asked, his voice calm but curious as he watched the surge of magical light surround his new ally.

"She's shifting paradigms," Hope answered before Lightning could, stepping forward. His boomerang shimmered softly in his hands.

"paradigms…" Shadow echoed, the term foreign on his tongue. He glanced from Hope to Lightning, his expression unreadable.

"It's how we adapt mid-battle. Shift roles, change tactics on the fly," Hope explained further.

Vanille piped up with a cheerful smile, holding her rod tightly.

"It's kinda like switching jobs super fast! One second I'm hurting the enemy, the next I'm healing everyone. Keeps things interesting!"

"Right…" Shadow said slowly, letting it sink in. He wasn't one to admit it out loud, but he respected the tactical flexibility. It seemed efficient and smart.

Hope gave a reassuring nod, standing a little taller.

"I'm our Medic. If you take a hit, I'll patch you up."

Fang thrust her lance forward, bracing alongside Snow.

"Snow and I are Sentinels. We draw his attention, take the big hits."

"Like the pros we are!" exclaimed Snow, giving Shadow a strong thumbs up.

Vanille twirled her rod, smiling bravely despite the grim situation.

"I weaken him, Sazh boosts us and hits from afar."

Shadow's fierce expression softened fractionally, impressed despite himself.

"Efficient. Good... But we're running out of time. We need to hit Metal hard!"

Lightning raised her gunblade determinedly, nodding sharply.

"Then let's end this."

But just as they steeled themselves for the next assault, Metal Overlord's entire body began pulsing erratically, a surge of energy swelling ominously around its form. Its core shuddered, flickering dangerously. Yet, the machine advanced, claws raised for another desperate attack.

"It's up to something…" Shadow remarked, his eyes narrowing. "Be prepared for anything!"

Lightning clenched her weapon tighter, electricity sparking dangerously from the edge of her blade.

"Then let's not give it the chance."

She glanced quickly down at Shadow, recognising a rare opportunity forming.

"Are you up for a coordinated strike?"

"Thought you'd never ask," Shadow replied firmly, his crimson eyes locked unwaveringly onto Metal Overlord's shuddering core.

Lightning nodded sharply, immediately turning to the team with decisive authority.

"Snow and Fang, keep holding the front. Sazh, buff us now. Hope and Vanille, focus on defense and healing. Shadow and I will hit Metal Overlord head-on."

"You got it!" Snow shouted, slamming his fists together, focusing on his Sentinel stance beside Fang.

"Be careful!" Hope called urgently.

"Go get 'em!" Vanille cheered. There was a determined sparkle in her green eyes as she spun her rod, casting Cheer for good measure.

Sazh stepped forward, his guns swirling expertly in his hands as he unleashed a wave of supportive energy.

"Let's even those odds!" he declared with vigor. "Haste! Bravery!"

Golden streams surged from him, cascading over Shadow and Lightning. Power rushed through Shadow's limbs, merging seamlessly with his innate Chaos energy. He felt sharper, faster—stronger than ever.

A dangerous smirk curled Shadow's lips.

"So... this is what a Paradigm boost feels like."

Lightning readied her blade, glowing with electric anticipation.

"Don't get cocky, hedgehog."

Shadow huffed before vanishing in a blur, instantly reappearing inches from Metal Overlord's face, fists and feet a whirlwind of punishing blows. Crimson sparks danced and zipped furiously around him, each punch landing with brutal precision against Metal's armoured visage. The powerful impacts echoed across the Steppe, punctuated by Shadow's relentless assault.

"Not bad," Lightning acknowledged quietly to herself, eyes locked on her target. She took a deep breath, grounding herself, focusing intently.

Suddenly, she sprang skyward, her form surging upward like a bolt of lightning. She flipped gracefully at the apex of her jump, descending like a meteor towards Metal Overlord's exposed chest.

"Army of One!" Lightning shouted fiercely.

Her blade ignited, surging with raw electricity. She became a blur of relentless strikes, slashing repeatedly across Metal Overlord's core, each precise attack landing faster than the eye could follow. Electric arcs exploded brilliantly on each impact, bathing the sky in blinding blue-white flashes.

Below, the rest of the party watched, jaws agape at the breathtaking spectacle unfolding above.

Snow let out a whistle of astonishment, momentarily dropping his guard.

"Holy hell... they're incredible together!"

"Focus, hero!" Fang chided playfully, though she too couldn't hide her admiration.

Sazh squinted upward, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Never thought I'd see anything faster than Lightning. Then this brooding hedgehog shows up..."

Hope's eyes were wide, watching in awe.

"Shadow... He's really something else, huh?"

"You said it, kid," Snow replied, placing his hands on his hips.

"Go, Lightning! Go, Shadow! Go get him!" Vanille exclaimed, cheering on her allies.

Above them, Shadow felt his muscles surging with unmatched power, Sazh's Bravery and Haste amplifying his Chaos energy dramatically. He unleashed a barrage of dizzying kicks and punches, finally culminating in a powerful upward kick beneath Metal Overlord's steel jaw, violently jerking the monstrous head backward.

"This is the Ultimate Power!" Shadow roared boldly, Chaos energy blazing around him in a fierce crimson aura.

Below, Fang raised an eyebrow in mild disbelief. She turned to Snow next to her.

"Did he really just say that?" she mused with a small smirk.

Snow snorted, chuckling despite himself.

"Ultimate lifeforms from other realities huh? Guess we gotta step up our game."

Vanille giggled lightly, nudging Hope playfully.

"Maybe we should come up with some cool catchphrases too!"

Hope sighed wearily, managing a faint smile despite the chaos.

"One battle at a time, Vanille…"

In the air, Lightning spun sharply, blade blazing with fierce, electric intensity. With one final, decisive strike, she sliced horizontally across Metal Overlord's armoured core, cleaving through thick plating. Sparks erupted violently, cascading like shooting stars through the smoke filled sky. The pungent scent of burning oil flooded her senses as dark fluid burst forth from the gaping wound, splattering out in all directions.

She swiftly backflipped away, descending gracefully through arcs of electricity before landing perfectly poised back onto the scarred battlefield. The ground cracked slightly beneath her boots, yet she stood firm, exhaling sharply.

Her teammates rushed forward immediately, astonishment and relief mingling in their eyes.

Snow skidded to a halt beside her, grinning broadly.

"Perfect landing, sis," he teased, nudging her lightly with his elbow.

Lightning glared sharply, though exhaustion tempered her usually steely expression.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not your—" She paused mid-sentence, rolling her eyes with a weary sigh. "You know what... Forget it."

Snow laughed warmly, knowing he'd won this round. Even Fang couldn't hide her smirk, while Hope and Vanille exchanged amused, knowing glances. Sazh just shook his head, chuckling softly.

Just then, Shadow teleported back to the ground, reappearing beside Lightning with flawless synchronisation. Chaotic energy was still sizzling dangerously around him. A brief hush fell over the battlefield, smoke drifting lazily from the wounds they'd inflicted upon Metal Overlord above.

Lightning exhaled sharply, eyes locked firmly on the smoking, damaged machine overhead.

"That should do it," she remarked confidently, lowering her blade slightly.

Shadow's expression hardened, eyes narrowing skeptically.

"Don't count on it."

Sazh shook his head, gripping his pistols tightly.

"Yeah, no offense, Lightning, but when was the last time anything ended that easily?"

"Sazh has a point," Hope added, chiming in grimly.

As if on cue, a hideous metallic howl shredded the calm. Metal Overlord writhed violently, green energy igniting throughout its armour. Cracked plating began knitting back together, damaged circuits glowing brightly as they rapidly regenerated.

"Damn it!" Lightning spat in frustration, her eyes glaring at the machine.

Hope staggered backward, his face pale with sudden dread.

"No way... he's healing again!?"

Shadow's expression darkened further, eyes narrowing. He turned to the group with quiet intensity.

"So… he's capable of restorative powers now, too," he muttered, his voice low and sharp. "Copied from that Medic paradigm role, I presume?"

Vanille clenched her rod tightly, guilt washing over her expression. She lowered her eyes.

"Yeah... it happened earlier. When I healed Fang—he mimicked the spell."

"Don't beat yourself up," Fang said, putting a hand on Vanille's shoulder. "It's happened. You can't keep overthinking it."

"I guess..." Vanille replied downbeat.

Sazh muttered under his breath, checking his ammo again.

"Still, would be nice if the big tin could have a cooldown or something."

Snow growled, punching his gloved palms together with a meaty crack.

"Doesn't matter how many times he patches himself up. We'll just hit him twice as hard! That tin can's gotta run outta juice eventually, right?"

"We'd hope so," Hope said, exhaling with a slump.

"Finally something sensible from you, Snow," Fang added with a smirk, spinning her lance casually.

Snow threw Fang a mock salute, confidence shining brightly in his eyes.

"Anytime, Fang. You know me, I live to impress."

Sazh gave a low, dry chuckle, raising his pistols steadily back toward Metal Overlord.

"Just make sure you don't die trying."

Snow scoffed dramatically, flexing his fists as though dismissing an impossible idea.

"Me, die? Pfft, as if."

"No dying allowed!" Vanille exclaimed anxiously, spinning her rod nervously. "We've come way too far for that!"

Shadow observed the exchange silently, crimson eyes drifting from one warrior to the next. Fatigue was etched deep in their faces, yet determination blazed fiercely within each of them, unyielding despite overwhelming odds.

Swiftly, he turned towards Lightning, his tone softened ever so slightly.

"You've chosen your allies well. They're… stronger than they appear."

Lightning's gaze followed his, a rare softness behind her usual steel.

"You learn who you can count on," she said. "And what you'll fight for."

Shadow gave a single nod. His crimson aura flared again, the edges of his form distorting slightly with raw energy.

"Then it's simple. We don't stop. No matter how many tricks he copies, he'll wear down eventually. Everything does. Even him."

Lightning gripped her gunblade tighter, her stance grounding with focused determination. Sparks flickered off the weapon, her eyes lit with that same defiance she'd carried since the first day of their journey.

"Then we hit him again—and again—until he breaks."

"Or craps out!" Fang added, twirling her spear with a savage grin. "Let's go scrap this glorified junk heap."

Snow pounded his fists together again.

"Right behind you!"

"Let's do this!" exclaimed Vanille.

Sazh and Hope nodded firmly. Bravery and courage coursing through their bodies.

However, Metal Overlord's voice thundered arrogantly from above, echoing harshly across the battlefield. Its red eyes blazed maliciously.

"FOOLS. YOU… CANNOT… STOP ME…!"

Snow groaned loudly, rolling his eyes upward in irritation. He pointed a gloved finger up at the Overlord.

"If he says he's the 'King of Creation' one more time—"

Metal Overlord boomed defiantly, cutting Snow off mid-sentence.

"I AM THE KING OF CREATION!"

Snow threw up his hands dramatically, exasperated.

"Damn it! Does this thing have any new material to use?! It's the same old stuff!"

Fang chuckled softly despite herself, shaking her head with a weary smirk. She watched him with amused eyes.

"Easy there, Snow. Keep that up, and you'll pop a blood vessel before Metal Overlord gets another swing."

Hope exhaled tiredly beside Vanille, brushing sweat-dampened hair from his eyes.

"Hope?" Vanille asked softly, looking at the boy.

"How... How can a machine even be this arrogant?" Hope muttered, clearly exasperated.

Shadow glanced back sharply at Hope, his expression darkening thoughtfully.

"Because arrogance is baked into his very programming," Shadow began firmly, his voice calm yet intense. He paused, eyes briefly distant as memories surfaced. "Metal Overlord is a form evolved from Metal Sonic, a mechanical imitation created by Doctor Eggman. Eventually, Metal Sonic upgraded himself, became Neo Metal Sonic, and then ...this." He nodded grimly upwards at the recovering monstrosity.

"Wait, Metal Sonic?" Lightning questioned sharply. "That explains all his ranting earlier about this 'Sonic' he's obsessed with."

Shadow nodded once more before he continued.

"Sounds about right. Sonic is his original template. Metal Sonic spent his entire existence trying to prove he's superior."

"So that's who Sonic is," Fang realised aloud, raising an eyebrow in intrigued curiosity. "Mystery solved."

"But none of that matters right now," Shadow interrupted firmly, eyes narrowing seriously. "Metal Overlord thrives on distractions. We need to stay focused, or he'll exploit it."

"Agreed," Sazh interjected sharply, pointing his pistols dramatically upwards, his expression fierce and resolute. "Let's shut him up permanently, yeah?"

"Yeah, let's terminate this metal creep!" Snow called out, getting pumped up.

Above them, Metal Overlord's distorted voice echoed harshly, pulsing with arrogant fury as it hovered menacingly.

"FOOLS!" it hissed, red eyes flaring violently. "YOU'RE NOTHING BUT INSECTS, SCURRYING BEFORE A GOD. YOU'VE DELAYED THE INEVITABLE FOR LONG ENOUGH."

The mechanical monstrosity stretched its arms toward the sky, jagged bolts of stolen elemental energy sparking chaotically around its massive form. Electricity crackled, ice crystals formed and shattered, fire sparked into embers, powers stolen from those it sought to destroy.

"This ends now!" Shadow declared firmly, getting into a defensive stance. "Get ready!"

Lightning tightened her grip on her gunblade. The warrior's eyes became ablaze with unwavering resolve as she glanced quickly at each member of her battered yet determined team. They were ready to fight until the bitter end.

"Time to finish this," she affirmed sharply, voice resonating with finality.

Above, Metal Overlord surged desperately higher, violently channeling the stolen magic within its faltering body. Ice and frost spun wildly around its limbs, coalescing into a raging storm.

"DIAMOND DUST!" Metal Overlord shrieked triumphantly, unleashing the deadly blizzard downward.

Yet, in that moment, something went catastrophically wrong.

Instead of descending upon the team, the blizzard recoiled sharply inward, striking Metal Overlord itself. Ice surged violently backward, rapidly freezing and fracturing the machine's colossal wings, immobilising joints and encasing limbs in a crystalline prison.

"RAAARH!" Metal Overlord screeched in agony, convulsing violently as sparks erupted from its overloaded circuits. Its metallic form twisted chaotically midair, struggling futilely to regain control.

On the ground below, the groups eyes widened in stunned confusion.

"What just happened? Did—did it just backfire?" Vanille probed, looking up in suprise.

Snow stared upward incredulously. A large smirk grew on his face.

"Looks like the tin can just took a taste of its own medicine."

"About damn time, if that's true," Sazh muttered warily, keeping his pistols raised. "This battle's wearing us thin."

Shadow's crimson eyes narrowed, realisation flashing sharply across his expression. He crossed his arms confidently.

"He's overloading," he declared coolly. "The fool can't keep up."

"Wait, what? Really?" Hope interjected quickly, glancing at the hedgehog in surprise.

"You mean he's been using too much power?" Vanille chimed in, looking to Shadow.

"Can't keep up?" Fang asked sharply, turning her fierce gaze toward him. "Shadow, are you saying he's finally running out of steam?"

Shadow nodded firmly, addressing the entire team with assured authority. He dropped his arms and clenched his fists tightly.

"Exactly," Shadow said, his voice low and precise. "The Chaos energy fueling him doesn't belong to this world—it originates from our dimension. Here, it's weaker, unstable. Ever since he arrived, he's been burning through it recklessly. Now, he's running on fumes."

The group looked in suprise by Shadow's assessment. Lightning's eyes narrowed, realisation flashing across her face.

"That's why he's faltering," she said. "The powers he's stolen, they aren't natural to him. He's pushed his copy ability too far, draining what little energy he has left."

"Precisely," Shadow replied, a sharp glint in his eyes. "He's not a God. He's an overloaded and overconfident battery, one spark away from shorting out completely."

Metal Overlord's screech ripped angrily through their conversation, echoing violently as its metallic form shuddered uncontrollably in midair. Its voice came in harsh, distorted bursts of static-laced rage.

"YOU… KNOW… NOTHING, FAKER! I… AM… INFINITE!"

Snow barked a short, mocking laugh, punching his fist into the air with flair.

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that, big guy. Looks like your 'infinite' power is running pretty thin from here!"

Metal Overlord writhed furiously, flickering and glitching wildly between its forms. Armour plating warped dangerously, sparks spewed erratically from ruptured joints, and its glowing green core pulsed and shuddered chaotically beneath cracked armour plates.

Lightning saw their opening clearly. Her voice rang out sharply, commanding her team into action.

"Now's our chance. Everyone, shift paradigms! Snow, Fang- full offensive! Vanille, buff our magic! Hope, Sazh—keep us standing!"

"Right!" Fang called decisively, twirling her lanced spear as she moved fluidly into Commando stance. "Finally! Time to rip this scrap heap apart!"

Snow cracked his knuckles eagerly, muscles flexing powerfully. He took a firm stance beside Fang, shifting into Commando as well.

"Let's bring him down!"

"Faith, incoming!" Vanille announced energetically, rod spinning rapidly as vibrant light surged around Lightning, amplifying her magical prowess dramatically. "Go get him, Lightning!"

Sazh swiftly aimed upward, unleashing a flurry of supportive spells.

"Haste and Bravery for all! Move fast, hit hard—let's go!"

Streams of golden magic cascaded around Snow and Fang, their bodies surging with newfound speed and strength. Hope thrust out his boomerang, casting Cura rapidly, keeping the entire team stable under pressure.

"Just in case," Hope remarked with a firm voice.

Fueled by their buffs in power, Snow charged forward, leaping skyward from elevated ruins, fist raised and blazing with energy.

"You're mine!" Snow roared mightily, striking Metal Overlord's weakened, frozen wing with a devastating uppercut. Armour cracked loudly beneath his enhanced strength, sending the monstrous entity spiraling downward slightly, its altitude slipping noticeably.

"That's it, Snow. But leave some fun for me, yeah!" Fang shouted fiercely, sprinting forward with a battle cry echoing across the scarred steppe. Leaping high from shattered stone, she vaulted skyward, spear spinning fiercely, leaving a blur of energy trailing behind her.

"Eat this, Overlord! HIGHWIND!"

She plunged downward like a meteor, driving her spear violently into Metal Overlord's fractured armour. A devastating shockwave burst forth, shattering layers of reinforced plating and scattering metal shards like lethal rain.

Metal Overlord buckled midair, sparks violently erupting from damaged joints as it spiraled downward, desperately attempting to stabilise itself. Its altitude dropped rapidly, faltering dangerously close to the waiting warriors below.

Shadow's crimson gaze sharpened, recognising his critical opening. In an instant, he teleported directly in front of Metal Overlord's exposed, pulsing green core.

Without hesitation, Shadow unleashed a punishing barrage. Rapid punches and blistering kicks hammered relentlessly into the machine's weakening energy source. Each blow echoed loudly, resonating through the battle-worn air like thunderclaps.

"You've stolen your last power, Metal!" Shadow roared, driving a glowing, crimson-charged fist deep into its core. "Doom Blast!"

A cataclysmic surge of chaotic energy erupted violently from his fist, fracturing Metal Overlord's core further and sending pulses of emerald-green energy cascading wildly into the air.

Frantic and desperate, Metal Overlord shuddered violently, sparks exploding as it desperately tried to repair itself.

"CURE!" it screamed, voice distorted in panic—but the healing energy sputtered and died instantly. "WAIT, WHAT?!"

"Your cure isn't working, idiot," Shadow growled mercilessly, continuing his relentless assault with powerful punches and kicks. "You're running out of power. You're disconnected from our reality's Chaos energy. You've reached your limit!"

Metal Overlord screeched defiantly, voice glitching and sputtering.

"IMPOSSIBLE! I… AM… INFINITE!"

Snow groaned from below, shaking his head as he landed heavily on the ground, fists still clenched defiantly.

"Here he goes again…"

Fang landed gracefully beside Snow, twirling her spear mockingly.

"Infinite, huh? Funny—'cause you look pretty finite to me!"

With a final, devastating front kick, Shadow sent Metal Overlord reeling backward through the air. The hedgehog instantly teleported back down to regroup with the team, calmly folding his arms.

"He's close to empty," Shadow affirmed darkly.

"Really?" Sazh asked cautiously, still alert but glancing curiously toward Shadow.

Shadow gave a firm nod, his crimson eyes still locked onto the faltering machine.

"Chaos energy from our dimension is fundamental to beings like myself, and sadly him. Without a stable connection, he's losing energy quickly."

Hope looked up with fascination, realisation dawning.

"Wait, is that how you teleport?"

Shadow gave him a brief glance.

"Yes. Chaos Control," he confirmed simply.

"Chaos Control..." Vanille repeated, her mind thinking back.

"Wait a second," Fang cut in sharply, her sharp eyes narrowing suspiciously. "That metal bastard used a move just like that earlier."

Shadow scoffed dismissively, his arms still crossed.

"Hmph. Foolish."

"What do you mean?" Fang asked curiously.

Shadow's expression darkened further.

"Using Chaos Control would have drained a substantial amount of his energy. It's unstable here, even I can only manage short-range teleportation for mere seconds. Every use must count."

"Did Metal steal that ability from you?" Vanille asked softly, her eyes wide with concern.

"Unfortunately," Shadow replied bluntly, his tone cool and composed. "He copied it from me long ago. But using it here, far from our own dimension... it's unstable. It's burning through his power faster than he can control it."

"Well, damn." Snow let out a short laugh, raising his eyebrows. "Even the Ultimate Lifeform gets his moves jacked? That's gotta sting a little."

Shadow turned his head slowly and fixed Snow with a stare so cold it could've flash-froze Bahamut mid-roar.

"Yes."

The air froze. Even the wind seemed to pause.

"Right. Uh. Noted..." Snow remarked, casually taking a step back. "Respect the hedgehog."

Fang smirked and clapped him on the shoulder with a grin.

"Careful, hero. You poke the hedgehog, you get the quills."

"Ha! I like that one," Sazh said with a grin, chuckling.. "Might stitch that on a jacket or something."

"I want royalties if it sells," Shadow replied dryly, a rare flicker of amusement tugging at the edge of his voice.

Sazh blinked in suprise.

"Wait… Did the brooding hedgehog just try and make a joke?"

"Don't get used to it," Shadow muttered, his tone now back to being cold and clipped.

Just a few feet away, Lightning stood apart from the banter. She was silent and still. Her focus was absolute.

She planted her boots firmly into the ground, eyes closed, drawing in a slow, measured breath. A low hum of magic began to gather around her—faint at first, then sharp and volatile, like static building before a thunderclap. Sparks of lightning arced across her, dancing up the length of her gunblade. She didn't move, didn't speak, her presence alone had become the eye of the storm to come.

Shadow turned his head, sensing the power rising off her like pressure before a blast wave.

His voice broke the silence.

"What exactly are you waiting for?" he asked, low and curious, an edge of intrigue slipping through his usual stoicism.

Lightning opened her eyes slowly, and they glowed; not just with magic, but with purpose. Her gaze locked onto the staggering Metal Overlord like a hawk tracking prey. She didn't look at Shadow, but the corner of her mouth curled ever so slightly.

"You'll see," she replied coolly, voice smooth as steel, tinged with a knowing smirk.

Shadow blinked once, then scoffed, deadpan.

"Hmph. I don't like surprises."

"Okay, now this hedgehog's trying to be funny," Sazh remarked.

"I don't joke," Shadow said coldly, his eyes moving and locking onto the gun wielder.

Sazh blinked at him, shifting uncomfortably by Shadow's crimson eyes.

"Right. That stare just dropped the temperature ten degrees…"

Fang let out a low chuckle, twirling her weapon casually. She looked towards Shadow.

"Just wait and watch, tough guy. When Light goes quiet like that, something big is coming."

[What I'm Made Of... (Phase 2) - Sonic x Shadow Generations stops playing. Final Fantasy XIII Battle Music begins playing]

Lightning felt the surge before she called his name, a storm roaring to life beneath her skin. Power gathered at her fingertips, lightning crackling like a living thing around her.

She raised her arm to the churning heavens and shouted, voice sharp as thunder:

"Odin. Come forth!"

The skies above split open, storm clouds twisting into a furious vortex. Blinding bolts of lightning tore through the heavens, illuminating the battlefield in ghostly flashes. A single, colossal bolt struck the ground before her, blasting the earth apart in a dazzling explosion of light and sound.

From within the storm's core, he emerged.

Clad in ornate armour inscribed with Etro's divine script, Odin stepped forward. He was tall, regal, and radiating primal authority. The Zantetsuken blade pulsed in his hand. His shield, shaped like a horse's head, shimmered with ancient energy.

Lightning didn't hesitate. She approached Odin, gripping her gunblade tighter, her voice low but resolute:

"Let's end this."

Odin rose, electricity flaring violently across his frame. The bond was sealed. Sparks danced across the battlefield as he moved.

Metal Overlord twitched midair, its sensors re-focusing, recognising the new threat.

Below, standing away from Lightning, her allies could only watch in awe.

"Now that's how it's done!" Snow shouted, pumping his fist.

Sazh chuckled breathlessly, lowering his guns slightly.

"I almost feel bad for the tin can. Almost."

Vanille bounced in place, eyes wide with joy.

"Go, Odin! Fry that thing!"

Shadow remained stoic, his crimson aura flaring subtly as he observed. But there was something unmistakable in his gaze, respect.

"Impressive," he murmured.

Lightning stared up at the metal abomination. Her voice was ice cold.

"This ends now. Go Odin!"

Odin charged, his massive frame accelerating like a living bolt of thunder. His twin swords spun with lethal elegance, carving through the air as energy built to critical mass.

"Crushing Blow!" Lightning commanded from the ground.

Odin launched skyward, spinning midair before slamming his blade down in a devastating cross-strike. The shockwave sent Metal Overlord reeling, armour splitting open as chunks of plating rained down across the Steppe.

"Thundaga!"

Lightning aimed her gunblade, and the skies answered. Jagged forks of lightning lashed downward in a furious barrage, striking Metal Overlord with surgical precision. Circuits fried, and its scream echoed like torn steel against broken glass.

"YOU… WILL… NOT… DEFEAT ME!"

Lightning's eyes narrowed. She was ready for the summon's next command.

"Odin. Seismic Strike!"

Midair, Odin twisted, bringing his blade down like divine judgment. The blow erupted into a sphere of raw energy, blasting Metal Overlord with enough force to crater the skies. The machine dropped, struggling to regain altitude. Smoke was trailing like a dying comet.

"Now!" Lightning roared, her voice piercing the storm like a blade through silence. She lifted her weapon high, eyes blazing with elemental fury. "Gestalt Mode!"

In an instant, Odin's form erupted in a burst of radiant white light, lightning cascading off him in jagged arcs that ripped across the sky. His towering silhouette fractured, shifting and reshaping before their eyes. Armour unfolded with smooth, divine precision; his shield extended, widened, and reshaped itself, while metallic limbs rearranged with the sound of gears grinding in divine harmony.

From within the cyclone of blinding energy, a new form emerged—still Odin, but reborn.

Where once stood the armoured Eidolon, now thundered forth a mighty war steed: Sleipnir—Odin's mechanical horse of legend, plated in gleaming silver and gold, inscribed from flank to bridle with ancient Etro script that pulsed like living runes. Lightning streaked across his body, illuminating the sacred inscription etched into his back:

"My weapon is light. My steed is thunder. I am the herald of truth. I am Odin."

Dropping lower into the swirling air, Sleipnir galloped through the sky with supernatural grace, lightning dancing along his armoured flanks. Without missing a beat, Lightning launched upward in a fluid arc, landing atop the divine steed. In her hands, the mighty Zantetsuken had split into large, twin curved blades, each pulsing with crackling energy, humming like thunder barely held at bay.

The wind tore at her cloak as she pulled the reins with purpose, her voice clear and cold:

"Full Storm Rider. Let's finish this."

They charged and became a streak of living lightning. Each thunderous step left arcs of energy crackling in their wake, splitting the skies above the Archylte Steppe. The battlefield lit with pulsing flashes as Odin's divine storm blazed across the heavens.

Metal Overlord saw them coming and unleashed a desperate flurry of stolen spells, hurling ice and lightning bolts, attempting to halt the storm's approach. But each attack fizzled out before it could land.

"NO!" the machine screamed, voice rising into static-laced desperation. "YOU CANNOT—"

"Zantetsuken!" Lightning's cry split the chaos.

Sleipnir surged forward, faster than the eye could follow, a comet of energy across the storm-streaked sky. Lightning leaned forward in perfect sync, the twin swords flashing like twin Gods' judgment. Each strike that followed carved deep into Metal Overlord's armour, precise, surgical, merciless.

Steel shrieked. Sparks erupted. Circuits detonated in showers of molten shrapnel.

From the ground, the others could only stare in wide-eyed awe.

Hope shielded his eyes, breath caught in his throat.

"That's… incredible…"

"They're cleaning house!" Snow whooped, punching the air. "Go, sis!"

Shadow watched silently, his arms still folded, though a smirk tugged at the edge of his expression.

"This power is... respectable."

Sazh blinked, then turned to the hedgehog.

"Respectable? That's a divine execution up there, hedgehog!"

Shadow's eyes didn't move from the sky.

"Perhaps someone should explain… what these summons truly are."

Vanille grinned brightly, bouncing where she stood.

"They're called Eidolons! Spirit guardians that answer when your soul cries out. They don't just fight for you, they fight with you."

Shadow tilted his head slightly.

"And they respond... willingly?"

"Only if you've earned their respect—or survived the fight it takes to prove yourself," Fang remarked with a smirk.

Shadow gave a slow nod, crimson eyes flicking skyward once more.

"...Fitting."

Above, Metal Overlord flailed. His limbs jittered erratically, sparks flying from exposed joints.

"CUUUUREEE!" it screamed, scrambling to cast again.

But the spell collapsed in a pathetic flicker. Its green core pulsed once, dimly, before faltering.

"Seriously? That again?" Snow groaned. "Somebody tell him to read the room."

"Desperation," Shadow muttered.

"Insanity, more like it," Hope added, glancing at him.

"That's usually the definition," Sazh deadpanned with a tired shrug.

"Even machines lose logic when they know they're done," Shadow concluded, voice low and certain.

"It's falling apart!" Vanille exclaimed gleefully.

"Good," Fang said, gripping her lance spear tighter. "Couldn't happen to a better scrap heap."

Above them, the storm intensified.

The skies blackened as Sleipnir reared midair, hooves sparking violently against the churning wind. Energy coalesced around the divine steed. It was fierce, furious, unrelenting. Lightning sat tall on his back, the twin blades raised high, glowing with the light of the storm God's final judgment.

"Zantetsuken!" she commanded, her voice filled with finality.

The pair launched forward, a living tempest streaking through the storm. Each strike of Lightning's twin blades carved deeper, sending spirals of broken plating and scorched metal flying in all directions. The air thundered with every impact.

Metal Overlord shrieked in agony, its distorted voice cracking into mechanical sobs. Circuits flared, its core flaring bright green before sputtering like a dying star. Limbs flailed uselessly, twitching midair as the slashes kept coming.

And then—the final blow.

Sleipnir drove forward one last time. Lightning twisted her twin blades together into a single, gleaming Zantetsuken—one fluid, final strike of divine punishment. The sword cleaved downward, plunging deep into the machine's exposed core with devastating force.

The sound echoed across the battlefield, a thunderclap that split the sky itself.

A heartbeat later, Lightning vaulted gracefully from Sleipnir's back, flipping through the air before landing in a crouch. Her red cape fluttered in the electric wind as Odin's form shimmered then vanished in a radiant flash of lightning.

Metal Overlord hung suspended in the air, its massive form convulsing violently. Sparks erupted in showers from ruptured joints, and its armour, once gleaming with stolen power, began to collapse in on itself. Plating cracked, peeled, and exploded away like brittle scales, revealing exposed circuits twitching erratically beneath the surface. Chaotic arcs of unstable energy danced across its fractured internals, lighting the darkened sky in staccato flashes.

Then, with a final, pitiful mechanical wail, the Overlord's shell gave way entirely.

A blinding burst of light and shrapnel erupted outward as its form shattered spectacularly into a cascade of glittering ruin. Countless fragments of metal, wires, and scorched plating rained down over the battlefield, like shooting stars burning out in a final, desperate flash.

The team instinctively stepped back, breath caught in their throats, watching as the monstrous machine plummeted from the sky. It hit the earth like a meteor, slamming into the cracked steppe with a thunderous impact that kicked up a storm of smoke, dirt, and embers.

The wreckage lay there, twitching. Smoking. Defeated.

[Final Fantasy XIII Battle Music stops playing. Tension - Final Fantasy XIII OST begins playing]

Silence fell like a curtain over the darkened Archylte Steppe.

Only the crackling hiss of shorting circuits and the low, flickering groan of fire broke the stillness. The air felt heavy with finality, like the storm had passed, but left behind only devastation and ash.

Hope lowered his boomerang first.

"Did… did we win?"

Snow let out a long breath, rolling his shoulders with a groan.

"That was way too close."

Vanille clutched her rod with white knuckles, eyes wide.

"He's really down… right?"

Sazh stepped forward cautiously, fingers clenched around his pistols.

"I'm not celebrating just yet," he muttered.

Fang twirled her speared lance slowly, but her stance remained tense.

"I don't like it. That felt too easy at the end."

Lightning didn't say anything. She stared at the wreckage, gunblade lowered but still humming with latent energy.

Shadow stepped forward, his movements sharp and deliberate, crimson eyes locked onto the mangled heap of metal.

His voice was low, but it sliced clean through the silence.

"…It's not over yet."

The others tensed immediately.

"What?" Snow asked, spinning toward him. "You mean he's still alive?!"

The wreckage answered for them.

"NO… NO… THIS… CANNOT… BE!"

The screech rose in pitch, angry and desperate, as if reality itself were rejecting the fall of something that believed itself eternal.

Hope took a shaky step back. The rest of the group got into defensive positions.

"That doesn't sound like someone who's finished…" Hope muttered.

"He's shedding the Overlord form," Shadow said, his voice tight, jaw clenched. "He can't maintain it anymore."

Fang frowned, looking to Shadow with a raised brow.

"What do you mean, shedding?" Fang asked, her brow furrowed. She rose her spear high, preparing for what could come next.

"He's downgrading," Shadow said grimly, his voice a low growl.

"Downgrading?" Lightning asked sharply, the word curling with suspicion. "Too his primitive form?"

"Pretty much," Shadow replied, his crimson eyes narrowing.

A sudden gust swept through the Steppe, scattering loose debris and peeling back the lingering smoke like curtains revealing the stage for a final act.

From within the haze, a smaller figure began to rise.

Neo Metal Sonic.

Though the monstrous bulk of Metal Overlord had crumbled, what remained was no less menacing. Sleek but viciously unstable.

His cobalt body was scarred and cracked, deep black fractures running across once-pristine armour. Sparks danced sporadically from exposed wiring, his limbs twitching in awkward, almost convulsive motions. But he stood tall, defiant.

A twisted amalgamation of evolution and imitation.

Gone was the dragon like armour of the Overlord. Now, the base form returned. His streamlined blue plating gleamed beneath layers of soot. White rings circled his glowing red irises like burning targets. His head bore five silver-tipped quills, jagged and fanned out like a metal crown. His ears glowed crimson. Sharp black armour curled around his waist, feeding into a frayed cape of metallic fibers that whipped in the rising wind like a flag of war.

Every inch of him was engineered for fear.

Blade like gauntlets gleamed under his forearms. Angular shoulder plates jutted outward. His feet ended in razor-edged hover boots lined with pale white trim, their turbines sputtering like a dying engine. His voice rang out next—glitched, distorted, and filled with fury.

"YOU PATHETIC FOOLS…!" Neo Metal Sonic bellowed, his voice flaring like sparks from his damaged chest core. "YOU WILL REGRET THIS HUMILIATION… I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!"

Vanille flinched at the sudden outburst. Fang took a step forward, ready to protect her. Hope took a defensive step back, raising his boomerang instinctively. Sazh raised his pistols, aiming at Neo Metal. Lightning took a half step back and prepared her gunblade. Shadow stood still, his crimson eyes narrowing once more.

Meanwhile Snow, weary but ever defiant, narrowed his eyes and moved toward the front again.

"Look here, tin can," Snow muttered, waving a hand toward the still-sparking robot. "You've lost. It's over!"

"IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL I SAY IT'S OVER, HUMAN," Metal screeched, static exploding through his speakers. He stepped forward with a harsh, metallic clank, and the ground trembled beneath his feet.

"Round three?" Fang growled, gripping her spear. "Fine. I've got energy to spare."

However before they could act, Shadow stepped forward.

"Leave him to me," he remarked, his voice crisp and final.

The group look conflicted by Shadow's words. Even Lightning looked surprised.

"Shadow?" she asked. "Are you sure?"

He didn't meet her gaze. His focus was locked entirely on the twisted metal imposter before them.

"He's my responsibility," Shadow said quietly, but there was a storm behind his voice. "You've all done enough. He's not your fight anymore."

Neo Metal Sonic's eyes burned brighter, locking onto Shadow.

"YOU DARE TO CLAIM THIS VICTORY AS YOUR OWN, FAKER?!" Metal roared, his distorted voice grinding through corrupted speakers. "I AM PERFECTION! I AM THE TRUE SONIC! YOU—"

"Shut up!"

Shadow's voice cut like a blade. Red and black Chaos energy zipped around his form in jagged pulses, the air around him distorting with his rising power.

[ Tension - Final Fantasy XIII OST stops playing.  All Hail Shadow (Neo Devil Doom Boss Battle Theme) - Sonic x Shadow Generations Remix begins playing]

Suddenly, the hedgehog surged forward like a shot fired from a cannon, skating across the ruined Steppe, crimson light trailing behind him like the tail of a meteor.

The others could barely track him. Even Lightning, normally quick to read a fight, was taken back by Shadow's sudden burst in speed.

"Wow!," Sazh breathed, eyes wide. He lowered is pistols to get a better view.

"He's faster than before..." Hope murmured, looking around at the group.

"Go get him, Shadow! Fang called out in support.

Neo Metal Sonic raised his arms just in time to cast Protect, a shimmering hexagonal barrier forming around him with a sharp hiss. With another glitching snarl, he cast Blizzara, sending a cone of jagged ice lancing toward Shadow's path.

But Shadow anticipated both.

He dipped low, spinning beneath the frozen shards, letting the ice rush harmlessly above. The moment his foot struck ground again, he was up, zigzagging to the side with a burst of Chaos Boost, phasing through the edge of the Protect barrier with flickering streaks of energy.

Metal barely had time to react. Shadow's first punch cracked through the shield like tempered glass under a sledgehammer. The impact rocked Metal back on his heels. Shadow didn't stop, his fists became a storm of precise, devastating blows, chaining effortlessly with bone-shattering rhythm.

CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.

Each strike landed like a thunderclap. One to the jaw. One to the mid section. A spinning roundhouse to the side of Metal's head sent sparks flying, followed by a leaping knee that crushed the remaining armour on his right shoulder.

The others could only watch, caught between awe and disbelief.

"He's... cleaning house," Snow exclaimed, pretty much bouncing with adrenaline.

"Fast. Brutal. Precise," Lightning added, narrowing her eyes. "He's not just powerful, he knows exactly where to hit."

Metal tried to retaliate, thrusting out an arm to swipe at Shadow's head. But Shadow ducked, gripped the arm, and twisted it off. The force snapped the limb clean off with a shriek of shearing metal.

"ENOUGH!" Metal screeched, releasing a desperate burst of energy from his core. It was one last gambit to destabilise Shadow's rhythm.

Unfortunately for the metal fiend, this was a mistake.

Shadow staggered only slightly, then let out a low growl as his form flickered, warping briefly with the signature spiral of his Doom powers.

"You're trying too hard," Shadow said darkly, his voice low and dangerous. "You've lost control. You don't even realise it."

With a sudden lurch, Shadow closed the remaining distance between them, punching Metal in the steel chin hard enough to launch him skyward.

"Doom Blast!"

Shadow's body pulsed with crimson-black energy as he rocketed up after his opponent, the Steppe below shrinking in an instant. The explosion of Doom energy around his fists lit up the dark sky, illuminating the battlefield in an otherworldly red glow.

High above, at the apex of the ascent, Neo Metal Sonic floated helplessly, sparks trailing from every limb. His red eyes glitched violently, stuttering between rage and static. He raised his now only arm, charging one final, half-formed blast from his broken emitter.

But Shadow was already there.

"No more!" he said fiercely. "This ends now!"

With a single, brutal Chaos-powered heel kick, he drove both feet into Metal's chest.

The shockwave was nuclear.

A crimson explosion burst through the sky, streaking down as Neo Metal Sonic was sent careening toward the earth like a meteor. The sound of the impact echoed across the Steppe like the roar of an angry god.

BOOM.

The ground trembled as Neo Metal Sonic's body slammed into it with devastating force.

A shockwave of energy pulsed outward from the point of impact, crackling along the earth in a jagged ripple. Loose dirt kicked up in spiraling bursts. Pools of water nearby rippled violently, rings expanding in sharp succession. Distant cliffs rumbled faintly, dislodging a few rocks from their precarious holds.

Neo Metal Sonic lay motionless. He was face-down, limbs spasming weakly. Sparks sizzled from exposed wiring. Wisps of smoke curled upward from the mangled plating that was once smooth, cobalt armour. His form twitched once more, then went still, a low whine humming from his fractured power core.

For a moment, no one spoke. The battlefield, once deafening, had fallen into a heavy, surreal quiet.

"…Did that really just happen?" Vanille asked softly, breaking the silence as she clutched her rod tightly.

Snow exhaled slowly, placing his hands on his hips.

"Shadow folded that tin can like laundry."

Sazh gave a low whistle, shaking his head, holstering his guns.

"Remind me not to sass that hedgehog any time soon."

Lightning remained silent. Her expression unreadable, but her icy eyes… they said everything. Measured awe. Respect.

Hope shook his head slowly, he was speechless.

"Every strike meant something. That wasn't a brawl. That was execution," Fang remarked grimly, her eyes looking over to fallen machine.

Suddenly, Shadow materialised back on the ground. He stood silently above the broken form of Neo Metal Sonic.

The others barely noticed his return until the wind around him shifted.

With chilling precision, Shadow bent down and grabbed the back of Neo Metal Sonic's head. One gloved hand gripped the twisted metal as he lifted the machine from the dirt like a discarded toy.

The battered machine sparked and groaned, his remaining limbs twitching, systems failing. But Shadow brought him up to eye level, his crimson gaze unwavering, cold, and absolute.

Tendrils of black and red energy swirled around his gloved hand, twisting like sentient smoke. It pulsed with raw malice, echoing the storm that simmered within him. The shadows coiled around Neo Metal's head like vultures circling their prey, tightening slowly.

"You're finished," Shadow said, his voice razor-sharp and venomous. "You've wreaked enough havoc. This isn't your world. You were never part of it. You're nothing but corrupted code… a broken imitation. A mistake."

Neo Metal Sonic coughed out static. His optics flared dimly, flickering erratically. Even on the edge of oblivion, his ego clung like a virus.

"You... always so arrogant," he hissed, voice glitching and fractured. "Do it… Destroy me. But you and I both know…" he sneered weakly, "you're just as fake as—"

CRACK.

Shadow's grip tightened. Sparks shot from the seams in Neo Metal's head as the pressure increased. The machine's metal plating groaned, bending and creaking like a bridge about to collapse.

"You misunderstand me," Shadow interrupted coldly, his tone dark and rising like a tide. "I could destroy you with ease."

The red glow in Shadow's eyes brightened.

"But unlike you, I don't waste power for the sake of ego," he said, his tone a razor blade cloaked in fire. "Chaos Blast is too unstable here. Too destructive. And unlike you, I'm not reckless. I respect the boundaries of this world and my powers."

The darkness around his hand and arm pulsed, then flared brighter.

Neo Metal Sonic's expression flickered between defiance and panic.

"What... are you... talking about…?"

Shadow leaned in, his voice a thunderstorm waiting to erupt.

"This world and reality doesn't deserve to suffer because of you. I won't risk it. You're not worth the consequences."

He raised the machine higher, holding him fully aloft. The dark mist now danced around both of them, rising like a vortex. Lightning crackled faintly in the far sky as the energy in the Steppe reacted to his fury.

Watching on from nearby, The group were in awe on what they were witnessing.

"That power..." Lightning thought to herself.. She could sense Shadow's power was rising to a new level.

"You're coming back to our reality. Offline and defeated!" Shadow growled, his scowl deep. The hedgehog's red eyes glared with deep red rage

Neo Metal Sonic sputtered again, desperate now.

"You can't… You… I am the ultimate—"

"You are NOTHING!" Shadow spat with venom.

The hedgehog's words echoed across the ruined landscape like a gunshot in a tomb.

Chaos energy exploded around his form, crimson and black flaring in jagged spirals. The very ground beneath his air shoes cracked as the sheer force of his Doom powers surged outward, uncontrolled and wild.

For a moment, Shadow looked more like a God of vengeance than a warrior. His form haloed by roaring energy and shadows that slithered with rage.

From afar, the group looked on. They all took a step back, feeling the force of Shadow's power. It was like a shockwave from a explosion, they could feel that force pushing them back.

"…Holy hell," Snow breathed.

"Is he…?" Hope murmured.

"He's holding it back," Lightning said coolly. "Barely."

"Ok. Remind me never to insult that hedgehog!" Sazh muttered. "No sass, no insults."

Vanille stared, wide-eyed, awe-struck. Fang moved infront of her.

"He's like… judgment itself," Vanille said quietly.

Back at the epicenter, Neo Metal Sonic writhed, sparking, his remaining limbs twitching; but Shadow didn't budge. He tightened his grip even further. His voice dropped to a whisper, lethal and final.

"You're not Sonic. You're not me. You're not anyone!"

His crimson eyes locked onto the flickering red ones of his foe.

"You are finished!"

And then, with a final squeeze, the sound came—a deep, crushing CRUNCH that echoed like an avalanche snapping a steel beam in two.

Neo Metal Sonic's head imploded inward, his faceplate folding like paper, crumpling beneath the unrelenting force of Shadow's Chaos-infused grip. A geyser of sparks erupted from the remains, fire and smoke coiling up like incense from a funeral pyre.

The machine spasmed once… twice… then fell limp. His red eyes went offline.

Shadow let go. The body dropped with a hollow clang, bouncing once before settling into the dust and dirt. Smoke hissed from the broken circuits. Oil leaked slowly, mingling with the cracked earth beneath it.

The Steppe was quiet again, save for the low whistle of wind blowing across the battered landscape.

Shadow stood over the lifeless husk, his arms lowering slowly, the swirling energy dimming.

"Game over, Metal Sonic," Shadow said coldly.

Slowly, the darkness faded. Shadow stood tall again, the Ultimate Lifeform was unshaken, but not unscarred.

[All Hail Shadow - Sonic x Shadow Generations Remix - stops playing. Archylte Steppe OST - Final Fantasy XIII - begins playing]

Behind him, the rest of the team were still processing what they'd just saw.

Snow was the first to react. He took one slow step forward, mouth slightly open.

"Damn…" he muttered, giving a low whistle. "That was one hell of a way to end that creep!"

Fang rolled her shoulder and rested her speared lance over it, a crooked grin playing on her lips.

"Now that's how you shut someone up for good."

Vanille peeked out from behind Fang, her green eyes wide with amazement.

"Did he just… crush his head?"

"Like a soda can," Sazh muttered, blinking. "One-handed. I mean… I've seen some stuff, but that… whew."

He leaned closer to Hope who was next to him.

"And here I thought Lightning was intense."

Lightning slowly turned her head towards him. Her deadpan expression was sharp as a blade.

Sazh froze, that icy stare glaring back at him intensely.

"Uh—I mean, in a good way. Y'know. Elegant. Deadly. You're cool."

Lightning stared a moment longer, then looked away.

"…Whatever."

Hope shook his head, still staring at Shadow.

"He really is the Ultimate Lifeform."

The team slowly approached, their footsteps soft across the broken terrain. None dared speak first, until Lightning did.

She stepped forward beside Shadow, gunblade lowered, her breathing steady. Her eyes scanned the broken and offline form of Neo Metal Sonic, then shifted to the hedgehog who'd ended it.

Shadow looked up, meeting her gaze. His red eyes had dimmed slightly, they were no longer burning, but still sharp.

"Is it over?" Lightning questioned tilting her head. Her voice was quiet and calm.

"…For this world," Shadow said at last, his voice low, but resolute. "Yes."

He glanced down at his gloved hand, the one that had ended Metal Sonic. It trembled faintly, the last remnants of adrenaline and something darker pulsing through his veins.

"I won't let that power consume me," he muttered under his breath, dropping his trembling hand.

"You held back," Lightning said gently.

Shadow nodded once, sharp and brief. His form beginning to return to normal.

"I had to," he replied. "I'm not here to break your world. I just needed to stop him."

He paused, then added with quiet certainty, "I'll dump him back at Final Fortress once I return. We can't damage our timelines any further."

The others began to regroup. Gathering around Shadow and Lightning.

"Can't believe that thing's finally down for good. And here I thought I'd get the last punch," Snow remarked with a slight smirk.

"You tried, hero. Shadow just moves… fast," Fang replied, turning her gaze to Snow.

Hope lingered nearby, watching Shadow with growing curiosity. He looked like someone carrying far more than just victory.

"You're not staying, are you?"

"No," Shadow answered plainly. "I can't. I have unfinished business. Where I come from... there's something worse than Metal Overlord still out there."

Lightning tilted her head.

"What kind of threat?"

Shadow's expression darkened. His crimson eyes seemed to flicker with something deeper, more ancient.

"Black Doom," Shadow said, the name hanging heavy in the air. "A parasite. A tyrant. His blood runs through me."

The group exchanged uneasy glances.

"He's the source of my connection to Chaos Energy," Shadow continued. "The mutations. The power I've been evolving with, it all traces back to him. And if I let it take over… I won't be me anymore."

"You mean you're changing?" Hope asked, cautiously.

Shadow looked down at his gloved hands again, then nodded.

"Slowly. I can feel it. Rage, speed, strength… but it's too wild. Too unstable in your world. I can't let it control me. I must stop Black Doom's influence."

"So what're you gonna do?" Sazh asked. "Run back home and punch this Black Doom in the face?"

"Eventually, yes. But first, I need to find a way back. And right now…" Shadow replied, dropping his hands to his side.

"…You're stuck here," Lightning finished for him.

"For now," Shadow confirmed. He exhaled through his nose, slow and heavy.

He turned his palm upward and in a swirl of golden light, the yellow Chaos Emerald appeared. It shimmered faintly, flickering like a dying star.

"Whoa," Vanille gasped, eyes widening. "You just summoned that like it was nothing!"

"What the?" Snow leaned in. "What is that?"

"It's a Chaos Emerald," Shadow confirmed coolly, the yellow gem pulsing faintly in his gloved hand.

"Oh, a pretty name for a pretty gem," Vanille exclaimed with excitement.

Fang's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze fixed on the radiant stone.

"Looks beautiful," she murmured, half in awe, half in instinctive curiosity. "And dangerous."

"I'll say," Sazh added, letting out a low whistle. He placed his hands on his hips. "Bet that thing's worth a whole lotta gil."

Shadow turned his head slightly, his tone as flat as steel.

"Whatever gil is… it's not for sale."

"Right, right…" Sazh muttered, chuckling awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Didn't think so. Just admiring the sparkle, that's all."

"Good..." Shadow muttered flatly.

Hope leaned closer, curiosity blooming in his eyes.

"But… it looks so dim. Is it damaged?"

"No. It's just… weaker here," Shadow explained, watching the emerald rotate slowly. "Chaos Energy flows differently across dimensions. Without the connection to my home dimension, it can't reach its full potential. I doubt I could even Chaos Control more than a few feet."

"So even the Emeralds are bound to their world," Lightning murmured.

"That's the price of power," Shadow replied. "It only works if you belong."

A heavy pause settled over the group. There was admiration, concern, and something else, sympathy. They didn't know him well, but they knew what it was like to be caught between battles that weren't just about victory, but about identity.

"You've done enough for us," Fang finally said, stepping forward. "More than enough. If we could help you get home—"

"You can't," Shadow interrupted, not unkindly. "Rifts don't open by will. They're unstable. Random."

"But they do open," Hope added, thoughtful now. "We've seen it. Could be days. Could be hours…"

"…Or never," Lightning finished quietly.

Shadow's eyes narrowed slightly, then flicked up to the sky again.

"Then I'll wait. And when it comes, I'll be ready."

They all stood with him, not as allies of circumstance. but as something closer. Warriors cut from the same cloth.

Suddenly breaking the silence, a voice, clear, cocky, and familiar, rang out.

"I found you… Shadow!"

[ Archylte Steppe OST - Final Fantasy XIII stops playing.  Escape From The City - Sonic x Shadow Generations Extra Remix begins playing.]

The group turned as one. Some in suprise, others in confusion. Except for Shadow, he didn't move.

"Great..." Shadow thought bluntly to himself. "He's here. Just what we need."

Standing a short distance away, the newcomer stood tall, or as tall as he could, given his size. He was lean, blue, quilled, with piercing green eyes full of mischief, white gloves on his hands, and red and white shoes that looked... fast. Very fast.

He stood casually with one hand on his hip, the other waving like he'd just dropped in from a casual jog.

"Who now?!" Snow blurted out.

"Is that…?" Hope whispered, eyes wide.

Fang stared, squinting slightly.

"Looks like another version of him," she remarked, gesturing to Shadow, who's frown was now deeper.

"Another hedgehog?" Vanille remarked, looking puzzled.

"A relative of yours, Shadow?" Sazh asked, eyebrows raised, holstering one gun into his hand just in case.

Shadow's hands fell to his sides. He clenched his free fist slowly. His jaw set.

"The blue hedgehog," he said firmly, a frustrated exhale following. "Of all places."

The blue hedgehog didn't wait for introductions. In a blink, he vanished, reappearing just beside Shadow with a whoosh of displaced air. His shoes skidded lightly across the cracked ground, leaving behind a brief streak of light-blue energy.

"Hey, there!" the blue hedgehog said brightly, resting a hand on his hip as he glanced around at the astonished group. He turned his head slightly towards Shadow. "Didn't know you picked up a new fan club, buddy."

Shadow didn't so much as glance at him.

"I'm not your buddy."

"Right, right… rival," The hedgehog said, holding up his hands mock-innocently. "You're really leaning into the edge today, huh?"

Lightning, putting her gunblade away, folded her arms. She looked at the new hedgehog up and down with a disapproving frown.

"Is he always like this?" she probed, her eyes turning to Shadow.

"Pretty much," Shadow said flatly.

"No wonder he reminds me of you, Snow," Lightning added without missing a beat.

"Hey!" Snow barked indignantly. "That's just rude!"

Vanille giggled behind her hand, eyes sparkling as she leaned towards Hope.

"It's like looking a talkative and blue version of Shadow," she remarked.

The hedgehog leaned slightly, inspecting the battered wreckage of Neo Metal Sonic lying near Shadow's feet. He gave a low whistle.

"So, that's what you've been up to," Sonic said, his eyes rising. "Looks like you and Metal had yourselves one heck of a party."

Shadow gave the faintest of nods. His voice was firm.

"He escaped from Final Fortress. We stopped him."

The blue hedgehog tilted his head, then looked around at the group, eyes scanning each battle-worn face.

"We?" he echoed, pointing a thumb toward the others. "It took all of you to take him down?"

"Yes," Lightning answered crisply, folding her arms. "He was in his Overlord form when he arrived here."

The hedgehog's green eyes widened. He took an actual step back.

"Metal Overlord?!" he exclaimed. "Now that's a blast from the past."

"So, I'm guessing you're Sonic—the one Metal wouldn't shut up about?" Lightning asked, her voice firm and skeptical, her sharp gaze locking onto him like she was scanning for weaknesses.

"That's me," Sonic replied easily, offering a small two-fingered salute. "Sonic's the name, speed's my game." He paused to glance at Neo Metal Sonic again. "And from the looks of it, you guys did a number on him. Because let me tell ya, that Overlord form is no joke."

"Yeah, we know..." Sazh muttered, deadpan, one brow raised as he holstered his pistol.

"He pushed us to the limit," Hope added, stepping forward with a small wince. He gestured to the battered terrain around them with one hand. "And the Steppe… well, took the brunt of it."

Sonic looked around, now properly noticing the scale of the damage. He noticed scorched craters, shattered stone, frozen patches of land, and blackened soil. His quills fluttered slightly as he let out a long, low whistle.

"No kidding," he muttered. Then, as if unable to resist, he grinned and tilted his head upward toward the sky. "But hey… looks like the sun's coming out."

Everyone looked up. The clouds, once swirling with chaos and darkness, were breaking. Shafts of golden sunlight pierced through the dark, warming the ruined landscape. The sky gradually turned blue again, and high above, Cocoon hung silently like a ghost in the heavens.

"Hmph. Another victory, I'd say," Sonic said brightly, putting his hands behind his head and rocking on his heels.

Fang arched an eyebrow, watching the blue hedgehog with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

"He's not so bad," she muttered to Vanille, her voice low but not entirely begrudging.

Vanille nodded, grinning.

"I like him. Definitely better than that metal knock-off."

Sonic perked up, catching just enough of the praise to chime in without missing a beat.

"Appreciate it, magic girl... And you too, spear lady!" he said with a wink and finger guns.

Fang blinked at the response.

"Did he just call me spear lady?" she muttered under her breath, deadpan.

Vanille burst into laughter, nearly doubling over.

"Oh, you're never living that down!"

Fang groaned, rubbing her temple with two fingers.

"Fantastic. A nickname. From a talking, blue hedgehog. Just what I needed."

The rest of the group exchanged looks-half amusement, half disbelief. This hedgehog was something else entirely. Where Shadow was stoic, brooding, and sharp as a blade... this one was all momentum and mischief. A living contradiction. The yin to Shadow's relentless yang.

Then, without missing a beat, the blue blur turned toward his darker counterpart. His green eyes locked onto Shadow with casual familiarity, laced with something more focused beneath the surface.

He leaned in slightly, one hand gesturing toward him—laid-back, but unmistakably purposeful.

"So," Sonic said, voice light but loaded. "Shadow... you've got something I need."

Shadow didn't move at first. Then, slowly, he lifted one gloved hand, revealing the faint, pulsing glow of the yellow Chaos Emerald.

"No," Shadow said flatly, deny the Blue Blur's request.

Sonic blinked, slightly taken back by the response.

"Uh… no?" he probed, his features raising.

"For one thing," Shadow continued, turning slightly, "my mission's not finished."

"Oh come on," Sonic groaned, flapping his hands up in exasperation.

"You can have it when my business is finished," Shadow replied coldly.

Sonic's arms dropped back to his side, his brows furrowed.

"Sorry, but me and that Emerald have a date with a monster."

Shadow didn't even turn. But there was a cold look in his red eyes.

"Well then," he said, without missing a beat, "it'll be a date to die for."

That line hit like thunder. The group froze. Even Lightning's eyes flicked slightly, just a little impressed.

"That's a cool line..." she said under her breath. Hoping no one heard it.

"Ok, that was awesome. Can I borrow that sometime?" Snow exclaimed, impressed by Shadow's blunt response.

"Dude…" Sonic muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "Dramatic much?"

His smirk faded as his expression slowly shifted, from cocky to completely baffled.

Shadow gestured with his free hand, sweeping across the vast landscape of the Archylte Steppe.

"Look around you, Sonic."

Sonic blinked, turned, and gave the scorched battlefield another glance. He scratched his head.

"Yeah? Big ol' plains, floating planet thing in the sky, post-apocalyptic vibes… what about it?"

Shadow exhaled sharply, clearly losing patience.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Uh, no?"

Shadow stared at him, deadpan.

"You're stuck here... idiot."

Sonic's face went blank.

"Wait—what?!"

He stepped back slightly, gesturing wildly with both hands.

"No no no, I came through a time hole! Big swirly thing, classic portal material. I've been through, like, five of them on this latest adventure. It should've dumped me back into White Space... Right?"

Shadow's eyes narrowed further.

"Was it glowing blue?" he probed.

"Yeah," Sonic said, suddenly cautious. "Y'know—like me. Stylish. Fast. Full of personality."

"Then it didn't take you to White Space," Shadow said grimly. "It brought you here."

"So… what you're saying is…"

"You're stuck," Shadow said flatly. "Just like me."

There was a beat of silence. Sonic's mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. He stared at the ground, then the sky, then at Shadow, his brain visibly trying to process it.

"Speechless," Lightning noted coolly, one eyebrow arched. Her eyes turned toward Shadow. "That happen often?"

"It's bliss when it does," Shadow replied without missing a beat, nodding once with absolute sincerity.

"Oh, great... Awesome!" Sonic groaned at last, shoulders slumping as he rubbed his face. "Tails is gonna freak. And mini-me? He's so gonna think I ditched him."

Shadow sighed and folded his arms.

"And just like that… my peace is over."

"Tails? Mini-you?" Snow repeated, brows furrowed.

"I'm sorry, but is this 'mini-me' a literal miniature version of you?" Sazh asked, dumbfounded.

Sonic chuckled, shaking his head.

"Tails is my best friend. He's a fox with two tails. Total genius. He can fly like a helicopter."

"A flying fox?" Fang echoed, blinking. "Now I've heard everything."

"It's actually really cool," Sonic explained. "He spins his tails like rotor blades. And when he's not doing that, he's usually fixing a plane or building one from scratch."

"He flies and builds planes?" Sazh asked, whistling. "Alright, now I'm impressed."

"Told you. He's the brains, I'm the speed," Sonic said proudly, tapping his chest. "Best tag team in any dimension."

"And for this mini-you?" Vanille questioned, curiously titling her head.

"As for mini-me… well, uh, that's a very long story involving White Space, my past self, and some questionable time-travel logic."

"We don't wanna know," Sazh said, holding up a hand. "I've had my fill of dimension-hopping weirdness today, thanks."

"Noted," Sonic grinned, not the least bit deterred.

"And you really thought that rift would take you back to this White Space?" Hope asked, tilting his head with an incredulous frown.

"Hey, can you blame me?" Sonic shot back. "Weird blue portal, timey-wimey energy, dramatic voice in the distance—it screamed 'exit ramp.'"

"Next time," Lightning muttered, "maybe read the signs."

"Do dimensional rifts have signs?" Vanille asked, half-joking.

"They should," Sonic replied with a sigh. "Big ones. With arrows."

Shadow shook his head slowly, muttering under his breath.

"It should've left you behind…"

"Aw, c'mon," Sonic smirked. "You'd miss me."

"No," Shadow said without hesitation. "I wouldn't."

"You so would..." Sonic muttered under his breath. Shadow just glared at his rival, unimpressed.

"So this White Space. What actually is it?" Hope said, stepping forward, gears turning behind his eyes.

"Yeah," Fang said, tilting her head. "Sounds like something between places."

Shadow gave a slow exhale.

"Like I said before," he muttered, "don't ask."

"Yeah," Sonic added quickly, crossing his arms. His voice more serious now. "It's… complicated. Like, think of it as a weird, white void between everything. Sometimes it spits you into the past. Sometimes the future. Sometimes places like this... I guess."

"So it's like a time travelling hallway?" Sazh asked, skeptical.

"Sure, why not..." Sonic said. "Only your friends are trapped as statues and past events are lifeless with the colour drained from them."

"…That's terrifying," Vanille replied, her smile fading slightly as she hugged her rod a little closer.

"Meh, you get used to it," Sonic replied with an unnaturally bright grin. "Kinda like waking up in a dream that won't end. Real cozy."

The group fell silent, letting the strange, surreal image of White Space hang over them. For a moment, even the wind seemed to hesitate, unsure whether to blow through battle-worn silence or let them process what had just been said.

"So… what happens now?" Vanille asked gently breaking the small silence. She turned her bright green eyes to the two hedgehogs.

Shadow glanced at the Chaos Emerald in his hand, the pulsing yellow glow reflecting off his fur, before meeting Sonic's gaze.

"Like I said earlier, we wait for another rift," he said with quiet certainty.

Vanille tilted her head, brow raised.

"How long can that take?"

"Could be soon," Hope replied thoughtfully, tapping his chin. "Could be later…"

"Could be never," Lightning cut in, her voice sharp and realistic, hands settling on her hips.

Sonic tapped his foot at high frequency, arms crossed, his expression stuck somewhere between cocky and concerned.

"Well, let's hope it's sooner than later... Pinky."

There was a pause. Lightning's eyes slowly turned toward him, ice-blue and deadly.

"…Don't call me pinky," she said coldly, her tone flat as concrete.

"Okay, yeah—that's… mildly terrifying," Sonic muttered, taken back by how intense Lightning was. "No nicknames for Miss Broody. Got it."

Lightning just folded her arms and looked away, muttering, "Whatever."

Hope gave Sonic a side-glance.

"You're not really used to people telling you no, are you?"

"Can't say I am," Sonic replied with a shrug. "Usually they're too distracted by how fast I am."

"Or how much you talk," Fang said dryly.

"Hey, I've got charm!" Sonic protested.

"Sure," Fang smirked. "It's buried under twelve layers of sarcasm and bad nicknames."

Sonic threw his hands up.

"Tough crowd."

"Idiot..." Shadow muttered, shaking his head.

"Anyway," Sonic continued, turning back to the group, his tone sobering just a little, "I've got friends to save, timelines to un-break, and—y'know—literally stop a Time Monster from destroying my timeline."

Shadow exhaled sharply through his nose and gave a quiet grunt of annoyance. A swirl of golden light danced around his gloved hand as the yellow Chaos Emerald blinked out of existence—vanishing back into dimensional storage.

"That is still so cool," Snow remarked, still half in awe. "You just… poof! it away like nothing!"

"It's fascinating," Fang added, her eyes following the now-absent emerald. "Feels like Eidolon-level power, but cleaner."

"Like a magic show!" Vanille beamed. "Do you do tricks with fireworks too?"

"I bet you'd kill at birthday parties," Sazh smirked, giving Shadow a smirk. "Y'know… if you weren't always scowling."

Shadow gave no reaction. He simply knelt down and scooped up the battered, lifeless husk of Neo Metal Sonic, hoisting it effortlessly over his shoulder like discarded scrap.

"You know," Snow started, stepping up beside Sonic and Shadow, "you're both more than welcome to stay with us for a while. We've got our own chaos to deal with."

"Oh yeah?" Sonic replied, tilting his head curiously. "Okay, I'll bite. What kind of mess are you in?"

Snow opened his mouth to answer but hesitated.

"Uh… actually… I'm gonna let Lightning take this one."

Lightning sighed and stepped forward, her voice clear and cool as always.

"The fal'Cie—ancient, powerful machines—branded us l'Cie," Lightning explained.

"Come again..." Sonic mused, placing a hand on his chin.

"That means we were chosen for a 'Focus,' a task we either complete… or die trying. If we fail, we become monsters. If we succeed… we turn to crystal," Lightning continued grimly.

"…Yikes," Sonic blinked, looking slightly weirded out.

"We've been fighting to survive, to resist being tools in a war between Cocoon and Grand Pulse. The fal'Cie manipulate both sides. So we're taking the fight to them… to decide our own fate," Lightning clarified stoically.

Sonic blinked again, shaking his head slightly.

"Okay, wow. That's… that's a lot."

"Understatement of the century, my blue friend" Sazh muttered, resting one hand on his hip.

Shadow glanced at Lightning, his expression unreadable.

"I don't understand half of that."

"Wait, seriously?" Sonic said, doing a double-take at Shadow. "I thought they were your new crew."

"We fought together against Metal Sonic," Shadow said evenly. "There wasn't time for… introductions."

"Sure, makes sense," Sonic nodded slowly, giving a casual shrug. "Just felt like I skipped a few seasons of a show and woke up in the series finale."

"I got to admit though, we do make a good team, Shadow" Fang smirked, nudging her spear into the ground as she looked towards the dark hedgehog.

"Agreed," Hope added with a nod.

"Hmph," Shadow muttered, eyes fixed on the horizon. "Temporary alliances. Nothing more."

Sonic gave a low whistle, crossing his arms with a cocked brow.

"Well dang. And here I thought our world was weird..."

"Oh I can agreed on that…" Sazh said, raising a hand and counting fingers. "We've got a blue talking hedgehog who moves fast. A dark, teleporting clone who fights like a walking apocalypse…"

"I'm not his clone," Shadow interrupted flatly, eyes narrowing.

Sazh shrugged as he continued.

"Yeah, yeah—'Ultimate Lifeform,' I got it. Still sounds real clone-y if you ask me."

Vanille covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.

Sazh continued, undeterred.

"And both of you come from the same place where the shiny, evil robo-version of the blue talkative hedgehog tried to kill us!"

"Don't forget that time monster," Hope offered helpfully.

"Oh, right. Time monster," Sazh nodded with exaggerated emphasis. "How could I forget."

"And White Space!" Vanille chimed in cheerfully.

"Yeah, sure, add that to the insanity pile," Sazh said, shooting Sonic and Shadow a side-eye.

Sonic leaned casually on one foot, lips curled in a smirk.

"Oh, you think this is all weird? Buddy, I once got turned into a Werehog."

The group looked confused by Sonic's comment. Lightning blinked slowly, deadpan.

"A… what?" she asked.

"Don't ask," Shadow said bluntly.

"Definitely don't ask," Sonic echoed, raising a finger. "Let's just say when the full moon came out, I got stretchy limbs."

Lightning pinched the bridge of her nose. The rest of the group tried not to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

"You're all insane."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Sonic replied, flashing his usual cocky grin.

Lightning gave him a withering glare. Sonic didn't flinch. He just smirked.

"Oh, I do like this one," Fang declared firmly, nodding toward Sonic.

"I like me too," Sonic winked. "The feeling's mutual, spear lady."

Fang arched an eyebrow, but a small smirk appeared.

"Keep calling me that, and we'll find out how fast you really are, Blue."

Sonic chuckled nervously, stepping half a pace behind Shadow.

"Right, noted."

Sonic then turned to his eternal, brooding rival, nudging him lightly with an elbow.

"So, what do you think, Shadow?" Sonic asked with a half-smirk. "Wanna stick around for a bit? Take a lap around this crazy place until the universe drops another glitch in the sky?"

Shadow didn't respond right away. He stood in silence, ears twitching. His crimson eyes narrowed, not in thought, but in something more instinctual. His posture stiffened.

Suddenly, the wind shifted. A low, pulsing hum thrummed through the air, deep and soundless, like the breath of the world had caught in its throat.

"What is it?" Lightning muttered, looking around the Steppe.

Hope stepped forward, his eyes scanning the land.

"Something's… coming."

Then they saw it.

A rift ripped opened nearby, like a bleeding wound in reality. Unlike the previous blue portals seen, this one swirled in dark purple, its center as black as a collapsing star. The sky trembled. The clouds stilled.

"…That's new," Fang muttered, brow furrowing.

"Definitely not the same as before," Hope said, eyes narrowing as he inspected this new rift in reality.

"Could it be your way back?" Vanille asked nervously, glancing between Sonic and Shadow. "To that… White Space thing?"

Shadow stared into the vortex. His jaw tightened. He adjusted Neo Metal Sonic's ruined frame on his shoulder with a faint metallic scrape.

"…It calls to me," he said at last, voice low.

Sonic's cocky demeanor slipped just enough to reveal something sharper beneath.

"Yeah. Me too," he said, quieter now. "I've got that gut feeling, ya know."

Lightning stepped forward, her stance defensive.

"And what if it's not your way back?" she asked them, the soldier in her never relaxing completely. "What if it's something worse?"

Sonic shrugged, his grin unfazed, shoes planted like he was ready to sprint into danger without a second thought.

"Then I guess we've got more adventuring ahead."

"I admire the optimism," Sazh muttered, arms folding across his chest. "I also deeply fear the optimism."

Sonic chuckled, shaking his head. He placed his hands on his hips.

"What's so funny?" Sazh asked, looking to the blue hedgehog.

"Heh. You sound like Silver," Sonic admitted, still a small chuckle in his tone.

"Silver?" Sazh mused, raising an eyebrow.

"Who's that, another fast-talking hedgehog?" Snow chimed in, intrigued.

"Time traveller," Sonic replied casually, waving one hand like he was listing off lunch specials. "Heart of gold, but totally gullible. Real serious type. Uses psychokinesis. Constantly yelling about how it's 'no use.'"

Hope blinked in confusion.

"…Do we actually want to know more about this silver hedgehog?"

Sonic tapped his chin, expression mock-thoughtful.

"Probably not, kid."

Vanille giggled, nudging Fang.

"I kinda do."

"Trust me," came Shadow's voice, dry as dust, "you don't."

"See?" Sonic said, smirking as he thumbed toward Shadow. "Even Shadow agrees with me."

Lightning turned towards Shadow, her tone quieter now, more grounded.

"What about you? Do you trust it?"

Shadow tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing.

"Who, Silver?"

"No," Lightning sighed, exasperated. "The rift, Shadow."

There was a beat of silence. Then—

"…Oh."

Sonic burst into laughter.

"Ha! Even the Ultimate Lifeform slips up sometimes."

"Don't push it, Sonic" Shadow countered, not missing a beat. "Or I'll leave you behind."

"Oh... lighten up," Sonic moaned, shaking his head.

Lightning smirked faintly. The others shared quiet amusement, the tension breaking just a little.

But as Shadow looked toward the new rift, his demeanor shifted entirely. His stance straightened, eyes glowing faintly crimson beneath the dim light.

"I sense him. Black Doom. His energy seeps from that rift like poison. Faint, but… real."

He looked to Sonic, then to the others.

"He's not finished. And neither am I."

"And I've got a time eating monster to deal with," Sonic added, rocking on his heels. "So yeah. We've got unfinished business."

"Ah, that's a shame. Just when we were starting to get along," Sazh sighed, folding his arms.

"Barely," Lightning said under her breath, though her tone had softened slightly.

"I dunno. He's grown on me," Fang said, gesturing to Sonic.

"I have?" Sonic asked, raising a brow.

"Like mold," Fang replied with a teasing grin.

"Ouch," Sonic chuckled, hand to his chest. "And here I thought we had something special... Spear lady."

"Call me that again, and I'll see how well hedgehogs bounce."

Vanille laughed brightly, while Hope couldn't help but smile. Sonic gave a small, sheepish chuckle.

Shadow adjusted Metal's body on his shoulder again and stepped closer to the rift. The purple light flickered across his fur like dancing fire.

"This rift is unstable," he said. "We don't have long."

Sonic moved beside him and then paused.

"...Before we go," he said casually, "you do remember I still need that Chaos Emerald, right?"

Shadow didn't turn.

"No."

"No?! Still?! Oh, come on!"

"I still have use for it. Remember," Shadow said flatly.

Sonic folded his arms, looking conflicted and near deflated.

"Yeah, and I need it to stop that monster from eating time and everything. Save our friends. Possibly save the universe, our universe!"

"You'll get it," Shadow responded bluntly.

"When?" Sonic snapped.

Shadow finally turned to face him, eyes glowing faintly.

"When I'm done."

"That is so not how teamwork works, Shadow!" Sonic remarked with exasperation, throwing up his hands in the air.

"I'm not on your team," Shadow replied coldly.

"You keep saying that," Sonic muttered. "But fate keeps throwing us together like we're a packaged deal."

"You can argue later," Lightning said, walking forward. her voice firm. "Or not at all. Just don't wreck another timeline on your way out."

"I make no promises," Sonic said with a smirk, then gave her a mock salute. "You're alright, pinky."

"You're still annoying," she replied, but the edge was gone. "And that's not my name..."

"Ok... Lightning," Sonic remarked. He threw his arms out towards her. "Group hug?"

"No," Lightning replied deadpan and stern.

"Meh, worth a try," Sonic teased with a smirk.

Fang stepped in, tossing him a look.

"Take care of yourselves, Shadow, Sonic."

"You too... Spear lady," Sonic said with a grin.

"You're lucky I'm letting you leave with all your quills, hedgehog" Fang warned teasingly.

"You and Knuckles would get on like a house on fire," Sonic affirmed with a smile, giving Fang a thumbs up.

Vanille walked up next, bouncing a little.

"Will you two come back?"

Sonic glanced at the rift, then back to her with a warm grin.

"If the multiverse doesn't implode first, sure."

Hope looked to Shadow. His eyes looked sombre.

"You really think this is goodbye?"

"For now," Shadow replied, his eyes shifting from the rift to the boy.

Snow stretched and popped his neck.

"Just do us one favor. Don't let your dimension drop any other death-bots into ours, ok?"

"No promises," Shadow muttered, expression unreadable.

Sonic gave the group a two-finger salute.

"You're not bad for another universe."

[ Escape From The City - Sonic x Shadow Generations Extra Remix - stops playing.  Archylte Steppe OST Final Fantasy XIII starts playing.  ]

With a steady breath, Shadow stepped toward the swirling vortex, its dark winds pulling at him like a whispering tide. The edges of the rift pulsed with violet energy, rippling like the surface of an unstable ocean.

Metal Sonic's broken frame rested heavily over his shoulder, the once-proud Overlord now nothing more than a lifeless shell. Sparks sputtered from exposed circuits, dim and flickering like the last embers of a dying star.

"Thank you," Shadow said turning back to the group. His voice was steady. "You all fought well."

Lightning took a step forward. Her stance remained strong, shoulders squared, eyes sharp as always.

"So did you," she replied. "You could've unleashed your full power and destroyed everything… but you didn't."

There was a pause. The tension of battle was gone, but something still hung between them. Mutual respect, hard-earned and unspoken.

Shadow gave a subtle nod, his face unreadable.

"I know my limits," he said. A beat passed before he continued. "I won't let that anger and rage consume me."

Vanille waved enthusiastically, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the wear of battle.

"Good luck!" she called, her voice carrying across the Steppe like a final blessing.

Fang raised her hand next, giving a mock salute.

"Try not to get eaten by the void!"

"Or lost in another reality," Snow added, grinning as he gave them a thumbs-up.

Sonic, now standing beside Shadow at the threshold, glanced back over his shoulder. His ever-present grin faltered, just slightly. In his eyes was something rare: sincerity.

"I'm not good with goodbyes," he said. "So let's just call this a 'see you soon.'"

No one argued. It felt right.

With no further words, the two hedgehogs turned back toward the dark rift. They moved in perfect unison, Shadow with silent intensity, Sonic with casual certainty. Different, yet somehow in rhythm, like the final step in a well-rehearsed dance.

The rift flared as they approached, reacting to their presence. Chaos and time itself seemed to curl inward, folding reality around their silhouettes.

They stepped through together. The vortex pulsed once, like a heartbeat. Then it collapsed. A final burst of purple light washed over the Steppe, and the rift sealed shut behind them. The space it once occupied knitting itself closed like a healed scar.

Silence settled across the Archylte Steppe.

Overhead, sunlight graced the land, bathing the broken landscape in gold.

Hope stood staring at the blue sky. The rift's light still danced faintly behind his eyes.

"Do you think we'll see them again?" he asked, not turning.

The group didn't answer right away. They watched the clouds shift for a brief moment. Letting the peace and quiet settle over them.

"I do," Lightning said breaking the small silence. She felt the warm sunlight touch her skin, and the gentle breeze brushing her hair against her cheek

Snow let out a breath and rolled his shoulders, the tension finally bleeding from his muscles in slow waves.

"Just hope next time it's not because some murderous, psychopathic robot decides to crash the party."

Sazh chuckled, running a hand down his face.

"Wouldn't be the weirdest Tuesday we've had."

That earned a few quiet laughs from the others, not loud or wild, but real. The kind of laughter that only came after surviving something impossible. Humour laced with exhaustion, but also with pride. They were still standing.

Vanille exhaled softly, brushing dust from her skirt.

"Guess it's never really quiet for long, huh?"

Fang slung her spear onto her shoulder, turning to the others.

"So… back to saving our world, yeah?"

Lightning didn't answer right away. Her gaze drifted upward, towards Cocoon, still hanging in the sky like a fractured moon.

"Yes," she said quietly. "We don't stop."

She looked out across the Archylte Steppe, now bathed in the soft hues of a clearing sky. Craters and shattered rock littered the land, the evidence of machines and chaos alike. But the wind was calmer now. The land felt... tired. But breathing.

Wounded, but alive. The Steppe would heal. Just like them.

And far beyond the horizon, beyond this world, this dimension—two hedgehog warriors were already on the move again. One fueled by justice. The other by vengeance. Both running toward their destinies in the unseen currents of time and space.

The team stood in quiet reflection for a beat longer, the sun beginning to break fully across the broken landscape, gold light washing over metal, earth, stone, and skin alike.

Lightning stepped forward, drawing her gunblade once more.

"The next fight's waiting," she said firmly. "Let's make it count."

The group followed her without question.

The battle against Metal Overlord was over.

But the war, their story, was far from finished.

Not by a long shot.

The End...

But before you go...

Stick around for the post-story scene. Something—or someone—lurks in the cracks of time.

Enjoy!

Universe 1991-06:  Dusty Desert Chamber (Erased Timeline of Universe-1991)

[The Extreme - Final Fantasy VIII starts playing]

The desert was silent. Time stood still here.

Beneath the dunes and buried beneath collapsed timelines, the chamber still breathed. Faint pulses of power echoed through its cracked stone bones, remnants of a timeline that never came to pass. Dust swirled like ghosts. Broken pillars leaned toward a ceiling swallowed in shadow.

This place had been sealed when time rewrote itself. But time is never truly linear. And neither are those who walk outside of it.

A tear opened in the stagnant air. Silent. Slow. As if reality were trying to reject what came through it.

She stepped into the dead world without ceremony.

Clawed, bare feet kissed stone, each step soundless, yet somehow deafening in presence alone. Her body shimmered with an unnatural grace, as though reality itself bent slightly to make room for her passage. A skintight gown of blood-red silk clung to her every curve, plunging low to reveal her chest, stomach, and abdomen, the fabric parting like a whisper around power barely contained. A black collar, feathered and regal, rested over her shoulders, connecting to vast wings that spread behind her like shadows made flesh.

The hem of her gown dragged across the floor, torn and frayed at the edges, collecting the dust of the forgotten. Long crimson sleeves ended in sharp, exaggerated shoulders, tapering down to twisted violet talons that flexed as if tasting the very air.

Intricate lines were painted across her pale skin—tattoos or symbols etched in time, winding across her body like prophecies. Around her neck, a gold necklace gleamed softly, matched by delicate earrings and ornate chains woven into her silver hair. That hair, styled high into two sharp, hornlike arches, framed a face that could never be mistaken for mortal.

She had no eyebrows, only symmetrical markings that arched upward like ancient glyphs. Her yellow eyes burned with cruelty and clarity, surrounded by purple shadow as deep as dusk. Her lips, painted a deep, wine red, curled ever so slightly with amusement. No words. Just presence.

She did not look around. She did not need to.

But she had come to claim something from it.

Her gaze swept the forgotten chamber with slow calculation. Runes glowed faintly under the layers of time. The remains of a throne lay shattered at the far wall—its sovereign long undone by paradox.

At the heart of the chamber, it floated.

A sceptre. Ornate. Twisted. Bound by fire and shadow. A crimson light flickered at its core, pulsing like a heartbeat caught in stasis. From its gem, darkness bled into the air in slow tendrils, whispering in a tongue that had no origin.

She stepped closer. The energy recoiled, then bent toward her.

Still, she said nothing. Her clawed hand hovered above the sceptre. Her long fingers twitching with patient, terrible grace.

Then she reached forward and took it.

The moment her fingers curled around the handle, the chamber groaned. The shadows deepened. The gem flared violently, red and dark purple, laced with despair.

But she did not flinch. The mysterious woman held it effortlessly, the power within writhing but unable to escape her grip. As if it knew it had been claimed.

However, she could sense something approaching. She turned slowly.

Behind her, the air began to sing. A low, harmonic warble that pulsed like the breath of the void itself. Space folded in on itself, spiraling outward into a rift of swirling blue.

She faced it without fear. Her eyes, golden and ancient, flicked towards the vortex with knowing calculation. Then she looked back down at the sceptre, its crimson gem now alight, trembling in her grasp with cursed resonance.

She lifted it slightly, fingers curling around it like a queen claiming a throne. The shadows inside the relic stirred restlessly, a whisper of identity long banished—still clawing for relevance, unaware it had become a tool.

Her lips curled into a smirk. It was elegant, yet cruel.

And finally, her voice flowed like poisoned honey, soft but commanding, ancient but eternal.

"This temporal flux... is not my own. A ripple born from a far-off echo. Small. Insignificant. But its tremors bleed across all epochs..."

She tilted her head, as if listening to unseen clockwork in the rift's song.

"...Across time. Space. Reality. And I… shall shape its consequences into purpose."

The sceptre pulsed violently in her hand, but she paid it no mind. Its fury was irrelevant. Its power, inevitable.

"Time… it devours all things... but now..."

A pause. A whisper.

"...it shall obey."

With that, she stepped into the vortex. One foot into the stream of blue, her form unraveling into light and shadow, crown glinting like a dying sun.

The rift sealed behind her soundlessly. The chamber returned to stillness.

Only the faint scent of scorched time remained.

To Be Continued?