Sonic The Hedgehog: Dark-Bright

[INTERMISSION ARC] Chapter 47: Lost.

The fight between Sonic and Reix continued. Sonic was caught off guard by Reix's Soulblade, which looked different from the ones he had encountered before. The entire beach area became clouded by smoke, creating thick fog. Sonic tried to observe but couldn't see clearly due to the smoke. He could only defend himself as one of the Echidna's blades attempted to impale him. Sonic guarded himself, but the impact sent him flying. He managed to hold onto his sword and panted heavily. "That... Smoke... ugh... uh..." He grew weaker and weaker due to the effects of the smoke, but he mustered the strength to stay standing. He glared at Reix and said, "I'm not going anywhere. I can still fight."

"Give up. You can't beat me anymore. You've lost," Reix stated, expressing his superiority.

Sonic remained hopeful and moved his sword, pointing it at Reix. "I won't... ever... quit a battle like this."

"Just tell me, hedgehog, what are you fighting for? I don't really understand you," Reix inquired, waiting for an answer.

"I fight to prevent my friends from suffering. If anyone tries to hurt my friends, they become my enemy," Sonic explained. He curled into a ball and launched himself at Reix with a Spindash, but Reix used his bare hands to knock Sonic down. Sonic fell to the ground, dropping his sword in the sand, and Echidna laughed. "Is this the best you can do? You'll never save your friends no matter what you do. Your power is nothing but a life digger. You'll never save a friend."

Sonic coldly stared at him. "You say so..."

"Of course, I would. You're just a child to me. You don't even deserve to handle a Soul Weapon, let alone fight me," Reix mocked.

Sonic looked at the blade and felt something glowing within him. He felt strange and began to wonder. "Air... can... it be made?" This puzzled Reix.

Sonic grabbed the sword, looked down at the ground, and slowly stood up. Reix became unsure of what Sonic would do next. "Come on, are you attempting to...?"

Sonic became enveloped in spiraling energy, a strange wind pressuring him. He was cloaked in a blue wind and opened his eyes wide, grinning. "DO... I LOOK LIKE I'M GOING TO LOSE?!"

"What...?! It seems like his attitude changed a bit...?!" Reix switched to a more defensive stance, but Sonic wasted no time and clashed with him. Sonic overpowered Reix with his increased speed and knocked him over. Sonic blitzed over Reix's body, using a combination of speed-like techniques. Then Sonic grumpily asked, "Are you...?"

"Gah... is this even you, hedgehog...? You act like you're trying to be better than me!" Raix conjured a thick smoke that trapped Sonic. He smiled, thinking he had the upper hand. "Even so, there's no way you can best m—" His words were cut off as Sonic's Soulblade slashed through the smoke, ripping a part of his uniform. Reix looked at Sonic in surprise. "Who even are you?"

"What do you mean? I'm Sonic The Hedgehog," Sonic declared his name. The cloaking wind began to fade, revealing a surge of Sonic's power.

While they fought, the scene shifted to Knuckles's perspective. He was engaged in a battle with another being, a Uni-Balancer. But there was something different from Reix; it looked like his uniform was a lot different. The figure looked at the Red Echidna. 'Do as you wish, but if you intend to attack me, you'll receive some punishment.'"

"Oh, yeah?! Anything but to protect the MASTER EMERALD!" With determination, the Echidna moved his hands, and it turned into a blur of flurry punches, each of them attempting to land a hit on the Mechanical Figure. However, the Figure remained untouched. Out of nowhere, he was right behind Knuckles. He moved his hand and, with one touch on his spine, made him fall. Knuckles looked disappointed. "I supposed... that gem had a stronger guardian."