Winds of Freedom

Chapter 37: The Floating Island

Chapter 37: The Floating Island

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Angel Island - Hidden Palace, Morning Hours

Deep beneath the surface of Angel Island lay a cavern of immense proportions, its shadowed expanse illuminated only by the soft glimmer of crystals embedded in the ceiling above.

At the heart of the cavern, surrounded by the eerie glow of the crystals, stood the Hidden Palace. The structure, ancient yet enduring, bore the unmistakable imprint of a civilization long gone but not forgotten. The remains of countless mechanical intruders littered the cavern floor.

Standing amidst the silent majesty, a lone figure cut a striking silhouette against the crystalline walls. A red warrior, the island's guardian. His breathing came in shallow gasps, and his bruised knuckles and strained muscles spoke of warding off endless waves of mechanized foes. Yet, despite the exhaustion, his eyes burned with a fierce, unwavering determination.

A single Shade Trooper-the last remnant of the invading horde-stood before him, its metal frame battered but still operational. The guardian steadied himself, watching the robot's movements, ready for the next move. The Shade Trooper's metallic body clicked and whirred, calculating its strike.

But the guardian anticipated its intentions, dodging with the fluid grace the laser blast. Lunging forward, and with a powerful leap, his fist came crashing down with a resounding uppercut that caved in the robot's chest plate. The impact was brutal, sending the Shade Trooper flying into a crystalline wall, where it crumpled upon impact. Its single eye flickered once, then dimmed, leaving only silence.

"Huff... Huff..." the guardian panted, he leaned against the crystal walls, letting the coolness seep into his fur. "Another one down," he muttered, a tired yet satisfied smirk creeping onto his lips. Victory tasted bittersweet, but it was a victory nonetheless.

After a brief moment, the guardian pushed himself upright. The weight of his responsibility surging back. He raised his voice, letting his words ring out. "You hear that, Robotnik?!" he shouted, his voice resonating against the crystalline walls. "Send as many as you want, they're all getting a knuckle sandwich!" His fists clenched. "As long as I stand, as long as I breath, I won't let anyone take the Master Emerald or my home!"

His declaration echoed back at him, a reverberating affirmation of his own resolve. For a moment, silence reclaimed the cavern. He let out a sigh, running a hand through his dreadlocks. "Maybe... I shouldn't yell so much," he murmured with a hint of self-amusement. His hand fell to his side as he shook his head. The constant battles, the endless patrols-they were wearing on him, but he couldn't allow himself to falter. Not now. Not ever.

Steeling himself, the guardian pushed off the wall as he resumed his patrol. The quiet of the Hidden Palace settled over him again. He knew, with a sinking certainty, that more of these weird machines would come. But he was ready. With a final glance at the remains of the robots, he strode deeper into the palace, his mind sharp with focus.

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Angel Island - Mushroom Hill

The surface of Angel Island was bathed in the morning glow as a dense forest of towering mushroom trees rose towards the sky. The mushroom caps, some broad as rooftops, formed layers of reds, yellows, and oranges that stretched high above the forest floor.

The Spinner glided gracefully down to the ground, touching down on the soft, spongy earth with barely a sound. Torque setting the plane down far from the explosions that echoed across the skies from the distant Sky Battalion. Here, they would remain undetected.