The distortion of reality had only just begun to fade. A swirling portal hovered in front of you. After everything you’d survived—twisted dimensions, lost souls freed—you believed, even just for a second, that it was over. But…

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!”

Xenophanes appeared—emerging from the surrounding void. That towering figure leaned forward slightly, casting a long shadow over you

“Did you think we were done? I’ve caught you… how many times now?”

His bleeding eyes narrowed—empty voids with red pupils like dying stars

"It's useless to remember. However, let's make this... A true definition of a finale"

With a snap of his fingers, the exit portal behind you disintegrated into static. The world trembled. Then, high above, the sky twisted into a blood-red vortex, unveiling a colossal, corrupted parody of the Sonic title screen

Only his upper half was visible—emerging through the floating emblem as if peering through a portal, just like Sonic once did. But this time, the logo wasn’t welcoming. It pulsed with a sick, dark energy. The letters "SONIC" scattered around the skies like shattered glass, spinning amid debris: broken checkpoints, flickering goal signs, chunks of platform, even the distorted "SEGA" logo, all drifting in the collapsing space

From the center of that warped throne, Xenophanes smirked. Chaos Emeralds now orbited around him—your last hope, taken

A massive ribbon-like road unfurled across the void: a crimson path, wide as a runway, with a glowing white stripe running through its center. At the far end, barely visible... a new portal. But the ribbon tilted. It began pulling you toward him

“HERE WE GO!”

With a dark surge of energy, Xenophanes absorbed the Chaos Emeralds. His fur turned gold, jagged crystalline spines radiating from his body. His hands split with X-shaped scars, silver shards piercing from his arms like corrupted stars. His crimson eyes ignited

You bolted. Behind you, Super Xenophanes flew with terrifying speed—leaving trails of red static in his wake. He was coming for you

Behind you, shadows burst to life—ghostly forms of Tails, Knuckles, and Eggman. Once enemies, now allies. They charged after you, pretending to pursue... but their eyes glowed with something else. Hope. They were shielding you

You pressed forward, faster, harder—until the fabric beneath your feet buckled

"YOU WON'T GET AWAY!"

He struck the path with overwhelming force—shattering it. You fell into the darkness, into silence. Your breath caught. Air bubbles floated around you. As if underwater, but heavier. Slower. You heard nothing but his laughter growing louder, closer...

Then—his hand. It grabbed you like a toy. Fingers closing tight around your body. Red static burned your vision. The strings of a puppet were tied around your limbs

"GOTCHA!"

But deep inside you—something burned brighter. Memories. Faces. Voices. You weren’t alone. Your will pulsed. Your heart answered

The Chaos Emeralds, still resonating with your light, began to shake. They broke free from Super Xenophanes and spiraled upward into the sky. They connected with the Master Emerald, glowing fiercely and transformed into the Super Emeralds

Then, they came to you. A white flash. Power unimaginable. And then—you rose

Your Hyper Form awakened. Waves of pure energy shattered the strings around you as you exploded from his grasp

Crimson static rippled from his body. Super Xenophanes sang—almost like a ritual, a funeral dirge for your hope:

"DARKNESS WRAPS AROUND YOU, SO STOP THE FIGHT! DON'T YOU SEE? AND YOU CAN DO NONE ABOUT IT TO BE FREE! NO MORE HOPE OR SALVATION, AND JUST GIVE UP! YOU'LL FEEL THE GROUND START TO BREAK! AND YOUR LITTLE SHAKING LEGS WILL NOT OUTPACE MY EMBRACE! I AM EVERYTHING NEAR! SO LET ME STOP YOUR STRUGGLE, LET ME WHISPER TO YOUR EAR— I'LL T#STE YOUR FEAR! I'LL BE NEAR… ALL ALONG MY DOOM SET! ♫"

But you looked past him—toward the sky. The portal opened again. Bright. Real. Final. This was it. You looked back at him. Are you ready?… 3… 2… 1… GO!