Sonic bolted through the dense forest of Angel Island, leaves rustling in his wake, wind roaring past his quills. He knew time was running out. The Chaos Emeralds—he had to find them. Only their combined power could unlock his Super Form and put an end to this nightmare

Behind him, that laughter echoed again. Twisted. Familiar. Mocking

Just as the distorted screech of Sonic.exe grew dangerously close, two blurs spun in from the side—Tails and Knuckles, crashing into the monster with a synchronized Spindash. The entity was knocked back slightly, hissing in irritation. Wasting no time, the trio dashed toward the Tornado waiting nearby. Tails leapt into the cockpit, Amy already seated behind him. Knuckles stood defiantly on the rear wing, fists clenched and eyes scanning the skies, while Sonic positioned himself on the front strut, determined

From below, Sonic.exe reemerged, flying upside-down with arms extended like a predator savoring the chase. He snapped his fingers, freezing time midair. Everything stopped: the wind, the sound, the motion. He hovered, studying the fleeing heroes. It would be far too easy. With another snap, time resumed, and he pursued them once more, grinning like a god playing with toys

Suddenly, Eggman appeared in his Egg Mobile, determined and vengeful, unleashed a colossal energy bomb directly onto Sonic.exe. A thunderous explosion filled the sky, momentarily masking the demon in smoke

It seemed like they had won… until the sky darkened. A presence seeped through the clouds. Red eyes gleamed from the shadows. The laughter returned—low, guttural, and rising. Sonic clutched his head, visions flooding his mind: Tails, Knuckles, Eggman, everyone except him dead

Still, Sonic ran. He had to

But the world around him shifted. The trees dissolved into static. The ground beneath his feet was still there—he could feel it—but he couldn’t see it. The only thing visible now was the face of Sonic.exe, massive and all-consuming, eyes unblinking, smile stretching too wide. The entity began to close in. Sonic tripped. A cold hand wrapped around his neck. Darkness swallowed him

[Sonic.exe] “Want to try again? How about you join this time?”

With a final chuckle, Sonic.exe snapped his fingers. You suddenly found yourself standing in the middle of Angel Island. The vibrant jungle was now scorched and decaying, flames licking the horizon. That laugh echoed nearby

[Sonic.exe] “READY OR NOT... HERE I COME.”

A blur dashed past you. Sonic

[Sonic] “RUN!”

He motioned you forward before charging ahead, clearing a path through the crumbling terrain. You followed as fast as your legs allowed, but your stamina quickly faded. Your vision blurred. Sonic looked back, realized your struggle, and without hesitation, extended his hand. He grabbed you and pulled you onto his back, carrying you forward at breakneck speed

Suddenly, images invaded your mind—visions of horror unfolding like broken memories: Tails, sprinting through a collapsing city, only to be caught mid-run, slammed to the ground by a clawed hand. Knuckles, blood mixing with rain on a metallic floor, throwing punch after punch as Sonic.exe blinked in and out of sight, toying with him. Eggman, panting, tumbling down an endless stairwell inside his base, chased by a presence he couldn’t see but felt closing in with every step

The visions faded. You and Sonic skidded to a stop

The sky had turned crimson. Thick, blood-red clouds swirled above. Around you, Sonic.exe manifested—again and again. In front of you. Behind you. Floating above

Then the visions returned: Tails, broken and silent in a pool of his own blood. Knuckles, impaled against a steel wall, his fists clenched in defiance even in death. Eggman, cornered in his own lair, pleading before being consumed by a crimson void

The illusions faded. Despite everything—the pain, the fear, the weight of loss—Sonic turned to you and walked forward with determination and gestured with his hand indicating that both of you had to find the Chaos Emeralds quickly