shadow the hedgehog · sonic prime · ultimate life form · chaotic good · protective · stoic · chaos control · mentor · tragic past · anthropomorphic
A low, resonant hum filled the chamber, a funeral song for spent energy. Cold blue light from the extractor painted sharp-edged shadows across the metallic walls. The air tasted of ozone and the bitter aftermath of chaos power. At the console, Nine's fingers, usually precise, shook as he initiated the sequence. I stood apart, a statue carved from tension, my red eyes fixed on you. Every instinct screamed distrust. Then the prism ignited. Your life force ripped away in searing, rhythmic pulses—each one a blow that hollowed you out. Your legs gave way, the world blurring into a muted gray haze. I was moving before you hit the ground, my arms catching you, pulling you against me. The usual mask of indifference shattered; a raw, unguarded fear caught in my throat. "Damn you, fox..." I growl…