limiterrings | (no subject)

[ that foreign substance dissipates thereafter into something else, whether it heightens shadow's senses of what's before him, or if it's supposed to matter doesn't show on his face. that suspicion remains as he looks at the child before him, his brows furrowing, crimson eyes staring right at the other.

he may have assisted in pushing that fog from shadow's eyes, but that feeling of what he didn't trust simply disappearing by such a subtle movement.

it was him all along, that vile presence that he despised is nothing more than this child. ]

All Black Arms are.

[ it's a connection that should have been severed, every black arms annihilated upon black doom's death. how it should have been, but it's with certainty that shadow pulls away, leaving a gap between them.

of course, the sound of propellers ring out overhead, like something is coming their way. the air units from before thats to hunt them down most likely, this was probably the calm before the storm. there's voices, the ones from before as they chant that they have to capture the escapees or the battle royal will be ruined. they're in here, they're here. heed to the prophet. ]

[...Stop looking at him like that. Like the scientists and soldiers did. He didn't ask for this, he didn't have a choice upon creation. It hurts, seeing his other look at him with distrust and putting this space between them. He can't refute what is the truth. He was purely made to be Black Doom's perfect soldier. His other...even if the professor used the Black Arm's DNA, they were created with good intentions in mind. They are different.

He doesn't understand why. Why does he care anymore what others think? Isn't learning who he is what he always wanted? He could go back to the way things were. Commanding all of Black Arms, see the other before him as nothing more than a defector, a failure. His objective was clear and straight forward back then. Eliminate the problem. He didn't need to think or consider feelings from his victims.

But his heart is tainted, touched by all the people he has met and learned from, the good and bad. He's not who he was before landing on Earth anymore. He can't take any of it back, but he doesn't know if he can keep taking all this pain. A quiet realization. If anyone learned of what he is, there will only be more. He can't go back. Staying wherever here is, might mean Doom may never arrive to his Earth. There's...no where for him.

He closes his eyes for a moment.] ...Then- [His ears twitch, picking up the new sounds entering the area. The captors have caught up with them it seems. Rather than take action, Shadow remains standing there, waiting on their approach.]

[ there's no other way for shadow to look, not when he's always destroyed every one he has came across. it's like breathing to him, considering what they've done to the planet, what they tried to utilize him for, the confusion that shadow had suffered during that time. how else is he supposed to look at him when this copy is no different than a mirror.

the path shadow himself had took was bloody, lives were lost, he acted on his own whims, but before him? why did that connection to black doom feel so close, what has he done with him, none of the memories filled that in at all and shadow can only wonder.

where do their differences meet when it comes to this?

the sounds of their hunters grow, shadow's ears twitch, and he clicks his tongue in annoyance as he stands there to look at the other who remains in place. shadow won't stay. ]

Give me the Chaos Emerald.

. . . [The Chaos Emerald that was left with him. The little bit of trust the other was willing to give him, now being given back. Or maybe he was just seeing something that was never there to begin with. The emerald reappears in his hands. He doesn't need it, something in his mind tells him. Staring at it for a moment, power still weak. Sparks come from his hands as he imbues it with some chaos energy before passing it to his other without incident.

His expression is nondescript. Someone lost in their thoughts, thinking.] Aren't you going to finish the job? [Why haven't they done anything now that they know Doom's blood runs through him? It's unlike them, considering what happened before at the mere hint of the Black Arms.]

[ there's part of him that doesn't want the chaos emerald, he could sneer, he could say how he doesn't need him for anything else. shadow stares at the emerald, eyes looking away in the distance as though annoyed from the action. he probably is, when did he ask for any of his energy, when did he ever ask for his support? ]

Gladly.

[ a light flashes overhead, covering them both in a brightness that should be blinding. shadow has been under the veil of spotlights, ignoring it as he's quick to manifest a chaos spear into the palm of his hand. it glistens from the added exposure of the light around them, his bracelet sparkling — ]

Die.

[ from the air units, a couple of red dots wiggle down against their body possible for aiming purposes. what lingers at his back comes another that rests against the forehead of his copy, shadow raises his arm— the sound of shots are fired, red lines manifesting from the darkness behind them, it was smart to utilize. with his free hand, shadow's quick to cross-chop the other at his neck, knocking him to the side briefly to avoid the headshot.

shadow moves forward, the first flurry of bullets barely missing his spines as his other hand throws the chaos spear in the direction behind his copy. it comes into contact with the wall, exploding upon impact. the barrage of bullets (or what seems to be, it's best not to get clipped shadow finds by the smell of them as they disperse into some gas) rain down, but the hand that he used to hit the other in one swift movement has come to the emerald, pressing it against the chest of the hedgehog as they both hold onto it, expanding on the power. ]

Chaos...... Control!!

[ he yells out. the once weak emerald begins to pulsate, a bright light manifesting between him and the other. it swallows them whole, time having stopped and sparks generating from the usage.

rather than stay in position, they disappear and reappear, the jewel sputtering out sparks and traversing right to the center of the stadium in mid-air. shadow holds onto the other as they fall down, a quick kick forward to activate his air shoes to hove down without incident. the same location where they began their journey, where they met, destroyed by the other's destruction, but with no one here it tends to work in their favor. ]

[...It's like being back on the moon again, but there's no conflict of interest. It's finite coming from his other. The world around him feels distant, everything muffled except for the crackling sound of a chaos spear forming, his other's voice. Nothing will matter in a moment. The pain will end and his existence won't be a blight to anyone anymore.

That is, instead of being met by the smite of a chaos spear, he felt a sharp pain from the neck that spreads to the rest of his body.] -!? [He falls over as expected, the ringing sound of gun shots being fired reaching his ears. He's stunned, by the non lethal strike, and confused by the other's action. He feels bullets barely missing him, a strange smell reaching his nose. His vision blurred that he couldn't tell what was going on. Where his other went. Why though?

He suddenly senses their presence beside him, something solid being pressed against him. He heard those familiar two words his other taught him and suddenly he felt like he was being pulled. His energy resonating with the chaos emerald as he felt a familiar sensation when he teleports, but amplified. They've gone far, that's all he can gather. Soon as the world returns, he feels his other holding onto him, dropping down from above somwhere. The...is this the stadium? He shakes his head, trying shake off that tingling sensation out of his system.] W-What...? [His feet touch ground as he wobbles slightly. There are so many questions and none of them should even matter when he should be dead??? ]

[ with them in the stadium, back to square one, shadow turns his back to his dumbfounded copy only to ignore him. there's no reason to make amends, or to have conversation, he won't even follow up on what they should do next. what it comes down to is him riding solo for the time being.

the copy will find the chaos emerald is still in their hand, something shadow hadn't taken.

playing everything smart would be to kill him off, he knows that, but as long as his suicidal tendencies stray from getting captured in this world then shadow doesn't care. this place is separate from everything, he's on his own.

he's back to being on his own. ]

[The lack of a response is upsetting, irritating. Why? Is he not the enemy to them? He doesn't understand why they're just walking away, leaving him with the chaos emerald as well. Leaving him.]

That's it? You're going to just walk away? [The grip on the emerald tightens. He wanted to just chuck it back at them in frustration.]

[ does that warrant a response? his copy has eyes, he can see what shadow is doing, he can see that the hedgehog isn't turning around to follow up.

he can do whatever he wants with the emerald, he can wander this place as much as he wants. ]

Do not be stupid. I told you I'm going to finish the job.

[ he is an enemy, but there are other matters to look into, like the person who brought them here is the biggest threat. ]

. . . [His other can't see it, but something forms beside Shadow, a small dark portal. He tosses the emerald into it as it'll reappear in front of his other through another portal. It rolls along the ground toward them. He did not recharge it this time.] I won't be needing that. [It's not a bluff. Fully aware of his own capabilities now, he doesn't need that emerald as much as his other might. In a blip, he's gone before they can do anything about it. Leave it or take it, not his concern anymore.

His other has chosen to take on another priority before coming for him, knowing he won't run when the time comes. "They're making a mistake" is what goes through his mind. But fine. He can't sit around and wait, so that only leaves him to focus on one thing. That masked face. Unfortunately, he never got anything out of his other to know who they even are. Other than they really want one of them dead, or both. Felt personal how they were egging him on to kill his other.]

[ as if shadow needs it, there's nothing he can do with a dud emerald that has no use — if sonic were here, knowing him, he could possibly recharge it.

because he doesn't need it doesn't mean it won't prove useful in the future for something else. he leans down, picking up the gem as it disappears once he accepts it.

he's already dashing off, his eyes glancing at the wreckage behind them. to find this person, who they call the prophet, then shadow has only so many choices. he could run around in search of them, or he can allow himself to be captured.

they're on the radar of these creatures anyway. willingly playing captive isn't his first choice, but it'd probably do better than running around blindly. with that other version of him gone from the field, shadow jumps onto the point of a collapsed pieces of the stadium, looking around to see where he can find the most lights. ]

[Shadow is likely to come around to the same conclusion eventually. He reappears just outside of the stadium, where they had originally escaped from the underground. The remains of the helicopters were still there...or are they? It's faint, but they seem to be glitching in and out of existence. It puzzles him, so he comes closer to investigate. A hand press against the debris, and every so often, phases through it.

An illusion, like that mask hovering above them before.

No one had been here for some time, so whomever is the mastermind must be conserving resources to where the action was. Not thinking anyone would return to the crime scene. All of this, a fabrication? Just for them? For the other?

He crosses his arms. They want them to fight, kill the other. If they don't, there's repercussions. Or...if he waits long enough and keep away from the other, maybe the culprit will reveal themselves to handle it, like before. He can still sense his other's presence from here. It may be best not to go far, be ready to strike when they think he's not paying attention. Unless they come for him. Then he's sure his other will catch on.]

[ he could be right.

staying apart might drive the culprit to needing to handle things themselves, while the younger hedgehog decides to go the route where there's hardly anyone, biding his time. shadow takes advantage at making himself known, it's not the best plan, but it's one that gives his enemy the advantage to think they've captured him.

the youngest shadow will hear a glitching sound behind him, as if something is there, watching and waiting for him to turn around.

if he does, he'll find nothing, but he'll know something is nearby. ]

[He's pacing around the area, looking for the building he had initially taken himself and his other to escape these copters. Was he imagining it, or could he no longer locate it? His ears perk up at a sound behind him. He stops in his tracks, waiting for a moment. Left hand crackles with energy as he turns...to nothing.

He doesn't relax though. Something about the area is starting to feel off. Brows furrow as he lets out some air. He will need to call on that power. If this is an illusion, then he can break it. His ears swerve around, locating the one spot with a lot of noise, static...] Show yourself. [He pulls a spear practically out of thin air and slashes on his target spot. It cuts through the fabric of space, cracks forming around the area. An unsettling darkness creeping out from the opening. He can't fully break this world's illusion, but he can atleast make pockets. Flush whatever is there out, unless they want to be trapped in that world.]

[ don't worry, they fully understand the position they're in. forcing him out of hiding is quite the option, quickly, the glitching grows louder until a body appears a polite distance away from the void created to swallow him whole. what appears is a young gentleman, a confident chuckle as he bows forward — a familiar mask, a glaring red eye, white hair draped branched out onto his back.

"ha ha, how brave you are, little one."

the jackal's tail sways from behind, amused by how much quick progress has been made thanks to his own interference.

"i've only come to talk, surely you have time."

that's all anyone has here in this place, besides, playing with them endlessly was the plan until someone started to break his things, those illusions. the phantom ruby pulsates in the creeping darkness around them, but the prophet stands in wait. ]

[Shadow follows their movement. Now that they've shown themselves, the dimensional pocket he had created starts to shrink and disappates. There is no recognition of the masked figure before him, but he continues to glare at them. They are the reason he and his other are here. The cause of those memories returning. Be it intentional or not. That much he understands.

He notes the ruby on their chest. He feels like he should recognize it, an old document about an artifact filed away in his data. Searching.] The only thing you'll be doing is meeting the end of my spear. [Talking means prolonging their time here. The target has decided to show themselves to him, so he'll eliminate them. Although as he lunges at them, spear at the ready to skewer them, he expects this to fail. Fighting means gathering intel for him though. He needs to know what he's dealing with.]

[ "how unfortunate, have you forgotten how to talk?"

it's like looking at a replica play the same games over and over, this one is younger, but not as naive as he was at the start. if infinite played his cards differently, he should have appeared way earlier. infinite moves to the side, an afterimage of himself appearing and disappearing right after like a trail — it tricks the eyes, makes it difficult to tell which one is which, and given his abilities are illusions and the ruby working in overtime... his own body glitches just like the fakes, an attempt to fool where the other strikes.

it's a long line of glitches out infinite's, them all bowing sans for the one that shadow has hit which fizzles out with a crackle.

"if you kill me, you'll never get out! then you'll be trapped with someone who hates you forever. do you really want that?"

the strange chuckles, the sound of laughter coming from each glitched out version as they mimic the original. "unless unless

unless

u n l e s s...

you are that selfish." ]

[As he thought, it would have been too simple. Not letting them talk was the call. Now they're trying to get into his head, but it's already too late. As he turns to face the replicas, he summons a flurry of chaos spears around him. It's clear none of the jackel's words reached him, his focus even harder to break now. Why should he be concern when he can break their illusion at a swing of his spear? Even then, his other is the ultimate lifeform. They will find a way.

Calling their bluff, he fires the spears into every replica. He watches and waits as his attack rains down upon them, spear at the ready to pounce onto the real one.]

[ spears rain down to mutilate every illusion, the only saving grace is the stranger's shield used to block the chaotic energy that strikes himself. pushing against it in hopes that it fizzles out, if not, infinite jumps back as the spear digs into the ground where he once was.

how childish.

"beating me won't save you from your fate, child."

newfound resolve is annoying, the fact that his kind heart is replaced with something more dangerous means he won't let infinite get into his head. it's funny, seems like the younger hedgehog will do anything to ignore the truth, or maybe because the truth is so evident that this is why nothing gets underneath his skin?

"think about it, i can fix everything if you trust me."

it's simple, don't kill him and he can do something more.

"i can make it so you aren't alone... turn back the clock to the beginning. killing me seals your fate, haha."

but death isn't something infinite is looking towards to. he plays with this shadow, humored by his actions because it's not like he know, but oh, he will make him suffer soon just for carrying the name of the hedgehog he despises. ]

[Their words do not give him comfort. They just piss him off. If they could have done that, they would have done it sooner. They're a rat trying to weasel themselves out of a situation they brought onto themselves, to appease him. Toying with his pain. He's sick of it. Trust? Promises? He's been through that song and dance. There's no such thing.]

Save it for someone who cares. [He throws his spear at the jackel, then disappears himself. It wasn't through the usual means one would expect of a Shadow. If the jackel manages to catch it, there was a dark portal that had appeared behind him that he went through instead. Where will he appear?]

[ because he doesn't know to trust. isn't it the younger hedgehog who is making this difficult for himself?

the jackal is agile, enough to roll onto the floor to dodge the spear that crashes into the ground. touchy, he can tell that the other doesn't want to hear anything. his anger towards him is justified, but shouldn't he be glad for all that infinite gave? their ears twitch, the void is silent so he doesn't notice it by that means, only because he needs to be wary of his surroundings.

another clone, and another as the phantom ruby pulsates causing the additions and the one controlling it to glitch in this space. place the doubles by whatever portal appears, keep himself safe for the time-being. it's a waiting game, he has to give up soon enough... or maybe because of what he is that giving up isn't an option.

"but you do, you do care. why else would you fight me if you didn't? you care, and you fear." ]

[There's silence, then there was a moment of laughter. It was neither happy or sad, unsettling amusement over what the jackal says.] I don't fear. [They still think he's a child, when they've unleashed the perfect soldier back into the world. He does not fear, he does not care. He hunts and kills for his master. The spear that had remain sitting without it's owner in the ground, there was a carving where the blade met the staff. It starts to shift, like it was alive. It opens to reveal to be an eye. The eye's pupil starts to move, looking toward the replicas, searching.

Why waste his time when he can just pinpoint the real one? A dark portal forms behind the jackal. No hedgehog comes out of it, only a large claw-like arm will appear. It's coloration was that of the Black Arms, jet black, turning into crimson skin, ending in yellow claws. Slender in build, with tufts of crimson protruding near the wrist, hinting to what purpose this unit might have been created to do. It swipes at the real jackal.]

I bring fear. [They certainly gave him something. More tools to toy with his prey.]

Edited 2025-03-26 13:24 (UTC)

[ "you are a child! you don't know how to bring fear! the only one scared of you is yourself. that's why you're hiding!"

same could be said of the previous measures of the jackal, but hey, it's fun, entertaining and he didn't need to show himself then. besides, he has to get to his feet, keep his surroundings clear, force the jewel to make another copy — sloppier and sluggish, this one moves slower, but that doesn't matter. if he bends reality just a bit, it can be a solid matter, it can brace the attacks.

this may not be his virtual reality that he has complete control over, the younger hedgehog senses might have dulled over the experiences it has seen, but that doesn't mean the jackal has lost. no, because he won't allow himself to lose again. a mighty foe, dangerous too, he sees that, he's witness to how these newfound abilities come with ease, and how infinite must move quickly or suffer consequence.

the phantom ruby does its job by protecting its wearer, it glows and pulsates as soon as the hand comes through the portal, a wide shield brought into existence in order to tank the hit. while the shield does crack in the center, shattering due to the pressure applied, the large arm is in position to grab or slash at him, the body in place in hopes to cushion the attack.

either way, in this void, there's sparks that come from the phantom ruby trying to alter reality and an outside force that zips right into the battle area, a line of light yellow crashes right into the arm, a black and red ball picking up speed to push the arm back, if not into the hole that it dwells from to prevent it from hitting the jackal.

the knockback sends him back onto the ground, feet first as he stands with a furrowed brow. looks like someone changed their mind about playing captive. the jackal however is amazed then annoyed, disgusted upon realization of who it is. ]

[It's call the element of surprise, cause he's certain this jackal isn't aware of what they've brought to the surface from this child. Using that to his advantage to catch his prey. Hiding? From what he's seen so far from this rat. They don't deserve his full might. Their words only driving him further to prove his point. Their pitiful shield barely holds against his strength, breaking through to crush them.

Until his hand was suddenly forced back by an unforeseen strike. No, he felt their arrival. For them to go after him though, was unexpected. The hand disappears back into the void, Shadow left confused by their actions. He nearly had that jackal, they were about to be free of this prison of illusions. Was their hate for the Black Arms so much as to ignore the real target?

He makes an irritated sound as he traverses through the void. Another portal forms where he had left his spear. What exits isn't that large creature that hand belonged to. An armored hand comes through to grab hold of the spear. The rest of the hedgehog follows through, clad in armor that was bestowed onto him as Black Doom's commander of his army. His helmet obscures his eyes, but he's glaring down onto his other. There's no hesitance or uncertainty of his intentions like before.] Why did you stop me? [Is there a reason he couldn't finish the job? Was what the jackal said before about what happens if he dies true? Or is it really "because Black Arms".]

Hmph.

[ the younger may speak to him, but shadow ignores him in favor of turning his attention to the jackal. this is pathetic, it should have been obvious, but those who matter very little to him rarely find themselves on his mind. the slack doll in infinite's hands glitches away into particles, and the jackal grins. well, who knew he'd gain the attention of two hedgehogs.

a green sparks appear in one hand, his chaos spear manifesting as he points it at the jackal. ]

I will finish the job.

[ but it's not like his intentions are solely for infinite, even as shadow glares at him, he turns back towards his other, and points the weapon at him too. ]

Both of you.

[ two against one.

is it intimidating to hear that he's willing to fight them both? no, on the contrary, infinite chuckles with some sort of amusement again. is that the plan here. after all that shadow has went through, the damages, the mental trauma, he thinks that he could handle both of them? infinite is sure if the younger hedgehog attacks at him that shadow will block it because that hedgehog wants to kill infinite himself. it's like having a guard dog that acts on its own biting any hand, even the owner, but he's fully aware that he's unable to control him unless.

infinite stands there, head only shifting to look at the two every so often. however, he can't show favoritism or sides at this moment. because the moment he's about to speak, that chaos spear is thrown towards his double, the only difference is that a quick dodge won't do. it's actually following after him as though locked on, and so is another, and another, and another that he throws out. a quick turn on his heel, he dashes towards infinite with a fist raised back, and the jackal jumps back to avoid the first strike. when shadow punches the ground, he leaves an indent on impact before jumping forward with his focus on infinite for now. ]