Chapter XVI: The Dark King Reborn

Mobians gazed up into the sky after their brief celebration to find a horrifying sight awaiting them. Central Metropolis once again emitted a bright light, but the city itself was gradually being torn apart, its debris burning up as it entered the atmosphere. Humans and Mobians alike began to wonder if what was happening was supposed to occur, just like the Death Egg had been destroyed in years past. Then a thought hit the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix: Sonic and the others were still inside that thing!

As if to tease the groups of Mobians, the great floating fortress that was Central Metropolis shot out a dark shockwave, which then returned and collapsed in on the city. The last remnants of the metropolis seemed to be drawn into what some would propose to be a gravity well, its bits and pieces disappearing at an incredible pace. And then, just as soon as the light had come, it faded, leaving the space formerly occupied by Central Metropolis vacant. The city had imploded.

Sally fell to her knees and felt like breaking down. “Sonic, Tails…everyone.”

“Sally-girl,” Bunnie said comfortingly, kneeling beside her, “There’ve been many times in the past when Sugahog seemed like he was up and dead, but it always came out that he wasn’t. And Ah ain’t gonna let that thought cross mah mind now! Ya gotta have faith, girl! Sonic’s alive and Ah know it ta be true! Ya just gotta believe.”

Antoine, as much as he and Sonic sometimes did not get along, nodded his head in agreement. “Oui, Sonic would never do the throwing of the towel in so easily!”

“It’s never throw in the towel, Antoine,” Sally corrected, “But thank you for believing that he’s not gone.”

Vector raised a fist. “Of course he’s not gone! And neither is our boy, Knuckles! That echidna’s too tough to let some broken-up space station do him in!”

“The spirits watch over them as we speak,” Espio added, “They tell me that they are alive…but not in present in this dimension.”

Sally was ready to grip him by the chest. “What do you mean ‘not present in this dimension’?”

“I cannot answer that,” the chameleon replied, “The spirits are not willing to tell me. All I know is that they are alive and well, but they have a great battle ahead of them. I wish them good fortune in their conflict.”


|-^-Sonikku*Mishiranu-^-|


Unknown opened his eyes and immediately wanted to close them again, as well as shut out his ears. He found himself in a dark plane, where an incredible spiral of souls circled about a single point, each moaning out in dismay. Curiously, he found himself floating in the cosmos, with no aid to help him. Unknown believed that this was normal for this sort of place and shrugged away any disbelief. The kitsune would have assumed that they were in the space between dimensions, but he disregarded the idea.

No, he thought, we’re not between dimensions or even Multiverses. We’re in the Ethereal Plane…the space between Life and Death.

“Haahahahaha!” a rather unfamiliar voice cackled, “That’s correct, young Danius Mishiranu Sunperiuno!”

The prince wheeled about to see a form floating before him and the others, who had only just begun to gain consciousness. Expecting to see a great dragon, Unknown instead found himself staring at what appeared to be a human. He had dark, but regal armor, with an equally malevolent-looking cape. His hair was bright silver in color and its length flowed down just past his shoulders in a wavy pattern. His eyes had white sclera, but emerald green irises, and deep red pupils. His skin was neither fair nor dark, but somewhere in between, perhaps mulatto. His nose seemed to be a perfect shape, neither narrow nor blunt, and his face was neither round nor square nor triangular. His teeth shined an ivory white as he grinned, all filed perfectly, not being too sharp or too dull.

One would call him the paragon of human appearance. Others would simply believe him to be an illusion of a perfect individual.

“I see you do not recognize me in my current state,” the man sighed, shaking his head, but still smiling, “I am Boreas Lanthinus Aaleth.”

Sonic let out a surprised gasp and pointed at the human. “You? You’re Dark King Eraalthac’s true form?”

“That I am, Sonic Hedgehog,” Boreas answered, “and I no longer need the title Dark King, for I shall rule over the cosmos for all eternity. Hmm…how does Eternal Lord sound to you?”

Tails brought his fists close to his chest as he prepared for a fight. “It sounds ridiculous and narcissistic, which is exactly what you are!”

“You will never be able to defeat all of us!” Dusk added, “I’ve brought you close to death once before, and we’ll finish that little mistake this time!”

Boreas simply shook his head and laughed, dispelling the Chaos Emeralds and Time Stones from his dark armor to the group of warriors, for he no longer needed their power to maintain his form. “You’re welcome to try.”

Unknown was the first to move forward, bending over the Time Stones and reciting the passage that would give him power. He was almost surprised to find Dusk soon at his side, also chanting the prayer to Chrono. Nevertheless, the two Superion princes continued, the twelve mighty gems encircling them as they spoke the oath, the pair soon floating higher. And with the final line spoken, the two shifted to their Aeon forms in a blinding flash of light. Unknown appeared like he did before, with his shining armor, golden eyes, and bluish-black aura. 

Dusk, however, looked different, with fighting gear more suited to one who preferred speed to strength. His gloves fit over his hand from the wrist up, excluding the fingers, while the rest of his body was draped in a sleeveless martial arts uniform, the color being a wondrous cyan. His eyes and aura also matched the color of his outfit, and his fur had changed into a fiery reddish-orange with some aquamarine patterns, while his hair on his head had become a shade of copper.

Meanwhile, Sonic and Knuckles had assumed their super forms as they had earlier, the golden hedgehog and pinkish echidna making a flashy return. Tails had assumed his darker orange-furred self, Turbo Tails, whom had red gloves, shoes, and a cape. Shadow transformed into his own super state, having taken on a whitish-gold hue, but still having his red streaks in his spiky quills.

Together, the six super-powered fighters gathered to strike at Boreas, who only grinned in amusement as they came at him. The human-like Superion dodged away from Tails by merely moving aside, jumping off of Sonic’s head with a single leap and delivering a hard kick to Shadow. The red and gold hedgehog flew back and knocked wind from Dusk as he hit him in the chest, the kitsune holding his chest with his arms. Boreas sidestepped a blow from Unknown and punched him in the gut, following up with an axe kick to knock him down some ways. Knuckles was about to come at the ancient from behind, while Sonic charged down the front. The human simply smiled and pulled up at the last moment, causing the two to collide. In the confusion, he took the two spiny beings’ heads and smashed them against one another, then knocked them down with a double overhead slam.

Dusk approached the mighty Superion and unleashed a storm of blows, most of which were blocked by Boreas, and the rest hardly even hurt him. Such a thing stunned the kitsune, and he dodged to the best of his ability the counter-flurry of his opponent. With Boreas preoccupied, Tails was able to deliver an overhead smash with his two fists, knocking the Superion off balance enough for Dusk to get some hits in. The ancient being growled as he was knocked around, letting out an energy shockwave to knock his two attackers away. He was now growing annoyed at the possibility of being ganged up on.

Boreas held one hand in the air and let it charge with red energy. “Chaos Chrono Sword Rain!”

Many blade-like bolts fired from his outstretched palm, several times the number that Chaos Spear or Chrono Arrow could produce on their own. The group of warriors attacking the Superion had to split up to avoid the concentrated storms. But it was that sort of tactic that Boreas took advantage of, striking each and every one of the fighters, repelling his own bolts when they drew close. Attacking amidst his powers was something they were obviously not expecting.

“Gaaaahahahaha!” the human laughed insanely, “Weak! Pathetic! This is the power of your so-called ‘super’ forms? What a joke! Even the elders of my time could contend with me better than your miserable lot!”

Unknown gripped his fists tightly and gazed forward at his foe. “Vicis Eternus! Vestri vox penuria quis EGO postulo ut evinco meus hostilis! Commodo mihi vestri valde quod validus vires ut EGO mos attero meus inimicus! Amplitudo vox ut est Infinitio! Audite meus placitum!”*

The pendant around the kitsune’s neck began to flutter as if caught in a great windstorm, its dull surface beginning to shine. His body as well began to change color once more, and his armor took on a new shape and hue in turn. The Time Stones reacted to his chant and grew in size and luminosity as they reappeared before him. Each wondrous gem fired a beam of pure energy onto the kitsune’s form, who trembled as the flow of tremendous power strained his mortal form. Boreas was curious at this little light show, so he decided to wait and see what results would come from this event.

When Unknown emerged, his eyes had taken on a sky blue and his armor had changed to look like the most regal attire one could ever see. His fur had also changed into an interesting blend of red, green, and white, the latter forming patterns such as nebulae and crescent moons on his body. And situated at the top of his head was a gold and silver crown with every imaginable precious gem and mineral cut and placed within. It was a sight that made Dusk gasp more than any of the others.

“That’s the Emperor’s Armor!” he cried out, “And the Cosmos Crown as well! My brother has transformed into Magnus Unknown!”

Boreas twirled a strand of his silver locks in a finger, looking on at the new kitsune. “Well, this certainly looks like something challenging, at the least. But even the Emperor of Superions himself cannot hope to stand against me, for I am the one true ruler of our people!”

His next words were cut off as Unknown came and delivered a blow to the human’s gut that almost pierced straight through his form. Needless to say, Boreas was caught completely unaware what was going on and coughed up a small spray of blood into his hand as he covered his mouth while recovering from the stagger induced by the strike. In one hand, the kitsune grabbed the man by the throat, who struggled against his grip, gagging loudly. And in the other, Unknown created a handful of earth, which he released into the air and let it transform itself into a miniature planet.

“Whoa!” Sonic exclaimed, “He can make stuff with his mind?”

Dusk nodded and crossed his arms as he watched. “Such is the power of the Magnus form, Sonic. There is little that can stop him now, and I have reason to believe that not even the Dark King himself will be able to hold out for too long.”

Flying into the floating rock, Boreas gasped as he found himself being slammed into the earth by one hand from his enemy. As try as he might, the man could somehow not muster enough strength to break free of the iron grip. Without warning, he was pulled upward and Unknown brought his face down upon his knee. This elicited a painful shout from Boreas, who wanted to hold his wound, but found his arms twisted behind his back tightly, unable to move them due to their sore and agonizing position. The kitsune pressed a boot firmly against his lower back and pushed forward, feeling the tendons in the human’s arms stretching close to their limits. To Magnus Unknown, it was almost satisfying to hear such a monstrosity suffer as many of his victims had.

Then, without warning, the vulpine released the being and knocked him towards the others. Realizing what was now happening, Sonic took the initiative and unleashed a Super Light Speed Attack on Boreas, hitting him from all directions at impossible speed. Tails used a Tornado Attack to knock him further into the air, while Knuckles used a Super Maximum Heat to land a massive flurry of blows. Dusk and Shadow both used a cooperative technique in which Chaos Blast and Chrono Buster melded together and created an incredible blast. Boreas could not withstand all the consecutive attacks and fell back towards the artificial planet, panting heavily.

“How can this be?” he muttered unsteadily to himself, “I…I am the ultimate power! I will not let these people—”

A jolt of pain shot through his body suddenly, causing him to go rigid. “GAHHH!!! What is happening!?”

“The immense power you obtained,” Magnus Unknown stated as he walked over to him slowly, “struggles against the curse which has been placed upon you, Boreas. It is only natural that such reactions of so many different energy types could cause such pain. Or is there something else within you that I do not know about? “

The Dark King felt as if he were gasping for air now, his face turning dark. “I cannot say! It only brings me pain when I—”

This time, physical evidence of his agony appeared in the form of a current of energy running through the surface of his body and his insides. “NGH! Why is this happening to me!? Is there nothing I can do that will—”

A bright and blinding light filled the area once more and a mixture of two voices, one deep and the other light, was heard. And when it cleared, Unknown was almost surprised to find himself gazing at an older-looking Boreas, who’s armor was tarnished and tattered, and his hair all a mess. It was as if he was suddenly ruined, as if the man had instantly aged many years past his prime, and his clothing had worn with him. But Boreas did not look elderly. No, he appeared more middle-aged.

Unknown knew that the Superion had lost a great deal of his power. “Boreas…tell me what is happening…now!”

“Argh, please!” the man begged, being shaken by the kitsune grip on his collar, “Allow me to explain what has just transpired here!”

The prince let go of the human and did not smile when he hit the ground. “Fine. I might as well grant you some last request.”

“I deliver no thanks,” Boreas said, “for I am not welcomed by you or anyone. My last words are quite the tale, Danius, so I hope you will listen to an old man.”


*“Time Eternal! Your power lacks what I require to defeat my enemy! Lend me your great and powerful might so that I will destroy my foe! Grand power that is Eternity! Hear my plea!”