Knuckles didn't let up. He used his strength to shatter the illusions EXE was trying to build, punching through ghost-walls and fake traps. With one final, massive upper-cut, he launched the glitch toward the Great Emerald. "Access denied," Knuckles muttered.
The moment the Emerald’s glow hit Sonic.EXE, the red mist around him began to evaporate. The glitch screamed—a sound like a crashing computer. The Master Emerald was the ultimate "system restore." It didn't just fight; it neutralized.
As Sonic.EXE touched the gem, a wave of pure chaos energy washed over him. The red eyes flickered and died. The jagged teeth smoothed out. The dark fur faded back to a familiar, bright cobalt blue. Sonic 3. EXE e Knuckles
"You’re not the blue blur I know," Knuckles grunted, slamming his massive fists together. "You look like a bad firmware update."
Sonic hit the ground, blinking rapidly. "Whoa... Knux? Why does my head feel like it was kicked by a Motobug?" Knuckles didn't let up
Sonic looked at his hands, then at the peaceful glow of the cave. "Remind me to never let a weird VHS tape into the Genesis again."
The digital mist cleared, revealing a version of Angel Island that shouldn't exist. The colorful jungle had turned a bruised purple, and the music—usually a triumphant beat—was a slowed, distorted heartbeat. "Access denied," Knuckles muttered
"Too slow," the glitch hissed, his voice echoing from everywhere at once.