Shadie didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Didn’t blink. The moment her eyes went black-rimmed and the Doom Craft surged, the world snapped inward — and Infinite was ripped off the ground so violently the air cracked like a whip. His feet left the floor. His mask glitched. He choked against an invisible force lifting him higher and higher— —and that was the moment everyone burst through the doors behind Shadow and Will. Not because they heard screaming. Not because someone called for help. But because the energy spike was so massive, so violent, the entire base shook. Will, Silver, Fiona, Rouge, Omega, Tails, and Cream sprinted outside and froze in the doorway all at once. They saw: Infinite dangling meters above the ground, helpless, thrashing. Shadow on the ground, bleeding, staring up at Shadie in total stunned silence. And Shadie herself— eyes dark, aura spiraling like a collapsing star, Doom Craft roaring around her like a living storm. Fiona gasped, stumbling back into Silver. “Oh my— SHADIE?!” Cream squeaked and hid behind Silver’s leg, terrified. Rouge muttered, “…oh, that is BAD.” Will’s tail fluffed up so much it looked twice its normal size. “OH MY CHAOS — SHE’S GONNA KILL HIM!” Omega scanned loudly, “DANGER. REALITY DISTORTION EXCEEDS SAFE LIMITS.” Shadie didn’t even acknowledge their presence. Her gaze locked onto Infinite — then flicked to the blood on Shadow’s arm. And her voice dropped into something far too calm and far too dark: “You hurt my brother.” Shadow swallowed hard. Still silent. Still stunned. Still unable to move. Her power answered her emotion before she did — Infinite was yanked even higher, legs kicking helplessly in the air. “PUT—ME—DOWN!” he choked. Shadie took one slow step forward. The ground cracked under her foot. The shadows rippled outward. And the Doom Craft curled around Infinite like invisible claws. “Leave,” she said. Everyone held their breath. She lowered Infinite just enough for him to collapse onto the ground — then released him with a violent snap of energy. He scrambled away in a blind panic, tripping over himself as he fled into a distortion and vanished. The Doom Craft dimmed. Flickered. Went out. Shadie swayed. Shadow caught her instantly, silent, breathing hard, hands trembling as he held her up. She didn’t speak. Neither did he. And the others didn’t dare make a sound.
