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The towering hunk of metal was an eyesore on his island. It had crashed directly into the volcano toward the north. From Knuckles’ spot atop the cliff, he saw it occasionally shudder. Gray plumes of smoke erupted from its metal plating. Electricity crackled along its sides like swift bolts of blue lightning, instilling the worrying notion in Knuckles that it may detonate.
But reassuring him were the other sections of Angel Island. The ruins still stood, albeit with some leveling from the aftershock. The forest surrounding the mountains and volcano also remained intact. Taking a breath, a sweet, fruity scent from the west calmed him, and he decided to pluck grapes afterward as a reward for fulfilling his duty.
Knuckles pressed down on his thumbs, cracking his bones. Closing his eyes, he dragged his hand down his face and sighed. Trouble reared its ugly head once again. He knew those trespassers were nothing but problems, but the doctor posed a more prominent threat than he did from his last visit. If his monstrosity of an invention exploded, then Angel Island was as good as destroyed, and the anger crawling down Knuckles’ back at that mere insinuation boiled his blood.
Pivoting on his heels, Knuckles noticed a silhouette crossing over him. He arched a brow at the triangular spikes on the shadow’s head. Looking at the clouds, he clicked his tongue and crossed his arms, the supposed hero just another intruder for him to throw off the island.
Sonic landed without stumbling next to him. He straightened his back and whistled, casting a glance over his shoulder. He surveyed the situation, his eyes darting from side to side as he took in his surroundings before glaring at the smoking Death Egg.
A smirk crossed his muzzle. He faced Knuckles with a glint in his eyes that the echidna couldn’t place. It was an expression that both aggravated and empowered Knuckles, and Sonic seemed to know it very well.
“Are you ready for this, knucklehead?” Sonic asked, pointing at the sky, challenging him.
Knuckles accepted and raised his fists. “More than you’ll ever be, hedgehog.”