[However, being a ghost and well-versed in illusions himself, King Boo is immune to Infinite's abilities and laughs at the others' predicament before stepping in. Taking advantage of the increased gravity, he turns to Infinite, who is launching other illusionary projectiles across the field, and while he's distracted, uses his crown and summons a Thwomp above the jackal.]
["URGH!"]
[Before Infinite notices it, the increased gravity causes the Thwomp to fall too quickly for him to react, promptly crushing him from above and causing his mask and the Phantom Ruby to fly off of his now-flattened and comically crushed body.]
{Super Mario Bros Universe}
Peach's Castle:
"HAHAHAHA!!!" Daisy's laughter exploded across the courtyard as she doubled over, clutching her stomach as tears began to stream down her cheeks, "I-I thought he was supposed to be some big threat! And he got taken out by... by a..."
She couldn't even finish the sentence, gasping for air between fits of giggles, "I can't believe he was eliminated this early! AHAHAHAHA!!"
Mario let out a long, relieved breath and wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his glove. "Phew. At least Infinite is no longer a problem." He glanced at the screen, then shook his head slowly. "That could've been bad. Really bad. The way he was monologuing, I thought we were in for at least twenty more minutes of fighting."
Behind Mario's back, however, Luigi was peeking out with wide, trembling eyes. He let out a sharp yelp as the camera feed zoomed in on King Boo, who was hovering smugly above the battlefield. Of all the possible saviors Luigi had imagined for Bowser, his own personal nemesis had never once crossed his mind. He sank a little lower behind his brother, muttering something incoherent under his breath.
Toad was practically rolling on the floor now, his tiny fists pounding the ground as he howled with laughter, "Ahahaha! I can't believe Infinite lost to a Thwomp! A Thwomp! That's literally the most basic trap in the entire Mushroom Kingdom!" He wiped a tear from his eye and pointed a stubby finger in Luigi's direction, "Even your brother could've dodged that one!"
"Hey!" Luigi's muffled from behind Mario, though he made no move to step out from his hiding spot.
Even Peach couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at the back of her hand.
Yoshi, however, was utterly lost as he tilted his head from side to side, large, confused eyes blinking rapidly as he looked from the laughing group to the screen and back again. Whatever was so funny about a flattened jackal and a falling block had clearly gone right over his head.
He let out a curious "Yoshi?" and scratched his snout with one claw, genuinely baffled by the entire situation.
{Sonic the hedgehog (IDW Comics) Universe}
Eggman Base:
...
...
...
"WHAAAATT?!!!"
Eggman's scream of pure, unfiltered rage tore through the chamber, echoing off the walls like a thunderclap. His face had turned a deep, violent red, and his eyes bulged behind his goggles as he stared at the screen in disbelief.
A Thwomp! A fucking THWOMP!!! Infinite, who was one of his most powerful servants and the one who easily defeated Sonic back at the war and he was easily defeated BY A FUCKING THWOMP?!!!
"King Boo..." Eggman snarled, slamming both fists down onto the console with enough force to rattle every loose bolt in the room, "I should have known the Phantom Ruby's abilities wouldn't fully affect a spectral entity! That incompetent jackal never should have increased gravity! He handed them the perfect weapon!"
Sparks exploded from the damaged control panel as Eggman punched it again, then again, leaving dents in the metal, "DAMN IT! DAMN IT!! DAMN IT!!!"
Orbot slowly rotated toward him, his expression perfectly neutral as he said, "Well, Doctor... I believe this falls under the category of 'unforeseen tactical oversight.'" He paused for dramatic effect, "Also known as... I told you so."
Cubot, completely oblivious to the danger, chimed in cheerfully, "Uh-huh! Guess Infinite didn't quite live up to your expectations, huh, Boss?"
Cubot barely had time to duck as Eggman ripped a monitor straight from the console and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the far wall in a spectacular shower of sparks and broken glass, leaving a smoking dent in the metal.
Meanwhile, Metal Sonic stood motionless and silent. His optical sensors were fixed on the screen. He had been informed that Infinite was a devastating threat during the war, a force of nature that had pushed even Sonic to his limits. And yet, Infinite had been defeated back then. And now, he had repeated the exact same mistake.
Pathetic.
Metal Sonic will make sure that he will bring victory for the Eggman Empire, even if it means that he has to do everything himself.
[With the Phantom Ruby now vulnerable, both armies take notice and fight for it; a Goomba and a Buzz Bomber are the first to reach it, though their inability to pick it up leaves a Chargin' Chuck to grab it as he charges through a Moto Bug. However, Orbot and Cubot suddenly appear behind him, with Orbot distracting him while Cubot snatches the ruby from his hand without him noticing before the Elite Trio, Corporal Paraplonk, Private Goomp, and Sergeant Guy, bombard the duo, creating a cartoonish dust-cloud.]
[As they fight to get the Phantom Ruby, the gem is launched into the air, where Metal Sonic boosts in and quickly snatches it, revealing himself as the mysterious silhouette in the background from earlier.]
{Sonic the hedgehog (IDW Comics) Universe}
Restoration Headquarters:
"Wow, they're really desperate to get the Phantom Ruby for themselves, huh?" Sonic said with a smirk as the battlefield descended into complete chaos, both sides fighting each other to get the Phantom Ruby.
"Even with Infinite out of the picture, the Phantom Ruby is still one of the most dangerous things on that battlefield. Eggman and Bowser both know this." Tails explained as his eyes narrowed slightly, "That's why both armies immediately prioritized securing the ruby before the other side could react."
"Okay, but you have to admit, this is hilarious!" Surge cackled, slapping her knee. "Imagine having two full armies fighting over a reality-warping gemstone... only for those two idiots to steal it!" She jabbed a finger at the screen, which now displayed Orbot and Cubot bumbling around while desperately trying to fend off the Elite Trio. The two robots were surprisingly holding their own, though it's more luck than skill.
Even Sonic let out a small snort at the sight, "Honestly? Fair."
The moment didn't last long though before Metal Sonic rushed in and snatched the Phantom Ruby before dashing off.
"...And there he is," Sonic said quietly, his smirk fading.
Tails' eyes widened in realization, "So Metal was waiting the entire time... He let everyone else fight over it first, exhaust each other then swooped in to snatch it for himself. That's exactly the kind of move he'd make."
"That scrap heap always pulls this kind of stunt." Knuckles huffed, "Sneaks in at the last second after everyone's distracted."
"C-Can he even use the Phantom Ruby? I mean... he's a robot, right?" Kit asked nervously.
Tails visibly tensed at the question.
"If Metal combines the Phantom Ruby with his copying systems..." He said slowly, carefully thinking through the implications, "...then theoretically he could replicate abilities and enhance them through reality distortion."
"...Okay, nerd translation please." Surge said with a scoff.
"He could potentially create copied powers that become stronger, or more 'real' through the ruby's perception manipulation." Tails said in a simplified tone.
"...Oh." Surge's smug demeanor flickered.
"Crap, that means Bowser needs to stop him fast!" Amy said in a worried tone.
{Super Mario Bros Universe}
Bowser's Castle:
"Grrr... that damn copycat!" Bowser growled as he watched Metal Sonic vanish across the screen with the Phantom Ruby clutched tightly in his grip, "Of course he would show up to steal the Phantom Ruby."
While he did laugh when Infinite got crushed by that Thwomp. But He was no fool. He knew Infinite was nothing more than a pawn and that Metal Sonic is actually the biggest threat in this battle.
"Tch." Bowser's tail lashed behind him and said, "Metal Sonic's speed will be a problem. I'll have to deal with him first before I finish off Eggman. If that tin can gets a chance to power up, this whole fight turns upside down."
Kamek hovered beside his king, his expression grim and nodded, "Precisely, sire. if Metal Sonic uses the Phantom Ruby to power himself up. He could deal a catastrophic blow against our forces. We must stop him before he could do that."
Bowser spun around and grabbed Kamek by the shoulders, his massive claws nearly engulfing the tiny magikoopa and shouted, "Kamek! At least tell me you've got something that will stop him from doing that! I don't care if it's dangerous or crazy or both!"
Kamek wobbled in Bowser's grip but didn't flinch. Instead, a slow, sly grin spread across his wrinkled face beneath his spectacles, "Oh, I've got something that will stop him, sir... leave that to me."
[Noticing this, Bowser calls upon purple lightning to strike him down, but Metal Sonic easily avoids them, as well as a Koopa Paratroopa's thrown spear, a Hammer Bro's hammer, and a nearby Bullet Bill. Bowser then throws Broggy at Metal Sonic before Kamek teleports next to his leader with an idea, using his magic to call upon three slots above the two.]
[Meanwhile, Metal Sonic continues to evade a majority of the Koopa Troop, grabbing a Chain Chomp by its chain and throwing it at Broggy to knock him away in the process. Then, as King Boo shoots three fireballs from his crown, Metal Sonic swiftly avoids them and rushes at King Boo, flicking his crown off with his finger, leaving the ghost too shy to keep fighting as he bashfully covers his face. As rain starts to drizzle on the battlefield, Metal Sonic lands on the ground and begins charging himself with the Phantom Ruby, but before he can actually use it... he notices something up above.]
[⇀"CHANCE TIME!"↽]
[The Phantom Ruby suddenly disappears from Metal Sonic's hand. Shocked, Metal Sonic frantically looks around for it, even rotating his head a full 360 degrees in his search before realizing it is now in the possession of a laughing Bowser.]
{Sonic the hedgehog (IDW Comics) Universe}
Eggman Base:
"Excellent!" Eggman cackled proudly as Metal Sonic tore through Bowser's forces with terrifying efficiency, "Look at him go! He's dismantling Bowser's army piece by piece!"
Eggman spread his arms wide dramatically toward the display, "That's right, everyone! Feast your eyes! This is my greatest creation! The pinnacle of my genius!"
Beside him, Orbot gave an approving nod, "Yes, sir. Metal Sonic has demonstrated elegant combat performance."
"Yeah! With him out there, this whole match is basically over! Bowser might as well wave a little white flag right now" Cubot pumped his fists excitedly.
Metal Sonic didn't bother listening to any of them as his optical sensors remained locked on the screen.
Then the scene came when Bowser stole the Phantom Ruby using Chance Time right under Metal Sonic's nose.
Eggman's confident grin evaporated in an instant. His face went pale, then flushed crimson with fury, "WHAT?! THAT OVERGROWN TURTLE STOLE MY RUBY?! HOW?!!"
"Sir... it appears Bowser utilized some form of magical probability manipulation to forcibly transfer ownership of the Phantom Ruby." Cubot said cautiously.
"Yeah! He used his magic powers to yoink it right outta Metal Sonic's hand!" Cubot laughed nervously, "Sooo... I guess we're not using the Phantom Ruby anymore, huh?"
"I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, YOU TITANIUM-PLATED MORONS!" Eggman roared furiously at them.
As for Metal Sonic, he remained completely still. Too still. One could mistake him for a statue if it not for his clenched fist vibrating in anger.
He never did like Bowser at all when they met each other during the Olympic Games and his repeated jabs of him assuming he is a 'dumb copycat' of his rival.
He is NOT a copycat!
He is the original!
And he will prove that right here right now!
Cubot slowly backed away, "Ohhh, he's mad mad."
Even Eggman was shocked for a moment before he smirked and said, "Yes, with your Neo Form and your copying abilities, we don't need the Phantom Ruby! All we need is one good hit and Bowser will be defeated!"
[Understandably upset at this, he summons the Green Chaos Emerald to his hand, transforms into Neo Metal Sonic, and slowly walks toward Bowser.]
["It's too late...!"]
[As Neo charges straight at him at massive speeds, Bowser crushes the Phantom Ruby to prevent it from being used against him and his forces again, but he gets caught off guard and thereafter gets kicked by the robotic hedgehog with enough force to pierce through his chest, leaving him screaming and sending him flying face-first into the ground, near-death, as Neo Metal Sonic flies away. Afterward, a nearby Bowser Jr. looks in fear at his father's condition before black goop manifests on his paintbrush. Bowser Jr. takes note of this fact before coming up with an idea.]
{Super Mario Bros Universe}
Princess Peach's Castle:
Silence fell like a shroud over the castle's courtyard.
Mario slowly raised a hand to cover his mouth, his eyes wide and unblinking as he stared at the screen, "Mamma mia... he took out Bowser in one shot."
Beside him, Luigi looked seconds away from fainting. His already pale complexion had turned ghost-white, and his knees wobbled dangerously beneath him.
"AHHHH!" Luigi cried out, clutching his green hat so tightly his knuckles went white. "Metal Sonic killed Bowser! We're doomed! Everybody's doomed!"
Princess Peach's hands tightened anxiously together as she continued staring at the screen, "He destroyed the Phantom Ruby to protect his army...And Metal Sonic retaliated immediately."
Daisy gritted her teeth and slammed a fist against the nearest wall, "There's no way a hit like that can take out Bowser! Get up and fight already, you oversized turtle! You didn't come this far just to get flattened by a walking can opener!"
Yoshi let out a worried noise beside them, "Yoshi..."
Mario's expression hardened as he noticed Bowser Jr's expression, "No, he's not done yet."
Yoshi noticed it too, stiffening nervously as he yelled out, "Yoshi?!"
Toad's face immediately lost all color as he pointed frantically at the screen and yelled, "NO NO NO NO! HE CAN'T USE THAT FORM NOW!! THAT'S SUICIDE!"
Toad's face immediately lost all color, his eyes went wide as saucers as he pointed frantically at the screen, his voice rising to a terrified shriek, "NO NO NO NO! HE CAN'T USE THAT FORM NOW!! NOT NOW! THAT'S SUICIDE! HE'LL DESTROY EVERYTHING, INCLUDING HIMSELF!"
"He has no choice!" Peach interrupted sharply.
Everyone turned toward her in surprise as Peach's expression had hardened completely now.
"Bowser will win this, I know he will. He is too stubborn to let Eggman beat him that easily."
Bowser's Castle:
"DAD!"
Bowser Jr.'s terrified voice echoed through the chamber the instant Neo Metal Sonic's kick slammed into Bowser's chest.
Even the real Bowser looked stunned by this then his expression twisted into fury as a deep growl rumbled from his throat and smoke curled from his nostrils.
"That oversized pile of scrap hasn't beaten me yet!" Bowser snarled as he clenched his fist.
Beside him, Kamek adjusted his glasses nervously while continuing to analyze the simulation, "Sire...it appears all hope is not yet lost."
Bowser glanced toward him as Kamek pointed his wand towards the screen and noticed that Junior has an idea.
Bowser noticed as well and he looked at his son and said, "Son, you know what must be done right?"
Junior looked at his father in shock then he slowly nodded, "...Yeah."
Kamek's expression darkened with concern as he asked, "Sire... are you certain? You still haven't managed to fully control that power."
"Ya got a better idea?" Bowser growled at him.
Kamek opened his mouth, then closed it again as he shook his head.
"Eggman will not win this fight, I will not let that happen!" Bowser declared as he roared at the screen, "Because unlike him! I have a family to protect!"
["All according to plan!" Meanwhile, the real Eggman arrives on the battlefield in the Death Egg Robot alongside Sage, catching the attention of a Paragoomba and Slicer about to engage in their own battle and a few background Koopa Troopas running with their comrades as the rain begins to pour.]
["You've lost the battle before it has begun." Sage said in an indifferent tone as Neo Metal Sonic flies next to his master's mech.]
["Excellent work as always, Metal!" Eggman thanked him as Neo Metal Sonic gave Eggman a nonchalant thumbs up as the Death Egg Robot turned to Sage.]
["Ready to wrap this up, Sage?" Eggman asked his daughter.]
["As you command." Sage answered her father.]
["You know what they say: "The more the merrier!" As Eggman says this and lets out a laugh, Bowser Jr. jumps and flings the black paint at his father, splashing Bowser with the black goop, completely covering him in it and letting Bowser sink down into a black vortex-like void as Jr. follows suit. Within the dark vortex, Bowser's eyes reopen with fury as his eyebrows light on fire, left with only one thing to say...]
["Showtime!"]
[Arising from the dark void as Fury Bowser, he throws a big punch at the Death Egg Robot, but Neo Metal Sonic kicks it out of the way and takes the blow for it with his Black Shield, which is subsequently shattered by the punch as Metal gets launched away as a result. Sage teleports away from their clash as Bowser rushes towards the Death Egg Robot, which takes a step back as the two make their stance against each other. Both go to throw a punch at the other, lightning striking between the two as the war rages on, but Bowser is quicker to connect his and breaks off a chunk of the giant mech's face, causing its arm to twitch.]
{Sonic the hedgehog (IDW Comics) Universe}
Restoration Headquarters:
"HOOOOOOLY CHILI DOGS!" Sonic the Hedgehog shouted, having stars in his eyes as he practically jumped to his feet, "He turned into a giant lizard monster!"
"That's gotta be his Fury form!" Tails said beside him as his two tails stand on end, "He might have a chance to turn the tides against Eggman."
"Now that's what I call power!" Knuckles shouted as he slammed his knuckles together.
"Yeah, well hopefully he managed to finish this fight quick." Amy said hopefully.
Surge, meanwhile, looked like she was having the time of her life as she was practically vibrating with excitement as green electricity crackled around her quills, "Well I hope this doesn't end! Because this is shit is getting more and more awesome!"
"Y-yeah..." Kit said reluctantly before he flinched immediately, "...Actually, no. I kinda hope it does end soon."
"Ooooh, I bet Eggman is losing his marbles once he realises this battle is not going to end that quickly." Sonic smirked, already imagining the terror on Eggman's face.
Eggman Base:
Which is exactly what is happening to him right now as Eggman was actually feeling scared as Bowser effortlessly punched Neo Metal Sonic away and nearly destroyed his Death Egg Robot in just one punch clash.
"CRAP, CRAP, CRAP!" Doctor Eggman shouted in panic as he gripped the control console tightly, "THIS IS NOT HOW THIS BATTLE IS SUPPOSED TO GO!"
Nearby, Cubot immediately started panicking as he screamed while flailing his arms wildly, "AHHHH! THE BOSS IS GONNA DIE! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE! WE'RE ALL GONNA GET STEPPED ON BY A GIANT LAVA TURTLE!"
SMACK. Orbot smacked Cubot across the head and snapped at him, "Would you please stop screaming?"
Cubot rubbed his head miserably and complained, "But Bowser is going to win! We're gonna lose!"
"He is not going to die, Cubot," Orbot replied calmly, though even he sounded tense now, "The doctor always has a contingency plan. And I highly doubt Sage overlooked a scenario like this. And we still have Metal Sonic helping us."
"YES! EXACTLY! THANK YOU!" Eggman shouted, not turning from the screen.
Speaking of Metal Sonic, his optics burned brighter than ever as he is locked entirely onto Fury Bowser.
His conclusion was obvious. Fury Bowser was too powerful in his current state. If he wanted victory, he would need more power.
Going Metal Overlord would be a detriment to Eggman as he needs to absorb his entire army to do so, and he can't afford to do that right now.
Therefore, if he wants to have a sliver of a chance to beat Fury Bowser, he needs to go Super right now.
[Following this, Bowser jumps high in the air and tucks into his shell to launch projectile spikes down on Eggman before Sage protects her father with an above-head force field. Bowser then launches himself downward for a full force collision through his spikes onto Sage's force field to destroy it, but he is suddenly stopped from crushing her and Eggman by a shimmering gold light.]
[Perplexed, a braced Eggman looks up to see the humongous Fury Bowser held up by a returning Neo Metal Sonic, who has used all seven Chaos Emeralds to transform into his super form.]
["I'll crush you!"]
{Super Mario Bros Universe}
Princess Peach's Castle:
The moment that Super Neo Metal Sonic was revealed the atmosphere grew colder.
"Metal Sonic has gone Super now." Mario said, his brow furrowed, "Bowser needs to eliminate him right now if he wants to win."
Beside him, Daisy slammed a fist into her palm and shouted towards the screen, "COME ON, BOWSER! I know you can win this! CRUSH HIM!"
Yoshi immediately joined in excitedly, "Yoshi! Yoshi!"
Toad pumped his fists frantically despite looking terrified, "YEAH! GO BOWSER! HIT HIM REALLY HARD!"
"...I can't believe I'm actually rooting for Bowser right now." Luigi muttered before he cupped his hands and shouted, "Go Bowser! Win this for us!"
Meanwhile, Peach remained unusually quiet. Her eyes stayed fixed on the image of Super Neo Metal Sonic and her hands tightened together anxiously.
She had spent years dealing with Bowser's invasions, schemes, and constant attempts to kidnap her. His endless infatuation with her are just as exhausting as ever.
But despite all of that... she still doesn't want him to lose.
"...Please be careful." Peach whispered softly.
Bowser's Castle:
Bowser growled deeply, his massive claws tightening around the armrests of his stone throne as his eyes were locked on the screen, narrowed to burning slits as Super Neo Metal Sonic appeared like a golden angel of destruction.
"Of course that golden form would show up sooner or later. You really don't make it easy to beat you, do you, Eggface?" Bowser snarled as puffs of steam and smoke billowed from his nostrils.
Beside him, Bowser Jr. gulped. His usual bravado had shrunk to a nervous whisper as he watched Super Neo Metal Sonic tear across the battlefield. Even with his dad's Fury form, he wasn't sure it would be enough because of Super Neo Metal Sonic's invincibility.
And if that thing had even a single chance to copy Fury Bowser's biodata, this match would be Game Over.
But Bowser Jr. shook his head violently, banishing the thought as he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at the screen, "Come on, Dad! Don't give up! You've never given up before! You're the King of the Koopas! Show that shiny metal menace who's boss!"
Kamek hovered silently behind them, his expression calm despite the knot of worry tightening in his chest. He had seen Bowser survive things that should have destroyed him a hundred times over. He had watched his king fall into lava, get flattened by his own castle, punched to the moon and back, and every single time, Bowser clawed his way back to the top.
This time would be no different.
"Come now, sire," Kamek said firmly, adjusting his spectacles with a steady hand, "You have survived far worse than some robotic hedgehog. This is merely another obstacle. And obstacles, as you've always taught us, are meant to be broken."
Bowser smirked slightly, feeling proud hearing his own son and his closest companion's compliments, "That's what I like to hear! There's no way I'm losing to the likes of ol' Eggface! Not today! Not ever!"
"COME ON!" He shouted toward his Fury self on the battlefield, "SHOW THAT GLORIFIED TOASTER OVEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEBODY PICKS A FIGHT WITH BOWSER! BURN HIM TO ASHES! BREAK HIM INTO SCRAP!"
[Super Neo Metal Sonic launches Bowser into the air, dealing heavy blows that keep him spinning before knocking him down to the ground, though Bowser quickly recovers from the assault and lands on his feet. Sage then grabs a horde of Eggman's robots with her telekinesis and throws them all at Bowser, but Kamek reappears in front of him and uses his magic to summon elongating Warp Pipes, forming a shield that destroys the swarm and prevents them from reaching Bowser. Metal Sonic, however, instantly breaks through the pipes and throws a salt-fueled punch at a shocked Kamek, seemingly taking out his frustration for losing the Phantom Ruby to Chance Time, blasting him off into the horizon as Bowser takes notice before Metal Sonic rushes toward his opponent.]
[Fury Bowser braces himself as he returns his attention to Metal, preparing to defend against the incoming attack, only to show surprise as Shadow Mario jumps in the way and creates an X-shaped paint shield. Rolling into a concussive ball, Super Neo Metal Sonic easily breaks through it and knocks Shadow Mario to the ground with a Homing Attack, much to Fury Bowser's concern.]
[Shadow Mario then falls to the ground and explodes in dark blue paint to reveal Bowser Jr, as the attack undid his transformation.]
{Sonic the hedgehog (IDW Comics) Universe}
Restoration Headquarters:
Amy gasped in horror as her hands flew to her mouth and tears immediately began forming in her eyes.
Seeing someone throw themselves into danger for a loved one always hit her hard, and watching Junior take an attack that clearly should have killed him left her shaken.
Sonic and Knuckles winced at Super Neo Metal Sonic brutally beating Junior.
"Yeesh." Sonic rubbed the back of his neck, his voice uncharacteristically weak, "Metal really didn't hold back there, did he?"
Knuckles responded with a punch to Sonic's arm hard enough to make the blue blur yelp.
"Read the room, Sonic."
"I wasn't joking!" Sonic protested, rubbing the sore spot, "I'm just saying... that was too brutal. Even for Metal."
Tails, who had been silently analyzing the screen with growing intensity, finally spoke up, "Eggman has made a mistake."
Surge raised a skeptical eyebrow at him, "He did? How? Last I checked, his shiny golden murder machine is winning."
Tails didn't look away from the screen and continued, "Metal Sonic shouldn't have attacked Bowser Jr, especially in front of Bowser."
"...You think that's gonna matter? I mean, Bowser's already fighting at full power. He's already in his Fury form. What's left?" Kit asked him.
Tails finally turned to face the group, his expression deadly serious as he said, "Absolutely. Think about it. Bowser was already fighting with everything he had. And seeing his son injured. Metal Sonic has made it personal."
Amy slowly lowered her hands from her mouth as realization began to dawn on her face, "Oh..."
Tails nodded grimly, "Parents can tolerate a lot when it comes to themselves. But when somebody hurts their child?"
Tails looked at Fury Bowser's expression before saying, "They would make sure the person responsible wouldn't get the chance to do it again."
{Super Mario Bros Universe}
Bowser's Castle:
"JUNIOOOOORRRR!!!!"
Bowser's roar tore through the throne room like a thunderclap, as the armrests of his stone throne shattered completely beneath his grip and chunks of rock crumble to the floor.
His SON! His heir, his own pride and joy had to step in and take the full brunt of Super Neo Metal Sonic's attack head-on and he may as well be on the brink of death and he failed to protect him!
For the first time since the Death Battle had begun, Bowser looked genuinely terrified.
"Why... why would you do something so stupid...? You should have run. You should have hidden. Why would you..."
The real Bowser Jr. winced as he watched his on-screen counterpart lying unconscious. Yet despite seeing the brutal consequences play out before his eyes, despite knowing how close that version of himself had come to death, he couldn't bring himself to regret it.
Because deep down? He already knew.
He would have done the exact same thing.
"...I would've done it too." He said quietly.
Bowser's head snapped toward him so fast his neck cracked, "WHAT?!"
Bowser Jr. didn't flinch as he met his father's wide, disbelieving stare with steady eyes and shouted back, "Because I would've done the same thing! You were in danger! Metal Sonic was about to destroy you! I wasn't just going to stand there and watch!" His voice cracked slightly, but he didn't back down, "That's what family does, right? We protect each other!"
Bowser opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Meanwhile, Kamek frantically adjusted his glasses before wiping them clean and looking back at the footage. Then he practically shouted in relief, "HE'S NOT DEAD, SIRE!"
Both Bowser and Bowser Jr. immediately looked back at the screen and saw Junior's unconscious body, but he was still breathing.
Upon seeing that, amassive wave of relief washed across Bowser instantly as his shoulders visibly relaxed and the crushing fear that had seized his chest eased slightly.
But... his anger hasn't subsided yet as his fists clenched tighter, his breathing deepened and his eyes narrowed into burning slits.
His own son almost died because of him! And he knows full well who to blame on.
"Metal Sonic... I WILL KILL YOU!!!!"
[Seeing his motionless son on the ground, Fury Bowser goes completely berserk, swatting Metal away like a fly right as the robot rushes towards him.]
["How dare you! Keep YOUR hands OFF... MY... SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!"]
[As he shouts this, Bowser summons the power of a Grand Star, becoming surrounded in a rainbow-colored aura as he channels its energy and uses it in combination with his fire breath to unleash a multicolored Fury Blast at Metal Sonic, who copies Fury Bowser's bio-data instantaneously and fires a yellow Fury Blast of his own in retaliation. However, the attack immediately proves futile; the Chaos Emeralds get overpowered, forcing them out of his body and leaving a depowered Neo Metal Sonic to watch in terror before he gets blown apart and blasted away by the beam.]
Princess Peach's Castle:
Mario let out a long, deep sigh of relief as Neo Metal Sonic's shattered remains flickered off the screen. His shoulders visibly relaxed, and for the first time in what felt like hours, he allowed himself a small smile, "Finally, Metal Sonic is defeated."
Beside him, Luigi let out an even heavier sigh, as he pulled his green cap down slightly and wiped a few stray tears from the corners of his eyes with the back of his glove, "Yeah, he deserved it. After everything he did... especially taking down Junior like that."
Daisy, never one to contain her enthusiasm, pumped a fist high into the air and let out a booming, "AW YEAH! THAT'S RIGHT! Raw power beats technology any day of the week! You can keep your fancy gadgets and your shiny transformations, nothing beats good old-fashioned muscle and magic!"
"Yoshi!" Yoshi cheered alongside her, bouncing on his toes and swishing his tail happily. He may not have understood every detail of the battle, but he understood victory when he saw it.
Toad pulled a tiny handkerchief from somewhere beneath his spotted cap and dabbed at his brow, "Phew!" He exclaimed, puffing out his chest, "Now all that's left is Eggman himself. Take him out, and we've won!"
Peach said nothing at first. She simply watched the screen with quiet, grateful eyes as a small smile formed from her lips.
For once, she felt truly thankful that Bowser had gone all out.
"Thank you, Bowser." She whispered, just loud enough for those beside her to hear.
{Sonic the hedgehog (IDW Comics) Universe}
Eggman Base:
"METAL! NO!!!"
Eggman let out a guttural scream as he watched Neo Metal Sonic get violently eviscerated by the searing blast unleashed by Fury Bowser. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, veins bulging across his forehead. Years of engineering, countless upgrades, going Super... all of it reduced to scrap in an instant. He had just lost one of his most valuable assets, and the rage burned through him like wildfire.
"Damnit! How did that big oaf get this powerful in such a short time?!" Eggman fumed, slamming both fists down onto his console as the entire workstation shuddered under the impact, sparks flying from a few loose wires.
Behind him, Metal Sonic stood motionless, his optical sensors fixed on the screen. He had watched his on-screen counterpart's defeat in silence. His head lowered slightly, as his red eyes dimmed. He couldn't believe it. Despite pushing Fury Bowser to his limits, despite fighting with everything he had... he still lost.
Deep within his processing core, Metal had half a mind to blame his creator. After all, this was EGGMAN'S Death Battle. And yet the doctor had contributed almost NOTHING to the fight. Metal had done all the heavy lifting while Eggman stood back and watched. The injustice of it burned hotter than any of Bowser's flames.
"Gah! Metal's down!" Cubot shrieked, flailing his arms above his head in pure panic, "What do we do now?! I'm too young to die!"
Orbot let out a long, weary sigh and turned toward Eggman, "Must we go through this again? Every single time?" He tilted his body slightly and asked Eggman, "Do you have any other suggestions, boss? It isn't like you to get so worked up."
Eggman's heavy breathing slowly steadied. His clenched fists relaxed, as he drew in a deep breath, held it, then let it out in a long sigh. When he opened his eyes again, the blind rage was gone and was replaced by something colder.
"You're right, Orbot." Eggman said, his voice low and measured as he glared at the screen and a slow, dangerous smile crept across his face, "There's still one last trump card I can play to finally win this war!"
[The Chaos Emeralds surround a distraught Sage as Bowser's blast destroys the Egg Fleet and the impact creates a black hole behind her and her father, sucking in a majority of the Eggman Empire's troops and heavily damaging the Death Egg Robot, knocking off its arm and its head piece. As the mech uses its jets and its remaining arm to avoid getting sucked in as well, Eggman orders Sage to unleash his last resort.]
["Sage! The Death Egg! MAX POWER!!!"]
[Nodding at her father's command, Sage warps away with the Chaos Emeralds as the black hole vanishes into thin air as the camera pans up to the "moon", revealing its identity as the Death Egg by moving it out of the way of the real Moon after the gemstones flash around it. She then uses the Emeralds to charge its Final Egg Blaster, which fires not at Bowser, but at the Koopa Troop.]
[As it approaches the Earth's surface, both armies watch in fear as a kneeling Koopa prays to himself over his impending doom and Eggman's remaining robots attempt to flee except for Orbot and Cubot, who are still fighting the Elite Trio and also watch in fear of the attack.]
{Super Mario Bros Universe}
Princess Peach's Castle:
The moment the Death Egg revealed itself and aimed directly at the battlefield, every Toad in the Mushroom Kingdom screamed and scattered in every direction, trampling flower beds, knocking over market stalls, and diving behind anything that might offer even the slightest protection.
"AHHHHHH! IT'S THE DEATH EGG!"
"IS HE CRAZY?! HE'S GOING TO DESTROY THE ENTIRE MUSHROOM KINGDOM!"
"WE'RE DOOMED! WE'RE ALL DOOMED!"
Even the entire Mario crew were left completely speechless.
Mario's stomach dropped so hard and his hand reached for his cap, gripping the brim to steady himself, "Mamma mia... he's not aiming at Bowser. He's aiming at everyone. He's going to wipe them all out..."
Luigi's face had gone paler as his voice came out in a trembling whisper, "P-Please... please tell me that's not how this ends... Tell me there's something, anything that can stop that thing..."
No one answered him.
Daisy clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles cracked as her entire body trembled with barely contained rage.
"That coward!" She spat out, her voice shaking with anger as she shouted, "He couldn't beat Bowser directly, so he's targeting the troops instead!"
Yoshi stared at the screen with wide, unblinking eyes, his usual cheerful demeanor completely gone, "...Yoshi..."
Toad looked absolutely horrified as pointed frantically at Eggman's army, "H-He doesn't even care about his own army! Look at them! Even they know they're about to die!"
Peach covered her mouth with both gloved hands, but it wasn't enough to stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks as she stared at Bowser's army.
For all Bowser's faults... For every kidnapping, every invasion, every scheme to take over her kingdom... Those soldiers trusted him. They followed him into battle after battle. Not because they were forced too, but because they believed in him.
And now they were staring death in the face.
"...They're scared," Peach whispered, "Look at them. They're all so scared."
Mario nodded grimly, "Yeah."
Everyone remained quiet before Luigi spoke in a shaky voice, "B-but... Bowser's still down there too. Surely... surely he'll do something. He won't just let them die. Right? Right?!"
Mario slowly exhaled, "I've known Bowser a long time. Fought him more times than I can count. And if there's one thing I know about him...it's that he doesn't take kindly to people threatening his troops."
Daisy nodded firmly, "He'll do something alright. He has to."
Toad however looked uncertain as he shouted, "Against THAT?! That's the Death Egg! It's a superweapon! What can he possibly do to beat that?!"
Peach lowered her head. For a brief moment, she wasn't looking at Bowser the villain, the one who kidnapped her, invaded her kingdom, and fawn over her.
She was looking at Bowser the king. The father. The protector. The ruler whose entire army was about to be annihilated.
"...Come on, Bowser." She whispered, "I know you can do it. Don't let them down. Don't let me down. Win this for all of us."
Bowser's Castle:
The moment the Death Egg moved aside and revealed itself, the entire throne room fell into absolute silence.
Bowser's confident grin vanished as if it had never existed.
Kamek's wand, raised high in mid-cheer, slowly lowered until it hung limp at his side.
Bowser Jr.'s jaw dropped so far it nearly hit the floor.
Nobody spoke. Nobody breathed. They simply stared at the weapon hanging above the battlefield.
And soon they realized where it was aimed at. Not at Bowser. But at the entire Koopa Troop.
Bowser's eyes widened in fear, "...No."
"He..." His claws tightened against his palm so hard it began to bleed, "He isn't even aiming at me, HE'S AIMING AT MY ARMY!"
Bowser Jr.'s pupils shrank to pinpricks. His small body trembled as he pointed frantically at the screen, his voice cracking with desperation, "H-He can't do that! That's cheating! That's not how a fight works! Dad, he's targeting everybody! The Goombas, the Koopas, the Shy Guys... everyone!"
Kamek's face paled beneath his spectacles, the usual glint in his eyes replaced by cold understanding, "By removing the army... he removes your greatest advantage, sire. Without the Troop, you fight alone against an empire."
Bowser's growl deepened. His head lowered slightly as he muttered with venom, "He knows...he knows he can't beat me. So now he's trying to kill everyone else. Including his own army in the process."
Bowser Jr. looked horrified as he screamed, "But Dad! Those are our troops! We can't just leave them there! We have to do something!"
"No." Bowser snarled as his eyes burned with venomous rage and his mouth begin to let out smoke, "They're not just troops. They're my people."
"No one touches my army."
The flames around his mouth intensified, casting his face in hellish light.
"No one hurts my son."
His eyes glowed with murderous fury and let's out his fire breath and shouted with all of his might.
"AND NO ONE! GETS TO DECIDE WHEN THE KOOPA TROOP DIES EXCEPT ME!"
[Bowser, on the other hand, looks at the oncoming laser and, as Eggman leaves in his Egg Mobile in maniacal laughter, leaps bravely in front of the Koopa Troop to protect them as he attempts to catch the blast with his bare hands. However, he quickly gets overwhelmed by it and is left screaming in agony as he gets reduced to a skeleton that gets blasted into pieces shortly afterward.]
[As the smoke clears, a large crater is seen with Eggman and his damaged Egg Mobile inside, having made it out safely. After catching his breath, he goes to his vehicle, thinking the battle is finally over...]
{Sonic the hedgehog (IDW Comics) Universe}
Restoration Headquarters:
When the scene shifted and revealed that Eggman was still alive, battered and bruised, the room remained completely silent.
Eventually Kit spoke first, "...He knew. He knew he was going to die. And he still jumped in front of the laser. He sacrificed himself to protect his army."
Amy lowered her head slightly, her pink quills falling forward to shadow her eyes. "...Yeah, he did."
Surge stared at the screen, her expression twisting into a sneer and said, "...That's stupid."
No one responded as she shook her head violently, as if trying to shake off the weight of what she'd just witnessed, "Seriously. That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen! He should've dodged it! He's fast and strong enough, he could've gotten out of the way! He shouldn't have just stood there and let himself get vaporized!"
Yet despite her words, She couldn't look away. Because she understood exactly why he had done it. And that made her angrier than anything else.
Knuckles exhaled slowly as he folded his arms, "No. It wasn't stupid."
Surge frowned as Knuckles continued, "He was protecting his people. That's not stupidity. That's leadership. Any leader would've done the same thing as him."
Tails nodded in agreement, his tails swishing thoughtfully behind him, "Bowser has always cared about his troops. And his son."
Sonic, however, wasn't nodding along as the blue blur stood with his arms crossed, his usual cocky demeanor replaced by something more focused, "...Don't celebrate yet, Eggman."
Kit blinked at him and said, "Huh? But Bowser's... I mean, he's..."
Sonic smirked slightly, "Call it a gut feeling. Guys like Bowser don't stay down that easily."
Surge raised a skeptical eyebrow at him, "Even after that? He got hit by a superweapon, Sonic. There wasn't even anything left except bones."
Knuckles grinned as he realised what Sonic was implying, "Especially after that."
Tails nodded, a slow smile spreading across the young fox's face as the pieces clicked into place, "Honestly? If Bowser's survived half the stuff they've shown in this episode... I'd be more surprised if he stayed dead."
Amy laughed softly, "That's a terrifying thing to say."
"Yeah." Sonic admitted, his smirk widening into a full grin, "But he's also the guy who refuses to lose. And somehow... I think we're about to see something crazy."
Eggman Base:
Eggman stood frozen, staring at the screen in stunned silence. Then the realization fully hit him.
Bowser was dead.
The scientist's grin spread slowly across his face, a thin, disbelieving curve at first until his entire face was consumed by a maniacal, triumphant smile.
"OHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!"
Eggman nearly doubled over, clutching his stomach as laughter poured out of him in uncontrollable waves as tears formed at the corners of his eyes and his mustache twitched with every cackle.
"I DID IT! I ACTUALLY DID IT!" He shouted in excitement, "The King of the Koopas is finished! Gone! Reduced to ashes! The Eggman Empire stands victorious!
OHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!"
Behind him, Orbot folded his arms across his metallic chest and said coolly, "I'll admit Boss, the odds of surviving a direct hit from a weapon of that magnitude do appear rather low. Statistically speaking, of course."
Eggman spun toward him as as he jabbed at him with a finger, "APPEAR?! Orbot! Look at that! There is literally nothing left of him!"
The scientist threw both arms into the air and shouted, "I FINALLY WON! After all these years, all the schemes, all the planning, and all the hard work I put into, I finally prove that brains beats brawn!"
Cubot, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, thumped a fist against his own head, "Huh. Y'know... for a bad guy... he did something pretty heroic."
Eggman's eye twitched as Cubot continued, "He jumped in front of the laser. To save his army and Bowser Jr. That's kinda noble don't you think Boss?"
Eggman's triumphant grin faltered as he couldn't predict that Bowser would sacrifice himself like that, sure he is insufferable but he is also charismatic in a good way and he did have a good time working with him to defeat Mario and Sonic.
He'd actually... enjoyed those moments.
"...Maybe you're right, Cubot." Eggman admitted quietly, his voice losing some of its manic edge. Then he shook his head and straightened his posture, "But the point is, I still won! Heroic sacrifice or not, Bowser is dead, and I am victorious!"
Meanwhile, Metal Sonic's optical sensors were fixed on the screen, his processors whirring at maximum capacity as he examined every frame of the footage.
Bowser's body was destroyed yes, and all that remains is his skeleton... wait a minute.
Metal Sonic's optics flickered as he beeped in an alarmed tone.
Eggman turned toward him, still basking in his imagined triumph, "What is it, Metal? Here to bask in my victory? To congratulate your creator on finally defeating Bowser?"
Metal Sonic whirred in response and extended an arm to point at the screen to which Eggman looked and his eyes widened in shock.
"No... that's... that's impossible..."
[...only for someone off-screen to fire a beam of magic at the Egg Mobile, turning it into stone. Startled, Eggman turns around to see that the beam was fired by a now conscious and tranquil but enraged Bowser Jr. holding Kamek's magic wand, having sustained minor wounds and his bandana partially ruined, who glares angrily at Eggman as Bowser, now as Dry Bowser due to the Death Egg's prior attack reconnects his head to the rest of his skeleton body and some remaining Koopa Troop members gather behind them. Junior then fires another beam from the wand, which Eggman easily dodges.]
["Curses! Sage! Fire it agai.. Wuh-huh?"]
[Turning around, Eggman realizes with shock that Junior's beam was aimed not at him, but at the Death Egg, which gets transmuted into a giant Question Mark Block by the attack, much to Eggman's horror and concern for Sage.]
["Wait...!"]
[Suddenly, Eggman starts getting sucked into Bowser's Vacuum Breath as he gives the last laugh to his opponent. Eggman attempts to escape the suction with his jetpack and even by running once the jetpack immediately gets sucked in, but when even that does not work, he pulls out his ray gun to shoot Bowser as the gap is closed. However, Bowser Jr. fires another beam at the weapon to turn it into a wooden cutout of itself as ironic karma for the Peach cutout that started the war in the first place, much to Eggman's surprise. With no remaining options left to save him from his rapidly impending fate, Eggman can only watch as he gets sucked closer to Dry Bowser.]
["So long, Doctor!"]
[With all his hard-boiled fury, Dry Bowser throws a devastating punch into Eggman's chest, causing sparks and launching him far into orbit towards the giant Question Mark Block, leaving Eggman screaming at his own demise.]
["WOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!"]
[After a moment, his body collides with the block, blowing the two up in a massively magnificent golden explosion as Dry Bowser laughs triumphantly. Kamek and the rest of the surviving Koopa Troop regroup with their leader to join in the celebration as Orbot and Cubot look at the camera sheepishly over their creator's death and coins rain from the sky, supplying the victorious army with numerous extra lives with which to bring back their fallen soldiers.]
["AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"]
Across the vast expanse of the Omniverse, silence fell upon them.
One by one as viewers from countless dimensions, heroes, villains, and everything in between stared at their screens in stunned disbelief. Their eyes remained locked on the aftermath of the battle, each trying to fully process what they had just witnessed.
The breathtaking fight scenes. The intricate character designs. The explosive back-and-forth momentum. And especially the ending, that final, unforgettable moment that no one had seen coming.
All of it was nothing short of a masterpiece.
Then, slowly, someone began to clap.
Another joined. Then another. Then dozens. Then hundreds. Then thousands across realities.
Soon enough, viewers everywhere rose to their feet as they gave a thunderous standing ovation rippling across the Omniverse.
Bowser had fought with fury, cunning, and relentless power, and he had rightfully earned his victory. His name echoed across dimensions, spoken with newfound respect.
But neither was Eggman forgotten. Though he had tasted defeat, he had pushed Bowser further than anyone expected. He had landed blows, executed clever strategies, and given the King of the Koopas the toughest fight of his life. For that, even other scientists and villains offered a nod of acknowledgment.
Overall, the audience had thoroughly enjoyed the show. The twists had kept them guessing. The action had kept them on the edge of their seats. And the conclusion had left them deeply satisfied.
{Super Mario Bros Universe}
Bowser's Castle:
"GWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Bowser threw his head back and let out a thunderous laugh that echoed through every corner of the throne room. He pounded his chest with one massive fist, still buzzing from the adrenaline of victory. "We won! We won! Suck on that, Eggface! Looks like brawn beats brains after all! GWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Beside him, Bowser Jr. was hopping up and down, his spiked shell bouncing with every joyful leap. "Woohoo! Yeah, we won, Father! I knew you could do it! I never doubted you for a second!" He threw his tiny arms around Bowser's leg in a fierce hug.
Even Kamek couldn't help but smirk with pride as he watched the father and son celebrate. The old magikoopa adjusted his spectacles and smiled. For all his mischief and mayhem, the king truly cared about his family. And today, that family had emerged victorious.
Then he heard multiple footsteps coming to this way and turned just as the massive doors to the throne room burst open with a thunderous BANG.
A sea of minions poured inside, Goombas waddling as fast as their stubby legs could carry them, the Koopas and Shy Guys running behind them, Dry Bones clattering with excitement, Bob-ombs bouncing precariously, Boos phasing through the walls, and Charging Chucks shoving their way to the front as every single member of Bowser's army crammed into the throne room, their voices rising into a deafening roar of celebration.
"YOU DID IT, SIRE! YOU WON!"
"THANK THE STARS YOU PULLED THROUGH!"
"YEAH! YOU SHOWED THAT EGGHEAD WHO'S BOSS!"
"LONG LIVE KING BOWSER!"
Bowser raised a clawed hand, and the room fell silent in an instant as every eye was fixed on their king.
"No, I didn't win... We won. I couldn't have beaten Eggman without all of your help. Every single one of you fought like warriors today. And I won't forget this."
This makes all of the Koopa troop erupted into cheers so loud they shook the chandeliers, helmets thrown into the air, high-fives exchanged between species and even the Dry Bones seemed to dance.
Bowser let the celebration wash over him for a moment, then raised his hand again.
"AND BECAUSE WE WON! WE'RE HAVING A FEAST!!! THE BIGGEST FEAST THIS KINGDOM HAS EVER SEEN!! ROASTED MEAT! LAVA CAKES! GOLDEN CHOCOLATES! THE WORKS!! EVERYONE EATS TONIGHT!!"
The throne room exploded into even louder cheers.
This immediately caused them to cheer even louder as Bowser leaned back on his throne, smirking widely as he watched his army celebrate. His mind drifted for just a moment, imagining what his old friend/rival was doing right now.
{Sonic the hedgehog (IDW Comics) Universe}
Eggman Base:
A monitor shattered against the wall, exploding into a shower of sparks and twisted metal.
"WHAT?! I LOST?! HOW COULD I LOSE?!!!" Eggman's voice cracked with pure, unfiltered fury. The scientist had practically launched himself out of his chair and now stood pointing furiously at the screen as his face flushed a deep, dangerous red, "I WAS ROBBED! YOU HEAR ME?! I WAS ROBBED OF MY VICTORY!"
Orbot raised a single eyebrow, a skeptical expression on his face as he said, "Were you?"
"YES!" Eggman slammed both fists onto the already battered console, sending fresh sparks flying.
"I HAD THE DEATH EGG!"
SLAM!
"I HAD THE CHAOS EMERALDS!"
SLAM!
"I HAD THE PHANTOM RUBY!"
SLAM!
"I HAD METAL SONIC! I HAD SAGE!"
SLAM!
"I HAD..."
"An appointment with a Question Block?" Orbot suggested innocently to which Cubot immediately burst out laughing,
Eggman slowly turned toward them and the room temperature seemed to drop twenty degrees.
Orbot wisely stepped backward, his face switching to a nervous sweat-drop emoji. Cubot continued laughing for approximately three more seconds before the silence finally penetrated his oblivious skull before realizing Eggman was staring at them.
"...Uh oh."
Eggman sucked in a deep breath, then screamed loud enough to shake the walls.
"GET OUT!!!"
Cubot ran out immediately as he fled through the exit with Orbot before closing the door softly behind him.
Meanwhile, Metal Sonic remained perfectly still.
He hadn't moved during Eggman's tantrum. Hadn't flinched when the monitor shattered. Hadn't reacted to Orbot and Cubot's hasty retreat. His crimson optics remained locked on Bowser's victory displayed on the remaining screen.
Metal Sonic simply turned away from the screen.
He had failed. That word tasted bitter in his mouth.
He had been given everything, his Neo form, his Super transformation, he had even copied Fury Bowser's Biodata and it was still not enough.
He stared at his metallic hand which was actually trembling.
Is he still weak? Is he still incapable of beating Sonic? Is he... the copycat all this time?
While Metal Sonic was undergoing his identity crisis, Eggman's heavy breathing gradually slowed. His face began to cool down as he ran a gloved hand over his bald dome, then trudged back to the main console.
"How?" He muttered, more to himself than anyone else, "How did I lose? I must find out where I went wrong. I need to understand, so I can make absolutely certain this never happens again."
["This war was not an easy one to win, which might seem surprising given how the Sonic series is not afraid to show how tough its cast is while Mario's comes across as more... cartoony." Wiz admitted.]
["But as it turns out, Bowser had everything he needed to take Chrome Dome down. Strap in; this one's a lot, so we'll break it down into five categories." Boomstick said as the screen then shows the five categories: Physical Stats, Powers, Intelligence, Trump Cards, and Army.]
["First up is physical stats. Bowser pretty-handedly outmatched any of Eggman's usual mechs like the Egg Dragoon or the Death Egg Robot." Wiz pointed out.]
["The Death Egg Robot could level cities; Bowser could punch a castle out of orbit." Boomstick revealed.]
["The Death Egg could destroy stars, but Yoshi could match that level of power, and Bowser's strength is certainly above the green dinosaur's. Plus, while both Bowser and Eggman's tech survived black holes, Bowser's was much larger." Wiz explained.]
["So, he may win stats, but this could change with their powers. With so many items and minions, that could make all that a moot point." Boomstick pointed out.]
["Aside from power-up items, both could manipulate minds, create duplicates, and alter space-time. However, Bowser had a significant edge in having access to the majority of his abilities at all times." Wiz revealed.]
["Yeah, Eggman can do some crazy stuff, but only across different mechs, fortresses, or space bases. Bowser's all-natural; he's got all his best powers built in, and he ain't even a robot." Boomstick explained.]
{Death Note Universe}
Yagami House:
Light Yagami sat with his arms crossed, his posture relaxed but his eyes remained sharp, filing away every piece of information as Wiz and Boomstick's breakdown played out before him.
"Interesting." Light murmured, tilting his head slightly, "So Eggman's abilities are almost entirely dependent upon external resources. His mechs, his armies, his gems, all of it can be destroyed, disabled, stolen, or rendered inaccessible with the right countermeasure.
While Bowser himself is the weapon."
He uncrossed one leg and leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"That's how he won." Light continued, a note of genuine respect creeping into his voice, "Bowser understood his own strengths and exploited Eggman's vulnerabilities. He burned through his toys, broke his formations, and forced a direct confrontation where technology couldn't save him."
"A human as intelligent as Dr. Eggman, with all his resources and contingencies was brought down by raw magic and physical power. It's crazy to believe that I can't help but laugh." He chuckled softly.
Light sat back again, his fingers steepling beneath his chin as he continued, "If I were in Eggman's position, I wouldn't rely on direct confrontation at all. That's what he did wrong. He engaged Bowser on Bowser's terms. That's a game the King of the Koopas was always going to win."
He shook his head slowly as a faint smirk crossed his lips, "No. I'd look for a method to neutralize Bowser's advantages before the battle truly began. Cut off his magic. Isolate him from his army. Remove his son from the equation. Make him fight with one hand tied behind his back. The smartest victories are the ones where the opponent never gets to fight at all."
"Still, I have to admit... it was entertaining to watch." He added, glancing back at the screen one last time.
["Meaning he wins the war of attrition. He even had counters for battle-enders like the Metal Virus and Spatial-Displacement Trap. Context matters for those weapons, and both backfired in the past, but more importantly, Bowser could simply reverse the effects with his transmutation magic." Wiz revealed even more.]
[An Alternate Scenario is shown of Bowser freeing his army from the Metal Virus by absorbing it into Kamek's wand.]
["Conversely, most of Eggman's robots could get turned into, say, a frog or a block with no reliable way back. Bowser takes the edge in powers." Wiz commented.]
["But definitely NOT for intelligence. Come on, you have a four-digit IQ, Bowser? Really? That's cute. I mean, don't get me wrong; Bowser's not an idiot... usually. Just really, really... clumsy... Poor fella." Boomstick said in sympathy.]
["Meanwhile, Eggman's an engineering genius who rarely ever gets bested by brains." Wiz said nonchalantly.]
{Tomodachi Game (Before the Game begins) Universe}
Hideri High School:
When Wiz explained that Bowser could counter threats like the Metal Virus and the Spatial-Displacement Trap, it caught everyone's attention.
Shiho Sawaragi blinked in disbelief, her eyes widening at the screen, "Wait, he can just... do that?"
She stared at the image of Bowser casually nullifying the Metal Virus like it was nothing more than a bad cold, "That virus infected entire civilizations, didn't it? And he can just reverse it with magic like it's no big deal."
Makoto Shibe looked equally stunned, his mouth hanging slightly open as he exclaimed, "Hold on, hold on, hold on!"
He pointed frantically at the screen, nearly knocking over his drink and said, "Doesn't that basically made Eggman's virus completely useless? I mean, what's the point of unleashing a world-ending plague if the guy you're fighting can just delete it with just a wave of his wand?"
Tenji Mikasa adjusted his glasses, the light glinting off the lenses as he processed the information, "Then that's probably why he never used it during the Death Battle." He said thoughtfully, "Like you said, Makoto, if Bowser can simply reverse its effects, deploying the Metal Virus would be a waste of resources, worse, it might even backfire on him. That's why Eggman prioritized overwhelming Bowser's army with his robots instead."
Yutori Kokorogi nervously clasped her hands together in her lap and whispered, "A-And turning robots into frogs sounds kind of scary..." She shivered slightly, imagining the scene of thousands of Eggman's most advanced machines suddenly transforming into harmless little amphibians, "Poor robots..." She added quietly.
Yuuichi smiled, that calm, knowing smile he always wore when he'd already figured out the answer, "Bowser's magic is versatile. Eggman's army has multiple uses, sure. But Bowser's magic alone easily trumps almost everything Eggman could throw at him." He said casually as he leaned back in his chair, "So of course he utilized it to its fullest extent. Why wouldn't he?"
When the breakdown shifted and the panel confirmed that Eggman easily took the Intelligence category, Shiho let out a long sigh.
"Of course." She muttered as she shook her head, "Of course he beats Bowser in intelligence. The man built an empire from scratch while Bowser fell for his own traps."
"That's true," Yuuichi spoke up, and everyone turned towards him. His expression was calm, "Intelligence is important. I'm not going to pretend it isn't." But intelligence only matters if you can use it."
Yutori frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
Yuuichi gestured toward the screen and continued, "A smarter person doesn't automatically win a fight. They still need opportunities, resources, time to plan and execute it. And in a battle where the other side can close the distance in seconds and punch through steel like paper... Time is a luxury."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and said, "Eggman is smarter than Bowser. No question. But Bowser doesn't need to be smarter. He just needs to be fast enough, strong enough, and stubborn enough to make all that intelligence irrelevant."
"That's... actually a really good point." Makoto snorted.
Tenji sighed again, but this time there was a hint of a smile beneath it, "I hate when you're right."
Yuuichi's smile widened, "You usually do."
["Easy dub. Now, let's talk trump cards." Boomstick commented.]
["As in, items so powerful they could decide the entire outcome on their own." Wiz revealed.]
["The Phantom Ruby was super dangerous but specifically targets perceptions, unlike Bowser's Wonder Flower, which mucks up reality for real." Boomstick pointed out.]
[An Alternate Scenario is shown of Light-man Eggman staring down Castle Bowser in the airspace of the Egg Fleet, only to be transformed into a Goomba by the Wonder Flower, causing the Phantom Ruby prototype to fly out of his body as it and Goomba Eggman fall from the sky.]
["The Ruby affected a whole planet, but the Wonder Flower had the power to alter the universe. Also, the Dream Stone's ability to wish anything out of existence would have no problem cleaning up Super Neo Metal Sonic or Time Eater." Boomstick explained.]
[An Alternate Scenario is shown of the Time Eater charging its gargantuan Sun Burst attack, only for a giant-sized Dreamy Bowser to punch the fireball so hard that it and the Time Eater simply vanish from existence.]
["Their most prized possessions was a tougher call. Together, the Chaos Emeralds can break the universe, but so can the Grand Stars; arguably not as much given the Emeralds scaling to Solaris, though Power Stars and Grand Stars are far more plentiful." Wiz explained.]
[One last Alternate Scenario is shown of Nightmare Eggman staring down at Bowser as he summons six floating arms that all point at Bowser, each charging reality-warping attacks. Bowser stands at the ready holding the Star Rod, using it to make himself invincible and fire a golden beam that clashes with the nightmarish Eggman's lasers, ending the brief glimpse with a white flash.]
["Clearly, this is getting fairly abstract, and both had multiple options that could win the day instantly, so the safest bet is to call this category a tie." Wiz commented.]
{Classroom of the Elite universe}
Class 1-D:
When the screen showed Light-Man Eggman being transformed into a Goomba left several of the class speechless.
Suzune Horikita frowned as she stared at the screen, "That's absurd. How is anyone supposed to strategize against an ability that can randomly alter reality itself?"
Kikyo Kushida blinked as she saw an alternate scenario of Eggman being turned into a Goomba, "Wait...Did Eggman just get turned into a Goomba?"
"Apparently." Horikita replied flatly.
Kushida clapped a hand over her mouth, but it was no use as she was laughing and said, "That's... that's actually hilarious! All those robots and superweapons and he gets taken out by a flower!"
Kei Karuizawa looked absolutely horrified as her face had gone pale, and she gripped the arms of her chair like it was the only thing keeping her grounded, "Forget hilarious, that's terrifying! Imagine fighting someone and suddenly you turned into a mushroom and you can't help but just wait to get squished!"
"Goomba." Ayanokoji corrected her quietly.
"THAT'S NOT THE IMPORTANT PART!" Kei shrieked.
Meanwhile, Ken Sudo was staring at the screen with wide eyes and scratched his head, "Man... Bowser's stuff is weird."
When the alternate scenario of Nightmare Eggman and Bowser using the Star Rod clashed, he shouted, "Holy crap! Their attacks are so powerful! Look at that! Just look at it! Just how many overpowered weapons does Bowser even have?! It's like every time we think we've seen everything, he pulls out something else?!"
"The important thing isn't how many weapons Bowser have." Ayanokoji spoke up, "The important thing is what those weapons accomplished."
"Which is?" Kei asked.
"Removal." Ayanokoji replied simply, "Complete removal."
He let the word hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "If the analysis is accurate, and I have no reason to doubt it, then Bowser possesses multiple methods capable of instantly eliminating threats that would otherwise require overwhelming force to defeat. It doesn't matter how strong the opponent is. It doesn't matter how many contingencies they have. If Bowser lands the right ability at the right time... the fight ends immediately."
Everyone stared at Ayanokoji in surprise as Suzune coughed and said, "I'm surprised Ayanokoji, I didn't know you could figure it out so quickly."
"It's just a lucky guess." Ayanokoji said simply.
Across the room, Koenji couldn't help but smirk as he leaned back in his chair with his shoes propped up on the desk. "How amusing! The battle has escalated to such a ridiculous degree that even the analysts themselves are baffled."
"That's because both sides have insane abilities!" Sudo shouted at him.
"Exactly." Koenji's smile widened. "Which means the outcome is no longer determined by who possesses the stronger weapon."
His golden eyes gleamed as he answered, "It becomes a question of who striked first."
Ayanokoji glanced at him, and Koenji continued, gesturing lazily at the screen, "A trump card is only useful if it can be played. Even my perfect self can see that Eggman still had multiple opportunities to win the fight but he couldn't execute them in time. And against an opponent like Bowser, who can end the battle with a single well-timed ability..." He chuckled, "That's a fatal flaw."
Horikita frowned again, but this time it was contemplative rather than frustrated, "So it wasn't about power. It was about timing."
"Precisely." Koenji closed his eyes, still smirking, "The smarter man doesn't always win. The man who lands the decisive blow first? He always wins."
["Which means it's finally time to compare their armies. Eggman's seems deadlier at first glance. I mean, look at all those buzzsaws and rockets! Metal Sonic's speed and power alone could solo most of the Koopa Troop. But, the Eggman Empire lacked something Bowser had in spades: teamwork and loyalty!" Boomsitck exclaimed.]
["Eggman is a notoriously terrible team player; his alliances are practically guaranteed to fall apart." Wiz pointed out.]
["Hell, in Sonic Generations, he could barely manage working with himself!" Boomstick revealed.]
["Eggman's army is designed to be controlled by just him. To Eggman, it's harder to command those with free will, hence his rivalry with the free-natured Sonic." Wiz commented.]
["Meanwhile, the Koopa Troop follows Bowser because they actually like him! They train really hard to cover each other's weak points." Boomsitck exclaimed.]
{Mega Man Universe}
Dr. Wily's lab:
Dr. Wily's eye twitched.
It was a small, involuntary spasm, but it betrayed the irritation brewing beneath his usually composed exterior. He sat hunched forward in his chair, glaring at the screen as the breakdown continued. What he was watching should not have been possible. And yet, there it was as he stared at the coordination and teamwork of Bowser's army compared to Eggman's.
As much as he respects and regrettably envious of Robotnik's intelligence and robots, he had the same mindset as him as controlling others is harder when it's so much easier to build robots to do the work for him.
Wily had spent decades wrestling with the same philosophy. Why bother with unruly underlings when you could simply build machines to do your bidding?
But watching Bowser's army fight not because they were forced to, but because they wanted to, made something uncomfortable twist in Wily's gut.
He let out a long, heavy sigh.
"I don't know how Bowser managed to do this." He muttered as he shook his head, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to create genuine loyalty?"
He jabbed a finger at the screen and said, "And yet look at them. I'd bet my best creation that there isn't a single member of that army who would betray him. Not one."
The realization clearly irritated him as his fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair.
Because as much as Wily hated admitting it, as much as it stung his considerable pride, he knew the difference.
The giant fire-breathing turtle with anger issues had accomplished something that geniuses like himself and Eggman consistently struggled with.
He had built an army that actually wanted him to win.
Wily slumped back into his chair, "Ugh..."
"I can't believe I'm saying this..." He pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "...but that idiot might actually
be a better leader than Eggman."
["Giving them plenty of advantages as this war progressed, like battlefield control through King Boo's magic and Bowser Jr.'s paint. And since the Koopa Troop doesn't rely that much on technology, Sage's hacking potential had little use." Wiz explained.]
["Also, secret weapon? Kamek is kinda busted; canceling Metal Sonic's power copying, stealing the Phantom Ruby, and potentially swapping the Chaos Emeralds were huge game-changers." Boomstick revealed.]
["Add on that Bowser and his army can use any Mario power-up item, and they had millions, no, BILLIONS of combinations that the Eggman Empire just could not actively plan against. Even with Sage's millions of plans to take down the Titans, she thought them to be unbeatable, which Sonic proved was incorrect." Wiz explained.]
["Just comparing their conquests makes it clear; the Eggman Empire took over the whole planet, but Bowser's Troop conquered most of the universe." Boomstick revealed.]
{Assassination Classroom Universe}
Kunugigaoka Junior High School:
Nagisa Shiota leaned forward in his seat, his blue eyes sharp and focused as the analysis played out, "That actually makes sense, none of Eggman's robots, besides Infinite, have any real ability to alter the environment. They can overwhelm Bowser's army with numbers. But they can't change the battlefield. Meanwhile, Bowser's army used magic, paint, and terrain manipulation to control the fight entirely."
He gestured at the screen and continued, "And on top of that, the Koopa Troop used almost no technology. That made Sage, who is Eggman's greatest strategic asset practically useless in combat."
Karma Akabane smirked from across the room, "So basically, they were fighting dirty?"
Nagisa shot him a look and said, "They are fighting strategically."
"Same thing." Karma shrugged, his smirk widening, "Winning's winning. Doesn't matter how you get there as long as the other guy's on the ground."
Manami Okuda adjusted her glasses, the lenses catching the glow of the screen as she said thoughtfully, "Even if Sage's simulations had been fully utilized, the sheer number of power-ups Bowser possesses, and the fact that his entire army can use them, would make accurate prediction impossible."
Everyone turned toward her as the chemistry genius continued, "Advanced predictive systems operate on patterns. They analyze past behavior, identify likely outcomes, and assign probabilities. But when the variables are constantly shifting, when any soldier at any moment could activate a fire flower, an ice flower, a cat bell, or any combination of hundreds of items, the system becomes... overwhelmed."
"Exactly." Nagisa agreed with her, "At some point there are simply too many possibilities. And without reliable predictions, even the best strategy becomes guesswork."
"Meaning that Eggman's greatest strength becomes significantly less effective against an opponent who operates on pure chaos." Kaede Kayano commented.
At the front of the room, Koro Sensei grinned as he stared at Kamek on the screen, he knew that the support role is always crucial in any fight, that's why he knew that Bowser would win from the start.
"Heh." The teacher's grin widened, "I knew it. I knew Kamek would be the MVP in this battle."
Rio Nakamura giggled as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger, "Yeah, imagine spending years collecting legendary artifacts, only to have them stolen right out from under your nose by a flying turtle in a robe."
"Skill issue." Karma immediately replied.
The room erupted into laughter with Rio cackling, Okuda covering her mouth with a hand, even Karasuma's lips twitching slightly and Koro Sensei laughed loudly.
["Eggman was no pushover! His wit, power output, and ridiculous machines gave Bowser the biggest fight of his life, but the Koopa King's ludicrous strength, abilities, and united forces ultimately prevailed." Wiz finished.]
["Eggman tried to poach the king, and now, he's cracked and scrambled." Boomstick punned.]
["The winner is Bowser." Wiz exclaimed as Bowser's image appeared on the screen, declaring Bowser the victor.]
The screen stays completely black for a few seconds... then flickers back to life, revealing a vast, shimmering expanse of interdimensional space. The camera slowly pans across the void before stopping on a stark white chamber. At its center, two glowing green portals hum quietly, waiting for the two fighters to step through.
{Super Mario Bros Universe}
A brilliant green portal crackled to life before them, as its swirling vortex pulsed with raw energy and throbbing with eager anticipation.
Bowser Jr. turned and waved enthusiastically at his father, "Goodbye, Dad! Give him a good punch for me!"
"Please come back soon, sire," Kamek added, adjusting his glasses with a proud, knowing smile.
Bowser let out a quiet huff, but a confident smirk quickly spread across his face. He raised a clawed hand and flashed a thumbs-up. Without a moment's hesitation, he stepped boldly through the portal. The green vortex flared once, then collapsed in on itself with a soft whoosh, sealing shut behind him.
{Sonic the hedgehog (IDW Comics) Universe}
Just like in the other universe, a swirling green portal materialized before Dr. Eggman, its energy crackling with a strange, otherworldly hum.
"Bye Bye Boss!" "Hope you survive his wrath Dr. Eggman." Orbot and Cubot burst in and waved their mechanical arms.
Metal Sonic said nothing as he respond with a small beep.
Dr. Eggman stare at them before he shouted, "What are you two brats thinking?! I'm not going to die!"
Grumbling, he stepped forward and vanished into the portal, its green glow swallowing him whole as it closed behind him.
{Interdimensional Space}
The two green portals flared to life in the vast interdimensional space. A moment later, Bowser and Dr. Eggman stepped out onto the stark white chamber floor, each emerging from their respective gateway as the swirling light settled behind them.
"Heh. Not bad, Eggman." Bowser said, a smug grin spreading across his reptilian face, "For once, you actually put up a decent fight. But let's face it, when it comes to raw power, there's no beating the King of the Koopas!"
Eggman fumed, his mustache twitching as he tried to keep his composure despite the sting of defeat, "Decent fight? DECENT FIGHT?! I'll have you know, you overgrown turtle, that I am the greatest scientific genius in the world! My machines are marvels of engineering! You only won because... because... well, I suppose even a broken clock is right twice a day."
"Marvels of engineering? Pfft." Bowser scoffed as he crossed his arms, "Your fancy gadgets are no match for good old-fashioned strength and fire breath. Face it, Eggman, you're all brains and no brawn. And in a fight like this, brawn wins every time."
"Oh, please!" Eggman marched right up to Bowser and jabbed a finger at his chest, "If it weren't for that ridiculous shell of yours, I'd have crushed you ages ago! And don't think this is over, Bowser. I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve. Next time, I'll bring a mech so powerful, even your thick skull won't be able to withstand it!"
"Next time? Heh!" Bowser's grin only widened as he watched Eggman's face turn red, "Keep dreaming, Egghead. But hey, I'll give you this, you've got guts. It's been a while since we last saw each other, and it's clear you've picked up a few new tricks. Maybe you're not completely useless after all."
"Useless?! Why, I ought to..." Eggman raised his finger again, then stopped himself with a frustrated frown, "Actually, you know what? Fine. I'll admit it. You're stronger than I expected. But don't think for a second that this is over! You're still a brute with no appreciation for the finer things in life, like science, technology, and world domination done with style!"
The two glared at each other for a long time before they both laughed together.
"Hohohoho! You're still the same old doofus as I remembered!" Eggman said, wiping a tear from his eye, before he leit out a sigh and added, "Though... I would like to apologize on Metal's behalf for injuring your son. He really doesn't show any mercy toward anyone."
"Gwhahahaha! It's fine!" Bowser laughed, clapping Eggman on the back so hard the doctor nearly stumbled, "My son's tougher than he looks! I taught him, after all!"
The two old rivals settled onto the smooth floor and talked for a while, with Bowser giving him tips on how to raise Sage when she's soon created with Eggman actually taking notes.
Eventually, the swirling green portals flickered and glowed brighter, signaling that their time was up.
"Well, it seems our time's up." Eggman said, stretching his arms above his head as he rose to his feet and dusted off his red coat and adjusted his goggles, "Next time I'll be sure to beat you!"
"Hey, Eggface!" Bowser called out just as Eggman turned to step through.
Eggman paused and looked back over his shoulder.
That was when he saw a massive, clawed fist flying straight toward him.
The punch connected square with his chest and sent him hurtling backward through the air. He vanished into his portal with a startled yelp, the green light swallowing him whole before sealing shut with a soft thud.
"That's for hurting my son!" Bowser shouted after him, grinning ear to ear.
He cracked his knuckles, let out a satisfied huff, and turned toward his own portal. With a confident stride, he stepped through, the green glow enveloping him as the chamber fell silent once more.