While your conversation with Shadow may have shed light on a few things... it's obvious he doesn't think you all are up to the task of saving the universe from Eggman. Which also means that now you're dealing with his test, starting immediately. Some of you may be whisked away with no time to even blink, while others may find themselves wandering the Void aimlessly. Regardless, it seems this week won't be a particularly easy one.
THE VOID
Nothing has changed in the Void. Nothing ever changes in the Void. It's impossible to track the passage of time in here, and your only escape are the rings... though you should be careful with them, as there's far fewer this week. You're free to travel between worlds as you see fit - Shadow won't stop you - but you can be snatched up from wherever you are at any given moment and pulled back into the Void. Maybe don't plan on spending to long anywhere else, because it won't end well for you if you do.
The hexagonal shards will still show you visions of other worlds... but this time they all show the same thing. You'll see worlds - maybe even your own - taken over by robots and Eggman's chroma, reduced to smoldering ashes or being rebuilt in Eggman's image. Your friends, allies, and enemies may even be going about their lives just as listlessly and dutifully, heedless of their surroundings. You may even see alternate versions of yourself among them. Regardless, it seems all these shards have to show you this week are all the possibilities of failure - that other versions of shardbearers in other timelines have already lost.
MINDSCAPES
Shadow's usage of the Phantom Ruby and his own fake Chaos Emerald shard have caused quite the problem for you all - namely, you'll find yourselves traversing each other's innermost thoughts and dreams. Exactly how this mindscape manifests depends on the individual, but one thing will always remain true: you won't be able to find the owner of the mindscape easily.
As a reflection of these inner thoughts, mindscapes can be any sort of place. Perhaps they are a reflection of the owner's inner demons and fear, or perhaps they showcase a bright future they want to work towards. Regardless, this is a dream and one the owner must be awoken from... which means finding them and bringing them back to reality. That's easier said than done when traversing through this dream-like state, where the rules are made up by the owner and you're a foreign being that the dream recognizes as a threat (even if you aren't).
You may encounter familiar places or people within these mindscapes. You may not. You may end up fighting for your life in here... or you may not. Each one is individual, and the experience can vary wildly from person to person. No matter what you face, you must find the owner of the mindscape and bring them back. You must ensure you're strong enough to support them... and protect yourself.
Curiously, you can activate your shared shard power with the owner of the mindscape at any time - or bolster your own power if you share shard colors - even without them being present. Will this make it easier or harder to help bring them back? It depends on the person, your bond, and the mindscape itself...
Waking them up is as simple as convincing them that they're dreaming - that this isn't real and that they still have things to return to - but that may be easier said than done depending on the person... or the mindscape itself. There's no telling what you'll encounter, after all.
SHARDS
You'll find you're capable of more now than you were before. You're really adapting to using your shard powers and fighting with others. Those of you who share shard colors will feel the strength of your shards increasing even more when working together.
As you fight with your allies - particularly those you have a close bond with, positive or negative - you may feel the tug of something in the back of your head; it tells you that you can do more. Together, you can become more powerful. You can use your shards together. Doing so will grant you a new power, or strengthen the one you already have. The more you trust one another, the easier this power will be to use.
It might be good to experiment with these new powers; after all, you never know when you may need them.
TAILS' TASKS
Given that your allies are being pulled into mindscapes and are unable to break free of their own, your task this week is to help your friends. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are off dealing with their own mindscapes, but whenever they are around, they're adamant about the importance of making sure everyone is freed and prepared for whatever comes next.
ENEMIES
Like last week, you will not encounter any of Eggman's robots. The Void is still free of enemies, though other worlds may possess their own threats. Mindscapes are a bit of a different beast; each one varies, and you may or may not encounter threats of any sort in them. Best be on your guard.
[HMMMMmmm. Yeah, he's going to have to keep closer attention now that the footprints have been reduced to Residue. He'll take it slowly and carefully, because even though he's been alone so far, those goons could wake up and also he doesn't know what else could be here. Were they taken out for a good reason, or is something Lurking?
[...I mean Lucifer did say he was invincible back home so maybe he can extend that to others??? He has no fucking idea. He likes chatting with Lucifer, but as he's looking through this he's becoming kind of aware he doesn't know that much about the guy...]
You could say that. Is there anything I can do to help you with that...?
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He'll just have to press on and see...]
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They stop because there's a man laying on the ground, clutching at some sort of blade that's been impaled in his stomach.
He looks up at Jasper in a sort of stunned confusion.]
Are you one of Lucifer's friends?
[The fact that he can talk at all despite the wound makes it obvious he's part of the mindscape, no matter how real he seems to be.]
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You could say that. Is there anything I can do to help you with that...?
[you know. he should ask.]
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[He winces in pain.]
The man who did this is still out there. He's dangerous. He's already killed several humans.
[This does not actually help explain who this guy is, or how he's related to Lucifer.]
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[...can he die in this????? he... maybe????
...hang on he is aware of what this is. can he like. conjure holy object here.
...
actually no him conjuring a holy object. lol. lmao.]
Where did he go?
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[It's not clear who this man is, but it's obvious he's extremely important to Lucifer. Maybe he wasn't always, but he certainly is now.
He points down the hall.]
Be careful. Malcolm is out there.
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[He nods and stands back up.]
Well. I will be prepared for whoever this "Malcom" is, then. I am surprised that he is a match for Lucifer, though, given what I know about him...
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There's nowhere else but forward, at this point.
It's about to get surreal again, because the warehouse turns into an airplane hanger. Not that Jasper will recognize it as such.]