Your defeat of "Eggman" has come at a high cost, namely the Egg Fleet in the skies and the looming threat of Neo Metal Sonic. He gave you a week to prepare; best use it wisely.
THE CITY
The massive robot on the horizon is no more - it looks like Neo Metal Sonic truly did rip the whole thing up. If you head back out there, you'll find that there are still pieces of it, and plenty of scrap left behind, but not nearly as much as one would expect.
More pressingly, there are far more robots present than even before. While you recognize all of them at this point, they're all patrolling in larger groups and will once again drop everything to attack you. Definitely don't head into the city alone for any reason, and always be prepared for an ambush. These robots are absolutely determined to kill you.
It seems that the white chroma that has spread throughout the city has reached a standstill - there isn't any more of is present than there was last week, but it hasn't receded any either. Strangely enough, it seems like the animals in the city are feeling more lively than before, though not quite back to their usual levels of being.
THE BASE
The new base is coming along nicely, and should be more or less furnished as needed by now. Still, with more and more robots coming around, you may find groups of them straying toward the base. You can't let them find it and report back to Neo Metal Sonic, so please take care of them! This is also the perfect time to practice with your shardbond powers...
You may also want to start thinking of the future as well. While it certainly isn't a sure thing, Sonic and friends have made it clear that this should be the final battle, that taking out Neo Metal Sonic should be the end of it and that you all will get to go home soon. Or if not home, then to wherever - and whenever - you'd like! Your future is up to you, though you're certainly welcome to stay here in Chicago, if you have nowhere else you want to go. May as well start thinking about what you'd like to bring back with you, or where you'd like to go.
But maybe don't get too caught up on that, as you still do have a battle to win, after all.
SHARDS
Your shard powers are fully unlocked, and with them comes a mastery of your shardbond powers as well. You really have reached the end with what you can do with these bonds - so now it's time to put them to the test.
Knuckles wants you all to practice forming even larger shardbonds and maintaining them for as long as possible - ideally you'll be able to work up to a seven person bond, as that should grant you the full extent of your power. No one knows what exactly will happen when you can achieve that... So you'd better get to work, as it may be very helpful for the final fight.
Those of you with the same color shards have mostly been able to bolster each others' powers rather than actively forming a bond, but now that you're at the very end, that's changed - shards of the same color can now activate each others' powers as well as their own! So for example, Yeager can shoot water like Dorothy, or Dorothy can draw aggro and take reduced damage like Yeager. You can utilize the others' powers alongside your own just as long as the other shard is in the same vicinity!
TAILS' TASKS
As always, rings are incredibly important, and you should collect them, especially if you'd like to bring some home with you so you can travel back to Chicago at any point, or jump to your friends' worlds. Go forth and find those obnoxiously-placed rings!
There's also Knuckles' daily lessons on shardbonds; he'll be overseeing you all while you practice to make sure that everything's going well, though you don't really need his help at this point. Activating a bond with six other shards is the goal, but every single extra shard you can add to the mix is important.
Finally, Tails is working on a teleporter that will jump you guys right up onto the ships above... but he's still fine-tuning it. Turns out that finding the right ship is a bit easier said than done. If you want to help, you can take the jump to test it! You'll be given a ring so you can get back immediately - but if you get the wrong ship, you can stay to clear out the robots. Doing so will net you experience with your shards and bonds, as well as at minimum ten rings. So really, it's a win/win unless you hate fighting.
ENEMIES
The enemies you face this week are the same as the ones you've faced in previous weeks. There are no new robots to fight, though you'll start finding knock-offs of Mecha Sonic, Robo Knuckles, and Tails Doll hanging around in the city as well. Which yes, means you can (and will) get many more rocks at you. Have fun!
[He considers it, but given that the laser is Attached to Viktor that seems a little too awkward of an ask.
So, with some patience, he starts to work on this the old-fashioned way. The carving tools of a chisel to metal may not be second nature in his hands the same as an artisan, but when one's entire form of writing is based in stone, one comes to be deft with the means of communication.
[Viktor watched in patient silence--the sound of metal being scrathed madee his skin crawl with a deeply unpleasant memory, but he pushed that aside with no more than a brief flicker of cold gray to his eyes.]
When my people wake, they will not remember what made our boroughs as strong as they were. Were I to pass one thing onto them when my duty is through, it is to have courage.
It is the principle that brings the strength to do one's duty, even under the pressures of fear and doubt.
I thought you might. It's... something I would be glad for, were you to take with you.
[...
His eyes drift back down to the mark, expression falling to something a little harder to read.]
Normally, there is no point to putting a signature on one's work in Metru Nui. Toolsmiths and maskmakers can pick up each other's styles with enough exposure to one another, yes, but we are not like artisans. We do not identify our works except to those who commission us. Decorative work like this is never our job.
Perhaps my people would frown upon it. But... this is not Metru Nui. I would like to leave a mark of some sort, in this case. To be remembered.
A desire like that is not uncommon on Runeterra. I myself was once driven by the same ambition, and my previous brace... [A thin smile.] I bet he thought I never noticed the subtle House Talis emblems built into it, but it was a nice touch.
[Viktor laughed under his breath--then gestured for Vakama to come closer, lightly leaning his forehead against his companion's. An unusual expresion, but one that seemed meaningful for Viktor somehow.]
...I seriously doubt I will ever forget you, my friend.
[He's confused at first when he's urged to lean himself down. But wamrth touches warmth, and the look he casts towards the ground softens, letting his eyes drift closed.]
...Nor I for you. [A hand finds Viktor's shoulder to steady himself with an exhale.]
[The echo in his head was an unpleasant one; the voice of a long-dead ghost, an echo crafted of guilt, loneliness, and the corrupting arcane. She had never been real, he was sure of that now--just another whisper of the now long-silenced Hexcore.]
[How strange, now, that his own words spoken in the absolute depths of depsair would be echoed in earnest.]
Even should our paths diverge, you will not be wholly rid of me quite so easily, Vakama. [He pulled back with a thin smile, his own hand coming up to the other's shoulder.] Traveling worlds is not so difficult an endeavor for me, least of all to seek out a friend.
...hm. Well, that does not seem so terrible--if you forget, it will simply fall to me to remind you, no? I should think my friends well worth that kind of effort.
Ahh, why is it always these sorts that Mata Nui winds up with... Surely he'd consider us thorns in his side.
Still... I would have no sort of noble destiny remaining in my future were it not for those same sorts among brothers. The ones who do not know when to quit.
It takes a certain sort to want to improve the world, I think. Stubborn, reckless, and completely incapable of accepting that something could be impossible.
It is breaking those impossibilities that gives hope.
[Wiping off what remains of the metal shrapnel, he'll hand the brace back to Viktor.]
Even if it is not something I always succeeded with, I can only pray for as much boldness from any Toa that may follow me, or from any person with the heart of a hero that may look at us and our actions when this is all over... so long as the Great Spirit is willing.
May they be bold enough to act and question, but wise enough to not repeat our missteps.
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... If...it is not too awkward to ask, Viktor...
Would you allow me to add a partner to it, on the other side? I don't know if I can use the beam, built to you as it is, but...
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So, with some patience, he starts to work on this the old-fashioned way. The carving tools of a chisel to metal may not be second nature in his hands the same as an artisan, but when one's entire form of writing is based in stone, one comes to be deft with the means of communication.
It is not a complicated symbol that is left behind, but it is easily read.]
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...What does it mean?
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[He traces over the grooves with his thumb.]
When my people wake, they will not remember what made our boroughs as strong as they were. Were I to pass one thing onto them when my duty is through, it is to have courage.
It is the principle that brings the strength to do one's duty, even under the pressures of fear and doubt.
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[Viktor let out a very quiet laugh that, for once, was almost completely without the sound of machinery.]
That's-...I like it. It is not something I have ever held in abundance, so the reminder will be a welcome one.
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[...
His eyes drift back down to the mark, expression falling to something a little harder to read.]
Normally, there is no point to putting a signature on one's work in Metru Nui. Toolsmiths and maskmakers can pick up each other's styles with enough exposure to one another, yes, but we are not like artisans. We do not identify our works except to those who commission us. Decorative work like this is never our job.
Perhaps my people would frown upon it. But... this is not Metru Nui. I would like to leave a mark of some sort, in this case. To be remembered.
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[Viktor laughed under his breath--then gestured for Vakama to come closer, lightly leaning his forehead against his companion's. An unusual expresion, but one that seemed meaningful for Viktor somehow.]
...I seriously doubt I will ever forget you, my friend.
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...Nor I for you. [A hand finds Viktor's shoulder to steady himself with an exhale.]
I will miss this. Our work. Our talks.
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[The echo in his head was an unpleasant one; the voice of a long-dead ghost, an echo crafted of guilt, loneliness, and the corrupting arcane. She had never been real, he was sure of that now--just another whisper of the now long-silenced Hexcore.]
[How strange, now, that his own words spoken in the absolute depths of depsair would be echoed in earnest.]
Even should our paths diverge, you will not be wholly rid of me quite so easily, Vakama. [He pulled back with a thin smile, his own hand coming up to the other's shoulder.] Traveling worlds is not so difficult an endeavor for me, least of all to seek out a friend.
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...I doubt you will recognize me next we meet, given what's to come, but... I hope Mata Nui is gracious enough to let me still remember you.
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Ahh, why is it always these sorts that Mata Nui winds up with... Surely he'd consider us thorns in his side.
Still... I would have no sort of noble destiny remaining in my future were it not for those same sorts among brothers. The ones who do not know when to quit.
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[Wiping off what remains of the metal shrapnel, he'll hand the brace back to Viktor.]
Even if it is not something I always succeeded with, I can only pray for as much boldness from any Toa that may follow me, or from any person with the heart of a hero that may look at us and our actions when this is all over... so long as the Great Spirit is willing.
May they be bold enough to act and question, but wise enough to not repeat our missteps.