The moment the Emerald’s glow hit Sonic.EXE, the red mist around him began to evaporate. The glitch screamed—a sound like a crashing computer. The Master Emerald was the ultimate "system restore." It didn't just fight; it neutralized.

Knuckles punched downward, driving the EXE entity straight through the floor of the jungle into the hidden caverns below. They tumbled into the , where the Master Emerald sat pulsing with a steady, calming green light.

Knuckles didn't let up. He used his strength to shatter the illusions EXE was trying to build, punching through ghost-walls and fake traps. With one final, massive upper-cut, he launched the glitch toward the Great Emerald. "Access denied," Knuckles muttered.

Knuckles crossed his arms, a small smirk tugging at his mouth. "You had a bug in your system, Sonic. I just handled the debugging."