In a strange, dark-magenta-colored space streaked with black, a large, black-furred jackal with white stripes on his back and torso floated, unconscious. Nearby, a large metal mask, a likeness of his face, drifted slowly. His pure white hair-like fur hovered slightly in the zero-gravity environment, and a large dark magenta gem in his chest glowed faintly.
The jackal groaned in pain as he began to stir. Infinite's heterochromatic eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding his gaze as he took in his surroundings.
"Where the hell am I?" Infinite growled, his voice filled with frustration. "The Phantom Ruby—it absorbed me! How am I here?" He glanced around at the magenta-colored void, his eyes narrowing in anger. Spotting the floating mask, he snatched it up and slammed it back onto his face. The memory of his humiliating defeat at the hands of Sonic and that insignificant other surged back, and Infinite clenched his fist, trembling with rage.
"Damnit! How could I lose? I had the Phantom Ruby—I had the power! And yet that damn hedgehog still beat me!" Infinite's voice reverberated through the emptiness, each word dripping with fury. "I spared him, even after defeating him multiple times. Why? I should have crushed him when I had the chance!"
He began pacing, his anger still simmering but now mingling with confusion. "I thought the Phantom Ruby was giving me the vengeance I deserved. But… I lost sight of my true goal—revenge for the murder of my siblings." Infinite's voice softened slightly as the realization dawned on him. "That hedgehog humiliated me, yes, but far worse was that he murdered my family."
Infinite paused, his anger ebbing as a new clarity began to take hold. "This cursed gem... It's been twisting my mind, amplifying my hatred, and drowning out everything else."
He gripped the ruby embedded in his chest, but now his hold was less aggressive, more contemplative. "But why am I realizing this now? I hadn't seen it before. What's different?" He scanned his surroundings, trying to make sense of the overwhelming energy in the space. "This place… It's saturated with the same energy as the Phantom Ruby but on a much larger scale. It's almost suffocating. Is this place the Phantom Ruby itself? Is it overriding the effects of the copy?"
He pondered the possibility, his anger now fully replaced by a calm determination. "If only the doctor had given me the real Ruby instead of a mere copy. He knows these magical gems work best with an organic host. Didn't he study the Ruby before handing me that flawed version? Did he give it to me, knowing it would cloud my mind? Was I being controlled all along?"
Infinite's voice grew colder, calculating as the pieces fell into place. "When I get out of here, that doctor will be the first to face my wrath. But… I need to figure this out first. How am I still alive? The Phantom Ruby was trying to break down my mind and soul. I fought against it, but only partially succeeded. I kept my identity, but at what cost?"
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I should consider myself lucky. But it was a hollow victory. I still lost in the end." Infinite paused, his thoughts now clear and focused. "First, I need to get out of this place. Then I can plan my revenge on the doctor—and the hedgehog."
Floating towards the edge of the space, Infinite pressed his hand against what seemed like more of the strange void. But in reality, it was a border, only perceptible to someone familiar with the Phantom Ruby's powers. "How do I break through this? Speed and strength won't be enough. This barrier is far stronger than anything the Null-zone could create. Maybe if I twist the energies just right, I can create an opening."
Hours passed, and Infinite grew increasingly frustrated with his lack of progress. He had tried everything he could think of, but the energy was so dense, so much more powerful than what he was used to, that even controlling it was a monumental task. The loss of his body only made matters worse. His physical form had always acted as an anchor for his powers, and without it, he was struggling to control even a fraction of the energy around him.
"I won't accept this," Infinite growled, his determination unyielding. "I refuse to be trapped again. I'll break out of here, even if it costs me my very existence." He began channeling the Phantom Ruby's energies into his being, gritting his teeth as the power threatened to tear him apart once more. The pain was immense, but he endured.
He raised both hands, and an aura of red, pink, and purple swirled around him. Cracks began to spread across his body as he unleashed a massive beam of energy at the border. 'Come on, break already, ł₮ ⱧɄⱤ₮₴' he thought, desperation creeping in as the strain became unbearable. The power was overwhelming, and he could feel himself starting to disintegrate. 'I can't hold out much longer...M₳₭Ɇ ł₮ ₴₮Ø₱'
"JUST BREAK ALREADY!" Infinite screamed, his voice laced with agony.
A massive shattering sound echoed through the void, and a blinding white light consumed Infinite. Then, everything went dark.