Knuckles was still recovering when Zyx returned. First the Master Emerald reappeared on Angel Island, meaning Sonic had returned it when he was done with it. Then the Chaos Emeralds started to glow again, meaning that Sonic was using their power again - though for what, he didn't know. Then a golden Sonic showed up, visibly straining yet worried about something. "Knuckles!" he shouted. "Watch out! Zyx..." Knuckles shook his head, then grabbed one of the Chaos Emeralds briefly, becoming a bright cobalt. "Sorry, Sonic," he said. "Zyx caught me off-guard last time, but now he's going down."