Finally confronting Shadow within an Eggman base, Infinite, the enigmatic figure, launched into a tale of their previous encounter months earlier.

While en route to obliterate one of Eggman's bases, Shadow stumbled upon the Jackal Squad, a mercenary force tasked with defending the facility. The Ultimate Lifeform proved too formidable for the mercenaries, as Shadow swiftly dispatched all but their absent captain. Stumped by Shadow's swift victory, Eggman, in a fit of desperation, threw all available forces at Shadow, aiming to protect the base at all costs. This was despite the facility having already completed its analysis of the "stone" the previous day.

Upon arriving at the base, Shadow faced the Jackal Squad's captain—the future Infinite, a self-proclaimed "ultimate mercenary." The jackal unleashed a furious attack in vengeance for his fallen comrades, but Shadow, utilizing his mastery of Chaos Control, effortlessly evaded the assault and retaliated with a devastating counter. Leaving the defeated and humiliated mercenary behind, Shadow issued a scathing warning: never to appear before him again. Physically and emotionally shattered, the mercenary grappled with his inadequacy, his only response a desperate cry into the darkness: "I am not weak!"

Returning to the present, Infinite revealed that since that day, he had shed his former identity, concealing his face behind a mask, and attained the power to force absolute obedience. Now, wielding immeasurable power, Infinite was prepared to crush Shadow, immediately attempting to ensnare him within a deceptive illusion.