InfiniteTheEdge: Hello, everybody.  I'm InfiniteTheEdge, and you're wondering, "You died in Sonic Forces!  How are you alive?!?"  Well, I used to be an antagonist back in the day.  Below is what I looked like before and my backstory:

*sfx: "Meta Ridley Battle - Metroid Prime Music Extended" plays*

I was once the captain of the Jackal Squad, a band of mercenary thieves raiding others for a profit. (You could say I was like Sly Cooper.)  In time, I gained a public reputation as the "ultimate mercenary".

One day, I led my squad on a raid of base in the while the scientist was studying the in an attempt to steal his devices for a hefty bounty. Using the Phantom Ruby, Eggman created an army of to fend off the Jackal Squad. Slipping past the Egg Pawns, I ordered my squad to handle the robots while I moved in to kill Eggman with my sword. However, I accidentally struck the Phantom Ruby instead, causing it to show me an illusion of what I desired the most: a desolate, destroyed world. Using this to push me aside, Eggman, who also saw the vision, took a liking to me and offered to make me the leader of his Eggman Empire so we could accomplish their goals together. Realizing I had grown bored of the world as it was, I took Eggman's offer in spite of my squad's protest.

Some time later, me and my squad got assigned by Eggman to guard in the Death Egg. When Shadow came to raid and destroy the facility however, my family got annihilated by the black hedgehog. Berated by Eggman for my squad's incompetence at protecting the facility, I caught up to Shadow and tried to ambush him as payback for what he did to my squad and to live up to my title. However,I was caught off-guard by Shadow's abilities and ended up being soundly subdued by the brooding hedgehog. As he took his leave, Shadow called me "worthless". As I recovered, I realized, much to my horror, that I was afraid. I then proceeded to throw a tantrum over how weak I was. (Yes, childish, now that I look back, but I was also foolish to even pair up with a worthless robot commander that is only known for an Internet meme.)

Bitter about my defeat, I cast aside my old identity, going as far as to wear a mask to hide my scarred face, in order to become stronger. I then obtained Eggman's finalized Phantom Ruby, which granted me virtually limitless power. Following a number of experiments in the test runs of the Phantom Ruby prototype, Eggman managed to fuse me with said Phantom Ruby prototype, creating the weapon he needed to defeat and conquer the world with. Reborn, I renamed myself "Infinite" and became Eggman's..."right-hand jackal" in his conquest.

Shortly after obtaining my powers, I was dispatched by Eggman to deal with Shadow, who had proceeded to slaughter a whole lot of Eggman's henchmen on his way through . Confronting Omega, I effortlessly defeated the robot with my new abilities. Shadow soon after showed up at the facility to find Omega, and I welcomed Shadow to their awaited reunion. When Shadow revealed that he did not remember me, however, I proceeded to tell Shadow my backstory and what I had been up to since their first meeting a couple of months back. Once I was done, I attempted to crush Shadow by trapping him in an illusioned prison. Although Shadow broke free, I was nonetheless impressed by the power he now possessed. After then hinting at my agenda to defeat Sonic, the facility me and Shadow were in began to collapse. I, however, made my escape while cackling wildly.

About a month after my last meeting with Shadow, Eggman launched an attack on the . When Sonic showed up to stop it, I appeared to fight him, alongside of Shadow, Zavok, and other minions that I had created. Overwhelming Sonic with my power and replicas, I defeated and captured Sonic.

After imprisoning Sonic onboard the Death Egg, me and Eggman went on with our conquest unrivaled. With my power and his replicas, the doctor was able to conquer over 99% of Mobius, resulting in the Eggman Empire controlling that much of the world. In the meantime, I worked alongside my replicas to instill fear into the subjugated population. However, a rag-tag from the game's prophecy, founded by Sonic's friends, was soon formed to continued the fight for freedom, though they proved to be of little threat to me.

A few months after defeating Sonic, I wiped out a Resistance squad in the City, before turning my attention to the sole survivor, the chosen one, who cowered in fear. Mocking and taunting them, I allowed the Avatar to flee with their life, only so I could relish in their terrified screams.

Six months after defeating Sonic, I went to the ruins Silver was at, but did not get involved in the Resistance's infiltration there. Some time later, I went to the ruins to pick up Eggman's remaining Phantom Ruby prototypes so they could be disposed of before they could be used against Eggman. While there, I saw Silver, whom I decided to crush to send a message to the Resistance. Although I easily defeated Silver, he did make me drop a Phantom Ruby prototype without noticing it. Before I could finish Silver however, Sonic, who had been broken out of prison, showed up and interrupted me. Intrigued by Sonic's arrival, I attempted to rattle him, only to get brushed off by Sonic, who tried getting the secret to my power from me. I refused, however, and knocked Sonic away to deal with him. Although Sonic put up a better fight than before, I still beat him. Seeing Sonic as no threat to him, I left the ruins without looking back.

Meeting Eggman in Green Hill, I destroyed what was thought to be the last Phantom Ruby prototype. During their subsequent talk, I revealed to Eggman that I let Sonic go after their last battle. While Eggman was greatly concerned over this, I dismissed my worry. After then ignoring Tails and Classic Sonic, I asked Eggman if our plan to wipe out the Resistance went on as usual, which Eggman confirmed, and the two of us briefly relished at the thought of their victory before I took my leave.

When the Resistance gaining control, I showed up, and, on Eggman's orders, unleashed my Phantom Ruby prototype's power. Creating gravity shifts and giant monstrous versions of himself, I cast the Resistance into chaos, resulting in the Resistance suffering huge casualties before withdrawing. Watching the anarchy, I wondered aloud if the world would send me a challenge, just as the Avatar from all those months ago, now a Resistance rookie, approached me, though I did not recognize them. Sensing their fear, I tried to intimidate them. However, when the Avatar chose to stand their ground, I fought them. After a bit of fighting however, I recognized the Avatar. I proceeded to summon cannons to finish them off, but, because the Avatar wielded the Phantom Ruby prototype I [didn't know I] dropped earlier, they were immune to my attack. Though at first shocked, I dismissed them upon defeating the Avatar and departed, stating that only two days remained before the Resistance was wiped out.

After the Resistance destroyed the Phantom Rubies' primary power source onboard the Death Egg (thus leaving the Eggman Empire with only their backup reactor underneath the fortress), an infuriated Eggman had him and I [reluctantly, mind you] return to Metropolis. When the Resistance attacked the city again, however, I appeared before Eggman when Sonic and Tails came to capture the doctor. On Eggman's orders, I opened a portal into Null Space, which sucked both Sonic and the Avatar into it, seemingly trapping them forever. However, while me and Eggman were losing Metropolis to the Resistance, Sonic and the Avatar showed up before them again, having just escaped Null Space. While I was only slightly displeased about this, a furious Eggman had me and himself withdraw to the Eggman Empire Fortress.

When the Resistance Army stormed the Eggman Empire Fortress, I confronted them with an army of my replicas while the rest of Eggman's forces backed me up. Fighting through, Sonic and the core members of the Resistance faced him. I, however, easily blasted them back and got ready to finish them off, only to get caught off-guard by a fully repaired and vengeful E-123 Omega. Growing irritated by the opposition, I initiated Eggman's endgame: using my Phantom Ruby prototype to create a virtual sun that I planned to drop on the Resistance, which would destroy them. As I was about to drop my [literally] handmade sun, however, it suddenly got canceled out by the Avatar and the Phantom Ruby prototype they were in possession of.

Weakened from creating my sun, I withdrew to the center of the fortress, although Sonic soon caught up to me. Confident that I could still beat Sonic, even in my weakened state, I engaged Sonic in battle until my Phantom Ruby was fully recharged. As I got ready to finish Sonic though, I was interrupted by the Avatar, who joined forces with Sonic. Working together, the Avatar and Sonic finally defeated me. As I was struggling to comprehend my defeat, Sonic told me that it was the trinity of heart, soul, and friendship that beat me. Unable to fight anymore, I made an illusion of myself fading away and went over to SMG3, but eventually, I joined SMG4's crew, and now I have Crystal, so things are looking up!  And there you have it!