Alf Layla wa-Layla

Alf Layla wa-Layla (アルフ・ライラ・ワ・ライラ) is the final boss in Sonic and the Secret Rings. He is an incomplete, twisted genie demon, and the transformed form of Erazor Djinn, created when Erazor absorbed the World Rings when their power was not under his full control. In order to fully complete his transformation, he intends to sacrifice Sonic the Hedgehog, who collected the World Rings in the first place.

Sonic battles him, having used the World Rings of Hatred, Sadness, and Rage to transform into Darkspine Sonic.

Appearance
In full appearance, Alf Layla wa-Layla is a horribly grotesque pink demon with a single eye that shoots white fire from its pupil, no nose, an enormous mouth with shark-like teeth, six arms, each with a large corresponding inscribed muscle in his chest and an enormous, bulging torso. From the knees down, his legs are long, thin and segmented, like insect legs. The four World Rings that he keeps are attached to his shoulders and thighs, and he belches white fire from his head. He has a long, sharp scorpion-like tail with several spikes running down the back of the upper part of it. Meanwhile, his tail is basically just his sword transformed. However, before he lost the three extra World Rings to Sonic, he took on a different form: that of an enormous ball of purple energy with seven talon-like arms and his single eye emerging from it. This suggests that the true Alf Layla wa-Layla is never fought, but instead the being that Darkspine Sonic battled was "semi-super" or "half-baked", since he was using only four World Rings to fight (Sonic had the other three).

History
After collecting all seven World Rings and defeating Erazor Djinn, the Last Chapter is selectable in Night Palace. After Erazor ended up killing Shahra in an attempt to sacrifice Sonic to gain control of the World Rings, Erazor tried to absorb the World Rings anyway and gain absolute control and power over the world of the Arabian Nights and to enter Sonic's world. However, because Sonic, who is the true collector of the World Rings, was still alive, Erazor became insane from their usage and transformed into the monstrous Alf Layla wa-Layla.

Sonic remarked that Alf Layla wa-Layla was "just some incomplete monster", but due to the feelings Sonic felt at Shahra's death, the World Rings of Sadness, Rage and Hatred erupted from the back of Alf Layla wa-Layla and merged with Sonic, transforming him into Darkspine Sonic. Darkspine Sonic then told Shahra to lend him her power and engaged Alf Layla wa-Layla in battle. Though the battle was fierce, Darkspine Sonic managed to literally beat the World Rings' power out of Alf Layla wa-Layla, returning him to normal. After that, Sonic used Erazor's old lamp to make Erazor fix all the damage he had done, and reseal him inside his lamp.

Powers and abilities
Alf Layla wa-Layla was able to turn the world of the Arabian Nights into a void upon coming into existence, destroying the world's time and space. He can create lines of fire like Erazor does, but he doesn't need a weapon to do it. He is apparently able to do this because his sword becomes his tail. His other attacks include shooting out purple balls of energy (he shoots one from each hand, and has six of them, easily avoided using Speed Break), and creating blue whirlpools. His most powerful attack is where he gathers the words of the Arabian Nights to create a giant massive purple ball of spiritual energy known as the "Spirit Blast."

Alf Layla wa-Layla is also capable of dimensional travel, as it was stated that after he finishes transforming the world of the Arabian Nights he would travel to Sonic's world and do the same there.

Weakness
Alf Layla wa-Layla's weakest point is his heart, hidden right under the skin on his chest, and attacking it causes him a significant, but not fatal, amount of damage. The skin protecting his heart can be blown back by hitting it with sufficient enough force (namely Alf Layla wa-Layla's Spirit Blast).

Boss guide
The battle takes place in a black void, with a yellow orb that appears to be a sun floating an unreachable distance away, and the occasional ten rings or Rich Ring floating around.

Alf Layla wa-Layla has only four attacks, but one can be performed in multiple ways. They are; fire six purple orbs at Sonic, getting faster and faster every time but easily avoided by Speed Break, slashing with his arms in a way similar to Erazor Djinn except with multiple attacks per slash, and the ability to create a large ball of the Arabian Nights that cannot be avoided but may be reflected with a well-timed Speed Break. The slash may be performed in several ways; with two from upper left, two from upper right, three from upper left, three from upper right; in an X shape; in very multiple crossing lines with very few safe spots; or in three from the top, one from right side along the bottom. After reflecting the large ball of Arabian Nights, Sonic must perform a homing attack (or Speed Break again) on Alf Layla wa-Layla's 'heart', that is to say, a large, pulsing orb in his chest, and rapidly attack it. Every time he successfully does so, a large jet of steam will erupt from and clog one of the holes in Alf Layla wa-Layla's body. He has seven of them; two on his chest, one on each foot, one on each side on his spine, and one on his head as an 'eye'.

After three holes erupt, Erazor will perform his final attack: firing spiraling orbs of light, which will pull Sonic towards themselves and pull him down if he is aerial. He will fire an equivalent to the number of holes that have erupted.

Upon his defeat, Alf Layla wa-Layla falls and erupts into the Arabian Nights.

Memorable quotes

 * "I am... the creator. The stories of this world are... MINE!" - first line of the battle
 * "Mwahahah! You think you are a match for me?" - when he uses his slash attack for the first time
 * "I am Alf Layla wa-Layla. I AM the Arabian Nights! I will be its new creator! I will remake this world and this reality in my own image!"
 * "It will only take a miracle for you to dodge my attacks!"- used when he throws his large ball of the Arabian Nights.
 * "Gwaaah! How can you have this power?!"- After being attacked once by Sonic.

Trivia

 * Alf Layla wa-Layla's name is the original name of the Arabian Nights in Arabic (ألف ليلة و ليلة). When translated, his name means "one thousand and one nights", the alternate name for the Arabian Nights.
 * Hoopa, a Legendary Pokémon from the Pokémon franchise, resembles Alf Layla wa-Layla when it transforms into its Unbound forme.