When you're so dangerous the damm time eater shits bricks from you

Shadow generations made me like Mephiles more than before and I liked him even before shadow generation.

Mephiles IMO have the best boss fight in game writing wise, the build up, dialog, and those small details all around the place.

And yes time eater obviosly fears mephiles and there are quite many details pointing at it.

1st his arena is hidden deep underground, the rest is very visible like somebody doesn't want mephiles to be found (stares at time eater)

2nd needs 4 keys, 1 more than other 2 bosses. Time eater is making sure mephiles is kept underground so he sets up more locks for him.

All that despite mephiles being sealed away in a lamp like some sort of genie.

Mephiles is on a 3 layer lock down because time eater knows mephiles is more dangerous than anything in the sonic universe.