Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Chapter 12

"Kurai!" Helios exclaimed suddenly as they walked through the endless shadows of the forest.

The figure turned its ethereal head toward him. "Hmm? Kurai?"

"I told you I'd come up with a name for you, and I decided on Kurai," Helios replied, a hint of pride in his voice.

The figure, now named Kurai, seemed to pause in thought. Its dark energy swirled around it, pulsing with subtle intrigue. It had wandered through countless years without a name or identity, yet here Helios was, giving it one.

"Kurai," the figure repeated, testing the name as though it were foreign. "Does it carry any meaning?"

Helios nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yes. In Japanese, 'Kurai' can mean 'dark,' 'gloomy,' or 'shadow,' which feels appropriate given your nature and this place. But it can also mean 'to come' or 'to arrive'—which could signify a new beginning."

Kurai's energy rippled faintly, as if contemplating something buried deep within its being. For a brief moment, a faint warmth flickered inside, a distant memory it couldn't quite grasp. But the feeling quickly faded, replaced by its usual indifference.

"If you wish to call me Kurai, so be it," the figure replied, its tone as cold as ever. "But enough with sentiment. I sense the Heartless growing restless again. We should find a more open area to confront them."

Helios and Kurai pressed on, their footsteps echoing through the dense, oppressive darkness of the forest. The atmosphere thickened with the looming presence of Heartless, their energy palpable in the air. Helios braced himself, ready to summon his dark shield at a moment's notice.

They soon emerged into a small clearing, bathed in the eerie blue glow of the Realm of Darkness. The shadows around them shifted, and the telltale glow of yellow eyes began to appear from the gloom. The Heartless, drawn by the scent of Helios's darkness, gathered and converged upon them.

Helios didn't hesitate. He summoned his dark energy, weaving it into a shimmering shield. The Heartless swarmed, their claws and tendrils slashing at him from all angles. His shield deflected their attacks, while Kurai moved with fluid grace, slipping into the shadows and striking with deadly precision.

The two fought in sync, an unspoken understanding between them as they cut through the endless waves of Heartless. Helios unleashed bursts of Dark Firaga, the flames consuming his enemies in searing darkness, while Kurai dispatched them with cold, surgical efficiency. Their battle was a symphony of light and shadow, each movement honed by the dangers of the world they now inhabited.

But just as they began to thin the Heartless ranks, a larger shadow loomed over them—a towering Darkside Heartless emerged from the shadows, its jagged spikes protruding from its massive body. Its aura was suffused with malevolent energy, and its glowing eyes fixed on Helios with a hunger that made his skin crawl.

Helios gritted his teeth and summoned his dark shield again, deflecting the Darkside's crushing blows as it unleashed shockwaves of dark energy. Kurai circled the Darkside, slipping through the chaos with unnerving ease, striking at its vulnerable points with precise blows.

But even as they fought in tandem, the Darkside's raw power was overwhelming. Its strength dwarfed the smaller Heartless, and its attacks grew fiercer with each passing moment.

Mid-battle, Kurai's voice echoed in Helios's mind. "I've expended much of my energy. You will need to handle this one on your own." With that, Kurai vanished into the shadows, leaving Helios alone to face the towering foe.

Helios took a deep breath, tapping into the well of darkness within himself. He let it surge through him, amplifying his strength, as he prepared for the final clash. His Dark Firaga attacks intensified, each strike hammering the Darkside's shadowy form with greater precision and force. The ground trembled beneath their battle, shockwaves rippling through the clearing as they clashed.

In a blur of motion, Helios evaded the Darkside's massive fists, anticipating its moves with growing confidence. Then, with one final surge of power, he unleashed a devastating orb of dark fire, striking the Darkside in the chest. The massive Heartless staggered, its form disintegrating into a cloud of darkness.

But even as it faded, the Darkside released one last desperate attack. A blast of dark energy struck Helios, catching him off guard. A searing pain shot through his side, and he stumbled, blood staining his dark clothing. He clutched his wound, struggling to remain standing.

Kurai reappeared at his side, unbothered by Helios's injury. "You're wounded. That attack would have infected you with darkness, but thanks to the orb I gave you, you're protected. However, we should tend to the wound before it worsens."

Helios groaned, his hand pressed tightly against his side. "Unless you know healing magic, this is going to take a while."

Kurai's tone remained as detached as ever. "Let me handle that. You'll pass out soon if you lose too much blood, and I can't carry you."

Despite the dire situation, Helios couldn't help but chuckle through the pain. "Good to know you have your priorities straight."

They stumbled through the forest, Kurai guiding Helios as they searched for shelter. Before long, they came across a small, weathered cabin hidden within the dark woods. Helios's steps grew heavier as he approached the familiar sight, a vague sense of recognition dawning on him.

"This place... it looks like the Dwarf Woodlands," Helios muttered, memories of Snow White's world flickering in his mind. "This must be after Birth by Sleep... when the world was consumed by darkness."

With great effort, Helios staggered to the cabin, his strength fading fast. As he crossed the threshold, his vision blurred, and darkness overtook him.

When Helios collapsed, Kurai acted swiftly. Dark energy surged around them as Kurai intertwined itself with Helios, merging their forms temporarily. Helios's eyes flickered yellow as Kurai assumed control, animating his body with dark energy. Helios's movements were no longer sluggish, no longer weighed down by pain.

Though blood still trickled from his wound, Kurai propelled him forward, guiding him into the cabin and laying him down on the bed. The dark energy shielded Helios from feeling the worst of the pain, dulling the sensation while keeping him alert.

Kurai spoke through Helios, their voices blending into one. "The wound was worse than I thought. I'll have to watch over him until he recovers."

As Kurai relinquished control, Helios's eyes returned to their normal blue. He lay on the bed, his body finally succumbing to the exhaustion and blood loss. The dark energy that had sustained him faded away, leaving him unconscious, his body weak but stable. But the wound on his side remained, now staining the bed sheets with his blood.

The battle was over, but as Helios drifted into a deep sleep, the uncertainty of their journey loomed heavier than ever. The darkness within him had grown stronger, and Kurai's influence was undeniable.