Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Chapter 16

As Helios caught his breath, Kurai's voice cut through the tension-filled air, urging him to be quiet. "We must remain silent, Helios," Kurai whispered, their voice barely audible. "It's still searching for you, and its senses are keen. My concealment can only protect you for so long."

Helios nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He glanced towards the direction where Dark Hide had leapt to, watching as the monstrous Heartless scoured the landmasses, its glowing red eyes scanning the darkness in search of its prey. The land trembled under its weight as it moved.

Kurai's voice broke the silence by sounding through Helios' mind, explaining the precariousness of their situation. "While your attacks did inflict damage upon it, they only served to anger the creature. It knows that you are here somewhere, and it is hunting for you. I managed to pull you to safety and hide your presence, but the Heartless still believes we are in the vicinity."

A question rose in Helios's mind, and he focused his thoughts, hoping Kurai could hear. "Why can I hear you in my head? And if you can summon dark corridors, why didn't we escape before? There's more you're not telling me, isn't there?"

There was a brief silence before Kurai's voice replied, this time with an uncharacteristic edge. "That corridor wasn't mine," Kurai admitted. "It belonged to another darkness-wielder, passing through. I merely... influenced it to come our way. Using it too often would have exposed us to unwanted attention from both the Heartless and the creator of that portal." After a pause, Kurai's tone shifted, dark energy ebbing in the background. "And, Helios... the concealment you see is draining me. I won't be able to hide us for long."

Helios processed this revelation in silence. Kurai had borrowed power to save him, an act that carried more risk than he'd realized. Despite his growing trust issues, he couldn't ignore the efforts Kurai had taken to shield him. Yet, he noted Kurai's evasion on the question of why he could hear its voice in his mind—a mystery he would press later.

"Thank you, Kurai. I appreciate it," he thought, careful not to betray his deeper reservations. "f it knows I'm here I don't think it will leave anytime soon, I doubt it'd give up easily. Our best chance might be to stay hidden until the right moment presents itself."

Kurai's dark energy grew somewhat gentle. They nodded in acknowledgment and reaffirmed their commitment to their shared goal. Helios steeled himself, fully aware that the battle was far from over. As they huddled in the shroud of darkness, Helios focused on conserving his energy and sharpening his senses. He listened intently to the ominous rumblings of the Heartless, tracking its movements as it continued its search.

"Is it possible to move while shrouded by your power?" asked Helios with his thoughts to which Kurai shook its head and responded by thinking, "I don't have enough power at the moment."

Time seemed non-existent in the darkness, but Helios had to remain patient. He knew that the opportunity would arise, while the current landmass had no keyblades there should still be some on the others. And when that moment came, he would be ready to seize it.

Their best chance at survival lay in acquiring a keyblade so Helios focused his thoughts, strategizing on how to navigate the treacherous landscape and locate a keyblade while evading the relentless pursuit of the Dark Hide. As the Heartless continued its search, Helios meticulously observed its movements, noting patterns and possible vulnerabilities. He analyzed the floating landmasses, their positions, and the distance between them, plotting a course that would lead him to the keyblade he sought.

Outside of Kurai's concealment, Helios cautiously ventured out from their hiding spot. He moved with silent precision, carefully traversing the unstable terrain, making use of his heightened senses to detect any signs of the Heartless's approach. As he explored the surrounding landmasses, he remained vigilant, his eyes scanning for the glimmering light of a keyblade. He leaped from one piece of land to another, using his agility to maintain a swift yet stealthy pace. Each jump was calculated, every movement deliberate, as he strived to remain undetected by both the Heartless and any other lurking threats.

In this game of shadows, Helios pushed his physical and mental limits. His determination to obtain his prize fueled his every step, his resolve unyielding. With each passing moment, his anticipation grew, knowing that the keyblade he sought was almost within reach.

As the Dark Hide searched on, Helios's focus remained unbroken. He surveyed the landmasses, searching for the telltale glimmer of a keyblade amidst the darkness. He moved swiftly and silently, his steps guided by a mixture of instinct and intuition.

Finally, his keen eyes caught a glimpse of the coveted keyblade. It stood defiantly, embedded in a massive rock formation on a distant landmass. Most likely it lodged itself in the rock from the previous landmass. The distance seemed daunting, but Helios knew that to survive he had to reach it. He leaped from one floating piece of land to another, his movements graceful and precise.

As he closed in on the target, the Heartless sensed his presence. It unleashed a barrage of dark projectiles, attempting to hinder his progress. Helios dodged and weaved, his reflexes honed to perfection. He relied on his instinct to guide him through the storm of darkness, never losing sight of his goal.

With one final leap, Helios reached the landmass housing the keyblade. He approached it stealthily, aware of the danger that lurked nearby. He extended his hand, his fingers closing around the hilt of the keyblade. A surge of a strange power coursed through his body as he firmly grasped the weapon, its weight a comforting reassurance.

It was then that the Dark Hide land behind Helios launching him a few feet away with a gust. The Heartless, enraged by the weapon in Helios's hand, launched a devastating attack. Helios, now wielding the keyblade, met the assault head-on. He unleashed a flurry of strikes, combining his own skills with the newfound power of the keyblade. Using the keyblade to channel his darkness amplified the power of his Dark Firaga by nearly tripling its previous output.

Helios, harnessing the power of darkness, unleashed a torrent of Dark Firagas towards the Dark Hide. Each dark flame seared through the air, engulfing the Heartless in its destructive embrace. But the Dark Hide was not easily defeated. It swiftly evaded the magical onslaught, its agility and dark nature allowing it to navigate through the chaotic barrage unscathed.

Undeterred, Helios adapted his strategy, combining his magical prowess with swift and evasive maneuvers. He dodged and weaved through the Heartless's counterattacks, narrowly evading its devastating swipes and dark projectiles. With every dodge, Helios seized the opportunity to retaliate. He struck with precision, delivering powerful blows that reverberated through the air, causing the Dark Hide to stagger momentarily.