Kingdom Hearts: The Coming Darkness

Chapter 10: Battle For The Imperial Palace

     The Imperial Square was filled with Heartless as the Imperial Army had been pushed back by their overwhelming strength and numbers. Many of the army's soldiers had fallen but even so, in the midst of the sea of Heartless, two still fought on. They were the general of the Imperial Army Li Shang, and the skilled swordsman and Lea's pseudo-apprentice, Shiro. Shiro was a young man in his twenties with short slicked back bronze hair, faintly tanned skin, and piercing silver eyes. He was clad in sleek, predominantly black, knight's armor with golden detailing. The chest piece, however, along with the boots and gauntlets were silver a color. He wielded a two handed weapon that resembled a claymore albeit with an unique design. The blade was a deep golden color and up to its dual point the blade resembled the teeth of the Ends of the Earth keyblade. The sword's cross-guard appeared to be comprised of a thick, black, fur-like material and its handle was wrapped in a black cloth. Lastly was the pommel which was golden and resembled a crescent moon in front of the sun. Shiro sliced through a group of Icy Cube Heartless that floated before him and then steadied himself as Shang finished off a Soldier Heartless and did the same. In the next instant two consecutive and thunderous booms came roaring through the Imperial Square from the nearby mountain.

     "I guess Lea's getting serious. Shang, you and the rest of the soldiers should fall back into the palace."

     "My soldiers nor I will retreat."

     "I'm not asking you to retreat. It's just that if you and I both fall, and your soldiers remain scattered and unorganized, then the Heartless will sweep through them and kill The Emperor. So, if you could fall back with your soldiers and come up with a strategy and a way to fortify the palace it'd only improve our chances of winning."

     Shiro's statement seemed to get through to Shang as he became to eye the battlefield and saw how overwhelmed his soldiers were. That was exactly what Shiro had hoped for as he was only speaking in half truths. Shiro had really only wanted the Imperial Army off the battlefield so he did not have to try to protecting them or avoid hitting them with his attacks. Shang parried an incoming attack from a Soldier Heartless as Shiro cut through one that attempted to attack him.

     "If my soldiers and I pull back to regroup what will you do?"

     "Don't worry I can stall them until you come up with something."

     With a great deal of reluctance Shang disengaged from the Heartless then signaled the remaining soldiers to do the same and to follow him. Within the next couple of moments the Imperial Army emptied the Imperial Square leaving only Shiro and hundreds of Heartless. Strangely enough Shiro breathed a sigh of relief as he faced down the numerous Heartless. It was not cockiness that made him feel at ease in this moment just the fact that his training had prepared him for this. Shiro leaped forward and swung with all his strength. His sword cut through three Soldier Heartless instantly reducing them to black smoke. As he was preparing to follow up his attack a dozen Fiery Globe and Icy Cube Heartless rushed at him covered in fire and ice respectively. Shiro instantly shielded himself using his claymore.

     "Gravity Strike."

     Shiro tightly gripped the handle of his blade and did a spinning slash which, combined with the Zero Gravity effect the attack had, sent the the Fiery Globes and Icy Cubes flying through the air. As Shiro countered Red Nocturnes and  Blue Rhapsodies began to respectively cast Fire and Blizzard at him. He quickly jumped high into the air avoiding the incoming spells. Once again Shiro found himself under assault as a quintet of Chill Rippers and Heat Sabers leaped to attack him.

     "Gravira."

     The Heartless that had leaped at him violently crashed into the ground and Heartless that were below them. Shiro still could not rest as a Volcanic Lord hurled six large fireballs. Shiro allowed himself to fall out of the sky in order to avoid the incoming attack. Once his feet touched the ground he quickly charged forward slicing through the Soldier, Red Nocturne, and Blue Rhapsody that stood in his way before taking aim at the Volcanic Lord.