Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

As Helios and the figure ventured deeper into the ominous realm of darkness, the atmosphere grew heavier, and more suffocating. The twisted trees of the dark forest loomed above them, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. Shadows twisted and writhed, whispering secrets only the darkness could understand.

Helios walked in silence for a while, his mind replaying the battle he'd just fought. Finally, unable to contain his frustration, he broke the quiet. "If that orb allows me to use the darkness safely, why didn't you give it to me sooner?"

The figure moved ahead of him, gliding effortlessly through the oppressive air. "The orb may allow you to access the darkness safely, but it also limits you. It acts like a crutch, preventing you from mastering the full extent of your dark power. If I'd given it to you at the start, you'd have grown dependent on it and assumed you had control when in reality you wouldn't. The moment you stopped using it, the darkness would have consumed you. And then, I would have lost my possible vessel."

Helios mulled over the figure's words, realizing the danger the orb posed if misused. He hadn't thought of it that way, but it made sense. "So, this was all just a test? I'm now strong enough to use it?" he asked, trying to mask the bitterness in his voice.

"No," the figure replied with its usual indifference. "I had no reason to give it to you before. Likewise, I have no reason to give it to you now either. However, you wanted a sign of trust, so I gave it to you. But make no mistake—the orb is more detrimental than helpful. Its only real purpose is to allow me to track you wherever you are."

Helios's eyes widened. "What? So it's just a tracking device?" He stopped, glaring at the figure. "Take it back!"

The figure glided a little ahead, unmoved by Helios's anger. "No. I told you, I'll take it back once we leave this realm. Until then, it stays with you. It's true that we are always together, but separation in the Realm of Darkness can happen easily. Should we get separated, you'll be thankful for the tracking function."

Helios's frustration bubbled over. "You tricked me! I thought you didn't lie. What happened to that?"

The figure's voice remained cold and detached. "I didn't lie. You insisted on a symbol of trust, and I obliged. The fact that it has other functions is irrelevant."

Helios clenched his fists, feeling a surge of anger rise within him. "You manipulated me," he retorted. "You knew exactly what you were doing."

The figure remained indifferent, not even bothering to face Helios. "I simply acted as I always do. The orb keeps us connected, and when the darkness inevitably tries to separate us, you'll see the benefit."

Helios took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. There was no use arguing further. But before he could move on, a thought crossed his mind. "What's your name?" he asked suddenly, hoping to catch the figure off-guard.

"I don't have one," the figure replied, not missing a beat. "I cast aside everything—name, form, heart—to become what you see. I am darkness, nothing more."

Helios frowned. "That's sad. You should have a name. If you want, I can give you one."

The figure didn't respond to his offer, gliding ahead with its usual apathy. Before Helios could push the subject, the figure's voice cut through the silence. "Enough. They're here. Prepare yourself."

Ahead of them, the ground trembled. The air grew thick with malice as a Darkside—an immense, humanoid Heartless—emerged from the shadows. It towered over Helios, its body massive and composed of swirling darkness. Its glowing yellow eyes glared down at him, and with a low, guttural growl, it began its assault.

Helios's heart raced, but anger and grief from his parent's death filled him. He summoned his dark shield, the energy crackling around him as the Darkside swung its massive claws, sending shockwaves of darkness through the air. The force of the attack rattled Helios to his core, but he stood his ground, ready to fight.

Dodging the Darkside's massive strikes, Helios retaliated with Dark Firaga, launching searing orbs of dark fire at the Heartless. The flames licked at the Darkside's shadowy form, but it didn't falter. Instead, it grew more aggressive, its attacks more relentless.

Helios could feel his energy waning, but he couldn't afford to stop. With each move, he drew deeper into the well of darkness within him, his anger and grief fueling his attacks. He struck with renewed ferocity, shadows swirling around him as he launched bolt after bolt of dark fire.

The figure watched from the sidelines, its expression unreadable. It observed Helios's growing strength with mild curiosity but also a hint of caution. The darkness was responding to him more powerfully than before, but there was a dangerous edge to it—a line that Helios might cross without realizing.

Just as the battle reached a fever pitch, the figure decided to intervene. It melded with the shadows, becoming one with the dark forest, and struck the Darkside with a single, devastating blow. The Heartless collapsed, its massive form disintegrating into nothingness.

Before Helios could comprehend what had happened, the figure was upon him, knocking him off his feet with a swift motion. Darkness swirled around him, and for a brief moment, everything went black.

When Helios awoke, the battle was over. His head throbbed, and he struggled to make sense of what had happened. He glanced up and saw the figure hovering over him, its gaze cold and calculating.

"Why did you stop me?" Helios demanded, anger flaring in his voice. "I had it under control!"

The figure's voice was as emotionless as ever. "You were losing control. Your darkness was growing too potent, and it was attracting more Heartless. If I hadn't intervened, you would have been overwhelmed."

Helios clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath his skin. "I didn't know—" He stopped himself, realizing the truth of the figure's words. The darkness he'd been wielding had felt different, more intense. He hadn't noticed how much it was consuming him.

"The more you draw on the darkness, the more you invite others to feed on it," the figure continued. "You cannot afford to be careless."

Helios took a deep breath, his anger giving way to a sense of understanding. "I get it," he admitted reluctantly. "I didn't realize how dangerous it was. I need to be more careful."

The figure's cold eyes flickered. "Good. Learn from this. Next time, I won't save you. If you continue to be a liability, you'll no longer be worth keeping alive."

Helios shot the figure a glare but said nothing. He understood the warning, but he wasn't about to let it break him. He would prove that he could control the darkness—and he would survive, no matter the cost.

The two continued their journey, the dark forest closing in around them once more. As they walked, Helios couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them—something more dangerous than the Heartless they had faced.