Chapter 10

As Helios propelled himself through the air, heart pounding with adrenaline, he raced toward the crumbling remnants of Enchanted Dominion. The shadowy figure, realizing its opportunity slipping away, pursued him with relentless determination.

The ruins of the once-grand kingdom stretched before Helios as he leaped from one decaying structure to another, each step driven by the primal need to survive. Behind him, the figure's dark presence loomed, its intent clear: it would kill him if he faltered.

Panic gnawed at the edges of Helios's mind, but amidst the fear, a single thought flickered: Riku's technique. Dark Firaga. He had seen it in his memories—a blast of dark fire, harnessed from the darkness within. He had to try.

Helios focused, his hand trembling as he attempted to summon the dark energy. He could feel it bubbling within him, a chaotic force eager to be unleashed. A tiny orb of fiery darkness began to form above his palm, flickering weakly at first. As the figure drew closer, Helios seized his chance, hurling the Dark Firaga directly at his pursuer.

The dark fire exploded on impact, engulfing the figure in a cloud of black flames. The explosion reverberated through the decaying streets, the shockwave sending the figure staggering back. For the first time, Helios saw a crack in its cold, indifferent facade—a flicker of surprise.

Without hesitation, Helios pressed his advantage. His muscles ached, but he pushed through the pain, leaping toward the figure with newfound confidence. The darkness, which had once felt uncontrollable, was now beginning to bend to his will. The power of the Dark Firaga had shown him that he could fight back.

The figure, recovering quickly, retaliated with a volley of dark projectiles. But Helios was ready. He summoned his shield of darkness, raising it just in time to deflect the onslaught. Each impact shook him, but he stood his ground, maneuvering through the chaos with precision.

"You're improving, Helios," the figure hissed, though its voice remained as cold as ever. It unleashed another barrage of attacks, dark energy crackling through the air.

Helios moved with agility, evading the attacks and countering with his own bursts of dark fire. Each step he took, each spell he cast, felt more controlled, more precise. His confidence grew with every movement, and he could feel the darkness within him responding to his determination. He was learning to balance it—to wield it without losing himself.

The battle raged through the decaying streets, their powers clashing violently as the world around them continued to fall apart. Helios's attacks grew stronger, his control over the dark firaga sharpening with each strike. He felt the rhythm of the fight, the pulse of the darkness coursing through his veins.

Then, with a surge of power, Helios launched a devastating ball of dark energy at the figure. The explosion rocked the area, shattering nearby windows as shards of glass rained down. Dust and debris filled the air, and for a moment, there was silence.

Panting, Helios collapsed to the ground, struggling to catch his breath. He stared at the spot where the figure had been, hoping—just for a second—that he had finally won.

A voice, cold and indifferent, cut through the silence. "Good enough. You don't have to die now."

Helios's heart sank as he looked up to see the figure hovering behind him, completely unscathed. It had survived the powerful attack without so much as a scratch.

"What do you want from me?" Helios demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and exhaustion. "First, you try to kill me, and now you say 'good job'? What's your goal?"

The figure floated closer, its dark energy swirling lazily. "I simply want you to reach your full potential, Helios. To tap into the darkness within you. This was merely a test. I needed to push you to your limits, to see if you were worth keeping alive."

Helios glared at the figure, frustration boiling beneath his skin. "You could have taught me. You could have guided me! Instead, you tried to kill me, pushed me like some tool. How can you expect me to trust you after that?"

The figure's voice remained calm, devoid of any emotion. "Didn't you once say that extreme measures are sometimes necessary? That's exactly what I did. I pushed you beyond your limits. And you survived. Now, you are stronger than before." The figure paused, its eyes glowing faintly. "We're still friends, aren't we?"

"Friends?" Helios spat, his frustration bubbling over. "Do you really think I'll go anywhere with you after you tried to kill me? How am I supposed to trust you?"

The figure floated closer, unfazed. "Trust has nothing to do with empathy or feelings. You trust me because I have never lied to you. I told you I would kill you if you disappointed me. And I told you I would let you live if you proved your worth. Did I not keep my word?"

Helios's anger flared, but he couldn't deny the truth in the figure's words. The figure had never lied. But the coldness in its logic—its complete indifference to his life—made Helios's skin crawl.

"Trust isn't just about keeping promises," Helios shot back, his voice filled with defiance. "It's about showing you care about the other person. You tried to kill me, and now you expect me to just move on?"

The figure's gaze remained steady, unblinking. "Whether you realize it or not, Helios, you already trust me. You trusted my words when I said I would kill you. And now, you trust me when I say you are safe. Trust is not about emotions. It is about understanding reality."

Helios stared at the figure, his fists clenched. He wanted to argue, to reject its twisted view of trust, but a part of him knew that the figure was right—at least, in its own warped way.

"I'll proceed cautiously," Helios said, his voice steely. "But if you want me to follow you, you'll need to prove that you're really on my side. I won't let my guard down."

The figure's energy flickered briefly. "There is no need to prove anything. You will be safe with me as long as you meet my expectations. If you fall short again, then yes—your life will be in danger. But for now, I am satisfied."

Helios felt his frustration growing. The figure's complete lack of empathy made it impossible to fully trust, but he had little choice. If he wanted to survive and leave this place, he needed to keep playing along—for now.

"Actions speak louder than words," Helios muttered. "If you're truly on my side, show me."

Without a word, the figure extended its hand, and from its palm, a tendril of dark energy began to form. Slowly, it coiled and twisted, eventually solidifying into a small, glowing orb that pulsed with faint warmth.

"This is a fragment of my power," the figure explained. "Take it. With this, you will be able to tap deeper into the darkness. Use it until we leave this realm."

Helios hesitated, staring at the orb in the figure's hand. Reluctantly, he reached out and accepted the gift. The moment the orb touched his skin, a surge of energy flowed through him. He could feel the figure's power intertwining with his own, amplifying the darkness within him.

"Actions do carry weight," Helios admitted, his voice quieter now. "But I will remain cautious. We may have the same goal, but trust... trust is earned through more than just promises. It's earned through consistency and care."

The figure said nothing, its gaze fixed on Helios as the dark orb was absorbed.

"Let's move on," Helios said, his resolve hardened. He would continue forward, but he would never let his guard down again.

The darkness was his to control, but he knew that the figure walking beside him was as dangerous as any enemy he had ever faced.