Chapter 9

Months had passed, and still, Helios found himself unable to open a door of darkness. The frustration of his slow progress weighed on him, but it was nothing compared to the cold disappointment that emanated from the figure.

"We've been here for so long, and you still can't do it," the figure muttered, its tone icy with displeasure. "After all this time, the only thing you've managed to create is a basic shield of darkness. I thought we'd be much further along by now."

Panting heavily, surrounded by the shimmering, dark surface of his defensive shield, Helios shot the figure a glare. "Easy for you to say," he said between breaths. "You are darkness itself. You said darkness is fueled by dark emotions, but I don't have enough of those yet. The only thing driving me is my desire to kill that man in the coat—Xehanort, I assume."

The figure's energy flickered as it paced around Helios, unsatisfied. "That desire should be more than enough to channel the darkness," it said coldly. "Something inside you is holding you back. If you don't unlock this power soon, it could take years—decades even—before we leave this place."

Helios's gaze drifted out to the crumbling remains of the world surrounding them, the darkness swallowing everything. "Maybe," he said softly, "but I believe I'm strong enough to find a way out. We just need something more... powerful."

The figure stopped, its interest piqued. "And what exactly are you suggesting?"

Helios straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Since this is the Realm of Darkness, there should be Keyblades of Darkness scattered somewhere in this world."

The figure regarded him with a critical eye, its dark energy swirling as it contemplated Helios's words. "Keyblades of darkness? Based on your memories, they could exist here. But I wouldn't know where to find one. Do you?"

"I think I might," Helios replied, his voice steady with renewed determination. "Mickey found his Keyblade of darkness in this realm where Riku awakened the Kingdom Key, and I believe there must be others. Every Keyblade of light must have a counterpart in the dark. If I can find remnants of Daybreak Town—one of the first worlds to fall—then maybe I'll find a Keyblade that can help me channel the darkness and open the door."

The figure's cold eyes glowed faintly. "Daybreak Town..." it murmured, as if recalling something ancient and long forgotten. "Yes, a world of light that fell into darkness. If any part of it still exists, it will be at the center of the realm—the most dangerous area of all."

Helios nodded, a grim determination set in his expression. "Then that's where we need to go."

The figure's aura pulsed with dark energy, almost as if amused by Helios's resolve. "Be warned, boy. The path to Daybreak Town will be unforgiving. If you fail to master the darkness, you'll be torn apart by the Heartless before you even set foot near it."

"I understand the risks," Helios replied. "But staying here is no longer an option. This world is disintegrating piece by piece. If we don't move soon, we'll be swallowed up just like everything else. Besides someone once said the best way to learn is under intense life-threatening conditions."

The figure seemed to contemplate for a moment, its gaze heavy on Helios. "Perhaps you're right. Perhaps you need a more... immediate visceral experience to push you to your limits."

Before Helios could process the figure's words, he felt a chilling feeling as he looked at the figure and then it moved. In an instant, the dark energy surrounding it exploded outward, forming deadly spikes of shadow that shot toward him.

Helios reacted instinctively, summoning his shield of darkness just in time. The spikes crashed against his barrier with a force that sent him stumbling back, cracks forming across the surface of his shield. The clash between their darkness sent shockwaves through the crumbling room. His heart pounded in his chest as the figure loomed over him, its voice cold and detached. "Hmm… seems you were right life-threatening conditions do make for growth."

"Why are you doing this?" Helios shouted, fear and confusion mixing with anger. "I thought we were allies—friends not enemies!"

The figure's response was chillingly calm. "If you can't meet my expectations, then perhaps death is the lesson you need. The darkness is not merciful. Only the strong survive. And I have no need for weak friends."

Helios's breath quickened as the figure launched another volley of dark energy toward him. His shield held, but just barely. The cracks widened with each strike, the barrier straining against the relentless assault.

"I'll die at this rate!" Helios gasped, panic creeping into his voice.

The figure's energy pulsed, its amusement almost tangible. "Yes, I know. I fully intend on killing you if you don't meet my standards. I am not human, Helios. I don't need to lie or deceive. When I say I will kill you if you do not meet my expectations, I mean it."

Helios's mind raced as he dodged another wave of spikes, his body aching from the strain. His heart pounded, fear mingling with frustration. He had to think—had to find a way out of this.

"Why are you so intent on killing me?" Helios shouted, trying to find a way to reason with the figure. "I thought we had a common goal! If you kill me, you'll never get what you want!"

The figure paused, its dark energy flickering with curiosity. "Perhaps," it said slowly. "But if you cannot harness the darkness within you, then you are useless to me. When I first looked into your memories, I saw only a small flicker of darkness. Neither too much nor too little—a frustratingly useless amount. You are not worth possessing unless that darkness grows."

Helios's eyes narrowed as he spotted an opening in the figure's attack pattern. Summoning every ounce of strength, he poured darkness into his legs, launching himself upward with a burst of energy just as the figure lunged again. The force propelled him through a crumbling wall, debris scattering around him as he crashed into the open night.

Panting, Helios scrambled to his feet. His shield was gone, but the surge of energy had bought him a few precious seconds. He looked back, his mind whirling. He needed to get away, to regroup. This wasn't just about mastering darkness anymore—it was about survival.