Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Back in his room, Helios leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the screen as he watched the recording. The pieces were falling into place, just as he had anticipated. Xehanort's manipulation of the apprentices was progressing smoothly, each of them inching closer to becoming pawns in his grand design.

"Classic Xehanort," Helios muttered to himself, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Pulling the strings like a master puppeteer."

Helios turned his attention to another image, where the footage of the Heartless-filled lab continued to play. His analytical mind worked tirelessly, piecing together the intricate web of plans that was beginning to take shape.

"Time to see just how far you'll go, Xehanort," he murmured, his voice carrying a tinge of curiosity. "Things should really start ramping up now. He has to take Isa and Lea soon. They'll proably be his first test subjects for the nobody process. Time to focus on what I need."

Helios knocked firmly on Sephiroth's door. It had been a long time since he willingly sought out a beating, but today he needed to make some progress desperately. When Sephiroth's calm, disinterested voice answered, Helios wasted no time.

"Sephiroth," Helios began, "I need a sparring session."

Sephiroth, lounging in his usual chair with Masamune resting nearby, didn't even look up. "Is that so?" he asked, his voice flat. "And why should I oblige?"

"Because we have a deal," Helios said, his tone unwavering, "I want to see how far I've come. I'm ready to go all out, and there's no better opponent than you."

Sephiroth's lips curved into a faint smirk as he finally stood, towering over Helios. "Lead the way," he said simply, grabbing his blade.

Helios opened a dark corridor, stepping through with Sephiroth close behind. They emerged in the wasteland outside the city where they'd first met—a barren, desolate stretch of land framed by jagged cliffs and an ominous red sky. The air was thick with tension as Helios cast a barrier, sealing the battlefield from any outside interference.

Sephiroth glanced around, his sharp eyes taking in their surroundings. "A different location," he mused. "And why is that?"

Helios summoned his Keyblade, his dark form enveloping him in shadow. "Because I don't want to hold back," he said, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. "I need to see just how far I've come—and how far I have to go."

Sephiroth chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "Very well," he said, unsheathing the Masamune with a fluid motion. "Show me."

The fight began in an instant.

Helios lunged forward, his Keyblade gleaming with dark energy. Sephiroth parried effortlessly, their weapons colliding in a shower of sparks. The force of the clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, but Sephiroth barely flinched, his calm demeanor unshaken.

Helios spun, following up with a rapid series of strikes, each one aimed with precision. Sephiroth danced around the attacks with almost supernatural grace, his long blade moving like a silver streak as it deflected Helios's blows.

"You've improved," Sephiroth said, his tone almost amused. "But you're still quite predictable."

With a burst of speed, Sephiroth vanished and reappeared behind Helios, the Masamune slicing downward in a deadly arc. Helios spun just in time, raising a Reflect barrier that absorbed the attack and sent Sephiroth skidding back slightly. Without missing a beat, Helios followed up with a Firaga spell, launching a massive fireball directly at his opponent.

Sephiroth raised his free hand, summoning a wall of flames that consumed the attack effortlessly. "If you're going to rely on magic, at least make it interesting," he said, his eyes narrowing as he unleashed Shadow Flares—dark orbs that radiated fiery malevolence. The orbs circled Helios, closing in with terrifying speed.

Helios reacted quickly, casting Aero to shield himself from the onslaught. The orbs collided with the wind barrier, exploding in bursts of dark flames that sent Helios skidding across the ground. He barely had time to recover before Sephiroth was upon him again, the Masamune flashing in a deadly series of slashes.

Helios blocked the first few strikes, his Keyblade vibrating under the sheer force of Sephiroth's attacks. But the relentless assault soon overwhelmed him, and a sharp slash across his side sent him staggering back, blood staining the ground beneath him.

"Is this the extent of your strength?" Sephiroth taunted, his voice calm but laced with derision. "Disappointing."

Helios gritted his teeth, summoning Cure to heal his wound before launching into a counterattack. He cast Blizzaga, freezing the ground beneath Sephiroth's feet, then followed up with Thundaga, sending bolts of lightning crashing down from the sky. The combination forced Sephiroth to take to the air, his black wing unfurling as he soared above the battlefield.

From above, Sephiroth unleashed his Meteor attack, summoning flaming meteors that revolved around him before hurtling toward Helios. The explosions rocked the wasteland, leaving craters in their wake. Helios dodged and weaved through the chaos, his movements a blur as he avoided the deadly projectiles.

But Sephiroth was relentless. He descended with a powerful slash that Helios barely blocked, the impact driving him to his knees. "You're strong," Helios admitted through gritted teeth, "but I'm not done yet."

He cast Slow, attempting to hinder Sephiroth's movements. For a brief moment, the spell took effect, giving Helios an opening. He lunged forward, landing a solid strike across Sephiroth's chest. The wound wasn't deep, but it was enough to draw blood—a rare accomplishment against the legendary swordsman.

Sephiroth's eyes glinted with something akin to approval as he wiped the blood from his chest. "Impressive," he said. "But you'll regret that."

With a flick of his wrist, Sephiroth cast Heartless Angel, a devastating technique that drained Helios's stamina and magic to near zero. Helios staggered, his vision blurring as he fought to stay conscious. Sephiroth followed up with Flash, his blade moving so fast it was almost invisible as he delivered a series of 16 lightning-fast slashes.

Helios managed to block some of the strikes with his Keyblade, but the sheer speed and power of the attack overwhelmed him. He collapsed to the ground, blood dripping from multiple wounds as Sephiroth stood over him, his expression cold and unyielding.

"You fought well," Sephiroth said, lowering the Masamune. "But you're still far from ready."

Helios forced himself to his feet, his legs trembling as he summoned the last of his strength. "I know but now I know I'm closer than I thought," he asked, his voice hoarse but defiant.

Sephiroth smirked faintly, his golden eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something darker. "I suppose," he said. "If you survive."

With that, Sephiroth turned and began to walk away, the fight seemingly over. But Helios wasn't ready to concede defeat. Summoning his remaining magic, he cast Dark Firaga, launching a massive orb of dark fire at Sephiroth's back.

Sephiroth turned, his smirk widening as he raised the Masamune and sliced through the attack with a single, effortless motion. The orb dissipated, and Sephiroth's gaze locked onto Helios. "Reckless," he said, his tone almost disappointed. "But bold."

Before Helios could react, Sephiroth vanished and reappeared in front of him, delivering a powerful kick that sent him crashing into the ground. Helios gasped for air, his body screaming in protest as he struggled to rise.

"You'll need more than that to defeat me," Sephiroth said, his voice calm but commanding. "But for now, you've earned your rest."

Helios collapsed onto his back, his body battered and broken but his spirit unyielding. As Sephiroth walked away, Helios allowed himself a small, grim smile. He hadn't won, but he had wounded the man for the first time.