Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

A burst of light erupted from Helios' body, the sharp radiance forcing Kurai to recoil. The shadow hissed, retreating just enough to avoid the worst of the light. Without hesitation, Helios summoned his Keyblade, the weapon's ethereal glow filling the room as he leveled it at the being.

Helios stood firm, his Keyblade glowing faintly in the dim light of the room as he pointed it directly at Kurai. The creature's shadowy form flickered, its eerie, glowing body flickered as it made a sound that could only be described as amusement. Kurai's hands, semi-corporeal tendrils of darkness, retracted with a hiss.

"You shouldn't threaten me," Helios said coldly, his voice steady but laced with steel. "Because if you do, I promise I'll make you regret it."

Kurai chuckled emotionlessly, the sound slithering through the air like a serpent. It moved closer, its shadowy form pressing against the tip of the Keyblade until the glowing weapon was buried in its intangible chest. Its voice was smooth, taunting. "How, exactly, do you plan to do that?" it asked, tilting its head mockingly. "I don't feel regret, Helios. So tell me… how will you 'make me'?"

Helios clicked his teeth in frustration, his grip tightening on the Keyblade for a moment before he desummoned it in a flash of light. He turned away from Kurai, his tone flat and final. "I'm going to bed. Don't bother me."

Without waiting for a response, he moved toward the bed and lay down, forcing his mind to ignore the lingering tension in the room. Kurai remained silent for a moment, watching him with an unreadable expression before its form dissolved into a shadowy miasma. The tendrils of darkness slithered across the floor before surging toward Helios and merging into his body, retreating to the place it usually hid within him.

Helios exhaled slowly, his muscles still tense despite his words. He knew that Kurai thrived on pushing his boundaries, testing his resolve. Tonight had been no different.

Deep within the bowels of Radiant Garden, in the decommissioned laboratory of Ansem the Wise, the air was thick with the hum of machinery and the faint crackle of energy. At the center of the lab stood a large experimentation tube, its cylindrical glass glowing with an unsettling purple light. Inside the tube, a figure writhed in agony as their heart was slowly extracted by a series of mechanical arms and magical conduits.

Even and Xehanort observed the transformation with clinical detachment, their attention fixed on every detail of the process. The subject inside the tube—an orphan of Radiant Garden—let out a guttural scream as their form began to twist and change. Their skin turned a dark gray, their body encased in a tight, dark purple bodysuit with jagged light purple sleeves. Their fingers extended into talons, their feet warped into spindly, two-toed monstrosities, and a pair of leather-like wings sprouted from their back, sharp and angular like spearheads. Their glowing yellow eyes and gaping, craggy maw completed the horrific transformation into a Gargoyle Heartless.

Braig leaned casually against the doorway, watching the scene with a smirk. He let out a low whistle, his tone amused. "Bet that didn't feel nice," he remarked, crossing his arms as he stepped further into the room.

Even glanced at him briefly before returning his attention to the controls. "Braig," he said, his voice sharp and analytical. "Did you locate the irregular responsible for the disturbances over the past few days?"

Braig shrugged nonchalantly, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Who, me? As if. Still on the hunt," he said, his tone evasive. "Figured I'd stop by and check on the fun you two are having in here first. Looks… messy."

Xehanort didn't look up from his clipboard, his golden eyes scanning the notes he'd been taking. "Then go," he said curtly. "Find the interloper and report back. Our work here requires focus."

Braig gave an exaggerated salute, his smirk never wavering. "Yes, sir," he drawled, turning on his heel and striding out of the lab.

As Braig made his way through the dimly lit halls of the lab, his thoughts drifted back to his encounter with the shadowy figure he'd fought. Whoever it was had been skilled—dangerously so—and the appearance of a Keyblade complicated matters. This wasn't just some random nuisance but something far more significant. The shadowy figure knew the names Luxu and Bragi so Braig wondered what more the person knew. He needed to find and interrogate them before someone else found them.

His musings were interrupted when two familiar figures appeared ahead of him: Dilan and Aeleus, both clad in their standard guard uniforms. Their sharp eyes caught sight of him immediately, and they approached with purpose.

"Braig," Aeleus said, his deep voice steady. "Did you find the interloper?"

Braig laughed, scratching the back of his head as if the question were absurd. "What, me? I just started looking," he replied, his grin disarming. "You two haven't had any luck either, huh?"

Dilan frowned, his arms crossed over his chest. "No. Whoever it is, they're good at avoiding detection. But they've been leaving traces. Sooner or later, we'll catch them."

Braig gave a casual shrug, his smile never faltering. "Yeah, well, good luck with that. Whoever they are, they're slippery." He patted Aeleus on the shoulder as he passed by. "Don't work too hard, boys. Wouldn't want you pulling a muscle."

As he walked away, the smirk on Braig's face faded, replaced by a more thoughtful expression. He knew he couldn't keep the encounter a secret forever, but for now, he needed more information—both about the shadowy figure and the Keyblade they wielded. Until then, he'd play his cards close to his chest. His musing was interrupted as Ansem the Wise approached, his expression tense, worry etched into the lines of his face.

"Braig," Ansem called, his tone sharp with concern.

Braig raised an eyebrow, slipping into his usual casual demeanor. "Evening, your majesty. You look like you've seen a ghost. What's eating at you?"

Ansem hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice strained. "Subject X… she's missing. Her room is empty, and the security systems haven't triggered any alarms. I've been trying to find the other apprentices to determine if any of them released her without informing me."