Chapter Twenty Nine
The Darkness Rising
Cloud, Leon and Zell walked through the castle cautiously, their weapons drawn and ready for any fighting they would have to partake in. The castle was completely empty of all Heartless and the mindless drones Sokar had created when he brain sucked innocent people. The trio made their way to the top floor were Sokar had his main headquarters. Hopefully there would be something in there to help them fight the Hell-God, should he gain control of the host body.
"So what are we looking for guys?" Zell questioned the stoic men.
"Anything that can help us fight Sokar." Leon replied. He and Cloud entered the room where the Door to Darkness was located.
"What the hell can be of any good against a Hell-God?" Zell muttered.
"There is one way to stop the Unholy One."
Zell whirled around and saw a man dressed in Knight's armour holding a sword. He had a strange tattoo on his forehead and there were five others like him standing at the entrance. How the hell did they get him without Zell hearing them? They looked like young men and women and they all carried silver blades for weapons. Where did they come from anyway? The martial artist called out for Leon and Cloud and when the other two emerged the Knights smiled.
"Who are you?" Leon demanded tersely.
"We are the Knights of Byzanthium." The leader replied. "And we are here to assist in killing the Beast."
"You know how to stop him?" Cloud said.
"Yes, there is only one way to kill the Beast." The Knight drew up his sword. "The human host must die."
Baralai backed away from the white haired man standing at the ruined doorway. He was holding two red blades and his amber eyes were fixed on the Keyblade Master. Reno was also backing away while his twin kept screaming. Axel looked between Xemnas then turned his gaze back towards Reno and he yelled for the pure green energy to save him from the darkness. Roxas was still trying to calm Axel down but nothing seemed to be working anymore. Seifer and Vincent were ready for a fight as well as Yuffie and Aerith. Donald and Goofy stood on either side of Sora.
"You're not taking the Key." Sora snapped back.
"You can't take all of us on and walk away." Seifer retorted.
"This is exactly why I brought back up." Xemnas clicked his fingers and Saix, Luxord and Xigbar appeared behind him along with at least ten Dusks.
"You are outnumbered Keyblade Master." Saix intoned.
"Hand over the Key little dude." Xigbar grinned. "And you and your pals can go free."
"You're not taking the Key." Seifer snarled. He and Vincent stood side by side.
"Xemnas…" Zexion spoke up.
"So the traitor remains among the Keyblade Master and his allies." Xemnas snarled.
"Get out of here now Xemnas." Zexion warned.
"You'll pay for your treachery Zexion." Saix growled. The Cloaked Schemer cocked his head to the side in thought.
"I don't think so." Zexion fisted his hands.
Black mist flew from his hands and formed six shapes around him. Everyone else moved away as the shapes took on a solid form. When the mist vanished six clones of Zexion stood facing the invading Nobodies. The real Zexion moved to stand alongside a silent Myde whose magic was crackling around his hands and arms.
His red and black eyes were glowing with the black magic he was channelling through his body. Xemnas glared at the Dark Sorcerer but for a second Zexion he saw fear flash through those amber eyes.
Chaos erupted. The six clones ran towards Xemnas, Saix, Luxord and Xigbar while Sora, Donald and Goofy ran towards the Dusks. Sora screamed at Seifer, Vincent and Reno to get out of the house along with Baralai. Roxas was pulling Axel away from the battle while Myde stood there, his black magic always building in intensity. The clones took on the other Nobodies while Sora made sure the others in the house escaped.
Seifer and Vincent ran towards Luxord and Xigbar while Sora and his friends took on Saix and Xemnas. Baralai pulled Reno along the wall and out towards the ruined doorway. Sora had taken the fight out into the main street and he spotted Yuffie and Aerith running off towards the Bailey, no doubt to get Leon, Cloud and Zell. Baralai yelled when three Dusks approached him.
"Get away!" he yelled as he raised his right hand a bright pure light erupted from his hand. The light sliced through the Dusks and turned them to ash in seconds.
"What was that?" Reno cried in shock.
"You've never seen Holy magic before?" Baralai questioned.
"Give us the Key!" Saix growled as he attacked Sora.
"Go to hell!" Sora screamed as he attacked the Lunar Diviner.
"You're coming with me." Xemnas approached Reno when he threw Baralai to the ground.
"Get the fuck off me!" Reno screamed when Xemnas lurched forward and grabbed the red head by the wrist.
"Let him go Xemnas." A cold voice calmly demanded.
The Superior turned to see Myde standing nearby, his black and red eyes flashing. Darkness poured from the Sorcerer and Xemnas still found it hard to believe that this man's Nobody was a creature as pathetic as Demyx. Nothing else existed now as Xemnas and Myde stared each other down. Sora, Donald and Goofy were trying to take Saix down along with the Zexion clones. Baralai was helping Roxas moved a crying Axel while casting Holy magic on any Dusks.
Vincent and Seifer were battling against Luxord but with difficulty. The Nobody was able to manipulate time and those cards of his could slice through metal if he wanted it. Roxas and Baralai made it to the marketplace with Axel. The red head glanced at Baralai and continued crying and Roxas was soothing the sobbing man desperately. The sound of the battle filled the still air and thankfully the place was deserted. Roxas spotted Sora, Donald and Goofy cornering Saix.
"You won't stop me Demyx." Xemnas smirked.
"I'm not Demyx anymore." The Sorcerer answered. "And I'll prove it to you."
Black energy escaped his hands and slammed directly into Xemnas. The Superior was thrown back violently against the nearest wall, his back cracking against the cement. His amber eyes flashed with something akin to rage as he got up and charged at the Dark Sorcerer, his blades ready to strike. Myde cocked his head then raised his right hand to unleashed purple energy spheres towards the Superior. Xemnas cried out in pain as the spheres penetrated his flesh.
Myde approached the Nobody who was still crying out in pain thanks to the purple energy spheres. Myde grabbed Xemnas' hair and pulled him up roughly. His black and red eyes glared at the Superior for a few seconds before Myde brought his hand up to Xemnas' chest and drove it into his body. Number I of the Organization let out an ear splitting scream but Myde only pushed his hand in deeper.
Saix, Luxord and Xigbar stood stock still when they heard Xemnas scream like that. Sora, Donald and Goofy backed away from the three Nobodies while Zexion stared in horror at Myde as he drained Xemnas of his darkness. Black energy swirled around Myde's arm and travelled towards his chest...to his heart. He was sucking the darkness right out of Xemnas and from the look on his face he was enjoying it.
"Myde, stop!" Zexion yelled.
"I need more power." Myde growled. He continued to drain Xemnas.
"You have to stop! You're taking the darkness!" Sora cried out.
"He wants it to happen." Baralai murmured.
"Myde!" Zexion grabbed Myde's shoulder but screamed and withdrew his hand. His flesh had been badly burned from touching Myde's shoulder.
"What...are you?" Xemnas gasped as he felt his strength leaving him.
"Bored now." Myde sighed then he withdrew his hand and Xemnas crumpled to the floor, his body dissolving into ash.
"What did you do?" Saix gasped after a few seconds of utter silence. "Demyx, what did you do?"
"I'm not Demyx anymore." Red eyes flashed as black mist drifted around his body. His sickly pale skin stood out thanks to the black veins lining his face.
Sora wasn't afraid to admit that he was terrified of this Dark Sorcerer. Myde had consumed the darkness right out of Xemnas and killed him without breaking a sweat. His red eyes were brighter than Vincent's and his jet black hair was plastered to his face and neck.
He looked like a thing born from pure darkness. Baralai had white light swirling around his arms as he stared at Myde. Zexion was choking on the darkness he was sensing from Myde. There was so much of it.
"Get back to the castle!" Saix ordered Luxord and Xigbar. The two Nobodies left without another word. "You've become a monster Demyx."
The blue haired Nobody vanished into a dark portal. Sora, Donald and Goofy stood away from the Sorcerer while Zexion slowly approached the darkened man. The Cloaked Schemer didn't know what to say or do in this situation. With the knowledge that Myde can drain darkness out of people with a touch Zexion was apprehensive about approaching him at all. Roxas brought Axel back towards the others while Seifer ad Vincent made sure Reno was safe.
"Myde?" Seifer asked gently. Blood red eyes fell on the tall blond. "Calm down ok. Change back."
"But I need this power." Myde replied in a monotonous tone. "Everything will be fine now."
"No it won't. You've consumed the Dark Arts. It's going to take over." Vincent said as he kept a tight grip on Cerberus.
"The red is coming. Black smoke clouds everything. The world is falling in." Axel moaned as he leaned on Roxas.
"Shhh Axel." Roxas soothed the red head as best he could.
"We need to leave here now." Seifer spoke up.
"And were the hell can we go?" Reno pointed out. "The Organization will come after us now that Myde turned their boss to ash."
"Well we can stay here. We better split up." Sora replied quickly.
"What about Leon and the others?" Roxas asked.
"I'll get them." Zexion said. "You'd best leave here."
"What about him?" Myde cocked his head towards a silent Baralai.
"He comes with me." Sora spoke with conviction.
As the Keyblade Master said this Baralai doubled over in pain and screamed out. He felt as if his head had been cracked open and molten lava was pouring into his skull. His body was being torn apart from the inside out.
He collapsed to his knees as he held his aching head in his shaking hands. He heard a voice hissing in his mind but he couldn't make out the words. He heard Sora screaming his name but nothing existed anymore except for the pain that was ripping him apart.
Myde let his power build as Baralai screamed and twisted on the floor. His white hair changed back into long golden locks and his outfit changed back into the red and black outfit Sokar wore. When he raised his head two cold eyes greeted the group a cold smile graced Sokar's angelic features. Standing up he brushed the dust from his clothing.
"Did you honestly think a pathetic Dagon Sphere could contain my essence?" the Hell-God snarled.
"Run!" Sora yelled at the others.
"Oh no you don't!" Sokar lunged forward and backhanded Seifer out of the way. Grabbing Reno by the wrist he pulled him away from Vincent.
"Let him go!" the gunman fired at Sokar but the bullets bounced off the Hell-God's flesh.
"See you soon." Sokar grinned then he opened a portal and ran through, with a screaming Reno in his grasp.
Note-more on the Knights of Byzanthium next chapter and a little more about the Beast and they Key is revealed.
