Chapter XXVI: Dark in Turmoil: Voldo is Born

Nightshroud: I'm glad Kai has become popular. He's actually my favorite character in the story, just barely over Kurama. Anyway, time to see what Kai has been up to.
"So, is it finished?" asked Sommelier, taking another sip from his wine glass. Dr. Veinslay stood up and wiped his forehead.

"Yes, it's complete. Do you hear me?" The Heartless sat up and nodded.

"I am Dr. Veinslay, your creator. You will obey my commands, understand?" It again nodded.

"Maybe you should tell it its name," suggested Sommelier.

"Yes, you're right. From now on, you will be called Voldo."

It opened its mouth and said in an unearthly voice, "Voldo..."

Kai ran up the stairs and approached the next door. He suddenly caught the sent of a Heartless.

"This one is strong, and very distinct for a Heartless."

Suddenly a black spot appeared on the ground, and from it a Heartless rose up. It had a black skin, Larxene-like anntenas, long claws on its hands, and smooth feet almost like shoes. The skin on its torso was dark purple, and it had black shoulder pads with spikes on them, and a Heartless symbol on its back.

"You...are the darkling, aren't you?" it asked in a voice like a harsh whisper. Kai took a step back and pulled out Soul Eater.

"What are you? And what do you want with me?" he said, his skin crawling at the sight of this unique Heartless.

"I am a genetically altered Heartless, for the purpose of aiding my master. My name is Voldo. As to what I want with you..." he got into a crouching battle stance, "I am ordered to stop your advance."

Kai smirked and gave a "bring it on" motion with his head. "If you think you can."

Voldo growled and floated slightly into the air. A dark spot appeared on the ground below him and he dropped into it. Kai looked around to see where he would pop up. He suddenly felt a sting on the back of his shoulder and jumped to the side. He felt it and could feel blood coming out. Voldo licked the blood from his claw, and grinned wickedly. Kai growled and ran forward. He slashed and Voldo, but it bent back till its hands touched the ground. Then it grabbed Kai's head with its feet, and threw Kai over him. Kai caught himself in midair and shot Dark Aura at him. Voldo was blasted back into the wall. Kai watched the cloud of smoke coming from the ruined wall carefully. He suddenly threw himself to the side as a bolt of lightning crashed into the pillar next to him. He looked up to see Voldo crawling along the pillar, eyeing him like a predator does to its prey.

"I'm not about to be anyone's prey," Kai thought.

Voldo hissed and jumped at Kai. Kai swung his sword and swiped Voldo to the side. Voldo hurled another bolt of lightning at Kai.

"Dark Shield!"

Kai blocked the lightning attack, then jumped and kicked Voldo in the face. Voldo flipped back, then lunged forward and clawed Kai across the chest. Kai hit Voldo in the head with his sword hilt, then blasted him point blank with Dark Aura. Voldo was thrown backward into the steps. He got up and smirked.

"Not bad, darkling. I'll give you this round, but things will be different next time."

It rose slightly into the air, then dropped down into another dark portal at its feet. Kai sighed with relief and withdrew Soul Eater. He walked up the steps and gripped the door handles. Then he nodded and opened the door.

Sommelier laughed and crossed his arms. "So, your creation returns aleady? And without out target too."

Dr. Veinslay ignored him and faced Voldo. "Did you gauge his power level and and abilities?"

"Yes. He's strong, but nothing I can't handle." Sommelier cringed and leaned foward.

"You know, your voice is an assault on my ears," he said. Creator and creation glared at him. He sat back and shrugged before sipping wine.

"It's a wonder he doesn't have a hangover..." sighed Veinslay.

"I have a high alcohol tolerance level."

"Pity," said Voldo. Now it was Sommelier's turn to glare.

"Enough. Now, Voldo, I need you to fight Kai again. But not just yet. I'll let you know when the time is right."

Kai found himself in a thick wood. He heard a crack of thunder and felt cold rain pouring down on him. He looked around and saw the outline of a cottage in the distance. He headed towards it, when Shadow and Lancer Heartless appeared. He ran and slashed through a Lancer with Soul Eater. A Shadow leaped on his back and knocked him to the ground. He suddenly rolled as another Lancer stabbed the ground where he was laying a moment ago. He stabbed the Shadow on his back, then sliced through the Lancer. he backflipped over a Lancer that charged at him and hurled Soul Eater at it.

"Dark Raid!"

His sword, charged with darkness, cut through the Lancer and a few Shadows as it returned to him. Then he slashed through the remaining ones and headed towards the cottage. As he entered the clearing where he stood, he could see a young woman, who he recognized as Snow White, being attacked by a wizened old witch. As he ran towards them, Shadow, Soldier, and Lancer Heartless appeared.

"Dark Rave!"

Kai sliced through the Heartless with amazing speed, then ended his attack by stabbing Soul Eater into the ground and releasing a dark shockwave. With the Heartless gone, he made his way over to Snow White. When the Witch saw him, she turned and ran towards the craggy cliffs. Snow White, breathless from her confrontation with the Witch, nodded her thanks. Kai nodded back, then ran after the Witch. She was climbing the slippery, wet rocks, desperately trying to distance herself from Kai. Kai ran after, and finnaly caught up. She turned and swung her staff at him, but he jumped back to avoid her attack. She then hit the ground with her staff, knocking loose the boulders from the cliff. Kai jumped onto one, then leaped from boulder to boulder till he reached her. He slashed at her, but she blocked the attack, then blasted him with a spell from her staff. He fell down and hit his back on a craggy rock, knocking the wind out of him. He looked up and saw the Witch trying to pry loose a massive boulder at the top of the cliff. He forced himself to move and ran after her. Just as he was reaching her, a lightning bolt struck the top of the cliff, and with a horrible shriek, the Witch fell, and the boulder came after her. Kai panted, the heavy rain pouring down him. He carefully made his way down till he reached Snow White.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about," she said. She lead him in the warmth of the cottage and healed his wounds.

"Are you ready for me to break the second seal?" she asked. He nodded, and she put her hands to his heart, glowing white. There was a flash of light, and Kai winced as the second seal broke. Snow White smiled cheerfully at him.

"You're on your way. Don't be afraid of the light, Kai. It will lead you through the deepest darkness."

Everything became white, and Kai made his way through the doorway that appeared.

"I would have expected you to take care of this sooner."

"Things haven't turned out exactly as planned," said Sommelier.

"You should be worrying about events above ground," said Dr. Veinslay.

"Yes, that fool Albel has attacked the Angel of Heart and her group, and the traitor Kurama is helping them."

"Hmm...we're going to have to adjust things somewhat, right?" said Sommelier.

"Yes, I have something to attend to now."

Kai made it up the stairs to the next hallway when someone teleported into the hallway.

"Kai, I presume?" said Renkotsu slyly.

Nightshroud: Another cliffie! Well, we must leave Kai for the time being and get back to the decisive battle of Tyson, Fayt, and Kurama against Albel and Haru. And it will be sure to please! Oh, and does anyone have any ideas on what Sommelier's element should be? I mean, he's in a buttoned shirt, tie, and vest, so I mean it can;t be just anything. Let me know if you have any ideas. Thanks!

Next chapter: Sub Zero: The Two Faces of Water