Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Inside the dimly lit confines of Ansem's closed-off lab, the air hummed with a strange, almost sinister presence. Containment fields lined the walls, each one housing a dark creature that shifted restlessly within the transparent barriers. What had once been a lone Shadow Heartless had multiplied; now, there were ten Soldiers in their respective containment fields, their armored forms looming ominously. And among them, a new, more imposing figure had emerged—a Knight Heartless. The Knight was thin and humanoid, encased from head to toe in sleek, black and silver armor, with a spherical, pitch-black head encased in a helmet. Its glowing yellow eyes peered from behind a visor marked by two red spirals, an eerie contrast to the polished surface of its armor. It clutched a sword with a gleaming golden guard, poised as though waiting for an opportunity to strike. A crimson heart emblem was emblazoned on its abdomen, marking it as an artificial creature of darkness.

Even sat at a nearby desk, scribbling furiously into his notebook as he observed the behavior of the Heartless in their containment fields. His notes detailed theories, observations, and countless ideas about the transformation process that seemed to occur when a person's heart was overtaken by darkness. He wrote about how the characteristics of each creature appeared to be influenced by the strength and nature of the hearts they had consumed, and how these variations gave rise to different forms. The new armored Knight, he noted, displayed a ferocity and resilience unlike the Shadows and Soldiers—a clear indication that the heart it had emerged from was different.

"Interesting," Even murmured, tapping his pen against his notes. "If hearts from different-minded individuals can produce unique variations in these creatures, then foreign entities, like Helios or Subject X, could potentially lead to entirely new types of Heartless. The question, then, is if these creatures can further evolve and if so; how far can they evolve."

Just as he finished that thought, the lab door slid open with a hiss, and Xehanort stepped inside. His golden eyes scanned the room, coming to rest on the Heartless contained within their fields. A thin smile crossed his face as he took in the sight of the creatures writhing and shifting, their glowing eyes watching his every move with a predatory gleam.

"They've grown wonderfully," Xehanort remarked, his voice low and approving. He walked up to Even, casting a sidelong glance at the scribbled notes. "You're documenting the variations in their forms, I assume?"

Even nodded, looking up from his work. "Yes, Xehanort. It seems the heart's strength and nature play a significant role in determining the resulting form of the creature. This Knight, for instance—there's something different about its core. The transformation process seems… influenced, almost personalized, by the traits of the heart it's derived from. Maybe the heart of a defensive and aggressive personality."

Xehanort nodded thoughtfully, his gaze returning to the Heartless. "Then we may have something truly groundbreaking here. If we can understand how these transformations work, we could, in theory, manipulate them, crafting Heartless tailored to specific needs. And as for the heart extraction experiment?"

Even's expression shifted to one of mild frustration. He sighed, "It's… progressing, but slowly. Extracting a heart without shattering it is proving difficult. Most hearts simply can't withstand the process. They break under the pressure, dissipating into darkness before we can contain them."

Xehanort's eyes narrowed slightly as he considered this setback. "Then it seems we need subjects with stronger hearts," he mused, crossing his arms. "What resources remain? How many test subjects are still available?"

Even's gaze shifted back to his notes, flipping through them before responding. "We have two left. Not an ideal number for extensive experimentation, but if we proceed cautiously—"

A familiar voice interrupted, dripping with a casual sarcasm. "As if, there's no way that'll be enough." Braig strolled into the lab, a smirk playing on his lips as he took in the scene before him.

Xehanort raised an eyebrow, unperturbed by the interruption. "And what brings you here, Braig?"

Braig shrugged, leaning against a nearby console with a grin. "Just thought I'd help solve the 'resource shortage' you're having. I rounded up eight more orphans from the town. Ienzo's processing them as we speak." He cast a sidelong glance at Even. "Though, I gotta say, it's kinda twisted bringing in a kid like Ienzo on this project and keeping him in the dark about what's really going on. Don't you think?"

Xehanort's gaze hardened, but his voice remained calm. "Do you have a problem with our arrangement, Braig?"

Braig raised his hands in mock surrender, a mischievous grin on his face. "As if. Just making an observation, boss." He looked over at the containment fields, his eyes gleaming with a morbid curiosity as he watched the Heartless shifting within their barriers. "So, eighteen subjects, huh? That's a decent start. Though, honestly, calling them 'creatures' feels a little… lame."

Even looked up from his notes, a slight frown on his face. "I fail to see the relevance of what we call them. What matters is the data we're gathering."

Braig snorted, shaking his head. "Oh, come on, Even. Have a little creativity. I mean, didn't our fearless leader here decide to call them 'Heartless'? Or was that just a passing thought?"

Xehanort let out a quiet chuckle, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. "The name felt appropriate," he said, his gaze fixed on the writhing shadows within the containment fields. "Heartless… a fitting term for creatures born from the absence of a heart, wouldn't you agree?"

Braig laughed, pointing a thumb at himself. "Hey, and here I thought I was the creative one around here. Got the idea from me, didn't you?"

Xehanort's smile grew, though his eyes remained cold. "Think of it however you like, Braig."

Even returned to his notes, his hand moving swiftly as he jotted down observations. He paused, looking up as if considering a question that had lingered at the back of his mind. "If we continue as we have, we'll soon reach the limit of what these… Heartless can reveal to us. Extracting the hearts, studying the transformation—they're only the beginning. What do you intend to do once we've exhausted these initial experiments?"

Xehanort's gaze drifted over the Heartless once more, his expression contemplative. "The heart holds secrets far beyond simple transformation," he replied, his voice soft, almost reverent. "Once we have perfected the extraction process, we can begin experimenting with focused solely on the heart itself. Test what power the heart has in manipulating memories and willpower."

Braig, who had been watching the conversation with a smirk, chimed in. "So, what, we're gonna start making Heartless out of people's memories next? Sounds like a whole new level of creepy."

Xehanort's eyes gleamed with a dark, quiet intensity. "Not memories alone, Braig. If we can control the heart's true essence—the very nature of what makes a being who they are—we could shape these mindless Heartless into something useful. Imagine having a creature which boasts the strength of 10 men helping move objects."

Even's hand paused mid-note, his gaze sharp with intrigue. "You're suggesting we create… specialized Heartless?"

"Precisely," Xehanort replied, his voice filled with a dangerous ambition. "Heartless that not only embody darkness but carry with them specific traits—strength, speed, resilience—all determined by the nature of the heart they are born from. And if our theories hold, foreign hearts could offer new, unique abilities. Imagine the potential of creating Heartless from entities like Subject X… or that boy Helios."

The name lingered in the air, casting a cold shadow over the lab. Braig's smirk deepened, his gaze flicking over the Heartless with a gleam of dark fascination. "So, boss… when do we get to see these 'specialized' Heartless in action?"

Xehanort's smile was cold, his eyes fixed on the creatures before him. "Soon, Braig. Very soon. But first, we must continue refining our techniques, ensuring that every Heartless we create is perfected to the limits of our understanding. After all, we wouldn't want our 'instruments' to be anything less than extraordinary."

As the lab settled into silence, the Heartless stirred restlessly within their containment fields, their glowing eyes fixed on the figures before them. It was as if they understood, in some primal, instinctual way, that they devour everything. And as Xehanort, Even, and Braig continued their work, the creatures watched with an unblinking intensity, awaiting the moment when they would finally be unleashed.