"Enough chit-chat, kid."
The Alpha Darkside Spirit loomed over the girl, its grin widening.
"I'll devour you before the Shinras arrive."
The girl slowly raised her head.
"Then come try it."
She charged, her twin Renshi swords glowing as purple energy surged around her body.
The Alpha met her head-on.
CLANG.
Her first blade struck its forged arm, but the creature blocked it with ease. She immediately followed with her second sword.
CLANG.
The Alpha blocked again.
The girl pressed forward, striking relentlessly. Her twin blades flashed through the trees as she fought with everything she had.
For fourteen seconds, neither side let up.
But the Alpha was stronger. Much stronger.
"Impressive," it remarked, blocking another strike. "For a kid."
It shoved her backward.
"But not enough to put me down."
Suddenly, its tail shot forward.
"What?"
The barbed tail wrapped tightly around her leg before she could react, lifting her into the air.
"Let go of me."
The Alpha swung her overhead and slammed her into the ground.
BOOM.
Cracks spread across her Renshi armor.
Then---
CRACK.
The armor shattered. Her twin swords flickered before disappearing completely.
The girl lay helplessly on the ground as the Alpha approached.
"I'm done playing around."
Its grin widened.
"Time for a snack."
The creature lunged.
SHLACK.
Its sharp tail pierced straight through her stomach.
"AAAAH."
Her scream echoed through the forest, filled with unbearable pain.
Somewhere within the darkness of his unconscious mind, Alfie heard her.
Her scream pierced the silence, stirring something deep within him.
Images flashed through his mind, the girl, her fear, her body suffering beneath the Alpha's attack.
He tried to move.
Nothing.
Then a deep voice echoed through the darkness.
"Come to me."
Alfie froze.
"I will lend you my power."
The voice grew darker.
Alfie's eyes suddenly opened.
But he was no longer in the forest.
He stood inside a strange, blackened castle. Dark stone covered its walls, while the floor beneath his feet reflected almost nothing. Shadows stretched across the enormous hall, leading toward a towering statue at the far end.
It resembled a Shinra, yet something about it was different.
The figure seemed darker than the night itself.
Alfie stared into the shadows.
"Where are you?"
His voice echoed through the hall as he slowly approached the statue.
"If you're real…"
He clenched his fists.
"Lend me your power. I have to save my friend."
A chuckle echoed from beyond the darkness.
"You just met her, and already she's your friend?"
Alfie stopped.
"She's a good person."
His expression hardened.
"And good people are my friends."
The voice turned cold.
"Foolish. Being good will only make you weak."
A brief silence followed.
"Just like them."
Another voice suddenly spoke from behind Alfie, softer and almost familiar.
"Don't listen, Alfie…"
He spun around.
"Come back."
His eyes widened, but no one was there.
The path he'd taken had vanished, leaving only endless blackness behind him.
Alfie looked around uneasily.
"This place… it's wrong."
He stared into the darkness ahead, then glanced over his shoulder.
"I can see where I'm going, but I can never see where I've been."
The first voice returned.
"Make me a promise, kid."
Alfie turned toward the statue.
"What kind of promise?"
"Swear to eliminate the Alpha Darkside Spirit…"
The voice paused.
"And the girl."
Alfie's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Do that, and I'll give you my Renshi."
"No."
He rejected the offer immediately.
"If that's the price, forget it."
Alfie clenched his fists.
"If you won't help me, then shut up. I don't even know who or what you are."
He looked around desperately.
"I only remember getting knocked out. So take me back."
His voice grew strained.
"I have to help her."
Silence filled the hall.
Then the voice spoke again, sounding almost frustrated.
"I can't afford to lose you to my other half. I must win you over to myself."
A pause followed.
"To eliminate the light…"
The darkness around Alfie began to stir.
"Fine."
Alfie looked up.
"Take a little of my Renshi. Save her, if you must."
Another silence followed.
"I hate sounding like the light."
Suddenly---
BOOM.
Dark Renshi erupted from the shadows, thick black energy surging toward Alfie like living smoke.
It slammed into his chest.
"Gah."
The energy spread beneath his skin as black markings began to cover his body. His feet slowly lifted from the floor while more and more power poured into him.
The entire castle trembled.
---
Back in Reality
The Alpha Darkside Spirit looked down at the girl, who struggled to remain conscious.
"Stop resisting, kid. Just let me devour you."
She fought to keep her eyes open.
"I…"
Her voice was barely audible.
"I won't give up."
Memories of her father, her brother, and everyone who had fought to protect her filled her mind.
"So many people…"
Her eyes trembled.
"Fought to protect me…"
The Alpha clicked its tongue.
"Then I'll do this the old-fashioned way."
It withdrew its tail, letting her drop helplessly to the ground.
Then it opened its massive jaws.
The girl screamed.
"AAAAH."
BOOM.
The ground suddenly erupted beneath them.
The Alpha froze.
"What?"
Cracks spread through the earth as dark energy burst upward. The forest trembled beneath the surge of power.
From beneath the shattered ground, someone slowly emerged.
Alfie.
But he was no longer the same boy.
A dark aura surrounded him, so intense that the plants and trees nearby began to wither. Black markings covered his skin like tattoos, and a strange horn protruded from the side of his head, partially buried in his flesh.
His eyes were completely black.
Empty.
The Alpha took several steps backward.
"What…"
Its expression twisted in disbelief.
"What the hell is this?"
It stared at Alfie.
"A minute ago, this boy had no Renshi."
The dark aura intensified.
"And now…"
The Alpha swallowed.
"This aura…"
Its eyes widened.
"It's stronger than mine."
Alfie slowly raised his head. His expression remained emotionless as he spoke in a quiet, cold voice.
"Let go of her."
The Alpha stared at him before forcing a smirk.
"And if I don't?"
Alfie disappeared.
"What?"
In an instant, he reappeared directly in front of the Alpha.
The creature barely had time to react before Alfie drew back his fist.
BOOM.
His punch slammed into the Alpha's chest.
CRACK.
Its ribcage shattered from the impact, sending the creature flying backward like a projectile.
BOOM.
It smashed through one tree, then another, and another. Tree after tree exploded as the Alpha was hurled deep into the forest.
Alfie remained where he stood, his dark aura continuing to spread through the surrounding forest.