"Oh, then I've never been there," says Vanitas easily, like the unknowing liar he is. He doesn't remember anything like that place, even if 'old keyblades' is pinging something at the back of his brain. Vanitas you don't remember Scala or Xehanort either. "Never heard of that either."

You'd think Eraqus would have mentioned this so called "strongest keyblade", but maybe it just never came up. Or he didn't know about it. Or he didn't want Vanitas to know about it. Ordinarily the thought would rankle and it does, but in light of events not even an hour ago it also makes sense and he hates it.

One thing he did talk about was the Heartless, although always in the theoretical. Vanitas had never actually seen any outside of illustrations, unless he counted himself, which he didn't care to. For a second he expects to feel pain as Ventus suddenly and without warning utterly demolishes one, but there's nothing. It's not an Unversed.

(He did shadow-step a full meter back. He's going to pretend that didn't happen.)

Another shadow takes a swipe at his ankles. Vanitas's heart is darkness, but the little threads and veins of light running through the cracks in it are apparently worth a shot, even if Ventus is the greater prize. Vanitas hesitates a second, then smacks it into a puddle with an excited Void Gear, watching the heart it contained float up and away with an unreadable expression. Attacking the others goes more smoothly, although it's quickly very clear that Vanitas is more used to human sparring partners than actual combat or 'monsters'. He has trouble actually making an ice spell hit, and he keeps forgetting to guard his legs. He swears once or twice. Blame Terra for that one.

"What about the other half?" he says, as if belatedly continuing the conversation and not because it just occurred to him. If you wanted to make the strongest keyblade, you'd want all of it, wouldn't you?