KH2FM HD True LV1 ND (20) - Absent Silhouette Zexion write-u

Much more doable than I expected. Fight begins at 0:40.
Video: https://youtu.be/2pt6aXY1bVQ
Playlist http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnXUuXhxDghIoqAEROkha_D_HJhmP2fgj

Restrictions:

Critical Mode
Level 1
No taking damage
AI party members set to "Sora Attack"
No stat boosts
No AP boosts
No equipment
No accessories
No recovery items

Since I prohibited the use of items, I had to plan my meter usage from start to finish without a backup plan to fall on. The only things that are very consistent are Zexion combos and Donald's Fantasia limit in the book world, DM or not. It's enough to get the job done though.

Landing a hit on Zexion is left to a good chance, either you get a combo on him or he backs off with the annoying backstep dodge during which he does not flinch. His sideway movement also makes it difficult to catch him, funny enough, so Thunder is the go-to tool in case he gets away.

Needless to say, the time spent outside the book world must be prolonged at all costs.

0:41 - 2:30
Zexion traps either Donald or Goofy inside one of his books. Triggering his reversal will cause him trap the whole party faster, which is not what I want yet. The goal is to have him at half / close to the end of second HP bar, which will bypass Zexion's tornado phase in the book world entirely. Zexion won't trap everyone simultaneously until after a fair amount of time has passed like at 2:27, which sets me up for the second instance outside the book world.

The less I have to use a Limit, the better. And the longer I can wail on Zexion, the likelyhood to survive the next book world visit increases. Friends can and should be freed with air combos and fire deals amazing damage to the vessels, even saving Sora another melee finisher in the long run.

2:30 - 2:48
With a health cap bypassed, Zexion no longer seals my commands with a tornado, but instead fires a spawning x-shaped projectile that is guaranteed to kill anyone who cannot evade / jump over it. The book world is reserved for Donald's Comet Limit, which you'll see as soon as I regain control of Sora. Zexion is not hard to find, but taking down the book requires immediate action so he can be rid of with the reaction command. The other books that are commanded attack Sora at random, and often ruined a no damage run by coming out of nowhere between the ending of Donald's Limit and hitting Zexion with an RC. The best thing to do is to pray, which is why I hate this fight. You could stay with the books long after neutralising Zexion's book, whack it so long you'd get full Drive bars and not have a single book come out on you.

2:48 - 3:41
At this point provoking a reversal Zexion will trap the full party on sight. I once again let Zexion mind his own business at his pace and free friends whenever they get trapped. A couple combos here and there while patienly waiting for the MP meter to be recharged again. Having his health drained as much as possible in the 3rd HP bar will be enough for what I do after the second book world visit, as long as the last bar is up next.

3:41 - 4:10
This is arguably the most fun part about the fight for me: Reliable Anti-Form strats. I transformed into Valor Form enough times so I would transform to the edgy form even in an innocent Heartless fight in the Underworld. Absent Silhouette fights have an increased likelyhood for Anti-Form transformation by default, but I had to abuse transformations until it was consistent.

Transform right away, three full combos. If I dealt a couple hits with regular Sora and then went to Anti-Form, Zexion would always break out of the third combo prematurely, tampering with my damage output significantly. This takes a full HP bar away, making it an extremely potent tool here.

... stalling may or may not work still, but hey, this is faster!

4:10 - the rest
The Desperation move. Count to 13 by heart as the spotlight changes it's position, then activate Limit - Quick Run to the right placement to ensure a one-way ticket to KO city. Quick Run is essential to be able to react to the last spotlight in time. I could probably do without it, Limit takes me through the rocks that follow faileure and maybe even beat Zexion book into submission before he can initiate another spotlight game. He does that all the time if you don't land enough hits on him, but stops doing it after 50 % HP on the book.

Now two combos means immediate book world, so I was running out of options to get a Limit in time for the DM. Turns out the strategy from the beginning works exactly like before. Zexion won't trap everyone if you let him chill after a combo and hitting the books also means free Drive meter, so you could go for a stylish finish if you wanted to. No giving an inch for Zexion in the book world as soon as you land a hit on him with the Comet Limit and it's game, set and match.