The walk through the desert is grueling. Every step feels like a battle against the oppressive heat. The sun blazes down on us, relentless and blinding. Nikko is struggling the most—her small frame isn't built for this kind of environment. I glance back at her, and her tail twitches sporadically, her ears flattened against her head in frustration. Her tongue lolls out as she pants heavily, sweat dripping down her face. But despite the harsh conditions, she keeps pushing forward, occasionally giving me a determined nod when our eyes meet.

The water we've been rationing is now down to half a pouch between all of us. The food we packed, inexplicably, has gone bad—it's strange. Almost as if the desert itself is working against us. But we can't stop. We have to push on. The closer we get to the temple, though, the darker it becomes. It's eerie—like the desert itself is being swallowed by something unnatural. The sun remains high in the sky, yet it seems as though the very light is being drained, leaving only shadows that stretch longer with each step.

After hours of grueling marching, we finally reach the edge of the desert city. It stands ominously before us, the temple rising in the distance like a cursed monument. Dark clouds swirl above the city, as though they are alive, twisting and curling, blotting out the sun. Thunder echoes through the empty streets, and bolts of lightning split the sky. The air crackles with tension.

I glance down at my gauntlet and pull up a scan of the area. Still no life signs. The city and the temple are completely empty—or at least that's what the scan says. But I have a bad feeling about this place, and I can sense that the others do too.

I grab my lightsaber, feeling the weight of it in my hand as Talia pulls out her energy bow, unfolding it with practiced precision. The pink energy string hums into existence, casting a faint glow. IG-22's photoreceptors spin rapidly as it scans the area, its E-5 blasters drawn, ready for whatever is coming. Apollo shoulders the A-23 heavy rotary blaster, and Rebecca pulls out her dual blasters. Nikko clutches her own small blaster, her ears twitching as she glances around, clearly anxious.

We're all on edge, waiting for the trap to spring. But nothing happens.

I step forward, leading the group into the city, the sandstone streets eerily quiet under our feet. My heart pounds in my chest, each step echoing off the empty walls. I expect the cloaked figures to materialize any second, but the streets remain barren. No followers, no traps, no ambushes. Just silence.

We reach the entrance of the dungeon—still nothing. That's what makes it worse. The lack of anything happening makes the tension unbearable.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

Then, suddenly, I sense it—a foul presence, dark and malevolent, crawling from every corner of the city. I stop, gripping my lightsaber tighter as I sense the incoming danger. The others feel it too, and before I can warn them, they appear—stepping out of the buildings around us, as if pulled from my worst memories.

Clone Troopers.

They're adorned in their familiar Phase 2 armor, blue markings from the 501st—soldiers I once fought a long time ago. But there's something wrong. A dark aura surrounds them, twisting their appearance, making them grotesque caricatures of the soldiers they once were. The anger rises within me, a familiar fury building as I ignite my lightsaber.

The troopers open fire, blue blaster bolts screaming through the air. Apollo and IG-22 return fire immediately, mowing down the twisted figures. The sound of blasters fills the streets as Rebecca and Talia crouch behind me, firing with precision while I deflect the incoming shots. Nikko clings to me tightly, her small form pressed against my side as.

The troopers dissolve into black goo as they fall, but more take their place, pouring out of the buildings like a relentless tide. Apollo's rotary blaster roars, cutting down trooper after trooper, while IG-22 moves like a machine possessed, fluid and deadly, dodging blaster fire with mechanical precision as it unleashes volleys of firepower. Its movements are swift and calculated, spinning and twisting with precision, dealing with the enemies efficiently.

But despite our efforts, they keep coming.

"Get ready to run!" I shout over the chaos, stomping the ground with the Force, erupting sand around us, forming a massive cloud that obscures everything. The blaster fire becomes erratic as the troopers lose their visual on us. I switch off my lightsaber and make a break for the dungeon, motioning for the others to follow.

We sprint through the storm of sand, the entrance to the dungeon just ahead. Blaster bolts zip past us, but none find their mark as we dash inside one by one, narrowly avoiding the fate that was almost ours. I'm the last to make it through, but not before I turn and stomp the ground again. The earth beneath the entrance responds, a pillar of stone rising from the ground to seal us in.

The darkness swallows us whole, and for a moment, I can only hear the sounds of our heavy breathing.

Talia summons a ball of light, the chamber we now stand in slowly illuminated by the glow. The sandstone walls are carved with ancient runes, worn from time but still holding power. A sense of dread permeates the air, thick and suffocating.

Rebecca's voice trembles. "What were those white soldiers?"

I take a deep breath, calming my mind. "Soldiers of the Grand Republic," I say, the words bitter on my tongue. "The last time I saw soldiers like that, it was during a very dark time."

Talia looks at me, her brow furrowed with concern. "Since the Shadowfell can create beings like that from your memories... what else can it create?"

I sigh heavily. "Many terrible beasts," I say quietly. "Be prepared for the worst."

Rebecca grips her blasters tighter. "Wherever you came from, Ryu, I really hate that place."

I can't help but agree.

I kneel beside Nikko, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

She nods, though I can sense her fear lingering beneath the surface. "Stay right beside me, understand?"

She nods again, this time with more determination.

The chamber around us is massive, with multiple staircases leading down into the depths of the dungeon. Rebecca approaches one of the staircases. "Which way?"

I activate the hologram from my gauntlet, displaying the dungeon's layout, scanning it for the quickest route. But I know navigating all these floors will take too long. I step forward to the edge of the chamber and focus on the ground beneath me, shutting off the hologram.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

I raise my arms, concentrating with everything I have. The temple begins to shake, the floor cracking open beneath us, splitting apart all the way down through the levels. The strain is immense, my head throbbing as I part the very earth beneath us. I can hear the others shouting, but their voices blur into the background as I focus all my energy.

Finally, the ground splits wide enough, revealing the deepest part of the dungeon. My arms drop, and I stumble back, dizzy and exhausted. My vision blurs as I drop to one knee, breathing heavily. Talia, Nikko, and Rebecca rush over, helping me steady myself.

"Ryu... are you okay?" Talia's voice is filled with concern.

I nod, but the fatigue weighs on me. The spinning in my head finally ceases, and the throbbing pain dissipates as I push myself to my feet. I take a deep breath, grateful for the clarity that returns to me. Talia is watching me carefully, her eyes full of concern, but I offer her a small nod to reassure her. We all gather near the edge of the opening I created, staring down into the darkness below. The air feels different down here—heavier, almost oppressive.

Rebecca looks at me, her voice laced with apprehension. "Now what?"

I glance at Apollo, and he immediately understands. With a single fluid motion, Apollo sweeps Rebecca into his arms, who shrieks in response. Her eyes widen, a confused and startled look spreading across her face. I turn to Talia, who is about to say something, but I scoop her up as well. She gasps in surprise, and I gesture for Nikko to climb onto my back.

"Ryu, what are you doing?" Talia asks, a mixture of shock and curiosity in her voice as Nikko climbs onto me, wrapping her arms around my neck tightly.

"We jump," I say simply.

Rebecca's reaction is immediate, her eyes wide with disbelief. "We what?!"

Without giving them a chance to protest, Apollo, IG-22, and I leap into the darkness below. Talia and Rebecca screech as we fall, their grips tightening around us. I focus, using the Force to sense the approaching ground and preparing for the landing. The rush of air tugs at my robes, and I feel the velocity of the descent increasing, but I keep my mind calm.

With a loud thud, Apollo lands solidly on the stone floor below, holding Rebecca securely. IG-22 hits the ground with similar force, its servos absorbing the impact effortlessly. I slow our fall with the Force, feeling the energy surge through me, and we float gently to the ground before softly touching down.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

Talia's grip on me loosens as she realizes we've landed, though she still looks pale, her heart clearly racing from the unexpected fall. Nikko hops off my back, a broad smile on her face. I can tell she enjoyed that far more than anyone else. Rebecca, however, is a different story. Her face is as white as a ghost, and she stumbles to a nearby wall, sinking to the ground.

"Ne-ne-never again!" Rebecca stutters, still shaking as she presses her back against the wall, trying to catch her breath.

Talia looks equally rattled as I gently lower her to the ground. She takes a few deep breaths before glaring at me, her pale face regaining some color. "Next time, warn us."

"I'm sorry," I say sincerely, feeling guilty for not warning them about the jump. "I didn't want to give you time to hesitate."

Nikko, still beaming, approaches Rebecca and checks on her. "Are you okay?"

Rebecca waves her off weakly. "I-I'm fine. I think I'm more afraid of falling now than of flying." She tries to laugh, but it comes out shaky.

I give her an apologetic look before turning my attention to our surroundings. The final level of the dungeon is nothing like I expected. Instead of the worn and decayed ruins we've seen on the other floors, this place is... pristine. The stone walls and floors are smooth, almost polished, as if they've been meticulously maintained over centuries. There's not a single crack or sign of wear—everything feels too perfect.

The hallway stretches out before us, illuminated by eerie, floating yellow orbs of light attached to the walls. These orbs give off a faint glow, bathing the corridors in an unsettling light that casts long shadows against the smooth stone. The air is stale, but it carries a faint charge, like static electricity dancing on the skin. It's clear that this place hasn't seen life in ages, yet it remains oddly well-kept, almost as if it's waiting for us.

The room we landed in is spacious, with tall ceilings and walls covered in elaborate carvings—runes and symbols I don't recognize, but they exude an ancient power. Columns line the sides of the room, leading toward multiple darkened hallways, each one seeming to stretch endlessly into the unknown. But one hall stands out among the rest—darker, more oppressive, the shadows clinging to the edges as if the very light fears to touch it.

I feel a dark presence—stronger than anything I've felt before. Something ancient and malevolent. My skin crawls as I focus on that darkened hallway.

"I can sense it," I say, pointing toward the corridor. "This way."

The others follow my gaze, their eyes locking onto the hallway. It's darker than the others, almost as if the shadows themselves are alive, writhing and pulsating with an evil intent. I can feel the unease radiating from my companions, droids excluded, but beneath the fear, there is also determination. We have come too far to turn back now.

"Stay close," I say, gripping my lightsaber tightly. Its familiar weight gives me comfort, though I can't shake the feeling that we are walking into a trap. The Shadowfell is waiting for us—there's no doubt about that.

With careful steps, we begin to move deeper into the dungeon, the faint echo of our footsteps the only sound in the oppressive silence. The air grows colder as we venture further, the oppressive darkness pressing in from all sides. The walls seem to close in around us as if the dungeon itself is alive, and the deeper we go, the more I can feel the malevolent presence pulling us toward it.

Talia walks beside me, her energy bow drawn, the pink energy string crackling softly. Her face is calm, though I can sense her fear beneath the surface. Rebecca follows behind us, her dual blasters gripped tightly in her hands, her eyes scanning every corner of the corridor. Nikko stays close to my side, her blaster ready but her small hand clutching my sleeve for comfort. IG-22 and Apollo bring up the rear, their weapons drawn and photoreceptors scanning for any sign of movement.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

The hallway finally opens up into a vast chamber. Despite its beauty, with high vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate carvings and glistening stone floors that seem almost polished, there's something sickly about the place. The air is thick with a creeping darkness that seems to taint every inch of the room. It seeps into the walls, casting a shadow over the once elegant design. The chamber feels like a rotting corpse, something that was once full of life but is now being consumed by death.

At the far end of the chamber, there's a massive door, towering and ornate, but the sight that captures my attention the most is the cloaked figure standing in front of it. The figure is tall, their face concealed by the hood of their dark cloak, but I can sense the dark energy radiating from them, malevolent and familiar.

I narrow my eyes as the figure reaches up and slowly removes their hood, letting the cloak fall away to the floor. My heart nearly stops in my chest as my eyes widen. It's him. Majel, the 12th Brother. His sharp, angular face, once hidden behind the mask of an Inquisitor, is now fully exposed. His green skin is pale, almost sickly, and his dark eyes burn with hatred and malice. His raven-black hair falls in a disheveled mess around his face, and a sinister smirk curls on his lips.

"Majel..." I utter, my voice tinged with disbelief and fear. "You... you're dead."

He grins, his hand drifting down to his waist, where his familiar double-bladed spinning lightsaber hangs. With a flourish, he grabs it and ignites both ends, the red blades hissing to life. "Welcome, Ryu," he sneers, his voice dripping with venom. "Does my presence unnerve you?"

My mind races as I ignite my own lightsaber, the yellow blade illuminating the chamber.

"You shouldn't be here, Majel! I killed you!" I shout, my grip tightening on the hilt of my lightsaber.

"And yet, here I am," Majel says, his smile growing wider, more twisted. "A reminder of your failures, brother. How does it feel to know you couldn't stop me?"

Behind me, I sense the others bracing for the fight. Nikko moves behind me, her small blaster ready, while Rebecca and Talia stand at the ready, their own weapons drawn.

Majel laughs, his voice echoing in the darkened chamber. "Skipping ninety-nine floors... you're such a cheat, Ryu. My master worked so hard to prepare so many fun encounters for you." He takes a step forward, his eyes glinting with sadistic joy. "But that just means more fun for me."

Suddenly, the large doors behind Majel swing open with a deafening groan, and through them, armored figures begin to march into the chamber. Purge Troopers. Their black armor gleams in the faint light, and they carry blasters and electro staffs, ready for battle. Their helmets bear the same sinister design, cold and soulless, with red visors that glow ominously.

I turn, hoping to fall back and retreat, but the hallway we entered from has vanished. In its place is nothing but a smooth, bare wall. We're trapped. Annoyed, I grit my teeth and turn back to Majel and his Purge Troopers.

"Get behind Apollo!" I shout to Nikko. She scrambles behind him as I step forward, preparing for the inevitable clash. Majel mirrors my movements, his red blades spinning menacingly in his hands.

The Purge Troopers with electro staffs charge first, their weapons crackling with energy, while those armed with blasters open fire, filling the chamber with red bolts of death. The air is suddenly alive with the sound of battle.

Apollo opens fire with the A-23 heavy rotary blaster, mowing down trooper after trooper with rapid bursts of red energy. The troopers fall, but instead of collapsing as flesh and bone, they dissolve into that familiar black goo, dissipating into the floor as if they never existed. IG-22 follows suit, its movements precise and deadly, twisting and spinning with the agility of a droid designed for chaos. Its dual blasters sing as it picks off troopers with deadly accuracy.

Rebecca and Talia crouch behind me as I swing my lightsaber, deflecting the incoming blaster fire. I swing my lightsaber in wide arcs, sending the deadly bolts back toward the troopers, each deflected shot finding its mark.

Majel grins, his eyes filled with madness, and charges at me, his lightsaber spinning. I meet him halfway, and our blades clash with a blinding flash of red and yellow light. The force of his strike sends a shockwave through my arms, but I hold firm, gritting my teeth as we push against each other. His strength hasn't waned since our last encounter—if anything, he's become more powerful.

"Did you miss me, Ryu?" Majel sneers, pushing harder against my blade.

I shove him back with a surge of strength, our lightsabers separating for a brief moment before we clash again. "You should've stayed dead," I growl, slashing at him with all my might. He dodges nimbly, his grin never faltering.

The room is chaos. Purge Troopers continue to flood in through the door, seemingly endless in number. Apollo and IG-22 are doing their best to hold them off, but the sheer number of enemies is overwhelming. Rebecca and Talia provide support, taking out troopers from a distance with well-placed blaster shots.

At one point, I glance over and see Nikko bravely firing her small blaster at a Purge Trooper who gets too close, her face determined despite her fear. I can feel her resolve, and it gives me strength.

I turn my attention back to Majel just in time to block a vicious overhead strike. Sparks fly as our lightsabers lock once again, the intensity of the duel increasing with every clash. His attacks are relentless—each strike comes faster, harder, as if he's testing my limits.

"You can't win, Ryu!" Majel taunts, spinning his lightsaber like a deadly cyclone. I barely manage to deflect a flurry of strikes aimed at my head and torso. His blade cuts dangerously close, singeing the fabric of my cloak.

"Arrogance was your mistake the first time!" I roar, my anger fueling my strikes. I press forward, landing a heavy blow against his defenses, sending him stumbling back. But he quickly recovers, his grin turning into a twisted snarl.

Majel spins his double-bladed lightsaber in a wide arc, forcing me to backpedal. He's fast—too fast. He twirls the lightsaber in his hand and lunges at me with a spinning strike aimed at my torso. I barely manage to block it, our blades locking together in a shower of sparks.

"You've grown weaker, brother," Majel sneers as he pushes against me, trying to overpower me. His red blades flare angrily against my yellow one. "You're nothing but a shadow of your former self."

I grit my teeth, feeling the strain in my muscles as I push back against him. "And you're just a shadow, Majel," I say, twisting my wrist and breaking the saber lock. I follow up with a series of quick strikes, trying to force him off balance, but he's quick to block and counter each one.

Meanwhile, Apollo continues mowing down Purge Troopers with his heavy blaster, the sheer volume of firepower overwhelming the troopers, but more keep coming. IG-22 is a blur of motion, dodging blaster fire with incredible agility, spinning and firing in all directions, taking down multiple enemies at once. DP-8 and the Eye-Bots provide additional fire from above, though one by one, the Eyebots are struck down, exploding in a shower of sparks.

Talia fires her energy bow with deadly precision, the pink bolts of energy piercing through the chest plates of the Purge Troopers, while Rebecca provides covering fire with her dual blasters. But despite their efforts, the troopers keep coming.

In the chaos, I hear a cry of alarm from Rebecca. I glance over just in time to see her cornered by three Purge Troopers, their electro staffs raised. My heart skips a beat, but before I can react, IG-22 steps in front of her, taking the full brunt of the attack. The electro staffs crackle as they strike IG-22's body, sending sparks flying. The droid stumbles back, its photoreceptors flickering and a moment later, an explosion rocks the chamber as IG-22 is destroyed, its metal frame shattering into pieces.

"IG-22!" Rebecca screams, horror etched across her face as she stares at the ruined remains of the droid. The sacrifice buys her just enough time to take down the remaining troopers, but the cost is heavy.

My anger surges, and I refocus on Majel, who grins at me. "More deaths for you to grieve, brother," he mocks.

I roar in defiance, surging forward with renewed intensity. My strikes become more aggressive, each one meant to break his defense. Majel is forced to retreat under the onslaught, his face twisting with frustration. I see an opening—his stance falters for just a moment. I swing my lightsaber with precision, cutting through the hilt of his spinning double-bladed lightsaber. Sparks fly as the weapon is destroyed.

Majel stumbles back, his eyes wide with shock, but I don't give him a chance to recover. With a final slash, I sever his head from his body. His head rolls across the chamber floor as his body collapses. Both dissolve into the familiar black goo, dissipating into the air.

As Majel's form disappears, the remaining Purge Troopers vanish in puffs of smoke. The chamber falls eerily silent, save for the sound of our heavy breathing and the hum of my lightsaber. I stand still, my chest rising and falling as I take it all in.

With a deep breath, I shut off my lightsaber, the yellow blade retracting with a hiss. I survey the room and my gaze falls on the remains of IG-22. The droid is beyond repair—its limbs scattered, its torso crushed, and its head utterly destroyed. A deep sadness fills me, and I can sense it in the others as well. Rebecca stands over IG-22's remains, her expression a mixture of sorrow and gratitude. The droid saved her life, and she knows it.

But we can't linger. We push forward to the large doors at the end of the chamber where I raise my hand and focusing on the Force. With a powerful push, the doors swing open, and we move forward to certain danger.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

The anticipation is unbearable. Each step I take feels like trudging through the very darkness that weighs heavy on the air around us. The deeper we move into the hallway, the thicker the air becomes. The orbs of light that once floated above our heads are dimming with every step, flickering weakly as though suffocating in the dark energy that permeates this place. I can sense the unease building within the group, but it's Nikko's fear that grips me the most. She clings to my side, her tiny fingers digging into my tunic. I want to reassure her, but the truth is, I am just as afraid. Not for me, but for them.

Talia's summoned ball of light floats just ahead of us, providing a faint glow, but even that light is fading as we approach what feels like the heart of this darkness. I steal a glance at her—her face is set, determined, though I can sense the flickers of fear creeping up inside her too. We're all afraid, and yet none of us show it on our faces. We've come too far to falter now.

The hallway ends abruptly in front of a large, ancient door. We stop. I can feel everyone's tension building behind me like a coil ready to snap. I take a deep breath, trying to find a moment of calm amidst the rising storm. Talia grips her energy bow tightly, her knuckles pale. Rebecca, with both blasters drawn, offers me a reassuring nod despite the flicker of doubt in her eyes. Apollo's grip tightens on the rotary blaster as he stands ready. And then there's Nikko, who clings closer to me now, her fear washing over me through the Force.

I reach out, my hand trembling slightly, and push the door back with the Force. It swings open with a low groan, revealing a massive chamber beyond.

The chamber is vast, almost awe-inspiring, yet there is something sickening about it. It's a twisted kind of beauty—stunning but marred by the seeping darkness that clings to every surface. Large marble pillars line the room, etched with glowing runes. The floor is made of smooth black stone, yet it seems as though the dark energy has corrupted it, tendrils of shadow seeping into every crack and crevice. And in the very center of the chamber, embedded deep within the floor, is a massive crystal that glows faintly purple—but the light is fading, almost as if it's being drained.

Before the crystal, with one hand outstretched toward it, stands a figure. It's human in shape, but barely—shadowy wisps curl off its form like smoke, swirling in the dark energy surrounding it. The glow from the crystal pulses in waves, drawn toward the figure like a dying star. The figure stands tall, imposing, with no distinct features except for a pair of glowing yellow eyes—eyes that widen as they turn toward us.

The purple light from the crystal finally dims to nothing, and suddenly, with a deafening crack, the crystal shatters. The ground beneath our feet trembles, and I can feel the surge of dark energy flood the room. I know instantly—the final seal is broken. The Shadowfell is now at full strength.

I ignite my lightsaber, the yellow blade illuminating the darkness with a sharp hiss. The figure turns fully toward us, those glowing eyes locking onto mine.

The Shadowfell's voice cuts through the chamber, an eerily calm tone that feels disturbingly familiar, too familiar. "You've made it," it says, its voice steady yet laced with a dark undercurrent. There's no echo, no hollow tone. Instead, it speaks as though it knows me—intimately.

"You've done well to survive everything I've thrown at you. I expected nothing less from my Acolyte."

The word—Acolyte—hits me like a sledgehammer. My heart seizes, and for a moment, I can't breathe. My grip on the lightsaber falters, and a chill surges up my spine, creeping into every corner of my mind. That word, that voice. No. It can't be.

"No," I manage to choke out, the word scraping out of my throat. "It... it can't be. You're just... messing with me!" I yell, my voice echoing back in desperation as I try to hold onto my own certainty, but doubt gnaws at me from within, corrosive and unyielding. I hear Talia gasp softly, and I feel Nikko press against Apollo, clutching at his leg with wide, frightened eyes. Rebecca shifts beside them, confusion and fear painted across her face.

"No, Ryu," the Shadowfell says, stepping forward. Darkness ripples from its form, swirling with intense energy, casting twisted shadows around the room. "Search your feelings. You know it to be true."

I shake my head, my entire body trembling as I try to drown out his words. "No! You've been in my head. You've seen my memories. You're just trying to confuse me!" My voice wavers, and I can feel my grip on the lightsaber slipping, the certainty I'd built up crumbling beneath his gaze.

The familiarity of his presence claws at me, refusing to be denied. That sickening sense of connection... how else could it be explained? He's not of this world—just like me.

"You're... not from this world," I mutter, almost as if to myself, my mind grasping at that single sliver of truth.

The Shadowfell's voice lowers, and it takes another slow step forward, its yellow eyes burning with sinister intensity. "No," it confirms, a gleam of satisfaction in its gaze. "And you and I have far more in common than you think."

Before I can comprehend his words, he lifts his hand, snapping his fingers with an air of dark finality. Shadows surge around him, cloaking his form in a swirling mass of dark energy, and then they dissipate, revealing a figure that steals the breath from my lungs.

Standing before us isn't a faceless creature of darkness. It's the cold, composed figure of my old master, just as I remember him, exuding that same unnerving power, that same unrelenting control that he once held over my life.

"It's good to see you again, Ryu," he says, his voice sharp, slicing through the air with ease. There's a cruel glint in his eyes, and his presence feels like a dagger pressed against my chest.

Anger roars within me, trying to override the dread curling through my veins. "If you think taking the form of my old master will make me falter, you're mistaken!" I shout, forcing my voice to sound strong, though inside I'm battling a storm of confusion and doubt.

The Shadowfell, wearing my master's face, only smiles with a calm, menacing certainty. "Oh, but I am, my Acolyte," he remarks, each word dripping with amusement, like he's savoring my turmoil.

A chill snakes through me as he speaks, but I grit my teeth, forcing myself to stand firm. "You're trying to trick me," I say, aiming for conviction. "If you're truly my master, then recount a moment they haven't seen." I gesture toward Talia and Nikko, daring him to prove his claim.

The Shadowfell's smile deepens, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "Very well. You first attempted to escape when you were six." His tone is almost taunting, laced with dark pleasure. "You struck down one of my guards and snuck onto a supply ship, thinking you could flee." His smile widens, savoring the memory. "As punishment, I threw you in a cell, without food or water for three days. And you remember the rest."

The words strike me like a blow, and I can't stop the flinch that betrays me. The truth claws its way to the surface—a cell, cold and dark, my small body twisted in pain as I lay there, hunger and thirst gnawing at me. Each second of those three days burns painfully in my memory.

I reach out with the Force, searching for any hint of deception, some lie that would prove this a cruel trick. But I sense nothing. Every word he's spoken resonates with truth, disturbing and inescapable. I look to his right arm—the one I severed in our last encounter. It's there, whole, unmarked.

"I saw you fall," I say, my grip tightening on the lightsaber. I want to believe this is some ghost, a twisted vision, but it feels too real, too close.

He chuckles, a dark, mocking sound. "Oh, Ryu," he says with a patient, almost condescending tone. "This is just one of my forms."

"Forms?" I echo, and a shiver slides down my spine. The energy radiating from him... it's wrong, twisted, nothing like I remember, yet hauntingly similar. The Shadowfell is using his image, wearing it like a mask.

"Yes, forms," he replies, his voice lowering, calm composure giving way to something darker, more ancient. His eyes flash with a sinister gleam, and his smile widens, laced with cruelty. "I am not bound to the limitations of a single existence as you are."

The weight of his words presses down on me, heavy and suffocating. "Who are you... truly?"

His smile twists into something more chilling, and without warning, he snaps his fingers again. Shadows swirl around him, swallowing him whole. When the darkness fades, I can't suppress my gasp, and I hear Talia's breath catch beside me, feel Nikko's grip on Apollo tighten. Even Rebecca takes a shaky step back, her face ashen with fear.

Standing before us is no longer my master but something infinitely more terrifying. He towers above us, cloaked in intricately designed, dark robes that pulse with dark energy, the shoulders massive and sharp. His skin is pale, almost ashen, and his eyes glow like burning embers, casting a malevolent light that pierces through the surrounding darkness.

The sheer presence of him sends a wave of nausea through me, the air around him tainted and oppressive. I glance at Talia, whose eyes are wide, her face pale as she stares, trying to keep herself steady. Nikko buries her face against Apollo, too terrified to look, while Rebecca stands rooted to the spot, horror evident in every line of her body.

The darkness of the chamber feels heavier, almost suffocating, as he stands there, exuding an aura of ancient, unimaginable power.

"You... you can't be," I stutter, my voice barely audible. "You were destroyed..."

"A part of me survived," the figure says, his voice booming and deep. It reverberates through the chamber like thunder, chilling us all to the bone.

"Who... who is that?" Talia stammers, barely able to form the words, her voice trembling with fear.

"Who am I?!" The figure booms, turning to her, his presence swelling with rage and power. "I am the Immortal Emperor, the Dark Lord of all the Sith, the Sith Lord and Emperor! Vitiate, lord of the Sith Empire!"

The weight of those words crashes down on me like a landslide. My breath catches in my throat as the reality sets in. This is no trick, no illusion. Vitiate—one of the most powerful and terrifying Sith Lords to ever exist—stands before us.

"How?" My voice trembles, barely audible, strangled by the overwhelming fear clamping down on me. "You were destroyed. You can't be..." The words trail off, my mind unable to reconcile the horror standing before me.

Vitiate's smile twists, a cruel glint in his burning orange eyes. "My true form, yes," he says, voice deep and smooth, dripping with malice. He pauses, shifting seamlessly into the cold, familiar face of my old master. "But this form survived." His smirk widens as he flickers back to his true form. "I survived the fall and began searching for you, Ryu. My true form may have been destroyed, but through the guise of your master, I endured. I searched endlessly. For millennia, I searched."

He steps forward, the ground seeming to darken beneath his feet. "Oh, I sensed you, Ryu—faint but unmistakable. That faint presence fueled my search, driving me onward through time itself. And during that search, I discovered this world, rich with untapped energy like nothing I had ever encountered." His gaze glints with dark pride. "Primitive and malleable, it was the perfect land for me to consume, a fresh world waiting for a master. Slowly, I took the form you know as the Shadowfell, bending this world to my will."

Beside me, Talia's voice breaks the silence, weak but brave. "But... I thought the Shadowfell was created by the Shadow Prince?"

Vitiate lets out a low, mocking chuckle, his eyes turning on her as though amused by the naivety of the question. "A tale I spread across these lands," he says smoothly. "A myth, nothing more. Unfortunately, I allowed my own arrogance to blind me. I underestimated the resolve of these people. They could not destroy me, but they managed to seal my powers away. Forced into hiding, I became a mere legend, and eventually, a myth." His voice hardens as he recalls the imprisonment. "I erased all trace of my existence from their histories and lay in wait. Until you arrived."

Rebecca's voice cuts through the silence, trembling but defiant. "But you failed at that," she says, standing a bit taller. "We found evidence of your existence."

Vitiate turns to her, his burning eyes narrowing with disdain. "Did I fail?" he counters, his voice a low, mocking whisper. "You found what I allowed you to find," he sneers, his gaze sweeping over all of us. "Every clue, every 'discovery' was precisely placed. I laid out the breadcrumbs, guiding you to this moment."

My heart pounds, a sickening sense of dread unfurling within me. I feel Talia's hand squeeze mine, trying to ground me, but my focus remains locked on Vitiate.

"A book here," Vitiate continues, his tone calm, almost bored. "A hint there," he gestures toward Rebecca, who looks stricken. "Spark a war to buy me time, attack a city, take control of a king's mind." He shifts his gaze to me, a twisted smile forming on his face. "Your journey—every struggle, every twist in your path—was my design."

I clench my fists, anger rising. Talia's eyes widen as Vitiate's words sink in, and Nikko clings to Apollo, her face pale. Rebecca's expression hardens, defiance flickering in her eyes even as his revelations settle heavily over us.

"To my greatest surprise, I sensed you passing this very planet," Vitiate says, his voice lowering, darkening, as he steps closer. "The final stroke of fate—to finally find you, my Acolyte. So I did what was necessary, clinging to your ship, preventing you from slipping away once more."

The words pierce me, the depth of his manipulation clawing at my mind. I try to steady myself, but the rage, the betrayal, is overwhelming. "But why?" I manage, barely keeping my voice steady. "Why go through all this trouble? I was just one of your pupils. I was nothing to you."

Vitiate's smile widens, cold and calculating. "No, Ryu. You were far more than just a pupil. When I found you, you were a mere child, seemingly weak and unremarkable," he pauses, eyes narrowing. "But I sensed immense power within you, raw and untamed."

The weight of his words presses down on me as I struggle to understand. "You... you sensed my power?" I ask, my voice shaking with both anger and disbelief.

"Yes," he murmurs, his voice smooth, coaxing, as though reliving the memory. "I trained you, molded you. And then, I planted the seeds of rebellion within you."

My mind reels as memories flood back—moments of anger, of questioning, of defiance that seemed to come from nowhere. "You... you knew what I would see on Dagobah," I say, the realization dawning like a slow horror.

"Knew?" Vitiate's smile turns sinister. "No, I created what you saw. You were so loyal, Ryu, so malleable. But I needed you to rebel, to question, to break free—on your own terms." His words slice through me, each one a calculated, deliberate reminder of his control.

The truth is like a dagger in my chest, twisting with every word. Talia's face reflects my horror, her hand gripping mine as though she can feel the devastation that shakes me to the core. Nikko huddles closer to Apollo, wide-eyed with fear, and Rebecca's hand covers her mouth as the reality sinks in.

Vitiate's tone shifts, softer but with a dark undertone, as he continues, "But you crossed paths with a certain Acolyte, my former pupil." His voice hardens. "They twisted you, corrupted you. I had to end it before their influence became irreversible."

A fresh wave of realization slams into me, and I hear my own voice, barely a whisper. "The attack on Alderaan... It was you."

"Yes," Vitiate replies, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. "I planted the idea in Darth Malgus's mind. It was a perfect guise for its true purpose."

"Why?" My voice cracks with anger and anguish. "Why go to such lengths?"

Vitiate steps closer, his presence pressing down on me like a physical weight. "Don't you see, Ryu?" His voice is almost gentle, his gaze fixed on mine with a twisted sort of pride. "You were destined to be my vessel—the vessel I needed."

His words hang in the air like a curse. I can feel my breath catching in my throat, my pulse pounding against my skin. Talia gasps, her hand covering her mouth, and Nikko clings tighter to Apollo, trembling. Rebecca's face contorts with horror and disbelief, her voice a mere whisper. "A... vessel..."

I turn back to Vitiate, barely able to contain the anger, the heartbreak tearing through me. My fingers tighten around the hilt of my lightsaber, and I ignite the blade with a sharp, resonating hum. "I won't let that happen," I declare, my voice steady but laced with defiance.

Vitiate's laughter echoes through the chamber, a hollow, menacing sound that seems to reverberate against the stone walls around us. His eyes lock onto mine, cold and unyielding. "It matters not whether you fight me or surrender willingly, Ryu," he says, his tone almost mockingly casual, as though he's commenting on an inevitable truth. "You and your companions will fall. Your essence, your strength, will merge with mine."

The weight of his words hangs heavily, each one biting at me. I can feel Talia, Nikko, Rebecca, and Apollo bracing themselves behind me, the tension among us a palpable force in the room. I grip my lightsaber hilt tightly, the familiar sensation grounding me even as Vitiate's words chill me to my core.

Vitiate's lips curl into a twisted smile as he continues, "I will take physical form once more. I will take your ship and reclaim what rightfully belongs to me. But I must admit," he pauses, his gaze drifting past me as if lost in thought, "I am... impressed. I waged war for centuries against the Republic, struggling against them for far longer than most can comprehend. And yet," his voice drops to a darker, almost admiring tone, "it took only one Sith Lord, within mere decades, to accomplish what I and my predecessors could not in millennia."

His eyes narrow, burning with a dark ambition that seems to fill the entire chamber. "And so," he says, his tone shifting to one of triumphant finality, "once more, I will rule the galaxy."

The weight of his declaration, the sheer audacity and certainty in his voice, grates against every fiber of my being. I close my eyes for a moment, steadying myself. I take a slow, deep breath, willing calm over the turmoil threatening to consume me. When I open my eyes, I find myself focused, but the faint echo of doubt still lingers. I can't let it rule me—not now.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

"I will not let that happen," I say, my voice steady but edged with defiance. With a resolute snap, I ignite my lightsaber, the yellow glow casting harsh shadows across Vitiate's darkened form.

Talia stands beside me, her hands steady as she draws her bow, the arc of energy glowing brightly as she aims it directly at Vitiate. "We'll fight you together," she declares, her voice fierce yet measured, as her gaze hardens with determination.

Apollo steps forward, his towering form a silent but steadfast presence. With a mechanical whirl, he raises his A23 rotary blaster, aiming it directly at Vitiate with unwavering precision. "Target acquired," he says, his voice calm and unyielding, and the faint whir of the weapon's energy spool fills the silence.

Rebecca, on my other side, brings her two blasters up in a defensive stance, her grip tight as her eyes flash with a mix of anger and determination. She's bracing herself, yet there's a newfound steel in her gaze as she holds her ground. "You're not going anywhere," she spits, the anger in her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

Nikko, her smaller frame dwarfed by the rest of us, steadies her own blaster. Though her hands tremble slightly, I see the fire in her eyes as she aims with focus. Her tail twitches, and her ears are tilted back in fierce concentration.

Vitiate regards each of us in turn, his twisted smile never faltering. "Fools," he sneers, his voice laced with disdain. "Do you truly think you have the strength to face me?" His gaze settles back on me, his eyes glowing brighter, a haunting malice flickering within them. "Come, then, if you wish to fulfill your futile destinies. Let me see how long your defiance lasts."

Vitiate's smile returns, a dark and twisted thing. He flicks his wrist and a lightsaber handle falls into his hand, but it's unlike any I've seen before. He holds it up for a moment, relishing in the reveal, then ignites it.

The saber is unlike anything I've ever encountered. Its blade crackles with unstable energy, a pitch-black void surrounded by a jagged, white edge, as if light itself is struggling to exist around it. The sound it makes when it ignites is unsettling—lower than a typical lightsaber hum, more of a deep, throbbing pulse that vibrates through the air and into my bones.

A chill races down my spine. This isn't just any lightsaber—it's a dark saber. A weapon of legend, its power unmistakable, and in Vitiate's hands, it feels even more sinister.

I try to suppress my fear as I watch him twirl the dark saber effortlessly. My grip tightens on my own lightsaber, its familiar hum not nearly as comforting as it should be.

"Let's even the odds a bit," Vitiate says, his tone filled with malicious glee.

He snaps his fingers, and the air around us distorts with dark energy. In the blink of an eye, dozens of cloaked figures appear around the chamber in perfect formation. They remove their hoods, revealing their skeletal metal heads. IG-100 droids, magna guards—tall, imposing figures clad in dark armor, each wielding deadly electro staffs crackling with electric energy. Their soulless red photoreceptors lock onto us as they twirl their staffs in anticipation. The sound of their weapons crackling echoes ominously around the room, adding to the oppressive tension that fills the air.

These aren't just ordinary droids—each one has been infused with Vitiate's dark power, their movements unnatural, fluid but jerky, like puppets being controlled by invisible strings. Their armor is black as night, etched with dark Sith runes, and the glow of their electro staffs casts eerie shadows on their frames. Every movement they make hums with deadly precision.

Talia tenses next to me, her energy bow drawn, its pink energy string taut and ready to fire. Nikko, though trembling, understands the gravity of the situation and nods at me before rushing behind Apollo. Apollo shifts slightly, keeping her within his protection as he hefts the A-23 heavy rotary blaster, its barrel spinning up with a low whir. Rebecca grips her blasters tight, her face a mixture of determination and fear. Even though we've been through hell, I can feel the dread settling deep within her.

Vitiate stands there, smiling as if he's enjoying every moment of this confrontation. He revels in the tension and fear. I can sense his excitement in the Force. It disgusts me.

"Now, let us begin," Vitiate says, his voice calm, smooth, and terrifyingly confident.

My heart pounds as I glance around the room. There's no turning back. I grip my lightsaber tightly, its yellow blade casting light around me. But even in the glow, I can feel the encroaching darkness tightening its grip on my soul.

I've faced death many times before, but this... this feels different. This feels like the end of everything. But even with that fear creeping in, I know one thing—I have to protect them. No matter what. Talia, Nikko, Rebecca... they are my anchor, my reason to keep fighting. And Vitiate? He's nothing but a remnant of the dark past I refuse to be a part of.

My grip tightens on my own lightsaber. The weight of everything presses down on me, but I steady my breathing. This is it. Vitiate's eyes burn with malevolent glee, those glowing orange orbs promising agony and destruction. He steps forward, each movement deliberate, his dark robes sweeping the floor like the shadows themselves are following his every step. The tension in the air is unbearable, and I sense my companions tense up behind me.

"You think you can stand against me?" Vitiate sneers, his voice dripping with condescension. "Your fear betrays you, Ryu."

"I'll never be your vessel," I growl through clenched teeth.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

My muscles tense as Vitiate lunges forward, the darksaber in his grip flashing towards me with a hum that's deeper and more sinister than any regular lightsaber. The moment their blades clash, I feel the force of Vitiate's strike ripple through my arm. He's powerful—far more powerful than I expected. My lightsaber barely holds against the sheer weight behind his swing. Vitiate isn't just strong in the Force; his raw physical power feels almost unnatural, and it's clear he's toying with me.

Vitiate steps closer, locking our blades together, leaning in with a smirk that makes my stomach churn. "What's the matter, Ryu?" His voice oozes with condescension. "You've trained for this moment your entire life, yet you're still so... weak."

I grit my teeth and push back with everything I have, managing to shove him away. I take a breath, feeling the sweat trickle down my face. But before I can recover, Vitiate is on me again, spinning the darksaber in a deadly arc. I barely dodge it, his blade slicing through the air where my head had just been.

We trade blows across the chamber, our sabers illuminating the darkened space with every clash. Vitiate's strikes are deliberate, precise, and overwhelming. His eyes, glowing with the same malevolent power that courses through him, track my every move, watching, waiting for me to make a mistake. He's not fighting to kill me—at least not yet. He's toying with me, pushing me to my limits, waiting for me to break.

As I parry one of his strikes, I catch a glimpse of Talia and the others. The Magna droids are advancing with terrifying precision, their electro staffs spinning in rapid, fluid motions, deflecting blaster bolts left and right. They're relentless—machine-like, but with a strange grace to their movements, as if they're moving in perfect harmony with one another.

Apollo is a whirlwind of firepower, his rotary blaster glowing red-hot as it unleashes a barrage of deadly bolts. But even he is forced to dodge and weave as the Magna droids close in, their electro staffs crackling with energy as they swipe at him. One Magna guard rushes him, spinning its staff with such speed that it creates a barrier of electricity, but Apollo brings his rotary blaster down like a hammer, knocking the droid to the ground in a shower of sparks.

Talia's energy bow gets knocked aside by one of the droids, its staff crashing down with brutal force. She rolls out of the way, drawing her twin short swords in one fluid motion. She dances between the Magna guards, her blades cutting through the air with a speed and precision that matches their mechanical efficiency. But even Talia is being pushed back, her strikes barely finding purchase against the heavily armored droids.

Rebecca is behind Apollo, firing rapidly at the droids, her hands shaking with the intensity of the battle. A bolt from her blaster catches one of the droids in the chest, sending it collapsing to the ground in a heap of sparking circuits. But another droid rushes her, its staff aimed for her midsection. Apollo steps in just in time, deflecting the blow with the butt of his rotary blaster. The weapon, now overheating, clicks loudly before he discards it, switching to his wrist blasters and a vibroblade.

I turn my focus back to Vitiate just in time to block a strike aimed for my throat. His darksaber hums angrily against my blade as he leans in close, his orange eyes burning with malevolent delight. "Your resistance is amusing, Ryu," he sneers. "But you cannot escape your fate."

I push him back again, panting. "I make my own fate," I growl, stepping into a swing aimed at his side. Vitiate parries effortlessly, spinning his blade around to counter with a quick strike at my legs. I leap back, narrowly avoiding the searing energy of the darksaber. He's faster than I anticipated—too fast. Every move I make, he's already one step ahead.

I can feel the anger bubbling up inside me, fueled by his taunts and the memories he keeps dredging up—Lyra's death, the Shadowfell's manipulations, the destruction Vitiate has caused. He wants me to lose control, to give in to the Dark Side. But I fight against it, clinging to the teachings of August, to the balance I've tried so hard to maintain.

Our sabers clash again, the sound reverberating through the chamber. "You think you can resist me?" Vitiate hisses, his voice slithering into my mind like poison. "You're already mine, Ryu. You always have been."

I shove him back with a burst of the Force, creating a momentary gap between us. My heart pounds in my chest as I try to calm my racing thoughts. I can't let him win. Not like this.

Across the room, I see Talia get knocked back by a Magna droid's staff, her short swords clattering to the ground. She rolls to her feet, but before she can retrieve her weapons, the droid lunges at her. Nikko, standing behind Apollo, sees this and fires her blaster at the droid, hitting it square in the chest. The Magna guard stumbles, giving Talia the chance to recover and strike back.

Apollo is locked in a vicious duel with two Magna droids, his vibroblade clashing against their electro staffs in rapid succession. His wrist blasters fire in bursts, taking down one droid before it can strike, but his movements aren't fast enough. The fight isn't in his favor, even with all of his tactical precision.

Rebecca suddenly screams as one of the Magna guards lands a blow on her arm, sending her crashing into the wall. She crumples to the ground, clutching her arm in pain. Apollo immediately steps in, slicing through the droid before it can land another strike. He pulls Rebecca back, shielding her with his body as he continues to fire at the remaining droids.

I have no time to dwell on their struggle as Vitiate renews his attack with brutal ferocity. His dark saber hums through the air, faster and faster with every swing. I can barely keep up, my arms burning from the effort of deflecting his strikes. Every time I try to counter, he's already there, parrying my blows with effortless precision.

"You are nothing," Vitiate taunts as he forces me back toward the center of the chamber. "A mere puppet, clinging to the delusion of free will."

His words sting, and for a moment, I feel the weight of them pressing down on me. But I push the doubt aside, focusing on the light within me—the memories of those I've lost, of those who still depend on me.

Vitiate presses his advantage, sending a powerful Force wave my way. I'm thrown back, skidding across the chamber floor, my lightsaber knocked from my grip. I scramble to my feet just in time to dodge another strike from Vitiate's dark saber, the black blade leaving a trail of crackling energy in its wake.

"You were always meant for a greater purpose," Vitiate says, advancing with deliberate steps. "The only question left is how much longer you'll resist before you accept your true destiny."

I dive to the side, narrowly avoiding a strike that would have cleaved me in two. My mind races as I search for a way to turn the tide of this battle. I need to stay calm. I need to remember why I'm fighting.

Across the chamber, I hear the clang of metal as Apollo takes down another Magna droid. Talia is back on her feet, her energy bow in hand as she fires precise shots at the remaining droids. Rebecca, though injured, manages to get a few shots off from behind Apollo, her determination shining through the pain. Nikko, though scared, clings to her blaster, firing whenever she gets the chance.

Vitiate is upon me again before I can even fully stand. His strikes are faster, more brutal than before, as if he's growing tired of the game. Our blades crackle as they collide, the hum of the lightsabers punctuated by the echo of each impact. Vitiate moves like a predator, graceful yet filled with malice. His dark saber hums, a low, menacing drone that grates on my nerves as its black blade slices through the air, casting eerie shadows around the room. The blade is different from anything I've faced before—it seems to consume the light around it, leaving a dark trail in its wake.

"You have no idea what you truly are," Vitiate taunts, his voice calm despite the fierce battle raging between us.

I push forward, feeling the Force surge within me. I send a powerful push of energy toward him, hoping to knock him off balance, but Vitiate absorbs it, laughing as if it were nothing more than a gust of wind. He counters with a blast of lightning, but I pull my saber onto my hand in time, the energy crackling against the blade.

Behind me, I hear the sound of blasters and metal striking metal as the others engage the Magna droids. Their steps are quick, precise—Rebecca's blasters ring out in rapid succession, Apollo's wrist blaster whining and his vibro blade clinging as he takes on several Magna droids at once, and Talia blocking an electro staff swung at her with both short swords, the crackling energy of the electro staff cutting through the darkness. Nikko's blaster joins in, and I feel her determination even from here.

Yet, I can sense Rebecca's pain, and it pulls at me. I can feel her blood dripping to the ground, her injuries worse than she lets on. I shove the concern aside for now—Vitiate is my focus. Our lightsabers clash again, but I finally manage to twist my blade in a way that disarms him, sending his dark saber flying across the chamber.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

For a moment, I think I've won. My heart pounds, adrenaline flooding my system as I raise my lightsaber to strike him down. But before I can move, I feel an invisible force tightening around me, freezing me in place. Vitiate's smile widens as he holds me there effortlessly with the Force.

"Your power is impressive," he says calmly, amusement dancing in his orange eyes. "But lightsabers are just tools. It's the Force that makes you strong."

With a flick of his wrist, he sends me flying backward. The impact against the wall is bone-jarring, pain shooting up my spine as I hit the ground hard. My lightsaber hilt clatters to the floor, and with another squeeze of Vitiate's hand, it crushes into pieces, the yellow kyber crystal falling to the ground with a soft clink.

"Ryu!" I hear Talia and Nikko cry out. But I force myself to get up, ignoring the pain coursing through me.

Vitiate looks at me with something almost like admiration. "You are strong, Ryu. But you are also predictable," he says as he snaps his fingers. More figures appear—cloaked and sinister, their emblems glowing faintly on their shoulders. They unsheathe their swords and charge at us.

Talia raises her short swords, Rebecca grips her blasters with bloodied hands, and Apollo readies his heavy blaster once more. Nikko readies her blaster, standing tall despite her smaller stature. They meet the cloaked figures with everything they have, cutting through them, each slain enemy dissolving into puffs of smoke as they hit the ground. But the figures keep coming, endless in number.

I turn my attention back to Vitiate. With no lightsaber, I have to rely on the Force. Summoning all the power I can muster, I thrust my hands forward and conjure a torrent of flames, sending them roaring toward Vitiate. He blocks them effortlessly, manipulating the fire with his own dark energy and hurling it back at me. I sidestep just in time, feeling the heat sear past my skin.

He raises chunks of rock from the ground and flings them toward me with deadly precision, but I raise my hand, stopping them in midair before sending them hurtling back at him. Vitiate raises his own hand, deflecting the rocks with ease.

Electricity crackles between us as we unleash streams of Force lightning. Our energies meet in midair, sizzling as they collide, pushing against each other. The power surges through my body, making every muscle tense with strain. I push back with all my might, the lightning growing brighter, but Vitiate only grins, clearly enjoying this.

I change tactics. Instead of pushing against his lightning, I absorb it, feeling the raw energy coursing through me. It burns, but I grit my teeth and let the energy flow. I guide it through my body, shaping it, twisting it—then, with a swift movement, I hurl it back at him. The energy crackles like a bolt of lightning released from a storm and Vitiate barely has time to react before it strikes him squarely in the chest.

The force of the blast sends him flying across the chamber. At that same moment, I hear the final clash of metal behind me. Talia, Rebecca, Apollo, and Nikko have finished off the last of the cloaked figures. The silence that follows is deafening, broken only by the sound of our heavy breathing. Talia, Nikko, and Rebecca look battered, their bodies marked with small cuts and bruises. Apollo's armor is dented and damaged, but he stands tall.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

I turn my attention back to Vitiate, who slowly rises from the ground, laughing as if this were all a game. His orange eyes gleam with delight.

"You truly are ready," he says, his voice low and filled with dark satisfaction. He raises his hand once more, and I brace myself for another attack. But instead of sending the lightning at me, his gaze shifts to Talia.

"No!" I scream as I see the shift in his eyes, the twisted grin forming on his face. Time seems to slow as I see him draw the dark energy into his hand, preparing to unleash a powerful wave of lightning.

"Let's see how well you protect them," Vitiate sneers.

I move without thinking, my body instinctively surging forward with every ounce of strength I have left. I know what he's going to do. In that moment, nothing else matters except protecting Talia.

He unleashes the lightning, and I barely reach her in time. My body crashes in front of her just as the energy strikes. The pain is unimaginable—searing, burning through every fiber of my being. My muscles lock up, my vision blurs, and I hear nothing but the crackle of electricity and my own pained grunts.

"Ryu!" Talia's voice cuts through the haze of agony. I can hear the panic in her voice as I feel her presence behind me. I try to shield her, but the force of the lightning is overwhelming. Vitiate's laughter echoes in the chamber as he watches me struggle under the onslaught.

I grit my teeth, refusing to give in. The darkness is trying to claim me, but I push back. This isn't how it ends. Not like this. The lightning courses through my body like molten fire, every nerve burning as I stand between Vitiate and Talia. My arms feel like lead, the force of the electricity threatening to break me apart piece by piece. But I push back with all the strength I have left, planting my feet firmly into the ground, grounding myself in the here and now, refusing to let go.

"Ryu!"

Talia's voice cuts through the haze of pain. She's calling my name, panic in her voice, but all I can do is stand my ground, refusing to give Vitiate the satisfaction of seeing me fall. My muscles tremble, my vision swims, but I keep my body between Vitiate's power and her, taking the full brunt of the attack. 

"You're a fool," Vitiate sneers, his eyes glowing with sadistic pleasure.

I can sense Talia wanting to place my hand on my back, trying to pull me away, but I can't—won't—move. I glance over my shoulder, catching a glimpse of her face, her eyes wide with fear and determination.

"Ryu!" she shouts again, but I can't respond. All I can do is hold on.

The pain surges through my chest like a thousand needles piercing every nerve, hot and sharp, relentless in its intensity. Finally, Vitiate ceases his onslaught. My muscles tremble as I force myself to stand, each movement a battle against the agony coursing through my body. I clutch at my chest, where the searing bolt of lightning struck, feeling the raw heat beneath my skin. My breaths are shallow, ragged—each inhale sending sharp, stabbing pain through my ribs.

Talia's hand finds my arm, steadying me. Her touch is warm, grounding, and despite the pain, I manage to give her a nod, assuring her that I'm still here, still standing. Her eyes are wide with concern, the weight of the battle etched into every line of her face. She's worn down, just like the others.

I glance over at Apollo. His armor is a mess of dented plates, deep scratches, and scorch marks. He's still standing, but just barely. Nikko, small and terrified, clings to her blaster behind him, her wide eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. She's never seen anything like this before—none of us have. Rebecca is clutching her shoulder, blood seeping between her fingers, her face pale but determined. There's fear in her eyes too, but she's fighting to keep it at bay.

And then there's Talia. Her usually elegant form is hunched, exhaustion pulling at her limbs. Her breathing is labored, her platinum hair clinging to her sweat-soaked face. She's pushed herself to the edge for us, for me, and now she looks like she might collapse at any moment.

I drag my gaze back to Vitiate. He stands at the far end of the chamber, calm, unbothered. His robes don't even have a speck of dust on them. There's no sign of exertion—no heavy breathing, no beads of sweat. He looks untouched, like this has all been a mere exercise for him. It's infuriating.

My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath, the pain still gnawing at my insides. I can feel his eyes on me, watching, waiting. His voice slithers through the air, calm and condescending. "You can sense it, can't you?" His tone is smooth, almost gentle, but it drips with malice. "It's over. You are delaying the inevitable."

I force the words from my lips, though each one feels like a struggle. "Never," I rasp, reaching for my sword. My hand trembles as I grip the hilt, the weight of it suddenly unbearable. I pull the blade free, but my arm feels sluggish, weak. My whole body protests the movement, every muscle aching as I stagger toward him. Each step is a battle of will, every ounce of strength drained by the pain that radiates from my chest.

Vitiate watches me with an amused smile, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. "You're not a quitter," he says, almost with admiration. "I like that."

I grit my teeth and push forward, but it feels like I'm walking through molasses. The sword feels impossibly heavy in my hand, my limbs shaking as I force myself to keep going. Each step is a monumental effort, and I can hear my own ragged breaths echoing in the chamber, my vision blurring around the edges. But I don't stop. I won't stop.

Vitiate sighs, a sound of indulgence, as if he's grown tired of the game. He raises his hand, his fingers twitching ever so slightly. A small wave of force lightning arcs from his palm, crackling through the air before striking me square in the chest.

The pain is instantaneous. My muscles seize, locking in place as the electricity courses through me, twisting and writhing beneath my skin like a living thing. I collapse to one knee, the sword slipping from my hand and clattering to the ground with a dull thud. My body trembles uncontrollably, and I bite down hard, forcing myself to stay conscious through the onslaught.

"Now, Ryu," Vitiate says, his voice smooth and assured, "it is time for your ascension."

He raises his arm, his eyes closing in dark concentration. The air around him shifts, darkening, twisting into shadows that swirl and writhe like living smoke. It grows thicker, darker, turning into a purplish-black cloud that coils around him, pulsing with malevolent energy. The chamber grows colder, the very light seeming to dim as the darkness engulfs him.

And then, with a rush of wind, the cloud explodes outward, twisting and spiraling through the air before it hurtles toward me. I can only watch, frozen in place, as the swirling mass of shadow descends.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

Ryu's body spasms uncontrollably as the swirling purple mass forces its way inside him, slipping through his mouth like some foul, dark entity. I watch in absolute horror, my heart pounding in my chest, feeling utterly helpless as his limbs jerk and convulse. A terrifying, guttural sound escapes his throat.

"No..." I whisper, my voice trembling with fear. The word barely escapes my lips, my heart sinking as I see the darkness consume him. I want to move, to help him, but my legs are frozen, locked in place by fear. I can only stand there, watching the horror unfold before me.

Then, suddenly, the twitching stops. His body slumps forward for a moment, motionless. I dare to hope—maybe it's over, maybe he fought it off. But that hope evaporates as quickly as it came when his head snaps up with a sickening crack. His eyes glow a menacing orange through the mask, the same terrifying hue as Vitiate's. The sight sends a chill down my spine.

"No..." I mutter again, my grip tightening around my short swords, though my hands are shaking. Panic floods my chest. This can't be happening. This can't be real.

"Papa!" Nikko's voice rings out, piercing through the fog of fear that clouds my mind. She tries to run toward him, but Apollo grabs her, holding her back as she thrashes in his arms, desperately trying to break free. Tears stream down her little face, her cries filled with a heart-wrenching desperation. I want to scream, to tell her it's not safe, but the words catch in my throat.

Rebecca stands nearby, a tear slipping down her cheek as she clutches her wounded shoulder, her face pale with fear. She looks just as lost as I feel. I fight to hold back my own tears. This is the man we've all fought alongside, trusted, cared for—and now he's become the very thing we've been fighting against.

"Oh, don't look so upset," Ryu says, his voice dripping with malice and amusement. My stomach churns at the sound of his words. They aren't Ryu's words. This is Vitiate speaking through him, controlling him. His glowing eyes lock onto me, and a cruel smile spreads across his face. "You'll soon join your lover," he sneers, his gaze sharp and predatory.

I feel my heart drop as he extends his arm, and Ryu's sword, discarded moments ago, flies across the room, landing effortlessly in his grip. The clang of the metal handle meeting his palm echoes through the chamber, sending a spike of fear straight through me. My breath catches in my throat as I realize the gravity of what's happening—Ryu couldn't beat Vitiate, and now I'm facing him. How could I stand a chance?

Fear grips me like a vice, but I can't—no, I won't—give in. Ryu didn't give up, and neither will I. I clench my jaw, forcing myself to swallow the fear. I won't let him win.

"Come at me," he taunts, shifting into a fighting stance that is all too familiar, yet twisted with dark intent. "Impress me."

I want to move. I want to charge forward, to fight, but my body betrays me. My legs feel like jelly, and my hands tremble uncontrollably around the hilts of my short swords. I try to steady my breathing, but my chest tightens with every breath. My heart races, pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears. I feel as if I'm drowning in fear, unable to catch my breath.

Suddenly, Apollo charges in. I barely have time to react as he rushes past me, his retracted vibroblade humming as he swings at Ryu with everything he has.

Ryu—no, Vitiate—dodges every strike with effortless precision. He moves like a shadow, ducking and weaving around Apollo's attacks as if he's simply toying with him. It's horrifying to watch. One moment Apollo is pressing forward, and the next, with a single fluid motion, Vitiate swings his sword, and Apollo's retracted blade is severed cleanly in two. The broken blade clatters to the ground with a sickening finality.

Before Apollo can recover, Vitiate lifts his hand and sends him flying backward with a powerful Force push. Apollo slams into the wall with a bone-jarring impact, his body embedding into the stone. His armor screams as it bends and cracks under the pressure, his metallic body contorting in ways that seem impossible. His head tilts unnaturally, his limbs twisted at odd angles. I watch in horror, unable to look away as the stone around him trembles.

Vitiate raises his arm, his fingers curling into a fist. I can hear the stone cracking around Apollo, his armor groaning as it begins to crumple inward. Apollo's body is being crushed—slowly, painfully—his head twisting unnaturally as if he's being wrung out like a piece of scrap metal. A low groan escapes him, somehow managing to sound both mechanical and filled with agony.

"No!" I scream, the horror of it making my heart lurch. But I can't move. I'm frozen again, trapped in this nightmare, forced to watch.

Suddenly, blaster fire breaks through the suffocating tension. The bolts streak through the air, Vitiate dodging just in time. He turns toward the source of the shots, and I follow his gaze to see Rebecca standing there, her blaster raised in her one good hand, firing desperately. Her shots are wild, her aim faltering as Vitiate gets closer and closer.

Nikko, meanwhile, rushes toward Apollo, her small hands frantically trying to pull him free from the wall, but it's no use. She's too small, too weak against the crushing power that holds him in place.

Vitiate's eyes flicker with amusement as he holds out his arm, absorbing the blaster fire as though it's nothing more than a light breeze. He stalks toward Rebecca, her shots growing more erratic with each step he takes.

With a casual flick of his wrist, Vitiate disarms her, the blaster flying from her hand and skidding across the floor. I see the panic in Rebecca's eyes as she stumbles back, her one good arm reaching for anything to defend herself. But before she can react, Ryu swings his sword with terrifying precision. I barely register the movement before I hear her scream—a blood-curdling cry of pain as her left hand falls to the ground, severed cleanly from her arm.

She crumples to the floor, clutching the bloody stump with her remaining hand, her face twisted in agony. "Weak," Ryu mutters, his voice filled with disdain. "How disappointing."

Something inside me snaps. The fear that had paralyzed me moments ago begins to shift, replaced by a burning anger. I've had enough. I can't watch this any longer. I can't let him do this—to us, to Nikko, to Rebecca. With a growl of fury, I charge at him, my short swords raised.

I swing with everything I have, but Vitiate dodges with infuriating ease, sidestepping my strikes as though he's merely humoring me. I grit my teeth, pushing through the frustration, attacking again and again, each strike more desperate than the last. But he blocks every blow effortlessly, his orange eyes gleaming with amusement as though he's enjoying this twisted game.

His sword flashes, and suddenly both of my short swords are severed, the blades flying from my hands and clattering uselessly to the floor. I stare at the broken hilts in my hands, disbelief washing over me. How could I have failed so miserably?

Vitiate's eyes burn with a cruel light as he steps forward, towering over me. I stagger back, panic rising once more. I fumble for my blaster, but before I can grip it, he waves his hand, and the weapon is wrenched from my grasp, flying across the chamber. I'm left defenseless, staring up at him in terror.

He moves closer, and I scramble backward, tripping over my own feet and falling hard onto the stone floor. Pain shoots through my back as I land, but I don't have time to think about it. I try to crawl away, but I'm trapped, my back pressed against the cold stone wall. Vitiate looms over me, his shadow stretching long and menacing as he raises his sword.

"Pathetic," he sneers, his voice dripping with contempt. He swings the sword down, and I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable blow.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

But it never comes.

I open my eyes, my heart racing, to find Vitiate frozen in place, his sword inches from my neck. His hand shakes, his grip on the blade faltering. Confusion floods my mind—what is happening?

I glance to my left and see Nikko standing there, her arms outstretched toward Vitiate. Her small face is twisted with concentration, her entire body trembling. My eyes widen in disbelief—Nikko is the one holding him back.

Vitiate seems just as surprised. His glowing orange eyes flicker with shock before he breaks free from her hold, chuckling darkly. "I did not see that coming," he says, his voice filled with amusement. "So, you are Force-sensitive, huh? Impressive."

He steps toward her, his gaze predatory. "Perhaps with some proper training," Vitiate says, his voice smooth and dark, filled with twisted amusement, "you might even outperform your father." His burning orange eyes lock onto Nikko, and I can see the malevolence in them, the hunger for power. He steps toward her with deliberate slowness, savoring the fear that ripples through the room.

Nikko stands there, her arms still raised, trembling with the effort of using the Force. She's never done anything like this before, but somehow, in her desperation, she managed to stop him. My heart clenches in both pride and terror—pride that she's able to channel the Force, terror because she's standing there, defenseless against the very person who taught her how to fight, the man she calls "Papa."

"Unfortunately, I have waited far too long for this moment," Vitiate says.

Nikko's small hands shake as she clutches the air in front of her, trying to push him back, but she's losing control. I can see it in her eyes—the strain, the panic. Her body is trembling, her face pale with fear as she struggles to maintain her hold on Vitiate.

"Let her go!" I shout, but my voice is weak, filled with the terror of watching Nikko face him alone.

Vitiate smirks, his expression twisted with sadistic amusement. He raises his hand and clenches his fist, and suddenly Nikko is lifted into the air. She gasps, her hands flying to her throat as she struggles for breath. Her blaster falls from her grasp, clattering to the ground, useless.

"No!" I scream, pushing myself to my feet, but my legs are still shaky, and I stumble. I watch helplessly as Nikko kicks her legs, her eyes wide with fear as she claws at the invisible force around her throat. Tears stream down her face as she gasps for air, her small body writhing in the air.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

I find myself in an endless void of shadow, suffocating in its weightlessness. There's no up, no down—just an expanse of black that stretches into infinity. I look around, but there's nothing. I frown, confusion swirling in my mind. Am I...?

A deep, mocking voice reverberates through the darkness, and I feel it like a vibration in my bones. "Not exactly."

The sound echoes, chilling me to the core. I know that voice. I'd know it anywhere. Vitiate.

My chest tightens, and fear grips me. His voice oozes malice, so calm, so assured.

"I have your body," he says, each word dripping with dark satisfaction, "but not yet your mind... or your soul. Before I take those, I want you to watch as I cut down the ones you love."

"No!" I shout, but the sound is swallowed by the void, disappearing into the blackness. I concentrate, trying to reach for anything—my body, Vitiate, something—but it's like trying to grab hold of smoke. I sense nothing. No Force, no tether to my physical self—just empty, cold space around me.

Two massive viewports appear before me, windows into the chamber I just left behind—or, at least, the one my body did. I can see everything clearly, every detail through these twisted lenses, but the perspective feels disturbingly familiar. It's my own.

Talia, Nikko, Apollo, and Rebecca are in front of me—or rather, in front of what used to be me, what's now just my hollow, puppet-like body controlled by Vitiate. They look worn down, beaten, drained of any remaining strength. Even Apollo seems damaged, his stance strained, and Rebecca... she's clutching her right arm, blood dripping from it onto the cold stone floor. Horror pools in my stomach as I realize they're staring at me—at my body, twisted and taken over, the familiar replaced by something menacing and vile. I feel dread gripping me as they watch in fear, the terrible realization hitting that Vitiate has truly won.

"Oh, don't look so upset," I hear myself say, the voice thick with malice that's undeniably his, not mine. "You'll soon join your lover," he sneers, the view shifting, angling toward Talia.

"No!" I shout, pounding my fists against the viewport. My knuckles hit the glass, but there's no sound, no shattering, just a sickening, hollow thud that echoes around me as I struggle against this invisible prison. I watch helplessly as Talia stands frozen, her wide eyes locked on me—on him, using my body—as he approaches her, drawing my sword, step by taunting step.

Then, with a sudden burst of movement, Apollo charges forward, desperation written in the tilt of his frame as he aims to protect her. But Vitiate—the thing inside me—dodges his attacks with ease, and with a swift, precise swing, he slices Apollo's vibroblade clean in two. Apollo barely has time to react before Vitiate sends him hurtling back with a brutal Force push, his body slamming into the stone wall with a sickening crunch. I can hear the stone cracking, see it crumbling around him, his metallic body wedged deeply, limbs twisted unnaturally, his armor crumpling under the crushing power.

"Apollo!" I scream, slamming my fists over and over against the viewport, rage and terror bubbling inside me. "Stop it! Let him go, you bastard!" But my voice is swallowed by the void, useless.

Blaster fire suddenly breaks through the horrid silence, and I glance toward the viewports just as Rebecca raises her remaining good hand, firing desperately at me—at him. Her aim is shaky, wild, her eyes wide with panic. Behind her, I catch a glimpse of Nikko frantically trying to pull Apollo free from the wall, her small hands grabbing at his shoulders, her face twisted with fear and frustration.

I watch as he—I—raise my arm, absorbing the blaster fire effortlessly, each bolt disappearing into a field of energy that seems to swallow everything it touches. With a casual flick of my wrist, I disarm her, the blaster slipping from her hand, skittering uselessly across the floor. I watch in horror as he steps forward, his dark gaze locking onto her with sadistic intent.

"Rebecca, get out of there!" I scream, pounding harder, my fists useless against the barrier. She stumbles back, clutching her injured arm, her face ashen. But she's too slow. With one swift motion, my body swings the sword down, severing her left arm cleanly. Her scream cuts through me like a blade, raw and pained, echoing in my mind long after it leaves her lips.

"Please... stop this," I whisper, my voice broken, watching as she crumples to the ground, clutching the bloody stump, her face twisted in agony. "Stop this..."

But he doesn't. "Weak," I hear myself say, Vitiate's venom lacing every word. "How disappointing."

A spark ignites within Talia, fury blazing through her fear. She charges, her short swords flashing as she swings with every ounce of strength she has left. Her movements are fierce but frantic, her strikes wild and uncoordinated as desperation drives her forward. He blocks each strike easily, deflecting her attacks with a cruel, practiced precision. With one smooth, effortless motion, he cuts through her swords, the blades clattering to the ground, severed and useless.

Talia stumbles back, her eyes wide with disbelief, the broken hilts still clenched in her hands. She scrambles away, her back pressing against the cold stone wall, her gaze locked onto him—onto me—with terror. She's defenseless, and he knows it. I can see the satisfaction in the way he approaches her, the way he lifts the sword, ready to end it.

"No!" I shout, slamming both fists against the glass, desperation pouring from me, raw and unchecked. "Vitiate! Stop! Please... just stop..."

But all I hear is his laughter, that twisted, mocking sound that seems to reverberate through the endless darkness around me. It taunts me, wraps around me, reminding me of my helplessness, my inability to protect those I care about.

And then I see Nikko. She stands beside Apollo, her small frame trembling, but she lifts her arms, her face twisted in concentration as she reaches out, attempting to pull Vitiate back with the Force. To my shock, my body hesitates, faltering for a brief moment. He looks at her, a flash of surprise crossing his face before it's replaced by amusement.

"So," he says, his voice darkly amused, "you are Force-sensitive, huh?" He takes a step toward her, his eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. "Perhaps with proper training, you might even surpass your father."

"Nikko, no!" I scream, pounding my fists again, desperate to break through, to reach her, to pull her away from the monster inhabiting my body.

He lifts his hand, and she's suddenly lifted into the air, her small hands clawing at her throat as she gasps for air, her blaster slipping from her grip and clattering to the floor. She's defenseless, struggling as he tightens his hold, savoring her terror.

"No!" I scream, pressing my forehead against the glass, feeling the cold, unyielding surface beneath me. "Nikko! Someone, help her... please..."

But all I can do is watch, powerless, as the people I care about are destroyed by the very hands that were meant to protect them.

I fall to my knees and pull off my mask, the mask slipping from my fingers and dropping to the shadowy ground below with a muffled thud, a hollow sound that barely resonates in this infinite void. I can't watch anymore—I can't stand to see them suffer because of me. My vision blurs, tears spilling over, streaking down my face as I look up, desperate.

"Please... no more," I plead, my voice cracking with the rawness of my despair. "You have what you wanted. Just... let them go."

The void echoes with a cold, mocking laughter—Vitiate's laughter, sharp and merciless, ricocheting in the emptiness around me. My chest tightens, and I clench my fists, feeling a sickening wave of helplessness crush over me. Then, like a gentle whisper cutting through the darkness, a faint voice brushes against my mind.

"Look for the Force, Ryu, and you will always find me."

It's August's voice. August. That's what he said, just before—

I close my eyes, now resting my hands on my knees, the darkness pressing down on me. In desperation, I reach out, not knowing exactly what I'm reaching for.

"August," I whisper, my voice trembling. "Please... hear me. I need your help. Please."

But the moment I search within myself, darkness presses in on me, suffocating and unyielding. I struggle to hold on to any fragments of light I can find, but it's like reaching for smoke. Memories—terrible memories—crash over me, each one battering my resolve, dragging me deeper into the void. The darkness feels alive, seething, waiting to consume me entirely.

I'm back in the mines of Kessel, small, bruised hands raw and bleeding as I sift through cold stones. The overseers' voices echo above me, shouting orders, indifferent to the pain that throbs through my young body. I shiver, my bones aching from the endless work, the unrelenting cold settling in. That old, familiar despair seeps into me, chipping away at the strength I had gathered, burying it beneath the weight of forgotten fears.

Another memory slams into me—unforgiving, unshakable. I'm on Korriban, my training saber heavy in my grip as I face down an unyielding training droid. My body trembles, bruised and bloodied from endless sparring, failing to meet my master's impossible expectations. I can almost hear his voice, cutting into me like a blade. "Pain is a great teacher," he says, cold and indifferent. "You'll learn soon enough." I fall beneath the droid's strikes, each one harder than the last, draining what little power I thought I had left.

I try to push past the darkness, reaching out, searching for a glimmer of hope, something brighter. A small flicker catches, a memory of August's laughter, rich and full as he tells one of his terrible jokes on Alderaan. It feels like a breath of fresh air, a small, precious sliver of light that breaks through the shadows. I cling to it, feeling a hint of strength seep back in, like a faint heartbeat in the dark.

But the darkness is relentless, crashing back with renewed fury. My master's words twist through my mind, mocking, seething. "You really think you're worthy to by my Acolyte? Weak, pathetic." I see myself dangling over the abyss, his Force grip holding me as I struggle, helpless, the black depths yawning below. His laughter, cold and amused, digs in deeper, and I feel that faint heartbeat slip away.

"August," I whisper, my voice trembling, desperation clawing at me. "I can't... I can't do this."

"You're wrong, Ryu." August's voice rings out, calm and steady. It's as though he's standing right beside me, unseen but close. "You're wrong," his voice comes again, closer, steady. "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. He's using your pain to make you think you're weak. But you're not." His words bolster me, a flicker of strength returning. "Focus on the good memories, Ryu. Let them give you strength!"

I close my eyes, forcing myself to search past the pain, to reach for something good. But the weight of every dark memory pulls me down, each one clawing at me. Blood-stained steps of the Jedi Temple flood my vision—the younglings, faces frozen in terror, lying cold and still. I see Master Va'Ruun, broken and severed, fallen to betrayal. The anguish of those moments feels endless, draining, dragging me down like stones in my chest.

But then, another memory—a quieter, gentler one—pushes through. August and I sitting in silence, meditating by the cabin on Alderaan. I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face, the soft rustle of trees around us. The peace of that moment fills me, pushing back the darkness by inches, rekindling that faint heartbeat within me.

The dark memories surge again, crashing forward like a wave. Olt Mantell—the memory of Sphinx's betrayal stings fresh, as though it just happened. His cold smirk, his words slicing deep. "See you around, kid. If you ever need more work, you know where to find me." His laughter echoes, taunting me, nearly breaking me. His words bury themselves in my mind, twisting the faint strength I'd gathered, turning it bitter and cold.

But then, like a warm beacon, Lyra's laughter cuts through, bright and full of life. I'm back in her room, listening to her animatedly talk, her pride evident in every word. "He can learn from every interaction, every battle. Isn't he incredible?" She beamed, her passion radiating as she watched Apollo, her creation, thrive. That sense of pride she held for Apollo stirs my heart. The flickers of light grow stronger, reaching further into the shadows. I remember her eyes, filled with warmth, looking at me with that quiet confidence, a belief that never wavered. The memory ignites a small flicker of strength, the darkness momentarily weakening.

Just as I feel myself strengthen, another dark memory surges up—the final moments in the Jedi Temple, confronting Majel, blood painting the floors, the cold faces of Jedi knights and masters, dead by his hand. It claws back, more relentless than before, but I push through, gritting my teeth, desperate to find another light. I remember sitting with Lyra under the stars, her hand resting on mine as I revealed my past. She looked at me, unwavering, accepting every part of me without hesitation. "I can't wait to explore the galaxy with you, Ryu." Her voice was soft, but strong, and in that moment, it was enough to silence my doubts.

The darkness lashes out again with brutal force, and I feel myself stumble as the memory of her death sears through me, a brutal, unforgiving pain that nearly crushes my resolve. I see her lifeless form, and the strength I'd gathered wavers, slipping through my fingers as the void tightens around me once more. Vitiate's laugh echoes, thick with malice.

"It is pointless, Ryu. You are mine."

But I can't give up. I won't. I dig deep, pulling myself together, forcing myself to concentrate. I remember standing alone beside her grave, Apollo by my side, the cold earth beneath me as I said my final goodbye.

Then I see Lyra again, standing before me in the Crucible, her eyes brimming with tears as she whispered, "I love you, you idiot... and nothing is going to change that." The memory of her voice, the conviction in her gaze—it fills me with warmth, pushing back the shadows a little more. The weight of her love for me, unconditional and unwavering, strengthens me.

A tender memory with Talia surfaces, our first kiss. I see her eyes, reflecting the same mixture of hope and affection, her fingers brushing my cheek just before our lips met. The warmth and relief of that moment lift me further, filling me with a quiet determination.

Then come more memories, each one like a lifeline. Her smile, her warmth, her laugh—they pour in, a flood of light against the shadows. And then, Nikko. When she called me Papa for the first time. "Papa did nothing wrong!" she exclaims, her small hands clenched tightly into fists. "He saved me!" Every memory of her is a spark, igniting my resolve, filling me with a strength I didn't know I had.

The darkness wavers, shuddering under the onslaught of light, and Talia appears in my mind. Her unwavering gaze, her hand resting on mine during those long, quiet moments when I doubted myself. Her quiet strength, her loyalty, her courage. The way she'd look at me, her eyes filled with understanding and trust. Each memory of her fills me, pushing the shadows further back, strengthening that heartbeat within me.

The void around me shudders violently as memory after memory floods in, good outweighing the bad, illuminating every corner of the darkness. Nikko's laughter, her wonder as we explored together. The joy of teaching her something new, seeing her eyes light up with wonder. Talia's quiet moments of support, her hand grounding me when I felt lost. Their voices, their presence, steady and unwavering.

I feel the darkness slipping away, unable to withstand the warmth, the love that surrounds me. I stand stronger, my breath steady as the shadows pull back further and further. The oppressive weight begins to lift, and I can feel my strength solidify, deeper and truer than before.

The memories flow freely now, good eclipsing the bad, illuminating every corner of this darkness. I am left with echoes of their laughter, their love, grounding me. For the first time since this nightmare began, I feel whole, free.

A flicker of another memory—one final, precious moment. I'm standing with Talia, her eyes locked on mine, unspoken feelings passing between us. Then, the warmth of her lips against mine, her hands gentle, grounding me in a love I'd long believed I didn't deserve.

Strength surges through me, filling every corner of my being. I open my eyes, steady, my heart unbreakable.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

The air around me is thick with tension as Ryu, or rather Vitiate controlling him, convulses, his grip on Nikko faltering. Nikko falls to the ground, coughing, each breath raspy and choked. Vitiate stumbles back, Ryu's sword slipping from his hand and clattering to the floor. He clutches his head, his face twisting with agony.

"How?" he cries out, his voice rough, strained. "How are you doing this?"

My heart races. Is he talking about Nikko? I glance at her, lying on the ground, breathing heavily, her small frame shaking with fear. No... it's not her. Then it dawns on me, the realization striking me like a bolt of lightning.

"Ryu," I whisper, my voice trembling with hope. He's fighting back.

Vitiate lets out another scream as thick, black smoke begins to drift from his body, swirling and dissipating into the air. Then, with a surge of energy, a shockwave erupts from him, so forceful that I have to shield my eyes. The power rattles through the chamber, and when I finally look up, the form before me is different. It's him—Ryu.

Across the cave, I see Vitiate, his true form, struggling to rise, his face twisted in anger. Relief floods over me, like a weight I hadn't known I was carrying finally lifting from my chest. Nikko stumbles to her feet, her face lighting up as she throws herself into Ryu's arms. She clings to him tightly, sobbing with joy.

"How?" Vitiate's voice trembles with disbelief, his gaze locked on Ryu. "How did you cast me out? You shouldn't be able to."

Ryu's eyes, though weary, are fierce as he meets Vitiate's gaze. He stretches his hand toward his shattered lightsaber on the ground, and with a quick flick of his fingers, the broken pieces fly to him, aligning together, forming back into his hilt. For a brief moment, it glows brightly, cracks and all, and then... it's whole again.

My heart swells with pride and relief, watching him ignite the yellow blade. Its light fills the chamber, a beacon of hope, and I clutch my blaster, feeling courage surge through me as I stand, ready.

Vitiate, however, sneers, recovering quickly. "No matter," he says coldly, his tone laced with malice. "I'll simply wear you down again... until nothing remains."

Ryu hesitates, his gaze momentarily shifting, his expression tense, as though he's considering something. A chill races through me, fear biting at my resolve. Is he... is he actually considering surrender? He shuts off his lightsaber, clipping it back to his belt, and my heart lurches in panic.

Vitiate's lips curl into a cruel smile. "Accepting your destiny?" he mocks.

But before I can even voice my fear, Ryu moves with blinding speed, drawing his blaster and firing a blue ring of energy. It hits Vitiate square in the chest, causing him to stumble, though he doesn't collapse as I'd hoped. My stomach twists. If the stun rounds aren't working... what chance do we have?

Undeterred, Ryu fires again, shot after shot, the blue rings pounding into Vitiate, each one pushing him further back. Finally, Vitiate drops to his knees, breathing heavily, his once-imposing figure diminished.

"This will only slow me down," he hisses through labored breaths. "You're only wasting time."

"I know," Ryu replies, raising his hands toward Vitiate. His face is strained, his eyes narrowing with intense focus.

Confusion floods me. He's not attacking. He's... concentrating. And then it hits me, the realization striking hard. This is the stance he took when he transmuted the Crucible. My heart clenches in horror.

"Ryu, what are you doing?" My voice trembles, already knowing the answer, hoping desperately that I'm wrong.

"I'm going to seal him away," he grunts, the effort already taking its toll on him. The strain is visible, his arms trembling as he focuses every ounce of energy toward Vitiate.

I stagger back, the memory of how much transmuting the ship took from him flashing through my mind. "Ryu, it took almost everything you had just to transmute a ship. To transmute... him, it could..."

"Kill me." He finishes my thought, his voice calm but firm, and he turns toward me, removing his mask and letting it fall to the ground. I see the tears glistening in his eyes, the quiet resolve on his face. He knows. And he's still choosing this path.

"No, no..." The words slip from me, barely a whisper, horror flooding my veins. "There has to be another way."

Nikko, beside me, lets out a heart-wrenching cry, reaching for him. "Papa, no!"

Ryu looks over at her, his voice gentle but resolute. "Nikko, stay close to Talia."

"Please, Ryu," I beg, tears streaming down my face, my heart shattering. "Don't do this. There has to be another way."

But he only smiles, a soft, sad smile, and turns his gaze to Rebecca, lying in the distance, pale and bleeding, barely conscious but alive. He looks back at me, that smile unwavering. "I have to."

"No, you don't!" My voice breaks, desperation clawing at me, but I know he's already made his decision.

Suddenly, Vitiate, regaining his composure, stands and raises his arm, ready to strike. Ryu braces himself, prepared to take the full force of the attack when a blue ring of energy strikes Vitiate, causing him to stumble. I whirl around, spotting Apollo, his damaged arm raised, firing his wrist blaster relentlessly. Stun rings after stun rings slam into Vitiate, forcing him back, each impact giving Ryu a precious moment longer.

Ryu nods to Apollo in gratitude before he turns to me and Nikko. His eyes meet mine, and I see everything he wants to say but can't.

"I love you," he says, his voice filled with a finality that makes my heart ache.

"Ryu please don't!" I cry out, my voice breaking.

He smiles once more, then turns to face Vitiate. Raising both arms, he begins to concentrate, his body tensing as the effort of the transmutation already begins to wear on him. Vitiate, now on his knees, starts to glow faintly, a dark aura swirling around him. Ryu grits his teeth, blood trickling from his nose as he struggles, every muscle in his body straining under the weight of the power he's channeling.

"Ryu!" I shout, barely able to see him through the intensifying glow. I know he can hear me, but he doesn't respond, his focus unyielding. His breaths come in short, ragged gasps, and I see that the strain is so immense, that his entire body begins to shake.

Apollo doesn't stop his barrage, the blue rings slamming into Vitiate without pause, each one weakening him further. Vitiate's cries of pain grow louder, the dark aura around him pulsing erratically as Ryu's hold strengthens. The glow around Vitiate becomes blinding, a fierce light that fills the entire chamber. I shield my eyes, pulling Nikko close to me, her small body trembling in my arms.

"Ryu!" I scream, one final desperate plea that echoes through the blinding light.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the light fades. Where Vitiate once stood, there is now only a large crystal, as dark as a midnight sky, pulsing with a faint, ominous aura.

Ryu collapses forward, his body hitting the ground with a sickening thud. No sound, no movement—just the heavy silence that fills the room. My heart stops, dread flooding me. I rush to his side, dropping to my knees, flipping him over. His face is pale, his eyes closed, and when I press my fingers to his neck, there's no pulse.

"No..." The word chokes in my throat, a sob tearing free as I shake him. "Ryu, wake up. You did it! Wake up!"

Nikko is beside me, her little arms wrapping around him, her face buried into his shoulder as she sobs uncontrollably. "Papa... please, don't leave us. You promised!"

Tears spill freely down my cheeks as I grab my pouch of holding, frantically pulling out healing potions. I open one, pouring it into his mouth, but he doesn't swallow. His body remains lifeless, his eyes shut, his skin cold. I try another, and another, each one slipping from his mouth, each one futile.

Desperation claws at me, and I take the last potion into my own mouth, pressing my lips to his, willing it to work. But he doesn't move, doesn't breathe, his body a shell. My heart shatters as I pull back, staring at his face, my vision blurring through the tears.

With one last, helpless sob, I pull him close, embracing him tightly, Nikko beside me, both of us clinging to him as if we could somehow keep him with us.

"Please... don't go," I whisper, my voice breaking, lost in the suffocating silence.