Ali stood over Drogath, offering his hand with a firm look. "Don't worry about losing to me," he said, his tone steady but filled with conviction. "This is only the beginning—and the worst you will ever be. After this, your fighting will skyrocket, and your use of the Force will become much more efficient and powerful."
Drogath grabbed Ali's hand and allowed himself to be pulled up. "I believe you," he said, his deep voice laced with determination. "And I'm ready."
"Good," Ali replied with a nod. He stepped back and folded his arms as he observed the towering acolyte before him. "Drogath, you already have the heart of a warrior, which is an excellent start. But heart alone isn't enough. What you're missing is dominant, overbearing strength—a fighting style that forces your opponent onto the defensive from the very first move and doesn't give them a single opportunity to recover. That's what I'm going to teach you."
Ali took a step back, signalling Drogath to watch closely. He began demonstrating new techniques, dissecting the flaws in Drogath's movements from their earlier sparring session. Every misstep, every wasted motion, Ali corrected with precision, explaining how Drogath could turn his raw strength into a relentless force of combat.
"Pay attention to your footwork," Ali said, circling around Drogath. "Your punches are strong, but they're predictable. Use your strength to manipulate your opponent's position, force them into a corner where they can't counter. And remember—always use the Force to augment your attacks. Your body is powerful, but the Force is what will make you unstoppable."
After drilling the new techniques, the two acolytes sparred again, testing Drogath's progress. Though he still struggled to fully utilise the Force, Drogath's movements were more deliberate, his strikes more calculated. Ali pushed him to his limits, forcing him to channel the Force in ways that felt natural during combat.
Before returning to the academy, Ali put Drogath through another gruelling test. Standing behind the speeder, Drogath used the Force to push against the vehicle while Ali throttled the engine at full power. The massive acolyte roared with effort, the ground beneath his feet shifting as he strained against the speeder's might. Ali watched closely, nodding in approval as Drogath improved with each attempt.
By the time they returned to the academy, Drogath was utterly drained. Without a word, he trudged back to the acolyte quarters to rest. Ali, however, lingered in the hall, his attention drawn to a new poster nailed to the wall. He stepped closer, reading the mission description aloud:
"Mission: Retrieve a package from the planet Vorrath.
Reward: Ten hours to spend on either the library or the training hall."
Ali crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes in thought. 'I don't know this planet', he mused. 'But ten hours would be enough to cover most of the basics in Level One of the library.'
He glanced at the bottom of the poster, noting that the mission was scheduled to begin in three days. 'Would Malgrith even allow me to go?' he wondered.
As he walked toward the accommodations, Ali stopped to question a droid about Vorrath. The machine gave a precise but chilling description of the planet: a deadly wasteland plagued by perpetual Force storms, constant thunder, and roaming monsters. Communications from outer space were impossible due to the chaotic energy in the atmosphere, and survival was considered improbable for the unprepared.
Ali smirked faintly at the absurdity of the task. 'Sounds like the perfect vacation spot,' he thought sarcastically.
The night passed quietly. While Drogath rested, Ali immersed himself in meditation, continuing his efforts to strengthen his connection to the Force. He had yet to master interacting with it directly, but his progress was undeniable.
By morning, the two acolytes were back on their speeders, skimming across the dunes under the rising sun. Conversation was sparse, as Ali focused intently on sensing the Force while Drogath ate his breakfast on the go.
When they arrived at Malgrith's tent, Ali dismounted his speeder and approached the entrance. Just as he was about to announce their arrival, he paused, sensing something unusual. The Force moved deliberately around him and Drogath, as though it were being manipulated.
Inside the tent, Malgrith's eyes widened in surprise. 'He noticed', the Sith Lord thought, surprised by Ali's sensitivity to the Force.
"Come in," Malgrith called out, his voice carrying authority.
The two acolytes entered, bowing slightly as they awaited instructions.
"Take the sensors and clear your assigned areas," Malgrith ordered briskly, gesturing to the devices on the table. Ali and Drogath each picked one up and left the tent.
Once they were gone, Malgrith activated his comms device, his expression hardening. A hologram of a stunning Zygerrian woman appeared, her feline features refined and elegant. She held a steaming cup of tea, which she set down gracefully as she addressed him.
"Oh, Malgrith," she purred, her voice warm yet laced with subtle menace. "How lovely of you to call."
Malgrith was unfazed by her charm. He knew the darkness she was capable of. "I have an acolyte," he said, his tone carrying hidden meaning.
The Zygerrian raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you mean the Force Strength giant? I'm not interested." She lifted her cup again, sipping delicately.
"No," Malgrith replied. "The human. Ali."
"What's so special about him?" she asked, setting her cup down again. "As far as I know, he hasn't even used the Force yet."
"Exactly," Malgrith said with a hint of intrigue. "Just two days ago, he told me he detected the first sign of the Force. But this morning, he caught me manipulating it outside the tent. That level of improvement in such a short time is… extraordinary."
The Zygerrian's expression shifted to one of genuine interest. "That is special. I'll keep an eye on him. You know the council will reward you if your acolyte proves worthy of joining my ranks."
The call ended, leaving Malgrith deep in thought.
Meanwhile, Ali sped across the desert, the Force sensor attached to the front of his speeder. His sharp mind replayed the earlier moment at the tent. 'Did he catch me? That was careless. I shouldn't interact with the Force at all around someone of his level.'
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
The sensor's sudden alarm snapped him out of his thoughts. Ali brought the speeder to an immediate stop, his senses on high alert. Dismounting, he removed the sensor from its mount and held it in his hand, walking slowly across the sand as the device's beeping grew louder.
The sensor directed him to a specific spot where the beeping reached a continuous, shrill tone. Ali crouched and pressed the sensor against the ground, confirming his suspicion.
"This is it," he muttered, excitement tinged with caution. "The tomb is here."
Ali straightened, his gaze shifting toward the speeder. 'It's right below me,' he thought.
Before he could move, the ground beneath him gave way.
The sand collapsed in a sudden cascade, and Ali's footing disappeared. He scrambled to grab hold of something, but the surrounding dunes crumbled with him.
He shut his eyes as the red sand blinded him, his body tumbling downward until he struck something solid.
BANG
The impact sent a jolt of pain through his body. Ali lay still, his spine absorbing most of the shock. He opened his eyes slowly, giving his body time to heal itself.
Massive stone pillars surrounded him, their ancient carvings illuminated faintly by the dim light from the hole far above. Dust filled the air, and the hall stretched far into the shadows, lined with broken statues and scattered debris.
Ali's breath hitched as the oppressive weight of the Force pressed down on him. The sheer density of its energy made the air feel thick, suffocating.
His back finally realigned, and he stood cautiously, brushing sand off his clothes. Beneath his feet, bones were piled in a deliberate circle—a sight that sent a chill down his spine.
Ali scanned the massive underground chamber, his mind racing.
SHAKE.
The ground trembled, and the light above dimmed. Ali looked up just in time to see the hole sealing itself, cutting off his only escape.
"Fuck"
Please donate some of your power stones, it would help my ff massively.
Five chapters ahead of webnovel on patreon.com/Rondo312