"Is that it? Pathetic…"
Drogath heard Ali's sharp voice cut through the swirling sands as he struggled to rise. The words stung, and he clenched his teeth as he pushed himself to his knees.
"How can you hope to achieve anything in your life being this weak?"
Drogath turned his head, squinting through the blinding storm of red sand, trying to locate Ali. His breathing was ragged, his muscles aching, but he forced himself to keep moving, his sharp horn slicing through the haze.
"How can you protect your family when you're so… WEAK?"
The last word hit Drogath like a thunderclap. His eyes widened, and something primal inside him snapped. A surge of emotion—anger, pain, and desperation—exploded from within him. His vision blurred as his eyes flashed crimson, and his breathing grew erratic and shallow.
Drogath stared at his trembling hands, the words echoing in his mind, louder than the winds of the storm around him. His body trembled uncontrollably, and then, with a roar that seemed to shake the very desert, he spread his arms wide and unleashed an animalistic scream:
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The Force erupted from Drogath in an unrefined, chaotic burst, sending shockwaves rippling across the ground. The raw power emanating from him cracked the sand beneath his feet and sent a fierce wind outward, momentarily clearing the swirling sands. It was raw, untamed fury born of rage.
Drogath's heavy breathing echoed through the clearing as he brought his massive hands together and clapped.
BOOOOOOOOOM
A massive Force wave expanded outward, tearing through the storm and scattering the sand. Ali, standing in the distance, slid back several paces, his arms raised to shield himself. Even with his hands coated in the Force, the shockwave pushed him further back, his feet dragging through the sand.
Ali lowered his arms, his sharp black eyes locking on Drogath, who stood at the centre of the cleared area. The giant's red, flashing eyes and heaving chest gave him the appearance of a rampaging beast.
Drogath tilted his head, his sharp horn pointing directly at Ali. The Force surrounded him, coiling around his upper body like an ethereal armour. To Ali, it appeared as if Drogath's body was covered in a translucent shell of energy, each movement vibrating with power and murderous intent.
'He's completely lost control, as expected,' Ali thought, his expression calm but focused. 'Still, it's drawn out even more of his talent with Force Strength.'
Every step Drogath took toward him caused the ground to quake, the vibrations growing stronger as the towering alien picked up speed. Ali could feel the shockwaves through his feet as he watched the monstrous charge come closer.
Ali glanced down at his own hand. Using his Force connection, he visualised the energy around him and willed it to surround his right hand, imitating the technique Drogath was unconsciously using. He coated his fist with Force Strength, watching as the energy wrapped around it tightly.
Ali raised his head, focusing on the massive rhino-like alien barreling toward him. Beneath his clothes, black veins began to writhe and spread, crawling up his legs and torso. These veins activated his muscles, pushing them to the brink of self-destruction in exchange for a surge of power.
Lowering his stance, Ali waited, his body coiled like a spring. He watched Drogath's every move, calculating the perfect moment to strike.
'Time for you to go to sleep,' Ali thought, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
As Drogath closed the distance, Ali used the last reserves of his Spirit to target Drogath's right foot with the Force, pulling it sharply in the opposite direction. The unexpected motion caused Drogath to stumble forward, his massive frame lurching out of control.
Ali ducked under Drogath's sharp horn, stepping into his blind spot. With a devastating right fist cloaked in Force Strength, Ali delivered a thunderous punch to Drogath's side.
BOOM.
The impact sent a shockwave exploding out of Drogath's back, lifting the giant into the air. He crashed into the sand several feet away, sliding across the ground before coming to a stop in a heap.
Drogath felt a stinging slap on his cheek. His heavy eyelids fluttered open, and his blurred vision slowly adjusted to see Ali standing above him, smirking.
"We really gotta do something about you sleeping every time we spar," Ali teased, his mocking tone carrying a faint hint of amusement.
Drogath groaned as he sat up, clutching the side of his aching head. "Again?" he muttered, his voice groggy.
"Yes," Ali replied simply, offering his hand to help Drogath up. The larger acolyte accepted the gesture, allowing Ali to guide him to his speeder, where he collapsed into the seat.
As Drogath leaned back, his body sore and battered, Ali sat beside him. "Sorry about what I said earlier during the fight," Ali said, his tone unusually serious. "It was a cheap shot, but I had to do it. It was the only way to draw out more of your power."
Drogath looked down at his massive hands, flexing his fingers slowly. "I didn't like it," he admitted. "When my family is mentioned, I… I lose it. I can't control myself."
Ali nodded, placing a hand on Drogath's shoulder. "You have to control yourself regardless," he said firmly. "Falling into madness can be useful—when it's needed. But it has to be on your terms. You can't let it control you. A mad fighter in battle is a dead fighter."
Drogath nodded reluctantly, his breathing steadying as he absorbed Ali's words. "My entire body is killing me," he groaned, shifting uncomfortably on the speeder.
"I'll hook the speeders together so you won't have to drive," Ali said, moving to secure Drogath's speeder to his own. "Just lie down and rest."
As Ali's speeder towed Drogath's across the desert, the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the crimson sands. The silence between them was broken when Ali glanced back and asked, "Why did you lose that fight, Drogath?"
"Speed and technique?" Drogath guessed, his voice weak.
"That's part of it," Ali replied. "But the real reason you lost was telekinesis. You couldn't do anything against it except resist it head-on."
Drogath frowned. "What can I even do against something like that? And how did you suddenly start using it?"
Ali's expression darkened slightly. "I don't fully understand it myself. When I woke up in the tomb, I could just… access the Force. I don't know how or why. It just happened."
He paused, then added, "As for resisting telekinesis… Drogath, can you raise your finger for me?"
Drogath lifted his index finger, waiting. Ali turned and used the Force to move the finger, bending it effortlessly against Drogath's will.
"Now," Ali instructed, "cover your finger with Force Strength."
Drogath focused, coating his finger in a thin layer of energy. This time, when Ali used telekinesis, the finger offered some resistance but still moved.
"More," Ali commanded.
Drogath added another layer of Force Strength, thickening the energy around his finger. Ali tried again to move it, but this time the finger remained rigid.
"I can stop it!" Drogath exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
"Exactly," Ali said with a nod. "But here's the problem: you have to cover your entire body with Force Strength while still using it offensively in your attacks. It's difficult, but with training, you'll be able to do it. Of course," he added, "if you're up against someone like Malvok, that armour won't offer much resistance until you've strengthened it significantly."
Drogath's enthusiasm for power momentarily distracted him from the pain wracking his body.
Under the fading light of sunset, the two acolytes crossed the vast desert, their speeders leaving long trails in the sand as they returned to the academy, determined to grow stronger.
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