BOOOM
The rocks beneath Ali's feet shattered violently, fragments flying in all directions under the immense pressure of the Force radiating from him. The thunderstorm above seemed to respond to the overwhelming surge of energy, intensifying the lightning strikes.
Every bolt slammed down with devastating power, each one sending shockwaves through his already broken body. His entire form was wracked with relentless, searing pain as the lightning cooked his organs, leaving his nerves ablaze.
KEEEEEEEEEEEEE
A deafening screech pierced through the chaos, heralding the arrival of the relentless insect-like creatures. Their elongated limbs, sharp as blades, glistened in the rain as they landed heavily on the peak.
Their movements were unnervingly precise, each step deliberate, as they positioned themselves to strike. Ali forced himself to focus, his battered mind calculating every second of survival. With his body teetering on the edge of collapse, he knew he had only one chance to act.
Despite his agony, Ali released his control over the Force, allowing it to dissipate.
He lowered his now charred and mangled arm-its once-strong muscles now burnt to the bone, blackened skin flaking off with every movement. The side of his face was equally scorched, raw flesh exposed where the skin had peeled away.
Even as he bore the weight of his injuries, his sharp eyes remained fixed on the insects.
KEEEEEEEEEE
With another bone-chilling screech, the two monsters lunged simultaneously from opposite sides, their needle-like legs slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Ali, unable to raise his arms to defend himself, stood his ground, his chest rising and falling in shallow, laboured breaths.
His Spirit Pond within had been drained down to a quarter of it's capacity, the once-dark waters vaporised into nothingness.
As the creatures closed in, Ali unleashed a final gambit. Striking red lightning erupted from the ground beneath his feet, spreading out in an instant across the rocky terrain. The power was so intense that the ancient, weathered stone-resilient enough to withstand the perpetual Force storms of Vorrath-crumbled into ash as the lightning raced across it.
The insects were caught mid-attack, unable to react in time. The red lightning coursed through their bodies, immobilising them where they were. Their pale white exoskeletons began to blacken, the intense heat searing through their flesh and frying their internal organs. Ali watched through his one good eye as the creatures spasmed violently, their movements growing weaker by the second.
Finally, the red lightning flickered and faded, leaving the peak in eerie silence.
Both insects collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, their charred remains tumbling down the slick, rain-soaked rocks into the abyss below, disappearing forever into the darkness.
Ali fell to his knees, utterly spent. His body, ravaged both inside and out, was on the brink of complete failure. His organs were barely functioning, and his nerves were frayed from the unrelenting torment of the lightning. Blood poured from his mouth, and his vision wavered, darkness creeping in at the edges.
'Force lightning...' Ali thought, his mind swimming in a haze of pain and exhaustion. 'I don't know how, but it just called to me. From the moment I set foot on this cursed planet... I felt it.'
Even as he struggled to remain conscious, he bit down hard on his tongue, forcing himself to stay awake. His body's natural healing cells worked frantically to repair his internal injuries.
KEEEEEEEEEEEE
The dreaded screech echoed once more, sharper and more furious than before.
Ali forced his head to turn, his eyes narrowing at the sight of four more insects appearing at the edge of the peak. Their movements were deliberate and menacing, their sharp limbs tapping against the rocks as they crept closer. Their demeanour radiated anger, a rare emotion in these cold, alien creatures. It was clear they had never encountered a threat like Ali before-and they didn't intend to retreat this time.
Ali, however, felt no fear. He was far beyond that. His broken body felt weightless under the relentless rain that poured down, soaking him to the bone. His wet hair clung to his face, the icy water providing some fleeting relief from his searing wounds. He welcomed the chill, letting it wash over him as he prepared to meet his fate, no matter what it would be.
BOOOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Suddenly, four massive blaster shots tore through the storm, streaking down from above with deadly precision. Each bolt struck one of the advancing insects, sending their lifeless bodies careening down into the abyss. Their agonised screeches echoed one last time before being swallowed by the void.
Ali turned his weary gaze skyward to see a spaceship descending through the storm clouds. The ship's enormous cannons were still glowing hot from the recent barrage, and its powerful engines roared as it hovered above the peak.
The side doors opened, and two soldiers extended their hands toward Ali, their expressions hidden by the typical white helmets of the Empire's troopers.
But Ali ignored the outstretched hands. He forced himself to stand, every muscle in his body screaming in protest. Grabbing the device he had fought so hard to retrieve, he stepped forward and leaped into the ship on his own.
"Was the device damaged?" a technician asked as he knelt to inspect it.
Ali glared down at the man, his face cold and unreadable. Without a word, he walked past him, finding a seat among the crew and collapsing into it with a heavy sigh. He stared out of the open door, watching the peaks of Vorrath fade into the storm as the ship ascended into the sky.
Inside the ship, Ali's consciousness wavered, and he found himself once again standing on the surface of his Spirit Pond. The foggy edges of the pond had expanded, revealing its new edges after he spent points into the Spirit attribute. He extended a hand, and the few remaining drops of dark, viscous water at the pond's bottom rose to meet him.
'It's denser,' he observed, studying the thick liquid intently. 'A higher concentration of energy... The improvement is remarkable. I can see now why Paradise works in increments of 0.1. Spending two full points... the difference is monumental.'
The ethereal vision faded as Ali opened his eyes to see the soldiers carefully securing the device in a reinforced case. He remained silent, his expression unreadable as the ship finally docked in the hangar of the larger starship.
The hangar was bustling with activity as Ali disembarked. A group of five soldiers and an imperial officer stood waiting for him, their postures formal and expectant.
"You are required to report to the command room," the officer said sternly.
"I'm tired," Ali replied dismissively. "I'll do it later. Now get out of my face."
The officer's expression didn't waver. "I'm afraid the commander and Sith Lord Sivara are waiting. This cannot wait."
Ali sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Lead the way. But I want ten servings of food waiting for me when this is done."
In the command room, two holograms flickered to life: one of Lord Sivara, her calm smile belying her immense power, and the other of the commander on Korriban. The ship's local commander sat silently in the room as the discussion began.
"Ali, it is very nice to see you back in one piece," Lord Sivara said, her voice smooth and unwavering as she offered him her usual disarming smile.
"Thank you," Ali replied simply, his tone steady despite the exhaustion weighing on him.
The commander of the starship leaned forward, his sharp eyes fixed on the acolyte. "Acolyte Ali, please recount everything that happened on Vorrath from the beginning. We need a full report of the situation."
"Our ship was attacked mid-flight by a massive insect alien. Its limbs were like spears—sharp enough to pierce the hull with ease. It crippled the ship, and we crash-landed into a nearby mountain. The impact killed everyone else onboard. I luckily survived with minor injuries..."
"After regaining consciousness, I made my way toward the research ship. The conditions were relentless—torrential rain, violent winds, constant lightning storms, and those damned monsters following me every step of the way."
The holographic image of Sivara tilted her head slightly, her interest clearly piqued. "You managed to survive all of that?"
"I wouldn't be standing here if i didn't," Ali answered bluntly.
"When I reached the research ship, I found the entire crew dead. It was clear they'd all died from the crash. The device, however, was intact, so I secured it. By sheer luck, I came across a flare gun—my only hope of signalling for rescue. But when I fired it…"
"The winds were too strong. The flare was blown off course. Instead of rescue, it attracted even more insects to my location. They swarmed me."
Sivara set down the cup she'd been holding, leaning forward slightly. "And yet, here you are. How did you manage to signal for rescue and survive an attack from those creatures?"
Ali met her gaze directly, his voice calm but deliberately evasive. "During my time on Vorrath, I noticed something… unusual. Every time I used the Force, thunder would strike near my position. I took a gamble and used the Force deliberately, drawing enough lightning to scare off the insects and signal the rescue team to my exact location. After that, the rescue ship arrived and neutralised the remaining threats."
Sivara studied him intently, her sharp mind no doubt noting the gaps in his explanation, but she chose not to press further. Instead, she smiled again. "Ingenious, Ali. Truly ingenious."
The commander on Korriban nodded in agreement, his expression one of genuine admiration. "Incredible. Absolutely incredible. You've demonstrated tremendous versatility, resourcefulness, and an unyielding commitment to completing your mission, no matter how dire the circumstances."
The holographic figure straightened, his tone now formal and authoritative. "For your extraordinary efforts, Lord Sivara and I have decided to double your reward for this mission."
Sivara nodded, her approval clear. "Yes. Such dedication and resilience deserve recognition."
Ali inclined his head slightly, keeping his expression neutral even as a flicker of satisfaction passed through him. "Thank you," he said simply, knowing full well the immense value of the doubled reward—twenty hours of access to the library.
The holograms flickered and disappeared, leaving the room bathed in silence. Ali exhaled slowly, his exhaustion finally catching up to him.
The commander of the starship, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, stepped forward from the corner of the room. His aged face was stern, but there was a glimmer of respect in his eyes.
"I've seen many acolytes venture into Vorrath," the old commander began, his voice steady and gravelly. "Most of them never returned. And certainly none of them managed to accomplish their mission."
The old man gave a slight nod, almost imperceptible, before turning and leaving the room, his footsteps echoing faintly in the vast chamber.
Please donate some of your power stones, it would help my ff massively.
Five chapters ahead of webnovel on patreon.com/Rondo312