Ali remained perfectly still, his body relaxed despite the encroaching danger. The crimson glow from the lightsabers reflected off his mask, giving him an eerie, almost otherworldly appearance. He lowered the hand holding the paper, his movements measured, deliberate.
"No," Ali said firmly, his tone calm but unwavering. "The armour as it is right now isn't worth all of that."
Vrixor's expression hardened, his patience wearing thin. "Acolyte, who do you think you're talking to?" His voice rumbled like distant thunder as pieces of metal flew off the walls behind him.
The laboratory trembled as the Sith Lord's power filled the room. The floating shards of metal hovered menacingly, their jagged edges poised to fly straight at Ali.
Meanwhile, the two droids behind him took a step closer, their mechanical limbs grinding softly, one hand holding lightsabers while the other raised blasters to point directly at the back of Ali's head.
Ali, however, didn't so much as flinch. His voice remained steady as he continued, "Only if you agree to modify and strengthen the armour before tomorrow will I take the deal."
Vrixor's dark chuckle turned into a menacing laugh, the kind that echoed with malice. "Boy," he said, stepping forward slightly, his yellow eyes gleaming with power, "I don't think you understand your situation right now."
The droids moved in closer. One tilted its lightsaber slightly, the blade's hum intensifying as it hovered mere inches from Ali's back. The other raised its blaster higher, the barrel aimed directly at the base of his skull.
Ali turned his masked face to meet Vrixor's gaze, unfazed by the imminent threat. His composure seemed to irritate the Sith Master further.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Sudden explosions of thunderous noise erupted behind Vrixor, shaking the very walls of the laboratory. The Sith Lord instinctively jumped back, his eyes snapping toward the source of the disturbance.
The massive tube containing the volatile lightning energy flared with an almost unnatural intensity. The blue electric currents surged violently against the thick protective glass, creating visible cracks along its surface. For a moment, the room was bathed in a blinding blue light as the wild lightning whipped furiously inside the containment unit.
Vrixor's wide eyes flickered between the unstable lightning and Ali, who remained eerily calm in the chaos. Slowly, as realisation dawned on him, Vrixor turned his gaze back to the masked figure.
"You're no acolyte…" Vrixor muttered, his voice low with both intrigue and suspicion.
Two more droids entered the laboratory, their footsteps heavy and deliberate. Each one ignited its own red lightsaber, the four mechanical guards now forming a deadly circle around Ali. Despite the overwhelming odds, Ali didn't react.
He remained completely still, his masked visage unreadable, as though the situation didn't warrant even the slightest concern.
Inside his mind, Ali weighed his options carefully. 'Killing a Sith Master in the academy would be a death sentence… but if I'm forced to defend myself…'
Breaking the silence, Vrixor's voice rang out sharply. "Let me see the paper."
Ali tilted his head slightly. "So, you agree to my offer?" His tone was calm, even.
"Only if what you're holding in your hand is legitimate," Vrixor replied, narrowing his eyes.
Ali looked down at the paper, his gloved fingers curling slightly around it before tearing it cleanly in half without damaging the writing.
He flicked one half into the air, and Vrixor caught it instantly with the Force. The Sith Master's gaze dropped to the fragment as he scrutinised it carefully. His lips twisted into a devilish grin as he began to mutter under his breath, his voice almost reverent.
"Malgrith, you bastard… keeping such treasure to yourself…"
Ali's voice broke through Vrixor's musings. "Well?"
Vrixor looked up, his grin widening. "You've got yourself a deal, human," he said, his tone dripping with amusement. "This is more than enough, as long as the modifications you're asking for are reasonable."
Ali's stance relaxed slightly. "They shouldn't be much trouble for a master of Mechu-deru," he said, his words carrying the faintest hint of sarcasm.
Hours later, in the quiet of the acolyte quarters, Ali sat cross-legged on his bunk, the red glow of his mask faintly illuminating the wall.
Across the room, Drogath lay sprawled on his bed, his massive frame taking up the entirety of the lower bunk. His eyes remained open, staring up at the wooden slats above him.
"Drogath," Ali's voice cut through the silence, "have you ever killed anyone that begged for mercy before?"
The giant alien shifted slightly before answering, his deep voice steady. "No, the other contestants that I killed I don't remember because I was angry."
"I see," Ali replied, leaning back against the wall. "Make sure you remember this well. Tomorrow, there is no third option. It's either kill or be killed. He will show you no mercy—so show him none, no matter how much he begs."
Drogath closed his eyes, his breathing slowing as he mulled over Ali's words. "I understand," he finally said, his voice filled with conviction. In his mind, he thought of his family back home.
'I miss them dearly.'
The heavy silence that followed was broken by a sharp knock at the door. Drogath immediately rose to his feet, his heavy footsteps reverberating slightly as he walked toward the door.
He paused, his hand hovering over the panel. "Who's there?" he called out, his voice a low rumble.
"You have a delivery," came the robotic reply from the other side of the door.
Ali glanced over from his bunk. "Open it," he said calmly.
Drogath pressed the panel, and the door slid open with a soft hiss. Outside stood a towering droid, carrying a large wooden crate in its mechanical arms. Without a word, the droid stepped forward and handed the box to Drogath, who took it effortlessly and placed it in the centre of the room.
Drogath looked up at Ali, who nodded, gesturing for him to open it. With little effort, Drogath gripped the solid wooden top of the crate and peeled it off as though it were paper. Inside, a full suit of jet-black armour gleamed faintly in the dim light, its intricate design tailored to match Drogath's massive frame.
Excitement flashed in Drogath's yellow eyes as he lifted the armour, holding it up to inspect it. The craftsmanship was impeccable, each piece carefully constructed to fit perfectly over his bulky physique.
"What are you waiting for?" Ali said, a slight edge of amusement in his tone. "Suit up."
Without hesitation, Drogath began fitting the pieces of armour onto his body, his movements surprisingly quick for someone of his size. Ali watched from his bunk, occasionally offering instructions as Drogath adjusted the various straps and plates.
After several minutes, Drogath finally stood fully armoured. The suit added even more to his already imposing height, its thick, solid plates making him look almost invincible. He moved experimentally, finding the armour surprisingly flexible despite its weight.
"Use your Force armour," Ali said, leaning forward slightly.
Drogath focused, channeling his dense Force energy through his body. Lines along the black metal began to glow a vibrant purple, the light traveling from his feet to his head in an intricate pattern. Drogath turned to the mirror, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight.
"Ali, where did you get this armour?" Drogath asked, his voice filled with awe. "It's… reacting to my Force."
"I struck a deal with a Sith Master for it," Ali replied. "I had him modify the armour so it would light up when your dense Force armour covers it, not only that, if there is a gap in your Force armour the lining will zap you where the gap is."
Drogath looked down at the glowing lines, his amazement evident even through his stoic demeanour. "Thank you," he said simply, his voice carrying a rare sincerity.
"You don't have to thank me," Ali said, leaning back once more. "Just make sure you win tomorrow."
Drogath nodded, flexing his fists as he continued testing the armour. Ali closed his eyes, settling into a meditative stance, while the sound of the giant experimenting with his new armour filled the room.
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