Blaster bolts screamed through the arid air, scorching the stone as Harry dove behind the jagged outcrop. The impact sent shards of rock flying, grazing his face with stinging cuts. His heart pounded, but not with fear—with anticipation.
Adrenaline sharpened his senses. The faint whispers of the Force hummed beneath his skin, mingling with the lingering ache of exhaustion. He was outnumbered, outgunned, and half-dead from his battle with Inquisitor Valen.
Just the way I like it.
[BOUNTY ENCOUNTER: CRIMSON BLADE (ELITE) & MERCENARY CREW]
• Enemy Count: 3 (1 Elite, 2 Standard)
• Objectives:
• Primary: Survive the Ambush
• Optional: Defeat Crimson Blade and Claim Her Weapon
• Bonus Reward: +4,000 EXP | Unique Weapon Drop
Harry peeked from cover, spotting the two mercenaries flanking him from the high ground. The third—a crimson-armored assassin—stood confidently, her double-bladed vibrosword crackling with lethal energy.
The mercenaries fired again.
Harry reacted instinctively, thrusting his hand forward.
[Skill Activated: Force Push (Intermediate)]
A concussive blast rippled from his palm, slamming into the rocky ledge. The nearest mercenary screamed as the ground crumbled beneath him, sending him tumbling to his death in a cloud of dust and debris.
One down.
But there was no time to celebrate.
The second mercenary unleashed rapid blaster fire, forcing Harry to roll behind another rock. His side burned from his earlier injuries—he couldn't keep this up.
Then came the real threat.
Crimson Blade descended the rocky slope like a predator, her movements fluid and precise. She didn't waste energy with threats or banter. She was here to kill.
And she was good at it.
Her blade carved through the air, slicing cleanly through the boulder Harry used for cover. He barely rolled aside, the heat of the weapon grazing his back.
Too fast.
He needed an edge.
[SYSTEM ALERT: Low HP – 22/140]
• Suggestion: Use Rare Skill Shard (Dark Side) for emergency power boost.
• Warning: Potential alignment shift toward Dark Side.
Harry hesitated for half a heartbeat.
Then made his choice.
"Screw it."
He reached into his satchel, pulling out the Rare Skill Shard. The moment his fingers closed around it, dark energy surged through him—cold, suffocating, yet intoxicating. His vision blurred, tinged with crimson as the shard dissolved into his skin.
[RARE SKILL UNLOCKED: Force Rupture (Level 1)]
• Description: Manipulate the Force to destabilize matter at a molecular level, causing violent implosions.
• Side Effect: Temporary corruption of Force alignment (Dark Side influence increased).
Crimson Blade lunged, her blade a crimson blur.
Harry didn't dodge.
Instead, he reached out—not with his hands, but with the dark power coiling inside him.
[Skill Activated: Force Rupture]
The assassin froze mid-strike, her body convulsing as invisible tendrils of dark energy wrapped around her. Her vibrosword faltered, and with a sickening crack, her left gauntlet imploded, crushing her forearm with brutal efficiency.
She screamed—a sound sharp and raw with pain.
Harry advanced, eyes glowing faintly green mixed with sickly red streaks. This power… it feels good.
But he wasn't done.
With a flick of his wrist, he yanked her weapon from her grasp, sending it spinning through the air into his waiting hand. The blade hissed to life, vibrating with raw energy as he gripped it.
The last mercenary hesitated, blaster shaking in his hands.
Big mistake.
Harry surged forward with blinding speed, closing the distance before the man could react. He swung the double-bladed vibrosword in a deadly arc, severing the mercenary cleanly at the waist.
[BATTLE COMPLETE]
• EXP Gained: 4,000
• Level Up! (Lv. 5)
• Skill Progression: Force Rupture (Level 1 → Level 2)
• Loot Acquired: Crimson Blade's Double-Bladed Vibrosword (Unique Weapon)
Harry stood over the broken body of the assassin, her helmet cracked, revealing bloodied features twisted in agony. She wasn't dead—not yet.
Her eyes met his, defiant even in defeat.
"Do it," she rasped. "End it."
Harry hesitated.
Then deactivated the blade, clipping it to his belt.
"No." He knelt beside her, his voice low. "You're going to tell me everything—who sent you, why they want me, and what the hell is happening in this galaxy."
She spat blood, chuckling darkly. "You're already dead, you just don't know it yet."
Harry leaned closer, his eyes cold.
"Maybe. But until then, I'm the nightmare they should've feared."
Meanwhile… Aboard an Imperial Star Destroyer
Inquisitor Valen stared at the report flashing across her holoscreen—her bounty hunters, slaughtered. The anomaly, still alive. Worse than alive—growing stronger.
She clenched her fists, fury boiling beneath her composed exterior.
"Harrion Varyn," she whispered. "You're more than an anomaly. You're a threat."
Her crimson lightsaber hissed to life, reflecting the rage in her eyes.
"And threats must be eliminated."