Duel Dark Rendezvous

[Romi Jade]

Darth Carnifex​

In the vast reaches of the galaxy, where the tendrils of darkness and the whispers of the Sith loomed ever-present, she'd taken on a perilous mission that would test her mettle and push the boundaries of her unwavering resolve. Charged with the task of gathering crucial intelligence on the Sith threat that ravaged the The Great Jedi library and the Ossus Praxeum, Romi and her 91st forces ventured into the depths of the unknown -- the first time she and her Sentinels had been united in nearly a decade.

Though, as their sleek starships sliced through the fabric of space, their pursuit became apparent, relentless as a shadow cast upon their backs. Ambushed by a cunning Sith squadron, the tasks forces efforts to escape proved futile, and a frantic chase through various systems ensued. Desperate evasive maneuvers led them to the forlorn planet of

Jabiim, a world perpetually drenched in a ceaseless deluge of rain, transforming its surface into an ever-shifting mire of mud and uncertainty.

Torrential downpours battered the landscape, cascading from the leaden skies to the perpetually sodden ground. The droplets melded into a ceaseless drizzle, obscuring vision and rendering long-range orbital scans impotent against the planet's electrically-charged atmospheric disturbances. In this bleak and treacherous expanse, visibility became a fleeting luxury, as if the very elements conspired against the Jedi's cause.

A cacophony of muddy squelches accompanied the crash of their transports behind enemy lines, their metal shells consumed by the unforgiving quagmire. The task force found themselves encircled by the enemy, her loyal troopers falling in the face of overwhelming opposition.

Uhheh

She sprinted through the pain, widening her stride as she zipped through every roundabout in the wreckage. Her face was discolored with soot and her hair wild, with small cuts and bruises along her arms. She and the four remaining Jedi retreated to a sanctuary of broken and battered ships, strewn haphazardly across the sodden terrain. Mired in the mud, these skeletal husks of metal mirrored the weariness etched upon the Jedi's faces. Each step through the quagmire was an arduous battle against the insidious pull of the planet's viscous embrace.

She stood at the center at the center of formation inside their makeshift cover, peering as far as her vision would take her through the downpour outside...like she knew something ominous was nearly upon them. The other gathered themselves in their granted reprieve. Desperation and despair clawed at their hearts -- she could feel it. The weight of loss heavy upon them, but Romi, like a beacon amidst the storm, refused to yield.

Jabiim's fickle climate taunted them, subjecting them to violent storms and unrelenting downpours. The rain, merciless and unyielding, broke only for fleeting moments, gifting them respite that lasted less than an hour before the heavens opened once more. In this relentless cycle of nature's wrath, the very moisture that hung heavy in the air transformed into a lethal concoction of electrical charges and acidic droplets, unleashing torrents of deadly acid rain upon the land.

In the next second she allowed herself to breathe. She ripped her shredded bomber jacket from her person and knelt to tether her emergency beacon to it. The ranging storm and electrically charged atmosphere would make it difficult to get a signal out, and would solely depend on when the next respite would be -- let's just hope it would be heard in time, if at all.

"We're routed, we can't fight them all."

She tied the sleeves and the hammacked beacon to a fell balustrade, yanking it tight and covering it with other shredded durasteel plating. "Doesn't matter. We've gotta try." She grunted in a show of physical strength, maneuvering the debris.

The Jedi found themselves hunted by the relentless forces of the dark side. Fear mingled with resolve within their hearts, for they knew the stakes were dire, and the battle they would face next would test their strength, both physical and emotional, to the very core. They were but a flickering light against the encroaching darkness, yet their spirits burned bright with the unwavering belief in the power of the Force.

It was all they had left at this point.

And so, amid the tempestuous turmoil of Jabiim, where mud and rain conspired to claim their spirits and the Sith's vengeful presence loomed over them, Romi Jade and her four comrades stood as a bastion of hope, ready to face their impending destiny, whatever it may be.

The lingering echoes of spaced out fighting from outside had ceased. Blaster rounds fell silent, and the world around them grew loud.

------

 

[Darth Carnifex]

They'd descended without warning.

Like a pack of ravenous icewolves, squadrons of sleek black starfighters shot forth from the void. Ion engines burned bright purple, cannons belched bright emerald beams that struck quick and without restraint. Dozens died in the span of a breath, cut down without warning, unable to defend themselves before it was far too late. Confusion and panic ruled, and the black ships banked around again and again, strafing the beleaguered ships with withering volleys of concentrated blaster fire.

Larger ships loomed within the endless gulf, massive galleons that cut emerged from the yawning abyss like ancient leviathans. No transmissions were given, the black fleet simply began to open fire in concentrated bursts at the closest vessels. Those that found themselves unfortunate enough to be in proximity to this ghastly armada were blown apart by a hail of turbolaser fire, while fleeing vessels found themselves tethered by tractor beams and harpoons launched from the prow of these gargantuan destroyers; reeled within range of their cannons and gunned down in cold blood.

Even when the rest of the 91st escaped the initial killing field, their respite did not last. They were pursued, hounded, through system after system. Their pursuers seemed to follow them through each jump, always hot on their heels and consigning more ships to the endless void. The chase finally came to it's end above Jabiim, as the implacable warships of the Dark Side drove the 91st to ground, many of their ships plummeting down to crash amidst the graveyards of older conflicts.

But rather than bombarding the 91st where they lay entrenched, the black ships instead disgorged troop carriers en masse. These geometric cutters descended down amidst the mud and rain-slick stone, ramps swinging down to reveal endless legions of soldiers garbed in armor stained blood red. They marched towards the downed 91st, maneuvering in synchronized waves as they methodically surrounded the entrapped 91st and cut off any group that found itself separated from the center. They wasted no time and shot them to a man where they stood, taking no prisoners and accepting no offers of surrender.

They'd surrounded the downed ships, pouring endless blasterfire into the wreckage from all around. Fuel cells ruptured, bathing all the wreckage in glittering golden flame. The endless rain tempered much of the blaze, but the illumination could be seen for miles around. Beyond it was the darkness and the soldiers therein, their armor only distinguishable from the sodden mud by the flashes of lightning above and the red-hot glow of their blaster muzzles as they fired.

The barrage lasted for several minutes, almost appearing as though it would never cease.

Then, without warning.

It did.

And the silence stretched.

The assembled legions stood amidst the raging tempest, stoic in their resolve against the elements. They did not move, would not move, for they had been commanded to stand vigil. The Jedi could see them amidst the lightning flashes, a wall of soldiers surrounding them from all sides. But as they watched, the tide parted as a figure emerged to stand at their head. They were hooded in a pristine white cloak, which encapsulated their entire body, gradually bleeding to black near the bottom. The figure appeared great and mighty, towering over the red-plated soldiers by several feet.

Without a word, the figure walked towards the Jedi, neither speaking nor revealing their identity. But the Dark Side roiled around them, seeming to actually emanate from them. It was like staring in an exposed reactor core, but instead of unbearable heat there was only a freezing cold unlike anything they'd ever known.

A cold like unto death, the frigid void between the stars.

Oblivion.

Romi Jade ​

 

[Romi Jade]

Darth Carnifex​

In the heart of the treacherous Jabiim, where the relentless rain perpetually pummeled the land and the very air crackled with electric fury, the small band of survivors sought refuge amidst the wreckage of shattered assault ships old and new. The battered vessels, now lay discarded like forgotten relics in the unforgiving mud.

"They've stopped?" one of the others whispered.

Their formation expanded, each launching themselves for different vantage points.

She descended the wrecked pile, and closed in on the holes in the ships hull. She inhaled but held it tight, feeling the solidness of her breath build in her chest. She leaned in, and her vision went as far as it could take her through the elements -- there were silhouettes.

Still. Unmoved. The fighting had ceased. They were in the eye of the storm.

Within this chaotic tableau of twisted metal and broken dreams, the Jedi found themselves poised on the precipice of a dire confrontation. Across the murky expanse, a large and menacing presence emerged from the fog of war, an almost spectral figure draped in malevolence. Each step he took towards them was laden with purpose, his presence eclipsing the gloom that enveloped the battlefield.

Jabiim, an eternal dance between rain and mud, seemed to amplify the intensity of the moment. The constant drizzle dripped from the figures ominous cloak, the droplets cascading like silver tears before merging with the sodden ground. The planet's unstable terrain shifted beneath their feet, mirroring the precariousness of their situation, threatening to betray their hiding place to their relentless pursuer.

Emotions ran rampant through the Jedi's veins, blending like an intricate tapestry of trepidation, determination, and the faintest glimmers of hope. Romi Jade, resolute as ever, drew strength from the Force, her connection to the cosmic energy becoming a beacon amidst the encroaching darkness. Each breath she took, laden with the scent of rain and damp earth, seemed to infuse her spirit with an unyielding resolve.

"Be steady." she whipped around. She lurched back from the hull.

Around her, her comrades mirrored her emotions, though each carried their own unique burdens. The weight of loss and despair, intertwined with their duty to protect the galaxy, pressed upon their hearts. Fear, too, gnawed at the edges of their consciousness, its icy tendrils threatening to consume their spirits. Yet, in the face of such adversity, they found solace in the unbreakable bonds forged through countless battles fought side by side.

As the Sith Lord advanced, the atmosphere crackled with an otherworldly energy, a volatile symphony of raw power. Dark clouds roiled overhead, their turbulent masses mirroring the tempestuous emotions that gripped both the Jedi and their adversary. Thunder rumbled in the distance, a resonating echo of the imminent clash between light and darkness.

There was hardly any light peaking in, perhaps it was day? It was muggy and grey. One's eyesight would benefit from the bombastic lightning strikes, with the flashes of light no longer causing the eyes to strain.

Within the confines of the wreckage, their sanctuary both a refuge and a prison, the Jedi prepared for the battle that would define their fate. Their lightsabers, weapons honed to perfection through years of training and dedication, blazed to life in dazzling hues, casting vibrant reflections upon the rain-soaked metal.

Standing at the forefront, she felt the weight of the galaxy upon her shoulders. The burden of leadership merged with a deep-rooted determination, solidifying her resolve to stand firm against the encroaching shadow. She knew the clash with the Sith Lord would test her mettle in ways she likely never imagined, but her connection to the Force whispered promises of strength and guidance...and the thought of getting back to her daughter...

As the distance between them narrowed, anticipation mingled with trepidation, each footfall of their hunter pounding like a thunderous drumbeat. The Jedi braced themselves, their hearts beating in synchrony, their spirits intertwined with the unyielding fabric of destiny. In this surreal tableau of rain, mud, and charged atmosphere, the stage was set for an epic confrontation—a battle that would reverberate through the ages, etching its mark upon the annals of history.

And it was so, in the heart of Jabiim's relentless storm.

------

 

[Darth Carnifex]

He stopped, jagged metal from one of the downed ships hung just above Him, protecting Him from the deluge as it continually intensified. The storm had fully engulfed the land around them, but instead of pushing on it lingered as though held in place by some incredible force. Rain came down in thick sheets, practically blinding anyone who was unfortunate enough to be caught within its tempest. The Jedi would be compelled to seek shelter within the crashed vessels, protected from the storm but inadvertently penning themselves in.

They were just ahead, He could sense them. They'd huddled together for safety in numbers, trusting the strength of their union to stand firm against the darkness. In this, the Jedi were misguided, for none could hope to stand against the power that He manifested; regardless if they numbered ten or a hundred. They would understand this soon enough, the dark figure continuing on into the darkened interior.

In unison, the blades of the Jedi ignited, illuminating the wreckage in a tapestry of vibrant colors. All were composed, resolute in their defiance, but they did not yet move towards the hooded figure. It was part of the Jedi's creed that dictated that they use their powers for knowledge and defense, never for attack. Even now, with their enemy standing before them, they were committed to this ancient decree. He look at them all, face obscured beneath the hood pulled up around it, and smiled to Himself.

There was a brief flash of bright red light, momentarily causing all the Jedi to squint in agitation. But when their vision stabilized, the dark figure had yet to move, though now the hilt of a lightsaber was clutched in His right hand. It was unlit, though the emitter sizzled softly as faint trails of smoke danced into the air above. One of the Jedi, the nearest to the Sith, took a step forward. Their mouthed something, but no voice was given to their words before they suddenly collapsed; their body split completely in two diagonally from chest to hip. Their lightsaber tumbled from their weakened fingers, clattering across the ground before rolling to a stop near the Sith's foot.

Looking down briefly, the dark figure raised up His foot ever so slightly and pressed it against the lightsaber. Cracks appeared along the metal, electricity crackling out from the fissures, until at last it shattered into pieces as the Sith's foot firmly crushed it into the ground.

The Jedi were already moving now, no longer restrained by their code, and now burning with righteousness. His lightsaber snapped to life in response, rising to meet them as the two nearest reached Him before the others. There was a brief skirmish, blade slipping against blade, before the Sith cut down another Jedi with unbelievably quick and precise cuts to their limbs and torso. The other struggled a few seconds longer, but they found their limbs weighed down by an immense force, unable to raise their own weapon as the Sith plunged His own through her heart.

He moved with a quickness near instantaneous, a swiftness that seemed unnatural to His large and muscular form. Through careful movements, He broke their center line, separated them, divided them. When they were cut off from the rest of their companions, the Sith Lord wasted little time in cutting them down. Limbs were hewn, heads rolled from smoldering stumps, and bodies large and small fell to the rain-slick floor. There seemed to be no stopping the Sith, His actions so automatic it was like He had choreographed the entire sequence, spinning in and out of danger like a dancer upon the stage. It only ended when all of the Jedi, save one, had fallen before His blade.

Now only Romi Jade, Jedi Master, remained to face Him.

And it was then that the Sith spoke at last, His rumbling velvety voice echoing out from deep within His hooded visage. "Ah, once again only us remain, dearest Romi Jade." A hand reached up and drew back the hood, unveiling the face of Darth Carnifex, Dark Lord of the Sith. For near on two decades there had been nary a mention nor sighting of the former Emperor, the heated action on Aing-Tee and in the Wellspring of the Force as reported by Valery Noble and Kahlil Noble being His last reported sighting. His actions continued to exact consequences even after His disappearance, of course, but no Jedi could report seeing Him since that fateful day.

Until now.

"How long has it been? It feels like a life age."

Romi Jade ​

 

[Romi Jade]

Darth Carnifex​

Her stomach twisted in every which way standing in the presence of malevolence.

She had felt this darkness before.

Her head lurched back, her shoulder came forth almost as if she were to raise her arm to shield her face -- there was a bright flash; it was blindingly quick. Then, the world around them fell silent and still. The survivors were quickly reminded of the caliber of their pursuer. Now, up in arms for their fallen comrade, they pounced upon the Sith in righteous fury, if only to shield their fear.

She was a few steps behind, "Wait!" she clawed out, gripping for a space that was already empty. She could only bear witness to the onslaught that followed, digging her heels into the mud to slow her stride; there was horror in her face.

In the murky depths of Jabiim's relentless storm, where the rain poured ceaselessly and the very air crackled with volatile energy, Romi found herself standing alone against the encroaching darkness. The fallen bodies of her comrades lay scattered around her, silent witnesses to the merciless might of the Dark Lord of the Sith.

As the Sith's malevolent gaze fell upon her, Romi could feel the weight of his presence pressing down, an oppressive force that had every intention of shattering her spirit. The tension in the air crackled like the electrified storm clouds above, each breath she took heavy with anticipation and trepidation. The rain cascaded down, mingling with the soil to form a treacherous morass that mirrored the perils she faced, each step through the muddy quagmire an arduous battle against the elements.

The Sith Lord, a being of palpable darkness, radiated an aura of unrestrained power. His robes billowed like midnight shadows, a stark contrast against the somber backdrop of Jabiim's ceaseless downpour.

Her face scrunched up at hearing her name -- who was this?

Though she felt like she knew, deep in the pits of her stomach.

Then, the reveal..."Carnifex..." she murmured with a nasty taste in her mouth. "I'm sure you'd know, you've lived so many lives already."

The clash between Romi's unwavering resolve and the Sith Lord's insidious might seemed inevitable, as if the very fabric of destiny had conspired to pit them against each other.

Snap-Hiss!

Even now, as a storm loomed before her, Romi steeled herself, drawing upon the reservoirs of courage within. With a flicker of scarlet brilliance, her lightsaber ignited, casting a defiant glow upon her face. The soft hiss of energy met the Sith Lord's malevolent hum, their presences mirrored reflections of their opposing ideals. She shined as her own beacon of light, her aura reaching forth to clash with his own violently reverberating darkness.

She took a deep breath, and opened herself to ebb and flow of the force. She drew it close, as if she'd engulfed herself in a blanket's embrace. In her mind's eye, she would smooth out the whisping edges of this metaphysical energy, leaving the current of power to fall around her in a rippling wave.

The sheer swell of power rising between the two, like a torrent that seemed to surge from the depths of the cosmos; it surged ever stronger. The weight of his malevolence pressed upon Romi, threatening to break her resolve. Yet, within the crucible of battle, her connection to the Force grew stronger, an unwavering source of strength that buoyed her against the maelstrom.

Emotion surged through Romi's veins, a tempest of defiance. She refused to surrender to the despair that threatened to consume her, her very being infused with the legacy of the Jedi. Her determination intensified, a testament to her indomitable spirit, a flicker of hope that refused to be extinguished.

"I won't go down without a fight Carnifex..." she cursed.


------

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"You flatter me, darling." The Dark Lord's roguish smile widened as the Jedi Master drew and ignited her weapon, bathing both of them in a red-orange glow.

His own weapon magnified the sheen upon their bodies, but also crackled with the latent fury of the Dark Side. There was a marked difference in the Dark Side since their last encounter. Back then, the Dark Lord seemed wholly disinterested with their confrontation, apathetic to the wider galaxy around them. This time, He seemed to revel in the possibility of a fight, engorged upon the rushing blood that thundered in His ears, the perspiration on His brow from the heat of their drawn weapons, and the rush of adrenaline that set alight His every atom.

She would be the first Jedi to lay eyes upon Him in so many years, to witness the culmination of His grand apotheosis. The Dark Lord did not even recognize the others around them as being autonomous beings, merely inconsequential mass that was so easily cast aside. Even now, their fallen bodies were being pushed away from the two of them through the sheer magnitude of their power; flung away like refuse until they were thrust upon against the metal walls and recesses of the downed cruiser.

"I have no doubt that this exercise will be particularly thrilling, Master Jade." The Dark Lord angled His blade towards the Jedi Master, widening His stance while keeping His eyes squarely trained on His opponent. Brief droplets of rain would sometimes snake through the labyrinth of wire and metal above them, sometimes splattering down on the metal floor but also sizzling against their lit sabers. Silence passed between them then, only the dripping of rain and the muffled rumbling of the storm outside filling the empty seconds as they ticked away.

Then, the Dark Lord moved, swiftly closing the distance between Himself and the Jedi Master in the span of a heartbeat. He swung high at first, but mid-swing completely shifted direction and momentum to instead strike low. An accomplished swordsman, the Dark Lord was a ferocious combatant and did not hesitate to weave the Dark Side of the Force into His every action. He was not merely a wielder of the Dark Side, He was a conduit through which it eagerly passed, Himself simultaneously an extension of the Dark Side and yet far more than just that.

He was it's avatar.

And He brought all of that terrible strength to bear against Romi Jade.

Romi Jade ​

 

[Romi Jade]

Darth Carnifex
​

The two stood and stared for a long while, neither blinking, the test of wills before the inevitable battle. It had seemed like a long while.

Romi had been musing silently to herself as she took his measure. Unlike him, she wasn't technically in full, good health. She'd just survived a ship wreck, and had been running from his onslaught since, the scenario had already been sapping at her strength. But she knew things could have been worse: a handful of Jedi were present at the beginning, only she had survived. Her strength in the Force has, and would sustain her, and in combat she'd let it race through her, but she'd have to play this smart...

She could already sense that she had an exhausting battle ahead of her, so she willed endorphins to flush away the soreness and stress that her body pent-up.

She sank into a balanced two-handed guard; She held the saber close, vertically with both palms, on the right side of her body. Her blonde hair shone with a reflected highlight and her blue eyes blazed with another sort of light, one that matched the feral snarl on her face. Silently her sight shifts, she threw her senses as far as they could go in a short burst, her sphere scene perception casting outward and taking in every inch of the collision that made up just a few feet of the space around them.

A second passes...

Then another...

In the span of a single second, quicker than a heartbeat, the Dark Lord was upon her like an assault cannon. Vzzzm she opened up, her saber swishing across her frame as she pivoted out with every intention of parrying his blow -- she wouldn't meet him as a stoic bulwark of defense, she instead gently gave on her forearm and wrist muscle. But this was a feint, and realistically she wouldn't have the half a second it would take to readjust her arm again to fully block his blow.

This was fine, as instead she propelled herself up, her knees tucked into her stomach in a leap over his saber swing. Then, the rumbling began. Mid-air she threw her free hand up and sought the makeshift ceiling above them. She brought down the area above their section with a massive exertion in the Force that made her breathless as she tore it from its place. Debris of sizes fell and even in the damp conditions, clouds filled the air followed by a downpour of large troves of gathered rain water.

Jade had worked herself through a backflip in acrobatic display, landing a few feet from the cave in, in a crouched position. Saber drawn. She waited, and listened in the Force.

There was a chunk-chunk sound of the last falling objects. She didn't expect that weight of debris from a wreck to cause impact injury, but to engulf and immobilize him. He most definitely wouldn't be dead—yet.

------

 

[Darth Carnifex]

She parried, as was anticipated. She knew as well as He that there was little hope for her to match Him strength to strength, they'd been through this many times before. Those who made that mistake did not make it a second time, if they were fortunate enough to survive it. His blade pivoted away from it's intended target, the momentum redirected away, though the Dark Lord fought against the momentum the whole way. Reversing direction mid-swing was exceptionally difficult, but the Dark Lord achieved it and swung again for Jade before she could maneuver her blade back to defend.

However, the Jedi Master leapt up over the swing, tucking her legs in as she spiraled overhead. Darth Carnifex began to swing His blade up to catch her, but the Jedi Master reached out with the Force to seize the loose metal plating and broken structural beams above them. When one gave, so too did the rest in a calamitous cascade. Pieces of metal fell all around Him, while the Jedi Master safely landed a safe distance from the collapse.

As the last piece fell into place, a deathly silence clung to the air. Only the burbling of water running down from the broken ceiling cut through it. One might expect the Dark Lord to burst forth from the wreckage, saber blazing. Perhaps He would lift the debris up and away, showcasing His power in the Force as He had done many times before. But instead, the silence continued to drag on and on, becoming practically unbearable.

"Very clever," rang out a voice from the darkness. It seemed to come from everywhere at once, droning through her ears and reverberating through her very bones. "You haven't lost a lick of skill since we last met, Master Jade. I am quite impressed." A bright flash of crimson burst forth from behind Romi, but it came not from the ground, rather, it came from above. On the section of the ceiling that remained intact was the Dark Lord of the Sith, suspended upside down with both of His feet firmly planted against the ceiling itself. He walked forward, as though gravity did not apply to Him, with His ignited lightsaber held aloft in His right hand.

Suddenly, the gravity around Romi Jade seemed to reverse as well, as up gradually shifted to down and vice-versa. She would be drawn towards the ceiling, as though she were falling, a most perplexing and potentially nauseating sensation as all orientation was flipped right on it's head. Even so, she would find that once she had acclimated to the sudden shift, moving would be just as easy as it had been when she'd been standing on the actual ground.

"A trick for a trick, wouldn't you agree?"

Romi Jade ​

 

[Romi Jade]

Darth Carnifex
​

When the last metal plate fell, it was almost as if it had stolen her breath -- she quickly inhaled and watched on in anticipation.

Thus far, Romi had skillfully outmaneuvered her adversary, following her instincts in that mere swordplay would not be enough to overcome this formidable foe. She unleashed the Force, exerting her will on the surroundings, in a daring move. She knew something like that wouldn't halt his advance, and she didn't expect him to come bursting through the wreck like some bull-rancor...however what came next wasn't even in her initial calculations.

Her small victory was short-lived. The Sith Lord, a master of deception, reappeared behind her above on the ceiling.

His voice not only broke the tension but it cut through her entire being; she felt it in her core. She lurched forward, blonde strays clinging to her face. She whipped around, with a snarl on her face. "A trick for a trick...I guess you could keep it up after all." Subconsciously she had stretched her awareness, thinking to herself how he dodged that -- what this is an illusion?

Romi's eyes widened in astonishment as gravity seemed to shift, forcing her to adapt to this new battleground. Now she fought against the pull of the inverted world, defying her instincts as she clashed with the Sith Lord while standing on the ceiling itself.

Emotions ran high within Romi's heart—a mix of determination, unease, and a flickering flame of hope. She felt the weight of responsibility, not just for her own survival but for the countless lives depending on her to vanquish this embodiment of darkness. The air crackled with the intensity of their power, a tidal wave between them of unrelenting strength of the Force.

In this gravity-defying clash, the stakes were immeasurable. Romi's mind raced, her senses heightened, as she calculated her next move, she was going to have to dig deep, summon every ounce of her training and connection to the Force; least she forgot who she was dancing with. She refused to be overwhelmed by the disorienting shift in her environment. Romi knew that she couldn't falter.

She wanted no more of this lingering respite.

The Sith Lord, fueled by dark side energies, had a presence that emanated malevolence, a sinister aura that could send shivers down one's spine. It tugged heavily at the damp air round them, but Instead of resisting or grounding his dark power, Jade added her own strength to it. As aggressive and powerful as its namesake, its power came at great risk: immersion in Vaapad opened the gates that restrained one's inner darkness. She broke those metaphysical hinges one by one...seeking to fully relish this fight.

The presence that was Carnifex, a thickening black haze in this wreckage, Romi pressed back against this crushing void with a relentless straight-ahead march; She stared up at him, murder in her eyes, and her legs began moving of their own accord, her pace deftly quickening from steps into a sprint. Then, she closed the gap between them with a burst of supernatural acrobatic agility. She sprang into action whirling after him faster than the eye could follow.

She was on him, and had every intention of coming in for the kill, again and again, until he was worn down or she was. Her metaphysical focus was anchored to her physical self now, enhanced by the penumbra of the dark side, and bolstering her Vaapad offensive -- the range of her telekinetic barriers were instinctively bound to her frame.

Three...

Six...​

​

Nine strikes...​

​

Her blade, that distinctive scarlet blaze that had been the final sight of so many evil beings, some who once followed him, was an oblate sphere of red-ish fire within which there seemed to be dozens of swords slashing in all directions at once.

Her blade flared and flashed, weaving nets of killing energy in a fast exchange that made it hard to truly see them between the colors of their blades—but one could feel them in the Force. The Force itself boiled with power and lightspeed ricochets of lethal intent around them. She danced in and out of their web of combat, prioritizing speed and precision over brute force, but her attacks weren't lacking in strength. Her footwork was taking her in a circular pattern around his hulking frame.

As Romi fought against the Sith Lord, the battlefield itself seemed to mirror their inner struggle—a battle between light and darkness, hope and despair. It was a duel that transcended mere physicality, an embodiment of the eternal struggle between the Jedi and the Sith.

In this swirling vortex of power, Jade's determination burned like a radiant star amidst the encroaching shadows. With her unwavering resolve and unwavering belief in the light, she fought on, determined to prevail against the embodiment of darkness and bring balance to the Force once more.


(Sorry for the wait Carni <3)
------

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Dark Lord met His adversary with equal intensity.

Each danced to a chorus of whirring blades, the deep pitched hum followed by the sharp crackle as the two met, disengaged, and met again. It was purely a bout of endurance and precision, hinging upon which one would slip first. Darth Carnifex was not the same man Romi Jade had fought last they met, He'd evolved beyond that person. Where there was once two that were one, but there was one that were two. Unified in body, mind, and spirit.

Equilibrium.

Balance.

Perfection.

He grinned ravenously as they continued to fight, inverted against the natural pull of the world's gravity. Yet, the orientation was only a slight discomfort, each warrior having already acclimated to their shifting environment. Pieces of the wrecked ship were sliced off as a consequence of their struggle, falling relative to their inverted gravity only to be met by it's outermost limit, tumbling back towards them, and then flung back in the same direction. Like a puppet yanked by it's strings, the fallen pieces bobbed impotently up and down in perpetuity. It wasn't until the distance between them and the Dark Lord grew to such a point that the inverted field no longer held sway, and the pieces clattered to the ground through natural means.

Carnifex lunged, stretching His body forward right as Romi caught His blade with her own. One might suffer disaster for such an egregious overextension, but the Dark Lord of the Sith was so far removed from the limits of normal beings that He found pulling Himself back with due quickness was virtually effortless. Every muscle was energized with the power of the Dark Side, a baleful electrical current coursing from the tips of His toes to the crown of His head. Midnight fire roared hungrily in His veins, that insidious manifestation of the Dark Side's willpower. He brought it to life with an uproarious crackle, sparks of electricity dancing from His fingertips to sully the air simultaneously with overwhelming heat and bitter cold.

The energy, once unleashed, acted of it's own accord. Stray bolts struck the metal around them, superheating the metal to the point of melting before rapidly freezing it into new and grotesque shapes. It was enough to turn sections of the ship around them into macabre sculptures of glossy black glass.

"Must you continue to struggle and suffer?" Came the voice of the Dark Lord, above all the raging roar of their battle. "Surely you know this contest is already over."

Romi Jade ​