Rival Lords (Darth Ferus Vs. Darth Valdra)

[Darth Vaildra]

Darth Valdra had hoped he would be able to fight his rival [member="Darth Ferus"] when he had his armor and weapons made, but that would be a while til then. Valdra decided all he would bring in was two red lightsabers and that was it. He entered the the dueling ring and took off his jacket so all he was wearing was pants. He looked around the Sith dueling area that had the One Sith flags covering the room. It was well lit, without shadows. Valdra let out his senses and felt him, he was near, where exactly he was unsure, but he was present.

 

[Darth Ferus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r38cxA4bj60​

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There was a rather large misconception many had. Shadow meant nothing to the Red Assassin. He was not the one hiding in the background, waiting to strike at his target. Rather, he was the one seen on the field of battle, carving a bloody path to his intended and ending them just like the rest. He did not need the shadows to fight and used them as a place of relaxing. Within the darkness he could rest, keeping to himself with little to no outside interaction.

But this day was not such a day for the one known as Darth Ferus. [member="Darth Valdra"] , otherwise known as Hakora , had done little to prove himself a capable Sith Lord. Training, while helpful to the One Sith cause, was something any knight could do, and even the acolytes could if the need arise. As such, it was only fitting that the Zabrak, a reason to why this Echani even joined the Sith, be the one to test his skills. The red man entered the room with both hands down by his sides. There was no hiding, no shrunk presence Ferus was almost famous for, and instead Valdra would find his foe directly opposite him.

On his own person was his usual armor and clothing. It was a simple design, offering some resistance to blows, but it was really just a step above cloth on most areas. He was missing much of his normal equipment, and it seemed only the two signature sabers of his were strapped to his waist. The blue and gold oddly shaped sabers sat on opposite sides of his hips, ready to spring into their masters hand if need be.

But the need was not yet. Deep blue eyes focused in on who would call themselves his rival. Ferus, possibly due to his arrogance, felt he had no rival. No arch enemy. There were simply those around him, be it friend or foe, teacher or student, but never someone he had wanted to beat. Never one he felt he was in a competition with. And yet this boy felt himself worthy.

That would be proven soon enough.

The blue saber on his left hip would shoot up to the corresponding hand, the fleshy limb tensing as he idly thumbed at the activation button. His stance was as neutral as they get, feet evenly spaced, body tensed enough to spring to action, but loose enough for fluid motions. A snap hiss would emanate, and the Bladesman would let his blue blade rest low, ever patient, ever watching. It would begin shortly.

 

[Darth Vaildra]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5DJDJVbLKM​

Darth Valdra nodded as he was impressed. He had known Ferus, formally known as Krest and Daichi before that or whatever that was. He had been an overconfident scientist. Since then he had rose into a council member of the Order of the Grey which got Hakora exiled. During this exile something happened to his sister and she was killed and Hakora did not know how, only that he was not with her because of this Sith.

Since then Hakora became a Knight and then a master of the Vitae Alliance and then a Master in the Order and Krest became Darth Ferus, the Red Assassin of the Sith Assassins. His wife, Hakora's friend Minna defected and due to Vulpesen came back to the light and Hakora promised to protect her. In the middle of the night, she snuck away to try and free Ferus from the Sith which only got her killed. The reason was explained, but this was not forgivable or at least the death of his sister.

The problem with this was Ferus did not see the newly named Darth Valdra as a Sith or a rival which would make the death of the man not worth it to Valdra. He still had all intentions in killing him, but only time would tell if that would be followed through. He smirked and brushed the heir from his face that only returned, "I may hate you and want to kill you, but you are my superior and only know Hakora from years ago. Now, now you will learn who you really should be watching your back from."

Darth Valdra's eyes began to go from their glowing blue to a glowing redish orange as he harnessed the Force to his hands. He had recently shown Ferus how Pyrokenetics worked, but he purposely did not show it fully to what he could do. Unlike Fire shaping which came from the body, Pyrokenetics was transforming molecules to fire. The air around Valdra be can to heat up and the air began to slowly erupt in small lightning bolts that were orange. In reality the air around him was filled with molecules that were quickly rubbing together making plasma bolts that were forming in the air. As the molecules began to rub together faster fire around Valdra that looked similar to a Super Sayian powering up, but Valdra was not powering up because quite honestly that was showing off, not real preparation.

Valdra then lift both his hands and in and instant he smashed these molecules around him with the force drawing them to his hands. His hands and wrists then appeared to look like they were made of fire that was moving around them. Due to using more molecules in the air he had condensed the fire he had created to make his arms not only covered in fire, but the closest thing to transformed into fire as he could achieve. The fun part of this was it was the first time he would use this in a fight. He then harnessed the force into his feet to increase the speed of his body and rushed forward in an ability called Flash step sending a simple punch aimed at Ferus' face.

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xR3bx5JX-g​

Fire, then speed. [member="Darth Valdra"] , seizing the opportunity to attack first, did so with a rather bight display of flame. A flame that even Ferus himself was impressed with as he saw it touch bare flesh. To control a flame not to burn yourself, especially without using Fire Shaping, was an incredibly difficult task. And yet, the Echani had proven he could not only do so, but condense it in such a way the Zabrak couldn't help but grin at.

Not that fire really bothered him anymore. It was how fast the man was going that truly bother the Zabrak. Ferus was a fast, built to fight in melee with blinding speed and unimaginable strength, but even then Valdra was able to move faster than the red man with just his own speed. Underestimating his opponent from the get go caused the burning fist to slam into Ferus's cheek, sending him stumbling to the side.

There was no mark of the flame however. Rather than take any damage from the heat, the red man absorbed the energy itself into his body. Tutaminis was the name of the skill, and even as the Zabrak stumbled he began to change the energy into something far more useful for himself. The blue saber, still gripped in his left hand, suddenly began to glow with this transfer, and mid stumble the blade was swung towards the Echani.

A distance away now the blade would have no effect, but upon swinging the energy stored would release, sending a powerful push at Valda with the intent on sending him back, or at least halt an continued assault while Ferus regained his footing. If he could, Ferus would switch his grip on his saber to both hands, holding the blade above his head as he watched his foe. There would be no words, as this was not the time for it.

 

[Darth Vaildra]

Darth Valdra smirked, he got the first contact. but he would not get the second as he was sent back with a push. He flipped in the air letting the fire molecules leave him and he drew his first red lightsaber. Darth Valdra landed on his feet. His left leg was bent and planted under him while his right leg was fully extended and out to his side. He held his lightsaber out behind him as he looked at the Sith Lord with his piercing redish orange eyes.

It was clear by his first attack that Ferus knew Tutaminus and knew it much better than Valdra knew it which was like a Acolytes knowledge in comparison. He smirked at the Sith Lord as he thought through his next move. He knew Ferus was the leader of assassins which suggested that he was skilled at tactics and counters, but what style would best suit fighting him. Valdra then had an idea, he had to be a monster, he had to fight like a beast. He stood upright and flourished his blade ending in a Makashi salute. He would then spin it and grabbed the second bring them together and locking them making a double bladed lightsaber.

He once again charged, but this time he used his speed to weave as he approached and ended up coming at his right side where he spun in a 360 motion bring his blade around to slice at his chest bringing a round house kick in the shadow of the attack aimed to sweep kick. He then used his free hand to lash out like he had claws aiming to rips as his chest. He had no claws, but his speed would hopefully make up for this.
[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Rather quickly [member="Darth Valdra"] was back into the frey, but not before giving time to Ferus to regain his composure. The salute, while honorable, was a wasted action, giving a foe too much time mid fight. Too much time to let the red man study. Makashi, the dueler form, was all about quick jabs and amazing footwork. While not his main form, the Red Assassin had a large understanding of what a dueler could do in the stance.

As Valdra came forward, Ferus simply stood still. He did not have to charge in, his foe was coming right to him. And with both hands gripping his blade above his head, there was always a hint of danger. A hint, that when the Echani cut for his chest, became a well known fact. A force barrier, weak as it was, formed and stopped the blade from any major damage. Still, the burning blade came across, but in the same moment just before the kick, the blue saber came crashing down from over head.

The force he had was put directly into his own strength, and only a small amount was used for the barrier. Ferus, knowing Djem So like the back of his hand, employed the simplest and most well known maneuver, and the Eldorai would have to get away, deflect the immensely powerful blow, or take it. But with a shadow kick coming out just as the blade would come crashing down at his chest, the red man finally showed a bit of emotion again. The small hint of a grin.

 

[Darth Vaildra]

Darth Valdra was rather impressed at [member="Darth Ferus"] during this fight, but he misread something that would prove fatal. Darth Valdra always started with the wrong stance to confuse his enemy. While he did do a Makashi salute, he had approached and attacked using his mastery form, Vaapad.

He was pleased with the result, but it didn't stop the coming blow from Ferus' stance which meant he had to act fast. He spun his saber a bit just in time to catch and hold the blade, but not before it dug an inch and a half into Valdra's left shoulder. The pain was immense causing Valdra to release a Force Scream directly at Ferus, but being sent back himself into a wall by Ferus' shadow Kick.

He did not waste time in his pain and charged back into the frey, but this time he would try something new. He charged directly at him, but lept into the air and threw his double bladed lightsaber into the air. He then harnessed fire into his right hand and lightning in his left and then smashed the molecules together creating a ball of fire and lightning that he shot at the Sith Lord. He then grabbed his falling blade and harnessed the force into the tip of his blade bring it down at the Sith Lord in a falling leaf style downward stab that when it made contact with ferus or the ground would release a small shockwave of fire in a 6 foot radius.

 

[Darth Ferus]

There was a level of respect Ferus had for someone who could trick Ferus like the blond man did. Falsifying a form was a good tactic to use against a bladesman. But.. [member="Darth Valdra"] had made a mistake now. Throwing up ones weapon was a good way to distract an opponent, but it was not going to work on an experienced bladesman such as Ferus. His blue saber would fly up after the duel blade, it's edge soaring rapidly to tear apart the hilt of the soaring blade, all while the Echani formed his elaborate plasma bomb.

Already Ferus had established he could use Tutaminis, and his free hand came up to completely absorb the pack of energy. It was almost a gift, Valdra giving the red man his energy. A surplus by the way Ferus felt. A small grin formed on his face as energy soared through him, and with this he would reach up to that very same saber he had thrown earlier to dismantle the Eldorai 's saber. Now he would bring the saber down, aiming to have it tear into the blond man like a spear from the sky.

 

[Darth Vaildra]

When Hakora went to grab his saber while he was in the air he had noticed it was completely destroyed, a bold move, one that proved [member="Darth Ferus"] was truly a master strategist able to react quickly and effectively, but so could Valdra. Valdra summoned all the broken pieces and used the Force to bring one back together, but it was too far damaged to use it, but that was not his intentions. He was a pyro master and though his opponent was very skilled Tutaminis, he could still keep putting out energy as Pyro did not require Valdra to use much of his own energy.

The lightsaber hilt erupted as Valdra used his Pyro ability to create his own blade that was a bright orange due to the intense heat. By all appearence it would appear he had a bright orange lightsaber, but flames danced around the blade as well. He returned the favour to Ferus as his blue lightsaber came at him and used his speed to slice through the handle of the blade three times before he landed holding his fire sword. He then bowed to his enemy, "You are more of a worthy match than I expected, that was quite the warm up." Valdra threw the fire sword as it fell apart again and the flames died out, while he could use a lot of energy when creating fire, plasma would be too much to continue.

He then took a slight side stance with a Sholin style Tiger Style pose. His right hand was ahead of his left and fingers curled like claws, "Let's see that Fire Shaping of yours and see who is better."

 

[Darth Ferus]

Ferus wasn't too keen on having his saber destroyed, and rather than letting the hilt be cut he would swing his arm across in front of himself. The hilt would soar to the side, away from [member="Darth Valdra"] 's flame blade, leaving Ferus without it. But, he was not without a second sword. As the Echani tried to goad him into a flame war, a grin would only form on the Zabrak's face.

His golden saber that was still strapped to his waist came to his hand, lighting up with the typical snap hiss one would expect with any lightsaber. The blade was kept in his right hand, lowered to the floor as he watched his foe. A simple unarmed stance, and while intimidating, the Zabrak was a far cry from intimidated. His left hand, strapped with the alchemised bracer, would rest behind his back, as if he was taking up a simple fencing pose.

In reality, he was, adapting himself to the Makashi form. But already he sent a small metal latch to cling to the Eldorai's lust for battle. Valdra was not the only one to use Vapaad, and Ferus had learned how to adapt the principle of this minor force bond to practically anything he could.

Red skin became a red blur as he shot forward, his strength and speed fueled by his opponents own energy. The golden blade came up quickly for a thrust, followed by two more in a similar blur to his footwork. All the while his free hand remained behind his back, gripped in a tight fist.

Ferus was enjoying himself.

 

[Darth Vaildra]

Valdra smirked as his opponent drew a weapon. A weapon had advantages that would make unskilled martial artists nerves to enter unarmed. One was reach as it not only gave you the reach of the arm, but also the blade. This could be combated with swift grapples and disarmament. Valdra opened his senses as he saw the approach, he was using Makashi, the duelist form. This was a very bad call because Valdra was using Sholin which was beautiful style, but aggressive and fast with deadly strength.

It was clear he was moving a bit faster than before which made Valdra wonder, where he was drawing this new power. Valdra had no lust for battle, but he did enjoy fighting and the ability to learn and grow stronger. Valdra had been using his mastery of Vaapad to grow stronger and faster as he fought the stronger lord yet gave him a fighting chance.

Now came the attack, a thrusting jab with his arm behind his back which could have been form or a power in waiting. He stepped forward with speed and raised his left hand up and at an angle to use his wrist to connect with Ferus stabbing wrist to push it away. Without wasting even a second his movements continued to move his body forward on the right side sending and open palm srtike to the lord's chest with a concentrated burst of fire which would hopefully at least keep the possible second attack from coming.


[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Makashi was not just an elegant stance, but one with quick feints and constant changes of direction. As [member="Darth Valdra"] 's hand came up to meet with his, he would suddenly change the angle of his blade, rotating his wrist to suddenly arc downwards and sweep across. His body, in the same movement, would turn away from the blade as it bit down for Valdra's extending arm.

It was a quick and simple move, as simplicity was sometimes the easiest course of action. All the while the Zabrak's arm would be kept behind his back, his fingers idling over the spring loaded hidden blade attached to his wrist.

 

[Darth Vaildra]

The longer this continued the more Valdra was seeing how unmatched he is. Every move he made, [member="Darth Ferus"] had a move to counter it. In a spar, Ferus could clearly win, but if both were fighting to the death and weren't holding back it would be hard to say. Valdra saw as the blade came for his arm and he harnessed the Force to that arm to create a blast of wind in all directions. He then ducked down and moved out of his range.

Sometimes it was best to continue fighting, while other times it took real strength to bow to the stronger one Valdra sighed and literally bowed slightly, "You have become much stronger than we last met, it would be foolish for me to continue this fight." He gathered his clothing and left his broken lightsabers on the ground as he was beginning to tire of such devices.

 

[Darth Ferus]

Ferus would slide back from the wind blast, a frown forming on his face as he did so. [member="Darth Valdra"] could manipulate the wind? That was something he hadn't expected. His gaze wouldn't leave the Echani, but he was quick to raise a brow at his surrender. But rather than press forward, he offered a simple nod.

The Zabrak was not going to push a fight with someone who surrendered, and he would simply shut off his saber and move to leave the room itself. Of course, he would collect his second saber, replacing it back onto his hip. This was a good practice run for the red man, constantly pushing him and making him think. But he would not speak, and simply leave in silence.