OBJECTIVE 3: Clash at Kaleth
Allies: Dark Empire
Enemies: Galactic Alliance,
Mya Windu
Darth Apophion's gaze hardened, the flicker of amusement in his eyes as cold as the depths of space. Mya's defiance, her steadfast belief in the light and the Force's benevolence, was to him a glaring testament to the Jedi's naivety. She claimed the force would forsake him. Yet, to Apophion, these words were but the last whispers of a fading era, an era that was destined to eclipse.
"The Force," he replied, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate with the dark energy surrounding him,
"is not a benevolent guardian that shelters the weak from the dark. It is a power—a vast, boundless power that demands respect and mastery. To believe it will forsake those who wield it with strength and purpose is to misunderstand its very nature."
The standoff abruptly ended as the Jedi Master suddenly attacked. Darth Apophion's response was not one of fear, but of calculated anticipation. Her leap into the air, a display of Ataru's acrobatic prowess, was a testament to her skill and determination. Yet, Apophion, ever the strategist, had already foreseen the multitude of paths an encounter with a Jedi of Mya's caliber might take.
The moment she launched herself towards him, Apophion tapped into the depths of his connection with the dark side, his senses heightened beyond the ken of ordinary beings. As she descended with the whirlwind force of Vapaad, her blade a blur of lethal intent aimed at his neck, Apophion stood unfazed, his mind a step ahead.
With the grace of a shadow and the precision of a master duelist, he executed a swift sidestep, employing the principles of Makashi to evade her initial strike. Makashi, with its emphasis on elegance and economy of motion, allowed Apophion to not only avoid Mya's attack but also position himself advantageously for a counterstrike. Her saber passed him by, the air humming with the force of her missed attack, leaving trails of charged particles in its wake.
As Mya continued her barrage, her saber strikes a rapid succession of deathly intent, Apophion's defense was a dance of dark fluidity. Each parry was calculated, each dodge a testament to his mastery over his own body and the dark side. Rather than meet her force with force, Apophion used her momentum against her, redirecting her energy in ways that destabilized her assault without directly opposing its strength.
When she switched her saber behind her back in a Shien maneuver, attempting a leg sweep followed by a Djem So uppercut slash, Apophion was ready. Drawing deeply from the dark side, he augmented his physical capabilities, enhancing his reflexes to supernatural levels. With a deft movement, he leaped over the leg sweep, using the Force to propel himself into an aerial somersault that evaded her attack, landing several feet away from her.
As Jedi Master Mya transitioned into a series of figure 8 slashes, her saber carving the air with the lethal precision of Vapaad, Darth Apophion faced not only the physical onslaught but also the psychic assault that sought to turn his own darkness against him. Vapaad, known for its ability to channel an opponent's aggression, presented a unique challenge—one that demanded a response embodying both physical mastery and mental fortitude.
Rather than resist the psychic pull of Mya's technique, Apophion embraced it, allowing himself to become a conduit for the dark side's energy. He understood that to combat Vapaad's absorption, one must not push against it but rather flow with it, redirecting its intent through sheer will and mastery over one's own emotions. As Mya's aggression intensified, fueled by the dark emotions she sought to wield against him, Apophion remained centered, a calm eye within the storm of their duel.
With each downward strike, each whip-like slash that Mya unleashed, Apophion's defense became a display of Makashi's elegance and control. Rather than meet her force with force, he employed deft parries and sidesteps, each movement a precise counter to her aggressive onslaught. His saber moved not in opposition to hers but in harmony with the forces at play, a testament to his deep understanding of the Force's dual nature.
Their blades binded together one her final strike.
"Now it's my turn."
As Mya's aggression sought to overwhelm, Apophion saw his opening. The first move in his counteroffensive was a testament to Makashi's refined approach to combat. He initiated with a lunge, his body and blade aligned perfectly as he aimed a thrust directly at Mya's midsection. This thrust, swift and straight, was designed not only to pierce her defenses but also to force her into a backward step, disrupting her rhythm and gaining the spatial advantage that Makashi duelists so often sought.
Without allowing Mya a moment to recover, Apophion flowed seamlessly into his next series of attacks, each executed with the precision and efficiency characteristic of Makashi. He delivered a series of strikes aimed at key points on Mya's body — her shoulders, wrists, and thighs — targets that, if hit, would limit her mobility and effectiveness in combat. Each strike was not only a physical assault but also a psychological one, intended to demonstrate his superiority and wear down her resolve.
Apophion's blade danced with lethal intent, tracing arcs and lines designed to confound and penetrate Mya's defense. He employed the disengage, a classic Makashi maneuver where he swiftly withdrew his blade from an engagement only to strike anew from an unexpected angle. This particular move could exploit the brief openings in Mya's guard, each strike a whisper away from landing, each miss by her counterattack a testament to his control and mastery of the form.
In a display of Makashi's emphasis on dueling prowess, Apophion then executed a series of bind and riposte maneuvers. He expertly caught Mya's blade between swift parries, applying pressure to test her strength and balance before disengaging with a twist of his wrist to launch counter-strikes aimed at exposed vulnerabilities. This technique, a hallmark of Makashi's strategic approach to lightsaber combat, showcased his ability to dominate the duel, dictating the pace and direction of their engagement. The Sith Lord remained a figure of dark grace, his movements a blend of lethal intent and balletic finesse.
He made one final attack. A cut that was aimed at the wrist, a strike designed to disarm or, at the very least, force Mya to adjust her grip and stance. Without pausing, Apophion shifted his angle of attack, his blade slicing through the air towards Mya's flank. This was followed by a rapid transition to a feint, drawing her attention and defense to one side before he swiftly redirected his saber in a tight, controlled lunge towards her shoulder, a move that combined several advanced techniques of Makashi and with strategic misdirection.
Makai Dashiell
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