Hand vs Emperor: Whom is the Strongest?

[Matreya]

A week prior to date Damien Daemon had set in motion an oddity. He, in a show of strength, had bent the will of many a mind, causing utter dread, horror, and outright insanity in conscious of each. Then, when at the weakest breaking point, he revitalized them, filling them with fake memories of an all giving and loving image of himself.

It was odd then, to find these people now followed him everywhere. Literally. Any place he showed his face, there was but a moment before they would shine through the shadows to present themselves to the man they worshipped.

Such adoration, love really, it was new to the Ancient Sith. He had no true recollection of such. Through force of will, he was able to return some of the memories stolen by his Master, Voracitos; yet this did nothing to really show him who and what he was. Other images floated within his skull, of separate mothers each with a love filled expression, though they to felt real to him, they weren't and this he knew with no doubt. Each was stolen during one of his triumphs over another.

As such, he had decided, maybe it was time to test the waters. First and foremost by battling the one whom recently threatened him as means to put him in place. It did not necessarily need to come to the death, but if it did, he would not hesitate. He never had before.

Standing before a mass of his own and Vaildra's followers, he called out, "This is something that must be tested. I, Right Hand to the Emperor of this small fiefdom, must know something: is this a position I fill despite being right for another!"

Touching the hilt of Lymmahtun, he paused a moment, letting the murmuring swell for a moment as it sunk in. He was to challenge one they all viewed as his superior. Glancing down at his Cater Coat, he straightened the sleeves as he to sought to dust clean his Beskar'gam. Lastly, but not least, he sought to adjust the Gun Belt beneath the jacket, then the Warden Cloak which billowed more as a cape, making sure it hid his prized work: Tantibus. A blade which had caused fear in many beings, those with even the strongest of wills.

An oddity was on his body as well, a new prototype that his companies top minds had been working on. Through some of the same processes that made Kinetic Gel, he had found a similar concoction which he added Alchemized Uller bone fragments to, thus making the impact it could repel much more before destabilizing. The Bodyglove was beneath the rest of his armaments.

Shouting out now, he continued, "Vaildra, Emperor to the True Sith, I, your Right Hand, challenge you in open combat! Before the Imperial citizens! Come, let us see whom holds what power!"

[member="Darth Vaildra"]

 

[Darth Vaildra]

Darth Vaildra stood in his new armor thanks to the one who stood before him ready to challenge his reign. He was not decked with fancy weapons and gadgets, it would only weigh him down. He did wear full mandalorian armor made specific for him. It covered him head to toe with high quality armorweave on the joints. They were standing on the newly made stadium of sorts. It was on the top of a hill with carved and polished stone raised off the ground. It was square shape, 30 feet long in both directions. it had four pillars in each corner holding no ceiling, but with Empire colors hanging from it.

They were surrounded by citizens who ether worshiped him or Deamon. It sickened him really. In no way did Vailra need worshipers or citizens to confirm his rule. Vaildra decided this was unneeded. He lifted his right hand and closed it as the red sun guards moved in and slaughtered the citizens with their pikes. After removing the bloody bodies from the grounds they lined the grounds. Vaildra swiped his hand and the sun guards walked off the grounds, but still stayed as witnesses to the duel. Darth Vaildra felt no remorse for the killings, they were nothing to him, only Sith would inherit this Galaxy.

As the Right Hand spoke, he listened. It made sense to Vaildra and in all honesty he was curious the answer as well. It would not make sense if the Right Hand was stronger than the Emperor and so they would answer this question once and for all. If Vaildra won then the Right Hand would stand in Vaildra's place when it came to challenges. Vaildra could not accept every challenge from everyone who joined and so if he won this duel then people would have to beat Deamon to get to Vaildra. He nodded in agreement to the duel, words would only ruin the moment and break concentration.

The grounds were filled with a light breeze making their robes ruffle in the wind. Vaildra reached behind him and pulled out his new lightsaber. It was made more like Darth Maul's double lightsaber. The hilt was longer than usual making it easily two handed. He ignited one blade and held it down. He fell into a state of calmness. He was a Sith, but the only Sith he knew to master Vaapad and now he would use it. If he did not use his best form he would be fighting with a hand tied behind his back. Since Vaildra was not making the challenge he would let Pikiran make the first move, in reality that was what he preferred.


[member="Darth Pikiran"]

 

[Matreya]

Damien, for millennia prior to learning he was a true Force Sensitive, had done his best o learn any and all forms of combat. Thus it was that when he found his calling, he had deep knowledge in all forms of lightsaber combat, many being nearly Mastered. As a Knight he had fought a dual setting of Master and Apprentice, with one arm wounded beyond use, while utilizing Vaapad. Vaildra would learn that some time.

But now was not that time.

Since his loss of Kallig's Saber, he had not made another... or so it had seemed. From within his jacket flew a lightsaber hilt that snapped to life with a hiss, twirled down and away in an arc that scorched the sands. The silver hue would be an oddity to many that saw a Sith wield it, and none would likely find the reason for its being. But as it was, it was a dual phase, decked out to bear only activation through the Force, while retaining immunity to Cortosis.

With this in his right hand, he knew would be apt to duel while gathering energy. Reaching out to the Spirits nearby, all two dozen began to fuel his Will, their silent wails amusing if he could pay them mind. Combining with this came an influx from Lymmahtun, and the two Talismans of Concentration aboard his being. The ring he had recently given to auction, only to change his mind, and the amulet adorning his neck, both were fully charged, supremely ready to power him to deadly heights.

This was the reason he was so known, while remaining a mystery. Few could survive the powerhouse mentalist. He was an all around capable fighter, whether it came to the elements, close quarters, speed (which at one point he boasted the greatest in existence thanks to his CZAR Enhanced Anzati form), or raw power. With a daily intake of Soup, his power rose significantly, yet it was already intense thanks to consumption of an entire city during one point.

All in all, few matched up to what he represented. A being of insurmountable capacity, whom yet held an odd compassion for honor and moral code.

Though he was weighed down, Damien was still bearing a body built for intense speed. Which he used by lurching into action, racing towards the man with a downward slash from left clavicle towards right hip...

But it was a feign move. Before coming into contact with anything, he deactivated the blade, then reactivated it once it was about middle of the mans torso. This effectively creating an odd attack, reminiscent of a stab and slice in one.

[member="Darth Vaildra"]

 

[Darth Vaildra]

Darth Vaildra had never been one for enhancements. He was one of the few people who had seen so much war, yet still came out with all his limbs. Teali Raaf once almost removed his arm, but it was saved and repaired, this was quite sometime ago. He gazed through his mask att he Sith Lord who wished the title of Dark Lord. He wore more armor and was enhanced, but Vaildra, as stated, had never worn enhancements, he was all he needed. This would be a true test, nature versus nurture if you will. Would the one who trained their body and mind to become fast and tactical win or would the one who consumed cities and wore enhancements win? It was unsure, but Vaildra believed such reliance on outside power would be Pikiran's down fall.

Tarkata, the act of turning off one's blade and reigniting it. While Vaildra was a master of Vaapad, this meant he had also studied under many masters, Jedi, Grey Jedi, and Sith to learn all the forms he could. He had used Tarkata since he was a boy, but this was the first he had faced it. It also stood to reason that Pikiran would be harder to read then most. His muscles were covered by armour so Vaildra could not watch the working of muscles and his eyes were hidden so he could not watch there. He had to settle for hands and feet. Any skilled duelist knew that using your whole body was the proper way to fight. It gave warning of incoming attacks, but it also gave precise, powerful attacks.

This would not help Vaildra here, instead he would have to rely on the Force to read movements. His calm mind began to reach out and gathering information, but this Lord was guarded so it would prove difficult. As Vaildra watched he saw how the saber was griped, "Downward slash, aimed for my left side." He thought as he calculated in a matter of milliseconds his, instinct if you will. He could counter with a straight upper slash, but that would be too simple and in a duel like this, it would leave him open, he had to move his whole body.

He pivoted his body back, pivoting on his right foot and moving back. He would then bring his blade up to meet the incoming blade, but would hit air. The stab would be aimed at where Vaildra was, but not where he hand moved. He did not give himself time to admire such a move, but continued his pivot into a full roll coming to Pikiran's side and flourishing his blade as he moved to add momentum. Coming at Pikiran's left side he would flank him and aim his blade for his left hip. Vaildra knew he could not play around as Pikiran was fast, possibly faster, But vaildra would use every sense he had to try and predict the attacks before they happened, but he knew this would not end how it always did. He decided to remain on the defense until he saw an opening to take.

[member="Darth Pikiran"]

 

[Matreya]

Damien was surprised. Vaildra boasted speed, this was immensely obvious. At least on par with his own, yet maybe better as he was weighed down heavily. Yet, he was adept with speed unmatched, as during the time in his previous form, his speed already triple that of the fastest human, was tripled again thanks to the CZAR Enhancements. Upon death, he gave up on the chance to return to them again; they were a crutch. Nothing more.

Sweeping in the opposite direction, he whipped the blade around them down, perpendicular to his body. This allowed the swipe to be caught, blocked but not able to be redirected. So instead he pushed away from his hip, thus knocking his opponents blade backward, next he deactivated his lightsaber while arching his arm out to strike a solid blow at the mans face.

Such an attack usually managed the better half of a mans attentions, as it always appeared much larger to the eye due to nearness. This was a benefit. Drawing the crystal blade of Lymmahtun from its hilt at his hip, held reversed, he sought to next jam the pommel into his opponents ribcage. If the man reacted to the pain, he would double over hopefully, which would strike the high knee kick that Damien launched into motion.

The air however, was hardly enough to lurch over Vaildra, but it was enough hopefully to swing his lightsaber down to point the emitter end towards his enemies chest - which he then activated.

[member="Darth Vaildra"]

 

[Darth Vaildra]

It would be an understatement to say that this man's skills in battle were that of a master. Not a Sith Lord, but someone who was truly a student of war. His movements were flawless, even with the missed attack he wasted no time and was able to mirror Vaildra, something that was only known to the Echani. Vaildra smirked under his hood.

Vaildra was prepared for the Tarkata now, he leaned back preparing to make a move, but donging the strike to the face, but this made him take the hit to the ribs harder. This made him double over a little, but the armor absorbed the bulk of it, but truth was it was still a powerful shot given. The pain was enough though, enough to tap into Vaildra's Dark Side and Rage. He looked up as he was tapping into the Dark Side and once again things slowed down as he precieved everything much quicker. Following him taking the hit a knee was coming up to meet him. His body moved in perfect rythem following the leg up and missing it. Gathering the Dark Side into his left hand he unleashed a blast of the Force and fire on the Sith Lord, but would not waste time.

He would ether move in and ignite the second blade and windmill arc it striking at Pikiran with Vaapad's speed making it appear he was using multiple lightsabers. If Pikiran was knocked back, Vaildra would leap into the air, igniting his second blade and still unleashing a windmill of attacks on him.

[member="Darth Pikiran"]

 

[Matreya]

Were it a simple brush of telekinesis, the Cater Coat would have protected against it, but a blast of pressure was not one of its defenses. Nor was protection against fire. Thus, it was that when the blast struck him, he threw his own wave towards the man, sending himself further back as well as deflecting the flames from touching him.

Landing some distance away, he swung his lightsaber about, deactivating it once more. Holding the lightweight blade of Lymmahtun at the ready, extended ahead of his chest with the point angled slightly away from his center of mass. Whether the quick brush of telekinesis effected Vaildra, it did very little to Damien thanks to the continuous influx.

Mulling over his course of play for a quick second, he decided on his plan. Resheathing Lymmahtun, he reached under his Cloak to grip the hilt of Tantibus. Drawing the massive blade free, he swung it in a large arc, using Force Strength to move it as if it was held with a dual grip. Next he attached his lightsaber hilt to his hip, and charged forward with a mighty sweep towards Vaildra's chest. The horizontal slash could so easily be blocked, and likely would...

Which he hoped the man would do. The Cortosis that lined the blades edge would immediately short circuit his opponents blade, thus giving him that much more chance at success. Plus, the overall strength of a man whom basically lived in the heavy suit of armor, and utilized Tantibus for training, well it would be superb as is; enhanced through the Force, he hoped that it would jar his enemies arm incredibly hard as it is.

[member="Darth Vaildra"]

 

[Darth Vaildra]

As Vaildra had lept over the returning attack he launched at Pikiran was his double blade drawn. He would land and went to counter the incoming blade with high speeds, but his speed would indeed fail him. Putting his body into it he raised his blade to counter only to find his blade shut off. In the unexpected effect the blade broke through Vaildra's defense and hit Vaildra's armor with enough force to break through and deliver a possible fatal blow. Vaildra used the power from the blade hitting him to project him backwards to roll out. Coming out of the war he used the Force to leap back to get a new look on the situation.

He looked down at his broken armor. He got out before it could kill him, but his body was now wounded. He began to calm his mind once more, but something was in his system. His heart beat faster, he was taking short quick breathes and his eyes were becoming dilated; fear. He knew this as fear was a weapon of his as well, but this was fear to a whole new level. Visions of what he feared began to enter his sight, It was assassins, assassins he killed, but also killed his parents. They weren't real, he killed them as a child, this was an illusion.

He had to fight it, he had to kill the poison in his system. He used the Force to rush through his blood to expel the poison and bring his sanity back. His heart continued to race, but he was beginning to calm it. During this he continued to stare at Pikiran and his gaze was still there, This power, this Lord, he was something else, something Vaildra had never fought before, but he was not unstoppable and Vaildra would prove that, he now knew how to beat him. He would destroy Pikran's defenses and then bring him to his knees. Cortosis was powerful against lightsabers, but not Vaildra's fire. Vaildra brought his lightsaber up, which had only one working blade. He deactivated it, but something else began to happen. The broken side began to form a white blade that slowly growed to lightsaber length.

Using the air around Vaildra's lightsaber he began to develop a thin vortex to hold consideration of molecules. He then controlled the molecules to create a blade similar to a lightsaber, but burned hotter, much hotter. The blade was white because of the heat, but even then it changed and began to look blue, but not like a Jedi blue. This was fire at it's hottest level. He channeled the Force into his legs and free hand. He used the Force to disappear from sight as he rushed the blade in front of him. He reappeared in front of Pikiran and sent a his new blade in an arc aiming to slice through Pikiran's chest, but with the intensions it would be blocked by the sword and in hopes the sword would shatter under the heat.

Vaildra would then use the Force gathered in his free hand to create the spear of midnight black, but he would not launch it. He would aim to ram the blade aiming for Pikiran's stomach.



[member="Darth Pikiran"]

 

[Matreya]

This was a first. Someone genuinely powerful enough to halt the fatal poisons found within his blade. It made him all the more joyful to have such an opponent. However, he also knew that lasting effects would likely be found, as deadly poisons never truly left the body, such as being bitten by a predator: you could get an antidote, sure, but it would always leave a lasting effect. Hopefully, the moment the Force effects slowed, the Poison would tire him.

This would be the time the effects of the Force Fear would then take ahold once more.

Had Damien chosen to block the incoming attack with the sword, his opponent would find it simply wasn't enough to destroy the blade, definitely the cortosis, but the shaft itself would maintain. It was the effect he had crafted through so many makes, learning to craft items nearly indestructible.

But as it was, being weighed down slowed him, when the man sought to travel so swift, Damien had attempted to turn to retreat. Only to have Vaildra appear, his blade seeking to stab forward. The result was the blade striking his gauntlet, which Damien used to push to the side as he brought the blade of Tantibus in for a stab of his own. His gauntlet being the most durable form of his armor was great, yet he instantly noticed a flow of air touching his skin - the gauntlet was cracked hard down the side.

With his sword moving in for a stab, Damien gripped the hilt in his other hand as well, pushing forward for more maximum damage. With all of his concentration on his Force enhanced thrust, the speed and strength behind it were as peaked as it could be. This would be the best; he could have done like Vaildra and sought to utilize multiple aspects of the Living Energy, but this seemed the best ideal.

This thought process remained unchanged for only a moment, for once his mind actually recognized the Spear of Midnight Black aimed for his stomach, he released his hold on the form of attack - luckily already in such swift motion the blade wouldn't slow much, especially in close proximity. Shifting as quick as possible, he threw up his strongest Force Barrier in quick motion.

Though it halted the attack for a moment, the ethereal blade soon broke through the barrier and slammed into his plated stomach. It was enough to crack through a bit, the pressure though slowed incredibly to barely pierce his skin. Knowing this was now the most it would do, as neither was moving forward anymore, he shifted tactics once again.

His sword already going in for an attack, he conjured all of the power he had gathered to that point, and hurled it at Vaildra's mind in a super charged Stasis Field. With all of the power aimed at one being, combined with considerably more power than a normal Field, he hoped it would be enough to cease his opponents movements and senses. Which could of course be overcome, but he was sure that having to combat such an attack would require more effort than could be allowed to also dodge the blow that sought his enemies now opened torso.

All of this happened in less than 3 seconds. The sure epicness of the human mind moving at adrenaline filled speeds! Finally, the thought hit him, his strength had been so much it had cracked Beskar! But then that to troubled him; had he not crafted the suit properly..? No. It had to be the blade of the sword had found a chink in the armor.

He then got slightly worried. Nowhere nearby was a medic. The wound to his abdomen would need to heal with the Darkside or else he might bleed out...

[member="Darth Vaildra"]

 

[Darth Vaildra]

Darkness, pure darkness, in a flash Vaildra's whole world disappeared. His mind was being attacked by a master of the mind and it shut everything down. Vaildra, a man who relied on his heightened senses now without them? This was indeed true fear. His body without his mind still had the Force which took over in Vaildra's place. The swords coming in would find Vaildra's armor, but also a barrier that would not serve as defense, but a a cannon sending vaildra back and out of Death's icy cold hands.

Vaildra's body hit the ground rolling over and over. His mind in complete shadows and fear once again plaguing him. His body shoke on the ground, never had he been brought down like this, not even when he faced the Grandmaster. He continued to fight and try to free himself, but it was all too powerful and his body was weakening. He had hoped his attacks would have done more damage, but it seemed he was outmatched. He was to die here.

No!

His mind screamed, he was better than this. His body lurched and the Force began to fill him. In his suit was something special, Lignan. The inside of his suit had something he would place in there after it's creation that he could harness for more power. His body began to tap it, almost like being refueled. Black smoke began to surge from his suit as the Dark Side filled him. The Dark Side burned the poison further and fought the control of his mind.

He, now once again in control, rose from his place on the ground staring daggers into Pikiran. He slowly rose to his feet, his body being fully controlled by the Dark Side. The air around them became thick as the wind began to pick up, but the light in the sky began to darken as clouds began to form. Shortly after lightning began to plague the sky as Darth Vaildra and Darth Pikiran faced one another.

The attack being foreshadowed, however, would not come. Vaildra may have been refueled with fresh power that if he was fighting an enemy he could continue until his last breath, he knew when he had been beaten. With his voice amplified and filled with the Dark Side, he spoke, "I, Darth Vaildra Dark Lord of the Sith and Emperor of the of the True Sith bow to you, Right Hand of the King. The power in you is truly greater than my own and you are the true Dark Lord." Vaildra, still burning with a visible dark energy took a knee before the new Emperor. Sure, they could drag this out, but a true warrior knew his power and when he was fighting a losing fight.


[member="Darth Pikiran"]

 

[Matreya]

Damien actually felt his mouth drop in shock. What was this now? He gave up? This was....

What? It didn't make any sense. All that power he had just regained...

No. Damien didn't believe it. Not in this fashion.

"If I am Emperor, than you will release your hold over such power. No one keeps themselves that empowered for nothing." Damien said, his voice carried over the distance by the Force. To prepare for a potential attack, Damien once more lurched into drawing power from all sources. This time however, the influx was twice what it was before, as he was simply standing still right now, with nothing else to focus on. Thus his eyes shown an even brighter lavender, and he began to vibrate with the energy he was amassing.

[member="Darth Vaildra"]

 

[Darth Vaildra]

"If I release this power, I will possibly die. I am a warrior of honor and if my word is you are Emperor then it is so. I do not have the power to kill you.." He paused making clear he was not giving up on killing this Lord, but knew he did not have the ability, "Yet." Vaildra did how he was commanded though, this was the way of the Empire. A low rumble from Vaildra began to build into a growl then scream as the power violently released from him. It was like being ripped apart. The poison still in him burned at his mind and his body.

His body collapsed from the strain he had put on it, his weapon hit the floor before he did as blood sheeped from the cracks in his armor. The fight was short, but the amount of power on both ends were massive, almost god levels so the punishment delivered to the former Emperor's body was was critical.


[member="Darth Pikiran"]

 

[Matreya]

Launching out his power gathered, he utilized the fashion of molecular control he knew. In a painful fashion, he first began aggressively coercing his opponents cells to multiply in the fashion of replenishing blood or tissues, but at an exponentially swifter rate. In but a moment, through his Darkside Healing, Vaildra's main wound be sealed. Next, after sheathing his massive sword, he reached out to supply the man with relief from the effects of the poison.

Crucitorn was a powerful skill.

"You did not need to stop tapping into the Force. I referred to the excess energy. Use the Force when necessary, your body will eventually get used to the more delicate state, and at that time it will be far easier." He called, then turned and a Force Bellow emanated from him as well, sounding like concussive thunder or repeating blasts from a massive cannon.

"Rise up," Damien continued, "Our roles have changed. With luck you will have the chance in time to return to this position."

[member="Darth Vaildra"]

 

[Darth Vaildra]

Anger burned through Vaildra's veins. He considered if he should have fought until death, but self preservation prevailed. It still did not change the fact that anger burned him from the inside. He wanted to kill the one before them, but his whole purpose for finding the Sith Empire was to bring about the true Sith to the Galaxy and they followed the rule of might and Vaildra had to bow to the tronger Sith. He felt his body being healed, another strike to his pride.

He began to stand as Blood lingered on his armor. He summoned his blade back to his hand and used the Force to clear the objects blocking his lightsaber from working properly. He then bowed once again by taking a knee before the Sith Emperor. It was not official in Vaildra's mind what the next step was. Pikiran could kill him easily or give Vaildra different role. Pikiran would be wise to kill Vaildra as Vaildra would not rest until he killed the Emperor, but at the sametime he would loyally serve the Emperor until that time.

[member="Darth Pikiran"]

 

[Matreya]

With his mind so filled with fury, it was somewhat easy to read the evidence of future intentions...

"As I was your Right Hand, so to you will he mine." Damien called, "I sense the yearning to better yourself, to make ready for another battle in the future. When the day comes, you will not find I slacked in anyway. I will train, just on the pretense of another impressive battle..." Stumbling, Damien put a hand to his head; his wound had not ceased its leaking, and now he was weakening at a severe pace, "Guards... Bring the Bacta found in my gear onboard my vessel."

Dropping onto his ass he chuckled, "Man, that spear, did pretty damned good." He muttered, then looked up at the liquid handed to him. Dousing his wound, he pinched the flesh together, letting it seal again.

"Vaildra, I want you to train. Our next battle, it shall be even more incredible." He said, "On account of your position, just know that you will hold near the same level of control. Only myself will have a higher say than you."

With that, gripping the last of his strength, he vanished from sight. Reappearing onboard his ship, he exhaled slowly, eyes almost closing in exhaustion, "Captain, take me to my new Palace. Have a Bacta bath run as well..."

[member="Darth Vaildra"]

 

[Darth Vaildra]

One to hold the power, and one to crave it. This was how the rule of two worked, but the rule of might was one to hold the power and many to crave it. Under the rule of two, things changed and people died or killed for power more than the One Sith would let you believe. There was a balance though. While everyone craved power, until the time was ready the loyalty to the powerful was...well powerful.

Vaildra would seek his revenge, but he knew where he stood and he knew it was not his time. In fact, in the back of his mind he was glad he was replaced. He wanted the Sith Empire to rise from the ashes, but only he made the move which made him Emperor by default. In reality, he was more of a warrior and merely craved war. He would not admit his lack of interest in being Emperor, it would show weakness, but it was true. It was possible he could have one today and maybe this feeling in the back of his mind was partly the reason he gave up.

He stood, alone except for his own personal guards. He was now the Right Hand and answered to only one. The embers of the Empire were beginning to burn brighter and soon the Galaxy would know Sith again. He made his way to his ship, he looked at his armor and sighed, "This will be a queen to repair." Once aboard his ship he spoke to his second in command of his vessel, "Prepare my new lodgings and prepare the steam room. This is a new day gentleman, this day will be remembered throughout history.
[member="Darth Pikiran"]