Private Power

[Darth Solipsis]

Her sheer will and defiance warded away the siren call, the manipulations of the Dark Side Nexus based around the acidic waters. Alina focused inward, cutting off the connection to the unholy tune and the Force around it in a self-contained bubble. Her focus held true as the melody was all but gone, she sat in wait for the predatory Hssiss, her prey.

Her patience paid off.

The sands and dirt near her stationary position began to sink, taloned footprints took shape from the indentations in the soil. A slow steady trail appeared from the water's edge as it came closer and closer to Alina. When it came within the confines of the bubble it's unseen nature was revealed to her. A large black scaled monstrosity with jaws ready to rend flesh from bone, the Dark Side Dragon roared as it shook it's body in unease, ripped away from it's natural camouflage.

Within seconds, the beast lunged at her with it's mighty jaws, ready to split her in two.

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

The first indent caught her attention immediately. As did the scent of blood. It surprised her how easy she could still tell there was someone around without the Force. Then again, she couldn't sense others to begin with. It was it's own new experience, and she loved it. She didn't react, at first, to the Hssiss as it stalked closer. She didn't want it trying to run away before she could cut it down. And, she wanted to know where the second was. They hunted in pairs, if Darth Solipsis was to be believed with the information he gave her.

But she couldn't stay still for long. Her eyes lifted to the creature, staring it down. Showing that it wasn't the predator in this situation.

Then she moved. The full speed she did before, during her climb. In the blink of an eye she'd stood, brought her saber out, and slashed at the open maw of the creature. She had no idea if the hide was resistant to lightsabers, but there was no reason to chance it when it so willingly opened it's mouth.

 

[Darth Solipsis]

The savage maw of the beast lashes forth ready to rip and rend her flesh for it's next meal. The crimson light from her saber flashed forward with a swift cleave. Flesh melted away as a hot streak peeled away a fine layer from the jaws of the beast. A blood curling scream emerged from the underbelly of the beast as it moaned in anguish.

The counter-attack was an astounding success, it proved that these feared creatures were no more resilient to the blade of a lightsaber than any other creature. The wounded beast spun around slowly stomping in pained steps, it rushed forward to strike again in utter pain.

That's when the other emerged, it's camouflage peeling away as it closed in from behind Alina. The Dark Side Dragon mate rose upward in predatory defense of it's partner and clamped down for a brief moment onto her shoulder. Piercing fangs sunk into the flesh releasing it's precious toxins into the blood stream. Flopping off the beast rolled back and roared, ready to come at her again. This time for the kill.

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

Perfect. An injured beast fought harder, but it was easier to predict. Now it was a matter of finding the oth- The blinding pain as teeth sunk into her shoulder cut off her train of thought. She yelped, bringing her blade up and around to try and catch the beast before it could pull away. Then the venom hit. All of her body felt like it was on fire, much to her surprise. An angry yell erupted from her throat as she stumbled back, trying to keep her head clear. They were beasts, dangerous, but if she could keep her senses she could deal with them.

But that poison. She grimaced, faltering for a moment. A true falter, but one she was aware enough of to strike at one of the beasts if they came at her. She removed the dead area of the Force, instead focusing inwardly. Matukai made her all too aware of her body. The injuries it sustained. The poison coursing through her veins. Her hate unfolded, unrestrained as she sought to purge the dark venom from her body. It was a skill she'd only recently learned, but it was an important thing to try. She'd fall to the poison if she couldn't remove it.

 

[Darth Solipsis]

The Dark Side coursed through her, the hatred, the pain, all catalysts to push her forward. The intensity of her concentration and the implementation of her will upon her own body sent the venom slowly back from whence it came. It seeped out slowly from the entry wound, the very area where the Hssiss had marked her for death.

Effort. Pain. Focus. Such notions were essential in utilizing the ability to purge toxins from the body, the Dark Side empowered her even with her limited connection to it a wave crashed upon her from the dark energies radiating from the Lake itself. The two Hssis slowly began moving in once more, one more frantic than the other as they came to deliver to final blow.

They would soon find this was no ordinary meal, nor one that would give up without a fight.

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

With the area no longer dead, and the poison removed, Alina could move freely once again. A grin formed on her lips as she felt the beasts rush in. Their Anima was strong. She was stronger. The young Sith moved, her blade reigniting as the two Hssiss charged for her. With as much strength as her new body could bring she turned. A steel plated boot was brought around to slam into the injured Hssiss, and her blade cut for the other.

Both strikes had the same lethal intent, and with her body enhanced as it was, her kick was just as deadly as her saber.

Darth Solipsis

 

[Darth Solipsis]

The twin blows connected with forces inconceivable to the naked eye. Seared flesh carved away as the lower jaw of the Dark Side Dragon was severed from it's trunk. The pain, the suffering, they were her's to feed on and fuel her wrath upon their insolent bodies. The rabid beast floundered about like a fish out of water, the eyes filled with fear and in mere moments the beast backed up in retreat.

The second Hssiss, first wounded among the pair, was not home free. The force from the boot fueled by the Sith's wrath and unnatural strength due to her newfound state of being. Shattered bone and broken teeth resounded through the air with a thunderous crunch. The monster howled out in a reptilian scream, the pain overwhelming as blood trickled from its hide.

No ordinary blow could piece such tough a hide, yet this was no common Sith. The beasts would get no easy meal this day, and at the current moment the tables had turned.

Alina Tremiru
​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

Alina took a breath. Pain was an excellent motivator, both to fight and to run. These creatures weren't Sith, so to run only made sense when they were outclassed. Failure didn't mean death. The young Sith stomped down on the heavily injured Hssiss, forcing it's head into the ground before swinging her saber to decapitate the beast. She wasn't told to keep the hide in one piece. And decapitation was a quick and clean death.

Darth Solipsis

 

[Darth Solipsis]

The deed was done, one of the beasts laid dead beneath her feet while the other chose flight to live another day out of instinct. Such was the nature of beasts, fight or flight.

The head had been completely severed, a momentous trophy. The acolyte had fought two Hssiss and lived to tell the tale, she had talent. The only task left it seemed was to skin the creature and make off with it's hide, a simple task. One that would yield a fitting reward from the one she would learn from.

Darth Solipsis awaited her on Ruusan, the world where the Brotherhood of Darkness met it's final end and Darth Bane's Rule of Two began. A fitting world to begin her training under his tutoring. While Ambria was a fitting test to her abilities, the real challenges had yet to begin, and Solipsis was no lenient teacher. If she wished to become powerful, he'd teach her, oh yes.

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

Trophies were for those who felt they would grow weak. Alina didn't even spare the head another glance before she set to work on skinning the beast. It wasn't an easy task, given she had no knife, but some careful use if her lightsaber and her raw strength, and she had a.. Decent hide. Decent was probably a stretch, but it wasn't unusable. The young Sith rolled it up and tied it with some cord before slinging it over her shoulder. If she was still human, it'd likely be too heavy for her to bring back.

Being a Sangnir made a lot much easier.

A quick jog back to the ship and she was off. Nothing wanted to mess with someone who smelled of Hssiss and death. Ruusan was her next stop. Where exactly, she wasn't sure just yet. But with Darth Solipsis 's name, it was easy to at least send a message out.

::The hide has been collected. I'll be within Ruusan's atmosphere within the hour. Where am I meeting you?::

 

[Darth Solipsis]

There was no reply from the Sith Master to the Acolyte's query. Not in the sense of a personal response or word of acknowledgement. No. An automated droid response was sent to Alina, relaying the next location they would meet on Ruusan. An iconic landmark left behind millenia ago, important to not only the Sith but the Jedi.

:: Valley of the Jedi ::

:: Your training begins ::

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

".. Alright then." Her coms were off once she got the coordinates, but the idea of an answering machine for a Sith Lord like Darth Solipsis was either odd or funny. Alina wasn't entirely sure which, or if she should even feel such a thing anyway. Valley of the Jedi. An ominous place to go for the Sith, that was for sure. Still, she flew right for it, landing some distance away so she might walk there and not have her ship be threatened by a trap. If there was a trap. She never knew, that was for sure.

With the hide slung over a shoulder she approached the location pinpointed, yellow eyes scanning around. "I've brought the hide as requested."