Jedi Insurgency 240

AN: You know what time it is, dude. All will kneel before Revan:

https://youtu.be/3xIHIQiGXBo?si=_6-EYUq7lCP_Hnjc

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The entire time Ahsoka spoke, Corvus was eying both Sidious, and Vader. More specifically, he was watching their shadows. Although this ‘shadow reading’ skill was one he had recently picked up in the holocron, it gave him great insight into what may transpire next. He observed as Ahsoka perished, calculating silently to himself how much more time he would need. Although he did not possess the ability to see the various fractures in the galaxy like Windu, he knew that his boys would not fail him.

Seconds before the Darkside Nexus was sealed, Yon sent a impulse through their shared bond, and like a predator sensing blood in the water, Corvus did not hesitate. 

Activating his [Shadow Wrath State], his entire body became clad in an ethereal kind of inky-black shroud. 

[Shadow Wrath State]: Cloak yourself in shadows. All stats are doubled. The power & cost of all Force Powers is doubled. Consumes 10% of your FP bar every minute. 30 minute cooldown after use.

His power became magnified to an insane degree. His cells felt like they would tear themselves apart, yet had attained a rare form of balance within the Force, transforming him into a lifeform with one foot upon the mortal plane, and one foot within the Living Force itself. Part Human, part ghost, he was a shade within the galaxy. A shadow given life, he was wrath, he was the Heart of the Force. 

After resurrecting Ahsoka & freeing Windu with a casual flick of both hands, he became invisible, he [Shadow Hopped] a fraction of a second before the Nexus was sealed. Then, the microsecond that this source of Darkside energy was cut, he appeared beneath the cyborg. His blue & red blade crisscrossed upward, intent on slicing Vader into multiple tiny pieces, Corvus did not want a duel…he wanted to end this, right here, right now! 

Vader, perhaps sensing something out of the ordinary, or acting based upon his battle instincts forged on a thousand battlefields swiped behind his back. His desperate flailing was admirable given the severe debuff he was under, yet his attack was misplaced. 

Surging up from the floor, his twin blades cut into Vader's midsection, biting deeply up into his stomach. The Darklord roared in pain, managing to shove his blade down in a brutal horizontal sweep. His crimson lightsaber collided with Corvus's own twin swords, and using some momentum gathered from this strike, the cyborg forced himself into the air. Pulling upon his newfound powers, Vader flew upward, attempting to put some distance between them. 

At the same time, the falling debris of the Senate was still ongoing, and bringing a fist down with the petulant rage of a jealous child smashing his brother's lego set, Vader brought large chunks of the building down on top of Corvus, whilst also aiming at Windu, Plo Koon, and Ahsoka. 

Reaching into his robe, Corvus revealed a detonator, and without a second's hesitation, thumbed the button. Suddenly, all of that debris that was passing by Vader and heading downward at a rate comparable to a high-speed train exploded! The mines he had planted on the outside walls of the Senate Rotunda were finally coming into play! 

For this mission, he had mixed up many different types of ordinance, and not only were there the typical fireballs, but also cryo mines, and sonic mines were amongst the mix. Large patches of expanding ice covered Vader, catching the Dark Lord off guard. Transformed into a giant floating icicle, Vader's fury was unmatched. Cracks began to form, and he was sure to free himself within seconds. 

In this brief window of reprieve, Corvus turned towards his allies. 

“Windu. Plo Koon. Do not allow Sidious to interfere.” Corvus said in a tight voice as he tossed Windu a lightsaber, then turned to Ahsoka. “Take Padmé, and run.” 

The orange Togruta girl bowed her head, then looked up at him with a defiant look. “You taught me how to go beyond my hatred. I won't abandon my Master. Neither of them!” She stated resolutely. 

“The odds of success are slim, but I shall do as you say. I very much look forward to speaking with you at length, Master Revan.” Plo Koon threw in. 

“A new vergence in the Force…you are completely unreadable, a factor beyond this universe. I don't trust mask wearing punks…but anyone who would stand against evil is my friend.” Windu said, and when he caught the lightsaber, a purple light revealed the ghost of a smile. “Plo, follow my lead, this is what you need to know when fighting this Sith…” 

Corvus acknowledged everyone with a nod, not willing to engage Ahsoka in a debate. [Shadow Wrath State] had a limited time of operation, and he could only cast so many abilities before he was gassed. They needed to kill Vader now, and then team up against Palpatine in a 4v1 before any of his cronies could arrive. 

At that moment, the ice shattered, and the maelstrom of metal picked up once more. A hurricane of durasteel formed around Vader whilst he desperately attempted to patch his armor, and protect himself. A powerful gust of wind was generated by this turbine, and the entire venue thrummed. 

Corvus raised both of his hands, preparing for his special forbidden technique. Raising an eyebrow, he saw Ahsoka move to stand next to him, both her hands were raised in a similar position, a cheeky smirk spread across her face. 

“Well, master.” 

Corvus felt his eye twitch, then scoffed as he unleashed an eye blinding twin [Force Lightning] from both his hands. Although the Darkside Nexus had been sealed, Corvus had never relied upon it in the first place. He had long reached Balance in the Force, becoming something more than just Light or Dark. As his attack left his finger tips, he stared intently at Vader’s shadow, and began to predict how the twisting metal's flight path would move. 

The Dark Lord was no fool, and had constructed a makeshift lightning tower, and using the Force as a beacon, magnetized Corvus's attack, redirecting it upward. Outside of the Senate chambers, through the hole in the wall, a world ending amount of [Force Lightning] shuddered the sky. Nearby buildings were suddenly vaporized, thousands of small shuttlecraft, and hundreds of Venators flying in low orbit fell to the earth as a mighty EMP wave stretched out for miles around. This combination of Corvus's [Shadow Wrath] enhanced lightning, and Vader’s lightning rod cannon would be a true terror if they had ever joined forces. 

However, Corvus-to some degree-had anticipated this act due to his shadow reading, and knew he could not directly strike at Vader. Instead, he had focused his efforts on depriving the Sith Lord of his most precious resource: metal. 

Red hot rivulets of durasteel dripped down upon the Senate floor, rapidly atomizing into unrecognizable slag. Any magnetic properties that had once occupied them were now gone, as nothing but a ash-black smear remained. Nearly instantaneously, the defensive fortification Vader had coated around himself had disappeared by half. Then Ahsoka joined in the fun. Her twin blast of [Force Lightning] & [Electric Judgement] were not as impressive as Corvus's, yet where she lacked in quantity, she made up for in quality. Whilst his lightning was spread out over a wide area, intent on melting as much metal into nothing as possible, Ahsoka had put her fingers from both hands together, and channeled all of her lightning into a narrow cone. 

This mixture of blue, purple & green blasted a hole through the scrap metal shield, and although it had been weakened by half, struck Vader directly on his suit. 

“Ahsoka!” Vader murderously howled in a ragefilled pain. 

The Dark Lord's suit was smoldering, its buttons blinking ominous colors. However, the Infinite Gear attached to his chest pulsed, its light dimming slightly. If it were a battery, it would currently read 75%, yet this loss of 25% in charge had done its duty. Vader's power came back online, and he still maintained a substantial amount of metal surrounding him. 

Ahsoka, meanwhile, glanced at Corvus confidently, but once a piece of debris nearly claimed Padmé’s life, she bit her lip. “Don't go anywhere, I'll be right back!” 

Corvus ignored the feisty tangerine, his entire focus on Vader. 

Whilst this was going on, Windu & Plo Koon had chased after Sidious. The inheritor of Bane had chosen to flee, unwilling to have his face revealed on intergalactic TV whilst he dueled two of the Jedi Order’s foremost Masters. Their fight began under the Senate building, away from prying eyes. Skyscrapers all along the governmental district began to shake, and collapse as their conflict rose to a fever pitch. Plo Koon restricted the storm Sidious had used to defeat Windu with before, whilst this time, Windu fought with a steady calmness, observing each and every Shatterpoint like his life depended on it. 

Corvus, meanwhile, was very aware of how draining his [Shadow Wrath State] was, that to maintain this awesome power, he would have to expand his FP bar. Perhaps if he had [Battle Meditation], he could continue to unleash this power indefinitely. However, there was another method to restoring his FP bar…and that was, draining the energy from a Darksider! As one of the abilities of his Jedi Shadow prestige class, it was an essential technique for defeating the Sith. But for it to be effective, he needed to be within spitting distance of his foe. 

Looking up at Vader who was about to hurl a Senate pod down at him, Corvus twirled his blades, and smiled. From Pause, he briefly began to establish a game plan. To secure victory, he should aim to cut away the piece of Infinite Engine attached to Vader’s chest. That evil artifact was a menace that continued to empower him no matter how many times he was zapped. Furthermore, although it hadn't shielded Vader from the surprise attack, Corvus could see due to his shadow reading that it was capable of producing a shield. That if he wasn't careful, he could very well be retaliated against. 

Much like Corvus’s various shielding abilities, the Infinite Gear could also block all sorts of attacks. It appeared, however, that [Force Lightning] was particularly effective at draining its batteries. Ahsoka's strike had claimed at least a quarter of its energy. What he needed to do was clear. Close in for close quarters combat, drain the battery, and cut Vader’s heart out. 

…however, a sudden sneaky thought came to mind. 

Recalling his fight against the Murakami orchid enhanced Darkside monster he had fought in that underground laboratory on Naboo, [Heal] seemed to be super effective. 

Although he wouldn't believe [Heal] would be effective on an ordinary Sith or Darksider, when it came to alchemical monsters cobbled together by pure Darkside energy, it worked. Why, then, couldn't this same principle work against a semi-sentient archeotech evil artifact? 

Draining the Infinite Gear via attrition in a lightsaber duel against Darth Vader was a risky proposition. The man-crippled as he was-was a genius. To discount this version of Darth Vader, even one currently undergoing the throes of a nerf after the Nexus was sealed, would be the height of stupidity. As more time dragged on, the Dark Lord would have more time to adjust to this sudden cessation of energy. Anakin Skywalker had fought on Coruscant before with no problems, and he would adapt very quickly. In fact, it could be said that Corvus had to take this risk. Due to time constraints, the longer this conflict lasted, the greater his odds of defeat grew. 

Whether it be reinforcements, a recovered Vader/Palpatine, or a loss of the [Shadow Wrath State], he must finish the fight sometime in the next ten minutes. 

Un-Pausing, he took a deep breath, erased all competing thoughts, focused himself in the Force, went invisible, and moved. 

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At the center of the vast rotunda, Darth Vader floated above the Chancellor’s podium like a dark god ascending from the stories of old. His cape billowed violently around him despite the still air, held aloft by invisible currents of magnetism. Hundreds of shattered pieces of metallic debris shredded the air in an attempt to capture his sneaky foe. 

The gigantic black figure radiated power, and with his eyes closed, reached out, attempting to sense the metallic hilt of Revan's lightsaber. For half a heartbeat, the chamber dimmed, and Vader sensed him.

The Dark Lord’s head snapped upward just as the shadows behind him peeled open like liquid smoke. Revan emerged from darkness itself.

The shadows engulfed him entirely, transforming the Jedi Master into something barely mortal. Black vapor bled endlessly from his body. His outline distorted constantly, as though reality struggled to focus on him. Only his mask remained visible within the abyssal haze, and the burning red and blue blades in his hands. As several spears jutted up to meet the Jedi Master, he vanished once more. 

Vader reacted instantly, sending a Senate pod sideways where he thought he sensed the man. Revan reappeared atop it mid-flight, proving to the Dark Lord that he could indeed sense the metal of Revan's lightsaber, no matter how faint. 

Revan’s twin sabers crossed downward in an X-shaped strike, slamming through the pod, he then jumped past several high-speed flachettes, lightsabers humming. 

Vader caught both blades against his own with an explosion of strength. Both men exchanged a hundred blows in less than a second as they both fell towards the ground. 

Revan twisted like a phantom, vanishing again before the durasteel debris from the shattered pod could impale him from behind. Vader sliced through his own ambush, then landed on the Senate floor with a thud. Although he had been caught off guard by the sudden sealing of the Nexus, he did not place his opponents in his eyes. He had killed Ahsoka moments ago. To do so again would be child's play. 

As he moved to meet his young apprentice, a  crack of darkness split the air behind Vader.

“All too easy.” He muttered, blocking Ahsoka's twin lightsabers with one hand, whilst he turned to meet Revan with the other. 

Blue-white Force Lightning exploded from Revan’s fingertips at point-blank range. At the same time, a minty green energy also pulsed, but he used the Infinite Gear to crush it. 

Vader raised a hand.

The lightning bent.

What he had done with the lightning rod earlier was but a test. Once he had understood the concept, he quickly applied it to his own armor! 

Streams of pure power curved around him under the influence of his electromagnetic manipulation, spiraling into glowing arcs around his armor before blasting directly into Ahsoka, sending her flying back, and detonating an entire quarter of the Senate chamber. Fierce winds once more spread throughout the Senate, making his cloak billow. Vader's breathing was steady and deep as his mask came within inches of Revan's own. 

“You hide in shadows.” Vader growled. “Like a coward.” 

Reaching out his hand, he squeezed. The empty air in front of him shimmered, and became distorted. He knew he had felt something, but Revan was already gone. 

Turning towards the source of that lightsaber, Vader tossed out his own with a quick flick of his hand. The red beam was blocked by a twin pair of lightsabers, revealing Revan once more. Many pieces of metal began to fly at the man, surrounding him all over, forming 360 degrees of offense, leaving him no room to escape. No amount of maneuvering could allow someone to flee, even if invisible. Vader had had Thrawn calculate the distance of that short ranged teleportation ability based off of combat footage, and he had the Jedi's number. He was surrounded on all sides!..except there was one open path. That is, a direct line at Vader himself!

“Heh. Arrogant as always, Vader.” Revan smugly mocked, before dashing at him. 

Revan’s ensuing attack was savage.

Twin blades carved spiraling death through the air in an endless chain of impossible angles. Red and blue flashed together like violent comets. Every strike flowed into another with terrifying speed, powered by the unnatural acceleration of the [Shadow Wrath State]. Form VII maneuvers knew nothing but offense, like a pack of predators testing their prey, these pair of blades moved as if they had a will of their own. 

Vader gave ground for the first time. Their sabers collided dozens of times per second, and for the briefest of moments, a burgeoning respect began to form. It was as if Revan could react to his every tell. When Vader wanted to go left, pretending to go right, Revan was only a microsecond behind, capable of reading his every maneuver. 

Vader countered with brutal strength, each swing heavy enough to split armored vehicles in half. His magnetic powers amplified every movement; chunks of torn metal screamed through the air around him like orbiting blades.

Revan ducked beneath one spinning fragment, vanished, reappeared behind Vader, and slashed horizontally. Vader spun with impossible speed, this time, their blades locked.

The floor beneath them shattered.

Revan’s shadow-covered face once again stared into Vader’s black lenses from inches away. Revan once more unleashed Force Lightning directly through the saber lock.

Electricity erupted across Vader’s armor, and he roared, pulling upon the Infinite Gear to resist with everything it had. For a moment, only the blue-white lightning illuminated the darkness.

Vader retaliated instantly.

With a violent gesture, he unleashed his magnetic power outward in all directions.

Every remaining piece of loose metal in the chamber tore free simultaneously. Thousands of tons of metal shrieked through the air. Revan disappeared into shadow just before three thousand dagger blades collided where he had stood.

The impact of Vader’s desperate ploy were catastrophic: The senate floor split apart, pillars collapsed, and half of the entire Senate DISTRICT had transformed into a broken graveyard of twisted metal. What once was a place of debate had become a refuse dump for one Sith's impotent rage. 

Vader floated amidst the destruction like a god of destruction, one hand extended as entire chunks of the Senate shot out seemingly at random, but in reality, were hunting the Jedi down. For a second, that metal hilt disappeared, causing Vader to frown. 

Then shadows moved behind him again, this time, he was unprepared. Revan had appeared from invisibility in complete silence. His blue blade pressed directly towards Vader’s spine. His Infinite Gear flashed red, producing a bubble shield for protection, and clashed directly with that blue blade. A moment later, Revan's red saber slashed at Vader’s neck, causing the shield to groan. 

Revan pressed the advantage mercilessly. He became a phantom in the truest sense as he went on a rapid fire rampage. 

Teleport.

Strike.

Teleport.

Strike again.

He became impossible to track, somehow bypassing Vader’s ability to sense metallic objects. A wrathful specter blinking through the darkness, Revan was ever present. Every appearance brought another storm of Form VII aggression and crackling lightning.

Vader endured it through sheer monstrous durability.

Then the Sith Lord changed tactics.

His fist clenched.

The Force bent under his will. 

Revan suddenly halted mid-motion, the shield he used to coat his form began to ripple under Vader’s hatred. 

“Teleport again, and I shall fly into the sky where you cannot touch me.” Vader declared, holding his lightsaber outward. 

For a brief moment, silence hung over the chamber except for the hiss of fire and falling debris. Then, extending his blade with a bow, Revan offered him his blade. 

“Come, sabermonkey.” 

Vader released his grip, and stood still, pointing his blade at the ground in disdain for his opponent. 

Both men eyed one another silently, their cloaks fluttering in the breeze. Then, at some unseen signal, they lunged at one another at the same time. 

Shockwaves rippled across the chamber floor as the intensity of their strikes picked up. Sometimes Vader was hurled through hallways, one time he collapsed an entire floor upon his foe, attempting to crush him beneath it all. Their fight went on for several minutes, yet felt like hours had passed. Vader was wheezing, and felt his asthmatic respiratory system tighten as the recycled air of his artificial lungs dragged in foul air. 

As time progressed, Vader found that something was different. This weakness was abnormal. Glancing down at the Infinite Gear, he saw that it was dim, like a lightbulb on the verge of going out. To solve this issue, he needed to take life! As he made this realization, and was looking for an opportunity to fly into Coruscant, and empower himself further, his opponent was gathering himself for his next assault. 

Revan stood atop a broken senate pod cloaked in writhing darkness, his twin sabers humming at his sides while black mist poured endlessly from his body.

The two monsters faced one another across the ruined heart of the Republic. 

The Chosen One. 

The Heart of the Force. 

Neither man cared about such titles at the moment. All that mattered was one thing:

TO WIN. 

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AN: Man, the conclusion of this arc is drawing near, and it's going to be insane.