TRIPLE RELEASE TODAY
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More than three days had passed since Corvus had finished his missions on Coruscant.
He would have liked to have stayed on the planet, and kept up his terror campaign against the Empire and Palpatine, however he felt as if he had left just in time.
As he was leaving the System, Corvus had sensed an unimaginably dark presence that could only belong to one man.
Shortly after jumping into Hyperspace, an echo in the Force had resonated across the galaxy, and Corvus had felt the instantaneous death of millions.
Corvus could only surmise that Palpatine had unleashed something incredibly destructive in a fit of rage, confirming to him that this was Legends Palpatine that he was dealing with.
Just the thought of that sinister old man was cause to shudder in place.
Shaking his head, Corvus reflected on his journey thus far to the Illum System.
During these last few days he had been slowly grinding exp until he hit level 24.
Once he reached this threshold, he came across a problem.
No matter how many mines he disabled-or any other exp granting actions he took-every time a notification should have appeared, instead he received [+0 exp].
As soon as this had occurred, a new quest was initiated.
[Jedi Master:
1) Reach Level 50 in Path of the Jedi: 10/50
2) Master One Lightsaber Form: 0/1
3) Raise a student to Knighthood: 0/1
4) Raise a Force Ability to tier IV without system assistance: 0/1
Reward: Jedi Master (low)
+2 all stat points]
Upon receiving this quest, Corvus had chuckled to himself, it seemed that one could not simply become a Jedi Master through disabling mines, or becoming a murder hobo chasing after exp. If he wanted the system to recognize his prowess, he would have to walk the walk, to actually earn what was expected of a bonafide Jedi Master.
Honestly speaking, Corvus was a little disappointed that he couldn't farm mines into godhood, but he was also a little relieved that he would have to work for this power. By forcing him to teach a student, learn a saber form, expand his own knowledge regarding the Force, and aid the weak, Corvus would have a much stronger foundation to draw upon.
Until this point, he had mostly been winging it, and was heavily reliant on the system's abilities. Ultimately, this would limit him, and might make him shy away from exploring other paths or abilities. By breaking out of this safety net, and researching things on his own, it would set him up to go down other roads, and traverse different routes.
Abilities like flight, teleportation, or mind reading-just to name a few-were not part of his system at all, and were things Corvus was greatly interested in. Hell, even if it looked kind of stupid, Leia's ability to fly-at matching speed-with other ships in through the vacuum of space in the new Disney movies was a power worth learning. He was in a universe with insane Legends abilities, and Corvus aimed to absorb everything he could.
In conclusion, as annoying as it was on the surface, Corvus was grateful for this quest, and how it propelled him to be better.
That said, he had a lot on his plate, and the events within the galaxy awaited no man.
Whilst he would like to fuck off to Tython for a decade, and then emerge as some Jedi Savant, that wasn't really an option when the Empire & CIS were at war.
Although he found many of the CIS's actions to be distasteful, and in some cases downright repugnant, they were the most meaningful force right now that could oppose Palpatine.
From Corvus's POV, the Jedi & Republic sympathizers were somewhat like the Allies, and the CIS occupied a role similar to the Soviets during WW2. The CIS were great teammates soaking up the brunt of the attention, but they also had their fair share of skeletons in the closet.
Which is why he had to do everything in his power to subvert them to his influence, and eventually replace their problematic leaders with pro-Jedi/pro-Republic ones.
Thankfully the war should be in a bit of a lull at the moment, due to the Empire's collapsing economy. This served as much needed relief for the CIS, who were struggling and on the backfoot. However, this state of affairs wouldn't last forever, as Palpatine was a masterclass politician, and would be sure to get the affairs of state in order.
In short, Corvus reckoned he had one to three months before he needed to act, and take to the front lines of this conflict.
Thinking about the happy go lucky smiles he had seen on the teens' faces whilst they played their games, Corvus felt bad that he would be bringing them back into the horrors of war so soon.
But whilst they relaxed, and celebrated their return to Tython, hundreds-possibly thousands-of Jedi were out there struggling to survive.
Corvus couldn't in good conscious let his people suffer. As a man who believed strongly in family, and loyalty, he knew that there was no better organization in the galaxy than the Order of Jedi Knights.
Once Corvus reformed the Order, it would once more become the brotherhood of Force Adepts that he had dreamed of when he was a boy. He had been a big admirer of Luke Skywalker, and would be drawing heavily on his New Jedi Order, the Je'daii, the Jedi Lords, and other types of Jedi to make the best Jedi Order that the galaxy had ever seen.
First, Corvus decided he was going to start down that path by mastering a lightsaber form. If he was to win his duel against Keira, lightsaber skills were sure to be important. By defeating her, and letting her get his measure, he hoped to convert the staunch follower of the Jedi Code to his thinking. Corvus believed that if he could sway this type of person, that she could serve as a bridgehead to help convince other Jedi survivors.
Perhaps this was wishful thinking, but Corvus knew he had to start somewhere, and defeating her would be the first step.
Now the problem was, where would he find a suitable trainer? He had so many holocrons, that he didn't know which one to choose.
Thankfully, he did have someone to go to.
Lucien Draay.
The Jedi Shadow had imprinted a mark on the top side of his hand, and had told Corvus to return once he could see the symbol.
Well ever since he received the Jedi Master quest, the symbol had revealed itself.
As he had more than 19hrs until they entered the Illum System, Corvus figured he might as well see what Draay had to say, and get a crash course on a lightsaber form. He wasn't delusional enough to think he could master it in less than a day, but considering time seemed to flow slower within a holocron, then perhaps he could get a good grasp of the basics. His feat, [Master Two-Weapon Fighting] wasn't for show, he already had some high end skill when it came to handling a weapon, and his Awareness stat also helped when it came to picking things up.
Retreating to his quarters, Corvus sat down on a mat, and began to meditate on his first holocron.
Emerging in a dojo, the tea table was gone, and Draay-the middle aged blonde dressed in a yukata-was sitting with his back turned to Corvus. At the same time, he heard birds from outside, and looked out a window that looked out into a beautiful garden. One of the birds came close, only to be snatched up by a Vornskr.
The alien dog's red eyes stared into Corvus's, and he felt something peculiar. The Force Bond he had with Huego-the Vornskr he had defeated on Coruscant-seemed to reach across the galaxy, and pulsed deep within Corvus's soul.
For an unknown amount of time, Corvus felt as if he had relived the entire life of a Vornskr. From the way it hunted, to the way it used the Force.
It was as if he was one with the flow of the natural world.
This magical and otherworldly experience evoked wonder and excitement in Corvus, and could best be described as a zen-like state, or enlightenment.
Yet like all good things in this galaxy, it was cut short by the ignition of a lightsaber.
Caught off guard by Draay's sudden attack, Corvus stumbled to his feet, and ignited his own twin lightsabers to meet Draay.
Their blades clashed several times, and Corvus was pressed back. The entire time, Draay was leaking his emotions like a sieve, demonstrating the feelings of determination, and disappointment.
Corvus was confused at first, but then he saw that the stronger these emotions became, the faster, and more powerful Draay's attacks became!
His Force Bond with Huego then flared up, and Corvus found himself mimicking the hunting techniques he had experienced during that vision-quest, and applied them to his lightsaber form. Very quickly, he started to fight back on even terms with the Jedi Master.
Corvus's lightsaber moved almost with a will of its own as he channeled his moves through the Force. Best described as 'chaotic and erratic' this was only the superficial attributes an outsider may use to describe his moves.
However…However! Thanks to his vision, Corvus knew that each strike, every furious swipe…they were all deliberate!
Like a predator driving its prey into the waiting jaws of its companion, Corvus began to press Draay back, and moved in a flurry if strikes he didn't think was possible. He had exceeded his current level, not through Force Speed or Valor, but through skill in the blade!
More and more their blades clashed, the sound of lightsabers impacting one another became a constant tone within this gym.
Corvus's form, style, and bearing began to tighten into a formidable machine, one that struck a chaotic cord in battle, yet strove for balance and control in all things.
He was harnessing his emotions, yet not falling to them!
"I am at Peace; for I know Emotion.
I have Power; for I also have Knowledge.
I have Passion; for I am Serene.
I can embrace Mortality; for I know Death.
I am balanced through the Force!"
Upon finishing this mantra, Corvus felt a wave of energy coalesce around him, and it was as if the image of his Vornskr companion had super imposed itself over his form.
Twirling his blades, he evaded Draay's thrust by taking a knee. Hot azure plasma sailed over his head by less than an inch, but that was all Corvus needed. With a flourish, he cut off Draay's arms, and then diced through the middle aged blonde's torso.
Disappearing like a npc that had been despawned, Draay was gone.
"I went easy on you today. Return in a week after self reflection. Your form is sloppy, but we shall make a master of Juyo out of you yet. The Vornskr Form suits you well." Draay's voice sounded from within the room.
Vision fading to black, Corvus found himself sitting within his chambers once again.
Robes covered in sweat, Corvus took a deep breath, and then bowed towards the holocron.
"Thank you, Master Draay, and you too, Huego. Without your help, I never would have come so far." Corvus whispered his thanks, and sent out pure feelings of gratitude through his Force Bond.
Form VII was known as Juyo, but was also known as the Ferocity Form, and the Way of the Vornskr. Corvus truly did owe his animal companion a debt for helping him grasp this saber technique.
[Hungry. Steak.] Huego sent back a mental image through their bond.
Corvus chuckled, replying in the affirmative. Good boys got good meals.
Stretching his limbs, Corvus was going to get some shut eye, however his apprentice, Jax had knocked on his door.
"Master? We've arrived."
Corvus cracked his neck in annoyance.
No matter, all he had to do was win against that hot green alien girl, right?
After he won, he'd be able to ask her any question.
Grinning lewdly to himself, Corvus got up, and moved to the cockpit.
If Keira wanted him so bad, he wouldn't mind sharing a piece.
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AN: Last chapter I made a mistake. Jax is the name of the MC's apprentice who lost his arms and has white hair. Yon is the angsty short one with black hair.