Chapter 14: Chapter 14: The Fire Within
The neon glow of Nar Shaddaa's streets flickered like dying embers as Harry and Inquisitor Valen stood amidst the ruins of Skeev's Tech Den. Smoke curled from the shattered walls, bodies of Imperial Purge Troopers sprawled across the ground.
But none of that mattered now.
Not with her standing there—lightsaber ignited, golden eyes locked onto him.
Her presence in the Force was suffocating. Cold, precise, lethal.
Harry took a slow breath, his crimson vibrosword humming in response. His pulse was steady. His grip firm.
This isn't Hogwarts. This isn't a duel for points or house pride.
This is war.
[BOSS ENCOUNTER: INQUISITOR VALEN]
• Level: 18
• Danger Level: Critical
• Objective: Survive the Duel.
• Bonus Objective: Wound Valen before escaping.
• Battle Modifiers:
• Inquisitor Strength: Skilled in both Sith and Jedi combat techniques.
• Harry's Advantage: Force Synthesis grants unpredictable techniques.
Zara, crouched behind a broken table, cursed under her breath. "You're actually going to fight her?"
Harry's smirk was razor-sharp. "She's not giving me much of a choice."
Valen tilted her head, studying him like prey. "Lord Vader was right." She took a measured step forward, her double-bladed lightsaber spinning lazily in her hand. "You are interesting."
Then she attacked.
Her movements were blindingly fast—one moment she was standing still, the next she was upon him, her crimson blade carving through the air in a precise arc.
Harry barely blocked in time. The force of her strike sent him skidding back, his boots digging into the cracked duracrete.
She didn't stop.
Another strike—vertical, feint, then a sudden sweep toward his legs.
Harry jumped, flipping over her, twisting mid-air. He landed behind her, driving his blade toward her spine.
But she was already moving.
Valen sidestepped, her free hand snapping out, the Force slamming into Harry's chest like a speeder crash.
He flew backward, crashing through a metal support beam.
[HP: 140/200]
Pain flared through his body, but it only fueled the fire inside him.
[Skill Activated: Force Synthesis (Level 2)]
• Effect: Balances both Light and Dark side techniques, increasing adaptability in combat.
• Current Boost: +20% Reflex Speed
Harry recovered fast.
Before Valen could close the distance, he extended his hand—Force energy crackling between his fingers.
[Skill Activated: Force Rupture (Level 5)]
The air rippled as a dark shockwave burst from his palm, twisting the space around Valen.
For the first time, she hesitated.
The Force energy coiled around her, trying to crush her armor, her very being.
But then—
She laughed.
"Good." Her voice was almost admiring. "You're learning."
Then she tore through his attack, her power surging like a storm.
[BATTLE UPDATE]
• Enemy Status: Valen is unaffected by minor Force techniques—adaptive combatant.
• New Objective: Change tactics.
She's too strong head-on.
Harry shifted his stance. He wouldn't win by brute force. He had to be smarter.
He dashed sideways, weaving between broken debris, forcing Valen to chase.
She did—her movements relentless, precise.
A high slash. A low feint.
Harry parried just in time, feeling the heat of her blade inches from his face.
He saw an opening.
With a flick of his wrist, he deactivated one end of his double-bladed vibrosword—turning it into a single-blade style.
Then he struck.
His blade slammed into her side, searing through her armor.
Valen hissed in pain, staggering back, her golden eyes burning with fury.
[BATTLE OBJECTIVE COMPLETE: Wound Inquisitor Valen]
• EXP Gained: 6,500
• Skill Progression: Force Rupture (Lv. 5 → Lv. 6)
• New Status Effect: Valen is now personally invested in hunting you.
Harry panted, gripping his blade. "Had enough?"
Valen touched her scorched armor, her fingers coming away with blood.
Then she smiled.
"Oh no, Shadowborn." Her saber reignited. "This is just beginning."
But before she could advance—
A detonation rocked the street.
Blaster fire erupted from the rooftops as Rebel snipers engaged, pinning Valen down.
Zara grabbed Harry's arm. "Now! We're leaving!"
Harry didn't argue.
They vanished into the smoke, disappearing into the underbelly of Nar Shaddaa.
[QUEST COMPLETE: Survive the Duel]
• EXP Gained: 10,000
• Level Up! (Lv. 11)
• Alignment Status: The Grey Force (Balanced – Dark Influence 14%)
• New Title Earned: "The Shadowborn"
Aboard a Hidden Rebel Base – The Aftermath
Harry sat alone in the dimly lit command room, his wounds still fresh, his mind racing.
He replayed Valen's words.
"You cannot run from your past, Shadowborn."
He wasn't running.
He was hunting.
The data chip was still in his pocket—a final breadcrumb leading to the truth.
Zara leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "You gonna tell me what the hell happened back there?"
Harry exhaled. "I know my name now."
She raised an eyebrow. "And?"
He met her gaze, his voice steady. "It's time I find out why it matters."
Meanwhile… Aboard the Executor
Darth Vader stood in silence, staring at the scorched armor piece presented before him.
Valen knelt before him, head bowed. "He wounded me, my lord."
Vader's mechanical breathing remained steady. "Good."
He turned, his cloak billowing behind him.
"The boy is learning."
"Soon, he will come to us."
The stars stretched endlessly before him.
"And when he does…"
Vader's lightsaber ignited, casting red shadows across the chamber.
"…he will kneel."
To be continued…