The Verdict 4

The dark amalgamation was a full two feet taller than me, bringing it to the huge size of 9ft. Adding in his massive, bulging muscles that swelled in unnatural ways, it managed to make me look relatively petite in comparison.

With its long overgrown horns, bloodshot red eyes, and its overall beastly demeanour. It looked more beast than man.

Letting out a guttural bellow, the conjured Zabrak launched itself at me as I ignited my own dual sabers. Taking wild, untrained swings at me, I blocked and parried the mad man's blows, coming to the conclusion that though he outmatched me in strength, I outclassed him in skill.

Overshooting another one of his attacks, I redirected his blade to the side with one of my own leaving his full arm exposed. Quickly striking with my second saber, the purple stream of plasma seared cleanly through the flesh and bone of his shoulder, causing a green mist of ichor to spray into my eyes.

The slight obstruction gave the abomination a time to slam his leg into the ground and send a repulsive blast of force at me that pushed me back tens of metres, but otherwise done no noticeable damage.

Clutching his arm, he screamed in pain before out of his mouth a powerful blast of force shot towards me. It was like a mix between push and crush that destroyed everything in its path, before it reached me I pushed force push in a defensive manner to create a V-shaped blockade in front of me that split apart the impending shockwave.

What an ingenious technique, definitely going to try copying that once this is over. It's the perfect ability for saber locks, where you could scream in someone's face from point blank range.

Now with one less arm, the abomination was like a cornered beast. He constantly lashed out with force strikes that grew in proportion with his rage, but he wasn't the only one that grew in strength.

For the first time since learning the technique I could properly use Vaapad against a darkside user, and I must say, Mace Windu was an utter genius for making this form. No matter how powerful my opponent grew, I mirrored him.

Using my own darkness in unison with my adversaries, I created a constantly empowering circuit between us. Using him as a battery to fuel my own energy, while he did nothing but make me stronger.

I felt positively overflowing with vigour, so much so I activated force valour by default just to burn off some steam. With all of this power flowing through me I started to pick apart the amalgamation with little effort.

Crushing its legs with the force's vice grip, hacking off his remaining arm and finally ending the fight with the vertical strike he attempted to sneak attack me with, cleaving his body straight down the middle and draining whatever life he had left in him.

Standing in the cloud of ichor, I truly did my best to calm down before I got drunk on the temporary power and started destroying the surroundings to vent this pent up feeling I was filled with.

Upon return to normal, I silently thought in disbelief that I might've actually turned out like that…thing had I not been taken off Dathomir by Vos. Made me grateful. I can't imagine what it would've been like to live as that hunk of anger that couldn't do anything but destroy.

Having said that, I never had much time to ponder longer on that line of thought, as I felt the sensation I got when being pulled into this meditative trance.

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As expected, by the time I opened my eyes again I was in the council chambers, surrounded by the proud countenance of the Masters that I could barely make out in the darkness.

Without a single word, the members of the council ignited their lightsabers of various colours and held them upright in front of them, forming a circle of blades around me. Standing right ahead of me on top of his seat, was Yoda gripping his green shoto-saber.

"Step forward." He said in a clear and concise manner.

Bringing myself towards the Grand Master I took a knee beneath him within his lightsaber's range. As Yoda raised his blade, the rest of the Master's lowered theirs, making an aesthetically pleasing sight.

"Lycan, by the right of the council." Yoda lowered his green blade as it hovered closely over my right shoulder, before switching sides and continuing, "By the will of the force."

"Dub thee I do, Jedi Knight of the Republic."

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{Aayla Secura POV}

Anxiously I waited outside of the council room. I couldn't help but pace back and forth to let off some nervous energy, my worry was becoming more palpable by the minute.

How could it not?

My one and only Padawan was going under that horrendous Trial of the Spirit. Whilst not being as difficult as the Trail of Skill, or as painful as the Trial of Flesh, it was by far the most dangerous.

During the trial it's far from unheard of for Padawan's mind to crumble under the pressure of facing their inner darkness. I would know best, I'd already had a dance with the darkside once before and the Trial of Spirit brought it all rushing back despite all I had done to move past that stage of my life.

I barely made it through by the skin of my lekku, and despite passing, I had to undergo rest for several days to repair the damage done to my mind.

Suddenly I heard the door behind me sliding open, anxiety unbefitting of a Jedi welled up in my chest as the scene of a stoic council member telling me of Lycan's failure played through my head.

The perturbation was unbearable, bracing myself. I turned around to face the music.

"Lycan!" I blurted looking at the smirking Zabrak.

Not a second passed before I appeared next to him gripping at his robes, "You're fine." I choked leaning my head against his chest, my eyes moistening slightly in relief. It was as if a starship sized load was lifted off my chest seeing him here the same as before.

"What? Were you out here doubting me?" He jokingly poked.

Shaking my head, I stood in silence for a moment relishing in his company, "C-congratulations on your promotion. I-It was well deserved." I stuttered after realising I had been leaning against him for a bit too long. I tried to take a step back but a large hand caught my shoulder before I could do so.

Looking up, I caught sight of Lycan's face as he said, "You know what that means right?" Every word spoken with an impish smile. Without warning I was lifted in the air and slung over his shoulder like a sack of protatoes.

"Party time." With those final words he took off running for the temple's exit at high speed.

Barely holding on, I yelled at my captor, "Put me down! I'm going to fall off." My lekku swinging wildly all over the place due to how fast he was moving.

"Better hold on then." He replied, as we left the temple and were exposed to the blue skies of Coruscant, "Me and Rael did this once. Can't remember how it went though."

"What?" I asked, before realising how close we were to the edge of the temple's roof. I quickly figured out what he had in mind, and I wasn't the least bit looking forward to it, making it clear with my shouts, "Lycan don't jump!"

Alas I was too late and my Padawa- Lycan had already leapt. Changing my tune I gripped onto him tightly, lekku and all, and screamed more than I'd like to admit as we fell to the lower levels of Coruscant.

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