Chapter 9- Suffering Rising

It was in that moment, examining the damage to his ship, that Syphonix's influence truly took hold. It was as if Syphonix had cast his gaze on his new pupil. In Drahcir's mind he heard the words Syphonix spoke to him. He spoke to them as he revealed his plans to his acolyte.

In order to become stronger, Drahcir, you must endure immense amounts of pain. Your body is unlike any seen in centuries, not since Darth Sion has a Sith had such potential. You grow stronger by suffering, in order to suffer, you must lose the ones you care about most. Every time you get closer to death, every time you life should be forfeit, you will grow stronger. Pain is your strength, wounds are your fire. From misery comes power, from suffering comes an eternity of life.

The ship had crashed and his allies were left without an escape and without a defense. Drahcir knew that now was the perfect time to execute his plans. His supposed allies would bring him immense strength; due to the value they held in his life, and him in theirs. Even Mirlia was due for her imminent execution. She would bring him the ultimate power.

Drahcir worked quickly to enact his plans. First he severed as many of the power systems still active in the ship. He entirely cut off any safety measures on the ship. Then he located a few frag grenades and threw them into vital areas of the ship. As they exploded, the ship blew apart. The explosion blasted every being on that ship onto the floor, as the ship collapsed around them.

Drahcir sifted through the wreckage, letting the fire caress his skin and the sharp metal fragments heal his wounds. He was more powerful than ever. He came across Termaks, his leg broken. He quickly and silently stabbed Termaks repeatedly until he could no longer be alive. Mirlia was still alive, though she was barely breathing. Drahcir lifted her up by her neck, and a sudden wave of emotion rose in her face. She was immensely confused as to why he was now turning on her. He threw her from the wreckage, out onto the singed grass that was slowly catching fire.

Someone else limped through an opening, clutching his right shoulder with considerable effort. Whatever had happened, he knew that the ship was no longer a safe place to be in. He collapsed by Mirlia's side, exhausted. Regeal's wounds were deep, and without some nursing of his wounds, he would soon die. His sister was dead, as she was crushed under the weight of thousands of pounds of metal. Whatever had caused this explosion, he had stolen the most important thing in his life.

Drahcir slowly walked away from the wreckage, the fire burning his clothing and casting a long shadow in front of him. He ignited his lightsaber, ready to deliver the ultimate suffering in order to find the power towards ultimate strength.

"What are you doing Drahcir?" Regeal asked. "Please, put your weapon away and help us!"

"Your deaths will bring me the ultimate power. Why would I save you?" Drahcir answered.

Mirlia rose to her feet slowly, feeling a couple broken ribs. She began to cry, as if her entire spirit had been broken. Everything Drahcir had done for her, all the love she felt for him, was coming undone. Everything had been a lie, the truth a dark shadow that had been cast in order for yet another Sith to reach his potential. They were merely pawns, sacrifices.

She brought her own lightsaber out from her clip. She refused to allow this new Sith lord to rise to power. She must kill him, if only to save what small piece of himself that still remained inherently good. Her love for him motivated her to do what must be done.

"We aren't going to let you do this," she said, her voicing shaking. "The Sith must be eradicated!"

"Good! I want you to fight me; your attempts to cripple me will only make me stronger." His mouth was bent towards a grin, and Mirlia would almost say he was laughing.

"You used all of us, for the greedy passions of the dark side. Will there be no redemption for you?" Despite the training she had endured at the Jedi Temple to control her emotions, Mirlia's eyes had nevertheless watered, and she was nearly shaking uncontrollably.

"Redemption?" Drahcir scoffed. "I have set myself free." Energy grew from within him as he shot bolts of foul lightning from his fingertips to the collapsed Regeal, the strength of the hit enough to lift him into the air. Drahcir reveled in his newfound ability, Regeal's life-force almost moving in opposite of the bolts.

Mirlia charged at Drahcir, blasting him with a force that should have knocked him off his feet. Yet the dark Jedi remained firm in his place, and didn't even bother to look towards her as her blade moved dangerously close to his torso. Yet, at the moment when the blade should have made contact, Drahcir stepped to the side, as if he knew exactly how this blade was going to move. Every swing she sent towards him he easily dodged, rarely bringing his lightsaber to block.

Regeal's screams suddenly silenced and Drahcir could feel his life force expel from his body. He cast aside the worthless body and turned his attention to Mirlia. He engaged her for only a couple of seconds before his blade pierced her chest. He moved his blade as if he was trying to lift her off the ground. The blade carved through her body until it had cleaved her in two and passed through her head.

Deactivating his lightsaber, he turned back to the deteriorating wreck that used to be his ship. The flame from the explosions had fully engulfed the ship, and metal was melting from the intensity of the heat. Anyone who had survived the crash would not survive the inferno.

His mind no longer felt the emotions he had felt for his fallen companions, and whatever compassion remained he buried deep, in place for the more lucrative passions more known for the Sith to follow in.

The Dominion appeared overhead, as if Syphonix had been waiting for him. A shuttle appeared out of the bowels of the monstrosity, and moved towards Drahcir's current location. Landing a distance away, the presence of Syphonix and his compatriot Rigon could be felt through the dread that befell even Drahcir. The two figures were the only life forms that appeared on the loading ramp as it descended onto the forest floor.

"It appears our friend is ready," Syphonix said to Arkaius, and continued with, "Indeed. Finally, it is time."