Chapter 38 – May the Best Sith Win
Exegol system – The Unknown Regions
Kylo Ren – POV
As Snoke last utterance, finished echoing around the colossal chamber that the Sith throne rested in. Kylo Ren settled himself into a defensive stance with his fiery crimson lightsaber held before him.
Any hope of parley or cooperation had just been destroyed. (Not that a meeting between two rival Sith Lords, ever had a great chance of ending non-violently. It was after all, the very nature of the Sith and the Dark Side to fight, compete and dominate those around them).
Palpatine listened as the echo died away.
He was no longer laughing or even smiling. Maybe the threat and its deeper meaning had struck a chord within him. Maybe he was aware that Snoke could kill him if given the chance. As powerful as Palpatine was, Snoke was not weak either.
Maybe he simply did not see this moment in time. A moment that would decide the future and direction of the Sith as a moment for levity. Palpatine was a man who took perverse joy in many things, others would find horrific. He would cackle as villages burned before him while he used the fires to warm his feet.
But even he viewed a few things as sacred and demanded them to be taken seriously.
The Sith Order and its fate was one such thing. So were challenges to his throne and title. Now was not the time for levity. Now was the time for serious action.
Slowly, Palpatine rose from the throne.
His face showed clear signs of his deep immersion in the dark side. His eyes burned with Sith golden hues. His skin was pale and sallow with sunken lines and crevasses that showed the ravages the dark side had left on him.
However, the effect was not as severe as it has been during his reign as the Galactic Emperor. There was a noticeable improvement in his facial complexion and in the rest of his body. Now it was possible to see the resemblance to the handsome politian he had once been while he served as Naboo's senator.
This made sense, since his original body was destroyed and he had clearly ensured that his new clone body would be in the prime of its physical fitness when his spirit took possession of it.
Still being on a planet like Exegol for so many decades and with no unknowing galactic public to keep up appearances for. It was clear that the dark side was once again making its presence known on his body.
He was no longer the handsome career politians that he had been in his time in the senate. But he was not the horrifically ravaged cadaverous man that he had been after his battle with Jedi Master Mace Windu. But whatever he looked like, his power in the force could not be denied and clearly had not waned in the slightest.
If anything, it might have even grown stronger.
Palpatine's face never lost its imposing visage and his burning yellow eyes never left their locking gaze with Snoke's cobalt blue orbs.
Kylo Ren felt his gave move from one to the other and back again as he tried to form some semblance of a plan that would lead to his survival.
But nothing came to his mind. So, he settled into sit back and wait for the situation to change. If he saw something that would assist him. Or if he spied and opportunity that would work to his advantage. He would make sure to seize it.
But until that opportunity presented itself. He resolved to remain silent and observe. After all, if there was one thing that the last thousand years had taught the Sith. It was patience.
Palpatine and Snoke regarded each other for a moment longer. With nothing but the ever-present arches of lightning and cracks of thunder breaking the silence that lay over the dark temple like a shroud.
Then finally, Palpatine broke the silence.
"So be it." He said coldly. "You have been a most amusing and useful toy in my plans Snoke. But your usefulness is at an end." He glanced around the temple. "This world would have been your tomb long ago if not for me. It seems only fitting that I end you on this world myself. I will raise a tomb on this world for you as a last courtesy and the inscriptions shall read; 'The tomb of Snoke. The fool who thought he ruled the Sith'."
Snoke was unmoved by the obvious threat. Instead, he rolled his gnarled shoulders and stood up a bit straighter as he readied himself for the confrontation. "Maybe so, but you won't even warrant a tomb, Sidious." He retorted. "For all your power and all your achievements, you have been more of a bane to the Sith then any Jedi. Your megalomania and sheer insanity are the rival of Valkorian. And just like him you put your delusions of godhood above the goals of the Sith and the Dark Side." Snoke spat with clear distaste.
"And today I will do what Skywalker failed to do. I will wash the galaxy clean of you." Snoke proclaimed.
"I call a Kaggath, the arena is this temple and the terms are to the death." Snoke stated as Palpatine sneered in response. "May the best Sith win." Snoke finished.
Palpatine chuckled slightly as he regarded Snoke from the throne. "May the best Sith win." He repeated glibly.
Before Kylo Ren could even blink. Palpatine exploded into motion.
Palpatine raised his hands and lightning flew from them in savage bolts of power that lanced their way across the chamber. They flew towards Snoke with deadly purpose. But Snoke was undeterred as he raised his own hands and battered the dark energy aside with his own power.
The energy was redirected until it collided with the walls of the temple and exploded out in force.
Palpatine did not waste a moment as he lept forward in a twisting motion. As he did so, he emitted a Force Scream that echoed across the temple and left Kylo Ren almost falling to his knees. While the Force scream was often a technique used by Jedi and Sith like a sonic blast. The Sith had long developed an alternative technique that crushed the will and resolve of their opponent. Leaving them staggered and trembling before them (if they were particularly weak minded).
It took a great deal of Kylo Ren's resolve and power to shake off the effects of the scream of power.
But his master never faulted for a second.
Using the Force to amply and strengthen his gnarled and haggard limbs and muscles. Snoke lept out of the way as Palpatine crashed down on to the same location that the Supreme Leader had just been standing on. The force of the impact, enhanced by the power of the dark side. Caused the stone floor of the temple to crumble and shatter. Stone fragments flying in all directions as the blast sent stone shards in all directions.
Snoke raised his hand and instantly the stone shards and daggers that had been dislodged from the floor froze as their flight was halted.
Working at the speed of thought. Snoke took the shards of earth that were as sharp as knives and sent them flying back at Palpatine. Intending to impale the former Emperor to the floor.
Palpatine was ready as he backflipped out of the crater that he had created moments ago. The shards of rock embedded themselves in the crater less then a second after he evacuated his previous position. The jagged rocks sticking up from the stone like the spikes of some Sith spawn creature.
Snoke did not left up and he raised his hands and unleashed his own lightning at Palpatine. But much like Snoke had, Palpatine swatted the energy aside with little apparent effort.
The whole exchange had lasted less then a few seconds. But it still left Kylo Ren in shock as he took in the speed and power of the two master's of the dark side. He had always known that his master was powerful beyond measure. And he had heard enough scary stories about Emperor Palpatine from his parents and uncle to know that he was a being whose power was legendary.
But seeing these facts clearly demonstrated before him was both terrifying and awe-inspiring. It was a reminder that to wield the power of the dark-side was to ascend to the level of a god. It reminded him of an ancient description of the Sith by a Kaleesh apprentice whose name escaped him at the moment.
The apprentice had stated 'The Sith are like gods who have not died.'
It was a very true statement and it was one that reminded Kylo Ren of his potential and his destiny.
'One day, I will reach their level and surpass it'. Kylo Ren mentally promised himself.
The fight paused briefly as the lightning blast exploded in the distance and Snoke and Palpatine regarded each other. After a moment, Snoke broke the tense silence.
"I have long heard of your legendary skill with the lightsaber. Yet I notice you have not drawn a blade, especially when I myself am unarmed." He asked in a half serious and half mocking tone.
Palpatine sneered in response as he held up his hands and allowed Force lightning to arch between his fingers. As if it illustrates his next words.
"The lightsaber is the prized possession of a Sith. It is a legendary and effective, but crude weapon. One that the Sith evolved past long ago. A true Dark Lord, needs only the Force!" He said, shouting the final words as he thrust his hands out.
Kylo Ren was forced to shield his eyes as a blast of scarlet energy, blinding in its intensity erupted from the emperor's hands. As if fired from an energy cannon, the beam of energy flew straight at Snoke almost too fast for the Sith apprentice to comprehend what he was seeing.
But somehow Snoke was not only able to see the attack coming. But he was able to spin out of the way just in time as he vaulted across to the side as the energy shot past him. The crimson beam did not stop as it continued its path and slammed into the stone walls of the temple.
Kylo Ren knew from his entry into the temple and his careful observation that the temple walls were at least several metres thick. Probably several times more in the area's where the chamber walls were carved into the solid crust of Exegol itself. It should take sever plasma torches and heavy machinery to make so much as a noticeable hole in these walls.
But the blast of energy that Palpatine fired from his hands connected with the wall and instantly blasted it to atoms! The destructive effect was so complete that there was a noticeable lack of debris raining down from the destruction. It was as if the energy had ripped apart the stone molecule by molecule to the point where the structure and all physical matter had simply been erased out of existence. With little to no evidence left that it had ever been there at all.
The cloud of dust and the gaping hole that was borne into the wall was the only evidence remaining. It went so deep that Kylo Ren could not even tell how far the blast had penetrated.
He had heard of techniques like this. It was typically called; Force Destruction. It was an ancient technique of the Sith used by many of their great dark lords of the past. But typically, the practitioner required the use of amulets or talismans to use the attack. Even then the blasts were usually not that powerful unless channelled by an extreme connection to the dark side.
But he supposed Palpatine was certainly capable of feats such as these.
The sheer destruction he had just witnessed convinced him of the need to put some distance between him and this fight.
Kylo Ren called on the force backflipped to the far end of the chamber. From a pile of crumpled masonry, he was able to have a better vantage point while being reasonably out of harms way.
Snoke had not taken the time to admire the raw destructive power that Palpatine had unleashed. He darted forward, using the force to argument his speed to the point that he shot across the room like a golden blur. Kylo was further amazed how Snoke was able to use the power of the force to completely nullify the handicaps of his age and broken body.
He briefly recalled the abilities of Darth Sion, and wondered if his master was using similar methods in this fight.
Before anyone could react, Snoke was inside Palpatine's guard, close enough to reach out and touch the Emperor.
Snoke thrust his hand forward as if intending to ram it straight into Palpatine's face. Palpatine ducked out of the way and Snoke followed up with another hand jap at his foe, which Palpatine was forced to spin out of the war to avoid.
Both combatants moved at preternatural speed as Snoke continued to send his hands flying out at Palpatine while Palpatine continued to dodge, duck and weave out of the way.
To Kylo Ren it appeared as though the Supreme Leader had cast aside the force for boxing. But even then, he could sense the force flowing through his master. In addition, his master was not trying to punch Palpatine like a brawler. But instead seemed determined to make contact with his palm or individual fingers.
Finally, Palpatine was forced to duck to avoid another strike. But Snoke reacted quickly and stabbed down on him with his index finger. Palpatine seemed to flow like water as he butterfly spun out of the way while Snoke's finger continued on its downward path and stabbed down into the stone floor of the temple.
But instead of injuring himself. Snoke's finger embedded itself in the solid rock up to the main joint. Sinking into the rock as if it was made of butter.
The next instant, the rock floor in a perfect circle and across ten metres cracked and exploded outward. The stone was not cracked, or split or ruptured. It was entirely shattered into tiny fragments. It was as if the floor had been struck by a turbo cannon, instead of a bony finger of flesh and blood.
In the aftermarth of the destruction, Kylo Ren understood what his master had been doing.
Snoke was a master of the extremely rare ability known as Shatterpoint.
Shatterpoints were a complex Force phenomenon, perceivable only by an unknown innate talent or immense focus and concentration on the part of the Force user. Shatterpoints were akin to fault lines, similar to different pathways of actions.
When applied to physical items, shatterpoints worked much in the same manner. An individual would view an item through the Force, noting where it came together and also noting weak points in its composition. By allowing the Force to surge through them into the weak point, individuals could effectively "shatter" the object, causing it to break into multiple fragments. Because the Force granted supernatural ability to those who were adept in its use, materials thought to be near-indestructible were easily destroyed.
He had at one point observed his master destroy a piece of Mandalorian Beskar armour with a mere touch. A material that was resistant to lightsaber's had crumpled in his hands like dry bread.
Now solid stone also gave way.
If Snoke managed to use that technique on Palpatine, then the resurrected emperor would be finished.
But the technique was not a perfect trump card.
It required great intensive focus and concentration in order to perceive the shatterpoints in the force. Especially in an opponent that was battling you at the same time. In addition, the technique was mentally exhausting and draining in the Force.
If Snoke was not able to make contact soon, he would be forced to abandon the technique and try more conventional methods of fighting.
Palpatine clearly realised this as well as he proceeded to make every effort to keep his distance from the Supreme Leader. While Snoke chased after him, Palpatine send burst after burst of lightning at Snoke. Forcing him to dodge and duck in turn. While also making it impossible for him to close the distance and connect with Palpatine's shatter point directly.
Snoke snarled in frustration as he swatted the latest lightning blast aside and redoubled his efforts. Moving faster then Kylo could follow as he flung himself at his enemy.
Palpatine continued to dodge the attacks. But as Snoke continued to inch closer with each failed pass. The Sith Lord changed tactics and instead went on the offensive.
Kylo Ren felt the power building as Palpatine summoned the dark side and drew it in from the intense strength that saturated the entire planet. Especially the temple itself.
He suddenly stopped moving as he stood perfectly still as he called upon the dark side as he pulled it towards him in a swirling maelstrom of power that enveloped him like a hurricane with himself at the eye of the storm. As the power built up it manifested as a swirling purple/red mist that enveloped the emperor as it grew in intensity. It began as a tight circle. But it quickly spread outward. Until it extended to a radius of ten, twenty, thirty, forty metres.
Snoke clearly recognised what was going on as he immediately abandoned his attack and lept backwards to safety as Palpatine unleashed the Death Field ability outward from his body in an explosion of dark side power that rippled outward from him.
If Kylo Ren had been standing within the epicentre of the attack. He knew that his life force would have been ripped away as his body turned into a mummified husk. Aged a thousand years in an instant until his lifeless body crumpled into powder.
Thankfully both he and Snoke were far enough outside the blast to avoid being killed or even seriously harmed.
But as Kylo Ren felt the faint ripples of the Death Field pass over him. It was still strong enough to leave him shivering from the pure dark side energy that it was formed of.
Thankfully the wave past over him and was gone in an instant. But the cold hollow feeling it left in him made him consider what would have happened if he had been standing at the epicentre.
Snoke shook of the residual effects of the death field much faster and he sent another blast of lightning at Palpatine. Hoping to reduce the emperor to ash while he was still bound to the centre of the blast. But Palpatine butterfly spun out of the way of the first blast and swatted the follow up blast with ease as he regained his footing.
The arch of lightning rebounded of the Emperor's pale gnarled hand and slammed into the wall of the temple. Sending a shower of dust and debris fragments raining down on Kylo Ren as he stood under the impact zone.
Snoke snarled in anger as he drew upon the force and sent unleashed a barrage of Force blasts at Palpatine.
A force blast was similar to a force push utilized by every garden variety Jedi. However, the Force blast was much stronger and much more deadly when used by a master of the dark side. While a Force push was a wave of energy invisible to the naked eye. The Force blast was clearly visible in the waves of distortion that travelled through the air as the energy was expelled. To the mundane eye, it resembled something of a sonic weapon that the supreme leader was throwing out from his hands.
Snoke hurled blast after blast at Palpatine as the Emperor called on the force to enhance his speed and agility far beyond what a human in the prime of their life and excellent physical health would have been capable of doing. The years fell away from his limbs and his body was imbued with a strength that should not belong to a body as degraded as his appeared.
The Emperor was a blur as he darted around the temple. Leaping, cartwheeling and dodging as Snoke continued to hurl waves of deadly force power at him.
The temple floor and walls were suffering under the barrage as every time one of the blasts hit the stone, the force of it smashed apart the masonry and sent huge chunks of rock flying in all directions!
Kylo Ren was forced to dodge a number of large pieces of rubble that would have crushed or buried him if they made contact. Backflipping away from the carnage he came to land near the Sith throne.
He was reasonably confident that neither Palpatine nor Snoke would risk anything happening to the sacred artefact of their order. Therefore, the throne was the safest place he could be in this clash of titans he found himself in.
He continued to watch as Snoke threw blast after blast of energy at the darting blur that was his opponent.
Kylo was transfixed by the display.
He was amazed at the destructive power that his master was unleashing. But what was more unnerving was that that while his master's aim seemed to be perfect each time. But somehow every time he fired, Palpatine seemed to anticipate his every move.
Kylo Ren felt it was only a matter of time before Palpatine went on the offensive.
He was soon proved right.
Palpatine lept to the sloping walls of the temple as he avoided another one of Snoke's Force blasts. Using the wall as leverage he pushed himself off the surface and shot like a blaster bolt directly at Snoke.
The move should have spelled death for the emperor. As fast as he was moving through the air, he was directly in the path of the next Force blast that Snoke should have sent his way. The impact would have shattered his bones to powder and ruptured his organs into jelly in a microsecond.
But the blast did not come in time.
Snoke was powerful beyond measure in the raw power of the dark side. But even he had limits, which were exasperated by his age and damaging past. Force blast were powerful, but they were also very taxing on the user and could not be used for long without succumbing to exhaustion.
A standard Jedi would only have been able to do it two or three times (if at all) before passing out. But Snoke was a Dark Lord and was capable of so much more.
That being said, he was not able to keep up such powerful attacks forever. This led to the brief delay between his attacks that Palpatine used to launch his own counter-attack.
The Emperor flew directly at the Supreme Leader and thrust out his hands like talons as if it claw out Snoke's eyes from his deformed skull.
As the hands reached out, Kylo Ren saw them burst into flame as the Emperor hands became wreathed in fire.
Pyrokinesis was a seldom used force technique among the Sith. It was seen as inferior to the much more powerful effects of Force lightning. As a result, it was mostly used for distractions and supportive attacks in battle.
But fire still burned and was still a deadly weapon if used correctly.
Snoke twisted out of the way. Moving in a way that would have shamed a professional contortionist and seemed like it would have shattered his spiderly body into fragments.
He was able to move his face out of the way just before Palpatine's hand thrust forward into the space that it had previously occupied a second ago. A blast of fire erupted from the emperor's hand as if from a flamethrower, so close that Snoke could feel the few hairs on his skull blacken and shrivel up from the intense heat.
If that attack had landed on target, his eyes would have been melted out of his skull in moments. Drippling down his face like jelly before Palpatine finished off his now blind opponent.
But Snoke had avoided the attack and now Palpatine was over extended and was well within his reach.
Summoning the Force as he studied its patterns and lines of power. He thrust his finger directly at Palpatine's exposed chest as he called his Shatterpoint ability into his hand once more.
Palpatine's eyes widened as he saw the incoming attack. If that ability struck him, his physical body would explode. But while he was still in the air from his own attack, he could not dodge the blow so easily.
With no other recourse, Palpatine thrust out his own hand as he cocooned the Force around it and poured all his strength into his tutaminis ability. With no way to avoid or completely block the attack from Snoke. Palpatine's only chance at survival was to intercept the blow and hope that the tutaminis ability would be enough to redirect or diffuse the power of the shatterpoint enough for him to survive.
Palpatine open palm met Snoke's extended index finger in a collision of both physical crude matter and force energy.
Kylo Ren was forced to look away as a blinding light burst from the point of impact as a wave of force power erupted across the chamber. It was as if an unstoppable force had collided with an immovable object. Although that was a blatant oversimilplification in how things felt in the Force right now.
With his eyes closed against the fierce white light, Kylo Ren could not see what has going on, but he could hear a shout of anger, rage and pain.
After a few seconds he was able to identify the source of the scream.
Palpatine!
As fast as it has appeared in the physical world, the light faded as Kylo Ren felt the currents of the Force return to normal like a lake settling after a stone has been cast into it.
As the light faded he was able to return his gaze to the battle.
Palpatine was backflipping away from Snoke and came to land on his feet several dozen meter's away. Snoke was frozen in position with his hand still outstretched with his finger still extended. Even as he remained motionless. Kylo Ren could see the strain on his body as his power receded from the attack.
Palpatine landed with a slight stagger and when he looked up at Snoke, his eyes were blazing with hatred and the promise of violence.
At first glance, it appeared to Kylo Ren that both combatants had come away from the encounter unscathed.
But then Kylo noticed that Palpatine was cradling his left hand against his chest, with the actual body part hidden in the folds of his black robes. As he watched he saw Palpatine hold up his hand to view the damage and Kylo Ren's eyes widened.
Palpatine's hand had been almost completely destroyed.
Only his thumb and index finger's remained intact but showing clear damage as blood poured from the digits.
But the rest of his fingers and the vast majority of his hand above the lower palm had been blasted apart. With bloody fragments of flesh and bone hanging off the limb from remaining muscle tendons that now hung like gory tassels from the ruined appendage.
Blood flowed freely from the wound which dripped to the stone floor loudly as it pooled at the Emperor's feet.
Palpatine's gaze fixed once more on Snoke and Kylo Ren could see that Palpatine was no longer treating this as an amusing game. Now he was out for blood and was determined to end his enemy now.
Palpatine's steadied his stance, and he sent a quick blast of lightning to his severed stump, cauterising the wound and stopping the blood flow as he hissed in pain and rage. Then he fixed his gaze on Snoke who was standing motionless as he readied himself for the next attack.
Palpatine's cradled his injured hand once more as he raised his right hand in a way that looked like he was summoning something from the depths of hell.
As he did so, Kylo Ren could feel the dark side rising up within the emperor. But it was not originating just from within Palpatine. It was as if the Emperor was calling on the power of Exegol itself as he willed the dark side energies infused within the planet and the temple to answer his call and bend it his will.
Then he saw them
All around the Emperor, the darkness that permeated the temple seemed to grow even more oppressive. It was as if the swirling miasma of the dark side was coalescing into a physical manifestation of black smoke that rose up from the floor of the temple.
The black smoke then formed themselves into a dozen smoky black tendrils that writhed and flexed like demonic serpent spirits.
Kylo Ren knew instantly that this was no illusion or trick of the light. The fact that his master visibly tensed showed that he knew it as well.
He had heard about this technique in the ancient Sith Holocrons and manuscripts his master had provided to him during his training.
This was a technique of Sith sorcery that had become famous in the Rule of Two era Sith since it was used by Darth Zannah against her master Darth Bane. The histories stated that when Darth Zannah and Darth Cognus had interred Bane's body on Korriban, she had left behind a number of manuscripts and records for future prospective Sith to learn from.
The ability called the dark side to adopt a physical presence in the forms of the smoky tendrils and bound to the will of the Sith Lord. Then they would be used as weapons in battle. They were impervious to any damage as long as the Sith fed them with a steady stream of power. And as they were made of pure dark side energy, they would destroy whatever they came into contact with instantly.
Snoke was at a disadvantage.
While he could also augment his speed and agility. He was simply not able to do it for long due to the damage done to his body. Avoiding a dozen separate enemies that could kill him with the mildest contact would end with his death.
It was only a question of time.
But he also had a technique that would allow him to even the odds.
If he had the necessary power to use it.
Reaching out to the Dark Side. Snoke raised his hand and gestured to his intended target.
But he was not gesturing at Palpatine, who even now was preparing to launch his own attack with the tendrils of dark side power.
Kylo Ren felt his whole body stiffen as he suddenly felt his power leaving him. It was as if his very life force was being ripped away from his body and he was forced to his knees as his legs no longer possessed the power to support him.
His limbs began shaking violently, his vision was becoming blurred, and his ears were suddenly filled with a strange buzzing sensation that caused his brain to fog up.
Somehow though the fog that had settled on his brain. He instinctively knew what was going on.
His master was using the Force Drain technique. It was an ability of the dark side used to bolster their own power reserves by stealing the force energy and life force from another. It was on of the darkest techniques of the Sith as it used life itself as a fuel source. It twisted the energies of the force and used it to sustain the Sith at the expense of others.
In many ways. The technique was in perfect symphony with the Sith philosophies.
Kylo Ren would have been hurt at this act of blatant betrayal not long ago.
He had seen his master as a paternal mentor figure to replace the hated presence of his father and his uncle, not that long ago. He had believed that his master valued him and cared about him. To then be confronted with this betray would have scarred his psyche and his soul.
Well, it would have done at some point in his past.
Now, he was much wiser in the ways of the galaxy, the dark side and of others.
He knew that his master needed to win this battle in order to survive. And like any Sith Lord, Snoke would do anything in order to stay alive and increase his own ambitions and ends. If he needed to increase his power at the expense of another. A true Sith Lord would do it without hesitation, even if that source must come from his own apprentice.
Kylo Ren understood this even as he was close to passing out as he collapsed on all fours to the stone floor of the temple.
He knew that victory and power must be seized by any means necessary and that no sacrifice was too great to secure your own survival.
Only a fool considered moral implications or half measures when in a fight for survival. And what was life but one long fight from birth till death?!
But this logical understanding did not stop his rage and anger burning at the actions taken by his master. He could do nothing at this moment. But he was certain that one day he would ensue that his master knelt before him and acknowledged his superior power.
Assuming of course, that his master lived past this day.
He suddenly felt his energy was no longer leaving him. Which was good because he was certain that if much more of his life force had been ripped away. He would have grown uncomfortably close to death.
But while he was not losing any more power. It would take time for his strength to return. For the moment, he was helpless as he lay on the floor and turned his hazy attention back to the battle.
Snoke fed on Kylo Ren's stolen power as his own waxed and replenished his aching limbs and restored his flagging reserves of strength and resolve.
As he feasted on the power of the dark side he called upon the Force and twisted it into a form by his own will.
'No' Kylo Ren thought with his hazy mental voice.
His master was not twisting the Force power and life force that he had stolen from him into a single form. In the Force, Kylo Ren could see the storm of energy that was raging around his master as he twisted and manipulated the swirling energy with his mind. Shaping it and molding it as a potter manipulated a lump of clay in their hands.
Then the aether of the Force seemed to take shape in the physical world as Kylo Ren began to perceive shadowy humanoid outlines that came into greater focus with each passing moment.
Five
Ten
Twelve
At least a dozen outlines took shape around his master, the look on his gnarled face one of intense concentration as he willed the Force to manifest in the physical world.
Finally, Kylo Ren was able to make out what his master had called into begin using his own life force.
Snoke was suddenly standing in the middle of a crowd. A crowd of individuals that looked as real as he was. And each of these new individuals, was the identical twin of the Supreme Leader.
Kylo Ren blinked as he stared at the small crowd of Snoke clones. Even though none had moved, he was already uncertain which of them was his real master. For even though he knew that all but one were illusions, he could actually perceive all of them in the Force. They seemed to be as real as he was.
Kylo Ren had heard of this ability but he had never witnessed it or even heard of anyone actually using it.
It was called Force Phantom.
An ability that required considerable mental reserve and strength of will, Force phantoms manifested in the physical realm and served whatever inclinations that their creator desired. Their insidious nature was only revealed when they were destroyed. The power was developed and perfected by the Dark Lord Darth Vectivus, and much later the technique had been thought lost among modern Sith.
But it seemed his master had re-discovered and perfected the technique. Or perhaps Darth Vectivus had not in fact invented the ability. But had instead re-discovered something used by the ancient Sith of Snoke's time.
As Kylo Ren watched. Snoke (all of them) raised their hands and once again, Kylo Ren sensed the Force saturate their hands and concentrate in their digits.
The shatterpoint ability.
With it Snoke had nearly ended the battle with Palpatine only saved at the last moment by his desperate defence. Now he would try a final attack with the same ability enhanced by a dozen.
Palpatine watched the manifestation of the dozen Snoke clones impassively as he summoned a few more of the dark tendrils into existence.
For a moment, both Dark Lords regarded each other.
Kylo Ren knew that this battle was about to reach its conclusion.
Snoke was running out of power and stamina. He could not keep up this battle for much longer. He knew that if the battle with Palpatine continued as it had been. It was only a matter of time before he was exhausted and rendered helpless. Or if his flagging power would cause him to make a mistake that left him open to a deadly counterattack.
He needed to end this battle quickly and the shatterpoint was his best chance to land a killing blow. And the phantom ability would allow him the best chance to both avoid the dark tendrils and connect with a lethal strike.
Palpatine was injured. In his arrogance and certainty in his own power. He had come within a hairs breadth of death. He had only survived due to instinct, skill and a heathy dose of luck. He had resolved to end this farce and to stop playing games. It was his arrogance and self confidence that had cost him his victory on the Death Star above Endor.
Yet he had almost made the same mistake born of arrogance. He was angry at himself now. Had he learnt nothing?!
It was time for him to end this battle and get back to his long-term plans.
The dark tendrils were taking up a large amount of power to keep manifested. But he knew that Snoke did not have his agility. All he needed to do was make contact with the tendrils (even a passing glance) and the victory would be his.
Snoke use of the Force Phantom ability was a surprise and a problem. But Palpatine was resolved to end this Kaggath once and for all.
For a moment, both Sith regarded each other as their chosen techniques surrounded them in preparation for combat.
Palpatine with the writhing black tendrils of dark side power.
Snoke with his duplicate phantoms channelling the shatterpoint.
Kylo Ren watching from the floor at the side of the throne.
Then, as if in response to a pre-arranged signal. Both of them acted.
Snoke darted forward as did his dozen duplicates. Moving with force enhanced speed as they raised their many hands with their fingers extended with the power of the shatterpoint.
Palpatine readied himself as his dark tendrils raised themselves up and lashed out at their foes. The tendrils flew at the phantoms and the one real Snoke. Though which was which was now unknown to both Palpatine and Kylo Ren.
The phantoms dodged, ducked, and weaved as they ran towards Palpatine. But while their enhanced speed allowed the majority to avoid the lethal attack. One was struck by a tendril across its face.
The phantom exploded in a burst of dark side energy and instantly ceased to exist. Kylo Ren felt a jolt of pain that nearly had him screaming like a child.
It was clear that his life essence was still connected to the manifested phantoms and was providing the material link that was allowing Snoke to keep them animated in the physical world. But the power that bound them was clearly not able to stand up to direct contact with the dark side tendrils.
Once the connection was broken. The phantom died, but the bond still allowed Kylo Ren to feel some semblance of the contact with the dark side tendrils.
He supposed he should be thankful the connection was not complete. If he felt the full force of a direct hit from the tendrils. He would probably have been sent into shock from the pain.
The rest of the phantoms lunged at Palpatine with their hands outstretched.
Palpatine lept back as two of them struck the ground and the stone floor burst apart as the shatterpoint was obliterated.
This revealed something else to Kylo Ren.
Only one Snoke might have been real. But all the phantoms were imbued by the powers of the dark side. And all of them were capable of landing a killing blow.
As such, Palpatine was forced to dodge and avoid each and every one of the shatterpoint attacks, whether they were from the real Snoke or not.
Palpatine landed a short distance away and sent the tendrils flying at his enemies as they hastened after him. Once again, they dodged but two were struck by the tendrils and they two exploded and forced more pain shooting through Kylo Ren's body.
The phantom's lashed out with the shatterpoint as Palpatine dodged and back pedalled as he desperately tried to avoid the lethal stabbing fingers and hands that were lashing out at him. His movements were not as fluid or seamless as they normally were due to the amount of power he was feeding into the tendrils. If Snoke has been blessed with an uninjured body to match the stamina. He would have ended the battle by now.
But as it was, they were more or less equal in speed.
For a while the fight seemed to be locked in a stalemate as both Palpatine and Snoke managed to avoid each other's respective attacks.
But soon, the phantom's Snoke conjured were intercepted by the tendrils one by one as his stolen energy from Kylo Ren was exhausted and the speed and agility of the phantoms diminished along with the power being fed into them.
Kylo Ren felt as if he was being lashed with fire each time one of the phantoms was destroyed as he felt the connection, he bore with them severed and the energy that they had leeched off him return to its source. But he was still far too weak to intercept or influence the battle in any way.
Feeling the battle was slipping away from him. Snoke changed his tactics.
While half of the remaining phantom's continued to increase their attacks on Palpatine. The remaining ones pulled back and formed a loose circle around the battle while the tendrils focused on the immediate threat.
Then, all at once. They thrust out their hands at Palpatine and Kylo Ren felt the Force erupt in a concentrated wave.
Suddenly, Palpatine froze, just as he was in the process of avoiding yet another attack from one of the phantoms.
It was not that he had simply chosen to halt his movements and change direction.
His movements had frozen so completely, it was as if he had been frozen in carbonite. Even his flowing black robes no longer seemed to move of their own accord. Instead, even his garments appeared to be frozen in place.
But that was not the only strange effect. In the darkness of the temple and the perpetual gloom of Exegol. Kylo Ren could see a shimmering, transparent energy field resembling a haze of heat enveloping the Emperor.
Kylo Ren instantly saw what Snoke had employed.
Force Stasis was an ability of the Force to forcibly restrain and immobilize people. The ability allowed its users to cancel out the motion of a target to not only reduce its speed, but even suspend it in place.
It was an ability he himself used frequently and well. Most recently during the battles on Jakku with the blaster bold and Takodana with the scavenger girl, Rey.
The ability was effective but, on an enemy as powerful as Palpatine, it would only hold him for a split second before he was able to overpower the field and break free.
But a split second was all that Snoke would need.
With Palpatine immobilised and unable to avoid his attacks any longer. Snoke (all of them) lunged forward.
The tendrils rose up and flayed their space around them as they desperately tried to intercept the attackers and keep them at bay long enough for Palpatine to break free of his stasis prison. Kylo Ren saw that the emperor's eyes were squeezed tight shut and his teeth bared with effort as he fought against his invisible bonds.
The phantoms ducked and weaved. But even so, several them we slashed by the tendrils and burst out of existence with such intensity it drew a yell of pain from Kylo Ren.
But they did not stop them all.
Kylo Ren watched as four remaining phantoms lunged forward with their hands and index fingers extended straight towards Palpatine's body.
One aimed for his face.
Two aimed for his torso.
Once aimed for his throat.
But only one was needed to make contact to end this battle, once and for all.
There was no escape for Palpatine this time. No gullible Anakin to intercept the blow. No corrupt stupid senate to lie too. No army of drones to obey his every command.
Kylo Ren saw that the battle had been decided. His master had claimed victory and would soon be the undisputed Dark Lord of the Sith and ruler of the galaxy.
Then Palpatine opened his eyes.
They burned with purple fire!
But that was a horribly insufficient way to describe what Kylo Ren was seeing. It was far more then his typical golden eyes changing their hue. His eyes were emitting blazing violet light as if they had turned into mini energy reactors and were glowing with an intensity that was both blinding in the darkness and terrible to behold.
The sheer force of the power that was being projected from the eyes of the emperor was awesome to see and mind numbing to be exposed too.
The terrible beams of light that burst into the world enveloped Snoke and all the phantoms that surrounded Palpatine. In their desperation to get close to the Emperor to use their own attack. They had come far to close to avoid the light or dodge out of the way in time.
As a result, they were all in the line of sight and were helpless to stop what happened next.
The second the purple light struck their bodies. They screamed out in agony! Each and every one!
The remaining phantoms were obliterated in an instant. Disappearing into nothingness like the morning mist before sunlight. Kylo Ren watched in amazement. But the force of their combined destruction was so intense, and the effects in the Force so strong, that it nearly sent Kylo Ren into shock.
While the phantoms were annihilated. The real Snoke was revealed as he was forced to bear the full effects of Palpatine's attack.
He screamed in pain as he raised his hands as if to shield himself from the intense light. But his already gnarled and damaged body was smoking as his flesh was blistering and burning away as if he had been doused in the strongest of acid.
As Kylo Ren watched. The Supreme Leader was blasted off his feet and flung away from the Emperor as his body continued to crumble away. His limbs and hands seeming to burn away to ash as they were consumed by the horrific lights that continued to burn in Palpatine's eyes.
His golden robes were erased from existence as his gnarled and withered skin continued to smoke and be sheered clean off his ancient bones. As Kylo watched, fire seemed to erupt from beneath his master's flesh as the flames did not seem to come from anywhere else. His blistering skin began to bubble as it was cooked and roasted like a barbecued meal. All the while, Snoke kept screaming. A scream of agony so complete and so intense that Kylo Ren was certain it defied mortal comprehension unless experienced.
Snoke's body hit the stone floor of them temple.
It was only then that the lights from Palpatine's eyes began to fade. Within a few moments. Palpatine's eyes had returned to their normal golden hue as beautiful and terrible purple glow of power left them and Kylo Ren was able to look into the Emperor's face without being blinded.
Kylo Ren watched the Emperor with his mouth hanging open in amazement and surprise.
He had heard of this force ability. But it was so rare (even among the Sith) that it had almost fallen into myth and legend.
Deadly Sight.
A weapon of the ancient Sith. By channelling this ability, a Force-user harnessed fury and hatred and then projected them through an intense glare onto the victim - as long as that victim was in the practitioner's range of vision. Darksiders could inflict pain and injury upon their foes merely by looking at them, causing victims' bodies to burn away as they died.
It was an ability that was incredibly taxing on the user's power. So, it could only be used as a trump card. But clearly, it had its uses and could settle a battle in seconds if used properly.
Kylo regarded Palpatine as he stood fixed in his position. His breathing was haggard, his posture was stooped over and his body was shaking with the effects of the effort he had put into the battle and his final attack.
His injured hand was still cradled to his chest as he slowly, very slowly, began to advance on the remains of his enemy.
Snoke was lying on the ground.
His body had been a mangled mess for years at this point. But now it was almost in defiance of all reason that he was still alive.
Most of his skin was gone, leaving only charred muscle fibers in the best case. In the worst case, his body was formed of white bones or nothing at all. The most effected body parts having been blasted to dust by the force of the Deadly sight.
His skull was intact, but the left side of his face was simply gone as the empty socket where his left eye had been reduced to plain bone. His shallow breathing tore the remaining fragments of flesh from his torso and exposed the organs below the visible rib cage.
The Supreme Leader did not move or speak or make any gestures whatsoever beyond breathing to show that he had not already died. But the look in his remaining visible eye showed that he was alive and aware. But not fully aware either.
He seemed to be caught in some nightmarish state of semi consciousness. His mind unable to process what had happened to him. But the effects of the dark side prevented his mind from slipping into blissful oblivion.
Now he simply stared at Palpatine with an eye that was seeing but unseeing. He made no effort to focus on his enemy or his apprentice. He simply stared straight ahead in catatonic shock.
Palpatine advanced on his helpless foe as his footsteps echoed across the chamber and his face twisted into a snarl as the events of the battle came back to him and allowed his rage at the damage he had sustained to surface.
"You pathetic cadaverous bastard!" He snarled through gritted teeth.
"I am Darth Sidious!" He continued as he came to as halt a few metres away from the defenceless Snoke. "None surpass me! No one even comes close!" He proclaimed as he allowed his anger and hatred to build and his power to answer.
"Etch this into you deformed mangled skull! I am Emperor of the Galaxy!"
"The likes of you are only fit to grovel at my feet!"
He said as he raised his undamaged fist and clutched his fingers so tightly, they cut into his palms and drew blood to enhance his point. Lightning flashed across the dark sky and between his fingers as if to manifest his power.
"Or better still!" He hissed as he stared at the semi-conscious Supreme Leader with fixed intensity.
"Too be crushed!" He shouted.
"LIKE AN INSECT!" He raised his hand. "AT THE WHIM OF YOUR MASTER!" He screamed as he thrust out his hand and a bolt of lightning blasted out from his fingers. Shocking in its size and intensity!
The lightning struck Snoke before the Supreme Leader could make any effort to defend himself. (Not that he could do anything to prevent death from claiming him at this point)
The blast atomized the ancient Sith's body in less then a second. Scattering the remains into the aether with nothing remaining to indicate that Snoke had ever existed at all.
The ground blew apart from the force of the impact and caused debris to rain down on the triumphant Emperor and the flabbergasted apprentice.
Kylo Ren did not move or even acknowledge the fragments of stone falling across his body as he stared at the smoking crater that had once been his master and Supreme Leader.
He was in such shock at what had happened. That he did not even notice when Palpatine turned to face him.