Author's Note: This will be a Jumpchain story using the Milestone Rewards Supplement Redux. All of the Jumps and supplements I use will be found on my google drive.
This chapter is about the MC participating in the Initiate Trials to become a Padawan.
Words in World before this chapter: 7592
Setting
"Speech"
Written Text
[Digital Text]
{Digital Voice}
Divine/Super Being Modification
Chapter Eight: The Initiate Trial Tournament Phase Two
Star Wars Movie Compilation Part 5
Jedi Temple, Coruscant: 7941 CRC / 36 BBY
Letting the Force move my body I managed to dodge out of the way of Sammis's initial lunge with her main saber while parrying her follow up with her shoto blade. Knowing that I would not be getting much if any time to recover before my fourth match I needed to conserve as much energy as possible in this match. With the small opening from my parry I flick my wrist barely touching Sammis's outstretched leading arm causing the now familiar scream. I quickly step back from my clan mate as her wound was assessed by the proctor. This time it was not dropped as quickly as the previous times today. Padawan Assant stepped forward to assess the wound as she called out her current judgement. "Hold while the damage is reviewed to see if a point will be awarded or if there shall be a penalty."
I raised an eyebrow as I looked at Knight Cin Drallig who was frowning behind the Padawan who was fussing over a pouting Sammis Li. After a few minutes, which I used to regain what energy I could by drawing on The Force, the official proctor stepped back to the clearly bias proctor the middle of the sparring ring before she addressed the viewing spectators. "There is no visible wound Initiate Lushan receives one point and a warning to not be too aggressive with his attacks." I nodded while keeping my aggravation in check from the unfair judgement that was given.
I gave a small bow to Padawan Assant after she declared her ruling on the first exchange. Even though we all knew that I had not been overly aggressive and just struck out at the opening I had created. I was not very impressed with her judging potential as I went back to my starting location and took up my opening stance for Soresu. With the proctor clearly against me I was not going to be able to conserve much energy in this match. Switching my form up to the more defensive style would help me not be seen as the aggressor in this match while increasing my likelihood of victory even though it will cause the match to be extended. Once Sammis retook her opening stance I gave her the come-hither sign with my extended hand causing her to lose focus and charge at me recklessly. This was my only idea to speed up the match that I could think of in the short time I had while Padawan Assant was checking over my fellow initiate.
Sammis Li Was clearly going on the offense with her aggressive attacks but as a female I doubt that it will be called out by the bias proctor. I was too busy defending myself to notice the reactions around me as I used this moment to fall into the Force letting it move me. I knew that this method was dangerous gut I had little choice in order to keep up with my Cathar opponent's erratic movements. I would struggle to do much against her as her style is meant to feel like I am up against multiple opponents at once. Luckily enough my connection to the Force and defensive style allowed me to hold off the relentless assault without giving up and ground. I continued to burry myself in the Force as I built up a faster and faster defensive wall with my swinging blade to deflect Sammis's attacks away from me but there was no more easy openings that would not leave me vulnerable from a quick counterattack. With the bias of the proctor I was certain that the point would go to Sammis, and I would be called for getting a late hit in on my opponent.
It took four minutes before Sammis slowed enough that it would be clear for me to get a hit in on her before her counterattack could strike me. My blade was a blur at this point as the constant deflection of Sammis's random attacks as she jumped around me continued to speed up my blade. A quick change of angle from the latest deflection forced Sammis to bring up her shoto blade to defend from my lightsaber approaching her. With that deflection Sammis picked her speed back up as my lightsaber was slowed down for a moment. Luckily I was still immersed in the Force so even with her second wind my Cathar clan mate would not be defeated at this time. I continued to defend with Soresu stopping every avenue of attack conserving as much energy as possible while waiting for Sammis to be worn down enough to leave an opening for me to strike through once again while making it very clear that I was not being aggressive at all in my movements.
It took three more minutes before Sammis seemed to slow down again but I knew she could still fight even as sweat was rolling off me. I watched as she was now only attacking with her primary blade clearly waiting for me to strike so that she could counter with her shoto blade. I waited until Sammis paused in her attacks completely before taking a quick step forward and striking out with my spinning blade while twisting around her counterattack. My evasion was successful and let me strike against Sammis's off hand wrist forcing her to drop her shoto blade. Sammis let out that same annoying scream that I believe only I hear as the same while everyone else hears the screamers normal cry of pain. Padawan Assant came forward with a frown on her face as it was clear that the other proctors had finished up with their own matches and were watching this final match to see how the Padawan was judging those assigned to her. I retreated to my starting position as I was unsure if the match would be called at this point or not since the blade I forced Sammis to drop was not her main blade but her off hand shoto lightsaber. "Point for Initiate Lushan, match is two to nil in favor of Initiate Lushan. Due to failing to hold onto her shoto blade Initiate Sammis Li shall not be allowed to use it for the remaining bouts in this round."
It was as I figured, and the match would go into a third bout. Padawan Assant was clearly trying to make it, so Sammis won or at least received one point in this match. I could handle the bias that I was going through, but I was not looking forward to the match after this as I would have no rest before then. Taking up my Soresu stance as it would still be my best bet for the long run as it would conserve as much energy as possible, but I would switch to Makashi if Sammis stopped with her normal Ataru attack patterns. Sammis did not wait too long before she struck out with her jumping around as if she had an extra boost of energy between bouts. My defense quickly formed into its normal impenetrable state as I deflected the continual strikes that Sammis used which held more power now that she was only using one blade. After a minute Sammis landed away from me and I flicked out my blade as I spun to try and end this match, but Sammis forced a blade lock restraining my current momentum. "No more spinning now Lushan. It is time to fight me directly." Sammis said as she pushed on our locked blades.
I let the force flow through me as I shifted my back foot to let me disengage in an instant to allow for me to strike when she fully committed to defeating with the blade lock. I was patient as I let the Force flood into me increasing my strength and allowing me to sense when and how I should react to my Cathar opponent. I did not feign weakness but kept myself steady while Sammis showed some frustration and continued to press down on my blade as I held it horizontally and braced while bending my knees slightly to keep a steady stance. I allowed her to continue to press down on me before I felt her fully commit to the attack and twisted away from her and struck her on her rump eliciting the now normal scream from my opponent ending the battle in my favor. I stepped back as Sammis spun around clearly embarrassed and angered as she had lost the match without scoring any points beyond the final strike being to her rear.
Padawan Assant stepped forward to announce the end of the match and assess Sammis for any lasting injuries. I knew my blade would not have left any lasting damage to the Cathar female who I had grew up with inside our Initiate clan. Padawan Assant looked over the wounded area before she cleared her throat and began speaking. "Point and match to Initiate Lushan but it may be reviewed to see if the Initiate hurt his opponent beyond reason." Her words were met with some raised eyebrows by the gathered observers as it was clear that there was no lasting damage to Sammis. I knew that this was all the result of my own drawbacks, but it was still annoying for me to be put under such scrutiny from all the upper levels inside the Jedi Order. "There will be a thirty-minute break to review the matches so that if anyone was too aggressive they will be removed from the competition before we announce the sixteen match ups for the final round before the eight-initiate free for all."
I was thankful for this unexpected break even though I knew that I would be under extra scrutiny from this new inquiry. I knew that any of the proctors could call for an inquiry, but I did not expect it to be the Padawan as I had thought she would be too intimidated by the overseeing masters to go through with such actions. I just hoped she was called on her biased judging and maybe she would be replaced by Cin Drallig the future Battlemaster of the order. I settled down to meditate on the Force in order to pass the time since I would not be allowed to go grab some food, but this delay may push the free for all final out until tomorrow. My meditation was clearly being watched as I was still under scrutiny from the observers as they did not trust my motives.
The three proctors finally ended their meeting, and it had been made clear that I had not been overly aggressive in my matches as the gathered to give us our final match ups before the free for all. "All the remaining initiates have been cleared of wrongdoing for their actions so far during the tournament. The first match of the fourth round shall be Initiates Dininni Bansell and Lushan from the Thranta Clan." I let out a sigh as this match would not take as long as my others, but it would be more taxing since Dininni was still a practitioner of Makashi meaning that she was prepared for one-on-one lightsaber combat. She even had a curved hilt on her lightsaber blade giving her an advantage with precise attacks along with a bit more flexibility in dueling other lightsaber users. I gave a bow to the proctors before facing Dininni who had a determined look on her olive face as we saluted each other. We mirrored each other with our opening stances waiting for the signal to start the first bout.
Author's Endnote: Even though it will be a while before I get to it please vote to let me know if I should have the Mini-Jumps as their own for Milestone Tokens as right now there is only one vote which is a yes to that idea. Remember to review as if more people like how each Jump went then the MC receives a Milestone Token.