Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

310 - Falling into the Abyss
The Darth Sidious clone straightened up, casually flicked his robes, and then burst into a maniacal laugh, filled with disdain and arrogance.

Before Iscart could adjust his stance, Darth Sidious leaped into the air, spinning as he lunged at her, instantly intensifying the battle.

Her body moved entirely on instinct, darting and dodging under the guidance of the Force, as nimble as a leaf drifting downstream.

A fierce battle raged in the apartment, sparks flew from the clash of lightsabers, shadows twisted and distorted on the walls, and the three figures moved so fast that it was impossible to keep up with their movements.

Iscart was completely immersed in the battle, his life force surging within him, burning with the thrill of each clash.

Darth Sidious was like flowing darkness, his red lightsaber slashing and thrusting relentlessly, each attack precisely targeting the weaknesses in their defenses.

He kept smiling, as if it were all just a fun game, as if he already had the victory in his grasp and was merely toying with his prey.

Master Yoda's offensive never stopped. He was small in stature but incredibly fast and tireless. Every precise spinning attack constantly challenged the Sith Lord's defenses.

Iscart barely noticed his small figure weaving nimbly between their attacks... Whenever she exposed a defensive opening, Yoda would promptly strike Sith's weak point, drawing her attention and buying her time to adjust her stance.

Iscart rallied, her twin swords flashing, spinning, and slashing like flames and streaks of light, her cheeks still burning… From every wrist flick, every deliberate feint, every mocking sidestep by Darth Sidious, she could clearly sense that he was deliberately giving her the illusion of an opportunity, only to easily twist and dodge at the last moment. The smile on his lips seemed to say, "This is a huge personal joke, and I am the ridiculous clown."

Darth Sidious is faster and stronger than her.

To make matters worse, this Sith Dark Lord had clearly set his sights on her.

He chuckled, just as he had dealt with Adi Gallia and Shakti, seeing her as the weakest link between himself and Master Yoda.

He moved around her like a shadow, the red arcs of his lightsaber tearing through the thick smoke-filled air, each strike forcing Iscart to retreat repeatedly, his defensive range constantly shrinking.

She was so focused on protecting herself that she didn't notice her footsteps were leading her to the brink of death... She stepped on shards of broken glass, slipped, and instantly lost her balance.

A hundred emotions flashed across her face: anger, anger at herself for making such a foolish mistake at such a crucial moment.

He felt ashamed and angry that he had disappointed Master Yoda again and held him back.

He was furious, hating the Sith Lord for driving him into this desperate situation.

Fear, the fear that death is closing in step by step.

When she realized where she was standing, her stomach sank; she was too close to the broken window!
The dazzling skyline of Coruscant stretched endlessly below, the night wind whipped at my face with a chilling cold, and the whistling wind whispered in my ears like the murmur of death.

Darth Sidious clearly noticed this as well, a cruel smile flashing in his eyes, and his attacks became even more ferocious.

Just as Iscart managed to let out an angry roar and barely manage to assume a defensive stance, she felt an invisible hand slam into her chest!
The immense force sent her flying backward, her feet leaving the ground instantly, the edge of the window frame flashing past her field of vision.

Just when she thought she was about to fall into the abyss, she suddenly stopped.

A sudden, unbelievable stillness.

A warm and solid force enveloped her, invisible yet exceptionally reliable, steadily supporting her in mid-air.

She hovered outside the window, her body stiff in a falling posture.

"Master Yoda!"

Iskart gasped for breath, his limbs flailing wildly until he fully realized the situation. Master Yoda stood on the broken windowsill, one claw-like hand outstretched forward, his ears pressed tightly back, and his other hand raised aloft a green lightsaber, its light illuminating his wrinkled face.

Master Yoda used the Force to stabilize her and prevent her from falling into the abyss of death below.

Upon seeing this, Darth Sidious threw his head back and let out a piercing, maniacal laugh, full of mockery: "Oh, Jedi Master! Look at you, still trying to save her! But can you even save her?"

He pointed his fingers at the corpses on the ground one by one, his tone filled with a venomous pleasure: "You can't save Adi Gallia, you can't save Shaktie... what makes you think you can save her!?"

He snapped his fingers... The air was instantly torn apart, and a crackling blue-white lightning bolt shot out from his fingertip, whistling through the dust in the apartment and heading straight for Master Yoda!
Yoda barely had time to adjust the position of his lightsaber and could only instinctively hold the green lightsaber horizontally in front of him.

Lightning struck the plasma blade hard, sending violent energy flying in all directions. The scorching heatwave made the floor and ceiling sizzle, and the already damaged furniture was instantly ignited, billowing black smoke.

The Jedi Master gritted his teeth, his arms trembling slightly from the impact of the lightning, but he still held on to the Force barrier and pulled Iscart toward the window with all his might.

Their eyes met amidst the firelight and flashes of electricity.

Iscart roared at him, his voice hoarse with fear and rage: "What are you doing!?"

She seemed to have forgotten that she was a battle-hardened warrior, and that the other party was the Grand Elder of the Jedi Council. "Put me down! You still have a chance! Don't waste your opportunity for me!"

Master Yoda's arm trembled slightly, but he did not relinquish control of the Force. He merely revealed a sorrowful yet resolute smile, his voice soft yet clear: "That is not the Jedi way, young Akari. Abandoning your companions has never been the way."

Iscart wanted to scream.

Who cares about the Jedi methods now!

The important thing is to win!
If Darth Sidious wins, the entire galaxy will be plunged into darkness, and then there will be no more Jedi who care about "methods"!
But her throat felt like it was blocked by thick smoke, and she could only let out hoarse gasps, watching helplessly as Master Yoda's arm trembled more and more as he fought against the lightning and supported her.

Behind him, the Sith's laughter snaked through the air like a venomous snake, mingling with the shrieks of the Force, carrying a chilling schadenfreude.

“Oh, the fall of the strong,” he murmured, twisted blue-white lightning crackling around his fingertips, “So stubborn, so blind! Clinging to outdated ideals until they dragged them into the abyss!”

Before he could finish speaking, the attack came again.

The destructive Force tentacles lunged straight at Yoda.

The Jedi Master's small frame trembled slightly under the double pressure.

He had to fend off the Sith's lightning while maintaining the Force to support the suspended Iscart, and the balance was precarious.

A bead of sweat slid down Yoda's forehead, splashed onto Iskart's face, and trickled down her cheek.

That was proof of his desperate efforts to hold on.

Iskart's arms ached from stretching upwards, but there was nothing in the void except for Yoda's will, which held her up like an invisible rope, preventing her from falling into the abyss below Coruscant.

“Master,” she said in a hoarse voice, “let go.”

Yoda did not respond, but his ears twitched almost imperceptibly, and his control over the Force remained unwavering.

The Sith's cold laugh rang out: "Yes, Master Yoda, isn't it an act of mercy to release her? When you've already lost so many, what harm is there in one more Jedi corpse?"

Without hesitation, Iscart used his last bit of the Force to break free and plunge into the abyss of Coruscant.

Master Yoda turned slowly and resolutely, his dark figure and emerald lightsaber pointing directly at him, like a bulwark of light erected in the darkness.

“You have not yet triumphed,” he said, his tone more like instructing a child than confronting an evil incarnation. “I am not tempted, and I am prepared to sacrifice everything.”

Sidious was taken aback at first, then a cruel excitement flashed in his eyes, and an even more ferocious attack followed.

A torrent of lightning, like the Force itself, struck Yoda’s small body.

"boom!"

The shockwave exploded, and a white light instantly engulfed the devastated penthouse apartment.

Electricity surged through Yoda's body, sparks dancing on his tattered robes.

"Zizi-"

A sharp shiver ran through Yoda's body and consciousness!
Thousands of lives were annihilated in the same instant.

Thousands upon thousands of Jedi were reduced to ashes in an instant.

The feeling was like the sudden cessation of a lifelong heartbeat, leaving only shock, pain, and fear, before finally turning into a deathly silence.

The aura of the temple, the aura of the various planetary outposts, all the familiar and unfamiliar Jedi auras... all dissipated.

Yoda's expression suddenly turned serious, and a storm seemed to be gathering deep within his insightful eyes.

His short frame leaned slightly forward, his wrinkled fingers gripping the hilt of the lightsaber tightly.

“I was truly…blind…” His deep voice was filled with suppressed anger, his gaze blazing as it was fixed on the Sith Lord a few meters away. “Today, in this place, will be your end, Sith!”

"Come on!" Sith grinned defiantly, his eyes gleaming with an almost manic light. "Let me see what a Jedi Master is capable of!"

"The Force... will judge you." Yoda's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable resolve.

Before the words were finished, only a pale green afterimage remained on the spot.

The Jedi Master, who was just a few meters away a moment ago, has now transformed into a gust of wind and rushed straight at the Sith's face.

A blinding purple lightning bolt erupted from the Sith's palm, striking Yoda precisely in mid-air.

Jedi Master was bounced back by the energy, and as soon as his feet touched the ground, he pounced again.

The lightsaber danced in his hand, transforming into a green halo, its attacks fierce and determined to tear his opponent to shreds.

"Yes! That's it!" Sith's laughter never stopped. He calmly parried the lightning-fast thrust, nimbly dodged the sweeping attack, and his artificial arm suddenly shot forward, tearing off a corner of Yoda's robe.

Yoda barely dodged, but was grazed by a cold, dark energy, forcing him to leap backward and shake off his tattered robe.

"Is that all?" Sith frowned dramatically.

"Hmm... your power is indeed formidable," Yoda had to admit.

He did not rush to attack, but slowly raised his hand.

In an instant, all the tables and decorations in the apartment began to shake violently, then were pulled off the ground by an invisible force and suspended in the air. Large and small fragments swirled around them like a band circling a planet.

Yoda suddenly swung his hand!
All the suspended objects were launched from all directions toward the Sith as if fired from a giant crossbow!

"Brilliant!" Sith exclaimed in delight.

All the objects flying towards him mysteriously stopped in mid-air at the last moment.

He raised his artificial arm and pointed at Yoda: "My turn."

Black tendrils of the Force erupted from his body, striking the suspended fragments. Energy leaped and connected between the fragments, weaving a lightning network that covered most of the room.

All the stagnant fragments suddenly changed direction and rained down on the Jedi Master!

Yoda released his lightsaber, raised his hands high, palms facing forward.

The incoming torrent of debris began to slow down, colliding violently with each other and bursting into dazzling sparks.

He roared and channeled all his Force into his arms, forcefully pushing the terrifying torrent of fragments back!

"That's more like it!" Sith clapped his hands excitedly.

The shards that were pushed back were smashed violently against the surrounding walls, floors, and ceilings in front of him!
A series of deafening impacts rang out, and all the fragments were instantly crushed into dust.

“You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve encountered an opponent like you.” Sith’s tone became casual. “How about staying and becoming my partner?”

“Wishful thinking. You will soon die,” Yoda replied in a low voice.

“I won’t die by your hand either.” Sith laughed, holding his lightsaber horizontally. Six spears made of pure dark energy instantly formed around the lightsaber.

I said, jump!

One dark spear after another was fired at Yoda.

The Jedi Master displayed amazing agility, sidestepping, crouching, and rolling to avoid the first three attacks.

The next three came one after another, forcing him to leap high into the air.

The next wave of attacks came almost without pause, forcing Yoda to hover in mid-air, stretching out his hands in an attempt to catch and absorb the continuous stream of purple lightning bolts from the Sith.

For a long few seconds, the Jedi Master hovered, his body enveloped in blinding lightning.

His palms first sweated, then evaporated, becoming numb, scalding hot, and emitting blue smoke.

The attack stopped abruptly.

Yoda landed, staggering and panting heavily, his body struggling to absorb the enormous energy.

“Not too amazing, you need guidance.” Sith shook his head.

He raised the artificial arm, and the scattered fragments floated up again, coalescing into a dense sphere above their heads.

The next second, the sphere shattered into fine powder.

Lightning struck the powder cloud from the ceiling.

boom!
The powder was ignited, transforming into an artificial plasma sun radiating deadly light and intense heat!

Sith raised his hand and pushed the small sun toward Yoda.

Yoda turned around and used his remaining strength to build a barrier.

The sphere stopped in front of him, the scorching plasma licking at the barrier.

As the Sith increased its power, Yoda gritted his teeth and shoved the mass of plasma aside!
The plasma ball grazed past Yoda, crashed into a distant wall, and melted everything in its path.

Yoda knelt on one knee, panting heavily from exhaustion.

He felt the cold touch of only the dark side's energy, which followed him like a shadow. His movements became sluggish, and a deep-seated weariness swept over him.

"I sensed resignation? Don't tell me you're here to be a martyr!" Sith sneered.

“What you feel is determination, Sith! You will never win!” Yoda struggled to stand up straight.

"Who cares?" Sith waved his hand dismissively. "You're the one who barged in, threatened me, attacked me, and smashed everything I had!!"

“You… have completely gone mad,” Yoda murmured.

"I feel angry, Master Yoda?" Sith laughed mockingly.

Yoda's ears drooped limply.

“It was a trap…we walked into it.” Yoda spoke slowly. “We will stop you and never allow the Sith Empire to rise.”

Yoda sensed the passing of yet another master.

He closed his eyes, gathered his Force around his body, and then suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with a resolute determination to perish together with his enemy.

"You're going to attack again? Look, I've even disarmed myself!" Sith let his lightsaber fall to the ground and spread his hands. "But what can you do about it?"

"Even if death is inevitable, we will not hesitate; it is our duty!" Yoda's voice shone with the light of a martyr. "As long as there is one Jedi, darkness will never prevail!"

“Ah, fanatic.” Sith grinned. “Do you need to vent?”

Yoda glared at him fiercely, suppressing his anger, and lunged forward with his lightsaber, which had been reignited!

"Just because of this?" Sith chuckled and stepped back to avoid him. "At least buy me a drink first, okay?"

Yoda spun in the air, his lightsaber aimed straight for the Sith's throat.

This time, he didn't dodge, but instead glared at Yoda.

An invisible, bone-chilling force instantly seized the Jedi Master in mid-air, freezing him firmly in place!

Purple lightning surged from Sith's body, like tentacles, spiraling towards the immobile Yoda, enveloping him in a shrinking purple energy sphere.

Yoda let out a painful scream.

A few seconds later, the energy ball exploded violently from the inside out!

The shockwave sent the Sith flying backward.

He subconsciously raised his hand to form a barrier.

A blazing white orb, born from the explosion, hurtled toward him!

Boom!

The barrier shattered, and Sith was thrown violently into the air. His artificial arm broke off at the elbow and flew towards a corner, billowing black smoke.

"Darkness!" Sith roared as he leaped up.

The lightsaber and the severed arm simultaneously hovered and ignited, crackling with crimson lightning as they shot towards Yoda, who had just broken free of his restraints and was struggling to get up!

Yoda barely managed to use the Force to hold off the lightsaber and his severed arm.

His fallen lightsaber was controlled by the Sith, who stabbed him from behind!

He was distracted from controlling his weapon, and Sith's severed arm had broken free of its restraints, its lightning claws aimed straight for his head!

Yoda twisted his body desperately, his claws slicing across the left side of his head!
Flesh and blood flew everywhere.

His left eye, along with the surrounding scalp, was torn off, leaving a horrific wound.

More dark lightning struck down, and his lightsaber was detonated by the Sith!

Amidst the scattering of fragments, the crimson lightsaber broke free of control and severed his right hand at shoulder level!
A suppressed groan escaped from his throat.

Finally, a massive bolt of lightning, imbued with all of Sith's rage, struck him like a giant pillar, slamming him hard into the floor, the sound of bones shattering clearly audible.

The storm subsided, and Sith stepped forward.

“Satisfied, Jedi?” Sith crouched down, bringing his eyes close to Yoda’s only remaining, blurry right eye. “Do you know how ridiculous it is to watch you dig your own graves? Thank you for letting me witness the destruction of the Jedi.”

Yoda moved his cracked lips. "We...we...all...lost..."

Sith's eyes widened suddenly!

He sensed an extremely unusual fluctuation of the Force and tried to retreat quickly, but Yoda locked onto him with his last bit of Force!

Yoda let out a ripping scream, and his body glowed and cracked from within, emitting a pure white light that was too bright to look at!
His last conscious thought drove this body, now transformed into an energy vessel, to lunge at the Sith!

The light swallowed everything.

Yoda's burning body crashed into the Sith, exploding like a small star.

A devastating shockwave swept through every corner of the apartment...

(End of this chapter)