Chapter 107

CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.

From behind the weathered statues scattered across the hall, blood-red vines began to slither and writhe across the ground. Their eerie glow cut through the dimness, filling the space with a foreboding light. Ali stood perfectly still, his black eyes narrowing as he focused intently on the strange, organic movement. The vines seemed alive, pulsing with a rhythm that mirrored the energy saturating the ancient tomb.

The tendrils wove together, intertwining as they rose higher and higher, taking the shape of a massive serpent. Its sinuous body coiled around the hall, and its enormous viper-like head emerged, crowned by sharp, bony ridges that radiated menace. The creature's glowing, blood-red eyes locked onto Ali's unflinching gaze.

The snake began to circle him, its colossal body forming a living wall that trapped him in the centre of the hall. Ali remained motionless, his expression cold and calm as he tracked the creature's movements. The serpent's scales glinted like crimson metal as it slithered closer, the air growing heavier with each passing second.

Finally, the snake reared its massive head high above him. Ali tilted his head back, his sharp black eyes never leaving the creature's own. The serpent hissed, its forked tongue flicking out as its jaws opened wide, revealing rows of needle-like fangs. With a deadly strike, the snake lunged at Ali.

Seconds stretched into eternity as Ali stood rooted in place. He neither flinched nor blinked, his body remaining as still as stone.

Just as the serpent's fangs were about to pierce him, its form disintegrated into a puff of red smoke. The oppressive presence that had filled the hall vanished in an instant, leaving only silence behind.

"Impressive, ACOLYTE," an ancient voice echoed throughout the chamber, its deep, guttural tone seeming to emanate from the very walls themselves.

Ali turned his head slowly, his sharp gaze landing on the source of the voice. Opposite him stood a hunched figure cloaked in tattered robes. The man's face was obscured by his hood, save for the faint glow of two malevolent red eyes peering out from the shadows.

"I thought this was a tomb," Ali said

Ali's voice was calm, measured, as he spoke to the hooded figure. His posture remained firm despite the eerie presence that filled the room.

The ancient figure chuckled, the sound low and gravelly, echoing unnaturally through the hall. "Are you here to rob my belongings, acolyte?" he asked, his deep voice carrying an edge of malice. The question felt more like a challenge, the air growing colder as he spoke.

Ali's response was straightforward. "No," he said, his tone steady and unbothered. "But my Sith Master is. I was simply tasked with searching the desert using a Force sensor."

The hooded man's glowing eyes narrowed slightly. "I see… Well, that doesn't matter." He straightened slightly, the hunch in his back seeming to lessen as he observed Ali. "You, however, are fearless, acolyte. And that is a rare quality, one every Sith must possess. The truth is, those who came before you broke under my test and never left this place."

Ali glanced down at the bones scattered at his feet, the remains of countless other acolytes who had fallen victim to this ancient Sith's machinations. Their lifeless forms were a grim reminder of what failure looked like in the pursuit of power.

"So," Ali said coldly, his gaze unwavering as he looked back at the figure. "Am I going to be one of them?"

The Sith elder's response came first as a quiet laugh, but it quickly grew into maniacal cackling that echoed endlessly throughout the chamber. He threw his head back, his hood slipping slightly, revealing more of his face—wrinkled and gaunt, yet alight with sinister energy.

"No, acolyte," the elder hissed, his tone dripping with twisted delight. "You are special. You are exactly what I have been searching for… the perfect vessel."

Before Ali could respond, the elder's body began to disintegrate into red smoke, his form unraveling as though consumed by fire. The smoke swirled through the air, gathering speed and volume until it filled the entire hall.

Ali watched calmly, his sharp mind calculating the futility of resistance. 'Pointless to move', he thought. 'There's no escape from this trap.'

The cloud of smoke surged toward him from all directions, enveloping his body in a suffocating embrace. He clenched his teeth as the invasive force entered his body through every pore, filling him with a searing pain that felt like his very soul was being pulled apart.

Clutching his head, Ali closed his eyes tightly, the agony building to an unbearable crescendo.

When he opened his eyes, the world around him had shifted entirely. He now stood on a massive surface of black glass, its smooth surface reflecting his form. Darkness stretched out infinitely in all directions, pressing in like a living entity.

From the void, the elder's voice boomed, laced with malevolent glee. "Surrender, acolyte! Your body is mine to claim! With you as my vessel, I will resurrect myself and return to the galaxy!"

Ali turned his head to see the hooded Sith elder approaching him across the glass. Each step the ancient figure took sent ripples through the surface, distorting the reflection below.

"So that's it," Ali said, his voice calm but laced with biting sarcasm. "You're already dead. You're nothing but a ghost."

The elder sneered. "Smart observation, acolyte. But knowing what I am will not save you."

He took another step closer, his red eyes glowing brighter as he got closer to Ali.

Ali smirked faintly, his tone turning mocking. "Knowing you're a ghost just confirms one thing for me." He raised a finger, pointing down at the glass. "You fucked up. Big time."

The elder's expression shifted to confusion as he followed Ali's gaze downward. The glass beneath his feet began to crack, spiderweb fractures spreading rapidly in all directions. From the darkness below, a massive, grotesque hand emerged, its clawed fingers curling around the elder's leg.

"What… is this?!" the Sith elder shouted, his voice tinged with panic as he struggled to free himself.

Ali watched silently, his black eyes cold and unmoving as more hands broke through the surface, each one grasping the elder with unrelenting force.

"Stop this!" the elder screamed, attempting to channel the Force in a desperate bid to escape. But the hands tightened their grip, pulling him further into the abyss below. His screams echoed, growing fainter as his form was dragged beneath the glass.

Ali crouched down, placing his hand flat against the smooth surface of the glass. He waited in silence, his expression unreadable.

Suddenly, a monstrous hand much larger than the rest slammed against the glass below him, causing the entire surface to tremble.

"Remember," Ali said quietly, his voice a dark whisper. "You're down there for a reason."

With those words, he closed his eyes, and the glassy realm dissolved around him.

Ali's eyes snapped open, and he found himself back in the tomb. The hall was silent, the oppressive weight of the Force much weaker than before. His body tensed as he felt an unfamiliar power stirring within him, a strength that was entirely new.

Once again, his surroundings shifted, and Ali found himself standing in the centre of a small, shallow pond filled with black water. Thick fog surrounded the edges of the pond, obscuring everything beyond it.

"This… this is my Spirit," Ali muttered, his voice low as he extended a hand.

The black water rippled, rising in response to his will. A small sphere of liquid formed in the air, hovering above his palm. Ali stared at it, marvelling at the newfound control. He let his hand drop, and the water splashed back into the pond.

His gaze swept over the pond's surface, assessing its size. "I thought it would be less," he said to himself. "I don't know exactly how much this is, but it's a decent amount for a start."

Closing his eyes, he thought of returning to the tomb. When he opened them again, the hall had reappeared, its ancient stones and towering pillars surrounding him once more.

"Good," Ali muttered. He glanced at a small stone lying on the ground. Raising his hand, he focused his newfound power, and the stone shot through the air with incredible speed. It crashed into a pillar, shattering into tiny fragments.

Ali smirked faintly, his excitement tempered by discipline. 'Too strong,' he thought.

Turning his attention to a larger rock, Ali channeled the Force again. This time, he lifted the stone slowly, holding it suspended in midair. His control was amateurish, the movement inefficient and erratic, but he persisted, holding the stone aloft for a full minute.

As the strain built within him, Ali felt a draining sensation, a hollowness emanating from his Spirit. With a final burst of effort, he smashed the stone into the ground, reducing it to rubble.

Ali closed his eyes again, checking the state of his Spirit. The pond had diminished, a quarter of its water now gone.

"So, that's my limit for now," he said quietly, his mind already calculating how to refine his abilities.

His comms device buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. He activated it, and Malgrith's hologram appeared, the Sith Lord's face twisted in anger.

"Where ARE you?" Malgrith demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.

Ali responded calmly, "In the tomb."

"What the fuck do you mean, in the tomb? Do you think I'm playing games with you, acolyte?"

"No," Ali replied, his tone flat. "I found the tomb and fell through the sand. Now I'm stuck down here and need assistance."

Malgrith's expression darkened, but he suppressed his rage. "Do not touch anything if you want to stay alive. I'm coming to your location. Stay put."

The call ended abruptly. Ali glanced around the hall, smirking to himself.

"He's going to be very disappointed when he gets here," Ali muttered. His eyes scanned the chamber, noting how much weaker the lingering Force presence had become.

'The ghost must have been the primary source of the Force in this tomb. When I destroyed it, the energy was absorbed into me, unlocking my ability to use the Force.'

Ali wandered through the hall, inspecting the ancient symbols etched into the pillars and walls.

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