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One moment he was asleep, the next he opened his eyes to an interface screen.

[Name: Varrus Krawl

Faction: Sith Empire

Abilities: Force Sensitive lvl 1

Skills: Form I lvl 1]

Sith Empire! Varrus sharply inhaled at the wording! Fragmented memories unbidden came to mind. The most powerful of which was his time studying at the Academy Temple on Dromund Kaas.

He recognized what was going on. This was a trial by fire! A pass or fail event. One where failure meant!-

His panicking thoughts were quickly interrupted by an older looking Sith male. Forgoing the traditional black robes, he wore a set of bright red robes instead, and his facial structure vaguely reminded Varrus of a spider.

The somewhat familiar looking man in front of him spoke in a soft tone. However, something, The Force, demanded he pay attention to the man.

"As arbiter of this trial, I do hope some of you prove worthy of entertainment. The board has been set, yet I have foreseen a dark horse amongst you. Do not disappoint." The alien said in a haughty whisper to the room's occupants. Although to Varrus's ears, it sounded more like the man was talking to himself, treating the Acolytes like air.

Bright blue plasma soon followed up the vicious statement.

Soon after, a dozen more occupants fell to the ground. Each screaming in untold agony.

Varrus had no further time to reflect upon his situation as pain penetrated every fiber and nerve in his body.

He fell to the ground, writhing in pain.

Arcs of pulsating lightning wrapped around Varrus causing his body to go into shock.

"Is this the best the Sith can offer?! The great game begins anew, and I require Acolytes! If you cannot become a pawn, then you do not belong on my board!!"

Fresh beams of lightning more painful than before struck Varrus on the chest, lightly scorching his flesh.

He faintly heard a pinging sound, and barely noticed a pair of notifications out of the corner of his eye.

Skills:

[Lightning Hands lvl 1]

Abilities:

[Force Lightning lvl 1]

The man paused. "I think you wastes have earned a brief reprieve. In the next five minutes, should you slay an inferior with lightning, you shall be directly promoted to serve as my direct subordinate! Tick-tock, tick-tock!" The Sith taunted.

Varrus was on the cusp of figuring out this awfully familiar looking Sith when his danger sense flared.

One aquatic looking alien stood, and shoved a hand toward Varrus.

Varrus didn't need to be a precog to know what was coming.

Holding out his hand in kind, Varrus met the beam of electricity with one of his own.

Arcs of plasma passed around the central beam, and struck Varrus on the chest and shoulder. He almost released the technique from the shock, but knew he couldn't let up in his attack. For every second of pain he endured, the aquatic alien was suffering just as much.

They had entered an old school power struggle. There were no flashy movements, or agile maneuvers. It was just two desperate life forms pouring everything they had into one full frontal assault. And every second that ticked by, Varrus could faintly see an energy bar rapidly drain.

This was going nowhere, and Varrus had no clue as to the aquatic alien's reserves!

Gritting his teeth, Varrus held up his other hand, and doubled the ferocity of his attack.

His energy bar began to deplete at an astonishing rate, almost emptying the second he raised both hands. However, the results spoke for themselves.

His opponent's flippers seemed to shudder in surprise from the sudden turn of events.

Their power struggle ended far sooner than either of them had imagined.

In less than three seconds, Varrus's additional hand had turned the fight in his favor. It didn't take long for the lightning to crisp the alien. His blue and vibrant skin blackened from the vicious arcs of lightning.

The alien rolled around twitching in pain.

Varrus stood back, panting in exhaustion. His body was weak after being electrocuted by the Sith, and although his energy bar was recovering, he felt sluggish when it was so low. Additionally, the emotional trauma of transmigration and near death filled Varrus with complicated feelings.

"Finish him." The Sith whispered in Varrus's ears. His voice was demur, and charismatic.

Following this soft spoken Sith felt right.

Dark thoughts and a berserker rage assaulted Varrus's mind at that moment. Varrus sensed that something was wrong with him, but the situation was to intense. He couldn't afford to disobey!

Giving in to those dark desires, Varrus unleashed a fresh torrent of lightning. He all but melted his opponent into slag by the time he released his skill.

The smell was horrifying, and Varrus almost wretched in disgust. However, he knew he couldn't show such weakness in front of a Sith Lord.

A ping notifying him of his exp gains were a welcome distraction from the sentient he had just murdered.

+50 exp

[Level Up]

Quickly checking his status, Varrus distinctly noticed he was lacking any kind of health or exp bar. Additionally, there were no attribute points or anything of the sort. In effect, he was operating with the most bare of bones systems.

He'd take it though. Any advantage in this dangerous setting was a welcome one.

Thankfully, his level up recharged his energy bar, and that bone piercing fatigue he suffered from the Sith's lightning blast had washed away from his body.

"Are we done here? Get in line." The Sith said impatiently.

Varrus was quick to obey, lest he catch another torturous zap for some inane cruelty like the typical Sith were wont to do.

Varrus formed a line next to two others.

One was a tall, muscular dark-skinned human man. He reminded Varrus of an ancient hunter from Earth. Even his getup was tribal in nature. Varrus's nascent Force Sense ability was telling him that this man was a powerful physical fighter.

The other member in line was a curvaceous, scantily clad red twi'lek woman. Twi'leks were the generic 'sex' race for a reason. This woman was hot. And seemingly dangerous. Varrus noted that she was the first to stand in line. She had left three opponent's scorched remains to lie on the floor.

It seemed only Varrus was wearing the standard Sith get-up of a black cloak and tunic.

A small bubble of repressed violence seemed to form between the trio at that moment. Each of them assessed one another. This Sith was recruiting, but it was unlikely they would all become his apprentice. No. They were rivals!

During this moment of heightened tension between the Acolytes who had passed, the remaining eight force sensitives were proving themselves to be less than stellar students.

Unfortunately for them, they could barely conjure up a spark or two.

One human man screamed and screamed and screamed. Yet only a foot's length of electricity came out of his hand.

This event made Varrus think, just how many Sith were limited to their lightsaber in life?

Varrus's thoughts were interrupted. Not by any speech, but by a deep seated, heavy disdain.

It radiated off of the Sith. The room seemed to shake with each of his breaths. Varrus almost felt like passing out, such was his power.

Who is he?!

The time limit was almost up, and Varrus had a plot in mind. There was no chance he was escaping this anytime soon. If the man's words were to be believed, the war had just started! He was to become cannon fodder!

Varrus knew that his odds of survival were slim, but he refused to die a pathetic death! If he could accept such a powerful man as his Master, learn everything he could, then…

Sinister thoughts began to brew in Varrus's minds' eye.

He had an interface, he had a chance at greatness. Why not take this opportunity to farm free exp, and brownie points on top of that?!

The sweet seduction of The Force was calling to him.

He flashed back to images of Palpatine dominating Darth Vader with the flick of a hand. Of the man conjuring galaxy wide Force Storms. Even that distasteful movie showcased the might of lightning when Palpatine disabled an entire fleet.

Other Sith and isekai'd men would go down the path of the warrior, that of the duelist or transform themselves into unkillable juggernauts. More than likely, they probably thought of themselves as scholars or intellectuals, and would seek out unknown sorcery's and magicks.

Neither of those would be Varrus's path. Although he possessed a cheat-like ability, he knew the principles of min-maxing.

War was on the horizon! And Varrus determined that lightning would be the quickest path to power! How much exp could a lightsaber farm in comparison to chain lightning?! What use was an esoteric spell or ritual in the face of raw, unmitigated plasma?!

Varrus's inner monologue was interrupted by the Sith's shout.

"Time's up. This is your last chance to showcase your worth as a pawn. Or to be thrown into the trash compactor where you belong." The Sith waved his hand dismissively.

Varrus took a gamble, and stepped forward. "Allow me my Lord! This filth is below one of your standing!"

The man paused. It seemed as if he was about to turn his hand upon Varrus! Then, he lowered it with a smirk.

"Of course. A dropout you may be Krawl, but Sith Pureblood you remain. Teach these vermin a lesson!" The man moved to the side, beckoning Varrus forward.

Varrus's face was set in a scowl. He was a Pureblooded Sith!? His broken memories told him of places, things, and basic technologies! But his true identity…with this kind of face, escape or as the jedi liked calling it, redemption was all but impossible.

Who would accept him?

'Only me.' A small voice whispered.

That's right. In this world, he could only rely on himself.

Varrus channeled his anger into his hands, and the lightning came out in a rush. The power coursing through his veins felt twice as strong compared to his initial casting of the skill.

He used both hands to cover a broader area.

The small chamber they were in lit up with bright blue. Varrus turned a deaf ear to the horrified screams of his victims. He forced the noise out of his mind, and focused on his gains.

Very soon, a slew of experience notifications popped up in the corner of Varrus' eye.

Another level up, and his energy bar refreshed.

Renewing his assault, Varrus efficiently dispatched the remaining trainees in all but a few seconds.

When he finished, he turned to the Sith, only to catch a short burst of lightning in the back, hurtling him to the floor.

"What an enterprising young man. I think I will make use of you, Krawl. Perhaps if you prove yourself, you may even stand by my side." The Sith placed his hand on Varrus's shoulder like an elder comforting his junior.

Varrus's veins felt ice cold at this powerful man's touch. Scenes of Sideous mirroring the exact same pose with Vader had Varrus take a deep ragged breath.

At this moment, he felt intense gazes of jealousy, and emotions of barely concealed hatred from the human and the twi'lek.

Varrus felt like laughing at their stupidity, but the pain from the lightning blast had him grimace.

"Pain I find, my Acolyte is an excellent motivator." The Sith channeled more electricity into his hand, and then onto Varrus's shoulder.

The shock had Varrus stand up straight. He gripped his fists tight. And then the pain was gone. In fact, his body felt compelled healed.

The older man recognized Varrus's confusion, but merely laughed it off.

"The power of the Dark Side is home to many mysteries, Acolyte. Follow me, and there is much you could learn."

Varrus recognized the forced recruitment for what it was. There really was no choice, or going back at this point.

Upon getting down on one knee, Varrus took Vader as an example, and was quick to capitulate. "I am yours to command (for now) Master…" Varrus trailed off at the end not knowing the older Sith's name.

The Sith's face was wrapped in amusement.

"Your thoughts betray you, young one! I'll forgive this transgression once, and only once! I have no place in my household for unfaithful servants. Only a true Sith is worthy of playing my game." The man's yellow eyes promised untold pain should Varrus continue to harbor a treasonous mindset.

At the same time, Varrus speculated that the old man seemed to be implying that should Varrus's strength grow, he would be considered a worthy rival? Sith culture truly encouraged survival of the strongest. And this man is living to such a ripe old age. He most certainly was strong, Varrus had no doubt about that!

"I obey your will." Varrus grit his teeth, and kept his face down, staring at his new Master's boots.

Varrus had sworn his obedience.

The Sith replied with a subdued smirk, and knowing look.

He turned to include the human and the twi'lek. "Allow me to introduce myself, Acolytes. Be humbled, for you stand in the presence of Darth Vowrawn, Dark Councilor, and Lord of the Sith!"