Chapter 49: Overcoming The Master
A few weeks after Operation Swiper...
POV Rio
I had been preparing for this trial ever since I got it. It was time to have my final lessons with Count Dooku. I checked to make sure I had my lightsabers and that my robes were presentable.
'System enter Trial Overcoming The Master.'
I close my eyes and when I open them up I am in the Counts residence. I feel a bit of nostalgia for all the training I have done here.
Dooku: "It seems it has finally come time for you to have your final lessons."
I bow to Dooku.
Rio: "Master it is good to see you again. I believe I am ready to graduate from your tutelage."
Dooku: "You need not worry about injuring me. I am not the real Dooku. Or rather I am his spirit after my death. The Force has tasked me with testing you. If you pass you will be given the knowledge of a technique that very few are ever taught and fewer still master."
Rio: "I am honored to have this opportunity. Will we start with Lightsaber combat?"
Dooku: "Yes, the use of the Force on anything but yourself is forbidden. You can use both sabers if you wish. We will start when the last grain of sand is drained from this hourglass."
Rio: "I will only use one as I wish to show off my abilities to prove my dedication to your teachings."
We ignite our lightsabers and put the blades before our noses before placing them to the low right of our bodies. Both of our blades are blue but mine is dark blue. We both calmly wait for the hourglass to finish. I see the final grain slowly fall to the bottom of the hourglass. When it touches the ground we both rush at each other. He goes for a thrust and I parry it. I transition to a slash toward his torso and he pirouettes to the left and moves into an upward slash that I have to leap away from. We continue to exchange slashes before I step away a bit.
Rio: "This is getting us nowhere. We are evenly matched in Form II. So I think it is time I switch things up a bit."
Dooku: "You are correct at this rate you would win by outlasting me rather than out-dueling me."
Dooku switches to Form IV: Ataru and I decide to switch to Form VII: Vaapad. This seems to shock Dooku. He shifts from Form IV: Ataru to Form III: Soresu which is the most logical choice.
Dooku: "I am surprised you would use such a technique. Even I haven't fully mastered Vaapad. Let us see if you can really use it."
Dooku begins to close the distance I decide to take the initiative. I start with an upswing to the left which meets Dooku's blade as we push against each other before separating. We continue exchanging blows before I see him switch to Form VI: Niman. I can only guess it's because he is running out of stamina. I remain in my current form before I bait him into several exchanges. On the last exchange, I forced him to overextend by pushing his saber far from his center of mass allowing me to get a small cut on his right leg before he could fully escape.
'Okay just need to capitalize before he can heal it.'
I rush him and start to exchange rapid slashes that are starting to overwhelm his defenses combined with the cut on his leg reducing his speed if only slightly it doesn't take long for me to disarm him. Once he is disarmed I deactivate my lightsaber.
Rio: "It seems I have won. Though I think I would have struggled far more if you were in your prime."
Dooku: "Hahahaha, yes I have lost. But you are mistaken, I may look old but the Force has already restored me to my prime. It was a test to see if you would underestimate me. You passed, but take this to heart even those who may look old may be deceiving you. My master looked like a kind old man but was one of the most powerful Sith Lords to ever exist."
Rio: "I will remember that master. Now when will the next test begin?"
Dooku: "In an hour. I must first replenish myself and I imagine you must do so as well."
I sit down and start to meditate. I go over the last fight to see any errors I made. Whenever I see one I think of a better solution. I am snapped out of my meditation when a blast of lightning is shot at me. I barely have enough time to use Tutaminis to absorb the blast. Once the lightning stops I jump away and look at Dooku who is smiling at me.
Dooku: "Most impressive, I know very few who could have pulled that off. I think only Master Yoda and maybe Master Windu could have reacted quickly enough while in deep meditation. Though you should never meditate in a possibly hostile environment at least not without a guard or defenses set up. Now the second trial has begun, you are forbidden from using your lightsaber."
Rio: "Very well then I suppose if we must."
I start by launching a blast of lightning back at him and he is forced to dodge out of the way. I then quickly transition to using Force Fear to hopefully distract him long enough to gather the needed power for my next attack.
POV Dooku
After dodging the lightning shot by my apprentice I get to my feet only to see he has vanished. I feel a strange sense of unease as I carefully look around for my apprentice.
Dooku: "You cannot hide from me forever Rio. You must reveal yourself, face your fears."
???: "And what about you? Can you face your fears?"
I quickly turn to face the voice and I am stunned at who I see.
Dooku: "Sidious! What sorcery is this? You cannot be here. This is a sacred trial, the Force would never let you be here."
Sidious: "Lord Tyrannus you have disappointed me. You failed to even realize that you were nothing more than a pawn, in a game, played by a genuine master. You are scared of me and of your failings. You are the reason all those you once knew have perished. Your actions led to the death of millions."
Dooku: "No, I was blinded by the Dark Side but I am not scared of you anymore. I am paying for my sins. You are nothing more than a vision, you are not real."
I take a deep breath and force myself to leave the vision.
Sidious: "You cannot escape your past! I will be back!"
Once I leave the vision I find myself laying on the ground. I have only seconds to rest as I finally feel the massive amount of energy coming from not far away from me. I see my apprentice has gathered the energy and before I can get very far away he releases it. I can't avoid the attack so I try to shield myself.
BOOOOOOOM!
The attack of what I can only describe as pure Dark Side energy hits my shield and breaks it in seconds causing my body to be launched to the wall were my body explodes in wisps of energy.
POV Rio
After I released the Force Blast I felt fairly drained but I watched as Dooku was evaporated by the blast and I grimaced at the thought of how much that likely hurt. Dooku doesn't reappear and I can't sense him so I just keep watching to see if it was a trick. After a few hours, I realized he might not come back.
'Did I knock him into next week or is he like double dead now?'
Rio: "Uh, hello. Are you dead or should I just wait?"
I get no answer so I decide to meditate. I don't know how long I meditated but eventually, I felt Dooku's presence again.
Dooku: "Ugh, that really hurt. I don't even know what technique you just used but the Force had to forcibly reconstruct me. And to answer your question, yes you passed. Now give me a bit to settle myself and we can begin the final trial."
I rub the back of my head and look guilty.
Rio: "Sorry about that. I honestly didn't know how powerful that technique was when I charged it so much. I was taught the technique but I only used it in training and never against a living opponent."
Dooku: "It is fine, though I would like to know what technique that was."
Rio: "It's called Force Blast, it creates a directed blast of pure Dark Side energy. My other master said that she had rarely used it as it takes too long to use for most users. I am still fairly weak with the technique which requires me to concentrate the energy over a long period of time before I can unleash it."
Dooku: "I doubt I need to worry about it but for the next trial I ask you don't use that technique. If I am killed again it might take a long while for me to reconstitute myself which means the knowledge I have to give you will be delayed."
Rio: "Yes master."
Dooku: "Okay I think I am finally settled we can begin the trial. You are permitted to use anything you can to win. Now let us proceed."
I ignite my lightsaber and move into Form II: Makashi. Dooku copies me and I start by thrusting towards his legs which makes him leap up and try to slash me. I move out of the way and send lightning his way which he blocks with his saber. We clash again and again. Each time we clash Dooku is getting more and more sloppy. Eventually, he breaks contact and tries to retreat I pursue but he launches a Force Push making me back off.
Dooku: "What have you done to me?"
Dooku was swaying and he was having trouble keeping his eyes open. I clicked my tongue as he noticed sooner than I had hoped.
'I suppose it makes sense he noticed so quickly but I need to end this soon.'
I don't answer him and rush him again this time I move into Vaapad to push him into a defensive posture. With his muddled mind, he doesn't even realize what has happened till it is too late. Dookus's eyes go wide as he realizes what is happening and tries to adjust but he can't as I have him stuck in my battle rhythm. Dooku tries a desperate maneuver to get away and it costs him the duel as I take the opportunity to grab him in the force before placing my blade to his neck.
Dooku: "Sigh. I lost. Congratulations apprentice you have now surpassed me and you may do what is expected of the Sith."
Dooku closes his eyes and I just laugh at the silliness. I deactivate my lightsaber while taking his lightsaber away from him.
Rio: "Really you know I was never really a Sith. Moreover, you mentioned not that long ago that I should avoid using a technique as it would kill you. Finally, I never planned on killing you. You saved me from a life of being a street rat and taught me how to use the Force. You even gave me a ship to command. Sure you could be a bit of a grumpy old man and you made me go to those fancy parties with you but you were never cruel to me. So get up and teach me what you need to teach me. One last lesson before we part ways possibly for the last time."
Dooku: "Sigh. That was almost a kind sentiment if you didn't insult me a couple of times. But you are right I have a final technique to impart to you. It is called Oneness and you are already close to achieving it. It a can allow you to call upon the power of your allies and family and even those who have passed on and use it as your own. It is achieved by becoming one with the Force even while alive, it also requires you to use both the Dark and Light Sides of the Force. Now let us begin the instruction."
Several Days Later...
Dooku: "With that you have understood the technique. Remember to only use when absolutely necessary or else you will suffer the backlash. Now I believe it is time for you to return to your world. I have only one thing left to give you."
Dooku hands me his lightsaber. I am shocked by this gift.
Dooku: "Take it, I can no longer use it. You can and I also want you to know why I made you go through all the different training I gave you. I wanted you to be my successor. The next Count of Serenno. I believed that with your unique circumstances, you would not be found by Sidious. I originally thought Sidious would keep me around once his new order was made but when I found you something changed in me. I originally thought you nothing more than another assassin to be trained but I grew to see you not as a tool but as a child who needed guidance. With my change in perspective, I started to realize that I was not likely to live to see the new order. Thus I needed an heir but I was too old and public to have a child without Sidous knowing about it or for my enemies to learn of it as well. Moreover, I needed an older child to mold. You were the perfect candidate. Thus even though it doesn't mean anything anymore I by my right as the current Count of Serenno name you Rio Magus Crepusculum as the new Count of Serenno. Know that I was always proud of your progress."
I tear up a bit over his words as I realize what I ignored before was him showing a strange form of fatherly affection.
Rio: "I humbly accept this position and I want to thank you for all you have done for me throughout the years. Your training saved me many times and helped me more than you may ever realize."
Dooku: "Raise your head and leave this place. Return to your new family and achieve greatness like I know you can. I also know you will someday fight my previous master when you do tell him Dooku says hello."
Rio: "Haha, I will, I will."
I start to glow as I leave the trial. I take one last look at Dooku who just smiles at me before I disappear completely.
[Ding]
[The Host Has Completed The Trial Overcoming The Master. Calculating Score.
Rank: S
Score: 128901
Rewards:
1 Great Holocron
1 Sith Holocron Of Valkorion
1 Schematics Of Lucrehulk-Class Battleship
1 Schematics Of Super Tank
15 Stat Points ]
[Exiting Trial]
[Done]
I leave the trial and I look at what I got.
[Name: Great Holocron
The Great Holocron was the centerpiece of the Jedi Temple's library holdings. It contained vast amounts of information that was accessible to only a Jedi Master willing to open the Holocron. Even Masters such as Yoda couldn't explore it completely. ]
The other items were the 2 schematics both of which would be very useful once we had the time to produce them. The system points are always welcome. The Sith Holocron was a bit of a mixed bag.
'On the one hand, Valkorion is very knowledgeable on the other hand he is extremely cunning and dangerous. I will have to be very careful if I decide to use this.'
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Authors Note:
The second trial is now complete. I hope the fight scenes were good. I have been kind of hinting toward the Dooku revelation since all the way back in the 3rd chapter. It's why he was never given a lightsaber since it would draw a lot of attention and make Rio less likely to be able to inherit the Count title. The next chapter will have a status update. Also if you are curious the reason why Rio got a lower score compared to the last trial is because he killed Dooku and that caused him to wait for a whole week before doing the last trial. Until next time Ciao.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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