\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe reassembles the lightsaber. He leaves, but . . . time moves in a blur, his actions guided not by the dark but by something else \u2026<\/p>\n
He sees his master. He sees a flash of green, the blade of lies, the blade of a Jedi.<\/p>\n
Ah, so you have made your decision?<\/p>\n
He sees a flash of red, the blade of truth, the blade of the Sith.<\/p>\n
So be it, my friend. You have chosen weakness.<\/p>\n
He sees his master fall.<\/p>\n
The visions are not real. They are tricks. The light side lies, the light side is deceit and deception, and in its final moments the kyber crystal of Kirak Infil\u2019a has betrayed its intent, revealing its dishonesty as it tries to corrupt and entangle.<\/p>\n
The power of the light side is strong.<\/p>\n
He is stronger.<\/p>\n
The apprentice slams his gauntleted hand down on the crystal, pin\u00adning it against the ancient stone. Around the cave, the carved runes light in red and orange as the apprentice focuses now, not with his will but with things far more powerful.<\/p>\n
Anger.<\/p>\n
Hate.<\/p>\n
The crystal fights but cannot win. The falsehood of the Jedi, the lies of the light side: They are stripped away until all that is left is the truth.<\/p>\n
He sees . . .<\/p>\n
Mustafar.<\/p>\n
The lava fields.<\/p>\n
Obi-Wan, the craven victor, revealing his true self.<\/p>\n
Shmi, who died for nothing, the cowardly Jedi refusing to free her, refusing to interfere.<\/p>\n
He sees Padm\u00e9.<\/p>\n
He sees Palpatine.<\/p>\n
He sees Padm\u00e9. He sees Padm\u00e9. He sees Padm\u00e9.<\/p>\n
He always,\u00a0always\u00a0sees Padm\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe reassembles the lightsaber, rebuilding the sacred weapon around its new bleeding heart. The task is, once again, simple, yet Vader\u2019s work is slow, as he replaces and reconnects every component with immacu\u00adlate precision, until at last the weapon is whole.<\/p>\n He ignites it. The blade flares into existence, its scarlet glow illumi\u00adnating the cave, brighter than the lava, brighter than the runes. It lights the altar, revealing the scar now burned onto its surface from where the crystal had lain.<\/p>\n But it does not light the shadow behind the altar. Vader moves the blade, raises it, but the shadow seems to only deepen, the pull of the dark side suddenly stronger, a riptide that threatens to drag him under. He shifts on his feet, his boots sliding in the dust as he regains control.<\/p>\n Yes, there\u00a0is\u00a0power here. Power undreamed of.<\/p>\n His master, Darth Sidious, had spoken of the power of the dark side and had told him of its potential and his own potential, making prom\u00adises of guidance, of understanding. There was no question of any decep\u00adtion; lies were the province of the Jedi, and the apprentice knew that one day the knowledge he sought would be his.<\/p>\n But . . .<\/p>\n Here, in the cave, there is . . . something else. His master had called it a locus for the dark side of the Force. But standing here, it feels like so much more, the shadow moving behind the altar, showing him just a glimpse of an infinite potential, the start, perhaps, of a pathway to many abilities some consider to be . . .<\/p>\n Unnatural.<\/p>\n Vader leaves the cave and leaves the planet. Perhaps he will return. Perhaps his master will fulfill the promises made.<\/p>\n Or perhaps Vader will find the path himself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Master](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Master-of-Evil-Cover-676x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n