"Stand down. You've already lost," Count Dooku said calmly. "Useless."
At that moment, the curved-hilt Lightsaber in his hand was pressed directly against Mace Windu's purple blade. It looked effortless, but he had actually blocked Windu's strike at the most critical instant.
"No!!!" Savage Opress roared, utterly unwilling to accept this outcome.
But Count Dooku merely glanced back at him. His mind, controlled by Dark Side Force magic, immediately made Savage lower his head and take two steps back, withdrawing from the battle.
That was indeed the case. His command of the Force and his swordsmanship had been thoroughly seen through by Master Windu. If Count Dooku had not intervened just now, his heart would have been pierced straight through!
"The Dark Side has made you powerful. That pleases me, Master Windu." Count Dooku sneered as he approached Mace Windu.
His curved-hilt Lightsaber lightly traced a flourish before he held it upright before his eyes and bowed gracefully in a duelist's salute. This was the opening stance of Form II Makashi, the Lightsaber style he excelled at most—also known as the Makashi Salute.
"Yet from where I stand, the Dark Side has not made you stronger, Dooku." Mace Windu's expression gradually twisted.
"Oh? It seems you know the Dark Side very well. Did you come prepared?" Count Dooku mocked.
"It seems you did not learn enough of a lesson on Tull Planet. This time, there will be no Archangel of Death to help you," Mace Windu said.
In the early days of the war, when Count Dooku had attempted to activate the Dark Reaper, Master Windu had ambushed him. The two had fought on Tull Planet, and Master Windu had indeed held the advantage then. It was only because Darth Malthael suddenly appeared, coupled with interference from the Dream Sisters,