New Mystery

724, New Mystery

Darth Pregas's power was beyond question, and Darth Malthael, as his apprentice, knew that better than anyone. Even Darth Sidious had needed to scheme meticulously and catch Darth Pregas off guard to kill him, let alone the still-young Darth Malthael.

This battle had always been a clash between vastly unequal powers!

But he had to win!

Failure would mean eternal damnation!

Darth Pregas! When you bestowed my Sith title upon me, what did you see?

Of course, it could not have been Malthael, the Archangel of Death from "Diablo." But why had Pregas given him that name?!

What had you seen? What had you felt? What had you taught me?

The answer lay within the Force...

I am stronger than you, not because I am stronger or faster, but because I have attained a deeper understanding of The Way of the Force.

In this cave, honing his swordsmanship against the Darth Pregas before him or using stronger Force powers was meaningless. What both the Jedi and Sith taught was a "way"! The Jedi Way, the Sith path, and both were... The Way of the Force!

Seeking answers, comprehending a deeper Force and deeper darkness—that was the true purpose!

Abandon this pointless entanglement before him. See through to the essence: the essence of power, the essence of the Force! Feel that boundless darkness!

I do not mind embracing death, because long before that, I had already become one with the darkness...

"Darth Pregas, on that day, within that endless Force River, what you saw was..." Darth Malthael's expression twisted into a snarl.

"Me!"

At that instant, a dark whirlwind suddenly rose around Darth Malthael without warning. The power contained within it was so immense that even the glow cast by the Lightsaber's swings was swallowed up!