Star Wars: Duel of the Fates

Chapter 61

Rey ran into a large round arena inside the monastery. It had no roof and there was a circular gap in the clouds directly above them, the stars clear in the jet blue sky.

There were numerous platforms and balconies supported by massive struts. On the floor were ancient faded and curved patterns.

Kylo Ren was stood just in front of her breathing heavily.

He turned, lighting his saber, "Is this another vision?"

"...No," Rey said, her feet rooted in place.

"So you're here to stop me."

It wasn't a question.

She nodded.

"There isn't anything to save you this time," he said taking a step closer, "I'm uninjured; there aren't any praetorian guards; and this isn't a force connection. If you try to get between me and what is mine: I will kill you."

Rey ignited her lightsaber.

He pointed his flickering crossguard at her, "We strike...or we fall...that is the way of the dark side."

There was a long moment as they stared at each other before he made a savage swipe at her neck. She spun away from him, deflecting his frantic slashes.

Kylo made a wide slice at her head which she blocked, their sabers locked right in front of their faces. Gritting her teeth, she tightened the hold on her hilt and punched it into his nose. He staggered back as she whirled her saber at her side.

Rey advanced as he parried her blows, before striking down at his legs. He leapt away and onto one of the platforms.

She looked up at him as he stood above her, curving his lightsaber in a figure of eight as he paced impatiently.

Bending her knees, she jumped up onto the other side of the platform.

Grimacing, he surged forwards slamming his lightsaber against hers and hurling her sideways. She skirted to the wall, her back bumping against it as she ducked and dodged the slices he made, leaving a trail of glowing gashes in the walls surface.

She dived to the next platform and took a rocky breath.

He pursued her and made a series of three brutal attacks, spinning around and slicing at her shoulder. Bracing herself, she shoved him back. Kylo whirled into the air towards her to build up momentum, but Rey force pushed him still suspended in mid-air and sent him flying to land two platforms away.

After tumbling awkwardly he stood unsteadily as she jumped towards him.

He was still winded from being thrown as she pummelled him with blows. Stepping to the side, he gave her an opening and she elbowed him in the face; blocking his blade as she lowered herself to the floor and kicked him in the chin. His saber hilt sailed from his hands onto the adjacent platform as he crumbled to the ground.

Rey made strike after strike as he rolled away from her until he force pushed himself up.

He grabbed the hand holding her lightsaber and pointed it away, both of their arms shaking with the effort. His lips contorted in satisfaction as he punched her shoulder, right over the wound he had given her. The resulting wave of nausea passed through her as she leant away and kicked him in the shin. He unbalanced and fell onto his back, pulling her down with him, his hand still holding her lightsaber at bay.

Grasping her shoulder with his free hand, he yanked her towards him and head-butted her. He used her moment of disorientation to roll them so that he was on top, grinding the hand holding her lightsaber into the platform and drawing his crossguard lightsaber to him.

She reacted just in time, jerking her hilt free and blocked his blade with hers.

He used both hands to steadily drive his crackling saber down. She inhaled letting out a cry as she unleashed a force wave right into his face and pushed him away, their lightsabers breaking apart as he recovered and she hooked her leg around his and whirled them around.

Rey pinned his free hand to the ground with her foot and pressed her lightsaber against his.

A twitch of rage crossed his face as he cut his short crossguard across her hand, grazing her skin and leaving a hot painful line. She let out a grunt at the searing sensation, pushing her saber with more pressure until he bucked underneath her. The movement jarred her upwards and he pulled his hand free from her foot, punched her in the side and flipped her over his head. She slammed onto her back as he got to his feet and plunged his lightsaber at her heart. She force pushed herself away, misjudging the distance and sliding off the edge of the platform.

She hung precariously as he stalked towards her. Swinging agilely, she descended back to the main arena.