Cain and Anakin launched with blinding speed toward Count Dooku.
There was no hesitation, no words needed to be spoken between the two. thought and motion, and only instinct. Without exchanging a single word, both boys reached deep into the Force and activated the abilities that had become part of their shared language: In a single heartbeat, both boys reached inward and ignited the Force inside them.
Both used Force Valor, and Force Meld in unison. A surge of synchronized energy flowed through them. Strengthening muscle, sharpening perception, aligning their breathing and heartbeat until their movements were mirrored and complimented one another's.
The world around them slowed. And then...They struck.
Anakin came in from the right, striking first, his indigo blade singing through the air flashing with specks of lightning as he attacked with a fierce blend of aggressive Shien and reactive Shien, adapting counters and biting offense with every shifting angle.
Cain came in from the left, striking simultaneously, hammering in with the overwhelming pressure, decisive power of Djem So in its purest form, each blow fueled by perfect timing and relentless precision.
Dooku met both of them in a single, seamless rotation, and parried all their strikes effortlessly. His red lightsaber moved in elegant arcs, each motion minimal yet absolute. his Makashi was beyond perfect in it's refinement, making him untouchable.
As his red blade flicked, tapped, and weaved through their strikes with effortless poise. Every parry from him was a dismissal of their efforts. Every deflection a critique of the two forms. Every turn of his wrist sent their power sliding away. Every graceful step repositioned him into advantage.
But the boys didn't break stride, and then came the quick exchange.
Where Anakin pressed forward, Cain followed behind him. Where Anakin feinted and struck low, Cain struck high. The clearing became a storm of blurs, indigo, gold, and crimson streaking through the open air. They spun around Dooku, two converging storms of light and fury.
But Dooku…Dooku moved like a razor carried by the wind. His footsteps were soft, silent, grounded with decades of discipline. His blade redirected theirs with the ease of a composer correcting the tempo of a song.
Cain thought to himself: This Dooku seems stronger than the one from the movies and novels but how…?
Dooku's voice slipped in between clashes, voice calm and cutting despite the storm around him: His blade danced effortlessly between theirs.
"You are both strong in the Force. But your lightsaber skills… are lacking." "Skywalker, you use Shien is well balanced. But lacks pacing and it seem you long for aggression. You cannot decide between spear and shield. Either refine and master Djem So for the power, or refine your Ataru for the speed. I doubt you could do both so picking one would be best."
Anakin's eyes narrowed as he grit his teeth.
"Are you critiquing my forms?... Are we dueling or are you giving me saber lessons, old man?"
Dooku spared him only a sidelong glance before his eyes slid to Cain.
"And you, Cain… Djem So suits Plo Koon's student. Plo Koon's influence shows very well in your precision and speed. Your strikes are quite impressive but lack power. I hear you've also learned a thing or two from Master Windu as well. Why are you hiding it? Is it the same brute force and skirting the dark side of the Force as Windu's or is it lacking to much? Can you show me something different beyond brute strength? Or are you scared your gonna fall to the dark side."
Cain and Anakin exchanged a look, and then smirked.
Cain's voice was calm and low as he spoke. "I think the old man wants us to go all out, Anakin." Anakin twirled his saber behind his back. "Then let's show him how the best future Jedi of the old order really throw down."
Dooku sighed lightly, annoyed but amused. As he raised his blade again.
"So be it, boys. Come then. Let me feel the power of the orders best students. But I will warn you, If I'm disappointed by what I see… you will lose much more than this duel."
Anakin's indigo saber flashed, faint traces of white lightning pulsing for a single, dangerous instant. Cain's golden blade shined, as its black hue deepened swirling like a shadowy mist.
Then they charged. And the world vanished around them.
No forest or sky, just the void and the fight existed.
Cain shifted hist stance and unleashed a controlled yet vicious blend of Vaapad's ferocity and Djem So's crushing precise power. His strikes were sharp, unpredictable, yet precise. Angled to exploit micro-openings.
Anakin surged with heightened aggression, Shien evolving moment by moment laced with bursts of Ataru. Ataru's footwork slipping into the rhythm to increase unpredictability. His movements blurred like a burning indigo flame.
Dooku smirked.
The boys were stronger and faster now. Their meld strikes together was flawlessly. But Dooku knew... they were still children compared to him.
His blade danced through theirs, a seamless integration of Makashi, Shii-Cho fundamentals, and Soresu precision. He turned aside strikes that could shatter durasteel plating. Redirected blows that should have forced him back. Slipped past feints that would fool lesser masters. His Makashi intensified in elegant strikes, narrow deflections, a lethal economy of motion. Redirecting their momentum with the smallest adjustments.
Cain saw it: No way! Makashi. Shii-Cho. Soresu. All three woven together flawlessly. I can't find a opening
Then... Thats when Dooku made his move and struck.
In one flawless motion. He broke their synchronized assault with a single, perfect Makashi flourish.
A sweeping slash forced both boys off balance... He redirected Anakin's blade, and caught Cain's angle of attack, and created an opening between heartbeats.
And then lightning erupted. A burst of Force Lightning erupted from his free hand. Blue-white bolts exploded from Dooku's fingers.
Cain and Anakin barely managed to raise their sabers in time, their arms straining against the torrent. Burning through their willpower.
Dooku was already moving as he blurred forward.
He appeared before Anakin in a blink. Neither boys could see how quickly he moved in that instant.
Then three rapid strikes. Each precise, and aimed to dismantle. Anakin blocked the first, Barely deflected the second. The third slipped past.
SHHK...A white-hot slash, and a scream.
"AHHH. MY ARM!! Anakin screamed as his right arm fell away, cauterized instantly. Anakin fell to his knees, staring in shock at the cauterized stump of his right arm.
Dooku stood over him like an executioner, with a cold indifferent gaze.
"I warned you, young one," he said coldly. "This is the price for disappointing me." Then, with a contemptuous gesture, he blasted Anakin backward with a brutal telekinetic blast of the Force. Sending Anakin flying off the waterfall cliff.
"NO! ANAKIN!" Cain roared.
As Anakin was sent hurling off the cliff behind them, about to fall toward the raging waters below.
Cain thrust out his hand, catching Anakin's falling body in a desperate grip of telekinesis. But maintaining the hold required total focus, But Dooku was already upon him. and struck at that exact moment.
Cain blocked with his lightsaber, but barely, straining to defend while trying to pull Anakin to safety. Sweat dripped down his brow. His muscles began to burn. His stance wavered under the pressure.
"You must choose, Padawan." Dooku's blade pressed harder.
"Save Skywalker and die…or defend yourself and pray the Force shows mercy or that his death is quick."
Cain's teeth clenched. His arms trembled as he attempted to hold Anakin and defend himself simultaneously. He was caught between two impossible choices.
That's when Anakin acted... "CAIN!" Anakin shouted suspended midair by Cain's Force grip. His left hand reached outward as he summoned the Force. That's when Cain sensed it.
Anakin's saber hilt on the ground flew upwards as it ignited. Dooku moved aside as the spinning indigo blade passed him.
Cain caught it in his free hand. And at that same moment, Cain managed to fully grasp Anakin through the Force and pull him back onto the cliffside. Anakin then passed out from the shock.
Cain stood as his chest rose and fell violently. His mind cleared. But a cold fury began to burn in his heart. His golden eyes hardened as he stared at Dooku.
Dooku watched him rise, expression unreadable.
I know I can't beat Dooku. Especially by myself. He knew that.
But right now. I don't care. He hurt Anakin, so I want to hurt him back.
Cain held both ignited lightsabers at his side. Anakin's indigo lightsaber in his right.
His own golden-black lightsaber in his left.
He slid his feet apart. Lowered his stance. As he Let the Force gather in and around him like a raging storm.
Dooku recognized the stance of Jar'Kai. But expression remained unreadable, but Cain sensed the slight shift in the Force. A build up. The eye of the storm faces the Eclipsing Sun.
"Well then," Dooku said quietly raising his blade again. "Hopefully you learned something from Skywalker's failure. Especially with Dual blades. Let us see if you have the discipline to match your anger.""
Cain's voice turned cold as ice. "Oh, I learned, Dooku, and don't worry about my discipline. I have two lifetimes worth."
Cain's aura darkened, not with corruption, but with highly tuned focus and intent.
A stillness before the storm let lose.
"I've also learned that I'm going to make you pay for hurting him."
Dooku's eyes narrowed. "Revenge… That is not the Jedi way."
Cain's head tilted as he stepped forward. His tone was deathly calm. "I am no Jedi and neither are you."
Cain then launched forward. Indigo in his right. Gold-black in his left. Both Sabers blazing as the fight continued.