MTLNOVEL Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Shadows Beneath Twin Suns
The darkness was both a curse and a comfort.
Harry lay hidden beneath jagged rocks deep within the canyon, the wounds from his battle with the Inquisitor still raw. His body screamed in protest, every breath a reminder of how close he had come to death. The System's holographic interface flickered before him, casting a faint blue glow against the canyon walls.
[STATUS UPDATE]
• Name: Harrion Varyn (Formerly Harry Potter)
• Level: 4
• HP: 28/140
• Stamina: 12/110
• Force Affinity: 25 (+5 Pending Allocation)
• Skills:
• Force Push (Intermediate)
• Force Crush (Level 1)
• Force Sense (Level 1)
• Inventory:
• Rare Skill Shard (Dark Side) – Locked
• Crude Vibroblade
• Blaster (Low Energy)
• Basic Rations (2 Days)
Harry winced, his fingers hovering over the Rare Skill Shard. The dark crystal pulsed faintly, resonating with the part of him that thrived during battle. It called to the rage simmering beneath his exhaustion.
Not yet.
He wasn't ready to delve deeper into the dark side—at least not without understanding the cost. But power was necessary. That Inquisitor had been strong, and there were more like her out there. The Empire wasn't going to forget about him.
His mind drifted back to Earth. Voldemort. Dumbledore. Hogwarts. All gone. That life was a distant memory, buried under the sands of this new world.
[New Quest Available: The Price of Power]
• Objective: Locate a Force Nexus to unlock the Rare Skill Shard.
• Bonus Objective: Survive Imperial bounty hunters tracking your trail.
• Rewards: 4,000 EXP | Rare Force Ability | Alignment Shift (Light/Dark)
Harry scoffed. Imperial bounty hunters? As if Inquisitors weren't bad enough.
But he knew better than to underestimate this galaxy. The rules were different here. Power wasn't just about strength—it was about control, alliances, and survival.
His muscles protested as he stood, staggering toward the narrow canyon path that led deeper into the wastelands. The twin suns were rising again, bathing Tatooine in their merciless light.
Meanwhile, Aboard an Imperial Cruiser – Orbit of Tatooine
Inquisitor Valen stood before a towering hologram of her superior. The Grand Inquisitor's face was hidden beneath a dark hood, his yellow eyes glowing with displeasure.
"You failed," the Grand Inquisitor hissed.
Valen clenched her fists. "The anomaly is stronger than anticipated. He's… not just Force-sensitive. There's something else—something ancient."
The Grand Inquisitor leaned forward, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Then you will not underestimate him again. Deploy the bounty."
Valen bowed slightly, though rage burned in her veins.
Across the galaxy, encrypted messages were transmitted to the most dangerous bounty hunters in the Outer Rim. A single target, a name etched into the black market's data streams:
"Harrion Varyn – Wanted Alive. Reward: 500,000 Credits."
Chapter Break: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Harry trekked through the desert, guided by nothing but the whispers of the Force and his own stubborn will. His path led him toward the remnants of an ancient ruin—a temple half-buried beneath the shifting sands.
As he approached, his senses tingled.
Not alone.
Blaster fire erupted from the cliffs above.
Harry dove for cover, rolling behind a jagged boulder. Sand exploded around him as shots rained down. He peeked over the edge just long enough to spot them—bounty hunters. Two of them, armored and armed with high-tech gear.
But it wasn't their weapons that made his blood run cold.
It was the third figure.
A woman, her face hidden behind a crimson mask, wielding not a blaster—but a double-bladed vibrosword crackling with energy. She moved with the grace of an assassin, her aura dark and predatory.
[Bounty Encounter: Crimson Blade – Elite Hunter]
• Level: 10
• Objective: Survive or eliminate the bounty hunters.
• Bonus Objective: Capture Crimson Blade's weapon.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Harry muttered, summoning the Force with what little strength he had left.
The battle had only just begun.
To be continued…