Amir sidestepped, narrowly dodging Maul's slash, and swung his own blade toward Maul's wrist. Maul retreated quickly, evading the attack.
Maul was secretly alarmed. Although this young Jedi's Form III lightsaber combat lacked variation, it was practically flawless. Even at his peak, Maul wasn't sure he could have wounded him. Moreover, Amir's Force defense completely shrouded his body, leaving no opening for Maul to use Force abilities as a breakthrough.
Maul began to grow anxious. What was that vibration from the ground earlier? Is it over outside? Did the reinforcements arrive?
Based on the troops he had arranged, those Mandalorians shouldn't be able to cope easily. And he had notified Qi'ra. She should have arrived by now!
Amir, however, had already learned the situation outside through his earpiece. 32 had destroyed the troop transports, so there would be no interference here for the time being. The only variable was the Crimson Dawn mobile base that had just appeared . . . he didn't know what choice Qi'ra would make.
Now, the only task remaining was Maul in front of him.
Bo-Katan and her follower remained silent on the side, watching quietly as Amir and Maul fought.
Amir had already gauged Maul's condition; the former Sith was near his limit, running on fumes, just holding on to wait for rescue. His Force reserves could hardly support him releasing powerful skills or shields anymore.
Amir gripped his lightsaber and walked forward step by step.
Maul kept his distance, constantly retreating. He spoke: "You are powerful, child. I can sense your emotions. Deep in your heart, there is a desire for power. History has proven the Jedi are failures. You will struggle to achieve your goals, so . . ."
"Don't users of the Dark Side usually use fear to force others to turn?" Amir asked with a smile.
Maul: ". . ."
Amir took a thermal detonator from his backpack, pressed the button, and threw it directly at Maul.
"More?!" Maul furrowed his brow. He thought only Mandalorians used such primitive weapons; he hadn't expected a Jedi to do the same!
With a violent roll, Maul deployed his Force shield again to block the shockwave, only to see another bomb coming head-on. After the third one, he collapsed on the ground in a sorry state, gasping for breath.
Amir waved his hand. "I'm all out."
Maul relaxed slightly, but then sensed the Force fluctuation radiating from the Jedi in front of him.
He stood up, gripping the Darksaber. Despite his exhaustion, his anger and obsession continued to support his body.
Amir changed his previously conservative fighting style and rushed straight forward, his lightsaber raised to chest level, his eyes locked onto Maul's pupils.
Maul swayed as he lifted the Darksaber, taking slow steps forward. He knew this was the final strike.
Desperately mobilizing the surrounding Force, massive mechanical equipment and clods of earth floated into the air, vibrating and twisting, then shot toward Amir from different angles, threatening to bury him!
But as Amir raised his left hand, everything around them slowed down until it froze in place!
Maul's eyes were about to split with rage. He used all his strength to swing the Darksaber at the approaching Amir.
Suddenly, he found that his legs, which should have stepped forward, remained rooted to the spot.
These legs were mechanical; his original legs had been cut off by Obi-Wan long ago.
He had long adapted to these mechanical limbs, but now he had lost control over them! He wanted to resist this control, but his Force was no longer sufficient to counteract Amir's intrusion!
Suddenly, the legs beneath Maul moved, but not under his control. They moved in the exact opposite direction of where he wanted to go. His right foot stepped uncontrollably to the front left. Combined with the force of his swinging right arm, this caused a severe loss of balance!
Amir stepped forward. His green blade stuck directly to the Darksaber, binding it. Following Maul's momentum, he twisted and flicked upward, disarming the Darksaber from Maul's grip.
Maul, having lost his balance, toppled toward Amir. The green blade sliced gently from below, emitting a harsh cutting sound.
Maul's upper body crashed helplessly at Amir's feet, while the mechanical legs remained standing in place.
"Haa . . ." Maul crawled on the ground, feeling the searing pain at his waist. It was as if he had returned to that memory he least wanted to recall, yet which haunted his dreams every day.
Amir looked at Maul's body, bisected once again, and let out a long breath. He hadn't intended for this exact outcome, but fate had led them here.
"You know . . . you know . . ." Maul propped his head up with his hands, desperately trying to look up. "You are . . . ?"
The madness and anger were gone from Maul's eyes. He was now just an ordinary old man on the verge of death, seeking his answer.
Amir felt a stir in his heart.
Despite Maul's unforgivable crimes, stripped of everything, he was just a pitiful man used and discarded by the Sith Emperor. He had endured death, endured long suffering, and endured his master's betrayal. He could never escape his fate, forever shrouded in fear, forever tortured by hatred.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," Amir said.
Hearing Amir's words, Maul seemed to lose all his strength. He propped himself up quietly on the ground, looking at Amir.
"Is he the Chosen One?" Maul asked his final question.
Amir decided to give him an answer before he died. He crouched down and spoke calmly near Maul:
"I am not. But he exists. The Sith will be destroyed."
As he said this, Amir projected his emotions to Maul through the Force—assurance and peace.
After hearing this, Maul's gaze drifted away from Amir, staring into the void. His pupils dilated, and he closed his eyes forever.
Amir stood up, picked up the Darksaber, and turned to look at Bo-Katan, who was slumped on the ground.
She stared at Amir and the Darksaber in his hand, silent.
Amir wanted to hand her the lightsaber but sighed instead.
"If I give it to you, you won't take it, right?" Amir thought for a moment and asked, "You aren't going to come fight me later, are you?"
Bo-Katan remained silent.
So stubborn.
No way, right? I came to help, and now I'm a target?
"What happens if I just throw the Darksaber here and leave?" Amir tried to exploit a loophole.
"But its ownership would still belong to you," Bo-Katan finally spoke, though it wasn't what Amir wanted to hear.
Amir was speechless.
Although dealing with Bo-Katan wasn't difficult, it was a hassle.
What other loopholes can I exploit? Amir continued to think.
"Actually, Maul was defeated long ago, by . . ." Amir started to speak, but Bo-Katan interrupted him.
"Don't say it. I know what you mean, but I cannot accept it." After speaking, Bo-Katan signaled her sidekick to help her leave.
The follower gave Amir a complicated look before supporting Bo-Katan and turning to walk away.
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