**Chapter 550**
**Scene 1**
**Dagon POV**
**Grey Wolf Bridge**
We had finished the scrap collection operation around Orron III.
The Corporate Sector was effectively crippled for the foreseeable future. Their major supply lines along the Cadinth Run and the Authority Arc were shattered, and they no longer had the strength to launch any meaningful attacks on our rear. That left us free to focus on the next phase — pushing deeper into the CIS-held forest sectors along the Hydian Way.
But first, I needed an upgrade.
"Nicht Ka," I said aloud, bringing up the coordinates on the main holotable. "A Sith world hidden inside the Stygian Caldera in the Esstran sector. Both the Republic and the CIS avoid it like it's cursed."
"Which makes it perfect for us," Sakura noted, leaning against the console with a curious smile.
"Exactly," I replied. "The abandoned Sith worlds have proven useful for hidden farming operations, bacta cultivation, and raw material extraction. But I need better personal protection before we push any further. The armor on Nicht Ka is legendary."
The girls gathered closer, the Force bond humming with interest. Nox and Ashara had joined via hologram from Lantilles.
"Warb Null," Nox said, stroking his chin. "An ancient Dark Jedi who served Freedon Nadd. His armor was alchemically treated black metal, imbued with Sith sorcery. Lightsaber-resistant and supposedly capable of harvesting kyber from the hearts of stars."
"Strange name," Sakura commented. "I thought Sith were supposed to have dangerous names — like Darth Bane or Darth Maul. Nox just uses his last name. Why not Darth Alim?"
Nox chuckled. "In the old Sith Empire, it was often just their birth name with 'Darth' added as a title of respect and fear. During the Dark Brotherhood era, they chose names based on aspects they wished to embody. The Baneite Sith were given names by their Masters based on their intended role."
"So for Ahsoka, do I call her Darth Ahsoka? Darth Tano? Or Darth Snips?" I joked, grinning.
Ahsoka's cheeks flushed bright orange as the rest of the girls burst into laughter. She swatted my arm. "Master! You can't call me that!"
Erictia wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. "Darth Pink has a nice ring to it for me."
"Hey!" Shin protested. "At least I'm not Pink. Your lightning is literally bright pink."
The banter continued as we discussed the armor. According to the ancient Sith holocron, Warb Null's armor was pitch black, covered in dozens of sharp spikes, and designed to completely conceal the wearer's identity. Tempered with Sith alchemy, it offered total lightsaber resistance and other dark-side enhancements.
"I'll head down with a small team," I said. "The fleet will rearm and reload here. We'll make the jump to Nicht Ka shortly."
**Scene 2**
The cave on Nicht Ka was exactly what one would expect from a Sith world — dark, oppressive, and filled with lingering malevolence. Ancient traps activated as we descended: collapsing floors, poison darts, and spectral illusions meant to drive intruders mad.
Vengeful Force ghosts rose from the shadows, screaming ancient curses. The Shield of Wrath flared to life on my back, its surface shifting as it unleashed a wave of soul-ripping energy. The ghosts howled once before dissolving into nothingness.
Deeper in the chamber, we found it.
The armor of Warb Null stood on a blackened dais like a silent sentinel. It was black as the void between stars, covered in sharp, menacing spikes. The design resembled ancient samurai plate mixed with something far more brutal — spiked pauldrons, reinforced gauntlets, and a horned kabuto-style helmet that looked ready for war.
I stepped forward. The armor sensed my presence and activated. It disassembled in segments of dark metal and flowed toward me, reshaping itself to perfectly fit my 1.9-meter frame. The Shield of Wrath bonded with it, its form shifting dramatically. The edges now resembled flaming wings that resolved into the silhouette of a roaring Krayt dragon. The entire suit pulsed with raw power.
After a thorough bacterial and alchemical cleansing in a sealed chamber, I emerged in the new armor. It felt lighter than it looked, yet incredibly strong. The dark side and my own will resonated within it.
**Scene 3**
**Dagon POV**
**Grey Wolf Bridge**
I stepped onto the bridge in the completed armor.
The reaction was immediate.
"Sir… your armor is…" Fleet Admiral Dittmar began, clearly fighting the urge to laugh.
"Not a word," I warned, pointing a spiked gauntlet at him, "or I'll put you on toilet duty for the rest of the campaign."
"Yes sir!" Dittmar straightened instantly, though his shoulders still shook with suppressed mirth.
The girls, however, had other ideas.
They had decided the armor needed "personal touches" inspired by the dramatic names I had given the Nebula-class Star Destroyers. Ahsoka added vibrant orange accents along the shoulders and gauntlets. Zule contributed deep blue highlights that glowed like her lightning. Shin and Sakura both added regal purple trim. Erictia insisted on bright pink lightning-bolt patterns. Stella added golden yellow, Visenya vibrant green, Kayla elegant white, and Flare warm orange-red.
The end result was… colorful.
From a terrifying Sith relic to a brightly colored, multi-hued Jedi war machine. At least they had been artistic enough to forge a fierce Krayt dragon motif across the chest plate — my personal symbol.
Ahsoka stepped back and admired their work, grinning. "Now you really look like the Black Dragon… with a rainbow upgrade."
I sighed, looking down at the vibrant armor. "I'm never going to live this down, am I?"
"Probably not," Shin replied sweetly, kissing my helmeted cheek. "But you wear it well."
I couldn't help but smile beneath the horned helmet. The armor felt right — powerful, alive, and now truly mine.
With the fleet rearmed and the new armor bonded to me, it was time to push deeper into CIS territory.
The real war for the Hydian Way was about to begin.