**Chapter 581**
**Scene 1**
**Dagon POV**
**Har Gau City – Felucia Surface**
Clone Wars, Year 2, Month 5, Week 1.
Felucia had proven every bit as vicious as its reputation. The planet fought back with every spore, vine, and claw. But we were winning.
I stood on a ridge overlooking the second half of Har Gau, the mountain city's upper districts still contested. Stella had led the opening assault with exemplary precision, securing half the city in under two days while keeping civilian and Republic casualties to a minimum. The mountain itself was ours, but the valley below — riddled with fungal overgrowth, hidden droid emplacements, and determined local militia — remained a problem.
"Time to test out Wrath Shield's full effect modes," I muttered, the Krayt Dragon armor humming against my skin.
I raised my left arm, the Shield of Wrath glowing with dark, fiery energy. "Wrath Shield — Rocket!"
A flash of red and black enveloped me. The armor shifted and expanded, plates realigning with a mechanical hiss. Four incredibly powerful dark side blasters formed along my back and shoulders, providing rocket-like propulsion comparable to that of an R-16 Skelter. These blasters could also be repositioned to allow me to use them as dark blasters, firing in any direction — including a devastating 360° area attack. The pressurized Wrath Suit allowed me to survive the rigors of high-orbital flight. Rockets provided propulsion and blaster attacks. The entire suit pulsed with raw dark side energy, enhanced by the Demon Dragon Emperor's influence.
(Similar to Max Steel's Rocket Mode, but black and red with dragon markings.)
I felt the surge of power course through me — enhanced strength, speed, and destructive potential. The dragon emblem on my chest plate roared silently, flames licking along the edges of the armor.
"Very well," I said aloud, igniting my crossguard lightsaber in my right hand. "Let's see what this can do."
I launched into the air, the four dark side blasters firing in controlled bursts, propelling me forward like a living missile. Below, the valley defenses opened fire — blaster cannons, missile turrets, and groups of armed Gossam militia mixed with native Felucians. I dove straight into the storm.
**Scene 2**
I twisted mid-air, the Wrath Shield glowing brighter. With a focused thrust of dark energy, I unleashed several Rasenshuriken-like attacks from my shield arm — spinning discs of concentrated dark side energy that screamed through the air like black comets.
The first Rasenshuriken slammed into a cluster of defense turrets, exploding in a vortex of dark energy that shredded the emplacements and left a smoking crater. I followed with another, carving through a line of Octuptarra droids before they could fully deploy. The attacks were precise, devastating, and left no room for escape.
I landed hard in the middle of the valley defenses, the impact cratering the ground. Blaster fire converged on me from all sides. I spun, the four back-mounted blasters repositioning and firing in a 360° barrage of dark energy blasts. The red-black beams ripped through militia positions, frying organic targets and melting droid chassis. Groups of armed Gossam and native Felucians charged me with blasters blazing, only to be met with bursts of red lightning from my free hand. The lightning arced between them, leaving charred bodies twitching on the ground.
I moved like a storm — lightsaber flashing, shield unleashing Rasenshuriken discs, and the rocket blasters providing both mobility and additional firepower. A squad of Felucian warriors tried to flank me with primitive energy lances. I countered with a spinning slash, the crossguard blade cutting through their weapons and armor in a single fluid motion. Another burst of lightning from my palm finished the rest.
The valley fell silent except for the crackle of dying fires and the distant rumble of orbital support. I stood amid the wreckage, armor unscratched, breathing steady. The new mode had performed beyond expectations.
"Area clear," I transmitted to the fleet. "Moving on the water treatment facility."
**Scene 3**
**Water Treatment Facility – Har Gau Valley**
I reached the main water treatment facility on the edge of the valley. The structure was a mix of Gossam engineering and native Felucian organic architecture — massive pipes and fungal filters pumping water through the city's distribution system. Shu Mai's trap was already active. The toxin — a highly poisonous biological agent — was spreading through Felucia's planet-wide aquatic network. Without intervention, it would infect the entire world in four days.
I raised the Wrath Shield, channeling pure Force energy through it. Golden light mixed with controlled dark side power flowed from the dragon emblem, spreading across the facility. I began the Force purification ritual, pushing the light side deep into the water systems. The toxin fought back — a dark, slimy presence in the Force — but my will was stronger. One by one, the contaminated reservoirs cleared, the water turning pure again.
Clone teams moved in behind me, securing the facility and collecting the deactivated toxin charges for transport back to Coruscant. "All charges secured, General," Commander Cat reported. "No leaks detected."
I exhaled slowly as the armor pulsed, the dragon markings glowing faintly. The Demon Dragon Emperor's voice echoed in my mind, a rare note of approval. *You are far more interesting than my previous user. Not afraid to hold back… or to unleash when necessary.*
I allowed a small smile beneath the helmet. "Good to know I'm an improvement."
The facility was secure. Har Gau's water supply was safe. The battle for Felucia continued, but we had taken another vital step.
I looked up at the sky, where the Republic fleet maintained its blockade. "One city at a time," I murmured. "We'll finish this."