**Chapter 858: River of Blood**
**Scene 1: Nar Shaddaa Surface – Dagon POV**
Nar Shaddaa sprawled endlessly in every direction, a vertical nightmare of stacked megastructures, flickering neon, and perpetual decay. The Smugglers' Moon earned every nickname it carried—Vertical City, Little Coruscant, and the far less flattering Little Slugland. Unlike the gleaming upper levels of the galactic capital, this place was rotten to its core, every layer drenched in pollution, desperation, and open criminality. Yet it remained the undisputed financial and trading heart of Hutt Space, a place where fortunes were made and lives were sold every single hour.
Dagon moved through the chaos like a force of nature, his Annihilation form towering over the narrow streets and suspended bridges. The moon's dense metallic core gave it near-standard gravity despite its relatively small size, making the vertical warfare feel almost familiar. Heavy elements like iron, nickel, neutronium, zersium, gold, plutonium, and uranium had fueled its early industrialization, leaving behind countless active mines and durasteel foundries that still operated in the lower levels.
"To be honest, purging this planet the hard way by cutting down enemy soldiers, pirates and rogue androids seemed like a waste of time, though I am doing this to eliminate slavery and an estimated 3 million slaves were in the capital city alone so 'upon a river of blood' like the old saying goes," Dagon said to several criminals as he used Force drain.
To be honest although this is against the Jedi code I just need a pick me up like a coffee. I don't kill them by draining, they are just weakened then I kill them, Dagon thought as he continued cutting down enemy forces.
So let's just organize my thoughts. Annihilation mode, way stronger than Titan or any fusion mode, made for planetary purges, originally for me to eliminate Crimson-71 but I stopped that idea. The Hutt leadership is all but dead, except for a few remains. Their fleet and ships are mostly gone along with their mercenary corps leaving just their loyalist planet armies, about let's say 30 planets worth of troops. The Senate no doubt and the Jedi and my harem saw the Annihilation mode in effect. Damn reporters—military engagements are private. Guess I have no choice but to seize control of the Senate. Luckily with the Hutt holodiary and Palpatine list of blackmail I can now allow the Jedi to retake leadership of the Republic from the politicians. A galactic empire to be honest, Dagon thought.
The fighting on Nar Shaddaa was brutal and personal. Hutt enforcers—mixed bands of Nikto, Weequay, and Gamorrean thugs—fought from fortified balconies and suspended platforms. Dagon's massive form allowed him to leap between structures, his dark energy blades carving through entire squads. Force drain weakened clusters of enemies just enough to leave them stumbling, their life force siphoned temporarily before he finished them with precise strikes. He avoided full lethal draining, maintaining a fragile line between necessity and the Jedi code he still tried to honor in his own way.
Slave markets burned as he passed. Chains snapped under the weight of his power. Thousands of captives—humans, Twi'leks, Wookiees, and dozens of other species—were freed in the chaos, Republic dropships already descending to evacuate them. The river of blood he walked through was necessary. The Hutt empire had thrived on suffering for too long.
**Scene 2: Galactic Senate – Coruscant**
Galactic Senate debate.
"This is outrageous we must get Palpatine to arrest and detain Dagon, a Jedi must not have so much power," said Senator Mon Mothma.
"While I don't approve of Dagon's actions, enough is enough where is Palpatine the Republic must have a leader," said Senator Riyo Chuchi.
As more and more senators asked for the Chancellor.
In the Chancellor seat.
"Time is up, the Senate won't stay quiet any longer," Mas whispered to Nhon Artu.
"Yeah, hopefully Dagon has done enough to bring the Republic some breathing room for the politics to take place," Nhon said.
The Senate chamber was in absolute uproar. Holographic feeds from Nar Shaddaa played on every screen, showing the colossal Annihilation form of Dagon carving through Hutt defenses. Senators from the Core shouted for accountability while Outer Rim representatives remained suspiciously silent, many of them relieved to see the criminal syndicates finally broken.
Mon Mothma stood at the center of the Loyalist bloc, her voice rising above the din. "We cannot allow one Jedi to wield this kind of unchecked power. Palpatine must return and restore order!"
Riyo Chuchi, usually more measured, joined the chorus. "The Republic needs leadership. Where is the Chancellor? This silence is unacceptable."
Calls for Palpatine's immediate return echoed from every corner. The chamber was divided, but the fear was universal. The Dragon had shown his full strength, and many wondered if the Republic itself could survive his rise.
Mas Amedda sat rigidly in the Chancellor's seat, his expression carefully neutral. He leaned toward Nhon Artu, voice low. "Time is up. The Senate won't stay quiet any longer."
Nhon nodded grimly. "Yeah, hopefully Dagon has done enough to bring the Republic some breathing room for the politics to take place."
**Scene 3: Jedi Council Chambers – Coruscant**
"Well, guess that's that. We need to prepare the army for advisement," Obi-Wan said to Master Cin.
"Agreed, but still did you or any of you know the true limits to Dagon's Wrath Shield?" Cin asked the girls behind him.
"We knew the limits. Titan mode just made him bigger and Nova mode just allows him to explore supernovas and black holes," Aayla said.
"Yeah we didn't know it was capable of well destroying something so big," Zule said.
"Regardless we—" Cin said before being interrupted by an ARC clone delivering him a message.
"Sorry, urgent news from Dagon. Priority level Alpha," the trooper said.
Cin then read the holo message.
"We have new orders. Lock down the Galactic Senate, and ensure every senator is accounted for and don't allow any senator or aide to leave the building," Cin said.
The Jedi Council chamber fell into heavy silence. Obi-Wan exchanged a long look with the assembled Masters, the weight of the order sinking in. Aayla, Zule, and the others stood quietly, their expressions a mix of resolve and concern.
Cin lowered the datapad. "This is it. The moment we've been preparing for. Secure the Senate. No one leaves until Dagon arrives."
Obi-Wan nodded slowly. "May the Force guide us. The Republic is about to change forever."