Lets examine the fight between Luke and Jacen for a minute and see if Jacen really does rival Luke or not.
So first of all, who was more prepared for a fight? Jacen was. Luke was totally unprepared for a fight where Jacen was ready to fight.
Second, Luke was not going nearly full out on Jacen. Why didn't we hear anything about "20 sabers" or "a maelstrom of the Force" or "to fast to see" or anything like those that would show that he was fighting anywhere near his limit?
Next, against the argument that I know will come (that the phantom was a Darksider and would have naturally gone full out). The phantoms only appeared to be darksiders to the person that they were fighting. In reality the phantom was doing exactly what Luke was doing exactly as Luke did it. No actual Darkside intentions there.
Originally posted by Lightsnake
We're talking about an evil, Dark Side vision of Luke...that's a BIT different. Jacen still perceived it otherwise and what he was fighting was the darkness there. ...that's kind of an odd theory there
If Luke was fighting hard why are there so many things missing?
1. No descriptions of Luke being extremely powerful. When Luke goes full out it has always said something like "20 sabers" or "a maelstrom of the Force" or "to fast to see". There was none of that this time and I think it was the authors intent to make us know that Luke wasn't fighting his hardest.
2. Where are the incredible Force attacks? Did Luke just forget how to use Emerald Lightning (I have my own theory on this though as to why he did not use it)? If Luke was using powerful Force attacks like he would if fighting full out his room would have been totalled. There is no mention of any damage.
3. Luke rarely goes full out on opponents anyway. Why would this be an exception?
We're talking about Allston here....Allston, unlike Luceno does not place overly fancy descriptions of things. And since when does Luke randomly span Emerald lightning anymore than Kun spams his amulet blasts, or Vader uses force choke in every saber duel? There seems to be an unwritten rule here
And this is an evil, dark side Luke with no inhibitions or reasons to hold back. No reason he'd hold back.
Is the lack of description from a different author and force attacks-wich are usually absent from saber duels- all?
The Phantom Luke that Jacen fought only appeared to be evil, LS. In reality (at least as far as SW is concerned) Jacen was not fighting an evil version of Luke but instead the real Luke with an evil image casted over him by Lumiya. It was infact Luke that Jacen was fighting, not a creation of Lumiya. Lumiya doesn't have anywhere near skill enough to create something fighting on anywhere near Luke's level anyway.
We just can't compete with someone of his talent.
Anyway, I think the following will defeat any notion that Luke was trying hard against Jacen in Betrayal.
Pg. 340 "The not-Jacen struck, a fast, powerful lateral blow that Luke met with little effort, without conscious thought. Not-Jacen's blade was immediately in guard position for an anticipated counterstrike, but Luke held back. "
Luke met Jacen's attacks with ease and is directly stated to have held back.
Pg. 351 "Well, I'm bot sure what our disagreement is, but perhaps it could be settled by talking."
Luke didn't even want to fight. He was asking the not-Jacen to talk instead.
Pg. 354 "It was no use. The false Luke adapted instantly to this change in tactics, reverting to a softer, defensive style, turning away each of Jacen's all out attacks. And he did so grinning, silently mocking.
As can be clearly seen by this passage, Luke is very much superior to Jacen. Luke turned away Jacen's all out attacks with a smile on his face; totally unworried.
Originally posted by Darth_Glentract
We just can't compete with someone of his talent.Anyway, I think the following will defeat any notion that Luke was trying hard against Jacen in Betrayal.
Pg. 340 "The not-Jacen struck, a fast, powerful lateral blow that Luke met with little effort, without conscious thought. Not-Jacen's blade was immediately in guard position for an anticipated counterstrike, but Luke held back. "
Luke met Jacen's attacks with ease and is directly stated to have held back.
Pg. 351 "Well, I'm bot sure what our disagreement is, but perhaps it could be settled by talking."
Luke didn't even want to fight. He was asking the not-Jacen to talk instead.
Pg. 354 "It was no use. The false Luke adapted instantly to this change in tactics, reverting to a softer, defensive style, turning away each of Jacen's all out attacks. And he did so grinning, silently mocking.
As can be clearly seen by this passage, Luke is very much superior to Jacen. Luke turned away Jacen's all out attacks with a smile on his face; totally unworried.
Now I have started to feel that Exar Kun is more deadly then Jacen.