That wave of power was enough to stagger Hux where he stood, though he regained his balance after a moment, as he always did, though not as easily, as he already felt on the verge of collapse and he knew it wouldn't be much longer at all until his energy was completely spent.

With the equipment shorted out, the saber still buzzing in his hand was the only light, and it took Hux a moment to orient himself in that, to make sure that the shadows he and Kylo were casting were just shadows and nothing more.

"Kylo?" His voice sounded strange to his own ears after all the noise, after Snoke's tearing at the inside of his skull even as weakly as he had been. He still tasted blood in his mouth and bile in his throat and was swaying where he stood, even after the initial outward wave of power had passed.