Grey Snow

I wouldn't mind doing Vezon, if you guys ever get to 2006, but just for fun here is a link to a video of my voice impression of Vezon. I could maybe to other voices, but currently I can't think of anything, any suggestions?

I don't make these decisions (well, I have some input), but that's actually pretty awesome.  I keep hearing (whenever I've heard Vezon things) Joker sound-alikes, but this was actually really interesting.

 

But yeah, it's a legit line from the book and makes sense in context.

XD Seriously? From what one?

 

Chronicles 1.  He meets Onepu and tries to speak that way to him, thinking he might not speak the same language.

I voice Onua, and trust me, I don't like the trailer line either, but I can see why we used it.  But yeah, it's a legit line from the book and makes sense in context.

Regarding the earlier Teridax conversation, I'd rather just see him called "Makuta" (as a proper name), and make him an individual, not a species.  Even then, he doesn't have to be Teridax.  Give him the Mask of Shadows, give him a new personality, done.  There, he's not Teridax, but he is Makuta.

So, I'm just going to call it the Mask of Hope and Faith.  Because it has brought us new hope, and our faith has been rewarded.

If we need it, Chroniclers.

So, we all know there were leaks, and of course, Lego couldn't speak of them, and could deny them.

 

They tried to keep us in the dark, then they put this on their site, don't create links, and someone guesses their way to it.

 

I really want to know what the people at Lego are thinking right now.  Are we just good?  Or are they actually angry that someone found it via a legitimate source/their website, meaning they can't really deny it.

 

I really want to know.

Ah, Onua, far from my favorite, but I'll gladly take it.

If you can figure this out, I'd love to be a part of this.

I always really had a thing for Lariska, because she's just awesome.  Also, Zaktan, for his entire personality (and later, his protodite body is awesome).  I also really liked Shadow Stealer and wish we'd seen more of him, he's just pretty awesome in concept.

Are you planning his other Styles?  Or even other Riders?

In regards to the viruses and TSO (and it's been a while since I read deeply into the mythos, so I might be wrong), who's to say the viruses will even work?  From what I recall, they were used to bring down Mata Nui, and maybe could be distributed to a wider group by being injected into the MN robot, and then it would spread.

 

They're on a planet now, an actual planet, so would the viruses even work?  That's what I'm wondering.

 

Again, I might be completely wrong, because it's been a while.

Does he have an actual story, instead of 40ish episodes of nothing, with annoying side characters?

I don't like Wizard.

 

Your MOC?  Yes.  Yes, I love it.  I like the belt too, that stands out to me.  I also love that waist coat thing, for some reason that's never come up to me.

 

Very nice work.  I don't know the HF designs too well, so I can't speak on the actual build aspects, unfortunately.  But I saw Kamen Rider, and had to make comments.

I've been away from the board for a while, and only just heard the rumors yesterday and firmly jumped on the hype train.

 

If sets return, will I buy them?  I don't know.  That's not what I'm interested in.  The return of BIONICLE, however, would probably mean giving me a reason to return to this board, along with many others.  The revival of the community is what I care most about, and it is that reason primarily that I hold out hope for the rebirth.

 

Also: just reboot the universe and do a modified 2001 story.  That's my opinion.

The thing with the Certavus/Perditus fight is that I want to show that Certavus is wise, but also honorable. All of his ideals are based towards honor and dignity, and he believed that all of the gladiators would fall in line with him. He figured Perditus would side with him, not be content with his position and attack. Even with that explanation in my own mind, it is a cliched action, I will agree with you on that.

 

I'm glad that it was enjoyable as a read, but I probably won't branch it out unless I can get a number of reviews, although I did develop a world for this, if need be, and how to adapt the Skrall and Bone Hunters into the gladiator setting, since the Skrall didn't work as they were.

It's been a while, and I wrote this as the potential start to an epic, but seeing as I have received no normal reviews, that idea is gone (unless I start getting non-critic reviews). I'm mostly curious if it was a good read.

 

For the Glory of the Arena by Lord Koji

This is a project I've had in mind for some time, and I decided to write the first chapter of it as a short story, see if there's interest in my writing any more. I was heavily inspired by Spartacus (the Starz TV series), and used gladiator stuff heavily, such as the gladiators being slaves (instead of free, like Glatorians). Pandemonium and Sanctuary shouldn't be too hard to figure out. I just couldn't use one of the real words, and didn't want to use the other, because of possible religious sensitivity.

 

 

 

“For those seeking to enter the gates of Pandemonium, look no further for guide!” had roared the mighty gladiator known as Certavus to the crowds of Agori in the stands, staring down into the sand filled arena.

Raanu looked down at him with a sneer affixed to his face. He rose violently from his seat and shouted down at the gladiator, “So be it then; guide any foolish enough to rebel into the depths of the flames! Your bones will be ground underfoot as your rebellion dies with you! But make mistake not, Certavus. You will be the last to be welcomed by the embrace of death. You will suffer removal of body part for each and every slave who rallies under banner of rebellion!”

A young gladiator looked out from behind the gate he and his fellows were stuck behind, barring them from entering the arena while contest was in progress. Certavus had shown his opponent mercy, and only now was the crimson clad warrior slowly rising to his feet behind Certavus. Perditus was rising.

The sandy haired youth of a gladiator, fitted into emerald armor nearly twice his size, wanted to call out to Certavus. He opened his mouth, but a hand clasped him on the shoulder. He turned his head to see an older man, broader and taller, strong and muscled behind armor of blue and gold plate. The man had a strong face, piercing blue eyes, but bore a scar across his left cheek. His short brown hair bore a militaristic look to it, giving him the final piece he needed to appear powerful and respectable.

Tarix simply shook his head. Gresh wanted to yell out to Certavus, but he realized that no other gladiators were yelling either. Not on this side of the arena, nor the other, where he could make out the images of a white clad gladiator and another clad in blue. Nobody was giving Certavus their support.

Perdatus took grip of his warhammer with both hands. He hefted the large weapon up and twisted himself, preparing to swing. With a shout he sent the mighty weapon forward, slamming it into the back of Certavus’s white plate armor.

The crowd cheered, especially the side filled with crimson clad Agori. Their warrior had risen again and taken the ice tribe champion by surprise in a move that was surely going to lead to Certavus’s defeat. However, the ice tribe made no sounds. They were not in support of their champion anymore, not after his cries for rebellion.

“Good!” cried Raanu, his brown hair being pushed back out of his face by his hand, “Good! Lead him to Pandemonium, Perditus! Crush him!”

Certavus stumbled forward and rolled in order to face Perditus again. The crowd was roaring, but against him. A gladiator could draw strength from the crowd, but they always knew whose side the cheers were for. Certavus had none, but that wouldn’t stop him from fighting. He’d put everything he had into this.

He ran for Perditus as the other gladiator ran for him. Perditus was slower; his hammer slowed his steps, while Certavus had speed with his ribbed sword. When they met, fate decided the outcome in a moment.

Perditus fell on his face into the sand, blood streaming out from under his helmet, staining the sand red. He moved no more, but Certavus had let him live.

The crowd fell silent, all except for Raanu, who was scrambling. “Release them now!” he was screaming, “Release the Vorox! Let foul beasts of sport end him!”

Agori were running to do Raanu’s bidding, to release the few captured Vorox into the arena. They were used for sporting matches and executions. This would serve as the latter.

Certavus looked around, turning to keep a view on everything in the arena. He met Gresh’s eyes, and then broke contact, going and meeting the eyes of a gladiator on the other side, behind gate.

Certavus finally stopped and yelled out to the crowd as another gate was being opened. His words burned into the mind of Gresh, watching with fear from behind the gate.

“There stand no champions here!” Certavus screamed, “Only men and their fates!”

And with that went Certavus’s sword, finding itself buried into one of the Agori whom had opened the Vorox gate. Certavus was on the move, running towards them. Before anyone could react, he pulled his sword from corpse and slashed the chain off of a Vorox being handled by another. The Vorox turned on the Agori, ripping him apart.

“Close gate!” Raanu screamed, “Close gate or Lord of Sanctuary help me! I will send you to Keeper of Pandemonium!”

Before the Agori could get the gates closed, Certavus had slipped through. He was beyond the walls of the arena in short order, and nothing Raanu could scream about could stop the gladiator.

 

Sword tight in hand, shield tight in other. Gresh lifted the shield up to catch the sword of Vastus and pushed back. He took a step forward and swung his sword down in a chopping motion. Somehow it wasn’t Vastus’s shield that caught him, it was sword. Gresh hadn’t even realized that the older man had slipped his sword off of the shield.

Vastus had his body sideways to Gresh, allowing him to twist and backhand Gresh across the face. Steel of the helmet smashed into his head, sending him stumbling. As he looked up again the shield smashed into his face, sending him onto his back, sword at throat.

“You must yield,” Vastus told him. Gresh was always at unease when Vastus spoke; his voice cold and smooth, although it gave off a sense of hissing, like a snake.

“And if I choose not?” Gresh questioned. He had become wiser since Certavus had attempted rebellion against the gladiator and slave system two years ago, but apparently not much. “What if I wish to die, sword in hand, than continue to fight for amusement?”

Vastus’s cold eyes regarded him, and then he shook his head, “Gresh, a gladiator can only live one way. That is by following orders. We don’t have the will to choose life or death.”

“We do,” Gresh told him, “And right now, I choose to die.”

“Our lives belong to our village leaders,” Vastus told him, “You cannot make the choice you try; only they can.”

“Put sword through my throat, and then that is false,” Gresh told Vastus.

“No,” Vastus told him, “I refuse. You have a long life to live.”

“A life in servitude I never wanted!” Gresh told him, “What good is a life without freedom?”

“A good enough life for the rest of us,” Vastus told him, walking away from the downed Gresh. The arena of the jungle tribe was similar to the fire tribe’s arena, but with trees overhead, blocking out the sky. Nobody sat in the stands; it was just the two gladiators.

“And if I’d rather die, sword in hand, honor intact? I don’t want to die on the whim of Folium!”

“You are a gladiator, Gresh!” Vastus shouted, “Honor has no place in the arena!”

Gresh threw himself to his feet and cast aside weapons. He threw his helmet to the ground as he moved towards Vastus, his sandy hair falling around his face, matted in sweat.

“And what of Certavus? The man had honor; you always said as much!”

Vastus tore his rounded, dulled helmet off and threw it to the ground. He turned to Gresh, face weathered and lined, with thin eyebrows, black eyes and a sharp nose. His black hair hung down to nearly his shoulders, with a prominent widow’s peak present, along with a few spattering’s of gray and silver from age.

His voice was colder than Gresh had known it to ever before be.

“The past is done; the future yet to be known. Embrace the present and strike all else from concern.”

Gresh stepped after him, but Vastus’s cold eyes stopped him. Vastus turned his head and walked away, leaving Gresh standing alone in the arena.

“So, you wish to follow example of traitor?” a voice echoed.

Gresh span around, eyes scanning the stands, but he saw nothing. He kept turning, shouting out, “Who speaks? Show yourself!”

Finally a short figure in emerald garb rose from the stands. He had tough working gloves on, the fingers tipped with claws for the sake of gripping and digging. He had a hunched appearance, and wore his sandy hair in a long braid down his back. He stepped his booted foot onto the wall of the arena and leapt down, landing away from Gresh, but slowly approaching.

“Tarduk?” Gresh questioned.

“Gresh, I would have words,” Tarduk told him.

Gresh would have been fearful of an Agori overhearing his talk about Certavus, but he trusted Tarduk. Tarduk was an interesting man; focused on history and treasures, looking to the past instead of the present or future.

“You speak of Certavus, a man branded traitor,” Tarduk told him, “I care not. I care about our promise.”

Then it hit Gresh. “Oh, right,” Gresh said, extremely relieved. He reached up and pulled on a string around his neck, pulling free a leather pouch from beneath his armor. He opened it and emptied out a golden trinket into Tarduk’s awaiting hand.

“Ah, at last!” he said, “You know not how long I’ve awaited this!”

“I had to practice, or I’d have seen it to you sooner,” Gresh said.

“Actually, no,” Tarduk told him, “Do you forget that you’re unable to walk the streets? You’d have to wait for me to arrive in the slave quarters.”

The slave quarters were built into the arena. Gladiators had very little room to move; their quarters, a room for meals, a bath for cleaning oneself every few days, and the arena, for training. They could not go beyond the walls of the arena.

“You know what I meant. I figured you’d be around here,” Gresh told him.

Tarduk just nodded, no longer paying him much heed, just turning the thing over in his hands, “How did you acquire it?”

“Berix,” Gresh said, leaving it at that. Tarduk didn’t need to hear more.

“Have a good fight,” Tarduk told Gresh, hurrying off with his treasure in hand.

 

Vastus didn’t look at Gresh much during the caravan ride to Tajun, the village of water. The older man just looked out at the desert through the small window they had, albeit barred. They were in close proximity and in armor, but Vastus still wouldn’t look at him. He’d rather strain his neck to look elsewhere.

Gresh said nothing either. He just looked at his hands, shackled together. They were in chains during transport, but it could be worse. They could be walking, chains or not. A caravan ride in chains was the better alternative for all involved.

By the time they reached the water village, and the two gladiators were taken to the arena to wait behind gates, Folium had met with the leader of Tajun, Egil. Gresh pushed himself against the gate and looked up to try to see them, and hear what they spoke of, but to no avail.

 

“You cannot trust gladiators,” Raanu stated to the other two as he sat down, his crimson robes billowing out over the chair.

“I find that some can be,” Folium stated, “It takes years, but you can find some”

“Ha!” Raanu laughed, “Our opinions differ far too much,” he stated.

“What of you, Egil?” Folium asked.

Egil was the youngest of them, brown of hair, with half of it dyed blue. He had a youthful face, but hard eyes. The opposite of the other two; Folium being middle aged with fading black hair and bright green eyes, and Raanu being between their ages, brown of hair with temperament flaring in his eyes.

“I find Tarix to be trustworthy,” Egil said, “I’ve trained with him before as well. He had many a chance to take my life, and he did not.”

“He knew he couldn’t escape the city,” Raanu said dismissively.

“Certavus escaped,” Egil stated.

“Certavus was lucky, and everyone was at the arena,” Raanu said angrily.

“If it makes you feel better, he’s no doubt dead,” Folium told Raanu. Raanu just grunted.

Egil turned away from them and looked down at the arena, “Citizens of Tajun, guests of villages elsewhere; in the name of my predecessors, as leader of Tajun, I, Egil, present to you contest between challenger from Tesara; Gresh,” he spoke, “and our champion, Tarix!” he screamed.

The crowd erupted in roars, even those not of Tajun began to scream and cheer. Tarix was considered the greatest gladiator, and his fights were always something special.

Gresh’s gate opened, as did the gate opposite, holding Tarix. The two walked out; Tarix clad in his blue and gold plate armor, and Gresh in his green. The last time they had met, Gresh had been young, not strong enough for the armor. Now he filled it, and was ready.

Gresh pulled his sloped helmet onto his head; it was his personal helmet, to compliment his armor, not the rounded training helmet from before. He drew his shield from his back; it was elongated, holding a leaf-like pattern to it. It was his only weapon. He looked across to Tarix, wearing a sloped back helmet with raised edges atop it. A tube was affixed near his mouth, leading into his armor. He carried twin blades; they held a shaft to them before curving into a wicked looking edge that had a wave-like curve in them.

“Now, honor the arena and the Lord of Sanctuary with your blood! Begin!” roared Egil.

The crowd roared as Tarix ran through the sand. His feet didn’t slide under the grains, but Gresh’s did. He had difficulties maneuvering, being taken off guard with how fast Tarix was, even in full armor. He lifted his shield before himself and ran forward to meet his foe.

Tarix slammed his left weapon down, meeting Gresh’s shield. Gresh twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the swing of the other sword past his defenses. Gresh pulled his weapon back and thrust it forward, forcing Tarix to put his weapons into an X to parry.

Gresh span around and went low with a leg sweep. Tarix’s footing was weakened, so Gresh followed up by ramming his shield upwards into Tarix’s chest, stumbling him back.

Gresh pressed his advantage and ran forward, not knowing who the crowd was cheering for. He jumped forward and threw the shield out as a punch.

Tarix sidestepped and slashed Gresh across the chest. Gresh felt the impact, but his armor wasn’t cut. He staggered around, taking two more rapid slashes from Tarix which sent him to the ground.

“Tarix! Tarix! Tarix!” was being shouted by most of the watchers.

Gresh turned his head, meeting Vastus’s eyes behind the gate. He rose and gripped his shield with both hands, pulling the two edges apart, creating two leaf-like swords, the blades running along his arms like tonfa.

Gresh ran forward and swung his left one out, keeping it along his arm. Tarix parried. Gresh flipped the other one around to wield it like a sword. He swung down, but it was parried as well.

Gresh kicked Tarix in the chest, sending him stumbling back. He ran forward, slashing twice, getting hits in on Tarix. The other gladiator went down.

Gresh looked back at Vastus once, and then up at Folium. Was it over? Should he go for the end?

“A gladiator’s first distraction is his last!” Tarix roared, sweeping Gresh’s legs out from beneath him. Gresh hit the sand on his stomach, his body slamming into the steel of his armor. It was a hard and painful impact, and definitely not something he wanted.

Gresh swung his weapon out, but Tarix swung his leg over it and stomped on it, keeping it pinned to the sand. He kicked it away and kicked Gresh in the head. Gresh used the momentum to get onto his back and throw his other weapon, now able to see and aim.

The weapon clipped Tarix’s shoulder, but did nothing. Gresh rolled, using it as a distraction, and gripped his other weapon. He took the handle in both hands and drove it for Tarix’s gut, crying out as he thrust.

Tarix parried, swinging the sword down and out, making it go around his body. He punched Gresh in the helmeted face with his other fist, knocking Gresh to the ground. On impact he lost grip of the weapon, but it lay beside him.

Tarix crouched, crossing his blades at Gresh’s throat. There was enough exposed flesh to make this a kill if he swiped his blades.

Tarix glanced down, seeing Gresh grab his sword again with his right hand.

“Loose weapon or lose head,” Tarix hissed so only they could hear.

“I’d rather die fighting than continue to be a dog, than continue to fight endlessly for our leaders. At least in death I’d be free!” Gresh hissed.

“We fight them by living. They seek bloodshed and slaughter; by living, we oppose what they want. It’s our small act of defiance, and the only way we can join Certavus’s will for now. Now yield!”

Gresh slowly took in Tarix’s words. He remembered Tarix, two years ago. He had assumed Tarix just didn’t want to see a young gladiator die for no reason. Had he wanted to side with Certavus? Had he believed in Certavus back then?

Gresh loosened his grip and let the weapon lay. He slowly lifted his hand, extending his index finger. Surrender.

The crowd exploded with cheers as Tarix rose, sheathing his weapons across his back. He looked at the downed Gresh, his eyes conveying more than words could.

Gresh couldn’t speak of this. Gresh couldn’t speak of Certavus, or defiance. He had to fight, he had to go on, or else he’d be executed before he could do anything.

Vastus helped Gresh to his feet and brought him back to the area behind the gate. They shared a look, and said nothing as Gresh walked on and sat down, watching as Vastus walked into the arena, helm covered in twin snakes, scythe clutched firmly in hand.

He was about to fight for the only glory that slaves could know; the glory of the arena.

5: Countdown The Chariot fell as Garren impaled him with his Crystal blade, while Larc rammed him through his left shoulder, and Chalice his right. Combining their powers, the Tarot was destroyed. Kruger flew on ahead as Rei ducked a swing of The Hanged Man’s weapon. Kruger flew into the face of the enemy, distracting him while Rei span around, tilting a dagger blade up at the foe’s back and extending a blade of Lightning, shooting it through the Tarot and slaying him. “He was the weakest!” Kruger warned as the other three ran towards Rei. Kruger let out a shout as he was snatched out of the air, perpetually being wounded by Tenaya’s wing claw which grabbed his arm of a body. Her weapon’s power was coursing through the wing. As Chalice shouted and tried to run her through, she used her second to grab him and take him down with the same affect. Larc slashed at her chest, but she lifted her small weapon up to parry and pushed back, then rammed it into her chest, making her scream and fall to her knees. She as receiving a lesser version of what the other two were going through, but it was still a great, burning intensity. Garren tackled Tenaya in the side, taking her down. The three were freed, with Kruger quickly on the brink of death. Garren kicked her away and created a Crystal shard surging with Lightning. He tossed it to Kruger, “Defend yourself!” he called, lifting his weapon as Tenaya rose, watching him. “You’re mine, Toa of Crystal!” she hissed. “Keep going!” Garren shouted as Rei looked back. “Don’t die!” she shouted, rushing off with the others towards the sea, towards Lokar’s floating castle. The Sun and The Moon floated to stop their progress. They were similar in appearance, with The Moon being white and silver, and The Sun being red. The moon had four limbs, all of them angled upwards, making a sort of crescent, the tips facing skyward, while The Sun had four limbs coming out from the arm area, shooting out in four directions; angled. They were like torsos without legs, just floating, armless, as their arms (or legs as well, in The Moon’s case) were rays or marks to indicate what they were. As the three Toa and Kruger saw them, The Sun unleashed a blast of flames from its entire body. As it raced forward Larc shot her trident out, unleashing a torrent of Water and Lightning to match it, taking it down. Chalice followed up with a blast of Storms directly into The Sun while The Moon flew for Rei, spinning, acting like a blade. Rei rolled aside, Kruger sticking close. As it span around and came for them again, she blasted Lightning for it, but it didn’t slow. As she kept it up, Kruger flew aside, as if to save himself. As it neared, she drew her daggers and matched the blades, sliding back as The Moon pushed. But then Kruger was at its side, ramming the Crystal blade into the face of The Moon, ending it. The Sun wasn’t faring much better with Larc there to negate its attacks. Chalice drew his Blade Blaster and fired on the head from a range. Snapping the blade out as it was stunned, he rushed in and leapt up, slashing it across the face and landing as it fell before him. He span his weapon around and impaled the enemy, ending it. Rei ran back to the others, nodding to Kruger for his assistance. She still didn’t fully trust him, but was warming up to him. She looked at the two downed Tarot, and then saw something strange. They were dissolving into two objects. Two strangely shaped objects with odd carvings covering them. “The weapon pieces…,” Larc gasped. Rei nodded, “This is too easy…” The massive blue figure of The Tower approached. The three lifted their weapons, remembering him from their nightmare incident. But their foe was a general class enemy; they wouldn’t have an easy time with this Tarot. But all The Tower had was a massive pair of claws. This shouldn’t be a hard fight, unless he had abilities they wouldn’t be able to guess. The Star fell to Queln’s staff, leaving only Justice to oppose him. The blind warrior dashed forward, slashing in a wide arc, but if Queln was the target, he wouldn’t be struck so easily. He vanished, appearing behind Justice, but took a slash to his chest as his foe did a full spin. Queln hit the ground and would have cursed if he could have. His short range teleport wasn’t able to outmaneuver the blind warrior, it seemed. Rising, Queln lifted his staff and unleashed a bolt of Chain Lightning, slamming it into the scythe. Then he teleported, appearing behind, teleporting again and continuing to move in a circle, laying the chain around Justice. And by the time the Tarot realized it, he was bound and destroyed. Queln walked down the corridor before he was stopped by Lokar, who had Jindrax at his side. Lokar smiled, “You must be wondering what I am. Am I an avatar? Is this the form I chose to take, as a shape-shifter? Because I know you’re planning your move, and I know you need to know. “The answer is one you shall not have. Queln, if you wish to slay me, then do so now! You get no more information!” Queln lifted his staff and fired, but Lokar’s shadowy arm blocked. “You must be cursing me for fighting this way,” Lokar said, the hand backhanding Queln down the hall. Another appeared, gripping him and lifting him up into the air, “But this is my way, because of what I am,” he smiled, “Now Queln. I hope you’re satisfied. And know your teleportation won’t work. I granted it, but I’ll let you keep it as you die.” And so Queln was crushed. “Jindrax?” Lokar questioned. “Sorry,” he hissed, ramming his black sword into Lokar’s back, impaling him. Lokar didn’t move. He just fell to the ground as Jindrax walked off. His loyalty was elsewhere; to Madan. He was a Sin. The last Greed, absorbing many foes to obtain his current appearance. He was here to serve Madan, and his own greed. Tenaya swung her clawed wings out, but Garren kept ducking and dodging. He span around and slashed widely with a Crystal extension on his staff, but she dodged back, blocking down with her weapon before kicking him back. As he stumbled she leapt forward, swinging her wing out. Garren threw his left hand up, impaling the claw with a Crystal. The Lightning began to run through her wing as he shattered it, fragmenting shards into her wing. As she cried out he rammed his weapon forward, impaling her other wing as she moved. She slammed him in the back of the head with her weapon, bringing him screaming to his knees. She withdrew it and kneed him in the face, dropping him onto his back. She rammed her weapon into his throat, causing him to scream until his voice was nothing. “Don’t get back up,” she hissed, rising and walking away. But he had hung on. He tried to make a sound, but couldn’t. His vocal abilities were shot; gone. But he slowly rose, despite the searing pain, lifting his hand up to make a blade to throw. She turned back to look at him, “What did I tell you?” she hissed, stalking towards him, “Why won’t you just die?” she shouted, running now. He changed his attack. He took control of the shards imbedded in her wings, slashing them across her body. Her eyes widened with realization as she was cut apart, dropping in her run and dying. The Tower had fallen. Something had happened, as he had let out a scream of anguish without the Toa having to do anything. Moving on, they could only wonder. But when they saw the black figure of The Devil on his knees by the shore, intent on stopping them, they knew something was wrong. “Move on,” Rei said, “He’ll die soon, just like The Tower. I don’t know what this is, but don’t question it. Move!” As they moved onto the boat they saw the figure of Vexacus waiting for them, sword drawn, in his normal form. He lifted his sword up as he saw them. “I’ll let two of you go,” he said. Larc lifted her trident, “I’ll face you for now.” “Go,” he told Rei and Chalice, stepping aside for them. They ran on, wishing Larc luck as she leapt for him, swinging her trident for him. Garren was nearing the boat for now, while the other two kept rushing in deeper before stopping to find Jindrax walking around. He lifted his claw swords up, “Well, two Toa. I’m the one in charge now. I’ll kill you both.” Both lifted their Blade Blaster swords and rushed him. Rei swung high while Chalice swung low. Parrying the high with his double blades, he swung his other low and kicked Chalice back. As he stumbled he let loose a blast for Jindrax while Rei ducked and fired low, aiming up higher at an angle for him. He took the hits and stumbled back. Rei leapt forward, slashing down with her blade again, crackling Lightning through it to blast him back. She withdrew her blade and swung it for him, but he parried with his black sword, pushed her back and stabbed her through the chest with his twin blades, gorging her. “Rei!” Chalice screamed as he ran forward, slamming his short weapon down to unleash a torrent of power as he unleashed the Storms for Jindrax. The Sin slashed the attack away with one swing of his sword, since the attack was compressed. But the Lightning clung to his blade. He glanced down, seeing Rei’s hand up. “No!” he screamed as the Lightning tore through the blade and into his arm, causing it to send him into the wall. As he slid down he saw her Blade Blaster aimed at his face, and she fired. Chalice hurried towards her, “Are you ok?” he asked quickly, looking at her wounds, then back to her face. “I’m fine,” she said, “Let’s just keep going…” The two stumbled through the halls, the weapon pieces with Rei. They would figure it out when they could, and were just hoping it would react to Lokar. But they saw nobody, not even the Matoran who served on the boat. When they reached the throne room they found Vexacus throwing Larc to the ground at their feet. He turned and walked off, “I have no interest anymore,” he said simply, gesturing to the empty throne, “He’s dead.” Chalice hurried to Larc, “She’ll live.” Rei panted, “If she can get up, I’d appreciate it very much…” Garren was dropped into the center of the room from nowhere. Chalice hurried over to him, “Garren! Are you ok?” Kruger floated in from another hallway, “I don’t see anyone! Something isn’t right here…even if an invasion happened, we’d see Matoran!” “They’re mourning,” a voice said from the throne. Looking up, Lokar was suddenly seated there. “Mourning?” questioned Chalice. “Mourning me,” he said simply, “Jindrax killed me, after all.” “Just what are you?” demanded Rei. Larc was starting to come around. Garren was awake but didn’t speak. He couldn’t. “What’s that?” Lokar questioned, directing to the bag Rei had. “Do it!” Kruger told her, “Kill him!” He looked slightly amused as she pulled the four pieces out of the bag, letting them fall on the floor. They began to glow and float in the air before her, spinning around and facing towards Lokar. Energy gathered and the room shook, the air filled with pure power. And then they were gone. Lokar laughed, “I made that story up! Even the original legend! I’m impressed you were able to get all four, since they were obscurely hidden for the first two. The last two…I grew bored and threw you a bone.” “You cur!” Larc shouted as she got up, swaying. “None of you are in condition to fight,” Lokar told them, “And I have The Devil remaining. You can’t win.” “We’ll win,” Rei told him, despite her serious wound. She was rising, “We’ll win because we’re Toa!” “You Toa have been able to thus far repel my attacks on the other islands,” Lokar told her, “Your leader is a part of it. Hoji. Your teammates are fighting my power elsewhere, all in a vain attempt to stop me.” “We will win!” Chalice shouted, “The others have their fight…we have ours! This is ours!” “Devil…be gone.” Nothing happened, but it seemed The Devil was wiped out, if his words were indication. “Emperor…be gone.” This time Forte didn’t die. His powers did, but he returned to his normal state, before the Foundation changed him. Lokar smiled as he looked at the Toa before him, all of them weak, wounded, but his mission was one out of boredom. He was bored, so he sought the Saints for pure power. “I’m more than you can ever imagine…,” he said, smiling. His body was gone, reduced to sand on the throne. A vicious grin emerged from above the throne; appearing out of the shadow. But Lokar was gone. “Is it…over…?” Rei muttered. It was. The four islands which were attacked lay in ruins, but rebuilding was possible and beginning. With the Toa to help, the work would go much faster. Some enemies had escaped, including Bandiaca, Forte, Sagarc, Marcko and Lyala. Vexacus was the only survivor of Cyril Nui. Garren had healed, but his throat was still too damaged. He would never speak again. But he could live with that, for now. Rei remained, leader. Of course, Chalice and Larc were also present, making up the Toa Cyril. A team of five had become six. Three more had joined their fight. The nine had never fought as one, but they had branched out and joined others. The trial of a Toa had continued for them as they fought with strangers and old allies alike. This was the legacy the Toa Cyril had left for their island. A legacy of power. From Cyril to Nova. Nova to Cyril and to Inika. The growing and changing powers of the Cyril had helped them in their fights, along with the Three Virtues. But Lokar was still there, somewhere. He was still some hidden, secret being who may return one day. His quest for the Saints still incomplete. But if he returned, the Toa would fight. That was their Duty. To protect the Matoran. To protect everything they could. They would lay down their lives for this, if need be. They were far from ready for a being like Lokar, but they were ready. They would fight. As Toa.Review

Chapter 4: To All Who Have Come Before Bandiaca looked out at the marbled island of Angelus Nui, with Forte at her side. Her remaining minions were before her, flooding the island in attack. This was one of the island which held an Elemental Saint, so she had a duty to remove its defenders for Lokar to easily get at the Saint. She meant to find it as well and possibly take his power first, if possible. The emerald armored mercenary stood there, twirling his firearm as he watched them depart. They were reminiscent of some of Bandiaca’s past warriors who had been slain by the Toa Cyril. Chou’ri’s snake species was there, Voeren, one of Denji’s people, Dai, Mirai, machines. M’hou had made as many more footsoldiers as he could, but they also had a small army thanks to the Void Foundation. There were two types. One was small and floated, fully blue. They had a small torso with a rounded off head and crimson optical eye set in the center, with strong arms and claws. The other was a tall cyborg-like robot. Silver legs with nicely laid armor, jets on the feet, a white torso with silver armor over it, well armored arms of silver with a silver head. There were wings on the back, and a large blade/triple launcher weapon in the right hand. Together these machines fought, with one or two of the blue ones hanging off of the floating or flying silver machines. M’hou found them fascinating. “Marcko, go and check on the progress,” Forte said. The mercenary stopped twirling his weapon, “Fine,” he muttered, walking off ahead. He was secretly happy, and started to run. He was interested in finding and eliminating Thete. “How is he faring?” questioned Bandiaca. “He’s just fine,” M’hou answered with a grim smile. Farther away on the island there was a fight in progress. Seles was punching the machines and causing them to detonate when they overwhelmed the Toa. The Toa of Gravity was doing his best to keep them down while the Toa of Plasma was melting them away, but the two were becoming overrun and tired. Thete was opening fire everywhere, doing what he could to stop the machines, but that didn’t help too much with actual soldiers. He would kick them away and fire. Rien was slashing everything away that she could, but there were just too many enemies, “We need a plan!” she shouted. “I’d like to know why this is happening!” Seles shouted, punching a warrior away and then turning to look up at the incoming aerial attack. He reached up along with Thete, using their powers together to stop the machinery, and then detonate the potential energy. Then Thete opened fire while Seles bent the shots. As more started to rush them, something happened. A blade cut them down as someone approached. The footsteps were heavy and booming. Whatever the approaching presence was, they didn’t like it, and gathered together as a team. Soon they saw the figure, forcing Rien to mutter, “Ucen…” But this wasn’t the Blood Swordsman. He had the body of Ucen, but it was modified. It was heavily covered in machinery and cybernetics. A white and crimson foot, white and crimson armor to go with the opposite color. The armor was mismatched and different types of armor on his legs. Behind his legs was heavier machinery, such as pneumatics. He had tubing running through his armor. He had a heavy cylindrical curved piece on his chest with a claw over the top of it, and one on each shoulder and upper arm. More tubing was running along his body, and he had an eyepiece over his right eye; now fully mechanical due to the addition. He had claws tipping each hand. His right was a spinning mechanical claw, small and made for shredding. The right was made for gripping and much larger. He had blades on parts of his body, and carried a large double sided crescent blade of red and white, covered in spikes. It was similar to his former weapon. But this wasn’t Ucen. It was UCeN; revived as a cyborg thanks to the Void Foundation. “Found cut through the head, according to the reports by Seraph,” M’hou said to Bandiaca, “The Foundation repaired him and repaired the damage. He’s a monstrous machine now, with no memory and heavy weaponry. His name remains the same…just changed a bit. He has two meanings to his name, according to the reports. Unlimited Core Negater and Uncovered Cyborg Next. Both fit well.” Seles threw his hand out, “I’ll just kill you!” he shouted, unleashing his power. But something stopped the Toa of Energy’s attempt; something inside of UCeN was preventing him from being detonated in that manner. “No…,” Thete muttered, trying to shut him down, but it didn’t work. Rien lifted her blade, “Everyone be ready!” As UCeN walked forward, he stopped and lowered his arms. The three cylindrical pieces opened up, revealing rows of missiles, all of which were fired at the Toa. Thete and Seles did what they could. The Toa of Gravity tried to stop them, but the attacks hit, leaving only Rien standing, as the Toa of Plasma couldn’t escape in time. She lifted the Flame Buster, struggling to keep her mind going. How could she fight him? He lifted his large blade and walked towards her. Things had just gotten bad. And then she spied Marcko watching, lifting his weapon. “Thete!” he shouted, “Get up! She has her foe…you’re mine! Now get up and die!” Recla Nui. In the aftermath of the Eruo attack the island wasn’t left in very good condition, not that it ever had been in great condition, overall. But now Madan, a new batch of Sins, and some of his minions were there, along with more Foundation soldiers. Patience was among the ranks of his men, along with other virtues he had recreated or created for the first time. “If only Lyala were here…,” he mused, “Or Kaori…” But M’hou had rebuilt Kaori, only for Lyala to kill the cyborg. It didn’t really matter to Madan, though. As the soldiers were prepared to be launched, something happened. Attacks rained down on his forces before they could do anything. Flames rained down, exploding on impact. Water slammed around them, pushing Sins around, and then they were frozen over. The ground just started to explode and Lightning began to rain down as well. Five Toa were seen walking towards them. A Toa of Fire, Water, Ice, Energy and Lightning. All of them were using their powers to attack, to stall, to do what damage they could to the compressed forces. Madan lifted his staff, unleashing a blast of power. The Toa didn’t move, except for the Toa of Energy, who used his Kakama with his powers to dash in and around, canceling it out by using his speed for power to match. “Good move,” he muttered, “Who are you people?” “The blazing inferno of Recla Nui! Toa Eiros!” “The energizing wave of Recla Nui! Toa Gerat!” “The frozen master of Recla Nui! Toa Leros!” “The flashing bolt of Recla Nui! Toa Yuna!” “The crashing wave of Recla Nui! Toa Zera!” Fire, Energy, Ice, Lightning, Water. “Together by Unity, fighting for Duty, preparing for Destiny, we are the Toa Recla!” they called at once. Madan shook his head, “Well then, this is interesting. You guys seem to know what you’re doing.” Eiros ran for him, leaping up with his Miru’s help and coming down, slashing. He parried with his staff and pushed the Toa of Fire back. Eiros span and threw his hand out, unleashing a pulsating blast of Fire which exploded as soon as it hit the staff. He came out of the explosion at Madan, slashing. Madan managed to parry the acrobatic strikes, forcing them to lock weapons. “We will stop you, whoever you are,” hissed Eiros. “I doubt that,” retorted Madan, pushing him back. Doppel Nui. Uva, Sagarc, Zedd, Monsth, Drachius and Seriun were the ones in charge of an attack by soldiers of the Phantasmal Raiders, Eruo, and Foundation soldiers. Monsth had annoyance with leading Foundation soldiers, after what he had gone through, and since the Foundation had been the one putting the hits on their heads. There were no Toa on this island, not anymore. The people would bow to them and this would be simple. “Monsth!” Monsth lifted his axe onto his shoulder as he watched soldiers falling to Fire, Water, and Brimstone attacks. It was Ilos; the X-Toa. He gripped his axe tighter. This would be interesting. “The master of the poisons of nature, fated to defend Recla Nui! Toa Ilos!” he shouted as he opposed Monsth. “We’re not on Recla Nui anymore,” he reminded. “I am still its guardian,” he answered. Drachius and Seriun were ready to intervene when they saw two Toa rushing them, slashing them down. They rolled aside and watched as the two Toa stopped their swift movements. “Toa Cesare,” Cesare told Seriun. “Magis,” Magis told Drachius, lifting his weapon to match Drachius’s spear. “Three Toa?” Monsth questioned Ilos. “We’re enough,” Ilos said, lifting his blade. “Uva, Sagarc, go and lead your men. Find the Saint. Zedd?” “He’s mine,” Zedd pushed Monsth aside. Monsth shook his head. “Wrong answer.” He cleaved Zedd in half at the waist, killing him. He lifted his axe back up to Ilos, waiting for the Toa to move first. The three Toa waited for the Eruo to move, and when they tensed on either side, the battles began. As Gamel, Jaki and Lyala led the attack on an island already in turmoil thanks to Lokar’s involvement and the newly deposed Princess trying to incite riots, this was proving to be simple. Lyala was the brains of this attack, however, and was still thinking, always thinking of how this island worked, and how to take advantage of it. It was one massive city; how best to fight? Some figures were watching. One of them spoke. “This appears to be the reason Destiny made me move.” The other snapped his fingers, “Destiny is fickle? No. This was the reason. I’m sure. My men and I are ready, though.” Toa Hoji and Toa Sion. Agri and Eri were also there with Hoji; Agri being an Inika, Eri being normal like himself. The Toa team of the island was ready; composed of Seig, Yuli, Raiz and Ryza, along with Sion and his Island Defense force. Hoji moved from the ledge and walked back, finding a piece of armor. Sion looked back at him, “My men will keep those sea creatures at bay for now.” “I appreciate it,” Hoji said as he pulled the armor on, “We’ll try to take out their leaders.” Sion nodded, “Make it quick.” “It’s my turn,” Hoji said, “I’ll make it swift.” He was wearing armor. Large silver plates covered his legs with claws pointing down, and more blades and armor, coving up past his knees. He wore new armor over his chest with it covering his shoulders with reversed wings. He wore wings off of the backs of his arms, with hooked arms coming down off of them like talons. He also had armor coming off of the backs of his legs that acted as claws and talons of sorts. He wore an optical visor, similar to Sion’s. He used a large talon weapon on his right arm, wielding it in hand for better control as well, while his left had an orange shield; a small one. It would absorb energy and redirect fire as long as he put a spark into it. He had met Thete and done him a favor. This armor was meant for Tala, but Tala was dead, so Hoji was given it instead. Eri was running out to see him, “Hoji! Hurry! I’ll meet you at the point!” Hoji nodded and ran off of the ledge, shooting off and raining down Fire as he flew, just to be of help, shooting after his enemies, while Agri moved along the ground with Eri. Agri turned to her, “I like that thing.” She nodded, “It’s nice to be together again. We’re all different now.” He smiled and nodded, “Yeah. Inika, that armor, and you.” “I’m all I need,” she said, running off with him. Sieg was fighting against one of the Foundation’s soldiers, blocking the blade and ducking, slashing with wind blades to cut it down, “Raiz!” Raiz ducked and rolled, coming up to cut one down, “I’m fine!” he shouted, his back covered in wounds. Ryza and Yuli were back to back, throwing off electrical attacks in both directions. They were able to shut down the machines, at least. “It’s working!” Yuli called. “I’d rather be fighting directly,” Ryza muttered, “Looks like I’ll get a chance later.” “Don’t go looking for a fight,” Seig warned as he cut one down with his blade, “Just be careful. We all have to come out of this alive!” Rien was slashing as UCeN waited for the blade to return. It was thrown like a boomerang, leaving him vulnerable for now, but she couldn’t do anything to his thickly armored body. As his spinning right claw came up to shred at her, she ducked and slashed it off. The other claw came in to attack, she ducked and span around, slashing and catching him across the face, then rolled. The blade came back, stabbing into UCeN’s chest, empty of its missile payload. UCeN stumbled back, having been unable to catch thanks to her blinding strike. She rose and ran forward, running her blade through the head, killing the main CPU, ending the threat of the machine. Meanwhile, Thete ducked behind a tree as Marcko’s bullet just missed. He came out and opened fire, but Marcko rolled to avoid, taking up his shot from the ground and firing. The bullet lodged itself into Thete’s right thigh, dropping him to one knee. He opened fire, but Marcko kept hidden for now. Marcko was stealthy, moving around and getting behind Thete, lifting his weapon, “Die.” A blast of Gravity slammed into Marcko, throwing him aside, seriously wounding him. Thete looked back, “He was mine! You don’t interfere in another’s fight!” “I’m sorry!” he apologized. Thete shook his head, “Another day, Marcko…” “Keep fighting!” Rien shouted, running off with the others, if they could follow. Madan pushed Eiros back, sending him sprawling. Leros leapt in, slashing with his claws, but Madan was able to parry the first few. Then he interlocked his claws with the shaft to keep them pinned together, following up with ducking for Zera to come in and unleash a spiral of Water into his chest, slamming it home and throwing him back. Gerat sped in, stopping abruptly and slamming a punch down, sending the shock into the downed Madan, pushing him into the ground with the force of the blow. Madan saw a large wound on the man’s chest, very cracked armor. His Sins were downed, his warriors were being crushed. These Toa knew what they were doing. He was powerful, but they were good. Ilos was downed by Monsth’s axe. Magis had slashed Drachius back with his weapon, keeping him down with his Air powers, while Cesare was having trouble with Seriun’s negating field. Cesare was using his shield to block anything, then follow up with punches from it and slashes of his sword. The two Junkers were strong, and soon the two Inika were downed just like Ilos. The defenders were gone, and Monsth and his forces were able to advance. “Ilos is a good warrior. I will only return after the mission,” Monsth said, “And if he allies with these people, leave them as well.” As they advanced, they found a pit that had been dug by others of his command. He dropped down and saw the large stone door with an intricate lock. He felt it, but it wasn’t simple. It would be hard to open. He began to focus his various powers into it in an attempt to unlock this presumably final door. Water rained down. He glanced up to see other Junkers having beaten his men aside and were flooding him. The price on his head was still there, it seemed. “Drachius! Seriun!” His X-Junkers began to fight their way through as Monsth flew out of the hole to fight for now. Monsth was swift in his fighting, “Go after the others! These are mine!” The two ran off to deal with anyone else who invaded while Monsth fought off this batch. He glanced back to see Ilos slashing, but he ducked and dodged. Ilos threw his left hand up to Monsth’s face, unleashing his powers. Monsth stumbled back, throwing a bolt of Shadow into his foe’s chest, throwing him down. Monsth laughed, then coughed. “No…” Ilos had scarred his lungs it seemed. He had to get to the Saint…get its power…or else… As he leapt into the pit, he stumbled and collapsed. Ilos had killed him. Magis and Cesare were getting back up, “I can’t believe there are so many,” Magis muttered. “We have to keep fighting,” Cesare answered, running off. Magis nodded, “Yeah…let’s just hope this is almost over.” Gamel and Jaki were swiftly confused by Hoji’s flight over them, hammering them with fire and claws. As they turned to watch him, Eri and Agri struck from behind, her Water being a conductor for his Lightning and Earth, doing nice damage to the two. Gamel went down, but Jaki was still fighting. Lyala lifted her Mirror of Death, but Eri threw her sword at it, smashing it. Wrapping liquid around the hilt she drew the sword back and took a few steps forward, cutting her across the chest, dropping her as she infused Water around the blade to assist in the cut. Hoji landed and opposed the two Raiders, lifting his shield to block Jaki’s blow. As it flickered on fire he pushed Jaki’s weapon back and leapt forward, driving his fist in with an explosion of fire, taking Jaki down. “This is the final battle,” Hoji said, “I don’t know what you people are after, but we Toa will not let it be found! This will not stand! Tell that to your master…we will defeat all of you! This is our Duty! Our Duty as Toa!”“It’s time we made our move. The weapon must be completed, and Lokar must be stopped. But if even the Makuta couldn’t stop him, then what hope do we have, if we cannot find this weapon? Will he obtain the Saints powers? Or…could they help us? Or are we here alone? Next time, “Chapter 5: Countdown” Here…the end!”Review

Chapter 3: The Changing Enemy “Looking for something?” Vexacus mused as he had been watching the Toa talking to Matoran and asking them about something he didn’t quite understand. Strange shapes? Weird objects? The way they were describing things was…interesting. Probably because he had no idea what these shapes were they were talking about, having never seen the subject of their questions. He was in his normal green and red state. He was watching from an alley. He was tasked with eliminating them since they had slain The Fool and The Lovers. Lokar wasn’t pleased that two of his Tarots were dispatched so quickly and easily, and Zedd was out for blood for his loss. But Vexacus was sent because of his cooler head. He was supposed to have killed them by now, but the first day he hadn’t found them. The second they were still recovering, and that wasn’t his style. This was the third, and they were searching. This intrigued him, so he watched. He knew that Lokar had a large following to his movement. He had seen many a Matoran wearing white garb in the boat-palace that Lokar used. Not servants, but they did take messages and run them, fetch things. They did servant-like work, but they were devout followers. This was something else entirely for them. It was like Lokar was a religious leader to them, and they followed him without a thought. He was so compelling and charismatic to them. I guess everyone has it in them…even someone like Lokar… As the Toa moved, so did he. Silently. He was fully working on stealth, not even letting Matoran see him, even though Madan had really started something among them, and soon he would have complete control. Fides was his puppet; the one who would win politically now that Gorma was out of the way. Then the island would be simple to control. But that’s not what Vexacus was interested in. Politics were one thing, this was another. This was murder and intrigue, the way he was doing it. This was a fight to the death, a war of sorts. Granted, the enemy army was four Toa. But they were holding on. Vexacus knew that if they got serious they could stop the Toa, and they really should, but Lokar was busy with other things. He knew the enemy needed to die, but even three Makuta had fallen to him. He didn’t need to bother himself with four Toa. Three? He felt a blade at the back of his neck. It was Garren, as he felt the cold Crystal blade extending from the staff, Lightning racing through it. “Vexacus, right?” he questioned, “You’re one of the enemy commanders. Die!” Garren was an interesting one. He was a person who wouldn’t want to take lives, especially not like this, but Vexacus knew the situation. He would have done the same. And he was similar. An assassination wasn’t his style. Even if their positions were reversed he would announce himself first like this. Even if the enemy could stop it. Vexacus could stop and evade. He leapt up, using his legs to propel himself high. As he came down he span around to face Garren, tearing his large sword off of his back. He slammed it down, forcing Garren to parry with his staff’s tip. He held tight, pushing back, but he wasn’t able to repel his foe’s attack. Electrified Water flew at him from behind. Glancing back, he twisted his body a bit and kicked back, sending a blast of Air forward, slamming it into the Lightning infused Water, blasting it aside. “Air?” Rei muttered as she watched, drawing daggers inbetween each finger. “This is interesting,” Chalice said, “He kicked it…” “Smart picking up on that,” Rei answered, “Toa can’t use their elements through anything but hands and weapons. He’s no Toa, and he has greater control if he can do that…” Pushing away from Garren he span around and deflected Larc’s trident down. He kneed her in the gut and threw her back before spinning and swinging his weapon down on Chalice’s short blades. He pushed back, forcing Vexacus back two steps, and moved forward to stab his foe. Vexacus threw his hand out, unleashing a burst of Air to offset him. Suddenly he had yellow again, just like when he fought Rei. He was fast, using his newfound speed to rush for Rei and swing. But her Doite helped her hear his approach and counter, pushing him back. He slid, ignoring his speed. He span around, giving a roundhouse kick and kicking Lightning towards her. “Lightning at me?” she questioned, sheathing her left hand’s knives and catching it against her palm. It hurt, but she absorbed it, her body crackling for a moment, “There was a lot in that…” “Right…you’re a Toa of Lightning,” he muttered, “I’m not good with Toa colors. Forgive me. One who isn’t used to Lightning, even as an Inika, should have been my target.” Garren threw a Crystal shard at him from behind. He span around, using wind from his hand to deflect it down and then sliding forward and turning, giving a side kick, sending Lightning for Garren, who threw up a Crystal wall to protect himself. “Well, how about this?” he asked, his body shifting again. He now had light blue with the yellow of his torso, a blue upper torso, and deep blue arms with light blue gauntlets, green armor on his upper chest, and an elongated green mask. He slashed his sword, sending a shockwave of Water for Garren. The wall was cut down, simply proving a point. “His body denotes his element,” Rei said to herself softly, “What are his limits?” He started to kick Lightning for the three Inika while launching blasts of Water every so often, meeting the occasional attack with his sword, as he had lost his claws in this transformation. Changing back to normal, he drew his left hand up to his red mask. Flames started to lick around his hand as he threw it forward, sending a blast of fire at Chalice, burning him with a direct hit. As he cried out and struggled away, Larc blasted at Vexacus with her twin blaster weapons before rushing to help put out the flames. As he was about to give chase, Garren slammed his staff into the sword, forcing it down, keeping them close. “I’m your opponent,” he said, elbowing Vexacus in the chest to knock him back. Vexacus ducked the next swing and used his left arm’s claws to take Garren down in one slash. Rei rushed in, slashing with two downward daggers. He continued to parry, but she was fast and very skilled at this style of combat. She pulled off a backflip as he slashed for her chest, managing to get over the top of his weapon, landing with a slight twist of her body. She undid the twist to snap her arm forward, throwing a dagger into his chest. It didn’t penetrate very far, because he was ready and slowed it down a bit with Air, but she managed to hit him regardless. Now she ran in, drawing another dagger and slashing him across the chest twice before drawing back, focusing Lightning for an attack. He slammed a blast of Air into her, throwing and spinning her around, making her crash into a wall and collapse. He looked at the other two combatants, who were tending to Chalice now. He walked over, creating more fire in his left palm, and let it loose, avoiding them, but using the qualities of the attacks to send shrapnel into them to drop them. “That was interesting,” he said to himself. “Finish them,” a woman said, walking behind him. He glanced back to see Tenaya. “No,” Vexacus said, “Not now. I want to fight them again, now that they know of my skill.” “I’ll do it, then,” Tenaya muttered, pushing him aside and walking towards Larc with her small weapon. She lifted it, ready to use it for a quick kill. But Larc looked up and grabbed Tenaya’s ankle, smiling. “It’s over,” she muttered. Then Tenaya realized it, “No!” Electrified Water shot through her. She was effectively being electrocuted and was thrown back, slamming hard into the ground and rolling around, her body smashing up the ground. Her intent to kill had been staved in one move. “Serves you right,” muttered Vexacus as he walked off. By the time Tenaya would get up, the Toa would be gone, not wanting to tempt killing her, not without knowing more first, as Kruger had warned them of her. “You made a good move,” Kruger commented, floating around, “Attacking the downed Tenaya could have killed you. Moving in on her, she would have used her clawed wings to grab you, and then it would have been over. Her weapon can be focused through her body. The grip would have been fatal.” “Her wings amplify?” Rei asked. “Basically,” Kruger answered, “Your search?” “Still nothing,” Garren sighed. “We’ll find them,” Larc said. “Or die trying,” Chalice had to put in. Kruger nodded, “Yes, yes…just please hurry. If Lokar gets even one Saint…things are over.” “How does someone drain an Elemental Saint?” questioned Larc, “It…it seems impossible.” “He has powers beyond your greatest dreams,” Kruger said, “The nature of Lokar’s powers is how he will do it. It’s…not something I actually know…” The World. Fully white, with a square-ish body and a rounded “tail” coming off of the bottom with a claw rising up, he had six limbs. From the center of his torso two real arms and hands, while at the lower sides he had arms bending out and down, the right wielding a serrated blade, the left a curved blade. From the shoulders he had short arms, the right wielding a thick sword, the left a crescent blade. A sleek white Kanohi or face was all that rested on the shoulders, very protected by armor all around the neck area. The Devil was his ally in this fight, having cast his cloak aside and wearing only his full black armor, regal and deadly in appearance. The Toa had been fighting, but The Devil never made a move. Only The World, floating and lashing out energy attacks, floating while the Toa surrounded him, attacking. The Tarot didn’t seem to feel wounds or take damage, which made it far more difficult for the Toa to handle. The Devil was more curious than anything else. He didn’t want to kill them, not now. But they were weak; maybe he should. He flexed his claws as he contemplated it. Garren extended a Crystal blade from the end of his weapon and ran in. As The World turned to him, Larc, Chalice and Rei all attacked at one spot on his back, with Rei peeling the Lightning out of their elements to create an even stronger Lightning attack. The shock sent The World forward, right into Garren’s blade to the chest. It wasn’t effective enough. Garren smiled, using his powers to extend the Crystal, making it fully impale his foe. The Devil walked towards them, from Garren’s back. The others were shouting to Garren as The Devil ran. Garren pulled his weapon free and span around, finding The Devil pushing his weapon aside, claws drawn back, faces a hair’s breadth from each other. And then he was gone. “Why did you summon me?” The Devil demanded of Lokar. He could make demands without fear; he was able to stay his master’s hand if need be, and he was second in command. They had had this conversation before about rank and what was acceptable speech. “Because we have a guest,” Lokar answered, gesturing to a figure. The figure was wounded, but recovering. Silver and gray, with a reptilian head and a staff with two trident ends. He looked like a Rahkshi of some sort. “This is Queln. He is our newest ally.” Queln’s eyes narrowed as he looked at The Devil. He simply nodded. “Queln lost his power and his vocal capabilities in an incident that nearly killed him,” Lokar said, “He was once powerful, with the ability to shift dimensions. Now I will restore something to him, and he is our newest member. The final battle is upon us, Devil. Be ready.”“This fight has become the battle of many as Lokar threatens the futures of a great deal of people. This is a fight that must be won! Next time, “Chapter 4: To All Who Have Come Before” Come!”Review

Chapter 2: Counter Offensive Lokar looked out into the sterile white halls. He glanced at Bandiaca, standing before him with her staff poised. As if such a worthless woman and her worthless power posed a threat to him. He simply smiled. “Even if you could slay me, witch, you wouldn’t escape here alive,” Lokar said simply. “I teleported here. I’ll do the same out,” she informed him. “As soon as I’m struck down you have about one second before Madan would kill you,” he challenged. “I’ll take that chance,” she hissed. “You really shouldn’t,” he responded. She lowered her weapon and tapped the ground with the end of her staff, “What are these marks?” There was damage all around his hall. The hall that he had within his temple which sat on a large ship. If one would find themselves there, they would have no knowledge that they were on a ship. It never shook or swayed. “Those are from some visitors I had,” Lokar said, “Very recent visitors who weren’t pleased by my actions. So I made sure that they could be pleased never again.” “Who were these people?” she questioned. “Wondering if you’re in the same league?” questioned Lyala as she walked towards Bandiaca, “They were far above you.” “Who were they?” she demanded of Lokar, ignoring Lyala. He smiled, “Three Makuta.” Four figures stormed into Lokar’s hall. The one in the lead was a smaller figure; a woman clad in black and white. She looked the size of a Matoran, but probably a bit taller. Some other species entirely. The other three were taller figures. There was no mistaking them or their auras. They were Makuta. One woman and two men. The woman stopped, “Lokar. That is your name, correct?” “It is,” he answered, remaining seated in his throne, “I wonder what brought three Makuta to my humble presence.” “You have been interfering in things that do not concern you,” the woman told him, “End your quest, and you will be spared. Go and find something else to do with your life. But if you continue with this plan of yours, my Foundation will have no choice but to crush you where you sit. I’ve brought power enough to see to that.” “I’m amused now. You really think three Makuta can kill me?” “You think we can’t kill you?” the red and black armored Makuta hissed in anger. “You should learn your place,” the other male said, in blue and white armor. The woman shook her head, “Nobody is fool enough to challenge a Makuta. Watch him…and be careful.” “Always,” the blue one said. The crimson and black one flexed his claws, “I should crush him. Would anyone mind if I did the honors?” “Just be careful,” the small woman warned, “Listen to Eish and Veix, Seraph.” “I know,” he said, flexing his skeletal wings and shooting forward for the seated Lokar. He started to generate Shadow into his hands, stopping and throwing them forward with snaps of his wrists. They flew through the air, right for Lokar. A shadowy arm emerged from nowhere and blocked with the entirety of the forearm, elbow bent in order to put the arm into a shielding position. The arm started to retract back until the elbow was gone and then some. Lokar simply looked at Seraph. “What is that?” he shouted, shooting forward, ready to use his own claws to end it. Another shadowy fist slammed into his side, throwing him into the far wall. He shattered it and fell to the ground. The fist itself has been as large as his chest. “This is my power,” Lokar told him, glancing at his form as he rose swaying to his feet, “Don’t challenge me. I give you one last chance to leave.” “I refuse!” he shouted shooting forward. Before he could activate whatever power he was preparing, the hand grabbed him, managing to crush one wing in its grip. He was lifted up, shouting out as he was being crushed. And then with the final crush, his armor fell to the ground, shattered. His Antidermis essence started to drift away, but the hand grabbed it, and it was no more. Makuta Seraph of Angelus Nui was dead. Veix and Eish watched in horror as he died. Veix looked to her and then triggered his crystalline form. He shot forward with blinding speeds, drawing his curved sword from his back. He swung it down with both hands for Lokar, intending on cutting him in half, if possible. If the force and speed didn’t just destroy him altogether. The shadowy hand grabbed the blade between two fingers. All of Veix’s force was no good; he was stopped, floating there. He looked at Lokar, unleashing his Laser Vision power, but the second arm blocked the attack. Nonetheless, he tried again, unleashing his powers over Weather and lashed out a bolt of Lightning from behind the throne, intending on having it drive through and kill him. The arms threw him back before he could do it. Lokar was able to figure out his move and stop it. One of the arms came up, clenching into a fist, and slamming down, pummeling Veix into the ground. He shot a hand out, still able to move. A stasis field came up around Lokar, intending to trap him. He hoped that the trap would stop the shadow limbs, but it didn’t. Veix cursed as the second fist came down, smashing his arm off. His concentration held, even though he was bleeding out his essence. He cursed, blasting the arms with Laser Vision, but he couldn’t force them away. Lokar had him. He wasn’t going to get out of this. He tried his Disintegration powers, but the arms weren’t affected. Teleporting out, he appeared right in front of Lokar, driving his sword forward with a shout. The arms were gone, appearing again at his sides. Lokar had cut them off and respawned them where they were needed. One blocked the attack while the other plunged a claw into his broken arm, tearing upwards to rip some of his armor apart. As it continued, with Veix trapped as the other arm gripped his chest, the claws tore his chest apart, letting him bleed his essence out. Suddenly everything went gray. Eish shot forward, remaining in her normal form. She lifted her staff and swung it for one of the arms, bashing it away. “Go!” she shouted to the essence, hoping Veix could escape. She was close, and should be able to use her Darkness power to hide in the gray room, with all pigmentation gone. Such was an advantage of her Detyu and her powers. Lokar still saw her. She realized in horror that his eyes still followed her wherever she moved, even though she should be undetectable. Then an arm shot by her, grabbing the essence of Veix and slaying him. He was open. She shot forward, teleporting behind him at the last moment and swinging her heavy crescent staff at the back of the throne. An arm came at her side, punching her and throwing her into the wall. She teleported before the next blow came, appearing in front of him and lifting her blade to his throat. “Got you,” she hissed. “Did you?” he questioned. She was gripped from behind and thrown across the hall, smashing into the ground and shattering large chunks as she bounced. She came back up, colors flashing back as she cut her Kanohi’s power. She rose and threw her gauntleted left hand out, unleashing Chain Lightning. The arms blocked, and one shot for her, grabbing her and drawing her in. “You can’t touch me,” Lokar hissed as her face was drawn close to his, so they could see each other’s eyes easily. She knew a Laser or Heat Vision attack could work, but didn’t risk it. She knew she was going to die. She felt him squeezing harder. She couldn’t teleport for some reason…was he cancelling her power? She felt a jolt of pain, and activated her Limited Invulnerability power. She needed to buy time. “What are you?” she hissed. He seemed amused. “A demon.” Her power failed and she was crushed, her body falling out of his grip as the midsection was shattered, along with her essence. Lokar rose from his throne and walked towards the woman, “You have but one true option. Join me, or die. You know which to take.” The woman was forced to nod, “You slew them…I could fight you. I could gather my forces and we could strike against you. But there is no reason to waste so much research and time. You have…our support. Lokar. The soldiers of the Void Foundation, the research, everything…is allied.” “I care more about your soldiers than your research,” he informed her, “Now leave my sight and bring me an army.” “I see,” Bandiaca hissed, shaking her head, “I stand no chance, then. If this is the truth.” “It is,” a new voice said. Bandiaca was visibly shaken to hear it. “Forte…” Forte walked out, past Lyala, and stood before Bandiaca. He looked at her and nodded, “I am back. Madan’s warrior…” “I know,” she hissed, “I’m surprised you would dare show yourself to me!” she shouted, power flaring around her staff. “Enough!” Lokar snapped, throwing his hand out, “Bandiaca! Join your power with mine and you shall share in victory! And have your sworn sword back.” She stopped, cutting off her power. She looked at Lokar, and then to Forte. She nodded, “Fine. Make him mine again!” Lokar snapped his fingers in Forte’s direction. He began to glow and then exploded into light. And he was changed, changed into something new. “He is now the Emperor,” Lokar told her. She would come to know what he meant. His forces were named after the Tarot. He had just dispatched The Fool, The Lovers and The Chariot to attack, with three general class; Justice, The Star and The Hanged Man. Now Forte had joined the ranks of his general class warriors. He had white and silver as his body. White feet with white armor overlaying silver legs with a lot of armor built up lower, with blades coming up over his knees. He had lighter armor higher up, leading into a white torso overlaid with silver claw-like armor, with more white claw armor over the top. He had silver armor over the fronts of his arms, which were white, and wielded a sword with a large blade coming off of the bottom. On his back he had two large silver pieces of armor that helped protect his shoulders and his back in general, along with some other light armor there. His head was rounded off in back, fully silver, and with a crimson optical eye set in the center top of his head. He looked more like a machine now than before, due to the shape, but he was still The Emperor. “Now my generals are complete.” Joining him briefly was a large blue figure, The Tower. The figure whom had trapped the Toa in a nightmare and a black figure whom the Toa had also met on their quest for the Inika powers. The Devil. The Fool had a lanky body; fully gray legs up until the red overlay just above the knees. A gray torso with a bit of red adding some armor, and fully gray and lanky arms with only a red fin coming off of each arm. He had an upsidedown head, green eyes and a red mask or face. The Lovers were two figures stuck together. One had lime green, black and orange, while the other had orange, red and black, with some lime green, just like how the other had minimal orange. They were conjoined at the top of the back, back to back, no weapons. Just gaudy armor and fists. The Chariot was lime green and black. He had a torso rising out of a black rounded object, acting as the chariot. He had silver coming down like shields in front and back for it, green helping to “lock” him into it from the chariot itself, a black torso, lime green arms with claws and wielding large curved blades. He had a vicious black and lime green face or mask with fangs. Justice was a general class. He had orange feet, whit ankles, green leg armor with some orange, a white torso with green and orange overlaying both. He had partially green upper arms overlaid with orange, then white from the elbows down, with green gauntlets. He had an elongated green face or mask, with a tail coming down the back, and something covering his eyes, making him blind. He was using a scythe with a chain. The Star was another general He had red feet with silver ankles covered by red armor coming down. Silver legs up to the knees, where he had red and a fully red torso. He had a little silver armor over the top, with silver fins coming back, partially silver arms with red overlay, and then red from the elbow down. Gray gauntlets, a silver face or mask, and silver wings coming off of his shoulders and the backs of his arms. Finally there was The Hanged Man. Silver and gray, he had no legs. He had small claws that seemed to bend down to allow for levitation. He had no real detail, and wielded a spiked mess of a weapon in his right hand. There was a noose around his neck, always standing straight up, as if he were hanging. Zedd was leading them into battle, clashing his sword with Rei’s knives. He drew his sword back, sliding back, and thrust forward, punching her in the chest with the pommel. He kicked her, knocking her onto her back. Pouncing, he span his sword around to drive it down, but found a knife in his arm as she drew another. He slowed on his stab, missing as she rolled and kicked the backs of his legs. As he stumbled she came around swiftly to her feet, generating Lightning into the tip of the dagger she held in her right hand, flipping it around and slashing with just the tip, letting the Lightning run through him, the bolt snapping into his body and making him scream and fall to his knees as she passed him by, a small cut from the tip and slight bit of blade running along his side. Justice was fighting alongside The Chariot. Garren was fighting, ducking and dodging the swings of the scythe, quickly learning that Justice was blind. His hearing was incredible, so Garren was always making careful moves. He thrust his staff up to parry both of the other Tarot’s swords, leaving his chest open for a slash from the scythe, sending him rolling back. Chalice attacked The Fool, but his foe kept dodging the swings of the Blade Blaster. Finally he leapt back to get out of range, and while Chalice was switching modes on his weapon, he shot his fist out, his arm extending. He punched Chalice in the face, sending him stumbling to the floating Star behind him. Star lifted his hand which erupted into silver energy. He slashed Chalice across the back with the side of his hand, causing him to cry out and go down. Larc was using her trident to slash at the floating Hanged Man while Lovers approached from behind. They both reached their hands out; one’s right, one’s left. They put them close, generating two balls of power intertwined with a chain of power between them. The attack was thrown forward for Larc from behind. It struck with the chain, throwing her around on the ground as the spheres wrapped around her, binding her arms to her sides. They kept dragging her, however, towards Chalice. The affect was copied as it lashed out and bound him, and then Garren, keeping the three trapped. Rei ran over, flipping a dagger into hand. She ran for The Fool and ducked his elongating punch. She threw a bolt of Lightning into the ground and drew her hand up, away from that spot, creating an arc. She rammed it into the elongated arm, making The Fool shudder and stop moving, stunned. She threw the dagger with her Doite aiding her eyesight, landing it right in The Fool’s upsidedown head, dropping the foe. The Lovers launched their attack again while the bound trio was being thrust for Rei. She threw her hand out, blasting one side before they could launch the attack. Quickly drawing up another dagger she used her swiftness to evade the bound Toa and run for the stunned Lovers. Sliding and focusing Lightning into the weapon, she cut the connection between them , leaving the two halves falling facedown, dead. “Retreat,” hissed The Star, throwing out his silver energy to cover their escape, leaving the corpses behind. The other three Toa found themselves free and rising as Rei looked at the death of the two Tarot she had managed to dispatch. “They’re strong,” she said, looking at where Zedd had been. He had been recovered by one of his allies, it appeared, in their escape. “Sorry…,” Garren muttered. “No need to apologize,” she said, looking at him, “We know the strength of Lokar’s soldiers now. And I slew two. As long as we’re all alive, that’s what counts in this battle right now.” “But we didn’t recover anything,” Larc said. That was their mission. They were trying to track down the last two pieces. “I know,” she said, shaking her head, “But…we’ll find them. We have to, or Lokar will have the Saints…and that cannot happen…”“An enemy who can change his powers, and a foe from the past, but one we do not know. Lokar’s group grows in power as he prepares to make his move. Next time, “Chapter 3: The Changing Enemy” Grace like the rain.”Review

Book 3Chapter 1: The Falling Shadow It was a slaughter, if they had died. The foe didn’t kill them, but might as well have with how merciless they were. They fought like monsters. Like true bringers of death. Those who were battle hardened, those who would never falter in battle. These warriors were true warriors, unlike Bandiaca’s band of slaves. Unlike the undersea beasts of the Phantasmal Raiders, unlike the bickering Sins of Madan. These were commanders, no doubt. But they were professional. They had a leader behind them, backing them. They knew how they were supposed to fight, how they were supposed to fare in battle. They lived up to it. The avian woman was swift, dodging their blows and ramming her small weapon right into their chests. It seemed to vibrate or something; it was hard for Garren to tell as he screamed in pain. He just knew that his vision started to fade in and out, and it felt like it was pulsing in his chest where she had rammed it. When she pulled it back he still hurt, but the throbbing of it was gone, at least. He took a punch to the face and went down. Larc was firing with both of her weapons, but the man in a myriad of armors was blocking with his right arm shield. He rushed in, throwing his arm aside to reveal his intention of dropping his guard as he closed the gap. He rammed his segmented blade into her chest, the blades going on either side as she was lifted up and thrown aside, smashing hard into the ground, her weapons leaving her hands. Chalice was swinging his blade for the silver and gray warrior with the hook covering his face. The man just batted his attacks away each time with his pommel before driving it into Chalice’s chest, and then into his face when he was doubled over. He rammed his knee up into Chalice’s lowered head and then rammed his elbow in as a follow-up, throwing him onto his back onto the ground. As Chalice tried to lift his Blade Blaster from his hip he stomped on the Toa’s hand, grinding it into the ground and crushing the weapon. Rei was having trouble, swinging two daggers, both of them in a reverse grip. She was facing the man in the green armor with the crimson Kanohi. He lifted his arms up, claws spinning around from the backs of his forearms as he lunged and swiped for her, just catching her shoulder as she span and ducked, driving her dagger up for him. He managed to block with his other claw and kick her back with a very powerful kick, letting her roll across the ground a little. As he approached she unleashed a blast of Lightning from each dagger. He swiftly tore the sword from his back, using the width of it as a shield. It forced him to slide back, but he was able to keep the defense up, for now. By the time the Lightning stopped, she was gone. Stepping behind him, she had a dagger between each finger. She lifted both hands up, charging her power, and letting all of the daggers fly as she let loose her powers of Lightning, sending them out like projectiles at a nearly pointblank range. He span around, part of his torso and his legs now yellow with some green over it, the splashes of red still present. His arms and part of his chest were still green, while his mask was still red. His speed had jumped up it seemed. He swung his sword, just able to deflect them with his short swing, using the minimal space. “How?” she hissed. “I’m that fast,” he said simply, throwing his left arm out, retracting the claw. The fist smashed into her face, sending her rolling across the ground. He took two steps forward, fully green of body again. She was down. The Matoran-like figure just watched as his four warriors returned to him. He took a few steps towards the group of downed Toa, looking them over with his strange face. He shook his head, letting out a very hollow laugh. “How do you Toa like my power?” he asked. “Your power?” Chalice shouted, “You’re a Matoran! This is the power of your men! This isn’t true power!” “Wrong,” he said simply. “What did you say?” Chalice hissed. “You are wrong,” the figure said, “Power can be measured by the company one keeps. If these warriors believed that even together they were stronger than me, do you think I would be alive? I’m only in control of them because they fear me and my abilities. You would be wise to do the same, Toa of Storms. All of you.” “Who are you?” Rei hissed, but was wise enough to remain down, just conserving her strength for an escape if need be. “My name is Lokar. I am the master of darkness and of shadows. I am here to claim this island as one of my own.” “Again with trying to take this island,” muttered Chalice, “What’s so important about Cyril Nui? There’s nothing here!” “I have to agree,” Garren muttered, “What purpose could it give? A tactical value to you and the army I assume you have? Or your forces? Slaves? What?” Larc shook her head, “Even if you use the Matoran for slaves, they won’t do it. They may live in a dystopia, but they are proud! They serve the Great Spirit Mata Nui! They won’t serve a master to be slaves!” “I never said I wanted tactical value, or slaves,” Lokar said, “I have no need for my army to have a tactical position if it is this island. This island is worthless and out of the way to my plans for tactical importance. “I have no need for slaves. If I would take this island under such a pretense, I would rather let the Matoran flee. They would only be in the way, even as my slaves. No. I’m here for something on a much grander scale. Something none of you can even begin to comprehend.” “Try us,” Larc said. “We’re pretty smart,” Garren told him. Lokar simply laughed his hollow laugh. He shook his head, “No. This…is not for you fools to know. In time…in time you may learn, if you manage to survive that long. But for now, you are not ready to learn the true depths of who I am, or of my work. The work that should spell out your end, among others.” “You think this island can be of help in killing people, or something?” Larc questioned him, “You’d be out of luck. I seriously doubt you’ll find anything here!” “Expand your horizons, spy,” Lokar said curtly. That hurt. She tried to ignore it, but couldn’t, “I’m no spy!” “Larc!” Rei called, “Don’t let him get to you!” “But…” Rei shook her head to the Toa of Water, “No!” Chalice lifted his weapon. He was lying towards Lokar’s side, a clear shot. He started to generate a focused blast of Storms power into his weapon’s twin tips, ready to release them. “I wouldn’t do that,” Lokar said nonchalantly. “Die!” Chalice screamed, letting it tear through the air. Lokar made no moves. Nor did any of his followers. At the last moment Lokar turned his head to look at the attack flying at him, stating one thing. “Smaller than I thought.” A black arm emerged from nowhere. It was as thick as his body, and at least as long. It hovered near his right shoulder; where the attack was coming in from, the right side. It ended in a monstrous claw of a hand. There was nowhere it was coming from. No mist to signify that it might be obscured by something, if it was crossing worlds or dimensions. No signs of anything more on the arm. It was just as it was, but there was no doubt more somewhere, or it would be awkward, short due to the stature of the rest of it, not even up to an elbow. The arm took the hit, and nothing happened. It simply faded away, leaving Lokar to look at Chalice, who was in shock, “What…what was that…? How…did it stop my attack…?” “It was because your attack was weak,” Lokar said simply, looking at the other three Toa, “Will any of you attempt an attack?” Garren tensed, wanting to strike, but he knew better. Regardless, Rei shot him a look to keep him still, to keep him from making a foolish move. They all knew it; he had a great chance with his Crystal powers. He was sure he could cut Lokar down, and cut down that arm if it appeared again as a shield, but nobody said anything. He wasn’t to risk it. “If that is all, it is time for my leave,” Lokar said, turning and walking back towards the others, “Let me introduce you, before I take my leave,” he said, directing to each one as he walked past them. The avian woman, “Tenaya.” Madan, then the woman with him, “Lyala.” Forte, then the man who defeated Larc with the mismatched armor, “Jindrax.” The man who defeated Rei, “Vexacus.” The man who defeated Chalice, “Zedd.” As his group started to depart he stopped and spoke once more, “Madan, I believe you have something to say, did you not?” “That is correct,” Madan said, looking out at the four downed Toa. He simply said two words, “District Three.” Whatever he meant, the Toa would have to hurry. It was one of the districts of the city, as it was broken down based on the placement of the towers. They knew which district he meant, but what significance was there? By the time they arrived it was too late. Turaga Gorma lay there, dead on the ground. They wouldn’t know it, but he was slain by one of Madan’s warriors that he had created some time ago by the name of Patience. He had waited, and when Gorma had finally crossed his path, he had leapt from his alley and impaled him with his dagger. “No!” Chalice shouted, slamming his fist into the wall of the temple after they brought his body back, “This can’t be happening!” “It happened,” Garren said absently, shaking his head and looking towards the floor, “It…it’s a cowardly move…but…” “It’s good tactically,” Rei finished, “But right now we shouldn’t care about that. We should care about losing the man who could have helped us the most, potentially. He’s always been here for us…and now he’s gone. We don’t have someone to guide us anymore, or to be of assistance. The…the enemy is too powerful.” “Don’t say that!” Chalice shouted, “Next time…” “There won’t be any change!” she shouted at him, “Did you see their power? They put us down so quickly! Turaga Gorma was the help we could have used, and now he’s gone! We need a new plan. We need help. We need to find a way to get in touch with the other Toa Cyril, get them back here. We need their help!” “But will they come?” Garren asked. “The Turaga is dead,” Larc said, “I would come.” “But they left for reasons. Would they return and tempt fate?” he questioned. “I did,” Rei said. “And thus far nothing bad has happened,” Garren said, “This notwithstanding, unless this is the start of something. But what if something goes wrong for defying Destiny? Can they risk it? Can we ask it of them?” “They’ll come if they find out,” Rei said. “What if they don’t find out?” he questioned. “I’ll tell them myself if I must,” Larc said, “I’ll go and swim to other islands to do so! I’m with Rei, we need help!” “I know we need help!” Garren snapped, “But is it their help? The island was left to us. We’ve had our share of battles, and we’ve grown into full Toa! We’re stronger than most ordinary Toa! We may be inexperienced, but we have power. Power can’t always make up, but we’ve survived up until now. We’re just fighting a more experienced enemy…we can do this! Together! If we don’t defy Destiny, we use our Unity!” Chalice shook his head and walked over to Garren, “What good will any of it do?” he hissed, “I hate the idea of needing help, but I threw everything I had at that Lokar…and that arm thing wasn’t even scratched! If I had done damage, I’d feel differently, but if they both want to call for help, I see no reason to stand against them, as much as I hate the idea.” “I’m on my own?” Garren questioned, “I’m the only one who doesn’t want to tempt Destiny?” “We all have that feeling, I’m sure,” Rei told him, “But by the will of the Great Spirit, we need to! We need help in order to win this fight!” “And what if even our allies can’t help us?” Garren questioned her, “Then what? How do we stop Lokar?” “A weapon.” Everyone turned to the door, lifting their Blade Blasters – even Chalice and his replaced weapon. They saw something there; a disembodied arm, just floating in the doorway. Chalice was ready to fire, “Looks like Lokar…smaller, but looks like his work!” The arm was short and crimson, with what looked like a fin coming off of each of the sides; the outside and inside, sweeping back. Three claws tipped the hand. It floated forward, speaking from itself. “I am not one of Lokar’s shadowy projections. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I am not the enemy.” “Who and what are you?” Rei demanded. “I am Kruger…or…what’s left of me…,” the arm said, “I was one of Lokar’s officers…like those who crushed you four earlier. I failed him on his last mission and so he…did this to me…and I wasn’t present at the battle. I managed to escape the torture by pouring my mind into my arm and severing it. And…I’m here now.” “Why are you here?” Larc questioned. “To be of use,” Kruger said, “I was all for his plans. I was ready to work for Lokar for my entire life…until he did those things to me. Torture can change a man…make him quickly change sides…yes, but I’ve always been in turmoil over my allegiance. Please believe that, and don’t look wrongly at me.” “What is it you want to do? Tell us about this weapon you mentioned and help us stop Lokar?” questioned Chalice. “Yes,” Kruger told him, “I know enough of it…and I will tell you about Lokar’s plans, his officers…everything I can. You need a new ally, do you not?” “Turaga Gorma isn’t replaceable,” Rei told him. “No ally is ever truly replaceable,” Kruger told her wisely. “Tell us,” Garren said, “Tell us about this weapon, and how we can get it. We need to stop this man!” “There is an ancient super weapon that is said to be able to slay the “Living Shadow”. There is no doubt in my mind that the “Living Shadow” is Lokar.” “What is Lokar, anyway?” Chalice asked, “A Matoran?” “No. Something far worse,” Kruger said, “Though I guess anything could be worse than a Matoran.” “That says a lot,” muttered the Toa of Storms, “What is he?” he shouted. “…,” it took a few moments for Kruger to answer, “I don’t know…just something very, very dangerous. Something beyond the bounds of anything you have faced in the past. There is no way to fight him directly, or you will die. Lokar is a being who cannot truly be stopped by mere Toa, or even by warriors like those he has made his officers. The strong can only hope to be strong enough to scratch or wound him. One must use a group of strong if they want to attempt to wound him. “And a potential army to slay him.” “And he said this?” Larc questioned. “I’ve seen his abilities,” Kruger told her, “I know this from what I have seen. And I fear it is all too true.” “This weapon, then,” Rei said, “Just tell us.” “It’s broken into pieces,” Kruger answered, “Small, with strange designs. The pieces may not look like much, but…” “These?” Rei questioned, walking over to a wall and pressing on it, opening a brick. She extracted the objects found by the Toa over the course of their fights, surprised to find another from Agito. She held them out to the arm as it floated over. It made a nodding motion with its entire body. “Yes. Those…those are pieces…” “So that’s what these are…,” Rei said softly, looking at them, “How many more?” “Two,” Kruger said. “This island?” “We must pray they have remained here,” Kruger said, “For they were sealed away on the island that acts as the prison to one of the beings sought by Lokar; the Elemental Saint of the Sun.”“Even the strong oppose him, meaning he is a threat to a great deal. Lokar is more than h seems, and he must be stopped. Next time, “Chapter 2: Counter Offensive” Come!”Review

Chapter 15: Final Form! “The you will be absorbed, and subjected to a worse fate,” Greed hissed. “If it’s a worse fate, then why not do it to the others as well?” questioned Lust. “Because they deserved to see my abilities,” commented Greed, gripping Lust by the throat. Lust’s entire body erupted into light, and then was gone in an instant. “I have my powers…the powers of Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Lust,” Greed said joyfully, “If only I could have had Pride…but that matters not anymore.” Greed walked towards the exit of the cave, now seeing the Toa coming down on it. The Toa must have seen the Matoran fleeing, and had listened to where they had seen Greed going to. But if they knew where the cave was or not didn’t matter; it wasn’t like anything important was there anymore. Only Greed; one fighter. The Toa stopped, “Only you?” Garren called, “Where are the others? Still inside?” “You have only me,” Greed said, throwing its arms aside, “But I’m more than enough! I am the strongest Sin to live! I am the only of this generation left! I’m also the only living being you’ll find here.” “Madan and Forte?” questioned Rei. “Gone,” Greed said, “The other Sins dead. I slew each of them for their powers…even four of you at once don’t threaten me!” he laughed. “We’ll see,” Chalice muttered, throwing a fist forward. A blast of his Storm power flew, Lightning doubled with his Inika status. It slammed head-on into Greed, but nothing happened. “I’m invincible,” Greed stated, walking forward, continuing into the path of the attack. Larc shouted, adding her power, but nothing happened. “I don’t understand,” Garren said softly, “How can he be so strong?” “I don’t know,” Rei said, having taken up second in command naturally. She lifted her rod, “But let’s see if we can’t help stop him!” she shouted, firing Lightning from her weapon down for the Sin. Garren added his power; firing off crystallized Lightning, combining his powers like his two contemporaries did. But even with the final two adding their strength, Greed was only slowed slightly, its defensive power being no longer used here, but rather, Envy’s negation powers were used. “What part of having the powers of the others do you not understand?” screamed Greed, firing bolts of power from its hands for the group of Toa, scattering them to avoid taking the hits. Rei panted, “What does he mean?” she asked. Garren realized it, “Envy…power negation, or something along those lines,” he told her, lifting his weapon, “Everyone, we have to fight directly!” “Bad idea,” Larc said, lifting her trident, “But if it’s all we can do, then I have to agree.” The double knife came up as Chalice added, “It’s going to be a challenge, so it should be entertaining, at least.” Rei shot him a look, then drew two knives up, both with the points facing downward. She ran forward first, hoping to use her speed to get a hit in right away. She darted back as Greed threw a fist. She dashed forward, slashing him in the throat, sure of a kill. “I’m too strong,” Greed said, backhanding her to the ground, only having to rotate slightly to do so. Rei went down with a shout from Greed’s strength. Chalice shouted and ran forward, slashing with his dual knife. Greed dodged the attacks, just to toy with the Toa of Storms, then slashed his chest with a sword of energy, dropping Chalice to the ground. Larc came next, slashing with her trident, but Greed dodged or parried along the shaft. They both span, and Greed slashed. She blocked and slid the sword down her shaft, parrying it away and driving the tip for Greed’s chest. Greed took it, but nothing happed. She cursed and lifted her Blade Blaster, letting loose pointblank with the normal shots, but nothing happened. No wounds. Greed lifted the other hand and fired a burst of energy into Larc’s chest, throwing her back with a shout. That left Garren to run forward, extending a blade of Crystal off of his weapon, slashing. Greed leapt back, “I’m wary of a sword of Crystal,” the Sin had to admit. “Try this!” Garren shouted, lifting his hand to fire a flurry of Lightning filled Crystals. “Mistake,” Greed said, walking into them. When solidified as a melee weapon, it was out of reach of Envy’s powers, but when used as projectiles like this, having fully left Garren, they were counted as elemental to the deceased Sin’s powers. One slash sent Garren down. He grasped at the cut, stumbling, trying to fight, but he fell to the ground finally. Greed looked back at them, shaking its head, “You’re all weak…” Something happened. There was a pounding in Greed’s head; in its chest. “What…what is this?” Greed screamed out. The four looked at the Sin, at what was happening. None understood. Greed drew its arms and legs to the body, keeping them tucked together for support, or in convulsions of muscle. Greed’s head was thrown back as it screamed, parts of the body pulsating with the muscles reacting oddly, with the body reacting somehow. Greed’s left arm started to change. The silver shoulder armor became black; becoming identical to Lust’s arm. It was Lust’s arm. The legs were drawn together, something happening; it was like they were merging. The right arm shattered, reforming into Lust’s. Greed screamed, the extra armor melding into the body anywhere that was left…and then the legs became black and silver, merging into one mass, covered by cloaks or something similar. “I won’t let you!” Greed screamed, forming Lust’s energy sword and slashing itself. “No!” Greed screamed as Envy’s powers negated its own attempt to wound itself; to intervene in this takeover of the body. It was ending as the head came down; it was black. It was Lust; reborn from Greed, a new, stronger form. The legs were one mass, larger, thicker, covered in black and silver with wings coming out the backs, covered on both ends by a cloak or rag of some sort to hide the gap that was between what was once two separate legs. The arms were the same as ever. The chest was defined like a woman once more, but spiked, with wings coming out and angling downward from the chest itself. Lust floated over them, looking at the four Toa, a grin grim forming. “I see that Greed did a nice job on you,” Lust said softly, lifting a hand, focusing energy into it, “It’s my turn to end it, I guess. I must really thank Greed for living up to name, even if these are my only powers. If it weren’t for Envy, I’d be trapped again.” “Everyone!” Rei shouted, taking command since Garren was slow, “Reform!” she threw a bolt of Lightning for Lust, forcing the Sin to dodge in the air, something it was slow to do, but did evade. The Toa were getting together. Larc converted her personal weapon , firing with it and the Blade Blaster, but Lust was getting the idea of how to fly, able to evade the shots that came. Garren threw shards of Crystal while Chalice conjured a small Storm to try to blow Lust down, while Rei utilized her Lightning powers and Blade Blaster. Lust continued to evade, then shot down for them, forming a sword in each hand. Rei drew her rod up and fired a blast straight from the tip, forcing Lust to roll in the air. She leapt for the Sin, slamming it into Lust’s side, forcing Lust down with a shock; using the rod since it had a longer reach than a dagger. Lust hit the ground but shot up again, using a close range energy burst to knock Rei aside, heading back up. The sky was Lust’s domain; Lust’s forte now with this transformation. “Keep firing!” ordered Garren, “Larc!” “Got it,” Larc said, throwing her weapons to the two. Garren used the trident while Chalice used dual Blade Blasters. Larc tried her best to tend to the burns on Rei from the close energy burst. Rei tried to push her away, “I need to help you!” she argued. “I need to get up,” Rei said, “Just help me; don’t heal.” “What? Why?” “Everyone!” Rei shouted to the others, “Fire your elements at Lust! Now!” They looked to her, but Garren affirmed it, “She has a plan; do it!” he shouted, firing alongside Chalice and Larc, who were later to join by a few moments. Rei also fired, then reached out, finding the Lightning in the powers of her allies, and tearing it free. While Lust dodged the other elements, the Lightning twisted and bent at Rei’s command, following behind Lust, slamming into the Sin from behind, causing the feminine form to scream out as it was overwhelmed by Lightning. “It’s over!” Rei shouted, snapping her fingers, infusing one final burst of her power by then throwing her hand out. Lust cried out, but its shouts – words – were drowned out by the Lightning that slew the Sin. There was nothing left in the end. Only a small fragment of the cloak floating on the breeze that drifted over the island. “That deals with the Sins,” Rei said absently. “Are you sure you don’t want leadership?” Garren questioned. “I’m fine,” she stated, “That’s for you, Garren. This was just…I figured it out, so I had to lead, instead of explain.” “As my second, that’s what I expect,” Garren smiled. As the four headed off towards the cave to investigate, they heard something from behind. Clapping. “Bravo.” They span around, seeing Madan standing there. Forte stood at his side, silent. A woman in white had clapped and commented. Standing with them were a figure in green with splashes of crimson, along with his mask, wielding a massive blade on his back, a silver and gray armored vicious warrior with a large sword, another silver and gray figure covered in spikes and mismatched armor, a feminine, somewhat avian warrior in dark red, light red, and black, and finally a Matoran-like figure with a black right half, white left, gray torso, and a black slanted Kanohi of some sort over his face, which was glowing green. The Matoran-figure lifted his left arm, pointing a gray finger at the group of Toa, saying nothing. The Toa’s worlds all went black.Review

Chapter 14: Greed “I’m leaving,” Madan told his Sins simply, gesturing to both of his sides, to Lyala at his right, Forte at his left, “They are coming with me.” “What of us?” Envy hissed. “You shall remain until my return,” Madan told them, “We shan’t be gone for too long. When we return…the Toa shall be ended. That is a certainty at this point.” “How so?” Lust questioned, “Can you see the future now? How do you know that a victory can come so easily?” “Because I know,” Madan said vaguely, turning with a flourish of his cape, lifting up his staff and resting it on his shoulder. He glanced back over his shoulder, “Well, be nice, everyone. Just remain hidden here, instead of attacking.” “Very well,” Envy muttered. “We’ll see,” Greed said. Wrath had nothing to say. The Sin only clenched its fists. Lust nodded obediently this time. Sloth did nothing. “Good,” Madan said, departing. The day passed with the Sins having no issues, launching no attacks, being…obedient, in all honesty. However, as the next day came, Greed was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s that fool?” Envy demanded, looking around the side-passages, “I’ll not lose my had over him!” it gripped its blade tighter. Envy was the headhunter; it wouldn’t be prey to one of its own like that. “Even if Madan wanted your head, you’d be safe,” Lust told Envy. “I could nullify his powers, yeah,” Envy said, looking at the blades again, “I’d rather not. I’d rather not oppose Madan in the least.” “You fear someone?” Lust asked, smiling a little, “That’s interesting. You could stop Madan, but…” “His sword is superior,” Envy said, in reference to Forte. “You make a good point,” Lust replied. Wrath rose, “I’m going to find that fool,” the Sin muttered, “Sloth!” Sloth made no movements, no sound. Like most of the time. But this time, something was wrong. “Sloth?” Wrath questioned, stalking over to that figure. The powerful Sin looked down at the emerald armored one, lying on the ground as it was…unmoving… “Dead,” Wrath muttered, “Which one of you did this?” it shouted out. “Not me,” Envy said, “Or the head would be gone.” “Nor me,” Lust stated simply, “It had to have been Greed…or you, Wrath.” Wrath lifted its blades, “No. I’m no kinslayer.” “Greed,” Envy muttered, lifting its blade, “I’ll take that head for my collection,” the Sin hissed, “I’ve always liked it…this is perfect!” “I’m going!” Wrath shouted, heading towards the entrance of the caves, “I’m no kinslayer…but I will kill Greed!” “You will be a kinslayer, though,” Lust commented. “Greed stopped being kin as soon as Sloth was killed by that traitor’s hand,” Wrath muttered, “I will slay that being myself…I will leave nothing left of the traitor, as my pride as a Sin.” “Pride? Honestly?” Envy said, amused. Wrath made no comment at the jest and walked off, planning on slaying anyone who opposed it; Toa or Greed. “What do you think will happen?” Lust asked Envy. Envy examined Sloth, resting the tip of the wicked blade at the deceased Sin’s neck, “Hm…I don’t know,” Envy stated, “But…it’ll be interesting, whatever it is. Of that I’m certain.” Wrath had encountered Matoran; plenty of them, but they only fled from sight. They were presumably going off to get the Toa, but Wrath didn’t care. Wrath’s only interest was in the traitor. Greed watched from beside a building, slowly approaching Wrath. Greed was sick of this; the Sin wanted power. Desired it. Greed was the greediest Sin, as Wrath was the most wrathful, and so on, in one way or another. Greed wanted power. Wrath’s power would suffice. With Sloth, Greed had obtained immense strength and defensive abilities. Wrath would give more strength, along with the ability to instill fear in another, and the Sin’s powers would only continue to grow with its domination of the ranks of its brethren. It was a kinslayer, but that bothered Greed not. No love for its fellows was a good thing; it allowed Greed to be free, to fight, to do as it saw fit. There was nothing to anchor it down, now that Madan was gone. Greed waited a day to be sure this was true. Madan gave no signs of returning during that day, so it would be trusted that Madan really was gone. Madan had no openings, and was not forgiving. Should Madan decide to become vengeful with the losses of the Sins thus far, Greed wouldn’t hold up very well as it was. It needed power. It needed to have the ability to slay Madan if need be. Madan could only be trusted so much. If his wrath came out, the Sins would be gone and replaced. Greed quite liked living. “Wrath!” Greed shouted, cocky enough to try something. Wrath span around, unleashing his powers of fear instantly, no hesitation. Greed froze, not counting on that. The Sin counted on a fairer fight with Wrath, even if Wrath wasn’t known for fair fights… Wrath stalked forward, “I’m going to cut your mismatched armor off slowly…by starting with the limbs you wear it on,” the larger Sin hissed, lifting the two heavy blades it carried high into the air, ready to crash them down. “You don’t…want to fight me fairly?” hissed Greed. “I’m not giving you the chance,” Wrath hissed, “I know you; you’re a schemer, a planner. Dangerous if I don’t silence you now. Especially with your powers, since you killed Sloth…” “It was Envy…I saw it,” muttered Greed. “Envy would have taken the head.” “It was a trick,” Greed said, “I saw, so I was threatened. I couldn’t beat Envy.” “I don’t believe you.” “It’s true!” shouted Greed. “No, it’s not,” muttered Wrath, slashing. Greed pulled out Sloth’s power, taking the slash, but no damage. Greed laughed at Wrath’s astonishment, “Sloth’s defense is perfect compared to you, I see,” Greed hissed, managing to move. Greed plunged its fist for Wrath’s chest, knocking the larger Sin back. Greed turned the fingers on its right hand straight, then plunged the hand for Wrath’s throat, piercing it, slaying the Sin. “I…I…,” Wrath tried to say, before collapsing, Greed going down beside the other Sin. Wrath shone for a brief moment, and then just lay there; powers now with Greed in the most effective way; killing the user of the powers. Greed rose, the powers now permanently in its possession. Greed smiled. At the cave, Lust and Envy walked around, waiting for anything to happen, whether that be Greed’s return, or Wrath’s. Madan’s even; he would settle everything instantly. “Lust…,” Envy stated, looking at the feminine-looking Sin, “Let me say something.” “What is it?” Lust asked. Envy smiled viciously, “Your head is interesting,” Envy said, drawing the hook and blade up, “And I’ve never liked you; your appearance unsettles me.” Lust lifted its arm, sword of solidified energy springing to life, “Try me, then, kinslayer.” “To be,” Envy stated, running forward and swinging the hook. Lust leapt back, slid, and plunged the sword, making contact with Envy square in the chest. Kill shot. Nothing happened. “No!” Lust shouted, remembering too late that Envy was a power nullifier in the heat of this moment, and Lust’s sword was made of energy… “Die,” Envy hissed, plunging the hook into Lust’s chest, causing the feminine figure to scream out as the hook came out its back. Envy lifted the wicked blade to Lust’s neck, “Time to lose that head of yours.” “Envy!” Envy glanced aside to see Greed. Envy was frozen; fearful. “You…you got Wrath…,” muttered Envy, shaking with fear, the hook still in the other Sin’s stomach. “I did,” Greed said, grabbing Envy’s skull in hand. Envy’s eyes widened in fear. “No…no!” Envy screamed, “You can’t!” “I can. I have the strength of Wrath and Sloth combined,” Greed boasted, squeezing harder and harder until Envy’s screams died, power flowing into Greed’s body. The hook remained in Lust’s stomach, the blade on the ground. Lust slashed for Greed, but the defense of Sloth saved the strongest Sin. Greed punched Lust in the chest once, with only a fraction of what would have been his normal strength. Being amplified so much, Lust was thrown into the wall, cracking it around the point of impact. “You can’t harm me, no more than the Toa can,” Greed said, picking the sword up, looking at it, “I wonder what Envy’s fascination with head hunting is…,” it looked to Lust, “Shall that be how you die?” “Tell me something,” Lust muttered. “What?” “You can absorb them…why just slay and take their powers?” Lust questioned. “It’s more fun that way,” Greed stated, “Because they were fools enough to come at me, they deserved a death. A proper one; a kill, not an absorption.” “I won’t fight.” “It comes down to this. Madan is nowhere to be seen, yet his minion is. His minion who is our greatest threat is all that stands in our way…we can’t lose! Next time: “Chapter 15: Final Form!” Come!”Review

Chapter 13: Tower of Nightmare It had seen the Toa on the Fingers. It had seen the Toa collecting the Inika Crystals. Now it watched the Toa as they patrolled, all of them coming together at the temple, walking up the path…walking, talking…paying no heed to it. Or him. It didn’t matter. A black hand was lifted. The Toa just kept walking…walking…walking… And then it happened. They were gone. The figure lowered his arm and vanish in turn in a swirl of his black cape over his black body. He had to see the Toa, after all. And they weren’t here anymore. “What is this place?” Chalice muttered, his voice bounding off of the curved walls, carrying it everywhere in echo format. He looked around, but didn’t understand. The walls were a blue/gray colored stone, circular; they were in a massive circular chamber. There were stairs on the other side; one setup, one down. “Is this Madan’s doing?” Larc asked, “Does his power work like this?” “I don’t think so,” Garren said, “We’ve never seen anything like this. It’s…it’s odd. It’s…unique; different entirely.” “He could have just not used it before,” Rei said, “But…whatever this is, it seems an effective way to remove us. I have to side with you…I don’t know Madan, but I don’t think this is him.” Chalice turned around, seeing something moving for a fleeting moment, but it was gone. He said nothing, slowly moving in that direction. Meanwhile, Larc saw something as well and headed that way. Garren and Rei were facing other directions, not noticing. Garren saw movement, and was drawn to it. Rei, meanwhile, saw something; red armor. A familiar form. She headed in that direction, splitting off from the others who were wandering as well, all of them pulled by something. The black figure appeared in the center of the chamber. A vicious grin was permanently set across his Kanohi, reflecting his current state of feeling. He was pleased that this was going so well…and soon it would all be over. If his master wished it. In a swirl of black cape, he was gone; gone to observe somewhere safer. Larc saw Psyga. The merman-like being. He floated away from her, despite her calls, her pleading, desperate calls to him. Why was she calling to him? Why? She ran after him, but could never catch him. He vanished suddenly. “Larc…” She span around, but he was gone. “Larc…” Again, but he was gone. “Where are you?” she wanted to scream, but couldn’t make words. Instead she opened her mouth and what came out shocked her. “Larc…” It was his word, his voice…coming from her mouth this time. She felt disgusted, sic, shocked, frightened even. She kept spinning around, but here was nothing there, nobody around. Only herself; no Psyga. “Larc…” She finally managed to scream. Her scream was because of his claw erupting through her chest, impaling her. She fell to her knees, her eyes slowly shutting, heartlight fading. She opened her mouth, screaming. The scream changed. “Larc…” She looked at the claw impaling her. It became arms; the arms of Matoran whom she had betrayed, whom had died due to the Raiders, due t her… She screamed. Her scream changed again. “Larc…Larc…Larc…!” It was the voices of all of the Matoran, mixing together, insistent, trying to get her attention, trying to make her feel. But she did. She felt every day for them…and now she screamed without anything stopping her. “Ankh, Giru, Hina!” Garren called out, but received no answer. The three Matoran kept walking away from him, until they reached the wall. As he ran after them, they passed through. He kept running, passing through it himself, finding himself floating in the sky outside of the massive tower, with storm clouds overhead, the storm ready to come crashing down. It didn’t. He fell, fell rapidly, seeing them all below him, already smashed to pieces on the hard, rocky ground. He cried out their names, but nothing happened. He too hit the ground, but passed through it, finding himself still falling, the ground rushing up faster this time… And impact again, but nothing. He was inside the tower again, wandering around, seeing them in his peripheral vision, but always turning to find them missing. He could hear them calling his name, calling for him to come back, but he couldn’t find them. Then he heard them screaming. Screaming for help. They needed him as a Toa, to save them from something. But he couldn’t find them. He could hear. He heard Hina in front of him, screaming. He reached out, feeling her; never seeing, but feeling. He felt her arm strike his leg was it was torn of off of her body. He felt her head smash into him. He fell to the ground from the sheer force of it. He heard Giru next, and then Ankh laughing. “Ankh, why?” Giru was screaming, but then it cut off as Ankh severed his head too. It also hit invisibly into Garren. Garren felt a pressure on his chest. It was Ankh. He felt a knife to his throat, and then he felt Ankh’s head fall off and hit his head. He felt the headless body of Ankh drawing the knife across, and then screamed as his old friend’s headless body killed him. A towering figure in blue armor stood before Chalice ,who stood panting. His power was swirling around him, lashing out, but the figure never moved, never reacted, never even glanced his way. His green eyes just looked on ahead, his massive clawed hands just hanging by his sides. “Fight me!” Chalice screamed, hammering him again to no avail. “Do you have a death wish?” It was Cesare’s voice. “I want to fight!” Chalice screamed out. “Fighting such a foe will only leave you dead,” Cesare’s voice said. “We won’t know until I try,” Chalice hissed. “I already know,” Cesare told him, “You’re overconfident.” Chalice looked to the figure, finding the claw in front of his face. It was moving so fast, yet he saw it so slow. He felt everything as the claw tore through his Kanohi and his face, ripping it to shreds. It would take a fraction of a second to happen at speed, but it took hours for him to feel it all at the speed it was perceived at. After all of the time passed, Chalice dropped his weapon and shot his hands up. His face was fine; he was alive. He looked at the figure which was still unmoving. He backed away, frightened now. And it moved. It walked towards him, lifting its arm up…and then Chalice screamed again and again as his face was torn apart by those claws in a fraction of a second; the pain taking hours to feel, and it happened endlessly on loop. Rei saw Hoji, but he was gone. He appeared again behind her. She span around, flipping dagger into hand and thrusting it, but he parried with his Blade Blaster, forcing the tip’s angle to her throat. “You disappoint me,” he said softly, his voice like the whisper of death. “But Hoji…I’ve done everything I could…” “You shouldn’t have come back to this island,” he told her, “You should have taken power, if you were determined, as you clearly are. Everything you’ve done thus far was wrong; a mistake.” “Hoji…I’ve done what I could! I’ve done what you would have!” “No, you haven’t,” he answered, “Now…feel this,” he said, running his blade through her throat. She tried to breathe, speak…but couldn’t. He showed no emotion. He said one thing. “Remember this pain. Remember our time. Remember who you are, or this is the pain all shall feel, if you don’t make the right choices.” The words rang within her mind. Somehow she lived, but she felt she may go crazy before her death, with how long it went, how loud, how many times over it played… It was over. The four were still walking back to the temple, as if nothing had happened. But then they all stopped, all of them feeling a sensation, as if something wrong had just occurred. None of them knew what it was they felt; none of them had any idea what it could have been. They just knew something was wrong. “Did…did something happen?” Larc asked hesitantly. “Madan?” Chalice asked, “Did he just use something on us?” “No…I just feel sick,” Garren said, “Why would he waste time making us feel this way?” “Good point,” Rei commented, “But…we all feel it…right?” “This sickness in the stomach,” Garren muttered, “It’s…it’s not right.” “But…what is it?” Larc asked, “Should I try to heal it?” “No.” Garren was surprised by how fast he had said it, with how much strength he had said it. He shook his head, “No…let’s just let it pass on its own.” The four continued to the temple, unaware of what had transpired in the tower that they had all been in, unaware of their watcher now standing behind them, keeping the same smile in his mind as was displayed on his Kanohi mask. That had been entertaining…and it would only continue to entertain him for the time to come. After all, it was almost time…“Left out in the cold once again, we will soon learn the terrible truth of what enemies we have left to face, and how far they will go. Next time: “Chapter 14: Greed” Let’s make this showy!”Review