CHAPTER THREE
Toa Taron winced as another deflected bolt of fire hit him in the shoulder. He, Leran, and Nira had been training with Axonn for who knows how long, hurling their elemental powers at him.
And yet the giant warrior was still warming up. "Please, is that really all?" Axonn said tauntingly. "I've seen brainless Skakdi runts fight better than you!"
Taron narrowed his eyes darkly, his hands crackling with fire. He charged towards Axonn, unleashing two blasts of fire at the warrior. Axonn simply raised his Protosteel axe to block the attack, deflecting the fire. He then brought his axe down to the ground, sending a huge seismic wave that sent Taron flying off his feet. The Toa of Fire landed with a painful groan, and needed Nira and Leran to help him back onto his feet.
Axonn let out a partially mirthless laugh. "I honestly expected a lot more from a Toa, even a rookie." Toa Taron's surprise, he gave a kind smile at him. "But then again, what do I know about Toa?"
Axonn lifted up his axe and turned around to leave. "That's enough for one day. Class dismissed."
The three Toa simply watched as the giant warrior walked out of the room. After a moment of silence, Toa Leran finally spoke.
"This is going to be a long week," the Toa of Air muttered.
"Tell me about it," Nira said. "Well, we should better get some rest for tomorrow."
Taron snorted. "We need the endurance of a Kikanalo for tomorrow."
The three Toa shared a good, yet slightly nervous laugh. As they began to leave the training room, Taron suddenly felt as if a pair of eyes were staring down upon him. But when he turned around, he saw nothing.
The Toa of Fire simply shrugged the feeling off and continued to follow Nira and Leran.
* * *
Toa Kopaka observe the vast sea which made up Aqua Magna from the driver seat of his dune chariot. As he, Gali, and Pohatu got off the vehicle, Vastus and Ackar drove up in a modified Kaxium vehicle lended to them by the Agori.
Kopaka took the time to take in the view, amazed by the fact that it was near this region, eleven years ago, that he awoke on the island of Mata Nui.
Time flies, the Toa Nuva of Ice thought. He turned around and looked towards the Bota Magnaa jungle far off in the distance, where Jaller and his team were searching for the missing Av-Matoran as well. He then adjusted the telescopic lens on his mask, scanning the nearly barren beach, although he could see caves and large cliff sides which, if one were to climb them, led straight off into the jungle.
Eventually, Toa Pohatu broke the peaceful silence that had fallen. "Well, no Matoran from as far as I can see."
"They're obviously hidden," Kopaka muttered. "I remember that Norik told me that this is where he and the other Toa Hagah found the golden Skakdi beast's fortress was."
Gali stepped toward the shoreline and crouched down, putting her hands into the water. Closing her eyes, she felt the currents, which somehow 'communicated' with her and gave her information. Kopaka wasn't sure if this was a trait all Toa of Water had, or if Gali was the exception rather than the rule.
Finally, Gali looked up at the others. "The fortress is not far. It's only a couple of miles away."
"You sure?" Pohatu asked, surveying the beach. "I can't see anything at all from here-"
"Wait!" Vastus suddenly called. "Do you hear that?"
The three Toa and the Glatorian quieted themselves, allowing the sound of flapping wings to fill in the silence. Kopaka frowned and glanced at Ackar and Vastus.
"Sand Bats, perhaps?" the Toa of Ice asked.
Ackar shook his wearily. "Sand Bats are big, but their wings don't sound like that..."
Suddenly, descending from the sky, wings fluttering like a giant insect's, were a dozen, emerald-armored, bipedal beings, armed with narrow and sharp arm-mounted blades.
Ackar sent a blast of fire from his Flame Sword to ward them off, but the beings were unfazed. They landed one-by-one onto the ground, encircling Kopaka and his team. The last one of them, which landed inside the circle itself, wore more detailed and ornate armor. Their dark red eyes glared menacingly from their green face, which Kopaka couldn't tell whether it was a mask or a helmet. Or neither.
The being gave a fanged grin as it looked at its trapped victims. "Well, this is intriguing," it hissed in a masculine voice. "Three Toa and two...others."
"We're called Glatorian," Ackar said bitterly. "I thought word would've spread out by now, especially after ten years."
The emerald being let out something that sounded like a laugh. "I will admit, my kind haven't been...up to date on recent events. But we do have our contacts."
At that moment, the other eleven beings extended their arm blades and slowly closed in on Kopaka, Ackar, and the others.
"Now then," their leader went on, "unless you wish to die, I believe it would be best if you came with us."
* * *
A shadowed figure slipped through the streets of New Atero, sneaking past guards and Matoran watchmen. It went deeper into the city, until it finally reached a large prison facility which was overseen by members of the Order of Mata Nui.
Like a serpent, the figure slithered into the building, going under the notice of a ten-foot-tall guard. It finally reached the prison room, where rows and rows of cells were lined up, filled with several prisoners. The being continued down a row, passing by an ebony-colored Vortixx, a skulking Skakdi warlord, and a four-armed being which seemed like it noticed the intruder, but simply thought nothing of it.
The being finally reached its destination, which was a cell occupied by the mad tyrant Karzahni. The former ruler's black eyes were focused on the stone floor he sat on. One had to wonder what was going on in his twisted head, whether he felt remorse or not on his wrong doings.
But that was not of the intruder's concern. The figure slipped through the bars of the cell door and slithered up towards Karzahni, who hardly noticed his visitor.
"You are needed, Karzahni," the being said.
The former tyrant looked up from the floor. "Who's there?" he asked quietly.
"You are needed," the being repeated as it moved around to stand behind Karzahni.
"I'm hallucinating..." Karzahni moaned. "I knew it would happen sooner or later, with a mask like mine."
"Don't worry," the visitor whispered into the tyrant's ear. "I'll make them go away."
The being pulled out a bladed weapon and plunged it into Karzahni's back.
"You'll hardly feel a thing."
The former ruler slumped dead. His killer then gently removed his mask and slipped out of the cell, moving so casually, it was almost as if nothing had happened at all....
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