CHAPTER FORTY-SIX: PO-ARA CONFRONTATION

Kopaka took a step backward as he entered Po-Ara. Malak, once again, was waiting for him. Unfortunately, this time he had come prepared. His normally black armor was replaced by a protodermic silver variation, and his sword was now accompanied by a shield. His mask had changed, and had lost its round shape in favor of something more angular.

"Heh, I'm surprised you're still fighting along this pointless road, Kopaka," grinned his old friend, "You should know that my Master is immortal; he cannot be defeated."

Malak pointed his scimitar at the two Toa, and Kopaka un-shouldered his spear, bracing for conflict. As expected, the blow came straight for Kopaka. The white Toa dodged to the side, surprised to see the deadly blade turn in sync with his body. He barely managed to get his sword up in time to block a lethal swing, but was hurled through a stone prominence, shattering it.

Malak laughed, "You have no chance, Kopaka! My Master gave me this armor, and this mask! You have no hope!"

Kopaka wrenched himself from the rubble of the stone pillar, his eye flickering madly between red and blue, "You have a lot of faith in this Master of yours, don't you?" he asked, bringing his spear to bear, pointing it at Malak.

Malak raised his hands to the sky, "My Master is glorious! Mata-Nui pales in comparison to him!"

Kopaka dashed forward, his elbow connecting with Malak's unprotected stomach, "And yet he's cowering somewhere letting YOU fight all his battles – how glorious is that?"

Malak picked himself up, spitting blood, "You bastard! Don't you DARE talk about Master that way! You aren't fit to speak his name!"

Kopaka pushed Malak back onto the ground, bringing his face close to his rival's. "Dakgor…"

Malak exploded, hurling Kopaka off and into a stone wall. Rather than attacking however, he collapsed to one knee. Protodermic blood was leaking from a large wound that had been caused by Kopaka's spear.

"Damn you!" he shrieked, sounding completely unhinged, "I'll come back for you!"

His mask encased him in a bright sphere of red light, and when it dissipated he had gone. Kopaka picked himself up from the base of the wall, feeling his back tenderly. "Good riddance to bad rubbish…"

He looked over toward Po-Ara, pulling the ruined tablet from Ta-Ara from his pouch as he did. He held up two of the pieces, and found that the outline inscribed upon them matched the mountain range that signaled the barrier between Po- and Onu-Ara. A small smile flitted across his face.

"Let's take care of the Stone Guardian, get the Shard, and head toward those mountains. I think our shiny new toy ought to be there."

Gali clapped her hands together in excitement, "A legendary sword…" she said, "…perhaps you'll be able to fight Malak and finish him for good!"

Kopaka nodded, "First things first, let's find that Guardian."

As was usually the case, the Guardian found them first. A massive stone golem, at least fifty times Kopaka's height, punched its way from within a subterranean cavern. Kopaka leaped backwards to avoid being crushed by its massive hand, landing in a crouch with his spear out.

"Gali?" he asked, looking over at her, "Can I borrow one of your Aqua Axes for a moment?"

She handed him one, and he twirled it experimentally around his fingers.

"Time to get dirty…"