CHAPTER FIFTY: CHAMBER OF CHAOS
Kopaka took a LightStone from the wall as he entered, beginning to feel naked without his spear and shield. He followed a winding staircase down into the heart of the mountain, Gali close behind him. The light from the LightStones played tricks with their shadows, sending them dancing across the walls. More than once, Kopaka expected to be attacked by something only to find it was Gali.
After what seemed like an eternity, Kopaka stood before a large stone door. Carved into it was the story of Dakgor, and his foul power he had wielded. Kopaka traced a hand lovingly over the carvings. This was part of his heritage; part of the island he grew up on.
"Are you going to open it?" asked Gali, pointing to an oversized ring hanging from the door. Kopaka grasped the ring and pulled, surprised when it came out on a chain. He continued pulling it backwards, switching to his mask of strength. Eventually, he heard a dull CLUNK echo through the cavern, and the door swung silently inward.
He held the LightStone in front of him, stepping through the newly opened doorway. Dust was as thick here as he had ever seen, blanketing everything in at least a foot of fine powder. He coughed slightly, wafting a Fikou web away from his face, and continued into the room.
It instantly reminded Kopaka of the chamber where Takanuva had defeated Makuta. High walls stretched endlessly upward, meeting a ceiling beyond the range of his vision. Towers of greenish glass supported the room, twisting madly into the darkness. He waved the LightStone in front of him, advancing into the room.
Kopaka stumbled on a set of stairs that led up to a small altar in the center of the room. Gali, luckily, caught him before he broke his false mask against the floor, and he continued to climb the stairs.
A coffin rested at the top of the altar, its lid sealed in place by age. Kopaka changed to his Pakari and tore the lid from the sarcophagus, coughing heavily as five thousand years worth of dust was shot up into his face. When the spasm subsided, he peered over the lip of the coffin, gazing inside.
A body, of course, lay within. Clasped firmly in its hands was a long silver sword, glowing meekly in the dim light of the chamber. Kopaka grabbed it, ripping it free of the corpse's clutches. It sang eerily as he swung it experimentally, and he smiled slightly beneath the mask.
He traced his fingers over the flat of the sword, looking at the runes inscribed there. He changed to his gray Rau Mask of Translation and read the words he wanted to see.
"The Blade of Blinding Truth," he read, placing it against the coffin while he dug around for a sheathe. Finding one, he slipped the sword inside and buckled the sheathe to his back. "This thing better help… it looks kind of old."
Gali motioned toward the door, "Let's go. I don't like it here."
He turned to leave when he heard an eerie laughter permeate the chamber. Kopaka whirled around, bringing his new sword to bear. A wisp of something flitted on the far side of the chamber, poisonous green eyes visible through the gloom. Kopaka saw it retreat for a moment, and then come barreling at him.
Kopaka barely managed to bring the sword up in time to block the onslaught, and was knocked onto his rear all the same.
He stood up; twirling the sword in his hand as his eye glanced everywhere, searching for his opponent. Before he could take another breath, something appeared before him.
It was a dark incarnation of his brother back on Mata-Nui; Tahu.
"Welcome," it said, "To the Chamber of Chaos."