CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE: BATTLE IN THE HEAVENS
Dakor seemed to pause in mid-flight, turning to look over his shoulder. Seeing the tiny pinprick of light that was Kopaka, he let out a small smile. He paused, turning to face Kopaka in the air, and spread his arms wide. The clouds themselves seemed to thicken, drawing closer together until they formed a solid platform. Dakgor began to ripple and morph, becoming a shadow version of Kopaka, and landed on the solidified clouds.
Kopaka swooped in, landing deftly on the opposite edge of the cloud platform from Dakgor. He said nothing, waiting for Dakgor to make the first move. In truth, he was mildly surprised that Dakgor could go from an island-sized titan to a Toa-sized fighter, but wasn't about to show it.
Dakgor raised a black sword, burning with ebony flames, and pointed it at Kopaka. "You really think you can defeat me? I, who have gained powers of the Gods? I will-"
Kopaka disappeared, reforming directly in front of Dakgor. "I'm not interested in what you can talk about, Dakor," he seethed, "I'm interested in what you can do."
His spear came up to block Dakgor's slash, and the two began the dance of death around the cloud Dakgor had solidified. The sound of metal on metal rang throughout the sky, echoing amongst the clouds.
Dakor attempted to strike Kopaka with a bolt of lighting, only to have it reflected away by the flat of his opponent's spear. Kopaka countered by diving toward Dakgor's waist, missing by inches, and turning to kick him in the side of the head.
Enraged, Dakor threw a fireball the size of a small home at Kopaka, who merely jumped over it. The battle continued as Kopaka landed in front of Dakor, ready for another bout of fighting.
Several times, it seemed as though the battle would draw to a close. Unfortunately for both participants, the other always seemed to draw from a well of hidden strength to keep going.
It was after the fourth near-ending that Kopaka discovered Dakgor's weakness. The HeartStone that gleamed in his chest was corrupted, glowing the same poisonous green as Malak's once had. Before Dakgor could react, Kopaka lunged forward and stabbed at it.
Dakgor dodged, but the blade glanced off the protective armor around the HeartStone anyway. A flash of light blinded him momentarily, and his own scream of agony drowned out a triumphant shout from Kopaka.
The two circled each other, Kopaka at an advantage now that Dakor had colored lights in his eyes. Kopaka dove forward, aiming for the chest again, but found Dakgor's blade pointed at his own chest.
He managed to roll to the side, dodging the worst of an attack, but still received a long wound running from elbow to shoulder. He grimaced, pointing his spear at Dakgor. He vanished again, appearing behind Dakor and ramming the spear through his back. It punctured through, shattering the HeartStone as it exited the front.
Dakgor screamed, twisting around and pulling the spear from Kopaka's grasp. With the last of his strength, he swung the sword downward, opening an enormous gash in Kopaka's chest.
The white and gold Toa felt his power leaving him, and the clouds beneath his feet began to feel spongier than usual. He switched to his Miru, floating slowly back toward Ara-Nui as Dakgor's lifeless body, spear still stabbed through it, plunged into the ocean below.
He felt his strength draining from him rapidly. He wondered briefly what it would be like to die, but forced the thought from his mind as a single sentence invaded his mind, taking to priority.
"I'll always be alright."