Shadow Fire

Shadow Fire is a story written by Toa Hydros, which dipicts the climatic battle between Toa Hydros and Makuta Verahk.

Chapter One
'''IMPORTANT! Please view The Hydros Chronicles #47 before reading this story.'''

He watched over the prone form of his red and green-armored foe, his crimson eyes never wavering even as panicked Matoran ran this way and that. They held no importance to this individual… at least not now.

For his foe, the impact after suddenly materializing three stories above a busy street in Le-Metru would not have resulted in unconsciousness had he been expecting it; but as Makuta Verahk often told his students, one could never expect a battle to go as planned.

That was one of the things Verahk loved about combat: The unpredictability that could allow anything to happen.

Verahk was brought back from the world of his musings by the sound of armor scrapping against the pavement. He chuckled as he watched the hulking figure pull itself into a kneeling position.

“I suppose that new contraption of yours doesn’t provide as much protection as you originally thought.” Verahk heckled, earning a glare from his opponent.

Toa Hydros gave a snarl as he got to his feet, giving a quick glance to the armored machinery on his left arm that was part of the Exo-Frame H10, which enclosed his body within a mechanical suit, hoping it had not been damaged in the fall. He then gave a look around, noting that they were no longer in Karda Nui.

“Where are we?” Hydros demanded, ignoring the Makuta’s prodding.

“Where else would a legendary clash begin, Hydros?” Verahk replied, giving a moment to glance around at the buildings and frightened Matoran bystanders. “The City of Legends of course, otherwise known as Metru Nui.”

Hydros began to slowly circle around Verahk. He had used a large amount of the Exo-Frame’s energy earlier in his fight against Verahk and the longer Verahk talked, the more energy the suit regained.

“Why have you brought us here?” he asked, never taking his eyes off the Makuta.

“I brought you here, Toa, simply because of my belief of great opponents meeting equally great deaths.”

Hydros’ eyes narrowed behind his mask. “What are you talking about?”

Verahk merely laughed and said, “Enough talk Toa.”

Raising a talon, Verahk sent a bolt of darkness into Hydros, sending him into a nearby wall. Hydros managed to regain his senses just in time to duck as twin shafts of laser vision burned holes in the wall where the Toa’s head had been a moment before. Rolling away to gain distance, Hydros got to his feet and fired the Midak Skyblaster attached to the Exo-Frame’s left arm. The light sphere struck home sending Verahk stumbling backwards a few steps. Recovering quickly, Verahk whirled around and unleashed a sonic scream that sent Hydros reeling.

As Matoran ran screaming, Hydros attempted to regain his thoughts. Luckily, the helmet of his suit managed to filter out the brunt of the earth-shattering sound. He was just sitting up when Verahk’s razor-sharp talons sank into the armor that now shielded Hydros’ shoulders. Like a great falcon, Verahk then spread his wings and took flight with his prey held tight in his grip.

“Perhaps I should carry you high and allow you to fall.” Verahk cackled as he carried the Toa above the city. “Who knows, maybe you’ll make it half-way through the Archives by the time you finally stop.”

Exerting as much strength as his right shoulder could muster, Hydros managed to break it free of the Makuta’s grip. He then drew back an armored fist and sent it on a collision course with the side of Verahk’s head. Caught off guard, Verahk lost his other grip and was send spiraling through the air away from Hydros, who had just activated the rocket boosters attached to the Exo-Frame’s ankles.

Hydros allowed himself a quick smile as his opponent righted himself in midair. Verahk obviously wasn’t expecting the Exo-Frame to increase Hydros’ already considerable strength. Angling his jets, Hydros surged forward and slammed into the Makuta’s midsection with shattering force.

“Sorry, Makuta,” Hydros said as he sank the H10’s claws into Verahk’s armor. “but dieing isn’t part of my schedule for today.” The Toa then began carrying Verahk higher and higher, hoping to take the battle someplace where innocent bystanders couldn’t get hurt.

“Then allow me to change your plans!” Verahk hissed as he sent his knee into Hydros’ gut. While the H10 took the brunt of the blow, it was still enough to force Hydros to release his grip. “When I am through with you, Toa, you will be nothing more than another corpse rotting in the sun.”

With that, Verahk released a wave of magnetism that sent Hydros flying. He managed to right himself just in time to receive a blow from a giant fist made of pure shadow, sending him through one side ofa building and out the other. Hydros continued to fly backwards until he slammed into another building, its outer wall just barely able to take the impact intact.

After shaking his head to clear it, Hydros looked up to see Verahk barreling toward him. Activating his jets, Hydros flew forward to meet his opponent, only to veer to the right at the last second. Before Verahk could react, his Toa opponent stopped, whirled around and unleashed an intense jet of flame from his hands.

It hit its mark, sending Verahk through the building Hydros himself had slammed into a few moments before. Before Hydros could fly after him, however, the Makuta’s winged form burst from the roof and began firing bolts of lightning and shadow.

Suddenly on the defensive, Hydros activated his Kanohi Hau, summoning a energy shield to deflect the blasts as he flew backwards, keeping his eyes trained on Verahk the entire time.

“What is the matter, Toa?” Verahk laughed as he continually forced Hydros to block his attacks. “I thought you were a warrior, not a coward. Lower that shield and face me.”

Hydros knew he was being baited and continued to keep his shield active, unaware Verahk was merely keeping the Toa distracted as he used his power of gravity to lift a Ussal cart from the street below. Seeing an opening, the Makuta sent the cart flying toward Hydros. It hit the Toa hard enough to disrupt his concentration, causing the shield to drop. Taking advantage, Verahk hit the Toa with a blast of lightning, sending Hydros spiraling toward the ground.

“No, Toa.” Verahk said as he caught the Toa before he could hit the ground. “You will not perish so easily. If I am going to kill you today, I want it to be a victory to remember.”

With that, the two combatants vanished from the scene.

To be continued...

Characters

 * Hydros


 * Verahk


 * Several unnamed Matoran