Chapter Eighteen: Toa Nuva vs Makuta

Icarax heard a scratching noise in the exposed wall behind him. A swift patterned, methodical noise. Dig, pull, scrape, push. Dig, pull, scrape, push. He smiled.

The wall collapsed and a powerful black and silver armored Toa burst into the chamber. The Makuta’s grip on the Staff of Artakha tightened.

“Onua Nuva, I presume?” he grinned.

With one look at the warrior in the room, Onua tensed. “Makuta!” he breathed.

“Yes,” Icarax replied, noting that his appearance and the Kraahkan were probably a bit confusing. “But not Makuta Teridax, the one you are familiar with. I am Makuta Icarax. Heir to the Brotherhood of Makuta. Soon to be lord of the universe. I will lay waste to this universe, as to the next.”

“Is this the part where I realize the difference between you two?” Onua asked. “Because you both sound exactly the same to me.”

Icarax roared, lashing out with a vicious power scream, followed up by a chain lightning blast, slowness, and confusion powers. Onua staggered before the onslaught. Evidently, he had never suffered the effects of these powers before. Teridax went far too easy on the Toa Nuva, Icarax thought grimly.

“The Reign of Shadows draws closer,” the Makuta growled. “The Toa cannot stop it. Mata Nui cannot stop it. Teridax himself cannot stop it anymore. I will lead the Brotherhood to victory in the coming war.”

A pillar of earth erupted from below him, and while he dodged, it was enough to break his concentration. Before he could refocus his powers on Onua, the Toa disappeared into the earth. Glancing at the floor beneath him, Icarax noticed the ground crumbling and jumped away just in time to see Onua surge out and swipe with his Quake Breakers. But as Icarax was about to level another attack, he sensed a telepathic message emanating from Destral.

The Makuta scowled.

“Well, Toa, it appears that I do not have time to put you in your place now. The Matoran of Karzahni have gotten certain… ideas regarding their freedom. I must remind them of their place and reclaim the land in the name of the Makuta. But I will see you later. Farewell, for now…”

With that, he unleashed a telepathic attack that tore through Onua’s mind, leaving him unconscious. For a moment, Icarax considered killing the Toa and completely dismantling Teridax’s scheme. But he decided against it. His instincts told him the time was not yet right.