Prologue 2

Tunnels.

He was flying through tunnels.

Rahi trailed along the paths to the side, ignoring him as he drifted along. One, a Red Horned Serpent made quick work of a Kuma Nui. On the other side, the Rahi Nui roared in fury and vengeance.

He was traveling upstream, much as he had so many years ago. Water cascaded down from the ocean above as it did then. The stream rippled with endless life.

But the tunnels… They stretched on forever in a labyrinthian scheme dwarfed the Fikou Web of the Archives — and were far tamer by comparison.

Without warning, the caverns opened up into a massive chamber that stretched far into the distance. All around him the ancient monsters of the sea thrashed about, somehow forging a life in this realm. As he looked down, a three-headed shark broke the surface, desperately fighting a jellyfish that was consuming it. Elsewhere some birds were hovering at a safe distance, wondering if they could snatch up some of the smaller fish — before both fish and birds alike were devoured by one of the rulers of this realm. Close behind him, a giant sea snake reared its head and opened its mouth in a hiss that revealed a multi-pronged tongue. Long had they survived in exile here. They had existed from ancient times, surviving on the knowledge that there was nothing too powerful to be devoured.

A chill began creeping up his spine. So many years ago, he had been forced to lead a team of Toa through this maelstrom. It had been the sight of primal horrors he could never have dreamed of, and he had hoped never to return to these evil waters. At the time, he had feared this river was ominous of the oceans above. He’d been wrong, thankfully. The oceans above had been safe — at least, the parts he’d visited.

But if the sight of the carnage of the beasts struck fear in him, what he beheld next chilled him to the bone. As he raised his eyes to the far side of the cavern, his heart was caught in an icy grip.

Far above the churning waters stood the ancient enemy, towering over everything. Makuta was lord of them, directing them, orchestrating them, goading them on in their bestial behavior. The lord of the chaos. Nidhiki and Krekka, those who had been Dark Hunters were fallen, but they had served their purpose. Time and time again, the mercenaries had fallen wittingly or unwittingly into his service, in life and in death. But now it was the turn of the sea beasts, those who had ruled in antiquity. Moreover, although he didn’t know it, far behind him, the Visorak were rallying. The horde of spiders belonging to the Brotherhood was preparing to descend upon the heart of Mata Nui and claim mastery of the Matoran. The legendary mask would be retrieved from the seas where the Toa had lost it, and it would serve Makuta’s purposes. The Vahi would be his.

The team of Toa, assembled by the hero of fire, born of six Matoran of Metru Nui, could not save the universe any longer.

Makuta laughed, his smile somehow broader than the horrible frozen faces of the seven former Dark Hunters he had absorbed through his essence. As he did, the waters abruptly calmed. For a moment there was nothing, not even waves. Dead waters.

But then they broke the surface.

All across the cavern, the heads of the ancient monsters rose above the waters, all staring at him. Through cold, dead, carnivorous eyes they gazed upon him with their insatiable hunger. But it wasn’t their obvious appetite for the living that terrified Vakama. It was the fact that each and every one of them bore a single black mask.

An infected Kanohi Ignika.

✴        ✴        ✴

As he surfaced, Vakama snapped upright, the final images still burning in his mind’s eye. Looking around in a panic, he calmed as he realized he was still in his residence in Metru Nui. Standing at his bedside were Nokama and Whenua, expressions of alarm in their features.

“What was it, Vakama?” Nokama asked in a hushed voice. “You were shouting.”

Vakama slumped, rubbing his head with his hands. He had been submerged far longer than normal. Underground tunnels? Ancient sea monsters? Makuta, brought back from death? “I… I’m not sure. It was a vision. But it’s more than I’ve had… in years.”

Whenua breathed. “What did you see? Were Jaller and the others there? Or the Toa Nuva?”

Vakama shook his head, frowning as his temples started to throb.

Those who had been Dark Hunters were fallen. The Brotherhood was preparing to descend upon the heart of Mata Nui. But now it was the turn of the sea beasts, those who had ruled in antiquity. The legendary mask would be retrieved from the seas where the Toa had lost it, and it would serve Makuta’s purposes.

The circle of the Great Cataclysm was closing.

“I… I don’t know. But somehow I get the impression six Toa are walking straight into the jaws of a very ancient evil.”