Chapter 1

A small skiff banked on a narrow stretch of shore, and its lone occupant stepped onto the muddy brown sands. Before him, the beach only lasted a few paces before ascending into a steep ramp that led to a towering fortress far above. The island itself formed what once must have been an easily-defensible cliff.

The sailor pulled a small satchel out of the boat and started the long ascent up the ramp. The wind howled, the seas stirred, and the icebergs scraped against each other lifelessly. Scorches marked the long path, and at points the rise had been blown apart. The traveler had to run and leap over long chasms.

At length, the figure reached the entrance to the fortress. This, too, had been shattered open, with the gate nearly torn clean off its hinges. The high battlements were leaning inward and looked close to collapse. Moonlight poured in from large holes in the roof in the great hall, and although many of the pillars still stood, the ancient Toa statues between them had been toppled, broken, or both. The same was true of the sculptures of the world’s earliest Toa above the far door, which had once been a thrilling collage leaping out of the wall.

The traveler took two steps inside when he froze. He looked around. His sensitive audio receptors were picking up on something, but he couldn’t tell what…

Something moved behind him. He whirled.

Nothing was there.

He spun forward again. Taking cautious steps inside, his eyes traced the tall pillars and fallen statues.

“Fifty Toa left in the universe.”

The traveler almost jumped at the sudden voice.

“I know all of them,” it added.

A Toa of Plasma stepped out of the door to the antechamber, beneath the mural of first Toa.

“Know how many Toa of Sonics there are?” he asked. “Zero…”

The traveler’s eyes narrowed. His grip tightened on his weapon, a sonic vibration sword.

The Toa of Plasma continued. “They say the Makuta attacked De-Koro five years ago. One of the Matoran was kidnapped.”

“The Brotherhood didn’t send me,” the Toa of Sonics said, slowly laying his sword on the ground. “I mean you no harm. My name is Krakua.”

The Toa of Plasma smiled humorlessly. “I’ve seen Shadow Matoran. It was only a matter of time before I saw Shadow Toa.”

“I’ve come in search of heroes--”

The Toa of Plasma laughed out loud, then gestured with his finger. Behind the traveler, there was a loud, sharp CRACK, made worse by his sensitive hearing. Something struck him from behind, and he fell to the ground, clutching his ears.

“You’re a Toa of Sonics. So hear this.”

A Toa of Iron stepped out from behind Krakua, even as the Toa of Plasma leaned over him. And as his vision faded to black, the Toa of Plasma spoke again.

“The age of heroes is over…”