Amid the infernal glow of a lava cavern, Takua, the Chronicler, uncovers a strange totem stone, its surface etched with ancient, forgotten glyphs. The air grows thick with an unnatural presence as he inspects the relic. By cruel twist of fate, the totem slips from his grasp, plunging into the molten abyss below. Instead of being consumed by fire, the stone dissolves, revealing within it a Mask of Light—an artifact of untold power. As Takua flees the trembling cave, a monstrous wave of lava surges toward him, heralding doom. Yet, before the searing tide can claim him, Tahu, the Toa Nuva of Fire, emerges from the blaze, shielding the Chronicler from a fiery demise.
Clutching the Mask of Light, Takua unknowingly carries the weight of prophecy upon his shoulders. Alongside his friend Jaller, he departs for the Kolhii Championship in Ga-Koro, oblivious to the darkness stirring beneath the surface. Following their victory, a careless moment sees the mask slip from Takua's grasp, and its true nature is laid bare before the Turaga. It is no ordinary Kanohi—it is the herald of a Seventh Toa, a warrior of legend foretold to bring salvation. With grave expressions, the elders charge Jaller and Takua with a perilous quest: to seek the lost champion and return balance to the island.
Yet, shadows conspire against them. Makuta, the unseen ruler of nightmares, senses the mask's awakening and releases his most fearsome enforcers—the Rahkshi. These wretched sons of his essence, twisted beasts clad in armor of living darkness, hunt the mask with relentless fury, leaving only ruin in their wake. As Takua and Jaller traverse the island, they are beset by horror—torrential storms, Rahi driven mad by unseen whispers, and the Rahkshi's merciless onslaught. Even nature itself seems to rebel against them, as if the land fears the dawn of light.
In the depths of the jungle, Lewa, Toa of Air, offers them refuge, his laughter now tinged with the weight of peril. He leads them to Ko-Koro, where Kopaka, the silent guardian of frost, stands defiant against the advancing dark. Together, they challenge the Rahkshi, yet the beasts are no mere warriors—they are harbingers of decay, twisting the elements against their wielders. In the chaos, Takua is ensnared by Makuta's whispers, drawn into a vision of death and despair. A terrible truth is spoken: Jaller's fate is sealed, unless the mask is surrendered. Fear grips Takua's soul, and in his weakness, he flees.
Seeking solace, he wanders into the depths of Onu-Koro, where Onua, Toa of Earth, and Pohatu, Toa of Stone, rally against the encroaching darkness. But the Rahkshi do not relent; they carve a path of devastation, and the Toa struggle to hold the line. Only when Takua reunites with Jaller does he remember his duty. Together, they press toward the Kini-Nui, the temple where destiny awaits—only to be ambushed once more. The Rahkshi strike with unrelenting fury, and in a moment of final defiance, Jaller steps between Takua and death itself. His sacrifice is instant—life torn away in an explosion of golden embers.
Grief shatters the last of Takua's doubts. He seizes the Mask of Light, and in that instant, the truth is revealed. He is the Seventh Toa. His name is Takanuva. The Light has come.
Transformed by his newfound power, Takanuva rises against the Rahkshi, their shadows now feeble before his radiant wrath. With a single, blinding strike, he obliterates them, turning their bodies to dust. But his battle is far from over. The darkness that haunts the island must be confronted at its source. Beneath the earth, in the lair of Makuta, Takanuva descends into the void.
There, he challenges the dark being to a duel—not of swords, but of Kolhii, the sacred game of the Matoran. But Makuta is no mere adversary; his every move is deception, his every word a dagger to the mind. He weaves shadows into chains, binding Takanuva in webs of doubt and despair. Yet, the Toa of Light is unyielding. With one final strike, he shatters Makuta's defenses, and in the chaos that follows, the two are thrown into the swirling abyss of Energized Protodermis.
From the depths of transformation, a new being emerges: Takutanuva, the fusion of light and shadow, balance made flesh. With power beyond reckoning, the entity lifts the colossal gate to Metru Nui, unveiling the path to the long-lost city. But such might demands sacrifice. In an act of pure selflessness, Takutanuva breathes life back into Jaller, reviving the fallen warrior. Yet, in doing so, his form fractures, and Takanuva is left alone once more, the weight of his destiny heavier than ever.
As the Matoran, the Turaga, and the Toa stand at the precipice of a new age, Vakama speaks the final truth—a whisper that chills even the bravest hearts.
"You were not the first Toa."