Excerpt Seven

Despite their many differences, the Toa were able to work together as a team when circumstances demanded it. Indeed, their many victories over the Rahi added to their legend, and became tales still told around the village fires to this day.

In time, the Toa collected all the Kanohi Masks of Power and travelled to Kini-Nui, the great temple in the centre of the island. There the six Masks of Power each carried were exchanged for a single golden mask… in this golden Kanohi were contained all the powers of the Kanohi.

But the Toa were still not ready to face their next great challenge. To meet the threat of the Manas, Makuta’s crab-like guardians, the Toa would have to sacrifice what was most precious to them: their individuality. With a crackle of awesome energies, the six Toa merged into two Toa Kaita — larger, more powerful beings, each with the combined wisdom and might of three of the heroes. Where once had been six warriors, now there stood Toa Kaita Akamai and Toa Kaita Wairuha.

Now, at last, they were ready to descend beneath the temple and challenge the Manas…