Excerpt Seventeen

The crackle of electrical energy filled the chamber as the Toa loosed the full might of their armor on the twin Bahrag. But Cahdok and Gahdok’s only response was a terrible shrieking that sounded strangely like… laughter.

“You cannot harm us. You cannot stop us,” they said in unison. “Mata Nui will be as it was in the before-time.”

“Our power is not even slowing them down!” Gali cried.

“We are one,” Cahdok replied. “The closer we are to each other, the greater our power. You will tire… you will weaken… while we grow stronger.”

“The armor can’t help us now,” Tahu said. “And it’s inhibiting our natural elemental powers. We have to remove it!”

The Toa hurriedly removed their armor and surrounded their enemies. Each one knew that their individual elemental powers would have no more effect on the Bahrag than the Exo-Toa had… but if the Toa were to fall, they would fall with honor.

“You are obstacles. You will be removed,” Gahdok hissed. “Then the Bohrok will be free to complete their mission.”

“We cannot let that happen,” Tahu said. “Toa… we must strike together.”

“But, Tahu… the danger…” Gali said. Never before had the Toa dared to combine their elemental powers into one strike at a foe… and none of them knew what might happen if they made the attempt.

“Tahu is right,” Kopaka replied. “Unless we take this risk, we will be defeated. And defeat is… unacceptable.”

“Then we do it — now!” Tahu shouted. “We have suffered enough of your laughter, Bahrag… you shall laugh no more!”

Water, ice, fire, air, earth, and stone combined into one. The elemental forces merged, changed, becoming something new — pure energy that pulsed like a thing alive as it spread through the chamber. Before the Bahrag could even comprehend what was happening, they were imprisoned behind bars made of this strange substance.

“Fools!” Cahdok snarled. “In defeating us, you do not know what you have unleashed! You have won nothing! Nothing!” Suddenly, the chamber was rocked by violent tremors. The very floor beneath the feet of the Toa began to give way, and the six heroes found themselves plunging down, down into tubes that seemed to extend for miles.

The Toa plunged into pools of raw energy. They could feel it, like a thousand needles piercing their armor, reaching inside, changing them, making them more than what they were…

When the heroes of Mata Nui emerged back in the chamber, they were no longer Toa. With new armor, new tools, and new masks of power, they were now — Toa Nuva!