BC4 - Shield VS Rahi Nui

But already it was too late for plans. With a roar so loud it almost knocked the Toa off their feet, the Rahi Nui emerged from the tunnel before the shocked eyes of Mata Nui’s defenders.

It was bigger than anything any of them had ever seen, at least three times the size of a Toa. Its shape was right out of a Matoran’s nightmare. The head of the beast was that of a Kane-Ra, the powerful Rahi bull, with long, sharp horns that could pierce solid rock with ease. Its forelegs were those of the Tarakava, the marine Rahi whose powerful arms could deliver a stunning blow to even a Takea shark.

Tahu instinctively cloaked the others in a shield as the creature padded into the chamber. Its body and hind legs were those of Muaka, the great cat whose powerful claws could shred solid protodermis. It also possessed the stinging scorpionlike tail of the Nui-Jaga, and a larger version of the Nui-Rama’s insectoid wings.

“I never imagined my destiny would be to be flattened by a walking zoo,” said Pohatu.

“Mata Nui is full of surprises,” Gali replied. “This is not one of the pleasant ones.”

The Rahi Nui looked from one Toa to another, as if trying to decide who posed the biggest threat. Strangely, its gaze lingered on Vakama, almost as if the beast remembered him somehow. Then Tahu moved between the Rahi and the Turaga of fire.

“Perhaps this creature is nothing but roar and bellow,” he said. “Let us see how he compares to the power of Hau Nuva.”

The Rahi Nui stared at the little being who dared to stand in its path. Then it lowered its head and charged, striking Tahu’s shield and sending the Toa of Fire flying across the chamber. Onua moved swiftly to put himself between Tahu and the stone wall, taking the impact on his own mighty body. Though neither was seriously hurt, both had the wind knocked out of them.

“Question answered,” said Kopaka.

Lewa leaped from his perch, smiling. “I have a smartplan. Rahi still needs to airbreathe… so take away his air and down he falls.”

Before anyone could react, Lewa had summoned the Mask of Speed and begun racing in tighter and tighter circles around the Rahi Nui. The Toa of Air could tell it was working, creating a vacuum around the beast. In another few moments, the Rahi would pass out from lack of air and the threat would be over.

The Rahi had other ideas. Its eyes tracked the green blur circling it for one pass, two, and then it lashed out with its foreleg. Lewa was moving too fast to stop when the long arm of a Tarakava suddenly appeared in his path. Tripping on it, he flew headlong into the chamber wall and slumped to the ground, stunned.

“We have barely begun, and already three of our number have fallen,” said Gali. The Rahi Nui turned at the sound of her voice, its stinger slicing the air as it drew closer to the Toa of Water.

“You are still working as lone Toa,” said Vakama. “The Rahi Nui is too powerful to be beaten that way.”

“Then stop warning us and help,” said Kopaka coldly. “If you know something about this beast, speak!”

Gali flipped through the air, narrowly avoiding the Rahi Nui’s tail. The stinger struck the spot where she had been standing, shaking the chamber.

“It was bred for power, not intelligence,” said Vakama. “That is how we were able to… that is how it was trapped here.”

Lewa staggered to his feet, followed by Tahu and Onua. Kopaka gestured for them to stay where they were, then turned to Pohatu. “Brother, we could use a bit of your speed… and your aim,” he said, gesturing toward the ceiling.

“Gifts I gladly give!” answered Pohatu. The Toa of Stone shared the power of the Mask of Speed with his friends, endowing each with the ability to move at superspeed. “Let us give this beast’s dull brain something to think about!”


- BIONICLE Chronicles 4: Tales of the Masks, Chapter 6