MoL - Leap Down

Jaller breathed out, awed by the sight that lay before his eyes. “Kini-Nui!” he whispered. “The Great Temple!”

The temple and the surrounding mountains were bathed in the colorful rays of the setting sun. The Mask of Light glowed as they crossed the Amaja Circle. As they approached a giant head carved into the stone at the edge of the plateau, the mask’s light faded.

“No way,” Takua said. “We’ve been all over the island, just to wind up here?”

“Why not? It’s a sacred place,” Jaller pointed out.

Takua grabbed the mask, which immediately glowed brightly again. “You sure you’re working this right?”

At that moment a beam of brilliant light shot out of the mask. It landed on the giant stone head. The ground quaked, shaking loose countless years’ worth of dirt and grime from the carving. As the outlines of a mask began to be visible underneath, the sun dipped beneath the horizon, plunging the temple into dusky dimness.

“Wow, this is it,” Jaller said. “The Seventh Toa must be here.”

An ominous hiss rose nearby. Takua and Jaller turned toward the sound in fear. Three Rahkshi stepped out from behind a rock — Fragmenter, Disintegrator, and Poison.

Jaller gasped. “Give me the mask, Takua,” he said grimly, grabbing it from his friend’s hands.

“Jaller, no!” Takua cried. “We both know the mask chose me. I am the true Herald.”

“Are you still sure, even now?”

Takua held out his hand. “Yes!” he said firmly. “I’m the Herald.”

Jaller hesitated briefly, then handed over the mask. Takua nodded. “And I say… run!” he cried.

Takua, Jaller, and Pewku raced down toward the lower plateau. The ground quaked again at the base of the steps. A fissure erupted in a shower of rocks and earth, and three more Rahkshi burst out of the ground!

Takua and Jaller turned to race back up the steps. But the first trio of Rahkshi were already descending from the top. They were trapped!

Suddenly a flare of brilliant fire rocketed overhead, illuminating the entire temple.

The Rahkshi shielded their faces against the glare. An urn atop the enormous stone head ignited, illuminating Lewa and Gali, who stood on either side. Tahu stepped in from the shadows, the fire reflecting off of his bright red armor.

Takua let out a breath of relief. “Great!” he called to the three Toa as they leaped into the air. “You can get us out of here!”

Tahu pulled out his swords. “We are done running.”

The Fragmenter-Rahkshi hissed, unleashing an arc of dark energy from its staff. Tahu lifted his shield, enveloping all of the Toa and Matoran in a protective force field. He staggered backward as the Rahkshi’s bolt hit, but recovered quickly.

“We will not be broken!” the Fire Toa shouted defiantly.

He and Lewa stood side by side as the Fragmenter-, Poison-, and Disintegrator-Rahkshi approached. Behind them, Gali led Takua and Jaller down the steps toward the lower temple.

“This way!” she cried.


- BIONICLE: Mask of Light, Chapter 16