Over fifty years ago, six Toa had been summoned to defend the island of Okoto from the fearsome forces of the Skull Army, summoned by the Mask Maker Makuta under the influence of his greatest, most terrible creation - the Mask of Ultimate Power. The Skull Army had been unprepared for the Toa’s arrival, and standing united, the six heroes had driven them to the brink of defeat… only to realize too late that it had been an elaborate ploy to trap them within the mystical Temple of Time. There, the Toa made their final stand, facing the endless onslaught of the Skull Army as each of them, one by one, was struck down.

Every single one of the Toa had died, perishing in that battle - but their defeat had given the natives of the island - the Protectors - a chance to arm themselves in return. The Protectors, led by the courageous Mask Maker Ekimu, all fought to their last breath, driving the Skull Army back under the island from whence they had come, defeating their generals one by one. Both Ekimu and Makuta seemingly perished at the hands of the mighty Skull Grinder, who looked to complete his sinister plans in the heart of the volcano - but in the eleventh hour, a revived and repentant Makuta slew the Skull Grinder, ending the Skull Army threat.

As atonement for his past actions, Makuta took command over Okoto, leading all of the villages in their rebuilding efforts. Knowing that the threat of the Skull Army’s undead forces reviving could return at any moment, Makuta created the organization known as the ‘Hunters’; an elite group of the island’s twenty-five best and brightest, assigned to protect Okoto from any and all threats.

For the last fifty years, the denizens of Okoto have lived and died. Throughout it all, the Hunters have always been there - four teams of six, led by a single Commander. The Skull Army has not been sighted since their defeat so many years ago.

Until now.

Sightings of Skull Spiders have become a daily occurrence, and a week never passes without a Protector believing that they have witnessed one of the Skull Army generals in person. Some Protectors even swear on their lives that they have observed a new figure - a sinister being, cloaked in eternal shadow, referring to themselves as a ‘Toa’, although they do not resemble anything like the Toa of the legends. The Protectors have taken to calling him the ‘Darkened One’.

Something is stirring, deep in the dark.

The island of Okoto has become obscured by a thick web of shadow; and for the Hunter known as Kar, his most recent discovery may turn out to be the catalyst for its destruction.

(thank you to Click for the art of Kar)