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The Dark Hunters are one of the most ruthless and far-reaching antagonist factions in the Bionicle universe, primarily known for being a powerful mercenary organization.

The Dark Hunter Organization

The Dark Hunters are a widespread organization of bounty hunters, thieves, assassins, and mercenaries who are available to the highest bidder. Their structure is built around power and fear, with loyalty only extending as far as the current contract or the power of their leader.

  • Structure and Motives: The organization is a collective of highly dangerous and powerful individuals, each with unique abilities. Their primary motive is profit and power. They hire themselves out for any task, no matter how nefarious, to any client, so long as the pay is sufficient.

  • Headquarters: They operate from their heavily fortified base on the island of Odina.

The Leader: The Shadowed One

The leader and founder of the Dark Hunters is an imposing figure known only as The Shadowed One.

  • Identity and Nature: His true name is a guarded secret, as he believes knowing it would give others power over him. He is charismatic, arrogant, and sadistic, ruling his organization through sheer fear and formidable power.

  • Powers and Tools: The Shadowed One is incredibly powerful, possessing:

  • Disintegration Eyebeams: Capable of dissolving almost any substance at a molecular level.

  • Formidable Strength: Possessing immense physical might.

  • Crystalline Protodermis Staff: A tool that can create solid, crystalline Protodermis, a substance he has used to trap and imprison his enemies. The staff also contains a Rhotuka launcher that fires a spinner that induces temporary madness.

  • Rivalry: The Shadowed One is a bitter and ancient rival of the Brotherhood of Makuta, engaging in a conflict with them that spanned over a thousand years. His power is rumored to be second only to the Makuta themselves.

Major and Most Powerful Dark Hunters

The Dark Hunters have hundreds of members, but several stand out for their power and significant roles in the storyline:

Dark Hunter

Primary Power/Ability

Role & Motive

The Shadowed One

Disintegration eyebeams, Crystalline Protodermis staff

Leader and Founder; Motivated by power, profit, and maintaining his reign of fear.

Nidhiki

Rapid movement, Toa-level elemental power (Air)

A traitorous former Toa of Air who was mutated and exiled; Motivated by self-preservation and spite. He was partnered with Krekka in Metru Nui.

Krekka

Brute strength, Energy webs, Flight

An extremely strong but dull-witted brute; Motivated by his simple desire for destruction and following Nidhiki's lead.

Eliminator

Stasis Field (Mask of Stasis), Rhotuka that drains elemental power

A stealthy and efficient assassin; Motivated by completing his contract kills without fail.

Vezon

Mask of Life's power (temporarily), Immortality

Technically a being created by the Mask of Life (Ignika), who joined the Dark Hunters for a time and was notoriously unstable; Motivated by chaos and his own madness.

The Dweller

Shapeshifting into large, powerful forms

A master of disguise and combat; Motivated by personal glory and profit.

War Against the Toa of Metru Nui and Beyond

The Dark Hunters had two primary engagements with the Toa of Metru Nui, the first being a full-scale war, and the second a targeted assassination campaign.

The Toa-Dark Hunter War (The Toa Mangai Era)

Long before the Toa Metru, the city was protected by a team known as the Toa Mangai, led by Lhikan.

  • Cause: The conflict was sparked when The Shadowed One attempted to establish a permanent base of operations in Metru Nui. Turaga Dume (the real Turaga Dume, before Makuta's impersonation) refused, leading to a war between the Dark Hunters and the Toa Mangai.

  • Outcome: The war raged for six months across the city. The Toa Mangai, with reinforcements, were ultimately successful in driving the Dark Hunters out of Metru Nui. This war established the strategic importance of Metru Nui and led to the exile of the traitorous former Toa of Air, Nidhiki, who was allowed to join the Dark Hunters.

The Dark Hunter's Role in Makuta's Takeover (The Toa Metru Era)

Centuries later, Makuta Teridax, in his plot to take over Metru Nui, secretly hired the Dark Hunters to eliminate the remaining Toa Mangai.

  • Assassination Campaign: Makuta sent the Toa Mangai (excluding Lhikan, Nidhiki, and Tuyet) on missions outside the city and had them systematically assassinated by a hired Dark Hunter. This left only a few Toa left to defend the city.

  • The Infiltration: Nidhiki and Krekka were later sent into Metru Nui by Makuta Teridax to aid in the final stages of his takeover.

  • The Second Defeat: They were ultimately defeated during the confrontation with the Toa Metru and the newly created Toa Lhikan. Nidhiki and Krekka were killed when Makuta Teridax, in a desperate attempt to restore his lost energy, absorbed them into his being.

The Dark Hunters would continue to be a threat throughout the Bionicle universe, primarily acting as freelance enemies, engaging with heroes and villains alike, and remaining loyal only to the mercenary code of cold hard profit.