Piraka/Bio & Battles

"We heard you were trying to kill each other. We are here to offer our help in that long overdue endeavor."

- Kopaka Nuva

Shortly after Teridax was defeated by Toa Takanuva, rumors began to circulate about his "death". Six Skakdi Dark Hunters - Hakann, Vezok, Zaktan, Avak, Reidak, and Thok - decided to run off and investigate on their own, abandoning the Dark Hunters and instead calling themselves "Piraka", the Matoran word meaning "Thieves and Murderers". While raiding Teridax’s abandoned lair, all of them mysteriously gained knowledge of the powerful Kanohi Ignika, the Mask of Life, hidden somewhere on the island of Voya Nui. All became dead set on finding the mask and claiming it, and the group agreed to work together, though each planned to betray the others and claim the mask for himself.

Upon arrival on Voya Nui, the Piraka pretended to be Toa to gain the help of the native Matoran Matora, Hakann and Avak even going so far as "fighting off" a lava-rock monster that they themselves created and secretly controlled. Having gained the trust of the Matoran, save six who had their doubts, the Piraka contaminated them with antidermis and put them to work building their stronghold and draining the volcano, Mount Valmai, where the mask is supposed to be hidden. In the meantime, Zaktan used the knowledge he gained near Makuta's armor to build a device that collected a kind of virus known as Antidermis. The Piraka then used Zamor Spheres filled with this virus to fully enslave the Matoran; however, the six suspicious ones managed to escape and began to work against the Piraka.

Relations between the Piraka - which were turbulent at the best of times - rapidly began to deteriorate. Eventually, it became an all-out brawl between the Piraka, interrupted by the arrival of Brutaka, who allied himself with Zaktan. Worried about their leader’s powerful new ally, Hakann, Avak, Reidak, and Thok begin scheming against him anew. Hakann and Thok strikek out on their own, aimint to find the mask for thmesleves

Meanwhile, Hakann and Thok have started fighting each other. Hakann creates a blast with his heat vision that blows up half the island, which allows the Toa Inika, newly arrived heroes, and Piraka to track him. The other Piraka attack Hakann, while the Inika engage Thok. The Piraka are defeated, excepting Zaktan, but are knocked out afterwards.