Nidhiki

"They are mere Matoran in Toa armor. As is our duty, we shall not fail."

- Nidhiki to Makuta Teridax

Nidhiki was once a Toa of Air but was later transformed into an insectoid monster. He was part of the team of eleven Toa sent to Metru Nui to fight the rampaging Kanohi Dragon and later a member of the Dark Hunters.

Toa
Nidhiki came to Metru Nui as one of the eleven Toa who fought the Kanohi Dragon, along with Toa Lhikan. Like the rest of his team, he stayed as one of the city's resident Toa. He showed great teamwork in defeating powerful enemies like Dark Hunters and Tuyet.

Two thousand years later, the city's leader, Turaga Dume, refused to allow the Dark Hunters to build a base in Metru Nui. The Dark Hunters attacked the city in retaliation, and hundreds of Toa (led by Lhikan) rallied to the city's defense. The fighting went on for months, with heavy casualties on both sides. While Nidhiki was walking in dangeruous territory, he was amushed by a stealthful Dark Hunter, named Lariska. The female Dark Hunter could sense his presence even with Nidhiki's Voliak active. Lariska prosaded Nidhiki to betray those he was loyal to and end the war. Seeking to save his own skin and end the war, Nidhiki struck a deal with the Dark Hunter and agreed to lead the Toa into a trap. He spent the rest of that day wondering around the Coliseum imagining himself ruler. However, Lhikan found out and set a trap of his own. This action ended the war with the Toa as victors, and Lhikan removed all Dark Hunters from the city – Nidhiki along with them.

Dark Hunter
"Toa... so dramatic. This time, your farewell will be forever, brother."

With nowhere else to go, Nidhiki joined the Dark Hunters as an instructor, teaching others – including the Piraka Vezok – from his experience as a Toa. Wanting to be more than a teacher, he asked to be sent on missions. He got his wish, but to his displeasure was paired with a rather dim, brutish Hunter named Krekka. From the perspective of the Hunters' leader, "The Shadowed One", this was a good partnership: Krekka could be effective if he follows Nidhiki's plans, while Nidhiki could be kept in line by Krekka's loyalty to the Hunters.

However, Nidhiki continued to want more, dreaming of being a hero again. When Roodaka came to the Hunters seeking training, he offered to reward her if she would help him escape the Hunters. Instead, she alerted the Shadowed One to Nidhiki's plans and "earned" her training by mutating him into an insectoid monster, ensuring that he could never be accepted anywhere except the Dark Hunters. Ironically, Nidhiki was insectophobic.

Hundreds of years later, Nidhiki and Krekka were sent back to Metru Nui on a mission for Makuta. Their task was to retrieve six Great Kanoka Disks and to get Toa Lhikan out of the way - an assignment Nidhiki enjoyed, as he still held a grudge over his banishment. While the two were able to capture Lhikan, he had already chosen replacements and set them on the path to become the Toa Metru. Nidhiki blackmailed one of the Matoran, Ahkmou, into helping him get the Great Disks, but this failed as the Toa Metru were able to get to them first. Nidhiki and Krekka continued to hunt the Toa Metru until Makuta decided to face the Toa himself, in order to increase his power quickly he absorbed the two Hunters and his pet, Nivawk, into his body, killing them.

Tools and Powers
As a Toa of Air he controled the element of air. He carried an Air Scythe and wore the Kanohi Volitak, but he lost the ability to use it when Roodaka mutated him.

As a Dark Hunter, Nidhiki had a pair of pincer claws, and he could fire Kanoka disks and blasts of energy from his mouth. He also had the ability to fly.

Trivia

 * The beach Nidhiki was mutated on is named after him. It is now called Nidhiki Beach.
 * Nidhiki had a phobia of multi-legged insectoid Rahi, which made his transformation all the more frightening for him.
 * The Toa Iruini set was originally designed to be a Toa Nidhiki set.
 * Nidhiki will be featured in a web serial where, in a pocket dimension, he joins forces with Tuyet when fighting for the Nui Stone.

Set Information
Nidhiki was released as a Titan set in 2004 summer. His head was shaped like a Vahki head, along with a Kanoka Launcher as his mouth. He also had four legs which could be folded to make Nidhiki's flying mode. He had two pincers, which could be opened and closed.

Appearances

 * BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui
 * Toa Metru Mini Promo CD's (Not Mentioned by name)
 * The Many Deaths of Toa Tuyet
 * Birth of a Dark Hunter
 * BIONICLE Adventures 1: Mystery of Metru Nui
 * BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire
 * BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui
 * BIONICLE Legends 4: Legacy of Evil
 * Comic 16: Toa Metru! (Not Mentioned by name)
 * Comic 19: Enemies of Metru Nui (Mentioned Only)
 * Comic 20: Struggle in the Sky
 * Comic 21: Dreams of Darkness (In a vision)

Nidhiki