Once the ruler of an entire universe, the Great Spirit Mata Nui finds himself cast out of his own body, his spirit trapped inside the fabled Mask of Life, hurtling through space. After landing on the far-away planet of Bara Magna, the mask creates a new body for Mata Nui, who unwillingly gets caught up in the furious battles of the nearly barren and dangerous planet. The spirit of Mata Nui leaves to a faraway wasteland, when he and his people are conquered. There he helps unite 2 villages. They ask him to help defend the villages against the real enemy, the Skrall and Bone Hunters.