Antidermis
"This is what is left of our bodies. We have evolved from muscle and tissue to pure energy. No longer do we need to eat, or breathe, nor do we need fear the pains that come with advanced age. But there is more. If a Makuta’s energy disperses, his consciousness will disappear and he will die. So it is critical to guard against damage to our armor that might allow our essence to escape."
— Makuta Chirox, The Mutran Chronicles
| Antidermis | |
| |
| Substance | |
| Function | Makuta species' life-force |
| Known states | Liquid, gaseous, solid, energy[1] |
| Primary location | Anywhere Makuta can be found |
| Pronunciation | AN-tee-DUR-mis |
Antidermis is a synthetic[2] green-black substance which is the essence of the Makuta species. All Makuta, and by extension all Kraata and Rahkshi, are made from it. The Piraka, who gave Antidermis its name,[3] used the substance to enslave the Matoran of Voya Nui. Even so, Zaktan was the only Piraka who guessed the Antidermis’s true nature.
History
The Great Beings accidentally discovered Antidermis as a byproduct of the Protodermis creation process.[4][5] Antidermis is a greenish-black, scalding liquid. The Matoran Universe's supply of Antidermis was held inside a pool on an unnamed island in the southern island chains. It was from this pool that Mata Nui created the Makuta species, turning liquid Antidermis into solid matter.[6]
Shortly after Teridax assumed control of the Brotherhood of Makuta, every Makuta's Antidermis simultaneously evolved into a gaseous form. Bitil was the first to discover this, finding that he could not move his muscles. Chirox took a sample of the greenish-black mist that he found under Kojol's armor and, analyzing it, learned that all the Makuta had evolved into gaseous Antidermis. Teridax soon had the armor of the Makuta modified by the Nynrah Ghosts, who added extra layers of Protosteel to protect the beings' Antidermis.[1]
When Teridax dueled Toa Takanuva, some of his essence escaped when Takanuva removed Teridax's Kanohi Kraahkan.[7] Afterward, the Makuta's armor was crushed, leaving only his free-floating Antidermis intact. When the six Piraka arrived in Teridax's lair Mangaia to investigate the Makuta's death, Teridax followed the Piraka to Voya Nui, where he instructed Zaktan to construct a special container to store his Antidermis. The Piraka later filled Zamor spheres with Teridax's essence and fired them at all but six Matoran on Voya Nui. The Antidermis from the spheres remained in the Matoran's bodies and effectively enslaved them to the Piraka. Later, the Toa Inika arrived on Voya Nui and freed the Matoran by firing Zamor Spheres at them filled with Energized Protodermis. Kongu also began to suspect that the Antidermis was actually living, for his Kanohi Suletu sensed something inside it. During the battle between Axonn and Brutaka, Teridax's container was smashed and his Antidermis dispersed once more. Gathering himself together, Teridax followed the Toa Inika down the Cord, in which he briefly possessed Matoro's body, and then into the Pit, where he possessed the body of a Maxilos robot.
Later, Axonn and Brutaka sought to destroy the pool of liquid Antidermis so that no more Makuta could be created. The two found the pool, but a violent eruption dragged both warriors into it, and Axonn almost drowned. When the warrior emerged from the pool, he found Brutaka, who had absorbed a great amount of Antidermis, floating above dry land, with his armor cracked and the tissue beneath expanded. Brutaka was surrounded by an aura of power and had linked minds with the Antidermis. The mind-linked Brutaka spoke of the Shattering, Mata Nui's mission to reunite the shattered fragments of Spherus Magna, and how Mata Nui had to work together with Teridax to perform this task.[8] Brutaka is still linked with the Antidermis[9] and has access to several Makuta powers, such as Teleportation.[10]
During the war between the Order of Mata Nui and the Brotherhood of Makuta, Tridax's Antidermis was released when his armor was devoured by a Protosteel-eating virus. Tobduk destroyed the essence with a white-hot beam of energy from his staff.[11]
All the Makuta who took part in the invasion of Karda Nui were killed—and as such their Antidermis was destroyed—in the battles leading up to Mata Nui's Reawakening and in the ensuing Energy Storms. Meanwhile, Teridax brought his essence into the Core Processor beneath Metru Nui, allowing him to assume control of the Mata Nui Robot and the Matoran Universe.
When a Teridax from another universe crossed into the core dimension, Teridax sent several Shadow Takanuva to confront him and Mazeka. In the ensuing battle, the alternate Teridax's armor was breached, and his Antidermis began to leak out.[12]
Teridax's Antidermis was later obliterated in the Battle of Bara Magna when the Core Processor was struck by a falling planetoid.[13]
Alternate Universes
The Melding Alternate Universe
The Makuta of this alternate universe were also created from Antidermis, and it remained part of their substance even after they learned to purge themselves of darkness.[12][14]
Properties
Antidermis is a byproduct of the creation of Protodermis. Like Protodermis, Antidermis is capable of taking a variety of forms, including metal and artificial biological tissue. It was created as a liquid, and the process of creating Makuta involves taking some of the liquid and turning it into a living form. As liquid and gas, Antidermis is greenish-black in color.[1][6]
When the Makuta evolved, their Antidermis became a strange, greenish-black substance somewhere between energy and gas; it is described as energy, but floats around in open air much like a gas.[1] The unused Antidermis the Makuta were made from resembled a pool of swirling liquid. Antidermis can be destroyed by intense heat, such as the energy produced by Tobduk's staff.[11] It can also crystallize if exposed to extremely low temperatures for an extended period of time. Such crystallization will kill the Makuta.[15][16][17] A free-floating Makuta can keep themselves together through will for short periods of time. However, after a few weeks of exposure, they will dissipate and die.[18]
Antidermis has a few known properties, one of which the Piraka used to their advantage: it can control Matoran. Although Antidermis does not literally enslave Matoran, it does make them far more susceptible to suggestion. Antidermis also strengthens Brutaka's species. When Brutaka fell into a pool of liquid Antidermis, his power increased greatly. In addition to gaining many Makuta powers, Brutaka grew so strong that his muscle cracked his armor in several places. The Antidermis also merged with or took control of his mind, granting him knowledge that the Makuta were meant to have but had forgotten and dictating his actions after the incident.[8][19]
The only known substance that counteracts the effects of Antidermis is Energized Protodermis. The substance destroyed Teridax's energies as he was not destined to transform, but it left his victims untouched.[20] The Toa Inika and Axonn were able to resist its enslaving effects through abilities of their own.[21][22]
Toa of Air cannot control gaseous Antidermis, and Toa of Water cannot control liquid Antidermis because it is too far removed chemically from water or liquid protodermis.[23]
Quotes
"I... we are the essence of the Makuta species. We know what they were meant to know, but have forgotten. We see the error. The flaws. So much to repair; but it cannot be done. Spherus Magna, the Shattering. The three that must be one; the two that must make them one. He must remember, he must be made to see, or the journey of 100,000 years will be for nothing. He hides beneath, preparing to meet his destiny. We must go there, we must right the wrong. So many wrongs before the Shattering can end."
— Antidermis through Brutaka, Destiny War
Trivia
- Antidermis can regenerate even if parts of it disperse or are destroyed.[24]
- The Golden Armor was designed to destroy all solid Antidermis.[25]
- It is unclear whether beings composed of Antidermis can be revived on the Red Star.[note 1]
Appearances
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|---|---|---|---|
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References
Notes
| Substances/Energies | ||
| Spherus Magna (Aqua Magna) |
Energized Protodermis | Exsidian | Pit Mutagen | |
| Matoran Universe |
Antidermis | Energized Protodermis | Hordika Venom | Protodermis | Protosteel | Toa Power | Toa Seal | Virus | |
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