In the opening moments of Tears of the Kingdom, Link and Zelda are exploring the ruins underneath Hyrule Castle. Though Zelda was told long ago never to enter the ruins (or even ask about them), she and Link adventure under the castle to explore the "gloom" that has been infecting others.

As the pair venture further underneath the castle, they find ancient Zonai runes. Though the Zonai were not a prominent part of the previous game, there were hints to their existence long before Tears of the Kingdom.

Zelda and Link venture into the depths of the ruins, eventually coming across a decrepit being locked away, a glowing arm seemingly the only thing that's holding him in place. This is Ganondorf.

As Zelda and Link ponder this clearly evil being, the glowing arm falls from its chest and the demon rises, seemingly awoken from its once-eternal slumber. Unsurprisingly, it attempts to attack Zelda before Link intervenes, attempting to slash its tendrils of darkness with the Master Sword.

Unfortunately, when the Master Sword makes contact with the darkness, it shatters into several pieces, leaving Link with only the ruined hilt at his side. As this happens, the darkness also envelopes his arm, draining his health back to three hearts and seemingly destroying his appendage. The floor collapses underneath the group, plunging Zelda into its depths while Link is saved by the glowing arm that once held the villain at bay.

When Link awakens in another crumbling tomb, all he finds is the Destroyed Master Sword. In its current state, even a simple tree branch is more powerful than the once-mighty weapon.