The wind howled throughout the echoing, lifeless tress of an abandoned forest. Even the animals had fled the stretch of wood, for it had seen many a battle throughout it's life. You wouldn't have had to be a psychic to see that the land had been stained with blood. You could smell it in the air, feel it on the ground as you trod on the dampened soil.
Which was exactly the way he liked it…
He too was a man who had seen many a battle, for it was evident that his body adorned numerous, ugly, hideous battle wounds. His disfigurements of war bothered him none however. Though he was a man to quickly anger, and would raise his weapon to anyone who stood in his way. He was a man of honour, and held the traditions of his land close to heart.
He was a nameless man… Again, that was exactly the way he liked it….
It was more of an insult rather than a title, to call him a man, for he did not live and breathe like you or I did. He simply existed.
Whatever had lain underneath, or what had been before, was now long gone.
What was once a man, was now a demon. What was once human, was now a beast. What was once living, was now dead.
Though he appeared human on the outside, it was merely just a sick, twisted illusion.
Truth be told, he should have remained dead. But it was the pure vengeance, anger, and hatred that kept him from dying...
He now only existed for one purpose, and one purpose only…. And that was to kill the very man, or demon, who had done this to him. Who had so cruelly torn his life away from him, who had so in justly ripped the skin from his body, who had twisted him beyond recognition, and had turned him into what he was. And it was as though every time he would get close to this man, he would so easily slip away from him. Like sand rushing through open hands….
But this time was different….
He was close to him. Closer than he had ever been before.
Though this man had not only taken away his life, he had taken his family's as well. His beautiful wife, who had meant more than life itself to him, was cruelly tortured, beaten, raped, and then finally murdered. His child, no more than three years of age, now lied next to his wife in an unmarked grave just outside the family home… AN UNMARKED GRAVE!
The man slammed his closed fist into a nearby tree, with what remaining leaves that adorned the tree, now floated to the ground in a heap beside him. He had not asked for this, yet, for some unknown reason, it had happened…
And as the man paced back and forth in both anger and utter frustration, the winds had started to change direction. Thinking nothing of it, the man continued to pace back and forth, shoving what surrounding noise there was out of his head. And it was only when clouds started to form in one focused area, did he then start to pay attention.
And as lightning started to strike the ground, and thunder started to boom, shaking the trees throughout the forest, did he know exactly what was in store for him. Out of nowhere, a man appeared where lightning had last struck the ground. A man donned in a full white cloak which fell to the floor, and carried a staff in his hand.
"Hmph, Thunder God" the man muttered under his breath, not in admiration, but in pure loath and disgust.
Turning on his heal in the opposite direction, he was stopped in mid-step as lightning once again struck the ground, just mere inches from his next step. A warning, surely meaning to stay firmly planted where he was. Balling his hands into fists, the man turned to face him, and gritted his teeth as he said his name.
"Raiden" he spat "Why do you disturb me? The task set by you was completed at the last tournament. I have no interest in the wellbeing of Earth Realm, leave me in peace"
The man smirked under his hood, and continued to address him as though he had not said anything.
"Scorpion" he started, looking the man up and down for a moment, noting the dripping blood coming from both his clothes and his sword "Been out hunting have we?" Raiden chuckled
The man known as 'Scorpion', donned a black Shinobi uniform with a full hood and face mask. The Japanese calligraphy embroided in gold, on both his uniform, and the sash tied around his waist, identified him as a Shirai Ryu, a member of a long dead clan of Japanese assassins. Though the magnificent craftsmanship of both his uniform and his weapons, could now not be admired as they were tainted with blood.
"Get to the point Raiden, and stop wasting my time. What in the name of OutWorld to do you want!?" Scorpion hissed.
"I have another task for you, well, more of a favour on my part" Raiden began
"A favour!? What makes you think I have the time or the consideration to help you?" Scorpion said, his knuckles now beginning to turn white.
"Let. Me. Finish" Raiden grunted, his temper rivalling that of Scorpion's at the best of times, which made the spectre slightly more on edge than he usually was when in the company of the Thunder God.
"It has come to my attention that a beacon of power has begun to manifest within EarthRealm. I do not know all the details. All I know, is that the beacon is getting stronger, and it has started to draw unwanted attention"
"I still don't see where I come into the equation" Scorpion grunted.
"It is simple... Find this source of power. No doubt it has decided to make itself home in the body pf a mortal, and bring them to safety... Simplicity in itself"
"Do I look like your errand boy? Find someone else. I have no desire to meddle in the affairs of mortals"
"And yet you spend your days hunting a sorcerer who always manages to slip through your fingers. Yes, that trail you've been following is more than a day old.
Scorpion unclenched his fists ever so slightly, before ramming one of them into a near by tree, leaving a clear indentation of where his fist used t be.
"If you help me in this" Raiden continued "I give you my word that I will speak to the elder gods on your behalf. I'm sure with a bit of persuasion, they will be able to pin point exactly where Quan Chi is hiding"
Scorpion thought about it for a moment. He knew better than to make a pact with the Thunder God. Or with any other god for that matter. There was always more to the story. But what did he have to lose?
Scorpion let out an exaggerated sigh, before giving a slight nod as a final response.
Scorpion was known for being a cold hearted bastard. But he was an honourable man. Not a good man perhaps, but an honourable one. He kept his word, one way or another.
"Where do I start looking?"