Chapter 2: Rise of a Champion
As he waits patiently at a new arena that the next battle is to take place Sub Zero can't help but to think about what he had seen inside of Shao Kahn's eyes. The look of pure evil. Pure darkness that laid inside of his soul. A look he had never witnessed before. Never witnessed coming from another fighter. A look that proved to him that every story he had ever heard about Shao Kahn was true.
Stories of how he would conquer every fighter that dared to face him showing no pity or mercy what's so ever. Stories describing in detail what was to happen if you dared to face the conquer of realms. The outcome of having not only your body broken but for you to lose your soul as you would look up helplessly into his dark eyes. A fate so many others had suffered before. A source of magic only one other being knew how to use. Shang Tsung. The conqueror's most trusted sorcerer. A man that had betrayed Earthrealm many years ago with the promise of power from Shao Kahn. The power to become immortal. To learn the dark arts of taking one's soul. The source of his power that allowed the sorcerer to retain his young age throughout the years.
Sub Zero's thoughts are snapped when he watches a man suddenly stepping into the arena. A man that he recognized to be Mortal Kombat's former champion. A shaolin monk known as Kung Lao. A gifted fighter that had been Earthrealm's most prized fighter until another fighter had emerged. His descendant Liu Kang. Another shaolin monk that is seen standing next to his mentor Raiden at the front of the crowd. The lightning god and guardian of Earthrealm.
Looking away from Kung Lao suddenly Sub Zero's eyes widen when he sees Kitana slowly walking into the arena and get into a fighting stance at the other end.
" Fight!"
Without giving her opponent the opportunity to make the first move Kitana charges forward towards Kung Lao before she delivers a flying kick that is easily dodged by Kung Lao. As she sees Kung Lao sending a high kick her way Kitana quickly throws up her right forearm to block the kick before she sends a spinning kick into Kung Lao's mid section causing the shaolin monk to take a couple of steps back. Seeing an opening Kitana charges forward sending another spinning kick towards Kung Lao before suddenly she feels her leg being grabbed.
With her eyes widening suddenly Kitana feels her leg being lifted up before she uses the momentum to do a backflip into the air landing a short distance away from Kung Lao. As she sees Kung Lao reaching up to grab his hat suddenly Kitana does a spinning flip into the air as she sees Kung Lao release his hat causing the blade on the hat to just miss her body. Reaching back Kitana quickly grabs a hold of her fans as she watches the bladed hat coming back in her direction before in a sudden move she ducks down having the hat go blazing above her head before with a flick of her wrist she sends one of her steel fans towards Kung Lao. As she rises to her feet Kitana watches Kung Lao catch his steel hat before in a sudden move he deflects the steel fan away from him and towards the crowd where the fan lands in the waiting arms of Jade.
As she sees Kung Lao putting his hat back on his head an intense glare comes across Kitana's face when she sees Kung Lao motioning for her to come before driven by pure rage Kitana charges forward at Kung Lao once again as she sees him running towards her. Right as she sees Kung Lao take into the air Kitana jumps up after him and for the next few seconds she trades blows in the air with the shaolin monk before she lands back on the ground at the same time as Kung Lao and is about to charge forward again at him when suddenly she witnesses Kung Lao disappear in a small tornado before suddenly she feels a kick being delivered to her lower back followed by an uppercut to her chin causing her to go flying to the ground a couple of feet.
Shaking her head Kitana slowly gets to her feet before suddenly she looks up to see Kung Lao moving through the air at high speed towards her until she feels kicks being repeatedly delivered to her chest. As she feels herself smacking the ground again with a thud Kitana looks up to see Kung Lao a distance away from her reaching up for his steel hat once again before she witnesses him throw the hat in her direction once again. Right when she sees the hat getting closer to her location suddenly Kitana watches as Sub Zero quickly jumps in front of her catching the steel hat in his hands before she watches a cold breeze come through the air and the hat in his hands freeze.
As he focuses his ice powers down onto the steel hat suddenly Sub Zero throws the hat up into and sends a spinning kick causing the hat to shatter into pieces before he looks over towards Kung Lao with fire in his eyes as his hands start to clutch into tight fists. Hearing movement coming from behind himself glancing over his shoulder Sub Zero sees Kitana looking up towards him with Jade kneeling by her side before he looks back over to Kung Lao seeing Liu Kang and Raiden joining his side. As he hears footsteps quickly approaching Sub Zero looks over to his right to see his older brother and Smoke approaching him before they join him by his sides as they turn to look at the shaolin monks.
" The winner of the match is Kung Lao."
Glancing back over his shoulder Sub Zero watches Kitana slowly being helped to her feet by Jade before he turns back forward and takes a few steps forward towards Kung Lao with fire in his eyes.
" Challenge!"
Looking on Sub Zero watches Raiden go up and whisper something into Kung Lao's ear until he looks over to his side when he feels a hand gently being placed on his shoulder and sees his older brother looking at him with a questioning look in his eyes as he hears a small argument taking place between Raiden and Kung Lao on the opposite end of the arena. Turning his attention away from his older brother looking over his shoulder Sub Zero sees Kitana being helped over to the side lines by Jade as she looks towards him and gives him a small nod unaware to his knowledge that she is sporting a small smile underneath her mask. As he hears Kung Lao yelling at Raiden turning his attention back forward Sub Zero watches Kung Lao take a few steps forward as Raiden and Liu Kang leave his side.
" I accept your challenge!"
As he glances over to his sides Sub Zero watches his fellow Lin Kuei members slowly leave his side and make their way back off the battle ground before he turns his attention back towards Kung Lao as his hands start to clutch into tight fists. After just a few seconds of staring at Kung Lao in the eyes suddenly Sub Zero charges forward towards Kung Lao when he sees the shaolin monk charging his directing before seconds later the sounds of their fists connecting to the other echoes throughout the air until suddenly the two fighters start to send strikes towards the other that hit nothing but air. As he sends strike after strike Kung Lao's way hitting nothing but air or the not attended target slowly using his training Sub Zero starts to time Kung Lao's movements and gets into a rhythm with the shaolin monk. After just a minute of waiting patiently an opening presents itself to the young ninja as he sends a spinning kick that connects to Kung Lao's side causing the shaolin monk to jump back a couple of feet.
Raising up his hands Sub Zero takes into a fighting motion when suddenly he watches Kung Lao disappear in a small tornado before he quickly sense Kung Lao behind him and turns just in time to see Kung Lao sending a high kick his way that he easily blocks with his right forearm. Suddenly Sub Zero watches Kung Lao disappear again in a tornado before he turns and blocks another high kick coming from the shaolin monk from behind. Getting into a rhythm Sub Zero continues to block kick after kick as Kung Lao would disappear into a small tornado until suddenly Sub Zero gets his timing down and sends a back elbow that connects into Kung Lao's face before he sends a kick into Kung Lao's chest causing the shaolin monk to fall down onto the ground.
Jumping back Subzero watches Kung Lao jumping to his feet before Sub Zero takes into the air and sends a spinning kick to Kung Lao's face causing the shaolin monk to spin in the air before landing down on the ground face first. Taking a few steps back as he sees Kung Lao slowly leaning up Sub Zero rears back and summon his ice powers to slowly form into a ball before he watches as suddenly a bolt of lightning strikes the ground right in front of Kung Lao where a second later Raiden appears. As he hears the sound of thunder crackling in the distance and sees Raiden's eyes going completely white slowly Sub Zero unsummons his ice powers.
" The fight is over!"
As he hears footsteps approaching him looking over to his side Sub Zero watches his older brother making his way towards him before he watches his older brother nod his head away from the arena. Slowly making his way forward Sub Zero looks over his shoulder to see Kitana nodding her head towards him along with Jade before he turns his attention back forward and follows his brother out of the arena.
Just a mere hour later as the tournament takes a short recess just outside of the next arena the Lin Kuei is gathered around Sub Zero from a short distance away with not so pleased looks across their faces except for his older brother whom is looking at him with a confused look across his face as he stands by his side.
" What are you doing little brother? You have been given strict orders to not participate in this tournament. You are to observe only. What were you thinking?"
" I don't know brother. All i know is i needed to protect her. I can't explain why."
" Well let me tell you this. You cannot defend her. It is strictly forbidden to have any sort of feelings. Your duty is to serve the Lin Kuei. If the elders found out about this behavior, I don't know what type of punishment they would bring down upon you brother. Even if we could you are a Earthrealm warrior and she is The Princess of Outworld. The very same realm that is trying to conquer our very own. You cannot show them any sort of weakness."
Taking a deep breathe Sub Zero gives his older brother a nod before he receives a nod in return and watches his older brother walk away from him towards the other members of the Lin Kuei. Turning on his heels Sub Zero slowly walks away from the arena until just minutes later he finds himself alone near some small ruins unaware that a lone figure is approaching him quietly from behind. As he comes to a complete stop and looks off into the distance suddenly Sub Zero snaps his head to the side when he hears a silent footstep before his eyes widen when he sees Kitana slowly approaching him.
" Princess?"
As a smile forms underneath her mask Kitana watches Sub Zero slowly turn towards her as he gets down to one knee and bows his head towards her before she stops a foot away from him.
" Thank you for saving my life."
" You don't need to thank me."
" Yes i do. But you shouldn't have saved me. Why did you save me?"
" I don't know. I just had to."
With a smile forming on her face Kitana gently places a hand down on Sub Zero's shoulder.
" What's your name?"
" I don't have a name."
" Everyone has a name."
Slowly kneeling down Kitana removes her hand from Sub Zero's shoulder and places it under his chin before she slowly turns his head to look up towards her.
" What's your name?"
" Kuai."
" Thank you for saving me Kuai. I promise to return the kindness you showed me today."
As he feels Kitana's hand leaving his face Sub Zero watches Kitana rise up to her feet before she slowly walks away. Once he sees Kitana disappear into the distance Sub Zero looks up towards the small ruins to see Jade looking at him from the distance before he watches her send him a nod and disappear in the direction of Kitana.
Moving quickly through the ruins Jade jumps down to the ground below as she sees Kitana leaning off the wall she is leaning on before she quickly follows after her to the next arena.
" Jade what do you know about the Lin Kuei?"
" I know that they are an ancient clan Princess. The clan produces some of the strongest fighters in all the realms."
" How so?"
" When someone joins the Lin Kuei they are influenced by the clan to abandon and leave their old lives behind. They are influenced that their duty to the clan is the only thing that matters. Some of their fighters however were unlucky and raised to be warriors at birth by the Lin Kuei."
As she nods her head Kitana looks over towards Jade seeing her looking at her with a curious look before she turns her head back forward.
" Jade, I want you to gather any information you can about this fighter from the Lin Kuei. Anyone from the clan named Kuai."
Giving Kitana a nod Jade slowly walks away from Kitana before she slowly disappears into the distance.