-Chapter 2: The Angry God

Earthrealm...

The situation in Outworld was calm and peaceful, the realm entering a golden age under Mileena's new rule. But while events bode well for the Empress and her consort, not all was well in Earthrealm...

Thunder boomed over the Sky Temple as bolts of red lightning jumped from cloud to cloud, wrathful and vengeful. The atmosphere was dark and threatening, the weather responding accordingly to the mood of one being.

Standing alone in the courtyard of the Temple, the thunder god Raiden stood tall and foreboding, his thoughts clouded. Over the past few months he had stewed in his anger and resentment over Magnus' decision to resurrect Mileena and help her reclaim the throne of Outworld. Never did he think that his own student would go so far to do something so foolish. And yet the temptation of the choice enticed him, drew him in until it was too late for Raiden to correct him. Magnus and set in his ways and Raiden had no choice but to leave him to his fate. Discipline had no effect, nor did reprimand. Magnus was now a wayward soul.

Closing his eyes, Raiden's thoughts dwelt on his failure with Liu Kang and Kung Lao and how he should've learned from the mistakes he made with them so that Magnus might be better. He wished deeply to turn back time so that he might prevent Magnus from choosing such a course of action.

But maybe the fault did not lie with either him or Magnus. Perhaps the fault itself lay with Outworld.

Opening his crimson eyes, Raiden continued to gaze across the land as the sound of whipping winds informed him that someone had come. This was no ordinary tempest that had been summoned...

"I sense your thoughts are grave. Your disposition is frustrated." The god of wind, Fujin, declared, announcing his presence.

"You are perceptive, Fujin." Raiden growled in a low, monotone voice. Straightening up, he turned to face his fellow deity. "I have stood by for too long and let Outworld be. I should've lived up to my words the instant I spoke them to Kotal Kahn." He stated, voicing his negative feelings. "My patience has cost me... I have lost another son to Outworld." He added with a hint of regret. Fujin thought otherwise.

"But if you would hear him out-" He started to say.

"He has fallen too far, Fujin!" Raiden interrupted in a booming voice, thunder rumbling overhead simultaneously. "His betrayal has put us in a dangerous position."

"Not us. You." Fujin corrected, suddenly taking a stern approach to Raiden. "Magnus did not betray you. He followed the course he thought best." He stated. Before setting off, Magnus had come to Fujin for guidance. The wind god has sensed his intentions and warned him of the potential consequences. Never did he think that Raiden would be at the source, responding as harshly as he did.

"A course we should've deterred him from taking!" Raiden shot back, raising his voice. His eyes were ablaze with a subtle fury, indicating how taxing this situation was on his emotions. "He has allowed Outworld to become a threat again!"

"But is it a threat?" Fujin countered. "What moves have they made against us these past two months? What has Mileena done to make her an enemy?" He asked.

"Historically, Outworld has served as the breeding ground for despots and tyrants, each of them seeking power through senseless violence... of which Earthrealm has always paid the highest price." Raiden answered. "I am opposed to the potential threat they make, and Mileena is the very embodiment of their old way of life. How she managed to bewitch Magnus..." The thunder god trailed off, his thoughts turning sullen as he reflected on his lost pupil. Of all the people he'd failed, Magnus Shadrix was the last one he wanted to fail.

But in a strange and twisted sense of irony, it was Magnus who had failed him.

"I have made my decision. I must do something, I cannot be idle any longer." Raiden continued, sounding determined.

"I sense your intentions and I would do everything in my power to prevent you. But seeing as there is no end to your vengeful desires-"

"If you are not with me against our enemies, Fujin, then you stand in my way. An unwise choice." Raiden darkly answered, cutting him off. Fujin fell silent as Raiden made to walk off, reflecting on the thunder god's foul demeanor.

"What will you do?" He quietly asked.

"I will attack Outworld and remove the threat it poses once and for all." Raiden explained, his back to his fellow god. It sounded absurd, almost foolhardy to Fujin. But he knew Raiden would not be deterred, even if this course of action was the wrong one.

"What you need is to gather yourself. Work past Magnus' choices!" Fujin declared, having had enough of Raiden's dark, misguided actions.

But the thunder god did not find his words welcome, and blasted Fujin with a burst of red lightning, summoned from the storm clouds above. The wind god was propelled into a nearby wall, his body crashing into it with a thunderous crash.

"Be silent Fujin!" Raiden bellowed, eyes ablaze. "You would seek to incur my wrath?!" The lightning faded and Fujin collapsed. "I will do what must be done, even if you cannot see the wisdom in it." Raiden continued with a growl. Fujin crawled to his hands and knees, kneeling as he recovered.

"I will have no part in your foolish crusade." He stated, looking up with white eyes full of disappointment. "Do you what you wish, Raiden. But leave me out of it." Raiden huffed in response, red lightning cloaking his arms.

"If you continue to oppose me in this fashion... we will have words, Fujin." He growled. With that, the god of thunder teleported away in a bolt of red lightning.

Raiden's destination was the Jinsei chamber within the Sky Temple. He appeared with a crackle of electricity and another bolt of lightning, materializing just beyond the chamber's doors. Stepping forward, the god faced two guards clad in grey and yellow ninja robes who bowed upon seeing him. Raiden moved past them and entered the chamber, coming face to face with a man clad in yellow and sporting silver armor. His face was obscured behind a hood and golden mask, but his eyes burned with a blue fury.

"Hanzo Hasashi!" Raiden called to him, using his name rather than his alias. The ninja and his fellows bowed low before Raiden, dropping to one knee.

"Lord Raiden." Hanzo replied in greeting. "How may we serve you?" He asked.

"Rally your clansmen. The Shirai Ryu will accompany me to Outworld. We will overtake them and remove the threat they pose to all of Earthrealm." Raiden stated, revealing his plan to them.

"As you command, Lord Raiden." Scorpion replied, his eyes burning blue with the power of the Jinsei.