Fujin and Hanzo teleported back to the Shirai Ryu Temple in a burst of wind and a blaze of fire, leaving Kenshi in charge until their return. As Fujin expected, they were to late. He stood outside the temple while Hanzo ventured inside. The sight would have made even the most sadistic man on Earth sick. Pools of blood invaded the floors and the splatter painted the walls. Everyone that Hanzo recruited, both men and women, were slaughtered. The sight of the young orphans that he had taken in was the hardest for Hanzo to witness. This is the second time his clan was massacred during his absence, and he couldn't help but feel guilty. His tighten fists slowly began to turn reddish and hot as mix emotions were flowing through him. Tears gently ran down his cheeks as he dropped to his knees and smashed his inflamed fist into the floor, causing a fire to spread. The pain in Hanzo was something that was eating at him badly as he let out a scream of frustration. The fire spread faster, engulfing the bodies and running up the walls. Hanzo looked up as the new life he built for himself was burning down. He began to feel as if he didn't deserve a family, and as he stood up, there was an obvious change within him. As he was taking one last look, he noticed that one of his fallen brothers had something clinched in his left hand. Hanzo took it, and upon examination, he automatically knew who the culprits were.
Fujin was still standing outside, watching the fire dance inside the temple. He felt bad for Hanzo and was prepared to face his demonic state. His wait came to an end as he could see a shadowy figure emerging from the flames through the entrance. Hanzo walked out, but was now wearing the mouth guard to complete his uniform and weaponized black gauntlets with hidden spears and chains. Fujin was a bit on edge at first, but his tension eased once he saw the pupils in Hanzo's eyes and not Scorpion's undead eyes. Yet Fujin still notice a difference in him.
"I'm sorry," Fujin grieved with him, but notice a piece of red cloth in his right hand.
"I don't need your pity," Hanzo replied in a calm, dark voice as he continued to stray pass Fujin and appeared to just be walking without a destination.
"Where are you going Hanzo?" Fujin questioned.
Hanzo stop and turned his head backwards to look back at him and the burning temple and said, "Doesn't matter now."
Fujin stood without words as Hanzo slowly faded away into the darkness of the trees. He was aware of what had happen before with the original Shirai Ryu and couldn't imagine what was going through his head. Fujin took one last look at the temple that was finally starting to crumble from the blaze. He couldn't help but feel that he was partly at fault. If he had never included Hanzo, his clan may have lived on and Hanzo wouldn't have to endure this all over again. Fujin disintegrated into the wind, praying that this wouldn't eventually push Hanzo over the edge.
The morning sun had arisen, shining light over the Wu Shi Academy. Fujin, who came back that very morning, broke the news to Kenshi, Forrest Fox, and Takeda outside while Cassie was still asleep inside the academy. Hearts became heavy and tears were shed among the young Shirai Ryu warriors. Fox was obviously taking it the hardest even though he was trying to hold back his emotions. Fujin managed to convince the young men to stay at the academy seeing that they had nowhere else to go. The Shaolin arranged housing for them and took them inside. Fujin and Kenshi remain in the elements, discussing the circumstances.
"So Hanzo isn't coming?" Kenshi asked once the other two were inside.
"No," Fujin said, being realistic about the situation.
"So what now?" asked Kenshi.
"Do you trust me?" Fujin asked mysteriously.
"Of coarse," Kenshi quickly stated.
"Then take me to the Special Forces asylum. I want to speak to Liu Kang."
In the Outworld Empire, formally known as Shao Kahn's Fortress, a death match is taking place within the arena. Kotal Kahn, the dominate ruler of Outworld, stands in chains on the emperors balcony, watching helplessly as his father, Kotal K'etz, battles King Goro. Kotal is of Osh-Tekk descent, a race that have blueish green skin and are known for their war mentality and honor. He wears an Aztec eagle warrior headdress, brown lion cloth with varies skull fragments as designs, and has glowing tattoos. Reiko sits next to him upon his throne while his wife, Mileena, watches eagerly from the railing of the balcony. The crowd cheers ferociously for bloodshed.
"You hear Kotal," Reiko said, beginning to mentally antagonize him, "They no longer believe you. Your short lived dynasty is beginning to crumble."
"You speak of nothing but traitors such as yourself. I care nothing for them," Kotal stated.
"They feel the same," Reiko replied cleverly.
Within the Arena, Kotal K'etz fought for his life. Goro was obviously dominating the fight with brute strength and power. K'etz punched Goro in the face with all his might, cracking the Shokan's jaw and knocking out a few teeth. Goro spat the blood from his mouth and threw a heymaker of his own, but missed. K'etz landed another hard blow to Goro's rib cage. Goro stumbled backwards. Kotal K'etz saw another chance for an attack and ran towards Goro, leaped into the air, and brought down a heavy elbow to Goro's forehead. Yet this was a mistake as he may have landed another hard blow, but he was now in Goro's clutch range as the King of Shokan's rapped him up with his lower arms holding the Osh-Tekk warrior by his waist. Goro began pounding him on top of his head with his upper fist, shatter K'etz facial, shoulder, and collarbones with every blow. Goro dropped K'etz battered body onto the ground and proceeded to gloat. The crowd was loving it. Though his body begged him to lie in defeat, Kotal K'etz pride forced him to get up. He rushed behind Goro, and leaped onto Goro's back. He got a couple of punches into Goro's face before Goro reached upward, grabbed him by his arms, and slammed him on the ground so hard that it shatter pieces of his spine and shoulder blades. The began chanting "King Goro" as he looked up to Mileena to receive the life or death signal. Mileena childishly shot both of her thumbs down, placing a devilish smile onto Goro's face. Goro picked up Kotal K'etz like a rag doll and held him from behind with both his lower arms holding K'etz arms out as if he was on a cross. Goro placed his massive hands around his head and slowly squeezed to tighten his grip a bit. K'etz looked upward as best he could to see his saw watching helplessly. Goro slowly began to pry his head from his torso. The flesh in his neck starts to rip and tear as Goro pulls harder. Finally, Kotal K'etz body goes limp as his head is held into the air like a trophy. Kotal Kahn sheds a tear as his father has fallen.
"No need to shed tears Kotal. You will be with him soon," Reiko told him as the crowd of insurgents cheered in Goro's glory, "Take him away," he told the guards who stood behind Kotal, "Goro must rest for their up and coming battle."
As Kotal Kahn was guided away, Daegon enter onto the balcony and stood next to Reiko's throne chair as Mileena was still watching Goro belittle Kotal K'etz body in victory.
"Your plan seems to be coming into fruition," Daegon stated, making his presence known.
"Yes, but there is still lots of work that needs to be done. Speaking of which, have your men accomplished their mission?"
"Yes. The Shirai Ryu have been successfully eradicated," Daegon informed him proudly.
"Good. Now we wait," Reiko said viciously.
Kotal Kahn's capture during the Battle of the Golden Desert was a huge victory for the the Outworld Insurgency, giving Reiko the strategic advantage over Kahnum, Kotal Kahn's kingdom of Z'Unkahrah, for the pass few months as only Kotal Kahn can match his tactical brilliance. It was a huge mistake by Kotal, being too eager to eliminate Mileena and rid her of Shao Kahn's heir rights. Kotal Kahn has been kept in darkness and beaten over his captive state to weaken him for Goro, but Kotal has spent this time planning his escape that he now had to put into action immediately.
The Asylum of the Special Forces facilities. Fujin and Kenshi made the long journey to back to the United States, leaving the others with the Shaolin monks for protection in the wake of the Shirai Ryu massacre.
"With all due respect, I don't agree with this," Kenshi acknowledged as they stood at the highly secured cell door.
"Neither do I, but with Hanzo gone, we don't have many options," Fujin explained.
Kenshi wanted to debate the option more and try to convince him, but Fujin seemed dead set on this. Kenshi looked over to the door operator and nodded his head, signaling him to open the door. A loud noise sounded off and the door automatically slid open. Fujin and Kenshi step inside the dark room to see Liu Kang sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, with his upper torso fully concealed by the darkness. He is wearing a blue uniform and rapped in a straight jacket.
"Fujin, what a surprise. Who is the old guy?" Liu Kang asked sarcastically with a dark, evil like tone in his voice.
"Lets not play games Liu Kang," Fujin said.
"But I love games," Liu replied.
"I've come with an offer," Fujin said, getting to the piont as he wasn't in the mood for mind games.
"An offer? My lucky day," Liu Kang said, continuing to be sarcastic and psychotic.
"We're giving you a chance to get out of here. Maybe you should show more respect," Kenshi grunted as he had an extreme bitterness towards him for past actions.
Liu Kang began to chuckle, stood up, and said, "Do you really think I need you to walk out that door," Liu Kang shimmied a bit and the straight jacket fell off of him, "I surrendered my free will, and I can take it back anytime I want. So what the hell can you offer me."
"Immortality," Fujin said.
"Funny. You're dumber than the old guy," Liu Kang said, referring to Kenshi, "I'm the reigning champion of Mortal Kombat. By the grace of the pathetic Elder Gods, I've been given eternal life."
"True, for now," Fujin said, being to toy with Liu Kang at his own game.
"What are you talking about?" Liu Kang asked, being caught off guard by the statement.
"In nine days, another Mortal Kombat tournament will begin and if you don't participate on behalf of Earthrealm, you will be stripped of your title and gift," Fujin explained, leaving out a few details of the tournament's arrangements.
"Your lying," Liu Kang said, refusing to believe.
"I wouldn't have come here if it wasn't true? I believe you're nothing more than a monster that deserve nothing better then the deepest depths of the Netherrealm, but I'm willing to give you a chance to retain your selfish prize for the greater good," Fujin said, spilling a bit of hatred out of his composure.
Liu Kang was silent. This prompt both Fujin and Kenshi to begin to leave. Right when Fujin place a single foot out of the door, Liu Kang said, "I want all of my gear returned to me, and if I'm going to do this, know that I'm doing to do it my way."