Nightwing and Johnny Cage were place in a room to rest for the night. Although he was concerned about Batman, Nightwing went to sleep as he had faith in his mentor. That morning, all the combatants were gathered for the tournament to continue. The guards guided them all to the beach were Shang Tsung was awaiting. He was standing on a podium with two women standing on each side with one wearing blue and the other wearing green. As they gathered, Nightwing saw no sign of Batman. Shang Tsung called for everyone's attention.
"Today the tournament continues," said Shang Tsung and continued, "Liu Kang! Step forward."
Liu Kang then walk forward into the sand and stood in front of the crowd awaiting for Shang Tsung to call his opponent. Looking into the crowd Shang Tsung pointed his finger at Nightwing.
"You, step forward," Shang Tsung commanded.
"Looks like your up buddy," said Johnny Cage who was standing next to him.
Nightwing walked forward and faced Liu Kang. The two stared each other down awaiting for Shang Tsung to begin the match. Shang Tsung watched Liu Kang deviously as he knew that he was Raiden's prize fighter.
"Begin!" yelled Shang Tsung.
Nightwing wasted no time whipping out his staff and rushing in. Liu Kang stood still as if his opponent wasn't even attacking him. Nightwing came at him swinging, but Liu Kang only swayed from side to side dodging his attacks. When Nightwing tried to hit him high, Liu grabbed his staff in the middle and pushed his fist in his chest while still holding the staff. Nightwing fell to the sand while Liu Kang towered him with his weapon in hand.
"Your discipline and skill is impressive, but you lack in technique," Liu Kang said tossing Nightwing his staff back.
Angered by his words, Nightwing took a different approach. He squared up with Liu Kang and planned to try a more distant attack. As he poked and swung at Liu Kang, again Liu Kang was able to avoid his attacks. Liu then grab the end of Nightwing's staff, force down on his end causing the other end to smack Nightwing in the chin, hit Nightwing on the side of the leg with it bringing him to his knees, and putting the tip of the staff in his face.
"Like I said, lack of technique," repeated Liu Kang.
Nightwing then grab the staff while Liu Kang still had it, twisted it to turn on the shocking tips, and shock Liu enough to force him to let go. Nightwing then disassembled the staff into two batons and rushed in. Liu Kang was dazzle, but quickly composed himself and began dodging Nightwing's fury of attacks. Nightwing, at that moment, activated the shocking tips and then slammed them into the ground, causing a ground voltage to fire towards Liu Kang. Seeing this, Liu Kang back flipped until the charge went out. Not wanting distance between them, Nightwing went back on the pursuit. As he tried to perform a flashy move were he spins his batons in a fast pace circular motion, Liu Kang watched extremely close, caught the pattern, took both batons with one hand without being shocked, and punched Nightwing in his chest with his other hand.
"Enough of your toys," said Liu Kang tossing the batons into the sand and went on to say, "Show me what you can do."
Nightwing brushed himself off and took a fighting stance as he and Liu Kang were about to go into hand to hand combat. Nightwing again made the first move. Although Liu Kang out did him with his own weapon, Nightwing prove to be a formidable combatant. He and Liu Kang sparred intensively, both landing hits here and there, but were mostly countering each others attack. In the middle of the fight, Nightwing released the spiked daggers on his gauntlets and spun back and forth viciously with them. Liu Kang ducked his attacks and released a flurry of back fist jabs with a heavy right fist to follow that put Nightwing into a daze. While Nightwing tried to compose himself, Liu Kang flew through the air with the flying kick, striking Nightwing directly in the face. The hit drew blood from his nose and sent him crashing to the ground on his back. Nightwing was still conscious, but the kick left him baffle and unable to get up.
"Our winner, Liu Kang," Shang Tsung announced seeing that Nightwing was obviously defeated, but saw this as a perfect opportunity to test Liu Kang's moral of combat and said, "Now, finish him!"
"I spare his life," said Liu Kang, and as he turned and walked away, "This was a joke."
Over hearing Liu Kang words, Shang Tsung frowned heavily with disgust. He should have given Liu Kang a more formidable opponent to truly test him seeing that Nightwing had not possessed the skill that Batman displayed. He then came up with a plan.
"Liu Kang! Step forward," Shang Tsung said.
This stop Liu Kang in his tracks, and put rage onto Raiden's face.
"He already fought Tsung, what are you doing," said Raiden angrily, seeing that Shang Tsung was trying to twist the tournament.
"Indeed he did thunder god, but he can also except another! That is if he is not a coward!" Shang Tsung blurted back.
Liu Kang feared no one, and look at his fight with Nightwing as a warmup. Although he knew Raiden would protest, he felt another challenge would give Shang Tsung something to fear.
"I except!" yelled Liu Kang as he turned around and walked back. This put an evil grin on Shang Tsung's face.
"Liu Kang! What are you doing!" yelled Raiden angrily and in disbelief.
Liu Kang ignored Raiden's outburst and stood before Shang Tsung awaiting his opponent. Shang Tsung thought for a second and then chose the perfect match for him.
"Kitana! Step forward," Shang Tsung said.
The woman in the blue clothing made her way in front of Liu Kang. Liu Kang was shocked by this selection, but then realized if Shang Tsung hand picked her as his second opponent she had to be extremely skilled and deadly. Liu Kang took a fighting stance and so did Kitana. Before Shang Tsung started the match, Johnny Cage saw Nightwing struggling to walk back and ran over to help guide him back to the crowd.
"That Liu Kang guy is something serious, huh," said Johnny.
"Yeah. Definitely reminds me of someone," Nightwing repiled wiping the blood from his nose.
Liu Kang and Kitana were squared off. She stared intensively at him awaiting for Shang Tsung signal for her to batter him. Raiden watch as he was disappointed in Liu Kang for taking on a second challenge, and feared he could lose or get badly injured.
"Begin!" commanded Shang Tsung.
Kitana let out a war cry as she charged Liu Kang. Unlike Nightwing, Liu Kang noticed she was incredibly skilled do to her posture in her attack. As she collided with him, her attacks were blocked, but she made it impossible for him to counter as she was to swift. Liu Kang managed to land a force palm to her stomach that knock her back a little. As she went back, she pulled out two knives that flopped into fans. Liu Kang put his guard back up as she came at him again. She got in a couple of cuts, cutting him across his face and leg. Liu Kang took these as minor injuries and continue to defend him self until he saw an opening for an attack. Shang Tsung watched happily as Kitana was winning. Liu Kang flipped back to get some distance as she was to skill with her fans. As he was flipping back, Kitana threw one of them at him. As it got close, Liu Kang clamped his hands on it to catch it and then bowed, looking up at her as to say I'm that good. Kitana pull out another fan to replace the one she just threw and went back on the attack. She got in more minor cuts, but was unable to slash him deep. Liu Kang finally countered with a grapple and twisted her armed until her back was to his chest.
"Please, I don't want to hurt," he whispered in her ear.
"Sorry, but I don't feel the same," She said and then autocratically lifted her leg, kicking him in the face to break his hold of her.
As the they fought, Nightwing began looking around at the other combatants as he was hoping to see if Batman had come back. There was also a native man who stood next to Raiden and a trio of what looked like ninjas standing by themselves conversing. He then notice that one of the ninja's that was off to himself with a very paled skinned man with odd symbols all over him was gazing fiercely at the trio of ninjas, particularly the blue one. Nightwing began to get a bad feeling about this tournament and felt that Batman was in danger. He looking around to see if there was anyway he could sneak off but the guards stood directly behind him. As looked at them he saw that all of them were standing in a formation looking forward, except for one who looked as if he was watching the fight.
The fight between Liu Kang and Kitana continued on. Liu Kang had begin to figure out her style and started countering her. She then, noticing that she was losing her edge, bust out a special attack, flying through the air violently. Liu Kang rolled under this and countered with his flying kick. As she landed, she could hear Liu Kang coming and had a trick up her sleeve. She quickly turn around and spun her fans in an upward motion causing the wind to catch Liu Kang in midair. Caught, Liu Kang had to think fast, so before she could even capitalize he fired a fire ball from his bare hands directly at her feet, causing a small explosion that burst the sand into the air. Kitana was knock off her feet onto the ground, and Liu Kang fell as her wind effect had stop. Kitana got up and began waving the sand out of her face so she could see. All of a sudden, a foot smashed into her face knocking her to the ground. Liu Kang, realizing she was distracted, used his flying kick once more and connected. As Kitana staggered to her feet, Liu Kang rushed in, rammed his fist in her gut, back fist her in her face, and round house kicked her across her head. Kitana spun in the air before hitting the ground.
Shang Tsung was again disgusted that Liu Kang won, this time against one of his own warrior. Kitana laid dishearten of her defeat. She dared not to look at Shang Tsung, but when she looked at her opponent she was in shock. Liu Kang had his hand out, offering to help her up.
"Please, finish me. I don't deserve to live," she said.
"You also don't deserve to die," Liu Kang replied.
Kitana was baffled by his words, and grabbed his hand. Liu Kang pulled her up to him and their chest nearly touch. She stare deeply into his eyes, as he did hers while holding her hand. Liu Kang then turned his attention to Shang Tsung.
"I also spare her life," he said.
"Very well then! Our winner is Liu Kang," Shang Tsung said bitterly.
Liu Kang slowly let go of her hand and walk back over to Raiden who in turn was still angry with Liu Kang for his decision. Shang Tsung realized there that Liu Kang was another threat that he had to take care of.
"The rest of the tournament will take place at another location. My guards will escort you all there shortly. Be prepare for combat upon your arrival," Shang Tsung said stepping down from the podium.
As the guards began to escort the rest of the combatants to the next location, Shang Tsung viciously pulled Kitana to the side by her arm.
"What was that?" asked Shang Tsung with anger.
"What was what," she said back snatching away from him.
"How could you be so weak and pathetic. Your father would have your head for such a defeat at the hands of a earthrealmer," Shang Tsung said fiercely.
"If he is so pathetic, then why did you choose me instead of yourself. Sounds like your the pathetic one sorcerer," she blasted back.
"Watch your tongue girl. Cause of you I have to rearrange the tournament to get rid of him," he bit back.
"Then clean up your mess," she said.
"No, this is your mess and your going to be doing the clean my dear," he replied.
"What are you talking about, the gods won't allow me to fight him in Mortal Kombat again," she said, not understanding Shang Tsung's motives.
"He can't fight in Mortal Kombat at all if he is assassinate," he said with malicious intent.