Liu Kang looked down at Jax, who was lying on the ground in pain. He had remembered that Jax would get cybernetic arms, but he had a better idea.
"Sonya Blade. Can you bring me his arms and cauterize the wounds as well, so that no more blood may leak?" He said.
Sonya didn't know what he planned to do, but she walked over, grabbing the removed limbs. She began to seal the wounds, bringing them over to him. What he was about to do was going to be considered a miracle as he put the limbs next to where they were once attached to.
"What do you plan to do?" Johnny questioned.
Liu Kang didn't answer, instead, a blue and red light began to cover his palms. "Not once have I tried this... but hopefully with the combined abilities of Raiden from the previous timeline and my newly advanced ones... it will work."
He let out a shout, straining himself, but slowly, the arms began to reattach themselves to where they once stood, the bones being corrected along with the muscles. They were all shocked, even Shang Tsung, not knowing Liu Kang could do this as he repaired the limbs.
"Woah! How'd you do that!?" Cage wondered, being caught off guard by this limb repairing.
"It's a new technique I guess... as the guardian of Earthrealm..."
Then, the doors opened, Reptile, Rain, and Khameleon walking in, Shang Tsung noticing their arrival. However, he was not pleased with Reptile being with these two, as they were allies of the Fire God.
"Hey! It's that lizard guy!" Johnny said, pointing at him.
"My name is Reptile... or that is what I am called yes. I am not some 'lizard guy'..." He said, walking towards the movie star, staring at him, the two of them having a staredown, remembering their little fight at the start of the tournament.
"Do not be consumed by your small quarrel you two, we're allies now. Reptile, do you know where Kitana is?"
"She has returned to Outworld, she is the queen after all."
Rain walked forward, looking at Liu Kang. "What's going on Lord Liu Kang? As in, what is happening with the fighters, why are we all here and where are the others?"
"We're all here because... this is the end of the tournament. All of my hopes are placed within Kung Lao, as he now faces Goro within his lair. The Black Dragon have been defeated and Hanzo left with Cyrax to find Bi-Han, Sareena, and the others. I do not know where Sektor is, same with Baraka and anyone else who has gotten involved with this tournament."
Rain crossed his arms, looking at Shang Tsung, then at the others.
Goro and Kung Lao had begun their fight, the Shaolin warrior being knocked back from their clash of heads. His body lit up a blue color for a few seconds before he ran forward, striking his foe in the stomach once and then kneeing his thigh.
Goro grunted, but then he made a swift movement to pick Kung Lao up by the head, slamming him down into the ground before stomping on his foot, injuring him. Pulling his hat off though, he threw it through the air, slicing at Goro's chest, pulling it back and cutting his arms rapidly before jumping up to perform a bicycle kick, screaming out as he did so.
With a loud bellow, Goro delivered such a strong uppercut that Kung Lao was tossed upwards into the air. Using this, he grabbed his right foot, spinning and slamming him down into the stone, knocking a tooth out of his mouth and causing him to bleed. When the beast let go, his legs shot up, striking his chest. Goro stumbled backwards a bit, so the warrior got up fast, jumping onto him, his legs around his waist.
"HAAAA!" He shouted, rapidly striking him in the nose, eyes, and mouth, taking off his hat to cut across his forehead, kicking off of him afterwards.
Goro grunted with actual pain, Kung Lao was getting the upperhand, but he wasn't about to be bested by some Shaolin. Stomping his feet on the ground, he charged forward with so much force that he was able to pick Kung Lao up and drive him through at least two walls before tossing him down like a spiked volleyball when they ended up in an entirely new room, Kung Lao rolling across the floor in pain.
"You wanted a fight huh? Then you shall suffer more of a brutality than your ancestor!"
"Sorry... I don't think I'll be suffering at all, if anything, I'll be gaining."
Goro scowled, cracking his knuckles. "GAINING PAIN!" Those were his words before jumping into the air, kicking Kung Lao through the floor into a deeper level of the lair, punching him with all four arms, one punch for each fist, in the upper torso.
After being able to stand, he rose to his feet, grunting in pain, focusing as his eyes had flashed a bit of a bluish color. His power had begun to release itself more. His hat had power, power that he himself had all along, but was now beginning to tap into it throughout the rest of his body.
"For the original... for... KUNG LAO!" He shouted, running forward, a blue outline surrounding his body as he performed a high jump, delivering a faster bicycle kick to Goro's head, doing a spin midair to knock him to his side.
"This strength... what has become of you? You have grown..." Goro said whilst groaning, shaking his head.
"The Shaolin can possess power. The Fire God is a former monk and I have an ally who also studies in the art of flames. However, ever since I've gained this hat, it has possessed a unique power, and I guess that power has finally connected to my soul. Now... I end this!"
He jumped backwards before suddenly running forward, throwing his hat. It began to grind away at Goro's chest, leaving several cut marks before being recalled, landed right on his head at the same time that he jumped into the air, blue energy flying off of him when he struck Goro's jaw with a powerful bicycle kick, knocking him out and finishing the fight.
"There... now my ancestor's death has been avenged..."
Shang Tsung began to search for Kung Lao, feeling that it had ended. He did not know who won, but he was tracing their energies.
"There..." He said, creating a massive portal. No one came through.
He kept waiting, giving him 10 more seconds. Suddenly, Kung Lao appeared, emerging from the portal with a confident grin, running his fingers along the blade on his hat. "For the White Lotus."
The fighters for Earthrealm cheered him on, Shang Tsung being angered by this victory, but now was his time. He stood up, stretching.
"It has been quite a century since I have had to fight... but now you stand before me, Kung Lao! I am your final challenge!" He said, taking on a martial arts stance. The Black Dragon members had retreated for the time being, and all of the Outworld fighters were gone. Kotal ended up walking in with Jade, Cyrax, and Hanzo, carrying Sareena and Sub-Zero.
"Earthrealm's fighters have come together to witness this, the final challenge, Shang Tsung vs Kung Lao!" Liu Kang said.
"I will not hold back, I'm giving it my all for Earthrealm!" Kung Lao had shouted, walking forward, him and Shang Tsung moving in a circle, staring each other down.
"Then... FIGHT!"
Shang Tsung jumped into the air, his soul energy flowing through the air as he flew forward, letting out a sharp yelp before punching rapidly at him. Using his energy, he blasted Kung Lao into a pillar, breaking it before darting forward, sending a high kick up at him. His opponent blocked it, but he spun around, using his other leg to perform a low kick on Kung Lao's legs, attempting to trip him. It did hurt, but he did not fall, taking his hat off and focusing his newfound energy, blasting Shang Tsung through the air before tossing his hat, cutting his robe.
"Ngh... enough!" Tsung roared out, his body beginning to change. He was shapeshifting, but Liu Kang suddenly recognized his form.
"Shao Kahn..."
"Kahn? Isn't that Kitana's title?" Kotal asked of him.
Emerging from green smoke, Shang Tsung stood at 6'5, having an extremely muscular body with a shogun helmet, his face exposed though, the upper part of his head being of a maroon color, his eyes looking like a snake. His arms were draconic, also being a dark maroon color with spikes on them, eyes glowing red as well.
"Come Kung Lao... let us see if you are worthy to become the champion!"
Kung Lao ran forward, punching at Shang Tsung, now known as Shao Kahn in this form, making him stumble back a bit before being uppercutted, knocked through the air.
"HAAA!" He shouted, creating a green hammer out of energy, similarly to Nightwolf, running forward and striking Kung Lao once in the jaw before picking him up by the leg, throwing him upwards and slamming the hammer into his back.
Liu Kang began to get worried he would lose, but he had trust in his ally, his fellow Shaolin.
Before Shao Kahn could strike once more, Kung Lao created a blue portal with his energy, flowing through it and ending up behind his opponent, attacking him with rapid strikes. He was knocked back by a strong elbow movement, but in another release of his new energy, he put both hands forward, a blue ball of power striking Shao Kahn in the upper torso, knocking him forward.
"What is this newfound power of yours... Kung Lao?"
"Don't know, must have something to do with the hat." He said, grinning.
"A hat does not grant one power like that... I will find out after reaping your soul!" Shao Kahn said, his regular Shang Tsung voice being able to be heard for just a bit.
"You're a soul stealer, but you will not have mine, you'll only reap your own soul!"
Blue energy began to surround Kung Lao as him and Shao Kahn ran towards each other, both shouting, their fists colliding once before their knees slammed together. Both of their heads slammed together, but the fight was ready to end, a blue aura forming around Kung Lao as he reeled his right arm backwards, screaming before thrusting his fist right through the armor, damaging Shao Kahn so badly that he returned to his Shang Tsung form, falling onto his back, grunting in pain.
Kung Lao was panting, bruised. The fight took a lot out of him as the blue energy dissipated. Liu Kang smiled, remembering what happened to Kung Lao in the previous timeline. Seeing him defeat the form of the being known as Shao Kahn makes him happy.
"Did he just... win?" Johnny thought, pointing at Kung Lao with surprise.
Shang Tsung grunted, not wanting to believe it, but he had to, coughing up a bit of blood.
"Kung Lao... is the champion?" He said.
Then, it was decided. Kung Lao had won the tournament for Earthrealm. His desire to win for Earthrealm and prove himself had released this newfound power within his body, the power of his soul, not simply the energy residing in the hat.
Liu Kang walked over to Shang Tsung, picking him up by the robe, "Where did you get that form from!?"
"An outworld general known as Shao! He once served Onaga, the original ruler... I found his soul while wandering the realm once within his corpse in a cavern. That's all!"
Liu Kang dropped Shang Tsung, scoffing at him. "Even in a new timeline... your relation to him doesn't cease."
The sorcerer didn't know what he meant, but now was not the time for this, now was a time for celebration. The tournament was finally over. Shang Tsung grunted, retreating, going to find his warriors so they could return.
"You're the man!" Jax said, patting Kung Lao on the back as everyone congratulated him.
"Yes, he is... now, Kung Lao, we will hold a ceremony for you at the Wu Shi Academy. We should all depart now. I'd advise for all of you to come with, if you do not wish to though, I will not force you."
Most of them had agreed to come, except for a few. Reptile looked over, "Thank you for the offer, but now, we must return to our home. Me and Khameleon. For our people, as I have not seen them in quite a while."
"I will not be joining you either. I must go now, to rediscover myself now that I've been returned to humanity and freed from Quan Chi." Hanzo spoke.
"As will we. Kotal and I will be going to his people, the Osh-Tekk, now that this is all well and done. We'd like to stay, but we reject." Jade said, bowing to Liu Kang.
"That is fine. All of you. Now, for those of you who wish to come, the ceremony is in three days, so you have time to prepare. Sub-Zero, Cyrax, I believe it is best for both of you to come with me instead of waiting for the three days. If you return, you know the fate that will befall you."
Sub-Zero nodded before saying, "Then perhaps it is time to say goodbye to the Lin Kuei for now. I will be leaving behind me the name Sub-Zero, so call me Bi-Han."
Liu Kang nodded. He walked over to Kung Lao, giving him a silent nod. With the end of the tournament, Kung Lao, Cyrax, Liu Kang, Bi-Han, and Rain had decided to go together to the Wu Shi Academy, where Raiden was awaiting for his Shaolin warrior to return, not expecting the other four.
Shang Tsung returned to Outworld with the fighters, where Kitana was waiting for him.
"Your tournament failed. It is over Shang Tsung..."
"I know... Kitana Kahn... Outworld will no longer try to merge-"
"That's nothing to say..." A grisly voice spoke, a small chain rattling. Kitana and Shang Tsung turned, seeing a muscular figure emerging from the dark corners, having a black and red robe. His face was torn, his eyes being a pale white and his lower face being skull-like, wearing a metal helmet with a black ponytail.
"You just need to gather more fighters." The figure said simply, chuckling, a cold breath escaping his jaw.
The next day, after Raiden had gotten acquainted with everyone else, Kung Lao was out training on the main arena for the academy. As he trained himself, an African-American man was walking over, wearing red and silver armor. He had brown dreadlocks with facial hair.
"Kung Lao! I have returned!" He said, taking on a stance.
"Huh? Kai? Is that you?"
Kung Lao thought, facing him, "Yes. I received word of your victory, and being I wasn't too far away, I decided to journey here the other night to visit, maybe even stay as well, after all, now I have an improved sparring partner..."
"Right. I won't disappoint you Kai..." Kung Lao said, taking on a stance of his own. Ever since the tournament ended, he has been trying to tap into his blue energy, but couldn't tap into the extraordinary power that got him the win.
"You better not!" Kai said, grinning a bit as flames formed around his fists.
"Why has Bi-Han not returned yet?" A voice said, walking through a field in the daylight. "The tournament has concluded, yet he nor Cyrax have come back."
"Calm yourself Tundra. You heard Sektor, they have become traitors."
The two figures were Lin Kuei warriors. One donned a grey and black garb, having a hood and mask similar to Bi-Han, whilst the other had an outfit that looked really close to Bi-Han's, the only difference being that he had more gear and the blue coloring was more of a light, glacial blue color.
"I know Smoke, but that means he's still alive... we need to go find him!"
"But do you know if he'll even be on the island? Besides, wouldn't going away be treason to the orders of the grandmaster?" Smoke said.
"If it's treason, then so be it. My brother is missing, and so is Cyrax. On top of that, the Cyber Initiative had begun the other night, an operation that I know not many of us want, even you. So perhaps we could go against orders now if our heart tells us to do just that!"
Smoke wanted to say something, but Tundra was right. So he agreed. But then, a green portal appeared in front of them, Ermac emerging.
"Lin Kuei... you two have been located as you are elites in your clan. We invite you to a tournament, a second one taking place within Outworld..."
"What? A second tournament? Who are-" Tundra was going to question, but Smoke had stopped him.
"This might be the perfect opportunity. Perhaps we will find your brother there, and this will also help us get away from the cyberization going on within our clan."
Tundra looked down, then at Ermac, "When will it be?"
"Two days from now... taking place within Outworld. It is best to travel now for you..." He said.
The two warriors nodded as Ermac retreated into the portal, closing it afterwards. Now they had an idea of what to do, heading off to find a way into Outworld.