Hey there once again sorry for the delay had glitches with my computer but, don't worry everything is fixed now. So on to thy chapter itself.
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Erazor Djinn: they'll keep coming.
While everyone was looking for him, the young cyromancer was at an area known as the Soul Chamber near the Outworld wastelands. It was large and impossibly evil in appearance. A large skull of a dragon or creature had occupied the centre of the chamber, with green energy glowing from the jaw and eye sockets. Large snake-like tentacles surrounded and protruded from it, while a bridge way lined with spikes lay out across in front of it.
Tundra, still in his disguise and using his brother's name, began to reinforce the ice that held the opponents that he had faced just minutes before by continuing to blanket his enemies with his frost beams. "A pity you could not have cooperated" a victorious Sub Zero said as he put the finishing touches of ice on his opponents. The attackers were soon frozen solid and would not be moving anytime soon. But Sub-Zero couldn't take the time to appreciate his handiwork because he was interrupted just as the last mist of ice fell on the block that now blanketed the figures.
"You are ordered to return to the Lin Kuei temple for assimilation." A voice demanded. The voice seemed familiar except voice sounded more…mechanical. Sub-Zero turned around to see a blue cybernetic ninja march in from the other entrance to the Soul Chamber.
"Hydro!?" Sub Zero asked with a surprise look on his face. He could barely recognize the monster that once had been his fellow clan mate. "I am Lin Kuei unit L-K-1-V-1. You will come with me." Hydro ordered.
Sub Zero realized that he wouldn't be able to reason with the Lin Kuei now that he had been hollowed out and then cyberized and would not delay his mission any further. "I am sorry for what they did to you…but I will NOT comply." Sub Zero replied as he took his fighting stance and prepared to face his former ally and then the two began clashed furiously.
Sub-Zero's fighting technique was proving formidable to Hydro's own and neither man was able to land a single strike on each other. Constantly, Hydro would swing for vital areas of Sub-Zero's body, only to be met with only air while Sub-Zero's strikes were met with the blunt backs of his metallic fists to parry them. Eventually, Hydro thrust those fists forward once he saw that he had the tractability he needed to battle Sub-Zero. He stepped in closer; putting his feet between Sub-Zero's and attempting to raise his knee to the groin, but Kuai Liang bent his leg to block the rising limb with his shin and then responded by slamming his forehead with Hydro's own skull.
Staggering back, the cyborg made space between him and Sub-Zero. When the Lin Kuei tried to close in for further strikes, Hydro brought his foot up to kick him directly in his chest to back him up and then let backs of his knuckles met Sub-Zero's jaw, followed up with a direct strike across his face. As the ninja staggered, he swung up toward Hydro's jaw, only to be met by an open palm, before dangerous assassin twisted the fist and arm downward and dropping his dense forearm across Sub-Zero's chest with enough force to make his heart skip a beat.
Sub-zero then ran towards the automaton, who brought his blades together shooting a spark of energy directly at the ice user and who blocked with an ice wall. Hydro was surprised and left himself open to be hit with an ice slide and then an ice blast, freezing him solid him. Sub-zero then grabbed Hydro by the shoulders and threw to the other side of the arena.
When he was close enough to attack him again, Sub-zero delivered a devastating head-butt and then punched him in the gut again, making him fall to the ground. Hydro felt his cybernetic ribs break from the mighty blow, but Sub-zero wasn't done with him yet and picked Hydro up by the throat and began to punch robot non-stop until he let go of Hydro and punched him into the ground. After that Hydro could only lie down on the ground in defeat as Sub-zero stood up defiantly.
"I will face the Lin Kuei when my task is done, not before." Sub Zero declared, as a defeated Hydro disappeared in a flash of green light.
He then heard voices approaching as two figures stepped in sight, who appeared turned out to be Sonya Blade and Jax. "The readings were getting stronger and now they're gone I-" Sonya then looked up to see the cryomancer Sub Zero, but he looked a bit different to her.
"Sub Zero?! But… aren't you supposed to be with scorpion?!" The young woman spoke as they walked towards him.
"I am not the Sub Zero you speak of. I am his brother" The Lin Kuei replied.
"Your…brother?" The woman asked, sounding confused.
"I'm only here to learn Sub Zero's location." Kuai Liang stated and the black man and young woman both agreed to help the cryomancer.
"He's participating in the tournament along with Scorpion." Sonya Blade stated and Sub Zero's look went concerned and his eyes flashed wondering why he's teaming up with the Shirai Ryu. "Where would I find them?" He asked.
"Try the Coliseum. That's where-" The young woman started to say until she was cut off by the sudden jerk of green energy, given off by the jaw of the dragon skull. In a matter of seconds green light and scattered souls of the damned began to fill the soul chamber and surround the three warriors, who each looked puzzled and clueless as to what was happening around them.
"You have disturbed our regeneration process." An echo of many different voices told them as it belonged to one being as he materialized out of green energy in front of them. "Ermac" Jax spat, as he approached him and grabbed Ermac by the throat.
"Gotcha." The large black man said as he held Ermac in his grasp and tried to throw a left hook, but Ermac blocked it with his telekinetic energy and peeled the man's grip off his neck. Then Ermac used his power to extend the soldiers arms out, and then made them burst with telekinetic energy in a gory explosion.
"AHHHHHHHHH" Jax screamed in agony while blood exploded everywhere and Ermac shoved him backwards unto the floor. Sonya rushed to his side almost immediately trying to keep him from dying. "JAX!" she yelled as she used the blasting device on her wrist to cauterize what was left of his arms to prevent him from bleeding to death. "Stay with me Jax" she pleaded, as Ermac approached Sub Zero.
"We will break you as well." Ermac threatened Sub Zero as he got into a fighting position. "Not if I break you first." Sub Zero responded coldly, as he took his own stance.
Ermac started the action as he flipped forward in the air and sent a kick towards Sub-Zero, which disguised Tundra side-stepped as Ermac already disappeared in a flash of green light and reappeared behind Sub-Zero and staggered the cryomancer with a powerful right cross.
The Lin Kuei stumbled back, but recovered and formed a sharp sword made of ice and slashed at Ermac, who blocked the attack with his arms, shattering the sword and sending pieces of ice everywhere. Ermac next kicked at his opponent and the attack found Sub Zero's chest, and he then followed up with a short combo before ending with a devastating upper cut.
Sub Zero was launched in the air before being caught by Ermac's telekinetic energy which slammed the Lin Kuei warrior hard on the ground.
"Ugghhh!" Sub Zero groaned in pain as his body throbbed from crashing to the ground. He struggled to get up and regain his composure, but Ermac was already on the assault, teleporting behind him and smashing the blue ninja with another strong teleport punch.
Sub Zero was on the ropes. The unusual nature of Ermac and his techniques had the Lin Kuei warrior with his back against the wall, which showed when Sub Zero launched a beam of ice towards Ermac and received a teleport punch in return, a move was really beginning to test his patience as he had no way to counter it. Ermacs' superior speed and telekinetic powers also gave him an advantage that let him dominate the fight and Sub Zero was running out of options. Sub Zero launched another beam of ice out of desperation, which Ermac evaded and charged the Lin Kuei warrior, but was cut off by an ice slide that knocked him down. As Ermac kicked back up, he was met with another attempted ice blast from Sub Zero which he barely avoided by using another teleport punch to stun his opponent.
Ermac tried another teleport punch to build back his momentum in the fight and was met by a devastating uppercut from Sub Zero, who had started to anticipate that attack. Ermac then tried to blast Sub Zero using a force ball which the Lin Kuei warrior ice slid under and caught Ermac off guard at the same time. Ermac recovered and Sub Zero tried to freeze him again with another ice beam, but Ermac teleported behind Sub Zero and placed him in a standing rear choke hold.
Ermac's grip was tight and Sub Zero tried his best to pry himself free, but Ermac held the choke hold and deprived the Lin Kuei member of air. Sub Zero felt his eyes flutter and his vision started to fade, as Ermac sensed that Tundra was close to blacking out and tightened his hold even more. However the Lin Kuei decreased his body temperature making Ermac become sidetracked by the cold; a split second distraction that was all Sub Zero needed as he felt his opponent's grip loosen just enough for him to escape the hold, and grab Ermac before slamming him hard to the ground. The result was that Ermac was knocked unconscious and Sub Zero froze his limbs to the ground.
"I remain whole, for now." A victorious Sub Zero declared and then walked over to Sonya, who was still tending to a wounded Jax. "Sonya Blade to command, Sonya Blade to command, do you read? …Sonya Blade to command do you read?" she repeated into her com device.
"You have stopped the bleeding." Sub Zero said as Sonya double cheeked the injuries and replied, "Yeah, but he needs a medic as soon as possible."
"I must go to the Coliseum." Sub Zero said, before starting leave to continue on his mission.
"But I need your help to get him to-" "There is a portal to the south; you can use it to transport yourselves back to Earthrealm." Sub Zero stated, interrupting the blonde as he continued on his mission and headed towards the Chamber's exit. He was fatigued from battle, but knew he couldn't stop now.
"Mother F-." An annoyed Sonya cut herself short of the curse word. "That portal better be close…" she said as she scooped up the unconscious, but heavy, Jax and dragged him off to get him a hospital for medical treatment.
(MKmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkMK)
Kitana, princess of Outworld, was engaged in a battle against an unknown warrior and she was easily dominating the battle. As Sub-Zero reached the arena and watched the battle, Kitana struck down her opponent and prepared to deliver the killing blow, but she hesitated.
"I have failed. I deserve death." The fallen fighter conceded. And Kitana remembered feeling the same way after failing her mission.
"I have failed my father, you must kill me." Kitana remembered when she herself was in the same situation, her mind taking back to when she had lost her battle against Liu Kang and Ichigo and how she and Jade were spared.
"KILL HIM!" Shao Kahn demanded but Kitana still hesitated. Making Shao Kahn grow impatient and decide to complete the task himself, shooting a beam of green energy from his left hand at the hapless fighter and fried him in front of Kitana. She could only watch in horror as the warrior screamed "Aaaaarrrrghhhhhh"
"Kitana! You will join me." Shao Kahn ordered and she obeyed, walking up to stand beside Shao Kahn at his throne while Tarkatan slaves dragged the burnt corpse away. This was when Sub-Zero acted; he stormed in the middle of the arena and faced Shao Kahn.
"Shao Kahn! I want to know where my brother is at once!" He demanded as Ichigo had arrived at the arena, prepared to tell the disguised Tundra about the Lin Kuei's presence and manhunt, when Shang Tsung responded to Sub Zero's demand. "No one makes demands of the emperor! Reptile! Mileena!" Shang Tsung ordered.
Ichigo got ready to fight with Kishi in hand, deciding he would warn Tundra about Sektor after he had helped the Lin Kuei interloper with the battle at hand.
Reptile stepped out to meet Sub Zero who prepared for battle, wishing to end the fight with the green monster swiftly, and Mileena flipped right next to the cold-blooded fighter with her sai (sai is both pural and singular) out and at the ready and Ichigo knew he would have to fight someone he cared about with a Lin Kuei once again. "Man talk about Déjà vu" he said as the battle began.
Reptile started off the battle quickly as he spat a ball of acid phlegm towards Sub-Zero. Not wanting to find out what the green acid was capable of doing to humans, he ducked the attack and shot a beam of ice towards the monster but Reptile was quick and dodged the beam of ice as it blasted past where he was and froze part of the arena floor, making the crowd gasp in amazement at the display of power.
Reptile changed into his invisible form and charged at Sub-Zero-who looked clueless as he searched for his foe. Reptile attacked the disguised Tundra with a series of kicks and swipes, which Sub-Zero expected the strikes to be more painful, but Reptile was not as strong as he anticipated.
Sub-Zero leapt back as Reptile gave away his position by launching a slow green force ball. Sub-Zero unleashed a blast of ice towards the source of the attack and was rewarded when Reptile was caught frozen in a block of ice.
Sub-Zero capitalized on the opportunity and struck Reptile hard, smashing him out of the ice with such force that it knocked the creature down and left him writhing in pain, leaving him unable to continue.
With the great space between them, the other two opponents charged in head first.
Mileena knew she had the tactical advantage over the blades Ichigo was swinging, though she couldn't be too careful. She saw his first attack coming, and stepped aside of it with ease and tried to follow up with an overhead strike, though it was blocked by the sturdy arm of the warrior.
Coming in quickly, she caught him with a strong kick to the chest. While he was off balance, her plan was to hit him high and fallow up with a low attack if had he managed to avoid the first attack. But he managed to avoid contact with her high arcing roundhouse, and even her sweep!
Ichigo jumped over her, gracefully landing in a kneeling position some feet away from her. Mileena watched him, as she tried to anticipate his next move and prepare herself for the next phase of battle. Though things changed when he drew both of his blades and he rushed her, the first thing she became worried about was her neck, and with her agility was only natural she was able to duck under his attempt.
But Ichigo didn't allow her to get any momentum back again, and attempted a backhand blow with the sharp weapon, but Mileena met his forearm with her own at the perfect time, holding him back with all the power she could muster. Every second into the fight she had been timing him…watching his movements as she fought at full speed. She met Ichigo with a trio of flying kicks, giving him everything she had to send him flying through the other side of the arena.
Ichigo recovered however and proceeded to do a spin slash on the princess, knocking her mask away and causing her to get angry. That is when he heard the sound of ripping flesh and crunching bone coming from Mileena's jaw and mouth, he looked to see her face without the mask for the third time and saw horrendous tarkatan teeth.
"WHAT THE F-" he couldn't finish since his opponent did a roll knocking him into the air before Mileena performed a teleporting kick. Ichigo got back up and knew he had to finish this soon, so he quickly disarmed her when she charged with her sai and bonked her with the handle stunning her. While she tried to recover he threw one of the blades towards, but missed intentionally so she would look at it as he dashed straight for her. When she turned her head back to her opponent, a black and gold blur was the last thing she saw before being knocked unconscious.
"I would kill you, but that is not my purpose here." Sub-Zero said coldly as his icy breath escaped through his mask while Reptile got back to his feet and then retreated, carrying Mileena with him.
Sub-Zero returned his attention to Shao Kahn as everyone in the crowd watched, roaring in excitement. Before he could say or do anything, he was suddenly interrupted by a group of Cybernetic ninjas. It was his fellow Lin Kuei, who had appeared out of nowhere.
"No! you- AHHHHHHH!" Sub Zero screamed as The Lin Kuei began to stun and tazer him, trying to neutralize Sub Zero before they abducted him. Ichigo tried to intervene only to be surprised by another warrior that caught him off guard and fired a stun net capturing the soul reaper and neutralizing him as well, while Hydro and Sektor appeared in a flash of green Cybernetic light and approached Shao Kahn.
"Who now interrupts the emperor's tournament?" Shang Tsung asked.
Just then, Lord Raiden, Scorpion, Smoke, and Johnny Cage had arrived at the coliseum.
"Sub Zero?! NO!" Smoke yelled, as he saw that his friend and comrade was about to be taken by their former clan. He wanted to attempt to rescue his ally, but Lord Raiden stopped him saying "You cannot save him! Stay here or they will take you as well!" as the cybernetic ninjas continued to electrocute Sub-Zero. He was running out of time and Ichigo was still trapped in the net trying to escape to no avail as his captor dragged the net he was in to the rest of the cyborgs.
Kitana, Jade, Mileena, and Skarlet could only watch in horror as the person they truly cared was about to be taken in front of them and yet they could do nothing about it.
"We request that we may return him to our temple for judgment and the reaper for assimilation, even though he is not Lin Kuei he will be a powerful asset." Hydro and Sektor spoke in unison to the emperor. "And what do I gain from granting this bold request?" Shao Kahn asked with interest and Hydro answered, "The Lin Kuei's loyalty and service." and Shao Kahn accepted. "Very well, they are yours."
"The flow of time has been changed. I spared Smoke this fate, only to watch this new Sub Zero fall and now Ichigo Kurosaki have a more tragic fate," Lord Raiden said with horror and guilt.
Sub Zero and Ichigo were defiant as still they struggled to break free as they saw Hydro and Sektor approach to assist the other Lin Kuei in completing their abduction.
"NO, I WILL NOT BE TURNED!" Sub-Zero screamed, as he felt his body start to dematerialize along with the reaper when suddenly the temperature plummeted and the robots surrounding the two were frozen and then imploded, freeing Sub-Zero as he dropped to the ground.
The original sub-zero leapt into the middle of the action as he started to slice and slash at the remaining Lin Kuei. The last two grey cyber ninjas were in pieces in a matter of seconds as Hydro and Sektor could only watch, unable to process what had just happened. The entire arena was in total shock not knowing what was transpiring in front of their eyes.
"What!" Shao Kahn bellowed at the scene in front of him, now seeing two sub-zeros in front of him, looking exactly the same with a few minor differences. Nobody moved. Not even Lord Raiden and the other Earthrealm fighters. No one could comprehend the situation and was still taking in what was unfolding. During the confusion of exchange Khameleon appeared and using what she learned while with Ichigo, embraced the hybrid and cloaked them both, allowing them move away from sight.
Tundra got up and had just enough energy to smash Sektor with an upper cut and freeze Hydro. He was struggled to stay on his feet after that, but Bi Han was immediately at his side, supporting him. "Bi-Han?" he said glad to see his older brother alive and well. "Yes, Kuai Lang it is I" He replied as Sektor recovered and Hydro thawed out.
"You two will return to the temple at once" the red cyborg ordered.
"You think can take on the two of us?" Sub-Zero said as he and Tundra stood proud.
"Lower limiter restrictions increase output from 50% to 75% and activate full weapon systems" the automatic duo said as the heard whining and clanking and started glowing a bit. "It doesn't matter how powerful you get" Bi-Han said.
"This fight will be your last!" Kaui Lang declared as the brothers got into their stances while the androids did the same.
He took out his flamethrowers and tried blasting Bi Han whoe barely managed to dodge his attacks. His speed caught him off guard as he blocked another one of his strikes. He tried to respond with a combo of his own but he was too quick and eluded every one of his attempts. He kicked him hard on the chest sending Bi Han sliding on his back. He leapt into the air, to come crashing down on him with his fists. Bi Han rolled out of the way and recovered as Sektor rained down his missles to the ground he had just been lying on. If Bi Han had been a split second slower, it would've been over.
They battled back and forth with Sektor gaining up the upper hand on their exchanges due to his strength and arsenal. Bi Han was stronger and had more power, but he was too slow for him. Soon Sektor was going for the finish, as he launched his rockets at Bi Han, which he managed to block and dodge as Sektor predicted he would.
The red cyborg came right after him with a teleport uppercut, but Bi Han did something he did not anticipate. He made an ice clone of himself which he flew right into Skator and froze as Bi Han burst backwards out of it. Sektor couldn't move as he was trapped in blanket of ice which wrapped around him, when he came into contact with the ice clone. Bi-Han then did an ice slide to the cyborg, knocking him down and out for the count.
Meanwhile Hydro threw his aqua bombs at Kuai Lang. However, to his surprise, Kuai Lang used his frost blade to deflect the explosives thrown at him back at Hydro, igniting at his chest. The machine-man groaned in pain as he was struck by his own weapon.
Kuai Lang then used his ice to attack Hydro with a series of punches, kicks, and overhead ice sword slashes until Hydro managed to regain his footing and tackled Kuai Lang with a shoulder charge. He then followed up with a brutal teleport stomp, but Kuai Lang managed to stop Hydro's assault with a series of overhead and upward slashes of his ice sword.
Hydro was unable to keep up with the cryomancer, even though he was familiar with his techniques, the cyborg's electrical attacks of the assassin were unable to connect, as Kuai Lang was exceptionally quick and would easily trip Hydro with a slide and then brutally uppercut him.
Hydro, weak and tired, had openings in his armor, revealing open wounds and his new synthetic skin. He threw a punch at Kuai Lang, only for the cryomancer to snap the mandible by jamming it upwards made Hydro cried out in pain as the maxilla broke. He then foolishly attempted to kick Kuai Lang, only for his leg to be caught by Sub Zero and get his knee snapped. Upper cutting Hydro once more, Kuai Lang won the fight.
"You never had a chance to begin with." Kuai Lang said.
"GET THEM!" Shao Khan ordered his guards as they charged at them only to be frozen by the brother's cryomancy before freezing themselves and shattering showing they have left the area.
"Good luck you two" Ichigo whispered to himself as the men were clueless at where they went and the Emperor started to even angrier and want to find someone to point the blame at. He turned to his daughter, who was standing on the right hand side of him while Shang Tsung and Jade stood on the left hand side of the throne, with Reptile and Mileena.
"Kitana!" Shao Kahn shouted, instantly getting her attention. The sapphire-clad princess had never seen her father look so angry and she knew why, she had failed her mission to intercept the Lin Kuei cyborgs. And if looks could kill, Kitana would have been in cut up pieces and drowning in a pool of her own blood by Shao Khan's as he berated her, "How is it that Earthrealm ninjas brazenly appear before me, when my daughter, PRINCESS OF OUTWORLD, was sent to intercept them!"
How could Kitana tell her father that she was distracted by her own emotions and wasn't focused? There was no way he would accept such an answer. She would surely have to face the music and take whatever punishment would be placed upon her. "Father, I…" Kitana began.
"Be gone!" The Emperor spat, rudely dismissing his daughter who then walked away in shame and wondered what was happening to Outworld. "Secretive Kombatants, the Lin Kuei showing up to offer allegiance to my father? What else is he hiding from me?" Kitana thought to herself as she continued to get as far away from the angered Shao Kahn as possible.
"Continue!" Shao Kahn ordered the tournament to resume. Jade decided to go after her friend and comfort her, while Raiden saw this as an opportunity to have Kitana jump ship and join Earthrealm, "Kitana's faith is a slender reed, bent before the storm. If it can be uprooted all together…" Raiden began as he went on to follow after Jade.
"Sure, let's go ruin someone's life, it'll be fun" the movie star said arrogantly as the group fallowed Raiden out of the arena to try and convince the princess to join Earthrealm's side.
As Ichigo was walking he felt an uneasy feeling in his gut, but shook it off. Not knowing he would soon know that he would see what that gut feeling was about later.
Well that concludes the sub-zero chapter. Admit it most of you didn't see that coming now did you wait and review and i'll have the next chapter up and this one will feature a new exclusive Kombatant.