11
A/N: This chapter contains some elements that may be inappropriate for younger readers. Viewer discretion is advised.
Kevin was suddenly in the Nexus, surrounded by the Bosses. They floated in their orbs of light, completely unmoving and yet all powerful.
And they didn't waste any time. "We know of your plan, Oni Phantom," the white orb said.
"It is doomed to failure."
"Did you honestly think that such a foolhardy attempt could do anything?"
The blue orb came lower. "Why do you do this, Phantom? Have you not received enough? You are one of the best warriors this tournament has ever seen."
He looked back at the sphere with malice. "And that is why I will kill you."
The orbs flashed and let out a deep laughter.
"You must be joking."
"No one can defeat us, the Bosses."
Kevin looked back up at them, undeterred. "We shall see about that."
The grey orb flashed brightly. "INSOLENCE!"
The Bosses began to float higher. "Oni Phantom, for refusing to accept the terms of the tournament and conspiring against the ruling Bosses, you are here-by stripped of your immortality." The light began to grow around him. "Pray you do not fail again." The light enclosed him and he was back at the Wind mansion.
Storm jumped up from the couch at his appearance. "Phantom? What happened?"
Kevin stood on the spot. His immortality was gone. If he died in any of the games, he'd be gone for good. He would never get home. Suddenly he felt incredibly weak. "Things just got really dangerous."
A trumpet sounded and he was back at the Nexus, joined by all the other teams. Kevin groaned. They sure knew how to hurt a guy emotionally.
The white orb flashed. "I wish to call an Agni Ki."
The players cheered, even Kevin joining them. This was it. If everything went well here, it could all be over.
The brown orb flashed. "Then Earth shall choose the game. It shall be…Mortal Kombat!"
All but one rose their voice in cheer. Kevin just shuddered as an icy chill sped down his spine. Of all the games, why did they choose this one? Mortal Kombat was the bloodiest game possible. And now he was without his immortality, so losing here would finish him. Plus, this was Earth's best game, and he'd have to beat them to gain their cooperation.
Everything was spiraling out of control faster than he'd ever thought possible.
The light began to change again, but this time it became pitch black. Kevin stopped to focus. Each Boss only had to choose one player, so there was a chance he wouldn't be chosen. The light returned and he was standing with five others inside a new room. It looked like an old Chinese dojo, but dozens of metal blades and killing machines lined the walls.
Of course the Bosses would choose him. Without his immortality, this would be an easy chance to get rid of him.
And they didn't waste any time with their efforts. The others faded leaving one other in the room with Kevin. The others would be fighting their own fights, but unseen and untouchable by them.
His opponent now was the same member of Metal that had pulled him through the portal. He looked at Kevin with a sick gleam in his eye. "It shall be fun to watch you squirm."
Kevin loosened up his legs and began to bounce a bit. "We'll just see about that."
He charged, a fist held back. As he delivered the blow, Kevin fell back under the fist. One of his legs flew up and over the assailant's arm, so he was straddling it. He continued his spin and brought his elbow to the man's jaw, sending him sliding across the wood.
But the man stood, wiping some blood from his lip.
"I never asked your name," Kevin said as he continued his light bounce.
He sneered, showing filed teeth. "What does it matter? You won't live long enough to use it!" He reached behind his back. Kevin saw the move and twisted as a dagger was thrown through the air. He rolled to the floor, more daggers following his movement. His roll ended in a sprinter's crouch and he lunged, bowling into the man. Kevin released and bounced back up.
He rolled and staggered to a stand. Now his eyes were fierce and hated. He barely stopped to set his footing before he charged.
Kevin casually stepped aside and he ran headfirst into a meat cruncher. Kevin stepped back as blood and bones splattered the wood just in front of the machine. "I only wanted your name."
He turned back to the center of the room as another body materialized in front of him. It was his possible ally from Earth. He was covered in drops of blood, but he looked as fit as if this were his first round.
Kevin started to shake as a wave of fear came over him, but he pushed it down. "Ah, this is what I've been waiting for."
"Really? I have also been looking forward to this match."
"You remember our bargain, right?" Kevin started his bounce.
"I do." He reached behind his back and pulled out something. It looked like a small hammer with a ridiculously large head. Anyone looking at it would call it almost comical, but Kevin knew enough to be very afraid.
The weapon he now faced was a Megaton Hammer, an elemental item. It was similar to his Wind Band except the Hammer granted the user the power to control rock. This was going to be a very tough fight indeed.
The hammer dug into the ground repeatedly, creating a machine gun of sharp rocks that buzzed towards Kevin's head.
Kevin dropped into a Hurricane Spin, using his rotating feet to knock the rocks out of the way. Then he added his wind powers with it, creating an actual hurricane around his body as he spun. Suddenly his body was moving towards his opponent.
But the man slammed his hammer straight into the ground, sending up a pillar of rock that sent Kevin up and over.
Using another burst of air, Kevin straightened out his flight and landed gently on his feet.
They entered another stare-down, each grinning, pleased. "That was quite a display of elemental power," Kevin said with a salute.
"Thank you. The same."
Kevin began to circle around. "I never got your name."
"I am the Great Goron," he said, the hammer moving up to lean against his shoulder.
"Don't tell me. Legend of Zelda speed run."
He smiled. "Correct, you are. Gorons were always my favorite race. It only made sense that I would be on the Earth team."
Kevin stopped walking. "That does make sense. Should we go ahead and end this?"
He lowered his hammer. "You ready to give up?"
"Not quite." The band on his wrist glowed blue and he held his arms out. A rush of wind blasted across the arena.
Goron lowered his weight and leaned forward, using his weight to keep himself planted. He hollered out, his voice barely audible over the wind, "You'll have to do better than that."
Kevin smirked. He brought his arms back in and the wind suddenly shifted directions.
The man's weight, combined with the wind, now forced him onto his face and into a tumble. He rolled past Kevin and straight into a metal saw.
Kevin looked over his bloody work with sadness. He knew it wasn't real, but it still hurt him. "I'm sorry, my friend. You were an excellent opponent. But I really need your help."
He put the vision out of his head by turning back to the arena's center. Now it came time for the real challenge. He had promised the victory to Fire. Assuming they made it to the final round, he'd have to find a way to lose without actually dying.
The big problem was that that wasn't possible in this game.
Disclaimer: Mortal Kombat is copyright of Midway Games and is not used for profit in any way.