"Welcome." a voice greeted "to the Mortal Kombat tournament."
The voice came from the sorcerer Shang Tsung, the overseer and host of the tournament.
"You have each been chosen to participate in this tournament to defend your realm from being merged into Outworld by Emperor Shao Kahn." He explained, which everyone present was already aware of. "As the current Mortal Kombat champion Goro is on the verge of his tenth consecutive victory, Earthrrealm is on the verge of peril. I wish you all luck." Then more bitterly he said, "You will need it."
"Blah, blah, blah." Chimed the voice of the actor Johnny Cage. "You just don't stop talking do you old dude, I'm not interested in your role-playing." He said oblivious to the genuine danger of the tournament.
"How rich coming from the... obnoxious Mr. Cage." Shang Tsung stated, being careful about his choice of words. "I suppose we shall begin with you, Mr. Cage, versus the leader of Tarkata, Baraka!" He announced as Baraka emerged from the crowd.
The actor was still clueless that Baraka was genuinely a specimen of a race called Tarkatan, a crossbreed of both human and demon. Johnny Cage just believed his sharp and enormous teeth were makeup. Cage flinched as the Tarkatan suddenly drew a blade from each of his arms.
"Fight!" Yelled the sorcerer.
To no surprise, the actor quickly lost to Baraka. In fairness, Cage got the first hit which was a spinning heel kick to the jaw of the Tarkatan, however that only enraged Baraka. Cage quickly learnt that Baraka's blades were real, and Baraka now had intentions of showing him that his teeth were also real.
"Finish him!" Shang Tsung demanded.
Baraka didn't hesitate, he scooped up a stunned Johnny Cage and stabbed him with one of his blades, Baraka then went to sink his teeth into Johnny's 'money maker' before being interrupted by leader of the Special Forces army, Sonya Blade.
Sonya blasted a pair of pink coloured energy rings that knocked Baraka over. Sonya Blade was not actually a part of the tournament, or she at least had no intentions of doing so. She had made her appearance because her fellow Special Forces member Jackson Briggs had been imprisoned on Shang Tsung's island. "You can't just murder him!" Sonya shouted, enforcing the law despite being in the mix of this tournament.
Baraka got back to his feet and snarled at the girl, preparing to attack her, only for Shang Tsung to interrupt. "The fight has ended." Disappointed, Shang Tsung sighed "and the moment for a fatality has passed. The tournament must proceed, Baraka has advanced."
Baraka stormed off, irritated that he could not kill Cage. Johnny got to his feet and looked at Sonya and thanked her but despite his embarrassing performance he still attempted to hit on Sonya "Nice uniform." He mustered which Sonya responded with a noise of disgust as she zipped up her jacket making sure she was completely covered up.
As a pair of masked guards were taking Sonya away from the courtyard Raiden, The Thunder God interrupted them "Sonya Blade." He said "May I inquire you about why you saved Johnny Cage from death?" He asked, clearly surprised as interference was against the rules of the tournament.
"Look I don't have the time for this, I have to find my friend." She responded angrily.
Raiden acknowledged that she had other intentions than participating in the tournament. He wanted to inquire more, but she was already being escorted out of the courtyard by a pair of masked guards.
Raiden then turned to his protégé Liu Kang whom The White Lotus had chosen to represent their clan in the tournament "I believe you will be competing next, Liu Kang." Raiden informed him after noticing an assassin being executed after losing to a woman with red hair who appeared to posses blood power. Liu Kang nodded, confident that he would win his upcoming battle.
"Shang Tsung, I demand another challenger!" The woman yelled. Shang Tsung knew that she was too dangerous to continue massacring opponents as her powers would grow upon every kill she obtained, every pint of blood she consumed. Tsung knew about her nature because Shao Kahn himself had in fact created her and had informed the sorcerer all about her. Shao Kahn called her Skarlet and her purpose was to assure Earthrealm's failure in this tournament.
"You will not have another challenger." He said "Not yet." He added. Shang Tsung had only made her fight to analyse if she was a reliable enforcer for him, she did in fact impress. Skarlet calmed herself and stepped back to join her fellow Kombatants. Liu Kang then eagerly stepped forward to face an opponent chosen by Shang Tsung.
Before Shang addressed Liu Kang, he gestured to a female assassin who stood to his left. "Liu Kang, your opponent will be the Edenian assassin Kitana!" He announced.
The assassin wasted no time attacking Liu Kang, Shang Tsung hadn't even signalled for them to fight yet. She started throwing kicks, determined to defeat the Shaolin. Liu Kang staggered back before throwing some kicks of his own. Liu Kang leapt into the air and began throwing bicycle kicks into the chest of Kitana. Kitana fell but swiftly returned to her feet, only to suffer a diving kick from Liu Kang, his foot alit.
Kitana flew into a wall of the courtyard. She collapsed to the floor. She was becoming annoyed. Kitana once again climbed to her feet, and now she began wildly swinging her fan-shaped blades. However, these thoughtless attacks left her vulnerable and Liu Kang disarmed her with ease. Liu Kang then once again knocked her to the floor.
"Argh!" Kitana cried through her face mask, annoyed. However, this time Kitana didn't get back to her feet, instead she remained lying on her knees.
"Given up?" Liu Kang asked in which Kitana nodded in response, Liu Kang then offered her a hand which Kitana reluctantly accepted.
"You aren't... killing me?" She asked, confused.
"Of course not!" Liu Kang responded.
"Enough conversing!" The sorcerer chimed in, "You must fight!" He stated.
"We just did and the fight also just finished." Liu Kang explained.
Shang Tsung scoffed "You call that a finisher?!" He then turned to Kitana "Shao Kahn will not be pleased when I inform him of your performance princess." He said coldly. "You're all dismissed for now. The tournament will proceed tonight!" He announced before walking away.
As the crowd departed Raiden approached Liu Kang to congratulate him "Well done Liu Kang, your performance was flawless." He complimented.
"Thank you Lord Raiden, it means a lot coming from yourself." Liu Kang turned to Kitana. "You did great too." He said. Kitana appreciated the compliment however she didn't express gratitude, instead she turned away from Liu Kang.
"You must prepare for your next challenge, there is no doubt in my mind that Shang Tsung will do anything he can to prevent you from advancing further." He had Shang Tsung and Liu Kang's previous interaction analysed.
"I will not fail you Lord Raiden." Promised Liu Kang...
"Where are you taking me?!" Sonya Blade questioned with a surprising tone of aggression in her voice. The guards ignored her and continued to drag her down a lengthy spiral of stairs. Eventually they stopped at a door reassembling of a dungeon.
As one of the masked guards escorting her unlocked the door and despite the ropes tied around her wrists, she attacked the other one. Sonya made the guard stumble over with a few kicks but was quickly grabbed from behind by the other guard and tossed into the dungeon, the guard quickly locking the door.
After a couple minutes of kicking at the dungeon's door, she acknowledged that her efforts were useless and examined her surroundings. The dungeon spread far like a corridor, Sonya saw several prison cells to her left and right, she saw no cells with anyone being held captive in them. There were skeletons though which gave Sonya an unnerving thought.
Is this my fate? To be trapped in one of these cells and rot away? Wait... Is Jax here?!
Sonya began power walking down the dungeon, looking for any life forms. What she found strange was that the masked guards hadn't bothered to lock her into a cell.
But why?
Suddenly a loud noise interrupted Sonya's thoughts. A large creature emerged around a corner in the dungeon. The creature had four massive arms. He stomped over to Sonya.
"Who dares to enter my lair?" He yelled.
"Who... What are you?" Sonya asked, intimidated of his presence.
The creature laughed before answering "I am the legendary Shokan Goro, champion of Mortal Kombat!"
Sonya staggered back. It was Goro himself. Sonya had of course heard of him, but she previously had no clue of what he looked like. Sonya had nothing to say. She sprinted down the dungeon only to be abruptly stopped by a green like portal emerging in front of her, which formed into Shang Tsung.
"I promised that you would compete..." The sorcerer muttered. "Your death will weaken the Special Forces defences and thus weaken Earthrealm."
Sonya went to attack Shang Tsung but the sorcerers sharp reflexes allowed him to counter the kick by grabbing the leg, twisting it and pushing her to the floor, in front of Goro. The Shokan smirked as he picked up his new toy, before thrashing her back into the stone floor.
"But you will not be fighting Goro!" Informed the sorcerer.
"Huh?" Reacted both Sonya and Goro. Sonya noticed a crimson light glow across the dimly lit lair.
"By me!" Spoke a voice with a noticeable Australian accent.
"Kano..." Sonya recognized the man. It was Kano, leader of the Black Dragon crime syndicate, a clan born by members who couldn't handle the somewhat more sophisticated way of crime that they had to follow in the Red Dragon clan.
Goro carelessly threw Sonya towards Kano, irritated by this odd partnership Shang Tsung appeared to have made with Kano. A partnership that he had not been informed of.
Kano cut the restraints around Sonya's wrists and kicked her back, creating some distance between the two.
"Fight!"
Despite the damage she had suffered from being thrown around by Goro, Sonya charged at her rival and tackled him to the floor, proceeding to throw multiple elbows to the side of Kano's head that wasn't covered by a metal plate and a cybernetic eye. Kano quickly used his eye to blast a laser at Sonya, causing her to back away.
"Sorry luv." Kano apologized while climbing to his feet "This'll hurt." He said with a crooked smirk.
Sonya didn't respond with words but actions. Sonya once more ran to Kano only to suffer a nasty head-butt from Kano, using his metal plate to connect with Sonya's skull.
Sonya's vision was blurry, and she collapsed after a second head-butt hit her. Her vision was fading.
Sonya still tried to return to her feet, but Kano hit a third head-butt and this time she did not try to get up.
Kano chuckled, "This was easier than I thought." Kano said, ignoring the fact that Sonya probably had a couple cracked ribs already from Goro.
Kano drew one of his knives with intentions of shanking Sonya's almost lifeless body. "This also wasn't as fun as imagined..." A disappointed Kano mumbled, halting his fatality.
"You took my deal mercenary. Now finish her!" Shang Tsung ordered.
"Yea, course I will." He said.
As Kano threw his knife wielding hand down, a sudden blast of lightning made him flinch.
Raiden had teleported into Goro's lair.
"I had my suspicions Shang Tsung." He said, immediately noticing Kano. "A deal with the Black Dragon, you stoop low Shang Tsung."
Goro swiftly tries to use his mallet like hands to beat down Raiden. Unfortunately for the Shokan, Raiden knocked him onto the floor with a blast of lightning that emerged from his hands.
"What are you doing thunder God?!" Shang Tsung asked "She broke the rules of Mortal Kombat, she must face death."
"So... so are you... ordering kidnappings on Special Forces members." Sonya confessed, slowly crawling away from Kano. The Black Dragon leader attempted to attack Sonya again, but suffered the same fate as Goro.
"Where's... Jax?" Sonya asked, wiping blood from her nose in-between words.
Instead of answering her Shang Tsung faded away through a green portal, angered that Raiden had intercepted his plans.
Goro and Kano soon emerged to their feet as Raiden attempted to heal Sonya.
"I'll have your head Thunder God!" Screamed an enraged Goro.
"The hell's going on out there?!" Came a voice from a prison cell on the far side of the dungeon.
"Jax!" Yelled Sonya, recognizing his comrades voice.
Sonya, feeling healthier from Raiden's powers, hobbled to Jax's voice as Raiden fought off both Kano and Goro.
"Jax!" She screamed, horrified by his physical condition. Jax was barely conscious with several cuts and bruises covering his entire body.
"You came?" Jax said, surprised.
She comforted him, "We will get you help Jax."
Raiden, hearing Sonya's cry, teleported to the back of the room and used his lightning powers to cut off a few of the prison bars. Goro began charging at the three, but Raiden grabbed both Special Forces members and teleported them to safety in the nick of time.
"What just happened?" Sonya asked in confusion. The three went from being inside the lair of the current Mortal Kombat champion to being outside of an old-fashioned house, which was still in acceptable condition, however it was expired to Earthrealm's standards.
"I have transported us to the island's guest house, here you and your friend can rest." He explained, "You can acquire a room for you and your friend right now. In the meantime I will try to use my powers to heal your friend."
"Thank you..." Sonya said, "How can you do that?" she asked.
"I am Raiden, a Thunder God, protector of Earthrealm. My powers did heal you and I can do the same for your friend." He again explained.
"All this is crazy. I had only come to save Jax... I had no idea of... all this." Sonya responded, overwhelmed by her experience, she couldn't explain what she had just witnessed.
"Fear not, you're under my protection for now." Raiden reassured.
Sonya headed inside the house and was greeted by a man stood behind a desk "Howdy."
"Hello." Sonya replied hesitantly.
"Lookin' for a room ma'am?" He asked through his face mask. Sonya nodded.
"All right, let's see what rooms are spare." He said while scanning the small rack of door keys behind him. "Here we are, room 2C madam." He informed her while gently dropping the keys in her palms.
"How much does it cost?" She asked, realizing that she had no money.
"Free of charge." The man said, noticeably bitter about it "Free accommodation for any participants in the tournament."
Sonya wasn't even certain of whether she was in the tournament now, but she took the generous offer despite her confusion "I appreciate it." She thanked genuinely.
"You're welcome." The man said, tipping his western hat.
Sonya returned to Raiden and Jax, who had already been mostly healed.
"You're okay!" Sonya said in delight, hugging her friend, which Jax reciprocated the hug.
"Thanks for coming to save me... Can't imagine what you went through to get here." He sympathised.
"Well I wasn't the one in prison." Sonya disagreed.
"Did you come alone?" Jax asked.
Sonya stood in silence for a moment before answering "At first, no..."
"Sonya?" Jax noticed her friend tearing up.
"My unit's dead... killed." She said, her voice shaking.
Jax apologized and attempted to comfort her by placing a hand on her shoulder. Jax then angrily asked, "Who did this? That old bloke?"
Raiden nodded, "I assume Shang Tsung seeks your military to be demised as a threat for a potential future invasion. I too am sorry."
"Well shit." Jax mumbled. "What now?"
"Unless an ally of yours is willing to extract the pair of you, then you must stay for the tournaments duration I'm afraid." Raiden said, once more providing the soldiers information and context about the tournament.
Sonya thought for a minute, considering her two options before deciding, "No, I can't risk anyone else coming here. We'll stay."
"That's fine with me." Jax agreed.
"Very well then." Raiden said, "I must now depart and find my protégé Liu Kang for he will compete in tonight's tournament event." He explained as he walked away.
"Welcome to tonight's festivities Kombatants." Shang Tsung once again greeted. "Now let's not waste any time and beg- " Shang was cut off by a sudden ring of fire emerging in the centre of the courtyard, then a spectre crawled out of the flaming hole.
"Where is Sub Zero?!" The hell spectre asked, scanning around the courtyard for the cryomancer.
"You dare interrupt me?" Shang Tsung was visibly annoyed, "You're not invited!"
"Wrong sorcerer, I was Hanzo Hasashi you invited me before my clans demise." He corrected then passionately he announced, "I am what remains of Hanzo Hasashi. I am Scorpion."
The portal that Scorpion had emerged from began to turn into a green swirling pool, and another man appeared from it.
Shang Tsung turned his attention to the man that was now stood beside Scorpion. "And what is your business here?" Shang Tsung asked, pointing a finger at him.
"I am Quan Chi, Scorpion is my spectre. I am merely here to supervise my friend." The word friend being used loosely.
"Fine!" Shang Tsung accepted, only because he wished not to waste any more time arguing. "Scorpion, your opponent will be- " Once more the sorcerer was cut off.
"Me." Came the voice from a masked guard who stepped forward, only to change his attire through a swift spinning motion. It was the Shaolin Kung Lao.
Shang Tsung, the palm of his hand covering his face muttered, "Fight..."
The Shaolin had a distinctive razor blade hat which he used to slash at Scorpion. His attacks were elegant yet aggressive. Scorpion was knocked over by the precise and effective attacks, he was taken by surprise of the Shaolin's offense, but it soon ended as Scorpion vanished only to appear behind Lao and kick him into the air. Scorpion proceeded his attack by launching his spear which stabbed into the chest of Kung Lao as he shouted "Get over here!" As he slammed him into the concrete, stunning Lao.
As Kung Lao rose to his feet Scorpion began relentlessly stabbing his stomach with the blade of his spear, he paused his attack when Liu Kang shouted from the audience "Please stop!" To which Scorpion obliged and spared the Shaolin.
"Finish him." An irritated Shang Tsung commanded.
"I will not, it is Sub Zero who will pay with his life."
"Fine, guards take Kung Lao to the dungeons for his interference." Not even this order could be fulfilled as Raiden stood between Kung Lao's unconscious body and the masked guards. Lao was on the verge of death as he was bleeding out, he wouldn't have even made it to the dungeons alive.
"Never mind." Shang Tsung sighed, recalling his failure last time when he imprisoned Jax and Sonya. "On to the next fight, Nightwolf versus Cyrax!"
Scorpion began walking away until he turned around and saw that Cyrax was a member of the Lin Kuei. Scorpion attempted to attack Cyrax but was prevented by Quan Chi who possessed influence over his actions.
Nightwolf, noticing this commented on his actions "You're a slave to anger Hanzo."
"What do you know?!" Scorpion fired back.
"You aren't the only one whose people were massacred, but I do not cling to the past." Nightwolf spoke calmly, the contrast between Nightwolf and Scorpion only angered the spectre further.
"You have no desire to gain vengeance?! You dishonour your people!" He yelled.
"Scorpion, enough!" Interrupted Quan Chi, "Return to the Netherrealm my friend, I will talk to Shang Tsung and attempt to arrange a fight for you with Sub Zero."
Scorpion complied and teleported back to the Netherrealm, enraged that he could not get his vengeance on the Lin Kuei and more specifically Sub Zero.
Quan Chi walked around the courtyard as Cyrax and Nightwolf fought. He snuck up the steps that led up to Shang Tsung's spectator booth, where Shang sat on a throne-like seat. Quan Chi was stopped by the two assassins and best friends Kitana and Jade.
"What is your business with Shang Tsung?" Kitana questioned, drawing her fan blades as if she was threatening him.
Quan Chi merely chuckled "Adorable weapons, I wish to talk to Shang Tsung about having a match between Scorpion and Sub Zero."
"Let him speak with me." Shang requested, listening to the conversation between Quan Chi and the assassins. "That is a death sentence to Bi Han who is under a contract of allegiance with me, I refuse it."
"You doubt he will defeat Scorpion?" Quan Chi queried.
Shang Tsung nodded "I think realistically."
"Then what if me and Scorpion were to align with Shao Kahn?" He negotiated.
"I suppose..." Shang Tsung considered.
Quan Chi slowly walked away "Give a definite answer soon Shang Tsung." He requested, "This could be the beginning of a deadly alliance."
Meanwhile, Nightwolf had defeated Cyrax. While the Lin Kuei member attempted to climb to his feet he was approached by Raiden. "I suggest you warn Bi Han of Scorpion." He advised.
Cyrax shook his head "Bi Han has too much pride to run away from a fight, if I tell him about Scorpion then he'll want to fight him."
"I see." Raiden said, "However, I suppose that cyberization is a fate worse than death."
Cyrax was surprised that the thunder God was aware of the cyber initiative, the Lin Kuei Grandmaster had intentions of transforming all Lin Kuei members into cyborgs to enhance their skills. Cyrax was one of many who were against the initiative "It's unnatural, goes against our instinct." Stated Cyrax, clarifying that he was passionately against the cyber initiative.
"I hope you can avoid such a fate." Raiden said, reaching an arm out to help Cyrax to his feet which Cyrax accepted.
Meanwhile, Shang Tsung observed the fact that Cyrax was conversing with Raiden, he was concerned that Cyrax was sided with the Thunder God. "Eliminate him." He muttered to Kitana, pointing a finger at Cyrax to which he was unaware of Kitana nodded and immediately began tailing Cyrax.
"Up next shall be Liu Kang versus Jade." Shang announced, Jade determined to defeat Liu Kang as her friend Kitana was defeated by the Shaolin earlier in the morning.
The fight begun with Jade using her pole staff as oppose to hand to hand combat. She winded Liu Kang from whacking the staff into his stomach, causing him to collapse onto his knees. Then, in an upwards motion she smashed the staff into his face with such force that it made Liu soar through the air for a moment.
Liu Kang gathered himself and got up from the floor, distance being created between the two. That distance was quickly shortened though as Liu Kang performed his signature flying dragon kick. Jade attempted to fight back with her staff but Liu Kang drew a pair of nunchakus which were tied to the back of his bottoms.
The nunchakus chain went through the staff, Liu Kang then pulled the nunchakus downwards which disarmed Jade. Liu Kang smashed the nunchakus over Jade's skull he stomped on her spine to assure that she wouldn't get up.
"Liu Kang wins!" Shang Tsung didn't even ask for a fatality as he was far too aware of his good nature.
"I'm sorry that I had to fight you and your friend." Liu Kang apologized to Jade "But I must win this tournament."
Cyrax walked across a bridge that had been built above a steel spike covered pit. While he was crossing the bridge a sharp pain entered his back. Upon turning around he saw Katana.
"What was that for?!" He asked with audible irritation in his voice.
"Shang Tsung has ordered your assassination." She struck at Cyrax during her explanation, "You're of no use to him now."
Cyrax kicked her knee, allowing himself to get up. He had no more questions to ask Kitana, any he had would be taken up to Shang Tsung himself.
The two fought on the narrow bridge, Cyrax using his high technical weaponry to give himself an even battle against Kitana's mixture of razor blades and ancient Edenian magic. The fight became even more even when one of the gear pieces strapped to Cyrax's wrist suddenly drew a massive saw blade, causing the two to began clashing their melee's together until Kitana eventually disarmed the fellow assassin by gracefully flipping back, her feet connecting with the smooth side of the saw blade which she had well calculated how Cyrax was wielding the blade. Despite the saw blade being still being attached to his wrist it was now vulnerably raised in the air and Kitana capitalized by cutting at Cyrax's arm and now his wrist was no longer attached to himself.
Cyrax, with his remaining arm grabbed a bomb that was strapped to the side of his chest and as Kitana swung her razor blade with intentions of beheading Cyrax but the Lin Kuei member put the bomb in the way causing her to slice it in half thus detonating it which sent both flying off the bridge. Fortunately for Kitana, she had the ability to teleport to safety.
Less fortunate for Cyrax, he had to free-fall towards one of the support beams of the bridge. Upon contact with the log, he hugged his left arm around it as he slid down the wood, slowing his attack enough for a somewhat safe landing. His arm was now topped with several splinters, which caused Cyrax more agony. He fell to his knees, exhausted. Cyrax began scanning the pit for an exit before seeing an entrance into the cave that surrounded the death trap.
Cyrax wandered into the cave as he held the wound at the end of his right shoulder in an attempt to prevent further blood loss. He eventually spotted what appeared to be a lift, it was merely a wooden platform with rope tied to it that lead upwards, besides it was a lever to presumably activate it. Cyrax had to use his torso to push down on the lever, his arm being unable to muster the strength for the small task. The elevator was surprisingly still functioning. It travelled up for a short while before stopping again. The problem was that the elevator hadn't stopped in its designated location, or at least Cyrax thought. Cyrax believed he was trapped for a moment before seeing that one of the walls looked severely weakened, the bricks weren't completely intact to such an extent that Cyrax could see through them, he booted one of the bricks which fell over and then dropped one of his signature bombs through the wall, bracing for impact as the bricks exploded towards him.
The explosion had alerted many people who were inside the room beyond the now collapsed wall. Cyrax stumbled into what appeared to be a dining room. Kombatants surrounded him, including his friend and fellow Lin Kuei member, Sektor. "Cyrax!" He ran over, horrified by Cyrax's physical state. He began carefully using one of his wrist flamethrowers to heat the wound and stop the bleeding. Sektor's arsenal was rather similar to Cyrax as they both used similar tech weapons. "Don't worry Cyrax, the cyber initiative will sort that arm for you." He unsuccessfully reassured.
"Shang Tsung betrayed me." Cyrax muttered.
Sektor immediately reacted, "Why?!"
"I do not trust clients who converse with the Thunder God." Shang Tsung explained, walking through the crowd of fighters. "Harsh yes, but I have plentiful clients to spare."
Shang being so truthful and straight up with his answer wasn't the smartest decision, as the majority of people in the dining hall were his allies.
Baraka stepped forward next, "We work for Shao Kahn, not you." Which received a nod of agreement from a few others.
"You follow MY command, MY authority!" Shang Tsung had become rather frustrated lately, which was easily noticed by his colleagues.
"We only follow your command because Shao Kahn tells us so." Chimed Skarlet who genuinely saw Kahn as a father figure however she had never been treated in such a way to feel like that. But she was still a creation of Shao Kahn.
"Enough!" Tsung attempted to drop the argument.
"No... Are we just pawns to you then?" Sektor began realizing the truth.
"Pawns to Shao Kahn." Shang Tsung corrected.
"We're expendable." Sektor acknowledged.
"Just don't fuck around with the Thunder God, it's simple." The western cowboy Erron Black began to defend Shang "This man can do wonders for you if you follow orders."
"We're all tired of following orders, especially when it's this clown!" Baraka yelled.
"Shang Tsung saved me as well as granting me a longer life span." Black pointed out, "He could do the same for ya'll. "
Erron Black's loyalty went entirely towards Shang Tsung and money. Greedy yet loyal. He had several occupations under Shang Tsung, which was evidence of Shang's trust in him. Most Shao Kahn's allies only worked for him out of fear after their realms had been conquered and merged into Outworld. However, they had little to fear when it came to Shang Tsung.
"We're done here." Shang Tsung stated and as he walked away, he placed a hand on the shoulder of a ninja dressed in green clothes and whispered "Make sure nobody leaves that pit alive."
"Good morning Kombatants!" A more enthusiastic Shang Tsung welcomed. "Today's fights shall occur on the bridge before you." He pointed to the second bridge that was opposite the spectating fighters. These bridges were the same ones that stood atop of the spike sea pit.
"I shall compete first Shang Tsung." Scorpion stated rather than requesting.
"Very well, victory shall be obtained when an opponent falls off the bridge." Shang Tsung informed as the sound of a gate began to drown his voice out.
Emerging from the gate was Sektor which surprised Shang Tsung. "Finally." Scorpion relished, "A fight with a Lin Kuei scum."
"What are you doing Sektor?!" Shang Tsung yelled from the neighbouring bridge "You both represent Outworld, you cannot fight!"
"The contract expired after you attempted to murder Cyrax, Tsung." Sektor stated "Just wait until I tell my father of your attack on Cyrax." He threatened.
Sektor was the son of Lin Kuei Grandmaster, Oniro.
Shang simply chuckled in response, fully aware that Oniro would care very little about Cyrax's well being, especially with the cyber initiative just around the corner. "Then wait until I tell your father that you've failed to fulfil your contract with me."
Sektor was about to argue back, angered by Shang Tsung but was interrupted by Scorpion launching his signature spear into his back, Sektor wasn't even facing his opponent for that moment and the spectre had taken advantage of Sektor's lowered guard.
Scorpion dragged Sektor into an elbow, Sektor staggered back as he charged up his flamethrower which was ineffective on Scorpion who absorbed the flames and continued his offense.
Sektor once had an opportunity to attack again which he used to blast a rocket at the feet of Scorpion but it was countered once more, Scorpion teleported behind Sektor and kicked him into the explosion which launched him off the bridge.
"Scorpion wins!" A clearly delighted Shang Tsung announced.
"Now give me Sub Zero!" Ordered the spectre.
"Later." Was the mere response.
"NO! I want Sub Zero NOW!"
"What you want and what you'll get is quite different then." Shang Tsung smirked, taking pleasure in angering Scorpion. The spectre teleported away once again, his screams of rage echoing as he did so.
Meanwhile at the bottom of the pit Sektor attempted to get to his feet but was kicked down again by the green ninja. "You die here." He said through a cranky voice.
"Follow orders... But not from that basta-" The ninja placed a foot on Sektor's throat and slowly applied more pressure. Sektor then raised his arm and blasted his flamethrower at the face of the ninja which sent him oddly enough crawling away.
The ninja covered part of his face that was now exposed by some of his mask being burnt off. Sektor could swear he saw scales. "You're not human..." He said.
"I will sssilence you, Sssektor." He hissed, dashing at the Lin Kuei member but was interrupted by a corpse slapping onto the concrete brutally, it was a human that was dumped off the bridge by the blades of Baraka. The tarkatan had already killed the poor man before he dropped him but it still distracted the ninja enough for Sektor to escape.
Meanwhile on the bridges above, Shang Tsung was contemplating what fight he'd arrange next. He was unsure of what do to with the Lin Kuei until Quan Chi placed a hand on his shoulder, it surprised Shang Tsung but it wasn't noticeable that he was embarrassingly afraid.
"The Lin Kuei aren't worth your time. They have broken the rules of Mortal Kombat, they cannot hinder the tournament further." Quan Chi pointed out, as if he had read the fellow sorcerers mind. Shang Tsung nodded in agreement as Quan Chi added a request "Give Scorpion a match against Sub Zero tonight, that removes any of them from being in the tournament."
"Very well then, tell your spectre that tonight is his night for vengeance." He said as he moved on to announce the next fight "Nightwolf, you will be facing..." He was about to say Kano's name but as he turned around he realized that he was no longer present, he simply moved past this detail and pulled a different name from the now much smaller crowd that surrounded him "Skarlet." He said reluctantly.
The flesh pits creation eagerly moved to the other bridge, excited to taste the blood of a being empowered by the Nightwolf mantel. The matokan drew his axe, ready to strike down a hostile Skarlet, she swiftly lunged at Nightwolf only to be batted off the bridge by his axe. Nightwolf had won, or so he thought. A blood puddle behind Nightwolf began to stealthily grow into a strange form of statue, one made of blood. The statue then transformed into Skarlet and she began stabbing at Nightwolf, distance only being created after Nightwolf shot her in the shoulder with a bow and arrow constructed by Nightwolf's green energy.
Skarlet began to kneel down, stretching her arm to the floor to intake some of the blood that was splattered across the bridge, somehow being able to recognize which is which between herself and Nightwolf's blood. "Delectable." She reviewed the blood while also attempting to freak out Nightwolf. This also lowered her guard for Nightwolf to dash at her with a shoulder barge, then attempting to follow it up by an axe hit which Skarlet sidestepped and grabbed Nightwolf, beginning to drain his blood from simply making contact with her enemy.
Skarlet could've easily claimed victory now by throwing Nightwolf off the bridge but she didn't, she was thirsting his blood, it'd be a waste to dispose of him now. Skarlet had no intentions of knocking Nightwolf into the pit. Nightwolf eventually found an opening to break free of Skarlet's grasp by kneeing her in the stomach and proceeded to send her flying off the side of the bridge via his axe.
Fortunately for Skarlet, the ninja who was waiting at the bottom of the pit caught her. "Your blood does not smell like a humans..." she analysed.
The ninja only sighed as he placed Skarlet down to her feet.
"You cannot hide your identity from me, zaterran." Zaterra was one of many realms that were conquered by Shao Kahn, Skarlet could recognize the beings origins merely from the ninjas stench.
"My identity matters not women." He hostilely replied.
"It matters to me if I were to take your blood."
"Is that a threat?"
Skarlet shook her head "A warning perhaps." She replied as if she was unsure herself.The ninja was unsure of Skarlet's blood power so this interaction was rather bizarre. "What do you mean?"
"It matters not." She responded, referencing his previous words. "What is your name?"
"My master refers to me as Reptile, but again that doesn't matter."
"I suppose it doesn't." Skarlet said "Thanks for the help then, Reptile." She said before departing.