The next day, Liu Kang gathered the remaining earthrealm fighters in his room. Sonya, Bo' Rai Cho, Khameleon, Johnny and Kano.

"I asked to meet you all here, because i wanted to know how everyone was feeling. These past 2 days have been... challenging"

"I'm doing great, cuz it's not me who has to go up against Goro or Shang Tsung, it's ole' Johnny and Sonya here, haha"

"Shut up Kano" said Sonya.

"Yeah, i'll do my cheering if you fight Shang Tsung"

"Enough" said Liu Kang.

"I have to face Goro" said Johnny, "How do you think i feel?"

"You have a chance to win" said Liu "He's not unbeatable"

"You saw what he did out there. How he was. He's a monster. There's no way to beat him"

"Think! You can come up with a way to defeat him. You have something that Jax did not have, time. Time to think of a way to beat him"

Johnny offered no reply. His confident facade long since faded, replaced now only with sadness and fear. "He's right" Said Bo' Rai Cho, "They are our enemies, and we must defeat them, no matter what it takes. You are the greatest fighters in all the realms, know that, and it may help you succeed"

"Thank you, Bo' Rai Cho" said Liu.

Sonya turned to Khameleon.

"It seems we fight each-other next"

"Yes"

"How do you feel about that?"

"I will give you my all. It is only right, so the strongest among us proceeds to the next stage in order to better save Earthrealm"

"You're right. I will give you my all too"

"I face Scorpion next" said Liu, "He was exceptional in his fight with Sub-Zero. He didn't even seem human"

"Because he's not" said Raiden, appearing before them, "He is a specter. A once dead being. He originally belonged to a clan called the Shirai Ryu. Long dead now. They used to train fighters to help in earthrealms defense. Scorpion was killed by Sub-Zero and resurrected by Shang Tsung. How exactly i do not know. That kind of magic is unknown to me and thus is unpredictable. It has turned Scorpion into an even more deadlier fighter with supernatural powers, such as his affinity with fire. Be very cautious when you fight him"

"I will. Thank you Raiden"

"How is Jax?" asked Sonya.

"He'll live"

"That's good"

"Anyway. The enemies remaining in the tournament are very strong, you will have to do your very best in order to defeat them. Good luck" said Raiden, then he disappeared.

"One more thing i would like to say" said Liu, "Concerning Kenshi. There might be a way to restore his soul. If we force Shang Tsung to put Kenshi's soul back into his body, it might work. So if any of us defeats him, keep that in mind"

The fighters gathered at the next area where the quarter-finals would take place, the acid baths. Shang Tsung and Kitana stepped forward.

"I forfeit" shouted Kitana. Shang Tsung bowed. Raiden appeared before them.

"You dishonor the meaning of mortal kombat once again, Shang Tsung. However, it is permitted that one can forfeit their match"

Shang Tsung bowed lightly to Raiden, before Raiden disappeared.

Sonya Blade and Khameleon were the next to step forward into the arena. They stood opposite each-other, and Sonya went into her kempo stance, as Khameleon went into her vulture stance.

Khameleon stepped forward and thew a sidekick which Sonya blocked, then Sonya moved in and threw punches which Khameleon blocked, then Sonya threw a elbow which landed in her face knocking her back a little. Khameleon came back with fast punches which Sonya tried to dodge and block, successfully doing so for most of them as a few got through to her face and body. Sonya threw punches and elbows. Khameleon spent less time blocking and more avoiding and trying to counterattack. The two went back forth with various kicks and punches, landing hits on each-other doing damage. They had frequent bouts of going in close range for punch and elbow attacks, which Sonya landed more. Khameleon, sensing that close range wasn't the answer, stuck to medium and long range attacks. She kept Sonya at bay with more successful kicks than Sonya. Sonya changed to her Taekwondo style. Sonya moved in delivered a variety of kicks, outperforming Khameleon. When the fight got in close, Sonya kicked straight up, hitting her face, then brung her leg down full force, kicking her in the face again, then sidekicked with the other leg in her stomach. Khameleon was damaged and dazed with blood on her face, while Sonya was lightly damaged with blood on her face. Sonya moved in closer. Khameleon got in a successful sidekick, injuring Sonya. Sonya moved in again, initiating a successful spin kick to her face. Sonya moved in again and executed in quick succession a low kick, mid kick then a high kick, the last one of which was blocked. Khameleon jumped up and landed a successful roundhouse kick on Sonya's face, knocking her backwards. Khameleon stepped forwards toward Sonya, then Sonya stepped forwards and then rolled forwards across the floor and brought her legs through the air to land a kick on her face. Khameleon was knocked to the floor, defeated.

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"Sonya Blade wins"

Sonya walked over and offered her hand. Khameleon took it and stood up.

"Your good" said Khameleon.

"Thanks"

"Kick Shang Tsung's ass for me" she smiled.

"I will" she smiled. They both walked out of the arena.

Liu Kang and Scorpion stepped into the arena. Liu Kang looked into the blank white eyes of Scorpion.

"Why do you continue to fight for Shang Tsung?"

"I don't fight for Shang Tsung. I will defeat you in order to face him"

"I see. But i cannot allow you to win, as that would doom earthrealm"

"So be it"

Scorpion entered his Hapkido stance. Liu Kang entered his Jun Fan stance.

They approached each-other carefully. Scorpion front kicked, Liu dodged out of the way. Scorpion threw a combination of punches which Liu blocked while on the back foot. Scorpion kneed him in the stomach, Liu blocked another knee, then elbowed Scorpion's chin, stumbling him backwards. Scorpion came back and jumped up, kicking with his feet in succession as Liu blocked them. Scorpion crouched down and sweeped his legs, Liu jumped up in time. As Scorpion got up Liu landed a spin kick on his face. Scorpion moved forward and blocked Liu's punches, then threw his own as Liu blocked them. This exchange continued, as they threw knees and kicks into the fight as they each blocked them. Liu then landed an elbow to his face. Scorpion landed a kick in his stomach. Liu punched him in the face. Scorpion punched him in the face. Scorpion used a jumping roundhouse kick which landed on Liu. Liu used a variety of kicks as Scorpion blocked one after the other, and then Liu was too fast and landed a kick to his face. Scorpion feigned a kick and then landed one on Liu's face. Scorpion threw a series of punches as Liu blocked them, then Liu landed several punches to Scorpion's face and body. Scorpion stepped back and changed his stance to Moi Fah.

Scorpion moved in and used a combo of precise punches on Liu, who managed to block most of them then failed at the end as several got through to do damage on him. Liu threw kicks which Scorpion blocked, then stepped in and delivered more quick, short-range attacks on Liu. Liu landed some punches, then Scorpion landed some kicks. Both were quite damaged and tiring. The fight went close range as each tried to land a punch as they blocked the opponent's ones. Scorpion kneed him in the stomach and Liu elbowed him across the face. They moved mid-range. Scorpion feigned a kick and then landed one in Liu's stomach. Liu landed several kicks to Scorpion's face and body. Then as Scorpion was blocking his punches, Liu managed to land several to his face. Scorpion stepped back and changed his stance to Pi Gua.

Liu stepped forward and Scorpion managed to grab him and throw him to the floor. Liu got up quickly and came at him again. Scorpion blocked his attacks and landed several kicks and punches of his own. Liu came in again, Scorpion blocked some kicks while others landed on him. Scorpion got in close and blocked Liu's punches as Liu blocked him, but Scorpion managed to land a punch to his face and body. Liu kicked him in the stomach sending him backwards, then Liu changed his stance to Pao Chui. Liu extended his arm and closed his hand at Scorpion, motioning him to come forward. Scorpion stepped forward, and when he got in range, Liu turned his back to Scorpion, then leaned backward and landed two simultaneus punches on Scorpion's stomach. Liu turned back around and stepped toward him. Liu threw a variety of punches and kicks as Scorpion began blocking them, but the the skill of Liu techniques were too much and Liu got threw, landing several hits on him. Scorpion landed some punches and kicks himself, but Liu landed more. Soon enough, Scorpion fell to the ground, defeated. Both of them were bloody and bruised all over.

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"Liu Kang wins"

Liu walked over and offered Scorpion a hand. Scorpion took it.

"A worthy opponent" said Scorpion.

"As were you"

Scorpion nodded.

"I hope we can fight again someday. As allies" said Liu.

"One day. Perhaps"

Liu smiled.

Goro stepped out into the acid baths arena. Johnny Cage stepped forward.

"I forfeit" said Johnny. The heroes looked at him.

"So be it" said Shang Tsung. Goro laughed. Johnny walked away.

"Tomorrow will begin the semi-finals" said Shang Tsung.

Later in the palace, Liu caught up with Johnny.

"Hey Johnny, what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what i mean"

Johnny took a deep sigh.

"I just... couldn't do it"

"Fight Goro?"

"Yeah. I just can't. He's too strong. He'll kill me. Or worse, do what he did to Jax"

*He's broken him* thought Liu.

"But we have to try. The whole of our world is at stake. We HAVE to try. But you quit"

"I know. I just couldn't"

"The whole world is at stake. He's not unbeatable, there's a chance you could have defeated him. You didn't even try"

"I get it!. You don't think i know. That i'm a coward. I accept that. I'll fight anyone else, just not monsters like that. There's no way to win. He's a monster"

"You ARE a coward, Johnny. You'll have to come to terms with that. But i will tell you, he is not invincible. He is flesh and blood like us. He uses techniques and movement like us. With his added strength comes slower speed. You know this. Yet still you forfeit"

"There's no way to beat a monster like that. If Outworld wins, then i'll fight in Earthrealm to protect it. Just not here, against that monster"

"The monster is called Goro. He isn't some powerful monster, he's a person with a name like us. He can be defeated. Hopefully i'll prove it to you"

"Yeah. Good luck"