The group of Sonya Blade, Hsu Hao and their unlikely allies of Tremor, Tasia and Jarek had returned to the Special Forces headquarters along with the company of extra armed forces to protect them in case the dangerous and mysterious Red Dragon clan happened to have an attack waiting for them. Fortunately, the group and the base were in fine condition but there was one significant difference about the base. A magical dome shielded the entire building which prompted Sonya to ask the two soldiers guarding the entrance as to what it was.

"Major Briggs said he was visited by some being called an Elder God," one soldier informed her. "They did this."

"It gives our energy powered functions within the base more power as well as extra defenses." The other soldier added.

"How so?" Hsu Hao asked out of curiosity for the magic.

"Contact with it is like an electric fence cranked up to one thousand," The first soldier detailed. "And that's why we're standing ahead of it and that's because of this…"

They pulled out a strange looking object that had a button on top of it which was used to manage if the dome would be on or off at just the single push of it. It was not a normal button device as it clearly had the Elder Gods' unique and priceless looking design on it paired with the fact that it was powered by magic rather than Earthrealm technology.

"Well this sure is good news," Sonya finally gave her thoughts. "Thanks for the hard work, soldiers."

The group moved forward as Sonya did what she never thought she'd do in her entire life and that was to let a trio of criminals into the base as guests and allies. They headed down the busy and long corridors, some suspicious glares from those present as they saw the infamous faces of Tasia, Jarek and Tremor themselves. However, Sonya leading them made nobody ask questions of it and returned to their own business. The group ended up passing the few holding cells of the base which only Kano currently inhabited, who began laughing upon seeing his former Black Dragon friends.

"Finally caught too eh?" Kano asked.

"No, we're actually helping the SF," Tasia revealed much to Kano's shock. "So shut up and rot in jail you fucking prick."

"You're doin' what?!" Kano didn't understand. "Is this a joke?!"

"Let's keep moving," Sonya instructed as she had learned to simply ignore Kano over the past days of him being held captive. "He'll soon be in our personal supermax prison later today."

"Good." Jarek commented as they kept moving.

"Burn in Hell." Tasia said aggressively before spitting at Kano and also moving along, nobody blaming her for her actions towards the Black Dragon leader. Hsu Hao himself even gave Tasia a nod of approval for the act.

"So where are we going?" Jarek questioned.

"You know what'll happen if this is a trap right?" Tasia added with her own question.

"Oh they know." Tremor assured as he knew his mere presence alone was enough of a reminder of what would happen if they tried detaining the three criminals.

"Raiden's closest allies are each given a shard belonging to an old amulet of his," Sonya explained to ease the tension and concerns. "Rubbing the shard will send a signal to the remnants of the amulet that he carries on his person at all times. He will then teleport to where the rubbed shard is located. Or at least that's what he told me."

"Fucking wild." Tasia remarked, she struggled to wrap her head around a lot of the crazy magic that was hidden throughout Earthrealm even if she was well versed in it due to the Black Dragon and their research surrounding it all.

"Hearing this shit hardly surprised me anymore." Jarek gave his own input.

"I know how you feel," Sonya related. "But once you understand it and it becomes a norm it's a thing you learn to deal with."

"Yeah." Jarek agreed.

"Oh look at you two becoming buds already." Tasia said jokingly which forced a snicker out of Jarek but Sonya didn't comment on the joke.

"We're here." Sonya informed them as she opened a door to an almost empty room guarded by laser tripwires with a podium in the centre and the shard Sonya had referred to being at the top of it.

"Fancy," Tasia complimented as she looked at the lasers. "Like something out of a movie."

"Stay here," Sonya instructed as she grabbed a control from her pocket and deactivated the lasers which only a select few members of the Special Forces possessed. "I'll summon him."

Sonya did as she had been instructed by Raiden and after rubbing the shard she felt a sudden static shock, a small symbol of Raiden's power within such a small object. Sonya placed it back down on the podium and a few seconds later the Thunder God himself emerged before the group.

"Something wrong, Sonya Blade?" Raiden asked the Lieutenant General only to see the familiar faces of Hsu Hao, Tremor, Tasia and Jarek behind her.

"We've learnt some things," Sonya began detailing the information they had learnt. "About the Red Dragon and the Netherrealm."

"I am familiar with the Red Dragon from their long history though I have heard nothing recent of them," Raiden informed her. "And what of the Netherrealm?"

"I believe I can explain best," Jarek stepped forward. "Allow me to give you a rundown…"

After explaining all the events that had unfolded with him being captured by Daegon where the Red Dragon Grandmaster had revealed Shinnok's plan that his clan was a part of to corrupt Earthrealm's Jinsei, Raiden was left with a surprisingly concerned and shocked expression.

"The Jinsei is what I use to rejuvenate my powers," Raiden revealed. "And is the source that gives all of Earthrealm life… Shinnok cannot be allowed to corrupt it!"

"What do we do?" Hsu Hao asked.

"I must firstly consult with the Elder Gods." Raiden decided.

"And they'll help how?" Hsu questioned further with a snarl.

"I've gotta agree with Robo-heart here," Tasia backed him up. "Didn't the last time you tried getting their help they stayed sat on their assess doing fuckall?"

"I'm sorry," Raiden apologized. "I wasn't aware that you yourselves were aware of what transpired."

"We heard just a couple of your rants." Jarek commented.

"I see…" Raiden replied. "Well it is still worth an attempt. Give me a moment."

Raiden soon left and had teleported to the Heavens and the structure that he used to call upon their aid. Raiden stood in the centre of the circular platform of the isolated rotunda and called upon the Elder Gods. Like many times before, large hologram-like reflections emerged from in between the ancient pillars that surrounded the rotunda.

"What causes you to summon us, Raiden?" Asked Zeus, Raiden's creator.

"It is Shinnok," Raiden revealed which left the hologram of Cetrion with a visibly worried face. "He plans an invasion on Earthrealm… and perhaps the other realms as well."

"Oh no…" Cetrion reacted. "Brother…"

"None of you knew this?!" Raiden was both shocked and disappointed to say the least. "You hardly do anything but watch the realms and you were never aware of what he's been planning?! I have just aligned with literal criminals who are more observant and frankly more helpful than the lot of you!"

"ENOUGH!" Vutix yelled with her voice echoing throughout the empty field of clouds.

"We told you last time, Raiden," Wu reminded him. "We cannot intervene with these events."

"Cannot? Or will not?" Raiden asked.

"And this new attitude does you little favours." Wu remarked.

"You have the power to rid the realms of all evil and you'd rather do nothing?!"

"You and the other Protector Gods were made for a reason." Wu pointed out.

"For us to do the work for you!" Raiden argued as his rage was clearly building up.

"That's enough! Not just Raiden but to all of us as well!" Ametus interrupted the argument before it escalated any further. "We all respect the hard work you do for Earthrealm, Raiden, but you need to be mindful of what you say…"

"Because it would be unfortunate to lose you." Zeraura added to finish Ametus' sentence.

"You threaten me?!" Raiden questioned.

"I warn you." Zeraura clarified.

"We cannot have somebody serving us who speaks out against us," Wu added in agreement with his fellow Elder Gods. "So change your conduct if you wish to remain in our services."

"Let us stop this pointless bickering," Vutix suggested as she joined in the conversation. "We need to mutually understand what our roles are. We as the Elder Gods work to maintain balance throughout the realms. Said balance unfortunately includes having to allow threats to exist. Your job as a Protector God is to stop the threats."

"We were already more than generous to make an intervention to repair the damages done to Earthrealm." Wu believed.

"When you have the power to do anything… literally anything you please... then that is hardly generous." Raiden countered though he tried to keep his cool now after the warning he had been presented with..

"If we abused our power then we could disrupt the slumber of the One Being." Vutix reminded the Thunder God, lowering her voice as she spoke the infamous being's name.

"Then… what should I do?" Raiden asked, reluctantly returning to being loyal to the Elder Gods.

"Gather your main Earthrealm Defenders," Ametus instructed. "Then send some to Outworld to gain the aid from the allies from that realm you made during the last invasion."

"Thank you, Ametus," Raiden thanked though gave no such courtesy to the other Elder Gods. "I shall do that immediately."

With a crack of lightning Raiden soon vanished where he returned to Earthrealm to begin gathering allies for the inevitable invasion. The Elder Gods meanwhile, began returning to their business overseeing the realms as one by one their holograms began fading away. The final two left were Ametus and Cetrion which the former went to also depart until…

"Wait!" Cetrion requested. "Can we talk?"

"Sure," Ametus accepted her request. "What's on your mind?"

"I…" Cetrion went to answer but paused for a moment, struggling to admit how she felt. "I want to resign from the status of an Elder God…"

"I see," Ametus replied, taken aback by the response though remained calm and collected. "How come?"

"I can't keep watching all the destruction that happens and not intervening when I very well could," Cetrion explained emotionally which was something many of the Elder Gods from current times and before either lacked or downright repressed. "I think… no, I know that I need to leave. I need to stop my brother."

"I understand," Ametus replied. Understanding how Cetrion felt was something the other Elder Gods would not have been able to. "I… will miss you."

"Come with me," Cetrion gave another request. "Please."

"I am sorry but I must refuse." Ametus said politely yet bluntly.

"Why?"

"A life amongst mortals is not for me," Ametus believed. "And I believe my status is a great privilege that I am very fortunate to have."

"I get it," Cetrion understood. "But… don't you ever feel bored? Fed up? Angry? Sad seeing all the losses?"

"Your emotions, they match that of a mortal," Ametus observed. "I… sometimes get feelings of such sort but… I don't know… I can't describe it."

"But are you happy?" Cetrion asked.

Ametus paused for a moment but soon gave Cetrion a warm smile and nodded in confirmation.

"Then good," Cetrion stated. "Farewell, old friend."

"I'll be watching you," Ametus said assuringly. "I'll never truly be gone."

Cetrion now smiled back at her friend. "Thank you."

"One last thing before you leave…"

"Yes?"

"Be very careful," Ametus advised as she deep down began worrying of what would happen to Cetrion after she would make this huge decision. "Although I'll make sure to justify your actions and prove that you're still helping maintain the balance in your own way… the others may see it as… betrayal."

"Why else do you think I'm only telling you about this?" Cetrion queried. "Zeraura depending on what extreme mood she's in may be accepting but we both know how strict and cold blooded the others can be."

"I know," Ametus replied. "And that is why I am concerned that-"

"Don't be," Cetrion cut her off. "I will be fine."

"If you say so," Ametus said as she took a final glance at her friend's Elder God form. "If any of them try punishing you for this then I will fight."

"I know," Cetrion replied. "Thank you again…"

Ametus gave her friend one last smile before her bluish hologram faded away which caused

"I love you." Cetrion whispered before letting out a sigh of sadness as it had been mere seconds and she already missed Ametus.

Cetrion's next move was to cast an ancient spell using her signature elemental powers, Cetrion used her Elder God power one last time to spawn a trio of Elemental Gods. All three were surprised and confused as they were suddenly reborn in the middle of nowhere besides a completely empty space of clouds, taking in their first sight of life in approximately sixty-five billion years. These three Elemental Gods were indeed old creations of Cetrion who aligned with the brothers Raiden and Fujin to try stopping Shinnok the last time he attempted to invade Earthrealm so many years ago. Shinnok unfortunately slayed his technical nephews and their resurrection was long overdue. The three elements were fire, earth and water.

"Mother?" Spoke the Fire God.

"What happened to us?" Asked the Earth God.

"Brothers!" said the Water God who was even more surprised than the others. "I… I saw you both die!"

"At ease, my sons," Cetrion addressed them. "I am afraid to inform you all that you have been deceased for many billions of years."

"I remember Shinnok destroying me…" the Fire God remembered. "It hurt so much… and then there was nothing but darkness."

"I am so sorry," Cetrion apologized, feeling horrible for leaving them deceased for so long. "I wanted to resurrect you but I was forced to prioritise my powers on other matters."

"Why didn't we return here?" asked the Earth God. "Everybody else who perished had an afterlife… but not me."

"Neither did I." The Water God added.

"The three of you... are souless," Cetrion revealed. "I do not mean that in any bad way at all, however, it means you are not eligible for the afterlife… you're just an amalgamation of what you elementally represent but with my magic gift of life."

"What made you revive us?" Asked the Fire God. "We failed you…"

"My dear Torch, you did no such thing," Cetrion assured. "I will be proud of you no matter what. The statement applies to the pair of you also, Geode and Splash."

"Thank you." The three sons said in unison.

"No, thank you," Cetrion returned the thanks. "Thank you for understanding."

"We're with you, mother." Splash informed her.

"Always." Torch added.

"As am I," Geode also confirmed his support. "Now what will you have us do?"

"Shinnok failed his last invasion," Cetrion revealed to them. "Partly thanks to the three of you. But now he wants to make another attempt very soon."

"We will succeed this time." Splash promised.

"Hopefully…" Torch said with significantly less confidence.

"You will," Cetrion assured them all. "Because I will join you."

"But how?" Asked Geode.

Cetrion didn't give a verbal explanation and instead felt it was easier to show her sons what she meant. Casting an ancient spell that all Elder Gods possessed though none had used it until today, Cetrion casted a spell to return her to her old physical form which as a consequence removed her of many of her powers and privileges as an Elder God.

The spell soon worked and she began examining herself in the body she had possessed since her creation up until being assigned to join the ranks of an Elder God. She reached her arms out and brushed one across the other, feeling her skin for the first time in so long. She then switched her focus back to her sons.

"We shall depart for Earthrealm soon," Cetrion revealed. "But first I have to make a house call to my own mother…"

Cetrion led her sons throughout the cloud floored realm before finally reaching civilization of those enjoying their well earned dream of an afterlife in a town of the most beautiful and grand houses decorated with pearl walls with gold decorations patterning the fancy exteriors. Hordes of surprised faces glared at Cetrion and her sons as they were seeing one of the six Elder Gods in a physical form along with the very eye catching elementals whose appearances of being literal living embodiments of the elements they represented, which drew looks from the angelic citizens.

They moved through the town until spotting an elevated cloud with an enormous mansion sitting atop of it. In the garden of the mansion was a lake that streamed down from the floating cloud down to a river of the pure water beneath it. Cetrion began hovering as she prepared to fly up to the mansion but turned back to her children who lacked such an ability to inform them of what she would do. She was soon shocked to see Splash missing and scanned the area to try and find him.

Even more to the surprise of Cetrion as well as Torch and Geode, the three were suddenly propelled into the air by multiple upward blasts of water that carried them all up to the cloud where they were soon brought before Splash.

"Was that you?" Cetrion asked as climbed down from the platform made of water.

"Of course," Splash confirmed. "I slid up the waterfall to get up here."

"Impressive." Cetrion complemented.

"A little help please…" Requested Torch while there was a sound of weakness and dryness in his voice.

Cetrion spun around to face her fiery son who was lacking the fiery part in his current state as the water blast had completely put him out which left him in a charcoal like state and bore more semblance to Geode rather than his usual self.

"Oops," Splash said as he too turned to see Torch as he realized what he had done. "Apologies, brother."

"Apology accepted." Torch said with more strength in his voice as Cetrion blasted a beam of fire into the Elemental God to rejuvenate his power. Cetrion possessed the powers of all three elements that she had used to create life out of so fire was of course included in her range of powerful abilities.

Cetrion continued to lead her sons as they headed up a stairway to the mansion's spacious porch. Cetrion grabbed the fancy door knocker made of solid gold in the shape of a detailed hourglass. She knocked the door gently and it was promptly opened by a large muscular man dressed in white and gold robes which matched the buildings colour scheme and were made out of the finest silk in the universe.

"Geras!" Cetrion called the man as they embraced. "It has been too long!

"Lady Cetrion," Geras greeted with a bow. "It is a blessing to see you."

"No need for the formalities," Cetrion told him. "We are siblings after all."

"Understood, sister," Geras commented as she moved aside and gestured for the visitors to come inside. "Welcome home."

"Thank you," Cetrion said gratefully as she glanced around the magestic home that she had missed for so long. "Is mother available?"

"Always," Geras confirmed. "Follow me."

Geras led the group of guests through the mansion until reaching the warm living area as Cetrion explained what she was doing in her physical form with her three sons and everything about Shinnok. Geras lacked a reaction to the news, however, this wasn't unusual for him to remain so stoic. He was simply processing the unfortunate information about the oncoming invasion as he carried on leading them to their mother who was called Kronika.

Kronika was one of the original Elder Gods who had retired a long time ago with two of her creations: Shinnok and Cetrion both being deemed worthy to succeed her as Elder Gods. Shinnok's time was short lived due to his evil nature that expanded from growing power hungry to the point where he attempted to abuse his powers on multiple occasions. Cetrion meanwhile had remained in power for almost all of time… until today.

"We are here." Geras finally spoke though did so quietly so as to not disturb Kronika as they stood behind the doors leading into the living room which Geras carefully knocked on.

"Enter!" Kronika called which prompted Geras to then open the doors and saw Kronika reading from one of her many books while sitting on a comfortable chair beside a cozy fireplace.

"You have visitors." Geras informed her which prompted Kronika to look up from her book which she dropped as her jaw dropped in surprise.

"Is that my lovely Cetrion?!" Kronika asked as she got off her seat and spread her arms out. "Come here."

Cetrion quickly rushed over to embrace her mother who had not witnessed her in physical form since they had traded positions upon Kronika's well earned retirement. Finally after so long they were able to hold each other in their physical forms.

"You have no idea how much I longed for this moment." Cetrion told her as they hugged tightly.

"As have I," Kronika related while looking over Cetrion's shoulder and seeing the Elemental Gods. "And are these gentlemen my lovely grandsons?"

"How could you mistake us for anything else?" Geode wondered as he was fully aware of their unique appearance.

"She's only jesting, Geode." Cetrion clarified for him.

"Hello, Grandmother!" Splash enthusiastically greeted while Torch's fire brightened up to display his excitement to see Kronika.

"Greetings to the three of you." Kronika returned the greeting gestures. "Are you well, Cetrion?

"I'm here to tell you something…" Cetrion said as she slowly let go of her mother with Kronika reluctantly doing the same.

"I know what's happened." Kronika stated.

"How?"

Kronika pointed to Geras. "I hear what he hears."

"I am able to transfer messages to her through a telepathic connection between us." Geras clarified in detail for Cetrion to truly understand.

"So I guess I do not have to explain again," Cetrion realized. "So… you're not mad at me?"

"I could never be," Kronika replied kindly. "You always have the choice to do what you feel is right… everybody should have that choice."

"Thank you for understanding."

"Of course," Kronika said with a smile which showed how proud she was of her daughter. "Any particular reason why you visited me?"

"Just to let you know what I'm doing," Cetrion answered truthfully. "I know that you would have worried about me if I left without telling you… I also just simply wanted to visit you."

"You made a great decision," Kronika said as the two hugged a second time. "And maybe you'll gain more help… Geras?"

"Mother?" Geras spoke after being addressed.

"Would you wish to join Cetrion on her quest?" Kronika asked him. "If that is okay with you, Cetrion."

"Oh absolutely," Cetrion confirmed. "We could use all the help we can get."

"Throughout all of time you have always given me the choice to leave your side…" Geras vidily recalled through his highly photographic memory serving as a great aid for both himself and his allies.

"And you would always choose to stay." Kronika added.

"For you are my family and therefore the thing of greatest importance," Geras explained which Kronika had already assumed this was the case. "However, this time… I would like to spend time with the rest of my family."

"Then I am happy for you all," Kronika said as she gave Geras a hug to say goodbye. "Farewell and good luck to you all."

"Farewell, mother," Cetrion said before turning to her new God team of fellow relatives. "Let us take the nearest portal and descend down to Earthrealm with haste."

"One last thing," Kronika spoke before her family could depart. "Please… bring him back to me."

Cetrion paused for a moment as she turned to face her mother once more while figuring out how to reply to such an important request.

"...I'll try."