Raiden led Ruyko through the portal and back into the dojo with Liu Kang and Kung Lao.
"This is where I will prepare you for the coming battles" Raiden said, "But first, I did promise you an explanation. Please sit."
Raiden gestured to the stairs that descended into the room, where Ryuko, not seeing much choice at the moment, sat down and folded her arms with her usual attitude.
"Alright" she said, "Spill."
Raiden folded his arms behind his back as he began to explain. "The symbol you bear is the Mark of the Dragon. It is a calling to whomever bears it to compete in a champion that could decide the fate of reality as we know it. Only the best of the best are chosen for this tournament."
Ryuko felt a surge of pride; she was one of the best across the dimensions. Granted it wasn't what she was expecting, but it was a welcome surprise nonetheless.
She gave a determined smirk. "Alright, so whose ass do I need to kick?"
Liu Kang chuckled in amusement. "I like her fighting spirit. It lacks self-control, but it's fire burns hot. Something we may need in this battle."
Ruyko wasn't quite sure if she should take that as a compliment or not, but Raiden paid no attention and waved his hand, projecting an image of a massive arena in a smoky cloud. The arena seemed to have different terrains, ranging from rocky canyons to lush forests.
"This is where you will be sent" Raiden explained, "The arena is constantly changing to make better entertainment for the emperor, Shao Kahn. You will encounter many different individuals there, most unfamiliar to you. If you defeat them all, you will be named victorious and will be able to return to your home. To achieve victory, it is important is that you find those who are willing to become allies. Teams are allowed."
"And how exactly will I know who can be an ally?"
"I have chosen many other fighters; they bear the same symbol as you. That symbol will let you know if an ally is close by."
Just then, a massive thunderclap echoed through the area as the sky grew dark.
Raiden looked around, then turned back to Ryuko. "You must hurry; the tournament begins."
"What the hell happened to preparing me?" Ryuko demanded.
"No time" Kung Lao replied, "The fighters are already being summoned."
As if on cue, a dark purple vortex appeared in the courtyard outside of the room the others were standing in. Seeing it, Ryuko activated Senketzsu's battle form and drew her scissorblades as she approached the portal.
"Good luck, Ryuko" Raiden said, "I shall try to help however I can, but once you're in the arena, my power is limited."
Ryuko hefted her blades. "Don't worry, old man, I think I can manage."
With that, she went into the portal…and stepped right into a swamp, her boots getting stuck in the muck.
Ryuko groaned in disgust. "Are you fucking kidding me?! I just got here!"
The portal closed behind her as she struggled against the swamp muck. She eventually managed to find more solid ground to stand on, albeit with a lot of sucking and plopping as she moved her way there, and then decided to look around to get a view of her surroundings.
The swamp itself was mildly foggy and filled with low hanging trees and vines. Thankfully, she could also make out solid patches of ground for her to walk across.
"We need to get out of this swamp" Senketzsu advised. Try climbing the tree to see if we can get a better view."
Looking at the tree next to her, Ryuko followed her Life Fiber's advice and scaled the tree, poking her head up over the branches. The sky was clear above her, and she was able to see the rocky area on her left and the forest just up ahead.
Ryuko looked between the two landscapes and thought out loud. "We might find better shelter in the rocky area, but that forest is a lot closer, and I want to get out of this swamp."
"You and me both" Senketzsu agreed, "I say head for the forest."
Ryuko nodded as she climbed back down. Then she began making her way through the swamps, using the solid patches of ground to hasten her advance.
Unknown to her, two figures had been watching her from the trees, both invisible.
"She's no enemy; the Mark confirms it." one hissed. The other simply made a few clacking noises.
"We should follow" the first one continued, "if she gets ambushed…" But the second had already started following her, silently running across the treetops.
The first one sighed. "Hunters…" he said before taking off after him.
…
High above the arena sat a massive, floating podium, where Raiden now teleported…and was greeted by Shao Kahn.
"Glad you could make it, Raiden." he tauntingly said, "I assume your chosen are already in my arena."
Raiden simply narrowed his eyes and gave a nod. Shao Kahn returned with a devilish smile. "Gooood."
Shao Kahn then walked over to the throne in the center and sat down. "Now, let's see just how determined they are."
All Raiden could do was watch the arena, praying he had made the right choice…