Please leave reviews. I'd really appreciate critiques.

Chapter 5

Shao Kahn laid waste to Outworld. The once beautiful land lost most of its vegetation and wildlife in a matter of months due to Shao Kahn's lack of concern when scavenging crops and expanding his empire. Other kingdoms in Outworld began to break off allegiances and attempted to fight Kahn, but all that faced him fell. Even those that were a part of the empire's army, particularly those that were loyal to Onaga, broke off from the Empire to face the usurper. To many in Outworld, Onaga's followers were the only force capable of facing off against Shao Kahn, and for a moment (which was years for Outworlders) it appeared they stood a chance. Onaga's giant general led the undefeatable army against Shao Kahn and, at first, their better strategy and years of experience were able to fend off Kahn's forces. However, without Onaga's heart to revive them constantly, they began to lose battles due to Kahn's overwhelming number of soldiers and his unrelenting power. They started to retreat from battles and were eventually sent on the run. Onaga's men eventually had to go into hiding. Shao Kahn thought this meant Onaga's reign was truly over, but that was hardly the truth.

The truth was that Onaga's holy men had devised a plan. They knew Onaga's soul was strong enough to act through the afterlife. In fact, he was able to project a ball of light as an avatar to speak with. Onaga had a plan that, when he would return to life, he would collect all of the Kamidogu and Shinnok's amulet, allowing him to become unmatched by anyone including Shao Kahn. With that, he would be able to reinstate his rule over Outworld and make it even greater than before. The only problem with that was with the dragon egg that would be used to reincarnate him. Dragon lifespans were naturally long, but that meant the time spent developing in the egg was equally long. Onaga could not return to the egg until it was ready to hatch, and in the meantime the egg needed to be guarded. Onaga's holy men swore to hide and guard the egg in a location even Shao Kahn could never find. And while the holy men were willing to die and pass on their knowledge to new followers, Onaga's general was unwilling to die knowing he wouldn't be there for his king. None of his army were willing. To make up for this, Onaga and his holy men instructed them to go into hiding as well. Once hidden, they would mummify themselves to preserve their bodies and once Onaga returned, he'd use his heart to return them to life. They accepted the assignment.

While they were planning for Onaga's glorious return, the rest of the realm only saw their last hope disappear. With them gone, Shao Kahn had no foe to stand in his way. The last of the rebellious factions fell under Shao Kahn's might and met fates worse than death. While Onaga's rule had slaves and harsh punishments for law breakers, Shao Kahn's rule only made these more agonizing. Slaves at the very bottom of society were left with little to know food, practically starving themselves to death as they worked in Shao Kahn's factories and fields if they weren't whipped to death for being too slow. The prisons were always an unrelenting experience for those sent to them, but under Shao Kahn's rule they became death camps with even the most unremarkable of crimes like failing to pay a tax or stealing bread resulting execution. But for those that led the rebellions would receive special punishments. Shao Kahn himself would drag them down to his own coliseum where he'd face them in combat in front of thousands of spectators. These "fights" were never even. Kahn would just batter them either with his fists or his mighty war hammer. This eventually became a reoccurring event where Shao Kahn would host tournaments for anyone to enter and slaughter each other for various rewards like a chance to join his army or simply for Kahn to grant them a single request.

This became a trend for Shao Kahn's life as ruler. All things related to his empire were only for the sake of satisfying himself. He'd work his slaves to death to keep farming crops and making weapons and armor for him and his army. He'd travel the realm and crush any civilization not yet subservient to his rule and he'd host banquets and tournaments as celebrations of his greatness. However, this lifestyle would come to harm Shao Kahn. A millennia into his rule and conquest over Outworld, Shao Kahn had done it all. All that opposed him had fallen and all of the land in Outworld was under his control. He couldn't believe it. He refused to believe it.

"There has to be something missing!" Shao Kahn shouted to his advisors. "This realm is massive! There's no way everything has been discovered!"

"I-I'm sorry, my lord," one of his advisors stuttered out. He pulled out a map and placed it upon a table. It was marked with several locations and pictures of castles all surrounding Shao Kahn's tower in the middle. "But everything here is taken. Even the kingdoms at the edges of the map are under your control. You've conquered everything."

"Nonsense!" Shao Kahn summoned his mighty war hammer and smashed it into the table, forcing his advisors to duck under the splinters as they scattered.

"My lord," another advisor spoke up, "forgive me, but I don't understand. Isn't this a good thing? You've been wanting to conquer everything and now you-"

The advisor didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as Shao Kahn grabbed him by the throat. He gasped for breath and clawed at Shao Kahn's arm, but Kahn didn't let go.

"No," Shao Kahn said. He didn't yell, but his voice was so deep and powerful it echoed through the halls. "Not everything. Not even close."

And with that, Shao Kahn crushed the poor man's throat and let his corpse drop to them ground. The other advisors had cowered into the corner as they watched just how little their fellow man's life was to their master. Thankfully for them, Shao Kahn didn't turn his wrath onto them. He instead stepped out of the room with a new goal in mind.

Everything. That word stuck in Shao Kahn's mind. He had Outworld, but that wasn't all. There were other realms to conquer, each with their own races and valuables to gain. Shao Kahn would have it all. He called upon the services of Reiko and the Brotherhood of Shadows again for his new quest. He needed the aid of powerful sorcerers to open portals to other realms for him to travel to. Quan Chi immediately knew what Shao Kahn wanted; to invade other realms. Many of his fellow Brotherhood members were skeptical to assist the Outworld ruler, but Quan Chi agreed. Afterall, the carnage that Shao Kahn was sure to leave behind would flood the Netherrealm with potential new recruits for the Brotherhood of Shadows. Quan Chi sent several necromancers and sorcerers to Outworld to assist Shao Kahn to open portals for the emperor. The first realm Kahn entered was the realm of Zaterra, possibly to be one final insult to his former master. The reptilian denizens of the realm were confused when Shao Kahn first stepped foot into the realm, but soon fled in terror when once Shao Kahn's armies invaded. Several of the realm's raptors and chameleons tried their best to fend off the invaders, but Shao Kahn overwhelmed them quickly. In a matter of weeks, the population of Zaterra dropped to its absolute lowest, with only the Saurian queen named Sytholin, her faithful Saurian raptor guard, and a female chameleon were left to face off against the Outworld emperor.

Shao Kahn stepped into Sytholin's swamp-based throne. "If you value your lives, you will bow down before me," the emperor shouted out his threat.

Sytholin stood up from her throne, but her bodyguard immediately stepped in front of her. "Sssstand back, Outworlder! You have no right to make demandssss!"

Shao Kahn laughed at the raptor. "I have slaughtered millions of your kind, reptile. To think you can put on a brave face shows how foolish you truly are!"

"You maybe ssstrong, Ssshao Kahn," the raptor said. "But I know you are not fasssst enough to fight me."

Shao Kahn was ready to laugh again, but a simple blink of an eye resulted in him being slashed across his bare chest. He touched the scratch mark to see some blood dripping from it. Shao Kahn turned around in order to find his attacker, but he was attacked once again. Kahn knew his foe's speed would be a problem.

The raptor would dash back and forth, slashing at Shao Kahn and cutting him open. He thought he had the upper hand. A foolish thought. Shao Kahn charged his war hammer with his soul magic and slammed it into the ground, creating a large shockwave that knocked the raptor to the ground. He attempted to stand back up, but Shao Kahn stomped on his chest, pinning him down. Shao Kahn laughed once again at his foe.

"That was pathetic," the emperor said in a mocking tone. He lifted his war hammer up high, ready to smash it down on his foe's head.

The raptor wasn't helpless however. He built up saliva in his mouth before spitting it into Shao Kahn's face. Kahn screamed in agony, dropping his war hammer and backing away to grab his eyes in some vain attempt to stop the burning. It was an acid spit. Normally enough to dissolve any other foe completely, but Kahn was not normal. Even though he had godlike powers, he still needed to use his magic to heal his eyes, but once he did, he was ready to slaughter the raptor. However when he turned to face him, he was gone.

Shao Kahn's eyes scanned the area and yet he couldn't find the foe. He smirked before turning back to Sytholin and the female chameleon. "It seems your only hope has fled like the coward he is. Now, bow before me or-"

Shao Kahn was slashed in the back before he could finish his demand. Shao Kahn turned around and yet nothing could be found. Then Kahn was slashed again. And again. And again. The emperor soon understood what was happening. He was fighting an invisible foe. He could have slammed his hammer into the ground again, but the raptor would probably predict it and counter it. Shao Kahn had to think again. He heard a splash. Then another. And then several more before being slashed again. Shao Kahn smirked. He couldn't see him, but running in the swamp water wasn't wise when attempting to remain hidden.

Shao Kahn heard several more splashes come from behind him. He timed the approach perfectly and countered. Just as the raptor attempted to slash again, Shao Kahn clotheslined the creature to the ground. Shao Kahn grabbed the creature by the head and began to squeeze it. The creature tried to scratch and claw at Shao Kahn, but he managed to keep his distance and avoided the line of fire from another spit. Shao Kahn slowly increased the pressure and the raptor's eyes looked like they were about to pop out. Shao Kahn looked up to see the female chameleon charge up a fire ball in her hands

Shao Kahn rose up to his feet and held up the dangling body of the raptor in front of him. "You even dare to fire at me and your guard dies. Either from your pathetic fire magic or from my hand."

The chameleon dropped her hands, letting her fire magic die out.

Shao Kahn turned his attention back to Sytholin. "And now your final warning, "queen," he mocked. "Bow down before me or he dies."

Sytholin finally stood up from her throne and approached Shao Kahn. "You've made your point, Outworlder." She kneeled down before him. "I yield. Now let him go."

Shao Kahn nodded and dropped the raptor to the ground. He gasped for air and scampered away from the emperor.

"Now," Shao Kahn spoke up, "I have no more need of you."

Sytholin looked up in horror. She rose up to her feet, but it was too late. Shao Kahn shoved his fist right through her chest. Her heart fell out of her back and the still attached broken ribs poked out.

"NO!" the chameleon shouted before charging right towards the emperor with a purple energy surrounding her. Shao Kahn was prepared. With the Saurian Queen's corpse still on his arm, he aimed his hand at her and fired a blast at her, knocking back into the dark depths of the swamp. Assuming she was dead, Shao Kahn flung his arm to the side which let the queen's corpse fall off of his arm.

Shao Kahn was ready to leave at that moment before noticing the raptor staring at him in horror. He no longer looked like a fearsome monster, but instead a lost dog. Shao Kahn just smirked at the creature.

"You had some impressive skills, I will admit," Shao Kahn said as he approached the whimpering raptor. "What is your name, reptile?"

"SSSyzoth," the raptor said.

"A stupid name," Shao Kahn said before grabbing him by the throat. "If you wish you live you will serve me like a dog, reptile. Understand?"

"Y-yesss," Syzoth choked out.

"Now, take me to this realm's kamidogu, reptile."

Shao Kahn was led to Zaterra's kamidogu, a small, green, glass-like object in the shape a reptile's claw hidden in a dark cave. The emperor couldn't help but laugh to himself at how barbaric this realm was. No castles, no villages, no form of economy, and no one to properly protect the kamidogu. Shao Kahn took the kamidogu back to Outworld. He knew that the kamidogu were originally all a part of one object that held together one great realm, but he wasn't sure what would happen if he merged them back together. The hope was to expand Outworld's landscape even more, but the risk would be great and potentially fatal. Shao Kahn entered the heavily guarded chamber of the kamidogu in his palace. Outworld's kamidogu was purple with three pieces spiraling into an indigo gem in the center. The emperor took a hold of both sacred artifacts and merged them together. The flashing energy emanating from the merging items was nearly enough to knock Shao Kahn to the ground, but he stood tall until he finished merging the kamidogu.

A bright flash enveloped the realm, blinding all across, but sight soon returned to everyone. Shao Kahn looked down at his hands to see the Outworld kamigodu still in place. Shao Kahn placed it back down and looked over the balcony of his palace to see that new land was added to Outworld. New forests, new swamps, new wildlife. Shao Kahn grinned. He had found a new purpose.

This new purpose led to a conquest that continue for several millennia. Shao Kahn would lead his armies into thousands of realms and slaughtered all that opposed him. Realms such as Vaeternus, the Realm of Gold, Hinpar, and the Arnyek Islands where only a few that fell before Shao Kahn's might. For most of the realms, their people faced total extinction, while others that Shao Kahn found interest in were spared and enlisted in his army, often serving as generals and the heads of his extermination squads. Osh-Tekk, Naknada, Kytinn, and other species became a part of Outworld and outside of those that joined Kahn's army, they would serve other functions for the emperor. Osh-Tekk, due to their knowledge of gold making, were placed in charge of the factories. The Naknada, due to their species' history of assigning their kind labor roles from birth, Shao Kahn had them carry out the handy work around the realm. From gathering treasures, to managing farms, to simply make food, the Naknada held as little power or social standing as the lowest peasants. The Kytinn, humanoid insects that could spawn hundreds of other types of insects, were placed in charge of keeping the natural environments of the realm in check.

While Shao Kahn was pleased with the new lands he had conquered, the centuries of merging realms, cultures, and peoples together had unfortunate side effects on Outworld. The once unique beauty of the realm, its lush fields and clean rivers, deteriorated in wastelands. In between the brief areas of vegetation, the land was dried up and cracked with the only hope of hydration being the spilled blood of battle. The vegetation itself had gone through changes, with some even gaining sentience and carnivorous instincts. The species of the realms had gone through changes, either from the mergers or from the interspecies breeding that followed. New races emerged from mutations overtime. Centaurians, humanoid creatures with the legs of horses and bulls, emerged and quickly became a favored race to Shao Kahn for their strength, speed, and resilient bodies. Tarkatans were born from an unexpected mutation where a human would be born with sharp fangs, claws, needle like skin, and blades that can pop out of their forearms. Must surprising about the Tarkatan was how quickly the race was able to populate itself into the billions into such a short time frame. Fierce individually, together with hundreds of them and being able to reproduce quickly, they were the perfect foot soldiers for Shao Kahn.

One race however was special. While it was a hybrid species, its ancestorial roots made them extraordinary. The Shokan were a species of four armed creatures of immense strength and fire breathing abilities that descended from dragons. They were in hiding for so long they were considered a myth. Yet, they appeared in Outworld with their own monarchy. Shao Kahn knew they would be a valuable ally, so he allowed this monarchy in exchange for them to swear loyalty to Outworld. While the Shokan were proud, they understood Outworld was their new home, so they agreed to work with Shao Kahn.

All of these races as well as the shadow priests made Shao Kahn's conquest of the realms all the easier. So many fell before the overwhelming might of Outworld. However, the elder gods grew great distain for the emperor's actions. Both the genocide of thousands of races and the constant merging of the kamidogu were causing problems for Cetrion, Suijin, and Ourano. With Shao Kahn's plans to target Edenia for his conquest, the Argus turned to the elder gods so they could devise a plan that could give the peaceful realm a chance to defend itself and stop Shao Kahn from merging more of the kamidogu. It was Argus himself that proposed an idea.

Mortal Kombat would be reinstated.

It's been too long since I've down a chapter for this. I'm glad I got it done and even more glad we're getting closer to the end of the line.
I know it's been a while since the first chapter, but my origin for the MK tournament is very different from the games, starting off as a way for mortals to become gods, but it was always part of the plan for it to come back in the way we know it. A way to give realms a chance.
I also know the kamidogu are different, but I was always under the impression every realm had one and that it was important for the realm's structure. So merging them merges the realms, which is in line with the One Realm and the One Being.
Also also, we're finally at the point we're running into more named characters. Reptile, Khameleon, Motaro, the Shokan, the Tarkatan, D'Vorah. It's been a real pain to hold off on all these guys, but they're finally here and it a way that makes sense. Also, apparently Shao Kahn named Syzoth Reptile because he's a demeaning asshole, and isn't that how Kahn should be?
Also I do remember the quotes from Deception and Shaolin Monks that Outworld used to be a beautiful realm until Shao Kahn messed it all up, and I interpreted that as the constant merging of the realms is such an unnatural thing to do like this that it really just destroys and mutates everything.
I am a little less proud of this fight scene compared to the Shinnok ones since it felt a bit stilted, but that may just be me.

So, what did you all think? Leave your thoughts down below for the love of God. I really want more critiques of my work. Is pacing ok? Descriptions? Dialogue? I'd love to know.

Of course, Warner Bros and Netherrealm Studios owns Mortal Kombat. Not me.