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"You're okay, kiddo?"
With a low moan, Sakura shook her head before looking up to see Johnny Cage standing before her with his hand reaching down. With a slight nod, the kunoichi reached up and took his hand, as which the action star pulled her up to her feet.
"What…happened?"
Her eyes blinked twice as she saw that her surroundings had altered drastically. Even though her position hadn't changed from where she was standing before, the area was drastically different. Cliffs with jagged edges were now around her. The pit arena had disappeared, as was the high balcony where Shang Tsung had been stationed. Which also meant…
'Naruto!'
The orange-clad shinobi was nowhere around; neither was Kakashi, Sonya, Raiden, Liu Kang, or many of the others that were in the crowd. In fact, Cage was the only person here with her in the entire area that she recognized. A few of the others were also there as well, equally as confused.
"I don't know." Cage answered. "But if this was a movie, I think we're approaching the third...and final act."
'This shouldn't be here.'
On a different location, Raiden's gaze was focused on the clouds in the sky was spiraling into a sort of black vortex. Unlike the mist portal that brought the kombatants to the island, this one was a direct opening into Outworld itself. It isn't completely open, but the fact that it exists at all is more than concerning.
In fact, it should only be allowed to open upon Outworld's victory. But it is highly unlikely that Final Kombat has even commenced yet, so the portal should not even be here. By all rights, the Elder gods themselves should have cancelled the tournament upon this breach of conduct, especially considering the significance of this (tenth) tournament.
It is a violation (albeit indirect) of the rules of Mortal Kombat…
But perhaps that is why it's there. Between the importance of the tournament and the corruption of the grandmaster sorcerer using technicalities to bypass, perhaps they couldn't. The thought that the Elder gods were incapable of stopping this was something the thunder god couldn't fathom happening.
And yet…
It irked him to see Shang Tsung's arrogance in display, thinking that the tournament is already guaranteed. But, given Outworld's list of victories, that arrogance could be seen as justified. The last realm, Edenia, was known for its strong fighters and noble warriors.
Yet, in the end, it was conquered and claimed by Shao Kahn…
Raiden returned his gaze to the island. He had to focus on the current moment, find the Chosen and help guide them through this event. But that has proven to be a greater challenge, as he discovered that Shang Tsung's sorcery in the air was also disrupting his divine senses. It wasn't strong enough for it to be an issue for him before, so it must have taken place during the sorcerer's declaration of Final Kombat.
He'll have to resort to the mortal way, his eyes…
"Where are we going?"
"Are you an idiot?" Karin snapped back at Suigetsu as the team dashed through the tree-line up on the altered terrain. "High ground is the basic tactic in this situation. Every shinobi knows that."
"Give me a break. Most of my victims don't go up that high" the shark-nin retorted.
"Neither does your brain apparently."
A sudden chill from Sasuke's killing intent quickly silenced them both as the team made it up to the top of one of the jagged cliffs. Despite the realization, it was still a surprise for them to see the entire structure of the island had been changed from it previously was. And while there was comfort in knowing that the island wasn't huge, they are only able to see at least half of the entire island from their vantage point.
"There."
Partly hidden beyond the jagged cliffs further out was the golden shine of Shang Tsung's palace. Like the rest of the island, the position of the palace was in a different place, no longer higher on an elevated area, but more on a lower plain area. It was almost as though it was set up to draw in visitors.
Or victims…
"Karin, track down for the strongest chakra concentration in that area."
With a slight push of her glasses, the redhead began to peer toward the area of the palace "This corrupt atmosphere makes it difficult. Plus Itachi will be concealing his chakra, so it'll be close to impossible."
"You aren't looking for Itachi."
This caused both her and Suigetsu to start at him in surprise, but Sasuke continued, "You are looking for his target."
Naruto… Sasuke didn't want to have to deal with his former teammates any longer than necessary. Actually, he had hoped to have never had to deal with them at all, at least not until Itachi was dealt with. But if the Akatsuki were involved, then so was Naruto. Annoyed as he was about that fact, he knew that running into them in the tournament was inevitable; even more so when both he and Suigetsu had to deal with them through the matches.
At least this time, the idiot would be of some use…
"Find that, and Itachi won't be far."
"It is done, master."
His arms lowered from his invocation, Shang Tsung shut his eyes and drew in a silent breath. Terraforming an island to his specifications was a tedious effort, not to mention tiring. It took the support from a couple of his shadow monks to reinforce his enchantment. Regardless, it has been done and with it, the final phase of the tournament can truly begin.
And the game pieces were set in place…
Taking a few steps toward the exit, the sorcerer stumbled slightly and grimaced. It seemed he had lost more energy than he thought. A consequence of his aged body, no doubt. Although augmented and empowered by his magic, if depleted severely enough, his body would quickly decay. A bit of time and rest would help to replenish his strength.
But there are other, quicker methods…
With an upward flick of his wrist, Shang Tsung shot out a burst of sickly green energy, engulfing the shadow monk who had spoken to him. The servant gasped in shock as the energy propelled him toward his master and right into his hand, holding him aloft in his grip. Arching his right arm, his open hand clawed and aimed it at the hapless servant.
"Mine… Your soul is mine!"
The green energy intensified upon the victim, his body convulsing violently as his life force was drained away from him, almost hungrily. The convulsion lessened and ceased altogether as the energy entered into the sorcerer, with the body of the shadow monk being nothing but a swiveled corpse. Meanwhile, the energy swirled about the sorcerer, with an echo of a scream sounding as it entered into his body, his previous fatigue now absent and replaced with the strength of his victim.
An appetizer for the main course…
His strength restored, Shang Tsung continued on, ignoring the other shadow monks who shuffled in to clear the corpse from the ground. Making his way toward the throne room, he silently sat on his seat. Now all he need do is wait for his prize to come to him, with preparations that were set to assure of that.
Soon enough, that power will be his…