A/N: This story takes place after the ending of Doom 64 and before Doom 2016/Doom: Eternal
Shao Khan looks in complete disbelief at the man still standing before him. Despite of his injuries, that man is still standing and breathing, albeit weakly so, as he stares back up at him, with a look of defiance on his face, which, despite being covered in blood, makes the scar across his cheek stand out more than ever. But what amazed Shao Khan was not the fact that this man was here and alive, nor the fact that he still has his steel barreled gun trained in his direction, but rather that he was able to even move from the position he fell into, when normally no one could have walked away from their current state after that kind of blow.
No. What amazed him most, was how this man somehow remained conscious throughout all the blows he had inflicted upon him. And his eyes – his eyes held such hatred and rage as he watched him suffer under the force of his blows, which made Shao Khan wonder how much it'll take to force him to submit.
How could such a mortal manage to withstand so much pain? To survive through the agony of heavy blows he's endured. He doesn't understand how someone can endure such a thing and keep on fighting. He knows it can never be done, that he's witnessed it happen many times before. Watching warriors fall in defeat after just one or few more blows in battle before accepting defeat. But this was just something he had never thought he would have to witness himself.
Something that should be impossible. And yet here he stood, glaring at him defiantly, seemingly unaffected by his own grievous wounds, while holding that bloody metal barreled weapon pointed right between his eyes. His eyes seemed almost… angry? No, that wasn't quite correct. They were filled with anger, but there was something else too. Something else that made him feel uneasy. Rage. Pure, unadulterated, rage. It almost felt like… hatred.
The strange look on his face, along with the look of determination that was etched onto it, made him question if he'd imagined it. But Shao Khan was more disturbed when the man's glare deepened in such a way no mere mortal would be capable of. The intensity of his gaze, however, did nothing for the fear that started rising within him. This man was an enigma. One that Shao Khan was sure would only grow stronger with each second.
But he can't show fear to his foe. No. He has a title to maintain.
"I hate to admit it, mortal. I am impressed. Truly, truly impressed. And here I was using only a fraction of my strength, thinking that would be enough to end your pitiful life. And yet, you're still standing. Still fighting. Still clinging to life."
The man's jaw clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white from their grip around the barrelled gun, and he let out an angered huff, glaring back at him. Shao Khan chuckled darkly. "Normally no mortal ever last this long fighting against me. Not without some form of death wish. You are very interesting."
The man didn't respond, his glare not faltering. As if daring him to say something else. As if challenging him. But he wouldn't take that challenge. He won't give the man the satisfaction. Shao Khan grinned once more and rested his mighty hammer on his shoulder blade.
"What's the matter? Got nothing to say? Or perhaps you're still angry about what I did to your friends? What was their names? Sonya…Raiden…Johnny…Kung Lao…Liu Kang." His grinned widened more darkly. "Kitana."
A low growl rumbled in the depths of his chest. Shao Khan laughed again. "Oh, I've struck a nerve have I? Haha! Don't worry, you'll see them real soon once I be rid of you."
He took another step forward, and the stranger stepped back. Shao Khan smirked. So this was the extent of his abilities? Just a mortal who was trying to hold himself together, with little chance of winning, and was relying on a piece of iron to do the job for him?
"This whole time you and I were just playing. But now… playtime is over. I will hold back on you no more, mortal. Nor will I be taking prisoners. Because truth be told…" He trailed off removing his hammer from his shoulder and swinging it through the air in front of him. "Let's make this a fight to the death." He grinned as he brought the hammer down, pointing it directly towards the mortal. "To see who's the strongest mortal in kombat."
