WHISPERS OF THE UNDERWORLD
CHAPTER III:
BREAKING INTO THE TEMPLE
Shao Kahn sat at his long forgotten throne in the dark castle of Outworld. He had forgotten the smooth feeling of his black stone throne. If it weren't for those damned Earth warriors, he would have never had to leave it.
As he sat there, he remembered the one particular Earth warrior who sent him into the tablet-Quan Chi. "Damn that dreadful name!" He said aloud.
He looked down at his new purple garb that was underneath his purple robe. He thought that he looked smaller with it on. Then again, who would look small equipped with his old uniform? Spikes on his shoulders, hands, and legs. Giant black gauntlets. A black cape and a bigger, duller skull placed on his head. He didn't really mind this new uniform. It was lighter and loose. Better for fighting in.
On a small table in front of him, there was a blue and black rune stone. It swirled with dark blue energy. This was one of the eight rune stones recovered from the great war millions of years ago between Lucifer and the ruler of the Netherealm at the time.
After the battles, the rune stones exploded throughout the universe, some landing in realms, some just disappeared into oblivion. One particular stone landed in the heart of Outworld. Fortunately for Kahn, rune stones are special.
They hold the power of foresight and can create powerful weapons. They can also allow the holder to see into the past and the present. If one of these stones were to fall into the wrong hands... "Too late." Shao Kahn thought to himself.
Soon his plans to take over the realm of Edenia would be complete. He would order Ermac and a few others to gather an army worthy of his taste.
He couldn't wait to see the look on that bitch Kitana's face when she saw that he was still alive. He just couldn't wait. At that moment, the chamber door opened at the end of the room and in stepped the ninja Ermac. He bowed, then stood at his master's side.
"Why have you come here, Ermac?" Shao Kahn asked. "Master, I have thought of a wonderful plan to take over Earth." He waited for his master's reply hesitantly.
"Explain." Shao Kahn ordered. Wasting no time, Ermac started to explain. "The sacred amulet of power is still hidden within the Himalayan Mountains, correct?" He asked.
Kahn nodded. "Yes. So?" Ermac smiled underneath his mask. "So, Fujin will not expect any sort of attack from anybody because Shinnok is still trapped within that statue in the Netherealm, Quan Chi is much too afraid to launch another attack on Earth again and you are still suppose to be contained in that tablet, or, at least, that is what Fujin thinks."
Shao Kahn frowned. "What are you trying to get at?" Ermac started pacing the room. "I suggest that instead of going after Edenia and getting revenge on Kitana right away, why don't you focus your power on retrieving the sacred amulet of power?" Ermac stopped to look at him then continued pacing. "You could then use your power to take over the whole universe, including the realm Edenia.
"Your brilliance has prevailed once again, my ninja. I will steal the amulet then take over the universe. I can already feel the power!" He said as he clenched his fist. He looked down at the swirling blue rune stone on the table.
He put his hand over it and began to utter certain words in a different language. "Usu nosuto eckhba utno masuto dicasna chepah!" The rune stone began to glow and inside of it there appeared a watery image of the same temple that Quan and his warriors were preparing to break into.
"Wait, Ermac. I think someone has beaten us to it already." The rune stone showed Quan Chi and his warriors trying to find a way into the temple.
Shao Kahn slammed his fist down on the table. "Damn that sorcerer!" He exclaimed with great rage. Ermac's eyes widened. "Sir, I could go now and get some of my warriors and we could leave at once to destroy Quan Chi and his pathetic warriors, then steal that amulet!" He almost ran out of the room. "No Ermac! Wait!" Shao Kahn smiled. "I have a much better idea."
Quan Chi kept on circling the outer walls of the temple trying to find a secret entrance or even a small crack big enough for them all to fit through. Nothing.
Scorpion, Mileena, and Reptile were just standing behind him. The dark warrior Sub Zero pushed on the wall. His hand made a small crack in it, nothing else. He was furious. He threw his hands back and spread his palms out.
A dark orb of blue and black mist started to form within them. It grew bigger and bigger as Sub Zero threw his hands against the wall of the great temple. The mist spread like a disease, covering every inch of the wall. With a loud, deep demon cry, Sub Zero kicked in the wall. Millions of pieces of the wall were instantly scattered across the floor of the temple.
Quan Chi smiled. "I guess we've found our way in." Scorpion looked at Reptile. He just shook his head. The sheer power of this demon was unmatched. Scorpion had never seen such power since the four-armed creature called Goro.
They all entered the temple. To their surprise, there stood four other warriors. Fujin, Sub Zero, Kung Lao, and Liu Kang. Fujin looked at them all with disgusted looks. He crossed his arms. "You cannot win this time, Chi. My warriors are ready!"
Quan Chi grinned. "My ensemble is unstoppable. Especially with my latest creation." He pointed to what used to be Sub Zero. The four gods along with Fujin stared in horror at the beast.
Sub Zero took a long hard look at him. He was wearing the same uniform as he, and his mask was also blue. But he was covered with spikes. He was much taller and weighed a lot more, and his skin color was pitch black. His eyes glowed a light blue. Could it be...his...older...? "No, no it couldn't be!" Sub Zero shook his head in denial.
Whatever it was, it was not his older brother. Quan Chi looked over to the back of the room. There it was. His prize. The sacred amulet of power. Oh, how he had longed for it.
"That there, Wind God, is what I will be taking from you tonight. Why don't you just be a good little God, and hand it over before I crush you!" Fujin walked up to Quan Chi, grabbed hold of his throat and stared him right in his eyes. "Why don't you try and get it from me, you scheming little bastard!" The demon Sub Zero stepped forward and took the wrist that was holding Quan Chi's neck. He twisted it back then threw Fujin into a wall at the back of the room.
The younger Sub Zero ran up to this wall of bulk and tried to execute an uppercut. It connected, but did nothing. This time, the demon Sub Zero uppercutted his brother. He hit the roof and came back down hard. This was a killing machine.
The younger Sub Zero staggered back to his group of warriors. Each warrior picked their foe. Liu Kang decided he would take on Scorpion. He had defeated him once. He could do it again. Reptile and Mileena decided to take on Kung Lao. Sub Zero thought he would challenge the might of this demon alone. Fujin already knew who he would take. Quan Chi stepped forward. "Prepare to be defeated, new Gods of this temple! Fujin, you are mine!"
Fujin smiled. This was going to be fun. He took a run at Quan Chi. Quan Chi tried to brace for the impact, but it was too late. Fujin grabbed hold of his entire torso and one of his legs. He lifted him up and drove him back through the gap in the shattered temple wall.
Scorpion looked at Liu Kang. Liu crossed his arms. "Do you want to do this the right and honorable way?" He asked firmly. Scorpion rose his chin. "Fair enough."
He walked up to Liu Kang as Liu started walking back to his temple of fire. He wanted to have a fair fight for once. "I want no one to follow me. No one!"
Reptile and Mileena started whispering to each other. They faced Kung Lao, and decided to attack. Reptile swirled around him while Mileena front flipped over his head. As he turned around, he caught a boot in the face. Reptile lifted him up and threw him into a wall nearby. He came crashing through it and ended up in his very earthen temple.
Kung Lao got to his feet. He removed the bladed hat from his head and whirled it at Mileena, who was just stepping through the hole that Kung had made. She moved out of the way and the bladed weapon stuck into a pillar to her left. Reptile opened his mouth and shot a giant gust of an acidic green substance from the other side of the hole. Kung Lao tried to move out of the way, but it caught on his right arm. He screamed in pain. Reptile and Mileena smiled.
Sub Zero tried to move out of the way of the crushing left fist of...whatever it was he was facing. It connected and the force drove Sub Zero back into a wall. The demon Sub Zero walked up to him and grabbed him by the throat. Lifting him up with but a mere grunt, he let out another throbbing demon cry.
What was this unstoppable machine? Sub Zero thought. With no exertion at all, the demon threw him back. He hit the temple wall with tremendous force and took it down with his fall.
Sub Zeros' vision was blurry now. He staggered to his feet and looked around at his new surroundings.
There were blue tablets surrounding the roof and blue orbs lying on statues on ground level. He realized that he was in his temple. At least he knew his battlegrounds better than his enemy did.
The unstoppable creature stepped through the shattered remains of the wall. He stopped for a moment, breathed a gust of icy blue air and continued moving. Sub Zero kept on moving back, sticking his hands out to sense his surroundings.
The black demon swung his leg out and tripped his brother. He clenched his fist and let it come crashing down on his smaller opponent. He lifted him up again and began to beat Sub Zero senseless with his other gigantic hand.
Through all of the endless assault, Sub Zero could swear he saw the demon that was beating him grin....
Liu Kang was ahead of the yellow specter. He was leading him to his temple. There was more open room to fight there. Also, there was no sound. Nothing to distract the Shaolin warrior. And that is just how he liked to fight. Once they reached the temple, Scorpion crossed his arms.
"When are you going to stop delaying things and let us fight?" He asked. He didn't ask harshly, or ruddily, just firmly. The second those very words left his mouth, he was kicked powerfully in the stomach.
He fell with a thud on the red stone floor and looked up to see what had happened. Liu Kang lowered his foot and smiled at the specter. "Why not right now?" He asked.
Scorpion stood up and charged at his enemy....
Fujin allowed Quan Chi to get up. He wiped the small portion of blood from his mouth and grinned. "Do you honestly think that you can beat me?" Quan asked him. Fujin shook his head.
"I have beaten you before, sorcerer. Or, have you forgotten that?" Quan's grin disappeared. He charged at Fujin, who easily dodged it by stepping to the side. Quan Chi hit hard against the outside of the massive temple.
Fujin attacked. He ran up to Quan and kicked him in the chest. Quan Chi threw a sloppy punch, which was easily blocked. Fujin held his head and repeatedly beat on him with his other hand. Quan was bloodied and battered.
Fujin let him drop to the ground, then picked him up again. He threw him into the side of the temple and Quan Chi fell to his knees. Fujin settled his frown of anger, then looked the sorcerer square in the eyes.
"Never threaten the Earth Realm again! And if you do, I swear to the Heavens, I will rip apart every limb off of your body and throw your mangled corpse into a pit of fire!" Angered, Fujin walked slowly away.
Quan stood up just as the storm picked up again with heavily pouring rain, thunder, and lightning. He removed the same pouch from his belt that he had used on Sub Zero earlier and removed the glowing blue crystal goblet from it. "You know something, God of Wind, I never thought you'd spare my life. So you have, and you shall pay for it!" Fujin turned around.
"And with what shall I pay with?" He asked. Quan hid the pouch behind his back and slowly walked up to Fujin grinning. "I am going to turn you into something that you never thought you could be..." Fujin winced. He grabbed the sorcerer by his chest plate and brought him to his face.
"And that would be what, exactly!?" He spat. Quan Chi brought his hand up to Fujin's face and poured the evil onto the entire left side of his chest. Fujin dropped Quan Chi and screamed in pain.
An acidic rush of pain shot through his entire body as he clutched his chest. He was in much pain. Fujin looked at his body. Yes, it hurt but he knew he could do something about it. He concentrated.
To keep the rest from gaining total control of his body, Fujin used his powers of the wind and created a small tornado of wind to thrash the rest of it off of his shoulder.
Quan Chi grinned once again. "For a god, you should have seen that one coming." He walked over to Fujin, who was on his knees. He lifted his head up by his ponytail.
"You have failed, Wind God. Soon, my master will resurface. He will regenerate and take over this pathetic world. Your Earth warriors will all be dead!" Chi frowned.
"As for you? This poison may have not consumed all of your body, but it will spread. Slowly but surely, it will plague your soul, forcing you to give in to darkness."
Fujin looked down at the left side of his chest. "I will find a cure for it. You won't win, Chi."
"There's where you're wrong Fujin. I have bread one with the same poison inflicted in you. He is a monster; a bloodthirsty killer. Now, if you will excuse me, I have an amulet to steal." Quan Chi smashed Fujin's face into the stone temple floor.
Fujin opened his shattered mouth to talk, despite the dark red blood pouring from it. "Who is this monster that you created, Chi?" He managed to ask.
His enemy turned around and smiled. "His name is Sub Zero." Quan Chi walked away. Fujin stared at him in disbelief. How could that thing be the noble warrior Sub Zero?
Having nearly not enough strength to stay awake, Fujin collapsed into a world of pain.
Kung Lao gritted his teeth at the acid eating away at his arm. The enemies that he had fought in the past were a challenge, but he had never really been able to take on two strong opponents at once, especially when one was a lizard and had the ability to shoot acid from its mouth.
He closed his eyes and kept his guard up. Reptile charged at him. Kung Lao leapt up into the air and kicked the back of Reptile's head into the temple wall.
Reptile tried to elbow Kung's face, but missed. Kung Lao followed up with a sharp uppercut to Reptile's jaw. Reptile staggered back holding his jaw.
Kung Lao ran at him. He kicked him in the stomach, then jabbed him in the head and performed a spinning heel kick to the top of his temple. Reptile sank to the ground.
Kung Lao turned around and faced his other opponent. Mileena brushed her hair back and took out her sai. She slashed them together, then pointed them at her opponent.
He took off his hat, and his semi-long dark brown hair fell over his eyes. With one swift and quick movement, he threw the bladed weapon at her. Mileena spun out of the way. The hat dug into the wall behind her. She ran at Kung Lao with her sai ready for battle. Lao blocked her first attack, which was a slash with one of her sai, and tripped her to the ground.
Mileena cut his leg. After grunting with pain, Kung Lao looked at her leg. It was wrapped up with bandages that were stained with blood. He played possum for a while, making her feel that she was in control of the fight.
He purposely let Mileena kick him into the wall where his hat lay stuck in it. She stepped back and put her hands on her hips. "Not much, for an Earth God." Then, like a bird spreading its wings, Kung Lao grabbed his hat, spun around to his knees and slashed it down on Mileena's open wound on her thigh. She screamed in pain, gripped her wound, and collapsed to the floor. Kung Lao was about to finish his job when a scaly hand gripped his foot. Reptile pulled as hard as he could and Kung Lao fell to the floor.
Reptile stood up and lifted up his leg high in the air. He brought it down hard on Kung Lao's chest. He coughed up a large amount of blood. Reptile picked him up and performed a spinning heel kick to his chin. Kung Lao hit the wall next to him and fell down. Reptile picked up the battered Mileena. Smiling, he walked out of the smashed hole from which they entered.
Kung Lao knew he had been defeated. He could handle that. But what he couldn't handle was knowing that those bastards would indeed steal the amulet...and it could have been his fault.
As Scorpion charged at Liu Kang, he clenched his fists. He leapt high into the air and balled his fists. He brought them down on Liu. Liu, with his cat-like reflexes, dodged it easily. He balled his fists also and started throwing them wildly at Scorpion. Scorpion blocked the first few clusters of punches, but failed to keep up with the rest. Kang unloaded punch after punch until Scorpion held out his hand, as if to say no more. Kang had a confused look on his face.
"Are you saying you give up, specter?" He said with confidence as he crossed his arms. Scorpion's look changed from pity to anger, his eyes from white to red. He smiled, and from the hand he was holding out came the creature called the harpoon.
Kang wasn't expecting it. It came at him quickly and fiercely. He jumped out of the way. The harpoon quickly changed directional patterns and swooped down on the helpless Liu Kang.
It dug into his left leg, devouring layers of his flesh before his eyes. He screamed. Scorpion retrieved his creature. At the door of the temple stood Reptile holding Mileena. "Come, my friend. We shall retrieve Sub Zero and join Quan Chi now."
Scorpion nodded, then glanced at Mileena in Reptile's arms. "Is she all right?" Reptile nodded. As he left the helpless Liu Kang on the floor to bleed, he turned around. "Until we meet again, Shaolin warrior." Liu couldn't believe two things. He had been defeated by a ghost whom he had defeated once already, and that hell-spawned demon...was...Sub Zero.
Sub Zero hung like a bug caught in a spider web while the dark demon pounded away on his worn out body. He released him, allowing him fall to the ground. The demon Sub Zero grabbed hold of his brother's outfit and pulled him up by it from the ground.
He pulled his opponent's face close to his. As the younger Sub Zero stared into what used to be his older brother's cold blue eyes, he thought of his life, and how rewarding it had been. They say that before you die, your life flashes before your eyes....
He was immediately dragged back into reality from the cold air illuminating from the demon's mouth. The Demon took up his other hand, and pulled the blue face piece down. What Sub Zero saw before his made his heart stop. It was almost like the dark Sub Zero's head had been replaced with a creature's from hell. Three spikes shot out from his forehead, followed by dark blue glowing eyes, leading to what should be a nose. He had long, white patches of hair shooting out from everywhere on his head, and finally, two rows of long, sharp, gray teeth. There were two giant ones on each corner of his...its mouth. The remaining patches of skin on its face were still charcoal black.
He opened his mouth as he hissed wildly. He opened it wide enough to fit Sub Zero in. Sub Zero prepared for the worst as his brother brought him closer, ready to consume his defeated form....
"Demon, come now. We must join Quan Chi." Scorpion called from the doorway. The demon Sub Zero looked at him, then back on Sub Zero. He hissed once again, and threw him into a far away wall. The giant demon walked slowly to the doorway and nearly knocked over Scorpion as he left.
As Sub Zero kept his eyes open for precious seconds, the only thing he could think about was the monster that had defeated him. Whatever it was, it could not be stopped.
Quan Chi could almost taste it. The amulet was in his grasp! Fujin was defeated and he had no doubt that his chosen ensemble was successful in each of their individual missions.
He was mere feet away from his prize now. All he had to do was just reach in and take it. It was too easy. He reached for it. "And now, my master," he began to say, as he grabbed it, "I have succeeded." As he tried to pull the amulet from its resting place, it sent a shock down his arm and he pulled back quickly, holding it.
He tried again, and again, and again. Each time, he failed. He heard a voice behind him. "Quan Chi, we were successful in our missions." Reptile spoke. Quan smiled. The demon Sub Zero walked up to the amulet, stuck his massive arm out and, despite the shock it was giving, pulled it out with ease.
Fujin crawled on his good arm slowly to the amulet's resting place. He saw Sub Zero hand it over to Quan Chi. As he felt the rain pour down on his face, he screamed. "No!"
He had failed. His chosen gods had failed. He was defeated and so were his gods that he had personally chosen. He had to accept that his item that he was to guard was now in the hands of a true madman. Quan chi looked at him, and then, just like that, left through the portal from which he came.
All of Fujin's gods came to his aid. They were not much help, but managed to get him to his tired feet. Fujin stared up into the storm. "Quan Chi! You Bastard!"
Next Chapter: DARKNESS PREVAILS