Later that night, Johnny turned to the bed-ridden Sonya and whispered. "I'm going to get some water for you hold on." Sonya slowly nodded, not making a word or sound. Johnny tried to smile as he got up and walked away, he discovered a note waiting for him, curiously he picked it up and it said:

Warrior,

I challenge you to a fight to the death, meet me at the Pit tomorrow morning.

The note was left unsigned, but it left a sense a terror and excitement in Johnny Cage, was this Kano? If it was, he would absolutely accept, but what if it was a trick…? Either way, he knew he had to accept it, he couldn't back down from a fight… what would that make him look like?

The warriors slept the night until morning dawned, while Liu and Sonya still slept, Johnny snuck out of his bed and departed for the Pit. Though he wondered to himself if he was doing the right thing, he knew he couldn't back down.

Meanwhile Liu had awaken, he was surprised that he was able to sleep at all with what Raiden said to him, the other night. If such was true, could he really go through with it? I mean sure what he was doing was noble, but he often hoped he would be able to live his own life after the tournament, he would like to get married and have a few kids, but he'd have to give all that up…

He walked over to Sonya's bed, who lay awake with bandages wrapped around her chest and legs. "I'm about ready to take these off." She said.

"I wouldn't do that just yet." Liu said, smiling slightly. "I give you a few more hours and you should be fine."

"Thanks." Sonya said, trying to smile. "Where's Johnny?" she asked, curiously.

"Hmm?" Liu looked around, he didn't see any sign of their friend. Perhaps he had already wandered off to get something for Sonya? "I don't know. He must've left before we got up."

"Damn him…" Sonya mused.

"What?" Liu half laughed. "He'll come back."

"I know." Sonya gave in. "What about you? You're facing Goro today aren't you?"

"Yeah…" Liu said, sadly.

"Well, how you feeling about that."

"A little nervous or maybe excited or maybe both? I don't really know. But either way, I don't feel very good."

"Why's that?"

"Well, I had been dreaming since for this moment ever since I was a child, then when my brother died, I vowed I would win the tournament in his honor, but now that I know what I'm coming to have to live with, the curse of being the Champion."

"My brother died too." Sonya said, sadly. "Well, do you have to go through with it?"

"I'm afraid so. If I don't then Earthrealm will have forfeited the tournament. Goro will have won."

Sonya nodded silently, as Liu stood up. "Well I got to get going."

"All right." Sonya said, nodding. "Good luck."

"Thanks… I'll need it…"

O-O-O

Climbing atop the Pit, Johnny thought to himself. "I must be crazy." But yet, his feet did sway and he eventually found himself on top of a large platform.

"All right. Show yourself! Who the hell are you?"

As Johnny finished these words and puff of smoke emitted before him and there stood a ninja, at first he thought it be Scorpion or Sub-Zero, but then he looked closely, this ninja was wearing green. Without word this ninja attacked and struck Johnny in the chest and then took his other foot and struck him across the face causing Johnny to fly through the air, spinning wildly. Landing on the ground, Johnny got to his feet as Reptile came at him again, Reptile tried to kick Johnny again, but this time the movie star was ready and he struck Reptile across the face after dodging the kick.

Reptile recovered quickly and formed a small green energy ball in his hands, before Johnny could act, it hit him square in the chest, but strangely this attack did not propel Johnny backward, but rather it propelled him forward and he landed on his back as Reptile jumped towards him to crush his head…

O-O-O

Meanwhile Liu stood outside Goro's Lair where the massive warrior was said to be inside, waiting for his next opponent. He stood there, not knowing what to do. For a moment, he considered running away, but that would make him look like a coward. First he thought of Kung Lao and the promise he made to him that he would emerge victorious. Then of his brother Chow, who he had sadly lost so many years ago and then there was Raiden.

"Why do you hesitate Liu Kang?" Raiden asked, appearing behind him. "You know that you must face Goro in combat now or else…"

"I know!" Liu shouted, angrily. "But give me some time, I'd be sealing myself a destiny instead of making my own…"

Raiden nodded. "I understand, but the fact of the matter is that you must face Goro or Earthrealm will belong to Outworld."

"But why me? Why did I have to get this responsibility?" Liu added sadly.

"It is fate, Liu Kang. You cannot fight fate."

Liu sulked his head silently and whispered. "I wish none of this had happened, I wish I had never heard of this stupid tournament…"

Raiden placed a hand on Liu's shoulder. "So do all who are faced with such responsibility, you were meant for this responsibility. The Shaolin chose well in choosing you be their responsibility. If there's anything that decides who we are it is our choices that determines who we are inside. No matter how reluctantly, no matter how much you hate what you are doing. You are still choosing to fight for Earth, you could've run away, but instead you are choosing to stay and fight. This, Liu Kang has shown me that you are a great and noble man. Now go and show Goro what a Shaolin Monk is made of."

Liu picked up his head from the ground and looked at Raiden, a look of gratitude forming across his fate. "Thanks… Raiden. I won't let you down." And with a slight bow, he departed deep inside Goro's Lair.

For what seemed like hours, Liu Kang wandered the depths of Goro's Lair. It seemed endless filled with darkness. There was no light except for a few lit torches. There were eyes in the shadows. Any other man would've fled in terror, but Liu kept walking. Finally there in front of him stood the Champion of Mortal Kombat, Goro.

"So you are here at last, Shaolin." Goro said, as he stretched his four arms one-by-one. Liu did not reply instead he took his fighting stance and prepared to attack.

"If you want to surrender, feel free to do so. But it doesn't matter to me. Either way the fight is…" Goro started.

"Shut up and fight." Liu said, calmly.

Goro was shocked at how Kang had interrupted him. "Foolish human." Suddenly he lunged at the Warrior, but much to his surprise, Kang had cart wheeled out of the way. Goro tried again, except this time as he opened his four arms, he suddenly felt a blow hit him square in the chest, when he looked down in pain, he saw that Liu had taken this moment to elbow him in the chest. Liu removed his elbow and calmly clapped his own hands as though he was brushing off dust.

"Damn you…" Goro hissed, angrily. "You've really pissed me off now…"

"Go ahead." Liu said. "Curse at me with your insults, it won't do you any good."

Growling slightly, Goro took charge once again combining his two left arms, he tried to swipe at Liu, who ducked and countered with another blow to the chest. Suddenly he took his leg at struck Goro across the face; which nearly knocked the Shokan Prince on his back.

"So far so good." Liu thought. "But I have to keep getting him angry, this is the only way I'm going to win."

O-O-O

Meanwhile on top of the Pit, Johnny still fought with Reptile. The fight seemed even with neither fighter at an obvious advantage. Johnny struck Reptile across the face, but the ninja grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground, but Johnny swung his leg around and nearly tripped the ninja. However, his attack missed, but it did grant him the opportunity to deliver his shadow uppercut; which sent Reptile flying. However as Reptile landed, he quickly slid towards Johnny; which knocked the movie star on his back.

"Damn you…" Johnny grunted. "Who are you?"

"Reptile." The ninja hissed as he charged again, Johnny caught his leg and threw him back to the ground as he got to his feet. Reptile flipped to his feet and charged again and the two began once again to parry each other's attacks.

O-O-O

Meanwhile, Liu continued his battle with Goro, with each missed attack Goro grew angrier and angrier. Liu continued to jump back from each attack and then just as Goro once again missed another attack with his massive arms, Liu leapt from the side and both legs made contact with Goro's face.

"DAMMMMMNNNNN YOOOOUUUUUUU!" Goro roared. "It doesn't make sense, many warriors have all tried, but yet they all died. Yet this one… he's different somehow."

Goro roared angrily and sent a fireball out of his right arm, Liu jumped into the air and avoided the fireball and then clenching his fists together, he sent one of his own, hitting Goro squarely in the chest. As Goro leapt back stunned, Liu took his moment to use his Flying Kick to strike Goro across the face.

O-O-O

Meanwhile Johnny was starting to familiarize with Reptile's patterns, using his Force Ball he blinded the ninja and used his Shadow Kick to knock him to the floor. For a few moments, Reptile lay on the ground stunned, but slowly he got to his feet and hissed at the movie star and without a word vanished once again.

"Is it over?" Johnny asked, confused at what just happened. Suddenly he felt something hit him in the chest. Hard.

Groaning, he found himself on the ground. Someone or something was hitting him. And he couldn't see it. He felt his hair being grabbed and he was struck across the face causing him to nearly black out…

O-O-O

Goro had begun to tire, every blow he tried to land, and every attack he had sent was avoided. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't lay a hit on Kang. Goro took a moment to pause and catch his breath, but he was unaware of how big of a mistake he just made.

Something inside Liu seemed to scream "Now!" And he ran at Goro, leaping into the air and like he did to defeat Johnny Cage, Liu performed his bicycle kick which struck Goro many times in the chest until finally after 5 seconds, Liu kicked off and Goro hit the cold hard wall.

"No…. no…. I….I…" stuttered Goro. "…failed…" and with blood dripping all over him, Goro fell to the floor. After so many innocent lives taken during his many tournament victories after so many wins, after so many titles. He had lost and he hadn't even laid one blow down upon Liu Kang. Goro's face was filled with shame as he passed out…

As Liu stood, exhausted and weary, as soon as he saw Goro lying on the ground, he immediately knew that he had done it. He couldn't believe it, it actually happened. Through many years of training, sacrifice and loss, Liu Kang had finally done it. He raised his left hand in victory.

Liu Kang had become the new Mortal Kombat Champion.