Chapter 3

The Netherealm

Ashrah was still hunting demons to free herself from this realm… many years ago, she failed in defeating the enigmatic Ermac. But now, she set her sights on an even greater opponent, the evil spectre, Noob Saibot. She had tracked him down to the 1st plane in the Netherealm, near the portal out of the realm. Due to him not originally being from this realm, he was able to use the portal, while she was not. "Noob Saibot!" She shouted, the dark ninja turned around to face her. "I challenge you to Mortal Kombat!" Noob Saibot laughed "We are not mortals… but I accept your challenge anyway!" After a gruelling fight, Noob Saibot fell for a trick Ashrah played and was defeated, "Now to finish you…" Noob Saibot laughed "Foolish demon…" she felt a sharp pain through her chest, he looked behind her and saw Noob Saibot! "H-how?" She looked back… and all she saw was the cyborg ninja Smoke! "I knew you would come for me! So I had Smoke disguise himself as me, and while you weakened yourself, I readied to kill you!" he withdrew his scythe from her spine, "And… now you die…" Smoke held her arms back, putting his foot into her back, pushing her chest forward, Noob then put his hands through her chest, no blood due to him turning his arms into shadows, then pulling out her skeleton. Noob Saibot started laughing. Smoke indicated that he wanted to go to Outworld, Noob Saibot looked a little confused "Why should we?" Smoke buzzed then said "There is someone we need to see…" Noob Saibot pondered on this thought, he did not know what Smoke meant "Ok then, let's go!" They both went through the portal, little did they know they where being followed.

Elsewhere…

Baphomet sat on his throne, by his side where Mileena, who recently came down here when Baraka slain her, Kano and Sheeva, who did not get along, but decided to call a truce for their new master and Kintaro, a huge shokan, like Sheeva, who acted as Baphomet's second in command. Baphomet soon came to the realisation that Onaga was killed, as he could sense his soul in this realm. Baphomet stood up "the time is now!" The four warriors looked at him "Go! Fetch me Onaga's soul Kintaro… with it, we can leave here and conquer the realms!" Kintaro nodded and ran off, Mileena watched him go, While Kano and Sheeva stared at each other… soon, Baphomet would be free.

Meanwhile…

Shinnok stood by himself, in front of him stood a winged demon "So we have a deal my lord?" Shinnok nodded "Indeed we do!" He used his limited powers to restore some of the demons humanity, but not completely. "Now, Quan Chi is in this realm and he has my amulet… go now Jarek and get my amulet, only then will I free you!" Jarek look at himself, he was almost himself apart from his wings, claws and red eyes. He bowed "At once, lord Shinnok!" Quan Chi ran around the Netherealm looking for Onaga, more precisely, his amulet. He was aware that Shinnok would be after him for his betrayal many years ago, but if he was to contend with him, he had to find the amulet Onaga stole from him before Shinnok or one of his allies did.

In Outworld

Jade, Sindel and Kitana returned from Onaga's crypt after making sure the Dragon King would not return. They met up with Bo' Rai Cho, who had some bad news for the queen. "I am afraid things are more complicated in freeing Outworld… there are more then one opposing army!" Sindel looked startled, "More then one? Who?" Bo' Rai Cho went on to explain "Well, there is the Tarkatans, led by Baraka… we also have word that there are uprisings in the Shokan and Centaur camps, as well as that, we are also under attack from an army led by General Reiko!" Kitana looked shocked "He is still alive?" Bo' Rai Cho nodded "apparently so… but who is causing…" suddenly, a guard approached them. "Excuse me sir, but there is a centaur approaching, he claims he is the leader of their forces, he is accompanied by four armed centaurs… he wishes to speak with the queen… shall we let him through?" Bo' Rai Cho nodded.

A few minutes later, a large centaur approached them, followed by four other, smaller ones. "Greetings, my name is Kunreva. I am the new general of the centaur forces since the death of my predecessor, Motaro…" Jade cringed at the sound of Motaro's name… remembering his cruel unparalleled hatred to all. Kunreva continued "I come in hope of a truce… we both wish the same thing… liberation from tyranny. If the Tarkatan, Shokan or this new army win… we will be enslaved among the rest of this realm…" Kitana nodded "In exchange for?" Kunreva looked at her "Information… I have much knowledge of these forces you do not… so, do we have a deal?" Queen Sindel smiled "Deal… so, what do you know Kunreva?" Kunreva smiled "The tarkatans are weakened… they lost many of their forces against a ninja, known to you as Sub Zero…" Kitana smiled, "I shall thank him next time I see him…" Kunreva turned to Kitana and said "He is still in Outworld, the reason is unknown, but he is still here…" He turned towards Sindel "Anyway, something you would really like to know… who is leading the Shokan?" Sindel leaned forward a little "Yes?" she said. Kunreva looked down "First... tell me of this new army!" Jade interrupted "They are the former army of the fallen elder god, Shinnok, led by one of his old generals, Reiko" Kunreva nodded "Understood… Right… as for the other piece of information… I am afraid to say… but the former champion of Mortal Kombat, Goro is leading them…" Kitana shouted "That can't be! I saw him die, I buried him!" Kunreva shook his head "No… that was not Goro… even worse… Goro is not the one pulling the strings… the Emperor has returned…" Everyone couldn't believe what Kunreva said… Shao Kahn was back!

Goro knelt before Shao Kahn "My lord… our armies are almost complete…" Shao Kahn rose from his throne. "Yes… I sense it. I also sense the weakened state of the tarkatans…. As well as the strength of the Netherealm armies…" Goro rose "Kunreva of the Centaurs has probably allied with the edenians!" Kahn laughed "It doesn't not matter to us! We will destroy them!" they both started laughing.