Now as Shao Kahn had just sent Scorpion and Mileena off, he summoned the remaining warriors into the arena. "The second match had to be delayed due to Scorpion's temporary disappearance, however with all the combatants here, we can now send our remaining warriors off to their respective battlegrounds. Kung Lao and Shang Tsung shall fight at the Evil Monastery. Jax and Kintaro will fight here on the ground in front of me. Johnny Cage and Baraka will fight at the Foundry and Liu Kang and Kitana shall fight at the…"
"Wastelands." Kitana interrupted.
"Hmm, if that is what you wish daughter, I shall grant it. Wastelands it is."
Shao Kahn opened up four portal and pointed out which portal led to which. "After you cross through your portals begin your match."
The warriors each walked towards their designated portal crossing through the portal.
Kung got the exact battle he could've wanted out of all the Outworld opponents: Shang Tsung. Although Liu had defeated Tsung in the Mortal Kombat Tournament, he had somehow become more powerful. Tsung had reclaimed his youth. But yet that did not concern Kung, what did concern him was that his ancestor, the original Kung Lao's soul remained trapped inside that evil sorcerer.
Before Liu Kang had won, the original Kung Lao was the last Shaolin to hold the title of the Mortal Kombat Champion. He had defeated Shang Tsung, who was the then-previous champion. However, he knew that for 50 years, his ancestor would not age. He was forced to watch his family and friends grow old and die around him, yet he would always remain the same.
Although, when he was a child, he was expected by the Order of Light as well as the White Lotus Society that he would be the one to defeat Goro, but yet the stories of his great ancestor dissuaded him from that. He choose to lead a life of peace, rather than fighting rather become involved with the endless battle of being the Mortal Kombat Champion.
Yet now here he was, fighting the one who took his ancestor's soul.
"Ah, your name is Kung Lao yes? Ah, I suppose you are his descendant that I heard about? Well, Lao, you do seem to lack your ancestor's courage as I said yesterday. Do you wish to surrender?" Tsung said, smiling evilly.
"Never sorcerer!" Kung replied, angrily.
"Very well, your soul will join your ancestor's inside me when I am done with you…" Tsung said, grinning. The match began with Tsung firing a ball of fire in his hands. He sent it at Kung, who leapt out of the way and moved in for an attack. But Kung and Tsung blocked the others attack, but Tsung struck Kung in the stomach and taking him by the arm, he threw him to the ground, but Kung leapt up and struck Tsung across the face, before he could make the strike himself. The sorcerer was knocked to the ground. Tsung quickly got to his feet, wiping the blood from his face.
"You fool!" Tsung said, enraged. Suddenly green energy glowed around him and Tsung had transformed… into Raiden. Tsung sent forth a blast of electricity that struck Kung and knocked him to the ground. Tsung transformed back into himself and came at Kung again, but before he could land a blow, Kung had teleported. As Tsung turned around, Kung had dropped in with a kick that struck Tsung across the face. Tsung transformed again this time into Reptile. Tsung came at Kung again, both parried, but Tsung struck Kung in the chest, who responded with a blow to the face causing Tsung to transform back. Tsung growled, and somersaulted back, in order to get some distance from them.
"You're better than I thought Lao." Tsung complimented. He couldn't deny that Lao had some skill to him, but yet he was not worried at all. Tsung brought both hands up and out of the ground came three skulls that Kung just barely avoided…
O-O-O
Meanwhile Smoke and Jade continued their battle in the Living Forest, the Lin Kuei Warrior was holding his own against the beautiful Outworld assassin. Yet it was becoming more and more obvious that Jade had the advantage. Smoke's name lived up quite well to his abilities, for he was sending wave after wave of smoke at Jade. Jade began coughing violently as smoke began to fill up her lungs.
Smoke moved forward and took advantage of Jade's predicament to strike her in the stomach. He proceeded to knock her to the ground, but Jade recovered quickly and she extended her leg out, tripping Smoke to the ground.
Smoke groaned slightly, as he struggled to get to his feet, he saw that Jade had the end of her staff pointing at his face.
Jade silently rose her staff a few feet in the air, to bring the blade down on Smoke's face… Smoke felt a feeling of fear and horror over him, but just before the blow could be struck, the staff suddenly froze in mid-air. As Smoke looked up, he saw that Jade had been frozen… literally.
"Smoke! What the hell are you doing here?"
Smoke looked to his left to see his friend, Sub-Zero standing there. Smoke crawled out of the staff's way, and as soon as he got clear, Sub-Zero extended his hand and helped Smoke get to his feet.
"Looking for you." Smoke said.
"Me?" Sub-Zero asked.
"Yeah, I saw this yellow ninja follow you through the portal."
"Yellow ninja?" Sub-Zero said, surprised. "I know who he is… he is Scorpion."
"Scorpion?" Smoke asked, confused.
"Yes, he murdered my brother. I will do the same to him when we meet. I will show him no mercy."
"He killed your brother?" Smoke said surprised.
"According to Raiden."
"Who's Raiden?"
"The… Thunder God…" Sub-Zero said, he had almost expected Smoke to get a bewildered look. "It's a long story." He said.
Sub-Zero turned to the still frozen Jade and turned back to Smoke. "We better get going, it won't hold her for much longer."
O-O-O
Meanwhile, Kung had regained balance after he had managed to avoid Tsung's flaming skulls. He teleported again, as Tsung turned around, he found himself staggering back from a headbutt.
Taking this moment to catch his breath, Kung prepared himself for another attack, by the time Tsung had recovered; he had already transformed again this time into Scorpion. A rope leapt forward in the air and a piercing blade hit Kung's chest.
"COME HERE!" Kung was propelled forward and as soon as he faced Tsung, he was hit across the face and staggered back. Tsung transformed again, this time into Sub-Zero, a blast of ice hit Kung, covering him in ice. With the fast kick, the ice shattered and Kung was on the ground.
"Get up Lao. Even your weakling ancestor put up more of a fight against Goro." Tsung taunted.
"If he was such a weakling, why did he defeat you then?" Kung replied, chuckling slightly.
Tsung growled angrily, and out of the ground came dozens of fireballs, Kung barely leapt free, only to have another wave rise from the spot from where he landed, leaping free again, as Tsung prepared another wave of attack, Kung removed his hat and sent it at the sorcerer, Tsung noticed the attack and with a slight growl, he leapt to the side.
As Tsung recovered he noticed that Lao had leapt at him again, Tsung quickly prepared three more skull fireballs; however the Shaolin Warrior had already landed and was on the attack. Tsung was struck across the face. Growling, he came at Kung again, both blocked the others attack, until Tsung kicked Kung to the edge of the arena.
Kung struggled to keep his balance. Down below him, there was an endless abyss, if he fell, there would be no getting back up. Tsung laughed and sent three more skull fireballs at the warrior. With no time to think, Kung immediately began to spin around until he was going so fast that he formed a miniature tornado. Suddenly the three fireballs bounced off and Tsung was struck by his own attack.
In mid-scream, Tsung was cut off when he hit the wall behind him, as Tsung sulked down. As he groaned to himself, suddenly a hand caught his throat and pulled him up. Kung stared into his eyes as he removed his hat.
"What… wait.. what are you going to do…?" Tsung choked out, terrified.
"I ought to cut your head off." Kung said, with a soft, but deep voice.
"What?" Tsung said, horrified. "You can't! You are a Shaolin! You can't murder…! Kang didn't…"
"Shut up! I'm not a Shaolin anymore thanks to you and besides that I think Liu might be tempted to do the same thing I am!" But yet as he prepared to bring the hat down upon Tsung's neck, something stopped him. He should by all means, take revenge for his Shaolin Brothers. But yet his hand stayed. He was still Kung Lao. Still a Shaolin Monk. Still a member of the White Lotus Society. He placed his hat back upon his head and let Tsung drop to the ground.
"I'd rather the Emperor take care of you." Kung said, and without turning back, he left Tsung laying on the ground, in shock. Tsung was surprised that he had been spared, but yet there was also another feeling of anger and shame. He had not only lost to one Shaolin Monks, but now two. Despite gathering more power, he had failed. Now he had to face the consequences, he would no doubt be executed for his failure, but suddenly he remembered, he had planned for something in case this happened: it was time to start preparing the ritual…
for the resurrection…