I groaned as Sonya propped me inside the Z'unkahrah throne room before heading out to help Johnny. After hiding away with the Red Dragon numbers, I quickly caught up with the Black Dragons and Erron Black. The hundred-year-old gunslinger had tried to abduct Cassie and Jacquie to negotiate a deal with the Special Forces to help his Khan without the Osh-Tekk knowing. It hadn't quite worked out like he wanted. Once the Red Dragons had ambushed them, the Black Dragons left Erron out to dry. I got careless and was exposed to the Red Dragons who diverted me from the fight before taking the girls away. When Sonya and Johnny found me, I was given a lecture about going off on my own by Sonya. Johnny stayed quiet. Think he was giving me the benefit of the doubt considering how close I'd gotten to keeping my word. Even if I wasn't a team player, I still got closer to Cassie than they had. It was probably what Sonya was chewing me out for. Because she didn't get that close herself.

Shortly after that, we'd encountered Kotal Khan who confessed he had no idea that Erron Black had acted in such a way. I managed to talk Sonya down from a potentially violent standoff between Kotal's people and the Special Forces, with some difficulty. She was adamant about finding her daughter, potentially fixing things between them. I scanned her mind and learned Cassie had run away from home. Sonya had been busy with work, convincing herself that what she was doing would ensure Cassie always had a future, that she didn't need a mother telling her everything she had to do. Now she was worried she'd never be able to mend what was broken. I would have to fix that. Least I could do.

Multiple times I tried checking up on Father and Takeda, try and get them to help and bring backup. Didn't get a response. Not even Anko was responding. At first, I chalked it up to no signal between realms, but when I used my PipBoy, I still didn't get any response. Focusing on the matter at hand I had helped Kotal and Sonya prepare for incoming invasion from the Shokan after Kotal disgraced Goro and sent him running to his father, King Gorbak. He sent his army, accompanied by Oni Warlords and led by his champion, Kintaro, to assault the Outworld Capital, Z'unkahrah. The first wave smashed through the walls protecting the desert side of the city and separated me from Johnny as we were monitoring the advance and Kotal's attempt at negotiations failed. On my own, I took out a number of Shokan before engaging with an Oni Warlord using one of the dropped weapons in the fighting. With my powers sealed, it was a tough and risky fight and left me injured and forced to fallback after I decapitated the damn thing. I had to make things difficult for myself. Sonya found me and Johnny and helped us to the fallback site before helping Johnny who'd collapsed from a Shokan bite which is what led me here.

I used my magic to slowly heal myself while looking around as I felt a portal open nearby thanks to my Power of Space. Making my way over to it, I spotted Reiko managing to steal the Outworld Kamidogu from Kotal's vault. I glared before following after him and slipping into shadows after jumping through the portal without him noticing. I was finally at Shang Tsung's island and closer to rescuing Cassie and Jacquie than I was in the jungle. I swapped from my duster to a black gi without the traditional Shirai Ryu colorings and made my way further into the complex. I went room by room, checking the main building for any place that could house prisoners. Nothing but old corpses of Shang Tsung's followers who went mad after his death and either killed each other or committed suicide. Finding nothing, I shadowed a guard patrol with a tray of food to the lower chambers of the island where Goro used to call home. I looked around and found an old dining hall before looking around. "God it's weird actually being here," I muttered to myself before hiding behind a statue as I heard footsteps coming.

"The Kamidogu of Order is being held by Jackson Briggs," said a distorted voice behind the statue. "We have his daughter. Threaten her, threaten his wife. His sense of duty is tarnished after his time as a Revenant. He will cling to the only things in life that will keep him sane."

"Why not just send someone else," asked a gruff voice.

"Because, dear Reiko. It is your destiny to claim this one. The Thunder God is unknowingly gathering the other Kamidogu for us and soon all six shall be ours. But first, you must claim the Kamidogu of Order. I myself must deal with important matters. There is a chance for another Agent of Chaos to join our ranks and bolster your forces."

"Then I suppose I must listen to you. You haven't steered me wrong yet."

"Of course, my lord. Soon you shall ascend to godhood and the Elder Gods shall fall." Ascend to godhood? What nonsense was being fed to this man? "Fine. I'll retrieve the Kamidogu. But you better make good on your end, Cleric."

"I promise you. Everything will fall into place. Rest before you go. You shouldn't have used the Kamidogu before going through the portal."

"I was being careful. I did not know if anyone was in there or if Kotal was going to use the Kamidogu against the Shokan army! I needed to be prepared!"

"Preparation and caution are admirable but with proper consideration, my lord. Now rest. I must try and bring out Miss Cage's dormant abilities. Having her bloodline on our side will ensure that no one, not even the Elder Gods, can get in your way."

"Do what you will! Just be quick!" I shook my head at how easily Reiko dismissed this cleric. And if it was who I thought it was, I needed to get the girls out fast. I glanced out from behind the statue and spotted Reiko walking away, hands now free of the Outworld Kamidogu and frowned. Why were they collecting the Kamidogu? And what was that about becoming a god? Something didn't add up. I frowned before making my way after the Cleric, who I now confirmed as Havik. Following Reiko wouldn't gleam more information. Havik was using the Kamidogu on Reiko and had more information.

I followed after him and found myself in a large antechamber that was free of bodies and dust. It had been in use recently. I grunted as I was kicked from behind and knocked into hooks that dropped from the ceiling. "Ah," said a distorted voice behind me. "The Son of Hanzo Hasashi. I'd wondered when you would arrive here. Odd. I could've sworn you were still in Outworld."

"You've been watching me," I asked.

"No. Not you. Those around you. I've only seen you through the memories of your friend, Forest Fox." I struggled in the chains as they coiled around me as I jumped at him. This asshole possessed Fox! Wait… that means…

"You son of a bitch! What the hell did you do?!"

"Ah. So you weren't in the Temple at the time. No. Now I know. Ah… you followed your infatuation with young Miss Cage. One Fox was keenly suspicious of from what you'd told him about her, he'd been hopeful you would abandon Anko and leave her open to his own affections."

"You shut the fuck up!" I growled and tried breaking the chains to get at him.

"My. You are a lively one. And your potential, being the son of Hanzo Hasashi, learning his techniques. You could be a prominant Agent of Chaos. And yet, the Kamidogu cannot see you. I wonder why that is. Oh well. A question for later. For now. I want to see this unique magic I can feel in you. It seems tied to your very soul. I wonder. Could corrupting you corrupt this magic? If so, I should try."

"I'll kill you before you get a fucking chance, asshole!" I growled and kicked at him before the chains pulled me to the ceiling and wrapped around my mouth, silencing me. I growled as he chuckled. He did something to Fox and the Shirai Ryu! My clan! Forget the mission, Havik needed to fucking die, now! I growled and shot flames from the floor at his feet. Havik simply stepped to the side, his eternal grin gazing up at me.

"Careful. You could hurt someone with those flames of yours." I growled before seeing him walk away. The next few days, I was subjected to seeing Cassie and Jacquie beaten by the Sanguimancer, Skarlet. Havik wanted the power hidden in Cassie's bloodline. Powers that could battle and kill gods. Either there was truth in this Blood God business, and she was insurance, or she was just going to be used against the Elder Gods for whatever the hell Havik had planned. I tried making sounds to draw attention to me up on the ceiling, but Havik must've done something to block out my sounds. Even the rattling chains didn't draw attention. Soon I was witness to a sick ritual. Evidently Sonya, Johnny, Kotal and their forces had reached the island while I was suspended above the antechamber. They were hooked up to blood transfusion machines, their blood being pooled into a goblet along with Skarlet's. Mileena, Baraka and Ermac were also among the bodies captured by Havik.

I breathed deep as I finally swallowed my pride and covered my body with white flames, melting the chains wrapped around me and burning me slightly before I landed in the middle of the circle of stone tables. I growled as Reiko started feasting on Tarkatans who were captured along with Mileena. "Shit," I muttered as Havik turned to me.

"Ah. So good of you to join us, Phoenix." I looked up to see Reiko consume the biomass of an unfortunate warrior with a sickening squelch. Too late. Reiko was changed. Not just on the outside, now sporting a blood red armor, but inwardly as well. His physiology had changed. He was now hungrier for blood than any vampire I'd ever encountered. And his head now housed something I really didn't need Havik getting his hands on at the moment.

"But you're too late," shouted Reiko as he grinned at me. "My prophecy is complete! Reiko's blood reigns!" I stared at him before laughing. He glared at me, the possessed Kombatants glaring as well. Cassie though, seemed to be fighting whatever was controlling her.

"'Reiko's blood reigns'? And who was the sorry asshole who told you this, huh? Havik?"

"This prophecy was spoken to me long ago, under Shao Khan's rule! I am your new god!"

"Listen Reiko. Those three words could only be interpreted if you have the right spelling you fucking idiot."

"What spelling?!"

"Not 'E-I-G-N-S'." I chuckled. "A-I-N-S." As I spoke, I heated the air around him to volcano levels of heat and saw him start to sweat as he glared at me. "You're not meant to rule. You were meant to explode!" Right on time, Reiko's body, superheated instantly, exploded and I snatched the Seventh Kamidogu as it shot through the air and into my hands.

"No," shouted Havik. I pocketed the amulet before slipping on a skeletal half mask.

"Thanks for the souvenir, Havik. But I'm not leaving here without my friends. And Mileena, Baraka and Ermac, I guess." I spun my Johyo and shot it at Cassie, wrapping it around her waist and pulling her to me before sticking her neck with a slight paralytic needle to prevent her from hitting me. I slammed a smoke bomb onto the ground at my feet before running, sending out temporal clones in random directions to throw off the other possessed Kombatants. Only Raiden would be able to find me, much to my fucking annoyance, so I sent out a bucket of water to disrupt his lightning slightly as Havik shouted at me. I brought Cassie up to the main building and out to the beach, covering my tracks with expert ease thanks to Sensei's training. A few glances at Cassie showed me that my action was right. The further she was from Havik and the other six Kamidogu, the less control he had over her. I just couldn't get the others at the same time. Cassie was the lightest along with Jacquie. I only had one Johyo, though. I made a quick choice. Better one with more fighting experience than one who just knew kickboxing.

I got us to a beach, and I set her down as she started losing the red light in her eyes. After a few seconds, her eyes returned to normal and looked around frantically. I breathed a sigh of relief before giving her the antidote. I looked her in the eye as I did so. "Ok. You're going to get out of this in just a few moments. Whatever you do don't…" I grunted as she punched me in the nose. "Do that! Urgh!"

"You should've saved my mom," she shouted at me.

"I made a snap decision! I needed to get out as fast as possible with this!" I held up the amulet and she stared at it.

"What is that?"

"Shinnok's amulet. The Seventh Kamidogu. This was Havik's goal the whole time and…" I blinked as the amulet lit up and was suddenly shot from my hand. I turned to the building and growled. "NO!"

"What just happened?!"

"Havik summoned it back to him. Dammit, I should've nabbed one of the Kamidogu as well!" I kicked a rock and growled. She looked at me.

"Why did you grab me?"

"I told you I needed…"

"Don't give me that shit, Phoenix!" I turned to her. "Don't give me the rational answer! Why did you grab me?!" I stammered as I tried coming up with an answer before hearing something nearby and grabbing her by the shoulders and pulling her into the brush. I pressed my hand to her mouth as I shushed her and looking at the beach. I spotted a few Red Dragons standing over what looked like a decimated body on the ground with blue blood and bugs whirring about it. Bugs that looked to be forming something. D'Vorah. I turned to Cass and saw how close I'd put our bodies together and blushed lightly. Cass scoffed lightly, a slight smile on her lips and a light blush on her own cheeks. "Um… as much as I think this is nice… we should…"

"Right… yeah… priorities." I cleared my throat and took a step back. Damn hormones. Every time when I choose to stick to mortal bodies.

"And you've got a girlfriend. Remember?" I frowned slightly and looked down at my feet. "Phoenix?"

"I… I think something happened to my…" I looked up as a blast shot from the main building and went out to sea, impacting with what looked like a dreadnaught. I pulled out my binoculars and looked out to sea. "Shit. It's the Shokan army!"

"Can they even swim?!"

"Not staying here to find out! We need to help as much as possible!" I shot to the beach and decapitated three of the Red Dragons' heads as Cassie snapped another's with her legs after hopping onto his shoulders. I moved to the shoreline and pushed a dinghy left behind by the landing party of Kotal's forces before taking it out to the ocean. We helped several Shokan onto the boat, including Queen Sheeva and Kintaro who was struggling in the drink. Sheeva looked at me as I started rowing the dinghy back to the shore, several other Shokan making their way there as well.

"Thank you, White One," she said.

"Yeah, don't mention it, ma'am. All in a day's work."

"You," said Kintaro as he looked at me. "I saw you in Z'unkahrah. You are human yet you fight like a Shokan!"

"Mighty fine compliment there." Sheeva turned to Kintaro.

"My queen. This human took on an Oni Warlord alone as well as three of our strongest!"

"Four really… But I doubt that last one counts." I got us to the beach and helped Cassie out of the dinghy as we heard screams from up the beach. I spotted D'Vorah fully reconstructed and her insects devouring a few more Red Dragons. I turned to her and shook my head. "God. That is disgusting!"

"Good thing I didn't eat anything," muttered Cassie as she covered her mouth. D'Vorah glared at me before smirking slightly.

"This one is not easily finished, human," she said before turning to Sheeva. "How grand of you to join us, Queen Sheeva. What took you so long?!"

"Shut up," I shouted. "Don't fucking start! You can't fault the Shokan for being cautious! I saw how many they had on that dreadnaught before it went down. I don't know what happened after I left Z'unkahrah, but it clearly decimated their numbers. Queen Sheeva had every right to protect her people after Z'unkahrah!" Sheeva looked at me and nodded.

"Thank you, White One," she said. I nodded before turning to the bug woman and queen with Cassie beside me.

"As we are now, we can't stand against Havik or the people possessed by the Kamidogu. Not by ourselves. And with the Red Dragons bolstering their numbers."

"Then we should even the odds," said D'Vorah. She turned to Sheeva. "Use your portal stone to open a portal back to Z'unkahrah. We must get reinforcements." I turned to Cassie.

"Go with them, Cass. I need to stall them for as long as possible."

"You can't fight them alone," she said. I looked up at the building as lightning shot from an opening.

"I don't think I'll be alone."

"Don't get killed, asshole."

"Course not. We still need our rematch." I smirked at her before heading inland as she went through the portal. I enhanced my speed slightly as I healed my body from the burns completely and slipped on my skeletal half mask, the mask of the Shirai Ryu before shooting into the room and catching someone who was thrown through the air by a lightning charging Raiden. Takeda groaned and I stared at him. "Takeda?!"

"Phoenix," he exclaimed.

"What the hell are you doing here," we shouted at each other.

"What the hell's going on," I shouted. "That fucking Cleric has me thinking something happened with the clan!"

"He possessed Fox," said Takeda. "The… the Clan…"

"What? No. He was lying! Tell me he was fucking lying!"

"You'll find I wasn't," said Havik from where his possessed Kombatants stood, Skarlet no longer among them and a headless body laying on the ground behind the Cleric. "Forest Fox was such an interesting person. Kind towards his younger members, caring for them so much and still as selfish as most. He cared for you, Takeda. Even when the last thing he saw was you standing over his body as he died."

"He's just trying to get in your head." I held Takeda back as he growled. "Don't let him get to you."

"Even when he failed to protect your father?" I paused as I stared at the Cleric.

"What the hell is he talking about?"

"We were at the Kang Temple," said Takeda. "We were retrieving the Kamidogu for Raiden. It was a trap. Master Shujinko and Havik beat Hanzo while the possessed monks restrained me. Havik was trying to bring out Scorpion. Hanzo… he…" I stared at Takeda in disbelief before turning to Havik, my body shaking with rage.

"Ah. It seems there is more in you like your father than I thought. You have such potential as an Agent of Chaos, young Phoenix. Let it out." Takeda looked at me before taking a step back.

"Phoenix…"

"Release restraint level two," I muttered.

"Level what," asked Havik as he stared at me. In a second, I increased my speed and strength using my magic and slammed my fist in his face, dispelling Order Magic into his body and sending him into the wall at the opposite end of the throne room.

"Alright. I've had enough of this shit…" I glared at the Cleric as my eyes returned to their normal shape. Silver with my right eye turning into a clock and red rings surrounding the irises. I growled and blocked a kick from Johnny before throwing him into a charging Raiden, sending them both to the ground. I grabbed Mileena's leg as she tried attacking me from above and I slammed her into the ground. I ducked under a punch from Sonya as a green energy surrounded her and she was thrown from me. I turned around and spotted a weakened Ermac leaning on a table, most of his souls having been used on the Amulet and whichever were left fighting the effects of the daggers.

I nodded to the specter before grunting as Kotal slammed his sword into me. I gripped his arms to stop him from sawing into me and slammed my knee into his head. I trapped Baraka's arm with the rope of my Johyo and felt Takeda get thrown into me by Jacquie. I grunted before getting uppercut by Johnny and shocked by Raiden, stopping myself from evading to make sure the lightning didn't kill Takeda. I shouted out in anger and grabbed the Thunder God by the neck before slamming him into the ground. I stumbled as Sonya shot me in the back and Mileena and Kotal attacked Takeda who was barely keeping up with us, his only fighting experience being with the other members of our clan in sparring sessions. He'd been taught to survive but was still too green for Mortal Kombat.

I spotted Havik out of the corner of my eye and shot out my Johyo, the dart hooking into the amulet. I pulled it from his grasp and spun the dart around before launching it into the air above us as I felt Raiden calling down thunder from above into the building. "No," shouted Havik as the lightning struck the Kamidogu. I grunted as the wards on the object prevented its destruction but caused an explosion that knocked us all to the ground. Me and Takeda stood up shakily as I grabbed the Kamidogu and several Red Dragons ran in to stand beside Havik and the possessed Kombatants.

"Got any plans on how to get out of this," asked Takeda.

"Plan one. I leave you for dead and get the amulet as far away from here as possible."

"I mean where we both survive!"

"Oh. Then no."

"You're a real piece of shit, you know that?!"

"Yeah, fucking bite me!" Two Red Dragons ran at us, weapons drawn. We got ready to fight again only for them to be shot down. I turned to the gunshots and spotted Erron Black, who had been sent to the Z'unkahrah dungeons for acting without Kotal's orders and almost starting another war they couldn't afford to fight. Beside him were D'Vorah, Cassie, Fera/Torr, Sheeva and Kintaro as well as several Outworld soldiers. "Oh, thank fucking god…" I groaned and pulled out the sidearm Sonya gave me before we left for Outworld, only just now remembering about it. I shot two Red Dragons before throwing out my Johyo and wrapping it around Havik's neck. "Get over here!" I pulled Havik to me and Takeda and surrounded the three of us in flames before taking us to the beach. Takeda looked around before looking at me as I popped a medicine ball into my mouth, redoing my restraints so Takeda and I could better coordinate with each other without me having to slow down.

"Ok. You need to stop that."

"What the," exclaimed Havik as he looked around. "Impossible!"

"Oh, come now, Havik," I said. "You're the Cleric of Chaos. You should know that there's no such thing as impossible." He glared at me, eyes darting to the Amulet.

"What, you want this?" I hung the Amulet from its chain and swung it back and forth, taunting him.

"Yeah cause that's smart," muttered Takeda.

"Just keep him at a distance. Hit and evade. We can't keep up a straight on fight against him. Well, you can't at least."

"Hey, I can handle him, same as you!"

"If you two are done bickering," said Havik as he pulled out one of his bones and sharpened it into a blade. "I'll be taking that amulet, now." Takeda snatched it from my hands and turned to him.

"There's no way in hell we're letting you take this."

"Which is why I should be holding onto it," I muttered.

"Shut up. At least I'm not offering it to him on a silver fucking platter."

"Duck!" Takeda turned around and grunted as Havik's arm flew and impacted with his head. I dove to the ground as a blast of Chaos Magic soared at my head and fired off a few rounds into Havik's chest.

"You know that won't hurt me," said the Cleric.

"Can't hurt to fucking try!" I slammed my knee into his head and backed up as it spun completely around, and his body followed with his free leg trying to kick me. The dismembered leg flew back and knocked me down as it reattached itself to his body. "That was sickening."

"Such is the ways of Chaos, my boy." I grunted as he sent out his hand at high speed and landed a hit on my chest before he rushed Takeda. I intercepted and allowed Takeda to slam the Cleric into the ground with his chain whips. I unloaded the last of my magazine into Havik's back before shooting forward and slicing into him with a dagger I kept in my sleeve Havik snapped his head around and punched me away before it snapped forward and he kicked Takeda in the chest, knocking him back a few feet. I shot out my Johyo and wrapped it around his neck before raising him into the air and slamming him into the sand Havik stood up and popped his bent neck back into place before rushing at me and impaling a blade made of his bones into my shoulder. He kicked me away before rushing Takeda and grabbing the Kamidogu. I pulled out the blade with some difficulty and made my way to them as they struggled to keep hold of the Amulet.

"I know enough about the Amulet," said Takeda. "It has enough power to kill you!"

"But Raiden never told you how to wield it," said Havik as he wrested control from my friend. "I on the other hand…" Takeda shouted out as a wave of energy started passing over him.

"Takeda," I shouted as I swapped our positions with a bit of fire. I shouted out in agony as the energy started rippling through me. It was made by an Elder God. Gods can hurt me and if they're powerful enough, kill me. If you're wondering how painful this was for me, ever been burned? Imagine that pain times a million. I shouted out as I pushed past the pain and advanced on Havik.

"Interesting. You're not charged by Jinsei energy like Takeda. But the Amulet still has a rather volatile effect on you. Tell me, boy. What exactly are you?" I growled and reached out before grabbing the amulet and staring at him with defiant eyes. I unlocked my restraints again to use magic to numb the pain, giving him a good look at my clock eye. "How interesting… Your physiology seems entirely different from what I originally thought. Too bad this is only prolonging your painful, agonizing death." I grabbed hold of the Amulet, barely noticing flames erupt behind him. "Just like the long, slow death of Earthrealm. Raiden thought Shinnok's defeat achieved peace between the Realms. But peace is only a golden opportunity for Chaos."

"You fucking talk too much!" I overwhelmed the energy wave with a blast of magic from my hand as a pair of arms ripped Havik's head clean off his body. I dropped to my knees as pain enveloped every nerve of my body and looked up to see my father holding Havik's head in his hands.

"Hanzo? This is… unexpected…"

"I thought you figured it out by now, 'Cleric of Chaos'," said Hanzo, his voice sounding like Scorpion's. "You cannot count on anyone except me." I watched as fire surrounded his body.

"Hanzo," shouted Takeda.

"Fa…" I started before collapsing and actually passing out. I don't normally sleep, just meditate. For me to physically and mentally check out, means I was put in a lot of pain. Luckily, my mind was spared some of the pain I was in by being pulled into the chamber of the Elder Gods. I groaned and shook my ethereal head before looking up as Argus stood in front of me. "There. Kamidogu secured. For all the good it will do you."

"But you failed to prevent Havik from claiming the Amulet," said the Edenian Fire God.

"Listen, I was only working on limited intel because all you gods do the same fucking thing! Keep the little guys and the grunts in line by giving them as little information as possible! I should've known the fucking Cleric of Chaos was the one gathering the damn daggers! I should've known that you had Shinnok's Amulet cast into the fucking Void! Instead you sent me in blind!"

"To be frank, you wanted to leave before we could tell you anything, worrying more about Cassandra Cage than the mission." I grunted and growled softly as I couldn't think of a rebuttal. Damn bastard was right. I was only thinking of Cassie and it fucking showed in my actions. The Kamidogu were only a secondary objective to me. They only became the primary objective when I saw what they had done to Cassie. "But you did do as we asked. We thank you, Phoenix Mason." He bowed to me and I sighed before bowing back. I glanced up at one of the pillars and noticed two were empty instead of just one with Argus in front of me. I nodded to the second pillar.

"Whose seat is that?"

"The Goddess of Light. She is attending to other matters at the moment. Has been for some time."

"Can't help but notice you have a spot for light and not darkness up here."

"Shinnok was once among our ranks. But his incessant wish to return the One Being saw him banished to the Netherrealm. We may be unbalanced, but the alternative is not existing at all."

"Yeah, right. You're all only about surviving for another millennia, I forgot. Listen can you do something about the amount of pain my body is in because…" I really must've annoyed them because I was immediately sent back to my body and the pain instantly kicked in. "MOTHERFUCKER!"

"He's awake," said Takeda beside me.

"Oh my god, Phoenix," exclaimed Cassie as she looked me over.

"Gods!" I groaned as I started using my magic to numb myself. "The next time you find yourself in front of a fucking eldritch energy wave, I'm not gonna save you, Takeda!"

"Good to see you're ok, too," chuckled Takeda. I looked at Cassie and saw her gasp slightly. That's when I realized my powers were still slightly unrestrained and put the locks back up. I blinked and my eyes returned back to normal. Takeda knelt beside me and shook his head.

"I don't know how you survived, Phoenix. I was hit by that thing for less than a second and it was enough to tell it should've killed me if I hadn't taken a dip in the Jinsei."

"Guess I'm just made of tougher stock than you…" I looked at Cassie and saw she was slightly glaring at me. "Can someone sit me up? Everything burns…" I groaned as Cassie gently sat me up. And smiled at her. "In the arms of a beautiful young woman. Not the worst way to wake up."

"And with that," said Cassie before she dropped me. I shouted out in pain as she smirked.

"Smooth, Phoenix," said Takeda.

"Bite me," I groaned. I looked around and spotted we were on a ship. "When did we leave?"

"About an hour ago," said Cassie. "Seriously, Phoenix! What the hell were you thinking?!"

"I was saving my friend. Though from what I heard from Havik while I was getting blasted, I needn't have worried. Shoulda just let him take the damn blast." I chuckled as Takeda shook his head and flipped me off before Jacquie propped me up against the mast of the ship. I looked at Cassie.

"What happened on your end?"

"We tried to get some distance between the possessed and the Kamidogu. Didn't really work. Red Dragon blocked off the exits and the fighters held onto the daggers too tightly."

"When Master Hanzo took Havik to the Netherrealm, he was far enough away that his control basically just stopped," said Takeda.

"Sensei's alright?"

"I… I don't know. I haven't seen him. He hasn't come back… Phoenix… the Clan…"

"Takeda. Please tell me Havik was lying to me. Tell me Fox didn't…"

"I'm sorry, man. It wasn't a lie. Havik possessed him and had him carve off his face with the Kamidogu Sensei kept in his vault. He…" Takeda faltered as if he didn't want to give me the news. "Anko was the first one he attacked, it looked like. Her and her mother." I stared at him, thinking it was some kind of sick joke. That at any second, he'd grin and tell me she was fine. That the entire clan was fine. That second never came.

I shook my head slightly, ignoring the pain as I tried to deny what Takeda had just told me. Then I broke down, crying. I had failed the clan. If I had stayed in the temple instead of sneaking off to the States, I could've stopped Fox from killing the clan. I could've protected them all. I should've protected them! They were my family! And I… I let them down. Let them die. Let my own personal crush and feelings get in the way of what I should've been doing in the first fucking place. Finish my training and leave. I shouldn't have gotten caught up with Hanzo and the clan. I shouldn't have made this place home. I should've learned my lesson by now! The Divide, Midgar, Empire City! And now the Shirai Ryu. I didn't deserve to call myself a member.

I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and saw Cassie beside me, looking beautiful and sympathetic. She said nothing and just sat beside me. She took my hand in hers and gave me an apologetic look. One she didn't need to give. It was my fault. Not hers. I just let it all out. Let the tears flow and the grief wash over me. I did this until I was spent. Exhausted from the last week and from the pain. Physical and emotional. Needless to say, I took what happened hard. An hour later, I sat awake against the mast, Cassie's hand still holding mine and her head resting on my shoulder as she slept. She must've been as exhausted as I was, if not more so. I looked up as I felt two people standing over me and saw Johnny and Sonya. "Colonel Blade. Mr. Cage," I said.

"Kid," said Johnny. "We're gonna be straight with you and just come right out and say it, alright?"

"That being…?"

"What exactly is your relationship with our daughter," said Sonya as she crossed her arms.

"Uh…"

"Because no one, and I mean no one, goes to this much trouble just to save a friend," said Johnny.

"Guess it depends on the friend." I chuckled slightly and stopped as I caught Sonya's glare. "Sorry."

"Damn. He must have it bad for her. You're not even trying like you were when you first met, and he recoiled instantly."

"Cage," said Sonya. "Shut up." She turned to me as I adjusted myself while not disturbing Cassie and turned to her. "Do you care for Cassie?"

"Of course."

"How much?"

"I… I can't explain it. Since we met it was like I was drawn to her. I don't…" Sonya regarded me for a moment before walking away. "She didn't say anything. Was that a good turn or a bad turn?"

"Don't ask me, kid," said Johnny. He looked at me. "But I'll tell you this. Whatever your relationship with Cassie. If you do start dating her, you better treat her right. Or I swear to the Elder Gods you'll regret it." I gulped slightly as I saw him actually turn serious. Sure, I was more afraid of Sonya than him, but he could actually do some damage because of his bloodline. "That being said, I don't think Cassie would appreciate me threatening you just yet. So I'll save it for now."

"Bit late for that, isn't it? Jesus, if you only applied that level of seriousness to your acting you may actually make a decent movie."

"Everyone's a critic…" Johnny shook his head and walked away as I sighed. I looked up as Kotal and Queen Sheeva stood over me.

"Your turn to talk to me, I see?"

"D'Vorah told me what some of her kind saw on the beach, Phoenix Mason," said Kotal. "It seems it was rather impressive."

"I wouldn't say that, Buluc Chabtan."

"This one would disagree," said D'Vorah behind him. "You withstood the power of the Kamidogu and even disrupted it."

"You've shown strength and courage worthy of any Shokan," said Queen Sheeva. "Were it not for your mate there, I would take you with me and have you breed the Shokan a new prince."

"I don't think that's possible," I said. Then her words caught up to me. "Wait. Mate?! She's not-"

"Regardless," said Kotal. "Had you been one of my generals, I would've given you a sizable piece of land to call your own. You helped to save my life and for that, I thank you." He bowed to me and Sheeva nodded before they walked away. I sighed and rested my head against the mast.

(One week later)

I knelt in front of Anko's grave and prayed for her and her mother. Takeda and I had spent the entire week planting the ashes of our fallen friends and clanmates in their graves and saying silent prayers for them. Neither of us said a thing. Nothing needed to be said except for an apology from me. I had failed to protect them. And it was eating away at me. I turned to Takeda as he placed his hand on my shoulder. "Come on," he said. "We've got one last grave to plant."

"No," I replied.

"No?"

"Father's not dead. Not yet."

"Phoenix, he hasn't shown up in a week. I don't think he's…" I looked behind him as a portal to the Netherrealm opened up and Hanzo started pulling himself up with some difficulty. We soon saw why.

"You won't escape the Netherrealm so easily this time, Hanzo," shouted Moloch as he clung to Hanzo's leg.

"Sensei," Takeda and I shouted at the same time. We rushed over and I stomped on Moloch's head as Takeda pulled Hanzo free of the portal.

"Fuck off, deadweight," I shouted as I dropped an explosive into the demon general's mouth as the portal closed.

"Thanks for the save," said Hanzo.

"Master," said Takeda. "I thought… I saw you die. And then your spirit took Havik to the Netherrealm."

"He's literally been to Hell and back," I said. "I'm sure he'd have learned the way back by heart at this point." Hanzo chuckled and shook my shoulder lightly before pulling me into a hug. He had Takeda join it as well before looking at the graves around us.

"You both did all this," he asked.

"We did," said Takeda. "Well, I did."

"I," I started before sighing. "They were killed by Fox. I wasn't here to protect them. Their deaths are my fault."

"He's been blaming himself since the Reiko Accords."

"Because it's fucking true. I don't sleep. I would've sensed something was wrong with Fox and…"

"How would you have stopped him," asked Hanzo.

"I…" I sighed and looked at the ground at our feet. "Takeda. Sensei. There's something you should know about me. Something I've been keeping a secret since… since you found me…" Takeda and Hanzo exchanged a look before addressing me fully. Over the next hour, I went through my story. All of it. From my meeting the Deific Council to the Reiko Incident, leaving out certain events as they weren't important to what I needed to tell them. When I was done, they both stared at me and I sighed as I let them digest everything. It was definitely a lot to take in. They probably wouldn't think it as anything other than a lie until I showed them my clock and my various weapons and armor from entirely different worlds from Earth. The armor of the Knights of the Round Table, the meteorite sword Starfang, the Holorifle from my time as Father Elijah's captive in the Sierra Madre. Needless to say, they were shocked. Takeda picked up one of my favorites, the Lancer from the Coalition of Governments armed forces, and looked at me.

"Ok," he said. "Now I know why you always act superior."

"I do not. Not… all the time, at least." Hanzo picked up a katana and turned to me.

"This is a Muramasa," he said. I nodded.

"A gift from Senji Muramasa himself. A good man. If a bit grumpy."

"And after all of this time, you're still an impetuous and insubordinate child?"

"I… don't have a defense on that." Hanzo chuckled softly before clapping me on my shoulder.

"Phoenix. It doesn't matter how many lives you've lived or how old you are. To me, you are still my son."

"And I failed the Clan." I stepped away from him as I collected all of my items. "All this power and I could've saved them. If I hadn't gone to the States…"

"If you hadn't gone to the States, your friend probably would've gotten hurt or worse. You claim you have the Power of Fate in you. You must trust that every action you take is an action working to Fate itself."

"If I go along that line of thinking, then every single person who died beside me would've been cursed by my very presence since I met them."

"Or. Your very presence prevented a much darker fate. You should think more of yourself."

"Yeah, well the second I can stop making mistakes, I will. I can't see how you're willing to forgive me for this! I had the power to save them! If I had just swallowed my pride…"

"Phoenix," said Takeda. "None of this was your fault. The only one to blame is Havik. It's his fault the Clan was killed. It's his fault for all of this!" Takeda put his hand on my shoulder. "Don't shoulder the blame for this, man. We don't blame you. At all." I shrugged his shoulder off.

"I wish I felt the same as you two did…" I sighed and snapped, a bag appearing in my hand.

"Going somewhere," asked Hanzo.

"It's my fault the Clan was killed. I'll do what I can to restore it. Recruit survivors, like we've always done, and send them here. My training is done, but my obligation to the clan isn't over. I'll do everything in my power to make the Shirai Ryu a proper clan again, Sensei." I noticed Hanzo frown slightly before turning to walk away.

"Son." I turned to him and caught a locket he tossed my way. It was Anko's locket, one I gave to her when we were only about 8. "Good luck. And know this burden doesn't fall solely on you."

"I know. Not all of our numbers were eradicated by Fox. We still had some people out of the Temple and Gardens who were training or recruiting as well."

"I was talking about your main goal. The Shirai Ryu are always with you. Call on us. We'll help however we can. And keep that locket close. We both know Anko would've wanted that." I sighed and looked at the locket. I had made it myself using my skills as a blacksmith I picked up in Skyrim. It was silver with a floral design etched into the plating and enchanted to never tarnish. I would give this same locket to my adoptive daughter, Alma, years later as both a gift and a protection for her empathic abilities. Alma was still attached to it in a way, and I knew she'd protect Alma like she were her own daughter. I nodded to Hanzo and Takeda before leaving the grounds of the Temple.