The clash of armies in Edenia, which would come to be known as the 'Battle of Armageddon', raged around Quan Chi. He had been recruited by Shinnok after his faked death in Outworld a year prior. Shinnok had amassed a vast army, recruiting the likes of Shao Kahn, Onaga, Shang Tsung, the Black Dragon, the Red Dragon and the forces of the Netherrealm and Chaosrealm to his cause. The battle against Johnny Cage's alliance of Earthrealm, Edenia and Seido was fought over a vast power promised to the victor.

Quan Chi had thought his greatest adversary on the opposing side would be Kuai Liang, who had far surpassed his brother's power since their last encounter eight years prior. However, an unexpected opponent made himself known during the battle: Scorpion.

Thirteen years prior, Quan Chi had eradicated the Shirai Ryu, including Scorpion's wife and young son. Five years later, after manipulating him into believing Sub-Zero had been responsible, Quan Chi had tauntingly admitted the truth. He had been marked for death ever since.

Scorpion's wrath was legendary. Every kombatant around them was wise enough to steer clear, some even ceasing their own battles until they had moved to a safer distance. While Kia and Jataaka attempted to defend their master, they were no match for Scorpion and were quickly dispatched with hellfire and a spear-based decapitation, respectively. Quan Chi was well and truly alone.

He fired off one of his green skull-shaped fireballs, but Scorpion's hellfire spear pierced right through and stung the sorcerer directly in the heart. Wasting no time in inflicting vengeful suffering upon the murderer of his family before his now inevitable end, Scorpion leapt up over the sorcerer, the molten chain of his spear burning into the villain's flesh as Scorpion landed inside the ground behind him in a tunnel of flame.

The hellfire moved between Quan Chi's legs to wrap the chain vertically around his entire body. Scorpion then erupted up from the flames, high into the air, giving one last mighty tug on the chain to tighten it around Quan Chi until the hellfire burnt through his body and split him cleanly in two.

Mere moments later, Quan Chi found himself inside a large chamber, the windows letting in a burning orange light from the roaring flames outside. His body was perfectly fine, the brief agony of the burning chain now gone. This could mean only one thing...

"The spectre finally got to you, did he?"

Quan Chi's eyes grew wide in recognition of that hollow, almost shrill voice he knew oh so well.

"Yes, Quan Chi. You are once more in my domain. Having your soul enter the Netherrealm in this exact spot was child's play for the Elder God of Death." The glee with which Shinnok taunted his former associate was on full display, the grey-skinned deity making the great pleasure he was taking in this turn of events quite apparent.

Quan Chi jumped to his feet and took up a fighting stance. Shinnok let out a haughty cackle at the notion that Quan Chi believed he stood any chance against him.

"Come now, old friend, there is no need for that. I have a proposition for you, sorcerer. I have plans to make my real move in the aftermath of the battle in Edenia."

"You were just at the battle."

"Was I? Or is this the second time you have been duped by an imposter? Your ego has come back to bite you in more ways than one this day, it seems."

"But, why?"

"Truth be told, I care little for the outcome of the battle. Whomever acquires the power will be lucky to survive long enough to use it against me. And if they do, they will slaughter everyone else who could stand against me."

"Your alliance was all a ruse to gather your enemies into one place."

"Finally, a showing of actual intellect from you, well done. Yes, my many, many enemies are right now facing off in that canyon, unwittingly building up my own forces."

"Necromancy."

"Indeed. As Shao Kahn did to Sindel and Onaga to Raiden's champions, I too shall revive the dead warriors from this battle. And that is where you come in, Quan Chi. While my power has continued to grow, even before I retrieved this and replaced it with my own duplicate..." Shinnok revealed his amulet, meaning the one on Quan Chi's belt had secretly been a fake since the start of their new alliance, "...I can only maintain control over so many at one time. You will serve as my secondary controller, granting me control over a wider range of warriors without leaving myself defenceless."

"And why would I return to your service, even without the amulet?"

"Because you are currently a mere bodiless soul. I very much doubt your spectre nemesis will rest at simply killing you. And should his wrath catch up to you a second time, your very soul will be dispelled from existence. Oblivion. Your only hope is to join me and be resurrected properly. As I recall you once said to Shao Kahn, 'You will accept my terms, regardless of the price, for the alternative would be... Well, I believe that is best left up to your very artistic imagination.'"

Quan Chi gritted his teeth in reluctant defeat. "I... accept," he said finally.

"Of course you do. Had you remained foolishly belligerent, I would have simply cast the same holding spell you have been mastering upon you. But, I am genuinely happy you have agreed to return willingly. It gives me one addition slot on my roster of minions without having to dedicate energy to controlling your mind."

"You realise, of course," the sorcerer observed, "that the one resurrection rule will prevent many of the most capable fighters from joining you."

"Yes, it is a shame," the fallen Elder God sighed. "Were I still an Elder God in title, I would be able to subvert the natural order. Alas, I cannot force Onaga, Shang Tsung, Kung Lao or Reiko into my ranks, but most of those warriors have still yet to face death. My list of potential revenants is long, and this battle will simultaneously make their souls available to me and to clear the board of other threats to my rule. If you serve me faithfully, Quan Chi, without another of your typically very successful betrayal plots, I might be willing to forgive your past transgressions against me, and treat you favourably in my ultimate domain."

Quan Chi let out a deep sigh and said, "Very well, Lord Shinnok. Where do we begin?"


This is something of a setup for a big change I'm planning to implement in MKK in future chapters once the Johnny Cage trilogy has concluded. It also helps establish the timeframe I'm going to be working with that differs slightly from the games.