Con't X - Tag Team Deuce
Somewhere in the distant, opaque corners of Outworld...
A whip and series of screeches were heard beneath the bleak overcast. Many thin-skinned people were wearing ripped, light rags as pieces of skin flew off while they tiredly carried heavy blocks to numerous stacks. Anytime a victim would collapse from exhaustion would be lashed by Quan Chi possessing the fatal rope! While Shang would continuously sacrifice other civilians' souls and escort them into the many inanimate statues of Onaga's undead soldiers.
One of them awaiting her terrible fate was Li Mei.
"Move along!" the blanch sorcerer growled and resumed his lethal abuse! "Our palace shalln't be built with you feeble slackers! Ergh, why had they chosen such a pathetic, worthless location...?"
"It's the secretive area of the Soulnado, Quan Chi." Shang replied. "The people of Sun Do had offered us this sacred land for our devious plans. After I decimated Liu Kang, I enslaved these farce villagers to worship Onaga and erect our unstoppable army."
"And what of the Soulnado, Shang Tsung? How would this help us in our endeavors."
"With our sorcery and the power of your Amulet, we would unlock this vicious and fatal storm, entrapping all the souls from the Heavens raining down into our possession," he sneered at the last statement while his right palm ignited green as he escorted another essence. "The Sun Dos are quite useful in that regard."
The Netherrealm warlock continued his slaving spree with his Cat O' Nine Tails as he forced more victims to build their upcoming temple. "And what of those feeble Earthrealmers and Edenians?"
Shang faced him. "That matters not, Quan. Those insects had been shot down, courtesy of the Red Dragons' knowledge of Earthrealm's weaponry; they can be proven as useful as the deceased Black Dragons. Hsu Hao and Mavado are scouting the wooden lands as we speak. Our enemies shall not be so lucky.
"The Oni are in our captivity. We had been giving them live, weaker Sun Do for them to feast on. They will no longer be a threat to us as long as they're contained within Moloch's Lair."
"Splendid." He took out the Amulet attached to his belt. "Then let us begin..." After that snarl, the bright quartz began to illuminate.
About a few miles away from the crash site, where the Dragonfly met its burning demise, Kung Lao slowly rose his head as he moaned, and his eyes began to flutter. When he came to, Lao noticed he was on firm ground with some fallen, broken debris of the forest floor, relieved he was no longer on the tilting deck! He frantically looked around as his mind registered his doomed friends, including-"Aiko...!"
As if she heard her name, she began to groan and stir. Lao followed her weak voice and tended her. When her head was being cradled, she came to and whispered the Shaolin's name. He assured they're alright, until Kiba came over and licked her face.
"It looks like you came around," Nightwolf reunited with the pair.
"Unh, Nightwolf. Thank goodness."
"I've yet to find the others, Lao. They shouldn't be too far. But..."
As if on cue, there were a series of muffled voices all around. Each one belonging to their distant allies and laying on the rough terrain holding an injured limb or hardly moving. The grim situation looked as though they were wounded soldiers upon the aftermath of a lethal battle.
The cardiokinetic sighed, "I wish they were as fortunate as we are."
The shaman just held his chin in thought. "Hmm... I think I know how to revive them, all at once and fully. However, it may attract other enemies to us."
"We don't have much time." Lao became anxious.
"We'll need all the help we can get," Liu added, with his voice booming from Raiden's amulet still intact.
Lao and Aiko nodded to the late Champion's suggestion, eventually easing Nigjtwolf's indecision. While the couple sat idly, the Matokan walked a few feet away before he rose his arms and descended himself as a sort of summon. "Ancestors, give me strength!" he declared. A large white light from the sky descended onto the land a few inches from where he stood. Each of the fallen's bodies began to shine that same shade until the large beam dissipated after several seconds. Aiko and Lao just pondered what just transpired...
"Could it be we're being healed...?" she wondered. The Shaolin didn't say anything, as if sharing her thoughts.
"You know, I think you three had also been recuperated."
"How so?" Lao queried Liu's theory.
"Well-"
Before he started his statement, Nightwolf's ritual had kompleted. Everyone began to rise one by one, even the heavier ones such as Jax and Bo', and the blind Kenshi stood with minimal effort. The healthy trio did a quick rollcall mentally, and almost forgotten Baraka; they still weren't used to having a Tarkatan join their ranks...
The heroes began to gather towards Aiko, Lao, Nightwolf and mostly to the Special Forces agents who were the klosest to them.
"That was some quick thinking on Kung Lao's part teleporting us off deck...!" Kitana complimented.
Jade added, "Whew...it certainly was risky. I could've sworn I broken a bone." She inspected herself, though she was surprised she only felt some discomfort.
"No need to worry about me, lovely ladies," Bo' gloated. "I can just as well bounce!" He flirted showing off some of his lubber, much to the Edenians' disgust.
"Good thing Frost and I thought twice and used our ice slates to evacuate." Kuai added.
"Same thing went with my spear." Hanzo intervened.
The group klustered kloser, and Nightwolf pointed toward the source of the immense darkness emanating from the Deadly Alliance toward a towering fortress just about a mile away; it stood gloomily over the thick bushes yonder.
"We may need to enter it discreetly. We cannot let our enemies suspect us." Sonya stated.
Cage scorned, "Goddammit...! I can't believe we have to go on foot again! I was having the time of my life during that luxurious, though-primitive, piece of transport."
"The Dragonfly is no more; I too am going to miss that vessel." Kenshi sympathized. "Let's get moving."
The Kombatants slowly trekked toward the looming palace, with Nightwolf and Kiba leading the way; even Baraka was surprisingly staying as kool as a kukumber, very unlike the typical Tarkans.
Even when Kiba let out some sniffs and soon a whimper. Nightwolf hesitated, he knew this kouldn't be good, even distressful as a sign of upset or injury. Kenshi took the front and could sense people in grave danger. He mentioned prisoners are being tortured thru the nearby tunnels. The wolf licked his lips and used his snout to point the way.
"Let's go," Kung Lao urged the team. Everyone konsidered the vigilante's lead, even Baraka.
With the OIA taking the rear, excepting Kenshi who remained klose to the leaders, the group trodden thru some straightforward, narrow subterrane tunnels. They weren't so blindingly dark, and a bit snug. It wasn't long before their eyes beheld some faded orange hues as if belonging to tall torches. The cavern was spacious, with an elaborate platform in the center. They wondered what the foreign symbol belonged to... Though it wasn't long for their eyes to register the damage as numerous, bloody, and torn corpses laid around it. There also appeared to be a pair of tall, black stakes with curved tops shaped like horns, and a red door as the exit from a small stairway. Everyone felt ashamed of all the victims littering the floor, reminding Liu Kang and Kung Lao the slaughters of the Shaolin; thankfully, none of them was Li Mei, Bo' realized.
Hanzo abruptly broke the silence, "This is indeed Moloch's Lair."
Everyone looked at him quizzically, as if he grew another head.
"We are now beneath Shang Tsung's Fortress. The Onis must be waiting for us. As a Netherrealm wraith, I used to breach Outworld several times, but I was usually after those two bastards! ...Unless if I shall see any of you, of course."
"So that's why we don't see you often..." Kuai wondered.
"Over here!" The gang picked up Kenshi's voice, as he and Kung Lao were dicing the chains away while escorting an unfortunate victim. They laid him down. "This Sun Do victim's too weak to speak. I shall read his mind." The blind swordsman hesitated as his blade glowed with a pink hue. "He's been a victim of the two Onis. Those brutal bastards have slaughtered his kind, those who were unable to erect Shang Tsung's Palace, in order to keep the Onis satisfied."
He hesitated and read the victim's mind more. "The Onis were planning to exterminate Quan Chi. However, they were overmatched of his loyalty to Shang." His fists curled mentioning the person who lost his sight.
"That must've been who escaped from the Netherrealm, and left the two Onis stranded." Hanzo added.
Kenshi examined the victim's mind, though he was klose to biting the dust as he sensed his vitality fading... His face became despondent. "He's dying. But...visions of an emerald storm are entering his mind. Some kind of fatal funnel, encasing souls. He's pleading for us to stop the Onis and the sorcerers. And we need to hurry." Before he knew it, the man became limp. Kenshi held his neck with his fingers, feeling no pulse. "He's gone..." Kung Lao just sulked, as if his hat covered his sorrowful eyes...
The bystanders began to feel some soft, though irritating, particles land on them, to the point on slapping them away.
"Ssso, the legendss of the Sssoulnado are true." They all looked to Baraka, who was actually composed. "Thiss vicious sstorm is dangerouss. Ssouls are being ssucked from the Heavenss onto the ssecretive land only the Ssun Do know about. The Deadly Alliance may be ussing it to either revive Onaga or perhapss...empower themselvess."
"A Soul...nado?" Lao was curious. "I can shut it down like I did with that cyclone back in the desert."
"It'ss not jusst any tornado, Kung Lao. Thiss iss aggressive. If anyone getss too closse, they would perish insstanty, and have their soulss imprissoned and torn assunder."
They heard Aiko and others cursing to themselves as they constantly hit their arms and legs of those pesky flies! This...tugged Lao's mind. "...It must be...!"
He stood up and rose his dukes as the group noticed stomps as if belonging to an enormous beast! As the silver glimmer flickered in the opaque tunnel, they beheld the dreadful, muscular demon, Moloch! He let out a low, belly roar similar to a wolf's mixed with a bull's. His sleeker partner, Drahmin, emerged beside him.
Kiba snarled, baring his teeth and making his fur stand up!
"Tch...Who's going to help face these guys!?" Aiko queried irritatingly.
Baraka didn't hesitate, anxious for bloodshed, as he hissed and leapt onto the center platform by his own arm blades. He made the usual fighting pose as he spread out his fatal swords when he roared. Hanzo was more reluctant, and he sighed, "...We can use all the help we can possibly get. I can't wait to rid these Netherrealm monstrosities...!"
"Us Tarkatansss are rumored to be hybridss of these Oniss! I shall never share their evil traitss ever again!"
Drahmin unleashed his flies onto the duo, accompanied by the enraging noises of their wings! Baraka sliced thru the swarm, before the demon landed a hit with the brutal steel club as the Tarkatan crossed his blades. Hanzo kept his distance and made sure not to get too klose to Moloch's beastly advances. As he lunged the gap, the ninja often used his fiery broadsword as a melee weapon. At times when there's an opening, Hanzo would unleash his spear, and he barely had enough strength to draw him klose. Unfortunately, his plan backfired when Moloch grabbed and slammed the unfortunate victim hard onto the unrelenting limestone.
It wasn't long before Moloch tossed his orb with a golden chain attached to it! Hanzo began to duck and aim toward Drahmin, while Baraka switched formation to land some fatal stabs onto the demon lord! Figuring he was more agile and balanced than his assailant, Baraka kept countering and moving away from Moloch. Alas, he was unable to slash the malicious beast's face. Hanzo was put at a sudden disadvantage when Drahmin blocked his spear with the metal arm. Though he repeated the same strategy back at the Lost Tomb as Hanzo turned up the heat, driving the pesticides astray and burning Drahmin's maroon armor! He had to be wary of the goblin's counters with the right arm, when it slammed in his body.
Seeing Hanzo struggle, Baraka switched and air sliced Drahmin. He was able to outmaneuver many of Drahmin's attacks, even evading his shockwaves while performing a ground pound similar to Jax's bionic arms; Moloch at times joined in slamming his orb creating double the impact, but Baraka and Hanzo were expecting them. The spectators had also been affected as they braced themselves and shielded their faces. Though Drahmin was becoming more strategic, utilizing his club as sword and shield. It wasn't even heavy enough to drag him down as he performed an uppercut or two.
Hanzo ignited himself and his weapon once more, before he charged in for the kill! However...the impact wasn't as desirable by the time Drahmin's face had a deep scar engraved on it! Hanzo feared by removing the Face of Kun-Lo, the demon would become an insane killing machine!
Drahmin reached to the top corner and almost instantly ripped off the pale green mask! Much to Hanzo's expectations, Drahmin has gone kompletely psychotic! He never stopped charging toward the reformed mortal, and left Baraka and his maneuvers to assist him! It was the metallic club against Baraka's wilting blades, but the Tarkatan was still on the prowl! Their recklessness had undoubtedly made it as a fight to the death!
Aiko grew aggravated over the frantic feud, and as if reading her thoughts, Kung Lao felt the same. He worried this wasn't the way to defeat a raging enemy. Liu's words then echoed thru his mind.
"The training you require is mental, not physical."
Then, he recalled the brutal battle against the lone Tarkatan, as he had the homefield advantage while grabbing one of the neon lime broadswords, threw it into his chest, and took a second sword and aimed it to his head dead center!
Lao immediately took out his own broadsword and threw it into the center stage! The metal clanged to it, and Liu flew toward the Tarkatan. "Baraka, remember the fight we had at the Soul Tombs!" He did as he kept on evading Drahmin's wrathful strikes. Until the scenario hatched like an egg. He grabbed the fallen blade and made a few abrasions, before he tossed it toward the red demon's bare face! Drahmin hollered in agony, even as Baraka torn out the blade, before he unleashed his fury, rapidly slicing him like chop suey! He then stabbed the hot mess on the floor, before he focused onto Moloch again!
Hanzo was still being hammered down by the monarch's bulk and metallic orb. The leading Shirai Ryu became weaker, thinking he wished he'd be in his undead wraith again, feeling he became less enduring as a human. Kuai kept on cheering him not to give up, but his cries hardly registered. The cryomancer was about to storm onto the arena, until Baraka made a sudden leap and impaled Moloch's enormous back! The beast hollered as if a demon would in peril! Still, Hanzo and Baraka took no mercy, even when the latter leapt and sliced the golden chain into shards! The megaton ball thudded away from the stupefied beast!
Hanzo wielded his spear as he drew the orb into his possession, "Come 'ere!" The ball without its chain rolled, and he used all his force to toss it toward Moloch's open and hard-to-miss target! It had enough ferocity to kollide with Moloch's unfortunate self. Both he and his prized weapon were tossed away from the elaborate floor, and the impact may have squashed his durable, thick ribs...
Kenshi didn't have to signal the team the Onis perished, though Aiko needed to hurry if she should revitalize both wounded warriors. By the time the green essences coursed into their bodies, everyone could've sworn they made a manly handshake as praise!
"Hm, it seems that Baraka may be redeemable after all," the blind warrior stated. Bo still wasn't certain.
Back at the distant Palace, Quan Chi still resumed his enslavement upon the hapless Sun Do villagers; the number of sacrifices were dwindling at an alarming rate, with Li Mei as one of his distinctive prisoners awaiting her sealed fate. The Amulet still shined on his belt as he wielded the whip.
"That's enough, Quan Chi! Those civilians would be of little use. We already have what we need for our plots. Unlock the Soulnado with the Amulet!"
The blanch sorcerer then grew irritable. "I tire of following your orders, Shang! Ever since we formed the Unholy Alliance while Kung Lao was alive, Shao Kahn appreciated me over you! Why shall I still act as your underling!? Those impudent mortals are of very little threat as shot down by the Red Dragons! They should be dead!" Still holding the lethal rope, he marched toward his rival.
Shang just rose an arm abruptly. "Wait-!" He scanned over the balcony which only appeared to be barren from the naked eye. "They are alive...! Their souls are ripe for the taking, especially Liu Kang's. The Red Dragons had scouted the outer perimeter and shot down their puny ship. Yet, I can sense their interfering essences." He faced his associate. "Prepare the Tarkatans for battle. I shall see to it they'll perish soon enough."
Quan just had no objection as he rallied up their bloodthirsty servants whom their roars can be heard emitting all over the Palace!
The heroes emerged from the red door at the rear of Moloch's Lair, and a small stairway descended onto the flat concrete terrain. An indigo sky was seen as they beheld the astonishing sight. "There it is everyone. The Deadly Alliance shall be there inside that tower," Nightwolf pointed out. The heroes stood in awe, taking in the scenery so omnipresent, they could've sworn they had cold feet!
"I can surely sense so much animosity and evil emanating from that horrid place," Kenshi broke the silence.
"Li Mei must be in there. The Deadly Alliance are enslaving the Sun Do!" Bo' for once cried in agony for her safety.
"We still need to be wary of an ambush," Kitana mentioned. "They must have an army expecting us."
"We need to keep in mind that...it's only up to us mortals now." Jade added.
"Yeah... Lord Raiden stated numerous times he's powerless in Outworld." Liu's spirit chimed in.
Hanzo sighed, "Of course... Everyone has their strengths and hinderances in almost every realm. I was once stronger in the Netherrealm, specifically the fifth plane, while the Onis became weaker. They seemed to have been strengthened once they breached Outworld, even Quan Chi."
"We seemed to be stronger in Articka than anywhere else," Kuai stated, while also mentioning Frost.
"And Earthrealm was where Raiden and Fujin gained the most strength than in any other realm," the heroic monk explained. "Much as Kung Lao and my adventures through Outworld...I guess it's up to us now."
Lao nodded. "Right. Everyone, stay close." Baraka just snarled and crossed his blades, prepared to dice on anyone!
The group descended and Aiko's heart began to race. The situation was certainly grim if enemies shall emerge from the outer shadows. Johnny then pressed a button on his wristband, which emitted a blinking red light, before he covered it with his sleeve. "We're gonna need backup."
Several miles away at Edenia, Goro was being tended to by Sheeva in the throne room. Sindel still sat proudly at her throne.
"Goro, you need to relax. This Edenian tea should help you relieve your angsts."
He just snorted, "My people shall be of some assistance to the Earthmen and Edenians, if the Deadly Alliance shall have an army. But...I fear the worst, and if I were to intervene, then it's possible I kannot kontrol my violent urges."
"Hmm, I know this must feel like deja vu, Goro." Sindel added. "Alas, I think it's best. You are the former Champion and the strongest of your kind, but if I were to face Shao Kahn, I too will be distraught and enraged. I hope Kung Lao would keep his head on, he'll need it."
"The Centaurs may also be willing to join the cause, like everyone did against Shinnok and his own forces," the she Shokan added.
Goro's mind was just somewhere else, "Kung Lao..." Memories drifted to him as Lao's ancestor defeated him in Mortal Kombat, then Goro slaughtering him before Shang imprisoned his soul. Then facing the Shaolin Monks in Outworld before being fatally kicked by Johnny, and finally having Lao's honorable descendant make peace with him after Goro signed a peace treaty with the Centaurs. "Hmm...for once, I pray to the Elder Gods he and his komrades will be successful...!"
Suddenly, Asgaarth ran toward the monarch, "I must address you, Queen Sindel."
"What news do you bring me, Asgaarth?"
"My fellow knights and I had received word from the Earthrealmers. They had engaged the Deadly Alliance."
Everyone's faces dropped, even Goro's heart sank, as if they were expecting inevitable and mounting despair
Just then, Kenshi forced the gang down in a heap! Everyone fell over before a large plasma beam licked them! As if belonging to Cyclops' laser!
Jax was the first to unshield his eyes and knew whom to suspect with the sudden assault! "Hsu Hao!" It was konfirmed as the man with the artificial heart was storming toward the team! Mavado was klose behind him, his weapons drawn!
Sonya suspected, "Hook swords... Those must belong to Kabal, and the Red Dragons must've made enhancements onto them!"
"I'll make sure I rid those treacherous assholes!" Jax protested. "You can count on that!" He almost immediately broke away from the huddle.
Johnny stood up, "I'm going after him! He may need help, with these traitors armed to the bone!"
Kenshi just stuck out an arm, "Wait, you need to stay with Sonya. Jax may be brash, but he could use a balanced partner. I'll take care of the two terrorists." For once, Johnny actually obliged and stuck beside his fiancé; Kenshi knew they were a couple after all.
It wasn't long before the empty battlefield was overtaken by distant blade wielding maniacs! Baraka hissed toward the incoming horde, nothing but his korrupt kind! All he did was roar and extend his armblades before he charged in for the kill!
Jax ravaged toward Mavado, while Kenshi just faced Hsu Hao. "You treacherous vermin! You betrayed your allies!" The swordsman spat.
The minion just spoke casually, "I would not dishonor the Red Dragon clan; I would complete my task at any cost. My primary function was to exterminate the Black Dragons, and nothing more."
"You would rather cost your loyalty to the Special Forces?"
Clangs were heard as Kenshi clashed against Hsu's own Sun Moon blades, which were proven to be a threat as they conjured a lethal funnel by just one thrust! Kenshi may had been agile, but as was his enemy!
Jax used his bionic arms as sword and shield against Mavado's swift and brutal strikes. From his Long Fist and Wing Chun to his aggressive, tactful blows, even with his grappling hook blades he used to draw in his opponent. Jax was lucky he was geared up in his heavy armor, rather than just being bare chested with only the metallic arms in his possession! Each impact he taken was cushioned, yet still Mavado was just as lethal; unlike his Black Dragon counterpart Kano, in which he never relied on intimidation and brute force.
Hsu Hao was a bit too quick for Kenshi psychokinesis, as the telekinetic field only covered for a short range. Even his Sun Moon blades were fatal as he used one to block with his free hand to strike! Even though Kenshi was blind, his mind's eyes were still proven useful. However, it wasn't long till the traitor was beginning to have the upper hand.
Jax became vulnerable due to his bulk and bruteness, so he decided to switch formations with Kenshi. He focused onto Hsu Hao and was aware of his igniting heart, always pulsating and igniting lasers from it. Luckily, they took a second or two to charge, just long enough for an opening. Unfortunately, Kenshi was at the homefield disadvantage while Mavado's elongating techniques were the most destructive of them all! Even his severe lunges after stretching his blades and Long Fists like hookshots!
Meanwhile, the Kombatants had their hands full of the Tarkatan melee. Aiko never had the chance to conjure her cardiokinesis, and mostly relied on her Bo staff and klub. Johnny still remained by Sonya's side, while the Edenians functioned as one unit despite having the fans and staff as their main methods aside from injured limbs by carnivorous fangs and double blades. Nightwolf signaled Kiba to merge with the Matokan but even his might was nearly futile. As was Kung Lao's and Bo's despite their skills. Even Liu's spirit declared to lend his astral form as he could only forcefully push away the advancing horde or utilize his pyrokinesis. Kuai and Frost stuck together like a tongue on a frozen pole, yet still they were overmatched!
"There's too many of them! We can't keep fighting them like this!" Aiko hollered over the roars and clatter of battle. It was even worse as the blades were able to pierce thru and even drain the heroes' vitality, much as Baraka did against the Shaolin Monks! She even spotted the igniting heart and yet she was too afraid while her arm trembled, thinking it may explode!
Thankfully though, Jax was able to endure the violent vortexes conjured by Hsu's Sun Moon blades; they were almost as much as Kung Lao's Tornado Kicks. Still, only thing was on his mind, the glowing metallic chest plate located at the left side! As versatile as the traitor's blades were, Jax was just as flexible! Thanks to his quick-thinking and empowering force, even stunning Hsu with one of his quakes, he was finally able to reach toward the red chute and rip it out with his two hands! Hsu Hao screamed in utter pain before the glowing organ began to tick and cascades of blood oozed out from the new aperture! Jax wasted no time on discarding the fist-sized device like an unwanted toy, and all Hsu did was stumble toward it as if he was running while intoxicated! Moments later, the machination glowed brightly as the sun before both it and Hsu exploded, leaving piles of bloody debris in their wake!
Aiko tried to catch her breath as she released her cupped hand; she was the one who made the heart spew all over!
The feud between Mavado and Kenshi still resumed its fury, and the blind warrior was at the losing end! Weary and overmatched by the crime lord's blades and his direct advances, he began to emerge victorious. As were more waves of the advancing Tarkatans!
Suddenly they began to get licked by bolts coming from above! The metallic blades were just the perfect conduit to have them stunned and electrified! Each one screeched and kollapsed dead in their tracks! While a F2 funnel swept away more of the mutants off their feet and tossed asunder! Everyone halted as they witnessed those sudden natural occurrences!
"Could it be...?" Kung Lao began to register those two abrupt forces of nature. Sure enough, two men descended onto the blood-stained battlefield, and the team was flabbergasted, speaking in a mixture of strange tongues!
The assailants too were shouting in gibberish as they each performed an aerial dive taking out numerous Tarkatans in their way! As if on cue, the kavalry arrived konsisting large shadows of beings with four arms and those who were half-human, half horse! Their signature jumps and muscle, kombined with the might of their associates, belonged to the missing Shokan and Centaur warriors!
"I thought they would never make it!" Aiko cried.
"They must've shown up via portal; the battle plans must have kome thru!" Jade exasperated.
"That's my Mother...! May the Elder Gods bless her...!" Kitana remained just as astonished, even by the Gods' arrival.
"Ah-Master Raiden, Lord Fujin...?" Liu spoke for the stupefied brother and they just both bowed to each of the Gods.
Fujin stuck a finger toward his disciple, "Kan the formalities, Kung Lao! We have bigger fish to fry here!"
"...Lord Raiden...I thought you two would be powerless in Outworld."
"Indeed, Liu Kang. However, we discovered that since we once achieved Elder God status, our abilities had been enhanced. Just slightly. We can still be of good use here, but only partially. Though I fear we may not be as strong as the Deadly Alliance. We kan't standby idly and let the calamity unfold!"
Everyone absorbed the Gods' determination, even when they willingly discarded their higher peers in order to protect the lesser fortunate.
Still, Kenshi was fighting a losing battle, until Jax intervened against Mavado. He bashed onto the cruel crime leader constantly, even countering his own lethal sets of Wing Chun techniques! It was just enough to slow down the brute for Kenshi to katch him in his telekinetic field, eventually blowing out his eyes! Aiko and other spectators had to look away. By the time they came to, Aiko almost instantly registered Kenshi's frail predicament; she began healing duties from some of the enemies she absorbed from, even bits of Hsu's. Sonya and Johnny were undoubtedly relieved since the fatal Red Dragons had finally bit the bullet! Although, as Lao looked around for a quick rollcall, he noticed someone slipped away.
"Hey, where's Master Bo'!?"
Even Liu was flabbergasted he hadn't noticed his former sensei at all. "I believe he might have...slipped under our noses. ...And headed towards that Palace." It then occurred to him, "He must've been after his student, Li Mei!"
Everyone chorused, "What!?"
"A kraven play...!" Fujin added.
"I should've known we kan't trust him!" Johnny retorted. "That drunk son of a bitch is so slick, he thinks he kan get away undetected, even masking his damned bodily acts!" The heroes kouldn't help but share his disgust.
"Then...we must prepare. We may chance a short respite." Kitana suggested.
A/N: Damn...this was probably one of the most difficult chapters I'd to make for this fic! Even worse was that my laptop froze, so I had to give it a hard restart! I should've klosed the text file I'd been working with, because when I opened up that same document, the canvas was all blank and it all turned out to be a corrupt file! I was so pissed since I had to rewrite the battles with the Red Dragons from scratch! Along with any future ideas I came up with! Fucking hell! I may never use that program again...
Also, I'm so glad I finally got rid of the scrappies konsisting of the Onis and the Red Dragons; I'm sure no one really liked the copy-paste of the Black Dragons anyway, not even me, though its mascot and origin were interesting. And Baraka finally had a chance to shine along with Hanzo.
So, the Teaser of the Defenders of the Realm OST would sound a few times as Quan enslaves the Sun Do tribe, the Dark Ice Mines Landing Pad from Starfox Adventures would play as the Kombatants venture to Moloch's Lair, the sorrowful Damcyan Castle from Final Fantasy IV (SNES) would sound as Lao and Kenshi rescue and read the dying prisoner, Moloch's Lair would play during the tag team, then King Redeye Down and Boss Battle would chime in the second half, It'll Be Impossible to Reach Us from The Day After Tomorrow would play when the Shokan discuss with Sindel, Nethership would play during the melee, there'd be the usual Fatality theme from Shaolin Monks in between, and Final Mission from Metroid Fusion shall chime in when Raiden, Fujin, and the reinforcements arrive.
We are finally nearing the last battle and the finale of the epic that took almost 4 months to kreate! I kan't wait to do this and finish the Deadly Alliance once and for all! :D