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(Sub-Zero) (The Living Forest)
"So, that's how it happened?" I asked.
"Yes. I had joined the Special Forces shortly after the formation of the Deadly Alliance... I had mostly complied because I knew I would get a chance to pay back Shang Tsung for what he's done to me..."
Another soul seeking revenge... "What is it?" I asked him.
Kenshi sighed a little, lowering his head and looking sad. "He is the reason I am blind."
I nearly gasped in shock.
"You see... I was not always a swordsman particulalry... I was once a regular hand-to-hand fighter, skilled in Tai Chi and San Shou... I was a great fighter of Japan... My goal in life was to be the best fighter in the world... One day, Shang Tsung approached me and told me that there was a legendary blade of which would be able to heighten my fighting skills with supernatural powers... I believed him, and foolishly let him lead me to it's dwelling... It turned out that this was the tomb of my ancestors, all of whom were great sword kings. Shang Tsung disinterred the housing of their bodies and devoured their souls as they rushed out of the tomb. The rush of so many old, mystical, powerful souls flying past me all at once struck me blind, and Shang Tsung used their power to help him fight in Mortal Kombat... Fortunately, I found the blade he was speaking of, and it guided me out of the tomb and to safety. Had Shang Tsung lived long enough to encounter me again, it would pierce his heart and lie there eternally."
"That's so terrible..." I murmured in sympathy. Kenshi... The heir to sword kings? It felt distinctly familiar to my own situation, carrying the burden of an entire race on my shoulders. However, as much as I could compare my plight to that of Kenshi's, I felt as if I was in deeper trouble, worse misery. There are several human beings, and there are several human beings who are talented fighters. Kenshi may have carried on a legion, but I am held accountable for a kind that may never be seen again when I die. Then again, there was always a chance that... No. Surely I couldn't find a woman, not one to try and repopulate the Cryomancers with. I had many enemies, and could not dare endanger such an important woman. I would never be able to forgive myself if I did have a woman who loved me enough to allow me to rebuild my race with, and then she ended up dying. For those of you who are confused, it is one thing, an animalistic trait of nature possessed by most creatures, that when one's species is endangered there is no hesitation, it does not matter how much the male and female can stand each other, it is the duty of repopulation that they must work together to fulfill.
However, we Cryomancers, one of the few races capable of superior intellect and deep thought, held more importance in these matters. I cannot speak for the entire race, for aside from the holy text I found earlier I know bearly anything of their past customs, but I probably believe this because of experience in the Lin Kuei and being raised in Earthrealm... Where I have lived the most, people don't start a family of any kind unless they have serious affections for each other. That in itself is a difficult thing to harbor, and even more difficult to maintain. As a Lin Kuei trained to be emotionless and to put all personal inputs aside, I don't have the capability to handle such things. And even if I would succeed to look for a companion somewhere other than Earthrealm, say, Edenia, whose interest would I match? The Edenian people are much wiser due to their extensive lifespan, and would consider me foolish in comparison. Certainly no one in Outworld, and even the Earthrealm Heroes don't find me much of a man of character. Seeing the variations of hobbies and occupations they possess - Liu Kang and Kung Lao as wise Shaolin Monks advocating peace, Johnny Cage being an idolized contribution to entertainment, Jax and Sonya fighting for the fate of a country - I really doubt that other dwellers of Earthrealm would try to spark social intimacy with me.
"Yes... It was traumatizing," Kenshi's voice broke into my thoughts.
"Kenshi," I started to say, "I realize that what Shang Tsung must have done was surely upsetting, much more than what the common man suffers. However, I find it very unhealthy to seek revenge. All it ever does is breed more and more grudges and malice."
"I respect your concern, Sub-Zero, but Shang Tsung deserved what I had in store for him..." there was a certain sternness in his voice. This man obviously despised Shang Tsung more than anyone else I've ever met.
I didn't want it to lead into an argument seeing as how I've already lost enough friends, so I said "Look on the bright side. He is dead, and probably suffered much more than you could've dealt to him."
Kenshi opened his mouth to reply, looking a little upset by this comment, but stopped. "I suppose you are right. There is no reason to fret over hurting one who is already dead."
This slightly disturbed me, but I quickly shook it off and brought my mand back to present matters. "Well, now that there's nothing left to be in Outworld for, do you suppose we should head home, to Earthrealm?"
"Indeed. It is only vital that I keep an ally with me along the way, for Outworld has proven to be extremely dangerous..." I nodded, knowing this better than he had.
No sooner had we began heading through the rest of the Living Forest in search of a portal that would take us back to our homeland.
(Outworld Royal Tower)
It's throne room had welcomed several past leaders before. Some were forgotten - though feared during the time they had ruled, no leader of Outworld had been as savage as Shao Kahn. People trembled at the very mention of his name, and a face to face encounter in which the former emperor was displeased could cause a grown man to soil himself. Shao Kahn was responsible for many great, effective deeds - great and effective, but cruel, evil, notorious, savage. His barbarian ways and addiction to conquering caused his intimidating demeanor to be known widespread among the realms. And while this emperor had wiped entire races from the slate of history, singlehandedly conquered realms and was capable of tearing a man in two with as much effort as an ordinary human would put in breaking a toothpick, there is always the latter, the one who can hit harder, fight bolder, plague with more devistation and dominate with an immortal charisma. And now, he was once again sitting on the throne of Outworld, where he had belonged just before Kahn's time. He was Onaga.
Though the Dragon King's reclaimed reign over Outworld has been so far brief, the entire realm twisted into an entirely different land as soon as he set foot in his place of rule. Many talented warriors eagerly seeking their place or satisfaction in Outworld began to serve under him without hesitation. It seemed as if everything was completely under his control, but Onaga knew that there were rats running loose in Outworld, a small number of individuals seeking to end his ownership of the realm. This didn't worry him much - he had as many forces under control as he could possibly have, and his targets were miserably scrutinized compared to his mighty followers. Upon surveying the acres of Outworld through the same orb of light of which he named "Damashi" (and was also used to luring a fool from Earthrealm, Shujinko, into ressurrecting Onaga through gathering the Kamidogu), Onaga found that two of the Earthrealm Heroes were still alive - Sub-Zero and Kenshi, wandering the Living Forest in hopes of returning to their land of origin.
Onaga bore a smug sulk of malcontent upon witnessing the Cryomancer ninja and blind swordsman. Such annoying pests... If they dare to interfere, I will see to it that the Dragon King's army proves what spineless vermin they are... He rested his head upon his fist, pondering as to how to deal with the traveling duo. After a few minutes he had come to a decision - he would send the guardian from Seido of Orderrealm.
"Hotaru," Onaga bellowed in his mighty tone as the darkly clad warrior donning torn samurai flags on his back entered the room to recieve instruction.
"Yes, Lord Onaga?" he asked as he approached the Dragon King and knelt before him.
"There are two survivors of the quarrel with the Deadly Alliance - Sub-Zero, the Lin Kuei grandmaster of Cryomancy heritage, and Kenshi, a blinded master of the katana and skilled telekinetic. Your mission is to assassinate them as soon as possible. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Lord Onaga," Hotaru replied, and at that he took his leave, and Onaga watched him walk out the castle upon his throne, a devious smirk crawling onto his scaly lips.
(Nekros - City of the Netherrealm)
A gargantuan burst of flame ignited from the vast sea of blood used for transportation as filtered through the Slaughterhouse. Noob stood erect atop his form of transportation, the Nethership, eyeing the undead city greedily of which he planned to storm with his portion of the Brotherhood of Shadow that remained loyal to him. As he sailed closer to his destination, the swelling pride and excitement in his heart bulged like that of a timidly impatient child awaiting his present. Soon, Sareena's voice broke into his thoughts.
"Master, we are near the village... Is there anything you would like me to do?" The demonic girl inquired.
"No, Sareena. Everything is well. Go, relax in the captain's quarters."
"Right, Master," she replied, and walked off into the ship.
"Grandmaster Noob, the men are ready. When shall we commence attack?"
"Not until I give the signal," Noob grumbled in slight impatience.
After a long moment of the boat's slow progression towards the docks, Noob silently vanished in a huge puff of black smoke. He reappeared atop the Slaughterhouse, staring down at the undead citizens.
"People of Nekros!" he boomed at a volume loud enough for the Satanic people to give him their attention. "I am here to make a proposition! Surrender your government to me, Noob Saibot, or fear the wrath of the Brotherhood of Shadow! You have ten minutes to comply, or my brigade shall raid your homes and slay you all!"
"Nonsense!" an equally towering voice shot from the right of the Slaughterhouse. Everyone, Noob included, looked in it's direction to find the fallen Shinnok parading into the town, the Brotherhood renegades at his back. "Nekros is mine for the taking! As being within the relevant distance of my spire, it is therefore mine to claim, and mine only! Turn your ship and all it's hoodlums south, you measly wraith, or the God of Death will show you the true meaning of fear!"
"How dare you challenge the might of Noob Saibot, you fallen Elder God? Not even your diety powers will save you from my hands of which will spill your blood into the sailing seas of my men!"
"You fool! Shall you engage me in Mortal Kombat, your entire existance shall be turned inside out! You are fortunate I am holding back the urge to erase your presence right now!"
"On your knees and in my face, you bastardly cur!"
The two titanic rulers of the divided Brotherhood continued bickering back and forth, bitterly spitting remarks to each other's failure, each following word ten times as insulting as the last. When it seemed as if they were ready to clash, Shinnok shuffling past the undead and approaching the Slaughterhouse and Noob nearing the edge of the roof, the otherwise peaceful silence was broken by one of Noob's recruits beheading a follower of Shinnok. It's black blood spilled onto the floor as it's severed head plopped onto the ground and rolled, bumping into Shinnok's heel.
"I will make you pay for this tenfold!" Shinnok threatened as he shook a readied fist to Noob. At that the god leapt next to Noob in a single bound and swung at him, only for Noob to parry the attack and shove his arm aside, driving Shinnok forward. Noob then kicked him in the back, and Shinnok stumbled forward once more slightly, kneeling over in pain. Noob jumped into the air, preparing a downwards hammer strike onto Shinnok's back, only for him to vanish in a purple light and strike Noob from behind. Infuriated, Noob retrieved the scythe from behind him and started swinging at Shinnok. Shinnok barely dodged the first three swipes of Noob's weapon before a huge skeleton hand emerged, lodging the scythe's blades inbetween it's bones, and handed Shinnok his amulet staff. The god nodded, causing the hand to submerge back into the mystical portal, and clubbed Noob across the temple.
The Brotherhood carried out their civil struggle, attacking each other with the blades of which they once shared in prosper, spilling the blood of their former comrades. The civilians, despite their already undead state, fled in terror from the carnage and chaos. It seemed as if Shinnok's side was briefly gaining the upper hand, but Smoke appeared from out of nowhere and began slaughtering the opposition effortlesly, each of their own swipes passing through his body as it was completely gaseous. Smoke laughed, the helpless Brotherhood of Shinnok's leadership failing to harm him at all as he severed their limbs and spilled their organs.
"This is war," Noob growled into Shinnok's ear as they leaned against each other, struggling to push their weapon onto the foe.
"You pathetic weakling... It has only begun," Shinnok replied with a sinister grin as he kicked Noob in the knee and swatted his head once more.
Enraged, Noob twisted around on his back and sweeped Shinnok off his feet with his scythe before jumping to his feet and plunging the blade through the god's stomach.
Shinnok groaned in pain, clenching his teeth and glaring angrily at Noob before perishing in a purple light and trying to hit Noob with a back strike. Noob imitated and managed to hit Shinnok off the roof of the Slaughterhouse.
"It ends here..." Noob said as he stared down at Shinnok, pointing his blade to his heart and preparing to leap off the Slaughterhouse for the finishing blow.
(To Be Continued)
Sorry this chapter is so short, but I ran out of time. I promise I'll update soon with a longer one.