Chapter Seventy-Three: The Sorcerer's Truth

"Bi-han, is that really you?"

"It is, Tomas. I give you my word."

Tomas stared wide-eyed at Bi-han, still unable to believe that he was standing right here with him. He remembered that Hydro had encountered the late Sub-zero at the cemetery, but actually seeing him in person was a different story. Smoke wanted so badly to reach out to the older man, hug him or something, but the silver-haired man again looked at his handcuffs. Bi-han noticed Tomas' disappointment and raised his hand.

"Hold still, alright?"

Without a second thought, Smoke nodded his head and watched in amazement as his friend released him from his restraints with a wave of his hand. Tomas took a moment to rub his wrists, which were a bit sore from the cuffs being on so tightly.

"Thank you."

Bi-han nodded.

"Of course, my friend."

Smoke then stopped massaging his sore wrists and folded his arms across his chest.

"Now do you mind explaining why I am in a cell, and you are not?"

Bi-han looked to the ground in shame. He sighed.

"I know you have questions, Tomas, but there is not much time."

With another wave of his hand, the black-garbed ninja opened the cell door and stepped back to give Smoke room to step out.

"Come with me. Please."

Nodding, Smoke moved to take a step, but then he stopped. He remembered what Pyros had said just before he awoke.

"Be careful and do not trust anyone!"

Tomas trusted Pyros and his advice, but…he also trusted Bi-han. And his friend was still in there somewhere, if his releasing Smoke from his prison was not proof enough. He just needed to be careful, just as Pyros said.

"Tomas?"

Tomas took a deep breath and finally stepped out of his cell.

"…Alright. Lead the way, Bi-han."

Bi-han nodded and the two took off down the dungeon hall to the exit. However, if Tomas had just waited a second longer, he would have seen a bolt of lightning slamming into the ground outside his window.

Raiden and his champions had arrived in the Netherrealm outside Quan Chi's palace. Accompanying the god was Jade, Sub-zero, Liu Kang, Kitana, and Nightwolf. The rest of Earthrealm's warriors stayed behind in case things took a turn for the worse in the war and they were needed. Besides, Raiden thought it would be better to have a smaller group in the Netherrealm, and for good reason too.

"Everyone, stay close to Nightwolf and I. Our powers allow us to roam freely through this realm without the possibility of corruption. The more you stray from us, the more corrupted you become over time. Understood?"

Everyone nodded. It was understandable with Raiden being a god and Nightwolf's spiritual abilities. The Netherrealm was not a place mortals could access anytime. At least not until they died. Liu Kang and Kitana stood on each side of Raiden while Jade and Sub-zero stayed close to Nightwolf. As the group approached the entrance gates, two demon guards stood by with their spears held high. Strangely enough though, they made no move to stop the Earthrealmers and instead they took a step back to let the group through.

The unease Raiden felt grew even more, especially as the gates slowly flew open. The person awaiting them on the other side was the last person the thunder god wanted to see right now, but he had no choice. Quan Chi, standing in all his glory, smirked at his visitors and held out his hand.

"Welcome, Raiden. I do hope you and your champions have found the Netherrealm to your liking."

Raiden only response was a small lightning strike just in front of Quan Chi's feet. The sorcerer was not at all intimidated by the display and he even laughed at Raiden.

"A simple "no" would have sufficed."

Raiden wasted no time getting down to business. He scowled at Quan Chi.

"You know why we are here, Quan Chi. Now where is he?"

"You will have to be more specific, Raiden."

In a flash, Lord Raiden appeared before Quan Chi, his nose only and inch away from the sorcerer's. The guards then moved to protect their master, aiming their spears at the god's head. They knew full well that they could not beat Raiden, but they did not want Quan Chi to believe they would not try. That would be a sign of disloyalty to him. Fortunately for the guards, Quan Chi waved his hand to signal them to stand back, and they immediately obeyed.

"It is amusing seeing you in such a state, Raiden."

"Do I look amused to you, sorcerer?"

Again, Quan Chi laughed.

"There is no need to worry about your champion. He is perfectly safe."

The sorcerer then turned around and signaled for Raiden to follow him. The god was hesitant at first, but he soon proceeded after Quan Chi with his champions right behind him. While Raiden was able to pass with no problem, the others were stopped by the guards.

"I wish to speak with Raiden. Alone."

Looking over his shoulder, Quan Chi smirked when he saw the displeased looks on the Earthrealmers' faces.

"You understand, yes?"

"Forget it, sorcerer."

Jade was the first to step forward and she moved to shove the demons out of her way with her comrades right behind her, but Raiden stopped her.

"No. It will be fine. Stay here until I return."

"But Lord Raiden-"

"Please, Jade. I will be back shortly."

The god could see that Jade was upset, but the Edenian slowly nodded her head and agreed to stay put. Raiden looked to the others for any other protests among them and when he received none, he and Quan Chi continued to the palace. With a snap, the entrance doors swung open, and the sorcerer beckoned Raiden to step inside, which he did. Quan Chi followed and the doors slammed shut behind the two, leaving the other Earthrealmers alone with the sorcerer's servants. Jade placed her hands on her hips and shook her head.

"I do not like this. We should be in there looking for Tomas."

Folding his arms across his chest, Sub-zero nodded in agreement with the Edenian.

"I know. That damned sorcerer. What is he planning?"

Unbeknownst to the cryomancer, Raiden was thinking the same thing as he walked down the long, marble hallway alongside Quan Chi.

"I do not know what you are planning, Quan Chi, but I suggest you walk away. This war-"

"-is an incredible source of entertainment, Raiden."

"That is all you wish to gain from this madness? Entertainment!?"

Quan Chi chuckled. He could not help but find Raiden's anger humorous.

"That, and…something else."

"And what is this "something else"? What does it have to do with Smoke?"

Stopping in the middle of the hallway, Quan Chi turned to the thunder god and smirked.

"Why go through all this trouble over one warrior, Raiden? You must be desperate. After all, with the small amount of champions you have now, I would be too. And let us not forget to mention the pathetic humans you also have fighting by your side. I doubt even half of them are even alive now. What are you to do?"

Raiden hated that the sorcerer could easily get under his skin. He clenched his hands into fists and his scowled deepened as he spoke again.

"My patience is wearing thin. VERY thin. Where. Is. Smoke?"

Quan Chi only shook his head, the smirk on his face still there.

"Are you not the least bit curious about his origins, Raiden? Do you not wish to know who, or rather, WHAT Smoke is?"

"He is a champion of Earthrealm and more importantly, he is my friend. That is all that matters to me at the moment."

But deep down, Raiden was curious. He was extremely curious. Out of all his warriors, Smoke was the one who really piqued the god's interest. His powers, his origins. Everything seemed to be a mystery when it came to Tomas.

"…What do you know?"

Quan Chi's smile widened. He knew he had gotten through to Raiden.

"I know you are aware of the other entity living within Smoke. I know you have confronted him about it. And… I believe I know exactly what this entity is."

Looking back ahead, Quan Chi continued walking with Raiden soon following suit.

"Now…I wish to show you."

Reaching another set of huge, iron doors, the sorcerer again snapped his fingers to command the doors to open. At first, Raiden was a bit disappointed to see nothing but darkness and he even thought that Quan Chi had wasted his time. But then, the torches on the walls began to ignite and the thunder god soon realized that this was no ordinary room. Below the torches, Raiden could see outlines of drawings on the walls. Upon closer inspection, he could see that the image was of Shinnok and what appeared to be an army of demons behind the fallen god.

"Over the millennia, the Netherrealm has had many rulers, most of whom were born within its depths. But as you already know, Lord Shinnok is not part of that majority. Due to his divine heritage, he had power beyond any being that resided in the Netherrealm, so Lord Shinnok had no difficulty asserting his dominance and becoming the realm's new ruler. And for a time no one dared threatened his reign…until they came."

Another torch was suddenly set aflame and Quan Chi led Raiden to its direction. Again, the god found an image drawn beneath the torch, but this time the picture depicted creatures with skin as dark as coal and there hulking forms towered over a group of demons. Fear was evident in the demon's faces.

"It is unknown where they came from and how they came to be at my…Lord Shinnok's palace gates. But they came seeking purpose, a reason to keep on existing. They had wandered all across the Netherrealm for so long and now…they had found what they were looking for. Lord Shinnok gave them exactly what they wanted."

"And who exactly are "they"?"

Quan Chi could hear the irritation in Raiden's voice and decided now would be the time to tell Earthrealm's protector what he has discovered.

"Raiden…are you familiar with Enenras?"

Raiden's eyes widened slightly at the name and that did not go unnoticed by Quan Chi.

"…You knew, didn't you?"

The sorcerer was not entirely wrong. Raiden had suspected an Enenra being involved, but he did not want to jump to that conclusion. After all, Enenras to him were like the Boogeyman to mortals, nothing but fictional characters that were used for scary stories. In fact, Raiden used to tease his younger brother Fujin by saying that the Enenras would come after him in the middle of the night and eat him. Of course, the thunder god was rarely mean to his sibling and he always apologized when he was done, but now after hearing that Enenras are real…Raiden felt really guilty about what he did to Fujin.

"I…had my suspicions. I did not believe the tales to be true."

"Believe it, Raiden. They are master assassins and darkness truly is their ally. You think I am ruthless?"

Quan Chi laughed.

"You should see them in combat. Oh, my apologies. I believe you already have. And it was for that reason Lord Shinnok took them in as his secret weapon. His last resort."

Quan Chi stopped for a moment to allow Raiden some time to process this information. While the thunder god had many questions, the one that was really on his mind was…were the Elder Gods aware of all this? Did they know about Shinnok and the Enenras? Raiden shook his head. If they did know, the Elder Gods would have said something about Tomas. He did describe the silver-haired man's abilities and with their unlimited knowledge, they should have guessed the origin of Smoke's power.

"Did the Elder Gods…lie to me?"

"Now that you know the truth…"

Looking back to the mural of the Enenras, Quan Chi's smile faded and his face hardened.

"Do you still wish to see Smoke?"

Following the sorcerer's gaze, Raiden, too, stared at the image, uncertainty evident in his eyes. He knew what he wanted to do, but would it be the RIGHT thing to do? What sort of consequences would Earthrealm's protector face if he made the wrong decision? And would he and his champions live long enough to find that out?