Hey, I'm back again! Did you guys read about Ed Boon's announcement?

I'm shocked actually but oh well, I have MKX with my favourite characters. Also Resident Evil Village was cool as well as new games coming out for the Switch.

I might want Shinning Pearl and Doki Doki Literature Club. Don't worry, I know what to expect.

Anyways, onwards with the story!

Chapter 59

Nash's P.O.V

Tanya...what have you done...

The whole ground is filled with faces and they are moving with their gaping mouths followed by horrible screams. I wanted to piss my pants at this moment!

"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!" I heard Kristina shrieking in shock.

"Ew! The blood's gonna mess up my mecha suit!" Bryan grimaced, not even caring for the fact that he's safe and secure in his built-in suit compared to the rest of us. Then again, Bryan is Bryan. I somehow noticed that unlike the first time he came into Mortal Kombat, he has changed.

Changed as I was referring to him being a mad scientist rather than a typical computer science prodigy with cheat sheets in every game that we played.

Right now, I don't understand why Tanya would summon something so fucked up as moving faces on the ground while the sky has changed to blood red. Thankfully, it didn't smell of blood or else things might be a little queasy for me!

"Jade!" I yelled out to the bewildered assassin. "Try and destroy that pendant!"

Hearing my call, I think that got everyone going. Instead of battling, we are all trying our damn best to stay alive. Soldier after soldier were being devoured alive by the gaping mouths. Others like Kristina and Erron were shooting-stomping on the faces in sync. Ermac on the other hand was using his telekinesis to stop some of the faces from closing their mouths.

Instead those faces under him have become slack-jawed.

"I really hope Jade destroys that pendant," I talked out loud to myself. I'm just scared, okay?

However, if this was something unexpected, the next would be skeletons coming out of the ground. I'm starting to wonder when has Mortal Kombat ever been a horror game instead of a fighting game?

"I fucking knew that some horror show is going to happen!" Bryan whined, swatting away some oncoming skeletons as if they were mosquitoes. In fact, the Naknadans were engaging in battles with the undead army.

I figured since Tanya has the pendant, the horrors are controlled by her instead of Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn.

Speaking of which, I felt the ground shaking, as if something was coming straight at us. Gripping my hammer, I was ready to swing it at the oncoming attack. Have I mentioned before that when I did kill a few Naknadans, their bodies were suddenly devoured by the gaping maws.

Mind you, the mouths are still moving even as we are standing still. Best to step on their eyes if you ask me!

"Kitana, can you see what's coming?" I asked, since the princess herself was the closest to where the tremors were coming from-

Tremors...Oh, right...

Get ready to jump!" I commanded, surprise by the sudden confidence I have to lead our group. Then again, I can't be all talk without the action. On cue, the ground full of faces were rattling, moaning sounds were heard as if their heads were rattled.

If it's anything the news told me, the impact of the earthquakes can literally throw people off their feet. Those giants that lumbered in the battlefield were already collapsing due to the shocks. Unfortunately, they got back up as if they just stepped on a torn.

Let's not forget some of them with severe legs decided to hobble on just one foot.

Speak of the devil, it was none other than Tremor himself. He's been creating earthquakes and aftershocks to throw us off, despite the fields are faces. With Kotal's sword, I used it as a saw to cut through the gaping mouths of those faces. I had to switch back and forth from sawing things in my path to swinging my hammer around to crack some skulls.

Let's say it's pretty hard to juggle two large weapons at the same time.

"Nash!" Bryan's voice called out. "I can see Kano and his goons up ahead. I'm gonna go there and disabled some of their toys ."

"Bryan, you're gonna get yourself killed!"

The youngest Disciple let out a laugh. "That's what you're concern about? We've been trying to stay alive since you dragged us here! Not to mention Riana and Azril might be dead for all I know!"

"I didn't! Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung dragged us here!"

Our argument was short-lived when we all heard an angry war-cry. It was Jade and she was targeting the pendant that Tanya was holding.

I was mesmerised at how Jade scraps with Tanya, evading her fireball attacks until she is close enough to lunge towards her and bring her staff down on her pretty head, splitting her skull open and ejecting her eyeballs.

"Fatality," she breathed heavily, her whole body covered with blood. The fury in her eyes faded as her breathing became slow. Jade ended everything by stepping onto the pendant, breaking the spell.

The curse has been broken and Jade finally got her revenge.

Now is not the time for celebration since the second wave of attack are the Black Dragons with their firearms and powerful explosions. Not even our back up of the Shokans and the upcoming Tarkatans were no match to modern technology.

All I could do now is beat up and slay Naknadan warriors and avoid any Oni giants from falling over me.

I can barely hear from my left ear due to Reptile roaring there as well as a chunk of my ear was missing from my argument with him.

Speaking of which, I bet that Zaterran is finishing off most of the fighters who did not see him coming.

I better have eyes at the back of my head if I have to deal with him again.

Just then, all of us heard a bellowing roar that sounded familiar. Few of the Black Dragons were barrelled from a powerful force and that's where I held my breath.

It was Riana riding on Torr's back.

I was so glad that my sister's alive and Ferra's friend is okay. But I wonder where is Azril? Because I recall seeing the both of them, dragged down together.

Well, that won't matter now that they are here. I wanted to drop everything to hug her since the both of us have a lot to catch up. I realised since our time here in Mortal Kombat, she has changed.

I'm not sure how to describe it but she has a sinister smirk on her face as she slashed and killed a few Black Dragons without getting a scratch. She leaped from Torr's back and began to engage in combat.

"Wow, you're getting good, sis!"

"Oh, you're sweet, little brother!" she giggled. Even Jade looked relieve just by seeing her alive in this battle.

"Hey, Riana, where's Azril?"

"He stayed behind to weaken Shao Kahn," she explained rather hastily before slamming down a Naknadan and gouging his eyes out. I was baffled at how disturbing my sister has become.

What really happened when she and Azril were dragged down together?

In this sea of battle and bones, I did not hesitate to attack most of the enemies. I'd like to think of it as gaining experience points the more I kill in fights. Kristina was already painted in blood and I gotta say that red looks good on her!

Especially she's in her tank top and shorts while fighting two Black Dragon members.

I can understand why Erron Black and Ermac were drawn to my hotheaded friend.

However, something was off when Reptile appeared from his camouflage and tackled Riana to the ground. I thought he was excited to meet her but his mouth was dripping with acid while his eyes were livid.

"Reptile, what the hell?!" I exclaimed but was shoved back roughly. Others like Sindel and Kitana were baffled just as much as me while Jade used her staff to pry the Zaterran off of her. Mileena and the others were too busy killing to notice.

"What has gotten into you?" Jade demanded. "I thought you love Riana!"

"That is not Riana!" Reptile hissed irritably, pouncing on what was supposed to be Riana. It was unnerving to see her smile despite getting clawed on.

"Think you can fool me, sorcerer?" Reptile spat venomously. "After the lies you told me and now disguising as the woman I love?! Your scent gave it away!"

With that, Reptile spits acid onto the impostor's face, which an aguish scream was heard before the figure mopped back into the sorcerer himself. He was clutching one eye that got the acid spit but he laughed it off

"You really are blind as I predicted. Your human whore and that Lin Kuei boy will be taken care off soon enough," he smirked before using his is magic to grab him in a chokehold. "Too bad your soul will be mine!"

Before he could do that, it seemed like something was holding him back. I never thought my heart could stop beating. I was actually afraid for Reptile, the guy that I hated since I came here.

"Enough, Shang Tsung!" Ermac's echoed voice full of souls surrounding him. His telekinetic abilities were restraining the sorcerer from performing anything. "Reptile, we will hold him back!"

I was too dazed to everything except at watching Ermac and Reptile teaming up to attack Shang Tsung. But a quick tug from Jade snapped me back to where I was.

"Nash, there's more than this!" said Jade. "Shang Tsung has been muttering something under his breath. I believe that he's summoning something so be prepared."

And how right she was!

I wasn't really expecting an undead army full of zombies and skeletons popping out of the ground. However, I will deal with that later as Torr came to pick me up and thrash me around like an angry gorilla.

I bet Shang Tsung mind-controlled him!

Sorry, Ferra. I might have to pulverise your brute for a while.

...

3rd P.O.V

Riana hoped whatever her decision was will keep her alive even if it is temporary.

She was carried like a sack of potatoes over Shao Kahn's shoulder, not daring to struggle because she damn well know that this warlord could snap her like a twig if he wants to. Kurt was hiding in the safety of her top, hoping that it would protect him. For now, Riana used a single claw digit from her gloves to trace the bumpy scales on Shao Kahn's neck.

"What are you doing?" Shao Kahn's gravel voice almost made her scream.

"I wonder...are you part dragon by any chance?"

Shao Kahn was caught off-guard by this young woman, who was merely a child in comparison to his monstrous height. Not once has anyone asked him this sort of question. Judging by this woman's appearance compared to his wife and concubines, she doesn't have the fire that got him excited to conquer them.

Instead, she brought him a sense of uneasiness from her aloof behaviour when he picked her up to how she is currently tracing the back of his neck with something close to a needle.

"You do realise that my skin is thick and whatever you are doing won't kill me?"

"I know," Riana sighed. "But it's worth asking before you kill me."

Shao Kahn was still surprised by her assumptions. He has heard of the Disciples from either Shang Tsung, Kollector or sometimes that idiot, Kano. So far, he found the silent Lin Kuei one promising but was short lived after breaking his legs. He would love to get his hands on the hotheaded Shokan disciple since he loves females with fire in them! As for the default, it would amuse him to see how a cowardly Earthrealm disciple or the one trifling with Edenians could defeat him.

He never expected to be disappointed yet intrigued by the sorcerer's choice of bringing these people here. Might as well savour it!

"Oh, I'm not going to kill you yet, my dear~" Shao Kahn growled, dropping Riana onto the ground, to which he noted that her stance was very beast-like. He didn't want to believe it but maybe it was because of that abomination of a creature she used to be.

"Then what's going on? Why am I here?"

Shao Kahn summoned his hammer, Riana was getting ready to lock her claws and talons onto him. The venom may not kill him but hopefully it might weaken him, giving her brother a chance to kill him if he ever gets here.

"If you are planning to strike with both the sword and your claws, you better be cautious of where you are going to poke," Shao Kahn instructed, swinging his hammer to Riana but the young woman leaped to dodge it.

"Interesting!" he boomed in laughter. "A small thing such as yourself can be swift. Very well, let's see what are you made of!"

Riana wanted to scream since she knew Shao Kahn is the terror of Mortal Kombat. If Azril isn't here, it meant that-

'No, don't think about the worst thing that might have happened to him!'

Shao Kahn lived up to his name on why he is most feared. Riana almost wished she was dead the more he was giving her a beatdown despite clinging onto him with her claws and hooking the venomous talons from her boots into his torso.

"I'm impressed that you have lasted this long with me," he taunted. "Maybe if this little war of yours is over, I might keep you as a personal plaything."

Riana was exhausted, hungry and furious. She was not going to let Shao Kahn imprison her like what her own family had done! With a scream, Riana did the unthinkable. She basically clawed at Shao Kahn's face, full on venom while her legs tried their best to kick him. Inside her top, she could feel Kurt moving around to avoid getting hit. It didn't matter that her mouth was dribbling a bit of saliva as if she were a rabid animal.

"You hide here while you let others do your dirty work," she spat venomously. "Where's the powerful tyrant on the battlefield now?!"

Riana was grabbed in a chokehold before he threw her into a pile of bones. Riana winced, hoping that the sounds of snaps and cracks weren't her own. She knew that if she decided to rest, Shao Kahn was going to give her the finishing blow.

She has to protect her head and her glasses from this!

Riana heard a screech and it was Kurt. He was biting and trying to mess up with Shao Kahn's face but before the young woman could scramble up to grab him, he threw her beloved companion to where she was.

He was bleeding excessively.

Something snapped inside of Riana, making her throw a few bones at Shao Kahn, who dodged easily with a confident smirk on his face. Noticing that he was summoning a spear, Riana panicked. She was done for!

"You could always get another one," he chided. "I thought you know by now that's what pets are for, pretty things until they are deemed worthless."

"I don't want a new pet!" Riana growled, planting a random skull over her face like a mask. It's a stupid idea but she hoped it would protect her from getting her face smashed. She surged forward, aiming at the tyrant's torso.

Shao Kahn howled in pain as he was bleeding from the gore. Riana didn't stop nor was she tired because she was fuelled by pure rage. Of course she was afraid for her own life but no one should ever harm her beloved bearded dragon.

He was the only thing in her caged life that comforted her.

She didn't care for the fact that Shao Kahn has picked her up by her leg and thrashed her about. She could feel some part of her cracking like a toothpick while her nose picked up the scent of blood. Riana didn't have time to comprehend whether or not Kurt and her are sharing each other's DNA.

Riana could see many scratch marks on Shao Kahn's body and a bloodied hole at his right torso. All she could do was suppressed herself from screaming in pain, tears streaming down her eyes through the skull's eye socket.

"Stupid, child!" the emperor bellowed in pain. "You really think that whelp's life is worth over thousands out in the battlefield?!"

But Riana wasn't listening as her eyes were targeting Shao Kahn as if he were nothing more than a large prey. She licked her lips, realising how dry it must have been. She can't let Kurt die for nothing after all.

Through the lens of her glasses behind the skull mask, she doesn't see Shao Kahn. Instead in her field of vision, she saw morphed faces of every family member who have used her and abused her.

It was perfect!

Riana let out something similar to a snarl before tackling Shao Kahn. But since he was a hulk compared to her, Riana's body force was bounced back. Her whole body was in pain, screaming at her to stop but the young woman pushed on.

"You're not even on the battlefield!" she retorted back. "You're a coward, false emperor!"

Shao Kahn was livid. How dare she called him a coward!

Before he could slam his fist down on her, a furry black mass tackled him. Riana stumbled up not before picking up Kurt. He was alive, but barely.

Shao Kahn was busy battling the black mass that happens to be Kotal in his jaguar form. Riana has never felt so relief to see a familiar face. She almost kick when a hand was placed on her shoulder.

It was Raiden.

"Lord Raiden?" her voice was in disbelief. She has not spoken to the Thunder god ever since her arrival in this game. He said nothing but took out something from his robe. It was a bottle with electric blue liquid.

"Give a bit to your pet and then to yourself," Raiden instructed. "It's from the Jinsei Chamber."

Reluctantly, Riana unscrewed the bottle before placing it close to Kurt's mouth, letting him take a sip. Slowly, her pet's wounds were beginning to heal and he was nuzzling her hand. Riana nuzzled her pet before taking a sip herself.

It tasted like sparkling water that zaps your throat.

She felt a bit better and it was enough to stop her from her hunger pangs. Raiden then shouted something which teleported Shao Kahn out of his own palace.

"Where did you send him?"

"Where he should be."

Kotal has turned back into his Osh-Tekk form. He kneeled down to be on Riana's eye level. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay. We have to get to the battlefield if Shao Kahn is there and Shang Tsung too. But Azril-"

"He's well," Raiden answered. "He's with Sub Zero, Frost, Master Hasashi and Takeda. Once you are ready, we will leave."

Riana answered with a nod. She wants to meet up with her friends again, her brother and Syzoth again.

"Then let's get to the menagerie," said Kotal, who pulled the young woman up and led her.

"I thought Raiden is going to teleport us there?"

"No, we are using our beasts for this battle," Kotal told her, unlocking the stable that contained his T-rex and one that looked like an ankylosaurus. Saddling both beasts up, the both of them were ready to ride.

"Besides," Kotal's voice continued as they rode. "He promised he will keep my son safe at the White Lotus Temple. Ferra is there to guard him if anything happens."

...

Nash's P.O.V

When will this fight end?!

I swear fighting Torr was just as bad as the first time I have encountered him with Riana. I guessed I need to knock some sense into him.

Not only that, I think the whole battle was starting to overwhelm me with its sheer force and how every death of a fighter was replaced with something living.

I could hear my own breathing as I swing my hammer to at least hit his head. Successfully, it did but it also removed the bag that was over his head. I almost wanted to throw up.

He's a one-eyed ogre under that bag!

I hope Bryan is doing alright trying to disable the Black Dragon technology. So far, I don't see anything yet. Kristina can handle herself well but Reptile and Ermac were struggling with their battle with Shang Tsung.

Green and red blood were starting to bleed across the ground.

Suddenly, the sky became dark with the temperature dropping to a cold temperature. It looked like the Lin Kuei here and...

Oh my god...

Are those daggers raining down from above? Followed by sharp icicles?!

A roar was followed afterwards along with a few screams from where we are.

I really wished we weren't out in an open field where there isn't any shelter in case something like this might've happened...

Before I could run, I was grabbed by the neck. It was hard to turn my head around when I am struggling to get out of the grip while clawing for air.

"So..." a deep voice chuckled. "You're the hammer wielder I'm supposed to be intimidated by?"

Great, Riana has gone wild now! I guess you can say that she has...Killer Instinct! XD

Anyways, we are close to finishing this battle and the story is about to end too. Don't worry, I've planned a small spinoff after Disciples whether it is funny, sweet or spicy~

I wanna thank you guys for sticking with me despite my long updates for this story