The warm night engulfs the air, roaming souls gather for an event. Shang Tsung makes his way to his seat. Raising his hands as Princess Kitana and her friend in green come to his side.

"Kombants. I am Shang Tsung! In the coming of days, each of you will fight. Some are here of their own volition. Others were brought here by chance." He starts the event with a greeting, a starter for all. Kalliste stood with the crowd, arms crossed, listening to his words. When all of a sudden a couple of Earthrealmers start chattering. A man in a suit, prattles with another woman in blonde hair.

"-You participate in the most important Mortal Kombat in history! This tournament, the tenth after nine Outworld victories, will determine Earthrealm's fate. If you defeat all of your opponents, you will face one final challenge..." He glares at the crowd. "..Me."

Once again, the man in the suit scoffs, he mocks Shang Tsung. Suddenly, Shang Tsung appears behind the man. Clearing his throat, alerting his sudden presence.

"What? How did you-"

"Appearances can be deceiving."

Shang Tsung rises off his feet, reverting to his throne. "Our first kombatant will be Mr. Cage!" The man scoffs in overconfidence, stepping onto the battling ground. "That's right! That's right! Who's it gonna be?"

"Reptile!" Shang Tsung announces. Suddenly a reptilian man appears visible from the roof, pouncing onto the lower ground. Everyone claps, it snarls at the over-bearing man.

"Nice stunt! Who's your agent?" Kalliste rolls her eyes. This type of personality of this mortal man was quite vexing.

"Begin!"

"Alright! It's showtime!"

(Insert playable fight scene.)

The human gloated in victory. "He got caged! That's it! Ha, ha! Oh yea, I'm so pretty!" He laughs.

"And I'm takin you down, I'm takin' you down, I'm takin you out, I'm takin' you out, - and I'm taking you out... for dinner." He obnoxiously points at every fighter in the group. But he stops and gleams at the woman he is infatuated with. She grunts in disgust.

"Now for your second challenge, Mr. Cage. Baraka!" Shang Tsung announces. The snarling Tarkatan jumps onto the battle, ready to fight. "Mmm, ok... Nice makeup, but is it reeeeallly necessary?" Mr. Cage jokes once more. Kalliste then realizes that this human is oblivious to the Tournament and its fighters. Yet still, he manages to defeat one creature. Suddenly the Tarkatan summons his boney blades from within his arms. "Whoa!" He says in amazement.

"They will taste your flesh!" The Tarkatan spews hoarsely.

(Insert playable fight scene.)

"Man, I love those blades!" The fight ends and the human remains victorious. He crouches down at the wounded Tarkatan. "My producer has got to meet you! We're doing 'Tommy Scissorfists," and-"

Shang Tsung raises his voice. "Congratulations, Mr. Cage. Now. Finish him!"

The man scoffs. "Finish him? Yeah, right!"

"Kill him!" He scoffs once more. Looking around his surroundings. Everyone glares at him. He seems too hesitant. "Whoa. Whoa, whoa, wait a sec! I'm not gonna kill anyone!" Shang Tsung stands up. "Very well."

"The tournament will resume at dawn!" Everyone scatters. Kalliste finally exhales as she grew tired of watching that odious Earthrealmer gloat and flaunt his way to victory. Shang Tsung leaves the area with the Princess and the other woman. It had only been a couple of hours and yet a type of an obscure feeling was pulling at her heartstrings.

Kalliste decided to seek Shang Tsung's presence. As she paced her way to him, she yells to get his attention. "Shang Tsung!"

He turns around, slightly astounded by her appearance. "Yes, what is it you require?"

She sighs. "I request passage back in Outworld." He raises a brow.

"I'm afraid I cannot."

Kalliste's expression grows in resentment and confusion. "Why?"

"No one leaves my Island, not until the tournament has ended."He states. Kalliste shifts her head in annoyance, disappointment by that rule. She nods in compliance, now impatience wearies her.

"Are you already considering departing the tournament? Perhaps that Earthrealmer is too impeccable..?"

Kalliste lowers her eyes in exasperation. "No."

He then gives a sly smirk, chuckling dimly. "Ah, I understand now. You are starting to long for that Nakadan.-"

Kalliste stomps her foot in anger. "I WILL CHALLENGE THAT EARTHREALMER NEXT!" Her eyes glare at him fiercely, furrowing as they sunk in black colors. She huffs a fuming smoke of vexation. Storming away as she roughly shoves a nearby torch stick onto the ground.

—-

Dawn arrives, the brink of sunshine brightens the darkening Island. Many of the opposing Earthrealmers seem to have scattered. They had their issues and confusion to deal with. Kalliste had heard of their conversations, they seemed so eager on defeating Outworld.

"Kombantants! The next match will now begin!' An abrupt flame appeared in the middle of the battlefield. A man in of fiery rage comes forth, standing in his own fire. His eyes blank and white.

"Scorpion! Specter of the Netherrealm! Resurrected by the sorcerer Quan Chi!" The man looks around. "Who among you is worthy of this challenge?"

"Where is the Lin Kuei Sub-Zero? He killed my family and clan. I will have his head!" His voice rose in fury, eager for this 'Sub-Zero.' Kalliste lingers her eyes onto his demonic spawn. An eagerness swells within her soul.

Suddenly a man charges forward. "I accept the challenge!" Everyone stares in disbelief by a sudden challenger, approaching the Scorpion in confidence.

"Never mind the Lin Kuei. You face a Shaolin." The man unrobes his disguise. His stance indicating that he is ready to fight."

"You will regret your impulsiveness!" Scorpion wavers his finger at him.

(Insert playable fight)

Surprisingly, Scorpion had won. His opponent seemed rather boastful. "You are not yet a warrior." He says as the Shaolin warrior collapses. His friend who calls out, runs to his side. "I have defeated the challenger, Shang Tsung! I demand Sub-Zero."

"You will demand nothing. - Nightwolf!" Shang Tsung announces. A mortal man with war paint and long black hair approaches the man. They speak to each other before they began to fight. It didn't seem that Mr. Cage would appear any time soon. It was unknown whether or not he would even consider battling again. Kalliste soon grew impatient and bored, and somehow she didn't want to take part in the tournament.

Further, in the shadows, she parted herself from the crowd. Everything was always filled with chatter and fights.

—

To be continued...