Even the feeling of being hollow still lingered inside. The type of anxiety washed away at least.
Each time she moved, the more groggy she felt. Yet, Shang Tsung perhaps taught her a lesson. Fooling around with her emotions, - even the thought of unknowingly kissing him was just a foul aspect. He was right, acting on her feelings was unimportant - especially serving under Shao Kahn's rule. It was pointless. Love is dead. Love is not relevant.
Recently, the Earthrealmers had been roaming around Shao Kahn's fortress. Plotting their schemes and trying to alter the events of the tournament perhaps.
As she wandered through the corridors, -possibly trying to search for any trespassers, she had suddenly heard shouting; a heated conversation from afar. Near Shao Kahn's throne room; Kalliste hidden herself behind a huge pillar. Listening as she spots Princess Kitana confronting Shao Kahn with Shang Tsung on his knees. Kalliste's interest arose as she had a sense that he was going to be punished. Smirking underneath her mask.
"-I felt you should know what Shang Tsung has been doing as of late. This conjurer has created horrid replicas of me—crossbred with Tarkatan blood. One was alive—-and attacked me!" She exclaims with slight anger - accusing him of creating replicas. Now that she remembered - Shang Tsung had mentioned about creating a another daughter of Kitana. Seems as though that Princess Kitana is deeply against it.
Shao Kahn approached both of them, his silence seems unknown. He looks at Shang Tsung then Kitana.
"Well done, Sorcerer." He suddenly praises Shang Tsung. He smirks, standing up as Princess Kitana falters.
"You know... You... approve? How could you? My own father!" She exclaims.
"I am your emperor!" Shao Kahn yells at her, overpowering her with his brooding figure. "Your father was a weakling Edenian king. I annihilated him while merging his realm with Outworld and took his queen as my wife."
"If only I had not allowed Sindel to convince me of your worth..." His words turn utterly bitter. The princess steps back as she becomes dejected.
"-But now I have a true daughter!" The Kahn faces Shang Tsung in approval. The type of praise immediately gutted Kal's loins. Now she feels pity for the Princess. More hatred spewed on the sorcerer once more.
"Raiden was right. You have lied to me my entire life." Kitana says dimly.
"Escort her to the Tower. I will make an example of her." The Kahn orders his Tarkatan guards; apprehending her in force.
"Return to the Flesh Pits. Bring me, my daughter. Mileena."
They have taken her - the princess no longer occupies herself on Shao Kahn's court. Discarding her like a corpse, utter trash. How horrible Kalliste had thought. Just as the princess was being taken away, she had caught her eyes observing a green figure. The princess's friend; Jade. She slowly followed the shadows as she deemed to be quite dubious.
As Kalliste began to follow across the pathway of the Throne Room, Shao Kahn notices her sudden appearance.
"Kalliste. Come." She stops in her steps, turning to her Emperor. She swiftly walks her way to him. Glaring at the smirking Shang Tsung who leaves the room, possibly bringing the new daughter.
Shao Kahn looks down at her.
"Your lack of contribution has been heavy, Kalliste." His eyes of glowing crimson just kept staring at her. Kalliste feels herself stammered.
"I am aware, my lord..."
"If you are aware then you shall engage more to my rule. Your loyalty is empty, girl. - That princess and now you. How many more women in my court will disappoint me?" He scoffs in irritation, but he shortly brushes that thought off.
"Perhaps my new daughter will bring me more fealty."
"I seek many unwanted earthrealmers roaming your fortress. - Allow me to find and destroy them."
Shao Kahn takes a moment as he gleams at her. He gestures his hand, dismissing her.
Kalliste grins dimly, bowing her head for her superior.
Finally, she leaves, -but she now has an empty view along her path.
She then proceeds on her quest.
Kalliste arrived at the armory. The place was filled with fiery colors; deep, dark and orangey. It's sudden heated environment overwhelmed her. The heat consuming her from all around. She then spotted an unconscious Tarkatan laying on the ground. She thought that maybe he was sleeping - but no that was an idiotic assumption. Quickly she ran to his side - upon further examination it was Baraka; the leader of Tarkatans.
She then proceeded to wake him. His eyes shot open with golden yellow eyes. She clenched her mouth as she found him a bit repulsive.
"What has happened? Who did this?" She questioned in a stern tone.
Baraka faced her weakly, his eyes barely opening.
"-Jade. ...She has no loyalty." Kalliste pounded her hand in irritation, smirking bitterly, impressed that she was right about that suspicious woman in green.
"Where is she?"
He points to his right. "...The tower."
She quickly rises from his side, leading herself to the so-called "tower".
Kalliste rushes towards the tower. A long room with circular balconies on the side. Multiple statutes along the pathway. She instantly spots a recovering female Shokan from the floor. A group of guards had already appeared.
"What has happened?"
The Shokan plants her hand on her head, still battered by some unknown threat.
"That deceiver, Jade! She has come to-" She turns around to see that the princess is still there, feeling a bit relieved. The princess still is bound and present. Yet the attack of the traitor was significant, although she didn't free the princess. Kalliste slowly strides towards the shackled Princess, eyeing her with profound umbrage.
"Kalliste...!" The princess exclaims but she softly mutters at Kal. "Please, you must understand Shao Kahn's malice! He-"
Kalliste raises her hand at Kitana, an obscure force choking the princess.
"Your words are pitiful, princess. That purity of yours needs to be sullied." She felt her mouth tighten as she hardened the suffocation of the princess.
"That is quite enough. Shao Kahn would not like her contused. She will be executed soon." Kalliste turns around as the darkness fades from the sight of Kollector appearing. She was so consumed by the eagerness of brutality that she hardly felt her surroundings. - She felt herself intemperate - lowering her hand.
"Why would he not want her contused? She will die anyway, that pretty little skin of hers should be drenched in blood." She says bitterly, glaring at the princess.
She then finds him grinning, pleased about something. Rolling her eyes, she walks further away from the princess, hearing his subtle chuckling in the background.
"Finally, you have shown your callous side." He continues to leer at her. The type of expression on him was just dissimilar from his usual grin of avidity.
"Yes, how nice is it to witness my darker side?" She scornfully smiles at him, yet she quickly tears that grin from her face, heading for the exit. Sauntering out of the room with dark bitterness.
—
The Earthrealmers arrived onto the Koliseum. The princess shackled beside the throne of Shao Kahn. Things felt different, - different in a good way. Yet, the new daughter in magenta stood by the Kahn. She looked just like Kitana, but her eyes glowed with the similarity of Tarkatan features.
That same warrior who fought in the first tournament on Shang Tsung Island walks towards the shackled princess.
"Raiden! Put forth a worthy champion... If you can." Shao Kahn declares at the Thunder God with the straw hat. Everyone waits for his next move. Finally, a man with a blade hat comes forth. Kung Lao.
"You will face Shang Tsung!" Shao Kahn announces. "-And Quan Chi."
Yet another 1v2 battle. Kalliste felt herself smiling, intrigued by this fight, and how the outcome will perceive itself. Two of the sorcerers ready themselves upon the Earthrealmer's champion.
"No Earthrealm boy can stop this deadly alliance." The demon sorcerer mocks. "On that, we agree." Says Shang Tsung.
(Insert playable fight)
"It is done!" By the gods, the Earthrealmer manages to defeat the both of them.
"No Kung Lao. Not nearly so." Shang Tsung spat, bitter from the saddening defeat.
The sounds of metal cages occurs from the distance. Another opponent comes from the darkness; Kintaro. Suddenly Kalliste felt a sudden rush of nostalgia. The first time she fought in front of everyone, a sudden essence of deja-vu. Kintaro growls and yells in preparation for the fight, clenching his fists.
"I will eat your heart!" Kintaro threatens. Soon, they begin the fight.
(Insert playable fight)
Cheers and jeers arose in volume. Again, Earthrealm remains victorious once more, he circles, joyful as he gestures in success. Shao Kahn rises from the throne.
"You see, Raiden? - Earthrealm is free-"
SNAP!
Shao Kahn fractures his neck, killing him instantaneously.
"Kung Lao!" The Thunder God exclaims in terror. Liu Kang yells in dread by the sudden death.
"I will strip the flesh from your bones!" The Thunder God charges his electricity from his hands in anguish. Suddenly Liu Kang charges at the glorified emperor, throwing him against the ground - brawling with the Kahn aggressively. Shao Kahn chuckles.
"Witless boy. Do you know who I am?"
"The murderer of my friend!" Liu Kang exclaims.
"I am Shao Kahn! Konqueror of Worlds! You will taste no victory."
"You will taste your own blood!" And so the fight between them as begun.
(Insert playable fight)
"On your feet!" Shao Kahn lays on the floor, weakened, he slowly stands up as he is covered in bruises and blood. The champion raises his hand in fury, a ball of fire rises.
"For Kung Lao, the Shaolin and the Earthrealm!" He thrusts his flaming fist into the Kahn's chest - beyond impaling him. A hole of bloodied defeat. Everyone stands in silent surprise, the dead emperor lies against the bitter ground.
"I cannot believe... Earthrealm has won." Shang Tsung mutters, utterly flabbergasted.
Suddenly a blinding light from above appears, quite similar to the victory on Shang Tsung's Island. The showers onto the champion.
"The Elder Gods have spoken. Earthrealm is free of Shao Kahn forever." The thunder god speaks in belief. Shang Tsung orders a couple of Tarkatans to move Shao Kahn's body. Kalliste is beyond shocked - the Kahn has indeed been defeated by the champion.