Welcome back to Mortal Kombat Ryujin. Last time, the mystery of Spyro's temporal headaches was solved. Kronika barely managed to emerge victorious in the last rendition of Mortal Kombat 11, and had called warriors from other worlds to finally fully ensure Raiden would not come back, Spyro and Cynder being the latest of them. And just when they figured it out, she arrived and kidnapped both Spyro and Liu Kang, attempting to prevent either Raiden or Cynder from achieving victory. Raiden, still stunned at the timelines Spyro had shown him, left to try and come to terms with it, while Cynder leads her allies against Kronika. Now please note, this chapter will contain Chapter 11 and a little bit of 12 in the story mode. Same reason as last chapter. So, how will this battle turn out? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes in Kronika's Keep, where Liu Kang is chained into a chair, and Spyro suspended in the air by the Hourglass. Watching the two of them, Geras, newly armored after his last defeat)
Liu Kang: (Sarcastically) A new look? Just for us? You shouldn't have, Geras.
(Needless to say, Geras is not amused)
Spyro: Enough of this nonsense, what do you want from us?!
(At this point, Kronika enters with Revenant Liu Kang, Revenant Kitana, Revenant Jade, and Revenant Kung Lao.)
Kronika: It is simple really. You will be aiding in my plan.
Spyro: Like hell that's going to happen!
Kronika: You don't have a choice in the matter, Spyro. According to Cetrion, your energy is much more powerful than I could ever have anticipated when I brought you here. The effects I have seen are almost impossible normally. So your energy will be added to the Hourglass, and used to cement my New Era. But as to Liu Kang, I think it's best that he hears it from himself.
Revenant Liu Kang: I have mastered Shinnok's sorcery. I will add the strength of your soul to mine, and finally take revenge upon Raiden!
Kronika: My friends, we must make haste. Cynder and her armies are arriving. They will fight us, and they will be defeated.
(Just as Kronika makes this vow, we transition to the Sea of Blood, where true to Scorpion's word, Kharon's ferries sail, carrying Cynder and all their forces. Cynder herself stands upon the main ferry, piloted by Kharon, with Scorpion, Cyrax, and Sub-Zero. following alongside are four others, containing the Shaolin led by Kung Lao, the Special Forces including Cassie Cage, Sonya, Jax, Johnny Cage, and Jacqui Briggs, the warriors of the Matoka led by Nightwolf, and the forces of Outworld under the command of Kitana, Jade, Skarlet, Baraka, Sheeva, Revenant Sindel, Revenant Kabal, and even Kotal Kahn)
Kharon: Kronika's Isle lies just beyond the fog.
Cynder: Good. Keep the ships going. We can't lose steam now.
(And just as things appear to be going right, a shape emerges from the fog, one that nobody expected to see. A massive battleship, containing hundreds of Cyber Lin Kuei, led by Geras and Frost. At the sight of Kharon's ferries, Frost clenches a fist, ready for her revenge)
Kharon: Battleships?! My ferries are not built to fight a war!
Cynder: This fleet sails under my protection. You have my word for that, Kharon. (To everyone) Stay on your toes! If Kharon falls, the fleet goes with him! Keep the captain safe at all costs!
Frost: (Seeing Cynder is in command) She won't survive Round 3 with me. (To the Cyber Lin Kuei) RAMMING SPEED!
(With that command, the massive battleship picks up speed, giving Kharon barely enough time to avoid it as it scrapes the side of his ferry. The other ships barely manage to avoid it as well. But with the battleship parked in the middle of the fleet, the Cyber Lin Kuei attack, leaping onto all the ferries. The forces aboard the ships start fighting off the mechanical menace, and just as Cyrax, Scorpion and Sub-Zero are handling the fighters on the main ferry, Commander Briggs jumps aboard, throwing a blast of concentrated heat at Cynder, begrudgingly)
Commander Briggs: I don't want to fight this battle, but for Jacqui's sake and mine, I must.
Cynder: Trust me, I don't want to do this either, Commander.
(Thus the unwilling battle begins. Despite Commander Briggs' experience as a fighter, Cynder has seen it all before, and has the Commander pinned down in no time)
Cynder: Let us help you, Commander. Kronika won't be keeping her promise to you, or to anyone she's bamboozled into fighting alongside her. She doesn't care about Jacqui or anyone that doesn't play into her vision, most notably one she's definitely going to bring back. Her son, Shinnok, the one who ensured your Revenant enslavement.
Commander Briggs: (Completely stunned) But... that can't be! She's Cetrion's mother!
Cynder: (Helping Commander Briggs to his feet) That much is still accurate. Cetrion is Shinnok's sister, meant to be the light that balances his darkness.
Commander Briggs: (Realizing it) A balance that's only ensured if the Realms keep fighting. (Looking upon the Cyber Lin Kuei army he helped lead) What have I done...? I've been played for the biggest damn fool that's ever been!
Cynder: Trust me, Commander Briggs. Fighting for your family isn't foolish.
Commander Briggs: (With determination steeled into his face) Then it's time I make this right.
(With that, Commander Briggs leaps into the fray alongside Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Cyrax, fighting Cyber Lin Kuei left and right. And just as he leaves, Geras leaps onto the main ferry, prepared to battle Cynder. Cynder rushes right at Geras, only to get grabbed by the throat and thrown into a wall after being punched in the face. But, being the fighter she is, Cynder gets back up)
Geras: I have died 10,000 deaths to prepare for this battle. You can never defeat me!
Cynder: How many people were forced not to exist so you could be revived over and over again? What might they have done? For them, I shall slay you!
(With his confidence assured, Geras rushes into battle against Cynder. But despite having lived probably several billion times at this point, he has seen nothing like Cynder in any of them, and she immediately finds all the weaknesses in his strategy, knocking him to the ground in minutes)
Cynder: You really shouldn't say "never", Geras.
(Now clearly angry, Geras charges again, but Cynder hits him with her Fear element, knocking him into the side of the ferry so hard the anchor chain falls onto him. But before he can get up, Cynder spits Poison at the post holding the anchor. The acidic mixture eats through the wooden post quickly, and the anchor falls into the Sea of Blood, preparing to take Geras with it)
Geras: I cannot die to drowning!
Cynder: Too bad for you then.
(And just like that, Geras is swept off the side of the ferry, falling through the hemoglobin-infused depths. Upon seeing this, Scorpion looks to her after ripping a Cyber Lin Kuei's head off)
Scorpion: You do know the Sea of Blood is bottomless, right?
Cynder: It is? Well, I guess he'll fall forever then. (Thinking about it) Wait, why have an anchor for a bottomless body of fluid?
Scorpion: Don't ask me.
(And just when things appear to be calm, Frost leaps onto the ferry herself)
Cynder: It never ends with you people!
Frost: Now you'll see how powerful I really am! The warriors sinking your fleet are under my command!
Cynder: Can't you see how foolish this bargain you've made is, Frost?! Kronika will never honor it!
Frost: Like you or Raiden could be trusted more?! All my life people have looked down on me, all except Kronika. She saw my talent from the start!
Cynder: More like she saw an angle she could exploit!
(With that Cynder faces Frost for the third time. And Frost has learned absolutely nothing between the last two times, as Cynder has her on the floor faster this time than even fighting her the first time)
Cynder: Your ego is what killed your chances, Frost. Not some god.
(As the battle ends, Sub-Zero enters the scene, looking at his former student)
Sub-Zero: Such potential, wasted.
Cynder: I know, right? She could have done so much good, if not for consuming envy and ambition.
(At the sound of this, Frost is angrier than she's ever been. As shown by how she rapidly gets back up, slams a fist into the symbol on her chest and runs right at Cynder and Sub-Zero)
Frost: FINE THEN! IF I'M GOING DOWN, I'M TAKING YOU WITH ME!
(Seeing her opponent charging at her, Cynder lets Dark Aether flow through every cell in her body, before releasing the power as a burst of energy straight at Frost, completely atomizing her as she lets out one last cry of despair. As the blast stops, the Cyber Lin Kuei attacking all deactivate, much to the surprise of everyone)
Cynder: (Seeing this) Wait, what just happened?!
Cyrax: (Realizing it) Frost must've been the admin on the neural network! The Cyber Lin Kuei would follow her thoughts! Destroying her took them all offline!
Cynder: Good to hear, Cyrax! That's one threat down, now nothing should stop us from getting to Kronika's Isle!
(Just as the battle is wrapped up, we transition back to Kronika's Keep, where Revenant Liu Kang has just finished draining the soul of his past self, amongst the screams of pain from Liu Kang, who is left a slightly withered husk of an individual by the time his Revenant self is done. As this concludes, we see Spyro still chained from the roof, as Kronika and Cetrion ready the Hourglass.)
Spyro: You'll never get away with this!
Kronika: Oh, Spyro. We already have.
(With that, Kronika channels her power through Spyro, draining the Aether out of him slowly and putting it into the Hourglass. His cries of pain seem to elicit something resembling sympathy from Cetrion, but she tries to hide it from Kronika. While all of this is going on, Revenant Kitana and Revenant Kung Lao enter)
Revenant Kung Lao: Cynder's fleet is nearing the shoreline.
Revenant Liu Kang: Let them come. You two will lead the troops at the beach-head.
Revenant Kitana: And where will you be?
Revenant Liu Kang: (Igniting a green flame in his hand) Avenging us.
(Now we transition back to the fleet, where Kharon has just spotted Kronika's Isle)
Kharon: LAND HO!
(At this cry, Cynder rushes to the bow, finally seeing Kronika's Keep for herself. But just as she confirms the sighting, a small boat leaves the shores, and within a minute is nearing the ferry, from which Revenant Liu Kang leaps onto the vessel. At the sight of the enemy, Scorpion, Cyrax, Sub-Zero, and Commander Briggs all attempt to join the battle, but Cynder stops them.)
Cynder: I should have guessed it would come down to this. Timeline after timeline, Kronika has sent you to your death by pitting you and Raiden against each other. This cycle ends today.
Revenant Liu Kang: I couldn't agree more!
(With that, Revenant Liu Kang charges into Cynder, kicking her in the chest so hard she flies back towards the stern of the ship, leaving a dent in the mast as she comes to a stop)
Cynder: What power is this?! Some "gift" from Kronika?
Revenant Liu Kang: (As his flames turn green) More accurately, a gift from myself.
Cynder: (Realizing it) You stole Liu Kang's soul! Perverted your very nature!
Revenant Liu Kang: A lesson I learned from Raiden. Defeat your enemies by any means necessary!
Cynder: No matter what world you go to, this method is unacceptable!
(With righteous fury in her eyes, Cynder rushes in to fight Revenant Liu Kang. The two are evenly matched in her rage, but then things go wrong for her. Revenant Liu Kang starts getting an advantage up on Cynder. She's still putting up a hell of a fight, but all this combat is exhausting her, and ultimately, Revenant Liu Kang is just about to win, having thrown Cynder into her allies on the ferry. But just as everything is about to end badly, a flash of light can be seen in the distance followed by what sounds like "AYIBABAYAY!" as Revenant Liu Kang is knocked into the bow of the ship. And as the light settles, a newly determined Raiden can be seen standing there)
Cynder: (In complete shock) Raiden?!
Raiden: (Seeing Cynder) I have done no right by you or your companion since you came to this Realm. And for that you have my sincerest apologies. (Looking back to Revenant Liu Kang) But this is a battle I must finish myself.
Cynder: Not this time Raiden. You fighting Liu Kang is exactly what Kronika wants.
Raiden: Even so, I have a plan. But it will only work if we stand together.
Cynder: (Seeing what Raiden means, then nervously and semi-begrudgingly) I trust you, Raiden.
Raiden: Then let us hope this works. (To Revenant Liu Kang) This darkness within you is conquerable, Liu Kang. I am a testament to that. You must do the same.
Revenant Liu Kang: You will have to kill me!
Raiden: No. Not this time. This time, I will save you.
(With that Raiden charges up his power and grabs Revenant Liu Kang by the shoulders before turning to Cynder)
Raiden: NOW!
(Seeing the plan is in action, Cynder lets loose another stream of Dark Aether, right into Raiden's back, transferring it into his lightning, sending the power straight into Revenant Liu Kang as well, eliciting cries of agony from both him and Raiden. But ultimately the scene is bathed in a violet light emanating from them as we transition back into Kronika's Keep, where Spyro is looking more withered than Liu Kang, just as arcs of lightning appear over both Spyro and Liu Kang)
Liu Kang: (Realizing what's happening) Raiden...
Spyro: Raiden?!
(This appears to have caught Kronika by surprise, as in a series of lightning strikes, both Liu Kang and Spyro are transported out of the Keep, at which point we return to Kharon's ferry, where an orb of violet lightning has formed around Raiden and Revenant Liu Kang. And after a few seconds, the orb explodes, knocking Raiden to the ground, but revealing Revenant Liu Kang is gone, and in his place stand Spyro and the normal Liu Kang, both stunned to be on Kharon's vessel)
Cynder: (Seeing her beloved again) Spyro!
(At the mere sight of Cynder, Spyro's shock fades, and he embraces his beloved Cynder, glad to be reunited. By this point, Kung Lao and Kitana have arrived from their respective ferries, stunned to see their comrades alive)
Kitana: Liu Kang?
(Hearing Kitana snaps Liu Kang to the present day, at which point the two embrace as well, but as soon as this moment is over, the scene turns to Raiden, still on the floor, and withering away by the second)
Liu Kang: (Seeing Raiden) Lord Raiden! What happened to you?
Raiden: A last ditch effort to turn the battle in our favor. I used every ounce of my power and life force to rescue you and Spyro from Kronika's clutches.
Spyro: But... how? I mean I understand how you got Liu Kang here, but...
Cynder: That was me.
Spyro: I thought that energy felt familiar.
Kitana: All of this is... incredible.
Kung Lao: Wait, what about your Revenant, Liu Kang?
Liu Kang: Raiden transferred his knowledge to me, when he restored my soul.
Raiden: (To Spyro and Cynder) I can only hope you can forgive me... for all I have done... in all timelines.
Spyro: Raiden. You've given us a fighting chance. I'd say you're more than redeemed.
Raiden: Then... I can die in peace...
(And just like that, the spark in Raiden's eyes dies out, and his body fades away into mist, leaving only his hat behind, which Liu Kang picks up, and in a tribute to his mentor, places it on his back, so Raiden may join them in the final battle in a sense)
Spyro: (After a brief moment of silence to honor Raiden, then taking command) Alright everyone, Raiden's sacrifice will not have been in vain.
Cynder: In giving his existence, he's given us a chance to win this battle.
Spyro: Time to take Kronika down. For good this time. For Raiden.
All: For Raiden!
(As the heroes of many Realms make this vow, we transition back to the Keep, where Kronika stands, only mildly surprised and what just happened)
Kronika: Out of desperation comes invention. Even now Raiden manages to surprise me.
Cetrion: Is the cause lost, mother?
Kronika: No, Cetrion. Not even remotely. But we must make haste either way.
(With that, Kronika and Cetrion resume their places at the Hourglass, now slightly violet from Spyro's energy. And even now Kronika looks no less nervous than before, which strangely appears to worry Cetrion, as our tale ends for today)
And that seems like a good spot to wrap up for now. Now to address some presumably common concerns about this story:
1: Raiden may be some kind of Elder God, but Spyro holds a power foreign to this universe, as previously stated. So it doesn't seem surprising that Raiden would use all of his power and life force to transport them out of there and merge Liu Kang with his Revenant self.
2. Yes, this can happen. Spoilers for the actual game, but Cetrion does something very similar in the story mode to empower Kronika. As to how this exchange plays out in this story, more on that in the next chapter. It's not likely to be what you think.
3. Also no word on the presence of Fire God Liu Kang. I have plans for that idea. More on it later on.
4. As to why Kronika is no less confident in their victory, the reasoning will be revealed next time
Anyways, common complaints aside, next time, the final battle with Kronika. It's going to be great, so be sure to tune in for that! Same time... same channel!