A day later within the Living Forest, everyone arose from a well-deserved rest. They had been trekking through all night so they set up camp and slept. When they awoke someone was missing. "Where'sss Goro," Reptile asked as he scouted the campsite for him.

Sheeva was quick to assume that he betrayed them, "He must've left us here! We're stuck in the middle of the Living Forest with no trail out!" She yelled out Goro's name to which he responded by walking back into the campsite, "What?"

"Where did you go," the angry Shokan queen asked. Goro shrugged with all four of his arms, "I was out fetching a meal so we don't starve to death, your highness." She growled at him, "I don't like your tone." Goro growled right back while flexing, "I don't like traitors to their kind." Erron stood between both of them, "Both a' y'all can settle yer royal disputes when we leave this wretched place. We need to keep goin' so we can find this immortal army."

As those three fought, Reptile stayed out of it. Instead he searched the area, still feeling like he was being watched by something. That's when his nostrils picked up a peculiar odor. He sniffed around until he recognized the scent. "Tarkata…" he muttered to himself. He tried to sense out where the smell was coming from until he paused, realizing the smell was coming from everywhere.

He looked to his fighting comrades while yelling, "We're being ambussshed!" Everyone looked surprised except for Goro. The exiled prince stepped back as the Tarkatan stood by his side. Sheeva smirked, "Please tell me I'm not the only one who's not surprised by this. What's the matter, can't be prince of the Shokan so you have to resort to being a prince of these ravenous dogs?" Goro sneered at the queen, "You are nothing but a false queen!" One of the demonic half-breeds placed a raggedy cape upon his leader's shoulders. Goro crossed his arms, "Thank you." The Tarkatan hissed and roared at their opponents but the prince stopped them from attacking just yet, "Hold on! I want to make a deal with you rats."

Erron shot cocked his reliable revolver not even looking at them, "That so? What makes y'think that we can trust you now that you've betrayed us?" "Fair enough," Goro agreed, "I'll let you all die a warrior's death at least." The half-breeds charged at the Kotal's three remaining champions with the ferocity of a pack of wolves. Erron rolled out sandbombs everywhere, taking out a good chunk but not enough. He fired his gun at the rest of the incoming horde but surprisingly they deflected his shots with their arm blades. He gasped as he was overwhelmed by their sheer numbers. His gunshots rang out throughout the forest yet even his most used weapons could not save him.

Sheeva was next, trying a more defensive tactic by staying in one place. The horde came for her next. She stood her ground defiantly while grabbing as many of the Tarkata as possible with her multiple arms. She tossed some into the trees to be eaten which again, took out quite a number of them but yet they kept coming. Her fighting spirit kept her going until a blade went right into her backside. She had made sure none behind her were able to fight yet she was mistake. She turned around seeing that one of the Tarkata currently being chewed up by a tree was insane enough to tear out the blade in his arm to throw it at the queen just to get one last hit in. This left her open as at least a dozen of the foul beasts tackled her, sending the dazed Shokan down.

Goro laughed heartily, "Looks like we've got them down for good! Excellent job, gentlemen." One of his warriors pointed out one little flaw in their victory, "What of the lizard?" The Prince of the Tarkata gave a condescending look, "You mean Reptile? Oh please, with his performance in previous tournaments he should pose no threat to us." The warrior was about to argue against that but soon agreed for fear of being executed, "Yes, of course. What could he do to us?" Goro started marching away with his cape dragging behind, "Come on, men. I am a Shokan of my word after all so I'm taking them to the tomb of the Dragon King."

They all followed, dragging Erron and Sheeva with them. Reptile glanced at the leaving army from high within the trees, "Ssso he thinksss I ssshall possse no threat, hm? We ssshall sssee, Goro. We ssshall sssee…"

Back in Edenia, a grand feast was being held in the newly restored dining hall of the grand palace. Everyone was there from Jade to Tanya even the newly crowned king of Edenia, Shao Kahn, was there to celebrate the defeat of all opposing forces in Edenia. Before the meal could begin, Shao Kahn wanted to say a few words.

"We are gathered here today," the champion began, "to celebrate the death of the Kyntinn known as D'Vorah! With her gone, Edenia can finally begin to rebuild in my image! The civil war here has officially ended, so says Shao Kahn! Now…let us feast upon this meal! This will be the first meal ever had under a new regime, my regime!"

Everyone cheered for him, which was unusual. It had been a millennia since a realm was willing to rule under Shao Kahn. Nearly everyone there remembered the atrocities Kahn had committed in the past but now they were more accepting of his rule. Perhaps it was because they thought he had changed being the Elder Gods' champion, perhaps many were biased being from his previous rule, or maybe just maybe it was because a rule under Shao Kahn was better than the anarchy this realm had previously gone through.

King Kahn half smiled at the cheering before telling them all to calm down, "Now that that is out of the way, we can discuss what is next for this pitiful realm." Rain was the first to throw out a suggestion, "I vote we instill a second-in-command now that we have decided you are our leader." Shao Kahn went along with this, "Very well! Who here wishes to lead as my second?" Nearly everyone sitting at the long rectangular table vied for the position but Kahn picked one of few who decidedly didn't.

"Ermac," he proclaimed loudly while pointing towards the construct, "you will lead these armies as my second hand man!" Ermac looked around the room in shock, "Errr…us? Master we are flattered but we feel we are not worthy of the job." Rain agreed with that sentiment whole-heartedly, "He isn't! Someone else should go!" Tanya suggested herself, "I personally think that I would be the best candidate!"

Shao Kahn shut them both down immediately, "You both have shown disloyalty to both Kotal Kahn and myself in the past, I still do not fully trust you." Both of them slumped back in their seats disappointedly. Soon all the soldiers at the table began chanting Ermac's name in the hopes of motivating him. Ermac looked at everyone at the table cheering his name, including Jade. He then turned to his master who was still glancing at him.

"We graciously accept your offer," Ermac responded with a grin forming on his face. Nearly everyone at the table cheered while clanging their mugs of grog together. The king was pleased by this outcome, "Excellent! You have shown the most ferocity and skill on the battlefield. Not only do you have skill, you have also proven yourself as loyal to me and only me over time." The only one seemingly upset over this was Rain, who glared at Ermac. The construct turned to him with a confused look on his face, while he was happy to have the job he was still unsure just why he got the job in the first place.

"Now," Kahn continued, "with that out of the way, we must begin reconstruction of this place's many landmarks. The foundry and this palace are next to completion, but what of the village?" A general spoke out, "With the foundry in fully functioning order and with weapons having been made we can focus it along with the construction team to rebuilding the village. It shall be finished in no time. Not only that, but we also made you this."

A set of soldiers walked in with a new helmet placed upon a gold thread lined purple velvet pillow. This helmet was just like the one he wore as Outworld's emperor. He picked the helmet up abandoning the demon skull he had placed on his head. He placed the new helmet upon his head and it was perfect fit. Not only that, they also delivered him a new wrath hammer so he no longer had to use the old rusted hammer he found in the ruins. He took the hammer with a small sense of glee. He and the group exchanged a nod, "Both of these should come in handy."

For once in his cold heart, Shao Kahn felt the slightest bit thankful for this set of gifts along with this new realm. Did time in purgatory make him realize just how valuable life could be? Was it just because his soldiers felt a genuine sense of loyalty out of respect rather than fear as they usually did? Nobody quite knows for sure, not even the Konquerer himself does. He growled to himself in frustration, "I feel as if I am growing soft. This must be a trick by the Elder Gods. They're taking away what makes me powerful. I won't allow it." He stood up from his seat, "I must take my leave for now. I will try to be back but I cannot promise anything." He walked out of the dining hall just as he said that, leaving everyone confused.

This did not stop them from continuing on with the meal, with everyone still as cheery as ever. Jade turned to Ermac, "Congratulations on the promotion!" Ermac gulped, "Errr yes, the promotion. Thank you." "What are you so nervous about," she questioned him, genuinely curious about his doubt.

"We are unsure if we're truly worthy of this job. It is a great responsibility and we don't want to let down our master."

"You'll do fine," she reassured him, "how can you fail?"

"In a multitude of ways," Rain butted in. "Oh hush," she replied while placing a finger over his lips, "adults are talking." Rain groaned, "This is no way to treat a half-god. I deserved that position and you both know it."

"Calm down," Ermac tried to rectify but the spoiled prince denied him, "Enough of this! I will fight you for that position!" Tanya placed a hand on his shoulder, "You're an idiot if—" yet Rain still didn't listen, shoving her aside. Rain continued to provoke Ermac, "Come on! If you're so worthy of the position, you'll fight me for it!"

Jade tried reminding him, "But he doesn't think he is!" The half-god didn't listen, choosing to instead shove the startled construct. Soon everyone else in the room was cheering on, "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" The already nervous Ermac burst out of control as a green aura surrounded him along with the room. Soon everyone was forced into the wall, staying there via telekinesis. His eyes were alight in an emerald glow as they stared down Rain who was struggling against the invisible force. Ermac floated over to him with his confusion turning to rage.

"Who is worthy now," he asked in a voice deeper than his already booming voice. Rain's eyes widened as he said that, "You…you are worthy." Ermac dropped to the ground along with everyone else as they cheered his name again. He looked around at them, he knew he was strong but his master wasn't kidding when he said he strengthened up his body. Rain decided to leave with his tail between his legs while everybody's attention was turned to Ermac.

Jade looked at him with an inquisitive look on her, "How…how did you do that?" He was just as interested as she was, "We don't know! It just happened."

Meanwhile in the dungeon, Shao Kahn was fulfilling his bloodlust by interrogating the two invading Oni. He smashed his new hammer against Drahmin's face, "Who sent you?"

Drahmin looked up with what little strength he had, "I am a master torturer where I come from. You're going to have to do more than that to get me to even think about talking…"

Kahn deviously grinned, "Oh that I can do." He unlocked the chains across his ankles but not the ones across his wrists. He started pulling with all of his raw might, tearing the visible tendons on Drahmin's knees. He yelped but remained silent. After that, the Emperor shattered both of his knees with his hammer, blood splattering against the wall. Again he asked, "Talk."

Drahmin weakly shook his head, Shao Kahn responded in kind by shoving his spiked knuckle dusters into the Oni's rib cage. The Oni would've coughed up blood were it not for the mask he was wearing. The Konquerer grabbed the mask, "Last chance." Drahmin nearly screamed, "Don't!" Kahn's grip around the mask tightened, "Start talking!" He still refused, "You can't make me do anything!" That's when he started pulling the mask from Drahmin's face. The mask slowly tore away from his face, the rotting flesh that had formed around it tearing away with it. Drahmin's hushed screams went to screams of real agony. Despite the screaming, Shao Kahn didn't stop tearing. If anything the screaming made him rip it away slower, just to prolong the Oni's suffering. Finally with an ear piercing 'SHRIIIIPPP' noise, the mask was fully torn away. Drahmin's face beneath it was merely a dried husk without eyes, lips, or even teeth. With the mask gone, Drahmin's body soon followed as it withered away within seconds. Shao Kahn was both pleased and displeased by this simultaneously. He loved the carnage it had caused but the lack of worthwhile information was not welcome.

Moloch looked upon the death of his caretaker and partner with that of a dog who had just witnessed its owner dying. The beast huddled against the wall in fear, not being able to truly express how he felt. Shao Kahn marched over to Moloch with hammer in hand. He was ready to finish the monster but as he looked up to the Konquerer with pleading eyes he decided otherwise, laying his hammer down. He did this not out of mercy, far from it. Sure no information could come from this primitive creature. But Moloch could come in handy in other ways Shao Kahn thought.

He relinquished the chains around Moloch's wrists and ankles, yet the one upon his neck remained. Shao Kahn tore the chain from the wall, using it like a leash. That's when he heard a loud thud coming from the dining hall. He yanked on the chain causing Moloch to follow behind him as he stepped up the stairs and into the hall. "What is the meaning of all this noise," he demanded to know. Rain was the first to speak up, "Ermac was abusing his newfound power against me!" Jade spoke over him, "That's not what happened! Rain was trying to usurp Ermac's position by fighting him!" Soon the entire room devolved into an argument until Shao Kahn stomped his foot, "I demand silence!"

He glared directly into Rain's eyes, "Now how about we tell the truth?" Rain did not buckle under the pressure, "My words are as true as my loyalty to you." King Kahn was unimpressed by his feigning loyalty. He motioned for Moloch to come forward, which the Oni did without hesitation. It snarled at Rain to which he responded by telling the truth, "Jade was being honest! I was trying to usurp his position." The newly crowned king stroked his chin, "Do you feel you deserve that position?" The half-god nodded, "Of course! I am the proper prince of Edenia!" Shao Kahn lifted him into the air, "Not in my Edenia you're not."

He tossed him over to one of the guards, "Take him to the dungeon. He'll learn his lesson there." Rain looked at the guard with fear, "Wait! I don't deserve the dungeon!" As he begged he turned to Tanya, "tell them I'm innocent!" She smugly waved at him as he was taken away. Ermac looked to Shao Kahn, "Was that not a bit harsh?" Shao Kahn didn't care if it was, "I cannot have someone starting any kind of internal conflict. We are not ready for it."

Right he was since the reborn Edenia was still in its infancy stage. It would take a lot of hard work for it to be restored to its former glory but if they worked hard enough it wouldn't be a long process at all.

Back within the Netherrealm, Noob Saibot awaited the awakening of Hanzo Hasashi. His wait would soon be over as his eyes opened slowly. He looked around the throne room with great surprise, "Where am I…?" Noob's hand went around his chin pulling Hanzo's vision up to him, "You're in my realm now, Scorpion."

Hanzo got up, ready to fight until he was apprehended by the guards in the room. He struggled in their grip but alas he was too weak as of right now to break free. Noob was amused by his efforts, "You've really made a great mistake by coming here."

"I needed to save Sub-Zero."

"Oh? And where was that attitude when you let revenge cloud your mind in killing Quan-Chi," Noob asked, "or when you killed me when Raiden said not to?"

Scorpion's anger only grew as Noob continued talking, "If Quan-Chi were left alive any longer his threat would've only grown stronger! I did what I had to do!"

"Oh don't try to justify your lust for revenge, Scorpion."

In his rage, Hanzo broke free and he decked Noob right in his left cheek, "I don't need to justify it!" The guards stood around Scorpion but Noob called them off, "Leave him be. This is between him and I." The Brotherhood cultists left, leaving only Scorpion and Noob in the room.

"It's funny how stuck in your delusions you are," Noob mocked, "pathetic too. Not everything is about you." Scorpion threw another punch which the shadowy wraith caught, "Is your only rebuttal fighting me? You truly have no argument to stand on." He twisted Scorpion's wrist causing the angry specter to fall on his knees. Noob knee'd him right in his chin, "I guess my men did do a number on you. I thought you might have a chance of killing me again but I suppose not, hm?" He picked Hanzo up by the back of his ponytail, "Now I get to repay the favor!" He dragged Hanzo's bloodied face across the floor. At this point Hanzo lost control as his spear shot out of his wrist, going right through Noob's chest. "Get over here," he yelled as the spear yanked Noob into the ground. Scorpion backflipped up, standing over Noob's back.

He stomped on the back of Noob's head repeatedly. After that he dragged him to a nearby wall and smashed his face against it as inky blood splashed everywhere. He pulled two swords out of the scabbards on his back, "I'm going to finish what I started all those years ago!"

"You mean killing me without justification," Noob asked with blood leaking from his nose and mouth, "go ahead!" The blades scraped up against the evil wraith's neck. Scorpion then paused. Deep down he knew Noob was right, killing him all those years ago was unjustified. If he didn't murder Bi-Han than Noob Saibot simply would not exist. Using this as an opening, Noob dropped through a portal. He came back down through another one, drop kicking Scorpion.

Scorpion went down again, this time refusing to get up. He looked up to Noob, "Finish it." Noob laughed at this, "Oh no, no, no I don't want to kill you. I'm going to prove myself as the better man today, Shirai Ryu dog. I won't kill you out of revenge." Hanzo was taken aback by this, "But…but you must!" The former Lin-Kuei continued to decline, "I refuse. You'll live out the rest of your existence in the mines. There you can reconsider all of your actions." Hanzo solemnly nodded, "Very well."

Noob snapped his fingers. Enenra arose from the floor, grabbing the defeated specter. Noob pointed downwards, "Take him to the mines." Enenra nodded, falling back through the floor with Hanzo in tow. Elsewhere in the Netherrealm Kitana, Sareena, and Kuai Liang were hiding from the Brotherhood of Shadows' ever watchful eye.

The three of them evaded capture so far yet Kitana was not fond of her new and now only allies. "Where are we even going," Kitana groaned as they marched through the desolate land of the outer Netherrealm.

Sub-Zero answered politely, "We're going to try and find a way out." Sareena confirmed that, "And that way out should be somewhere around here. I will stay here as you two leave." Sub-Zero's hand went on her shoulder, "I insist you come with us, Sareena." She shook her head, "I'm sorry. I'll be fine."

"I promise you I won't be gone for long. I just need to have the Lin Kuei help us out."

Kitana intervened in their conversation, "Just what makes you think I want to leave this realm?" Kuai's gaze went to her, "You have nothing left here. If you stay, the Brotherhood will find you. They will do the same to you as they did Liu Kang."

She looked away for a moment, knowing that he was right. Without a word she solemnly nodded. Everything was silent until the fallen princess asked one thing, "Why did you save me, anyway?"

"Just as I said, there is still good in you," Kuai answered, "even if you are a revenant you're still good. You wanted to spare me after all." Sareena smiled warmly at both of them, "I think we're finally settling our differences." The Edenian looked away from both of them before giving a slight smirk back, "Maybe so, but don't count your eggs before they hatch." Finally, Sareena led them both back to the very gate that they were at before. She motioned towards it, "Well…there you go!"

Kitana was quick to want to head out but Liang was not. His hand softly went around Sareena's wrist, "Last chance. I insist you come." She looked away, "I've told you time and time again I can't. Yet again I must decline, Sub-Zero." He frowned slightly, "I understand. I will not be gone long. I promise." He left afterwards, leaving only Kitana and Sareena. Kitana offered out her hand, "You helped save me. Let me save you." The demoness denied her offer, "I'm sorry." Kitana walked through the gate afterwards.

The two of them arrived in the Nexus, a connector of the significant realms. Yet something was amiss. When they left the Netherrealm Kitana's physical body vanished and all that was left was her spirit. She looked upon her transparent emerald ethereal form in shock, "Wh-what…?" Kuai poked her, his finger going right through, "Your physical body must be in use by someone else without your consciousness in it."

She was quick to accuse someone of these actions, "Raiden." Sub-Zero turned to her, "You think so? I had heard he was corrupted but to think he would use a corpse as a mindless puppet…even Quan-Chi kept your consciousnesses, even if corrupted."

"I know it's him. He threatened Liu and I quite some time ago."

"Then we'll have to visit him while we're in Earthrealm."

Both Kitana's soul and Sub-Zero continued into the Earthrealm portal, where they would come into trouble just as soon as they stepped in…