It did not take long for the soldiers to return to their emperor. The doors to his throne room barged open, as the victorious warrior held the Edenian Kamidogu high in the air, "We got it, Lord Onaga! The last Kamidogu is yours!"

Onaga hurried off from his throne and to the guard. He yanked it right from the soldier's hand with glee, "A most excellent job! You'll get a high rank in in my new order rest assured." Triborg rushed over to his leader's side, "You've got the last Kamidogu?"

"Yes I do," Onaga answered with pride filling up within him, "with all six of them in hand, I can finally take what rightfully belongs to me!" He opened a chest next to his seat with all of the Kamidogu along with the amulet. He held them all at once as a golden surge shot out from the six daggers and into the amulet. He grabbed the amulet and placed it on his belt. He put the six Kamidogu on his belt as well, to make sure they wouldn't fall into someone else's hands.

The golden energy surged throughout him, "With this power in my hands everyone will tremble beneath the might of Onaga, the Dragon King!" The soldiers along with Triborg bowed beneath their master. A sharp grin ran across Onaga's scaly face, "I am Onaga! Lord of all the realms!" He raised his hands in the air, causing a massive quake that not only affected Outworld but all other realms. One of the soldiers asked, "So what are you going to do now?"

Onaga laughed, "Send our forces to Earthrealm and Edenia. They're out greatest threats. Be sure to bring Shao Kahn to me alive, though. I want to see him personally…"

Back at the Special Forces' hideout in Nevada desert, a massive quake could be felt. Fujin gasped, "No…!"

"What're you so worried about," Jax asked, "just an earthquake."

Fujin turned back to Jax with dread filled eyes, "No. That was no ordinary earthquake. It's a sign of the end times!" Alarms started going off and the Special Forces' squaddies were running out of the base.

Sonya stopped one of them, "What's going on out there, soldier?"

"It's the same thing as what happened twenty-some years ago, Ms. Blade! Demons, monsters, and others are flocking out of portals! We can't stop them!"

The first thing Sonya and Johnny thought of was Cassie. What would happen to her if she got went out there to fend them off?! They were quite proud of their daughter yet they knew that even this might be too much for her. With the same concern both Takeda and Jax wondered what of Jacqui? Not to mention Kung Jin too!

They were all about to rush out until Jax stopped Takeda, "Hold on, kid! You can't just go out there, you gotta stay here!"

"But I need to be with my clan," the Shirai Ryu student pleaded, "and I need to know where Jacqui is!"

"Look, if you get hurt out there she'll be devastated," Jax said, "I ain't going to let that happen."

Takeda continued to beg, "And if she gets hurt out there, we'll both be devastated! Mr. Briggs please, I need to go find her."

Jax considered his offer and agreed, "Dammit, can't believe I'm lettin' you do this but go find her! If you can try to get Cassie and Kung Jin too, do it!"

The blast doors opened wide allowing the Earthrealm forces and the Special Forces go out and fight the marauding Outworld warriors. Fujin paused, "I must go find Shao Kahn and Kotal Kahn! They can help us!"

Johnny asked, "Need any of us to go along?"

"No," Fujin denied, "you need to stay here and defend your realm from the incoming Outworld armada! I can go speak with them alone." After that, Fujin departed to Edenia to find both former Outworld emperors.

Defending the home front wasn't easy however. As the Special Forces went down like flies, the Outworld offense was only growing more numerous.

"Just like old times, huh," Johnny asked his ex-wife, "almost makes you think."

Sonya groaned, "If you're trying to hit on me it won't work." Johnny was about to reply however he was grabbed by a savage Tarkatan warrior. Sonya quickly came to his defense and kicked the warrior's teeth in. Johnny thanked her in his own way, "Good job, babe."

"Don't call me that."

Jax on the other hand was doing quite good alone. In a way he was like a one man army, taking down Tarkata and Outworlder's alike. He only ran into trouble when a group of Tekunin showed up and surrounded him. He was ready to kick them in like tin cans until his arms started malfunctioning. One of them even acted out and hit him square in the jaw. "They're hacking my arms," he noted, trying to fight it. Yet it was an ineffectual effort. The Tekunin cyborgs cackled arrogantly until they found their legs frozen to the ground. After that, their legs were shattered into pieces by a familiar fan. Sub-Zero and Kitana made their way back to Earthrealm after all.

"You two sure know how to make an entrance," Jax said with a low whistle beforehand.

Sub-Zero nodded, "One of my best, I feel. I take it you all already know Onaga has everything he needs to take over our realm."

Jax faked a gasp, "No foolin'? I couldn't tell with all these Outworld soldiers flocking in!"

Johnny looked over to Kuai, "Hey nice new armor! I'm really diggin' it!" His attention turned to Kitana, "And I gotta say, that outfit looks stylin' on you."

Kitana pinched the bridge of her nose, "Do you ever shut up, Cage?"

"Not usually, no."

Frost ran up to Sub-Zero and greeted him with a hug of all things, "Master! Where were you?"

"I was finding out what I could about our people, Frost," he answered with a warm smile, "I'm happy to see you too."

She shoved him away afterwards, "Tch, who asked you? Come on let's show these guys what the Lin Kuei clan means!" She charged into battle but her master did not follow, "Not yet. Where's Takeda?"

"He's trying to find the other kids in all this chaos," Johnny replied, "why?"

Kuai motioned to the passed out body of the corrupted Scorpion, "I need to tell him that his grand master has been corrupted by Noob." He picked up the body again and took off to find the student.

Takeda was searching for the others near the city. Just near the entrance he saw Cassie, Jacqui, and Kung Jin trying their best against a centaur combatant. They all took turns in trying to fend the horrid beast off yet it refused.

Cassie went in with a kick yet the centaur grabbed her by the ankle with his tail. Kung Jin shot arrows at him, yet the centaur barely responded. Jacqui came in last with a punch to the monster's jaw, which took him aback yet still did little. That's what Cassie got the idea to slice the tail off with a knife, freeing her and causing the centaur much pain.

"Found its weak spot," she gloated while mockingly holding the tail in her hand. The centaur growled and charged at her. She leapt up above and kicked him in the rear. Takeda soon joined in with them by grabbing the centaur by the horns from behind. The centaur pulled back, allowing Kung Jin to get in arrow right in the creature's eye. After that, Jacqui came in with an elbow to the stomach. The centaur collapsed afterwards.

Jacqui waved at Takeda, "I was wondering where the hell you were!"

"I'm sorry," he apologized, "yet Hanzo hasn't been with us for weeks. I had to wait until we found him."

Kung Jin stood between them, "You two can save your lovers' quarrel for later. This is no time, I mean unless you want to become like Cassie's parents that is." Both of them snickered at that.

Cassie was about to object to that statement until, "Hey—oh who am I kidding you're right. They fight all the time."

Jacqui calmed down, "Alright but can you at least explain what's going on here? We were hanging out in the city together when this portal came open."

"I'll take you back to the others, they'll explain everything," Takeda said.

He motioned for them to follow him until he himself was stopped by Sub-Zero, "Hold on, I have something to tell you, Takeda. Hanzo is…"

Takeda interrupted, "Dead?"

Sub-Zero shook his head, "Luckily no, but he's been out for a while. Worse still is that Noob Saibot corrupted him. While he used the Edenian Kamidogu on him, we're unsure if even that is strong enough to undo what he has done."

"I know my master has a lot of demons," Takeda replied, "but he can power through whatever Noob did to him."

"You know who Noob is…?"

Takeda confirmed his knowledge, "Hanzo told me, yes. I'm sorry about what happened to your brother, Sub-Zero."

Kuai turned away in denial, "Don't be. He's not my brother. Come on, I'll take you all back to the others."

The five of them ran off to the other Earthrealm heroes. Johnny and Sonya hugged Cassie. Cassie hugged them back, "I'm so happy to see you guys."

Jacqui ran up to Jax and tackle hugged him, "Dad!" Jax hugged her back with the biggest grin on his face, "You alright, pumpkin?" She held him close, "I am."

Kung Jin interrupted the reunion, "Can someone please explain why Outworld forces are invading? I thought we made amends with Kotal."

Cassie agreed, "Yeah, what's going on?"

The adults collectively scratched their heads. Johnny was the first to try and explain things, "Well…guess we left you kids outta loop, huh? Y'see uhhhhh…"

"Kotal isn't the ruler of Outworld anymore," Sonya continued, "someone called Onaga is and he's a lot crueler than Kotal ever was."

"Not to mention we're now working with both Kotal and Shao Kahn to stop him," Jax added.

While the three kids had never met Shao Kahn, his name was enough to fill them with dread. Yet for Kung Jin this was a mix of both dread and anger. He spoke out against this alliance, "Shao Kahn was the one who killed my uncle! We can't work with him!"

Kitana agreed, "I keep trying to tell them that, but they never believe me."

Sub-Zero placed his hand on Kung Jin's shoulder in a comforting manner, "It's hard to work with those who have killed family, I know."

"It's just that…I never knew him that well," Jin said with a hint of sadness.

"It can hurt worse if you did know them well," Kuai replied while he was thinking of Bi-Han, "you already know what Hanzo did to my brother, don't you?"

Kung Jin sorrowfully responded, "I know. And you saved his life. Yet at least Hanzo had a good reason for doing what he did, even if it was a misunderstanding. Shao Kahn had no real reason to take my uncle's life."

"Yet we have a good reason for working with him," Kuai retorted, "but we can still save your uncle yet. Look what we did for Kitana."

Kung Jin nodded, "If it means getting my uncle back, I'll do anything."

Sub-Zero encouragingly patted him on the back, "I'm proud of you. Now, let's show the Outworlders that if they want a fight, they'll get a fight!" With a cheer, all of the Earthrealmers went back into battle feeling stronger than ever.

As the struggled on in Earthrealm, it too continued in Edenia. Fujin arrived to the warring realm holding up surprisingly well. Shao Kahn had plenty of negative qualities no doubt, but his skills as a field commander were nearly unmatched by anyone. Throw in the combined might of both Shao Kahn and Kotal Kahn's elite and you had a formidable enemy that not even Outworld's best could wholly outmatch.

Shao Kahn led his men into battle with fierce savagery. Behind him were not only his best troopers, but Ermac, Rain, Tanya, and Jade were too. Standing in the sidelines of the battlefield was Kotal Kahn, who was barking orders at others in the Edenian army. While it could be argued Shao was better at conducting a war, Kotal was no slouch in that department either. In spite of all their differences, they really were a team that could tear nearly any other army apart.

With each strike of his hammer, Shao Kahn's bloodlust only grew. You could tell just by looking at him he was enjoying every moment of this battle. While Kahn and his men were on the frontlines, Kotal's lieutenants stood guard at the palace just in case any Outworlder was fortunate enough to actually make it past Shao and his lieutenants. This battle was the exact opposite of Earthrealm's. While they fought without much planning, Kotal and Shao's battle was one of strategy and was very planned out.

Fujin was most impressed by their teamwork. He called for both of them to meet with him. Shao pulled himself away from the war and Kotal approached quite calmly. Edenia's king greeted Fujin, "There you are, wind god. I've been waiting for you."

Fujin quickly got down to business, "It's time, Shao. It's now or never. The Dragon King must die before the day is through."

"He will," Kotal said with confidence, "Shao Kahn and I will come with you. The three of us might be strong enough to put an end to him."

"I alone am strong enough to stop him," Kahn boasted arrogantly, "but I'm letting you both tag along since you want to feel like you're helping too."

Kotal scowled at the narcissistic king, "You're almost making me reconsider this."

"Save the fighting for Onaga, gentlemen," Fujin said. He offered out his hands to them both, "Grab on, I'll take us all to Outworld." Both held on before Fujin swept them up in a twister and whisked them off into the rift where the Outworld soldiers were pouring in from.

When they arrived, Onaga's fortress was seemingly empty. Fujin pointed this out, "Hmmm, no guards? This seems…suspicious."

Kotal agreed, "He's obviously luring us into a trap."

"Knowing Onaga he's leading us to him," Shao Kahn warned, "that was always a strategy he liked using. It lured many opponents into false senses of security until they came to him face-to-face. By then it was too late."

They made their way inside the fortress and it was still entirely empty. They kept their guards up all the way to the doorway that led into Onaga's throne room. When they approached, they were met with a familiar face standing in front of the entrance. That face was Noob Saibot.

"Out of the way wraith," Fujin demanded, "your master falls tonight!"

Noob denied his alliance with Onaga, "He's not my leader anymore. He betrayed me before I could turn my back on him. I came here to align with you actually. The enemy of my enemy if my friend as they say."

The three of them were hesitant. The Brotherhood of Shadow had proven to be nothing but backstabbing weasels. Shao Kahn raised his hammer, "We could just kill him right here, right now. It'd probably benefit us in the end."

Fujin stopped him, "What a barbaric way of thinking. If Onaga wins, that's the end for Noob too. If he's desperate enough to ask, then we're desperate enough to let him in."

Kotal shrugged, "I don't care for a debate like this, yet more numbers could prove to be useful. I say we let him in."

Noob opened the doors, "You won't regret this I know it."

When the doors opened they were greeted with Onaga sitting in his throne with a calm expression, "Ahhh I see you've made it. Oh how I've been waiting for this." He then pointed to Shao Kahn specifically, "Especially you, my dear former advisor. Would you care for some imported Earthrealm wine? I had it made the way you served it to me."

"Enough with the pleasantries," Shao Kahn replied, "I'm here to finish what I started so long ago."

Onaga growled at him, "You mean taking the coward's way out? I never did expect you to do something so underhanded like that, Shao. You were my most prized warrior! If you wanted to kill me, at least you could have had some dignity and fought me hand-to-hand like a real man!"

Shao shoved away his allies and took a step towards Onaga, "That's what I'm doing now, aren't I?"

"But you aren't doing it alone," the Dragon King remarked, hoping to get a response.

To his delight, Shao was furious when he said that, "I could take you alone! Come on, you and me right now!"

Kotal tapped his shoulder, "You idiot, what about the plan?"

Shao merely scoffed at him, "Forget the plan, nobody makes a mockery of Shao Kahn!"

The Dragon King snapped his fingers and Triborg appeared before the three others, "Triborg! Distract the others I want Shao Kahn all to myself." Triborg saluted and thrust the three out the door, leaving both the former and current ruler of Outworld alone.

Shao Kahn went hammer first into the battle, striking Onaga right in the head. Onaga brushed the attack off and grabbed Shao Kahn's beloved mallet by the shaft, "Always relying on your toys, Shao. This time is going to be different." He pulled the hammer away and snapped it in two like it was nothing, "If that's what I did to your hammer, think of what I'm going to do to you."

Shao Kahn, for the first time in his life, backed away in fear. Fear was an emotion he hadn't felt in eons. Not when invading Edenia, not when face to face with Liu Kang, and not even when Raiden's powers were enhanced by the Elder Gods. The last time he was frightened was back when he was Onaga's advisor so many years ago. The night before he had him poisoned…

He flashbacked to that very moment, the last time he ever felt a tinge of distress. The younger Shao and Onaga were discussing what to do with Zaterra.

"I personally think we shouldn't go for it," the Kahn of the past recommended, "I feel that our resources aren't there. You know what the soldiers have been doing to you."

The Dragon King cared little for his input, "Oh please, I have an immortal army. There's no way they could stop us in our invasion should I choose to do it."

Again Shao warned him of the consequences, "Your majesty, please reconsider. The Zaterrans aren't our greatest concern, that would be—"

"Oh here we go again," Onaga replied, "As you have told me countless times our greatest concern is the people of this realm. You say I'm too harsh on them, I'm too overbearing, that I'm too 'controlling.' But I don't care, that's the only way I can keep them in line! They're just a means to an end anyhow. All I care about in this forsaken realm are its armies and resources."

"A means to an end?"

Onaga started explaining, "It is stated that there are six magical artifacts that could grant the user infinite power. They're called the Kamidogu, and I've been searching for them for millions of years! So far I know of the ones here in Outworld, Chaos Realm, Seido, and the Netherrealm…yet I'm not sure where the other two are yet. I'm suspecting one is in Zaterra, which is why I must have it merged with ours! I'm only using this realm for its armies and resources, not because I care about the people. They're a chaotic, ravenous bunch that I despise. I can't keep them in line, not until I have those Kamidogu!"

"And what do you intend to do with these Kamidogu," the early Kahn inquired curiously.

The past Dragon king answered with ire, "I want to find who's rallying my own army to fight against me, the one who has caused me so much trouble. He or she will be the first to die in the most excruciating way I can imagine. After that, I will unite the realms under my new vision! One of order! They will see the error of their lifestyle! Only I can save them from the chaos they choose to live in, whether it'll be by choice or by force!"

The ancient Shao nearly fainted when he heard that. He had been planning this coup for quite a while and had been waiting until the right time would come for him to strike. He knew that he had to enact the plan soon or else he would suffer greatly.

Shao had an offer for his master, "We can continue discussing the Zaterrans and what to do with Outworld people in general tomorrow night, my liege. I've got more things to do."

"Yes yes of course," Onaga agreed, "I'll see you tomorrow Shao."

You already know what happened the next day. Shao Kahn gave Onaga poisoned wine and took Outworld as his own. Then he had the Dragon King and his army locked away in a tomb never to be seen again.

Kahn's mind returned to the present, where he was feeling the very same panic he felt on that night oh so many years ago. Onaga picked him up by his throat and squeezed, "I'm going to do what I said I would, Shao! I'm going to kill you in the most excruciating way I can imagine. If only you had remained loyal, you could have been by my side instead of being killed by me."

Mustering all of his strength, Shao grabbed Onaga's wrist with both of his hands and pulled. He managed to tear some of Onaga's scaly skin right off the bone, causing the massive monstrosity to let go. Shao Kahn fell to the ground afterwards, feeling lightheaded. The Dragon King recovered from Kahn's attack quickly. He had a chance to get Shao where he stood and he took it. He smacked his once advisor with his tail, sending him flying back to the floor. Onaga stomped down on his chest as his gloating continued, "Prepare to die, you weak pathetic fool!"

Just outside the throne room, Fujin, Kotal, and Noob had their hands full with Triborg's assault. Triborg launched his wrist rockets at the three of them. Noob opened up a portal that caught every missile. A portal opened behind Triborg that sent them back at him. Triborg teleported just before the missiles exploded.

He reappeared with an uppercut, sending Fujin to the ground! Kotal grabbed the cyborg by the shoulders yet Triborg retaliated by spraying ice particles in his eyes. Kotal backed into the wall, leaving him open for Triborg to freeze him to the wall. Fujin got back up and shot a tornado at the horrible machine. Triborg responded by shooting a net out at Fujin, catching him in it. After that, he dove out of the tornado's path before it died down. Kotal broke out of the ice and smashed the wall behind him, allowing the sunlight into the dark corridor. Using the power of the sun, Kotal picked up a massive chunk of the wall and threw it right at Triborg. Triborg was crushed by the wall but not for long, as he broke through the chunk of wall and shot oil at Kotal's feet. Kotal slipped onto the ground with a thud. Triborg's ego got the better of himself and he took this time to gloat by laughing. This left him open for Noob's sucker punch. Triborg took the hit with little issue yet the same could not be said for Noob, who took Triborg's ice bomb quite poorly. Noob was frozen stiff, taking him out of the fight.

Kotal tripped Triborg up while he was still on the floor. Triborg currently being grounded gave Kotal the leeway he needed to pick himself up again. Fujin turned to Kotal and gestured for him to come over. The former emperor obliged and stood by the wind god's side. Fujin raised his hands up high above Kotal, forming a fast forming cyclone around him. The cyclone lifted Kotal in the air. As Triborg flew back up, Fujin launched Kotal like a top! The rapid spinning Kotal collided right into Triborg. The high impact sent the Tekunin leader soaring right through the brick wall.

"Good move back there," Kotal complimented.

Fujin dismissively waved his hand, "It wouldn't have worked without you there!"

With Triborg taken care of, the two heroes stormed into Onaga's chamber and saw a near dead Shao Kahn on the floor. Kotal sighed, "I told him to stick with the plan!"

Onaga was ready to finish him but the two interrupted him, "Foolish interlopers, you're too late! The power of the Kamidogu is in my hands and nobody will be able to stop me!"

Kotal demanded that Onaga stand down, "Though you might sit in the throne, you are no emperor! I'll fight you if you want, but I promise you it'll end with me in that throne!"

Onaga laughed Kotal's threats off, "I don't have to listen to you I don't have to listen to any of you! I am Onaga, the bringer of order! You will bow to me!"

"I'm not afraid of you," Kotal stated while unmoving, "you can do your worst, but I won't stand down! This is my realm, these are my people! I won't let you harass them anymore!"

The Dragon King snarled in disgust, "You remind me of my old advisor. Always caring about the people, but what are they to a god like me?"

"Enough," Fujin cried out, "This all ends here, Onaga!"

The two of them charged at Onaga together with all of their strength. Their fists struck Onaga in the chest. The Kamidogu influenced Dragon King did not even budge, "Was that supposed to hurt?" With the flick of his fingers, he sent them hurling into the wall. They would've fallen into the spike pits were it not for Fujin using the wind to redirect the both of them into the ground.

It seemed Onaga had won. All three of the heroes had failed in destroying him and the other realms would not be able to last forever against Onaga's hordes. Onaga's arrogance shone through as he chose not to kill them but to brag, "Look at you all! Fighting for Elder Gods who would not lift a finger to save you, fighting for people who would rather run than fight for you, and fighting for realms that won't last in the long run! Under my regime, people will be happy! Mark my words, the Dragon King will be a name that is remembered for bringing prosperity to all realms! Think of this not as the end of the world, but think of it as a revolution! A revolution that will bring all the realms together in unity! Unfortunately, the three of you have no place in my vision of a better future."

Onaga's speech was interrupted by a surprising adversary! Noob Saibot escaped his frozen prison and put Onaga in a chokehold.

Onaga sneered at the very sight of the wraith, "You disgusting traitor!"

"You betrayed me first," Noob reminded him as he squeezed harder, "And when I'm done with you, the Kamidogu will be—"

Onaga yanked Noob off his back and sent him hurdling through the ceiling, "They won't be yours, you cretin! They belong to me!"

Noob's attack gave Kotal time to get back up with more determination than ever, "Come on, Onaga! Let's finish this!" Fujin too stood up along with Shao Kahn.

Onaga stomped his foot in frustration, "Why won't you all just stay down?!" He took to the air, shattering the ceiling behind him, "Now you'll witness the true power of the Kamidogu!" He took the mystic daggers from his belt and stabbed all six of them into his back in a last ditch effort. After that he clutched Shinnok's amulet and embedded it right into his chest.

"What's he doing," Shao Kahn wondered out loud.

Fujin had an answer, "You see, by lodging all of the Kamidogu along with the amulet into himself he'll directly siphon their power. It's a bizarre yet very effective strategy."

After that, the sky around Onaga started swirling into a red and black mass. He slowly began turning from a bipedal dragon into a much larger traditional serpent-like dragon, just like the Elder Gods themselves. When the transformation was complete he was as tall as his own fortress, as they saw his head peaking in through now destroyed roof of the throne room. He roared at the three of them, causing the entire fortress along with the ground to rumble.

Fujin trembled at the sight of the gargantuan Dragon King, "What have the Kamidogu wrought?!"

To be continued in the next chapter of: The Return of Shao Kahn…