The battle to prevent Armageddon continued! It was now or never for the Earthrealm heroes. Their last hope, as much as they hate to admit it, lied with Shao Kahn. Only he could defeat Blaze with both Taven and Daegon dead.

The forces of the Netherrealm were immensely overwhelming but with newfound confidence, they continued fighting. Shang led the charge against the heroes and Raiden led the charge against the Netherrealm's forces. It was family fighting family, friend fighting friend, and old rivalries being reborn.

One of the more prominent examples of this was Kung Jin fighting his cousin Kung Lao. Kung Lao recognized his younger cousin, yet showed no real sign of remorse in fighting him. He didn't even speak. It seemed that Noob's control over them was even greater than before, even greater than that of Quan-Chi's.

Jin tried reaching out to his cousin to no avail, "Lao please! You can't help that monster destroy the realms!" Lao didn't listen, throwing his razor hat at his cousin. Jin ducked beneath it and shot an arrow at Lao. Lao deflected it with his gauntlets and ran towards his cousin with the hat in his hand, ready to cut.

Jin swiftly jumped over the swipe, landing behind Lao and stabbing his arrows into his shoulder blades. Lao turned around, unfazed by the arrows in his back. Again he swiped the hat at Jin, it even slicing Jin's arm. Coming in to assist him was Jacqui Briggs, who knocked Lao onto the ground by kicking him. Their victory was short lived as Goro stomped in and threw them both aside. He was about ready to kill them until a tongue coiled around his arms, pulling him back. This gave the two young heroes ample time to get away.

Goro pulled the tongue over, having Reptile in his grasp. He began choking the Zaterran, unable to express his rage outside of angrily grunting at him. He slammed him into the ground repeatedly, his smile growing each time he did. Reptile spat acid all over his face, forcing the Shokan to let go.

Kotal Kahn intervened, ramming Goro onto the ground with his great strength. Goro pulled himself back up with ease. Kotal threw a punch yet Goro grabbed it and twisted his arm. With his other arm, Kotal pulled out the Macuahuitl. He attempted to smack Goro with it, but Goro grabbed that with one of his other free hands. His hand leaked out inky black blood as it held the serrated ends, but he didn't seem too receptive to the pain. Using his other free hand, he picked Kotal up and growled. He threw him against the desert sands and bashed the Macuahuitl against him.

Interfering this time was Erron Black, who rolled a sand bomb at him. Goro stomped on the bomb, again unresponsive to the shards of glass in his feet. Erron tried shooting him but every bullet only made him angrier. Kotal dragged himself back up and grabbed Goro by one of his wrists. Reptile helped, holding Goro back with his tongue yet again. The two kept him apprehended, allowing Erron to run in and get a couple free shots in Goro's stomach. Kotal shot a beam of sunlight into Goro, causing him even more pain. This time he let out a small yelp, showing it did have an effect.

Erron dropped some more sand grenades out from under Goro and flipped back. He took shots at the bombs, forcing them to explode multiple times over.

Goro went flying into the air, crashing into the side of the pyramid and then into the dirt floor as sand flew all around from the impact. However, he got back up again. He was simply implacable. More would have joined in on the battle but they were simply preoccupied, leaving these three alone in their battle.

Goro cracked his neck and marched slowly towards them. With every step her took, he started going faster, faster, and faster until he was sprinting towards them. The three all shot out their attacks. Erron started shoot, Reptile spat acids, and Kotal shot out the rays of the sun. Goro was impeded by these attacks but only momentarily.

Kotal turned to Erron, "Quick, give me one of your sand grenades!"

Erron obliged, reaching into his pouch and pulling one out, "Sure thing hoss, but I don't see what this'll do fer any a' us. He's already provin' sand grenades don't work on 'im."

Kotal popped the top off and handed it to Reptile, "Spit in this." Reptile obeyed, spitting acid into the grenade. Completing the bizarre weapon was a discus which Kotal made exceedingly hot by letting it burn in the sun. He threw the combined weapon at the ever approaching Goro. The explosion it caused Goro to explode into bits and pieces.

Elsewhere Sub-Zero continued the fight with Enenra after his disappearance. It was a brutal fight, made worse by Sub-Zero's guilty conscience for having to fight his best friend. He continued trying to reason with him even though it seemed impossible at this point, "Tomas, you must break free! He has no power over you!"

Enenra silently kicked Liang in the shin and elbowed his jaw when faltered. Kuai reacted quickly, throwing an iceball at Enenra. Enenra faded away in smoke and reappeared, dive kicking his former friend. Kuai tried pulling himself back up but it was no use, Enenra stomped on his back. Out of nowhere, Hanzo showed up and pulled Enenra back with his spear. He pulled out his swords and drove it into Enenra's stomach. Enenra did not respond. He pulled the sword back out and attempted to stab Scorpion back.

Scorpion parried, deflecting the blade out of Enenra's hands and aiming his at the wraith's neck. Sub-Zero got back up and slid into Scorpion before he could finish him. Using this chance, Enenra escaped yet again.

Scorpion rose back up, enraged that Kuai had cost him this victory, "What are you doing, Liang?! I almost had him!"

"You can't kill him," Kuai said, "he's my friend! I know there's still hope for him!"

Hanzo nearly pointed his sword at his friend but sheathed it, "There's no hope for any of them now, Kuai. I know what it's like to lose someone, it can be hard."

"But have you ever had to fight those loved ones," Sub-Zero asked him, "My family, my friends…most of them have turned against me."

Hanzo understood his pain, "I will admit, if Quan-Chi made me fight my wife or my son I would be as devastated as you are. But that doesn't mean you can hold back. If you hold back on these few, then everyone dies."

Kuai agreed, "You…you're right. We're not fighting for ourselves we're fighting for everyone this time."

He soon heard a woman scream elsewhere. Sub-Zero picked up the pace, ice sliding over to where he heard the scream. What he found as Mileena on top of her sister, ready to bite into her. Sub-Zero kicked Mileena in the back, forcing her off of Kitana. He picked the Queen back up, "What happened?"

"The Brotherhood overpowered me," Kitana replied, "Mileena used that as her chance to try to kill me."

Behind them were an army of the Brotherhood of Shadow's minions, all being led by Havik. Havik bowed before them in an odd form of showmanship, "Greetings, a chaotic day we're having is it not?"

The two of them were quick to attack Havik, but Havik…willingly accepted it. He took their combined punch with much enthusiasm, which was distracting. This distraction allowed the Brotherhood warriors to flank them. The two looked towards each other and smiled. They joined together back to back as Sub-Zero froze them and Kitana shattered them with her fan blades.

Their team-up worked, until Shang Tsung intervened when he suddenly appeared and resurrected them all.

This unexpected turn of events forced them to retreat, unable to fight them all like that.

Perhaps where the fighting on the ground was most intense was the reunion between Shang Tsung and Raiden. The two weren't necessarily in battle as much as they were playing a game of cat and mouse. The two of them were teleporting all across the battlefield in a race to see who could get each other first.

As they chased each other, bolts of lightning and flaming skulls were flinging around. They never hit their target but that doesn't mean they stopped. Eventually Shang stopped, throwing Raiden off and allowing him to get the first hit with said flying skulls. Raiden reacted in kind by zapping him. It connected, frying Shang. He brushed it off, firing more flaming skulls at the Thunder God.

Raiden vanished again, appearing in front of Shang and grabbing him. He sent electricity all throughout his body. Shang retaliated by having a horde of Brotherhood cultists come in and pull Raiden away. Raiden shook them off and continued the pursuit. Eventually Shang had even more of the Netherrealm's hordes come after Raiden. Coming in to help his friend was Fujin, who blew all of them away. Fujin smiled and saluted to his friend.

Raiden continued his pursuit of Shang, not letting anything stop him. The sorcerer consumed more souls of his minions, gathering more strength. He rose up a skull wall, which Raiden rammed directly into. He crashed into the ground, right at Shang's feet. The sorcerer grinned, "Now you're in my control." He picked Raiden up and started sucking his soul away.

The Thunder God however, was not going to have his essence sucked out. He sent a surge of electricity through Shang's body, shocking him to the very core. Shang pulled back, the souls inside him slowly escaping. As he began to age again, he refused to let Raiden have the last laugh. In a last desperate bid he lunged at Raiden and formed a flaming skull in his hand. His deterioration hastened when he did this, as he was now a frail decrepit old man. The skull faded and he turned to nothing but bones soon after, dying yet again.

Raiden almost expected him to be resurrected again but Noob was too busy fighting Shao Kahn to notice what was going on.

Atop the Pyramid of Argus, the battle of the ages was happening. Shao and Noob's battle was a fierce one. Shao struck Noob with his hammer multiple times over, it barely affecting the enhanced wraith. Noob grabbed the hammer but before he could even dent it, Shao let go of it and uppercut him. He grabbed the hammer again and proceeded to beat Noob down with it as he was grounded. Each hit rung out through the desert, causing incursions.

Noob sank into the floor into a pile of lava and got back up behind Shao. He picked the former emperor up and smashed him into the pyramid's floor and dragged him across it. After that he picked him back up and threw him onto the floor. He almost expected Shao to go down after that, but the once ruler refused. He leapt up over Noob, bashing his spine with his hammer. Noob stomped the ground, sending Shao into the air. As Shao hovered in the air, Noob socked him. This sent Shao careening to the edge of the Pyramid. He landed on his feet and charged towards Noob with hammer in hand.

Noob kicked Shao in the face and uppercut him. After that he stomped on him. He laughed as Shao writhed in pain on the ground, "You know, it doesn't even matter if you somehow find a way to win. In the end, when you win, you'll just destroy everyone and everything. I'll have achieved what I wanted. Everyone will be dead and nobody will remember what I've become."

Shao attempted to pull himself back up but he failed. He slipped and hit the ground again. Noob mocked him yet again, "You don't get it, do you? You've lost. Armageddon is here and it's going to destroy everything. I must give everyone credit for lasting this long, but there's nothing left to stop me. Even if my hordes were to be defeated, by the time they have it will be too late."

Adding insult to injury, he stomped on Shao's back, "Everything you've ever worked for will soon be pointless." Shao tried reaching for the wraith but Noob stepped back, "I do have to wonder why you even bother anymore. Like I said, I'll still get what I wanted if you win. Why are you even fighting for these people anyway? You hate them and they hate you. You'll never be forgiven for what you've done to them all, what you've taken away, and what you allowed to happen."

Shao Kahn pulled himself back up using his hammer like a cane. He weakly swung it at Noob, who grabbed it and tossed it far away. Even without the hammer, he still threw some halfhearted punches. Noob dodged every single one of them. He seemed bemused by Shao's efforts, "You're still trying? Again, that dedication is commendable but I've got you beat." He picked Shao Kahn up and held him high, "And this is what happens when you oppose me!"

Everyone turned their attention to the defeated Shao, even those on Noob's side. Noob maniacally chortled, "You all should just give up, resign yourself to your fates and accept that this is what's best for you! No matter what happened, this was bound to happen. You can't prevent Armageddon, I made sure of that!"

Silence overtook everyone as Noob continued his victory speech, "I know it seems grim, but it isn't. The realms have been in eternal conflict for years, there has never been peace! The only true way to achieve this peace is not through life, but through death! When we all die there will be no more conflict, no more hatred, and no more pointless agony. Why prolong the inevitable?"

"Because of chaos," someone spoke out. Everyone turned to see Havik, who was throwing rocks at Noob, "You promised chaos and yet death is the opposite of chaos! You promised anarchy, you promised to abolish all rules!"

"I was true to my word," Noob said back to Havik, "there are no rules if there's nobody to make them."

The sky rippled as it turned a bleak and dull shade of purple mixed with patches of a foggy gray. The color began to fade away from the world as Armageddon approached ever closer. There was nothing left they could do to stop him. How could they stop someone as powerful as Noob combined with Blaze? Again, family huddled together as did friends. If this was to be the end, there was nobody else they would want to spend it with.

Noob threw Shao's lifeless body to the ground yet again, just to make sure he was dead. Noob reached towards the heavens as he looked away from Shao, "This is the day of reckoning!"

However, fate had different plans as a beam of golden light shot back down from the heavens, engulfing Shao in it. Shao stood back up as his wounds healed and his bruises died away. He pointed towards Noob, "I am Shao Kahn, ruler of Edenia! I will not allow you to take this realm!"

Noob turned back with wide eyes, "You?! It can't be! I killed you!"

"I never stay dead for long," Shao Kahn said back to him, reenergized and ready to fight Noob. He held his hand out and his hammer came back to his hand, "If you aren't afraid to die by my hands then face me, Noob. I challenge you to Mortal Kombat!"

"Only one of us will be left standing when this is over."

"And it will be me," Shao retorted, charging at Noob with the hammer in hand.

Down on the ground, everyone was cheering him on for motivation. Johnny had to make note of this, "You know I never thought I'd be cheering for that jerk."

"Things have been very backwards these past few weeks," Kotal replied.

Back on the Pyramid, Shao tried to strike a blow with the hammer but Noob grabbed it. However this would be different as Shao pulled the hammer back out and bashed Noob across the face with it. Noob retaliated by rising a pillar of fire below Shao. Shao slid out of the way and threw three glowing spears at him. The spears pierced Noob's body but had little impact. He leapt up over Shao and tried to crush him. Shao rolled out from under him and struck him with the wrath hammer in the chest. This sent Noob across the air. When he landed, he got back up and charged towards Shao.

Likewise Shao charged towards him. The two collided, causing a massive quake that shook the landscape. When the dust settled, the two were in a standstill. Neither could overpower each other. Again Noob asked, "Why must you fight for those who will still hate you when all is said and done?!"

Shao continued trying to gain the upper hand as he said, "I do so because I've come too far to give in!"

"Come too far in your conquest? Hah! You still only wish to rule the realms! I've already won!"

Shao overcame Noob and shoved him away. Noob was taken aback by this, allowing Shao to get the upper hand and smash his hammer against Noob. He smashed the hammer so hard, it shattered into pieces. Noob was sent onto the Pyramid steps, where Shao leapt down and continued beating on him.

Noob pushed him off as flames began to surround the Pyramid of Argus. He grew angry at this, "Just! Give! In! You're only delaying the inevitable!"

Shao got back up and raised his fists, "The only thing inevitable here is your death! It's official, you suck!"

Noob reached out his hand and grabbed Shao by his calf. He threw him into the flames that surrounded the base of the pyramid. As Shao burned, he pulled himself back up and approached the emperor, "Even with the power of the Elder Gods, you are no match for me. I have become something beyond the Elder Gods, beyond life itself!"

Shao struggled to get back on his feet the flames coursing through his body were too much to bear. Noob picked him up by the neck, squeezing. Shao responded by grabbing Noob's wrist, which was so big he couldn't even wrap his two hands around it. The two struggled but Shao relented, his arms going limp and his eyes shutting. Noob chortled to himself as he threw Shao from the Pyramid.

The entire crowd that had long since stopped fighting gathered around Shao's body. Raiden knelt down and felt for a pulse. There was nothing. He shook his head, "This cannot be. Even the Elder God's champion stood no chance against him…"

It was a disheartening sight, to see the once mighty Shao Kahn having been defeated in such a way. In the previous timeline he may've won, but Blaze's brute strength combined with Noob's cunning was simply too much for him to handle. Noob took this chance to gloat, "This is what happens when you try to be a hero. It changes nothing. Besides, I did you all a favor. If he had won, then you would've had to deal with him. Now you all can die at peace!"

Liang walked out from the crowd to his brother. Raiden and Kitana reached out to try and stop him but Hanzo held out his arm, stopping them, "He has to do this."

As Sub-Zero approached the flames at the base of the pyramid died down. He offered out his hand, "You know it doesn't have to be this way, Bi-Han." He took off his helmet, exposing his tearstained face, "You have the power to change things. You reverse what happened, you could change back into the brother I once knew…restore the revenants…you could do anything. Please, reconsider. I want to see you again. I want to see Tomas again."

The wraith paused. The flames completely died down and Noob took his brother's hand. Using his power, he reverted back to the regular Noob Saibot rather than the hulking monster he became. He pulled Kuai in closer for a hug. From behind, Enenra appeared and stabbed Kuai in the back. Kuai's eyes met his brother's blank white eyes for only a moment before he collapsed to his knees. The wraith cupped his brother's chin and made him look him in the face yet again, "You always were soft." After that, he simply dropped Sub-Zero.

Hanzo was furious, so furious he reverted back into Scorpion. He charged after Noob, but Enenra rose up and sucker punched him before he could get close. Kitana could only stare in disbelief and Frost was so devastated she screamed Noob's name.

Noob rose back up the Pyramid and hovered in place, snapping his fingers. The sky rippled and a white rift appeared in the blackness. Noob laughed in a disturbingly pleased way, "This is it…what I've been working so long for. Shinnok, Quan-Chi, Onaga, and now Shao Kahn have all died for this single moment!" Raiden took one final charge towards the Pyramid before he was met with a force field in his way. He couldn't penetrate this, no matter how hard he tried.

Soon the white rift overtook the sky, causing a blinding light that blocked things out. This was it, this was the end.

…or was it? When their vision had returned, they were still in the Edenian desert but something was different. A lot was different, actually. In the distance, they could see what almost looked like an urban city from Earthrealm. Off in the opposite direction, they could see a Netherrealm tower, and in another they could see where the ground itself was nothing but disembodied pieces of earth floating in the air as if it was Chaosrealm. Noob hadn't quite destroyed reality, he had instead merged all the realms as many others before him were seeking to achieve.

Noob looked over the horizon to see this and he was most displeased, "What?! What is this?! His rage was so great everything began to quake, "I chose not to merge the realms, I chose to have them destroyed! Arrrgh! This cannot be…!" He screeched in sheer rage, unable to take his failure. All those years of planning, wasted. However, not all was lost. He realized something, "The One Being shall soon awaken with the realms merged. I will still have what I want. Until then, we vanish!" The Brotherhood's forces vanished in an instant. Noob looked towards the forces of light with confidence, "Make your time! For this is but a temporary setback." He disappeared, where he might be in the One Realm was unknown.

The heroes were far worse for wear after the battle. Those who weren't horribly wounded or dead were still injured greatly. Raiden looked over the merged realm in awe. Kitana and Scorpion rushed over to where Sub-Zero had fallen now that Noob was gone. She checked his wrist and sure enough, there was still a pulse. She was deeply relieved by this, his stab wound wasn't in the slightest fatal. Perhaps Noob couldn't bring himself to kill his brother or perhaps he made a simple mistake. Either way was good, it showed either Noob's humanity wasn't entirely lost or he was just as susceptible to underestimating his opponents.

Kotal Kahn stomped his foot in frustration, "Well now what? Our only savior is dead and now we certainly have little time before that demon's plan takes full effect!"

"Here's what we do," Cassie Cage spoke up, "we get our asses in gear and stop him before he can figure out what he needs to do! We can stop him!"

Reptile protested to such a plan, "How? He'sss ssshown that he'sss far ssstronger than any of usss could imagine to be, even together! Not even Ssshao Kahn could kill him!"

Raiden crossed his arms, "But he came close to overpowering him. If we could bring him back and find a way to either buff his strength or weaken Noob there might be hope yet. This is our last stand against the Brotherhood of Shadow."

"Hey great speech," Johnny replied, "but how're we gonna do any of that?"

"Simple, we bring him to the Jinsei Chamber. This will reinvigorate him."

Fujin gasped, "But the Jinsei Chamber may be corrupted if someone such as Shao makes contact with it. It could only cause more problems."

"That is a risk we must take. It's either risk the Jinsei or risk reality itself." Raiden looked into the expanse, spotting the unmistakable silhouette of the Sky Temple far off in the Earthrealm area of the merged realm. Raiden pointed that way, "We go that way."

Cassie and Jacqui stood forward, volunteering themselves. Kenshi and Takeda did as well. The last ones to do so were Frost, Reptile on order of Kotal Kahn, and most surprisingly of all Havik. Kotal was notably weakened without the sun. If he wasn't, he'd have gone himself.

Sonya smiled at her daughter, "Be safe." Johnny grinned, "If you see any of the Brotherhood trying to stop you, kick their ass for daddy." Cassie hugged them both, "I will. I'll see you two when we get back."

Jax placed his hands on Jacqui's shoulders, "You're really growin' up. I remember when you were just a kid. I'd go with ya but I trust you. If anything will happen, I know Raiden will be there too. 'Fore ya go I jus' wanna let ya know, I love you." Jacqui scratched the back of her head in embarrassment, "I love you too, pop."

"Listen Syzoth," Kotal began, "this is a very important mission. I know you, as one of my most loyal soldiers, won't fail me. It'll be tough out there, who knows what you might run into. You will come out, though. Starting now, Raiden is your master." Reptile nodded, "Yesss, Kotal. We will win thisss war."

"So why are you joining us again," a confused Raiden asked the cleric of Chaos, Havik. Havik explained his motives albeit not clearly, "Chaos has no reason, it has no motive, chaos just is. And now, you are the one who promises to keep the chaos flowing." Raiden still wasn't certain but he accept Havik's place on their team nonetheless.

With Sub-Zero out of commission, Frost had nobody to see her off. That was until Hanzo came to her. She scoffed at him, "What do you want, Shirai Ryu dog?" Hanzo scowled at her, "I realize we do not have the best of relationships, but I promise you we will save Sub-Zero." Frost's gaze turned away, "I doubt that." She walked away.

Kenshi and Takeda were ready to venture out, but Takeda didn't seem too enthusiastic about his father joining. "I can do this by myself," he groaned. Kenshi agreed, "I know you can, but I thought this might be the last chance we have to bond so I'm going to take it." Takeda jeered at such a notion, "Since when did you care about spending time with me?" Kenshi wrapped his arm around his son's shoulders, "Since now."

With their goodbyes all said, the team embarked towards the Sky Temple with Shao Kahn's corpse in-tow.

Everyone else decided to return to Edenian palace not too far off, waiting whether they could bring Shao back in time or if Armageddon was destined to take place.

It almost looked like an ending, didn't it? Nope, the Return of Shao Kahn is going into overtime! I was originally going to end it here but I decided this ending wasn't satisfactory and I still needed some more time. So here we are now! I'll see you in the next update many months from now!*

*update will hopefully come sooner than that