A battle raged at the end of all reality. The second fight to prevent Armageddon. Yet there was brief calmness in the air. Both Noob and the Elder Gods stood there, waiting to see who'd make the first strike. Noob folded his arms, "Come now, I have all day. You, however, are on the clock. And it's ticking. Every second we wait, the closer the end times looms."
They could not wait another second. Both Raiden and Shao Kahn charged at Noob. The wraith vanished in an instant, rising up behind the two of them. He grabbed them both and threw them through the ceiling. He flew up into the air seeing only Shao Kahn waiting for him. The wraith rushed towards Shao in midair but was stopped when a golden surge of lightning surged through his body. Raiden was behind him, waiting for an opening. With Noob incapacitated, Shao slammed him with his hammer. The impact was so hard it sent Noob flying across the One Realm. The Elder Gods' champions made their way to where he landed.
It was within the Sky Temple, where Noob had previously sent his most trusted guards to stop Shao Kahn's resurrection. It was an ultimately meaningless task. He crashed through the ceiling, slamming into Jinsei Chamber. He pulled himself up and barked orders at his minions, "I'm going to send you to the Edenian palace. When you get there, kill everyone in sight! Even if I can't destroy the realms, I can kill everyone living in them!"
The three warriors obliged. Noob sent them away in an instant. He walked over to the Jinsei, "I will still have victory! And it begins wi—" Raiden teleported in and grabbed him from behind before he could even finish his sentence. Noob reacted instinctively, tossing the thunder god into the Jinsei. The purifying essence of it only strengthened him as he shot out a multidirectional bolt of lightning. Noob deflected the bolts with a wall of black ooze. Shao Kahn soon joined Raiden in the fight. He rammed his fist right into Noob's chest. He was expecting to pull out a heart or maybe some bones but inside of Noob was nothing but the same ooze he used to teleport around. Noob forced both of them away with a shockwave, sinking into the ground.
Any remaining human element of Noob was all but gone. Now he was nothing but an anomaly. He should not exist in his current form but yet he does. They had to track him down quickly but who knows where he'd go. It had to be the Edenian palace. Even if he could not cause the One Being's return he's still want to slaughter the Earthrealm heroes for all the trouble they caused him. Both Raiden and Shao Kahn departed for the palace.
Within the palace's throne room, the struggle against Shang Tsung carried on. Not helped were the remaining forces of the Netherrealm pouring in, giving our heroes the second fight of their life. Still exhausted from the fight at the Pyramid of Argus, the heroes' put up a valiant fight but yet with many of their members still in the desert they stood little chance.
Not helping is that Shang resurrected Hanzo not as he was before, but as Scorpion yet again. The raging hellspawn turned against his allies, not even thinking. A mindless rage overtook him. It was like when Noob corrupted him but this time he couldn't be controlled. He attacked even his allies from the Netherrealm. No one was safe. But yet, Shang didn't care. He carelessly shrugged it off, "A few sacrifices must be made."
Things looked triumphant for Shang as the heroes were all but defeated. Many were lying on the ground, grievously injured. Those still standing had to deal with Scorpion and the three other wraiths before they could even touch Shang. The sorcerer raised his arms as if he was about to consume their souls but was interrupted as Noob rose up from the ground. Shang knelt before his lord, "They're done for! But now what do we do?"
Noob forced everyone in the room on their knees, "Now we finish the job! All of you must die for the cause!"
"What," Shang Tsung cried out, "but I've done nothing but faithfully serve you! I did as you asked!"
"And it's very appreciated but the extinction of all life means the extinction of all life! That includes you. I must thank you for your services, however." Noob said in a genuine almost heartfelt way. It's clear he did mean it. The world upon which they stood finally began to crumble as the eyes in the sky finally fully opened and a mouth-like shape opened. Noob raised his arms in victory, "Finally! It's here! I'll leave you all alive just so you can witness the end!"
The One Being had awakened and it was angry. It reached out from the heavens and into Noob Saibot, choosing him as a vessel. Noob struggled to even stand as the power inside of him increased. Everything began to white out. It was something they couldn't even comprehend as it was happening. They all tried to scream but they couldn't even vocalize anymore. Reality itself was fading away into a black nothingness, a state of complete and utter blankness. The complete cessation of all existence happened in an instant. With less than the blink of an eye, it was all gone. There was nothing left. This was it. This was oblivion. Existence itself was wiped clean. All that was left was Noob in the void, still reeling from the power he had just gained. In spite of it all, he wasn't ready. Nothing could have prepared him. He screamed but again, nothing could vocalize.
The sheer horror he faced in the emptiness even further fragmented his mind. He became incomprehensible in both speech and mannerisms. That was, if he could speak. When Shao Kahn and Raiden came upon him, he was senselessly flailing in the air. They were the last three beings who were still alive and Raiden and Shao only survived due to being possessed by the Elder Gods.
They both took a swing at the babbling madman but were both pushed away when they got too close. They looked to each other, not saying a word. Was this truly the end? Perhaps it was. They couldn't even touch Noob so how could they defeat him? And even if they did defeat Noob, who's to say it would restore everything as it once was?
Noob finally regained his composure, but he was no longer Noob Saibot. It was now the One Being. The One Being spoke out in a whisper, "I am whole once more." Noob's erratic movements stopped. The One Being stepped forward, with multiple afterimages flashing behind it with each step. An almost angelic white glow surrounded it. It growled, "For eons you had me trapped between the realms, my consciousness split." The Elder God enhanced champions stiffly backed away with every step the One Being took. Fear filled their very essence. All they had worked towards was entirely pointless now. The very being they sought to seal was now unleashed.
"And you choose to hide behind these mortals? How expected," the One Being mocked, "you were always worms. In your attempts to keep me sealed I have instead awakened within this corrupted mortal coil." It laughed, "Your cowardice gave way and now you will pay." Raiden and Shao Kahn nodded at each other and charged at the One Being.
The One Being lifted them up in the air and slammed them into each other. Then it tossed them away. The Elder Gods picked themselves back up, determined to finish the One Being once and for all. Raiden shot out a large string of golden lightning, briefly distracting the One Being. Shao Kahn threw multiple glowing green spears at it. If they can't get close then they could use projectiles. Each spear hit the One Being. It did little to injure it. The One Being waved his hands in an almost hypnotic pattern. What it was doing was unknown. The Elder Gods took this chance to come in to strike close. Shao Kahn went in with a punch to the face and Raiden came in with an electric slide. Both hits connected, the One Being crashed through the "floor" as it were. The Elder Gods followed.
The One Being was getting faster with its hand movements. Again it was hard to tell what it was doing. When Shao tried to throw another spear at it, the One Being simply moved out of the way without even physically moving. His hands stopped. A white blast shot out from the One Being, hitting and killing Raiden in one shot. All that was left of his physical body were a set of bones that quickly faded as the Elder Gods left the empty husk. The Elder Gods were devastated by this blow. The remaining half of the Elder Gods shot into Shao Kahn, vastly increasing his power. Shao raised his fists, readying himself for the fight.
It hovered closer to Shao. "If you expect me to cower I'm afraid you're sorely mistaken," it said, its hushed tone now having a vague sense of menace to it. Suddenly, it fell on its knees as Noob's appearance inverted. His entire body turned to a bright white with accents of gold throughout his outfit. The only black that remained was his eyes. Directly after, a pair of large radiant feathery wings sprouted out from his back. The One Being could almost be described as beautiful in this form. It hovered up from the ground, folding its hands. One word slipped out from its mouth, "Perish."
Shao Kahn felt his entire body trembling as yellow energy shot out from his chest. He squealed as his limbs tore themselves from his body, unable to do anything about it. The Elder Gods struggled to keep him alive in this state of constant, unending agony. The One Being squinted, upping Shao Kahn's turmoil. The Elder Gods eventually prevailed in this battle, pushing Shao Kahn back together as he collapsed onto the floor. "You've gotten stronger," the One Being remarked, sounding almost impressed, "this will not save you."
The One Being calmly approached Shao, picking him by his neck. With a vacant expression it said to him, "It is time for the universe to come to an end." It tossed Shao across the empty, endless void. He just kept falling. It was hard to tell for how long. It could've been seconds, minutes or perhaps even hours. It was hard to keep track of time within the void. That is, if time even existed in this plane of nonexistence.
Shao finally hit the ground. There wasn't a single sound heard when he crashed. Just silence. The One Being approached, looking down on the emperor. Many voices argued in Shao's head on what they could do. It seems all hope had been lost. They couldn't even touch the One Being so how could they even defeat it?
Shao Kahn looked up to the One Being, anger boiling inside of him. This was the being that manipulated him all these years? Its influence is what led him to do everything he had done up to that point? He growled, speaking out against the almighty deity, "Don't you know who I am? I am Shao Kahn! You manipulated me, molded me, all to achieve your goal! I tire of your existence! The only thing that will be erased by the end of this day is you!" The One Being's indifferent stare did not change. It wasn't amused, not angered, it was just emotionless. It charged at Shao, with Shao only narrowly avoiding its attack. At this moment, the Elder Gods' voices were silenced. They took direct control of the emperor, guiding him like a puppet. Shao Kahn ran his fist into the One Being's abdomen, his hand coming out cleanly through its back.
At first the One Being did not react but then, black ooze leaked out from the hole. It screeched as this happened. The One Being forced Shao Kahn away, expressing fear for the first time. Shao Kahn looked at his now ooze soaked hand and then at the hole slowly patching up in the One Being's chest. He smirked as he again went in for a punch. The One Being quickly and effortlessly maneuvered out of the way. The One Being began to flee, not expecting such a volatile reaction to Shao's touch. With this boost of confidence Shao Kahn gave chase to the One Being.
The One Being's angelic wings flapped faster as it tried to escape. It was no use as Shao was approaching in quickly, both arms reaching out for the One Being. It turned around, still flying away. It repeatedly shot out energized spheres at the encroaching Elder Gods. Shao avoided the onslaught of power, coming closer to the One Being. He nearly had his hands on the One Being's shoulders before it took away and ascended. Shao too ascended, the chase continuing. He would not relent.
The One Being looked down, seeing Shao Kahn's deranged yet determined scowl looking back at it. It sent out waves of what looked like glowing white fire at Shao. Shao pushed through the waves of fire, nearly unaffected by their touch. His hands shot out, sending out two of the Elder Gods in their serpentine forms at the One Being. The two Elder Gods latched onto the One Being's body, chewing through it. The One Being smacked them away, the two dragons returning to Shao. Forming out from Shao's hands were two daggers, which he promptly threw at the One Being's pair of wings. Both daggers cut clean through the wings, causing the daggers to mystically change into two of the Kamigodu.
With its wings severed, the One Being fell from the heavens, hitting the ground below. This time the crash made a loud ear piercing boom. Shao floated down to the One Being, wielding both Kamidogu. "Your time is up," he bragged as he marched towards the fallen god.
"You are strong," the One Being admitted, wiping its cheek, "but it is all USELESS." The One Being rose back up and began to charge up. It seemed it was summoning the blast it had used to kill Raiden. Shao stood there, refusing to move. When the blast finally charged, the One Being shot it out. Shao rose up a magical green barrier, deflecting the attack back at the One Being. The One Being cringed as the beam of light shot back at it, melting away all of its flesh.
It seemed the battle was over. Shao Kahn was triumphant over the One Being! However, the void did not return to normal. Existence as we knew it was still not returned. Shao looked around, only to see the One Being's charred skeleton rising up. "Curse this mortal coil I am confined to," it said to itself. Its silvery flesh soon regrew atop the skeleton. It pointed at Shao, "You Elder Gods never had a chance! I'm going to wipe all of you out!" The two omnipotent beings grappled, trying to dominate the other. In time, the One Being prevailed, forcing Shao to the invisible floor. It held him with one hand as the other was raised. It laughed exultantly, "It is the One Being that hold control over all realms! I am the true victor of this day!"
As the One Being bragged, Shao grabbed the one arm that was currently holding him. He squeezed, forcing out a dark discharge yet again. The arm's snowy hue soon changed to black as it released Shao. The One Being couldn't believe what it saw as the one darkened arm ATTACKED it. Soon both arms were seemingly corrupted as Bi-Han took control. He tore off one of his own arms, along with a leg. The One Being screamed, "What are you doing?! I am POWER!" Bi-Han said back to it, "And I am he who controls that power!" The crippled One Being fell as more of its body blackened. Black blood poured out of its mouth as it tore itself apart from the inside. With its one remaining hand, it reached out as it convulsed on the floor. It finally exploded in a heavenly light. Bi-Han's spirit emerged out from what little remained of the corpse. As the One Being died, the world was restored. The One Realm was split, leaving everyone stuck in Edenia.
Waiting for Shao Kahn was Raiden. He greeted the Emperor with a smile, "You did it, Shao. You saved all of reality."
"I did," Shao replied. He gave a smile back at the Thunder God, "The One Being is no more!" Without second thought, he smashed both of the newly remade Kamidogu before they could cause any more trouble. It seemed like something that would never happen but it did. Both Raiden and Shao Kahn were finally getting along. Even Kotal Kahn joined in as he wrapped his arms around both of their shoulders, "You saved the realms! You saved Outworld! I can't believe I'm saying this, but I must thank you, Shao Kahn!"
Shao brushed it off, "Think of it as nothing." The Elder Gods shot out from Shao, returning to the heavens. While there may've been a fight when they returned, there wasn't. All of the corrupted revenants were restored upon Noob's death.
Hanzo dizzily scratched his head, "What happened to Shang…?" Lying on the floor was Shang Tsung's bones and his clothes. It seemed the sorcerer had met his end yet again. What he saw awaiting him instead was a familiar face. It was Bi-Han's soul. He reached out to the apparition, "Sub-Zero…? It can't be."
"It is," Bi-Han said in a calm voice, "I realize the weight this must carry on you. But don't apologize. I should be sorry. Sorry for everything." He turned away from Hanzo, looking down at his younger brother who was still out cold on the floor.
He knelt, Kuai's eyes finally opening to see his brother standing before him. He couldn't believe his eyes, "Bi-Han…? That's impossible unless I'm...dead."
Bi-Han warmly beamed and gave a small chuckle, "You're not. I'm very alive. I needed to see you one last time, brother. It's been so long." The two Sub-Zeroes hugged for one last time. Bi-Han had this to say to Kuai, "Don't let what I said to you as Noob Saibot get to you. I'm proud of you and what you've done for the Lin Kuei. You might be softer than I was, but look at where being so harsh has got me. You're doing things right, Kuai. And I love you." Bi-Han then faded away for parts unknown, as Kuai sat there. He was just so happy to see his real brother just one more time.
Johnny Cage laughed, "I can't believe we're alive! I thought we were gonna die!" This wasn't the first near death experience for Johnny Cage, far from it, but it was possibly the most anxiety inducing thus far. Indeed, things were great for Johnny right now. Until he realized one thing, "Wait a second, Cassie's still in the desert! My princess is in the horrible deserts of Edenia!"
However his fears were quashed when Ermac came in, carrying everyone else out there with him. Cassie ran towards her father, giving him a big hug. "Oh man," she began, "I can't believe that just happened!" Sonya soon joined in on the group hug, "I don't even know if I understand what just happened but I'm just happy to be here now."
Ermac turned to Jade, "Well it seems our trek towards the Sky Temple was pointless."
Jade shook her head, "Oh Ermac, it wasn't for nothing. Think about it, if you weren't in the desert, who would've saved all those people?" She motioned across the room to the reuniting teams, families, friends, and…Havik. Ermac nodded, "It would seem you're right. We guess in some way, it did serve a purpose."
Jade was happy to see him realize this, "Ermac I've been meaning to tell you something." Before she could say another word, Kitana ran in and waved at Jade, "Jade! You're still alive!"
"Oh? Did you think I was going to die out there," she jokingly asked. Kitana awkwardly tried to answer, "Uhhhh hehe, no? No no, of course not, but can you blame me for being worried?"
"Ahh I'm just messing with you," Jade playfully teased, "I'm glad to see you're still the same as ever, my queen."
"I'm happy to see you're still the same too," Kitana retorted before lightheartedly elbowing Jade.
Raiden was happy to see everyone getting along but realized he had to return to the Sky Temple. There were still members of the Brotherhood of Shadow there after all. He bowed to Shao Kahn and Kotal Kahn before departing, "I'm sorry, but I must leave!" He proceeded to teleport away in a bolt of thunder directly after that.
This left Kotal and Shao alone. The two stared at each other in contempt for a few seconds before Kotal offered out his hand. In response Shao shook his hand, the two of them earning each other's respect.
"You still have no place as ruler of Outworld, Shao," Kotal said bluntly, "however there still might be a place for you yet. It will take convincing the Elder Gods but perhaps, you can act as protector as Outworld once more."
Shao Kahn tilted his head, "Would you really trust me after I poisoned my last ruler? After all I've done to you? After all I've done to the realms?"
Kotal nodded, "You just saved all of reality. I will never forget what you've done…but I can forgive you for it. I hope my trust is not misplaced."
"It isn't," Shao firmly responded. The two departed for Outworld, their forces leaving with them…except for one.
Shao looked back to Ermac, "Ermac? Aren't you coming?"
"No," Ermac replied, "After all we've done for this realm, we'd like to stay here in Edenia. That is if you'd be okay with it, Lord Kahn."
Shao waved him off, "I have no control over you anymore. You are free to do as you will, Ermac. You've earned it." The two Outworld leaders left along with their loyal solders, a hopefully bright future was up ahead for Outworld.
With Raiden gone, the Earthrealmers were about ready to depart too. Sonya took out her portal device, opening a portal back to a Special Forces facility. She called for them to leave. One by one they departed, including Kuai Liang. That was until Kitana came to Sub-Zero and pulled him back before he could leave.
"What do you want," Sub-Zero asked, unsure of why she was holding him back. She stood back and made a demand of him, "I would like for the Lin Kuei to stay here in Edenia, acting as its defense force for us. That is, if you'd be willing to stay here."
Sub-Zero stroked his masked chin, "You know, I'll have to think about that. But for now, I have unfinished business in Earthrealm. I will be back to let you know, though."
Kitana waved at him as he left, the portal closing as soon as he left. Kitana looked around the now damaged palace that was partially sunken into the ground. The ceiling and walls were coated with holes, the rugs and tapestry was torn and it was in overall disarray. She sighed, "I'm going to have to get this place cleaned up."
Raiden returned to the Sky Temple, seeing not a hint of the Brotherhood. It seemed like they were returned to the Netherrealm. Waiting for him in the Jinsei Chamber were an apprehended Mileena and a regular Smoke and Sareena.
Smoke looked at his now reformed hands and then to Raiden, "I can't believe it, I'm back to normal! I'm alive again!" He ran up to Raiden, "Where's Sub-Zero? I need to know!"
Raiden shrugged, "I don't know. But maybe I can lead you to him when I can." He walked past the tied up Mileena, who was currently hissing and screeching at Raiden, to see Sareena. She was looking wistfully out the window. He placed a hand on her shoulder, "I don't know who you are, but I assume you were one of Noob Saibot's combatants."
"I was more than that," she replied sadly, "or at least, I was. Before he became what he did."
Right as she said that, the spirit of Bi-Han appeared in front of her. She rubbed her eyes, "Sub-Zero?! I can't believe it, it's you!"
He held her hands, "It is, Sareena. I've been waiting to see you again." The two of them were silent for a moment before Sareena looked down, "I guess you're going to have to leave again, aren't you?"
"We can leave, together," Bi-Han replied. Sareena shook her head, "But I'm a demon, I have no place in the heavens."
Raiden interjected, "Perhaps not now, but maybe I can help. The Jinsei can purify any being. As long as you are not malevolent, it can help you." He motioned her to it, "Normally I would not allow this but I can't help but feel partially responsible for Bi-Han's situation. I should've tried harder to prevent his transformation into Noob Saibot."
She bowed to him, "Thank you." As she stepped into the blinding light of the Jinsei, her corruption from being a Netherrealm demon faded. When she walked out, her physical form disintegrated and all that was left was a spirit. Without words, she grabbed Bi-Han's hands and the two ascended to a higher plane.
However Raiden's joy would soon turn to despair as when he saw Smoke again he realized, "The rest of the restored revenants are still in the Netherrealm…!"
And so ends Armageddon. I'm a sucker for happy endings and I hope you are too since this got pretty sappy. But it's not over yet! As Raiden still has to return the rest of the Revenants to their proper realms and there will be an epilogue. But as far as the main story goes this is pretty much the end. While writing this story I had to ask myself, "Where would Shao Kahn be at the end of it? Would he still be the same or would he be a changed man?" In the end, I feel this story works best as a redemption story of sorts. In my opinion it might have felt ultimately pointless if in the end Shao Kahn still turned right around to being the same Konquerer he was before. So I knew I had to end Shao's side of the story on a good note.
Anyway it might not be explicit enough so I thought I'd also explain just what happened to the One Being. Since Shao Kahn was enhanced by the Elder Gods I thought he'd have some sort of purifying touch that'd come through at the time. This is why the One Being reacted negatively to Shao's touch. Why didn't it come out before? Well before that moment, the Elder Gods weren't all concentrated. The Elder Gods were filled with fear at the One Being's presence and were in complete disarray. This is why multiple arguments were going on in Shao Kahn's head and why it was only when the Elder Gods took full control of Kahn that the purifying touch finally came through. Just thought I'd clear that up.
Anyway, I'll see you in the next and final chapter of the Return of Shao Kahn!