Outworld- Main Arena
"Torr will smash Ice Lady!" Ferra yells, just as Torr slams his arm hammer style into Frost, who crumbles to the ground. Hanzo watches from the sidelines, Takeda and the other Earthrealm warriors by his side. Raiden was also there, looking very angry at the fight before him. The day before Sonya had lost to the Shokan, Jek'al, and Frost was now struggling to get the upper hand with Ferra/Torr. Hanzo knew that it would either be Frost or Jacqui Briggs to go against the pair, but he assumed the emperor would have gone with the latter seeing as she's been defeated by them before.
"I will crush your frozen head into pieces!" Frost yells, forming two ice daggers before swiping at Torr's massive body. He catches one of her arms and lifts her up so Ferra can swipe her with her own blades but Frost manages to get away with an ice clone. It's the first time Hanzo has really seen the female ninja in action. The first time he met her she had tried to kill him, and now he realizes that it's her rash decisions that holds her back. Her technique is fine, it's to be expected when training under Kuai Liang, but she knows no patience.
"She's struggling out there," Takeda notes.
"Yeah, she fought the same way with Cassie all those years ago," Jacqui adds. "Her abilities have grown, but she fights with so much unguided intensity."
"She's trying to prove herself," Hanzo explains. "Her need to be worthy in Kuai Liang's eye will be her downfall." The fight doesn't last long soon after his comment. In the end Frost is on the ground, unconscious, and Ferra/Torr stands over her, their arms raised in victory.
"Ice Lady no match for we!" Ferra declares, Torr roaring in agreement. Kotal Khan stands proudly from his throne.
"Ferra/Torr are the victors!" He announces. The arena is filled with cheers from all the Outworlders. Hanzo enters the arena with Takeda and Jacqui to help Frost get back on her feet. When Jacqui grabs her, she comes to and smacks her hand away.
"Don't touch me!" She yells. "I will rip their heads off!"
"You dishonor your clan, Frost," Hanzo scolds her, tired of her childish behavior. "Take your defeat with pride. Not many have faced Ferra/Torr and lived to tell the tale. Sub-Zero would be proud."
"Sub-Zero is a fool!" Frost grunts. "He has wasted my time and has taught me nothing! Now I must return to Earthrealm as a failure and it's all his fault!"
"You must learn how to accept the responsibilities of your actions," Hanzo tells her. Frost glares at him as she storms off. He watches as she leaves only to catch Raiden approaching the arena.
"I wish to announce the next fight," He says, his god-like voice booming over the crowd's cheers. Kotal Khan narrows his eyes but does not protest. Raiden points directly to Hanzo.
"Representing Earthrealm will be Hanzo Hasashi, the hellspawn known as Scorpion!" He delcares. Hanzo glares at the god, he's aware of how much he detests his former identity.
"And who will you have him fight?" Kotal Kahn asks. Hanzo glances at Jacqui and then at the remaining opponents to choose from. He hopes Raiden chooses Erron Black to go against him, for it will be the only way to save Jacqui from the destructive path that is revenge.
"He will face...Reptile!" Hanzo should have known this would be the outcome. The Raiden he once knew wouldn't have made that decision, in fact, the Rainden he once knew wouldn't be trying to invade Earthrealm. But everything was different now. Hanzo makes his way to the center of the arena just as Reptile does. Riaden makes sure to pass him as he exits.
"I hope you know how important this win for Earthrealm will be," He threatens, before walking away. Hanzo ignores him, instead bowing before Reptile, who mirrors his movements.
"It is an honor to fight the master of the Shirai Ryu," Reptile says, starting to turn invisible. Hanzo narrows his eyes as the fight begins, grabbing his spear.
"GET OVER HERE!"
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Earthrealm- Black Dragon Headquarters
Claude dreaded his return to his father after failing to defeat Cassie Cage and retrieve Kaiyo like he was told. However, his teammates were dreading the return even more than him, as they feared his father more.
"We can still go back," Piezo says, attempting to convince him. "We can go back and fix everything." The other male was gripping his seat as he continued to drive back to headquarters. Opal was sitting in the passenger seat next to him. He could tell she was feeling the same way as Piezo, but she wasn't saying anything.
"We'd only fail again," Claude tells him. "We couldn't beat them when we had the element of surprise, there's no way we could beat them now that they've joined forces."
"We have to try!" Piezo yells, getting angry.
"We have to accept our failure!" Claude snaps back, his voice matching his friend's.
"Easy for you to say," Opal mumbles. "Kano won't do anything serious to his son." Claude sighs as he finally makes it past Jarek and the others on guard. That's where they were wrong. His father was anything but forgiving and constantly reminded Claude of the fact on a daily basis. He parks the truck and starts making his way into the building with the others. When they enter, Tremor and Kano greet them at the top of the staircase. Well, Tremor does. Kano just glares down at them with his good eye, probably already knowing they failed.
"Where's my package?" Kano demands, making his way down the stairs. Piezo and Opal step back, opting for him to be the one to deliver the news, which was fine. He was the leader of this team, he had to be the one responsible for victories and their failures.
"We couldn't break passed Sub-Zero and Special Forces," Claude tells him. "We failed-" He's cut off by his own painful shout as a hunting knife impales his right shoulder. He grunts as he falls to his knees, gripping the blade and yanking it out. His father is beside him now, his anger oozing out of his body. He feels the ground beneath him shift and hears his teammates scream before he turns to see Tremor has trapped them with his rock.
"I don't accept failure!" Kano yells, slamming his fist into Claude's cheek. His red eye starts glowing before he directs it heat ray at Piezo and Opal who scream and squirm in their rock confinements. Hearing their suffering breaks him, maybe he should have listened to them and gone back after Kaiyo. He should have done more. By now Jarek and the other members of the clan have shown up to see what was happening to Kano's 'elite team' and Kano loved performing in front of an audience. They cheered him on with every punch, kick, and cut he gave Piezo and Opal. During this Tremor had trapped Claude as well, preventing him from helping his friends. Kano spitting in Piezo's bloodied face must have been a sign he was finished with them and started walking off.
"Tremor, Jarek, prepare to leave!" He ordered, walking passed Claude. "We'll grab this kid ourselves. Show these embarrassments how it's done." He knew he should've stayed quiet but something inside Claude snapped hearing those words. Maybe it was the fact that his friends were half beaten to death or maybe it was because it was his own father who said it.
"That's funny," He mumbles. "Only thing you manage to accomplish is getting captured by Special Forces again and again. Hopefully General Blade doesn't show up and make you her bitch again." Kano is on him in seconds, his large hand gripping Claude's jaw so he could look up at him. At first the man is glaring at him but then, he smiles and all the courage Claude had before seems to have vanished.
"You know, I get tired of hearing people talk about how they can never tell you're my son," He says, taking out his other knife. "Maybe now they'll be able to see the resemblance." Claude has no time to reply before his father shoves his blade into his right eye. All he can do is scream. And scream. And scream.
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Earthrealm- Raiden's Hidden Temple, Siberia
Although the death of Ashrah is still fresh on Lorelei's mind, she still has to focus on the mission at hand. Bo' Rai Cho said that the god, Fujin, would be able to help her remember her past so she left to Earthrealm with his student, Shujinko, to find him. Now they were in a frozen forest, on top of a hill that overlooked an abandoned temple. Shujinko was studying the perimeter hard, not saying a word since they discovered it.
"Raiden could be hiding Lord Fujin in there," He says at last. "We will enter, but with much caution."
"This Raiden," she asks, the name not familiar. "He's evil?"
Shujinko sighs. "That question remains a mystery. Lord Raiden is a god who was assigned to protect Earthrealm, but it seems he's fallen from his path." They get up from their hiding place among the trees and begin making their way down the hill. "Bo' Rai Cho revealed that Fujin had expressed his worries for Raiden shortly after his disappearance. I fear he blames himself for dismissing it."
"If this Raiden was once an ally, a great one at that, then it's no wonder your teacher had doubts," Lorelei assures him. They enter the temple, which is old and dusty, but the building itself still seems to hold despite the years it's been abandoned. They make their way to a large hallway, a bight light shinning at the end of it. They slowly approach it, keeping aware of their surroundings.
"I find it very suspicious that there's activity in his temple when Lord Raiden is indeed in Outworld," Shujinko notes.
"Good thing we walked right in," She says. Neither of them had weapons on them, Bo Rai Cho's trainings don't involve them anymore and he flat out denied her access to Ashrah's sword. He confirmed what Queen Nitara had accused of the sword when her and Ethrot had attacked them. The sword was made to slay all vampires and would drain the life of those who wield it as it controls them. Before they left he had swore to destroy it.
"Stay alert," Shujinko whispers as they finally reach the end of the hall. The bright light seems to be coming from several electrical currents, all wrapped around a man with long, white hair. "It's Fujin!" Shujinko yells, running up to the unconscious god. He stops right in front of the electric prison, appearing to be looking for any type of fault or way in to save Fujin. The god seemed to be coming to, shifting slightly and murmuring something neither of them could hear.
"What's he saying?" Lorelei asks. Shujinko brings his ear closer to Fujin's lips, trying to hear what the male was mumbling.
"...trap..."
Lorelei barely has time to register the words when Shujinko pushes her out of the way and gets hit with a powerful blast of red energy. He slams into the nearest wall with a loud grunt and Lorelei watches in horror as the blood-red energy spreads, trapping him to the wall. She follows the source of the red blast and finds a man approaching her with a giant hammer, his free hand having excess red energy coming from it. He was large and in black and red armor. His hair was jet black minus the streak of white, matching his stark white eyes.
"Lord Raiden doesn't humor intruders," He says. He sends another red blast in Lorelei's direction, but she meets it with a green energy blast of her own. She doesn't even have to look down at her body to know her markings are glowing green, the man's surprised reaction more than enough confirmation. "Those are ancient markings of Edenia," He says. "Long before I even aligned myself with Quan Chi and the Brotherhood of Shadow."
"And who might you be?" Lorelei asks, trying to search for anything she could use for a weapon."
"I am Reiko," He announces. "Servant of Lord Raiden, Keeper of the prisoner, Fujin." Lorelei glances at the man trapped inside the electrical prison. He was supposed to be a god? She turns back to Reiko.
"Release him," she says. Reiko smirks.
"I do not take orders from you!" He challenges. Taking the hammer in both hands, Reiko leaps into the air, slamming it in the spot Lorelei had just been moments before. She barely has time to roll up to her feet before he's swinging it again, nearly hitting her as she continues dodging his swings. He slams the hammer hard enough that it gets stuck into the ground. Lorelei takes the opportunity to jump and walk on the hammer before slamming her knee in Reiko's face. He stumbles back but blocks her next kick before jabbing her in the gut twice. Lorelei doubles over and Reiko grabs her hair and throws her to the ground. He turns around to try to grab the hammer but Lorelei blasts him with a large energy blast to the back. While he's stunned, Lorelei turns to blast Shujinko free. When he's released from his blood trap he takes a fighting stance next to Lorelei.
"It's over demon!" Shujinko yells. Reiko grunts as he gets back to his feet.
"I will never fail my master!" He shouts, blasting two red blasts of energy in their direction. They jump out of the way, which gives Reiko the opportunity to leap to Fujin and teleport away. Shujinko rushes to where they once were and curses the air.
"They're gone," He says. Lorelei quickly joins him.
"That man was a demon?" she asks.
"Yes," Shujinko says. "He belonged to the same brotherhood as Ashrah, before she renounced her evil." Lorelei nods her head, remembering her friend.
"What should we do now?" She asks.
"I fear I have no other leads," He says. "With Raiden turning evil, I'm not sure which of our allies to trust now. Bo Rai Cho mentioned Special Forces were in the tournament, so I think it's best not to trust them."
"That still doesn't answer my question," She says, smirking a little. Her symbols have long since stopped glowing, her skin appearing normal again.
"We'll travel to a temple of Fujin's," He says. "Teleporting a god is difficult when it's against their will, he may have been able to only transport him to his own temple, where he would always be welcomed."
"Let's get to it then," she says, making her way to the exit with Shujinko by her side.
Outworld- Shang Tsung's Flesh Pits.
Mileena stalked down to the basement where Shang Tsung practices on his experiments. It was the place she was born in, but not just her. The Flesh Pits also saw the creation of Ermac, Skarlet, and Meat as well. When she appears she spots Shang Tsung, smiling into a large cage hidden by shadows, and Meat, who cowardly stood next to him. When the sorcerer notices her waiting, he bows.
"My empress," He greets. "What brings you down here? You should be practicing."
Mileena growled at this. Although she was able to sense her clones, she has yet been able to strengthen her mental bond with the power to control them all just yet. Ermac was helping her hone her link with them, but after so many failures, she grew restless. "What if I'm not strong enough to control them?" she asks.
"You will," He encourages. "You are the daughter of-"
"I KNOW WHAT I AM!" She growls. "I was foolish enough to think my identity alone would have Outworld at my feet and instead I was murdered by it's very people. I will not make the same mistakes twice." She thought being the daughter of Shao Kahn would be good enough to rule Outworld, but others saw differently. Now that she has returned from the dead, she would do all she can to make sure she didn't return to the grave so soon. Not without her crown.
"Fear not, my empress," Shang Tsung assures her. "I have many plans set up from numerous outcomes. Right now all we need to do is strengthen our side and wait for the right opportunity to attack our enemies."
Mileena hears him out, holding on to every word. "What is Kotal Khan up to?" She asks.
"Right now he's fighting for the survival of Outworld," Shang Tsung answers. "It appears Raiden has come to be...possessed. He's relentlessly trying to destroy Outworld once and for all.
"Is this your doing?" she asks. Shang Tsung shakes his head. She can't understand why Raiden would take on such an invasive role, seeing how that was the reason why he detested her father, but it did play to her advantage. The chamber doors open and in walk Goro, Baraka, and Ermac. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I'll be sending them to Earthrealm as spies," Shang Tsung says. "For some reason many Earthrealm warriors have not joined Raiden on his quest. I need to know why."
"Very well," She says. "Anything I can do?"
"Oh yes," Shang Tsung says, turning back to the cage. Without any warning, he opens it and out runs a savage clone of herself, mouth about to snap at her throat. Mileena is too taken by surprise to take a fighting stance and only leans back.
Stop!
The clone stops in her tracks and Mileena's eyes grow. She did it. She was able to stop one of her clones. With a smile of approval, Shang Tsung walks up to.
"Keep training Mileena."