Finding a New Way

The Empress did not need him. And Ermac knew she would be safe with both Reptile and Sub Zero nearby. So with some time to himself he fought a place of solitude within in the island. It was here that he tested the powers given to him by Shao Khan.

Before him stood a great pyramid. With a raise of his hand green covered the structure. And when Ermac's hand move the pyramid moved with it. When he felt he'd lifted it enough he set it back down.

"Demon!" a sharp voice called out. Ermac turned his head to see a woman in white robes walking through the darkness and coming towards him.

"Demon?" He repeated." Who do you refer to?"

"You!" she pointed a finger at him." And no other. Stand and face me!" Ermac now turned to face her fully, his arms resting at his side.

"A challenge?" He said.

"Indeed." She said. She reached her hand into the air and Ermac watched as light appeared in her hand and formed into a sword. The handle was small but the blade had a wavy appearance. A strange weapon but it did not frighten Ermac. He had beaten armed foes before.

"Very well." He agreed. He spread his legs apart and held his hands out before him." Do what you can."

Ashrah jumped forward her white robes flowing behind her as she crossed the distance between them and slashed her blade at Ermac. He simply tilted his body back and allowed the blade to pass above him. Ashrah stepped forward and swung again only for Ermac to avoid her once more.

She stepped in once more this time trying to kick him on his right hip. Ermac shot his arms out and held his hands open, blocking her kick. Ashrah pivoted on her feet and swung around at Ermac's left but was blocked again.

Ashrah twirled around once more and slashed at Ermac with the sword. But he simply teleported away to reappeared several feet behind her.

"Why are you here?" He questioned." Did Kotal send you here?"

"Outworld's Emperor does not concern me." She said turning to him." I have come for you!"

"Me?" Ermac questioned." Why?"

"Your power is known far and wide across all the realms." Ashrah told." To Kill you would complete my quest."

"And what quest is that?" Instead of an answer Ashrah leaped forward swinging her blade. But Ermac decided not to dodge this time and instead caught the blade between both hands.

Ashrah gripped the sword tighter, causing it to shine and flash like a star.

And the blade seemed to melt between his hands and slashed down the left side of his body. But Ermac surprisingly did not bleed. Instead the wails of a thousand voices cried out from the open wound. And a moment later some of the souls that bound him broke free and floated into the sky where they disappeared.

"How can that be?" Ermac questioned. Magic from one of the most powerful sorcerers had created him, only something of similar power could undo it.

"This blade is called Datusha." She told." A weapon made by the Elder Gods. Its purpose is for slaying demons. And I will use it to slay you!" She jumped forward and swung once more. Ermac chose instead to dodge this time and jumped back. Just narrowly avoid the tip of the blade as it swung past his stomach. The souls that made him continued to cry and fly into the sky to escape. With each one gone he lost more and more strength. He placed his right hand over the wound and with whatever power he had tried to keep them in place.

Ashrah continued to advance this time swinging the sword to try and take off his head. Ermac swung out his arm and hit his arm against her's. The blade swung past his head and cut into the air but now Ashrah was within his grasp. With both hands on her now, he pivoted into her to swing her up and over his head to slam her onto the ground.

In the struggle her blade was dropped and slid into the nearby tall grass. But Ashrah's hand was still free and with it she reached up and punched Ermac in the face. Then a second time, forcing him to release her. The two distanced themselves from each other only to swiftly jump back into battle.

Ashrah jumped forward and swung her leg out only for Ermac to block. Then he moved in with a roundhouse kick that she ducked under. She ducked down but quickly came back up with an uppercut. He titled his head back to avoid her and moved back in with the same move, punching her right into the chin sending her flying into the air.

Acting quickly Ermac outstretched his hand and caught her within mid-air. Then he swung his arm down and slammed her against the ground. She put both her feet up against him and pushed him off her.

As Ashrah jumped back to her feet she looked around to view her foe but found he had gone.

"Coward!" she yelled." Show yourself!" And that's exactly what he did. For less than a second Ermac appeared on her right where he punched her in the face. Then appeared again on her left to punch her head in the opposite direction. Sloppily Ashrah turned and swung her fist where he had been. But now her side was exposed and she could feel two sharp punches go into her ribs.

She was getting slower now. Ermac was everywhere and nowhere at once. But now she finally managed to get a look at him because he stopped moving he was standing right before her.

He stood before her and with a swing of his leg brought it up and kicked her across the face. Her head spun around like a top, spitting blood from her mouth.

Ashrah fell back and crashed to the ground below with Ermac standing over her.

The girl lay before him as beaten as Shujinko had the day prior before Sub Zero. And like Sub Zero, Ermac had mixed feelings about killing this foe. True the Empress had ordered their barbaric finishers to stop but Ermac had his own reason here.

The Blade Datusha was several feet away, out of reach of both of them. Ermac raised his hand and surrounded the blade, levitating it into the air. Then turning and putting the blade at her feet.

He too knew what it looked like to live with a fighting purpose, to fight to complete yourself. No he would not kill her today, not when there was a demon out there who deserved her blade buried within them.

"You will be needing that." Ermac said as the blade was laid before her. She looked up to him shocked. But he said no more, the matter was concluded. She would not continue fighting in this tournament but she would fight again, someday.

Meanwhile Grandmaster Sub Zero prepared himself for the next trial he would face. Both Mileena and Kotal Khan had plenty of powerful warriors at their disposal and no doubt he's face one of them soon.

The big problem with that was that they'd all seen what he could do. And no doubt his next foe was a complete stranger to him. So he prepared himself for that worst possible option.

"Lin Kuei!" a voice called to him. Only one person called him that. He turned to see Empress Kitana making her way through the trees and towards him.

"Good Morning Empress." Sub Zero said to her.

"Good Morning." She replied." What brings you out here?" There was sincerity in her voice he had not heard before. He had only heard her ever sound like that around Jade. No doubt after their most recent conversation the Empress was trying to live a less hospitable life. Like he told her before 'It's a start'.

"The Tournament continues." He answered." And I must sharpen my skills for my next opponent." He spread his legs apart and threw a jab at the air.

"Yes." Kitana said." Though I doubt you'll have many more old men to deal with." Sub Zero was never known for his sense of humor. So even if Kitana was trying to be funny he didn't laugh." May I join you?"

"If you'd like." He said with a high kick. She took a stance next to him and began running through her own drills. Her dress left nothing to the imagination causing even the stoic grandmaster to lose his focus for a moment.

"Why are you looking at me like that? She questioned.

"I just wonder why you wear your mask." He quickly said." I have already seen your face." Kitana titled her head as if trying to remember. After a few moments she nodded her head as it came back to her. Dariou the Assassin.

"Habit I suppose." She answered.

"But it offers no protection. Of what purpose is a mask if it can't protect your face?"

"It does protect my face thought not in the manner your thinking." Kitana said. "I wonder now what you look like underneath that mask." Kitana said. Sub Zero turned away from her and kept his vision forward.

"I have a nose, a mouth and two ears just like everyone else." He told." Nothing extraordinary."

"It was forbidden for any man to see my face." Kitana told." If my father still ruled he would have taken your eyes for what you saw." Sub Zero's face squinted under his mask. Talk about being over protective.

"I will assume I shall not meet that fate." He responded with." Though my eyes not be as valuable as you think."

"What do you mean?" Kitana asked him. Sub Zero turned and faced her fully. He reached out and touched right hand and was surprised that she allowed him to do so. He guided her hand up to showcase it before his left eye.

"Show me something." He said. Kitana did as requested and put up two fingers.

"Two." He responded." Now the other side." Kitana put down on hand and brought the other up before the other side of Sub Zero's face.

"How many?" she asked showing up the same amount.

"Two?" He answered.

"Very good." She said putting her hand back down." But I don't see what-"

"I guessed on that one." Sub Zero told. Kitana looked at him confused." Try it again." She lifted her hand back up in front of his right eye and this time showcased one finger. He continued to look at it and after a few moments just shook his head.

"You're blind?" Kitana questioned.

"Only in my right eye." Sub Zero pointed to the red scar over his right eye and the dim color in it.

"How did that happen?" Sub Zero's gaze quickly turned away from her and he looked to the ground.

"There was a fight many years ago." He told." I was young and impatient. He was older and more experienced. He managed to move past by defenses and slash me."

"I would hope you gave him worse. Evident by you standing here I'd say you did."

"He is dead to be true." He nodded but still not making eye contact.

"And did you make him so? Is this why you will not kill?" He said nothing. Noticing his disdain she sought to chance the subject. "I notice you always wear that pendant." She motioned to the Dragon Medallion on his neck bringing his own attention to it." I don't think I've ever seen you without it?"

"The Dragon Medallion." He told pointing to the beast embroidered on it." The heirloom of the Lin Kuei and a symbol of my authority as Grandmaster."

"Is that all it is? A symbol?"

"No." He shook his head." It is more than that. It enhances my powers. Increases my strength and speed to beyond that of any Mortal." Kitana seemed to have her doubts.

"If that's so then we should have nothing to fear from any foe on this island."

"I wouldn't go that far. I still have some way to go before I master it completely."

"Oh?" Kitana questioned." Very well then." Before Sub Zero knew it she swung up her arm and tried to punch him in the face, but he managed to catch it." Let's see just how good you are." She swung up her other arm, this time Sub Zero ducked under her. Stepping back and putting up his arms ready to fight.

But they had not been completely alone. D'Vorah as instructed had continued to follow them. And while she choose not to fight just yet, she heard everything.