Goro: Prince of the Shokan

Chapter 5 - Sorcery of Souls

I laughed as I ate the last of the celebration feast in the honor

of our victory in the wastelands. " Quite weak those Centaur are," Verox laughed.

" They are not even a match for us with their four hooves, might as well trade two of their legs in

and become Minotaurs, we will always rule this part of Outworld."

" Let us not forget why this whole incident happened in the first place Verox," I reminded him. " I believe someone set us up, the dead rising again and everything, I smell sorceory in it all."

" My son is correct," father agreed, " We cannot let this horror continue."

" This is all nonsense, the centaurs have been defeated badly, no further danger can come of it."

" Don't be so sure, the Centaurs did not use this sorceory, I know for sure, they think we did it. "

Karakas not supporting the theory,grinded his teeth and sat back in his chair.

" The Prince has spoken," Kintaro declared. " If he thinks we should search for this magical menace I am in. "

" Very well," father said standing up," Goro you may organize a group to confirm the Shokan mines safety. "

I bowed to father and left.

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" There are more traces of magic down this way Prince Goro," A Shokan soldier exclaimed. " It seems your analysis was correct."

I walked carefully down the tunnel with torch in hand and five soldiers close behind me. " Another dead Shokan," I said lowly.

Kintaro grunted. " This one is not like the others. "

Suddenly the ceiling collapsed further back in the tunnel. Extremely close to Kintaro and another soldier. " Kintaro!" I shouted.

I saw Kintaro walk through the dust.

" I'm fine Goro," he reported as he coughed, " lets hurry along."

We continued walking through the caves. We heard moaning so I ordered Kintaro to scout ahead.

Another crash was hear so I quickly ran ahead to help out. No one was there. Then the floor collapsed under my feet. I quickly spread out all six limbs to catch my self but everything broke apart as I reached. I fell into the darkness.

I decided to climb back up but I was suddenly ambushed by five zombies. I quickly buried one of their faces into rock. I tore a salagmite from the ground and imapled it through two other zombies. I was about to rip the heads from the other two zombie's shoulders but ten more zombies emerged from the ground. There is no use in killing these disgusting creatures again, they will only keep asking for more. I swatted one into the wall and took off down the tunnel. Suddenly a rock rose from the ground and I tripped over it and fell down a perfectly smooth slope, And tumbled into a wide,circular room,with a high celing. A fireball shot from behind me and disintergrated a zombie into dust. Kintaro jumped over me and ripped another four to pieces. I took the last three in my hands, raised them into the air and smashed them into the ground all at once, painting the rock blood red.

I laughed," Thank you Kintaro, the help was not needed,however."

Kintaro laughed too. It was an evil laugh,yet, it wasn't a Shokan laugh. Rather a high-pitched laugh.

" Kintaro what is.." I could not finished my sentence as he tore the blood from my face with his massive claw. I stepped back and wiped the blood away. " What is the matter with you! "

Kintaro made the same laugh of a weakling and lunged at me. I stepepd to the side and pushed him.

He lost balace and I quickly ran up and elbowed him. He tumbled backwards. He spat a fireball from his mouth which I easily dodged. " Kintaro you can do better than .." I had to stop speaking to dodge an incoming three fireballs he launched from his hands.

' What was going on here? ' I thought. Kintaro once again lunged after me I leaned back, grabbed him and flung him into the wall behind me. Not only could I tell that it wasn't Kintaro by his voice, but also because he lacked Kintaros superior fighting skill. " You are not Kintaro. "

" Not as stupid as you look." said the imposter.

The imposter than morphed into a man. Puny compared to me. With long black hair and

a long black beard,greying. His skin was wrinkled, he was fairly old. He wore long purple robes.

" No one insults Goro in his own terrirtory." I defended.

" It was a compliment." he laughed.

I fired a fireball from my fist at him. He shot a fireball which collided with mine and he

shot two more, hitting me sqaure in the chest. I stood my ground and closed in on him. He jumped in the air and tried to kick me. I moved out of the way and he tripped over some rocks. I jumped at him but he quickly transformed into some kind of reptilian creature and spat a huge glob of green substance at me. It pinned me against the wall. It was very sticky. He got up from the floor and approached me.

He laughed," Never underestimate your superior."

I shoved my foot throught the green gloob and kicked him in the stomach. I ripped

the rest of the gloob off of me and threw the man into the far wall. " Never underestimate the strength of a Shokan," I replied.

He transformed into a young man wearing symbols of peace and a razor-rimmed hat. He chucked it at me, I leaned to the side but it still grazed the side of my arm, giving him the chance to deliever a punch to my face, a weak one at that. I looked back at him and grabbed him him but he slid out of my grasp and kneed me in the stomach. He was too fast. Finally I grabbed him, he tried to punch me but I caught both of his fists with my upper hands. I then pushed him away and used all four arms and did a overhead smash, bringing him to the ground. He attempted to get back up but I stamped him in the stomach with my massive foot. I shoved my foot into my ribs and was about to finish him when he transformed into me. I hesitated to hit him, but he did not share that thought, he began to pummel me. We parried each others attacks untill it was obvious I was faster. We joined hands and began a test of strength. I leaned in and gave the sorceror a head butt followed by a shoulder ram knocking him flat on his back. He morphed back to his original form. I was about to finish him when he spoke up.

" Yes, you will do," he laughed.

" What? Who are you weakling!" I yelled.

" I am Shang Tsung, arch-sorceror of the empire of Shao Kahn."

" What are you doing here? " I interrogated.

He laughed," You Shokan really are a pack of stupid beasts."

I growled. " Get to the point Sorceror, do you want to live?"

" It was I who reincarnated the dead, it was I who set these recent Shokan and Centaurian battles in motion. " He said proudly.

" Goro could crush your head right now for all of this. You were playing with us for your own personnal amusement!" I warned.

" I wish, but I was banished here by Shao Kahn for my recent failure. "

I laughed," You are the weakling who lost the tournament. I know now. and he sent you to find a suitable champion to clean up your mess!"

Shang Tsung ignored my taunts.

" I set up the battle between you and the Centaurs so I could see who was the strongest. I assumed your foolish arguments would set a battle between you both but I was indeed surprised to learn you, the least stupid of the Shokan, was not blinded by bloodlust like your comrades. I had to use my ability to transfer souls to give you the push you needed to investigate and do battle. You will compete in the Mortal Kombat tournament to allow access to Earthrealm in the name of Shao Kahn. "

" Goro doesn't serve anyone."

" You know, Goro may not be welcomed in Kuaton," Shang Tsung morphed into me. " If he decided to kill his own men and betray his kingdom."

I growled and grabbed the sorceror by the throat and pinned him against the wall. " You wouldn't get the chance to impersonate me and ruin my name."

" Who says I haven't already?" The sorceror squeeked.

I tightened my grip as he let out a cough. " Also Shao Kahn is willing to allign his army with yours to wipe out the centaur once and for all."

I smiled and dropped Shang Tsung, he coughed and began breathing heavily. " Interesting proposition, sorceror."

" Meet me at Shao Kahns palace tomorrow."

" It is a deal," to which we exchanged handshakes, my hand nearly crushing his.

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NEXT CHAPTER: Goro vs Kung Lao.