Disclaimer: I do not own Akame ga Kill! or Mortal Kombat. Those belong to their respective owners.
Epilogue: Sub-Zero
When word got out about Earthrealm's envoy vanishing while visiting the Empire, it was assumed that diplomacy with Prime Minister Honest had failed, and that acting ambassadors Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage had been captured or killed along with their Special Forces escorts.
Believing that an Imperial attack was imminent, Sub-Zero mobilized the Lin Kuei, to stand as Earthrealm's first line of defense. His anticipation was correct, as the Imperial Army did indeed launch a foray into Earthrealm with General Esdeath at the lead.
The bulk of Earthrealm's defenders met the Imperial Forces with great resistance, while the Lin Kuei engaged the formidable members of the Jaegers, Rakshasa Demons, and Wild Hunt. Sub-Zero himself challenged Esdeath in single kombat.
The General clashed with the Grandmaster in a battle of ice vs ice, with both kombatants matching each other's skills in Cryomancy.
Esdeath's freezing abilities were grandiose and imposing in her relentless attacks towards Sub-Zero who withstood and countered with subtle precision. Ice had little effect in wearing down Kuai Liang, as the frigid elements has always been an essential part of his being through natural birth, and not an amalgamated enhancement inflicted by an Imperial Arm as was Esdeath's font of her powers.
Daunted and approaching exhaustion, Esdeath resorted to using every one of her techniques and trump cards to overcome Sub-Zero's superior kombat prowess, but to little avail. Kuai Liang has been a great warrior far longer than the young General, driven by fierce will amd determination.
Soon, the fighting between both warring armies ceased, as all eyed turned and witnessed the Lin Kuei Grandmaster hold his ice blade towards Esdeath's throat as the General knelt at Sub-Zero's mercy.
"Surrender." Kuai Liang spoke coldly, as Esdeath looked back at the Lin Kuei Grandmaster in defiance. Before she can give a response, a multitude of pleading voices rang out all around. Both kombatants shifted their attention, and observed the majority of the Imperial Army throw down their weapons and admit defeat while begging that their General be spared.
Sub-Zero turned his glowing pupiless eyes at Esdeath, and awaited her decision. The General took one more look at her Subordinates, then with a deep sigh of regret, she gave her answer.
In the following weeks after the Imperial Army's disappearance, all within the Capitol speculated Esdeath's defeat, and were mounting a defense against retaliation.
General Budou stood atop the battlements of the city's high walls, and surveyed the land before him. Reports regarding the enemy encroachment have been flowing in all day. Intel outlined the placement of opposing forces, with the Western Tribes coming from the west, the religious order of the Path of Peace approaching from the East, and the Revolutionary Army attacking from the south.
The Great General watched in stoic anticipation, as the rebels and their allies halted movement just outside the range of the Empire's defenses. He then ordered his troops to reposition themselves according to enemy placement.
As soon as the Imperials had redistributed their numbers towards the three directions of immediate threat, an alarm was raised from the north side of the Capitol. Budou hastily went to the northern wall and stiffened in shock upon what he had found.
Coming down from the North, towards the now vulnerable side of the Capitol's line of defense, were Earthrealm's forces with the Lin Kuei at the fore. And leading the charge was Sub-Zero with his new apprentice Blizzard, formerly known as Esdeath.