So we are at the penultimate chapter of The Gathering, I am extremely grateful to everyone that has taken the time to read at least one chapter so far, and even more grateful to those that have commented, followed, and/or favorited this story so far.
As always I own none of these characters…but it would be pretty fun if I did.
Liu Kang sits in the center of the floor inside his chambers, his legs folded beneath him, his mind in a trance while he looks into his soul. His soul takes him back to his home in the Honan Provence. While his mentor Bo Rai' Cho allowed him to escape the horrible living conditions for his family, the rest of the family fights every day to remain alive, to be close enough to the high point of the river so that they want have to use the polluted sludge at the bottom point of the river, many times his family has failed to maintain their position and the Black Dragons the gang that controls his neighborhood would send them to the bottom of the hill, and death would soon follow.
He hasn't heard from his mother since his escape but he tries his best to connect with her through his mediations, there he sees his mother, still young and beautiful, without worry without bruises or scars from the hard labor of life. His mother smiles at him.
"My son," his mother calls to him.
"Yes mother."
"I sense through the souls of others that there is a desire for you to lose this tournament?"
"Yes mother, they are afraid that through my success I will ensure Onaga a second chance to destroy Earthrealm."
"Fear not of the existence of Earthrealm my son, for your struggles you faced here have prepared you for your destiny. Fate has a way of rewarding those that do good, you are a good man, and a better soul, you must stay true to yourself and worry less of what others think of you, and through this commitment to do good that you will achieve great power. Believe in your fate my son, believe in your destiny."
The image of his mother fades away and Liu Kang opens his eyes. He gets to his feet and allows the Shaolin Monk to escort him to the temple of the Elder Gods. For the past four days Liu Kang has quickly handled his opponents, must of his matches lasting just minutes. His speed and his quickness has allowed him to go through the last five days of the Tournament without receiving a single blow. Though now only eight Pures remain, and for the most part the other seven haven't been physically harmed either. As he enters every match the Elder Gods plead with him to bow to surrender himself in hopes that the opponent he bows to will be able to defeat Outworld's Saurian Pure, who not only hasn't been touched, he's barely been seen due to his camouflage abilities.
As he enters through the temple and into the arena, the Elder Gods that sit in the upper tier once again plead with Liu Kang to give himself up, especially with today's opponent. A sorcerer who's red essence has baffled all defenses so far. The red essence consumes the innards of the Pures and boils them inside out. Many believe that this Pure has the capabilities of defeating the Saurian, the other Pure that is believed to be able to have a chance against the Saurian is a massive Oni named Moloch, Liu Kang no doubts knows that if he is to defeat the sorcerer in this match, he will no doubt face the beast, since the beast is facing the weakest of the remaining eight in the match after him.
Before he makes his way inside the golden ring to fight his next opponent he sees the wooden cart wheeling out the most recent victim of The Saurian's corrosive mist, the Pure's face is entirely melted off blood pouring through the freed openings around his skull. Every day he has followed the Saurian and everyday he must observe the damage the Saurian has caused. Liu Kang has made sure that with each death that he prays and blesses the newly deceased since he does not want his mother's belief in fate to turn on him. Certainly fate would not reward an individual that chooses to kill their opponents disgustingly and painfully and then leave without giving the deceased the proper respect.
Liu Kang enters the arena, seated close to his entrance are all the Pures that have chosen him as their champion. Argus stands at his perch atop the upper level of the arena, he waits, he then glares at Raiden, Raiden simply shakes his head, Argus clenches his fist in anger before yelling, "Fight!"
Immediately upon Argus' commands the sorcerer starts to conger the red essence, Liu Kang however knows that if he cannot wait for the sorcerer to complete this task and immediately charges at him. He launches himself in the air and aims a flying kick to the sorcerer's ches, the speed at which he launches at the sorcerer causes a flame to admit from his leg, and he makes contact with the sorcerer's chest just before the red essence generates in his hands. The sorcerer cries out in pain as a giant flaming hole is not embedded into his chest. Liu Kang immediately yanks the sorcerer into the air, and then tosses a fireball into the same chest cavity, the fireball inserts within him mixing with the same destructive red essence, by the time the sorcerer reaches the ground his is nothing but a mixture of melted innards from the red essence inside of him, and burnt flesh from Liu Kang's fireball. Liu Kang bows his head and quickly says a prayer for the now deceased sorcerer before exiting the arena.
After the remaining matches conclude the realms once again retreat back to their temples. Raiden is meditating in his chambers when he is interrupted by Argus and his council or Elder Gods that serve him.
"Good evening my lord," Raiden smiles as sparks of light erupt out of the sockets of his eyes, "I apologize for not preparing your visit, if I knew that the Chief Elder was coming I would have prepared a feast."
Argus snarles at Raiden, "I thought being the son of an Edenian that you would be more intelligent than what you appear to be, stop the charade Raiden."
Raiden tilts his head, "I don't understand my Lord."
"Stop the games Raiden, Liu Kang will lose to Moloch the Oni or…"
"Earthrealm bows to no one."
"And you will see to that promise when you're dead! The Saurian will be able to easily defeat his opponent tomorrow, Liu Kang winning ensures…"
"I apologize for interrupting my Lord, but I know what The Saurian and Liu Kang in the final would ensure."
"Then tell me as Protector of Earthrealm, why don't you do your job and protect it!"
Raiden snarls and bursts of lightening shoot out of his hands, "Liu Kang will not bow."
Argus moves directly into the face of Raiden, "If Liu Kang wins then I will have no choice but the challenge you in Mortal Kombat."
"A Chief Elder using his right to override the Gathering truce just to give up his place to become a Protector, I find it highly doubtful that you would forfeit your place on Edenia, and do you really trust that the Elder Gods would bring you back? Do you and your council have as much support as you think you have? I don't have to tell you because you already know the answer to that."
Argus snarls once more and turns his back to Raiden, Raiden chuckles, "Just remember one thing Argus, you may have been alive longer than I have, but I am the son of an Edenian, don't believe for one second that I can't kill you." Argus silently turns again and makes his way out of the temple.
Liu Kang awaits his signal to enter the arena, once again a cart carrying the mutilated body of a Pure passes him. He enters the arena first, the Elder Gods stand up yelling at him to submit to Moloch, but he ignores him, his fate has told him that he is destined for great things and no one not even an Elder God can stop him. The large door swing open to the opposite end of the arena and a giant monster called an Oni enters. He releases a loud roar, this Oni, Moloch, his thick hyde is a bluish shade, his feet sprout five toes with giant metallic like nails piercing our of them. Each arm on his eight foot body is around the size of Liu Kang's body, four finger with sheath like metallic fingernails sprouting out of them. Three eyes appear on the top of the monster's massive demon head. His teeth also razor sharp and metallic create a clinking sounds when he grinds his teeth.
Argus stands up from his perch, his nostrils flaring, he waits and waits and when he sees that Liu Kang will not bow to Moloch, he screams in a rage before finally signaling the two to fight. Moloch upon the signal wastes little time and charges his diminutive opponent. Liu Kang still figuring out a strategy on how to defeat the monster dodges out of the way and moves quickly to the other side of the golden circle. Moloch growls and clenches razor sharp fingers into a fist, as he opens his fist a large metallic ball begins to form in his hands, he growls again and then hurls the ball at a breakneck speed in Liu Kang's direction, Liu Kang is once again able to dodge Moloch's attack, the ball strikes against the gold barrier of the arena blowing directly through the soft metal and embedding in the first level as some Protector's scurry to higher ground to avoid being struck. The Moloch is angered by Liu Kang's quickness and growls in frustration, he balls up his two fists and then repeatedly pounds them into the arena floor sending tremors across causing Liu Kang to fall on his back. Moloch launches at Liu Kang directing his sword like nails at Liu Kang, but once again Liu Kang is able to roll out of the way just before he lodges his fingers into the floor. With Moloch's fingers stuck in the floor Liu Kang quickly forms a fireball and hurls it at Moloch's face, the fireball hits Moloch square in his jaw but it does little to no damage, if anything it just annoys the monster more.
Moloch pulls his hand out of the ground and balls his fist once more forming another metallic ball in his hand, instead of throwing the ball this time he uses it as a blunt object and attempts to smash Liu Kang with it. Liu Kang using his quickness once again is able to dodge all of the attempted hammerings. Liu Kang is perplexed his Dragon Fire does not affect him due to Moloch's thick skin, and any attempted strike would be useless because of his enormous size. Liu Kang knows that he simply cannot keep dodging him forever because eventually he will tire out, and obviously if this Oni is as indestructible as he appears then his Protector would have put up a bigger promotion during his showcase. So Liu Kang knows there has to be a weakness, then suddenly it hits him right before he is about to take a giant metal globe to the face.
Liu Kang runs toward Molock and launches into his flying dragon kick, Moloch does not defend against the kick and instead opens his mouth so that he may bite Liu Kang and sever his legs, with mouth opened Liu Kang launches his dragon fire directly into Moloch's mouth. The soft tissue of his tongue comes in contact with the intense fire and his mouth starts to incinerate from within his head. The intense pain causes Moloch to fall to his knees, Moloch out of instinct tries to release a intense roar hoping that the energy released in this process would heal his wounds but by opening his mouth again Liu Kang hits him with more dragon fire. The fire then comes into contact with his molten liquid innards and his body burst into flames from the inside out. Now instead of his skin protecting him, it's sealing all the dragon fire and heat from within his body. Eventually his innards explode from all the intense heat and pressure and Moloch's dead body collapses to the ground.
The first sound that is heard is the sound of deep laughter coming from the second tier of the arena, Onaga stands up and looks down upon Liu Kang, "You fool!"
The Elder Gods disgusted by the fact that they can no longer control the fate of Earthrealm slowly exit their level, knowing that tomorrow that can only sit and be witnesses to the fall of Earthrealm.
Later on in a place far away from the torches that light the realm's night sky, Raiden approaches a figure standing alone in the darkness. He can see the spiked battle armor in the figure's silhouette and knows that he has found his brother.
"Ah my brother, how things have not changed, a Pure from Outworld versus a Pure from Earthrealm to decided the outcome of the tournament. How charming it is that you've actually brought a worthy opponent to the Tournament this year, your monk looked very impressive today."
Raiden snarls at Kahn's tone, "Your Pure is weak, he only wins because his opponents cannot see him, does your Saurian have the ability to fight once that power becomes useless?"
Kahn chuckles, "I guess we will have to find out and see if your monk can find him, if he can't it won't really matter, it certainly will be the testament to the match."
Raiden shakes his head, "I did not come here to talk to you about tomorrow's match, I'm here to talk about what happens afterwards."
Kahn chuckles once more, "Oh why my brother do you always insist on talking business with me can we just for once have a casual talk?"
"That would be highly foolish of me, since the realm that most reflects the greatness of the Universe will most likely be destroyed tomorrow."
Even in the darkness Raiden can see Kahn lips move upward into a smile, "My dear brother tomorrow there will be many fools."
The next chapter will conclude this story…let me know what you think.