The two made their way to Shang Tsung's island with the help of Fujin's influence and the Jinsei's force, they ascended from the depths of hell and walked with ease on the surface of the island. All they could do now is try to be stealthy until they had their way inside the palace. The sands of the shore had been soaked in blood and battle. Kether had wondered how far deep Raiden's possession had been now.

Kether was looking for an entrance way to Shang Tsung's main chamber. She was eager to continue but Takeda wanted to make sure they could make themselves unexpected, they needed to observe before attacking. In a small peep of the windows, they both glared inside the place. Five bodies were strapped as a pile of mad men and women were also possessed by the blood code. What the hell was going on? Kether frantically scanned the area and sought her eyes on the one figure she knew could be responsible for this bloodbath. Havik.

"There he is. That crazed son of a -"

"Havik." Kether frowned in the disturbance. Takeda glanced at her in concern. "-Know him?" She chuckled dryly, "Apparently I do."

The two continued watching the scene unfold before their eyes, the possessed ones began approaching the bodies. Havik was the leader among them. His face revealed his skull features, eyes glowed red which made everything about him absurd. Kether never would've thought of seeing him or remembering him again.

She scowled, "What are we waiting for? Those poor souls will be turned into one of them." Havik was one to talk about madness, he was crazed and sadistic. Whatever he spoke of in there had to be something outlandish.

"-Hold it! Just a second..." Takeda halted her. Kether growled in annoyance. Takeda looked at her in worry. All five possessed beings held each Kamidogu dagger in each of their hands as they hovered over the 5 bodies of champions The room was filled with darkness, and every one of them shoved their daggers into the bodies. Something was beginning to change... Then began their transformation, they had been consumed by the blood code.

"Come on." Takeda rose and the two began to attack. They would need to be stealthy. She would need to be quick. Havik turned into a bloodthirsty beast. In a large opening of the palace, Havik was standing over one of the remaining bodies where he began to channel his magic. Takeda rushed to the scene and swung his lashing whips around his wrists cutting them off.

"I have to hand it to you, Havik. Looks like you've been busy." Said, Takeda.

"I've had help." Havik turned to face Takeda, his eyes glowing a deep crimson red, Then his eyes shifted to the figure beside him. Kether stared back at him in dark vexation.

"Kether," Havik said her name in a grave tone. "It's been eons and this is where I find you? Aiding this poor boy? Or- you're simply going to undermine him, I hope." Kether sighed, "Don't assume I'm just here for you, Havik."

"I'd never do that." Havik grinned, "I like you, Kether. I see what you've been doing."

Takeda looked at both of them, "What? Are you just going to stand here and talk?" Takeda began attacking Havik. In one swift motion, he grabbed Havik's arms and was pushing him back against the wall. Havik continued to struggle as his red eyes began to glow.

He began to laugh, "Oh, I'll let my friends handle you." Two possessed women, one with blonde hair and the other with darker hair chased after Takeda. He quickly turned around and swung his whips around both of them. The one with the darker hair was beheaded and the blonde one was hit in the stomach and fell to the ground. Meanwhile, as Takeda was busy with the other minions...

Kether faced Havik, glaring at him."What do you know?"Havik's face turned serious. He looked at her and was engulfed in darkness for a brief period. "It's time for you and me to talk."

"There is nothing to talk about, Havik." Kether summoned a halo of blades behind her head which began soaring at Havik. In a flash, both of her arms raised and two blades flew at him. Once they collided with Havik, they stuck into his chest and began to rip through flesh and organs. Although, he was not at all fazed by stab wounds or disembodiment.

He chortled, "You already know how injuries can't kill me, dear."

Kether looked at him with a disgusted expression, "I'd say I'd only just found out." She turned her attention back to the battle. With anger, she rushed at him but Havik wasn't impressed.

"I wish I could play with you, Kether. But I rather see how my champions deal with you instead." Havik stepped aside as his cursed minions charged at Kether with violence and fury. The rest of his possessed minions rushed at her, striking her with kicks and blows. She blocked most of them with her arms and a few of them with the blades in her head.

She smirked, "I wonder how you do this." She raised a blade to block a couple of attacks. Shortly after, Takeda managed to fend off the other women he had fought with and helped Kether fight off the rest of the attackers. Unfortunately, their number and strength were growing to be deadlier. Each of their strength and ability was weighing down on Kether and Takeda. They needed to find a way to counter and stop them.

Suddenly, Raiden's thunder had greatly damaged them in the battle. Havik smiled as he held to be appeared to be Shinnok's amulet.

"You've done you're best." He sneered. Takeda's fingers were on his wrists again as he had fallen to his knees. He looked up and saw what he was fighting for.

"Now, choose your destiny! Will you join the agents of Chaos or the forgotten dead?!" The power of the amulet began striking both of them as they struggled from the defeat. Takeda began fighting from the ground, he tried to focus on his breathing and his attacks.

He stared at the ground and muttered, "I- I choose..." Havik lowered himself to the ground closer to Takeda."...Sorry, couldn't hear you over the sizzle of burning flesh, say again?" "I said... I choose... TO FIGHT!" With force, Takeda shoved his head against Havik's skull but this didn't do too much as Havik shortly after slammed his head against the ground.

"Never let anyone say you didn't stick to your principles, kid. Now-" Before he could relinquish the power from Shinnok's amulet, a sudden blast shot through his Havik's hand. He looked up to see a glowing portal of newcomers that looked familiar. Outworlders.

"Welcome to your nightmare!" Havik greeted them. Kether slowly rose from the ground and was quite glad they weren't going to be the only ones to fight against the blood code. She had a determined look on her face and she was ready to take on the world. T

he outworlders began to attack the possessed ones. Meanwhile, Kether found herself to be faced with Raiden in his dark state. Kether exhaled as she tirelessly glared at Raiden.

"I see you have come back from the depths of hell once again." He said. Kether's fist flew forward and struck him in the face. Her palm collided with his cheekbone, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Damn you." She cursed as Raiden shortly after released his electricity upon her. She was sent spiraling through the air but she managed to catch herself. "I will not be denied my rightful place in this world." She growled as she rose to her feet and raised her fists.

Then, suddenly she heard the screams of the boy; Takeda. Havik stood over him as the power of Shinnok's amulet slowly burned him in agony. Her distraction led her to be vulnerable to Raiden's power as it surged through her body in suffering once again. Kether collapsed to the ground, collapsing from the pain. She felt the power of Raiden's thunder engulfing her body. She watched as she saw Havik's head get torn off of his body. Someone else came, someone else had finally ended him.

A man in a yellow mask, that familiar warrior. Kether could not hold her strength any longer. The pain consumed her. She was done. Tired of fighting, she wanted to rest. She gave in to her pain as she curled up in agony, shutting herself away from the world. The rest of the fighters continued to battle, a gunsmith, a Kytinn, humans, and outworlders. They battled in blood and torment. But finally, something cleared the air and their leader had been dealt with. The blood curse was finally sanctified from their body, no longer possessing them as all the warriors dropped what they were doing.

The possessed warriors were confused, lost at what was left beneath their feet. A bloodbath. They all settled and began to take in on their situation.

Takeda had entered the room with determination, "This is what happens when you keep secrets, Raiden. Everyone and everything turned against each other... And now we have to live with the consequences."

Takeda tossed him the amulet of Shinnok's. "Here, I've lost count of how many people I've watched die to protect this stupid amulet."

Raiden looked down in guilt, "Takeda, I am sorry-" Takeda continued, "No more apologies, Raiden. No more secrets. No more blood codes. Just keep it safe. For all our sakes." With his last remarks, Takdea left the scene.

Soon after, Raiden noticed the body of Kether laying in the ruins of the battle. He knelt beside her, "Kether." He nudged her and then began to soar his healing powers within her. She gasped in shock. Then, she opened her eyes, still dazed in battle. A mouth was agape. She mumbled then looked at Raiden with a soft expression. He wasn't in a dark state anymore. This was a pleasing awakening.

Kether sat bolt upright, staring deep into Raiden's eyes as he reassured her. "You are alright, Kether. It is all over."

Her eyes dilated, "It is really you." Kether smiled and jumped at him with a heavy embrace. The embrace was unexpected but Raiden slowly warmed to it. With a small yet impassive smile on his lips, he gently wrapped his arms around her in return. This was a joy she had not felt in years. This was the feeling she had been searching for the whole time she had been in this realm.

She stood up from the ground, Raiden assisting her. Kether looked around at what had happened. "I suppose he is dead...?"

"Havik? I would assume so. The curse in us all has diminished." Raiden said as he glanced back at Kether who looked solemn. "You have familiarities with Havik." He stated. Kether nodded, "I knew him because we were like siblings... I was raised in the Chaosrealm." Kether sighed, tired and restless from the fact that she was resurrected two times.

"Let us save that story for another time. You have a temple to return to, Thunder God." She said.

"Will the others be alright?" Kether wandered. Raiden lowered his glare. "They will recover."

Finally, Kether and Raiden returned to the sky temple with their selves intact. All subsided to normalcy.

The great fallen building stood tall. The blue sky and clouds never looked so close. And the scent of the forest was all around. With Raiden's teleportation, Kether was pleased to return to his humble temple stretching her arms above her head. She never wanted to leave.

Their presence was alerted as Fujin arrived on the scene, pleased to see Raiden to his normal self. "Brother, it is good to see you," Fujin said with a delicate smile as he planted his hand against his shoulder. "A courageous victory with the assistance of Takeda Takahashi and Kether."

Fujin glanced at Kether, "I'm glad to see you still with us, Kether. I'm sure you've fought fearlessly."

"Indeed I have. Although, I've been through hell and back, no thanks to Raiden's actions." Kether replied crossing her arms as she gave a grim expression at him.

Raiden returned to her with a remorseful look, "And I give my humblest apologies, Kether, to both of you. Had I known the darkness behind these daggers, tremendous tragedies would not occur. You would have not been killed." Kether wanted to punch him or something but a part of her wanted to do something even more naughty. Instead, she sighed giving him a comforting expression of acceptance.

"It's okay, Thunder God. You owe me." She gave him a sharp smile gliding her hand on his arm before leaving