Chapter 3: Fight

Sand shifts. Only the continuous roaring of the Tarkatan audience can be heard. Two opponents face one another in the long tradition of mortal kombat. Who will strike first? The word has been given; it is now up the opponents to decide when the fight truly begins.

With an abrupt motion of his hand, Kung Lao grabs his hat. The whole brim is edged with a razor sharp blade fitted around the hat and must handled very carefully. Flinging it forward with great strength, he aims to hit Quan Chi in his legs. However, he is parried by when the sorcerer jumps forward, over the obstacle. Coming down faster than the Earthrealm warrior can dodge, Quan Chi hits him squarely in the chest with his elbow. He stumbles backwards threaten to loose his posture, but quickly manages to regain himself and trips the Outworld server before further harm can be done.

As his opponent hastily stands, Kung Lao teleports himself behind him. Grabbing Quan Chi by the shoulders, the Earthrealm warrior tosses him forward using his own body's weight to balance the throw so that he lands on his feet while Quan Chi skids into the sand. A smirk of satisfaction quirks the Shaolin monk's lips, while a sharp chuckle from Shang Tsung is heard.

The necromancer advances into offense mode quickly after this, unfortunately too quickly for Kung Lao. Using his ground burst, Quan Chi gives Kung Lao a painful boost backwards, before putting him into a trance using his necromancer magic and mesmerizing hand movements. Unable to do nothing more than move like a zombie with his arms flung in front of him, Kung Lao is temporarily helpless as he stumbles towards his opponent. A green substance floats around his head, showing any observes of the necromancy that controls him.

Using his ground burst at close range, the sorcerer then uses a few simple moves to knock Kung Lao backwards once he approaches. Slightly dazed, but out of his trance, Kung Lao immediately upper cuts Quan Chi when he moves within range. Teleporting himself behind the sorcerer, he spins. In doing so, he sends Quan Chi stumbling forward. However, it will take more than this to trip the steadied man. Well aware of this, Kung Lao does an ultimate hat throw. The hat is thrown with perfection and hits its marked target squarely. It grinds up his opponent's chest, before appearing back on his head, bloodied.

Feeling slight humiliation to be facing an Earthrealm opponent that is kombating him unusually well, Quan Chi immediately moves to attack and rid of this emotion. Flipping forward he lands multiple kicks on Kung Lao as soon as he lands. Apparently moving into attack as well, Kung Lao is momentarily vulnerable to the painful kicks. Seizing his advantage, Quan Chi upper cuts the warrior and ground blasts him.

Falling onto his back in the course, yet warm sand. Kung Lao is heedless to all else, but winning this tournament. He must save Earthrealm. For did Raiden not say that perhaps it was he who must take this daunting task? Is it not his shoulders that Earthrealm's fate rests upon?

Renewed with these thoughts, Kung Lao moves to attack with great haste and fierce determination. Knowing that Kung Lao will try to move to the offense, Quan Chi moves to attack first. However, in his attempt to kick the Earthrealm warrior backwards so that he may kombo him, his leg is caught with Kung Lao's arm and held tightly to the Earthrealm warrior's side. Slightly staggered, the Netherrealm enchanter does not have time to defend himself.

Throwing down Quan Chi's leg forcefully, Kung Lao multi kicks him when the Netherrealm warrior attempts to regain himself. Using his cyclone move, Kung Lao spins immediately afterwards. Feeling immense energy flow through his body, Kung Lao dive kicks Quan Chi to bring him into a vulnerable position. Moving within range, the eager Earthrealm warrior executes his Fist of Shaolin.

The agonizing feeling of bones being pushed to unforgiving limits fills Quan Chi's body. Despite his strength and sorcerer he is helpless to Kung Lao's attacks. Practiced till perfection, Kung Lao efficiently finishes his move. The Fist of Shaolin is met to be brutal and efficient in finishing or severely injuring the opponent.

Quan Chi is thrown towards toward the side of the arena where his partner, Shang Tsung, awaits his turn. Physically exulted and beaten, the Netherrealm necromancer is defeated. Shang Tsung knows this and moves forward to take his place.

Slightly tired himself, Kung Lao knows that he has a partner of his own, awaiting and present to take his place when needed or necessary. However, determined to prove his worth and abilities, Kung Lao does not move back to allow Sub-zero to take his place. The icy warrior merely waits; facial emotions do not betray his thoughts as he regards the fight with a cool gaze.

Knowing Shang Tsung will be a difficult adversary, Kung Lao makes fluent motions with his hands before kneeling. Knowing his signal despite never having fought before with the monk, Sub-zero rushes behind his partner. Placing his hands together, the warrior sprays a thick stream of ice at the new opponent. Shang Tsung is immediately frozen in his position. A position that tells his was about to use a fire skull. Rushing forward, as he is eager to strike his opponent while his is still frozen, Kung Lao does a dive kick followed by a multi kick.

Knocked backwards, Shang Tsung is quick to regain himself. Using his triple skulls he hits the Earthrealm warrior successfully with each one. Putting his hands together he shoots a fire skull upwards. Unfortunately, Kung Lao had been planning to dive kick the Outworld warrior and his hit by this. He earns a few painful kicks before finally being thrown backwards.

Still keen and not willing to back down or trade places with Sub-zero, Kung Lao teleports himself behind Shang Tsung. This proves to be a wise decision, as the sorcerer shoots multiple fire skulls were he had stood. Grabbing up the sorcerer, he kicks him away. Once Shang Tsung stands he is immediately met by Kung Lao's grinding hat.

Raiden watches the fight closely. Despite his calm demeanor, a storm brews inside him. His decisions that he has made have further cracked his amulet. Kung Lao must be the 'he' of which his vision told him of.

Near Shao Kahn's throne, Liu Kang watches the kombat with just as closely. Not eager to see is friend defeated, the fellow Earthrealm warrior feels great relief when Quan Chi is removed. However, his anxiety returns as he sees Kung Lao's difficulty with Shang Tsung. Kitana is silent, but watches with him. Strangely, Shao Kahn is heedless of both and Liu Kang is able to release her from her shackles. They share an awkward as Kitana thanks him. But the moment is short-lived as a shout from Kung Lao brings their attention back to the tournament.

Using his sorcery Shang Tsung has transformed himself so that he is identical to Kung Lao. The transformation has given the Outworld warrior all the knowledge of Kung Lao's hard-practiced moves, and he uses them with ease and efficiency. However, the real Earthrealm warrior is more determined.

Kitana lightly touches Liu Kang's arm. "Do you think he will win?" She questions. A simple enough question, yet what she really is asking is if he skills will match those of Shang Tsung's. "Kung Lao knows his skills. I have trained beside him for many years. I believe in he will," Liu Kang replies without hesitation. Believing that positivity towards his friend will aid him to victory he does not allow any negative thoughts to posses him. Though their conversation has ended, their eyes do not waver from one another. Finding that he is leaning forward, Liu Kang hesitates.

A sudden shout followed by a massive uproar in the audience instantly turns both Liu Kang and Kitana's attention back to the fight.