Love & War 4
Chapter 41: The Blood God Cometh
"I always imagined this power would rejuvenate me. Instead I feel older, ancient, like this god-self was trapped inside me for so long."
Reiko enters a chambers, containing Kotal, Sonya, Johnny Cage, Jade, Kitana, Mileena, Li Mei, Ermac and Chris. Each one has a tube attached to their skin with blood being drained.
"Behold your new Blood God!"
Reiko's outfit is that of a Blood God. If Reiko was in MKX, this is what he would have worn.
"Yes, our new immortal Lord must be ravenous for mortal sacrifice."
"But where to start? Vengeance against the imperials who failed to recognize my coming glory? Or a preemptive strike against warriors who could deny my claim to Earthrealm?"
"Or none of the above. Pardon me Lord, but these champions are otherwise useful. What Cassie Cage could not relinquish, her family can. Johnny and Sonya are vital to my studies of deadly green energies. Outworlders have a bad habit of rejecting authority, but who could reject you after you came a public spectacle of executing your imperial enemies? A soldier who saved Earthrealm countless times and the woman he married and her best friend, the Princess of Edenia. Of course, you demand tribute. So I planned ahead. Bring in the prisoners!"
The Red Dragon brought in the Tataktans that were captured on the beach.
"How many do we have?"
"A hundred strong in the dungeon."
"Excellent. Bring in the remaining prisoners, Havik... and let the glorious sacrifice invoke the jealousy of the Elder Gods."
Still at sea...
"What in Gorbak's ghost is that," asked Kintaro.
"Hard to say from here. But it's the first activity since they dragged Kotal and the prisoners off the beach."
"Take your scouts to the island."
"But Queen Sheeva ordered..."
"Queen Sheeva ordered no fighting. Scouting is not fighting. If we eventually intend to fight, we need to know what in the God's names is happening on the island."
Back inside...
"MORE...MORE..."
"More?" asked Havik. Lord, there are none left."
Uh-Oh...
"You just sacrificed over a hundred mortals in a single blast."
"I still hunger...
"Patience is a virtue, Lord...
"STOP TALKING! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME, HAVIK?"
"What's wrong...?"
"You told me all about the power but not about the pain! This hunger clawing me from inside. What could make a god suffer so?"
"How does it feel?"
"IT'S TEARING ME APART!"
OH, SHIT! Reiko is falling apart!
"With great power comes great suffering," said Cassie. "That is the Blood Code."
Reiko began melting in a grotesque fashion, enough to make you sick!
"You were never a candidate for godhood, my Lord. Your true purpose has been as a vessel..."
Havik thrusted both his thumbs into Reiko's eye sockets.
"...FOR A REAL GOD!"
Havik rips Reiko's brain out.
"The seed inside your brilliant, always full of surprises."
Havik crushes the brain.
"Oh my. Perhaps our guests can confirm something for me. Because it looks like we just summoned..."
Oh, no...
"...THE AMULET OF SHINNOK!"