Con't II - Onaga's Plot
Kung Lao walked thru the gusty, neon blue portal. He actually stepped into the midst of the Outworld frontier, just a few miles away from the royal establishment with some portions of the exterior gleaming like beacons amongst the fuchsia macabre. The sudden air felt as if it went thru the former monk's body, as transparent as Liu's spirit. He even could've seen some very light frost littering the terrain, with tiny flakes falling and glistening while being tossed by the frigid wind.
All a sudden, Kung Lao felt a warming sensation from within himself; his dark clothing absorbing and containing it... He looked at himself of the comforting ardency. As if reading his mind like Kenshi, the Champion's spirit was able to keep him kozy amongst the bitter kold of an early winter.
The Oriental warrior thanked him even though he was a tad envious wishing he'd do the same if he would possess Liu's abilities... Before he ridiculed Liu's suggestion on possessing his body once more, Lao spotted some Onis in his peripheral vision klosing fast! His kicks, punches, and hat tosses were precise and swift, but each lunge seemed to leave a residue of thin smoke! Aspired by this, Kung Lao utilized his signature tornado kicks which burnt a nearby enemy caught in its wake! Vulnerable, the White Lotus veteran sliced thru them like thin paper, finishing the small horde and spewing their scorching guts!
"These must be stragglers loyal to Onaga...! I must be on my guard."
Still, Liu's fiery essence remained constant inside him as he hurriedly continued his trek. Anxious, he figured his best chance was to reach the safe haven before the ominous Onaga should find him as one of his unattainable preys. Speaking of Shinnok, he found himself in another wave. This time he was ready as he made more quicker maneuvers, including his hat tosses, using his tornado skills to incinerate, and teleporting to some unsuspecting Onis. Even decapitating them with a direct throw and rebounds!
After wandering a few feet in disquietude, he eventually made out a wandering shadowy figure; his eyes kouldn't make out the roamer as to whether or not he was another messenger to his greatest adversary...
He then made a sharp fighting stance. "Wait, he's not after you." Liu reasoned. Lao hesitated as he made out the likely specter some more, surprising the humble monk since he would usually pounce on him without relent...
Breaking the mounting tension, Lao stepped forward and declared with a spat, "Hey you! Follower of Onaga, face me in kombat!"
The silhouette stopped and turned, following the familiar, sharp tone. "...Kung Lao." It was now distinguishably noticeable by the sight of his face and opaque wasp-colored garb.
"...Hanzo!" He trodden towards him, worried he could just be his usual wraith self.
The rover raised a hand, "Fear not. I haven't been konsumed by my demonic self. At least not yet."
"That can't be... How is it you're still alive?" A flash of that incident when he lost to his wraith self before storming and losing to Quan Chi, then being tossed and torn asunder by the Soulnado entered his agog mind.
"After I lost my sanity by seeing my nemesis, then perishing, the Elder Gods blessed me as their Champion. I rested within the heavens. Alas, I never saw my family there. Though they granted me on a task to stop a man named Shujinko."
"Shujinko..?" Lao never heard of this name before, other than his spiritual odyssey, not even the other monks had that name.
"Yes, I first met him in the Netherrealm, and trained him to learn my skills as a wraith. Before I took my vengeance in the first tournament. I wound up in the Nexus, where all the Kamidogu were laid upon the altar, and I was tasked to kill the same frail man I met all those years ago." He sulked his head in defeat, "Unfortunately, he bested me in battle, and I was unable to prevent him on awakening the Dragon King." His body tensed. "I shall make that fake Champion pay for his life!"
Before his body should ignite while succumbing to his cursed self, Kung Lao warned that Onaga is roaming freely in Outworld, and he must warn the Edenians of the oncoming threat.
"Onaga is in Outworld? Well, in any kase, it would seem I have a debt to repay... What of the Deadly Alliance?"
"They've been defeated, Hanzo. Nightwolf and I finished them, but..."
"And of Liu Kang's spirit?"
"I'm still here." His voice boomed from the dragon head Lao took out.
"Onaga is at large... We must watch out, Kung Lao. His corruptive influence infects the dead, bringing them to life as heralds in his konquest. We must be wary of any hostiles. There should be more than those petty Onis. I will accompany you. We shall prepare Edenia and all realms for the worst. You and Liu Kang are still the kurrent Champions of Earthrealm. We need to gather recruits from the other five realms. Onaga and Shujinko must be stopped at all kosts! All existence depends on it!"
Lao and Hanzo bowed to each other honorably before they resumed their journey to Edenia...
Several minutes later, the proud Palace stood over the steep, basaltic hills! And Hanzo's aid was very helpful when klobbering the Onis and other Outworld kreatures.
They finally kame across the armored guards who're on high alert, krossing their hook swords in front of them, and denying them access. "Halt! Who goes there!?"
"I-We are from Earthrealm. We wish no harm onto you. Hanzo and I had not been tainted."
"Is that so. We in the royal guard must remain vigilant. We'd been hearing rumors of the Dragon King's second koming, and he and his followers'd be marching onto our peaceful territory as we speak. Sindel has been in konstant worry for her daughter."
"How kan we be certain you two aren't any of Onaga's many vile followers!?" one of the guardsmen demanded.
Kung Lao and Hanzo's tongues had been tied. "...Because they are Champions of the realms!" A gruffy voice answered, before the bystanders heard foot stomps of what a megaton beast could've been. The two knights faced their oncoming greeter, who stuck out four hands clutching the door sides before emerging. "Kung Lao!"
Just by hearing the name of his common ancestor in admiration, Lao looked aloft as stupefied as ever. "G-Goro..?"
"Relax, minions. He's on our side. As noble as ever much like your great predecessor."
Lao took off his hat as he bowed slowly and low to the Shokan prince, bestowing him with deep respect...
"Then they shall pass." The two guardsmen yielded as they struck their swords aside, allowing Goro to escort Lao and Hanzo inside.
Goro addressed the rumors were true after all koncerning Onaga when he heard the news from the weary travelers, and Sheeva, his lover, greeted them. The Shokan monarch urged them to meet up with Queen Sindel. Both of the four-armed beasties led them to the indigo throne room. Jade and Asgaarth stood beside her.
The Champion made a kneel addressing the majesty of Edenia. "Kung Lao. We welcome your presence, and Hanzo's as well."
"Of course, Your Majesty." Lao rose up after a nod while Hanzo bowed.
"We had noticed you're two of the survivors from that incident in Outworld. What of my daughter?" Sindel's voice rang with slight anxiety. Fujin's words entered his mind only nine Kombatants survived the ordeal, while others weren't so lucky...
Sindel gasped, "So... The gossip has rung true, after all. Onaga's reign has begun once more. And I fear Kitana may not be her normal self...!"
"Indeed. Onaga has a tendency to reanimate dead followers." Hanzo reiterated. "I should know, as I was reborn once as a vengeful wraith myself..."
"So, you have, Hanzo. ...I acknowledge this, since Shao Kahn was Onaga's most trusted and powerful advisor. Before he reigned in Outworld and konquered Edenia, he once served under him."
"Shao Kahn... He performed duties for Onaga...?" Lao was flabbergasted, as was Liu.
"Yes. Onaga promoted him as his most prominent servant." Goro added. "It was said that he and Kahn both share such astonishing feats. Both in immense strength and the talents to wield soul magic; however, their armies were different. The Dragon King konjures his own under his thrall, corrupting their bodies and souls. While Shao Kahn relies more on lively soldiers, teaching them his ways of the black arts."
"Shang Tsung!" Liu Kang remarked his old nemesis. "So, both konquerers have their unique ways on ruling Outworld."
"Yes, but since their methods of reigning terror has not been absolute, there was a quarrel between them. Their methods of power klashed with one another. The Konquerer's standards never met Onaga's terms, and Kahn was quickly growing weary, to the point on dominating the land for himself. Their armies were at a standoff, he knew there'd be a draw if he were to challenge Onaga in kombat, until the wry Emperor poisoned the Dragon King.
"Without their ruler, the feeble undead army perished within minutes of Kahn's bloodthirsty rule and establishing his own title."
Kung Lao listened attentively as he sat on the circular floor. He was still astonished how Sindel and Goro knew so much just by being under Kahn's unstoppable tyranny for several thousand years, which can rival any mortal on Earth... After he processed the intel, he spoke, "What is it that Onaga desires? To reign supreme in Outworld?"
"Yes, and in the other realms, if he does find ancient relics known as the Kamidogu."
His eyes widened, "The Kamidogu... I saw, Raiden and I, that Shujinko obtained the Eartthrealm piece."
"Shujinko... I hadn't seen him since before Kahn's invasion."
"You know of him, Queen Sindel?"
"Indeed."
"If I'm korrect, Onaga must've possessed all but one of the Kamidogu, our flight means nothing if we remain alone." Hanzo explained. "...I believe I know where the final piece is. And we need to kreate a distraction to prevent Onaga and his undead followers on reaching it."
"We must join forces with the Champions from the other realms. I will attend your cause as a former warrior of Outworld." Goro added.
Sheeva laid a slim hand on him, "I appreciate the offer, but...I'm afraid that you need to hold the fort. Lao has Scorpion to accompany him. Until all the Champions from other realms had been found."
"Hanzo, please." He korrected.
"...Wait."
Kung Lao took out the golden dragon amulet, Liu's voice kracked with upset. "What is it?"
"I... I need to stay with the Edenians. It's Kitana. I feel something is wrong. If you are visiting other realms, I need to stay here. Onaga must have perverted her, and I must save her!"
"I understand your desperation." Jade sympathized. "I too will look for answers to save my good friend. I'm certain Sindel's anxious as well. We may need to start looking at the Lost Tomb. We have kleaned out the place, but the large sarcophagus still remains. I believe it is Onaga's!"
"Brother... I must stay with them. Please."
He hesitated for a brief moment, then he sighed deeply. "...Alright. You kan go on without me. I understand your anxiety over Kitana's wellbeing."
He kould've sworn he saw him smile. "Thank you, brother. I knew you'd be konsiderate. Fend yourself well, and you kan wait for my return." He handed over the amulet to Jade.
Sindel declared they'll leave Edenia en route to Outworld in daybreak with several esteemed knights in tow, while Asgaarth, Goro and Sheeva stayed on guard. "One other thing. It's most likely...my daughter may be under Onaga's thrall. And if we should encounter any of them..."
"I'll protect you, Sindel, and try and release her from his spell. Kung Lao and I had done this before. You can count on it."
Moments after a quick respite, Kung Lao and Hanzo resumed their search for other Champions willing enough to fight off the Dragon King. However...
As soon as the couple warriors were about to exit the Palace walls, the former monk kollapsed and reduced to unconsciousness, unable to retrieve the bystanders' kalls.
Within Liu Kang's new tomb, Aiko grew irritated, pacing around as she wondered of Lao's fate in Outworld. She felt something was amiss, like a random, unfortunate incident which involved her mutual other in that dangerous frontier!
All a sudden, her eyes squinted, and her head ached as an abrupt neon light granted her, which soon turned out to be a portal as her vision made it out. A figure walked thru wearing a ribbon of sorts as streams were seen hanging from behind the head of the shadowy figure. She soon registered it was the blind telekinetic!
"Ahh-Kenshi!"
He still worn that dissonate look despite the blinding light of the rip. "Aiko, something has happened in Outworld. I can feel anxiety, and I'm sure it is emanating from there."
"Outworld...? Is it Onaga?"
"I'm not sure. But my instincts drove me out of the Shirai Ryu headquarters. I sense something doesn't feel right as my mind lost focus while mourning for Hanzo."
Aiko paused for a moment, "...Kung Lao. I can feel something awful has happened to him. But...I'm sure he's still alive." She took out her crimson gem, and stated this was the same one she gifted to the Shaolin before his fateful fight against the Deadly Alliance.
Kenshi grew intrigued by the sight of it! "This must be a jewel forged by your concentrated energy. You're not only just a rare specimen that can manipulate the heart, but also forge jewels with those same abilities. You truly are a special case indeed." He kommented. That made her blush a little in admiration.
She looked at her precious gem, still shining with her stored vitality. "I don't think Kung Lao has perished. I would've felt something, like chest pain, or the gem might grow dark... I've...still yet to kome to terms with this, and my powers."
"Indeed. However, there's been an incident in Outworld. Good thing I'm capable of developing portals, as I am a member of the Outer World Investigation Agency." He then offered a hand. "Kome, we must hurry."
Aiko nodded, as if she was feeling OCD pangs from the both of them, and it was certainly better than being under tension and wired feelings while being cooped up at the Academy. They entered the portal, and to her surprise, wound up at Kenshi's altered coordinates at the shambles of Shang Tsung's former Palace...
The young warrioress was paralyzed as if by Raiden's shocks. "Oh no! The Palace has been destroyed, it's in shambles!" She began to tremble, thinking that-
Kenshi stuck out an arm, "Wait. ...It sure is quiet. I sense no loss of life here. My mind...it's scanning that no one seems to be buried within the rubble, nor any bodies being incinerated...! There's no odor of ash nor brimstone. However...I kan pick up a disturbing presence. Onaga." A vision of the ominous dragon entered Kenshi's mind, as did Aiko's.
"No..."
"Foul work for certain...! My kolleagues should be out here, as'd be Kung Lao. They must be out and about. I kan still feel a faint trace of their-"
"LOOK OUT!" Aiko screamed as soon as her heart raced. Her body lurched as she was lifted by a neon green light surrounding it!
Kenshi picked up the energy surge and shot out a psychic blast, raising a hand to the blending intruder. Aiko dropped to the ground landing on her bruised arse. Then they beheld a garbed ninja wearing a dark blood red outfit, konsisting of a black mask matching his long, bandaged arms, hood and footwear.
To the cardiokinetic's surprise, he was none other than, "...Ermac!?"
Her mind drifted to the conversations she heard from Kung Lao as he cleaned out the Warrior Shrine when something was off with the statues... A monk warned there was something peculiar, and when he spotted the lone ninja posing to the very left of the other structures, Lao examined it, wondering if it was a phony. By the time he eased his hand just inches away, it was snatched by that live imposter!
Lao kicked him off before his arm was twisted, and the soul manipulator shattered his disguise! At first, he kept lifting him up with his soul energy, even possessing it to draw kloser for another sack! But Lao learned quickly as he kommandeered his hat to slice thru Ermac from a distance, even rotating rapidly around his body to prevent anymore internal suffering. Ermac then leapt to his perch and rose a few huge chunks of rock floating across the arena!
Kung Lao still charged in. But it wasn't long before Ermac possessed the Johnny Cage structure! Liu Kang distracted it long enough, never backing down since he knew fairly well it was an illusion. Yet still, Lao took on the main enemy, while doing some fancy footwork avoiding his spheres and fields. However, his Psychic Slam was quite the burden, as were his Teleports outmaneuvering the former monk's; Liu had to take over at times as soon as the faker was out of the picture. Although they needed to finish off the intruder quickly before he'd reanimate all the statues, including the dreaded Goro.
With crackerjack thinking, the brotherly Champions noticed Ermac weakened. However, they still noticed the chunks of limestone hovering in that same eerie field. Lao and Liu both kicked one enormous piece toward the assassin, making him dazed. But...it wasn't long before the remaining chunk landed atop him, crushing the lifeless vessel and making his kollection of souls scatter in the wind...
From the post on a high edge, Ermac leapt onto the shambled site, facing the duo! After the sudden impact, being she's a glass cannon, Aiko tapped on her Dragon icon twice, turning her crimson armor into a lime green. She believed with that shade, she thought she'd be immune to Ermac's own soulkinesis. Nightwolf, both the expert in shamanistic and technological skills, had built the said armor in order for Aiko to enhance her kombat prowess; each set of armor had its own unique properties depending on the shade. Whereas crimson was for her cardiokinesis, turquoise was for Cobalt armor, though the lime hue was still experimental...
With her konfidence restored and her new set of armor, she dashed into the fray with her Bo staff drawn. Kenshi managed to stun him inside his telekinetic field, before Aiko gave him a series of swift whacks. She jumped and twirled performing another strike, with Ermac's manipulation having no effect on her immune body! Nightwolf was indeed a genius testing out the armor's resistance with his own empowered weapons!
Although his soul blast did send Aiko and Kenshi back a few feet. The blind swoardsman unleashed his telekinesis as Ermac attempted to drive it back with his, causing a sort of psychokinetic tug-of-war. Aiko stuck out a hand, utilizing her own kinesis stopping the assailant's heart, but he knew better using his free hand, forcing her back once more. She hardly absorbed his energy, and it seemed almost infinite...
Suddenly, Ermac was encased in a green energy field before he went thru the ground, then thru it emerging behind Aiko! Kenshi didn't have much time to react before she was punched directly! Aiko screeched before she was forced away and Ermac refocused on the swordsman.
The legion of raging souls knocked her out, and as her head began to swam...somehow she found herself in Jin's house as she observed the kid playing a frustrating 8-bit game; realizing the endless looping buzzing tune and the funky-looking trees, she knew it was named The Legend of Kage! She recalled it was one of the obscure gems her mind forgot so many years ago... Just the music and trees in the background brought her lost memory back to the forefront; however, since there were no continues, and being the difficulty involved instantaneous death and random, konfusing enemy fire, the little tyke let out a scream of annoyance nearly slamming the kontroller!
The perception became fuzzy again, almost like it was fading, still stuck on the F key...
The droning music triggered a strange, lulling tune in her mind, a familiar one. A few notes repeated before kontinuing and she found herself whistling those same keys. She even followed the entire piece and they got Ermac's attention despite her being out of it!
The assaulter faced her almost immediately with a heel-turn, until Kenshi hesitated before unleashing another psycho blast. Instead, something pricked both their minds, and the swordsman began to delve deeper into the wrathing spirits within Ermac. The series of spirits seemed unhinged, swirling in mysterious fighter, wanting to break free as if they'd been imprisoned. Then a malicious image developed, the face of a large pointed crown belonging to the former Emperor, Shao Kahn! Kenshi raised his hand higher and curled as if he was clutching something.
Somehow, this silenced the souls a tad as Ermac listened on Aiko's whistles. As if both things were...kalming the she got deeper into the song, her whistles became audible, easing the enemy more, even while Kenshi was speaking into him to ease his souls. Suddenly figments of a mother with long strands of white hair was caressing a baby girl of short, black hair in her arms, humming that same melody! Kenshi rose his longsword igniting in a pink hue before it made a downward thrust in thin air! In his mind, he sliced thru some ominous chains.
Ermac hunched over, heaving and holding his head, and his eyes broke thru the green gleams, revealing amber irises. Kenshi rose a hand to repair any internal damage within Aiko's brain, he should've known she had a konkussion. This quieted her whistling while the dilirium faded, and he immediately tended her when Ermac faced the duo, no longer having a desire to attack.
"Kenshi." His voice also changed, sounding serene and like a grown man's instead of being digitally altered.
"Ermac." He hesitated as he read his mind more, almost as if he had a different identification...
"Ernac..? I am no longer. I'm...starting to regain myself again. As the doomed ruler of Edenia, I am King Jerrod." He kontinued to look at himself.
Aiko and Kenshi were flabbergasted, even bringing her out of her daze. "King Jerrod..! Sindel's husband, Kitana's father? Shao Kahn...I heard he..."
Kenshi quieted her, encouraging her to save her strength.
"I...I've become an abomination! Through his fusion of many dead denizens, the treacherous Emperor shall not be forgiven! What better pawn kould Kahn have chosen than this..."
Kenshi hesitated before he walked over to the lost individual. He explained their predicament regarding the rebirth of the Dragon King, as well as the independence of Edenia. Jerrod explained Kenshi broke his thrall; he remembered he was kontrolled by Shao Kahn, and he recognized the tune Aiko was whistling from her dilirium. Kenshi and Ermac healed her with their kombined telepathy, and the latter noticed it was a song he and Sindel hummed for Kitana as a lullaby, while Aiko konfirmed it was only the Song of Healing.
"And...what of Onaga?"
"We don't know yet. But we believe he kan be klose to the kingdom."
Jerrod offered Kenshi and Aiko to hold onto him as he shall Teleport toward the Palace within the same lime field used for his soul kinesis.
A/N: It was so damn tough koming up with ideas for the kombat scene between Ermac and Kenshi! It seemed essential to the plot of Deception, as it finally symbolized the soul shifter's freedom from Kahn's hold, and assisted against Onaga and his followers. I don't want to spoil too much yet. Also, the song that Aiko reffered too? I had this idea for awhile! Ever since I kept seeing AVGN's review of The Legend of Kage, one of the obscure games that my mind forgot; aside from the vague trees and the droning noise when the ninjas fall. And Taito is certainly the czar of obscurity!
Had this random idea with Jin playing and struggling with it from that too, even when Aiko's mind was in a void recalling that said song which'd be significant later. From the fans' preferences, it was indeed a nice choice having Will Yun Lee as Kung Lao! Very promising!
The fight with Ermac was a tough one to find in Shaolin Monks; first, one of the monks must head to a secret location, which I kould only recall jumping high to a precipice west from large elaborate doors in the Wu Shi Academy, then use the wall swing ability till you hit a switch which unlocks the Warriors Shrine. At a ninja at the far left stands Ermac, and I looked up the battle. I bet you need to be in a high level before kombatting him!
I figured having the Champions of each realm defeating Onaga was a better choice; more of a hopeless situation into a fighting chance! Yeah...one Kombatant KAN defeat him, even if it's not Shujinko, but again I'm not a fan of him. And I think they'd have a better konnection with the Kamidogu as well.
No Hope, No Dreams from Final Fantasy X shall play once Kung Lao steps into the frigid Outworld frontier. Join the Party from FFIV - SNES would chime as Hanzo joins Lao. While I usually think MKX's OST is immemorable, as I was looking up gameplay for Lao's lethal kombos, they seemed to take place in Outworld, and Outworld Marketplace Round 1 seemed interesting; it shall play when Lao and Liu face off the Onis before reaching Edenia. Valleys and Rivers from Strider (Genesis) plays as Lao reunites with the Shokan, Goro and Sheeva. Evening Bells from MK 95 plays when Lao and Hanzo address to Sindel. Longneck's Story from Land Before Time 4 will play as Goro highlights Onaga and Kahn's reign, perhaps loop twice before the ending notes. Middle Boss Battle from Majora's Mask will play once Ermac's encountered, Stage Theme - NES version from The Legend of Kage would follow suit as Aiko recollects Kung Jin playing the game along with Life Lost, followed by Clock Tower in Majora's Mask, and the Song of Healing.
Had some other ideas too, but I needed to kut the chapter short. So, see you soon.