Con't IV: Traversing thru the Abyss
Meanwhile, Kung Lao came to as cool air blew against his face. With a few quiet grunts, his eyes cleared, and he noticed his body was nearly paralyzed. Slowly, he began moving each of his limbs then sat up. He beheld the ethereal sight as this mysterious plane was being surrounded by tall candles, the sky was a mixture of salmon, amethyst and tangerine clouds, and a skinny platform laid next to him. He examined the table making out seven innards, each with elaborate markings. Then, in the far back, he saw several gateways, believing they belonged to each of the realms including his own...
His head was as foggy as his sight, but he wondered if he was just at the center of Heaven...
Just then, a blue portal opened within one of the arches and he spotted Damashi and Shujinko. Not wanting to be seen, Lao ducked behind the epicenter.
"Wh... what is this place?" The teen muttered as he looked at his surroundings quickly.
"This is the Nexus. Constructed by the Elder Gods to aid their champion on his quest to save the realms." The orange energy sphere answered.
"To aid me?" He was lost in thought, pointing to himself.
"These portals lead to each of the realms that conceals a Kamidogu. Each time you recover one, you must return it to the Nexus and place it on that altar." Shujinko fixed his eyes onto that thin piece of wood. "Doing so will unlock the portal to the next realm for you to search."
"Which portal will open first?"
"Place the Earthrealm Kamidogu on the altar and you will know."
Peeking from the side, Lao witnessed the insignia of the blue and green orbs shine and hover over the hole to the right of all the other empty engravings. A few moments later, a red portal began to form adjacent to the blue one.
The otherworldly voice spoke again, "It would seem that the Elder Gods wish for their champion to search the Netherrealm next. I must warn you; it is a dark and evil place."
"I will be on my guard." Shujinko smiled and nodded.
Knowing there were six other slots missing, Lao still followed the wanderer thru a red portal which took them straight into the Netherrealm! The former monk was surprised they didn't wind up at the same place where he fought Scorpion, nor near the Fire Well. The sky was a bright pink-peach, and the numerous huts konsisted sharp horns on their roofs contrasted with the black burnt ground. Oddly enough, Lao wasn't fazed by its usual humid and tepid environment; he seemed grateful he was only in his astral form, yet still he could wander within the dreaded, and sometimes tempting, realm...
"Is this not what you expected? Damashi brought Lao out of his reverie.
"This place... It feels... dark." Shujinko observed.
"As dark as every heart that inhabits it. Normally your presence here would not be possible. Only evil resides in the Netherrealm."
"So how is it that I am here!?" The teen grew a bit agitated since he was now a part of Hell somewhat.
"Perhaps your time with the Lin Kuei has left a small stain of corruption on your soul."
"Corruption?!" He was certainly alarmed over this revelation; he never thought that even though the blue bloods were strict, he never suspected them to be evil.
"But you must not dwell on that. What is important is your quest. Most likely, the Netherrealm Kamidogu will not be found within the walls of this city. You must venture deep into these wretched planes of Hell if you are to recover it."
"This is not going to be pleasant, but I will complete my task."
He found numerous armored demons roaming around the city of Nekros. Each of them he interacted with were speaking a sort of language; Damashi told him they talk backwards so that many people won't listen to their secrets. He helped Shujinko translate their arcane tongues, and he found out the guards must be gathered for an oncoming feast...
It took a while for him to find a resident in elaborate clothing and a pale blue face. To Kung Lao, though, he knew exactly who he was! He just hovered still, frozen as if the horrid realm became frozen like the Treachery ring!
"Greetings, mortal. I am Shinnok. I was unjustly imprisoned in this realm many ages ago. I seek a lost amulet - my means of escape."
Kung Lao was startled, and he reached out a hand to hold back Shujinko as he implored, he was helping a very powerful and evil sorcerer who was banished by Raiden twice! Unfortunately, in his astral form, Lao couldn't intervene... Much to his disappointment, his translucent hand only went straight thru! He moped for a moment, until he noticed he was losing Shujinko in his amazing and tireless sprints; he reluctantly followed him til he found the golden amulet somewhere near the hut dedicated to the Brotherhood of Shadows.
Lao and Shujinko heard murmurs of chanting emanating from that large complex, though they were dumbfounded they never noticed the golden pendant just a few miles away. In the Champion's discouragement, Shujinko handed it over to Shinnok.
"Excellent! You have found my amulet, though it seems somehow... different. Take these koins as your reward. When next we meet, I will no doubt be supreme ruler of all the realms. I will remember your service to me."
Lao's mind was clouded by dread, though he was slightly reassured by Shinnok's words of the suspicious amulet. He wondered if it he had the fake amulet instead...
Still, he couldn't help his mind screaming that Shujinko was a bad omen, and he was more blindly loyal than Liu Kang! Out of disgust, wondering what other troubles he'd stir, he found him head north an encounter a beautiful woman in white, komplete with a long hat and robes decorated in gold linings matching her stilettos! She was standing in earnest beside an iron gate.
"I am Shujinko. Pardon my intrusion, but you do not look like a demon of the Netherrealm," he addressed.
"I am Ashrah. I was once like the others - before I found the means to purge myself of the evil taint that permeates all who reside here. By slaying demons with an enchanted sword, I will gradually transform into a being whom this realm cannot contain. Eventually I will be free. And how is it you exist in this place? You do not seem to belong here yourself."
"I am from Earthrealm."
She held her chin for a moment, scanning over him. "Hmm, I see. Be warned, Shujinko. The Netherrealm is quite hostile to outsiders. If you are to survive against its denizens, you will need special skills. I offer to train you in the art of kombat that will be most effective here."
"I accept your most gracious offer, Ashrah." He responded with a bow.
"Then let your training begin."
Little by little, in his transformation, Shujinko was able to mimic all of the fallen soul's techniques. Kung Lao was intrigued Ashrah possessed moves that were even similar to his, including Nature's Torpedo which seemed quite similar to Kung Lao's tricky Whirlwind Kick taught by Bo' Rai Cho, and her Spin Cycle which had a striking resemblance to his own Tornado Kick! Even when sending enemies into the air, he noticed! Her greatest attributes were her use of holy light and her curved blade she named Kriss! There was a brief, swift swordfight, though with his rapid mastery, he was able to perform well.
"I have now shown you the techniques for fighting the demons of this place, Shujinko. May this knowledge serve you well." Ashrah stated.
He appreciated her with a bow, "Thank you, Ashrah. I believe I am ready to brave the depths of the Netherrealm."
She touched her chin with an index finger, "Perhaps a test is in order. Meet me at the temple outside of town. I will find you a suitable opponent. We will see if you have indeed learned all I have taught you."
"I look forward to this chance to test myself."
With that, she dissipated in a funnel of white light as the iron gates lifted. The sky churned darker gradually, despite the magma pools remaining bright as ever. Shujinko and Lao now realized they're in the barren, and more volatile, wastelands.
The domain was more territorial and intimidating as the onis became more violent than the passive townsfolk; Lao admired their warnings of the horrid creatures never being allowed in Nekros as he saw them lurk as if they were part of some punk-like street gangs. The narrow paths and land paths were littered with the same spiked horns as he saw atop of the numerous huts, and he felt it took them awhile to find...whatever made Shujinko hesitate as he gazed onto a towering grey stone.
"How odd... I feel a strange sensation the kloser I get to this structure."
Unsure what Shujinko meant, as Lao never felt a thing, he kontinued to track him when he finally spotted kolossal iron wrought bars overhanging from a ginormous arena encasing bright orange markings as the lava, then through another land path till he found Ashrah near one of the many humongous huts komplete with a stone floor, huge torches emitting blue flames, and stone structures with many of those protruding spikes. She was squaring with Baraka! Lao knew for certain this wasn't the more docile, time displaced Tarkatan he encountered recently.
"So, this is the demon known as Ashrah! Your notoriety extends as far as Outworld. Many of Shao Kahn's Netherrealm allies have fallen to your blade. Thus, he has sent an assassin to deal with you."
"Yes, I am aware of the demon known as Ermac. I welcome his arrival. Until then, you will serve as kombat practice."
Needless to say, Shujinko took the front as the Ashrah copy and bested Baraka in kombat; his lethal blades hardly made any effect, not even leeching his lifeforce. In fact, the Kriss duplicate was able to slice and break Baraka's own arm blades, making him vulnerable before he was taken out.
"That Tarkatan was not a pure demon, but a mutated hybrid of demon and mortal races. There was not much to gain from his death. Were I to defeat the powerful demon Ermac, however, I would surely ascend from this place much sooner. If while on your quest you should encounter him, lead him to me. It is here that I am most powerful."
"If I see him, I will do as you ask." Shujinko offered with a bow before he pranced southward and over a thorned bridge and narrow land path. He and Lao eventually saw the distinctive figure, whom Lao recognized as the assailant who once hid in the Warrior Shrine.
"What manner of beast are you?"
"I am no beast. I am Shujinko from Earthrealm and I am in search of a powerful demon. I have an acquaintance who wants to... deal with him."
"As commanded by the Emperor Shao Kahn, We search for a powerful demon as well. But We are bound together by sorcery, and the lower planes of this realm drain magical power. Our bond, Our strength, is fading. We fear that We will not have the strength to destroy Our enemy."
"Why do you say 'we' and 'our'?"
"We... will explain later if you help Us. There is not much time."
"I will most certainly help you. What must I do?"
"Help Us find a Soul Stone... a large red monolith covered with ancient runes. We can replenish the magic power that binds Our souls together and continue Our trek. Do this for Us, and We will reveal to you Our knowledge of kombat as payment."
"I will search for the Soul Stone."
Shujinko must've sharp memorization that could even rival Kung Lao's since he was able to find that same structure in which it gave him that...odd feeling.
"This appears to be the Soul Stone that warrior mentioned. I must inform him of its location."
It wasn't long before he found Ermac again and took him to that beastly landform encasing those shiny orange runes.
"Greetings! I have found the Soul Stone! It is to the east not far from here.
"We must go there immediately. Come, We will reward you once We have regained Our strength."
"Yes... This is it... a Soul Stone! We can feel Our strength returning!"
"What exactly is a Soul Stone?"
"Many ages ago, the first sorcerers toiled for the Elder Gods, linking the realms with portals. The lower planes of the Netherrealm are quite hazardous to beings of magic."
"In these inhospitable places, they erected Soul Stones, which restored their energies as they worked."
"We Ourselves are comprised of many warrior souls, bound together by sorcery. Eventually We would have become undone had you not shown Us the Soul Stone."
"Why did the sorcerers build the portals for the Elder Gods?"
"They were built as a defense from some unforeseen cataclysm. We do not concern Ourselves with such myths, however."
"Now We will honor Our promise and impart to you Our kombat knowledge. Prepare yourself, as the power of Ermac is revealed."
Those were the same moves taught to Shujinko's duplicate as he learnt and mastered Ermac's moves with ease, including his Teleport, Telekinetic Slam, his Soul Balls, even hovering himself for a short while with Mystical Float. All excepting for the teleported air slash that often took Lao and Liu unawares. But then again...he was still in the past.
Ermac... He is the one Ashrah is looking for. I must lead him to her. Shujinko thought. "Ermac, the demon you seek... Does it have a name?"
"Her name is Ashrah. She has slain many of Shao Kahn's Netherrealm allies - for this, he has commanded Us to destroy her."
"Interesting... She is looking for you as well. She believes you are a demon and will kombat you to purify her soul."
"Her misconceptions are of no importance. You must reveal to Us her location!"
"She is near a temple to the northwest. She is waiting for you."
"Then we must leave at once."
Within seconds, Ermac dissipated himself and Shujinko as he directed him to Ashrah overhead; it was no trouble for Lao to keep up. For once, he was grateful in his astral form.
Aloft the narrow path and horned bridge back to that same temple with the blue torches, Ermac arrived before Ashrah with an aerial blow!
"At last, I will defeat the demon Ermac. Your death will bring me closer to purification and ultimately, my release from this realm."
"We are no demon! Surely you can sense that We are not of your kind."
"Nonetheless, there must be some evil residing within you, or you could not have entered the Netherrealm."
"Enough! You have killed many of Shao Kahn's allies in your quest to purify your soul. You will pay for your insolence!"
To Kung Lao's disgust, Shujinko took on the form of Ermac instead of the benevolent Ashrah! If he would've taken the bait, he'd support the redeeming golden standard! Still, he hardly watched as Shujinko easily took away Ashrah's holy fighting spirit.
The actual Ermac as the bystander simply snickered, "Hmph. Is this the sum of your might, Ashrah? It will take much more to defeat Us!"
"And more you shall receive!" She stood up from her aching, struggling posture. The she charged with all her remaining might. "Aaahhh!"
Ermac, being he'd more strength, just forcibly tossed Ashrah into one of the placid flames with a single psi toss! Her body and spirit incinerated as she made some despicable grunts, and a declaration she'll have her vengeance one day in Hell's native tongue...
Kung Lao was enraged as his fists klenched and quivered, before unleashing his fury onto Shujinko which did nothing... Although, the relic given to him that looked similar to a biohazard symbol, got his peripheral vision.
This must be the Netherrealm Kamidogu. Damashi will be pleased.
With his remaining sanity, he followed Shujinko beneath the iron gates leading to the city of Nekros.
"Damashi! Damashi, where are you?!"
"Who dares summon me to this... Oh... Shujinko! It has been many years since last we met."
"Why have I not seen you in so long a time?"
"I... take precautions to avoid this place. It drains me. If my avatar were to stay here for too long, or descend too far into the lower planes, I could be trapped here forever."
"Your avatar? I do not understand."
"I am without a physical body and am only able to appear to you by extending my spirit into the realms. It is my hope that I will one day return to the physical world. Until then I must guide you as a simple apparition. And how goes your search?"
"I have found the Netherrealm Kamidogu!"
"So, it seems! Well done, Shujinko. Return to the Nexus and place the Kamidogu on the altar."
He did just that, and Lao followed him back to the ancient gateway which immediately sent them to the Nexus. "...It's about time," he sighed.
Lao watched him place it on the altar before a yellow portal opened. Shujinko entered the next realm, the Oriental followed.
"Kung Lao."
He paused and looked behind him. "...Raiden!" He bowed low. "I... never saw you in the Netherealm."
"You know I am powerless there, I've no jurisdiction. That was why I waited for you here. Have you not found any clues involving Onaga?"
Lao sulked and shook his head. "I have not. But what I DO know is, Shujinko is certainly a threat, to all the realms. I saw him aid Shinnok and found his missing amulet!"
Raiden's eyes widened, "Shinnok...? He found his amulet...?"
He could hardly speak, ashamed he failed to stop him.
The Thunder God backpedaled, "We are in the past, Kung Lao. We cannot intervene... However, the world wasn't in peril during 1964. He must've found the fake amulet instead; this must've jumpstarted the following events, when Bi-Han was tasked to find the real one for Quan Chi and when it was taken from the Temple of Elements. Quan Chi retained it till the war in Edenia."
Lao then remembered Shinnok being powerless as Raiden, Fujin and Liu ended it. "Then, Shujinko utterly failed. He's more blindly loyal than Liu Kang, and sided with the enemy, Ermac, against Ashrah! I knew he was up to no good...!" He growled.
Raiden perspired, "...He must be gathering the Kamidogu, to appease the One Being. I am certain you've heard of him."
"...Yes. I heard figments of him in the White Lotus Society."
"What many won't tell you, is the war of the Elder Gods. They were created by him and oppressed him, thus splitting himself kreating the many realms, including Earth. To prevent a repeated travesty, the Elder Gods hid them away, into the far reaches within them.
"They are the puzzle pieces to make another being supreme to the One Being. Unlike Shao Kahn who's merged Edenia and attempted to usurp Earthrealm, if all realms shall kombine into one, that usurper shall bring unfathomable destruction to all of existence..."
As Lao hung his head and shut his eyes in defeat, Raiden assured it's not too late. "Shujinko hasn't obtained all the Kamidogu just yet. Kontinue to follow Shujinko and Damashi on his quest, Kung Lao. And recruit the other Champions to fight in our kause. I strongly believe that troubled teen is konnected to Onaga's upbringing. Do not let his negative actions disturb you."
Lao made a low bow with his hands together, before he rose and marched into the yellow portal.
"I hope it's not too late already...!" Raiden muttered.
Kung Lao came to within a warm bed with a comforter at an opaque room. The sun was shining thru the window at the top wall, despite the red curtains blocking it. His fluttering eyes barely saw the brown wood but also the young woman sitting in front of him. He took in a few deep breaths before he made out the Outworlder with jet black hair pulled back, along with a thin, purple outfit that can even blend in with Outworld's macabre landscape.
She reached for Kung Lao's neck, caressing it. "I am Li Mei..."
Lao felt the soothing touch, even the scent of lavender, and her gentle voice...
"I'd taken you in after you became unconscious, Kung Lao. You have been asleep for the past seven hours."
He still felt too fatigued to speak, though he couldn't believe Hanzo brought him in, with Onaga running amok. He was also intrigued how someone from the wretched world even know who he was... His mind snapped back to reality as she offered a bowl with warm broth.
"A friend clad in yellow and black was seeking asylum and carried you here. He had offered me to help you." She then made Lao sip the lukewarm liquid again. "Thank the Elder Gods it was you. With Onaga reborn, there is still hope. I am not afraid..." She put aside the bowl as she touched his cheek for reassurance.
With this...sensation, Lao murmured, "I will protect you..."
"Then, allow me to lend you my strength," The Shaolin became so entranced by this outlander, he hardly noticed her lean in and kiss him passionately on the forehead. Realizing what was going, he rose his arms quickly as if to shove her away.
"Mmm-no!"
Li Mei sat there, awestruck.
"My heart...belongs to someone I cherish from Earthrealm. Aiko..." His mind was able to register and recollect the hard object as he reached down and inside the blanket. His fingers brushed against it and he rose the crimson gem which took in the golden sun. "I... Forgive me, Li Mei."
"Well, looks like you finally came around." The familiar tenor turned out to be Hanzo who sat in front of him. He was actually grinning for once.
"Agh, Hanzo."
"Are you feeling alright?"
"I think so." He held his weary head. "I went thru time again..."
"You saw Shujinko?"
"Yes, and I saw you as well, as your wraith self. Even Quan Chi, Ashrah, Ermac and Shinnok. I have an intuition that Shujinko may be a bad omen..."
"I remembered training him so he can stand a chance against the aggressive denizens. At the city of Nekros."
"It almost felt...tempting."
"Must be the Brotherhood of Shadow; seems to have this effect, plenty of dopamine." His mind switched gears. "Oh, I was just waiting outside the bedchamber where a young woman tended you. She's Li Mei, one of the Sun Do survivors who escaped from the brutal enslavement of the Deadly Alliance and the violent Soulnado."
She nodded. "She said that...she knows me." Kung Lao reiterated.
"Yes, I was a student of Bo' Rai Cho. He saved me and my people from Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. I've heard great things about you and Liu Kang. And I'd heard you and Hanzo are looking for the realms' Champions?"
"Indeed. It's the only way we can stop Onaga. Have you found any clues?"
Lao sulked and shook his head. "No. Only that Shujinko kannot be trusted. Even Raiden stated to me of the One Being, and Shujinko gathers all the Kamidogu. The Elder Gods hid them to prevent that same kalamity. And... we kannot leave Outworld unless we should find a portal."
"I recommend we should head to the Chaosrealm, and find Havik; he seems to be the best fighter, by default anyway. There's also the Orderrealm, err Seido as they kall it. Although their most skilled warrior is Hotaru; he's...pretty much the equivalent of a Soviet mixed with those asinine Jehovah." Hanzo mentioned.
"I will lead you to the gateway of Outworld. It may be ancient, but I believe it can still be active, even without a Kamidogu." Li Mei added.
"Raiden said only the hearts of Champions can enter the Nexus. Only me and Hanzo."
"Then, we must proceed, before if Onaga and his followers should reach it." Lao hesitated as he gazed into the heart gem once more. Until Li laid a soft hand on his firm shoulder. "We must go," she encouraged.
It took several minutes before the trio prepared themselves for the journey. They prayed to the Elder Gods that things won't take a turn for the worst.
A/N: Whew...this was an excruciatingly LONG chapter to write; thank goodness I decided to cut it from the previous chapter, when the Edenian thrall and reunion took place! The Netherrealm was NOT an easy, simple scenario; so many sidequests to do there during Konquest! It was sheer, utter Hell both metaphorically and literally!
Good thing Kung Lao was in the lead discovering more on Shujinko's quest. And, yeah, he did feel tempted at times due to the sinister and sometimes alluring atmosphere of the Netherrealm, even from the Brotherhood of Shadow, as Lao and Aiko served Shinnok before. Sometimes I too feel the same, sometimes I wonder what'd be like if she truly was a revenant. It seems so enthralling on what kan it be like... Maybe I'll make a non-canon oneshot of that...
Anyway, I didn't like the decisions Shujinko had to make! He chose the wrong sides while aiding Shinnok even though it was a fake amulet, he aided Quan Chi, the Onis, Ermac, taking the form of him fighting off the benevolent Ashrah, and they say he's supposed to be a hero? Yeah right! He never has a conscience, just blind loyalty, even with decisions which seemed to be wrong! No wonder Kung Lao questioned his motives to Raiden!
The scenario, aside from the Edenian reunion, involving Lao and Li Mei was on my mind for a while; reminds me of the tempting scene as Jade did to Liu in Annihilation. A little klue to the so-called Li/Lao fans; he belongs to Aiko here!
So, the Kuatan Palace/Nexus from Mortal Kombat Deception plays as Lao finds the Nexus; Netherrealm - Konquest, Mystical Energies - Ermac's Training, Demon Huntress - Ashrah's Training, and finally Animality from Annihilation shall follow here.
Part 2 of the originally-kombined-chapter is finished! What a huge weight off my shoulders! I hope the Chaosrealm won't be so damned hectic!