Con't IX - Declaration!
Back at the Outworld runes, Smoke and Frost were still anxiously waiting for Kuai's and Sareena's return from the Netherrealm while they had a pep talk with Nightwolf. He was empowering his soul weapons as green incest rose from the bonfire while his tools ignited the same shade; Kiba was still inside his malevolent vessel.
Frost grew worried of his welfare, as if losing Kuai wasn't bad enough! "Nightwolf... That Sin Eater ritual, would that actually consume you, or would you be lost spiritually...?"
He wasn't fazed by her worries as he responded with a strong composure, "If Onaga should war against the Champions, and if they shall be successful, he'd be weak enough for me to bind his spirit into the underworld for eternity. Think of it as a sort of Devil's Trap." His mind then wandered to where he had been several hours ago, even before the invasion near the Temple of Light...
He was at his old Matokan burial ground gathering all the sinful tribesmen in order to have that powerful taint to make him access the Netherrealm. Unfortunately, those corrupt spirits weren't enough to bound a super beast as malicious as the ultimate Dragon King, remembering how invincible he was back at Shang's Palace. During his spiritual hunt, he also remembered aiding the adult Shujinko for several years on removing his own tarnished spirit, before the first tournament started and decided to leave his tribe for higher learning, thus being a tech geek and a sort of a pariah.
He was at a little village surrounded by wigwams. A foot away from the settlement, he was inside a wooded area beside a flowing stream when the muscular traveler shown up out of nowhere.
"This is sacred ground, stranger. I am Nightwolf. I must ask you to leave this place before your evil taint defiles the sanctity of these grounds."
"I do not understand." The newbie rose his voice in disbelief. "I am Shujinko. I assure you that I mean no disrespect to your people."
The shaman wasn't convinced, wearing a look of dread, "I sense corruption in your soul, Shujinko... a spiritual contamination that I have never before perceived."
"I feel no touch of evil, but... My travels have taken me to many worlds. Perhaps it is a result of my journeys in the Netherrealm," he spoke more humbly, curious of the Indian's uneasiness.
"It is possible. If you will allow me, I may be able to purge this contagion from your being, although it will take many years to accomplish."
The Champion wasn't expecting his journey to be halted for so long! "Many years? It will delay my quest... but I suppose I should take advantage of your offer."
Nightwolf then challenged Shujinko in physical kombat, just to test the stranger's strength. Ironically, Kiba hadn't been born yet...
"Life is a series of events leading to a conclusion," the Matokan explained as he taught the foreign traveler on how to mimic his Val Tudo, Tae Kwon Do, even wielding a pair of two Tomahawks! And it wasn't long before Nightwolf taught Shujinko to imitate his more powerful techniques on possessing his spiritual weapons, even performing the Rhino Charge, conjuring a bolt of lightning, and deflecting his own tactics. Finally, in that same spacious ranch, he challenged Shujinko to a battle utilizing everything he learnt, and the wanderer defeated him easily!
Shujinko spent many years with Nightwolf, who taught him much about the spirit of the warrior. Through Nightwolf's teachings, Shujinko expanded his consciousness and heightened his awareness.
The skilled martial artist began to wear heavier clothing that seemed to be made with thick hides and fur, along with a tall hood covering the majority of his head and face.
"You have accomplished much since beginning your spiritual cleansing, Shujinko. Though the taint of evil continues its hold on you, my training has given you the ability to control it."
"I am grateful for what you have done for me, Nightwolf."
"I wish you luck on your journeys. You are always welcome in the lands of my forefathers."
"It wasn't long before my people realized I was training for higher education; I was then disgusted after that. Luckily, it was around that time I had Kiba by my side. Wasn't easy to stay away from the dorms, as I only studied in my own camp. Then...I graduated early, top of my class, by the time the first tournament began and Raiden enlisted my help." He sulked, "For several restless moons...I'd been receiving vision after haunting vision of the Dragon King. I figure if I can just absorb souls from Onaga's army..."
"How konvenient!" The trio was startled by a snarling voice, as if speaking thru his elongated fangs. "Onaga's army is gathering as we speak."
"Baraka!" They chorused in surprise. Smoke and Frost went on the defensive.
The Tarkatan just rose a hand, "Fear not, mortals. I do not wish to attack you. I am the time-displaced predator of Outworld; I noticed my past vessel isn't as sanitary as I am." For once he made a jest, but the antsy warriors weren't buying it... "As we speak, my bitter half is rallying up my kind's deadliest warriors to serve Onaga and have him reign supreme. He is unlike Shao Kahn! I should know since I worked for both factions, as Onaga is a ruler of order, and his followers are all so submissive, hardly any objection. As if functioning with only one mind."
"That's the one who helped us against the Deadly Alliance, Tomas." Frost clarified.
"You were willing to turn on your own race? Help me here."
"Well, it's not every day the Lin Kuei are willing to turn against cyber conversion," she rebutted.
"Anarchic fools! They'd rather work for and depend on a power-hungry tyrant and satiate their bloodlust than fend for themselves like those pitiful Saurians! Contrary to those times when we worked for Kahn by invading the city of Lei Chen, soon Edenia, and the Wu Shi Academy to which I regret.
"Tarkatans always have an essential sense of smell. And with that rancid odor, I'd encountered Onaga taking the form of a Saurian. I soon realized it belonged to my komrade, Reptile! When I was time-displaced from Kahn's new reign, I knew my friend would be in trouble; I spotted the shattered egg recently at the Lava Shrine, before I caught up with Kung Lao and that Wind God at the Kuatan Jungle. The possessed human with dark glasses and several decaying archers were brought to my attention."
The trio wondered how Onaga would take someone else's vessel and not his own. Baraka stated his original corpse was destroyed by the Edenians at the Lost Pyramid, though his spirit was reformed and hatched from the egg incubated by his ancient sect. Knowing he was barred by Edenia, Baraka broke his boundaries alerting of the army's advancement thru either Earthrealm or the hapless kingdom first.
"Their battalion consisting of some Shokan, Centaur and Saurian warriors shall strike back! If I'm korrect, Onaga should have a few infested kronies along with the treacherous klan, and supposedly the realm of Order as well."
"We HAVE to get Sub-Zero and Sareena back!" Frost replied with a hint of urgency, never wanting to face the dreaded tyrant and his massive foot soldiers on her own.
At the prison ditch in the elemental temple, Johnny's limp body suddenly shot up and became stiff, as if he just picked up something like a dog with a potent scent... The broken frames of his $500 glasses fell off as his irises gleamed a fiery orange! He snarled as he rose slowly and gazed around his confinement. Grinding his teeth, he backed up to the steep rear wall and ran to the other side.
He then went all erratic as he made a successful attempt climbing out, utilizing the high walls like a predator clawing up! Almost as if his fingertips were gripping the ridges precisely before he leapt out!
The Edenian knights were on high alert as they stormed toward the intruder who miraculously escaped! But due to his quick reflexes and monstrous strength, they were unable to subdue him! One of the wounded elites shouted in Edenian there's an intruder after the final artifact!
In an adjacent chamber, Sindel, Jade and Kitana picked up on the warning. But before the Queen had a chance to alert her non-Edenian kolleagues, the irate revenant was bashing thru the locked, metal door and the krowd! He even tossed Sindel aside like an unwanted toy, even Kitana and Jade were unable to pin him down for long before they were knocked back! Not even Aiko could capture him in which Cage's heart was too venomous for her to stall as it slipped away like a slippery eel!
Some of the Knights kontinued the chase, while others murmured and became komplacent he won't find Shinnok's Amulet in the labyrinth. Kitana paused then spoke a foreign mantra that was hardly audible, which seemed to stun Johnny for a moment! The onlookers noticed him hold his head as he squealed in agony, although he was still ardent while he scampered closer to the abysmal room!
"If he gets to that amulet, Onaga might sense it and transport him to-" There was a loud grunt after Sindel's distress. Cage's body halted then collapsed.
As the onlookers closed in, they noticed he was ambushed by an impatient Ashrah and stabbed him with her thrown Kriss! There wasn't any blood as it intruded a nerve!
The krafty undead scowled, "You'll never stop the almighty will of Onaga!"
Aloft, her holy might was eventually too much for Johnny to resist as he was being sizzled and immobilized! The footmen held him down until he became unconscious. Sindel congratulated and thanked the gowned stranger for her interception.
Kenshi growled, "That bastard must've had a hive mind despite ME compromising his equipment! More of Onaga's followers could be marching toward the temple from Outworld!"
Ashrah volunteered, "I'll round up the settlers who are willing to fight, and perhaps purify the remaining revenants, Sonya and Jax." After receiving quizzical looks, she stated Raiden told her as soon as she broke free from the Netherrealm. She even cussed backwards as she was in remorse for training Shujinko and letting him be stronger than her, as she would've broken free sooner if she'd have the chance to slay Ermac...
At the sound of his name, Jade's memory was tugged having a flashback as did Sindel when the former was defeated by Shujinko surrendering the Outworld Kamidogu, and the latter giving the Edenia treasure to him to keep away from Kahn.
"Hmm, it seems you ladies aren't the only ones who have disdain with him after all." The blind swordsman sympathized.
"Can the pity parties! We got trouble!" One of the knights rushed in and cried.
In the bleak of night, a monstrous dragon flew and breathed wide streaks of fire onto the small village of Sun Do! The remainder of the denizens were caught unawares as the Tarkatans impaled their arm blades into the vulnerable citizens! They hardly noticed a bulky man lift and strangle someone, "Reveal the location of Shinnok's Amulet, or pay with your life!"
He just simply remained silent and shellshocked before the metallic arm threw him down hard! Snarls were heard as were screams, even amongst the crackles of wood! Each one of the trapped civilians met their demise in various ways, as they never spoke the intel Onaga needed for the last piece of his diabolical puzzle. Not even the general shown any relent as she became a brutal bruiser by delivering lethal punches and kicks.
Sonya and Jax led the Tarkatan horde thru the thick outskirts from the shambles of Onaga's rebirth place. The former Special Forces turned out to be the dragon's most lethal enforcers. By the time everyone was finished emptying the deserted settlement, the despotics bowed to the emerging serpent, some even kneeled.
"Those pitiful Sun Donians. They deserve to waste their feeble lives. They could've been spared if they would squawk the location of the final piece to victory!" Jax retorted.
"Kourtesy of our Edenian servants, I've already the incantations needed to unite all the Kamidogu into the ultimate weapon that will konquer the Elder Gods. Just as the One Being failed to occur during genesis. That primitive village wasn't as promising as containing the secrets of the Soulnado. Perhaps the mighty kingdom of Edenia would be most konvenient. With the anarch, Shao Kahn, nonexistent."
The two undead froze after they rose their heads. Intrigued, the ruler of Outworld looked closer on his associates. "We received intel from Johnny, Lord Onaga," Sonya replied in a monotonous, though stern, tone.
"And that is?"
"The Temple of Elements, in northern China. I'll see if I can operate a portal upon its coordinates."
"Please do, sweet pawn...! We still must thrash the resistance of Edenia. They would surely drive us back."
"A fair strategy, Imperialist of Order." A low, though serene tenor, added. A man with white hair tied into a bun, wearing black and gold armor, and having what looked to be a pair of magenta flags stuck out from his back.
"Ah. My long-time associate, Hotaru. My champion from Seido, the heart of the Orderrealm."
He then knelt, "I am humbled of your presence, Lord Onaga. It has been too long of several millennia. For eons, my followers and I had been awaiting your return."
"Much obliged, keeper of powerful harmony. Soon, all of Outworld and the realms shall tremble and bend to our insatiable will. I must first find the answers for the final piece of the Kamidogu, in the jewel of the cosmos, Earthrealm. That elderly fuck, Shujinko, only gathered the majority of those sacred artifacts."
"We will cross the barren plain en route to Edenia, and use force onto the putrid palace, and anyone who'd dare to be a threat." Jax added, "Sonya and I will download the intel when ready."
"Once we have the coordinates of the Temple of Elements, we'll kontact you." Sonya stated.
"Excellent. We will thrive at tomorrow's dawn. The reign of Onaga, will soon begin!"
All his troops roared in triumph as they raised their blades and fists into the brisk, evening air!
Soon enough, it was daybreak, ironically the sun was rising in a coral sky nearly close to bleeding, the Edenian kavalry arose as the numerous watchful eyes pierced thru like beacons within the opaque vegetation. Even those from atop of the 15-story trees looked down warily on the approaching army.
"Those vile intruders are here...!" Baraka snarled in the area of runes; Nightwolf, Frost and Smoke were geared up. Frost whimpered to the Elder Gods for Kuai and Sareena to hurry. To the shaman, it was like deja vu as the forces of Outworld united against Shinnok and Quan Chi just a year ago!
"Still, I must prepare for the Sin Eater ritual. Let these treacherous bastards kome. As well as Sonya and Jax."
"They were our kompatriots that became korrupt by Onaga's infectious influence upon death...!" Baraka became more disgusted of the horned dragon! "I know firsthand. Our reinforcements shall be at the ready. And I wish to cut my double down to size!"
It wasn't long nor easy as the Dragon's militia came across every rigged trap! The Saurians made a preemptive strike as they rained the enemies with acid from thick canopy above or activated lethal limbs and lethal forest needles courtesy of the remaining monstrous trees.
Onaga, Sonya, Jax, and Hotaru often took the frontlines and disabled some of the traps. The group konsisting of the Edenian dwellers, and the raptors' associates, the Chameleons, won't give up without a fight.
The ravenous, wild Tarkatans rushed into the livid terrain, breaking off any strategies or cover from both sides! No one seemed irritated of the arm blade-wielding monstrosities, just eager to vanquish all those who oppose their warlord! Onaga actually faded within the shadows as soon as their weapons klashed!
In the Living Forest or on the arid frontier were both littered with blood and severed bodies!
"My kind aren't so reliable. I always recall them rushing into battle without a proper plan nor contingency; they will be so damn unquenchable and reckless." Baraka highlighted, Nightwolf couldn't agree more, as they never took the proper precautions in the Netherrealm War.
Just then, a rip appeared and to everyone's relief, Kuai and Sareena emerged! They were taken aback when Frost rushed and embraced him! "Thank the Elder Gods you're here...!"
"Well, never mind the love scene, ice princess." Tomas remarked. "Onaga's saints are marching in."
The general's nose twitched, and he gave a deep inhale, summarizing he picked up foul odors which he figured be Onaga's army; he was worried his doppelganger can be among their ranks. He crossed his arm blades, ready to slice some fresh meat, and never wavering on turning against his own klan as what he did against the Deadly Alliance.
"Now all we need are Sonya and Jax." Kuai reiterated.
"I think my partner, Ashrah, can help in that regard." Sareena added.
At the Nexus, Lao, Liu, Hanzo and Ermac ran thru the Earthrealm portal. The realm between realms was as deathly silent as a graveyard. They slowly approached the altar.
The Shirai Ryu warrior perked up and stated to the Champion of Earthrealm, "Kung Lao. Remember that cunning stunt you attempted to make on stealing the Kamidogu?"
The former monk nodded.
Liu Kang's spirit came to the realization, "Ah... Do it!"
Lao was astonished by this, as most of the time his shenanigans would often be rejected or looked down with disdain.
"Yes. This could bring Onaga's attention to us. As long as he has the Kamidogu united, he's merely unstoppable. But divided, he will fall." Ermac took in the hero's words.
He was hesitant, as the large pendant shined when he stretched an arm. Thinking it might shock him, he took the Earthrealm relic quickly with a snatch of one strong hand! To their surprise he wasn't harmed as he looked down at his prize sparkling in both hands, though his mind went blank...
Lao saw the elder Shujinko accomplishing his goal as he laid the Edenia artifact at the second-to-last patch to the left. All six of those arcane relics glowed and sparkled as if his 40-year task was finally accomplished.
"I do not understand! The Kamidogu should be transported to the Elder Gods..." Shujinko was contempt that all the good deeds he'd done was for naught. "Why...why is it not happening...?"
Just then, the floor began to quake as a beast stomped toward the hearth. "Because you have not completed the quest," he had an unearthly voice, almost as if altered and fuzzy just like...
"Who... What are you!?" Shujinko pointed toward the horrid creature.
"Ah, yes... Familiar words. Perhaps this will help you to understand," he opened a palm that seemed to be half a foot in diameter. In it, that same neon orange orb of energy emerged!
"Damashi! What has he done to you? Let him go!" Shujinko cried, his mentor in harm's hands as he implored.
"Shujinko, please! Save me!" Although...his voice seemed as if it belonged to sarcasm. "Old fool!" He cackled in his face!
"Damashi does not exist!" Onaga spoke in his more sinister growl. "The avatar you see before you? Is nothing other than a projection of my own consciousness! I manipulated this astral puppet from beyond the boundaries of death... and in turn, manipulated you." He pointed with his free hand, down at his unsuspecting pawn while he snickered! Shujinko was still speechless, yet he went on! "I deceived into bringing me the means of attaining ultimate mastery over reality."
With those intimidations, Shujinko was as steadfast as ever, "So it seems that I have indeed known you all these years. Then by what name shall I call you now? Tell me who you really are, demon!"
He roared, "I am Onaga! The Dragon King of Outworld, and soon to be ruler of all that exists!" His voice dulled to a growl, "I must thank you for bringing me so much power. The Kamidogu...are mine!" He declared as he made a tight grip.
"You may have them. They do nothing! You have wasted your time. Nothing happened when I placed them on the altar."
"Not all..! If you would have found the last piece, the altar would have transported them to the Elder Gods." He pointed the last, small hole at the very end... "But the last piece is currently in Outworld, in the possession of a necromancer. I wil deal with him later...
"For now, I will take these artifacts you have so dutifully collected for me. I'm afraid they will not make it into the hands of the Elder Gods after all. And so, Shujinko...your quest is done. Prepare for death!"
He then stomped toward the fleeing elder who just dove into the Outworld portal... Before the vision ended.
However, Lao heard one final message...
"The Dragon King now possesses the six Kamidogu and has taken the ancient amulet from Quan Chi in Outworld. Although each item is powerful beyond mortal comprehension, individually they contain only a fraction of the power needed to create the realms. To become all-powerful, Onaga must discover a way to fuse them into a single, ultimate Kamidogu!
"I have been a pawn to Onaga's scheme to rule all. If I am to redeem myself, I must continue to learn all that I can, and prepare for the final battle against the Dragon King."
"Of course. Grandfather stated that Damashi isn't a name, but rather a word, Japanese for deception!" Liu's words made everyone flinch!
"I should've known...!" Hanzo growled at his own incompetence. He then had a flashback of losing to the false prophet and regretting on training Shujinko in the Netherrealm to restore his taint to make him travel in all realms, before he lost upon Onaga's emergence.
As if reading their minds like Kenshi, Ermac recalled the Seido guards in Outworld meeting him, then imprisoning him before the soul kollector arrived near Shang's Palace. He also noticed that the generous one was saved by Dairou during a riot he made against the fanatical Orderrealmers!
They all came to the conclusion that Damashi was Shujinko's guide for the fake quest that was orchestrated by using Onaga's consciousness due to his rotted corpse at the Tomb. Everything came to a head, and Ermac sensed thousands of armies konsisting of the Saurians, Shokans, Centaurs, and Edenians teaming up with Sareena, Ashrah, Frost, Smoke, Kuai, and Nightwolf to war against Onaga's followers in a bloody massacre!
"The war... It has begun...!"
Everyone was in deep thought, worrying for the welfare of their kompatriots and their fellow realms. Before Hanzo and Ermac grabbed their korresponding Kamidogu, they all heard a sort of whooshing noise not accompanied by wind... Kung Lao frantically observed his surroundings yet...nothing has changed. And the air remained stagnant.
"Kung Lao! Head's up!"
His eyes gazed aloft for a split second before he leapt and rolled. He even felt the tremor, hitting him squarely in the stomach. He hardly kaught his breath...
"...You."
The beast before him just snarled as his eyes flamed vermillion. "Hand me over the Earthrealm Kamidogu, mortal...!" As if on cue, it began to brighten within a side pocket. "Bring it to me!" He bellowed.
Lao just stood firm, even in one of his Shaolin poses. "Never, Onaga! I am not one of your bound zombie puppets. I will not let you govern all the realms! I refuse to surrender the last of the Kamidogu! In order to get to them, you must go thru me!" He then drew in his feet then spun his hat as he declared, "I am Kung Lao, the descendant of the Great Kung Lao, the defender of Earth, and the Champion of Mortal Kombat."
"Impressive, but it will be astronomical to overthrow me. I am Onaga, the supreme ruler of Outworld and soon all of existence! Hand me over the Kamidogu, and show me the location of the amulet, and all will be spared."
"Run, Kung Lao!" Liu's spirit rang in his ears, before he dodged Onaga's charge!
His mind raced while Lao was severely injured by the Dragon King himself, and how he was immobilized by Raiden before he sacrificed himself, how his komrades fell one by one before he was warped away by Fujin... With all but two of the Kamidogu in Onaga's possession... He had no choice!
Onaga snatched him in his vice grip, nearly krushing his fleshy vessel, before Liu Kang's fiery serpent blinded him! "Brother! Hurry! Warn the other realms of Onaga's presence and keep away the Kamidogu! GO!"
Without relent, Lao relied on his speed as he felt his cattails be licked by thermal energy! And blindly ran to one of the Nexus' outer portals!
A/N: Ok, I just HAD to end the chapter at a cliffhanger here! I tried my best to portray the enemies as best as I could, since there were no portrayals of Sonya and Johnny being Revenants (Jax was meh), and I figured the melee should be saved for the finale, even if Baraka should deal with his present double.
Songs include: Dragon King's Temple: The Dragon Has Left the Building from Mortal Kombat Deception plays when the village of Sun Do has been destroyed by Onaga and his followers, Konquest Mode: Orderrealm'd sound afterwards once Hotaru approaches them, Konquest Mode: Outworld'd chime in with Nightwolf and the gang making preparations, Konquest Mode: Edenia'd play when Nightwolf trained Shujinko and with the sudden assistance of Baraka, Helicopter Freeze from The Day after Tomorrow would play when Johnny begins his escapade, Sweat and Bruises: Sindel's Training would commence when he chases after the last Kamidogu, Konquest: The Betrayal is of course for Onaga's reveal, and Friends from Mortal Kombat 1995 would sound as Lao stands up to him before he runs, along with an excerpt from the Escape from Kung Lao in Mortal Kombat: Conquest.
Like the previous chapter, it certainly was a struggle; aside from dealing with insomnia! I wanted to wing this one, and this may be the last time Konquest would ever be included here. Besides, Shujinko's gone, and the rest of the stuff is either non-canon or just optional and uninteresting... Sorry for the disappointment. I knew I was going to lose interest eventually, and the so-called timeline was sooo konvoluted...
So, another chapter kompleted; see you at the finale!