Noob Saibot glared as he felt himself being lifted from the ground after Nightwolf kicked his exposed chest while his guard was down. He prepared to launch off the floor only to realise he had been too close to the Soulnado and was caught in it's pull. He struggled with all his might, but the Soulnado had other plans. As if the souls that fuelled it remembered his hand in their current fate, it's pull only got stronger and stronger, tearing at his charred form and dragging him closer and closer to the centre even as he fought with all his strength.
His strength was found lacking and he was dragged into the core of the Soulnado, his corporeal form flayed layer by layer, skin peeling away to allow muscle fibers to unravel and shred away from the bone, flesh reduced to dust as it peeled away from his bones. His soul was under a different attack, as it poisoned the ritual, the different magics reacting to each other violently. The Soulnado collapsed into itself, energy spilling out in violent arcs before exploding in a shower of black and purple. Noob Saibot was dead.
…
Which is why it was so strange when he found himself lying on cold stone. He began to push himself up, only managing to force his screaming joints to get him into a kneeling position so that he could see where he was.
Towering above him were seven thrones of stone, looking like they were once mountains carved into the seats of goliaths. Beyond the thrones, he could see stars. Constellations and galaxies, unlike anything he had seen in either of his two lives. He blinked the foolishness out of his eyes. He could not afford to lose focus on a mission, and he still needed to aid Quan Chi in killing the heroes of Earthrealm. Starting with the foolish imitator who had dared to take his name. Spotting an Altar with six sacrificial plates at the centre of the dais, he saw beyond them what looked like six corresponding portals.
He forced himself to stand and begin walking towards the portals, so he could see which one would lead to the closest entrance to his previous location, before collapsing onto the altar, body giving out as his injuries started to catch up to him. And then he heard it. A rushing of wind followed by the sounds of a wing beat. Which repeated itself. And again. And several more times, until Bi Han looked up and saw that all but one of the thrones were now occupied. By the Elder Gods.
"Bi-Han, why do you trespass upon our court." The gall of them. Bi-Han was gone, only Noob Saibot remained. The Elder Gods had to know that, and were saying this to insult him.
"Bi-Han is no more. I am Noob Saibot, loyal servant of Quan Chi." Noob took the opportunity provided to him by his good fortune and struck at the Elder Gods, a condensed blast of pure shadows at one of them, seeking to test his improved strength by defeating another Elder God.
The blast collided with their chest to no effect. The shadows dispersing on contact with them to absolutely no impact on it's target, except a tired sigh and a dismissive call for service.
"Monster, restrain Bi-Han before he can hurt himself."
Before he could try to figure out who this Monster was, he felt metal chains wrapped around his throat and began choking him, lifting him into the air and slamming him into the stone floor below. Noob pushed himself to his knees, coughing up black fluid as he began to feel his wounds finally begin taking their toll. He only had minutes to figure out how to defeat them, or he would fail in his mission. And an assassin of the Lin Kuei did not fail, nor did an agent of the Brotherhood of Shadow.
"Do you wish… to restrain me?" He wheeled out through the bruised lungs and throat. "Then you know… that I am a great… threat to you. You fear my power. That I will defeat you as I did Master Shinnok." Apparently they found his threats to be a joke to them, laughing like the fools they were.
"You defeated a fallen Elder God. Shinnok was powerful yes, and an impressive victory for a lone mortal. But he was not an Elder God." As they finished their mockery, the God raised their hand and faced the open palm at Noob.
Before he could try to figure out what they were doing, he felt an immense weight around him and fell to the ground as it crushed him downwards, the outline of a hand pressing down into the stone and cracking it under the sheer weight.
"Y-you d-dare!" The words were difficult to speak, but he would not be denied. He would complete his mission. He would end all threats to Shinnok's rule. He will kill these false Gods. "Y-you dare to m-mock me!" Another of the Elder Gods chimed in with their worthless insults.
"We are not mocking you Bi-Han. It appears that there is very little of Bi-Han left to mock." That was the final straw for him. He would not tolerate this any longer. Summoning a Shadow Clone who he could switch places with, Noob escaped the force on his back and roared with the fury of a wounded tiger. Drawing a sickle of refined darkness, he threw it in an arc at the God.
As it spun in the air, a golden chain trailed after it and wrapped around the handle, dragging it into the hands of the one who must have restrained him before. Noob saw the man who dared chain him like a dog.
The most notable thing about him was his armour, a midnight gold and black plate armour that wrapped around his shoulders and arms with two large crests atop shoulders. Below this was his clearly grey, corpse like skin over a heavily muscular form, with black and gold greaves over his legs and feet, perfect for crushing skulls. Except for his skull and abdomen, where the bottom of his rib cage and spinal cord could be seen unobscured by a hole in his flesh the size of a mighty fist or large hammer. His face was anything but, a skull with a golden face mask that seemed welded to his mouth and nose almost like a muzzle, and a piece of gold that seemed to be shaped in an eternal frown.
"As you wish, my masters." There was an uncanny echo to Monster's voice, as if the words came not only from his unmoving jaws, but the hole in his stomach where the shredded remains of his lungs could be seen.
"You dare think of yourself as my equal, beast? Remove yourself from my presence or be returned to the grave." Monster cared not for his words, staring at Noob with his empty sockets, seeing how he may fulfill his Master's command.
"This is already won. Your wounds are too great." Noob growled at the reminder of his current state.
"Not so great that I cannot kill you!" Noob rushed in to tackle Monster, while his double rose from behind the Champion and attempted the same. Monster didn't react, beyond summoning a golden spear with a black blade in a flash of light, which blinded Noob.
Taking the initiative, Monster spun the spear and smashed the base of it into Noob's jaw, before spinning on a heel and twisting his hip to bury the black blade into the Shadow clone's chest. Before Noob could even try and get back up, Monster placed a palm on the ground, causing the stone between them to crack and splinter before four large golden spike burst from the ground and stabbed into Noob's ankles and heels, lifting him into the air spread eagle as Monster approached with a large axe in hand. Levelling the axe to be aligned with Noob's neck, he looked to the Elder Gods for their guidance.
"Stay thy blade Monster. We may yet have need of Bi-Han." The corpse champion bowed his head, dispelling the axe into a mist of golden dust, before kicking downwards into the stone floor to do the same for the spikes that currently restrained the badly wounded Noob. As the Champion of Shinnok lay bloodied, beaten, and unbroken, he felt chains wrap around his entire body. He was unable to move in any way, but was comforted by the fact that they put enough pressure to secure his fractured bones and staunch the bleeding from his many lacerations. He would be able to recover from this, and then he would have his revenge…
As he plotted revenge, another Elder God raised their hand towards him. This time it was a woman with light green skin who sat upon a throne of bark and flowers, a crown of summer flowers resting atop her head. This was Cetrion, Goddess of Nature and Life. Twin to Shinnok.
"I tire of my brother's games. We have need of Bi-Han, and we cannot make use of him in this putrid state." A soft white circle glowed around her hand, along with the chains that held Noob. "I do not believe it wise to leave Bi-Han in this pathetic condition. Not if we are to ask his aid."
Before Noob could begin to curse these fouls and their endless arrogance, the glowing circle began to fill with the same white light. Soon it was shining like a star that cast beams of fire through the links in the chains. But this was to be the start.
Noob would have screamed if he could. He would have screamed as the beams of light sharpened and cut holes deep through his flesh, burning spikes burrowing deep into his flesh. He would have screamed as he felt that comforting darkness be stripped away from him. He would have screamed as the light filled his eyes and boiled them in his skull, boiled jelly leaking out of empty sockets in lieu of tears. He would have screamed if not for the fact that his lungs were shot through with holes, air leaking out of his chest and throat as he desperately choked down what few breathes he could make through the shredded jaw beneath his mask.
He would have screamed as the light was taking him to pieces.
As the glow faded, Monster peeled the chains open. The terrible stench of atomised tissue burst from the opening, revealing all that was left of Noob Saibot. A skull and spine burnt black by the fires of the Netherrealm.
"Monster." The Champion turned to the wisest and of the Elder Gods, Argus, who aided in their work by planning and scheming to ensure their victory over all who threatened the Realms, by any means necessary. "Take Bi-Han to the Jinsei. Restore his body and give him the offer. We still have need of an agent to enact our will where you cannot." As Monster bowed at the hip and gathered in his arms the last scraps of flesh that still stuck to the bone, he mused on the odd nature of what was to come.
"Things must truly be desperate. To have the need for two Champions? The Realms must be in immense danger." Indeed they were. And it was a danger that Monster was all too familiar with. Not that he knew why he felt that shiver of fear that chilled his spine. No… the enemy that they were to face would reveal themselves on their terms.
And all who knew life would know fear.
Regardless of whatever the impending threat may be, Monster had been given orders and intended to carry them out. Few would disobey the Elder Gods themselves after all.
Monster walked seemingly aimlessly until a golden portal opened itself before him. Monster continued to walk forward, completely unfazed by the suddenly appearing portal. When he walked through, it took him to the Jinsei Chamber. To an observer, it might take a moment to realize that Monster himself commanded this seemingly spontaneous portal.
The undead champion continued to march, propelled forward only by purpose. As he approached the Jinsei itself, he held out his hand, and thus the charred scraps of flesh that were but moments ago known as Noob Saibot.
Monster placed the flesh at the center of the swirling blue energy of the Jinsei, and then removed his hand. The flesh seemed to react with the Jinsei's energy, the life force of Earthrealm itself. The energy looked to be infusing itself into the flesh, and within moments, began transforming it.
It was a miraculous sight, the luminescent blue energy shaping the mere ashes of a man into something new. It might seem odd then, that Monster displayed no reaction at all. He merely stared forward, as still as a statue.
Nonetheless, that which was once Noob Saibot began taking a recognizably human shape. He resembled a glowing blue man, with no discernible features. Finally, the glow faded, and Noob, no, Bi-Han, was now plainly visible.
Seconds later, he fell onto his hands and knees, breathing heavily.
Just a moment later, his eyes widened at the sudden realization that he was breathing at all.
Speaking of his eyes, they had lost their ethereal white glow and instead adopted a deep blue one. His pupils were illuminated by a lighter blue.
As Bi-Han climbed to his feet, he began to notice his changes himself. He felt something brushing against his hood. As he lowered it, he touched his head to realize that his hair had returned to it. Certainly different. Bi-Han then began to inspect his own body.
His uniform was very similar to the one he'd worn as a member of the Lin Kuei, although the blue was far darker, nearly black like the garb he'd worn as Noob Saibot. When Bi-Han looked at his hands, he realized that the color of his skin had changed as well. It was now white, even more so than that of the sorcerer he previously called master. It was almost pearlescent when the light of the Jinsei shone on it.
Bi-Han then touched his face, feeling his mask to see if it had changed as well. Apparently not. It had the same curvature as the one he'd worn as Noob Saibot to disguise his previously ghastly visage.
Once he had finished taking notice of his physical alterations, Bi-Han had a sudden epiphany.
His mind. As Bi-Han focused on his own thoughts, he realized that darkness no longer shrouded his mind. The anger, the thoughts of evil, the lust for vengeance and compulsion to serve his evil masters.
It was all gone.
This, combined with the sudden return of his breathing, caused Bi-Han to draw only one conclusion.
"I-I ...I'm alive!"
"Yes, you are," Monster confirmed. "The Elder Gods deemed your prior form unusable for their purposes."
"So…" Bi-Han realized. "I was not resurrected out of simple benevolence."
"Your renewed life is meant to entice your desire to aid my masters." Monster explained.
"First one Elder God transforms me into his undead minion," Bi-Han recalled. "And then the rest give me back my life so that I may serve them."
"Fate plays her hand however she may," Monster responded. "My duty is not to question the series of events which occur in one's lifetimes."
"Lifetimes?" Bi-Han asked.
"You are far from the first in the realms to twist the hand of death." Monster elaborated.
"Must you always be so cryptic?" Bi-Han questioned, clearly irritated. "Did the Elder Gods strip you of your ability to speak plainly?"
"I provide only the knowledge that the Elder Gods require you to know." Monster explained.
"Fine then," Bi-Han said indignantly. "What would the Elder Gods have me do?"
"They require an agent within the Netherrealm," Monster answered. "To stabilize that chaotic realm."
"So I am Shinnok's replacement?" Bi-Han surmised.
"Shinnok's dominion over the Netherrealm was never officially sanctioned by the Elder Gods," Monster clarified. "The realm was intended to serve as his prison."
"What changed?" Bi-Han then asked.
"A sorcerer named Quan Chi aided in his escape," Monster explained, causing Bi-Han to clench his fist. "The Netherrealm's prior overseer, Shinnok's jailer, was soon after ...indisposed."
"Killed." Bi-Han assumed.
"If that is how your mortal mind would choose to interpret it." Monster responded.
"I assume the Elder Gods would take no issue with me killing Quan Chi if he was a player in Shinnok's coup d'etat." Bi-Han said as a faint glow came to his hands, his Cryomancer powers apparently returning.
"He is already dead." Monster said in response to the offer.
"What?!" Bi-Han asked in disbelief.
"Time is malleable to the Elder Gods," Monster explained. "You were brought to the point in which you were needed. By your perception, it has been 26 years since any mortal eyes have beheld you."
"So I have been dead." Bi-Han concluded.
"Technically, no." Was all Monster said.
"As far as I am concerned, what Shinnok did to me was death," Bi-Han replied spitefully. "Thought I suppose that very fate is why your masters have called upon me."
"Your connection to the Netherrealm, yes," Monster confirmed. "It makes you best suited to this task."
"And what of you, dead man?" Bi-Han asked. "Are you not their trusted champion?"
"My powers are weakened in the Netherrealm," Monster told him, his tone unchanged throughout the entire discussion and in spite of Bi-Han's rudeness. "And the Elder Gods have need of me for other purposes."
"I see," Bi-Han mused. "And what if I am to accept this task?"
"The Elder Gods will reward you in any way of your choosing," Monster answered, before pausing. "Within reason."
"And what reward have they promised you?" Bi-Han asked, still trying to get a read on this walking skeleton in golden armor.
"I serve a purpose far greater than what I once was," Monster explained, providing no detail as Bi-Han had come to expect. "I have already been given all I could ask for."
"Well seeing as the Elder Gods have already removed the Netherrealm's corruption from me," Bi-Han thought aloud. "I suppose there is but one thing I could ask for."
"State your request." Monster instructed.
"When I have done all that the Elder Gods need of me," Bi-Han said. "I wish simply to live as a free man. Without masters."
Monster was silent for a moment, not to mention as still as a statue. After what felt like minutes, he spoke:
"The Elder Gods find your terms… agreeable."
"Excellent," Bi-Han responded. "Now transport me to the Netherrealm, so that I may carry out my task."
Monster provided no verbal response. Another golden portal simply appeared, out of seemingly nowhere.
Bi-Han stared at the portal, and then back at Monster, deducing that the portal was of the dead man's creation.
He then decided that he'd had enough of trying to figure Monster out. Without another word spoken between them, the newly christened Champion of the Elder Gods stepped forward into the portal his contemporary had created.
When he exited it, Bi-Han found himself in all too familiar terrain: the Netherrealm, the place of his transformation into Noob Saibot, and the closest he'd had to a home during his time as the wraith.
Bi-Han began to observe the hellish landscape. From what he could remember of his tenure as the Brotherhood of Shadow's pawn, he was in one of the Netherrealm's lower planes. Especially powerful demons and Oni were known to reside here.
A fact Bi-Han was about to learn firsthand.
Bi-Han was suddenly struck by what he could only register as a large metal object.
After stumbling forward and trying to shrug off the pain, he turned to face his attacker. Before Bi-Han could land even a single blow, a large metal ball attached to a chain crashed into him, knocking him flat on the ground.
Struggling to even move after such bombardment, Bi-Han managed to get a good look at his attackers.
"See Moloch? I told ya this would be an easy meal." Spoke the smaller of the two creatures. He resembled a rather tall but also frail-looking man with no skin, only somewhat rotted muscle tissue covering his bones. He wore tattered clothes and his face was obscured by some manner of ornate tribal mask, with some sort of ethereal blue energy emanating from its eyes and creating "horns" on the mask seemingly made of blue flame.
His left arm was also completely covered from the elbow down by a large iron club. Bi-Han assumed that it was what he'd been hit with.
"I dunno Drahmin," spoke the larger creature. "This one seems different."
He was a massive juggernaut, probably larger than a Shokan. The creature looked like some manner of ogre, with rather large musculature. His towering stature was made all the more noticeable by the three intensely glowing yellow eyes the creature sported, all staring right down at Bi-Han like the Elder Gods had been what felt like just moments ago.
Wrapped around the right arm of this "Moloch" was a long chain. On the end of it was the large metal orb Bi-Han had been struck with, which Moloch dragged toward him via his chain until the orb sat firmly in the palm of his hand.
"You mean because he somehow still isn't paste?" Drahmin asked, shrugging nonchalantly. "Maybe he's tougher than the usual."
Before Moloch could respond, Bi-Han began climbing to his feet.
"I am indeed far more powerful than whatever damned souls you're used to battling, Oni," Bi-Han informed them. "Step aside, or I will make no hesitation in slaying you both."
"Big talk," Drahmin commented. "You sound like our old boss."
"I know not who you refer to," Bi-Han responded, engaging in a battle stance. "And it is of little consequence."
"Quan Chi," Moloch explained in spite of the fact that he had not been asked to. "He killed us and our souls reformed down here."
"So not really death," Drahmin interjected. "More like getting evicted."
"So, you have been the pawns of that blasted sorcerer as well," Bi-Han concluded. "You have my pity, but do not assume that it will grant you mercy."
"Yeah, can we just fight now?" Drahmin requested.
"Gladly." Bi-Han said before charging at the two Oni.
While he came at them, Bi-Han formed two swords out of ice. Both Moloch and Drahmin ran at him as well.
When they clashed, Bi-Han slashed at Drahmin's chest. Apparently his body had been dead for so long that no blood came out of the wound. It was like fighting a corpse.
Bi-Han went for another slash, this time with both swords, but Drahmin parried the attack with his iron club, both swords shattering on impact. Drahmin then used Bi-Han's temporary bafflement to his advantage, uppercutting Bi-Han with his club, sending him flying into the air, where Moloch grabbed him by hand.
"Gotcha now, little guy." The Oni Destroyer taunted.
What the brute failed to realize was that Bi-Han had not just regained his Cryomancy, but retained access to many of Noob Saibot's abilities as well.
Case in point when a dark blue portal opened beneath him. Managing to pry Moloch's fingers apart, Bi-Han fell into it, re-emerging from an identical portal behind both Oni.
"Where'd he go?!" Moloch demanded to know.
"Behind us, you idio—"
Just as Drahmin turned around, Bi-Han's fist collided with his masked face, causing the Oni Tormenter to stumble backward.
Following this, Moloch attempted to strike Bi-Han with his ball and chain. However, the champion of the Elder Gods manages to dodge the attacks, even jumping on top of the large metal ball, which he used to springboard himself toward Moloch and kick the Oni in the head.
After that, he turned his attention back to Drahmin, whose iron club was quickly enveloped in a blue flame. Bi-Han narrowly dodged most of the strikes, until Drahmin managed to hit him square in the face, sending him flying back.
"How do ya like that, tough guy?" Drahmin asked.
Bi-Han struggled to get up, just as it seemed the Oni Tormenter was about to smash his head in.
"WAIT!" Demanded Moloch.
"Huh?" Was all Drahmin mustered as a response.
"We should help this guy out." Moloch suggested.
"Why?" Drahmin asked.
"He's strong, we're strong," Moloch explained as if it made perfect sense. "Too good of a fighter to just turn into a meal. Plus, he looks like the kinda guy who's doing something important."
"You wish to help me?" Bi-Han asked as he looked at the two equally puzzled as Drahmin.
"Yeah!" Moloch exclaimed.
"Sure, why not." Drahmin said dryly.
"Very well," Bi-Han responded before walking past the two Oni, who then proceeded to follow him.
"The two of you will serve as my first accolades in my mission to stabilize this realm," he explained. "Your combat prowess has already been proven to me."
"So fight's over?" Drahmin asked.
"This one is," Bi-Han answered. "The real battle is only beginning."
However, Bi-Han was not the only miraculously resurrected soul to inhabit the Netherrealm.
The other proved to be a hero of both Earthrealm and Edenia….
Jade.
Yes, restored from her revenant form under mysterious circumstances, Jade had rejoined the land of the living, and had her mind freed from her corruption.
Unfortunately for Jade, it seemed her miraculous revival was an isolated incident.
At least, it certainly felt that way given the situation she currently found herself in.
Jade was now running for her newly restored life, her pursuers all too familiar to her.
As Jade continued running, projectiles flew past her. Hellfire-infused bullets, crimson arrows made of energy, and bright purple condensed spheres of sonic energy.
Kurtis Stryker and Nightwolf, who she once called allies and personally considered friends, and Queen Sindel herself, whom she had heard tales of but who's true self she'd never known.
Oh how she hated seeing them like this.
As she kept fleeing the three revenants, Jade spotted a rock formation that looked like it would make for good cover.
The firing seemed to stop. Only footsteps.
"Oh Jade, please don't hide from us," Came Sindel's voice, still motherly in tone despite the evil magic corrupting her mind and soul. "We are your family."
"We have all sinned, Jade," Nightwolf said grimly. "Do not run from your shame. You cannot escape it. None of us can."
Jade fought back the urge to tell him that wasn't true, not wanting to give away her position.
In spite of that, she was not beyond notice. The faint purple glow that emanated from Jade's staff was noticed by Stryker whilst Sindel and Nightwolf attempted to convince her to come willingly.
Stryker did not utter a single word, merely pointing. He and the other revenants began to advance, much to Jade's worry.
However, the three were not the only ones following her.
Jade stood up, knowing full well she'd have to defend herself. She reached for her staff, just as she noticed a dark grey smoke began billowing and forming around her. Jade narrowed her eyes, already knowing what, or rather who it was.
"Tomas…"
Suddenly, the smoke took physical form. The shell of what was once a Lin Kuei warrior.
"Tomas Vrbada is dead, I am Enenra!" He yelled, before attempting to strike Jade with a chop, which she parried with her staff.
Smoke attempted several more attacks which were swiftly blocked, until Jade noticed a glint out of the corner of her eye. She knocked Smoke back with a kick before throwing her glaive at the incoming object…
Kung Lao's hat.
The two razor-sharp collided before flying back to their respective owners.
"Hello, traitor…" Kung Lao said scornfully as he approached.
"I fail to see how regaining my sanity is treachery!" Jade retorted.
Kung Lao scoffed. "You have abandoned us!"
Before further confrontation could ensue, a violet cloud appeared between Kung Lao and Jade. Seconds later, none other than Kitana materialized from it, her steel fans at the ready.
"Why…"
"Kitana, please!" Jade pleaded in the hopes her closest friend would see reason.
Kitana kicked Jade in the stomach, knocking her back into the very same Netherrealm rock she had used for cover. Just as her head stopped spinning, Jade widened her eyes in horror to see one of Kitana's steel fans but centimeters away from her face, one of the sharp blades in direct alignment with her left eye.
"Why do you get to be free!" Kitana demanded to know, evidently more aware of what her current state was compared to the others.
"Believe me Kitana, if I knew a way I would free you all," Jade said honestly. "I'm not even sure how my rebirth happened!"
"Liar!" Kitana screamed. "You found a way, a way to be alive again! And you just want to keep it for yourself, don't you?! Leave the rest of us as corpses!"
"Kitana, we have been friends for as long as either of us can remember," Jade reminded. "You know I wouldn't betray you."
"And yet you have, 'friend'." Kitana said indignantly, before raising the steel fan that she had been holding so close to Jade's face, seemingly ready to deal a fatal blow.
However, it seemed that the Kitana that Jade knew was not entirely gone. The "Empress of the Netherrealm" as she called herself now… hesitated. Her warped mind was telling her that Jade was a traitor. An enemy. Just as it registered all of her former comrades. Raiden especially. But Jade's words were true regardless of whether or not she'd admit it to herself. She couldn't just kill her best friend, could she?
Evidently, the decision would be forced out of Kitana's hands.
Without warning, a skull engulfed in a purplish-pink flame shot at the group of revenants, hitting the ground between Kitana and Jade, the small explosion throwing the undead once-heroes off guard.
Jade looked in the direction of her unlikely savior. Or rather, saviors.
Two women, whose clothing choices could not be any more polar opposite.
One was adorned in a gothic black and red, with a noticeable white streak in her otherwise black hair. She also seemed to be quite well armed, boasting a belt displaying a pair of daggers, two small scythe-like weapons called Kama, and one larger serrated sword.
The other woman wore an ornate white and gold, her hair obscured from view by a large hat that reminded Jade of Raiden's. By contrast to her associate, she carried only one weapon: a uniquely curved sword that almost seemed to glow a heavenly white.
"Friends of yours?" Kung Lao asked.
"They are now." Jade replied, before a green energy similar to the one used by the Cages enveloped her body. Charging forward with mystically enhanced speed, she knocked Lao off of his feet.
The other revenants prepared to attack her, some more hesitant than others, before the two women jumped into the fray.
The one in white pointed her uniquely curved blade at the group.
"Back, demons!" She commanded. "You will not harm this mortal soul!"
"Remember what I told you Ashrah," requested the woman in black. "They are not mere creatures of evil. Their lives have been upended by Quan Chi and Shinnok, just as ours were."
"I remember Sareena," Ashrah assured. "But I will not let them bring harm to you, or to…."
"Jade." Jade informed.
It took a moment, but Kitana managed to recognize Sareena.
"You ...you're the one who said you could 'help' me," she recalled. "While you aided our 'old friends'."
"I still can, Kitana," Sareena offered. "We can find a way. To help all of you."
"We don't need your pity!" Kitana responded dismissively.
"Sure we don't." Stryker mumbled under his breath.
"What was that?" Kitana asked.
When his only response was silence, Kitana turned her attention back to Sareena and Ashrah.
Jade in the meantime over to the side of the two redemptive demons.
"Fitting that three traitors would band together." Smoke commented.
"Too overcome by shame to continue their paths," Added Nightwolf. "Attempting to hide from their sins."
"I do not hide from sin, I purge it." Ashrah threatened.
The two groups prepared to face off, until a dark blur of motion appeared between them. When it halted, it was revealed to be none other than Kabal.
"Look I'm sure whatever you guys are doing right now is important," Kabal said in spite of the fact that he didn't really care. "But Liu needs us back at the palace.
"Why?" Asked Smoke.
"Trouble with the locals," Kabal explained. "Again."
"We shall be there with haste." Kung Lao assured.
"Good." Kabal responded.
"Thank you for informing us, Kabal." Sindel said kindly.
"Uhhh ...sure." Was all Kabal said before speeding off.
Kitana's eyes, two fiery orange orbs just like the rest of the revenants, were still fixed on Jade.
"You should leave while you can, Jade," She suggested. "Consider this the final courtesy of our former friendship."
Her words struck Jade like a dagger to the heart. Still, it was an offer to avoid further conflict. That part at least was the Kitana she knew.
She looked at her two allies, and without a word spoken between them, the decision was made, and they left, the revenants going in the opposite direction.
"So…." Jade said in an effort to start a conversation. "Sareena and Ashrah, right?" She pointed to the bearer of each name in order to start memorizing them.
"That would be us!" Ashrah said in a surprisingly positive tone considering how she'd acted when they confronted the revenants.
"So what are your stories exactly?" Jade asked.
"Oh, just two demons looking for a way out of this hell and into a better life." Sareena explained.
"And to help anyone else we can along the way." Ashrah added.
The two shared faint smiles with one another which caused Jade to wonder just how close they were, but decided not to address the matter until she had some level of certainty.
Instead, Jade examined Sareena's outfit. It was familiar to her, specifically her time as a revenant.
"Careful Sareena, I think she's looking you over." Ashrah said with a smirk.
Jade's face flashed red. "N-No no no! It's not that! It's just, I couldn't help but take notice of your clothes. You used to be in the Brotherhood of Shadow, didn't you?"
"Unfortunately yes," Sareena confirmed. "It's why I can understand what your friends are going through. I was manipulated by the same monsters."
"We both were," Ashrah added. "Until we would be slaves no longer."
"Ashrah found her purifying blade, and I—"
Ashrah elected to interrupt her friend. "Sareena left because of a boy."
Sareena's face went slightly pink. "Ashrah!"
"I only jest." Ashrah assured.
"Well yes, I met a man named Bi-Han, and he helped me see a life beyond servitude to Shinnok." Sareena explained.
"Wait," Jade said, still taking all the information in. "Did you say purifying blade?"
"Aye," Ashrah confirmed. "When this blade smites an evil demon, it removes little by little the taint of darkness from my soul. When I am entirely purified, I will ascend from the Netherrealm. Hopefully when that day comes, I will be able to bring Sareena and yourself with me."
"I appreciate your generosity," Jade said sincerely. "But I can't wait that long."
Sareena and Ashrah gave her puzzled looks.
"I have friends in Earthrealm," Jade explained. "Friends who can help us. We need to find a way out of the Netherrealm as soon as possible."
"But how?" Sareena asked.
Jade stopped walking, turning to face the other two, who paused as well.
"I'm not sure, but I'm confident we'll find a way," Jade told her. "I was given this second chance at life for a reason, and by the Elder Gods, I am going to make it count."