The trek back to Shinnok's former temple from the now smoldering remains of Quan Chi's fortress had been a somewhat lengthy one for the revenants, especially as they mulled over their latest battle with their former comrades, Jade and Stryker, as well as their demon allies, Sareena and Ashrah.
Needless to say, the whole thing had been a frustrating affair, especially for their corrupted psyches.
They believed that upon returning to their "home", they would receive some kind of reprieve from all that had happened lately. However for these poor unfortunate souls, that would not be the case.
The revenants walked into the temple to find the place a mess. It was clear that a fight had broken out, and they suspected attack, possibly yet again by Belokk's forces.
The true culprit….was actually one of their own.
Sindel.
The group was taken by surprise to find the former Queen of Edenia holding Kabal with her prehensile hair, before tossing him onto the ground, proceeding to leap on top of him in an attempt to strangle him.
"Die, you monster!" She shouted.
"What is wrong with you, lady?!" Kabal asked, trying to pull her hands off of his throat.
"I swear to you Shao Kahn, I will not allow you to harm my family, nor my people!" Sindel proclaimed as she continued her assault.
"Why would you think I'm—-" Kabal was about to question before he found his own answer. "It's the mask, isn't it?"
"I attempted to reason with her," explained Nightwolf from the other side of the room. "But alas, to no avail."
"Mother, calm down!" Yelled Kitana.
"Get her off of him!" Commanded Liu Kang.
Kung Lao and Smoke did as instructed, taking hold of Sindel's arms and pulling her back off of Kabal.
"Unhand me!" She demanded, glaring madly at them all. "Unhand me you traitors! Unhand me and join your master in death!"
Kitana quickly went over to calm her mother.
"Mother, please!" She pleaded.
"K-Kitana?" Sindel asked.
"Just calm down, alright?" Kitana requested. "You are not in any danger, everything is alright."
Sindel seemed to respond to her daughter's words, accepting the lie that all was as it should be, and taking a deep breath despite no longer having the need to breathe. Kung Lao and Smoke glanced at one another, and then released her.
"So...is it over?" Sindel asked.
"Is what over?" Kitana questioned.
"The attack on Edenia," Sindel explained. "I had just had a meeting with Lord Argus, and had received word that Shao Kahn's forces were attacking the palace."
"Mother, that was…." Kitana stopped herself. "Yes. It's over."
Sindel smiled and embraced her daughter.
"We've done it. We've stopped that monster."
Kitana could not bear to tell her the truth. Every passing moment of the delusion broke her heart, but she would do anything to save her mother the misery she herself felt every waking moment.
"Wait, I got a question," said Kabal. "Where's Kurt?"
Liu Kang grimaced. "He betrayed us."
"He….what?!" Kabal asked.
"Just like Jade," Kitana elaborated."He took the gift of life for himself and abandoned us. Tried to kill Liu Kang."
"He destroyed all of Quan Chi's records," added Smoke. "Set the entire fortress ablaze."
"What….why?!" Kabal stammered.
"Because he is a coward," explained Kung Lao. "Unwilling to accept what we must do to solidify our control over this realm."
"I….dammit Kurt!" Kabal yelled, slamming his fist into a wall.
"I'm…...I'm gonna go for a bit," offered Kabal. "I'll be back." He added, before speeding out of the temple.
"If you don't mind my asking, your highness," chimed in Nightwolf, the question nagging at him. "But who is this...Argus?"
"Edenia's protector god." Kitana explained.
"He is much like your Raiden in Earthrealm," Sindel elaborated, causing Liu Kang to clench his fist. "He was in fact explaining to me a method by which to protect Earthrealm from that fiend Shao Kahn."
It was ten thousand years ago. The siege of Edenia was now underway. There was carnage and destruction at every turn. Once beautiful structures were reduced to rubble. People dying in defense of their realm or simply in the crossfire. Shao Kahn's armies marching through the streets.
Queen Sindel could not bear to sit idly by as her people suffered. She yearned to act, holding close her Kuan Dao as she waited for Edenia's sworn protector, the storm god Argus, to arrive.
Eventually, two guards opened the door and Argus stepped in.
"Your highness," he addressed Sindel. "I thank you for agreeing to meet with me in this most trying of times."
"With all due respect, Lord Argus, people are dying," Sindel pointed out. "If I allow their suffering to continue, I have failed as a queen. So please, say your peace and do it quickly. This is a war, and my place in it on the front lines fighting for this realm."
"I understand, Your Highness," Argus sympathized. "I assure you, the severity of the situation does not elude me."
"Where are your sons?" Sindel asked. "Surely such well-trained warriors as Taven and Daegon would be invaluable during this crisis."
"Taven and Daegon are…." Argus paused for a moment. "Currently elsewhere."
"Where?" Sindel immediately asked.
"In Earthrealm," Argus explained. "Along with their guardian dragons, Orin and Caro."
"I don't understand, Edenia is the realm that is being laid siege to!" Sindel pointed out. We must fight for it!
"Your Highness, look out!" Shouted one of Sindel's guards.
She turned to see one of Shao Kahn's Kytinn warriors buzzing just outside the nearest window. The insect-like creature began attempting to climb into the building, but Sindel spun around with the grace of a dancer and thrust her Kuan Dao forward to impale the Kytinn, it's acidic blue blood spilling onto the floor, partially burning it. The bug twitched before ultimately falling limp, it's corpse sliding off of Sindel's weapon and onto the ground several stories below.
She turned back to face Argus. "Your sons may be safe, but I have a husband and daughter still here in Edenia. We need your help, Lord Argus."
"I understand, Queen Sindel," Argus assured. "But I'm afraid that Earthrealm is not exactly safe."
"What do you mean?" Sindel asked.
"Edenia may have the forces necessary to fight off Shao Kahn's forces, accomplished warriors such as yourself, King Jerrod, and my sons," Argus explained. "But Earthrealm does not."
"Shao Kahn seeks to conquer it as well?" Sindel questioned.
"It is the realm he will target once he is either forced from Edenia...or conquers it." Argus told her.
"By the Elder Gods…." Sindel said quietly. "Millions inhabit that realm, none with the power to fight that monster, except perhaps their god Raiden. Shao Kahn….he would slaughter them all."
"This is exactly what I seek to prevent." Argus elaborated.
"What do you have in mind?" Sindel asked immediately.
Fearful as she was for the fate of her own realm, she could not allow others to suffer Shao Kahn's wrath as Edenia now did. Perhaps he could be stopped in Edenia, but if he continued...countless other realms could potentially fall, Earthrealm the first of them.
"There is an ancient ritual which would cast a protective ward over the Realm," Argus explained. "It would prevent Shao Kahn from being able to enter Earthrealm, and forever bind his spirit to Outworld, and any Realms merged with it. Edenia has sufficiently powerful mystics, yourself included, to accomplish the spell….however…."
"What?" Sindel questioned.
"A spell so powerful as to effect an entire realm requires….the willing sacrifice of a soul…" Argus revealed.
"A life must be given in order to achieve it." Sindel presumed.
"Yes." Argus confirmed.
Sindel looked down and sighed deeply. She gripped her Kuan Dao tightly, considering her options.
"Your Highness, as you stressed earlier, we have little time." Argus reminded.
Sindel locked eyes with him.
"I'll do it."
"Sindel, you are the Queen of Edenia, and a mother," Argus argued. "Your place is with your people, and your family. Surely, there is another who would be willing to—"
"No," Sindel stopped him. "No more lives will be lost. Shao Kahn's evil must end here. We hold the possibility of overcoming him. Earthrealm does not. For the billions that inhabit that realm, I am willing to give my very soul."
"Are you certain?" Argus asked.
"Tell Jerrod and Kitana that I will always love them," Sindel instructed, a tear escaping her eye as she thought of her daughter growing up without her. "But this has to be done. No more suffering."
"If that is your decision…" Argus said. "I have already prepared a group of Edenian mystics for the ritual. The spell will be activated...when your life comes to an end."
"I understand," Sindel responded in acceptance of what needed to be done. "So long as my sacrifice will save lives."
Argus nodded.
"Of course, your highness."
"We were able to all but complete the ritual," Sindel explained as she finished her story. "Ultimately, it seems Shao Kahn was defeated. Thank you for telling me Kitana, I...couldn't forgive myself if I had to leave you."
Kitana was silent for several moments. She had no idea what to say. She wanted to cry. But she couldn't. Corpses didn't produce tears. Just another reminder that she was dead, trapped in this waking hell.
"I-I…" she stuttered. "Here. Have a trophy….of his defeat."
She took out the skull from Shao Kahn's mask that Liu Kang has given to her.
"Serves that monster right…" Sindel said as she looked at it. "You know, I've heard he made that helmet from the Vampire King's skull after conquering Vaeternus. I hope those people can be free now that he's gone."
"I don't think you have to worry about that now." Assured Kitana.
"Yes, we have other matters to attend to," agreed Liu Kang. "Like where the hell Kabal went off to."
"He's gone for a run," Nightwolf explained. "Like he always does."
There were times when Kabal simply needed a break from his fellow revenants, to step away and simply be himself. Whatever that meant.
And when those times came, he could think of nothing better to do than use the gift granted to him by Outworld's magic, and run.
Even if he was trapped in this quite literal hell, there was something freeing about being able to use his speed to just go where he pleased, without much in the way of anyone to restrict him. His fellow revenants couldn't catch him, those he formerly called master, Shinnok and Kano, were out of the picture. It was just him and the Netherrealm. A place he hated, but could at least value the open spaces that allowed for his runs.
Until something caught his eye….
Near the Brotherhood of Shadow temple that Raiden's forces had attacked but hours ago, the state of which came as a surprise to Kabal, he saw the demonically altered Red Dragon, Hsu Hao, seemingly wandering aimlessly, but Kabal knew better. He had faced the Red Dragon during his time with the Black Dragon, and knew that unlike the clan he formerly belonged to, the Red Dragon never acted without reason.
Kabal sped over and stopped just in front of Hsu Hao, who ceased his trek and stared at the former Black Dragon before him, red eyes staring coolly at the lifeless glass lenses of Kabal's mask.
"If you are here to attempt to bring me into the service of you and your fellow revenants, I would recommend saving us both time and energy and accepting that my loyalty belongs to the Red Dragon, and will never be yours." Said Hsu Hao.
"Yeah I don't really give a damn about all that." Kabal responded rudely.
Hsu Hao's neutral but focused expression did not change. "Is this about old rivalries, former Black Dragon?"
"How the hell do you know who I am?" Kabal asked.
"Mavado told me of your previous encounters when you were still an operative of the Black Dragon," Hsu Hao explained, crossing his arms under his heart implant as he examined the Revenant. "He considered you a formidable warrior, an assessment I concur with given my previous encounters with you and your fellow undead."
"Oh, wonderful," Kabal said annoyedly. "Of course you know Mavado."
"He was my direct superior." Hsu Hao elaborated.
"Yeah? And he was a pain in my ass!" Kabal shouted.
"This line of discussion is pointless," Hsu Hao said frankly. "What is your purpose for instigating this encounter?"
"Always a plan with you Red Dragons, isn't there?" Kabal asked. "Me?!"
Kabal used his super speed to distance himself from Hsu Hao, then charged right at him as fast as he could manage and uppercutted him, the momentum of the hit knocking Hsu Hao through the air briefly, before landing harshly on the ground, rocks breaking under him and flying away as he pushed himself back to his feet.
"I'm just pissed off!" Kabal finished, smiling like a maniac behind the hot metal.
Hsu Hao glared as he straightened his hat, dazed from the punch but barely hurt. Kabal sprinted forward for another punch, but Hsu Hao caught his fist, the veins along his chest spreading from the implant now glowing with red light.
"I did not wish to engage in a battle that services neither of our goals," Hsu Hao clarified, before tossing Kabal to the ground.
"But I will not allow you to impede me further."
Hsu Hao stomped his foot onto the ground, Kabal rolling out of the way just in time. However, he failed to compensate for the Red Dragon's cybernetically altered strength. The stomp sent out a small shockwave that threw Kabal into the air, at which point Hsu Hao jumped at him and proceeded to punch him, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Kabal got up, eyeing down his opponent through the cracked lenses of his mask.
"Ok, fine, you're tough." Kabal admitted with a smirk, "But I'm faster."
Kabal sped forward again, this time intentionally moving past Hsu Hao, only to catch him off guard and strike him from the opposite direction. Kabal repeated this tactic, running circles around the Red Dragon and laughing at how easy this battle seemed.
Kabal failed to realize how much he had underestimated his opponent.
When the speedster ran back to get some momentum, and then forward again to deliver another blow, Hsu Hao responded by putting his hands out in front of him in a clapping motion, releasing a shockwave that threw Kabal back considerably far, before he slammed into the rocky ground below.
Hsu Hao marched forward, intending to get this over with as quickly as possible.
Kabal groaned in pain as he climbed to his feet. He felt like the wind had been knocked right out of him. Not that he needed it. He was dead, after all.
"Ok, enough playing around," Kabal decided as he turned to face Hsu Hao. "If Mavado mentioned me before, then I'm sure he brought up these."
Kabal pulled out his hookswords, brandishing them out in front of him, running the blades along each other to generate sparks.
"He did," Hsu Hao confirmed. "He wished to have them as trophies."
"And you?" Kabal asked.
"I carry no such sentimentality," Hsu Hao explained. "Every battle is just a means to an end."
"Not the type to take things personal," Kabal assumed. "I can respect that," He admitted. "But I'm still gonna kick your ass."
Hsu Hao felt no verbal response to Kabal's bravado necessary. Instead, the cybernetic implant grafted into his chest began glowing with greater intensity, it's red light partially obscuring Hsu Hao himself, before a large crimson laser fired out from the implant, the beam several times more powerful than Kano's eye laser, which Kabal was already familiar with.
He had no intention of experiencing that power firsthand. Seconds from the beam hitting him, Kabal sped out of the way as the laser continued forward, blasting through a large rock formation nearby and causing it to crumble instantly.
Hsu Hao cut off the laser and looked around to see where Kabal might strike from next.
As if on cue, Kabal rushed in and slashed at Hsu Hao with one of his hookswords along the abdomen. Hsu Hao grunted in pain, but remained standing, determined to press on.
He decided to unleash his own melee weapons, the unique Sun Moon Blades, which he had chosen as his own personal weapons after joining the Red Dragon so many years ago.
When Kabal made his next run, Hsu Hao parried the hookswords with his Sun Moon Blades. The two pushed against one another's might, and it became clear to Kabal that Hsu Hao held the advantage in physical strength. A change in tactics would be required.
Kabal pushed forward, amplified by his speed. Hsu Hao was pushed back some. Kabal then tilted his hookswords downwards and dug the hooks into Hsu Hao's arms, and moved them outwards to keep him trapped. Fighting through the pain, Hsu Hao kicked Kabal square in the torso, knocking him back. As Kabal went backwards, his hookswords continued to dig into Hsu Hao's flesh before finally releasing.
This was clearly enough to anger the Red Dragon. As if it were a manifestation of his frustration, red veins bulged and became visible along Hsu Hao's lower arms as they became enveloped in the same fiery red that had overtaken his eyes and was a constant fixture of his chest implant. It extended to his Sun Moon Blades, making the weapons even deadlier than they were on their own.
"Ahh shit…." said Kabal.
Hsu Hao threw the weapons like flaming boomerangs. Kabal narrowly dodged them with his speed, only for Hsu Hao to leap into the air in order to stomp down on him. Kabal dodged this as well, but Hsu Hao's landing created a ripple of stone which threw him off his feet, allowing Hsu Hao to rush up and grab him by the throat, before slamming him into the ground.
Kabal sped out of the way of an incoming boot before grabbing his hookswords off the ground and rushing Hsu Hao, digging the hooks into his shoulders. Hsu Hao responded by firing his chest laser in a short burst, sending Kabal rocketing back and into a rock structure.
The dazed revenant tried to keep standing, ignoring his how singed clothing and the pain he was experiencing and the question of whether or not he should feel pain given that he was supposed to be dead, then realizing that if we was dead he wouldn't even be in this mess, but also considering that if this place was hell and he was dead and hadn't become a revenant he light up here anyway and—
"Focus, Kabal. Focus." He thought to himself.
Hsu Hao meanwhile charged his chest laser again, intent on finishing this here and now.
Until….
There was a sudden loud roar and the ground shook. A massive Oni had been disturbed from its slumber by the two's fighting and was now out for blood. The creature snarled and moved toward them like a gorilla.
Hsu Hao repositioned himself and aimed his chest laser at the Oni. The beam blasted out from his implant and shot a large hole right through the Oni's chest, the laser beam continuing several more meters before dissipating.
The large hellbeast fell dead with a loud crashing sound. As Hsu Hao inspected his surroundings, he found that Kabal had fled the scene.
Unexpectedly however, Kabal reappeared and slashed him in the back with both hookswords.
"Something to remember me by." The former Black Dragon joked before running off once more.
Hsu Hao groaned. All of his confrontations with the revenants and creatures of the Netherrealm had been irritating, this one especially so. Still, it hardly mattered. He had his objective: Return to the Red Dragon clan. And he would fulfill that objective at any cost.
Kabal meanwhile elected to return to his fellow revenants. He could settle the score with Hsu Hao some other time, and was considering bringing backup with him when he did.
A few minutes later, he arrived back at Shinnok's former temple. He couldn't help but notice that the skull from Shao Kahn's helmet was now affixed to Kitana's head, sitting just above her forehead like a visor. For what reason she might've taken to wearing the revenants' only "trophy" like this eluded him, but he didn't find it worth worrying about.
"Nice fashion accessory." Kabal complimented.
"Enjoy your run?" Liu Kang asked sarcastically.
"Honestly? No." Kabal answered.
"We can tell," added Kung Lao. "You look terrible. Well, worse than normal."
"Yeah? And you look just beautiful, buddy." Kabal replied with his own sarcasm.
Before the two could argue further, there was a sudden flash of light that caused all of the revenants to shield their eyes. Red light….
Lightning…
The revenants all stared forward with a mixture of shock and anger as they witnessed Raiden now before them.
"YOU!" Liu Kang shouted seconds later, his fists bursting into flame as he charged at Raiden ready to end him once and for all.
Liu Kang threw a punch with all the force he could muster, the red flames coming off of his fist streaming through the air as his fist traveled in the direction of Raiden's face.
And then….Raiden caught the punch, his hand crackling with lightning as he did so. Liu Kang tried to punch with his free arm, rage still fueling his actions, but before he could, Raiden sent a current of electricity through his palm and into Liu Kang's body, pain coursing through the revenant leader and causing him to fall to one knee.
"Liu!" Yelled Kitana, channeling a gust of wind through her steel fans at Raiden, which knocked him into a nearby wall.
Raiden responded by blasting both Liu Kang and Kitana with lightning, flooring them.
"How dare you!" shouted Sindel, preparing to unleash her sonic scream, as Kung Lao threw his razor hat.
Raiden caught the hat, to Kung Lao's surprise, but was thrown through a wall by the scream.
Sindel went over to Kitana, kneeling down next to her daughter.
"Are you alright, Kitana?" She asked.
Before Kitana could answer, Raiden teleported back into the room.
"I did not come here to fight," he explained. "And have no interest in doing so."
"Uggh….then why attack?" Asked Liu Kang as hell sat up.
"I did not attack. I defended myself from you." Raiden corrected.
"Fine," Liu Kang conceded, getting back to his feet just as Sindel helped Kitana back up. "Then why are you here?"
"I think it's obvious," interceded Smoke. "He's here to finish us off."
"If he wanted to do that, he would've done it already." Kabal pointed out.
"No, if he wanted to do that, I would have killed him already." Liu Kang boasted.
Raiden then did something that would've even caught the revenants' living selves off guard.
He laughed.
"I see that Shinnok's corruption has made you rather arrogant, Liu Kang," Raiden observed. "Only furthering your propensity for rash action."
"Enough of your insults, Raiden!" Demanded Kitana, raising an arm to signal Liu Kang not to try and attack Raiden again. "Why are you here."
"I have arrived… to recruit you." Raiden revealed.
"W-What?!" Said Liu Kang and Kitana in unison.
"He can't be telling the truth!" Kung Lao argued. "It has to be a trick!"
"I am many things, but I am no liar." Raiden assured.
"Why do you think we'd ever help you?" Growled Smoke.
"Because I know that you desire freedom from this realm, and from your curse," Raiden explained. "And I can grant both. If you will aid me in bringing down the very same threat that led to all of your suffering: Outworld."
"How?" Asked Liu Kang.
"I am sure Akicita is already familiar…" Raiden answered.
"Who?" Asked Kabal.
"Me," revealed Nightwolf. "Before I was the Nightwolf, that was my name. In my tribe's tongue, it means 'warrior'."
"The Matoka tribe possesses the ability to perform a ritual that can remove sin and dark magic from an individual's soul," Raiden elaborated. "The new Nightwolf has been properly trained in it."
"Eyota?" Nightwolf asked in surprise. "She...she has taken the mantle of the Nightwolf? And she knows the Sin Eater?"
Raiden nodded.
"But…" Nightwolf continued. "If she were to take on all of our sin, it could destroy her!"
"Eyota understands the risk," Raiden explained. "She is willing to make that sacrifice."
"After I….after I failed the Matoka?" Nightwolf asked. "Allowed myself to become….become this?"
Raiden nodded.
"I…." Nightwolf's voice trailed off as he was caught up in thought.
"How can we be certain that you're telling the truth?" Kitana asked. The offer was enticing, but she feared that it was too good to be true.
"Why are you even entertaining the notion of this?!" Liu Kang asked. "He's lying! He has to be!"
"Don't you speak to my daughter that way!" Interjected Sindel.
"We are wasting our time!" Shouted Smoke. "We should just attack him now, all at once! We have overwhelmed him in our previous encounters, and we can again! We won't even need Lord Shinnok!"
"Enough, Tomas," Kitana instructed.
"I am Enenra!" he roared.
"We need to consider our options." Kitana reasoned.
"The only thing we should 'consider' is what tortures to subject him to before we kill him!" Kung Lao argued.
"ENOUGH." Shouted Raiden, drawing everyone's attention. "Nightwolf understands the ritual, he knows that I am not lying."
"Yes, I have performed the Sin Eater in the past to cleanse the souls of others," Nightwolf elaborated. "It can be done. It can free us. I only hope that our sins do not overtake young Eyota. I could not live with such a failure..."
"If you agree to my terms, you have my word that you will be free," Raiden promised. "Just as Jade and Kurtis Stryker now are."
Liu Kang scoffed. "We all know firsthand how good your 'word' is, Raiden."
"You know about that?" Asked Kitana.
"Yes, I am aware that they both live again," Raiden answered, ignoring Liu Kang's mistrust. "I am unsure how, though I sensed the work of the Elder Gods from Jade."
"Your 'Elder Gods' always did play favorites…" Kitana said disdainfully.
"And they never intervene when they are actually needed." Added Liu Kang.
"You are not dealing with the Elder Gods," Raiden pointed out. "You are dealing with me."
"Yes, you," Kung Lao interjected. "Who by your actions or inactions, are responsible for all of our deaths."
"You are right," Raiden admitted, much to the surprise of the revenants. "And that is why I must make amends for your deaths."
"If you cared so much, you never would have allowed our deaths to occur in the first place." Liu Kang argued.
"I made a grievous error in judgement which has haunted me for years," Raiden conceded. "I wish nothing more than to see you all free from this curse, but I must ensure the safety of Earthrealm first."
"I will aid you, Raiden," said Kitana, causing Liu Kang to give her a look of pure shock. "On one additional condition."
"Name it." Raiden instructed.
"When you are finished neutralizing the threat of Outworld, and when we have returned to the land of the living, I request that you separate Edenia from its merging with Outworld, and allow the realm to live freely." Kitana proposed. "In return, myself and my mother, the rightful queen, will ensure that no threat to Earthrealm ever emerges from our realm."
"Merged with Outworld?" Sindel asked, confused. "Daughter, you told me that we had defeated Shao Kahn's forces."
"We….it's a long story mother," Kitana explained. "I'll tell you when the time is right."
"Very well," Sindel agreed. "I trust you."
Raiden silently considered Kitana's offer. Despite her promises, Edenia would become an additional variable to consider. Perhaps one that could be made into an ally if it's queen and her daughter owed their renewed life to him.
"I agree to your terms." Raiden finally said.
"Kitana, you cannot be serious!" Interceded Liu Kang.
"This is our way out Liu!" Kitana argued. "Our way to become again! To return to our lives! Earthrealm, Edenia, both free and at peace. Isn't that what you wanted?!"
"What I want," Liu Kang said frustratedly. "Is for that snake to stop filling your head with lies! He won't give you Edenia! He won't give you life! He just wants to use us for his own ends, just as he did before! He's no better than Shinnok!"
"Well Shinnok never gave us a chance!" Kitana argued. "He is, right now, and I'm going to take it."
Liu Kang was seething with anger.
"Traitor…" he whispered.
"What did you say?" Asked Kitana.
"Go," Liu Kang said forcefully. "If this is what you feel is right, then go. I won't stop you."
"I...I…." Kitana stammered. "I guess this is goodbye, then."
"I suppose so." Liu Kang agreed.
Kitana walked over and stood next to Raiden.
"Mother?" She asked.
Sindel soon nodded and joined her daughter, hugging her briefly.
"I will aid you as well, Haokah," Nightwolf agreed. "It is the only way I can relinquish my shame."
He joined Kitana and Sindel alongside Raiden.
"This is probably all going to go wrong at some point or another," Kabal speculated. "But what the hell, it's gotta be better than here. And if this deal isn't bogus, even better for me."
In a blur of motion, Kabal moved alongside Raiden as well.
"Tomas?" Kitana asked.
"Stop referring to me with the name of a dead man," Smoke said disdainfully. "If you wish to betray Lord Shinnok's will, then so be it. I, Enenra, will have no part in it."
"What of you, Kung Lao?" Raiden asked.
"You stood there and let my die once," Kung Lao recalled. "How am I to know it won't happen again? I'm staying here, with Liu Kang. Family doesn't abandon one another."
"If that is your choice." Raiden said.
Kitana wanted to try and convince her now former comrades, say some final goodbye to Liu Kang if this truly was the last time they'd see one another.
"Liu-"
That was all she managed to get out before Raiden raised his hand and called down a bolt of lightning, whisking them all away.
Liu Kang screamed out in fury and slammed his fist against the wall, making a sizable dent in it.
"He did this on purpose!" He shouted. "He's always taking things away from me!"
"It was likely also to destabilize our powerbase," Smoke theorized. "If Raiden is willing to make a brazen assault on Outworld, who is to say that the Netherrealm will not follow suit?"
"If he hasn't begun already," argued Kung Lao. "As we were making our way back here, I overheard two demons talking about an attack that destroyed the Brotherhood of Shadow's remaining stronghold. They spoke of mountains of bodies, and Raiden leading some force called the 'Seidan Guard', among others."
Liu Kang took in the information, and then, moments later, burst out laughing like a madman.
"I fail to see what is so amusing." Said Smoke.
"Don't you see?" Liu Kang asked. "This is the finest irony of all! The so-called 'protector' is becoming a conqueror! Everything he always preached against, he has betrayed. And now, he wants Outworld and the Netherrealm all for himself!"
"Who do we do?" Asked Kung Lao.
"Very simple," Liu Kang explained. "We go to where Raiden and the traitors will be. And then we ruin his precious plans."
Liu Kang moved over to his throne and sat down, smirking devilishly.
"And then I, Emperor of Darkness Liu Kang, will kill him!"
As Liu Kang already knew however, he was the only one wishing to take the throne of the Netherrealm for themselves.
In the time that had passed since Raiden's assault on the Brotherhood of Shadow, the Elder Demon known as Baphomet was transplanting millennia of the Netherrealm's history into the minds of the now former Brotherhood of Shadow agents Siann, Mikka, and Sora.
His odd ritual was nearing completion, his eyes glowing an intense white and the three demonesses entranced, looking around frantically at the things around them only they could see.
Finally, it stopped. The world returned to its normal self. Well, normal for the Netherrealm anyway. The three were clearly dazed. Mikka fell to one knee and tried to get her bearings, Siann held her forehead, and Sora simply stood there like she'd just been on the most dizzying amusement park ride Earthrealm could offer.
"Now do you understand, my children?" Baphomet asked. "Who the true master of this realm is and why we must bring about their return?"
"Yes, I understand." Said Sora.
"We….we'll help you," Added Mikka. "Just... no more of whatever that was."
Siann remained silent longer. She was the most dedicated of the three. They served the Brotherhood out of fear, as well as Mikka's inexplicable infatuation towards the now deceased Quan Chi, something even the late sorcerer himself was perplexed by. Siann on the other hand, had always held genuine commitment to the cult's ideals, and it was hard to shake her from them.
But now, now that she had been given evidence of another holder of the Netherrealm's throne, a very powerful and intimidating being, well she wasn't sure…
"Lord Shinnok defeated your precious master," she decided to point out. "Who's to say they won't fail again?"
Belokk clenched his fist, but tolerated the insult, since as loathed as he was to admit it, he needed allies.
"Your Shinnok may have bested our master once," Belokk conceded. "But Shinnok is no more. A new monarch must come into power, and I doubt you would wish it to be those walking carcasses or even worse...the Earthrealm Thunder God."
"You make a compelling case," Siann admitted. "Very well. We will indeed help you. On one condition."
"You would make demands of me?" Belokk growled.
"Yeah I don't know if we should do that, Siann." Pleaded Sora.
"What are you gonna tell him?" Asked Siann.
"Not a demand," Siann corrected. "Simply a clarification. Lord Shinnok is powerful, and has cheated 'death' before. Should he return, our allegiance to you is immediately terminated. Do we have an understanding?"
"I believe we do," Belokk agreed. "So long as you understand that I will crush your bones into powder at the first sign of betrayal."
"L-Loud and clear…." stammered Sora.
Mikka just smiled weakly and gave a thumbs up. They were both noticeably trembling.
"I suppose that's fair." Siann joked. "So, what's first on the agenda?"
"We must gather allies and forces if we are to take this realm," Belokk explained. "All must be ready for our master's ascent."
Suddenly, a dark blue portal opened up on the ground, and out of it came the recently christened champion of the Elder Gods, Bi-Han, as well as his two Oni allies, Moloch and Drahmin.
"I'm afraid that your plans will not be going as you had hoped." Bi-Han said.
"Yeah!" Moloch added. "Cause we're gonna mess you up!"
"Ah, I thought I sensed a powerful presence entering this realm," said Baphomet. "You have the aura of the Elder Gods on you, Earthrealmer. Have they sent you to put things in order here now that Shinnok is no more?"
"That would be an accurate summation," Bi-Han admitted. "Now, I will grant you two options. Surrender or be eliminated alongside your allies."
"We do not 'surrender'," Belokk growled. "Certainly not to tiny creatures like you and their Oni lapdogs."
"What's you call us?!" Moloch asked.
"Oh I'm gonna make you suffer for that one, buddy!" Added Drahmin.
"I was not talking to you," Bi-Han explained. "I was talking to them."
He pointed at Siann, Mikka, and Sora.
"What makes you think we would surrender to you?" Siann asked.
"I met one of your ilk once who did not share the same evil as her masters," Bi-Han elaborated. "Ever since then and… other altercations, I make an effort to be more willing to offer mercy."
Belokk scoffed. "Mercy? What's that?"
"I'm inclined to agree with Belokk," added Siann. "We are not like those traitors, Sareena and Ashrah. Ladies and gents, let's make quick work of the Elder Gods' errand boy, shall we?"
The three demonesses took out their swords. Belokk was already ready for a fight, but Baphomet on the other hand seemed to slink into the background.
"You will regret your decision." Bi-Han said grimly.
"Enough talk!" Shouted Belokk, his arm bursting into flame as he ran in to attack Bi-Han. However, the demon general was soon hit in the face by a certain ball and chain, causing him to stagger backward and spit out blood.
"Couldn't agree more!" Shouted Moloch as he charged forward like a gorilla and punched Belokk repeatedly.
Belokk was stunned by this briefly, but eventually got his second wind and caught one of Moloch's fists, kicking the Oni in the gut and sending him sliding back. Both creatures of the Netherrealm roared like beasts and charged at one another, locking themselves in a grapple and causing the ground to shake when they clashed.
Meanwhile, Siann, Mikka, and Sora moved to attack Bi-Han and Drahmin.
"Big mistake," Drahmin warned. "They don't call me the 'Oni Tormentor' for nothing."
"We will not be torturing our enemies, Drahmin." Bi-Han corrected.
"Oh sure, take all the fun outta life why don't ya?" Drahmin replied sarcastically before the two were forced to start moving in order to avoid sword slashes by their opponents.
"You're the one, aren't you?" Siann asked as she approached Bi-Han with lethal intent. "The Earthrealmer who turned Sareena against us."
"She made her own choices," Bi-Han refuted. "I merely offered my aid in freeing her from this hell."
"When I track her down and slit her throat, I wonder if she'll think about how you failed to do that." Siann threatened, slashing with her sword only for Bi-Han to dodge and knock her back with a palm strike to the face.
"I will end you long before you have the chance." Bi-Han retorted.
"Here's what I don't get," Siann started to day before charging again, only for Bi-Han to create a sword out of ice and parry her strike. "What happened to you?"
"You refer to the fact that I am no longer Noob Saibot," Bi-Han presumed. "That is the work of the Elder Gods themselves. I am no longer a slave to your cult."
"The Elder Gods," Siann repeated, trading several blows with Bi-Han as their sword duel continued. "So what, now you're their lapdog?"
"Better than being Shinnok's." Bi-Han argued, striking with his blade only for Siann to block it with her own.
At the same time, Sora and Mikka moved into battle Drahmin. The Oni swung at them with his iron club, but the nimble Brotherhood assassins were able to dodge his strikes with relative ease, slashing at his skinless form with their blades. The cuts seemed to do little in the way of causing actual pain, possibly because Drahmin was already dead.
"This doesn't even make sense!" Pointed our Mikka. "I thought Quan Chi killed you!"
"He did!" Drahmin explained, swinging again and this time forcing Mikka to stop the club with the flat side of her sword. "But that only drove my damned soul further into this hell of a place! All that pasty white moron did was make me and Moloch stronger!"
"Don't talk about him like that!" Mikka shouted, struggling against the Oni's might.
"Heard baldy kicked the bucket a year ago," Drahmin recalled. "You ain't gotta pretend to like 'im anymore."
As Drahmin was distracted by Mikka, Sora stabbed her sword into his back. The Oni Tormentor doubled back from this, leading to Mikka stabbing him in the chest.
"Die!" She yelled.
The two demonesses seemed to have achieved some success, as Drahmin stumbled around monetarily. Unfortunately for them however, he was not about to simply fall dead as they had anticipated.
Instead, Drahmin lurched forward, an ethereal blue smoke coming out of the eye holes in his mask, horns made of a blue flame appeared on top of his mask and the bottom of it produced a similar spike of blue fire below his chin.
Then, the blue flame began to overtake his iron club, as he looked at his opponents with his expressionless mask somehow conveying a certain rage.
He grabbed Mikka's sword, still embedded in his chest, and simply pulled it out, tossing it to the ground. He then reached behind him and did the same with Sora's sword.
"So I assume we're done playing around then?" Drahmin asked as he charged the two with his glowing iron club. They did their best to dodge out of the way and avoid the club as best they could. Deciding to change approaches, they both fired purplish skull fireballs not unlike the pinkish ones Sareena could fire, both aimed at Drahmin.
The projectiles collided with the Oni Tormentor, staggering him and causing him to stumble backward. In response, he aimed his iron club straight ahead, and the blue flame shot off from it in a massive fireball. Mikka and Sora only narrowly jumped out of the way, looking in in fear as Drahmin walked through the flame and smoke caused his own attack to continue the battle.
"Guess no one told you that you're playing in true big leagues now," he taunted. "This is a real battle, not your cheap sneaky assassin crap. And I have no intention of going down."
Evidently, neither did Belokk or Moloch. Their contest of strength had continued all throughout the others' battles, and it seemed Moloch was growing tired of it, he leaned downward and bit into Belokk's shoulder, tearing off a chunk of flesh like he was some feral animal feeding ona fresh kill.
Belokk stumbled back, clutching his arm, as Moloch swallowed what he had bitten off.
"You might make a decent meal, red." Moloch said to his adversary.
"I would never allow myself to become mere food to some mindless beast," Belokk refuted. "I am a general of Hell! I shall not be beaten!"
Belokk raised both his arms and fired a stream of hellfire, causing Moloch to roar in pain as or seared his skin. The Oni Destroyer still refused to be beaten however, walking forward in spite of the flames intent on dealing another blow. Rather than allow that, Belokk cut off his beam of hellfire, causing Moloch to stumble forward, allowing Belokk to slam the Oni Destroyer's chin into his knee, before uppercutting him with a flaming fist.
"You are powerful beast, but stupid," Belokk mocked. "Creatures like you exist to serve, it is why you were not made to think."
"Yeah? Well the last I let tell me what to do had a zombie lady chop my head off!" Moloch shouted. "So I definitely ain't letting that happen again!"
He swung his ball and chain above his head and slammed it down in Belokk, but the demon general jumped out of the way with impressive ability, his landing creating a shockwave that nearly caused all present to fall over, including Moloch, and left a crater in the Netherrealm's rocky surface.
"Yet you serve the Elder Gods' pet Earthrealmer?" Belokk asked, before summoning fireballs into his hands and hurling them at Moloch, who merely raised an arm and allowed the projectiles to collide with it as if they were a minor annoyance.
"Nah, see I think we're friends!" Moloch explained. "Isn't that right little buddy?"
After trading a few strikes, Bi-Han locked swords with Siann.
"I'm a little busy, Moloch." He pointed out.
Belokk attempted to take advantage of Moloch's momentary distraction, charging at him head-first like a raging bull and stabbing his horns into the Oni's chest.
Moloch roared out in pain at this. In an effort to finish him off, Belokk began charging flame through his body towards his horns, intent on destroying Moloch inside out.
But before he could, Moloch's ball and chain was lifted off of the ground by a huge black owl. The owl flew directly above Belokk and dropped the ball onto the demon general, interrupting his hellfire channeling, and giving Moloch the opportunity to pull Belokk away from him, then lift him over his head and throw him to the ground.
After that, Moloch went to pick up his ball and chain, just as the owl landed on his shoulder.
"Good job Herald," the Oni complimented his pet. "You can have his eyeballs when I'm done."
"Where did that creature come from?" Questioned Bi-Han as he dueled Siann.
"Found it after we got down to that lower plane of the Netherrealm," Drahmin explained. "It and Moloch took a liking to each other, he calls it 'Herald'."
As he explained this, the Oni Tormentor had now engaged in a quite literal fire fight with Mikka and Sora, fireballs being blasted between in a deadly light show of blue and purple.
Belokk meanwhile climbed to his feet and resumed battling it out with Moloch.
Bi-Han remained primarily focused on his duel with Siann, whose strikes were becoming more and more aggressive as the battle continued. Eventually, Bi-Han attempted to parry one of her blows, only for Siann to swing her sword with such force that it managed to shatter the ice construct sword that Bi-Han had created.
Bi-Han was taken by surprise by this, shielding his eyes from the oncoming shards of ice. Siann took advantage of his momentary distraction, kicking the recently christened Champion of the Elder Gods in the gut and knocking him on his back. Siann then attempted to plunge her sword into his chest, but in the nick of time Bi-Han raised his arm and fired a freezing blast of his cryokinetic power, freezing her in place.
Moving himself away from the frozen Siann, Bi-Han elected to turn his attention to the unfair odds Drahmin was now saddled with. He created a javelin out of ice and threw it in the direction of Sora, who managed to dodge out of the way of attack before she could be impaled.
Mikka then lunged at Bi-Han, tackling him and attempting to strangle him by putting both hands around his neck.
"Traitor!" She shouted in his face.
Bi-Han did not respond, instead summoning one of his shadow duplicates behind Mikka. The duplicate grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her off of its master.
Drahmin decided to aid Moloch while Bi-Han kept the assassins busy.
Moloch and Belokk had been trading powerful punches, neither holding a clear advantage over the other, and with Herald circling over them, waiting for an opportunity to aid its master. Belokk was caught entirely unawares when Drahmin ran between them, and slammed his iron club into Belokk's chin in uppercut, then manifesting his blue flame and hitting Belokk in the chest with the club.
Belokk stumbled backward, allowing Herald to swoop and begin clawing at the demon general's face and eyes with its talons. Belokk roared in pain and frustration, before the orange glow of his eyes intensified, and he shot out streams of hellfire from them, which struck Herald and caused him to fall from the sky. Moloch managed to catch his pet in the nick of time, inspecting it to ensure that Herald was alright.
"Uhh….he should be ok...but he's hurt!" Yelled Moloch. "You hurt 'im!"
"Simple minded beast," Belokk said disdainfully. "Only the foolish take pity on those weaker than them."
"You talk a big game," Drahmin pointed out. "Remind is of the people that used ta boss is around. Well guess what, tough guy? All those guys are dead!"
Moloch and Drahmin prepared to attack Belokk in unison, as Bi-Han fought off both Mikka and Sora with the aid of a shadow duplicate.
When suddenly…
A large wave of dark magic, manifesting as a dark purple glowing arc of energy, blasted at Moloch and Drahmin, knocking them away.
Another blast went for Bi-Han, throwing him even further.
Herald was now well enough to take flight again and remained airborne for its own safety.
"Foolish little Earthrealmer thought he could win," Baphomet taunted as he materialized out of a dark haze. "Foolish little Earthrealmer thought he could stop the ascent of the Master of Sin…"
Baphomet picked up Bi-Han by the back of the head as he spoke, before slamming his face back into the ground, chuckling sinisterly.
Baphomet walked over to his allies, who began to regroup. Belokk used a small portion of his hellfire to thaw out Siann. He could not stand to start losing allies at this point.
"We should finish them off," advised Belokk. "Put an end to this once and for all."
"Killing then would only make them even stronger," Baphomet warned. "I would not recommend it, my friend."
"What are you babbling about?" Belokk asked.
"He's right," chimed in Mikka. "Our master, Quan Chi, killed those two Oni before, and yet here they are."
"If they die, their souls will merely be sent to another plane of the Netherrealm," Baphomet explained. "Where will be reborn in darkness and rage, stronger than before. I sense that this has happened to all three of our adversaries once before."
"All three?" Siann asked. "Are you referring to the Earthrealmer being transformed into Noob Saibot?"
"I thought I smelled the stench of a wraith on him." Baphomet realized.
"But that doesn't make sense," Mikka pointed out. "Quan Chi resurrected him and made him Noob Saibot."
Baphomet chuckled. "Or is that merely what you were led to believe, my child? Wraiths cannot he 'created', they are forged, through the power of this realm and the blackness of their own soul."
"He lied." Mikka said simply.
"He kinda did that a lot." Sora recalled.
"Enough of the past," Belokk said dismissively. "We have the future of this realm to shape."
"Indeed," agreed Baphomet. "And do so, I believe it would be in our best interests to locate some old comrades of mine."
Baphomet's glowing white eyes shifted to a dark purple. In a flash of dark mystical energy, he teleported himself and his allies to parts unknown.
Leaving Bi-Han, Moloch, and Drahmin to get up and start groaning.
"That…..coulda gone better…." said Drahmin.
"Agreed." Added Bi-Han. "We may need to be more careful in dealing with their ilk in the future.
"I coulda beaten the big guy if the goat-head hadn't butted in." Argued Moloch.
"Perhaps you could have," acknowledged Bi-Han as he climbed to his feet. "Ultimately however, this time, we did not. We may need to be more strategic in order to attain our goals."
"I used to be a war general," Drahmin recalled. "Maybe I can help."
"Perhaps you can," Bi-Han agreed, as he tried to make use of the new awareness the Elder Gods has granted him. "I sense a dark power at play here."
"One that I fear we may not be able to stop until it is already too late."