Ermac stood amidst the remnants of Shao Kahn's palace, his thoughts swirling with uncertainty. For years, he had been bound to the will of the tyrant, his individuality subsumed by the collective consciousness of the souls that made up his being. With Shao Kahn's defeat, he was free for the first time in his existence, but at what cost?

The other warriors of Outworld had quickly scattered, each pursuing their own goals in the aftermath of the battle. Ermac had no such aim. He had been created for a single purpose, and now that purpose was gone. Where did that leave him?

As he wandered the ruins of the palace, he caught sight of a figure in the distance. It was Kitana, the former princess of Edenia. Like him, she had been a servant of Shao Kahn, but had rebelled against his tyranny and aided the Earthrealm warriors in their quest to defeat him.

Ermac hesitated, unsure of what to do. Kitana had been an enemy of his former master, but did that mean she was now his ally? He watched as she approached him, her expression unreadable.

"Congratulations on your freedom," she said, her voice flat.

Ermac nodded, his eyes flickering over her shoulder to the shattered remains of the palace. "What happens now?" he asked.

"Outworld is in chaos," Kitana replied. "Those who served Shao Kahn will be vying for power. But there is another option."

She gestured to the sky, where the portal to Edenia hung like a glittering jewel. "My people need help rebuilding. We could use your strength."

Ermac felt a surge of uncertainty. Edenia was a world he had only heard of in passing, and he had never been free to make his own choices. But as he considered Kitana's offer, he felt a sense of purpose stirring within him.

"Very well," he said at last. "We will help."

Together, the two of them stepped through the portal, leaving behind the ruins of Outworld and the memory of their shared servitude. As they journeyed toward a new future, Ermac felt the weight of his former life melting away, replaced by the possibility of something new and unknown.

Ermac arrived in Edenia, his eyes scanning the vast land that he was tasked to help rebuild. Kitana led him to the capital and introduced him to the council members. They were skeptical at first, having never trusted any of Shao Kahn's former loyalists, but Kitana vouched for Ermac and convinced them to give him a chance.

Ermac worked tirelessly, using his abilities to help rebuild the broken structures and heal the injured. Each day, he was consumed by a sense of purpose that he had never felt before. And with each passing day, Kitana became more impressed by his dedication and loyalty.

One afternoon, while they were surveying the progress of the reconstruction, Ermac sensed a disturbance in the air. He quickly alerted Kitana, and they raced towards the source of the disturbance. They stumbled upon a group of Tarkatans who had somehow managed to enter Edenia.

Ermac, not wanting to risk any damage to the newly rebuilt city, led the charge against the Tarkatans. Kitana's fighting skills were unmatched, and she skillfully decimated the enemy ranks. Ermac used his energy manipulation abilities to crush the opponents, and soon the battle was won. Ermac had just proven his worth to Kitana and the council members.

Later, Ermac sat alone, conflicted. The souls inside him were fighting for control, each one of them trying to take over his body. He had never felt this conflicted before, and he knew that he needed to find a way to keep the souls at bay before they consumed him.

Ermac reached out with his telekinetic powers, searching for some kind of guidance. He knew that he could not do this alone. As he sat there, he felt a sudden presence in his mind, one that he hadn't felt in many years. It was the voice of the once-great King Jerrod, Kitana's father, who had been trapped inside Ermac's body for all these years.

Jerrod's presence was a guiding light for Ermac. He laid out a plan to mediate between the conflicting souls, teaching Ermac the skills he needed to take control. It was not an easy process, but slowly, Ermac learned to control the voices inside his head.

With the souls under control, Ermac emerged stronger and more in control than ever before. But he knew that this battle was far from over. The souls would always be a part of him, and he would have to keep their power under his control. He could not let them take over again.

In the end, Ermac's newfound strength and control proved invaluable in the many battles he fought alongside Kitana. They fought side by side, defeating the deadliest warriors Outworld had to offer. But Ermac never forgot the lessons he had learned, and he knew that he must always remain vigilant, never letting his guard down, for fear that the souls might once again try to take over.

Ermac's journey took him across many realms, facing numerous challenges and foes along the way. He searched far and wide until he finally found a group of powerful sorcerers who agreed to help him. With their help, Ermac was able to revive Queen Sindel and reunite the royal family.

However, their happiness was short-lived, as they soon discovered that an ancient evil had been awakened. The powerful sorcerer, Shang Tsung, had returned and with him, came a new threat to the realms. Ermac, Kitana, and Sindel joined forces to stop Shang Tsung and his minions from destroying Edenia and the other realms.

The battle was intense, with waves of demons and dark magic raining down upon them. But Ermac and his allies fought bravely, ignoring their own injuries and weariness in the face of danger.

After much deliberation, it is finally decided – Ermac, Sindel and Kitana will be sent to combat Shang Tsung, under the blessing and protection of the Edenian Council. Ermac, a powerful martial artist expertly trained in many forms of combat, will lead the effort. Sindel, a powerful sorceress with knowledge of forbidden magics, will assist in outsmarting the all-powerful opponent. And lastly, Kitana, the noble princess of Edenia wielding a legendary bladed weapon, will assist in felling the enemy.

These three powerful warriors, now armed with the approval of the Council, are prepared to fight the formidable Shang Tsung and strike a blow for peace and justice in what will no doubt be an epic battle for the ages. The stakes have been set, the challenge is clear, and only the brave and the righteous will succeed.

Ermac nodded, "We are not ignorant of the dangers that lie ahead of us. We have trained tirelessly for moments like this. We are prepared to face this challenge."

Sindel interjected, "And we will outsmart Shang Tsung. I have knowledge of the forbidden magics that he uses. I can use this knowledge to our advantage."

Sindel and the team agreed that she stays outside of the ruins, meanwhile the other two step inside. As they stepped inside the ancient palace, they were immediately struck by the beauty and grandeur of the architecture. The walls were lined with intricate carvings and the floors were made of polished marble. It was a sight to behold.

But their awe didn't last for long. Suddenly, they heard a voice calling out to them from somewhere deep within the ruins.

"Welcome, my guests," the voice boomed. "I have been waiting for you."

Ermac and Kitana exchanged confused glances before making their way towards the source of the voice.

As they entered one of the grand chambers, they were faced with Shang Tsung, the sorcerer.

"I have been watching your journey," he said, a sly smile on his face. "And I must say, I am impressed."

Kitana unsheathed her blades and advanced on the sorcerer, ready to strike.

Shang Tsung laughed as he conjured a bolt of energy that blasted Kitana backward. Sindel flew to her daughter's side as Ermac launched himself at the sorcerer with a powerful telekinetic attack. But Shang Tsung was too quick, and he disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.

The air was filled with tension as the three warriors stood warily watching for any signs of Shang Tsung's return. It wasn't long before the sorcerer reappeared, casting spells with a formidable might that pushed the three warriors to their limits.

The battle between the two sides was intense as strange misshapen creatures emerged from the shadows to join the fray. Ermac generated an energy blast that sent the creatures flying, while Sindel used her sonic scream to create a force field that prevented Shang Tsung from closing in.

From the corner of her eye, Kitana spotted a faint light shining behind one of the walls. Without any hesitation, she leaped and sliced through the wall with her blades. The wall crumbled under her attack revealing a hidden chamber.

Inside the chamber, Kitana found what they had been searching for. Scrolls, artifacts, and other relics that told the story of their lost civilization. Sensing the opportunity to defeat Shang Tsung once and for all, Kitana quickly deciphered the scrolls.

With newfound knowledge and power, the three warriors launched a coordinated attack on Shang Tsung. Their combined might proved too much for the sorcerer, and eventually, he fell to the ground.

As Shang Tsung lay defeated, the warriors could sense a bittersweet victory. They had come to the ruins searching for history, but they had found something much more valuable, new hope and the power to defeat their enemies.

After saving Edenia and potentially the other realms from enemies, Queen Sindel, Princess Kitana and now after the discovery of Jerrod's soul being trapped within Ermac, the newly crowned King Ermac now ruled Edenia. Although It was not the same Jerrod in the outside, Ermac was still a father and a husband in the inside.


This chapter is inspired by the Mortal Kombat (2011) ending of Ermac. Probably my favorite ending of that game.