Abacus, the Lord of Order

What am I doing? Anomaly moves her pawn forward. Does he take me for a fool? He moves his knight, knocking over one of her pawns. Do I take him for a fool? The two continue moving pieces until half of them were missing from the board. Anomaly contemplated her next move. However, she snapped back to reality, grabbing onto the table. Before she could flip it, however, a calming sensation emerged within her. She relaxed her muscles along the board and continued playing.

"You have a question?" Abacus asked.

"Why would a Lord come down to the status of a Mortal in Seido? What order is there in that?" she questioned.

"The only way to combat a lie is with the truth," he responded, moving another piece. "Eunomia has power over order, but she is not in control of anyone but herself. You are an Anomaly. As long as you're here, you are a threat to her.

"You underestimate me, Lord of Order. I could wi—" Anomaly's heart is immediately pieced by Hotaru's Naginata. As he pulls the blade out, her wound begins to heal through the souls inside of her.

"You have no leverage here, Aisa," Hotaru said before standing at attention.

"No need to act against her, Hotaru," Abacus said. Hotaru nods. "It is your turn again."

"No questions for me?" she asked. "Why I've come? What I plan to do after?"

"You come for our Kamidogu," he says. Anomaly frowns.

"Are you not afraid?"

"You should be," Hotaru responds. He walks behind her and places his hands on her chair. Anomaly found it odd that no matter how much she wanted to attack the man, her body didn't want to do anything but continue her chess match with Abacus. "I made quick work of your friends from Zaterra."

"They still live," she responds.

"Not much longer," he responds.

"Who's truth is most dangerous," Abacus asked. Anomaly tilts her head before moving her next piece.

"Is this a riddle?"

"It is a question." Abacus moved another piece, taking one of hers off the board. Anomaly smirks as she reaches for a rook.

"All I say comes to pass," she said, "so it would be mine." She knocks a piece over before declaring "...Check."

"You are right," Abacus tells her, "yet you are not." Abacus taps his index finger atop of Anomaly's Queen piece. Suddenly, Anomaly's mind begins to go haywire. Numerous images and moments from the past rushed through her mind. None of it making any sense as it was jumbled together. She wanted to scream, yet her mouth remained shut.

After seconds passed, she finally got a grasp of one memory. Reiko's blood rains...all over Edenia. Anomaly remembered those words. Not once, but twice. Once from the other side. The other many years ago. She remembered watching herself from a distance fighting against Reiko. The man slammed his hammer onto her skull, but it phased right through her. Immediately, she saw herself react instinctively by slamming the back of her hand across the left side of his face. The scene replayed in her mind. Over and over. She didn't remember seeing it. Not from where she did now. Blood spilled along the ground, her arm was drenched in it. The Ground as well. A trail leading back to where she stood now was scooped up into a small jar. A special filter was attached to the neck of it as the blood dripped from the mud and dripped through it. As the fight waged on, no one seemed to pay attention as she walked away from the battlefield. The last thing she heard was the yells of the one she now knows as Hanzo Hasashi, yelling. She turned her head and saw her body being yanked into a portal where the man stood.

New visions came—visions of the Kamidogu daggers. Crafted and sculpted by her hands. The blood of the deceased Reiko bathed them while her fires of truth forged them. These are blades dipped in the blood of the One Being. Anyone it cuts will be his to control. She inspects one of the blades. Hearing the whispers. Slowly, she began to place the point of the blade atop of her skin. However, she immediately stops herself. She stares outside of her window, watching the natural on-goings of the citizens. She sighs, reflecting on the blades and the light radiating from them. Finally, she stares at Shinnok's Amulet. She holds it in her hand, reflecting on its gem. She smiles, thinking of how she could create a replicate as she was doing with the other Kamidogu.

A new vision had come to Anomaly. This one she didn't remember. A vision where Kitana seemed to be speaking to herself. Kitana was lost in thought, wandering around the throne room. Anomaly stared outside of the window as a golden mist moved throughout Outworld. Slowly but surely, the mist returned to Anomaly as well as the souls of the deceased whose deaths were ordered by Kitana.

The deed is done, Empress Kitana. She said subconsciously. Kitana looked at her muttering and what of you? Anomaly didn't understand quite much. That was until she subconsciously removed her hood. You, a servant of Shao Kahn. You who orchestrated the deaths of the Edenians. You are a much of a traitor to the throne as any other. Suddenly, Anomaly found herself speaking with...herself. You have served your purpose. And now you must atone for your sins. Anomaly's view was now to her other self. To...Eva.

Anomaly came back to reality. Confusion. Frustration. Abacus shook his head.

"Do you still not remember?" he asked. Anomaly remained silent, thinking about the memories. She conjures a ring of truth around her own heart, searching for an answer. What she got instead was another vision. Not of the past, but of the future. Whatever it was caused her face to stretch. Fear overcame her.

"What is this?" she questioned to herself.

"As you can see, Aisa," he said as he trapped Anomaly's king piece, "your truth ended when you removed your persona from the board." He smiles at the frightened witch. She grits her teeth before grabbing her Naginata and thrusting it forward into the Seidan Lord. The weapon shatters before touching him. And Anomaly is knocked away from her chair by a shoulder charge from Hotaru.

"You shall forfeit your life here, witch," he says. Anomaly raises herself up, conjuring a ring of fire around her wrist. She points it directly to Hotaru before closing her fist and firing the ring from her hand.

"It is you who will die here, Seidan!" she exclaims as the ring's power strengthens. As it slams into Hotaru, it disappears, seemingly having no affect on the man. His armor was perfectly in tact and showed no scorch marks. Anomaly's arm went limp as she stared at the man.

"Aisa," Abacus called. She turned her head toward him with the same defeated look. "Why did you attack me yourself? Do you not have others to attack in your stead?" Anomaly remained silent. "Do you not have the power to control Onaga's immortal Army?" She remained silent. "Do you not have the power to create a new persona stronger than me?" She remained silent, trembling ever so slightly. Abacus stood up from his chair, holding onto Anomaly's king piece. Hotaru walks up to the woman with the blade of his Naginata held beside her neck.

"How?" she questioned.

"Do you understand it now?" Abacus gloated. He holds the top and bottom of the chess piece with two of his fingers, holding it at an angle matching the size of Anomaly's body. "You live because I allow it," he turns the piece upside down, "and you will die because I demand it."

End of Chapter 11

(Upcoming—In Accordance)