Mythologies

Along the first plane of the NetherRealm lies a secret path leading to Shinnok's Spire. This location was one not known by many individuals, but it was one Shinnok kept guarded throughout his tenure as the NetherRealm's ruler. For he believed that one day, someone would use that weakness to overthrow him. A portal opened on the cliff above the Oni Guarding that entrance. It wasn't like other portals. This one was created with the fire of a Dragon, a detail the half-dozen Oni below recognized immediately. The readied their weapons and stood on guard awaiting the one who would leave the portal. Taven stepped through, looking around at the realm. His eyes were immediately drawn to the castle in the distance.

"Daegon must be heading there!" he exclaimed to himself. The growling of guards caught his attention. He shakes his head and leaps from the cliff. He lands on the ground causing it, and the oni, to tremble at the weight of his fall. Yet, they stood their ground, even closing in on the Edenian. "Are you going to strike?" He asks. "It is unwise to draw your weapon unless you plan to use it." Before the Oni to move, everything around them stopped. Taven walked toward the guards. Brandishing his Drakesword, he cuts through the demons. As he reaches the bridge behind them, time continues on. The guards cry in pain as they feel the aftermath of their complete disembowelment.

Taven steps across the bridge, cutting down numerous guards along the way. He finds another platform below, to which he leaps down. A legion of Oni stood before the man preparing to take him on. Beside them were many demon summoners and Brotherhood members leading the group. Taven conjures a ball of fire and throws it toward the group. They leap out of the way, with two unlucky souls being reduced to ash on contact. The Brotherhood warrior spins around and throws the buzz saw toward Taven. The man rolled away to dodge the blade, following up with a slash across an Oni's throat. He hears the blade returning his direction and takes off toward the group. He stops time for a few milliseconds, falling over as the blade comes into close contact with him. As time returns, the blade cuts through a few of the unsuspecting Oni and Oni summoners.

One of the summons blows his horn. The remaining force across the thing bridge behind them. Taven stands tall, awaiting whatever the Oni had called. Within seconds, volcanic rocks lunged toward his position. He ran toward the bridge, doing as best he could to dodge the on-coming balls of fire. As he made it to the stone bridge, the group run back, blowing the horn once more. The balls of fire were now firing on the platform across the bridge as well. Taven was trapped. Parts of the bridge crumbled, and walking toward him was one of the mechanic bridge keepers. The large red machine fired off rockets toward the warrior. The shrapnel from of the rockets slams against the Edenian, but it leaves no scarring on his skin. The Edenian runs up to the machine and grabs the arm. It prepared to fire another rocket toward the man, but as Taven squeezes against the arm, it implodes. The bridge keeper stumbles back, yelling in pain. A mixture of blood and oil spilled from its shoulder. Taven used his power to heat up what was left of the bridge keepers arm before slamming it across its head. The machine explodes, taking part of the bridge with it.

Taven slowly approaches the surviving group of guards, still shaken by his presence. As he pushed past the falling fireballs, he leapt a great distance. As he reaches the guards, he slams his fist into the ground. A ring of fire grew around his body and quickly incinerates the survivors. Two of the Brotherhood warriors, including the one he'd fought earlier, hopped over the ring. Being the two remaining guards, they decide to take a more active approach against the man rather than simply fleeing as the Oni had done. They rushed to the man at speeds he's seen during his years in Edenia. Their punches and kicks brought pain to the warrior, but a fatal slip of a kick created an opening for him. He grabs the leg and presses his palm against the mans knee cap. He uses the severed limb to dislocate the shoulder of the other man. He ignored their yells as he placed his fiery hands together. He charges his elbows back before forcing his palms into their chests.

With all of the warriors gone, he leaps onto one last platform below. He had a better view of the castle now. The entrance, the path, and the potential location of his brother. He sings a chant, circling his hands around one another. A new portal created using dragon fire opens behind him. A little under a dozen warriors tiptoed through it, all brandishing uniforms with the symbol of the Lin Kuei. Kuai Liang and Shelia would be the last to step through. Among the rest were Smoke and Hydro, both still having their cybernetic implants embedded from their necks down. Only their outfits would cover the metallic armor covering their chest. One of the other warriors scoped out the spire with a pair of binoculars, keeping track of the guards surrounding the outskirts.

"I don't see the back opening," he said.

"It's here," Kuai Liang said. "We'll observe some more when we move in closer.

"What about that?" Taven said as he pointed to the open platforms ahead. "Maybe there is a secret portal leading to the castle."

"Or a bridge that's been destroyed long before we arrived," Smoke groans.

"If that were true, the guards would not be here," Taven corrected.

"We still need to know how they got here," Hydro added.

"Some of us do, but you don't," Subzero said.

"I won't be joining?" Hydro questioned. Subzero shook his head.

"Taven," Shelia called, "can you use your power to send some of us near the entrance?"

"You want to go to the entrance? Where it's heavily guarded?" he questioned. "I could go to the entrance myself, but you would perish a lot sooner."

"Hydro and I aren't going inside," she confirmed. "I'd also like two volunteers, preferably two of my own subordinates."

"That's means one of us will be left out," said a half-cybernetic warrior.

"Unfortunately," she responded. "I'll leave it up to the three of you to decide, but Hydro is necessary for the second mission's success."

"What is this second mission?" Hydro asked.

"We aren't simply here to collect Shinnok's Amulet," Subzero announced, "We're ending the Brotherhood of Shadow. Here and now. We also need to rescue Chan Kang from the depths of this realm."

"That name," one of the warriors said, "I've heard it before. Who is he?"

"A friend," Shelia responded. "And the man who's going to stop Armageddon. No offense, Taven."

"Another contestant? I've never heard of this...Chan is it?"

"He was the original champion of Earthrealm during the last Mortal Kombat Tournament, though our memories would have us to believe it was someone else. He's stopped the Brotherhood before. And now that he's in the NetherRealm, he's become a target. That's why Shelia's group to travel to the lower planes until Chan is found and safely transferred back to us."

"You're not bringing him back to fight the Brotherhood if you're entering the castle. So why are we saving this boy?" Smoke asked.

"This was a special request from an Elder Lord. One who approached in their Mortal Form," Shelia responded.

"The Elder Lords would come down for one Mortal?" Taven asked.

"We've talked enough," Subzero said. "Do what you must and let's move ahead."

"If this is what you wish," Taven responded. He creates a new portal leading close to the entrance. They could see some of the Oni becoming suspicious from afar. "Hurry, before they chase after it."

"Remember. Be Quick. Be Quiet. Be back in this spot." The warriors bow. Shelia runs through the portal along with Hydro and two others, with the half-cybernetic warrior staying behind. Taven quickly closes the portal, feeling a sense of concern as he watch the warriors scurry off.

"Let us—" Subzero's words are cut short as the platform they stood on began to rise. The others in front would proceed to do the same. Taven noticed them all heading in the direction of the Spire.

"These platforms aren't doing this on their own," Taven said.

"We've been compromised," Smoke exclaimed. They looked to their allies from the distance as no one seemed to spot them. However, Subzero squints toward a window at the top of the spire, witnessing a shadowy figure staring directly toward them.

"Someone wants us there without the guards knowing," Subzero responds.

"A trap?" Smoke asked.

"Of course," he said.

End of Chapter 28

So most of you will notice that this chapter is pretty short compared to the length I said most chapters in this arc would be. I ran into an issue as I wrote the chapter: I never finished this chapter summary. The only part of the summary that was written was the arrival of Subzero and Shelia, but ALL of the beginning section was crafted on the fly. Without it, this chapter would be less than 700 words. This is also a new addition to the story that was never suppose to happen, specifically Taven's presence. However, his inclusion was not a random choice as he was always meant to have some ties with Kuai Liang once we reach the final arc. This is a great method for setting that up, but don't be surprised when (not if) he gets the backseat within the next few chapters as his presence would ruin some future chapters. When and how he'll be written out will be the mystery, but I know the answer myself. The next chapter should come on time this friday and it will be MUCH longer than this one.

(Upcoming—Seekers of Darkness)