The sky was pitch black and crackling with arcane lightning in New York as people fled from invading monsters. For almost a week now, Shao Kahn, in defiance of the Elder Gods' rules regarding the Mortal Kombat tournament, had been leading a violent invasion of Earthrealm. But it would soon come to a fatal end.

Liu Kang stood atop the roof of a skyscraper, facing the Outworld emperor, intent on putting an end to his brutal regime. "Your invasion of Earthrealm ends here, Shao Kahn!" declared Liu Kang, entering a fighting stance. "Ha! You are too late, Earthrealmer! Soon the realms shall merge, and your world will become mine!" taunted Shao Kahn, brandishing his massive hammer. "I do not fear you, tyrant!" retorted Liu Kang, his brow furrowing in determination. Shao Kahn grinned wickedly beneath his helmet. "If you are so eager to die, then come, face your annihilation!" Liu Kang charged towards Shao Kahn, unleashing a series of burning kicks unto the emperor, following it up with a fireball. As Liu Kang landed, Shao Kahn's fist slammed into his face, sending Liu Kang flying backwards near the edge of the roof. "Is that all?" asked Shao Kahn, tauntingly. "I expected more from Raiden's chosen one." Liu Kang leapt forward, connecting a devastating uppercut followed by a roundhouse kick that managed to knock Shao Kahn off his feet. "Even if am to die doing so, I will never stop fighting for Earthrealm and its people." Shao Kahn propped himself up with his hammer, running his fingers over his lips to see he was bleeding. "Then I shall give you a warrior's death, monk." Liu Kang and Shao Kahn's fight proved long and brutal, fireballs and spears flying through the air as the people on the ground, including some of Liu Kang's fellow fighters, watched as the fate of Earthrealm hung in the balance.

After a long, arduous battle, Shao Kahn made one final swing of his hammer towards Liu Kang, only for the Shaolin warrior to grab and redirect it towards Shao Kahn, the hammer's head striking and shattering the conqueror's jaw, knocking some teeth out. As Shao Kahn stumbled backwards, clutching his mouth, Liu Kang prepared to deliver the final blow. He entered a ritualistic stance and began making motions with his arms, harnessing his energy. Power surged through Liu Kang as he clenched his fist, which burned with power, focusing his attention to Shao Kahn. With a final yell, Liu Kang charged at the emperor. "HIIIIIIII-YAAAAAH!!!" Liu Kang's fist tore through Shao Kahn's chest, emerging through the other end. A look of shock was frozen on the dying Shao Kahn's face as Liu Kang pulled his fist from his chest, the Konqueror of Edenia collapsed, blood flowing from his mouth. "...Fatality." declared Liu Kang, catching his breath as he raised his bloodied fist in victory for Earthrealm.

Liu Kang's fellow warriors looked on, realizing they had won. "Holy shit, he actually pulled it off..." said Johnny Cage in disbelief. Shao Kahn's forces also bore witness to the death of their emperor, and began retreating. "Shao Kahn is dead!" "Run!" "RETREAT!!" The hordes of Tarkatans, Shokan, Kytinn, and other Outworld creatures began retreating to the portals from which they came as the Earthrealm fighters celebrated. "Haha! We got 'em running!" exclaimed Stryker as he fired his gun into the air, victoriously. "And that is why he's Lord Raiden's champion." boasted Kung Lao. On the rooftop, Liu Kang watched as the black clouds parted for the rising sun, basking in the coming warmth, when Raiden, God of Thunder and Lightning, Guardian of Earthrealm, and Liu Kang's mentor appeared in a flash of lightning, his long, white hair flowing in the wind. "Lord Raiden. It is good to see you." said Liu Kang, bowing to the Thunder God. "Thanks to the efforts of you and your fellow warriors, Earthrealm is not only saved, but Outworld has also been freed of Shao Kahn's tyranny." said Raiden, congratulating the Shaolin monk. "But Lord Raiden, what if another warlord takes Shao Kahn's place, and we end up in a repeat of this situation?" said Liu Kang with concern. "You know he has countless loyal supporters who would happily pick up where he left off." "Do not worry, Liu Kang." replied Raiden. "Commander Blade and Major Briggs have been organizing an Outworld Investigation Agency following the tournament there. If all goes as planned, the OIA should be able to help prevent any further invasions or violence between Earthrealm and Outworld." "We can only hope, Lord Raiden." said Liu Kang. "Now come, Liu Kang, let us regroup with the others, and celebrate this monumental victory." Raiden placed his hand on Liu Kang's shoulder and raised the other into the air, the God of Thunder and the Shaolin warrior vanishing from the rooftop in a flash of lightning.

Back on the streets, the Earthrealm fighters were attempting to help any civilians caught in the invasion's chaos. "Rrrrgh...just hang...on..." grunted Sonya as she attempted to lift some rubble trapping a pair of civilians. "Sonya! Here, lemme help you!" yelled Jax as he ran over, using his cybernetic arms to lift the rubble with ease. "You guys head up to Times Square, we've got a camp set up there, it's got food, shelter, everything you need." "Th-Thank you!" said the civilians, rushing out from the rubble to Times Square. "Thanks for that, Major Briggs." said Sonya, catching her breath. "I'll always have your back, Commander Blade." replied Jax, smiling. "I still can't believe we survived that whole invasion thing." remarked Johnny Cage, walking onto the scene. "Well, we've got Liu Kang to thank for that." said Sonya. "And once we get the Outworld Investigation Agency up and running, we'll make sure ain't none of this'll ever happen again." said Jax.

ELSEWHERE IN EARTHREALM:

Silence filled the warehouse in which many of the Black Dragon's most prominent members had set up shop in as they learned of what happened to their leader, Kano. "Kano is dead." announced Jarek, Kano's second-in-command. "He was in New York helping out the forces of that Shao Kahn guy who hired us when Sonya Blade got the drop on him, killed him." "Did they find a body? Maybe he's still out there." suggested Kira, a surprised look on her face. "Kano was last seen being thrown off the roof of a bank by Blade. Nobody was able to find the body, though." replied Jarek. "So he could still be out there, but before we go trying to avenge or find him, we'll need to recuperate. As Kano's second-in-command, I shall take up leadership of the Black Dragon for the time being." "Kano's dead? Well good friggin' riddance..." uttered a gravelly voice.

Jarek and the others turned to see Tremor, a massive man wearing brown ninja-ish garb and a body partially covered in stone. "Tremor! Where have you been!?" asked Jarek, surprised to see the earth-bender. "Oh, nowhere in particular, just DIGGING MYSELF OUT OF THE RUBBLE WHERE KANO LEFT ME TO DIE!!!" shouted Tremor, furiously. "Now look, Tremor, we were busy, what with the whole Outworld situation and all-" Tremor grabbed Jarek by the collar. "Bull-SHIT you were gonna come back for me! Kano KNEW Jax was gonna blow up the old base and bury me in the rubble!" "Well, maybe if we hadn't overheard you considering leaving, then maybe we wouldn't have done that." remarked Kobra, smugly. "Kobra, shut up!" yelled Jarek as Tremor took his hand off his collar and wrapped it around his neck. "Oh, so it wasn't just you and Kano, Jarek? All of you guys were in on it?" growled Tremor as he tightened his grip on Jarek's throat. Tremor stared daggers at everyone in the room before dropping Jarek. "Well, fortunately for you assholes, I'm feeling merciful today, so I'm going to leave, and God willing, we'll never see each other again."

Tremor began making his way out of the warehouse when Kobra attempted to lob his machete at him. The machete narrowly missed Tremor, lodging itself into a nearby wall. "Oh, big mistake..." growled Tremor as he lifted a stalagmite from the ground and launched it at Kobra, impaling him and sending Kobra flying across the warehouse, splattering blood all over. Tremor then proceeded to stomp the ground with tremendous force, causing the ground to begin quaking and the warehouse to begin collapsing. "Damn! Everybody run!" shouted Jarek as he and the rest of the remaining Black Dragon fled the crumbling building. "If I see any of you again, you'll end up like Kano n' Kobra!" shouted Tremor before making his exit as the warehouse gave in and fully collapsed, leaving a pile of debris and broken girders.

Meanwhile, back atop the skyscraper where Liu Kang killed Shao Kahn, the sorcerers Shang Tsung and Quan Chi looked over the emperor's body, Shang Tsung picking up his helmet. "Such a shame..." lamented Shang Tsung. "The carnage wrought by the invasion was truly a beautiful sight to behold." "Indeed. But Shao Kahn's death acts as a benefit to Shinnok's plans." said Quan Chi. "With him dead, both Earthrealm and Outworld will be attempting to rebuild and reorganize. We can capitalize on this, ensure our search for Shinnok's amulet is with little to no resistance." Shang Tsung tossed Shao Kahn's helmet away. "A golden opportunity indeed, but I feel it is best we remain hidden and subtle in our efforts, lest Raiden and his followers attempt to wipe us out at the first chance they get." With that, the two sorcerers left through an arcane portal.

Like many times before, the fate of the realms hang in the balance, with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi's deadly alliance, the coming civil war in Outworld over who shall succeed Shao Kahn, and the immensely powerful earth elemental roaming about unchecked, it is only a matter of time until chaos breaks out again.