AN: Special Thanks again goes to Story's Shadow and Rushstar32.

-Raiden's Sky Temple, a few minutes later-

Yuki stood there, eyes open in surprise. She paced back and forth a few moments or so.

"So...this Shao Kahn from...Outworld...has been trying to invade our world for centuries and this...tournament has been created to give our world a chance to defend ourselves?" Yuki asked.

"Yes," Raiden answered.

Yuki ran a hand through her hair.

"And...you're a god? One of the gods?" Yuki asked.

"I have been given many names...to your ancestors I was known as: Raijin," Raiden answered.

Yuki's eyes widened in surprise.

"R-Raijin?" Yuki gasped.

"Yes, one of the times I was most humbled and honored was in Japan," Raiden replied, a smile on his face.

Yuki bowed.

"My lord," she said.

Raiden smiled and bowed back. The two then stood up.

"And this is the one you believe is the one destined to defeat Shao Kahn?" Yuki asked, eyes on Liu Kang.

"I do," Raiden replied.

Kung Lao frowned a little at this. Yuki saw this.

"What about him?" Yuki asked.

"Kung Lao is a descendant of a former Earthrealm champion centuries ago who was defeated by Shao Kahn's champion," Raiden answered.

Kung Lao's frown turned uglier. Yuki face shifted with sorrow. She walked up and put a hand on his face.

"Don't worry, dear. They won't get away with it," she said.

Kung Lao's eyes widened and he took a step back in surprise.

"S-Sure...thanks," he just managed to reply.

Yuki grinned a little at this. Liu Kang chuckled.

"What now?" Yuki asked.

"It will soon be time to go to Shang Tsung's island for the tournament where Liu Kang will emerge victorious," Raiden answered.

"If you have your champion, why send for me?" Yuki asked.

"I have faith in Liu Kang, it is true. I also know that having a warrior with your gift would also be invaluable," Raiden explained.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised you know...you're a god after all," Yuki sighed.

"What gift is this? You haven't told us about it, Lord Raiden," Liu Kang asked.

Yuki turned to look at Raiden, who nodded. Yuki sighed. Soon her body was surrounded by mist and once it disappeared, ice covered her body in the form of samurai armor.

"Impressive," Kung Lao admitted.

"Is she a relative of-," Liu Kang started to whisper to Raiden.

"No, she is not of their blood," Raiden replied in a whisper.

The ice armor shifted back to mist and disappeared.

"Now, the final preparations are to be-what?" Raiden started to say then gasped.

Raiden's teeth clenched as he grabbed his head in pain. The three warriors rushed to him.

"Lord Raiden!" Liu Kang gasped.

Raiden grunted as he stood up.

"What's wrong?" Kung Lao asked.

"The magic...Outworld is starting their spell...connecting it to Earthrealm," Raiden grunted, eyes still closed as his senses studied the energy.

"Is Shao Kahn so arrogant as to believe he will get away with this?!" Liu Kang snarled.

"No...he will not...I will return soon, prepare yourselves in case I do not," Raiden hissed.

He then disappeared in a flash of light and a bolt of lightning.

-Shang Tsung's island, moments later-

Shang Tsung sat on his throne, two golden dragon statues flanking it. Monks walked around the large room, sweeping or carrying out other mundane activities. The sorcerer drank from a goblet, his free hand in a fist pressed against his jawline.

Then lightning roared as it struck into the room, seemingly from nowhere. And with the lightning came a thunderous voice.

"SHANG TSUNG!" Raiden roared.

Raiden stood where the lightning struck, eyes and fists crackling and glowing with light and lightning.

"Lord Raiden, you honor me. What is it that you believe I've done?" The sorcerer mocked.

The thunder god barely held back his rage.

"How dare you and your emperor create a portal to invade Earthrealm! The tournament hasn't even begun!" Raiden snarled.

Shang Tsung grumbled as he finished his goblet. A servant monk carried the goblet off.

"Shao Kahn has no intention of invading Earthrealm. Once he wins the last needed victory, Earthrealm will be his," Shang Tsung replied.

"Do not lie to me, sorcerer! I can feel Outworld's magic!" Raiden scoffed.

"Yes, it is Outworld's magic. But it is not made to invade Earthrealm, not yet," the sorcerer chuckled.

Raiden's eyes narrowed. Despite his anger, he sensed the man was telling the truth. The light and lightning slowly faded.

"Now, if you'll excuse me...I have to prepare for the tournament," Shang Tsung said.

His stood up, but he and Raiden then both gasped. A wave of the same mystic energy both hit them.

"YOU LIE, SHANG TSUNG!" Raiden bellowed.

"Something is wrong! The magic is not focused! Those fools the emperor has working the spell made a mistake!" Shang Tsung deduced.

The energy hit them again and soon a portal appeared before them.

"Hmm, curious," Shang Tsung said, rubbing his beard.

Raiden stepped towards it.

"I sense that is connected to Outworld...but somewhere else," Raiden studied.

"Shall we?" Shang Tsung suggested, motioning his hand to the portal.

Raiden's eyes narrowed. Shang Tsung smirked. He then turned to his servants.

"Complete the last preparations for the tournament," the sorcerer ordered.

The servant monks bowed then hurried off. The sorcerer smiled to the thunder god and then they both stepped through the portal.

They found themselves stepping into an alley. Building surrounded them.

"This appears to be Earthrealm, but I don't feel the Jinsei," Raiden said.

"I don't feel it either. Strange," Shang Tsung added.

"There are mystic energies here, though," Raiden stated.

"Yes, how interesting," Shang Tsung chuckled, rubbing his beard.

Raiden's eyes narrowed at this. They walked through the alleyways for a short while, keeping themselves out of sight. They saw people in the streets walk, laugh, and play. Huge signs with lights, images, and videos on them were high on many of the towers.

"I would suspect this to be another Earthrealm, but something feels different...do you sense that?" Shang Tsung said.

"Yes...like the Netherrealm...but not the same," Raiden replied.

There were soon screams and the sounds of battle. Raiden turned to the sorcerer, who smirked at him. Raiden and Shang Tsung were then engulfed in lightning then remerged from it atop a building overlooking where they sensed the magic.

"How very strange," Shang Tsung said.

From a hellish portal, humanoid rock-like beings with one bluish eye each marched out. The people scattered.

"No," Raiden started to say, preparing to leap into battle.

But in the corner of his eye, he saw something that stopped him. A group of a variety of figures met the creatures in battle.

"Avengers! Assemble!" One proclaimed.

"How very interesting," Shang Tsung chuckled.

"...Indeed," Raiden agreed.

To Be Continued...

AN: So Raiden and Shang Tsung have officially entered into the USM dimension, thoughts?