AN: Story's Shadow and I are back with another chapter. Hope you all enjoy.
-Unknown Location: Five Days Until The Tournament-
"You humble me with your presence, Shang Tsung." Quan Chi greeted.
His fellow sorcerer just exited a portal that had transported him deep into the lowest reaches of the Netherrealm.
"I take it you are here to make sure things are proceeding on schedule?" Quan Chi quizzed the sorcerer.
"The emperor wants to make sure the Netherrealm is ready to assist in the merger of both worlds once they both fail to defend themselves in the coming tournament." Tsung informed Quan Chi.
"I assure you Shang Tsung, the Netherrealm is not only prepared just for the tournament, but also for the merger." Quan Chi said smoothly.
Quan Chi inhaled deeply, smiling.
"The Netherrealm has already begun expanding into this new world already," he chuckled.
"Expanding, are we?" Tsung asked, try to charm an unwittingly honest response.
"Just to prepare for the merger. Nothing more, nothing less." Quan Chi said smoothly.
Shang Tsung nodded, but beneath his calm visage was deep suspicion.
"On the subject of the tournament, the Netherrealm has selected it's two representatives." Quan Chi informed Tsung.
"Who might they be?" Tsung asked in a curious tone.
"You are looking at one of them." Quan Chi chuckled.
This earned a surprised look from Tsung, be it for a millisecond.
"I will not reveal the other until the tournament is upon us." Quan Chi said firmly.
Deciding not to risk an argument with a sorcerer of equal magical prowess, Tsung decided to trust his decision.
"To change topics: once the merger begins, are the legions prepared to fight? For Edenia proved there will be some resistance, be it weaker and even more futile." Tsung asked.
In response Quan Chi raised a fist which glowed green and a black mist seeped up from the ground and took upon the shape of a man wearing a pure black cloak.
"This is Jack Reyes: General of the Netherrealm, leader of my legions." Quan Chi said.
Tsung eyed him curiously, not giving anything away though.
"Jack has been working nonstop to prepare the legions and hordes for the merger. What news do you bring, general?" Quan Chi asked.
The general cleared his throat before answering.
"Everything is on schedule. Our ranks continue to grow everyday, be it every hour it seems. With every soul that descends to the Netherrealm, it gives us another soul to call to battle. Our legions vastly outnumbers the enemies we face in both worlds. Rest assured Shang Tsung, the legions are ready lay waste to all that stands before them." Jack reported.
"Excellent news indeed." Tsung said in a pleased tone.
He waved his hand and a portal opened.
"I will return to Outworld and inform the emperor that everything can proceed as planned." Tsung said.
With a head nod to Quan Chi and Jack, the sorcerer walked into the portal and was transported back to Outworld, leaving Quan Chi and Jack in the Netherrealm to continue to plan for the merger.
-Avengers' Tower, the next day-
Raiden stood before Spider-Man, arms crossed. Yuki stood on the sidelines of the training room. The Avengers and Director Fury watched from the observation room.
"Decided to go high tech, huh?" Spider-Man chuckled.
"On the affirmation of your elders, I agreed to do this here. I would have rather done this in a more natural setting, but this will do if what you say this...place does what you say."
(Gotta admit, not sure I've been trained by a god before...fought beside one sure, but Thor's always toto busy enjoying fighting to teach.)
"You gotta admit, Raiden: aren't you just a like bit curious about the tech here? What it can do? I mean, it can do just as much as any temple."
Raiden's eyes narrowed.
(*Gulps*)
Raiden looked up to the observation room and nodded.
Soon the room transformed. Once completed, it appeared they were on a mountainside, flattened and fitted to be a dueling ring.
"This is it? Ok, thunder god! Let's dance!"
"That comes soon. First, you must battle against other opponents."
The thunder god stepped aside. From behind him appeared to be man dressed in ancient Chinese armor, carrying a Dao sword that gleamed in the light.
(That...That looks sharp.)
Raiden walked over too and beside Yuki. He looked to Spider-Man and to the A.I. warrior. He raised his hand.
"FIGHT!" He proclaimed, throwing his hand down.
(Let's do this!)
Spider-Man laughed as he fired webbing forward.
"I know the old guys were good, but I think some modern tech can do the job!" Spidey laughed.
The warrior rushed forward, slicing the webbing with swift strikes and never missing.
(Crap!)
The warrior let out aa war cry as he lunged forward, slashing.
"Yikes!" Spidey cried out.
He jumped out of the way. But the warrior pressed the advantage, slashing the sword. Spidey grunted as he continued to dodge each strike. He then started laughing.
"Really Raiden? Is this the back you can do?" Spidey laughed.
He then slid under another strike and quickly swept the warrior's leg. But the warrior swiftly twirled the sword in hand horizontally as it landed on its hands quickly performing a Chinese get up. Spidey grumbled under his breath. The warrior hurried forward, slashing his sword in a swift arc from the right then quickly from the left. Spidey dodged both.
"Come on! Hit me!" Spider-Man mocked.
The warrior twisted in the air, slashing with the sword in the direction of Spidey's neck.
"YIKES!" Spidey cried out, ducking under.
But the warrior landed and struck out with its right foot, hammering into Spidey's torso. Spider-Man grunted as hit the ground.
"You sure you're up for this Webs?!" Nova mocked over the intercom.
"That is not helpful." Raiden replied.
"But-" Nova started to say.
Raiden turned in the direction of the observation room, his eyes crackling with electricity.
"N-Never mind!" Nova gulped.
Raiden turned back to the fight.
"Please, Bucket Head, I'm just messing around! You really think there's anyone there that I can't beat?!" Spider-Man laughed.
Raiden's eyes narrowed.
The warrior swiftly slashed from the side, which Spidey dodged. But the warrior turned and quickly thrust one palm against Spidey's chest.
Spider-Man grunted in surprise.
"Woo! That was-whoa!" Spider-Man yelped.
The warrior quickly slashed down, the sword aimed at his head. Spider-Man caught the sword with both hands, palmed pressed against either side.
"Not today!" Spider-Man mocked.
He quickly broke the sword with a quick twist then slammed his foot against the warrior, sending him flying only to disappear in a puff of smoke.
Spider-Man panted slightly.
(See? No worries.)
"Your agility and speed is impressive-" Raiden started to say.
"Come on Raiden, let's go in and win that tournament! With your warriors and my friends, will breeze through them! None of them will be able to touch me!" Spider-Man proclaimed.
"Didn't that, umm, machine touch you?" Raiden replied.
"...Not the point..." Spider-Man replied.
"Not entirely. Your story said you are very confident in your abilities, as how you seem to nearly always win in the end," Raiden replied.
(Duh.)
Spider-Man chuckled.
"Yup." He simply said.
Raiden was quiet for a moment.
"Next." He said.
For almost an hour Raiden has A.I. warriors battle Spider-Man. The wall crawler manages to defeat them, but with each one he gets slower and slower.
Spider-Man pants.
(G-Gotta...catch...my breath.)
Raiden steps before him.
"Now, as you wished earlier Spider-Man: your next opponent will be me." He said.
The thunder god stood before him, slowly taking a fight stance one would seen used by a Shaolin.
Spider-Man grunted and shook himself.
"Ok! Let's go!" Spidey called out and rushed forward.
He lunged at Raiden, throwing a punch. Raiden dodged to the right. Spidey quickly followed up with a kick, coming from an arc to the side. Raiden dodged that a small jump back. Spidey grumbled. He lunged again, thrusting a kick at the god's chest. But Raiden slid under the strike. Spidey backflipped after landing, twisted, and threw a haymaker. Raiden ducked under the strike.
(Ok...he's good.)
Spider-Man panted.
"Ok...dodge this!" Spidey grunted then barked, firing off shots of web balls.
Raiden raised one hand and created shield, the electricity danced as it fried each shot.
"Ok, new plan." Spidey said.
He pressed a button on his web shooters.
"Tasers!" Spidey shouted, firing off his taser webs.
Raiden watched as the webs launched into his shield with no effect. He looked to Spider-Man, curious.
"Strange, why would you do that?" The god asked.
"Well, using my taser webs activates my insulated gloves. Electricity can't get through them. So this is over." Spider-Man answered.
He leapt forward.
-Observation room-
"Brilliant tactic. Nice moves webs," Iron Man said, cover the microphone.
"It is...but every insulator has a breakdown point. His gloves worked against Electro, so it has some considerable defense," Falcon added.
"But does a mortal's power compare to a god's?" Thor asked, his voice ominous.
-Training room-
One of Raiden's eyebrows raised curiously as Spidey leapt at him, over the shield. The wall crawler bellowed as he shot a punch at the thunder god. But Raiden created another shield in front of him. Spidey was sent flying back just after his fist came into contact with the shield.
"...Breakdown...p-point...right...ow..." Spidey whimpered.
Raiden took a few steps forward.
"That's enough for now. We shall continue later," he said.
Spider-Man grunted as he stood up.
"N-No! I'm not done!" He retorted.
Raiden was quiet for a few moments.
"As you wish," he replied.
Spider-Man grunted as he attempted another charge. Raiden thrust two fingers in Spider-Man's direction, lightning crackling around them and shooting towards the wall crawler.
(Uh oh.)
"AHHH!" Spider-Man screamed in pure panic, ducking.
Raiden ended the strike.
"There is no dishonor in surrender," he advised.
"Says you!" Spider-Man scoffed.
He ran forward and Raiden retaliated with the same kind of attack. The lightning struck just before Spidey's feet. The explosion sent him flying. Spidey groaned as he hit the ground.
"C-Can't...give up..." He gasped as he stood up.
Raiden fired more of these attacks, Spidey sent flying each time. Eventually he couldn't stand up, but he tried to. Raiden walked over to him, stopping a few feet before him. Spider-Man managed to roll onto his belly and face the thunder god.
"I-I...I can't...if you hadn't...if you hadn't sent all the minions first I wouldn't have lost!" Spider-Man yelled.
"What do you think Shang Tsung will do to you and your friends during the tournament? He will send every warrior against you, hoping each will defeat you. But with whatever victory you achieve, you will grow more tired and more likely to be defeated by your next opponent. Shang Tsung will sense your weaknesses and use it against you," Raiden replied.
"I know I'm not invincible, man!" Spidey grunted.
"Perhaps not...but you think eventually all fights or most will go in your way. You have strength, speed, and a unique set of weaponry and skills. But your belief in your own superiority in your reason for fighting can catch and possibly will be your defeat. You thought you could beat me even with the mechanical warriors I planned for you to face first. And I used a sliver of my power against you," Raiden elaborated.
"You're saying I couldn't beat you?" Spider-Man mumbled.
"Perhaps you could, nothing is impossible...or at least, in possible belief. But you could not win this fight, not in the state you were in, not physical but mental and spiritual," Raiden replied.
Spider-Man sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
Raiden knelt down before him.
"You are driven and you have a strong heart and will to keep standing up against a more powerful opponent. It's one of the reasons I chose you. But I knew you needed to understand one of your vulnerabilities. You are intelligent, Spider-Man, verging near wisdom. But you still have much to learn and understand," Raiden said.
Spider-Man sighed and nodded.
Raiden's hands crackled with electricity which slowly flew to Spider-Man. It sparks and surged in and around his body. Spider-Man gasped and sighed in relief, feeling himself healing. Spider-Man grunted in relief as he stood up, stretching.
"Thanks," he said.
Raiden nodded.
"We will continue this training. But I must also start that of your friends," he said.
-Observation room-
Nova grumbled as he handed five dollars to Power Man.
"Haha! Told you it wasn't just to take him down for kicks!" Power Man laughed.
To Be Continued...