The Lowest Planes

Everything changed. Much has happened since Eris closed the portal. The war between Seido and Outworld had finally come to an end. It's citizens migrated to Outworld. The space created by Earthrealm's merger allowed the people to live away from Outworld's denizens. With the help of Kotal's Army and Earth's waters filling the bottomless depths of the realm, they safely transferred all of Seido's citizens without issue. The members of the resistance were captured and imprisoned in the Cobalt Mines. Every now and then, Goro would host tournaments in Shao Kahn's arena where the citizen would enjoy death matches before the resistance and the surviving Seidan Guardsmen. Hotaru would become the fan favorite among the crowd, even some demanding his freedom to encourage fights with higher risks.

Sheeva remained hospitalized, but her newborn was healthy as ever. They were being kept in a secret location. Very few knew of her location. Kotal found his father during the transition of the Seido Guards. He made quick work of the man as he knew it was not his true self. With one problem solved, another remained. He was quick to realize that Edenia and its citizens were missing from the realm, as were those from Vaeternus. He reached out to Raja, but received no comment at this time. However, a letter was sent to him by Kitana. The letter would be a list of ways to improve Outworld as well as a second letter to send her regards to Sheeva for the successful delivery, a request he has yet to accept.

In the newly reformed realm of Edenia, many of the buildings were still in tact. A celebration was to occur as Kitana and Rain would meet with the citizens and announce a campaign to determine who would be Edenia's ruler. Kitana had the advantage due to her time ruling Outworld, but Rain's experience with the old ways of Edenia gave him an additional edge. He also announced his relation to Argus, his true father. Tanya validated the claim using her knowledge of Anomaly's Truth Magic, though some still deny this claim. Unbeknownst to the prince, Kitana would hire the Outworld Investigation Agency to keep track of the Edenian's plans to ensure no foul play is afoot. Of course he'd hire his own spies to do the same.

Vaeternus was in a state of mourning over the loss of their allies in the war for their realm. Unfortunately, Kreeya's warpath reached their side of Outworld before the realm was split. It is said that Kreeya met her end there, but by whom is currently unknown. There are also rumors that Nitara and Ciero had returned from the dead, but I already knew this. I mean, no one really dies in our universe anymore do they?

It burned. Everything burned. The pain Eris felt in the Nowhere was being experienced here. Chan opened his eyes, arms chained to two pillars. Chan hollered as his body tugged in many opposing directions. The mushy sounds coming from the hands of the Oni sickened the boy. He found himself calling for Eris, though his mouth released no words. Unfortunately, she was nowhere around to help as he did her. Eventually, the demons left his gutted body behind. Chan felt as if he'd pass out, but he couldn't sleep. He hasn't slept in over a month. After forty days had passed, he stopped counting.

He didn't understand. He didn't know why he was sent to the NetherRealm. The Shaolin Monks were always taught death would lead to rebirth, a truth he witnessed himself. His soul was always destined to return and his body would be reincarnated in Earthrealm. So why was he reborn here? Another round of Oni came by. This time, only two of them. One wore a strange green mask while the other was a blue brute, unlike any other he'd seen in that realm.

"He's still awake," Moloch said.

"And his flesh is torn like wasted food," Drahmin complained. They reached for the boy, but he remained still.

"He's not moving," Moloch said.

"So it is true," Drahmin said. A group of Oni tread toward Chan's body. Moloch and Drahmin used the weapons locked to their hands to slaughter them with ease. Chan stared at the soaked club wrapped around Drahmin's arm. He comes back to reality, squeezing his own nails into his palms. Before he knew it, his body regenerated as it did before.

"Who," Chan took a few seconds to catch his breath, "are you two?"

"Drahmin is the warlord of Outworld!" Moloch proclaimed.

"Was the warlord," Drahmin clarified. "Damn that Locke."

"Locke? Wasn't he an Edenian?" Chan questioned. Drahmin perked up a bit.

"You know of Edenia? So Shao Kahn's conquest…"

"You mean Anomaly's conquest," Chan corrected. "She led you all to die there, but she failed and Edenia was merged with Outworld."

"Ha!" Moloch shouted. "Locke got what was coming to him."

"Who are you," Drahmin asked.

"I...don't know anymore," Chan muttered.

"No," Drahmin said. "What we're really asking is—"

"Why can't we bite into your flesh?" Moloch asked politely. Drahmin swings against the back of Moloch's head.

"You imbecile! What are you doing?" Drahmin whispered loudly.

"What?" Moloch whined, rubbing the back of his head.

"You tried to eat—nevermind that," Chan said, shaking his head. "I guess it has something to do with me being a Shaolin Monk."

"A what?" Drahmin asked. "Are there...more of you down here?"

"I'm not suppose to be down here. Only those whose souls are damned by the Elder Lord should be here. Those with pure hearts…" Chan thought about Eris. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. He raised his hands to his face, mimicking how he bit into her heart. "I...defied the Elder Lords. That's why I'm here."

"We aren't getting anywhere," Moloch complained. Chan perked up as he felt a presence appearing behind him.

You are here! The voice said. It came from a sphere of light behind him. A spirit of some sorts.

"Who—what are you?" Chan aksed. Drahmin and Moloch was astonished by the spirits presence.

You are on the tenth plane of the NetherRealm. To complete the task I've given you, you must travel lower.

"To a lower plane?" Chan questioned.

"You want to travel lower?" Drahmin questioned. He and Moloch laughed. It reminded him of the same laugh Havik would have back in the Realm of Chaos.

"I have to," he said. "I might even find a way out of this realm."

"Moloch," Drahmin called, "we will follow him."

"Were you two not trying to eat me mere minutes ago?" Chan questioned.

"We were," Drahmin said bluntly. "We simply want to see how this all plays out."

"Finally!" Moloch shouted. "I've been bored for so long!"

"As have I, Moloch."

End of Chapter 27

Forget the Author's note, did y'all see that new Trailer at SDCC Today? Oh my GOD! Tanya and Li Mei's prominence in my stories is not a coincidence, especially Tanya, my favorite character in the franchise.

Aside from that, we have entered the fourth arc of the story: NetherRealm. Do not be fooled by this chapter, the next set of chapters going forward will be joining the Earthrealm Arc in terms of density. There are over 3000 words just for the combine summaries of all the chapters in this arc. Some scenes were written during my hiatus and I barely scratched the surface. There is so much to cover. And there won't be another "State of the Realms" style info dump like the beginning of this chapter (created to pad the length due to the arc's intro chapter) and the next time we get a short chapter will be the final chapter in this arc. I can't wait to write this one and really flex the action sequences. I hope you all enjoy.

(Upcoming—Mythologies)