-Chapter 19: In the Serpent's Den-
Black smoke wafted from the remains of destroyed homes. Crushed rubble littered the streets. Vivisected bodies lay in tangled heaps all around the township, their blood watering the ground in vast pools of gore.
Kneeling on the edge of the desolation, Magnus Shadrix observed the ruin with shrewd eyes. Having been taught long ago how to track, there was much he could glean from the scene despite the horror of the moment. "They moved quickly…" he murmured, "they had a plan and a purpose, executed things long before anyone could react."
"Lord Kagutsuchi described much the same." Fujin noted, standing behind with arms crossed.
"What could these poor people have possessed to have earned such devastation?" Kung Lao asked.
"There may be no telling." Magnus rumbled as he rose. "Outworld may simply be spreading wanton violence to spite our victory in the tournament. But if they took captives then they must be freed."
"Agreed, Magnus Shadrix." Fujin concurred. The wind god strode forward, letting his divine senses search out the township. Prominent was the overwhelming feelings of death and decay, lingering were the horrorified response of the innocent townsfolk, the violence emanating from the Tarkatans… and the magic that allowed them to cross realms. "Magick was used here. Strong portal magicks." The wind god noted.
"As in Shang Tsung's magicks. Like when he summoned Tarkatans to attack the Wu Shi Academy." Kung Lao determined, crossing his arms. Fujin nodded.
"The same. If he has been involved with this, then it is possible he has taken his prisoners back to his laboratory in Outworld."
"We must track down his laboratory then." Magnus rumbled, a hand subconsciously reaching for his axe at the mere thought of the sorcerer.
"I can divine the nature of the magic used in the portal spell and recreate it. It should take you there without an arduous journey. Unfortunately, I cannot aid you in Outworld. As my powers are tied to Earthrealm, my abilities will be significantly weakened." Fujin stated while reaching for his belt. "Here. Take this sigil. You may use it to reach me." Kung Lao accepted the medallion-shaped golden disc and slipped it into his own belt. "You must return the people of this township. No matter what."
"We will, Lord Fujin." Kung Lao promised. The trio bowed to one another before Fujin conjured his gusty magicks and began to summon arcane energies. The wind god murmured an incantation as gale winds began to howl. They slowly began to take on a circular shape that hardened with each motion of Fujin's hands. Soon they had formed into a portal that flashed to life, an abyss of energies beckoning the champions onwards.
"Go forth! And may the Elder Gods protect you!" Fujin cried out over his own rushing winds as Magnus and Kung Lao charged forward and passed through the portal…
Emerging from the portal, the two champions of Earthrealm discovered a contrasting sight awaiting them. They had arrived in Outworld, where the barren southlands met the border of the Kuatan jungle. Green and brown stretched on for miles in either direction. Kung Lao and Magnus paused for a moment to take in their surroundings. "This… is Outworld." The Njordborn surmised.
"Indeed it is." The monk concurred. "I have never been here myself."
"Nor have I." Replied Magnus. "It looks almost like some places in Earthrealm." His gaze narrowed as he focused on the distant mirages rising from the arid desert terrain of the southlands. Further ahead he could make out white amid the brown rock, reaching higher than the horizon of the southlands. "There is a building up ahead."
"And the only one around for miles." Kung Lao noted. "That must be Shang Tsung's laboratory."
"We need to be careful. For all we know he has already sensed our arrival." Magnus stated as he led them on.
"Then he should know we will be ready to face him in kombat." Kung Lao replied boisterously. "He will not get the better of us." The pair walked in silence for a moment. Magnus pondered the possibilities of what to expect should kombat arise and started analyzing his own strengths against what Kung Lao presented. The knowledge that both Shang Tsung and Tarkatans were involved in this treacherous act implored he make use of what he learned for the tournament. But there would be very limited resources and next to no allies available. Every move would need to be made with careful certainty.
"Kung Lao… your arcana. It is tied to your hat?" Magnus inquired.
"It is. It grants me access to powers not even my chi can give." The monk answered with a nod.
"But it is explicitly tied to your hat."
"Yes. So long as my hat is under my control, I can use it to teleport between locations, command it to remain in one place, that sort of thing."
"Is it an ambient power? Or does it require your input first?"
"My input, mostly. I have been attempting to increase my control over it, much like you all have. So far I have met with limited success." Kung Lao explained. "Why do you ask?"
"If we are going into battle together, I would like to know the strengths and weaknesses of my ally." Magnus said plainly, seeing no need or reason to veil his inquiries. "You have helped to train me, you are aware of everything I can and cannot do. I have yet to grasp what sort of things you and Liu Kang can accomplish." The bearded Njordborn responded.
"Have no fear, Magnus. I am sure the two of us together will make a formidable match for whatever Shang Tsung sends our way." The monk remarked with a smile.
"I wish I shared your confidence." Magnus muttered in a moment of confession. "Shang Tsung… He is powerful. My apprehension is wrought from my brief encounters with him."
"I understand, but you cannot allow fear to control you." Kung Lao told him.
"Bravado will not sustain us either." Magnus murmured.
The pair fell back to silence as they completed the remainder of the trek to the building. It was revealed to be a multistory mill-like structure made out of white stone, with a tower jutting high along one corner. Its appearance reminded Magnus of medieval stonework and the kinds of buildings found in European lands close to where his ancestors lived. Their casual gait slowed to a crawl as they pressed hesitantly closer, keenly watching the perimeter. They advanced close to a wooden door jutting out of the white-rock wall, darting to one side as old metal hinges groaned in tune with the door swinging open. A trio of Tarkatans stepped into the light, balking for a moment in surprise at the sight of two Earthrealmers.
Kung Lao was moving before they could utter a sound.
Tossing his hat out, the chakram blade scythed through the neck of one Tarkatan, decapitating the Outworlder before becoming imbedded in the building wall. Lunging forward, Lao wrapped his hands around the neck of the other and swung, using his momentum to land a dropkick that knocked the third Tarkatan back inside. Grabbing his hat, Kung Lao turned and swung it like a blade, splitting the second of the Tarkatans cleanly in two. The halves of its body fell away with a wet slap before the monk turned to face his final opponent. The third Tarkatan was back on his feet, blades out over his fists and charging the Shaolin with a snarl. Kung Lao threw out his hat in a low toss, the chakram blade slicing clean through its legs and dropping the Tarkatan before it came back to its master's outstretched hand, cutting clean through half of the warrior's head.
Slipping his hat back on, Kung Lao swiped blood from the rim with a smirk as the Tarkatan fell over, dead, half of its head rolling across the floor. "You see, Magnus? We are a formidable match." He commented.
"Hmm… very well." The Njordborn concurred. "We will move up. Quietly." He said, drawing one of his axes. "But I call the next Tarkatans."
The laboratory spanned wall to wall, the perimeter filled with desks covered in parchments and bookshelves topped with bony models and loaded with books and flasks. It seemed like a scene out of history texts discussing plague doctors and crude medieval alchemy. The terrified men and women on their knees, arms bound by thick cords, knew little in regards to what to make of the scene. Their peaceful lives had been uprooted by these monsters, the same Tarkatans who had taken them captive patrolling the room to ensure there was no escape. Afraid for their lives, they longed for a return to normal. To escape.
But the only human, seemingly human, in the room would not allow that.
Dressed in red robes of ancient Chinese finery, Shang Tsung strode calmly and proudly with an ornate katana in hand. With dark fire in his eyes he studied the shiny silver of the blade as it gleamed in the sunlight filtering through the laboratory's floor-to-ceiling windows. He smiled, approaching an examination table where a man was strapped down, struggling against the leather restraints. He would not go anywhere. Baraka and his lieutenant Karbrac would see to that.
"Your sword is a very unique artifact." The sorcerer mused in a wistful tone. "I can sense the souls within it. So rich… and powerful. Their strength is tangible even in this crude form." He paused to look down upon the man with Japanese features who was dressed in a leather short-sleeved tunic overlaid with metallic guards over the shoulders. The same could be said for his legs, with many clasps holding metal boots together and binding thigh guards over dark red cloth pants. His eyes narrowed to glare at the sorcerer with spiteful contempt.
"These are your ancestors, aren't they… Kenshi Takahashi?" Shang sneered.
Kenshi lurched against his restraints. "Sento has been in my family for generations. I won't let you soil their legacy!" He growled. Shang loosed a chuckle.
"Ah, yes, your family. The Takahashi bloodline. It is special isn't it?" The sorcerer remarked, sheathing the katana before turning it over to Karbrac. "It has culminated in you. Even though you don't know it yet. Your arcana calls to me."
"Then let these people go." Kenshi retorted, referring to the villagers. Shang snickered.
"Oh they still serve a purpose. Their souls will fuel my strength, much like those in Sento will." He replied. "But before I get to them, I will harvest your arcana. The Emperor demands it."
"Oh yeah? Well how about you tell your Emperor to take his demands and shove 'em up his ass!" Kenshi bit back. Shang's laugh was a loud demeaning howl that filled the room, causing even the Tarkatans to chuckle with guttural grunts.
"I will enjoy this."
Green fire blossomed within Shang Tsung's hands as he began to chant an incantation. Kenshi did not recognize the language, deeming it either foreign or otherworldly. He concluded it was no good for him and he struggled harder against his bonds.
From the nearby stairwell, Kung Lao and Magnus Shadrix crouched near the edge of the floor, observing the process unfold. They knew they needed to act. But the tricky situation meant they needed to guard their approach. "This Kenshi could be an ally." Magnus noted.
"Agreed. We should free him." Kung Lao concurred.
"Distract Shang and the Tarkatans. I'll spring him." Magnus replied and Kung Lao nodded. Removing his hat, he tossed it out into the middle of the laboratory floor and promptly teleported to its location in a flash of light. Assuming a Wing Chun stance, he sudden arrival startled everyone in the room. Shang halted his incantation, staring at the monk with a frown.
"Kung Lao. So Raiden sends his second choice." He remarked, sounding unimpressed.
"Actually, I was first up to stop you." The monk retorted. "That's how little Lord Raiden thinks of you, sorcerer."
"Then you will be but a momentary thorn in my side." Shang retorted. He looked to his appointed henchmen. "Baraka, handle this!" He snapped. The Tarkatan war chief and Karbrac moved to obey, the latter tossing the Sento katana onto a nearby desk as they brandished their bone blades. The other Tarkatans in the room closed in to observe, the prospect of violence and bloodshed stoking their fervor. Kung Lao remained unfazed, steady as ever even while the Tarkatans closed in. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted Magnus padding his way up the stairs.
"Nay aka ratakka tahar kombat." Baraka snarled in his native tongue, saliva dripping down monstrous teeth. It earned a few primal howls from his tribal warriors.
"All I understood from that was 'kombat'." Kung Lao retorted.
"Then you understand enough, monk." Baraka growled. He lunged with blades out, Lao whipping off his hat to use as a shield while he fended off stabbing strikes from the Tarkatan. shang Tsung watched dispassionately, preferring to ensure this loose end was dealt with before moving on to his desired projects.
"His flesh will be yours… but his soul is mine." Shang ordered, his voice barely noticeable above the din of eager Tarkatan shouts. "Such a powerful arcana will be useful to me." He stroked his goatee, grinning faintly.
All of a sudden, Shang was sent lurching forward as a powerful electric blast struck him in the back, bowling over several Tarkatans in his wake. The sorcerer scrambled to his feet, shoving past masses of flesh as the demonic fire in his eyes burned with intensity. He turned back, seeing Magnus Shadrix shredding Kenshi's restraints with his seax knife. The man sprang from the examination bed and grabbed Sento off the desk, slipping the sheath across his back as he drew the sword proper and joined the Njordborn in confronting Shang Tsung. "So Kung Lao was the ruse." The sorcerer muttered with a frown.
"You will relinquish the innocents you've captured, either willingly or by force." Magnus growled in retort. "We will be leaving here with them."
"You presume to command me? In my own laboratory? You have no power here, Earthrealmers!" Shang retorted with a snap of his fingers. Several Tarkatans sprang to attack, two going for Magnus and one for Kenshi. The swordsman quickly parried two swinging bone blades before thrusting his katana with expert riposte through the Tarkatan's abs before disemboweling him with a churning cut. He fell dying and Kenshi moved on Shang Tsung with a scowl. The sorcerer prepared himself by assuming Snake stance and also unsheathing a set of Tekko-Kagi claws that flicked over his hands. He parried Kenshi's slashes with quick, fluid moves exercising a level of precision that made even Kenshi's deft bladework look sloppy.
Meanwhile, Magnus met the slashes of a Tarkatan's bone blades with parrying swings of his axes, waiting for an opening where he promptly buried his weapons in either side of the Tarkatan's head, pulling him down to smash his face into his knee before kicking him away and tearing out chunks of flesh and muscle in the process. Magnus turned to face another, grappling with the monstrous Outworlder as he pushed him back into the examination table. Burying one axe in the side of his neck, Magnus adjusted his grip and punched the Tarkatan repeatedly. The bladed edge dug deep with each strike, wounding the Tarkatan until Magnus landed a right cross that sheared off teeth and flesh, bloodying the Tarkatan's face as he threw him to the ground. Turning with a wild look in his eyes, Magnus advanced on a couple more Tarkatans menacing the villagers. Kung Lao was still duking it out with Baraka and Karbrac, the Tarkatans taking turns assaulting the monk as bladed edge met bladed edge in heated kombat.
This was not at all going according to Shang Tsung's plans but the sorcerer had no time to mentally adjust while locked in kombat with Kenshi. He knew the blatant weaknesses of his foe; Kenshi was untrained in his true power save for his skill with the blade. To harness the soul power of Sento would give Shang Tsung the leverage he desired.
Parrying more swings with his claws, Shang went on the offensive with wide sweeping motions, forcing Kenshi to parry his exchange. With each ring of metal on metal, Shang prepared for Kenshi's counter. When the swords did find his opening, Shang met his slash head-on so Sento struck between his claws and held fast. With Sento's blade trapped between them, Shang Tsung reached out with his free hand towards the souls stored in the blade. Green light webbed between his fingers as he called upon the power within Sento, seeking to add it to his own. Kenshi saw what was happening and tried to pull his weapon free, only to find it locked hard in Shang Tsung's grip. "The souls of Clan Takahashi will be mine!" The sorcerer vowed.
"No! Never!" Kenshi retorted, reefing back on his weapon. A soft blue glow enveloped Sento, the souls of Kenshi's ancestors responding to the will of their descendant. With a surge of supernatural strength, Kenshi plucked his blade free and thrust forward, looking to stab Shang in the navel.
But the sorcerer sidestepped and Sento, instead, plunged into one of the soul phylacteries hanging from his belt.
An explosion of soul power erupted forth from the shattered vessel, surging up Kenshi's blade as a light brighter than the sun engulfed him. Infinite white consumed his vision and Kenshi screamed in pain before his vision fell to darkness. He stumbled away as the rising wave of power blew Shang Tsung sideways and toppled half of the kombatants in the room. The sorcerer picked himself up with a groan, feeling out the broken phylactery dangling from his hip, little more than cracked glass and twisted metal. He loosed a snarl of disdain. "Fool! Look what you've done!" He rose, finding himself standing up above Kenshi who lay moaning on the floor… his eyes had turned scaly white. Shang looked across the laboratory to see Magnus and Kung Lao trying to pick themselves up. "I grow tired of this. I will deal with you all later." Snapping his fingers, green fire consumed each of the three Earthrealmers and they promptly disappeared, leaving only their weapons behind.
"What did you do?" Baraka questioned.
"I made sure they would not be of further trouble." Shang responded grumpily. He strode over to the pile and picked up Sento for his own purposes. "Gather their weapons and take them down to the lower levels. I will tend to them shortly." He ordered.
When the Earthrealmers reappeared it was behind bars within a dark prison cell. Kung Lao and Magnus stumbled for a moment, blinking in surprise at the sudden change of environment. "What happened?" Kung Lao questioned, suddenly realizing he was without his hat.
"Shang Tsung… Jævel cheated. That's what." Magnus growled, grabbing the cell door and rattling it with one hand.
As his eyes adjusted he discovered something utterly horrifying on the other side of the bars.
The dungeon-like chamber was full of viscera and gore, various bodies in varying states of mutilation hung from meat hooks dangling from the ceiling. Cages and other cells lined the wall, filled with decaying corpses and skeletons. The air was filled with the pungent stench of rot and detritus. Kung Lao took one look and was just as appalled as Magnus was. "By the Elder Gods!" He gasped.
"This… is Shang Tsung's real laboratory." The Njordborn responded. "We're beneath where we were before. That was a false front." A groan from within the cell drew their attention to the blinded swordsman imprisoned with them. "Kenshi…" Magnus stooped by his side as Kung Lao knelt across from him.
"Are you in pain?" The monk inquired.
"Y-Yes." The man groaned. "My eyes hurt like hell."
"Try to keep them closed. It may dull the pain." Kung Lao proffered as he reached for the hem of his robes and tore off a strip of red cloth. He carefully tied it around Kenshi's eyes, the impromptu blindfold providing the barest modicum of relief. "We'll help you get out of here, Kenshi."
"You don't sound too positive about that." The swordsman murmured.
"No offence, but you cannot see what we can." Magnus replied, glancing back through the bars of their cell at the horror show beyond.
"That's not happening… is it? Seeing?" Kenshi wondered quietly, sounding despondent. Neither of the kombat champions responded. But their silence was equally telling. "Keep talking, will you? To keep my mind off this." He implored them. Magnus turned back.
"My name is Magnus Shadrix. The other is Kung Lao." He introduced. "We came here to liberate the captured innocents the Tarkatans stole from their village."
"They… came out of nowhere." Kenshi murmured.
"What were you doing there?" Kung Lao asked.
"I was following the path of my ancestors… Clan Takahashi. They were protectors of the region. I was trying to restore my family name hunting down rogues and bandits." Kenshi explained. "I came to the village just before those 'Tarkatans' showed up. I tried to fight them off but they overwhelmed me."
A heavy metallic thud rang out, drawing the attention of the Earthrealmers. Magnus and Lao stood straight to confront whoever else was down here, watching and listening as footsteps sounded from down a nearby stone hall. The figure of a skinny organic being materialized out of the shadows, soon revealed to be an athletic man dressed in brown leather and green snakeskin robes, arranged in a V-shape almost like karate gi. A hood concealed all but his verdant green eyes while a mask of stitched leather and woven cloth hid the remainder of his face. He was followed by Baraka and Karbrac both of whom despoiled the weapons of the Earthrealmers on a distant table. "We will return soon." Baraka growled to the non-Tarkatan before he and Karbrac took their leave.
"Who's that?" Kung Lao wondered aloud, his gaze lingering on the third individual.
"It appears to be our jailer." Magnus replied. The man strode closer, the tribal nature of his clothing made even more apparent at this range. His eyes glanced to Kenshi. There was a sense of emotion behind them. Something unexpected from an Outworlder.
"How is he?" He asked, his voice bearing a distinct rasp.
"He is blind. Guess." Magnus retorted bluntly. The man's gaze fell.
"I am sorry. I wish I could do something."
"You are vile to be part of this." Kung Lao said bitterly. Green eyes flicked to the monk.
"You are Shang Tsung's prisoner. I am his slave." The man murmured. "He has my family. He'll kill them if I don't obey."
"Why? Why you?" Magnus questioned.
"So that he could study my ability to shapeshift."
Monk and Njordborn exchanged looks of curiosity. "Can he do that?" Kung Lao queried in disbelief.
"We saw something similar during the tournament. I thought he was limited to the souls he had consumed..." Magnus trailed off, studying this man intently in an effort to try and figure out who and/or what he was. "How does it work?"
"Can you shapeshift into anything you want?" Kung Lao pried. The man shook his head.
"I can shift only between this and my natural form." He replied. Then, with a sudden shimmering of the air around him, the man transformed into a reptilian beast. He was broader, more hunched over than the Saurians seen and encountered. Less wily and more brutish. Nevertheless, both Magnus and Kung Lao were taken aback by the transformation.
"A Saurian… You are from Zaterra?" The monk questioned.
"Yes… but I am an aberration. A mutant. I am the only one of my kind who can." The mutant growled in his reptilian form.
Another metallic slam coupled with approaching footsteps and the snarling of a Tarkatan mob filled the dungeon. The Saurian reverted back to his humanoid form and looked over his shoulder. "You don't have to do this." Magnus implored. Their jailer looked back with a sad look in his eyes.
"It's either you or my family." He said quietly. The Tarkatans drew closer and Magnus thought quickly. They needed to get out of here, otherwise the odds would remain stacked against them. In a moment of inspiration, he turned to his ally.
"Kung Lao, you said you could possibly control your hat from a distance?"
"Yes, but-"
"I need you to try." Magnus stated.
"But I've never done it before!" Lao protested.
"There is a first time for everything. Try. Now!" The Njordborn insisted. Reluctantly, Kung Lao sat on the ground cross-legged and began to meditate. Magnus stood between him and the bars, as well as the approaching Tarkatans. "Remain where you are, Kenshi." He ordered, staring down Baraka and his horde with an unflinching gaze.
"We are welcome to their flesh. But leave enough for Shang Tsung to harvest their souls." The war chieftain growled to his men. The Saurian jailer was roughly shoved aside as overeager Tarkatans reached through the bars. Magnus acted quickly, grasping a free iron rod and channeling his arcane power. The surge of lightning power electrocuted the bars and zapped the Tarkatans off in a blinding flash. Magnus' gaze met Baraka's as the Njordborn presented himself a prominent threat even when caged. Another Tarkatan reached through the bars, popping his bone blade in an effort to strike. Magnus grabbed his arm and pulled it in past the elbow, using his leverage to kick with all his strength and tear the limb clean off. The Tarkatan wailed, stumbling back as blood spurted from the open wound.
Meanwhile, Kung Lao focused on his arcane connection to his chakram hat. He knew well of its power and how it manifested within him. It all boiled down to a matter of control. He sought out the link and embraced it. The strength of his soulful fortitude flowed through and into his hat, the distant object wriggling faintly atop the table where it lay. The monk frowned with eyes closed, reaching for that mental connection to the element proper.
All of a sudden, he disappeared into the ground in a flash of light, reappearing with another flash just under his hat where he rose up and spun into a ready position by leaping off the table. "Ha! It worked!" He exclaimed in delight. The Tarkatans turned to face him, but Kung Lao was already moving. Whipping off his hat, the buzzsaw scythed through the necks of several warriors before arcing around and decapitating several more on that way back to Kung Lao, thinning the horde significantly. Baraka ordered an attack as Magnus tried to determine his best way to aid his ally. He shook the cell door, trying to make it budge. Then he spied the ring of keys dangling from the jailer's belt.
"There is still time, Saurian. Aid us!"
"I can't!" The mutant replied, sounding both pained and vexed by the situation.
"Then we will leave you out of this." Magnus responded, gripping the door with both hands as he channeled his arcana. Electricity flowed from him into the wrought iron, energizing it from top to bottom. Kenshi could not see what he was doing but he could hear it.
"Magnus, what are you doing?" Kenshi questioned.
"Overloading… the bolts… holding… the door hinges…!" Magnus growled as he concentrated the sum total of his arcana. Sustained voltage ripped through the archaic iron bars, infusing them with a level of power they were not used to.
One by one, the hinges on the door exploded in a shower of sparks, freeing it from its frame. Forcing his way out, Magnus threw the cell door into the nearest batch of Tarkatans as he strode towards the table holding his axes and knife. Another nomad lunged blade-first, Magnus parrying with an elbow to his face before grabbing his head with the same arm and delivering a blast of lightning that shocked the Tarkatan as he threw him to the floor. Magnus continued, parrying the two swings of another Tarkatan with bundles of electricity before he landed two open-hand strikes charged with lightning. They blew the Tarkatan over, clearing his path to retrieve his weapons and join Kung Lao. Magnus swung his way into the frenzy, cleaving through heads and limbs with powerful strikes of his weapons. The two were soon back to back against the horde.
"We must finish this!" Kung Lao insisted. "The longer we are away from Shang Tsung, the sooner he has a chance to harm those townsfolk."
"Agreed." Magnus concurred. Thunderous footsteps drew their attention to the rear of the pack where a hulking Tarkatan emerged from the darkness. He was twice the height and width of the others, a snarling menace that inspired awe and fear in those who beheld him. "What manner of horror is this?" He questioned.
"Has Shang Tsung been manufacturing a… a super Tarkatan?" Lao questioned.
"If he is a naturally-occurring phenomenon, we must rethink our strategy." Magnus replied. Baraka approached, along with Karbrac.
"We will feast on your flesh, Earthrealmers! There is no escaping the might of Tarkata!" Baraka boasted as the super-Tarkatan and Karbrac moved to attack.
"I will wear down the beast. You go after the other." Magnus ordered, sprinting ahead and ducking low under a heavy swing, hacking into the super-Tarkatan's legs and spilling blood as he rounded the beast. A roar, a heavy swing, and stonework fractured and rained down around Magnus.
Kung Lao moved in a slow circle as he confronted Karbrac. "You are lucky you did not face me in the tournament, Earthrealmer." Karbrac snarled.
"You're right. I would've hated to humiliate you." Lao retorted with a smirk, moments before they clashed.
Magnus sidestepped stabbing blades as the beastial Tarkatan charged after him. The Yngling could already gauge this to be a primitive foe, interested only in the sating its bloodlust and little else. 'I can outthink him. Outmaneuver him. Pain will keep him from any higher thoughts.' Executing a spin, a bone blade pierced through a drain grate in the floor, momentarily trapping the super-Tarkatan's arm. Magnus struck, lunging in and hacking one axe deep into its neck while his second was buried in the side of its skull. The Tarkatan loosed a deafening roar, one soon addled as Magnus channeled his arcana into his weapons and shocked his foe. Ripping them free, he struck with a back-kick that sent the Tarkatan stumbling into the stone wall, rattling cages on either side of him. Sensing an opportunity, Magnus bolted for the right as the Tarkatan swun at him again. Ducking low, he partly concealed himself behind a cage and let the super-Tarkatan stab away with his blades. Planting one hand against the cage, he generated a powerful electric shock that ripped into the Tarkatan and caused him to stumble.
Kung Lao, meanwhile, had successfully broken Karbrac's defence by teleporting beneath him and surging upwards, grabbing the Tarkatan and throwing him to the ground where he pummeled his chest with a windmill punch, breaking his ribs. He rolled off as Karbrac picked himself up, lashing out with a bone blade as Kung Lao backtracked and mapped out a 'Z' shape with his hand, throwing his hat moments later and letting its razor edge zigzag around Karbrac, cutting through his gi and leaving trails of blood in its wake. The Tarkatan stumbled away as Lao's hat returned to him. With a smug look on his face, Lao spun around, magic creating a powerful vortex that sent Karbrac spinning, the monk capitalizing on his state by launching a dive kick that drove the Tarkatan into the ground.
Despite the beating, Karbrac was still up and fighting, the razor edge of Kung Lao's hat struck his blades over and over again as his moves were parried with focused precision. The Tarkatan was proving himself to be a hearty opponent, his endurance in kombat irritating to the hot-headed monk who sought a quick victory. Their moves went back and forth; a spark bundle narrowly dodged, a hat toss swiftly ducked under, a punch blocked, a kick parried. It was only when Karbrac executed a blade spin did he finally knock Kung Lao off of him. The monk rolled to his feet and and jumped into the air, gunning for another dive kick. But Karbrac lept high and intercepted him, grabbing the monk and throwing him to the ground, his blades impaling his chest and pinning him to the ground.
Back with Magnus, he had continued to outwit the super-Tarkatan until the beast was a raving juggernaut, letting nothing stand in his way. Not even fellow Tarkatans. Magnus used that to his advantage and rolled out of the way of a bladed charge, swinging around and sinking his axes deep into the back of its left knee. Tendons and nerves split, gushing blood, the beast howled furiously. Dragged down, Magnus sprang up and buried one axe atop its skull. He repeated the motion three times, hacking away until his weapons dug into brain matter. Once there, he channeled another electrical shock and fried the super-Tarkatan's brain until it exploded, taking half its head with it. Magnus rode the beast to the ground, rolling off and sprinting to rejoin the unfolding kombat. Quickly joining Kung Lao's fight against Karbrac, Shaolin and Yngling tag-teamed the Tarkatan until Karbrac kicked Lao aside. Magnus then hacked into his arms with his axes, dragging Karbrac in close where he landed three spinning high kicks in quick succession that knocked the Tarkatan to the floor.
"Nicely done." Kung Lao complimented as he picked himself up.
"We are not finished yet." Magnus replied as they turned to see Baraka approaching them. The rest of the Tarkatans down here were dead or unconscious, leaving only their war chieftain to battle the Earthrealmers.
"Must I do everything myself?" Baraka growled as his metallic blades unfurled from within his arms.
"Tarkatans have never been a matched for Shaolin." Kung Lao retorted as he and Magnus assumed ready stances.
"You will rethink your beliefs once you have tasted my blades." Baraka snarled. He was quick to attack by lunging forward with both blades deployed, only for Kung Lao to use his hat like a shield and block him, using it as a counter to drive an elbow into his face, spin around and deliver a chop to his neck before a twin palm strike caused the Tarkatan to stumble into Magnus. Baraka gathered his senses in a flash, using his metal arm blades to send sparking bolts in the Njordborn's direction. He was able to ward them off by conjuring bursts of electricity from his hands, intercepting the sparks. He closed the gap, locking blades with Baraka as his axes sparked against bone blades. The klash allowed Kung Lao to move in close and drill the Tarkatan with a windmill punch, bashing him with his fists before a high kick threw him into the air, Kung Lao pursuing with a rising kick that caught Baraka on the jaw and pitched him to the ground.
Picking himself up, Baraka charged back towards Magnus and flailed his arms in a slashing frenzy, scoring a close hit that left a bloody trail across the Yngling's abdomen as his second blade impaled his left shoulder. Executing a dropkick, the Tarkatan sent him sprawling across the ground as his blood dripped from his blade. Offering a growl as he claimed the lead in this battle, Baraka moved in to put Magnus down only to meet his axes as the Njordborn got up and slammed into him, hacking into Baraka with swinging chops that gave him significant leverage. He threw Baraka to the floor, stomping on his back with a hard crack before pursuing him into a Glima lock. He rolled them over. "Kung Lao!" He called out kicking Baraka onto his feet in a stunned state. The monk struck with his hat, a bladed uppercut catapulting Baraka into the air. Magnus took advantage, unleashing two blasts of lightning from his hand that shocked the Tarkatan and dropped him to the stone floor.
Somehow, Baraka shook off the impact and picked himself up, though the Earthrealmer's noticed his footing was uneven and on the brink of faltering. Springing up, Magnus pounded the stonework with an electrified fist that channeled a current into the Tarkatan, Baraka shuddering and stumbling as he lost his footing. Kung Lao powered ahead to capitalize on his staggered state, lunging forward with a flying knee that cracked against his skull. He cleared the way for Magnus to come charging in, swinging his axe up and into his jaw in order to swing the Tarkatan over his head and slam him into the ground with an audible crack that left the Tarkatan unconscious and incapable of fighting further.
The two shared a nod of approving acceptance before leaving the carnage behind, seeking to collect Kenshi. All that stood between them was their mutant Saurian jailer, who stood somewhere between outraged and horrified. "I'm ruined! Shang Tsung will punish me for this by torturing my family!" He exclaimed. "You… You must pay for their suffering!" He shouted, leveling a finger towards the pair. Magnus bade Kung Lao to slow his approach.
"I do not wish to harm you. But you are welcome to join us. You can overthrow him and free your family." He offered.
"You don't have the power to stop him!" The Saurian retorted. He tore off his mask, revealing a pale-skinned human face. One side of which had been encircled by a serpent tattoo. "Kill me before you leave, then… If I die, maybe he'll spare my family." He begged Magnus.
"I will not murder you in cold blood." The Yngling responded with a shake of his head.
"It's not murder. It's mercy!" The Saurian implored him. "Not that what I've done deserves yours."
"You were protecting your family. I would've done the same." Magnus replied. He strode forward and laid a hand on the Saurian's shoulder. "Shang Tsung murdered my family, my entire tribe, decades ago." He revealed. A look of sudden recognition rolled across the Saurian's gaze and he and Magnus saw eye to eye for the first time. "I understand you, more than you realize, Saurian." Magnus whispered. His gaze turned down and the Saurian seemed to ponder his position for a moment. Then he looked up.
"Syzoth." He said. "My name is Syzoth."
Magnus nodded as a sudden surge of arcane power tickled their senses. The trio whirled around as a plume of green flame brought Shang Tsung into their midst. The sorcerer frowned, glancing around at the scene which was not to his liking. "What has happened here?" He demanded, seeing the Earthrealmers free. He looked to his slave. "Syzoth, you fool! You've let them ruin everything!" He snapped.
"We are leaving with the people you kidnapped, sorcerer." Magnus growled, leveling an axe towards him. "And I will take your head with us!"
"I cannot be apprehended so easily." The sorcerer sneered, conjuring vile magicks between his hands he promptly turned into a noxious gas that filled the dungeon, threatening to put all living things into a coma if inhaled long enough. "Enjoy your final moments, Earthrealmers. My Flesh Pits shall be your tomb." Shang sneered as the pair began to cough on the fumes. His fiery gaze settled on the Saurian again. "Cheer up, Syzoth. I'm reuniting you with your family." Syzoth paled.
"They're dead?! You killed them?!" He screeched.
"Many moons ago." Shang replied dismissively. "I do hate loose ends." The look of abject horror on Syzoth's face abruptly shifting to one of tightly-bound rage as he lunged for Shang, only to miss as the sorcerer promptly teleported away. Syzoth turned and looked to see Magnus helping Kenshi out of his cell.
"He is going to the prisoners. He'll take their souls!" Kung Lao realized between coughing fits.
"Not unless we get to him first." Magnus huffed in response.
"There is a way… follow me, through this door!" Syzoth bade them, leading the way down a side corridor where the gas had yet to spread its malice…
Returning to his surface-level laboratory, Shang Tsung looked to the few Tarkatans still watching over the captured townsfolk. "There has been a chance of plans." He announced. "Prepare them for the ritual. We will conduct the soul-stealing first." The Tarkatans moved to obey, forcing the townsfolk to their feet as they began herding them towards the upper level of the laboratory. Shang retrieved Sento, sliding the blade from its sheath as he examined the souls bound within.
"What of Baraka and Karbrac?" A Tarkatan questioned.
"They will recover from their humiliation in time." Shang mused. "For now we have Earthrealmers to contend with. My work takes precedence." The Tarkatan grunted in acknowledgment and resumed herding the townsfolk.
Then, all of a sudden, a chakram hat blazed out of a corridor and cut down the Tarkatan with a shower of blood from his severed neck. Shang turned with a spiteful look as the hat returned to Kung Lao who seated it atop his head. The Tarkatans moved to attack, unsheathing their blades. But then, Syzoth burst out of the shadows, executing a rolling dropkick that knocked one Tarkatan into a band of others and bowling them over, Kung Lao moved swiftly, beating Tarkatans down or outright killing with the razor line of his hat. "The Tarkatan who brings me their heads will find favour in the eyes of the Emperor!" Shang Tsung announced, spurring the remaining warriors to join the kombat. The sorcerer began to withdraw from the scene, his calculating mind pondering his plan as he re-evaluated his next move. The requirements demanded he be anywhere but here and Shang began to make his escape down a different hall…
Were it not for an axe that was promptly buried in the wood paneling not a few inches from his face, startling him so much he dropped Sento.
Shang Tsung backed away slowly as a grim-faced Magnus advanced upon him, retrieving his axe before staring down Shang. "You and I have unfinished business, sorcerer." He growled.
"Is that so, Njordborn?" Shang retorted with a sneer, flicking his claws into position. "What chance do you think you stand against me?"
"Your four-armed failure isn't here to protect you!" Magnus bit back, striking hard and fast with rapid swings of his axe. Shang parried with his claws, engaging in a hard and fast-paced kombat as Magnus sought to avenge his tribe. It showed in his eyes, in every fibre of his body with each swing and chop of his weapons. Shang did not let it faze him.
Nearby, Kenshi stumbled, using the stone wall as a guide. Blind as he was, he had to rely on his other senses but that was proving difficult. He could hear the furious fervor of kombat where Magnus was fighting Shang and where Kung Lao and Syzoth were fighting the Tarkatans. But something else was reaching out to him… calling him… beckoning him…
Kenshi Takahashi…
The tip of his boot nudged something on the floor, something metallic that scraped against the stone floor. Kenshi stooped down, feeling around with his hands. He grasped a scabbard first and then the sword protruding from it… by the bladed edge. He grimaced and retracted his bloodied hand. But in the same moment, something flashed before his blackened vision. A spiritual light dawned behind his eyes.
Your ancestors will be with you. The Takahashi will come to your aid…
All at once, his reality was revealed to him. Kenshi looked around in wonderment as pulses of light revealed his surroundings. The battles around him were revealed in full in a pale blue light. He could see again.
And if he could see, he could fight.
The swordsman looked for Shang Tsung and rushed towards him. He swung his katana around, cutting across the sorcerer's arm while he was locked in kombat with Magnus. Shang Tsung recoiled, turning his claws on Kenshi as the swordsman laid into him one more time. "I'm ending this! Once and more all!" Kenshi declared.
"You?" Shang cackled. "You don't have a prayer!" His claws locked with Kenshi's sword again only to be attacked by Magnus and forced to break off as the Njordborn came at him with axes swinging. "This is not worth my time." Shang grumbled, conjuring his axes to disappear in a flash of emerald light just before Magnus' axes came plunging into the ground.
"Where did he go?" Kenshi questioned.
"I do not know." Magnus huffed, irritated. "But we need to help get the townsfolk out of here." He turned and studied Kenshi. "You can… see?"
"Yeah. Thanks to Sento. The souls of my ancestors… they've given me my sight again. Well, a version of it." The swordsman explained.
"I am glad." Magnus responded. "Will you help us?"
"Of course." Kenshi affirmed with a nod, slipping Sento back into its scabbard.
The townsfolk were freed and returned to the edge of the laboratory grounds, Kung Lao leading the way as he used his sigil to summon Fujin's assistance. They were led in a train with Magnus bringing up the rear. He paused to study Syzoth watching them leave. "Something troubles you." He stated pointedly.
Syzoths gaze fell. "I struggle with what to do now. I have betrayed Shang Tsung. There is nowhere I can go where he will not hunt me." He explained.
"You can always come with us." Magnus offered. "Earthrealm stands in alliance against Shang Tsung. You would be among good company." Syzoth glanced up, considering his offer. "It may not be home, but you would be welcome."
"I think I would like that." Syzoth said slowly. "Thank you, human."
"Magnus. My name is Magnus Shadrix." Came the response and the two shook hands. Their agreement cemented, Syzoth and Magnus Shadrix strode forth to join Kung Lao and Kenshi Takahashi in venturing through the portal. The last to leave, it collapsed behind them and the air fell still once more.
Meanwhile…
The gas had long since cleared and the Tarkatans had left. Shang Tsung remained in the lower levels of his laboratory… his Flesh Pits. He stood before a stone wall where he conjured up new magicks to encircle the flat rock in front of him. One by one the bricks began to move, sliding outwards one atop the other as they revealed a doorway to Shang's most secretive chamber.
The sorcerer entered, seeing bloodied examination tables and well-used surgical instruments. But most prominent in the room were great vats filled with liquid and containing various bodies. They were naked and feminine, bearing an uncanny resemblance to specific individuals who served in the court of Outworld. He smiled faintly as he studied them one by one, pleased to know none of them had been harmed during the raid. For this was to be his chief work for the Emperor. They were born of a single drop of blood. They were machinations made flesh. Constructs, replicas, duplicates…
Klones.