The group exited the lab
"if I wasn't used to this I probably would have been haunted from this experience." Lincoln said as his eyes adjusted to the light
"we can't linger." Syzoth said "we'll be captured."
"we need help getting Kenshi to the portal at sun do." Kung Lao said
"yeah we gotta hurry." Lincoln said
"can't you just open a portal?" Johnny asked
"as much as I would like to we can't it would gather too much energy." Lincoln said "they would know we were here."
"right." Johnny said
"I can only take you to the city's gate." Baraka said "tarkatans are forbidden inside."
"I hope that one day that will be different." Lincoln said
"I'll see you the rest of the way." Syzoth said "it's the least i can do to make amends."
the continued to walk through the forest
"this reminds me of wicked planet." Johnny said "we had this forest in the second act-"
"the manticore battle?" Kenshi asked
"yes!" Johnny answered "it was a pain to shoot but man it came out epic."
"I can picture it clearly." Kenshi said
"this is the living forest." Baraka said
"aren't all forests living baraka?" Kung Lao asked
"don't be a smartass." Lincoln said "the trees here house the souls of the dead."
"woah wait a tick." Johnny said "we're talking ghosts?"
"Johnny honestly after what you've seen are you really surprised?" Lincoln asked
"yes very." Johnny said
"good ones not evil." Baraka said
"this place is basically the outworld equivalent of what earthrealmers call "heaven" and the nether realm is what earthrealmers call "hell"." Lincoln explained catching Johnny off guard
"you will find no zaterrans." Syzoth said
"why not?" Kenshi asked
"the warm bloods don't welcome us so we keep to ourselves living underground in zikander province." Syzoth said
"then how did you meet Shang tsung?" Kung Lao asked
"the fact that I could take human form made me a freak among my people." Syzoth explained "I was terrorized and run out."
"that's Rough buddy." Lincoln said
"starving and beggard, I joined a travelling carnival." Syzoth continued "turns out there are many people who would pay to see my "gift."
"and Shang tsung was there?" Lincoln asked
"yes back then Shang tsung was a huckster." Syzoth continued "we crossed paths and he saw what I could do. When he began to learn real sorcery he asked to study me, when I declined he took my family hostage."
"well that's an offer you can't refuse." Johnny said
"he is dangerous." Syzoth said "and he has plans. He general shao and rain they are conspiring."
"to do what?" Kenshi asked
"I can't say for certain I have only heard fragments." Syzoth said
suddenly they heard a screech
"that sounds like a nether realm demon." Lincoln said "we should go investigate."
they went up ahead and saw a human like woman with a glowing sword killing the demons
"more of quan chi's demons?" She said upon seeing the group
"woah ok no we are not demons." Lincoln said "3 earthrealmers a tarkatan and a zaterian is what's in this group."
"and you?" the woman asked
"umm edenian?" Lincoln said
"you're a terrible liar." She said
"well if you knew the truth you wouldn't believe me." Lincoln said "so what's your name?"
"ashrah demon of the nether realm." Ashrah said
"well then I'm Lincoln." Lincoln said
"I'm kung Lao." Kung Lao said
"Johnny cage." Johnny said
"Kenshi takahashi." Kenshi said
"baraka." Baraka said
"syzoth." Syzoth said
"now that we got introductions out of the way why do you look almost human naturally?" Lincoln asked as they stepped forward walking past a demons head
"what's that?" Kenshi asked feeling it nearby
"just keep swimming." Johnny said
"I appear nearly human because I've purged most evil from my soul." Ashrah explained "when I'm done the last vestiges of my demonic form we'll fade away."
"why were the demons after you?" Kung lao asked
"they were sent by quan chi my former master." Ashrah explained "I was apart of his sisterhood of shadow, he wanted... still wants dominion over the realms, i renounced him when I realized that I could not help defile them."
"and now he wants you dead." Syzoth said
"precisely." Ashrah said "I followed quan chi from the nether realm, here. He's building a device that steals souls on a mass scale."
"I have a bad feeling about what he plans to do with that." Lincoln said
"why steal souls, ashrah?" Baraka asked
"to harness their power." Ashrah said "to what end I don't know but I do know it's to aid another sorcerer... Shang tsung."
"oh that's not good." Lincoln said
"damn it that guy's everywhere." Johnny said
"you're sure quan chi is here?" Kenshi asked
"my kriss senses him." Ashrah said "he's nearby."
"well then let's go." Lincoln said
Kenshi went forward but Johnny stopped him
"no no you're going home." Johnny said
"we have a job to do. Quan chi could lead us to Shang tsung." Kenshi argued
"he's right." Lincoln said "Shang tsung is threat that must be dealt with."
"I will aid you." baraka said
"as will I." Syzoth said
Johnny sighed
"I guess the aves have it. Motion carries." Johnny said "ashrah lead the way."
they began to follow ashrah
"quan chi is close." The emanations of his evil go stronger." Ashrah said
"that is a powerful weapon." Baraka said
"and my perfect ally." Ashrah said "as I smite the evil it finds I am further purified."
"now I've done steps so I'm all about self help." Johnny said "but since when a demoness want to be less evil?"
"I had spent eternity damned to the nether realm." Ashrah began "I assumed that's all there was to existence but then I saw earthrealm saw outworld, saw that there was a better way to live and that to have I needed to cleanse my soul."
"my sister demons were furious at my change of heart." Ashrah continued "Kia and jataaka were the first to hunt me."
"quan chi is also a demon?" Syzoth asked
"actually he's an outworlder." Ashrah explained "but he mastered the dark magic needed for unfettered travel to my realm."
a bug flew near syzoth and like a frog his tongue came out and grabbed it
Johnny gave him a disgusted look as he ate it
"any idea how he buddied up with Shang tsung?" Johnny asked
"they share a common benefactor." Ashrah explained "she plucked them from obscurity. Taught them everything they know, I've never met her but there's no question she's a sorcerer beyond compare."
ashrah's sword glowed brighter
"quan chi is near." Ashrah said
they looked up ahead and saw Quan chi and 3 other people two women and 2 men
"that's our target." Lincoln said before realizing what quan chi was doing "we need to stop him!"
Kenshi was about to go up ahead but Johnny stopped him
"sorry but this is where you get off." Johnny said
"but I want to help."
Johnny sighed before saying "give me your sword."
Kenshi handed him his sword and Johnny gave him sento
"sento? But-" Kenshi began
"it's the least I can do." Johnny said
"while I'm loving this sentimental moment we got a job to do." Lincoln said
they went up ahead
"sorry I don't think we can allow you to do that!" Lincoln said before throwing a blast
however one of the men took the hit and regenerated
"that's some regeneration magic." Lincoln said "who are you?"
"I am havik." Havik said "and I will not let you interfere."
"I will handle this." Ashrah said
then their battle began
while they were fighting Lincoln was helping the others deal with Quan chi's other allies
"think fast!" Lincoln said before causing a pillar to hit the winged woman
"I thought your kind was poisoned by sunlight." Lincoln said
"they're not anymore thanks to me." The winged woman said
"what's your name?" Lincoln asked
"nitara." Nitara said
"well they're gonna put really annoying voice on your tomb stone." Lincoln said before kicking her in the head
just as they began to finish up Quan chi finished the spell
suddenly all of the souls came out of the trees in the forest and began to form a tornado
"aw shit." Lincoln said
"my god it's a-" Johnny began
"soulnado." Both Johnny and Lincoln said at the same time
the forest began to die as the souls were taken
the all of the souls began to form a being with a red cloak
"what dark magic is this?" Ashrah asked
"we are ermac." The being said "a collection of souls held together by Quan chi's magic we live to serve him."
"kill them." Quan chi said
"aw fuck." Lincoln said
interactions
ashrah
Lincoln: "so why did you pick syzoth is it the tongue?"
ashrah: "that is for me to know and for you to wonder."
reptile
Lincoln: "so syzoth you seemed to move on quickly."
reptile: "it's what they would've wanted."
nitara
nitara: "you're not going to stop our human breeding grounds."
Lincoln: "actually I'm here to make sure no human has to hear your voice ever again."
that's all for now