Chapter 3: Earthrealm Champions

As Izuku guided Johnny and Kenshi to their rooms, Johnny needed to know something "Izuku, do you know how to walk by any chance?"

Izuku stop moving and kept floating on the air. He turned to look at Johnny with a neutral expression "Yes Johnny Cage. We can walk."

Johnny nodded "Then why-"

"We like to float." Izuku answered before turning around and floating away "It is more comfortable, due that quadrupeds and bipedal in the Collective agree that this is the best way to move."

Johnny raised an eyebrow "What do you mean by quadrupeds?"

"Creature that walk in four legs Johnny Cage."

"I know what a quadruped is, and can you stop calling me by my full name? Johnny is just fine. What I want to know is-"

"Can you be silent for more than a minute?" Kenshi asked annoyed and huffed "Izuku, if he is annoying you, just ignore him. I do that."

Johnny rolled his eyes "Aren't you lovely. Anyway Izuku, I like your wizard, necromancer esthetic, you know. Have you ever thought of becoming a movie star?" No answer "My producer is looking for people for this new flick 'Woods of Dark Mist', it is about zombies, and I think you can fit in it." No answer "Not like a zombie of course, you can be the... master zombie? Hey are you listening?"

Izuku nodded "Yes. We followed Kenshi Takahashi's advice of ignoring you, Johnny Cage."

Kenshi laughed and Johnny groaned annoyed "Can I ask an actual question, Izuku?" Kenshi asked and Izuku nodded "Are the three of us the only chosen for this?"

Izuku shook his head "No, we are 8 champions in total. Three from the Lin Kuei clan, two students of Madame Bo' Rai Cho, and the three of us."

"Lin Kuei?" Kenshi asked "I think I heard of them..."

"A clan of Assassins located in China." Izuku informed them and Johnny hummed.

"And the students of this Madame Bo?" He asked, not trying to say the complicated name.

"Shaolin in everything but name and culture. They were trained since little for this moment." Izuku informed them and stopped in front of a wooden door "We are here. This common room will be the place where we will sleep." A green ghost hand emerged from Izuku's abdomen and opened the door.

"I still can't believe these chumps are also Earthrealm Champions. Me and Raiden beat you without even trying." A Chinese man mocked a European looking one, with grey hair.

"For the last time; We were holding back." The European man said before noticing the three of them "Hey, you are Johnny Cage!?"

Izuku floated ahead as Johnny smirked "Yeah, that's me, Earthrealm champion and savior. Want an autograph?"

The European man blinked "Aren't you an actor?"

Johnny chuckled as the other Chinese man in a white shirt smiled "It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Raiden and this is Kung Lao." He turned to Izuku "I believe I saw you a couple of times at the tea house, or am I wrong?"

Izuku nodded "Indeed, we were supervising under Lord Liu Kang's orders."

Raiden nodded with a smile "I see."

Kung Lao huffed "Look, I don't know how much time you had been with Lord Liu Kang or how much training these losers had." He pointed at the Lin Kuei warriors "Between me and Raiden, are going to solve this problem."

A Chinese man with blue clothes huffed with a scowl "You really are full of yourself for surpassing a test." He walked towards Kung Lao "And my patience is running thin. So, unless you want to embarrass yourself, stay silent."

"Bi-Han." Izuku interrupted and Bi-Han turned to them "We should set the example, not fight between ourselves."

Bi-Han narrowed his eyes and nodded "You are right." He walked towards Izuku "I suppose you and I aren't allowed to participate again." Izuku nodded "Then why are we here."

"Guidance. Lord Liu Kang trusted us to help the participants of this tournament to get ready."

Bi-Han huffed "If that is the case, I will care about Kuai Liang and Thomas. You handle the rest." He turned around but the man in yellow talked towards Izuku.

"I would appreciate some training with Izuku and to train with the rest brother." Kuai Liang said and Thomas nodded. Bi-Han narrowed his eyes and huffed.

"Why would you want to mix yourselves with them? I can understand some tips from Izuku, but-"

"Bi-Han-" Thomas said and Bi-Han glared at him, and he stopped talking.

"Bi-Han." He glared at Izuku "Let them train together."

Bi-Han huffed and turned his head away "Very well... Just because you are the one asking old friend."

Izuku nodded "I appreciate your trust."

The next morning, Johnny, Kenshi, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kuai Liang and Thomas were dressed in traditional shaolin clothes. Liu Kang was sat in his throne, flanked by Izuku and Bi-Han dressed in their usual clothes, behind them, shaolin monks.

Johnny turned to Kenshi and whispered "You have to admit this is cool."

Kenshi let out a growl of annoyance and Johnny rolled his eyes "I will pitch it as a movie to my manager. I think that the King of the Kickboxers has a nice fit."

"Kickboxing is from Japan. We are in China moron." Kenshi told him with a frown and Liu Kang stood up.

"As you know, you were selected to represent Earthrealm, our home, in the tournament against Outworld. You will have not only my guidance, but also from the Shaolin and Izuku and Bi-Han, who already fought and won last time. The burden that you have in your shoulders is a big one, but I trust that you will manage it well. Now, let the training begin."

As Izuku and Bi-Han went to the group, Kenshi raised an eyebrow "So why aren't you two fighting again?"

Kung Lao smirked "Maybe they got scared and needed someone else to fill their boots. I can see it from the Icicle."

Bi-Han stepped on the ground, direction towards Kung Lao and an ice spike came, centimeters away from his neck, Kung Lao took a step back and glared at Bi-Han who glared back "I will see your training personally."

Izuku gave him a side look "Training Bi-Han. Refrain from heavily injuring anyone."

Bi-Han huffed "You trained with me; you know there is no knowledge that is harmless."

"Bi-Han..."

"Focus on your own training Izuku. Kung Lao, Raiden and Kuai, come with me."

Kung Lao smirked and Raiden bowed his head with a serene smile "We will be in your care, Bi-Han."

Kuai smiled and patted Raiden shoulder "You are in for a surprise; he isn't all that caring in training."

As the three left, Izuku turned to Johnny, Kenshi and Thomas "In any case, we will oversee your training."

Kenshi smirked and took out Sento, Thomas took out a Karambit knife and Johnny after sending Kenshi a dirty look for still using Sento, got in pose. Izuku nodded as three green ghosts of imperial guards, apparently from China came from his body. "Fight."

Kenshi swung to one of the ghosts, that blocked with its spear, and kicked him on the abdomen. Johnny swung to another ghost, that ducked both fists, and swung the butt of its spear towards Johnny face that did a split with his legs, avoiding the hit and smirked as he got back up.

Thomas turned into smoke, and made himself tangible in front of the ghost, that attempted to push him, but Thomas, disappeared in a cloud of smoke and reappeared behind the ghost and elbowed it on the back of the head.

Izuku hummed "You can use lethal force Thomas."

Thomas nodded as he went away in a cloud of smoke and appeared in front of the ghost, sweep its legs and stabbed his karambit on its head, making it disappear and be sucked back into Izuku.

Kenshi stabbed his ghost on the chest with Sento and Johnny head kicked his, before making a front flip kicking him again on the chin as both ghosts were sucked back into Izuku.

Johnny grinned "C'mon Izuku! Is that all you got!?"

Izuku hummed as a gigantic ghost with horns on his head, muscular in an armor and a war hammer came out of his body and huffed.

Izuku nodded "Fight."

Hours later, Izuku floated in front of a limping Thomas and Kenshi helping Johnny walk "You just had to open your mouth." Kenshi glared at the actor that groaned.

"They were going to throw that monster on us anyway..." He complained and Thomas shook his head.

"No, they weren't going to." Thomas groaned as he sat down on the bench next to a dining table and so did Kenshi and Johnny. Kenshi looked around and noticed that the others haven't arrived.

Izuku noticed his curiosity "Bi-Han likes to train until he can't move. And that's how he trains others too."

Kenshi nodded and Johnny groaned "We will get to train with him too?" Izuku nodded "Great..."

"Honestly, training with Izuku is such a break from Bi-Han's training methods." Thomas smiled as the door was kicked open as Kuai Liang, Raiden and Kung Lao limped with frost burns, behind Bi-Han.

Izuku sighed "We told you to hold back."

Bi-Han huffed "If you and Lord Liu Kang want my help in training the new fighters, I will do it my way."

Izuku sent out a ghost, that after a few moments came with buckets of hot water. Raiden, that surprisingly is the least injured smiled as he bowed his head "Thanks."

Kung Lao, who was more injured huffed "Thanks, not that I need it though."

Kuai Liang rejected the bucket "You know I can heat myself, Izuku." He smiled at him and Izuku nodded as they handed Kung Lao the bucket who rolled his eyes but still accepted the water.

As they ate, Bi-Han took Izuku to another room "Yes?"

"Heroes are investigating the Lin Kuei again." Bi-Han informed him and Izuku raised a brow.

"China had been investigating your clan for years. What's the-"

"Japanese heroes, Izuku." Bi-Han interrupted.

Izuku narrowed his eyes "That's... worrisome. Any idea why?"

Bi-Han sighed "We expanded our operations to Japanese ground."

Izuku frowned "Bi-Han, you know that was not allowed. Your father accepted that the Lin Kuei will operate in China unless Lord Liu Kang asks for the opposite."

Bi-Han closed his eyes "And my father is dead. And I believe that the culprit is located in Japan." He gave Izuku a hard look "Ask in the Collective for the name of All for One."

Izuku eyes glowed green for a few seconds before they returned to normal "We understand... how many people know about this."

"As for now, just you and me." Bi-Han confessed "I need your help to find more information on All for One, his operations and to find a way to kill him. Izuku... I need your help to avenge my father."

Izuku closed his eyes and after a moment sighed "After Mortal Kombat, we will go. You and us only."

Bi-Han gave Izuku a smile "Thank you my friend."

"Your father, Grandmaster Lu-Bu, saved our lives. And for you, we are willing to go to war, my friend."

Bi-Han laughed "One day I will make you an official Lin Kuei, not just an honorary one." He smirked "You look better in a Lin Kuei uniform that in your wizard outfit."

Izuku smiled as they closed their eyes "We can agree to disagree."

Bi-Han laughed "Let's go eat something." He patted Izuku's back as they went back to the dining room, and from the shadows, they were watched and heard by a figure with blue glowing eyes.

Four weeks had passed and now, it was time. Liu Kang was in front of the Earthrealm Champions, flanked by Bi-Han and Izuku "The time has come, once we step foot in Outworld, we will be representing everyone in our realm. We will be fighting to protect our realm. I have my utter trust in you all."

A portal opened behind Liu Kang as he turned around and walked in, followed without any doubt, by his champions.

Next Chapter: Mortal Kombat