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Realm of the Elder Gods...
"Elder Gods, you've made me wait long enough! The situation with Delilah is dire and the threat of Onaga's resurrection looming on the horizon is approaching with each day wasted! Why are you not taking this situation seriously?!" Raiden shouts at the Elder Gods, who all look down at the thunder god with stoic expressions.
"Please mind your tone, Raiden. We are fully aware of the situation with Delilah, but the so called threat of Onaga's resurrection is next to impossible." They say to him calmly while Raiden looks up at them with confusion.
"You will have to explain this to me, Elder Gods, because this does not make sense. The Edenian prophecy clearly says-" He begins to speak, but is interrupted by the Elder God of Nature, Cetrion.
"The Edenian prophecy says that an Edenian would one day rise up and bring about the end of Onaga, Raiden. While the prophecy did not have a chance to come to pass thousands of years ago, Onaga had caused his own downfall when one of his advisers, who became Shao Kahn, betrayed him. The only way to resurrect Onaga is for him to inhabit or take possession of a body of his own living descendant. And Onaga never had the chance to have children before he died. So there is no need to worry about a prophecy that will never come to pass." She and the other Elder Gods explain to the thunder god, but Raiden remains unconvinced.
The warning from Lucifer himself lingers in the back of his mind as he lowers his head dejectedly. Why won't the Elder Gods listen to reason?
Wind then suddenly flows around him and the Elder Gods before he feels a new presence behind him. He turns around to see his younger brother, Fujin, bowing down to the Elder Gods.
"Fujin? What are you-?" He begins to ask his brother why he is here, but Cetrion and the other Elder Gods speak up.
"State your business, Fujin. Why have you interrupted us?" The Elder Gods ask the god of wind curiously as Fujin stands up and approaches his brother.
"I deeply apologize for the interruption, Elder Gods, but I must speak with Raiden. It is urgent." He says before he looks over at Raiden with a concerned expression.
Seeing the look of concern on his brother's face, Raiden places a gentle hand on Fujin's shoulder. "Speak, Fujin. What is wrong?" He asks curiously.
Fujin sighs deeply. "It's Kurai, Raiden. He's been captured. We strongly believe that Delilah has him. Why she captured him, we do not know. But we have reason to believe that our worst fears will soon become reality." He says truthfully as Raiden's expression becomes one of fear while the Elder Gods begin to quietly chat amongst themselves.
Cetrion then notices Raiden clenching his fists tightly while trembling angrily. Knowing that he wishes to speak freely, she calls out to him. "Speak your mind, Raiden." She says tenderly.
Raiden instantly wheels around with anger on his face as his eyes glow in a furious rage. "Do you understand now how serious the situation is Cetrion?! Kurai, one of the best fighters in the realms, has been captured by Delilah and her minions! And you still believe that we should not worry about the events that are currently happening?!" He shouts at them.
Understanding Raiden's anger at Kurai's capture, Cetrion keeps her composure before she and her fellow Elder Gods speak again. "Kurai's capture is unfortunate, Raiden, and the threat of Delilah is serious. But we still do not believe that she is able to resurrect the Dragon King. Delilah may be a strong sorceress, that is certain, but she does not have that kind of power. That kind of power belongs only to those of the Eternal Immortals." They all say to the thunder god, who stares up at them in disbelief.
Thunder booms in the distance of the realm as Raiden lowers and shakes his head dejectedly. "I can only pray that you are right, Elder Gods. Because if you are not and you still refuse to do anything to protect the realms, then may the Creator have mercy on us all." He says to them with a seething tone before looking at Fujin.
"Come, Fujin. We must go." He says before Fujin places a hand on his shoulder and teleports the both of them back Earth Realm in a bolt of lightning to warn Liu Kang and Kung Lao of what has happened.
The Elder Gods all disappear except for Cetrion, who begins to think to herself about the possibility of a descendant of Onaga being alive in this day and age. She eventually shakes her head and puts the thought out of her mind before she too disappears.
Back in Earth Realm, Wu Shi Academy...
Liu Kang and Kung Lao walk calmly together through the courtyard of the Wu Shi Academy as they watch many Shaolin monks, new and old, continue training to harness their abilities. "Still no word from Raiden. Things have gotten too quiet around here after the whole thing with Shinnok. I normally like things quiet, but this is unsettling." Kung Lao says to Liu Kang warily as they continue walking around the academy.
Liu Kang nods in agreement. "I agree. It is normally a peaceful silence after a foe has been defeated, but the air is different this time. It's like... we're all just waiting." He says to his cousin as Kung Lao stops with a concerned expression.
"Waiting for what though?" He asks worriedly.
Liu Kang sighs and shakes his head somberly. "That I do not know, I'm afraid." He says honestly. They both fall into silence before they hear thunder rumbling in the sky. They look up in time to see a bolt of lightning strike the middle of the courtyard to see Raiden and his brother, Fujin.
All the monks, Kai included, immediately stop their training and bow to both Raiden and Fujin respectfully. Liu Kang and Kung Lao run up to the both of them and bow respectfully before standing up straight.
"Lord Raiden, you've been gone for days. What advice has the Elder Gods given to you on Delilah?" Liu Kang asks the god of thunder curiously, wondering why it took so long for Raiden to return to Earth Realm.
Raiden sighs dejectedly with a shake of his head before he answers. "Nothing useful, I'm afraid, Liu Kang. When it comes to Delilah, we're on our own. But that's not why I returned. We've received word that Kurai has been captured by Delilah." He informs them, which shocks and alarms both Shaolin monks.
Kung Lao looks at Raiden with a look of concern. "Is there anything we can do, Lord Raiden? We have to help Kurai." He says worriedly as Liu Kang nods in agreement.
Just as Raiden is about to answer, an alarm bell rings, which echoes around the area and alerts the other monks. Raiden and the group all run off towards the entrance of the temple. They eventually hear shouts, screams and sounds of fighting inside of the temple, which tells them that the Wu Shi Academy is being attacked.
Raiden turns to face Liu Kang and Kung Lao with a look of urgency. "Liu Kang, Kung Lao, both of you go and help your fellow monks! Fujin and I will do the same in other parts of the temple! Go now!" He orders them firmly as they nod and take off in separate directions to help the other monks in the temple while Raiden and Fujin go in another direction.
Running through the temple, both Liu Kang and Kung Lao see that the Centaurs from Outworld are the ones leading the attack on the temple. "The Centaurs. Who is leading them and why attack us?" Kung Lao wonders out loud but Liu Kang shakes his head before he answers.
"It doesn't matter why they are attacking. What matters is that we must defend the temple and drive them back. We'll worry about the rest after." Liu Kang replies. Kung Lao nods as they both run through the temple to help the other monks.
As they come upon the courtyard, they see multiple monks, Kai included, fighting off multiple Centaurs but many monks have already lost their lives in the attack. In the center of all the chaos, they see Malek, who is obviously leading the Centaurs.
Malek turns his head in their direction and smirks arrogantly at both of them. Kung Lao grits his teeth angrily and charges towards Malek, but is rammed in the side and knocked away by a Centaur. Malek, still smirking, walks towards Liu Kang slowly as the Shaolin monk walks down the steps of the temple and approaches him with a determined expression.
Liu Kang vs. Malek...
"Why are you here, Malek? Why attack our temple?" Liu Kang asks with an angry expression as Malek scoffs with an arrogant smirk before he answers.
"Simple, human. I'm here to exact revenge for the death of my brother. You and your monks shall be the first of many victims until I feel satisfied!" Malek declares angrily before charging with a fierce bellow towards Liu Kang.
Liu Kang jumps out of the way as Malek rushes past him. Malek skids to a stop before quickly turning around with a huff. He bellows again and charges towards Liu Kang, who stands his ground this time and waits for Malek to get closer. Just as Malek is about to ram into the Shaolin monk, Liu Kang grabs him by his horns and skids back a few feet before stopping.
He then knees him in the chest which causes Malek to grunt in pain. He tries to shake Liu Kang away from his horns, but fails. The monk then kicks the Centaur in the chest before pushing him back then delievers a series of blows to his abdomen. Malek grunts in pain again and wildly swipes at Liu Kang, but the monk dodges the attack before leaping into the air and kicks him in the face.
Malek stumbles back while holding his face as Liu Kang lands back on the ground. Malek shakes his head angrily glares at Liu Kang with a frustrated snort. "What's the matter, Malek? This fight not going the way you want it to?" The Shaolin monk asks tauntingly which causes Malek to flare his nostrils before he bellows loudly and charge towards Liu Kang again.
Just as Malek is about to ram into Liu Kang, the monk leaps into the air and lands on the Centaurs back. Growing increasingly annoyed and frustrated at the Shaolin monks agility, Malek begins to jump around to throw Liu Kang off his back. But Liu Kang holds on and rides Malek as if he were in a rodeo.
While Malek continues to jump around in an attempt to throw Liu Kang off him, Liu Kang attacks Malek's head snd back while holding on for dear life. Snarling in frustration, Malek leaps into the air with the intent to land on his back to crush Liu Kang. Realizing this, Liu Kang leaps off Malek's back just as the Centaur lands on his back.
Feeling the wind knocked out of him, Malek groggily stands up as Liu Kang quickly approaches him and dropkicks the Centaur. Malek stumbles back a few feet before shaking off his grogginess and glares at Liu Kang. "Why?! Why won't you people just DIE?!" He roars as Liu Kang stands ready.
"Because we have real reasons to live and continue fighting. You only have your anger and vengeance to live for. And that is not a good enough reason to fight." Liu Kang answers calmly while Malek snorts furiously.
The Centaur roars and rushes towards Liu Kang again, but Liu Kang deceides that the games are over. Making a few swift hand motions, Liu Kang's hands are engulfed in flames as Malek is getting closer to ramming him. Just as Malek reaches him to pummel the monk within an inch of his life, Liu Kang launches a large fireball in the shape of a dragons head that quickly engulfs the Centaur.
Malek tries desperately to back away from the flames, but it is too late. The flaming dragons head roars ferociously as it charges towards Malek, who screams helplessly as the flames quickly overwhelm him.
Malek feels his skin burn painfully while he feebly tries to put out the flames surrounding him and the flames that are burning him alive. His skin becomes charred as he screams and roars in anger before glaring at Liu Kang, who stares at him calmly. The Centaur roars and attempts to rush towards Liu Kang with a leap over the flames, but Liu Kang adds more fuel to the fire with another fireball.
Malek's eyes widen in shock at the image of another fireball comes towards him before it hits him square in the chest and blows right through him, sending him crumpling to the ground with a sickening thud.
LIU KANG WINS! FATALITY!
The flames burn a moment longer before dying down and stopping all together. Liu Kang turns his head runs to help his fellow monks, but sees that the Centaurs are already retreating. No doubt they quickly recieved the new of Malek's defeat, and without a leader to guide them, they see no reason to continue fighting the Shaolin.
As the monks cheered at retreat of the Centaurs, Kung Lao ran up to Liu Kang with a relieved look on his face. But it quickly changes into an expression of disappointment as he sighs. "Let me guess, you already took care of Malek?" He wonders, already knowing that if the Centaurs are making a hasty retreat, Malek has been defeated.
Liu Kang says nothing snd just smiles with a nod. "Ugh. Damn it. I wanted a piece of that scum myself." Kung Lao says with a slight laugh as he walks up to Liu Kang and pats him on the shoulder.
Liu Kang laughs and walks with Kung Lao to survey the damage of the Shaolin temple but stop when they see Raiden and Fujin approach them. The two monks bow to them while the two gods bow in return. Raiden then approaches Liu Kang. "Well done, Liu Kang. You as well, Kung Lao. You manged to thwart the attack of the Centaurs before too much damage could be done to the temple." He says to them both, causing them to nod their head gratefully.
"And thank the Elder Gods that there aren't any casualties. Many monks are injured from the surprise attack, but none of them were killed. Well done." Fujin says with a smile as the two monks nod again but flinch at the memtion of the Elder Gods. The Elder Gods will not fight this battle with them. They are far too set in their ways and have become too arrogant.
Raiden also flinches at the mention of the Elder Gods, but deceides to keep his mouth shut for now. "Regardless, this is one battle that has been won, but the war will soon begin. And I fear it will begin sooner than we expect. We must prepare ourselves." He says calmly, but deep inside, Raiden was afraid. Afraid that if they do not act soon, they will fail.
"What would you have us do, Lord Raiden?" Kung Lao asks the thunder god curiously, ready to take the fight to those that have caused nothing but trouble from the beginning.
Raiden sighs and turns away for a moment to think while Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Fujin patiently waited. After a few moments, Raiden turns back around with a determined look on his face. "Liu Kang, Kung Lao, you will leave the defense of the temple to one you trust while we gather our allies. We will not wait for our enemy to make their move any longer. This time, we take the fight to them." He says to them seriously as Liu Kang and Kung Lao look at each other with smiles before looking back at the thunder god.
"Lord Raiden, we know the right person for the job." Liu Kang says with a smile as Raiden nods before they all head into the temple to have a discussion with this person.
Elsewhere, Hours later...
Kurai groans as he gently shakes his head and slowly lifts his head to see that his arms are chained up to two stone columns. Looking around him, he seems to be in a ruined temple of some kind if the broken and shattered stones were any indication. "Ugh, where the hell am I?" He whispers out loud before he hears footsteps walking up brhind him.
Turning his head to look behind him, he sees a familiar face. One that he is not happy to see. "Delilah." He growls as the blood sorceress walks in front of him with a smile on her face.
"Now, now, Kurai. There's no need to make such a face." She says to him softly before she bends over and leans down close to him.
"Why am I here, Delilah? Why haven't you killed me yet?" Kurai asks her with genuine curiosity which causes her to smile brightly.
"Why, I want you alive long enough to bear witness, my desr Kurai." She answers simply, which confuses the Edenian Prince.
"Bear witness to what?" He asks curiuosly.
Delilah continues to smile. "Something glorious."