Suddenly, the island shook, stalactites collapsing from the ceiling of the underground lair that the newly victorious Liu Kang stood beneath.
"What's happening?!" Liu Kang shouted, rolling out of the way of a falling stalactite before turning back to Shang Tsung.
But Shang Tsung was gone.
"The island's collapsing!" Kung Lao yelled as he ran down the dungeon, grabbing Liu Kang's arm and dragging him toward the lair's exit.
"Where's Shang Tsung?" Reptile hissed as he chased after the monks.
"He just left… defeated," Liu Kang revealed, pointing to the spot where he lay moments ago. "Something tells me he anticipated his island's collapse."
"Of course he'd try to kill us!" Kung Lao yelled, clenching his fists angrily. "We must get out of here!"
"I can't let you!" Reptile growled.
"Yes, you can!" Liu Kang argued, standing between Lao and Reptile.
"My master…"
"Abandoned you," Liu Kang pointed out. "You need to focus on escaping."
"I suppose…" Reptile sighed. "Outworld's lost, I'm going to be in so much trouble!"
"You weren't even a participant though," Liu Kang considered, confused by Reptile's anxiety.
"You know nothing of Shao Kahn's wrath!" Reptile hissed before turning to Goro. "I need to at least make sure the Champion is safe."
"Not the champ anymore," Kung Lao quipped.
"He is alive," Liu assured him. "I do not kill."
"We must get going," Lao told his friend. He then turned to Reptile and asked, "do you know any other escape?"
Reptile shook his head as he knelt beside Goro's still unconscious body. "Leave me be," he requested.
"Try to stay safe," Liu Kang wished as he and Kung Lao began to run out of Goro's Lair and out into the jungle of Shang Tsung's Island.
The Shaolin monks ran through the dense jungle, the ground shaking beneath their feet with each thunderous impact as the island continued crumbling away. Leaves and debris filled the air as trees uprooted and fissures split open in the earth, forcing them to leap over gaps and dodge falling rocks. The island was tearing itself apart, and time was running out.
As the monks sprinted towards the end of the jungle, they noticed many of the assassins and Masked Guards that served Shang Tsung panicking as they had no clue what to do. Liu Kang went to speak up, to suggest they work together, but the hopelessly loyal goons for the sorcerer began attacking the monks on sight. Before they could strike at Liu or Lao though, a set of pink energy rings soared past the trees, knocking down many of the guards.
"Jax! Sonya!" Liu Kang shouted, waving as he and Kung Lao ran towards them.
"You two made it out!" Jax cheered. "We need to get off this island now," he called back, motioning for them to hurry. Sonya brushed dirt off her arms and gave them a quick nod, her expression steely but determined.
"We don't have much time," Kung Lao said, panting slightly as he reached them. "This place could go under any minute."
"What happened?" Sonya asked. "Did you win?"
"Goro and Shang Tsung are both defeated," Liu Kang nodded.
"That explains the old guy's temper," Jax realised. "He returned to the throne room, and called for all of Team Outworld to kill us."
"Is everyone alright?" Lao questioned.
"I think so," Jax replied with uncertainty. "There was so much chaos, hard to tell."
"Then Tsung left through a portal," Sonya recalled. "Abandoned even his own allies!"
"That selfish snake!" Liu Kang shook his fist.
"Maybe you should've killed him," Kung Lao considered. "Do either of you know how to get out of here?"
"There are some rowboats down there," Jax pointed to a small, decrepit dock.
"Hold on," Sonya turned towards a figure approaching the docks. "Who's that?"
The man who had just come into view carried a heavy sack across the sand as he approached the dock, head turned away. When he turned around, Sonya immediately recognised him.
"Kano," she said to herself, sprinting toward him.
"Sonya, where are you going?!" Jax cried out.
"Not again," Kano groaned as he saw Sonya approaching rapidly. "Piss off!"
The Black Dragon thug swung his heavy sack at Sonya, spilling gold as it hit the ground. Sonya quickly recovered, charging at him again. She grabbed Kano's arm, snapping it over her shoulder and disarming him.
"Argh, you bitch!" Kano snarled, drawing a butterfly knife and swinging it toward her back. Sonya quickly countered, tripping him up before delivering a sharp forearm strike to the back of his head.
Sonya then kicked Kano, rolling him onto his back and raining down punches on his natural eye until he managed to blast her shoulder with his cybernetic one. Another earthquake forced them apart, a wide ravine opening between them on the beach, the sound of sand pouring down filling the silent tension as the two rivals stared at each other. Sonya tried to run around but rocks from a hillside crashed down, blocking her passageway to the docks.
"I'll get you, Kano!" Sonya vowed.
"Can't wait..." Kano muttered, gathering his bag of gold that luckily hadn't fallen down the ravine and approaching the docks.
Kano watched as Sonya headed the other way back to Jax, only for more Masked Guards to show up. As the Special Forces and the monks of the White Lotus Society fought against the large group of enemies, they ended up being split up, Jax and Sonya being forced to an opposite direction to Liu Kang and Kung Lao.
Kano smirked as he spectated the conflict, but his attention was soon drawn away as a friendly voice called out, "we're here, boss!"
"Jarek?!" Kano recognised the man piloting a rowboat, approaching the island. "Row over here; I'll hop in."
Jarek, the Black Dragon's second-in-command, rowed to the docks to pick Kano up. He sprang up eagerly to help Kano load the sack of treasure into the boat.
"Got some real beauties here!" Kano shouted and as he did so, he caught sight of a familiar masked figure on the boat. "No Face? Why am I not bloody surprised?"
"He convinced me to bring him along," Jarek explained as Kano stepped aboard.
"You're like a damn Labrador," Kano muttered, glaring at his masked colleague.
"Good to see you too!" No Face laughed maniacally.
"You miss me that much?" Kano chuckled.
"Did you get it?" Jarek asked, getting down to business.
"Of bloody course!" Kano confirmed aggressively. "What did'ya think was in the bag?"
"I was hoping to see an S.F pig's corpse," No Face admitted.
"They aren't police, you drongo," Kano insulted.
"What'd you rather call them?" No Face questioned.
"I prefer the 'cannon fodder'," Kano explained. "The crew that Blade and Briggs brought with 'em sure were!"
"Are we in the clear, Kano?" Jarek asked nervously, interrupting the banter. "I'd rather not be chased by Special Forces like you were getting to this smegging death trap."
"I hope so," Kano sighed. "I missed one or two of the tournament rounds, but I doubt that old git realised."
"What about the S.F?" Jarek questioned.
"Jax and Sonya just had to go the other way," Kano reassured him. "We're in the clear, lads."
"I'll get us out of here fast just to be safe…" Jarek decided, acting cautiously as always.
As the Black Dragon departed, Sonya Blade and Jax Briggs returned to the location of the palace. The sizable residence had already been transformed into a pile of rubble since they left to check on the monks.
"Shit," Sonya muttered.
"You think everybody got out in time?" Jax asked and Sonya merely shrugged.
"General Blade. Major Briggs," came Raiden's calm yet commanding voice. He was accompanied by Johnny Cage and Nightwolf, safe from both the attack at the palace and its eventual collapse.
"It's good to see you're all safe," Sonya admitted.
"Even me?" Johnny smirked. "How kind."
"Don't let it go to your head," Sonya ordered.
"It's inflated enough as is," Jax quipped, which made Sonya laugh.
"Did either of you find Liu Kang and Kung Lao?" Raiden asked the soldiers.
"We saw them," Sonya nodded before letting out a sigh. "But we… I… got distracted."
"We got separated," Jax added to clarify.
"I cannot bring us off the island without them," Raiden reminded the group. "My powers aren't charged enough, they will only permit me to create one group teleport."
"Then we must act quickly to find them," Nightwolf realised.
"Follow me!" Sonya yelled, eager to lead them to where the monks were last spotted in hopes of making up for her mistake.
Meanwhile, Liu Kang and Kung Lao had managed to escape from the majority of the Masked Guards after a sequence of perfectly calculated jumps across a set of rocks that stuck out over the violent Lost Sea. A rockslide prevented most of the sorcerer's loyalists from persuing, but some had made it to the other side and continued their relentless attack.
The treacherous path over the waters that seemed to rise, but the island itself was merely sinking into it, had led the warriors to a cobbled pathway that linked to the courtyard. Gazing ahead, Liu Kang and Kung Lao took a brief look at the statues. All were of the past champions of Mortal Kombat, including Shang Tsung, the Great Kung Lao, and the recently dethroned Goro. Lao was stunned, the statue was probably the best look he had ever gotten of his old ancestor… and such a monument of him was now scheduled to be destroyed.
The distraction allowed one of the Masked Guards who had reached the other side to sweep Kung Lao by the leg with a naginata, whilst the others cornered the new champion. The Masked Guards attacked in unison, but Liu Kang dodged the thrusts of their polearms, punishing their missed hits by delivering a fiery kick that sent one guard flying. Meanwhile, Kung Lao parried a naginata strike that intended to slay him as he lay down with the use of his unique razor-edged hat, disarming his opponent in a blur of motion. Twirling around, Kung Lao was surrounded by his own powers that came in the form of bluish energy, enhancing his speed and launching any Masked Guards away if they tried to touch the peculiar monk whilst he spun around.
The Shaolin monks moved back-to-back, fending off blows with a flurry of punches, kicks. Kung Lao's spinning hat sliced through a throwing star mid-air, while Liu's fire-laden fists overwhelmed another guard. The final guard that beared weapons that were more commonly equipped on a ninja, ducked Kung Lao's hat as they threw it, magic bringing it back like a flawlessly accurate boomerang. The guard faded away using a smoke bomb before leaping on top of the monks after quickly climbing Goro's statue and diving off one of the legendary four arms.
Liu Kang caught a glimpse of the Masked Guard's shadow, catching them off guard with a fiery uppercut. The blow threw the guard back into the statue of Goro. The collision paired with another earth shaking tremor, caused the statue to break off its solid stone slab. Liu Kang gasped, not wanting the guard to be killed unnecessarily, but Kung Lao pulled him back.
"You'll get yourself killed!" Kung Lao snapped. "I'm sorry, Liu!"
Before the Masked Guard could be fatally crushed by the falling statue, magical wind where the gusts were visible by faintly blue lines that whisked through the air and stopped to surround the statue in a whirlwind that carried it to one side, saving the helpless guard. The monks turned to see the source of the wind and it had emitted from the steel fans of Princess Kitana.
"Look, it's Liu Kang!" Jade pointed out as she rushed to Kitana's side, reaching for her staff. "He has to be stopped!"
"Jade, stop," Kitana ordered. "We don't have time to fight them."
"Your realm has already lost," Kung Lao pointed out. "Listen to your blue friend."
"Fine," Jade said as she reluctantly took her hand off her weapon.
"Do either of you have any ideas of how to escape the island?" Liu Kang asked, calmly approaching the two assassins.
"Keep your distance from her," Jade demanded as she quickly extended her staff, pointing one tip at the monks.
"I mean no harm," Liu Kang raised his hands slowly whilst Kung Lao crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.
"We're going to attempt to unlock the emergency exit portal that's somewhere on the island," Kitana explained, having heard such information from the sorcerer. "I cannot recall the exact details of its location."
"Need help?" Liu Kang offered.
"Not from you," Jade retorted.
"He isn't a threat to us, Jade," Kitana attempted to reassure her close friend.
"We're also just trying to get off the island," Liu Kang clarified.
"How about a deal?" Kitana offered. "The portals will return us to Outworld, if you somehow find one then I promise to bring you to Earthrealm safely."
"What if your father finds out!?" Jade protested, Kung Lao whistling as he and Liu Kang snuck past to begin searching for an escape portal.
"They're just monks, Jade," Kitana shook her head. "Innocent Earthrealmers compared to others… such as the Lin Kuei."
"I'm not worried about them," Jade clarified. "I worry about you, Kitana, it's not like Shao Kahn cares about the morality of these Earthrealmers."
"I will be fine," Kitana promised. "You needn't worry."
"I do!" Jade protested, crossing her arms. "And it's not just because it's my job to protect you."
Whilst the two friends argued, Liu Kang and Kung Lao began searching down a pathway that extended from the warrior shrine. Their search for an escape was interrupted by the sound of whispers, the words inaudible, whilst a faint blue swirl surrounded the two monks.
"Um, Kung Lao?" Liu Kang turned to see his friend in deep concentration, seemingly entranced.
"Is this a joke?" Jade asked anxiously as she and Kitana turned to see the bizarre event.
"The portal is beneath us," Kung Lao revealed as the magic particles around him began to form into a figure that appeared behind him.
"Lao, behind you!" Liu Kang warned, uncertain of the spirit's intentions.
"It's him," Kung Lao murmured.
"No…" Liu Kang shook his head in disbelief. "How?"
"Who?" Kitana questioned whilst Jade tilted her head in a state of confusion.
"My ancestor," Kung Lao stated. "The Great Kung Lao."
"Greetings," the spirit spoke. "Outworld's defeat has freed the spirits of every Earthrealm warrior who perished in the tournament. I and the souls of many other Earthrealmers were able to pull ourselves away from Shang Tsung the moment the tournament had concluded."
"It is an honour to speak to you," Liu Kang said, bowing in respect.
"Thank you, Liu Kang, for freeing me," he said gratefully before shifting his gaze to Kung Lao. "And thank you, Kung Lao. You are worthy of my name for the achievements you have reached."
"I wasn't the one who saved you," Kung Lao said, humbled.
"That doesn't matter," the Great Kung Lao shook his head. "Seeing through Shang Tsung's eyes, I could already tell something quite important about your character."
"And that is?"
"You wanted to avenge me," the Great Kung Lao realised. "Yet the ultimate reason for coming to the island was to look out for your friend," he motioned a spiritual hand to Liu Kang. "With that bond and that degree of care, I know that Earthrealm is in safe hands."
"I…" Kung Lao was left speechless, a rare sight.
"The expectations placed upon you have been unfair, simply because of your lineage," the Great Kung Lao added. "I apologise for the pressure, but you've overcome it."
"Thank you… so much," Kung Lao replied as he bowed his head to the spirit of his legendary ancestor.
"We will speak again," the Great Kung Lao promised. "But for now? You must leave." The spirit floated to some hieroglyphs decorating a stone tablet at the corner of the warrior shrine in front of a small cavern. The magic emitting from his spirit seeped across the stone, illuminating the ancient texts.
The Great Kung Lao's spirit vanished the moment the symbols started to glow. Past the projection made by his soul, the light of a newly opened portal emerged from the cave.
"By the Gods," Jade gasped as she peeked into the cave. "He actually did it!"
"Then we must go!" Kitana declared as the ground shook violently. "Stay with us, Earthrealmers!"
The pair of monks followed the pair of assassins through the portal into the unknown. Walking down the stairs to the warrior shrine, Raiden and the other Earthrealmers were too late to regroup with Liu Kang and Kung Lao. Nevertheless, Raiden had a smile on his face, for he had recognised the figure of the spirit who had helped from the distance.
"They'll be alright, right?" Cage asked, genuinely concerned.
"I know not where the portal leads," Raiden admitted.
"Shall we follow them then, Haokah?" Nightwolf wondered with Raiden nodding.
Before they could reach the cavern that concealed the escape portal, another ravine suddenly emerged in the ground, bursting the cobbled pathway as it was torn in half. The sudden split in the ground sent Jax, Johnny, Sonya, and Nightwolf tumbling down the jagged sides of the chasm. Dust and debris filled the air as loose stones rolled and bounced around them, threatening to knock them further into the water below, unlikely to escape the roaring waves of the Lost Sea.
Nightwolf reacted first, digging both of his tomahawks into the side of the ravine. With great agility and strength, he began climbing up the ravine by using his weapons as climbing gear. Raiden was quick to offer a hand, easily yanking him back up to the surface of the crumbling island.
Johnny Cage, his usual bravado faltering, clawed at protruding roots and cracks in the rock. "This is not how I planned to die today!" he yelled, flailing to find a grip.
"Move!" Jax yelled as he grabbed the actor and pulled him into his firm grasp. "Cling to my back!"
"What?!"
"Just do it, punk!" Jax yelled. "That's an order!"
With the weight of Johnny on his back and the exhaustion from being held captive on the island, Jax was still able to start climbing up the rocks with his bare hands. Reaching out, Raiden summoned his lightning staff and reached down with the long stick. Jax wrapped his arms around the weapon whilst Raiden and Nightwolf worked together to pull himself up.
"Jesus… thanks…" Jax gasped as he lay on the ground, catching his breath.
"You'd make an amazing stuntman!" Cage complimented. "I do my own stunts, but that was something else!"
"I'll pass, Johnny," Jax replied before suddenly sitting up at a sudden realisation. "Shit! Sonya!"
Sonya, meanwhile, had hooked her legs around a jutting rock ledge, hoisting herself upward with practiced precision. Dirt streaked her face, but her resolve remained unshaken. She had fallen the lowest, but was only caught to the ledge by her legs.
"I've got you!" Jax promised as he reached out. "Kick off the wall and I'll catch you!"
Fully trusting her partner, Sonya leapt upward to grasp Jax's hand with fierce determination. Her boots scrambled against the wall as Jax rushed to pull her to safety.
"Thanks…" Sonya said as she hugged Jax.
"You've passed my rank," Jax admitted as he hugged her tightly, "but I'm always going to be your Major."
"I'd have been pissed off making it through this magical tournament thing only to get screwed over on the getaway!" Johnny Cage exclaimed as the group began to stand back up, only for the island to shake again.
"Grab hold of each other!" Raiden instructed. "This final teleport must be done now!"
"What about the monks?" Nightwolf questioned, but still grabbed on.
"I will deal with that later," Raiden promised. "For now I must ensure your safety."
"Well you don't need to tell me twice!" Johnny grinned, extending his hand to Sonya, only for it to be slapped away. "Pretty please?"
"Don't play games," Jax rolled his eyes, placing a steady hand on Raiden's shoulder whilst squeezing Johnny's wrist.
"That's everyone," Sonya confirmed as she grabbed onto Nightwolf. "Get us out of this crazy place!"
"With pleasure," Raiden declared as he summoned a bolt of godly lightning which suddenly struck the Protector God and alongside him it transported the four Earthrealm heroes to safety…