It was night time in Earthrealm, Raiden and Bo' Rai Cho were discussing their concerns outside the Shaolin temple.

"I hope Liu Kang and Kung Lao are safe, wherever they are." Raiden prayed.

"Well one of them is the new Mortal Kombat champion, the other is a predecessor of The Great Kung Lao." Bo Rai Cho assured.

"Where could they be? Jackson Briggs made it back to the Special Forces but Liu Kang and Kung Lao didn't return to us." Raiden thought aloud, collecting the information he had despite how little it was.

"Yes, Miss Blade has already returned to see him." Bo' Rai Cho mentioned, "If they're alive they'll come back to the temple."

"You're right my friend." Raiden agreed, however anxious about if they were alive. "Perhaps I should search the islands ruins?"

"I assure you; nothing remains of my island, Raiden." Came the voice of a much younger Shang Tsung, who was stood behind the two friends.

Stood right behind the sorcerer was a creature of the Naknada species, he was a six-armed creature with blue skin as well as eyes that looked like ruby crystals.

"What brings you here?" Raiden quickly asked as he examined his new form, "I didn't know your master rewarded for failure."

"Emperor Shao Kahn proposes a new tournament." He said, raising his hand to halt Raiden's surprising laughter and he continued, "It will be hosted in Shao Kahn's coliseum in Outworld, and instead of the usual ten consecutive wins system it'll be just one, if Outworld loses then Shao Kahn will abandon his claim to it forever."

"I see no reason to participate in any plan of yours or your masters." Raiden remarked, denying the request.

"Now would be the best possible time for you to take this offer, considering you have a Mortal Kombat champion on your side."

"I do not see Liu Kang anywhere, where is he?" Raiden was becoming annoyed.

"I wouldn't know." Shang Tsung attempted to assure, "I do not spout lies this time Raiden, this offer is genuine."

"You can't be trusted." Bo' Rai Cho interrupted.

"What do you know about me, drunk?" Shang Tsung hostilely asked, noticing his tipsy stance.

"Anyone familiar with your existence knows enough." Bo' Rai Cho replied.

"I do not accept your proposal, Shang Tsung." Raiden confirmed his decision.

"I see..." Shang Tsung muttered as he and his Naknadan companion backed away.

"I've given the Tarkatans orders to attack if the portal opens." The creature informed, "They're ready along with my fellow Naknada's."

"Excellent work, Kollector." Tsung complimented Kollector's consistency of completing any given task.

"Baraka would've never allowed this." Kollector reminded.

"Good thing he's still missing." Shang Tsung said grimly as he casted a spell, opening a giant portal which the Outworld brutes began spilling out of, attacking the nearest monks.

"Deceptive sorcerer!" Raiden yelled, flying down the balcony to charge his fists into Shang Tsung, Kollector meanwhile confronting Bo Rai Cho.

"You take your race's honour to a new low." Bo' Rai Cho said, pointing out a few Naknadan's in the crowd.

"They look up to me." Kollector said with his eyes set on Bo' Rai Cho's flask, "I'm sure your beverage is expensive."

"It is just beer!" Bo' Rai Cho joked. "Besides, you won't have it."

Bo' Rai Cho dove stomach first into the Kollector, the Naknadan began shrieking as Bo' Rai Cho pressed his weight on the creature, his two arms that stuck out from his back being awkwardly compressed.

"You will all fall to Shao Kahn!" He warned as he smashed a bottle that contained cursed flames over Bo Rai Cho's head.

"Your race has already fallen to his rule." Bo' Rai Cho remarked, angering the Kollector.

The two engaged in a grapple, despite his arms lacking the muscle mass, Kollector still managed to overpower Bo' Rai Cho with his plentiful arms, sinking his sharp nails into Cho's shoulders as he drew a pair of sickles, ready to gouge out the insides of the drunken master. Kollector could not fulfil this objective as the temple building's balcony began burning down from the cursed flames.

The Kollector vaulted over the balcony and into a group of monks, executing them all with ease. Bo' quickly coming to aid them by diving onto the ground, causing a small area of ground surrounding him to shake, knocking over Kollector. As Bo' Rai Cho approached Kollector, the Naknadan suddenly released a flail from one of his lower arms, managing to launch the heavy man into the air.

Bo' Rai Cho got to his feet but was grabbed from behind by a Naknadan, leaving him vulnerable to Kollector's attacks. Bo Rai Cho fought them both off and poured his alcohol over the interfering Naknadan before setting him ablaze. Kollector dove in with a sickle attack that impaled Bo Rai Cho from back to stomach.

Kollector attempted to follow his attack by beheading Bo Rai Cho, only for a green arrow to stab into one of his skinny arms. It was Nightwolf, who came charging through Tarkatans and Naknadans to get to Kollector, his leadership being apparent from his rich attire.

"Stop this!" Nightwolf ordered, only for Kollector to snarl at him as he scurried away behind a line of Tarkatans, Nightwolf fighting the row of Tarkatans as they charged at him. Bo' Rai Cho meanwhile, was seeking for some sort of vantage point with some of his students, the ones that still lived. The Naknadans, many known for their construction of palaces in Outworld were now doing the opposite, destruction. The Tarkatans were slaughtering the temples residents as the Naknadans began burning down the buildings.

"You wouldn't dare kill me, Raiden." Shang Tsung remarked with confidence, his words in between spits of blood, Raiden had easily manhandled him, anger charging his energy.

"This is not a tournament Shang Tsung, no rules restrain me." Raiden informed as he tightened his grip around Shang Tsung's neck, "I will spare you so you can inform your master that I accept your terms, it is time a halt is put to you harming innocents for good."

Raiden threw Shang Tsung away, the sorcerer now smiling once more "The tournament will commence as soon as your Earthrealm representatives arrive."

"I get to choose this time?"

Shang Tsung nodded, "Yes, for my master is eager to merge the realms, and I'm sure you feel the same way about protecting them." He explained, "It'd be much faster if you arrange Earthrealm's warriors and Shao Kahn arranges Outworld's."

"That seems too reasonable of an offer from you." Raiden was cautious about the extra details Tsung was providing, "Need I remind you that Liu Kang and Kung Lao are still missing."

"As are many others who were on my island, they have been each transported to a random location in Outworld."

"Which is your fault..."

"Point is both sides are suffering these hindrances, but Shao Kahn isn't willing to wait any longer."

"Is your master that impatient?!" Raiden asked, frustrated.

"Doesn't matter, just find your Earthrealm warriors and an organized bracket will be made between them versus and a replicating number of fighters representing Outworld."

"I do not trust you Shang Tsung." Raiden informed, fully aware that this tournaments organization was false hope but still agreed to the terms, "Hear me Elder Gods, I accept the terms proposed by Shao Kahn."

"Then we're done here." Shang Tsung said before yelling orders to return to Outworld at the invaders.