"You may enter, Drahmin," Quan Chi permitted the Oni who had received a personal invitation to the Fortress. "Lord Shinnok is just this way."
"I look forward to meeting him." Drahmin replied as he gestured for his fellow Oni and good friend Moloch to follow him through the doorway, though Moloch did have trouble fitting through due to his large beast-like frame. The duo turned a corner and immediately saw Shinnok awaiting them in the centre of the war room.
"Drahmin," Shinnok acknowledged his presence. "The Oni Tormentor himself."
"Your messenger stated that you wished to strike a deal with me," Drahmin reminded him. "What was it?"
The two Oni did not kneel in Shinnok's presence and that already gave Shinnok a poor impression of the duo, especially as Drahmin immediately began questioning him. Such behaviour was only put up with those who served Shinnok… as long as it wasn't questions doubting the Dark Lord. Though Shinnok managed to forgive this as he assumed Drahmin was being respectful of his time and wanting to cut to the point.
"I have heard of your surprising intellect for someone of your… kind," Shinnok explained, choosing his words carefully. "As well as your commendable leadership skills that have found you leading a pack of Oni."
The mask Drahmin wore was able to bring Drahmin much intellect and leadership qualities that he had possessed back when he was a human and more importantly, a warlord. Drahmin was unsure how this mask had managed to bring him a connection to his past life that would almost completely leave his memory when he did not wear it but he knew it was vital in his current aspirations of gaining power in the Netherrealm.
"I know my talents, Shinnok." Drahmin told him which immediately offended Shinnok due to a lack of 'Lord' being said before his own name. "You needn't remind me."
"Firstly, it is Lord Shinnok to you," Shinnok corrected him. "Secondly, nobody tells me what to do."
"Just state your business with me," Drahmin demanded.
"Demands are also unacceptable!" Shinnok raised his voice. "You should be grateful that I'm even talking to you let alone making an offer to join my armies."
"You want me to join your armies?"
"Yes," Shinnok confirmed. "I have learnt much of the harm that you and the Oni you associate yourself with have caused to the residents of this realm… specifically my own soldiers."
"Your soldiers were on our hunting grounds," Moloch chimed in. "What did they expect?"
"I see you're not the only Oni with a brain," Shinnok noted, surprised that Drahmin's ally was even capable of talking.
"Do not insult my fellow Oni's intellect," Drahmin said, furtherly being demanding.
"I state what is true," Shinnok told him. "And what is true is that I never recall inviting this beast here."
Shinnok pointed at Moloch who glared at him menacingly in return.
"He is simply here for my own company and safety," Drahmin assured him.
"I am uncertain as to if I should trust your word," Shinnok admitted.
"My Lord," Quan Chi joined the conversation. "As a former Oni myself I can confirm that Oni intellect and appearance vastly varies."
"So?"
"An Oni that can do the minimum of matching our communication I believe has enough wits to trust that they have restraint," Quan Chi explained his point.
"I see," Was all Shinnok replied with. "Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me once again."
"I am merely happy to serve you, my Lord," Quan Chi claimed.
"If I am to serve you then I need to know what I am to gain from this alliance," Drahmin boldly requested an offer from Shinnok.
"Leadership of the Oni ranks in my armies, plenty of mortals for your species to feast on and most importantly… you shall keep your life," Shinnok listed his offerings.
"Oh I'll be living just fine whether I accept your offer or not," Drahmin confidently believed. "But your first two offers? They do appeal to me a lot… y'see I always enjoyed my fair share of power as a warlord, and I cannot possibly pass on such an exciting opportunity to murder and feast on weak mortals… what fun!"
"Then do we have a deal?" Shinnok asked as he offered a handshake.
"We do indeed!" Drahmin said enthusiastically as he took his hideously skinless hand and moved it into Shinnok's pale one and the two engaged in a firm handshake.
"I shall send another messenger to your village when I require your services," Shinnok informed him. "Just don't eat the one that I send there this time!"
"I can't make any promises," Moloch muttered.
"I will try to make sure your messenger leaves my home in one piece," Drahmin promised his efforts, though couldn't promise that such efforts would be successful. "Goodbye for now, 'Lord' Shinnok."
"Farewell, Drahmin and… Moloch was it?" Shinnok had already forgotten the name of Drahmin's acquaintance.
Moloch simply grunted as he nodded in confirmation.
As the two Oni went to make their entrance they passed a Demon who approached and knelt before Shinnok and Quan Chi.
"Apologies, Lord Shinnok," The Demon quickly apologized. "I hope I'm not intruding at this time."
"It is no issue, General Belokk," Shinnok assured his loyal general. "We were just finishing here."
"General?" Drahmin scoffed.
"Perfect timing actually," Shinnok realized. "I suppose the two of you needed to be introduced with one another considering that you will both be serving as my Generals."
"I trust you haven't demoted me, my Lord," Belokk hoped. "If so then I will rectify what mistakes I have made."
"Worry not, Belokk," Shinnok reassured the Demon. "Drahmin is merely in command of the Oni's."
"Merely?" Drahmin repeated.
"I suppose that makes sense," Belokk said, of course recognizing Drahmin as an Oni. "I look forward to working alongside you in helping make Shinnok's great vision a reality."
"Well aren't you the cutest little lap-hellhound," Drahmin insulted the heavily loyal Demon.
"I retract my latest statement," was all Belokk replied without giving Drahmin his desired reaction.
"Leave now, Drahmin!" Shinnok ordered, losing patience with his behaviour.
Drahmin complied and he and Moloch headed out the Fortress as Shinnok gestured for Belokk to arise from his kneeled state.
"I came to bring news that your portal system from your personal Spire to Master Quan Chi's Fortress is now complete," Belokk informed his master.
"Thank you for informing me, Belokk," Shinnok genuinely thanked his loyal servant. "Your service to me since betraying your parents should be seen as admirable to all who follow me."
"My duties will be worth it to be by your side when you seize power of all the realms," Belokk replied. "And your praise is greatly valued, my Lord."
"I know," Shinnok responded arrogantly. "And you should know that there are no two servants greater than yourself and Quan Chi."
"It has been many worthwhile years serving you," Belokk told him. "I say this often enough but I shall state it once more: I am proud of what I did on that night when the two of you attacked my parents throne room…"
Shinnok and his relatively new follower named Quan Chi walked up the stairs to the top floor of Lucifer's Spire, having fought their way through his Demon minions throughout each of the previous levels. Despite having been the man to free him, Shinnok was still cautious of Quan Chi as he had quickly realized that the sorcerer may just be using him to help reach the top of the spire and help destroy Lucifer: the Protector God of the Netherrealm.
The alliance approached the entrance to the throne room. Shinnok used his bone magic to summon a giant skeleton hand and with a single flick it knocked down the doors and allowed Shinnok and Quan Chi to storm the throne room. The Demons who tried stopping them were brutally murdered by the two, sharing the same fate that their fellow Demons had suffered on the previous levels of the spire.
Lucifer and his wife Lilith went to stand from their respective thrones but Shinnok summoned a pair of bone hands that replaced the thrones themselves and the fingers gripped onto the God and his wife, holding them in place as they helplessly watched their minions being slaughtered.
"You're being replaced, Lord Lucifer," Quan Chi informed him as he battered a grounded Demon with his spiked mace.
"By him?!" Lucifer scoffed. "He's been trapped in my prison nearly since the beginning of realms! What makes you think that he is fit to rule the Netherrealm?"
"An Elder God is higher than a Protector God," Quan Chi pointed out.
"Shinnok is an Elder God no longer!" Lucifer yelled. "He is a Fallen Elder God and will always be a prisoner to me."
"You dare challenge me?" Shinnok asked rhetorically. "A coward ruler like yourself needs to be disposed of."
"My father is a coward how?" Belokk asked as he blasted two beams of fire that demolished the hands that were restraining his parents.
"He is a ruler who seeks no gain," Shinnok explained. "Even as a prisoner I know what little you have done for your realm… and more importantly, the other realms."
"The other realms are not my business," Lucifer informed him.
"Then make it yours!" Shinnok yelled. "Seize power! It is amusing that you consider being in control of this wasteland as holding any power whatsoever."
"Then why do you wish to take my place?"
"To do the thing you cannot," Shinnok answered. "Evolve."
"Your thoughts are nothing but dreams," Lilith stated in dismissal of Shinnok's beliefs. "My husband and my son will eliminate both you and your only follower unless you surrender to us right now."
"Then kill me if you can," Shinnok instructed his rivals to attack. "For there is not a chance that I'll ever return to your prison."
"We shall see," was all Lucifer needed to respond with as he summoned his signature Kwan Do weapon that was made up of primarily hellstone which enhanced the dangers of the blade as it permanently emit a flaming aura.
As Lucifer was about to charge forth at his two enemies he was suddenly clocked in the back of the head by a flaming punch. Stunned and shocked, Lucifer turned to see his son standing right behind him with his fists aflame as he hit his mother and knocked her aside with a sequence of flaming fists.
"What are you doing, my boy?" Lucifer asked, completely baffled by what just occurred.
"The right thing," Belokk responded with a grim smile. "Removing you from power."
"My own son betrays me?!"
"It is for the greater good," Belokk justified as he hit a second punch which knocked him back and into Shinnok and Quan Chi who took advantage of this unexpected betrayal and began beating down Lucifer. Quan Chi smashed his mace around the back of his head as Shinnok made him scream in agony using his dark magic to cause agonizing pain throughout his whole body.
"Leave him be!" Lilith begged. "Please!"
"Kneel to Lord Shinnok," Belokk said in an attempt to command his own mother.
"Son!" Lilith yelled as she watched in horror at a distance. "How dare you!"
"Stand down, mother," Belokk instructed. "You do not also need to be hurt."
"You have hurt me enough already!" she screamed as she drew her flaming dagger and plunged it into his own son's chest.
"Quick Quan Chi, aid our new friend," Shinnok commanded.
Quan Chi quickly followed his master's commands and ran up to Lilith from behind before smashing his mace over the side of her face, the spikes grotesquely impaling her flesh and bursting her eye. Lilith let out an ear piercing scream as she collapsed onto her side. Belokk then drew the dagger out of himself and despite the immense pain he felt from the cut and the burning of his insides he found the motivation to return the favour and stab her mother back before throwing her to the floor beside Lucifer.
"Heal him," Shinnok ordered Quan Chi. The sorcerer complied and cast a healing spell that almost instantly sealed the wound on Belokk's chest. "What name do you go by, new friend?"
"Belokk," he answered. "My father wasted his time on the throne. I am sure that you will be the strong ruler that the Netherrealm needs."
"I am," Shinnok said with great confidence in himself, showing much arrogance. "I am pleased that at least you were able to come to your senses despite your disgraceful bloodline."
"How could you, son?" Lucifer was truly saddened by his son's betrayal.
Just yesterday Lucifer and Lilith were bonding together by torturing Shinnok as they usually did in their freetime over the countless years and now their prisoner had escaped with the help of a sorcerer and not only that but their own son had sided with them. This was truly a nightmare that Lucifer and Lithium were living in… though they both knew that they would not be living for much longer.
"You have doomed not only this realm but all who he threatens!" Lucifer claimed.
"Silence!" Shinnok ordered, stomping on Lucifer's skull to render him unconscious. Lilith had already passed out from her own wounds.
"What shall we do with them, Lord Shinnok?" Belokk asked, dismissing his father's question. He was honestly anticipating receiving command to execute the two.
"Imprison the pair of them as they did to me," Shinnok ordered. "I wish we could simply execute them but they will simply reform in another plane. It does not matter though as I will enjoy torturing them."
Belokk retrieved his father's Kwan Do for he knew that Lucifer didn't need it where he was heading and joined Quan Chi as they followed their master's orders and carried one of the two fallen rulers each to the prisons that lived below the spire. Meanwhile, Shinnok summoned a bone hand to serve as his new throne. He had seized control of the Netherrealm.
"I have given the pair of you enough generous praise for today," Shinnok realized that time was being wasted. "Return to your works."
"Yes, Lord Shinnok," Belokk and Quan Chi replied in unison.
"Just one final thing, Quan Chi," Shinnok remembered something that he desired to say to the sorcerer.
"What may that be?"
"I am beginning to doubt your choices in servants," Shinnok confessed as he referred to Kia and Jataaka who he had sent on a task in Earthrealm to test their true value and was also doubting Noob Saibot's abilities though he was yet to see much of them.
"I assure you that they shall succeed in this task," Quan Chi promised. "They tend to come through under pressure."
"They should always be under pressure," Shinnok told him coldly, having no regard for the wellbeing of such lowly servants.
"Right, my Lord," Quan Chi said, understanding his master's point. "Though I suggest we await for their return before taking any action."
"You are right," Shinnok admitted. "They better be prompt with this task… I have already waited long enough for this invasion to be prepared."
"It's been good catching up with you, Mokap," Johnny said to his close friend as the two exited the restaurant.
"Likewise, bub," He replied.
Carlos 'Mokap' Pesina was the best friend and colleague of the actor known as Johnny Cage. The two met after Carlos made an application to Johnny's agency for a motion capture role (hence his nickname of Mokap) in one of his new movies. He had a very impressive record of a vast knowledge and skill set of several martial arts fight styles which got him the job and their working relationship blossomed into a friendship with Carlos being the only one of Cage's colleagues to not be completely put off by his very commonly disdained antics.
The two friends were heading back to Cage's car but Johnny stopped after seeing a peculiar sight.
"You good?" Mokap asked.
"Look over there," Cage pointed to two women dressed in unusual attire heading down an alleyway opposite them.
"Um… what about them?" Mokap didn't understand. "You probably shouldn't be staring…"
"No it's not what you think!" Johnny tried defending himself.
"Not sure that I can believe that," Mokap admitted.
"You wouldn't understand," he claimed.
"They must just be cosplayers or people who don't understand fashion," Mokap figured, being sarcastic about his second guess. "Let's get moving."
"The symbol on them!" Johnny said a little too loud. "It's similar to this guy I know."
Johnny referred to Quan Chi who had the same symbol engraved in his chest plate and Cage knew enough about Quan Chi to know that this probably meant trouble. What Cage was unaware of though was that said symbol was the logo representing the Brotherhood of Shadow, the Netherrealm cult which their loyalty lay with Shinnok. The two women wore a primarily black coloured lightweight suit of gothic themed armour that protected their torso area which matched with the black leather bodysuits they wore beneath the extra protection. Mokap didn't register this as real armour and instead assumed it was just plastic. Their faces were unfamiliar to both Cage and of course Mokap but stood out due to the facepaint they wore as well as their headpieces that covered both women's foreheads and matched their armour by being black with the red coloured symbol. One of them carried a worn out looking satchel which only made Johnny more curious.
"You're acting strange, Johnny," Mokap pointed out. "You sure you're okay after those drinks?"
"I need to follow them," Was all Cage could reply with, not wanting to give away any details to all the craziness he had witnessed over the past few weeks which in turn made Mokap start thinking that Cage was going crazy himself or was just drunk.
"Wait!" Mokap called out as Cage began tailing the two women. "You're my ride!"
Mokap was able to catch up with Johnny as he stopped to lean behind a wall to a building as he began eavesdropping on the conversation between the two women. Mokap tried signalling Cage to tell him that he should leave but the actor shook his head in refusal, for once he was keeping his mouth shut.
"Should we set one up here?" Jataaka asked.
"No, people walk down these things," Kia described to the best of her abilities. "We need to be away from the public for both the sake of the portal's concealment and our own."
"Smart," Jataaka complimented. "As always."
"Th-thanks," Kia stuttered as she was flustered solely by the few words of praise. "So… there's just one problem: I don't know where we need to go to escape the public."
"I have a map," Jataaka revealed. "Found it from this booth, there's a lot of places I'd like to visit."
"I'd love to go exploring with you but y'know what Shinnok expects from us," Kia reminded her of the task at hand.
"Of course," Jataaka understood that they needed to complete their assigned task as soon as possible. "Maybe someday we will."
"I'd love that," Kia told her as the pair examined the map. "There on the map is a forest. I imagine it will be both secluded and able to hide the portal."
"Where would I be without you?" Jataaka remarked as she was relieved to have Kia's aid in this mission.
"With a worse companion I imagine," Kia guessed.
"That's unnecessary of you to say that," Jataaka commented.
"By that you mean?" Kia didn't understand.
"There could never be a better companion than you."
Kia laughed. "Stop it you!"
"You're right," Jataaka realized. "We need to get moving."
"Follow me," Kia instructed. "I have an idea of where we can prepare one of the portals."
"Why Shinnok chooses to place all this responsibility on us when he has so many other servants baffles me," Jataaka ranted as the two began walking over towards Johnny and Mokap's direction.
"Tell me about it," Kia replied in complete agreement. "Seems like he just wants an excuse to yell at us."
"Shinnok doesn't need an excuse," Jataaka stated. "He does whatever he-"
Jataaka was cut off as herself and Kia turned the corner and immediately came face to face with Mokap and Johnny Cage.
"How long were you two standing here?!" Kia interrogated aggressively.
"Um… we were just er… walking…" Mokap stuttered dumbly, his lies being clear.
"Ignore my odd friend," Johnny advised. "Look ladies, we were just going to pass through. What's it to you?"
"Nice save," Jataaka complimented. "But not good enough."
"You two have heard too much," Kia told them as she unveiled her boomerang blade. "Now you must die!"
"Woah!" Mokap put his hands up and backed up from the two Demons. "We don't want any trouble."
"But it's clear that the two of you do," Cage remarked.
"Since when were you a real hero, Johnny?" Mokap asked.
"You're a good fighter, Mo," Cage praised his friend and referred to his wide range of martial art skills. "Help me out."
"What?!"
"I'll explain what I've been doing since the last time we met if you help," Cage negotiated as Kia and Jataaka planned their attack.
"Shouldn't the proper authorities handle-"
"Just help!" Cage demanded in desperation as Kia and Jataaka rushed at him with ferocity.
"Okay fine!" Mokap complied out of panic and ran forward at Jataaka. He delivered a strong and accurate side kick into the inner thigh of Jataaka. Mokap then lowered his leg a bit and delivered a second kick with this one connecting with her ankle and causing Jataaka to stumble to her side, pressing her hands against the grubby brick wall in the alley to hold her up. Jataaka got some payback as she swung back at Mokap with an elbow that busted open the martial artist's nose as he cried out and stumbled back as blood dripped from his nostrils like they were taps.
Mokap realized that he had to toughen up and kept fighting despite the pain he was already undergoing from one blow alone. Mokap fought back with a superman punch to the side of Jataaka's head and then followed up by grabbing Jataaka by the throat with his other hand and shoved her against the wall. Jataaka almost immediately overpowered Mokap and pushed him back with his head smashing head first off the brick wall. Mokap was stunned but continued fighting, he was still able to deliver a precise chop to Jataaka's throat despite his condition but the Demon immediately returned the favour along with a kick to the gut which caused him to bend down into a knee to the head which knocked Mokap to the ground.
"Nothing personal, mister," Jataaka stated as she unsheathed her laser sword from her back. "You were just at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Johnny saw this while he was busy cautiously battling Kia, getting in punches and kicks whenever he could but finding openings from the aggressive and armed Kia was a challenge. When Cage saw his friend in danger he quickly sent a force-ball of green energy that hit Jataaka in the back and knocked her to the floor. Mokap was shocked at what he just witnessed… Johnny Cage has powers?! Due to Cage being distracted with protecting Mokap, Kia was given an opportunity to slice her blade down Cage's back. The actor fell to his knees in pain as Kia kicked him onto his back and stomped her foot on Cage's throat. Returning the favour from literal moments ago, Mokap ran to Kia and leapt in the air and expanded leg forward which connected with Kia's head.
Jataaka emerged from behind Mokap but he quickly inflicted a spinning heel kick to the Demon's jaw and followed up with a whirlwind kick where Mokap performed an impressive backflip with his foot connecting under Jataaka's chin and throwing her head back into a wall. Mokap's offense soon ended when Kia sidestepped a shadow kick from Johnny Cage which in turn sent Mokap spilling out of the alleyway and onto the open pavement where fortunately for the Demons, nobody was passing by.
Kia and Jataaka then cornered Johnny Cage with their weapons at the ready. Cage realized that he had been too impulsive to confront the two Demons though if he were able to make it out alive then he'd be able to warn Raiden. Kia motioned Jataaka, signalling for them to both attack and they did. Johnny leapt over Jataaka's sword as she swung it and kicked her in the face though Cage's temporary offense was immediately shut down when Kia flung her boomerang blade which pierced his stomach and caused him to collapse into a ball as Kia ripped the blade out of him.
"Finish him," Kia instructed her friend as she retrieved the satchel that they had dropped during the fight that had just ensued.
Jataaka rose her sword above her head and as she went to strike down the actor a bright flashing light blinded her and Kia as it was sent down the alleyway at a rapid rate before colliding into the two Demons, knocking them back and causing the satchel to fumble out of Kia's hands which revealed its contents as several small cubes sprawled out onto the floor.
Then suddenly, the same bright and white energy surrounded Johnny Cage and picked him up telekinetically and brought him out of the alley. Kia and Jataaka watched as the actor landed beside Mokap in the streets.
"Did I just…" Mokap was astonished by what he just did in the heat of the moment to protect his friend. "I have powers?!"
"We'll discuss it in a moment," Cage decided. "But now we need to get running."
"Oh!" Mokap finally realized that a furious Kia and Jataaka were approaching them. "Run!"
The two friends booked it down the road and to Johnny's car. Kia went to chase after them but Jataaka restrained her.
"What are you doing?!" Kia asked.
"If we follow them then we'd get caught by the public," Jataaka explained. "Let's just get to that forest."
"Fine!" Kia yelled in frustration, though she knew there was nothing better that they could do. "Help me pick up these little boxes."
These cubes that Kia and Jataaka had been carrying were made for easy portability due to their compact state. On one of the cubes faces there was a tiny button which would open up the cube and create the portal. The other faces of the cube had tiny Red Dragon clan logos printed on them to legitimize the product as their own make which was a needed procedure for the trades the clan made involving these wonderful cubes of technology.
Unknown to the Demons was that while being carried telekinetically Mokap, Johnny Cage had scooped up one of the cubes from the ground and was examining it as he and Mokap made it to the actor's car.
"Can you drive, Mokap?" Johnny asked. "I need to make a phone call and check out this cube thing."
"Sure," Mokap answered. "Just explain to me everything."
"Johnny Cage!" called out an excited child. "It's Johnny Cage!"
"Oh hey, kid," Cage said with a smile.
"Can he get a photo?" The child's mother asked.
"Anything for a fan," Johnny accepted the request and got in position with the child as the mother got out the camera on her phone.
"We've gotta get going, Johnny," Mokap said, clearly stressed and needing answers.
"Just a moment," Johnny told his friend.
"I-"
"Just get in the Mercedez!" Cage interrupted whatever Mokap was going to reply with.
Mokap did so and sat in the driver's seat as he waited for Cage to finish interacting with his young fan. Finally, Cage joined him in the car with Mokap frustrated by the sudden mess that his friend had dragged him into.
"So what the hell were those powers you had?" Mokap asked as he started the car. "The green thing?"
"I could ask you the same question," Cage referred to Mokap's own showing of powers. "Thanks for saving me by the way."
"I don't know what I did," Mokap explained. "I've never done that before… I thought the rumours that magic was real was all just some bullshit spouted by lunatics."
"I don't know where my powers come from either," Cage explained. "I discovered them some time after the last time we saw each other."
"What were you doing?" Mokap asked. "Why did you follow those two? How did you know that they were doing… portals?"
"Portals do exist, yes," Johnny confirmed. "I followed them because I recognized their symbol from a sorcerer."
"A sorcerer?!" Mokap felt like he was going down a rabbit hole of learning more and more crazy things which he was believing after what he just saw. "And what is that cube?!"
"I'm not sure," Johnny admitted. "Let me make a phone call…"
Mokap took a quick glance away from the road and peeked at Johnny's phones as he selected a contact titled 'Future GF'.
"And you have a crush?!"
"Oh c'mon, that one isn't even a surprise." Cage remarked, at least he was self aware of his behaviour.
"Heh, true," Even in a situation such as this Johnny was still able to amuse Mokap. "I'll let you do whatever you're thinking of doing."
"I'll get the both of us answers," Cage promised. "Just be patient with me."
"I'll try," Mokap said as Cage began calling someone.
"Hello, Sonya," Johnny greeted as Sonya answered his call.
"You alright?" She asked.
"I am," Cage confirmed. "How about yourself?"
"Doing fine," Sonya answered. "I'm just busy is all."
"Oh well I won't keep you for long," Cage assured her. "I just want to ask if you know where Raiden is?"
"With the Shaolin I think," Sonya said though without certainty. "Why?"
"I just need to speak with him," Cage explained.
"I'll have someone send a message to the White Lotus anyway." Sonya decided as she figured that they'd know how to contact Raiden whether he was with them or not.
"Thank you."
"Happy to help," Sonya said kindly. "Is that all?"
"Yeah it is," He confirmed. "Thanks again."
"Anytime," Sonya offered. "Have a good day, Johnny."
"You too," Cage was happy that he was growing on Sonya and that her more serious personality was rubbing off on himself which was of course beneficial for Cage who was rightfully criticised for his antics. "Cya later."
"Bye," Sonya said her farewells before ending the call.
"So who's Raiden?" Mokap of course still had questions that he needed answering.
"I suppose now I should explain what I've been up to," Cage figured.
"You were heading to that island to shoot a movie I know," Mokap recalled what Johnny had said to him before he left for the island.
"What you don't know is that this was a lie," Cage revealed. "Said island did exist but it was hosting a real fighting tournament," Cage vividly recalled. "I was tricked into accepting the tournament so that I could be an easy loss to Outworld."
"To what?"
"Outworld," he repeated. "It's a realm… a realm is basically a different world to ours or so that's what I took away when Raiden tried explaining it to me."
"I… I need to see this," Mokap was pretty much speechless, constantly being furtherly baffled as he learnt more of this supernatural truth. "So back to my question…"
"Oh right," Cage completely forgot about Mokap's question about Raiden. "Raiden is the Protector God of our realm."
"Gods are real?!"
Cage simply nodded, "I can prove all this to you."
"Holy shit…" Mokap was overwhelmed by all this news. "Can I see him?"
"That's the plan," Johnny revealed. "I want to speak with him to see if he knows anything about those two ladies we fought."
"I'll just trust whatever you're doing," Mokap decided as Cage clearly knew more than he did. The car finally reached Mokap's home in Chicago and he parked the car outside. "And I guess I'll see you later."
"I'll call you when I've gotten in touch with Raiden," Cage planned.
"Sounds good to me," Mokap said as he opened the car door. "Cya then."
"Peace," Cage replied while moving over to the driver's seat as Mokap exited the car. "This has been a looong few weeks…"