The Demon known as Ashrah was embarking on her usual hunt for her own kind in an effort to purify her own soul with her Kriss by slaying those also with tainted souls. She had just finished slaying a Demon by plunging the Kriss into their heart. As she removed the Kriss from her prey, she started hearing footsteps and took cover behind a group of night black obsidian rocks. Due to the rarity of groups in the Netherrealm she assumed it would be members of the Brotherhood of Shadow, and they would attack her on sight due to her betrayal long ago making her an enemy to the cult. She was right.

"Keep an eye out for her!" called out the lady at the front who was leading her fellow cultists. "She couldn't have gone far after killing one of our own!"

Ashrah immediately concluded that they were on the hunt for her again, probably as a result of an altercation she had during her brave trip to the city called Nekros where she ended up killing a couple of Demons who she thought must have been a part of the Brotherhood. Realizing she could ambush the group to firstly remove the threat but secondly to continue her journey of purifying her soul and escaping this evil prison of a realm.

Ashrah leapt over the rocks as the group of cultists had walked past, their back turned to face Ashrah as she prepared an attack utilizing her unique white energy that fittingly represented Heaven though was also ironic for a Demon with such an appearance. She had learnt how to summon this magic from Quan Chi and his spellbooks, as did all his close and strongest servants.

Ashrah blasted an energy beam which blasted the four cultists off their feet and onto the ashy ground. Before one of them could even get to their feet from the explosion, Ashrah wrapped her energy around her Kriss and blasted it into the air until it landed on their target, the cultists head. Ashrah ran to retrieve her Kriss as one of the cultists making their first move of an attack. But Ashrah countered the attack by spinning herself around elegantly, sending more of her magic around her which blasted the attacker into the air before landing atop the Kriss as Ashrah held it over her head.

Ashrah slumped the cultists corpse onto the floor which allowed one of them to find an opening to shoot a fireball while she was occupied with getting the slain Demon off of her blade. However, Ashrah had quick reflexes and saw the oncoming flames in the corner of her eye and instead of continuing to push the corpse off her Kriss she instead used it as a shield to block the attack before finally freeing her weapon from her latest kill. The cultist blasted a second fireball but Ashrah consecutively blasted a ball of her own energy. Ashrah's magic prevailed as the two energies collided, pushing forth the fireball which was now amplified by the white energy. The amalgamation of fire and magic energy was deflected into the face of the cultist, blinding them instantly. This allowed Ashrah to run forth and stab the cultist with her Kriss, killing them.

Ashrah turned to face the fourth cultist who had been leading the others in the little group. She recognized the Demon disguised as a human woman, just like herself. The cultist was named Cilene and one of the best to serve Shinnok and Quan Chi.

"Cilene," Ashrah called out as Cilene herself dusted the soot off her armour. "It's certainly been a while."

"Haven't seen you since you backstabbed our master." Cilene remarked.

"Is that what Quan Chi told you?" Ashrah questioned what she assumed would be responded by a 'yes'. "All I ever did was question one of his orders. For it he tried to have me slain and to be rid of me from the Brotherhood. Maybe I should've let myself get killed as it would've helped get me away from all of you."

"And why didn't you?" Celine bounced back with her own question, not addressing Ashrah's own question.

"I found this," Ashrah presented the Kriss. "While on the run from my own sister who had been forced to try and kill me!"

"Good to hear that foolish treachery doesn't run through your family," Cilene jabbed while her hands suddenly glowed red as she began summoning something which Ashrah didn't find alarming enough to interrupt. "What's so special about that sword anyway?"

"I wouldn't dare tell you." Ashrah replied but didn't answer the question, realizing there was no reason why she should explain how the Kriss worked to an enemy from the Brotherhood.

"Fair enough," Cilene replied as the spell she had been casting summoned a Hellbat to her aid. "I guess I'll have to take it from you."

"Try it and you'll meet its end." Ashrah warned as she got in her fighting stance, ready for Celine to attack.

"Attack, my pretty!" Cilene commanded her Hellbat who swooped in at a rapid speed, weaving past Ashrah's Kriss slash and diving straight onto her neck where the Hellbat sank its teeth into Ashrah's neck for a good few moments before Ashrah was finally able to pry the Hellbat off of her. Ashrah held the Hellbat by its wing and went to cut through them with her Kriss, only for the Hellbat to suddenly disintegrate before the Kriss could slice through it.

"Reliant on your pet to defeat me?" Ashrah turned her attention to Cilene.

"No," Cilene denied the accusation plainly. "But you seem reliant on that sword of yours. So consider my little Dodger my weapon."

"Its name is Dodger?" Ashrah was surprised by the admittedly adorable choice of name for such a monstrous creature.

"His name is Dodger!" Cilene rather aggressively corrected. "And he's bloodthirsty!"

Suddenly, Dodger reformed right where he had originally vanished from and quickly dashed into Ashrah, disintegrating once more upon impact. Ashrah had realized that Dodger's attacks were being orchestrated by Cilene herself and decided she needed to target the cultist herself. Once directing Dodger into facing directly in front of the commanding Cilene before blasting another beam of white energy with the expectation that Dodger would use his disintegration trick to avoid the attack. Her prediction was correct, and the beam collided with Cilene which knocked her to the ground for a brief moment. To get to Cilene before she recovered, Ashrah used her energy to turn her into a torpedo as she shot forth which led to her butting heads with Cilene right as she had just stood back up.

"It's over!" Ashrah shouted as she readjusted her hat and pressed her foot down on Cilene's neck. "If you won't join me then go home and tell Quan Chi to leave me alone!"

Cilene growled having heard this. "We weren't even looking for you this time…"

"Then who-" Ashrah went to ask but Cilene already knew what the oncoming question would be.

"Sareena," Cilene interrupted with the answer. "You remember her right?"

"I heard great things about her," Ashrah confirmed. "Never did get to work with her but I'm glad she finally decided to get away from your mad cult."

"It's all we have." Cilene said as Dodger attacked from behind Ashrah by blasting a fireball to her back. This allowed Cilene to suddenly draw her knife and try and stab Ashrah. Cilene swung her blade but Ashrah used her Kriss to block the attack and disarm Cilene of her knife before stabbing Cilene in the stomach.

"I'm sorry," Ashrah apologized. "I didn't want to kill you."

"I'm used to it by now…" Cilene replied weakly as she fell to the floor, clutching her fatal wound. "It's only a minor setback… and a reason to make you my next target."

"Then don't let Quan Chi push you around when you return having failed," Ashrah instructed. "Or even Shinnok."

"Are you insane!?" Cilene cried out. "D-defy Lord Sh-Shinnok?! I can't!"

"Then don't return to the Brotherhood when you next reform," Ashrah suggested. "You don't have to be a slave of Shinnok and his paramour."

"There's nothing to do in this place besides serve him," Cilene pointed out. "All we can do is serve or be hunted… It's not even that bad."

"You don't know good so you wouldn't be able to tell," Ashrah said as she knelt beside her. "I hope someday you will stand up for yourself."

"Quan Chi saved me!" Cilene believed. "He gave me some purpose! He did the same for you but you were just ungrateful!"

"He did not," Ashrah tried clarifying. "He and Shinnok are monsters who seek to control everything and everyone! just like how they control you."

"And I suppose you know so much about the difference between bad and good," Cilene remarked. "Because there's totally so much of it here."

"I…" Ashrah tried her hardest to come up with a response but as she did Cilene had passed away, soon to reform somewhere in this plane of the Netherrealm.

Ashrah stood up as she surveyed the eerily silent area, looking for any more cultists. The silence was soon broken as some shouting could be heard echoing throughout the plane behind a nearby hill that acted as an entrance or exit into the Netherrealm Highway. Ashrah ran around the large rocky hill to investigate the commotion which although she hadn't found the group yet the ruckus was being caused by Sareena being surrounded by three cultists called Siann, Mika and Sora who were arguing with the Brotherhood traitor.

"I'm tired of serving an insane cause!" Sareena yelled in defense of her betrayal. "What will you even gain from killing me again?!"

"We've been commanded to take you back to Master Chi's Fortress alive," Sora clarified. "Come peacefully and you may just be accepted back into the Brotherhood."

"I don't want that!" Sareena said with confidence. "I'm not even a threat to you people! Just let me go…"

"We will not defy Master Chi's orders," Siann commented. "He wants you back and imprisoned as proper punishment for your betrayal."

"And if she escapes it's only a matter of time before she joins one of our enemies." Mika assumed logically.

"I was killed!" Sareena pointed out. "How is that not punishment enough?"

"You roaming here makes the Brotherhood nervous," Mika commented. "Especially when you know our plans."

"And who is here for me to disclose this information too?" Sareena asked. "I haven't seen a single poor soul since reforming here."

"It's more so about if you escaped here," Sora clarified. "Come now."

"No." Sareena bravely refused.

"What?"

"NO."

"Well then," Siann paused to let out a sigh. "Ladies, you know what we must do."

"Of course." Mika confirmed as she drew her Wind Blade weapon which bore a resemblance to the pinwheel toy from Earthrealm. It was only fitting that the Netherrealm equivalent of the toy would be a deadly weapon.

Siann silently drew what appeared to be a large knife which went by the name of the Demon Fang and Sora summoned a cudgel through a burst of her own magic energy. The three armed cultists began circling Sareena who equipped her pair of kama as she prepared for action. Sareena had retained her weapons during her reformation as in the Netherrealm you would retain items carried with you for long enough that Hell itself considered the object a part of you.

Mika attacked first, the Wind Blade's blades spinning rapidly as she swung the much larger weapon to Sareena's kama at the traitor. Sareena tried blocking but her kama got caught up in the spinning blades and lost one while trying to guard herself. She managed to stab her other kama into Mika which stopped her attack momentarily as she began struggling in pain to pull the impaled kama out of her side.

Now unarmed, Sareena was left even more vulnerable as Siann and Sora joined in the fight. Siann went to slash at Sareena with the Demon Fang but Sareena managed to duck the attack and snatch the weapon off of Siann's hands as she rose up. Sora leapt in the air and went to land her cudgel over Sareena's skull but Sareena blocked it with the Demon Fang. Sora had still used enough force to knock Sareena to the floor, which left her vulnerable for Mika and Siann to start beating up the grounded Sareena with intentions of leaving her unconscious to take back to Quan Chi's Fortress.

"Hey!" Ashrah had finally found the source of the noises she had been hearing and had her Kriss at the ready to defend the ganged up on Sareena. "Leave her alone!"

"It's that Ashrah girl!" Mika pointed out.

"Then we'll take both of them in." Siann decided.

As Sora still struggled with Sareena, Mika and Siann ran over to Ashrah. When the pair got close to Ashrah she spun around with her energy surrounding her and hitting Mika and Siann up into the air. Ashrah grabbed Mika by her legs and threw her into Siann as the pair crashed back into the ground. Mika got up quickly and spun her Wind Blade around in an attempt to stop Ashrah's offense. Ashrah back away from the attacks before executing her common blast of white energy which sent Mika flying back into Siann who had just stood up behind her.

Meanwhile, Sora had used her cudgel to bat the Demon Fang off of Sareena which left her unarmed for a second time. Sora went to stab the spiked part of the cudgel into Sareena's stomach in an attempt to get her to stop fighting back by wounding her badly enough. Sora lowered the cudgel down, only for Ashrah to slide in and block the lowering cudgel with her Kriss. Ashrah turned to Sora and threw a punch to her face, causing Sora to stagger back. Sora ran wildly at Ashrah and went to return the favour only for Ashrah to sidestep the oncoming strike and trip Sora to the floor before scooping the Demon Fang from the floor as Sora, Mika and Siann regrouped.

"Go away," Ashrah demanded. "Are we really worth your lives? You could become lost forever upon reformation if you're unlucky…"

"You can't kill all three of us!" Siann said confidently.

"I just got done with slaying Cilene and some others from the Brotherhood," Ashrah revealed. "I'm perfectly capable of defying the odds."

"Cilene deserved it," Siann remarked harshly. "I'll thank you if I never see her again."

"Not this again," Mika sighed. "Stop being jealous of her impressing Master Chi."

"Well for once she's failed!" Siann cheered. "But we shall not."

"Siann, wait!" Sora tried to stop her as Siann ran forth alone at Ashrah, snatching the cudgel Sora was wielding out of her hands to use against Ashrah as she wielded the Kriss and the Demon Fang together.

Siann spun the cudgel around, both ends of the stick covered by spiked metal to inflict pain on whoever would be on the receiving end of such a unique weapon. The stick itself was made up of a material exclusive to the Netherrealm going by the name of warped wood. Ashrah blocked the first spin attack with her Kriss and then the second with the Demon Fang. Ashrah then began rapidly striking at the middle of the cudgel with the Demon Fang until the blade tore the cudgel in half, opening Siann to be stabbed in the chest by Ashrah's Kriss.

"I…" Siann went to make a comment about the painful wound she had just suffered but quickly collapsed to the ground which cut her speech off. "I'll get revenge for this…"

"I look forward to it," Ashrah commented as she stabbed Siann again, this time killing her. "I suggest you two leave or share her fate."

"Fine," Sora complied as Mika stood behind Sora while giving frightened glances at the corpse of her friend. "Let's return to Master Chi's Fortress, Mika."

Mika nodded quietly as she followed Sora who began walking away from the two traitors. "We'll be back!"

Ashrah ignored the warning and instead turned to Sareena who lay on the floor, mesmerised by Ashrah's fighting performance. Ashrah dropped the Demon Fang to free one of her hands to offer Sareena.

"Thank you," Sareena said graciously as she accepted her hand. "I wasn't expecting to be rescued by an Angel today."

Ashrah laughed having been called an Angel, a species only residing in the Heavens. "I wish I was one," Ashrah commented. "But I am a Demon like most here. Apologies that my appearance suggests otherwise."

"Where'd you even find such garbs?" Sareena asked as it was unusual to see such colours and such unique clothing pieces such as Ashrah's hat and her kimono-like dress.

"From this old temple… or a shrine maybe?" Ashrah answered though unsure herself. "Despite the condition of the structure itself this attire was in pristine condition on a mannequin where this Kriss rested on the floor before it."

"Sounds ominous," Sareena said as she retrieved her kama and even decided to take the Demon Fang weapon for herself. "Well it's certainly an upgrade to the armour we have to wear in the Brotherhood."

"It covers and thus protects you well but it brings bad memories I know." Ashrah understood Sareena's point.

"I heard stories about you defying the Brotherhood and going on to being a grand Demon slayer," Sareena revealed. "It was an inspiring tale."

"Thank you but it's nothing really." Ashrah humbly thanked her.

"It is," Sareena disagreed. "I never knew of anyone who could stand up to the Brotherhood like that. It was hearing your story and this Earthrealmer that I managed to-"

"I know." Ashrah interrupted.

"You've heard of me?" Sareena assumed, though she was surprised that Ashrah did know her.

"Well yes, you were a formidable servant to the Brotherhood," Ashrah confirmed while also praising the Demon. "But I never knew that you had gone rogue until Cilene told me. I thought they were hunting me."

"Well they'll return after the both of us now," Sareena reasonably assumed which had only been further clear by Mika's warning. "And in greater numbers."

"You're right," Ashrah agreed. "Do you... need a place to stay?"

"I don't want to remain idle here for any longer than necessary," Sareena denied the generous offer. "Thank you though."

"Well that's good to hear," Ashrah stated. "Because so do I."

"Then should we go and try and find a portal at the Highway?" Sareena suggested.

"I have another method," Ashrah gestured to her Kriss. "This blade removes corruption from my soul everytime I slay a being with a corrupted soul of their own, which I can sense using this weapon."

"Wait," Sareena paused. "Wh-why haven't you attacked me?"

"While our time in the Brotherhood has tainted both our souls, I can still sense an act of your own that has cleansed yourself at least slightly," Ashrah described which Sareena found this ability impressive as she began processing what she did to cleanse part of her soul. "Also I can relate to your situation, and you're pretty… uh… pretty kind I mean."

"Th-thanks," she smiled brightly at the compliment. "So how will we get out together if only you have the Kriss?"

"Take it in turns," Ashrah suggested. "It's only the killing blow that matters so doing so shouldn't be too difficult."

"I'm liking the sound of this plan, friend," Sareena said in approval. "Shall we get going?"

"Follow me," Ashrah instructed as they continued through the plane. "I assure you that slaying the monsters in this place is much quicker than trekking through those endless Highways in hope for the hope of a portal."

"You're clearly much more experienced in this than I," Sareena had noticed. "So I believe you."

As their discussion continued while on their hunt for more enemies, a sudden noise echoed throughout the Netherrealm again, yelling once again but this time from a man's voice. Sareena and Ashrah mutually agreed to investigate the noise, perhaps it was another defectant from the Brotherhood of Shadow also being hunted they thought.

It had come from one of the tunnel entrances mined into the nearby hill that led to the Netherrealm Highway where the source of the sound could be heard. Sareena and Ashrah turned back and approached the bottom of the hill again, keeping their backs against the obsidian rocks that inhabited the steep elevation that towered over them but also checking that no rocks were collapsing. They reached where the tunnel was and found the entrance occupied by a Wraith attacking a Spectre with their scythe, yelling threats as they did so.

"I'll kill you, Scorpion!" They warned. The Wraith of course went by the name of Noob Saibot and he had finally reached Scorpion's location and had chased him out of the Netherrealm Highway. "I've been informed that Spectres don't reform! You'll be damned once I get a hold of you!"

"What's going on here?!" Sareena asked, raising her voice to gain the attention of both men.

"Sareena?!" Noob still recognized Sareena, though Sareena couldn't immediately recognize Bi-Han due to his major change in appearance since their last encounter. "It's… me."

"Bi-Han?" Sareena guessed correctly.

"I prefer to go by a new name now," he clarified. "Noob Saibot."

"You know this guy?" Ashrah asked which Sareena nodded in confirmation.

"Wh-what happened to you?" Sareena was shocked by the revelation. "Did you… not escape the Brotherhood?"

He shook his head. "What's become of me is because of HIM!" He yelled while pointing a finger to Scorpion.

"Bi-Han, calm down," Sareena instructed. "Please."

"It's Noob!" Saibot yelled, more aggressive this time in correcting Sareena. "And this man murdered me! Why should I calm down?!"

"It was a misunderstanding," Scorpion clarified. "I had been tricked by Quan Chi into thinking he had killed my family and led the attack on my clan."

"You too served Quan Chi?" Ashrah was surprised by the amount of servants to her former master that she had been encountering as of late.

"For a brief time," Scorpion confessed. "I never joined his Brotherhood but after I died and entered this place he offered me vengeance. He was just stringing me along to retrieve an amulet."

"Shinnok's Amulet?!" Sareena quickly guessed. "You… didn't get him it right?"

"No I did not." Scorpion said reassuringly.

"Well he has it," Noob revealed. "Care to explain how that is? Or do you lie to everyone you meet?!"

"You've seen him with it?" Sareena continued her questioning.

"Yes." Noob confirmed though said nothing more about the matter.

"He's joined the Brotherhood of Shadow." Scorpion revealed as he noticed that Noob himself wasn't going to.

"What?!" Sareena cried out in shock. "Why join them?!"

"I'm not here to discuss my loyalties with the likes of you, Sareena," Noob said disdainfully. "Just know that I have found a family that truly cares for me."

"What of the Lin Kuei?" Sareena's constant questions were beginning to unintentionally frustrate Noob more than he already was.

"They're dead to me," Noob harshly commented, not wishing to give any details to Sareena. "Now where were we, Scorpion? I believe your second death has been postponed long enough."

"Peace!" Ashrah demanded. "We can work together! To escape this place together!"

"Please, Bi-Han," Sareena tried to calm him down. "Why not work together to defeat the man who deceived Scorpion into killing you?"

"Because that man SAVED me!" Noob snapped at Sareena. "When I was being turned into this monster in this damn place the only person who even spoke to me was Quan Chi!"

"If I had found you sooner then I would've… I could've helped…" Sareena was beginning to regret not being there before Bi-Han became… this.

"You should have!" Noob yelled. "I helped you break free of the Brotherhood yet you were never there to help!"

"I didn't know what had happened," Sareena tried explaining herself. "I'm sorry."

"You wouldn't have even recognized me!" Noob continued arguing. "If you had found me you would've just walked on by!"

"That's enough!" Ashrah shouted. "Leave her alone! It's not her fault what happened and it isn't Scorpion's fault for your death!"

"It is partly," Scorpion confessed. "Had I not been blinded by anger then he would've never died… and I would've never made the foolish decision to return here to try confronting the sorcerer."

"Point is that Quan Chi is to blame… mostly." Ashrah accused.

"Enough!" Noob had reached his breaking point and continued attacking Scorpion who kept dodging the attacks rather than fighting back as Scorpion felt that doing so would be unfair.

"Bi-Han!" Sareena called for. "Stop!"

"Bi-Han is dead!" Noob shouted back. "There is only Noob Saibot!"

Ashrah blasted her energy at Noob, creating distance between the Spectre and the Wraith as Noob fell backwards. Noob was soon pulled to his feet by Saibot but Ashrah stood in his way, causing another standoff.

"I said similar words not so long ago at the tournament," Scorpion attempted to relate with the Wraith. "I came up with the title of Scorpion, mainly because of what it symbolizes but also to try and abandon my past. You can't forget who you really are, Bi-Han."

"You killed Bi-Han," Noob reminded him. "You have no right to lecture me!"

"I'm telling you I understand," Scorpion clarified. "But we should be focusing our anger on Quan Chi."

"Stop it!" Noob cried out. "He's a good man!"

"How has he manipulated you this much?" Scorpion wondered.

"Die!" Noob ran at the Spectre but was once again blasted back by Ashrah.

"Either aid us or leave," Ashrah presented the Wraith two options. "If not then I'll kill you."

"We shouldn't kill him, Ashrah!" Sareena argued against the idea. "Bi-Han, please join us! We'll get you help!"

"I'd do anything but align with him!" Noob answered firmly, his mind made up.

"Then walk away," Ashrah ordered. "I've slain enough members of the Brotherhood for today… or tonight… whatever time it is."

"You lose track of time down here," Sareena stated which all residing in the Netherrealm could agree and relate to. "What year even is it in this place?"

"I'm still here." Noob brought their attention back to him. "And I'm getting to Scorpion. Whether or not I have to go through the two of you is something you must decide."

"Don't turn the decision to us," Ashrah said as she drew her Kriss and approached the Wraith. "Here's what you need to know, Wraith… I stand in your way so you should either turn back now or go through another painful death."

"Ashrah surely we can-" Sareena tried reasoning again but Noob interrupted her.

"Then stop me!" Noob readied his scythe and quickly hooked it into Ashrah's shoulder. "Or die trying…"

Ashrah blasted a third beam of energy which pushed Noob back again. Ashrah went to pull the scythe out of her shoulder but Noob simply called for the scythe back to him while simultaneously blasting a ghostly fireball which caught Ashrah off guard and struck her, it's shadow energy that all Wraiths adopted surged through Ashrah momentarily which caused Ashrah to become dazed and confused as Noob teleported above her and landed a kick which dropped her to the ground. Noob went to finish off Ashrah quickly by going to land his scythe into the heart of Ashrah but Sareena panicked and on the spot decided to throw a kama into Noob's chest, wounding him momentarily.

"I'm sorry." Sareena apologized before charging her fist with a pinkish flame and striking a punch into the face of Noob, causing him to stumble backwards as he felt his face burning painfully.

"You dare attack me?!" Noob stood up even angrier than before with his focus now on Sareena. "I'll destroy all three of you!"

"You can't defeat us alone," Ashrah pointed out. "Be gone."

"Just you three wait!" Noob gave a warning similar to Mika when she and Sora made their retreat. "I will inform Quan Chi of this alliance and next we meet I will have the numbers advantage and the three of you shall fall to Shinnok's rule!"

"We'll already be gone by then." Ashrah confidently replied as Noob fell through a portal he summoned at his feet, returning him to Quan Chi's Fortress.

Noob walked through the Fortress' entrance, being met by Shinnok as he lectured Mika and Sora who had also returned not too long ago. Noob didn't even turn to Shinnok, too ashamed to face the Dark Lord.

"Well?!" Shinnok's attention turned to Noob who had tried sneaking past him. "Has the Spectre been dealt with?"

"No," Noob bluntly admitted. "He had the aid of one of your former servants and another woman named Ashrah."

"If this is the Ashrah I believe you're referring to then they are also a traitor to our Brotherhood," Shinnok informed him. "And who is the other traitor you refer to?"

"Sareena," Noob revealed. "I demand more forces to stop their alliance."

"Don't you dare make demands to me!" Shinnok raised his voice as he was clearly angered by Noob's choice of wording. "And Quan Chi has already been sending hunters to capture those traitors! These two just returned from another FAILED attempt."

"S-sorry again!" Mika apologized.

Shinnok sighed as he came to a realization on what he must order. "However, since you all are obviously incapable with accomplishing your assigned tasks for the Brotherhood then I suppose I must grant your wishes for more support."

"Thank you for your generosity, Lord Shinnok!" Mika said with genuine gratefulness.

"Don't think this is me letting such failures slide," Shinnok wanted to make his intentions clear while also continuing to strike fear in his servants. "I am only granting this as a result of YOUR incapabilities as servants!"

"We'll try harder," Sora promised. "Now we'll make sure to locate Siann and Cilene for you, Lord Shinnok."

"I know you will," Shinnok was certain of their success. "For if you can't complete this simple task then I shall personally not expel you throughout this plane but instead hold you in my prison for an eternity. Am I clear?!"

"Yes, Lord Shinnok." Sora and Mika replied in unison.

"What can I do?" Noob sought for work to keep himself occupied, also as a method to release anger.

"You will wait for Quan Chi," Shinnok commanded. "Clearly he is best at managing you."

"Hmph." Was all Noob responded with before stropping upstairs.

"Let's get going now, Mika." Sora stood from her knelt position as the two had taken a knee to signify a bow of respect to their lord.

"Wait one question," Mika looked up at Shinnok seeking approval to ask him something.

"Yes?" Shinnok asked with obvious annoyance being clear in his tone of voice.

"Are you okay?" Mika rather adorably asked the Fallen Elder God with such a question causing Sora to put the palm of her hand over her face.

"Am I okay?!" Shinnok repeated, finding such a question to be a surprise. "I have given you all the privilege of accommodation and occupation in a place like this! And in return I receive constant failures! If you do my bidding then I expect success always! Meanwhile fools like Kia and Jataaka have deployed the portals I had ordered in this Earthrealm 'country' which despite Shao Kahn's invasion is in fine condition!"

"That's why we've been waiting to do our own invasion?" Mika assumed.

"Yes," Shinnok confirmed as Mika changed from her knelt state and instead crossed her legs as she sat on the floor, listening to Shinnok intently. "If Shao Kahn's invasion succeeded then we'd have targeted Outworld first, if he lost then we could have taken advantage of the damages done to Earthrealm… which have now been reversed. Even now the Elder Gods mock me still."

"They fixed the realm?" Mika guessed. "But how?"

"They're the Elder Gods!" Shinnok reminded her. "They can do anything!"

"What's the plan now?" Sora asked.

"Kia and Jataaka will be gathering the portals they placed and go to a cave near Raiden's Sky Temple," Shinnok began detailing the new plan. "The Sky Temple is where Earthrealm's Jinsei is located, so it is ideal to place the portals nearby for my army to attack the temple at full force."

"Brilliant plan, Lord Shinnok." Mika praised.

"Thank you," Shinnok said which surprised Mika as Shinnok having such mannerisms was a rarity. "Now get to work!"

As Sora and Mika headed off to find and return both Siann and Cilene to Quan Chi's Fortress, Quan Chi himself headed down the spiral of stairs with the Gem of Tetsurri being cradled carefully in his hands.

"I have it, Lord Shinnok." Quan Chi informed as he held the Gem up for Shinnok to examine.

"Excellent," Shinnok commented as he took the Gem off of his best servant. "Let us head to the spell pit where I shall conduct my spell."

The two walked upstairs until reaching the library of spellbooks where in the room also lived a pit filled with blood which was surrounded by runes, calling for something to be created from within. Shinnok's first act was to simply drop the Gem of Tetsurri inside the pit and waited as it began sinking beneath the blood as Shinnok began calling for a spell of resurrection.

The runes surrounding the pit began glowing a bright red as the spell progressed and the blood began glowing and that glow was green. Souls. All the souls that Tetsurri had drawn into the Gem to join his punishment trapped within the Gem for an eternity out of spite. This legend was appearing to be true as multiple souls rested in the enchanted pit of blood. Shinnok then cast another spell, the souls taking physical forms now. One by one, undead recreations of fallen Saurians began emerging from the pool, idly standing as they filled up the room with Shinnok having to take pauses to direct his newfound army outside the Fortress which they complied immediately and lined up neatly at the entrance. The only physical change in each of the Saurians was that their eyes were now glowing red, the rest of their bodies maintained their excellent strong forms from before their passing.

The resurrection of the countless souls of the fallen Saurians finally ceased once Tetsurri himself emerged from the pool, he was already evil enough to not require being put in a brainwashed state and thus retained his normal but still intimidating eyes. Shinnok and Quan Chi smiled as the former ruler of Zaterra turned to them.

"What is this?!" Tetsurri asked as he looked at his hands, processing that he had a physical body once more. "Explain yourselves!"

"Settle down, Emperor," Shinnok instructed. "We have brought your soul and your body back together. To serve my cause."

"I do not serve, Shinnok," Tetsurri clarified. "I rule."

"And rule you shall," Shinnok assured him. "Zaterra was recently restored… and I want it. If you join me then you are a part of my cause and thus I shall grant you the throne."

"With what army?" Tetsurri asked, though he was more than interested in the proposal.

"Look over the balcony here." Shinnok gestured for him to have a look at the view, which he did.

"How did you do this?" Tetsurri looked upon the undead army of Saurians in awe though was shocked and was taking in a lot at this moment.

"Dark magic," Shinnok informed. "So, care to join me?"

Tetsurri grinned. "Absolutely."