Mortal Kombat: Reborn

by Froster 23

This hard reboot retells the Mortal Kombat story, focusing on the events of the Original Timeline starting from the tournament and concluding at Armageddon. Featuring a vast cast, including characters from the games, other official media, and original characters, this is the most expansive MK story yet. Constructive feedback is always welcome, and I thank you for reading!

70. Battle of the Realms

The powerful energy blast from the central gem of Shinnok's Amulet finally ceased after it had collided with the immobile Raiden's entire body. Once Shinnok released the hand that bound Raiden, the Thunder God collapsed to the ground, completely sapped of life.

"Dead at last," Shinnok commented as he stood over Raiden's body. "I shall see you again once I make my trip to the Heavens after seizing the other realms first."

"Shinnok!" Cetrion yelled as she levitated herself into the Jinsei Chamber. "What have you done!?"

"I have corrupted the Jinsei!" Shinnok revealed proudly.

"How could you do such a thing?!"

"Well…" Shinnok went to begin his explanation but Cetrion cut him off.

"Not how!" she interrupted. "Why?! Why do all this?!"

"It brings me one step closer to destroying those damn Elder Gods!" Shinnok told her. "How many times must I clarify this?!"

"That's pure evil!" Cetrion claimed.

"You've tolerated them longer than I have," Shinnok pointed out, "you must know how bad they are too."

"You aren't going to turn me against them!" Cetrion claimed as she landed on the ground, the stone floor now with cracks where the red essence flowed between.

"And you won't turn me against my genius plans!" Shinnok said back, knowing fully well that Cetrion would try such a thing.

"Just come home," Cetrion pleaded. "Mother misses you."

"And I shall visit her once my task in the other realms is complete," Shinnok promised as pointed to the ground where Raiden lay lifeless. "That involves dealing with anybody… anybody who stands in my way."

"After what you did to my sons I already know," Cetrion said as she began to get frustrated with her brother.

"A necessary act to assure a greater future," Shinnok defended himself. "That better future is growing nearer each second."

"Yes," Cetrion agreed, "a future without you."

"Don't make me do this, Cetrion," Shinnok requested. "I do not wish to fight you."

"I don't want to fight either!" Cetrion told her brother. "But I will get in the way of this."

"Then you heard what I said before," Shinnok said in reference to telling Cetrion he would destroy anybody in his way. "Get out of my way!"

As Shinnok yelled he sent a blast of his Amulet at Cetrion. Unlike Quan Chi and Raiden, Cetrion was capable of avoiding the blast by creating a wall made from the rubble of the broken Jinsei Chamber and then rolling aside once the power of Shinnok's Amulet had made its way through the makeshift wall.

Cetrion moved around the room with the Jinsei itself being in the way of the two. However, Shinnok had the idea to send a projectile from his Amulet through the corrupted Jinsei essence. This only further amplified the blast's power but Cetrion had fortunately dodged the blast, causing it to explode against the stone walls which obliterated an entire side of the room.

As Cetrion was climbing to her feet after diving to the floor to avoid the blast, Shinnok charged at her with the Amulet Staff which he still wielded also, as even the replica Amulet provided power too. He plunged the spikes at the end of the Amulet Staff into Cetrion and pushed her back before she fell from the edge that had been created from one of the explosions, caus8ng her to slip and fall off the Sky Temple.

Shinnok knew that wouldn't be enough to defeat her sister, but it gave him enough time to insert his Amulet within the Jinsei essence. Some of the deadly essence seeped into the magical gem in the centre of the artifact, empowering it further. As he finished doing this, Cetrion had flown herself back up and onto the platform, gasping at the sight of Shinnok making his Amulet even more lethal.

"Was it not enough before?!" she asked angrily.

"No actually," Shinnok answered as he removed the Amulet from the Jinsei essence. "It is a weapon that shall kill the Elder Gods themselves. It must be as powerful as can be."

"It must be destroyed," Cetrion corrected before flying at Shinnok with a spinning kick amplified by all her elemental abilities which struck Shinnok and threw him into the remaining wall.

Shinnok grunted as rage overcame his face and he blasted Cetrion with the Amulet again, launching her into the sky. Shinnok soo flew up to catch her as gravity pulled her down. Shinnok tisked as he held his sister before grabbing her by her seaweed like hair and dragged her further into the sky, passing through clouds.

"What are you doing?!" Cetrion yelled though she could not be heard as the two had now reached space itself, their God status making the lack of air no concern for them.

Shinnok set out for the moon itself and threw Cetrion into the grey surface. Shinnok then sent a third blast from his Amulet at Cetrion, creating a crater within the moon which Cetrion now lay within. Seeing Cetrion lay on the moon completely still, Shinnok flew back to build up speed for when he came speeding back forth, going to impale his Amulet Staff within Cetrion. Before Shinnok could brutally murder his sister, Cetrion fought back with a masive beam of her own that channeled all her elements and blasted Shinnok back to Earth.

Looking at the distant planet of Earth from afar, Cetrion could only see a cloudy sphere of thick red mist. The corruption being emitted from the tainted Jinsei essence. Cetrion was overcome with a sense of dread as she watched the corruption spread, soon to cover the entire realm and steal all life if she couldn't stop her brother.

Back at Earth itself, the heroes were processing the terrifying sight of the crimson sight. Before Shinnok had corrupted the Jinsei, Sonya had obeyed Raiden's demands and had gathered as many of her fellow Defenders as possible. She stood beside Johnny and Mokap still, the latter of the two even more freaked out by the unnatural change in sky colour.

Along with that trio was the duo of Nightwolf and his good ally Zonta. Nightwolf had been fighting the Netherrealm hordes using the powers blessed by the Great Spirit, while Zonta helped distract the enemies for him as the two watched out for each other.

"There appears to be too many!" Zonta exclaimed. "What shall we do?!"

"We keep fighting!" Nightwolf stated the only thing they could do.

"You did call those reinforcements right?" Mokap asked Sonya anxiously. "Right?!"

"Yes!" Sonya assured him. "I called Hsu, he'll be quick to send the reinforcements. Just keep this defense up."

"What is there to defend?!" Mokap asked. "Whatever that Jinsei thing is, it's not looking so good anymore!"

Mokap gave a horrified glance at the red burst of energy that shot into the sky from the Jinsei itself. Despite his lack of awareness regarding the situation, Mokap was right, they had failed at defending the Jinsei Chamber.

"Where's Raiden?" Cage asked. "We should find him."

"Whatever you're planning, decide quickly!" Nightwolf requested as he and Zonta held off a group of oncoming Demons with their respective weapons.

"We have to defend ourselves!" Sonya stated.

"I'll go and find Raiden!" Johnny decided and went to run off but Sonya dragged him back.

"Stand your ground!" she ordered.

"Something clearly isn't right!" Johnny pointed up to the sky. "I have to find Raiden or anybody else who can help."

"It's Raiden, he'll find us," Sonya believed.

"And the fact he hasn't concerns me more," Johnny countered. "You'll be fine, especially with those reinforcements."

"It's not me I'm worried about," Sonya tried to clarify.

"Oh," Johnny looked at Mokap. "Don't worry, buddy, I'll get more help!"

"I'm worried about you!" Sonya finally admitted. "I care about you a lot!"

"You do?" Cage sounded surprised.

"Of course!" Sonya confirmed. "At first I just saw you as some Hollywood jackass. But now? Well… actually we don't have time for me to tell you. Just come here."

"Huh?" Cage was confused as Sonya dragged him into her arms before kissing him, after the shock had passed Johnny gladly returned the gesture.

"I love you," Sonya told him.

"I love you too," Johnny revealed.

"Yeah that wasn't much of a secret," Sonya remarked in reference to how he and Sonya met at Shang Tsung's Island. "Now go and get help, Johnny Cage."

"Yes, ma'am," Cage replied with a smile before running off, smashing through any Netherrealmers who tried confronting him with his skills in martial arts.

"Sorry," Sonya apologised to her allies for being momentarily distracted by her new boyfriend. "Now where is Hsu?"

Hsu Hao was guarding the portal operation room in the Special Forces main headquarters, where reinforcements from the SF itself as well as the likes of the White Lotus waited in case they were called to join the battle. Hsu had received the call to send in reinforcements, but soon after he received a second expected call which he saw as a much greater priority. He answered the call to Mavado.

"Sir?" Hsu Hao asked as he spoke to Mavado, looking throughout the isolated corridor in case there were witnesses. "Is it time?"

"I take it you've seen the sky, Hsu," Mavado assumed.

"Yes," he bluntly confirmed.

"Well let's not allow them anymore help now," Mavado instructed, "you know what to do with the explosives I sent you."

"Of course, sir," Hsu Hao obeyed the order, "there is a portal connected to a cavern near the Sky Temple, I shall enter that before detonating the explosives."

"Excellent," Mavado expressed his approval. "You shall find things going quite well for us. I've caught two rats here. You remember the speedster right?"

"Kabal," Hsu Hao recalled as he entered the portal room and began planting an explosive on each standalone portal device. "What about him?"

"Let's just say he was too slow," Mavado joked as Hsu Hao heard a grunt through the phone which was the voice of said speedster. "He has nice weapons. Might keep them."

"We are permitted to take anything from our foes," Hsu Hao pointed out.

"That was my own rule, Hsu," Mavado laughed. "We've won this. The Grandmaster shall be proud."

"I hope so," Hsu Hao commented as he finished deploying all the explosives. "I am ready to detonate the explosives."

"Then I shall leave you to do so," Mavado informed him. "Not like you must be a spy any longer. Not when after this battle all our Earthrealm enemies will be dead."

"I will see you soon, sir," Hsu Hao promised.

"Goodbye," Mavado said before hanging up and returning to punishing his enemies who were former Black Dragon members.

As Mavado continued fighting at the Sky Temple, Hsu Hao readied the detonator. He took one last glance around the room, his next step would finally end his tenure as a spy amongst the Special Forces. Hsu Hao had met many faces he respected for their own line of work. But now was the time to cut ties, especially since the corrupted life force of the Jinsei would kill all the Earthrealmers anyway. Of course Hsu Hao was safe as all Red Dragon members had received a drop of Daegon's divine blood to cancel out any effects caused by the corrupted Jinsei. Hsu Hao found such a plan to be needlessly extreme, but he would fulfill his obligations nonetheless. He walked towards the portal he had to take to the Sky Temple, detonator at hand.

"Hsu?!" called out the voice of Vera, the Special Forces most respected medic.

"Vera…" Hsu Hao replied with a sigh.

"I doubt things are going well at the Sky Temple," Vera believed as she had noticed the red sky like everybody else. "Surely it is time to use the portals, no?"

"No," Hsu Hao refused plainly.

"Why?!" Vera didn't understand until she properly focused on what Hsu Hao was holding. "What are you… Hsu, no!"

"My apologies for what is to come," he said with a genuine sincerity before walking through the portal.

"Get back here!" Vera yelled as she ran after him, also running through the portal as explosions began to take place behind her as Hsu Hao had detonated the explosives from the other side. Vera barely escaped being blown to bits as she dived through the same portal as Hsu Hao.

Hsu Hao turned back to see Vera trying to get to her feet after her dive. Hsu sighed before walking over to Vera, scooping her up and throwing her up into the air. On her way down, Hsu got one knee which caused Vera's back to land across his knee and cause her to cry out in pain as Hsu threw her against the cavern wall. While pressed against the wall, Hsu Hao ran forth and booted her against it again. Vera's body slumped against the wall and Hsu Hao knelt beside her.

"I apologise again," Hsu Hao repeated. "Out of respect for your line of work, I will spare you for what time you have left."

Vera's only response was throwing a hard punch that caught Hsu Hao on the nose, cutting it open and angering Hsu Hao who shook his head before kicking Vera's own head, knocking her unconscious. With Vera dealt with, Hsu Hao set out to the Sky Temple.

Meanwhile, matters in Outworld weren't going so well for it's defenders. Particularly the Shokan warriors of Goro, Kintaro and Katrina who found themselves surrounded, all of their allies seemingly diverted by any of the many enemy hordes. However, help was still present.

Gagroth went to slam his fist down upon the Shokan beneath him, but a flying hat hurled over and sawed at his massive hand in a spin cycle before rolling back to the culprit. Kung Lao. The man who before this battle had been planned, held a grudge with Goro for his acts against his ancestor the Great Kung Lao. Now he had come to save him and his friends.

Kung Lao did not bring his aid alone, with him were his other Earthrealm companions who had travelled over to Outworld. Upon the group being spotted, Kenshi and Suchin gave each other a mutual nod before charging forth with their katanas to meet the Oni close up. Jax remained back as he prepared to fire the heavy weapons he had arranged to confront such monsters from the Netherrealm.

Gagroth was enraged, going against Drahmin's battle plan to use their masses to overwhelm the opposition, Gagroth broke away from the pack to chase down the man with the razor hat. The Oni that still clung to him were surprised by his sudden amount of speed and either leapt off or fell off, causing even more disorder amongst the battlefield. Such a sight would be treasured by Chaosrealmers.

Liu Kang had joined the charge to battle the Oni up close, but found an opportunity to blast a trio of fireballs that all struck the massive target that was Gagroth's back. He turned around to face the Shaolin Monk, only for the other one to throw his hat which sliced at Gagroth's now burning back. Gagroth let out a roar of rage before stamping both feet onto the ground, shaking the entire island.

"We have to stop that thing!" Kung Lao declared. "Send it back to the Hell it came!"

"That should not be necessary," Liu Kang stated as he fought his way to his friend. "We just have to work together to topple it."

"You'll need more than just the pair of you," came Apep's voice as he and Bo' Rai Cho approached from behind.

"And people make jokes about my weight?!" Bo' Rai Cho remarked as he stared upon the massive Oni Warlord that stood before them.

"Well allow me to cut him down," Kung Lao commented as he threw his hat once again, this time slicing at Gagroth's shins to drop him to his knees.

Bo' Rai Cho then tossed his staff like a javelin towards one of Gagroth's massive eyes, blinding him temporarily. Gagroth held his eye as he groaned in agony, punching the floor with one hand while shielding his injured eye with the other. Said fist ended up crushing several fellow Oni, but Gagroth had paid no attention to what he was destroying.

"Dammit!" Drahmin yelled as he watched what Gagroth was doing amongst the battlefield. "Stop it, Gagroth!"

As Drahmin was distracted by his enraged giant companion, Goro saw the opening to grab Drahmin while his back was turned and launch him into the air before Kintaro caught him and slammed him on the ground brutally.

Moloch went to aid his good friend but Katrina grabbed him and managed to throw herself back, slamming Moloch's back onto the ground as she did so. Someone being able to lift the infamous Oni Destroyer was a rare sight indeed. Before she could capitalise on her enemy being down, Torcher approached and hurled a glob of magma that he had spawned at Katrina. The Tigrar Shokan managed to use her coldest possible Cryomancy to freeze the magma before it scorched her.

As the Oni and the Shokan continued to battle, Liu Kang was looking to knock out the Oni Warlord known as Gagroth. Apep was a very agile man, and was running circles around the Oni Warlord to both distract and frustrate him. Gagroth began throwing punches at the ground around him, trying to crush Apep. When one fist came down, Liu Kang clung onto it as he raised his arms up as he roared in rage.

Liu Kang then dropped from Gagroth's hand and charged his feet with fire as he came down and struck Gagroth in the head with both feet. Upon landing on the giant's forehead, Liu Kang began repeatedly bicycle kicking him until he finally began to fall back. Liu Kang himself began to fall, with Kung Lao hurrying to create a portal with his hat by where he'd land, which fortunately worked and Liu returned before his allies unscaved.

"You alright?" Lao asked his friend.

"Just fine," Liu Kang assured him. "I doubt the same can be said about that Oni though."

"Or the other Oni it has crushed," Apep remarked.

"I hope they aren't dead," Liu Kang admitted. "I didn't intend to cause any deaths…"

"We know, Liu," Bo' Rai Cho said as he placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure you haven't, if that's what you fear. But if you must kill, then you are doing it out of necessity to protect a realm."

"Yeah," Lao agreed.

"I see…" Liu replied as he began looking around to find their Shokan allies. "I'm more concerned about our allies."

Katrina and Torcher struggled in a battle of cold versus heat as Goro and Moloch traded blows. Things seemed to be going well for Kintaro however, as he was on the hunt for Drahmin. Once he finally had his hands on his smaller foe, Drahmin dropped to his knees and slammed his iron club into Kintaro's crotch, causing Kintaro to let out a yowl of pain as he scurried back. Drahmin took his mask off, the only thing that could control his rage, and he screamed as his revolting face stared its glowing grey eyes at Kintaro.

Drahmin ran forth and leapt with his iron club pointing forth, smashing Kintaro in the face. Kintaro was knocked back, falling right into Moloch's massive Mystical Orb which clobbered the Tigrar Shokan to the ground. Goro rushed over to try and help his longtime friend but Moloch and a now feral Drahmin stood in his way, outnumbering him.

Goro wasn't alone though, as Liu Kang leapt over a horde of Oni that was trying to surround him and his White Lotus allies. He landed a cartwheel jump right beside Goro as the two stood opposite the infamous Oni duo.

"We heard you've both been Mortal Kombat Champions," Drahmin recounted the rumours in the Netherrealm. "It shall be a great pleasure to SLAUGHTER YOU BOTH!"

Drahmin sprung forth, but Liu Kang hit a roundhouse kick to counter whatever oncoming attack he sought. Drahmin sprung back up and swung his club around wildly, Liu Kang managing to dodge all the uncalculated attacks. Drahmin still served as a perfect distraction though, as Moloch charged in and rammed Liu Kang into the ground.

Goro set his fists aflame and spun around as he approached Moloch. Despite how powerful the blows from the attacks were, Moloch didn't fall from Goro's brave attempt. However, Moloch was pushed back a fair bit but finally countered the constant blows by raising his Mystical Orb to smash against Goro's fists. To Goro it felt like all four of his hands had just been broken.

Moloch then smashed his signature Mystical Orb around Goro's back to drop him to the ground. Seeing his unlikely friend in danger, Liu Kang ran over, shoving Drahmin aside, and hopping off of Goro's back to gain enough height to land a diving kick into Moloch's top eye. After facing Gagroth, Liu Kang had concluded that the eyes of Oni made for relatively easier targets due to their size and often plentiful amount of them.

Moloch roared as he raised his Mystical Orb in the air and slammed it down, only cracking the ground below as Liu Kang sidestepped the oncoming blunt attack. Liu then kicked Moloch in his thick right leg, but the Oni Beast didn't budge at all. Liu attempted another low kick but the results were the same, only difference being that Moloch was growing angrier. After the third kick, Moloch finally reacted by letting out a loud roar that echoed across the island and spat saliva into Liu Kang's face. Despite the disgusting and admittedly terrifying experience, Liu Kang ran forth to try and keep fighting, but whatever offense he sought was countered by Moloch grabbing Liu Kang by his head, his tree trunk sized hands covering Liu's entire face as Moloch scooped him up with ease and smashed him down. Moloch then stomped on Liu Kang as he tried to recover, pinning him down as he was about to drop his Mystical Orb to crush his enemy's head…

Before Moloch could murder Liu Kang, Goro climbed to his feet, grabbed the Oni Beast from behind and used all of his might to hoist Moloch up onto his shoulders before dropping him aside where Moloch landed on the back of his head and neck. As Moloch squirmed in pain after taking the brutal grappling maneuver, Goro leapt into the air and landed both feet onto him as he squirmed on the ground. Goro kept jumping up and down until Moloch's body stopped moving, rendering him unconscious: a very rare sight indeed.

"Moloch!" Drahmin called out for his friend, trying to wake him. "Damn you both!"

"If you surrender your army then such violence can cease," Liu Kang offered while Goro helped him to his feet. "If not, then there will only be more violence… and unlike me, many of my allies will kill if necessary."

"Psch," Drahmin replied in dismissal of Liu Kang's offer. "We just reform."

"Do you want your people to have to experience needless pain?" Liu Kang questioned, "needless death?"

Drahmin growled as he began repeatedly slamming his iron club against the ground in a burst of rage. He then went to attack but Goro grabbed Liu Kang and hurled his ally at the enemy, Liu kicking Drahmin in the face after being catapulted towards him.

"Final chance," Liu Kang warned. "Please do the right thing. If not for you then for your people."

Unable to handle the powerful emotions he was feeling, Drahmin scurried over to retrieve his mask and quickly placed it back on his face. Able to rationally think once more, Drahmim stood up straight and slowly approached Liu Kang and Goro, clearly not seeking to attack this time.

"I'll…" Drahmin was finally considering the offer. "I'll make the order for us to leave."

"I don't believe that," Goro admitted. "I appreciate your attempt, but we can't trust Oni, Liu Kang."

"Well let my actions speak!" Drahmin yelled in annoyance at Goro's lack of trust. He turned over to Torcher who was still in an even battle with Katrina and said, "Torcher! C'mon! Help me gather everybody! We're going home!"

"What?!" Torcher couldn't believe the orders he had just received, nor could Katrina as the pair abruptly ceased fighting. "You want us to retreat?!"

"Yes!" Drahmin confirmed it plainly.

"But your plan!" Torcher reminded him.

"I'm not fighting for this!" Drahmin decided as he approached Torcher and in a quieter voice he said, "besides, if the Demons have this situation sorted, then we have the time to heal up and enact it later."

"Valid point," Torcher confessed. He turned back to face Katrina, the Shokan he had found impossible to defeat, as did Katrina feel the same about him.

"Good fight," Katrina complimented and deep down admired Torcher's clear strengths as a warrior.

"Indeed," Torcher agreed. "Farewell."

The battle continued, but overtime the Oni began dispersing. What felt like endless hordes of Oni attacking the Shokan and their allies residing in Earthrealm were finally leaving, allowing them to regroup. As they did so, they watched as Torcher walked off holding an unconscious Moloch as Drahmin and Amon stood by their side. What was impossible to miss was at least one hundred Oni all working together to pick up Gagroth and escort to one of the portals which fortunately would transport the souls of those who approached them rather than having to rely on fitting such a giant through one.

"Is that it?" Kung Lao asked. "Have we won?"

"Not yet," Liu Kang said as he pointed towards the structure that housed the Jinsei where it was clear it was overrun with Demons. "We still have to deal with that."

"Just great," Apep said as he caught his breath. He then looked at his master and asked, "shall we get going?"

"Why are you asking me?" Bo' Rai Cho replied as he gestured to Liu Kang. "This man is clearly who should be in charge currently."

"He did just convince an army of Oni to get lost," Lao pointed out as he put a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Proud of you, Liu Kang."

"Thank you," Liu Kang said gratefully as always. "If everybodies ready then it would be best that we get going."

"I'm always ready, man," Jax commented as he, Kenshi and Suchin joined the group of friends and Shokan. "Not sure about these two."

"She can handle herself perfectly fine," Kenshi praised Suchin who smiled at the fellow swordsperson.

"You're not so bad yourself," Suchin commented. "Very impressive actually."

"Before you two start making out," Jax joked, "we have a job to finish fir-"

Jax's sentence was interrupted by his walkie talkie attached to his utility belt sounding static suddenly. The radio was technologically advanced by the Special Forces to allow communication anywhere, even in different realms. Jax picked up the walkie talkie.

"Vera?" Jax called out, the other side of the radio from her new girlfriend which they had arranged to keep updated on the events occuring. "Are you alright?"

"I'm… fine..." Vera mustered enough strength to speak, she clearly sounded the complete opposite of what she claimed. "Are you… with Sonya?"

"You definitely don't sound fine!" Jax said as his concern grew for Vera.

"Just… answer me…" Vera requested.

"We were split up and I'm helping deal with things in Outworld right now," Jax quickly explained. "What's going on, Vera?"

"Hsu… he's a… traitor…"

Jax was shocked by the news, unable to speak as his jaw dropped. Had the news come from anybody else except for Sonya then there'd have been no chance of Jax believing that Hsu Hao would ever betray the Special Forces.

"He destroyed the portals…" Vera continued to detail, "I tried to stop him… he knocked me out for a bit and-"

"He did what?!" Jax felt anger boil through his whole body. "Where are you? Where is Hsu? I'm coming back!"

"You can't!" Vera spoke up. "All our portals… now gone."

"Shit," Jax swore. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I am now…" Vera reassured him. "I was... just hoping to warn the others."

"You're too selfless, Vera," Jax complimented. "Please stay safe for me."

"I will…" Vera promised. "I love you, Jax."

"I love you too," Jax said back with such sincerity. "I have to go. I'll see you later. Make contact if you need to talk."

"Understood," Vera replied. "Goodbye, Jax."

"Bye," Jax said as they ended their call and Jax looked at his allies who had been overhearing the discussion.

"You alright?" Kenshi asked out of concern for his friend.

"I will be," Jax assured him. "Not sure about Vera though… or the others."

"Do you need a moment?" Kenshi offered. "I know you said you're always ready but-"

"I'm ready," Jax reaffirmed. "Let's go."

"Only if you're sure," Liu Kang spoke.

"I am."

"Okay," Liu Kang responded. "Let's go, everybody."

Liu Kang began leading the group of his friends in Earthrealm and the Shokan army with them all behind him. All but one. Liu Kang looked behind his shoulder and quickly realised that the Prince of Kuatan wasn't following. He instructed the army to pause and walked over to check on Goro.

"Something wrong, Prince?" he asked Goro as he knelt on the ground.

"It'll be alright, Kintaro," Goro whispered as Liu Kang realised he was cradling his wounded companion that had been hurt thanks to Moloch.

"I'm sorry," Liu Kang apologised. "I didn't notice…"

"You are not to blame," Goro told him. "Go and help save Outworld."

"Without you?" Liu Kang asked.

"I will tend to the wounded," Goro decided as he stroked Kintaro's fur as he still remained unconscious. "You will be able to handle whatever lies beyond."

"Thank you for your help," Liu Kang expressed his gratitude and prepared to rejoin the rest of his allies. "I shall see you soon, friend."

"Good luck," Goro wished. "Although I doubt you'll need it."

Liu Kang gave the Shokan Prince a nod of respect before heading off with all his supporters as they marched towards the ruins housing Outworlds Jinsei. It was time to end things.

Hsu Hao had alas arrived at the Sky Temple. Not as the Defenders of Earthrealm would've hoped for, but he was still present. Just without help and not as an ally for their side. He walked with haste over to his Red Dragon allies. It had been a while since he had properly been able to battle alongside his true comrades, due to his occupation as a spy. Now he had no reason to hide the truth. The truth that hurt greatly.

Johnny Cage, who had been running around the chaos that was ensuing to try and find Raiden, had finally bumped into a familiar face. Cage ran over to Hsu Hao and went to greet him, only for the traitor to blast him with a lariat before picking him up and dropping him again with a sequence of backbreakers. Johnny writhed across the damp blood stained tiles as Hsu Hao kicked him into a horde of Demons, hoping they would finish him off.

Hsu Hao kept moving until he finally spotted his Red Dragon allies. They were battling a makeshift alliance of the two police officers Pedro and Stryker who were trying to aid Tremor and Tasia. Hsu Hao found the situation ironic, but came to make victory easier nonetheless.

"Look out!" Pedro warned upon seeing Hsu Hao approaching.

"It's alright," Stryker reassured, "he's Sonya's pal. Part of the-"

Stryker was abruptly silenced by a sudden blast from Hsu Hao's heart laser which had such force it threw the officer to the ground. Pedro opened fire on him but Hsu surprisingly leapt over all the bullets and landed both feet on Pedro, stomping him to the ground.

"Red Dragon," he spoke to himself. "I'm part of the Red Dragon."

"And a valuable part of that," Asuka praised as she threw Tasia to the ground before him. "I caught a rat, Hsu."

"Do what you wish with her," Hsu Hao instructed. "So long as she stops being a problem."

"This is fun already," Asuka commented. "Heard the stories of when you were around the base, before being assigned a job as a spy. Can't wait to be around you, sir."

"We aren't here to have fun," Hsu Hao told her. "Stay focused. We've nearly acquired our biggest victory yet. And that includes our ten thousand plus years of history."

"Of course, sir," Asuka complied out of respect for the Mongolian warrior. "Goodbye, Tas. I'll enjoy repeating this in Hell."

"I ain't going there yet," Tasia replied as she suddenly extended her unique weapon as it sprung out into a staff which smacked Asuka in the face as it extended.

"You fuckin' bitch!" Asuka insulted as Tasia kipped up and used the staff to propel herself into the air before landing atop of Asuka, wrapping her legs around her and performing a hurricanrana.

Hsu Hao went to attack Tasia but she backflipped away and slung her weapon against the nearest wall where the stick ends of each metal cylinder that connected the purple energy tech. She used the item to pull herself away as she triggered the two cylinders to come together while she hung onto one end. Tasia let out a sigh of relief, fortunate that she had just evaded near death.

"Tasia?" Sonya spotted her as she had dragged herself near the group of Sonya, Nightwolf and Zonta.

"Shit," Tasia swore. "You should probably know something…"

"What is it?" Sonya questioned.

"Is something wrong?" Zonta asked as she and Nightwolf stood behind Sonya.

"Hsu Hao," Tasia spoke, "he just tried to fucking kill me."

"Bullshit," Sonya immediately denied the accusation.

"You're one of those criminals right?" Nightwolf tried to recall.

"Yes," Tasia owned up. "What about it?"

"Why would we believe such a ridiculous accusation?" Zonta continued the questions. "A ridiculous accusation… from a criminal."

"What the fuck?!" Tasia was beginning to get frustrated again. "Why would I make some random ass accusation right now?!"

"You did work for Kano of all people," Sonya pointed out. "So you're capable of anything."

"Fuck you," Tasia insulted.

"Ignore her," Zonta instructed Sonya. "Let's continue fighting the invaders."

"Hsu Hao is one of those invaders!" Tasia yelled.

"What happened?" Nightwolf asked her.

"I was fighting the Red Dragon," Tasia recalled. "I saw Hsu Hao join them. He is a member of the Red fucking Dragon."

"No," Sonya refused to believe. "Hsu would never."

"You fucking idiot put him in charge of reinforcements!" Tasia snapped at Sonya.

"Be quiet," Sonya ordered.

"And you're being like this when for once I'm trying to help!" Tasia continued to shout.

"Calm down," Nightwolf instructed everyone. "Perhaps we should investigate Tasia's claims."

"Help?" Sonya repeated, ignoring Nightwolf's suggestion. "Perhaps we should go over your criminal record…"

"The likes of you are so selfish," Zonta sided with Sonya. "Those who commit crime have no regard for the people affected by their sins."

"I do!" Tasia argued. "And it fucks with my head every damn day."

"This is a waste of time," Sonya realised.

"You think?!" Tasia gave a question of her own, but this was blatantly rhetorical. "We shouldn't be arguing in the first place!"

"We shouldn't be trusting a criminal!"

"You both have valid points," Nightwolf tried to maintain a middle ground. "Now let's stop arguing and continue our work."

"Good idea, Nightwolf," Sonya replied. "What are you doing, Tasia?"

"Telling the truth," she replied sincerely. "I'm not fucking around anymore. I'm serious. I'm terrified of what's going to happen... if we lose. I want to help. I know I'm clearly terrible at it but I want to try. Let me try."

"I'm sorry," Sonya apologised. "I…"

"I know," Tasia understood. "I'm sorry too."

"Is everything okay now?" Zonta asked a final query.

"Between us? Yeah," Tasia answered. "For Earth? Not yet."

"I'm pleased we've settled this," Nightwolf spoke up.

"So," Sonya gazed at Tasia, "do you know where Hsu is now?"

"The Red Dragon has a lot of our pals in trouble," Tasia informed them. "I tried helping but as you can see I'm here now."

"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Sonya asked.

"You didn't let me."

"Well now you have our support," Nightwolf offered. "Show us the way."

"Follow me," Tasia instructed. The group soon headed off to fight the Red Dragon, and of course any Demons that stood in their way.

While they headed over to fight their enemies, Sub-Zero and Smoke were still in a tough battle with Noob Saibot and several other Wraiths. After the attempt to use the Jinsei essence to purify Bi-Han went awry, Sub-Zero and Smoke were left clueless on what to do other than to try and hold off the attackers.

Their alternative plan had been going fine, until all the Wraiths had recovered, and were now overpowering the two defenders. Despite constant attempts to plead with his brother, the shadow of the former Bi-Han had defied all efforts. Kuai Liang now found himself at the end of Noob Saibot's sickle. Smoke had tried to aid his boyfriend but the other Wraiths held him back and pinned him to the ground, forcing him to watch as Kuai was being tortured.

"Leave him alone," Smoke pleaded. "Leave him alone!"

"This is for stealing my old mantle!" Noob Saibot said as he began rapidly hacking away at the new Sub-Zero's body. "And this is for consorting with my killer!"

"Stop!" Smoke begged as tears began to flood from his eyes.

Unable to control his strong emotions, Smoke began fading away as whatever creature lurked within him was beginning to secretly take control once more. This was fortunately cancelled out though, as a familiar green net caught Noob and rekindled Smoke's hope.

"Cyrax!" Smoke cheered as he and several other cyborgs flew into the battle.

"Seeing the concerning state of our sky," Cyrax looked up as he spoke, "I took it upon myself to have myself and the other cyborgs use our teleportation implants to take ourselves near this Sky Temple's coordinates."

"In the nick of time, friend," Smoke told him.

"Get those Netherrealmers off of Smoke," Cyrax instructed to the nearby cyborgs who did as was told and engaged in combat with the nearby Wraiths as Cyrax landed and came to help Smoke and Sub-Zero to their feet.

"Thank you, Cyrax," Kuai expressed his gratitude as Smoke helped him maintain balance. "And thank you also, love."

"Are you alright?" Smoke asked, concerned for Sub-Zero's wellbeing.

"I'll live," he assured Smoke as he planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Now what should we do with your brother?" Cyrax queried as he looked down at Noob who was writhing in the net he had made for him.

"He destroyed the remedy Raiden had given me," Sub-Zero said sadly. "Can we keep him captured until he can offer more?"

"You all disgrace the Lin Kuei!" Noob began screaming in an uncontrolled rage.

"Because your brother has fixed the Lin Kuei," Smoke responded which Noob only growled back at. "I'm sorry about him, Kuai."

"Do not apologise, Tomas," Sub-Zero told him.

"You cannot keep me here, fool," Noob stated as a shadow portal began forming on the ground he lay on as he began sinking through it. "When next we meet, I shall take your life!"

"No," Sub-Zero responded as he stood helplessly to watch his brother begin slipping away once more. "When next we meet, I shall take back your life, Bi-Han."

"Quit spouting nonsense at me!" Noob demanded. "I shall see you soon, disappointment."

"Goodbye, Bi-Han," Sub-Zero said to his brother as he faded away through the portal. "I love you."

"We'll get him back next time," Smoke promised to his love. "Keep hope."

"Thank you."

"Of course," Smoke said with a smile. "Now let's get you to safety."

"I can get a few of our good cyborgs to fly you both out," Cyrax offered.

"I really appreciate your aid, Cyrax," Sub-Zero told his good cyber friend. "I know you'll look out for our men and women."

"We'll make sure to stop whatever the Hell is going on, Grandmaster," Cyrax assured him. "I promise."

"Thanks, Cy," Smoke expressed his own gratitude towards Cyrax as two Lin Kuei cyborgs approached the two which Cyrax had mentally contacted to come and escort their Grandmaster and his lover.

"You're welcome," Cyrax replied. "Now get out of here. We'll take care of things from here."

The Lin Kuei cyborgs grabbed Sub-Zero and Smoke and flew off, over the hordes of Demons that filled the Sky Temple and its surrounding area. On the ground, Scorpion who was with his Demon allies of Sareena, Ashrah, Kia and Jataaka looked up to see the familiar faces of his unlikely Lin Kuei friends.

"You alright, Hanzo?" Sareena asked as she noticed him gazing up.

"I am," Scorpion confirmed. "Thank you for your support, Sareena."

"Of course!" she said positively. "Everybody ready to climb this tower?"

The group had made it to the entrance, fighting off Demons in the process. Kia and Jataaka had managed to persuade a handful to help them still and they now had extra numbers to join the fight against Shinnok.

"I'm ready," Kia stated. "How about you, love?"

"If you're ready then so am I," Jataaka replied as the two lovers smiled at each other.

"Then let's-"

"Watch out!" Jataaka yelled as she dragged Kia aside as the large Earth God came crashing near them.

"Woah!" Kia reacted with shock as Jataaka held her in her arms.

"Are you alright?" Sareena asked Geode as he tried to help the heavy God up but her strength made no difference.

"Fine," Geode replied. He stood up and sighed. "Shinnok…" he muttered with a sigh.

"Shinnok?" Sareena overheard the Dark Lord's name uttered. "Where is he?"

"There," Geode said as he pointed a stony finger at the Fallen Elder God as he levitated over to the group.

"Oh no," Ashrah commented as Sareena held her hand for reassurance. "What do we do?"

"You die!" Shinnok screamed as he blasted his empowered Amulet at the group of enemies.

"No!" Geode yelled as he used his Geokinesis to tear a wall out from the Sky Temple and use it to block the beam from Shinnok's Amulet. Geode then fought back against Shinnok by pulling a massive chunk of the open ground up into the air and hurled it at the Dark Lord.

"Bold move," Shinnok commented as he stopped the oncoming pieces of earth with just a touch of his fingertip which surrounded the floating rocks in his signature dark magic. "But severely foolish."

"Run!" Geode instructed the group of Demons and Scorpion. "Get to safety!"

"There is no escape from my wrath!" Shinnok's voice boomed as the rocks came crashing back, Geode bracing for impact as the others tried to sprint away. All but Ashrah.

"Ashrah!" Sareena cried out for her.

"Get over here, Ashrah!" Scorpion instructed.

"No," she refused plainly. "I have waited too long to finally confront you, Dark Lord."

"Your bravery is impressive, Demon Slayer," Shinnok praised as he landed on the ground. Geode tried to strike him but Shinnok blasted him aside before turning back to Ashrah and saying, "are you seriously going to be as idiotic as that Earth God?"

"You've somehow hurt every single person I've ever come across," Ashrah told him as she readied her 'heavenly' white energy powers. "No matter who it was, you've somehow affected them."

"For the better," Shinnok believed. "But first, I must purge the lost causes."

"Go back to the Netherrealm!" Ashrah yelled as she sent a blast of light at Shinnok who laughed the attempt off.

Shinnok casually walked over to Ashrah and swung a backhand which smashed against her jaw and knocked her to her knees. Sareena cried out as she ran over to the two, with Shinnok summoning an everso handy bone hand to flick her away. This distraction had given Ashrah enough time to plunge her Kriss through Shinnok's back, pushing the Fallen Elder God face first into the ground.

"I won't let you ever hurt somebody again!" Ashrah screamed as she stabbed the Kriss into Shinnok again, the mystical blade's unique properties causing genuine harm to the Dark Lord.

"She's doing it!" one of the Demons passionately cheered Ashrah on.

"She's beating the Dark Lord!" realised a second Demon.

"Let's give her a hand," Jataaka instructed the Demons who headed over to help. "Kia, take care of Sareena."

Jataaka didn't need to utter the command, Kia was already working her magic on their old friend. As she did this, the Demons began kicking Shinnok while he was down. Jataaka and Scorpion followed the horde closely behind, having hope that this was finally the chance to destroy Shinnok. This hope soon died however, as Shinnok suddenly sent a repulse burst of his dark magic, pushing back all the Demons that had tried to stop him.

Shinnok suddenly sprung to his feet, blasting Ashrah with the Amulet before she could try and stab him once more. The horde of Demons who had now also turned their backs on him, began jumping at Shinnok. One leapt forward and went to bite Shinnok's head off, but the Dark Lord stuck his Amulet forth which caused the Demon to accidentally bite down on it and soon his brains were blown out by another beam from the destructive artifact.

Another Demon attacked. Shinnok caught them by their throat. Soon their head had been ripped apart, and hurled towards the next attacking Demon. This caused the next Demon to hesitate. But that didn't stop Shinnok. His onslaught continued as he blasted a hole in their chest, with only their now charcoal black heart left after it had been scorched from the ray of dark energy. Shinnok ripped the heart out and threw it at Ashrah as she tried to rejoin the fight.

"There's another heart for you to stab, Demon Slayer!" Shinnok mocked, horrifying all nearby.

"Get back, everyone!" Jataaka ordered after having to witness the terrifying sight that was Shinnok mercilessly slaughtering many of her fellow Demons.

"Try and run," Shinnok said as he summoned a forcefield of dark magic to surround them. "Touch the walls. I dare you."

One Demon foolishly attempted such a thing, and soon found their entire body incinerated, leaving nothing but a pile of ashes behind. Shinnok laughed sadistically again, relishing his seeming victory.

"It is over for you all," Shinnok spoke up as he levitated himself and readied his Amulet to destroy all within the forcefield.

"Not yet!" Yelled Torch the Fire God as he walked through the forcefield as it had no effect on him. "Face me, Shinnok!"

"At my weakest I defeated you and your brothers at once," Shinnok reminded the Fire God. "Now I am at my strongest and you're alone…"

"Not completely alone," Torch remarked as Splash sent a massive water beam at the forcefield, tearing it down momentarily as he slipped on through the gap ye made.

"Room for one more?" he asked as he stood by his brother's side.

"And just how do you plan on defeating me?" Shinnok queried. "Some sentient water will not have an effect on the events of today."

"Well let me at least try," Spash said as he transformed into a beam of water and propelled himself at Shinnok, the weight of the liquid pulling him down from the air.

"Let me dry you off!" Torch said before then blasting a beam of fire from his hands that covered Shinnok's entire body, but he simply absorbed the heat.

"Enough now, children," Shinnok taunted.

"Silence!" Splash demanded as he shapeshifted himself into a spear and landed in Torch's hands who quickly threw him before evaporating his brother.

The makeshift spear stabbed Shinnok but it only stunned him for a barely noticeable moment, only recognisable by his grunt. He soon grabbed Splash but he turned into a puddle and dragged himself away.

"Catching you is very irritating," Shinnok admitted as he began blasting his Amulet at Splash who managed to dodge each blast. "I shall get you soon enough."

Torch went to interfere but Shinnok sent a beam at him, actually catching him off guard. He was thrown back before being grabbed by Iris's doughy fingers as she squeezed Torch in a bearhug, her fire resistance making Torch's body being made entirely of fire ineffective as he found it impossible to escape her grasp.

Shinnok went to attack Splash again, but Scorpion suddenly wrapped his chained kunai around his body to try and hold him down. Shinnok quickly snapped free, breaking the chain with his bare hands before pulling it forth, dragging Scorpion into a clubbing blow. Shinnok stepped on Scorpion's head, immediately rendering the Spectre unconscious.

Meanwhile, Iris threw his flaming cousin aside after dominating him with her strength and size advantage. She then approached her father and gave him a nod as he looked at Splash who returned to his human shaped form. He blasted two beams of water at an unimaginably high pressure, but Iris and Shinnok worked together to create a wall made of bones to shield themselves from the attack. Once Splash ceased his attempt, Iris immediately shattered the wall as Shinnok sent a rapid fire blast from his Amulet as Splash became another victim of the artifact's power.

"How long until the corruption takes effect?" Iris asked her father.

"Anytime now," Shinnok assured her. "I shall continue to fend off these pathetic warriors for now. In the meantime, I want you to check on the situation in Outworld."

"Consider it done, father," Iris promised.

"Very well then," Shinnok responded with a smile. "I shall see you soon, once Earthrealm is in my hands."

"Farewell," Iris said as a portal was summoned for her which she soon headed off to. Before she departed, she made sure to forge a bone scythe by her father's feet just in case such was needed.

Shinnok knelt down and picked up the gift. He slung the large weapon over his shoulder as he scanned the area after watching Iris depart for Outworld. Everybody in sight had either surrendered, were severely wounded or were already dead. All but one.

"Enough distractions, brother!" Cetrion yelled as she glided through the sky, having clearly recovered from what Shinnok had done to her minutes ago.

"Those distractions saved your life," Shinnok claimed in reference to how the Elemental Gods had come to their mother's rescue.

"You cannot take my life," Cetrion reminded him. "For once somebody is on your level."

"Not quite," Shinnok countered as he dangled his Amulet before her. "Sure, I cannot kill you. But unlike you, I have a means to defeat you."

"That won't keep me down," Cetrion said as she drew her own Amulet that Kronika had gifted her. "And you aren't alone with such artifacts."

Shinnok snickered before saying, "you truly are a fool."

"How so?"

"Does your Amulet have the power of several Kamidogu, corrupted Jinsei essence, and the darkest magic in all the realms?" Shinnok questioned her rhetorically.

"So what if your Amulet holds all that power?!" Cetrion asked him back. "You can't stop me or the Elder Gods."

"I can," Shinnok revealed. "This Amulet has enough power to trap divine beings within my enchanted gemstone. Once I trap you all in there, it'll be even stronger."

"That is insane!"

"Want me to prove this?"

"Do your worst!" Cetrion replied as she blasted a beam from Kronika's Amulet which shattered the forcefield Shinnok had made.

Shinnok flew up as soon as Cetrion made the first move, and stabbed her with a midair upwards slash of the bone scythe he wielded. With Cetrion slumped over the long blade, Shinnok flung the weapon and Cetrion by extension to the ground.

Cetrion stood up quickly and sent an Amulet beam as Shinnok went to land on her. Shinnok was propelled higher into the air and Cetrion sent out some vine-like tendrils to grab Shinnok and slam him down.

Cetrion then flew up and sent a constant ray from Kronika's Amulet at the grounded Shinnok. It hurt Shinnok but he eventually fought through the beam that was burying him further into the earth. He took his own Amulet and used it to absorb the oncoming ray to further empower his Amulet as well as reversing the ray on Cetrion as it eventually returned fire and blasted Cetrion out of the sky.

Now that she was the one laying down, Shinnok began to show Cetrion what he truly meant about his Amulet's true power. The Amulet let out a different beam, one that instead drew those before it towards instead of being blasted away. Cetrion was being pulled by the mysterious dark energy as Shinnok tried pulling Cetrion towards the Amulet, where her soul would be imprisoned if successful.

Fortunately for Cetrion, Geras had returned to action. He punched Shinnok in the back of the head with his massive gauntlet fist. Shinnok fell forth, the Amulet fumbled out of his hands as he did so. Geras went to pick his brother up to continue his offense, but Shinnok kicked him in the shin to knock him down for a long enough moment to ready his bone scythe and slice cleanly through Geras' head.

"Geras!" Cetrion cried out, unused to the fact that Geras could easily restore himself.

Shinnok spotted Geras' head roll away then roll back to his slumped body. Shinnok sighed before kicking Geras' head across the field like a football. He then turned to face Cetrion, who was filled with emotions after watching Shinnok's brutal display against their own brother. Because of this, Cetrion had gained enough adrenaline to pull herself up and charge at Shinnok and tackle him before flying up and back down into the ground as she pushed him deep down into the earth as they left a constantly deepening crater in the middle of the battlefield. Their fight wasn't over yet.

The battle in Zaterra had only just begun in the kingdom known as Varkain. Khameleon had led the attack against King Tetsurri and the mind controlled Revenant Saurians he cruelly commanded. Each Revenant tried relentlessly to stop the rebels from pushing further into the kingdom as they sought the central palace where there was no doubt that place was where Tetsurri would be residing at.

"Keep it up, everyone!" Khameleon continued to motivate her group as they carried on pushing through the Revenants, as hard and as sad as the job was to do.

"How will we save them?" Reptile began pondering once more.

"Don't worry, Syzoth," Khameleon tried to reassure her lover as they marched with many other allies through the undead infested kingdom. "Like I said, we'll find a way later. For now we just need to take control of Varkain."

"It's our main kingdom," Kiri pointed out. "A sound plan, Axoltia."

"Thank you, General Kiri," Khameleon expressed her gratitude while referring to Kiri by the status she had bestowed upon her which caused Ankha to give her lover a proud smile.

"We're almost at the palace!" Kiri told the group.

"This has been going surprisingly well," Ankha said positively. "And nevermind…"

Ankha had jinxed everything as upon turning one of the mainstreet corners they were immediately blocked by a large horde of Revenants which alone rivalled Khameleon and her entire group. Chameleon went to attempt his Cryomancy tactic but a Revenant Zaterran wrapped their long tongue around his neck and dragged him into a spinning elbow.

"No…" Reptile uttered as he recognised the Revenant that had attacked Chameleon. "Komodai!"

"Huh?!" Chameleon said as he hadn't had the chance to properly look at his attacker's face.

Chameleon gasped once he could confirm that the Revenant was what was left of their former friend, who gave their life to try and stop Shao Kahn's invasion of Zaterra.

Reptile had already become frozen with fear once more after seeing what had become of his old best friend. Chameleon meanwhile, still fought as their allies came to help against all the other Revenants.

As the battle went on, Chameleon fought what remained of Komodai who fought violently and aggressively. He hissed as he ran forth and tackled Chameleon into a group of his own allies that Sindel had sent.

The soldiers turned to Komodai but he unleashed his tongue around one soldier's neck and used his claws to slit the other's throat as he choked out the poor soldier who couldn't escape him.

"Komodai!" Reptile shouted out again. "Stop it! This isn't you!"

"I don't want to be me!" Komodai yelled as he spun his neck to face Reptile. "My former self got killed following a stupid cause!"

"We've stopped Shao Kahn now," Reptile assured him. "It's over. Now we have to stop Tetsurri and Shinnok from claiming Zaterra like Shao did all that time ago."

"No!" Komodai refused. "You're trying to kill me!"

"What?"

"I went by your side into battle and died!" Komodai horrifyingly recalled. "Yet you lived… you joined my murderer."

"I'm so sorry!" Reptile apologised. "I never wanted to hurt anybody!"

"Well you have!"

"Please, Komodai," Reptile tried to change his mind, "we're all done with Kahn. We got rid of him. Outworld is an ally of Zaterra now. I'm part of this alliance."

"Lies!" he screamed. "I won't let the people you mindlessly follow lead me to be slaughtered again!"

"I'm mindless?" Reptile repeated. "Hear yourself, Komodai. Something changed you. It changed your mind…."

"Being killed did!" Komodai claimed. "And now? I'm going to kill you!"

Chameleon returned after having to fight through some other Revenants thanks to Komodai. Seeing that Reptile had him distracted, Chameleon took advantage and grabbed Komodai for a suplex from behind, whispering apologies as he did so.

Reptile tried to approach but another Revenant attacked, this one leaping from the roof and atop of Reptile where they began trying to bite off his face. Reptile reversed the savage attempts and rollover so that the Revenant was beneath his body. Reptile reluctantly began wailing punches down on the Revenant until they were knocked out.

Chameleon meanwhile, slid across the path as he tripped over Komodai and other Revenants in his path before releasing a burst of Cryomancy which froze a few nearby Revenants. This cleared a way for the soldiers to push onward in the fight against the Revenants.

Kiri and Ankha led the charge beside Khameleon as they fought side by side, using ancient martial art skills they constantly tested one another on to constantly improve as they threw perfectly executed strikes on all in their path. The team effort was working as the Revenants continued to be slowly pushed through.

Reptile, however, was not able to follow his allies. Komodai had risen to his feet and stood in Reptile's way, hissing aggressively as he did so. He was nowhere near finished with his former friend.

"Let's not do this, Komodai," Reptile pleaded. "I'm not going to fight you."

"Good!" Komodai replied as he sharpened his dark claws that frightened Reptile greatly. "Let me kill you! Suffer like I have!"

"I'm not allowing that either," Reptile remarked as he slowly tried to back away but another Revenant pushed him on all fours before Komodai.

"Then we will," Komodai warned him as he impaled his claws into Reptile before he could stand up straight.

Reptile screamed in agony as he pushed Komodai off of him and had enough adrenaline to pop himself up to his feet, only for the Revenant who had thrown him down to grab him from behind with his muscular arms wrapping around him as he was held in place for Komodai to torture.

As Reptile was beaten up by the pair of Revenants, the battle upfront was going well for the heroes. They had almost reached the castle itself, where Tetsurri no doubt lay in hiding. It was no surprise to the Saurians that Tetsurri would hide behind his soldiers. Shinnok's soldiers to be exact.

"Are we ready to go in?" Kiri asked Khameleon.

"It is time to wipe out Tetsurri once more," Khameleon confirmed. "But first… where is Syzoth?"

Khameleon looked past her army and the many defeated Revenants to find two key warriors standing tall, beating up Khameleon's beloved. Khameleon gasped at the distant sight and immediately ran through the group to reach Reptile, boldly battering any conscious Revenants as she did so which further dwindled the numbers of this particular Revenant horde.

"Axoltia?!" Kiri yelled for. "What are you doing?!"

"I must save Syzoth!" Khameleon yelled. "Go ahead without me. I trust you in charge, General Kiri!"

"Um… yes, ma'am!" Kiri understood the orders as Khameleon continued sprinting away. "Well… follow my lead, everybody!"

"Gladly," Ankha commented as the army cheered as they headed up the wide stairs leading up to the castle doors.

As the others breached into the castle, Khameleon had made it to his beloved as the two Revenants were still relentlessly wailing punches on him. Khameleon channeled the ability of Pyromancy that she had replicated upon spotting Tanya, the well appreciated member of Mileena's Union. She sent a fireball straight forward, blasting Komodai in the back as he was knocked forward into Reptile and the much larger Revenant who had been holding him still.

Komodai was knocked down but the larger Revenant still stood tall, as if he was an immovable object. The massive Revenant Raptor hurled Reptile aside with no care whatsoever for his well being as he confronted Khameleon.

"General Tiamat," Khameleon recalled the Revenant by name. "It has certainly been a while."

"Long enough for you to have replaced me," Tiamat replied.

"You mean Kiri?" Khameleon guessed. "She is doing great as a General herself I must say. But I could always make room for another General."

"I'll pass," Tiamat declined the offer. "King Tetsurri offers me such a role again anyway."

"Tetsurri is the tyrant who you once helped rebel against!" Khameleon reminded him. "What spell warps your mind into aiding him now?"

"Despite my betrayal of him so long ago," Tiamat recalled, which revealed to Khameleon that his memory was still intact, "he still revived me and has offered me fine work as a soldier."

"Tetsurri doesn't have the power to do such a thing!" Khameleon told him.

"Enough!" Tiamat immediately shut down what he perceived as manipulation. "My orders are to fight all who oppose King Tetsurri, not to talk!"

"I second that!" Komodai yelled as he clawed Khameleon's back as Tiamat threw a heavy punch to her face which threw her down.

Before any offense could continue, Chameleon emerged from his camouflaged state and hit Komodai with a jumping kick before stretching out a ball of acid towards Tiamat which only stunned him briefly. Komodai struck Chameleon back but Khameleon delivered her own sequence of kicks to Komodai, a roundhouse kick ending the sequence as Komodai fell over.

"I assumed you required aid," Chameleon told his sister as they stood side by side before Tiamat.

"You were right," Khameleon admitted. "So what's the plan?"

"You die!" Komodai shrieked as he leapt on Chameleon's back only for Khameleon to strike him with another roundhouse kick, this one empowered by Hydromancy which blasted Komodai through the walls of a nearby store.

"We'll repair that later," Khameleon promised as she channeled Pyromancy again to send a fireball at Tiamat.

Despite his size, Tiamat impressively rolled aside as the fireball blasted the structure behind him and set it ablaze. Chameleon rushed over to the flames, dodging a swinging blow from Tiamat as he did so, in order to put out the fire with Hydromancy.

"Do you plan on repairing this too, sis?!" Chameleon asked.

"Just do your part, Oculto!" Khameleon ordered before facing Tiamat. "If I can't convince you not to do this, Tiamat, then I apologise for this."

Khameleon drew her Falchion as she flipped forward, slicing Tiamat's arm on her way down as the Revenant warrior attempted to throw another punch. Tiamat stepped back to avoid another swing of the Falchion and returned with a jumping axe kick with his dark scaled foot smashing against Khameleon's face.

As she recovered from the kick, Khameleon watched as Tiamat spat some acid into his hands which was dark like his scales due to being transformed into a Revenant. She then witnessed Tiamat mold the glob of acid in his hands into a sword of his own to face Khameleon with.

Khameleon used her Falchion to block Tiamat's heavy swing with his makeshift acid sword. On contact, the metal that made up Khameleon's weapon was hastily melted by the acid and Khameleon was soon left without a weapon of her own as she tossed the remnants of her Falchion aside.

Tiamat slashed at Khameleon with the acid sword, splashing some of the contents onto Khameleon as she dodged the initial swing, fortunately resistant to acidic burns as a Saurian herself. Before Tiamat could swing the acid sword at Khameleon again, a sudden blast of water dissolved the weapon at an instant as it came between the two warrior's. Chameleon had channeled Hydromancy also, and had used it to in turn destroy Tiamat's makeshift weapon.

Tiamat grunted as his pale eyes gazed at Chameleon, soon watching as Komodai dashed at him and struck an elbow which busted Chameleon's nose, causing green blood to gush from his nostrils. The brief distraction allowed Khameleon to leap atop Tiamat and wrap her legs around his neck, trying to choke him out. Tiamat began fighting out rather quickly though, prompting Khameleon to throw herself back with her legs still wrapped around Tiamat, slamming him skull first into the pavement. Tiamat was out cold.

"I'm sorry again," Khameleon said as she looked down upon Tiamat.

Khameleon couldn't take a breather for long, however, as she had to come and aid her brother against the hostile Komodai. Chameleon couldn't keep up with Komodai's speed as he continued to dash around between getting in precise strikes on his prey.

Khameleon ran over with a running knee which halted Komodai's pace as he fell to the ground, rolling back to avoid being jumped on by a flying Chameleon. As he tried standing from the drop, Khameleon ran up to his brother and jumped before landing a fire enhanced punch which dropped Komodai unconscious upon connection.

"You alright?" Khameleon asked her brother.

"I'm fine," he assured her while wiping some blood off his own face. Khameleon channeled the blood magic of Skarlet to help mend his wounds. "What about them?"

"Tiamat and Komodai we'll save in due time," Khameleon promised. "Along with all the others who have become Revenants."

"I hope you're right," Chameleon replied. "We should join the others now."

"Go ahead," Khameleon permitted. "I must look after Syzoth first."

"I understand," Chameleon said. "I'll see you soon then."

"Very soon," she promised. "Farewell, Oculto."

Khameleon remained to take care of her beloved as Chameleon ran swiftly to rejoin their allies just as they were beginning to break through the main door to the castle. He arrived to the sound of cheers as the doors collapsed after a collective effort to breach inside. Kiri continued to lead the group as Ankha stood proudly by her side.

They were immediately met by Revenants which Tetsurri had appointed to protect him, underestimating how much protection he'd actually require due to his unawareness of their reinforcements. The Revenant guards were outnumbered and quickly found themselves taken down. The group then marched up the spiral stairway to reach the old throne room of Varkain.

Another set of doors was soon knocked down as the group had reached the throne room where Tetsurri hid cowardly behind the decayed throne. Kiri and Ankha shared a mutual nod before power walking across the old, dirty and tattered rug and went to both grab Tetsurri from his poor hiding spot.

"Stay back!" Tetsurri demanded as he pulled out a peculiar looking crystal, one that was shaped like a heart.

"Why?!" Kiri asked.

"One more step forward and I'll touch you with this," he warned as he gestured to the artifact he held.

"So?!"

"Ignore him, love," Ankha advised. "Enough of your games, Tetsurri. Come here!"

"Don't try it!" Tetsurri warned again. "This is the infamous artifact you pathetic lot have referred to as the Gem of Tetsurri. If I make contact with any of you other Saurians then you already know what will happen with your souls…"

"The Gem only trapped the souls that were heading to the afterlife," Ankha recalled the legend.

"So he lies," Kiri concluded.

"How do you know that?" Tetsurri questioned. "Wish to test your luck?"

"Gladly!" Kiri replied confidently as she reached out for the Gem only for Ankha to anxiously pull her back.

"What are you doing?!" Ankha asked. "Do not mess around with him!"

"I'm sorry, Ankha," Kiri quickly apologised.

"You scared the life out of me," Ankha informed her. "But I forgive you."

"Well!" Tetsurri raised his voice so he was the centre of attention once more. "I'm glad that's settled! Since I have the means to snag the souls of all you other Saurians, I'll make a careful exit."

"Oh no you don't!" one of the soldiers Sindel had transported to Zaterra said as he and many others got in the way. "If what you say is true then it doesn't apply to us!"

"Ah," Tetsurri realised as he looked at the scaleless soldiers. "No worries. I can deal with this in an alternative way…"

From behind the throne, Tetsurri pulled out a heavy longsword, a fine blade forged in the Netherrealm that Shinnok gifted to the Zaterran King. There was clearly a hole on the hilt of the large hilt, a hole that was soon filled by the perfectly shaped Gem of Tetsurri. A dark green aura surrounded the blade as the Gem of Tetsurri's powers spread throughout the sword as a whole.

"Attack!" Kiri ordered the reinforcements as she pointed at Tetsurri who held his longsword firmly in both hands.

Tetsurri swung the blade at the first couple of soldiers to get too close to him. They tried to block with their much smaller weapons but the blade cut through all, including both their torsos in one swing. The other soldiers hesitated after what they had just witnessed, so Tetsurri squeezed his longsword which turned the aura red as blood tendrils were unleashed and sought out the hearts of all the other soldiers. None could escape as their hearts were torn out as the Gem of Tetsurri which resembled a heart itself began to glow with approval.

"No!" Kiri screamed as she immediately regretted the orders she had given as Ankha escorted her behind their remaining allies so Ankha could comfort and compose her lover.

"I must say I am impressed," Tetsurri spoke up as he walked over several hearts to get closer to the Saurians. "Despite so many Revenants I sent to kill you Raptors… my Gem has received no new souls."

"And it shall stay that way!" Chameleon yelled as he sprung at Tetsurri from behind as he had used his camoflauge to arrange such an ambush.

"Fool!" Tetsurri insulted as Chameleon began wailing strikes while he had taken Tetsurri down, only to be pulled off by more blood tendrils and thrown through one of the old moss covered walls in the throne room. "There goes one! Now for the rest of you!"

"Damn you!" Kiri yelled. "Since when did you even have blood magic?!"

"Since Lord Shinnok placed my Gem within one of his pools of blood and darkness," Tetsurri revealed as the aura shifted from red to a dark and imposing indigo purple. "You are yet to have even seen it all…"

Tetsurri suddenly pointed the blade of his longsword downwards before stabbing the sword into the floor. The dark aura soon spread forward across the floor and caused a burst which knocked all of Tetsurri's enemies down. Tetsurri picked up his sword and changed the aura from dark magic back to the green aura which reflected the powers of soul magic. There were no actual souls to use as fuel for any magic, causing a darkened aura. But this gave Tetsurri the chance to claim some fuel.

Tetsurri charged forth and swung his longsword, its aura spreading far enough to surround the Saurians who opposed him. He laughed as they all felt a horrible feeling as the aura was beginning to pull at their souls. Tetsurri soon stopped laughing as he saw Khameleon and Reptile arrive, unaffected by the aura due to them arriving after he had begun his Gem's magic, a spell he didn't wish to cancel.

"What's happening?!" Reptile asked with fear.

"I'll deal with it," Khameleon promised.

"How?!" Reptile questioned.

"Just trust me," Khameleon requested.

"Alright," Reptile replied, "I trust you. I always will."

"Thank you," Khameleon said before kissing Reptile on the cheek.

"Saying your farewells before I capture all your souls?!" Tetsurri asked as all their allies began collapsing, losing their life.

"Be quick," Reptile instructed.

Khameleon nodded and charged forth to try and intercept whatever Tetsurri's magical sword was doing to her friends and comrades. She went to tackle the Zaterran tyrant but from out of a camouflaged state, another Revenant emerged and got in Khameleon's way as they threw her to the ground.

"Queen Sytholin?!" Khameleon recognised her former Queen despite her current state. "Not you too!"

"I am not your leader!" Sytholin yelled as she went to stomp on Khameleon's skull which she rolled away from. "Obey King Tetsurri and Lord Shinnok!"

"I'd rather die," Khameleon remarked.

"That can be arranged!" Sytholin said as she charged at Khameleon and rammed her against a wall.

Khameleon began throwing punches and knees to push Sytholin off of her, feeling wrong about doing such a thing to her Queen as she reluctantly fought back. Sytholin leapt forth but Khameleon avoided her as she smashed her face off the wall with Khameleon grabbing her head and bashing it against the stone again. Sytholin slumped against the wall as she felt stunned.

"How has this damn curse affected you too?!" Khameleon questioned. "You led an uprising against Tetsurri! Why do you feel like you must help that monster?"

"I was a fool to take the throne," she claimed. "I should've just obeyed Tetsurri…"

"No!" Khameleon yelled. "You were a great leader! I cannot say anything similar regarding Tetsurri."

"Then we are enemies," Sytholin warned as she began standing upright.

"Axoltia!" Reptile shouted for her lover as he was trying to drag those affected by the Gem of Tetsurri's magic away unsuccessfully.

"What's wrong, Syzoth?!"

"I don't know how much time we have left to save them!" Reptile said as he began panicking.

"It's okay!" Khameleon assured him "I'll deal with him."

"Not so fast!" Sytholin yelled as she grabbed Khameleon by her long silver hair as she went to strike Tetsurri but was now being drawn back into fighting Sytholin. "Watch as your friends perish!"

"Yes!" Tetsurri cheered. "I win!"

"Never!" Reptile yelled but then saw Khameleon being restrained by Sytholin and hissed.

"All hail King Tetsurri!" he demanded as he felt his magic reaching its climax.

"I… I guess I have to… I can do this…" Reptile told himself to try and gather confidence. "Tetsurri! Go to the Netherrealm!"

Reptile charged forth and went into a rolling attack to takedown Tetsurri but he raised his longsword and slammed it down as Reptile charged forth, brutally severing Reptile's tail.

"Syzoth! No!" Khameleon cried out as she turned yellow as she embraced Tanya's Pyromancy, burning Sytholin for touching her. "Get away from him!"

"Pathetic!" Tetsurri insulted as Reptile let out an ear piercing hiss of pain as Tetsurri shoved him aside. "I have won!"

"Not yet!" Khameleon yelled as she ran at Tetsurri and struck him with a rapid fire jumping knee before he could even pick up his longsword.

Tetsurri fell back, still grasping his weapon and went to swing it at Khameleon who hit a backflip to leap over the weapon and landed on the blade before jumping off, smashing two feet into Tetsurri's face which threw him against the ground. The longsword flew out of his grasp.

"Curse you!" Tetsurri yelled as he went to scramble over to his longsword only for Khameleon to grab him.

"Where do you think you're going, coward?!" Khameleon asked as she began unloading enraged flaming punches which Tetsurri was unable to counter and suffered each blow.

Eventually, the attacks stopped as Khameleon slammed Tetsurri onto the ground. She then retrieved the longsword herself, ripped the Gem of Tetsurri out of it and chucked it aside, fortunately ending the soul stealing curse that her allies had been suffering with during the entire altercation.

"We have won," Khameleon told him. "Varkain is ours."

Tetsurri's look of shock regarding his defeat suddenly shifted into a sly grin. Before Khameleon could decipher why, Sytholin charged a spear taken from one of the fallen soldiers and stabbed Khameleon in the back.

"Not yet," Tetsurri grunted as Sytholin helped him stand. "Let's try this again. First evaluation from my last efforts: I need to be rid of you."

"Do your worst," Khameleon challenged as Sytholin pushed the spear further through her which caused her to cry out in pain.

"As you wish," Tetsurri said as he grabbed his longsword back and raised it over his head. "Any last words?"

Like Tetsurri moments ago, Khameleon's defeated look shifted into a weak smile despite her agony from being stabbed with a spear. Tetsurri gave a puzzled look at the expression but shrugged and decided to proceed with the execution nonetheless, only for a bunch of stones and bricks to be hurled at his back. He collapsed forward, into the spear that pointed out of Khameleon's torso.

"Who dares?!" Tetsurri asked and went to turn back for an answer but Khameleon began sinking her sharp tiny teeth into his skull.

"A receipt for you, 'King'," replied nobody other than Chameleon as he hopped over the hole Tetsurri made using Chameleon's body, leaving rubble which Chameleon gladly sent back.

Sytholin ran at Chameleon but he sidestepped her attack and tripped her over as she ended up collapsing over the hole in the wall and went tumbling outside the top floor and down into the overgrown castle garden.

Chameleon then ran over to help Khameleon escape being stabbed by the spear that had impaled both she and Tetsurri. He offered no aid to Tetsurri.

"Are you alright?" Chameleon asked his sister.

"Fine," she said. "You?"

"Probably broke a few ribs in that fall…" Chameleon confessed as he felt his body. "I'll live."

"How adorable…" Tetsurri remarked weakly as he coughed up blood.

"Shut up," Chameleon ordered as he kicked him down.

"Deal with him," Khameleon instructed. "I need to check on poor Sy…"

"Again?!" Chameleon asked before glancing over at the wounded Reptile. "My goodness!" Chameleon turned to Tetsurri and asked, "did you do this, you bustard?!"

"Guilty as charged," he muttered.

"How about I return the favour?" Chameleon wondered as he turned blue and summoned a sword made of ice before flipping Tetsurri onto his front.

"What are you- GAH!" Tetsurri screamed as he felt his own tail get cut off with one clean slice.

"Suffer like all your victims have!" Chameleon yelled as he began wailing hits on the injured Tetsurri.

"Syzoth?" Khameleon tried calling for her lover who had fallen unconscious due to blood loss.

Khameleon channeled Skarlet's blood magic again and made sure to close Reptile's wound and stop the blood loss. She kissed his head before paying attention to her other scaly allies as they were finally recovering after the bizarre experience of nearly having their souls snatched.

"Everybody alright?" Khameleon asked over Tetsurri's yelps as Chameleon continued to beat him.

"I think so…" Kiri replied with uncertainty. "I feel very dizzy and-"

"Lovely!" Ankha cheered as she ran over and embraced Kiri in a tight hug. "I was so scared of losing you."

"It's alright now, Ankha," Kiri assured her. "I love you."

"I love you more," Ankha said with a cute smile.

"Just kiss me already," Kiri requested with a playful laugh which Ankha immediately complied.

As the others celebrated and cared for one another, Chameleon had backed Tetsurri against the hole in the wall that Tetsurri had blasted him through moments earlier. Now the roles were seemingly reversed.

"If you kill me… I'll just reform!" Tetsurri claimed in a desperate attempt to save himself.

"Please," Chameleon rolled his clear white eyes as he grabbed Tetsurri by the throat. "Every Saurian besides you is smart enough to know you only receive one afterlife."

"I-" Tetsurri went to scramble a reply together but Chameleon squeezed his neck in return.

"This time you'll stay dead," Chameleon promised him. "Your tainted soul won't have any place to go besides the Void, if that even exists. Your fate is a painful death followed by nothingness."

Before Chameleon could deliver a finishing blow, Tetsurri was suddenly freed from his grasp. Sytholin had launched a throwing knife through the hole outside which impaled Chameleon's shoulder. He tore the knife out quickly and went to pursue Tetsurri, but he leapt out and landed in Sytholin's arms.

"For who I thought was the quiet one, you talk too much, boy," Tetsurri mocked as he and Sytholin turned camouflage and ran into the distance. Tetsurri had evaded death once more.

"Never return to Varkain again!" Chameleon yelled.

"Did they escape?" Khameleon asked.

"Yeah," Chameleon admitted. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Khameleon reassured him. "We won this. We have Varkain and the Gem of Tetsurri."

"We do?"

"Check it out," Kiri said as she picked up the peculiar Gem from the ground where it had fallen out the longsword and placed it in Chameleon's hands.

"Wow…" he said as he gazed up close at the powerful artifact. "Tetsurri is sure going to be a lot weaker next time we meet him."

"He sure is," Khameleon agreed. "This is an incredible victory."

"We won?" Reptile said after overhearing Khameleon as he awoke from his unconscious state. "We won?!"

"We did, love," Khameleon confirmed. "Thanks for your help."

"You helped much more than I," Reptile told her. "I love you."

"I love you too," Khameleon said back. "I actually have an idea for that Gem of Tetsurri…"

"What is it?" Kiri wondered.

"Do tell!" Kiri requested.

"Soul magic is what we believe was the cause of the Revenant's creations, yes?" Khameleon inquired.

"It involved their souls," Chameleon claimed. "Not sure about the actual magic."

"Well maybe it'll be of use when we must restore them," Khameleon wondered.

"Good idea," Reptile approved. "I'll try anything to get Komodai back…"

"And we'll get them back," Khameleon promised. "Come now, let's bury and pay tribute to those who we just lost to aid with this victory."

"I just hope our friend's emerge victorious in their own situation," Chameleon hoped.

"As do I."

Iris entered Outworld and had examined the Oni departing in retreat as a group of heroes entered the ruins that housed Outworld's Jinsei. She slowly tailed the group on their way into a house of carnage. Where Demons filled the place completely and used their numbers to relentlessly attack the outnumbered protectors. War was raging in just one enormous structure that was falling to more and more pieces the longer the conflict went on. There was still plenty of conflict outside on the rest of the island but the main event seemed to be occurring within the Jinsei Fortress.

Iris made her entrance through the front of the ruined Jinsei Fortress. She immediately saw soldiers of Mileena's Union in conflict with her father's own Demon soldiers. She summoned a pair of skeletal hands to grab all of Mileena's soldiers and launch them out of the Jinsei Fortress. She pushed forward, through the crowded conflict, in order to reach the actual Jinsei itself to assess the situation over there.

At the back of the Fortress, a stairway led up to a bridge that protruded over the island and over to above where the surrounding ocean would be. However, the bridge had instead been surrounded by reinforced walls which acted as a protective box around the bridge which led to the Jinsei Chamber. Beneath Iris as she stepped onto the wide bridge was no water, but a dry pit with all it's water drained and replaced with menacing spikes.

Iris went to reach the Jinsei but a massive gap in the centre of the bridge seemingly prevented going further. It was clear that ages ago Shao Kahn had blasted part of the bridge to further secure it's safety after he had absorbed most of the Jinsei essence already, which caused the loss of life in Outworld by extension.

The broken bridge would prevent most, but not a being with the power of someone such as Iris. Using her bone magic, she filled the gap by replacing the missing part of the bridge with a replica made of bone.

"Princess Iris," Belokk greeted as heq and some of the Brotherhood of Shadow's elite warriors approached Iris. "We must thank you for your arrival. We were trying to find a way over to the Jinsei and you are our solution."

"You're welcome," Iris replied as the group began to cross the bridge. "Not that we need this for my father, he can simply fly."

"Yes," Belokk replied, "but it is in our best interest to investigate the Jinsei."

"Indeed," Iris agreed. "Who are these with you?"

"These are Cilene, Siann, Sora and-"

"I'm Mika!" greeted the chipper Demon as she carelessly interrupted Belokk. "Nice to meet you, Princess Iris! It's an honour!"

"Mika…" Sora whispered as she gave her a little nudge.

"Oh!" Mika realised what she had done. "I didn't mean to be rude, Princess, it is just very exciting to-"

"Mika!" Belokk yelled, much less subtly than Sora's attempt to quiet her. "Shut up!"

"Sorry," Mika said as she frowned.

"It's alright," Iris assured her. "Thank you, Mika."

"You're welcome!" Mika's face lit up as she went to bow for her Princess but Iris pulled her up.

"We don't have time for that," Iris told her. "I still appreciate it."

"Take a look at this," Belokk said as he approached the Jinsei essence. "It's filling up."

"What do you mean, General?" Siann asked.

"Look closer," Belokk instructed. "This bundle of essence is slowly rising in height as more is added."

"I see it!" Mika announced.

"But how?" Cilene asked. "How is it like that?"

"When Shao Kahn stole Outworld's throne he immediately stole a large portion of Jinsei essence to empower himself," Iris detailed to the group. "With his death… perhaps the essence is now returning to its original home."

"All the more essence for Lord Shinnok to corrupt," Belokk stated as he saw the news as a positive.

"Leave our Jinsei alone!" yelled an assertive demand from across the bridge.

The group surrounding the Jinsei turned to face Mileena with her arms crossed as several allies stood beside her. Kitana, Sindel, Ermac, Meat, Skarlet and…

"Vampires?!" Iris reacted in shock as many Vampires flew inside the place and flew up to the ceiling. All but two.

"Lady Iris?!" Nitara called for.

"You're alive?!" Azaco commented.

The Vampires were just as shocked to see the former Protector God of Vaternus as she was to see them.

"Thank you," Nitara expressed her gratitude to Iris. "Thank you for returning!"

"She's here to help?" Mileena asked as those unaware due to never residing in Vaternus watched with puzzled faces.

"Of course she is," Nitara replied. "Iris was our Protector God!"

"Fools!" Belokk insulted as his impatience grew. "Your 'Protector God' is here to help us, not you!"

"Wh-what?" Nitara stuttered. "That can't be true!"

"I wouldn't be too shocked," Azaco said with a hiss. "But let's hear it from her and not you then!"

"Tell them yourself, Princess Iris," Belokk requested.

There was nearly silence throughout the room, the only sound coming from the conflict outside. Iris stared at the group with clear guilt written on her face. It hurt her that she was on the opposing side to those who she had sworn to protect, and that oath led to her sacrificing her own life.

"Lady Iris?!" Nitara called while she grew concerned.

"I am here to aid my father's cause," Iris admitted.

"Your father?" Nitara asked. "You never told us who your father is…"

"That's because my father is… Shinnok."

"Sh-Shinnok?" Azaco repeated. "I can't believe this…"

"I don't wish for any of you to be harmed," Iris told them. "How about we all agree to my father's plan?"

"Never!" Mileena refused immediately and decisively.

"Please," Iris pleaded. "He has a good vision… I think…"

"So surrender!" Belokk ordered before turning to Iris. "I made this offer earlier and the idiots refused. I doubt this is worth our time."

"We must try," Iris replied.

"No," Belokk disagreed. "Ladies, attack!"

With Lord Shinnok having instructed that they follow Belokk's every command, the group of Demon warrior's hesitantly complied and ran across the bridge where Mileena and company sprung into action. The Vampires and Iris remained still, however, still trying to process everything while a battle occurred between them on the bridge.

"What do we do?" Azaco asked her sister.

"I'll talk to her," Nitara decided. "Do whatever you can to help, Azaco."

"Alright," he complied. "I love you, lil sister."

"I love you too," Nitara replied before taking flight.

Nitara flew over the chaotic fight that was happening beneath her, punching Cilene down as she did so to help Skarlet in her fight. Cilene soon recovered and sent her Hellbat called Dodger after Nitara.

The Hellbat latched onto and bit Nitara's much larger bat wings as she fell down on the makeshift bone part of the bridge to pry them off. She then pushed Dodger away before turning to face Iris.

"What's going on, Lady Iris?" Nitara asked again. "Being Shinnok's daughter is fine… but helping him? Why?!"

"He has good intentions, Nitara!" Iris assured her. "And he's family… my brother and him are the only people who saved me after I died."

"He only saved you now?"

Iris nodded.

"He's probably had the power to do that the entire time!" Nitara yelled.

"I know," Iris clarified as she gazed at the Jinsei. "I know… we went over it and we've resolved that."

"Just because he wants to use you to help doesn't mean you should," Nitara told her as Iris continued to turn away from her. "Face me, Iris!"

Iris turned her head to stare into Nitara's eyes as they were mainly white but had a hint of green, Iris recalling such to be a common eye colour during her time in Vaternus.

"I'll never betray my family!" Iris screamed in a fit of rage.

"You already have!" Nitara told her. "Vaternus is your family!"

"Then join me!"

"Join us!"

"I can't!"

"Why not?!" Nitara asked. "The whole reason you were a Protector God was because you wanted to prevent stuff like this!"

"This isn't realm merging!" Iris counter argued. "My father simply seeks to unite the realms by bringing them together under his rule! He wants the best for those who follow him! He wants to make a better future!"

"And these promises are lies!" Nitara accused.

"You aren't even giving him a chance!"

"Because he is threatening what is now my home," Nitara told her. "This place is no Vaternus, but Mileena is a far better option for my ruler than another tyrant!"

"Dammit!" Iris yelled. "What are we doing?"

"What are you doing?!"

"I…" Iris paused as she reconsidered everything. "I'm sorry… I must help my father."

"But why?" Nitara asked.

"He cares about me!" Iris yelled in frustration. "He cares about his allies!"

"So do I," Nitara told her. "So did you."

"Thanks," Iris said quietly. "Look… he promised me that he'd demerge Vaeternus for me as a reward for my help. Join me and I can make you part of a future where we have Vaternus again… and nobody to threaten it ever again."

"So can Mileena," Nitara told her. "Maybe not interrealm peace, but Vaternus? Someday I'll see it again and I don't need Shinnok's help to see it."

"And what makes you so sure?"

"You think I should trust Shinnok instead?"

"Please?"

"No," Nitara refused bluntly. "Stop wasting your time. I'm not joining sides with your father. Are you joining sides with us?"

"I can't!" Iris refused again.

"You can," Nitara assured her. "What will it be?"

"I'm staying by my father's side," Iris decided despite some heavy consideration.

"Then I guess I'm fighting a God today," Nitara said as she drew her Kama. "I'm not letting another home get stripped away from me again. Never again."

"I'm sorry, Nitara," Iris apologised before causing the bone part of the bridge she had made to collapse.

Nitara swooped up, avoiding plummeting like the bones, and swooped over to Iris who threw a firm backhand to throw her aside. Nitara clung onto the edge of the circular platform that the Jinsei essence rested atop of in the centre.

Nitara began pulling herself up but Iris smashed her with a kick to the face, knocking her over the edge. As expected, Nitara managed to flap her wings to control herself and prevent her fall, but Iris had a counter in mind. As Nitara began flying up, Iris leapt off the ledge herself. She landed on Nitara in midair and her

weight brought the two all the way down the pit below where Iris fell on a large spike and Nitara missed but still crashed into the ground.

"Nitara!" Azaco cried as she flew down the giant pit to check on his sister. "Nitara?! C'mon get up! Please!"

"I… never… wanted… this…" Iris uttered as she began finding her inhuman strength and resilience to begin pulling herself off of the spike she had been impaled on.

"Damn you, Iris!" Azaco screamed. "You were supposed to protect us!"

"And I want to-" Iris's response was intercepted as Azaco threw a punch in her face as she began standing.

"Protect us?" Azaco finished the sentence for her. "Look what you've done to Nitara! Look what's happened to Vaeternus!"

"I died trying to protect Vaeternus!"

"So you failed," Azaco perceived. "But now you're the threat and aren't even acting like you're trying to protect."

"I will always trust my father!" Iris yelled as she continued to grow conflicted, angry, frustrated, upset and all other kinds of emotions.

"Then you're no protector," Azaco told her. "The other's held so much hope that you were good… I'm not so easily fooled though."

"I really tried to protect you all!" Iris continued to claim.

"Useless Protector either way," Azaco insulted. "I've done more with preserving the last of us than you ever could!"

"Enough of this!"

"Enough of you!" Azaco yelled as he ran forth and sunk her teeth into Iris' thick neck as he began drinking her divine blood.

"Get off me!" Iris yelled as she used her strength to pry Azaco off of her and smash him off the floor.

Alerted by whatever was occuring down the pit, the other Vampires collectively swooped down out of concern for Nitara and Azaco, who the other Vampires had seen as their new protectors after they lost Iris and Vaeternus. They all boldly swarmed Iris as they saw her fighting Azaco. Iris was horrified by how many of her former followers were now against her but realised she had to fight them all to survive as well as to aid his father's cause… unsure whether it was more important than her opposition's.

The Vampires all piled on Iris, biting at her plentiful flesh as well as clawing her skin. Iris collapsed again as more of the brood attacked. Iris summoned several pairs of hands made of bone to grab the Vampires and chuck them each aside. Due to their ability to fly, they kept coming back. Iris continued to fight through them all. Azaco grabbed her leg while she was down and managed to pull her forward.

Iris lost her balance and tumbled face first into a smaller but still very sharp spike. She pushed herself back from the spike, managing to stand. The end piece of the spike remained a part of her, stuck inside her right eye. Being a God, Iris was far more resistant to pain than others, however, this made her want to cry out in agony.

The next Vampire to fly at Iris was met by her fist. She then grabbed the Vampire by their head, pulled them off their feet, and pushed their skull through one of the many spikes that surrounded them at the bottom of the pit.

"No!" Azaco cried out as many other Vampires shared a similar shocked reaction through hisses and gasps. "You're a monster!"

"I said I never wanted this," Iris reminded him. "You've all provoked me."

"Oh and that's our fault?!"

"Yes," Iris said bluntly as she gazed at her blood stained skeletal hands. "But… one more chance. Join me, or run away, I don't mind either way. But do one of those two options and you won't have to lose another."

"Except we will," Azaco claimed. "We'd lose those smart enough to defy your father and we'd lose a good life and leader… again."

"Take my offer," Iris demanded. "All of you!"

"Let's settle this quickly," Azaco said as he glanced around at his fellow Vampires. "Raise your hand if you wanna join her."

Only one Vampire reluctantly raised their hand as the other's shook their heads in clear refusal of Iris' demands. Azaco sighed before drawing a dagger from his belt and hurling it at the Vampire with their hand raised. Due to the impressive reflexes of Vampires, they managed to dodge the incoming weapon.

"Now raise your hand if you wanna join her," Azaco instructed again.

No hands were raised.

"Good," Azaco commented. "Now…"

Azaco swooped at Iris who sidestepped and shoved him into the side of one of the thousands of spikes in the pit. Azaco clutched his arm as it was sliced open after being caught on the jagged spike. He ran forth, drawing a second dagger, and stabbing Iris in the gut. Iris threw a headbutt to get him back as he drew the dagger out only to stab her in the gut again.

Azaco went to cause a third stab wound, but Iris created armour made of bone that surrounded her which Azaco's dagger was incapable of penetrating. Iris then stretched her hand out, its size increasing as her magic caused the bones on her hand to grow large enough to completely grab Azaco's head.

"I warned you," Iris stated as she began squeezing his head like a grape. "Now you're the next to die to such nonsense."

Before Iris could pop Azaco's head, several other Vampires grouped together to lift Iris' heavy body up as they flew into the air and dropped her back onto a spike, assuming her to be defeated after taking such a fall twice. They returned to check on one another after such a deadly fight with a powerful God.

Meanwhile on the bridge above them, a big battle was still ensuing. Belokk led Mika, Sora, Siann and Cilene into a fight with those of Mileena's Union that happened to be standing before them, and also happened to be Mileena and her family.

Thanks to a small assist from Nitara earlier, Skarlet was controlling a fight against Cilene. This changed, however, as Dodger returned to latch onto Skarlet. The distraction allowed Cilene to recover and cast a spell which summoned a red demonic ring around Skarlet. Cilene then sprung back into action by knocking down Skarlet with a leaping punch.

Being surrounded in the ring, Skarlet felt more vulnerable to damage… and the damage Cilene was dealing was much stronger than before. Cilene hit an enziguri kick which knocked Skarlet down, but Meat soon rushed to the rescue.

Sliding across the ground using his own slippery fleshy body, Meat slid over to Skarlet and Cilene, tripping over Siann in the process which benefited Ermac in his battle with her. He soon reached Cilene and ripped out the pair of cleavers he had stored in his own flesh, far less sensitive and more pain tolerant due to being nothing beyond 'meat'. He sliced at Cilene who could do nothing but try and dodge as she relied on sorcery taught by Quan Chi and not any weaponry.

As Meat sought to skin Cilene for harming his sister, Ermac was using his telekinesis to get an advantage against Siann who was aggressively trying to slice through Ermac but was constantly denied by Ermac's magic. Already frustrated about no longer wielding a Demon Fang sword with Sareena taking hers after her latest death for the Brotherhood, Siann was using one of the regular swords granted to Demon soldiers of Shinnok's army. She managed to cut into one of the many black wraps that were tightly worn around Ermac, slicing them and a large wound open. Ermac sent a blast of his soul magic from point blank range, causing an explosion which knocked the two to other sides of the wide bridge.

Siann blasted over a fight occurring between Mika and Sora against Kitana and Mileena. Mika insisted to Sora that they fight side by side, which they did so rather well as they found themselves holding their own against the Empress of Outworld and her sister who used to hold the title of a Princess before Edenia and then Shao Kahn were gone.

Mileena threw her Sai at Sora, but Mika pushed her aside and took the hit for her. Mileena then used her teleportation ability which came from her enchanted weapons, to be atop of Mika as she took her Sai back. Mileena offered Mika a hand up, an opportunity to surrender.

"Let's not cause more violence, miss," Mileena suggested as she kept her hand held out. "I can tell what you and your friends are going through. You feel like you have no other choice but to serve a tyrant who holds a grasp over your home."

"You've… felt that way too?" Mika asked.

"Most in Outworld have," Mileena told her. "I assume it is similar in the Netherrealm."

"It's a mixed bag down there," Mika said as she cautiously accepted Mileena's hand as she pulled her up.

"You can talk to us about it," Kitana offered as she approached the two.

"The Netherrealm is filled by corrupted people," Mika admitted with a sadness in his voice. "Because tainted souls are sent to my home… thanks a lot, Elder Gods."

"I'm sorry to hear," Kitana apologised.

"How about we offer you and those close to you a home in Outworld?" Mileena brought up her offer again. "Just give us a hand with this mess and we'll help-"

Mileena was interrupted as Sora dived in with a punch which knocked her over. Sora then stole her Sai and began fighting Kitana. Their unique weapons collided.

"Why are you just standing around, Mika?!" Sora questioned as she struggled with Kitana. "Help me!"

"They want to help us!" Mika claimed.

"What?!"

"They want to-"

Mika's voice was drowned out by the sound of crumbling from the pillars that held up the bridge. The bridge began shaking in its entirety, causing everybody to stop fighting to try and maintain their balance.

"Tanya!" Mileena cried out for her friend as she spotted her about to fall off. "I've got you!"

Before Tanya could fall, Mileena dove and grabbed her by her hand and pulled her up. Tanya embraced her for a brief moment but it quickly became clear that the bridge wouldn't be standing for much longer.

"C'mon, Mika!" Sora ordered. "Let's get out!"

Mika hesitated but Sora grabbed her by the arm as they began running out of the room behind Siann and Cilene. Belokk remained put, diving over to the Jinsei where the platform it stood upon was reinforced and remained put, unlike the bridge leading up to it. Sindel, who had been fighting Belokk himself, flew over to continue her fight.

"You aren't going anyway, Belokk," Sindel stated firmly.

"You recognise me, Queen Sindel?" Belokk was surprised.

"You were at one of the very few meetings Edenia held with the Netherrealm," Sindel recalled vidily. "The ones we held before you betrayed your parents."

"I'm pleased to hear that the legend spread across the Realms," Belokk expressed his pride in himself. "Queen Slayer shall be my next title soon I'm sure."

"I'm not afraid of Gods," Sindel told him.

"Shao Kahn would recount differently," Belokk remarked which immediately prompted Sindel to draw her Kwan Dao with Belokk doing the same.

"I used this very weapon to slice his face open," Sindel recalled the horrifying time where Shao Kahn conquered her home and people.

"Yet you still lost."

"You may have divine blood," Sindel admitted, "but you're no Shao Kahn."

"I'm glad," Belokk stated. "I'm also glad that I serve a master who won't fail like him."

"We'll see," Sindel said as she got into her fighting stance. "Now let's finish this…"

As Belokk and Sindel battled with their Kwan Dao's as the bridge continued crumbling. Curious as to what was happening, Kitana bravely leapt off the side. She caught a glimpse of what was multiple giant bone hands squeezing at the support, clearly the work of Iris. Before she could crash, Kitana waved her fans, creating a wind-like magic beneath her which propelled her back to the bridge. Another realisation was soon made as the path to the exit had collapsed already, leaving the group of heroes stuck.

"What do we do?!" Skarlet asked as a terrified Meat clung onto her.

"We will handle this," Ermac said before quickly leaping off the bridge and activating his levitation moments before landing to fall unscaved.

"What's Ermac doing?!" Tanya wondered.

She soon received her answer. As the bridge collapsed, the group shrieked as they felt like they were falling. Sindel looked and gave a horrified look of concern, allowing Belokk to take advantage in their battle. The horrifying fall suddenly slowed, however, as their bodies were all surrounded by a green telekinetic energy.

"Saving us," Mileena realised as Ermac carefully used his powers to telekinetically carry his allies over to safety at the entrance of the massive room that served as the Outworld Jinsei Chamber.

"Thank you, Ermac," Kitana expressed her gratitude as Ermac flew back over to them after saving them all.

"You're all welcome," Ermac replied before turning to see Sindel fighting Belokk beyond the pit where the destruction of the bridge split them apart. "We need a moment."

"You're going to help mother too?" Mileena assumed.

Ermac nodded and said, "she doesn't need it. But a helping hand does no harm."

"Even more of a reason to thank you," Mileena told him as she made sure to express her own gratitude towards the soul construct.

Ermac smiled behind their wraps before flying off and sending a blast of magic at Belokk from behind, knocking him over, ending his offense caused by a distraction in the first place. Ermac landed beside Sindel and helped her up. Sindel quickly thanked him before blocking an incoming attack from Belokk's Kwon Do with her own, saving Ermac from being suddenly impaled on the weapon that was formerly wielded by Lucifer.

Sindel and Belokk's weapons collided again, this time with Belokk trying to sneak out his mother's dagger and going to slash at Sindel. Ermac interfered again, squeezing the hand which Belokk held the dagger, causing him to drop it as Sindel pierced her Kwon Dao into him. She then let out an ear piercing scream with enough force that it pushed Belokk back, off of the blade he found himself pierced on, and over the edge into the pit below.

"Thanks," Sindel said to Ermac as she wiped the blood from her weapon.

"No. Thank you," Ermac returned the gratitude immediately. "You saved Us."

"And you saved me," Sindel told him as the two smiled warmly, "as well as the rest of our family and that lovely girl named Tanya."

"Did We just hear you say 'our' family, Queen Sindel?" Ermac queried, unsure if they misheard her.

"Of course!" Sindel confirmed. "As bizarre as it is, anybody from the Flesh Pits is part of the family thanks to our lovely Mileena… the one good thing to come from that horrid sorcerer."

"We appreciate it," Ermac told her sincerely, "that means a lot to Us."

"I know," Sindel understood. "Now let's find out what caused all that damage to the bridge."

"The culprit is Vaeternus' former Protector God," Ermac informed her as they pointed at Iris as many Vampires attempted to hold her down on the spike they had dropped her on.

Iris was clearly enraged and near breaking free and causing more destruction to her surroundings. Seeing the ever growing risk, Ermac went to fly down to aid their Vampire allies. Sindel soon followed, levitating herself before falling much like Ermac. The soul construct used her telekinesis to surround Iris and actually raised her off of the spike, only to slam her back down onto it with Azaco giving a nod of respect as he did so while he checked on his sister.

As the group of Ermac, Sindel and Vampires dealt with Iris, those who had to retreat from the area holding the Jinsei now joined the rest with the battle occurring throughout the Jinsei Fortress. Mileena and company had reunited with Li Mei and Jade, who Mileena had trusted to be in charge of the other soldier's as they approached the Jinsei itself. Plans had clearly changed, and they now found themselves reuniting with the couple.

"Thank the Gods you're all okay," Li Mei said relieved as she and Jade rushed over with some soldiers following. "C'mon team! Let's secure this area for the Empress!"

The soldiers followed Li Mei's commands and surrounded the group as they provided protection against any Demon that came nearby.

"You're a great leader, Li," Mileena complimented.

"She really is!" Jade passionately agreed.

"As are you, Empress," Li Mei told her.

"We were all so worried when we heard all that commotion," Jade told the group as she peered through the entranceway to see the collapsed bridge. "How did that happen?"

"A story for after we've dealt with everything, old friend," Kitana told her as she placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Right," Jade understood. "Are things over there okay?"

"We have no idea," Kitana admitted as she herself peered over but from her angle she was unable to see what was occuring at the bottom of the pit as rubble from the bridge blocked being able to see beyond.

"I hope Nitara is okay…" Skarlet said quietly with clear concern in her voice. "And the other Vampires…"

"And Ermac and Sindel," Tanya hoped.

"They'll be alright!" Meat tried to express positivity to motivate his friends and family. "Don't worry, Skarlet!"

"Thank you, Meat," Skarlet said as she hugged her brother without a care in the world for the stains she'd get from making contact with her fleshy friend. "That really helps."

The others smiled at the display of affection as Mileena joined in on the hug. Then followed Kitana. Then Li Mei and Jade held each other's hands as they joined in on the massive ball of love as the entire group embraced.

"I hate to be that person," Tanya began to speak up as she avoided the kind embrace, "but we have a battle to fight."

"Tanya's right," Mileena admitted as the group concluded hugging. "Let's get back to work. How have things been over here, Li and Jade?"

"The situation seems under control," Li Mei said, which was reassuring news for the entire group. "The Earthrealmers and that nice man Bo' Rai Cho arrived and informed us they had made the Oni retreat."

"The Oni retreated?!" Mileena said with audible surprise. "That is certainly unexpected."

"I'm glad we have their help," Kitana commented with the others nodding in agreement.

"I'm glad we have each other," Jade said as her eyes were fixated on her lover who smiled at her kindly.

"I agree," Li Mei replied as she gave Jade a quick kiss on the lips before continuing her update. "General Kotal has been leading the Osh-Tekk into battle fiercely. I fear he is putting his own troops at risk but the strategy seems very effective, especially with the Kytinn and the Hail at their side."

"And now the Earthrealmers," Jade added with Li Mei nodding in confirmation.

"The Hail…" Tanya muttered disdainfully.

"They want to help, Tanya," Mileena assured her. "Trust me, my friend."

"Alright," Tanya replied. "I'll always trust you, Empress."

"Thank you," Mileena said. "Know that the feeling is mutual, Tanya."

"I'm glad you're all here," Li Mei commented kindly. "Now… shall we get back into battle?"

Mileena summoned her Sai and raised them high above her head before deciding, "my friends… let us fight!"

While Mileena and company grouped up with their other allies in the battle against the Demon army, the Kytinn team had split from the Osh-Tekk army to pursue a group of Demon ladies as they ran away from the destroyed bridge. They flew through the stronghold, keeping precise track of the four powerful warrior's known as Cilene, Siann, Sora and Mika.

They pursued the distinct group as they each squeezed through a gap made in the Jinsei Fortress during all the violence to escape to the outer walls and away from the commotion inside as they began climbing up to the roof. D'Vorah sent a beetle through said gap to stalk the group to see what they were up to due to their suspicion considering they had run from the echoing destruction of the bridge in the other massive room.

"Are we all alright?" Mika asked as they all stopped for a moment as they sat on the cobblestone roof.

"I guess," Sora said unsurely. "What were you going to tell me back there?"

"That their leader was offering us help!" Mika informed her.

"So?!" Siann asked with aggression in her voice. "Her offerings mean nothing!"

"Maybe… maybe we should consider them," Mika suggested after some hesitation.

"Nonsense!" Siann refused. "Stick to the plan! We're on the winning side!"

"I agree with Siann," Cilene stated her opinion as Dodger rested on her arm. "Of course Shinnok isn't… an ideal leader. But what tells us this Outworld ruler is any better?"

"The fact they got rid of that awful Shao Kahn?" Sora pointed out.

"That fact is exactly why they can't be trusted," Siann claimed.

"How?" Sora asked her.

"How else would somebody kill Shao Kahn?" Siann wondered. "Only somebody even more dangerous than him."

"You don't know that," Mika told her. "I don't think we can win this… I'm usually always positive with our job… but now? We have a chance to change our future."

"Shinnok's changing the future as we speak," Cilene countered. "He's probably damned Earthrealm with his corruption by now."

"Well things here don't seem very successful at all," Sora argued.

"We've come this far so we should see this through!" Cilene raised her voice then suddenly Dodger scratched her. "What is it, Dodger?"

Dodger hissed as he flew over to where the beetle D'Vorah had planted was observing. Dodger landed on the bug, squishing it in his mouth before swallowing them whole.

"Anyway," Siann said after the group watched Dodger find his snack. "Let's focus on what I suggested instead. We blast a hole in the roof to where the Jinsei is and make it an even easier target for Lord Shinnok."

"I don't know anymore," Mika replied honestly.

"What's gotten into you, Mika?" Cilene interrogated. "You used to be the most positive about our situation. You even said so yourself. You always believed that we should keep working for Shinnok and when we get to the day we invade the realms, which is today, then we'd finally be rewarded with a good life!"

"And maybe she's had a change of heart," Sora defended Mika.

"Oh of course you try and protect her," Cilene remarked. "You're awful at hiding your love for other women."

"Wait what?" Mika said as Sora immediately blushed with embarrassment. "I never realised! I thought you all… hated me…"

"No!" Sora replied as she felt bad for her friend. "I… love you."

Mika hugged Sora, with the embrace being returned for a long moment. Siann and Cilene watched and then turned to each other.

"I'm sorry," Siann apologised. "I don't mean to force any of us to do anything… I'm no Shinnok."

"And it's nice that you aren't," Sora commented.

"Yeah," Cilene agreed. "You're great, Siann."

"Th-thanks," Siann said with a surprising stutter. "Look… how about we go back a safe distance and just watch what actually happens while we talk about everything."

"I'd like that," Mika replied. "One more thing though."

Mika turned to Sora and planted her lips on hers as the two began to kiss. Despite the severe situation they were all in and had been arguing over through their own inner concerns and confliction, all that melted away for Mika and Sora for that long moment.

"I love you too, Sora," Mika told her, "if that weren't clear already."

"You're so kind, Mika," Sora complimented. "I'm sorry for being hard on you."

"I understand," Mika replied. "I know how hard the situations we've been in are for everyone. That's why I was always so positive… I just wanted to make everybody happy…"

"⁶But you yourself actually weren't?"

"No," Mika finally confessed. "That Empress I thought… I heard her be called Mileena by an ally of her's. She stabbed me yet somehow right after managed to give me hope."

"A good future that doesn't involve us wiping Shinnok's bottom?" Sora guessed jokingly.

"Yes," Mika confirmed. "And like I said… maybe he won't even win."

"Shinnok will fail," came an unusual voice. "This One will help cause said failure!"

D'Vorah had emerged with her beloved A'Vital by her side as well as the team of K'Berah, K'Fersebe, Re'Enena and Y'Evna.

"They killed This One's scout," D'Vorah realised as anger came over her face. "Who dares?!"

"Dodger was hungry!" Cilene defended her Hellbat. "Anyway, it's only a bug…"

D'Vorah flew over immediately after hearing such a remark, tackling Cilene to the ground as the two began fighting. The other Kytinn soon began approaching. Siann rushed over to aid Cilene but A'Vital stood in her path as they themselves began scrapping.

"No!" Mika yelled. "Stop!"

"Now Shinnok's puppets cry out for mercy," Re'Enena said as she sounded amused.

"The irony," K'Fersebe remarked as she joined Re'Enena in approaching Mika. "This One shall enjoy bringing the fight back to the attackers of our home."

"A shame it couldn't be accomplished the last time it happened," Re'Enena replied as the realm of Arnyek lingered in her mind.

"I'm sorry about whatever happened to your last home," Mika apologised as she began slowly backing away. "I don't want to fight!"

"Of course you don't," K'Berah spoke as she prevented her from walking back further. "For once the Kytinn outnumber a group."

"It's about time," Y'Evna said as she now joined in on surrounding Mika. "This One will enjoy this."

"Get away from my girlfriend!" Sora yelled as she charged at the group with a cudgel she had summoned through her magic.

Sora spun the cudgel to be as wide as possible as she rammed the staff into K'Berah and Y'Evna who were sent sprawling to the floor that was the stone roof they stood on that was unstable and full of dangerous gaps. K'Berah and Y'Evna scurried to their feet, cautious of where they stood as they did so.

"Dammit!" Mika yelled as Sora got against her back. "Sora! I thought we agreed not to get involved with any of this!"

"They aren't really giving us a choice, sweetie," Sora pointed out to her as the team of four Kytinn circled them. "Whatever they've gone through, they aren't hoping for any repeats."

"We don't want to fight!" Mika tried declaring again.

"I also doubt they're taking any chances," Sora presumed as she saw the annoyed faces of the Kytinn glare at them.

The Kytinn crew gave one another a signal and suddenly they all attacked at once. Sora swung her cudgel to takedown K'Berah again, then pushed the cudgel back so that Mika who was back to back against Sora, could grab the cudgel and thrusted it so the spiked end caught an incoming K'Fersebe in the torso.

Mika took the cudgel and held it out for Sora who skillfully leapt into the staff and dived off, crashing into Re'Enena who managed to sink her stingers into her body as they both crashed down.

"Sora!" Mika cried out, but unable to check on her as she now found herself battling Y'Evna.

Meanwhile, D'Vorah and A'Vital used their phenomenal teamwork to overpower Siann and Cilene. Siann used her sword but it was inferior to the four long stingers that each Kytinn possessed. Cilene still fought unarmed, trying to maintain her distance as she used her unique sorcery that Quan Chi had taught her many years ago. A blast of red energy threw A'Vital back but her lover caught her and lifted her up to ready her into flight. A'Vital flew over, knocking Dodger aside, and rammed her lower stingers into Cilene. D'Vorah then disarmed Siann with her stingers and threw her down.

"Cilene! Siann!" Mika cried out for her allies after noticing them in danger.

"Do not be distracted from This One!" Y'Evna warned as she tried to impale her own stingers into her opponent.

"Thanks for the heads-up!" Mika said as she thrusted the cudgel she held upwards, pushing the incoming stingers with it.

Mika then dropped down and wrapped her legs around Y'Evna's. She managed to trip the Kytinn warrior over, causing her to crash into D'Vorah and A'Vital who fell over simultaneously. Mika then went over to Re'Enena and kicked her off of Sora as the Kytinn scurried over to help each other up as the Demon girls did the same. Once recovered, the group met face to face again.

"You are a formidable group," D'Vorah commended. "But the Kytinn never give up."

"Well we do," Mika told her as she tossed her cudgel aside. "I told you we weren't here to fight."

"Listen to her," Sora instructed. "Put your weapon down, Siann."

"Ugh," Siann reluctantly complied and threw her sword down and Cilene called Dodger back to her as she began petting him. "Done."

"What's the meaning of this?!" A'Vital questioned.

"This One believes it is a trap," Re'Enena assumed.

"No!" Mika raised her voice in denial of the claim. "We just decided that we're done. With all of this."

"This battle wasn't how we planned it," Sora elaborated for her new lover. "Your Empress offered us refuge if we help the situation."

"Then why run off here?" A'Vital continued to interrogate.

"We… weren't sure," Mika admitted.

"I'm still unsure after that," Siann quipped.

"The hesitation to take Empress Mileena's offer is suspicious to This One," D'Vorah reviewed the situation.

"If you were in our shoes then you'd get it," Mika told her. "Look… you don't have to like or especially trust us… but you'd be best stopping those beneath us."

"She's right," Sora backed her up. "Do you girls understand?"

"This One understands," D'Vorah confirmed.

"And we all follow you, D'Vorah,"A'Vital said as she gave her lover a quick kiss. "So we all understand."

"Thank you," Mika replied as she let out a great sigh of relief.

"We will get going now," D'Vorah decided. "Are you coming with us?"

"Huh?" Mika was confused.

"To help us with your allies," D'Vorah clarified.

"Former allies now," Cilene realised.

"Yeah," Siann replied. "But we were just going to leave…"

"We aren't leaving, " Mika changed her mind again. "It's not right for us to just sit back."

"Well what do you want us to do?!" Cilene questioned. "We can't change a thing now!"

"We can!" Mika disagreed. "The other Demon soldier's! They'd trust us! We can try and convince them that we don't have to be puppets anymore!"

"Nobody's bitch," Sora remarked.

"What's that mean?" Mika asked her lover.

"Not exactly sure," Sora admitted. "Those Earthrealmers sure do bring some funny slang to our home though."

"Well if we help this Empress Mileena then we don't have to worry about our home," Mika told her with the warm smile that all her allies were gladly used to. "Well… for the most part."

"We'll follow your lead," Sora told Mika. "I love you so much."

"I know," Mika replied, "and I love you too."

"Aww," D'Vorah said as she turned to her own beloved. "This reminds This One of us."

"This One seconds that," A'Vital agreed. "Shall we get going?"

"Yes," Mika confirmed. "Lead the way, Kytinn."

The Kytinn and the Demon ladies headed back inside the Jinsei Fortress, where the main battle was still continuing. The Kytinn immediately tracked down the warrior who they took commands from: General Kotal.

The Osh-Tekk General was ruthlessly cutting through Demon's, slicing his massive Macuahuitl clean through a soldier, their armour being an irrelevant factor for such a powerful weapon. Another soldier found their head cut off while Kotal kicked another down. He impaled his Macuahuitl into the gut of the knocked down before grabbing some rubble and smashing it down on the hilt of the weapon, pushing the blade deep within.

"My goodness!" Siann yelled. "How dare this guy!"

"Absolute monster…" Cilene commented as her jaw dropped in horror of the sights.

"Enough of this!" Sora yelled angrily.

"Stop!" Mika demanded.

Kotal turned to the sound of their voices, snapping a Demon's neck as he approached them and the Kytinn. He gave the Demon girls a puzzled look, merely seeing them as bizarrely armoured Outworlders rather than Demons due to their human disguises. He then turned to D'Vorah.

"Who are these allies?" he asked. "Why do they order me?! and why do said orders tell me to cease?!"

"These are also Demons," D'Vorah revealed.

"Thanks for letting me know," Kotal said as he raised his Macuahuitl above his head and went to cut through Mika who was nearest to him. "Die, fiends!"

Before Kotal could cause any harm, D'Vorah stepped in the way and stabbed a stinger into each side of Kotal's blade before prying the heavy weapon of his grasp and handing it to K'Fersebe who needed Re'Enena to help carry such a massive weapon with the Kytinn only relying on their own abilities to begin with and not such weapons.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Kotal interrogated. "Return my Macuahuitl this instant!"

"If you let This One explain the situation then This One will," D'Vorah promised him.

"Proceed," Kotal permitted.

"These four Demons wish to aid us," D'Vorah informed him.

"That is absurd!" Kotal yelled as he immediately didn't trust the Demons. "Blatant deception!"

"This One was hesitant at first too," D'Vorah confessed to try and make Kotal relate. "But they have gained the trust of the Kytinn."

"Well they haven't gained the trust of the Osh-Tekk!"

"You trust the Kytinn though right?" D'Vorah asked him. "Right?"

"Of course!" Kotal confirmed.

"Then trust the judgement of the Kytinn," D'Vorah requested. "Trust that we trust these four Demons."

"Fine…" Kotal replied despite his reluctance. "But how will these four weaklings help anyway?"

"Everybody stop!" Mika yelled.

"That includes you, green freak," Sora insulted Kotal with the Kytinn having to hold him back.

"I'll send you back to where you came!" Kotal threatened.

"And I'll send you on your first trip right now if you don't shut up and listen to my girlfriend!"

Kotal and Sora's argument had actually aided in getting the nearby fighter's to look over to see Mika with her arms raised high in the air.

"I am Mika!" she introduced herself. "Those of you from the Netherrealm already know that. To those who don't, then know I'm not here to fight you anymore!"

"Nobody does now," Sora added.

"As my girlfriend just said, and yes I DO have a girlfriend now!" Mika revealed to the crowd. "She's great, she's so lovely and has stood by my side for countless years!"

"You're getting a bit off topic, sweetie," Sora whispered to her. "But thanks."

"Understatement of the century," Siann remarked.

"Agreed," said Cilene.

"Get on with it!" Kotal yelled.

"Hey!" Sora snapped at Kotal again. "What did I just tell you?!"

"Today I learnt that… we don't have to fight for Shinnok anymore!" Mika continued her passionate speech. "The people of Outworld had to serve a Tyrant for so long, yet look what they've risen above! Why should we help ruin their world again?! Why should we help Shinnok?!"

"And be a victim of his wrath too?!" spoke up one of the Demon soldier's. "No thank you."

"We already are!" Mika countered. "He just uses us for his own goals! and this is coming from ME! Mika! The happy-go-lucky lunatic!"

More Demons began speaking, discussing amongst themselves after hearing Mika's speech. As a warrior trained by Quan Chi himself, Mika was a well known and respected figure amongst the soldiers, as were her friends and now girlfriend.

"Empress Mileena offered refuge to us if we surrender!" Mika announced which only caused more discussions amongst the Demons. "So please… let's just drop our weapons… and help unite Outworld and the Netherrealm at last!"

The Demon soldier's all greatly considered the offer as well as the incredible speech Mika had delivered as they talked amongst themselves. Once their discussions had finally been shared, the soldiers took a moment. Overtime, some of the soldier's began dropping their weapons in a declaration of surrender. More followed as more surrendered, a constant cycle which spread throughout the Jinsei Fortress. Peace had been created at last.

"What's going on?" Empress Mileena asked as she and her allies walked in.

"We surrender, Empress," Mika declared. "Let the word spread and I assure you that this is over."

The Kytinn smiled and took flight as they scanned across the entire Jinsei Fortress to confirm Mika's words, and she turned out to be right. Throughout the battlefield spread waves of Demon's pledging their surrenderence as those on both sides eventually ceased fighting completely. They flew back to where the main group of heroes were standing so that D'Vorah could report the news.

"This One is pleased to confirm that the entire Demon army has seemingly agreed to surrender!" D'Vorah announced as those who could hear her cheered.

"Thank you," Mileena said as she approached Mika and shook her hand.

"Thank you for giving us a chance, Empress," Mika returned the gratitude.

"My Union is accepting of all," Mileena assured her. "Outworld is a place of all sorts of people and communities. I'll make sure to prioritise the construction of one for yours now that this is over."

"Thank you so much," Mika said gratefully.

"Hate to be a downer, sis," Kitana spoke up as she approached her. "But has anybody checked back at the Jinsei Chamber?"

"Oh no…" Mileena realised Kitana's point. "Mother!"

"What is going on?!" Rain inquired as the Hail clan joined the gathering point. "Our enemies just surrendered?"

"What does it look like, water hose?" Tanya asked. "Of course they have!"

"It was rhetorical," Rain remarked as Tanya stared flaming daggers at him. "Can anybody explain why?!"

"Later," Mileena promised. "We still have work to do."

"Like?"

"Just shut up, master," Alyssa spoke up. "This is going well. Don't be bitter about everything."

"I'm not!" Rain defended himself. "I… I'm sorry, Ally."

"Apologise to her," Alyssa suggested as she pointed to Tanya.

"I don't care about forcing fake apologies out of him," Tanya stated as she crossed her arms. "You heard the Empress, let's get to work."

"I am sorry," Rain apologised.

"And I don't care," came Tanya's fiery response. "What's the plan now, Empress?"

"I need a group to come with me to check on the Jinsei Chamber," Mileena began detailing her plan. "If mother's still there then she can make a portal to everybody else and take them to Earthrealm and Zaterra to help the situation there."

"That would be great," Jax commented as the group of Earthrealmers approached from the crowd along with Bo' Rai Cho. "I'm worried about things over there… worried about the SF… Vera…"

"Glad to see you're all alright here at least," Kitana said positively.

"Thank you, Kitana," Liu Kang spoke. "It is great to see you in good health too."

"Can we get on with this plan?" Rain rudely requested. "You stated we were in a rush, Empress. Plus I'm tired of babysitting these Earthrealmers."

"What actually happened is your clan needed their aid," Bo' Rai Cho recalled the recent event that brought the two together.

"Can confirm," Alyssa admitted.

"Okay forget about it!" Rain dismissed his statement.

"Rain is at least partly right," Mileena credited. "If you're coming with me then let's get moving now."

Mileena and her multiple allies headed back to the massive room that served as Outworld's Jinsei Chamber within the Jinsei Fortress. Mileena led the way with her family, the Earthrealmers and Bo' Rai Cho, her Edenian allies, the four Demon's who had just played crucial roles in creating peace between both sides of the war, the Kytinn crew, the Hail clan and General Kotal all marched behind her.

"Do you see anything?!" Meat inquired curiously and out of concern for their allies possibly down below the pit within the Jinsei Chamber.

"Nothing besides rubble," Mileena reported as she peered over the edge.

"I can sense them," Skarlet revealed. "The blood of many Vampires, the blood of an Edenian and… the blood of Gods."

"Then everybodies still down there," Mileena concluded. "Kytinn, scan the area from above please."

"Follow This One," D'Vorah commanded as they obeyed Mileena's request.

"And just how do we get down there?" Kotal questioned.

"I have an idea," Kitana stated before floating down using her fan's magic and then released a torpedo up in the air by the entrance. "Jump on!"

"Are you sure that's-" Kotal's inquiry about the safety of Kitana's idea was interrupted by Sora shoving him down as the others soon followed with the magic torpedo catching them all and slowing their fall.

"Great thinking, Kitana," Mileena praised her sister. "Now… mother?!"

"Nitara?!" Skarlet began helping yell out too. "Anybody?!"

"I too can sense them now, Skarlet," Mileena realised as her Tarkatan sense of smell began doing it's work. "They're this way…"

The group continued to follow behind Mileena, weaving between the various spikes, until they were stopped by remnants of the destroyed bridge. It completely blocked their passage.

"Any ideas?" Mileena asked her allies with the obstacle before them being clear.

"You want to try something, Ally?" Rain asked his student.

"I see where you're going with this," she replied with a smirk. "Let's do it."

Rain and Alyssa stepped forth before sending a powerful blast of water each with enough pressure that it completely barged through the debris, even blasting Iris who surprisingly stood behind the rubble. With her were the Vampires as well as Ermac and Sindel, all trying to stop the God.

"Please stop, Princess Iris!" Mika began trying to create peace through words once more. "We don't need more violence! Let's stop and help Outworld instead!"

"WHAT?!" Iris screamed in a burst of rage, her emotions having gotten the better of her during her battle. "YOU BETRAY MY FATHER?!"

"I-" Mika went to reply but kept stuttering as Iris had frozen her with fear.

"It's alright, Mika," Sora reassured her.

"He's not worth it anymore," Siann replied boldly. "Took us getting out of his world to realise that there's hope for a world without him."

"WHY IS EVERYBODY SIDING AGAINST HIM?!" Iris was trying to process everything. "I DON'T UNDERSTAND!"

"Princess Iris…" Mika finally found her words, "if you weren't his daughter then would you join us."

"Of course not," replied Belokk tos her as he emerged from behind and stabbed Mika with his dagger. "Family bonds aren't what matters inherently. Isn't that right, Princess Iris?"

Iris remained silent.

"Mika!" Sora yelled. "You bastard! I'll kill you!"

"Try it!" Belokk challenged only to be stabbed from behind by Sindel's Kwan Dao, dropping his weapons as he felt a rush of pain throughout his body.

"Never undermine the bond of a family, monster!" Sindel yelled as she rammed him into a nearby spike. "And if you haven't noticed yet, you're greatly outnumbered."

"Damn right," Sora agreed. "You always treated those beneath you harshly, Belokk. And those above you if your parents are anything to go by."

"But never Lord Shinnok…" he said as he began coughing blood as his wounds worsened.

"That's nothing to brag about," Mileena told him. "Going off of your loyalty and the fact you led an army to OUR Outworld… then the sentence is-"

"Death," Sora finished as she picked up the dagger Belokk used to stab her beloved. She approached Belokk who was stuck on the spike and ruthlessly slit his throat. "I pray the Oni gets your hands on you for good next time you reform."

"As long as he doesn't return here I don't mind," Mileena replied. "Now as for you…"

Mileena turned to Iris who was still standing still. She had just watched her father's last ally die. She fell to her knees as she relentlessly began punching the stone ground relentlessly to relieve her rage somewhat, her bone hands beginning to be chipped away due to how hard she was punching such a surface. As she underwent her emotional fit, Sora went over to help Mika who was recovering from being stabbed by Belokk mere moments ago. Siann and Cilene also came over to help their good friend.

"Is she alright?" Mileena asked out of concern for her great new ally.

"She will be," Sora assured her and said so to reassure herself. "We've just gotta do that healing spell… anybody remember it?"

"A while ago but I've always mainly relied on Kia's ability," Siann revealed. "I'll give it a go."

"I'll help," Cilene offered.

With the combined magic of Siann and Cilene, the duo managed to completely seal the burning stab wound that went deep into Mika's flesh. After a minute, she was completely fine and was immediately embracing her friends and girlfriend passionately.

"You're alright!" Sora said with joy.

"Thanks, Siann and Cilene," Mika expressed her gratitude, "and thanks for always being so lovely, Sora."

"No problem!" Sora said as her cheeks blushed a bright red which Mika found adorable. "Now… what do we do with her?"

Iris looked up as she finally ceased her assault on the ground, which was shaking the surrounding area due to her sheer power. Fortunately everything she could've destroyed she had already done so. The entire group that now followed Mileena loyally looked back at her, and spread out to surround her in case she tried anything in her emotional state. They drew their weapons to be safe as well.

"Don't attack!" Mileena commanded which the group obeyed… all but one.

"No!" Kotal refused as he raised his macuahuitl up high and carelessly charged at the God. Iris glared at him and her bone hands extended forward as they grabbed Kotal and flung him into the air.

"What are you doing, Kotal?!" Mileena asked with frustration at such defiance.

Kotal screamed as he fell from the air with Iris forcing the speed of his fall by stretching out her boney hands and crushing Kotal beneath them as if she were swatting a fly.

"Was that your best?!" Iris asked the Empress.

"Our worst actually," she muttered.

"Terrible ambush plan, coward," Iris insulted.

"The plan was not to hurt you," Mileena said truthfully. "That man you just took down had other plans."

"And why should I trust you?!"

"If I wanted a fight we'd be at it by now!" Mileena shouted back. "I wish to make an offering of peace very clear. Take it now… or else we will fight."

"I will never betray my father!" Iris yelled in refusal. "NEVER!"

"Funny," Mileena remarked as she drew her Sai, "I used to say the same thing."

Iris surprisingly sprung into the air and crashed her weight onto the Empress who was surprised by the sudden agile attack. Vampires swooped in to try and pick Iris up again but Iris used her unique powers to grow her magical bone hands before clapping them together with some Vampires retreating and others being caught in the dangerous clap. Azaco and a now recovered Nitara attacked right after their fellow Vampires with Azaco repeatedly stabbing his dagger into Iris' flesh as Nitara did the same while dual wielding her kama. Iris slammed her bone hands down, causing the siblings to roll back to avoid being crushed.

This created space between Iris and her attackers, however, she was soon attacked from behind. Rain struck Iris' back with a bolt of lightning, stunning her momentarily. Alyssa then ran forth to try and attack Iris as she began throwing punches and kicks utilising the style of Zi Ran Men which her master Rain had taught her many years ago. Rain soon joined as the two utilised hydromancy to strengthen the power of their blows. Iris soon recovered and raised a pair of Skeletons from the ground which grabbed the two hydromancer's legs. With them caught by the reanimated Skeletons, Iris charged at them and dove sideways with her body crashing on top of them both. The Skeletons rose from the ground and helped Iris stand up.

"Allow me to reverse the roles, Empress," Iris now addressed Mileena. "Make your warrior's surrender… and join me and my father instead."

"No chance," Mileena refused immediately.

"Please!" Iris pleaded. "I do not wish to have to kill another one of you!"

"Then leave our home alone," Mileena instructed. "Right now."

"I'd be defying my father's orders if I did so," Iris informed her. "But… this is needless violence still. I just need you to understand. WHY CAN'T ANY OF YOU UNDERSTAND?!"

"Your friend made this offer earlier," Mileena recalled, "and I refused. Don't expect me to change my mind when we are on the verge of victory."

"On the verge of victory?!" Iris repeated as if Mileena said something ridiculous. "NONE OF YOU CAN DEFEAT ME!"

"Your defeat is inevitable, Iris," Mileena warned her. "It's just a matter of how you want to lose."

Iris suddenly stomped on the ground, causing the floor beneath Mileena to shake and before she could properly react, an oversized and jagged bone randomly emerged from the ground to impale Mileena.

"Mileena!" Sindel cried out as she and the rest of their family rushed over to pull her off of the spiked bone. "Are you okay, dear?"

"Ugh…" Mileena groaned as she collapsed to her knees. "I'll survive… just stop her!"

"Damn you, Iris!" Sindel yelled as she hurled her Kwan Dao at her like a javelin which one of Iris' undead skeletons shielded her from. "Another 'Protector' who does nothing of the sort!"

"SHUT UP!" Iris yelled angrily as her clenched boney fists began shaking with sheer rage.

"I'll stay here," Sindel told the ground as she knelt beside her wounded daughter to look after her. "Go stop her before she causes more damage!"

"Of course, mother," Kitana complied as she stepped forth to take the lead for the moment. "Let's stick together, team."

"We're right beside you, Kitana," Jade assured her.

"Thanks," she replied. "Now… attack!"

Much to Iris' surprise, all her enemies that were still standing charged at her at once. Her Skeletons tried defending her but two hard punches from Jax's metal fists shattered them completely.

"They were living beings!" Iris yelled.

"By your magic maybe," Jax remarked as he slammed the ground to send a shockwave at Iris which she was completely unaffected by. "Shit…"

"Those Skeletons are proof of loyalty to their creator!" Iris replied as she forged a bone scythe, similar to what she had given Shinnok earlier. "Just like how I am loyal to mine… as we should all be."

"You make it sound like you owe this Shinnok something," Suchin commented as she and Kenshi approached Iris' side.

"Yet you're conflicted…" Kenshi revealed. "I can sense it."

Iris snapped round to face Suchin and Kenshi. As she approached them, a floating bone hand formed to flick Jax away into the other Earthrealm allies so they wouldn't interfere. She swung her scythe at Kenshi who was nearest to her.

"Look out!" Suchin instructed.

"Very funny," Kenshi remarked as he used his good hearing to precisely parry the incoming attack with his katana.

"Oh right," Sachin recalled his blindness. "Sorry."

"Let's just stay focused on-" Kenshi's response was interrupted by a bone hand emerging from beneath his feet and grabbing him while violently shaking him.

Suchin ran over and sliced Iris' face with her own katana. Iris felt blood trickle down her face and body from a deep cut on her cheek that was gushing with blood. Iris became even more enraged as she grabbed Suchin's weapon as she swung again, prying it from her hands and snapping the blade with her Godly strength. Iris then threw the remnants of the katana at Suchin, cutting her as she was knocked over.

Skarlet and Meat then attacked, with Meat sliding in and chopping his cleavers into Iris' shoulders before sliding away again. Skarlet then gathered the spilled blood of Iris, it being of a God making her more stronger as she converted the blood into a powerful ball which she hurled at Iris in her face.

Bo' Rai Cho soon knocked Iris down using his impressively agile monkey flip attack. He then went to land his weight atop the fallen Iris but she turned her scythe upwards and Bo' Rai Cho landed through the sharp blade. Blood immediately sputtered out as he lay on his knees, desperately trying to remove the scythe from his body to stop the pain.

"Master Bo' Rai Cho!" Kung Lao yelled as he saw his master in brutal pain. "Stay away from him!"

Lao rushed over, launching his razor hat with the blade repeatedly slicing into Iris but she eventually grabbed the hat and stopped the attack. She then hurled the hat back at Lao, slicing Lao's hand as he attempted to catch his hat.

"What a ludicrous weapon," Iris grunted as she clutched at her fresh wounds with her boney hands.

"Less crazy than making stuff out of bone!"

"I'll use such magic to shatter yours!" she threatened as bone hands emerged from the grounds to grab all nearby. "Now… to punish you all… one by one."

"You must do something, mother…" Mileena told her as she and Sindel watched the battle from afar.

"I am just one extra warrior," Sindel reminded her. "My involvement can't alter anything."

"She's trapped them all," Mileena pointes out. "We… we have to…"

Mileena tried moving but Sindel stopped her, not wanting her to injure herself further. She looked back at the battle and noticed Kitana.

"They're not all trapped," she said with pride in her voice of Kitana's skill.

Kitana used her fan weapons to create her magic wind-like energy which was powerful enough to pull the boney fingers that held her off as she immediately began rushing at Iris before she could execute any of her stuck allies.

"Leave them alone!" she cried out as she began rapidly slicing her blades at Iris who was pacing backwards to avoid being cut.

"When I was a mere soul after dying to Shao Kahn," Iris began speaking as she continued avoiding Kitana's attacks by creating Skeletons as a diversion and shield, "I managed to watch all the events that were going on around the realms… most of you supported HIM…"

Kitana paused her attack after hearing Iris' words. Iris took the pause to summon more Skeletons to surround her as further protection. She smirked as she realised she and her Skeletons now outnumbered the enemy.

"Through lies, deceit and fear people followed him," Kitana informed her. "After all that we finally killed him."

"You were the Princess of Outworld right?"

"What's it to you?"

"I'm now the Princess of the Netherrealm," Iris revealed to Kitana. "I understand you were in such a tough position."

"As are you," Kitana pointed out. "Your own father manipulates you also."

"NO!" Iris yelled immediately in denial. "My father is nothing like Shao Kahn!"

"Both are tyrants trying to control our realms," Kitana pointed out. "So what's the difference?"

"You're too foolish to understand," Iris believed. "Also for your information, Shao Kahn was mine to kill."

"Should've gotten in line."

"You served him for thousands of years," Iris reminded her. "Killing you will have to do."

"We actually seem to still have an issue with Shao Kahn loyalists in this realm still," Kitana informed her about the remaining Kahn Guard. "Join us and you can help us destroy them."

"I think I'll destroy you both," Iris threatened.

"Try it," Kitana dared. "It's clear you're too unwilling to understand our attempts to talk you down."

"Because I am no traitor," Iris replied as she somehow signalled her Skeletons to start moving. "As for you? For defying my father and for all the work you did for your own? You're a dead woman."

"Shao Kahn is NOT my father!" Kitana yelled at her.

Iris didn't respond and instead immediately returned to action. Her typical attempt to trap her within a magical bone hand had failed this time as Kitana rolled aside, however, she rolled into a Skeleton. Wielding swords made of bone, the Skeleton sliced the sharp bone over Kitana's back as she cried out in pain but kept fighting. She parried the second attack with her steel fans and proceeded to roundhouse kick the Skeletons head clean off their body.

More Skeletons quickly attacked, with one grabbing Kitana's ankle and tripping her over. The other Skeletone then dogpiled her as Iris watched on, pleased by the work of her skeletal minions. Kitana managed to use her wind magic to blow them off of her before beginning to slice through them with her fans. The Skeletons fell one by one as Kitana smashed them into pieces as they mindlessly approached her to attack.

Just when it seemed like she was overcoming her Skeletons, Iris created a bone spear and threw it at Kitana. The spear impaled Kitana through her back and out her chest. Iris then made another spear and repeated the process until Kitana collapsed from the wounds. Iris then approached and stepped on her throat with one last spear in hand…

"NO!" Sindel screamed in rage as the entire floor suddenly became surrounded by a purple aura. "Stay away from my daughter!"

As Mileena had mentioned the need of getting to Earthrealm after dealing with Iris, which she had told her mother while she tended to her wounds, Sindel had begun using that magic in a massive burst thanks to her anger in seeing her daughters in harm. This aura was one massive portal she had used her magic to summon, and it was dragging everybody caught in it through...

The arrival of the Lin Kuei cyborgs in Earthrealm led by Cyrax had most certainly aided in evening the odds against the Demons, some of which having betrayed Shinnok by now but nowhere near as many as in Outworld. The cyborgs had successfully cleared a way for the group of Sonya, Mokap, Nightwolf, Zonta and Tasia oddly enough to reach the group of Red Dragons. Tasia looked around before nudging Sonya and pointing to a certain man with a certain cybernetic heart.

"No…" Sonya still couldn't fully believe it despite now seeing him in the flesh. "Hsu!"

"General Blade," he acknowledged stoically.

"Wh-what are you doing?!"

"My duty," he replied with a lack of emotion. "Eliminate them!"

"I fucking told you!" Tasia remarked before immediately drawing her weapon and joining the confrontation again.

"You just keep crawling back!" Asuka remarked as she ran at her. "Fucking die, rat!"

Asuka tackled Tasia as the two former lovers began brawling on the ground. Sonya tried to interfere but was confronted by Hsu Hao as other Red Dragon soldiers attacked the duo of Nightwolf and Zonta who had the task of protecting the frightened Mokap who stood by their side.

"Your duty was to the Special Forces, Hsu," Sonya said as Hsu Hao approached her. "I thought…"

"You thought wrong," Hsu Hao revealed to her. "My duty was to spy on the Special Forces."

"But you were so helpful…" Sonya recalled positively. "So you did all that for us just to gain our trust?"

"Partially," he confessed. "Mainly out of my own desires."

"What do you mean?"

"You think you hate the Black Dragon," Hsu Hao continued his shocking revelation of everything, "but you hate them nowhere near to the level of us. We are the Red Dragon, and I am proud to be a part of such a grand organisation."

"No fucking way!" Sonya was still in shock. "Why?!"

"Your group did a fine job at capturing some many of all the other Black Dragons we encountered and captured… especially Kano. I of course actually did my work. It was a fine opportunity to takedown my rivals while studying my future enemies."

"Dammit!" Sonya yelled as Hsu's words frustrated her. "We trusted you! We were like a family! You, me, Jax, Vera, Gemini and everybody else!"

"I know," Hsu Hao admitted. "I have a tremendous level of respect for each of you."

"Then why betray us?!"

"I didn't betray you," he claimed, "I was never on your side. You just didn't realise."

"Fuck you."

"No point in keeping my true identity a secret anymore," Hsu Hao perceived. "Especially not when it appears you're on the losing side."

"Why do you want this?!" Sonya asked as she failed to understand his actions. "Why do you want our very own universe to be drained of all life?!"

"It is not a matter of what I want," Hsu Hao stated. "It is a matter of what my superiors want."

"How can you say that?!"

"You wouldn't understand," he replied as he drew his signature Sun-Moon blades. "Anyway, an explanation I have given, which I must admit you deserve. Now I must eliminate you."

Before Sonya could respond to her former friend, Hsu Hao began running at her. But before he could properly begin his attack, a giant purple light suddenly emerged from the crimson red sky which everybody looked up to examine.

"What the fuck is that?!" Tasia asked, with Asuka taking the distraction as a chance to smack the hilt of her katana in Tasia's groin. "Ugh! Not again…" she groaned as she felt herself winded.

"Dumbass," she insulted as she threw her ex on the ground. "Seriously though, what's that?"

"I have no idea," Hsu Hao admitted. "Hold on a second…"

Rubble started falling out from what was becoming clear to be a portal. Various spikes from Outworld began raining down onto the Sky Temple and battlefield alone with everyone having to try their hardest to avoid being spiked.

Soon more rubble started falling, remnants of a destroyed bridge. The rubble smashed an edge of the Sky Temple, causing further damage to Raiden's home. The structure shook which interrupted the entire battle as next to fall with individuals, faces already familiar to many looking above.

Sindel and Ermac levitated down to the roof of the Sky Temple first and then all their other allies. Ermac sent a massive telekinetic net of sorts into the sky which caught all of the falling allies and safely brought them down to them safely as Iris herself passed them as she came crashing through the roof of the Sky Temple and several levels below. Sindel summoned a bubble of her energy to shield all her allies as many were wounded and needed protecting.

"How'd you know where the Sky Temple is?" Mileena asked as she slowly managed to finally stand up thanks to her mother's support. Mileena and Sindel had discussed going over to the Sky Temple as soon as possible but she never expected her to transport the group like this.

"Could've chosen to not fall from the sky…" Kitana added as her family was now checking on her wounds.

"Well that was my intention but I may have rushed things after seeing what Iris was doing to you," Sindel explained as she hugged her injured daughters. "As for how I know the Sky Temple's location? From meetings with the Thunder God… Edenia always strived to make peace with most realms. Even the Netherrealm at one point in time."

"I'll be sure to take your advice," Mileena promised. "So… what's the plan now?"

"Ermac?" Sindel called for.

"Yes, Queen Sindel?" they responded.

"I've attached this protection bubble to you momentarily," Sindel began to describe. "Gather the wounded and fly them to a safe spot nearby. Can you please do that?"

"We can," Ermac confirmed before levitating all those who Iris had greatly wounded. "Can We also help heal their wounds?"

"Good question," Sindel said as she used her magic to forge writing to cast spells that were formed by her own magic. "Would any of your Souls happen to know how to conduct this?"

"Yes," they confirmed. "Some of Us recognise it."

"We can come and give help too," Siann offered as she and Cilene stepped forth. "We managed to heal Mika."

"I feel good as new!" Mika reviewed.

"Excellent," Sindel commented as she sent the writing of the spell onto the protective bubble so that it would remain with Ermac. "Make haste, Ermac. Thank you for everything."

Ermac nodded and followed Sindel's orders exactly as she had requested as they escorted those badly injured from the battle in Outworld to get healing from the Soul Construct and their new Demon allies. One wounded warrior had been missed, however, and their name was Bo' Rai Cho.

Bo' Rai Cho had a much harder fall due to his weight and had fallen before everybody else. Fortunately, he had landed safely on the back of Cynder, the benevolent Dragon who resided in the Heavens with Kronika which she had sent to stop her son's insane plans. She had seen the warrior falling and made sure to catch him. He had explained his identity to her, with Cynder doing the same. Their interaction was soon interrupted, however, as Cynder was ambushed once again by Vouvire and Belindo. The Dragon duo attacked Cynder from both sides as they swooped around both sides of the Sky Temple, biting Cynder from both sides and knocking Bo' Rai Cho off of his ride as a consequence.

Bo' Rai Cho closed his eyes as he expected his fall to suddenly stop at any moment now. Only that it did, but was stopped by suddenly falling underwater. But Bo' Rai Cho was certain that the battlefield had no water and began thinking of where it had come from as he swam out of the mysterious pool.

"Are you alright, sir?" asked a voice.

Bo' Rai Cho looked up and saw two Gods standing before him. Geode: the God of Earth and Splash: the God of Water. Bo' Rai Cho quickly realised that they must've worked together to have quickly made a pool of water for him to safely land in.

"The Elemental Gods," Bo' Rai Cho greeted weakly as the two helped him out. "I am Bo' Rai Cho, a friend of Lord Raiden. He said many good things about you all."

"I'd hope so," remarked Torch as he approached the group. "Need help drying off?"

"I think I need help with my wounds," he remarked but being near Torch's presence already dried him due to his radiating heat.

"Wish we had the magic to do that, pal," Geode commented as he examined his wounds. "You should see your friend Raiden."

"Good idea," Bo' Rai Cho agreed. "He does know a powerful healing spell. Any ideas as to where he is?"

"We'd love to help look but we're supposed to help deal with them," Torch said as he pointed a flaming finger at the Dragon duo of Vouvire and Belindo and sent a ray of fire at them. "That should help Cynder at least!"

The two Dragons turned back to face Torch and his brothers with Belindo swooping down as Vouvire and Cynder continued their aerial battle. Bo' Rai Cho found himself caught in the crossfire as Belindo pummeled him on his way to assaulting the Elemental Gods.

Bo' Rai Cho began trying to crawl away as his body felt agonising with every slight movement. He stopped as he saw a Demon soldier approach him and begin kicking at his broken body carelessly. This only stopped minutes later as a kunai was caught in the Demons back and dragged before a familiar ally of Bo' Rai Cho.

"Scorpion?" he called out. "I thought you had gone to the Netherrealm!"

"I did," Scorpion told him as he and his new Demon allies checked on him. "With some friends as you can see."

"Reminds me of some friendly faces I met in Outworld," he remarked.

"How are things over there?" Scorpion asked.

"We won the battle there," he revealed. "That's why you now have backup here…"

"You got help from other Demons?" Sareena asked for clarification.

"One gave a speech to the soldiers and they all stood down," Bo' Rai Cho recalled. "All that's left is to stop whatever is happening here… I can see that it's been more challenging here."

"Probably," Ashrah remarked. "Good news that there's more Demons rising up against Shinnok though."

"Merely some more traitors," came an approaching voice. "Hello, Ashrah."

"Sister!" Ashrah recognised her long-lost sibling. "How are you, Arosis?"

"Don't talk to me like that," she requested as she crossed her arms. "We aren't sisters."

"I'm sorry," she apologised and frowned. "I didn't want to-"

"Abandon me and our friends?!" Arosis asked in interruption. "Abandon our home?!"

"The last one I did," Ashrah confessed. "I wanted you and everybody else to come with me. Maybe now is the time you do too…"

Arosis shook her head and said, "I'm not as foolish as you to abandon the only thing we have left."

"I have new friends," Ashrah pointed to Scorpion, Kia and Jataaka and then held Sareena's hand and said, "and a lovely girlfriend…"

"AND I DON'T!" Arosis yelled as she began tearing up.

"I'm sorry," Ashrah apologised. "Come with us, Arosis… we'll help you."

"It's not worth siding with Shinnok," Kia sided with Ashrah. "You were always really nice to me and Jataaka, Arosis, we just want what's best for you."

"Who even are you?!"

"Oh right," Jataaka remembered that she and Kia currently were in their true Demon forms. "She's Kia and I'm Jataaka."

"You were kind to me too," Sareena added.

"And yet you all abandoned me…" Arosis muttered.

"No!" Ashrah said as she approached her sister and suddenly embraced her. "I'm here! I'm here… and I'm sorry…"

Arosis began sobbing as she felt her sister's embrace, something she had dearly missed. After a long moment, she finally hugged her back.

"I love you," Ashrah assured her. "It's time for us to all be free."

"She's right," the familiar voice of Sora spoke as she and Mika approached. "My new lovely girlfriend Mika just managed to create peace between the Demons and those in Outworld."

"Excuse me, everyone?!" Mika began gathering the attention of all the soldiers as she whispered to herself, "time to do this again…"

As Mika began to recite her moving speech, Cetrion flew over the heads of those listening to her as Shinnok flung her through one of the Sky Temple walls. She landed in a hallway where she saw Iris in pain after crashing from the sky.

Before Shinnok entered through the giant hole he had created, he observed his subjects beneath him. They were making peace?! Shinnok sneered at himself before charging up his Amulet and went to blast it at what he saw as a horde of traitors that were expendable either way.

"Look out!" Bo' Rai Cho warned as he mustered his remaining energy to push his staff into the ground and use it like he was vaulting a pole despite his large frame to propel himself into the air as he absorbed the beam as it blasted him back into the earth.

The blast left a giant boom and crater where Bo' Rai Cho now lay lifeless. It was so massive that everybody at the Sky Temple tried to peer over balconies to witness what had happened. Amongst those watching were Bo' Rai Cho's own students…

"Master!" Liu Kang cried out as Apep immediately began crying uncontrollably beside him.

"He killed him!" Kung Lao screamed in rage as he leapt onto the balcony edge. "He's not getting away with this!"

"Lao, wait!" Liu tried to call for, but Lao had already dove over the balcony and struck his leg out as he came flying down with a kick to Shinnok's face in midair.

Shinnok hardly flinched to the kick and Kung Lao clung to his body to remain at his level as he began attacking with rapid punches and elbows which Shinnok again just continued to not react to.

"You bastard!" Lao yelled as took his hat off and got ready to slice at Shinnok with it. "This is for Bo' Rai Cho!"

Kung Lao swung his hat as he attempted to behead the Fallen Elder God. Shinnok finally reacted to Lao by grabbing the hat and prying it away from him as he threw it down to the battlefield where it sliced a poor soldier in half. Lao kicked Shinnok to push himself back as he remained airborne thanks to the majestic powers of his ancestor's spirit.

"Wait until Raiden hears of this!" Lao spoke with his fists clenched and raised to continue attacking Shinnok.

Hearing Kung Lao's words managed to make Shinnok crack a smile. He then began to laugh as Lao gritted his teeth with rage.

"What is it?!" he asked through his grinded teeth.

"Raiden's dead too!" Shinnok proudly revealed. "And you're next!"

The additional news broke Kung Lao even further. He suddenly began shaking with rage and admittedly fear. He felt frozen in place as Shinnok continued to sadistically smirk at him.

"Well this was amusing," Shinnok commented as he began charging the power of his Amulet again. "Now get out of my way!"

Before Shinnok could unleash the deadly blast, Liu Kang landed on him and began rapidly hitting flaming bicycle kicks which began pushing Shinnok back. Although this had managed to save his best friend, Liu Kang hadn't anticipated the Amulet blast still going off. Now pointing downwards, a beam struck the battlefield and eradicated countless soldiers down below. This distracted Liu Kang and allowed Shinnok to grab his legs and hurl him against an outer wall of the Sky Temple they were in the air besides.

"Liu Kang!" Lao called for his friend but Shinnok flew over and grabbed him by the throat before chokeslamming him down to the field below.

"A familiar name," Shinnok realised as he turned to Liu Kang who clung against the edge of the wall for his life. "My spies spoke highly of an Earthrealm warrior by such a name. You won two consecutive Mortal Kombat tournaments, yes?"

"What's it to you, devil?" he asked with a look of many mixed emotions on his face as continued focusing on maintaining his grip on the wall so that he wouldn't plummet down.

"Was just curious is all," Shinnok told him as he leant against the slippery wet wall beside him. "You leaping down here sure wasn't a decision a true Champion would make."

"You killed my master!" he said before angrily going to punch him only for Shinnok to dodge as Liu punched a hole through the wall as he felt the bones in his fingers ache. "You just tried killing my friend!"

"I did," Shinnok said proudly. "You'll all be dead soon anyway."

"What corruption have you caused to our home?!"

"Your life essence," Shinnok detailed, "it no longer wishes to support life in this realm. It wants all to die…"

"You're mad!" Liu Kang claimed.

"I am a genius mastermind, fool!" Shinnok argued as he slapped Liu Kang in the face. "I am not blinded by any form of insanity… I am just the only being capable of making the tough actions to ultimately better the realms."

"Sounds like crazy talk to me," Liu Kang said with Shinnok backhanding him as punishment. "Agh… why haven't you killed me?!"

"Oh I already have," Shinnok claimed. "Like I said, I corrupted your Jinsei. All Earthrealmers will perish in due time… and my Amulet is relishing it. I put a portion of the essence within it and I can feel it growing ever stronger as its corruption is beginning to take effect."

"I've defeated Shao Kahn," Liu Kang told Shinnok and himself to try and gain some degree of courage. "I can defeat you."

Shinnok cackled before replying, "Shao Kahn is beneath me! I would've crushed his skull under my boot had he actually conquered your realm… which he wasn't even capable of doing!"

"And you think you are?"

"Why of course," Shinnok said with a smirk, "for I have already won."

"So sure are you?"

"Well let me check," Shinnok said as he took off and flew to see the top of the Sky Temple where he saw those still loyal to him being a distraction to all Liu Kang's allies left.

However, Sindel had spotted Shinnok as she fended off some Netherrealmers. She immediately unleashed an ear piercing shriek which sent a powerful soundwave directly at Shinnok. It pushed the Fallen Elder God but caused no harm to him. His simple response was to recklessly send a blast of his Amulet at the floor where the main conflict was occurring, not even stopping to watch the aftermath, before flying back down to Liu Kang.

"I still have some soldiers distracting all your friends," Shinnok told Liu Kang to build up a sense of hopelessness. "You have nobody!"

Before Liu Kang could give any form or response, Shinnok sent a typical Amulet blast but at point blank range which smashed Liu Kang through the wall he was leant against which blasted him into the same open room where Iris and Cetrion lay in pain.

"Have you been introduced to my family, Champion?" Shinnok asked as Liu Kang began trying to crawl away. "Ah, not so fast, insect. You can't get away from me. Nobody can."

"Father?" Iris asked weakly as her vision was hazy and she couldn't muster the strength to stand yet.

"I'll be with you two in just a moment," Shinnok promised before turning back to Liu Kang. "Now come here."

Shinnok continued toying with Liu Kang as he gazed at Cetrion and was confident he had no reason to rush anything. He grabbed Liu Kang by his dark hair and dragged him to his grasp. Shinnok then wrapped his arm around Kang's throat and began trying to choke him out, laughing as he did so. After moments of struggling, Liu Kang realised he was unable to pry himself free from Shinnok's grasp. His solution was to set his body aflame, burning Shinnok who kept his grip tight for a few moments of burning before realising as the flames were spreading on his clothing.

Shinnok shoved Liu Kang to the ground before patting himself down to stop the fire from further damaging his body. He then approached Kang again, only to be met with a flaming backfist to his face. The blow stunned Shinnok, and Liu Kang had caused him to stagger back to the ledge where the hole in the wall was located. Kang ran at him, going to knock him over and down the side of the Sky Temple, but Shinnok stepped aside and tripped over Liu Kang who staggered over the ledge and began falling off the enormous structure…

Then the wind in the air pushed him back up onto the ledge.

"Still here?" Shinnok turned back to him. "No matter. I'll just-"

Shinnok paused his sentence as he saw an incoming figure flying through the air. He squinted his eyes, and soon realised who was approaching. Gliding through the hole in the wall, a familiar Wind God landed in the middle of the hall.

"Did you think of me as dead, Shinnok?" Fujin asked as he stood in front of Liu Kang and drew his Kusanagi no Tsurugi.

"I'll finish the job this time," Shinnok promised himself. "Like I finished your brother."

"What did you do to him?!" Fujin continued asking questions as he grew angrier. "Shinnok! What did you do to my brother!?"

"Sent him back to the Heavens," Shinnok claimed.

"Damn you!"

"Fear not, you'll be reunited very soon," Shinnok assured as he readied his Amulet to strike down Fujin. "Of course once I'm done with the other realms I'll be heading straight there to be rid of all you other Gods for good."

"Not if I slay you first," Fujin said as he pointed his blade towards Shinnok.

"Oh please," Shinnok rolled his eyes as he spoke. "Not even you can kill an Elder God, Fallen or not."

Fujin charged forth, throwing his sword forth and controlling the wind coming in through the broken wall to spin the blade around which made it unpredictable as to when it would strike. Shinnok ignored the spinning sword and instead focused on sending another blast from his ever growing stronger Amulet.

As the beam was unleashed, Fujin's sword flew down and blocked the beam as it was incinerated as a result of doing so. Shinnok was amused by the Wind God now being without a melee weapon.

Shinnok dashed forth but Fujin rolled back, going behind Liu Kang which prompted him to swing a punch at Shinnok only for his fist to be caught and crushed by Shinnok's grip alone. Liu Kang cried in pain as Shinnok booted him aside and turned to Fujin. As he did so, Fujin drew his plasma crossbow and began rapidly firing arrows into Shinnok who soaked in the arrows as he approached Fujin.

Realising his arrows weren't stopping him, Fujin changed his strategy again and ran at Shinnok. But before he could attack, Shinnok grabbed him by his face before slamming his head off the nearest pillar supporting the empty hall. Fujin got up, only to have his face repeatedly smashed off the pillar before being thrown through it entirely.

"Fujin!" Liu Kang cried out as he saw the Wind God's bloodied face as Shinnok stomped his head into the floor. "Leave him alone!"

Liu Kang performed a flying kick which struck Shinnok in the gut. He was knocked to a knee but suddenly rose before Liu Kang could follow up with anything, now with a quickly constructed knife made of bone to stab Liu Kang for coming near. Kang groaned with pain as Shinnok hit a spinning boot which connected cleanly against Liu's jaw which sent him spiralling on his way down to the floor.

"I apologise for the wait, family," Shinnok apologised as he approached Iris and Cetrion who still lay beside each other.

"Are you alright, Iris?" Cetrion asked weakly as she mustered enough strength to roll over and check on her niece.

"Yes," Shinnok kicked Cetrion aside and knelt beside his daughter and said, "are you alright?"

"You care?" Liu Kang interrupted as he began standing up from being kicked down.

"Of course I do!" Shinnok snapped. "I care for all who support me!"

"What about the hundreds of soldiers who were fighting for you which you just eradicated?" Liu Kang asked as Shinnok clenched his fists. "Just because they weren't attacking for just one moment…"

"Because they were considering betrayal!" Shinnok assumed.

"What did you do to them, father?" Iris questioned.

"I did nothing anyway," Shinnok clarified, "as it was your fault my Amulet's fire was directed towards them, boy."

"I-" Liu Kang went to defend himself but Shinnok immediately cut him off.

"Their blood is on your hands due to your actions," Shinnok claimed.

"N-no…" Liu Kang denied but Shinnok was getting in his head.

"My beam was targeted to your friend in the ridiculous hat," Shinnok informed him. "Had you not interfered then none of the Demons below would've been harmed. That is your fault."

"I was just trying to protect my realm…" Liu Kang told him.

"It is my realm now," Shinnok stated firmly. "If you want to truly be a protector then kneel before your new leader."

"You think these words will convince me to go against you?"

"I think I can convince you to do the right thing," Shinnok informed him as he offered his hand.

"You corrupted our Jinsei!" Kang reminded him. "You're trying to genocide all Earthrealmers and anything else that breathes in our world!"

"Your friends forced my hand!" Shinnok argued as he deflected the blame again. "But I am a good, generous and forgiving person. I can offer you and your friends a new chance under my perfect empire… just take my hand, boy."

Liu Kang slowly approached and reluctantly accepted Shinnok's hand which caused a grin to stretch across his face. Before one of the two could speak, Liu Kang suddenly squeezed onto Shinnok's hand. Shinnok's smile turned into a look of rage as he felt a burning sensation on his hand. He began punching away at Liu Kang's face but he wrapped his other arm around his face to protect himself while he continued burning Shinnok's hand as his flesh was seared by Kang's power.

"I have never been so brutal, Shinnok," Liu Kang revealed to him as Shinnok continued to try prying his grip off of him. "But it is clear that this is a necessary action."

"You think this will stop me?!" Shinnok asked through the burning sensation he felt. "You just missed out on saving yourself and all those close to you!"

"You already slayed some of them!" Kang yelled as the fire that spread on Shinnok's body turned blue as Kang grew angrier.

"And you will follow!" Shinnok yelled as he grabbed his Amulet only for Kang to hold onto his other hand.

Shinnok charged his Amulet up as Liu Kang set his hand carrying the artifact aflame. A few moments later a massive explosion went off, shattering all the structure on the entire layer of the Sky Temple they fought on. Shinnok and Liu Kang were blasted to opposite sides of the floor as the Amulet dropped in the centre.

Wounded yet still very observant, Iris created temporary support beams made of countless bones to prevent the rest of the Sky Temple above from collapsing on them as the structure had practically been split in half. She then watched as Liu Kang came limping over to retrieve Shinnok's Amulet.

"Not so fast!" Iris yelled as a bone handed emerged to restrain him. "Father! I caught him!"

"Ugh… well done, dear," Shinnok praised as he slowly stood up and patted down the searing flames that engulfed his entire right arm.

"Your arm!" Iris yelled.

Shinnok gazed down and noticed his entire arm going all the way up to part of his chest past his shoulder that had suffered from their entire flesh having been burnt off by Liu Kang's enhanced fire. All that remained was bone where the flames had been.

"Nothing that can't be fixed later," Shinnok reassured her. "Very impressive of you, boy. But I am done wasting more time with you."

He walked over and scooped up his Amulet before proudly observing it. He then looked down at Liu Kang who had been pinned to the floor by Iris' bone hand.

"Leave him there," Shinnok instructed. "Let him suffer until the corruption finally perishes all Earthrealmers."

"I understand, father," Iris complied.

"Good," Shinnok replied. "Now I'll ask again: how are you?"

"Hurt," she admitted. "I think it's my back…"

"Oh please," Shinnok dismissed it and went to pick her up only for her to cry out in pain and collapse again. "Can't you just mend it with the bone magic I gifted you?!"

"You know that's not how it works," Iris replied as she lay down again.

"Unlike you I am not reliant on bone magic," Shinnok informed her rather rudely, "and have thus never had to try repairing bones."

"I tried to control Outworld," Iris reported as she dismissed Shinnok's remarks. "Everybody betrayed us besides Belokk… I tried to fend them all off but one of them made a portal back to here."

"I'll finish Outworld off myself," Shinnok assured her. "Tch. How ungrateful of all those soldiers…"

"You still pretend to care?" Liu Kang asked from his bone restraints.

"Be quiet you!" Shinnok demanded. "And I do! Very much so!"

"Maybe that's true," Liu Kang admitted. "But you still see everybody as extendable, don't you?"

"Nonsense!" Iris denied the claim for her father. "Right, father?"

"The boy is finally correct in his analysis," Shinnok revealed truthfully. "Yes… those soldiers are all expendable resources. The foolish Elder Gods provide new souls to my domain constantly."

"I suppose that makes sense…" Iris said reluctantly as she assessed the logic behind Shinnok's words. "But I'm not expendable of course… right?"

"How long does it take for a back to heal, Iris?" Shinnok suddenly asked.

"Um… at least six weeks?" Iris estimated.

"Then yes."

"Yes to what?" Iris asked as she was puzzled by her father's behaviour.

"I was answering your question," he clarified.

"You mean…"

"I mean that you are expendable."

"Wh-what?" Iris stuttered. "Father… h-how can you... how can you say such a thing?!"

"All the realms will be under my control by the time you recover," Shinnok claimed as he looked down upon her. "Once in charge of all, I can create a new Iris… a better Iris."

"What about me?!"

"You failed me!" Shinnok yelled. "You have no use for me now… other than to hand me Cetrion's Amulet."

"But… wh-what will happen to me?" Iris reworded her question.

"I don't know," Shinnok admitted as he placed his hand on his chin to think. "My new Iris will perfect your very clear flaws… yet you are still a powerful asset. Perhaps too powerful for me to trust now that I have made this revelation, however."

"I'm not siding with you anymore either way!" Iris refused firmly. "I can't believe it… everybody was right about you…"

"Just hand me Cetrion's Amulet, child!" Shinnok demanded.

"Even the Elder Gods were right for once!"

"SILENCE!"

Shinnok shot a beam from his Amulet as he was doing everso frequently with his powerful artifact which was constantly growing in power. Iris created a bubble made of bone to protect herself with the beam bouncing back into Shinnok's face. Shinnok was knocked down and began screaming in pain as Iris lowered her bubble.

"Auntie?" Iris called for.

"I'm here, Iris," Cetrion assured her. "I'm sorry about your father."

"I'm sorry I never listened," Iris apologised.

"It's alright," Cetrion told her as she used her tendrils to pull herself up. "I'm going to get you to safety very soon. I just need your father's Amulet."

Iris pointed over to beside Shinnok where he had dropped the Amulet after his own projectile had blasted his face, scorching his face as he fell over and tried to recover from temporary blindness due to the powerful bright beam connecting straight with his eyes.

"What did you expect by shooting this weapon so frequently?" Cetrion asked as she bent down to reach the Amulet.

"For you to suffer!" Shinnok yelled as he rolled over the Amulet to prevent Cetrion from taking it. "It's mine! You can't have it!"

Cetrion sighed before sending a rock from the floor which was jagged at its tip and thus impaled Shinnok. The Fallen Elder God was stuck as he saw Cetrion reach for the Amulet again.

"No no no no!" Shinnok screamed as he rushed a plan. "You'll never have my Amulet!"

As he yelled this, the bone foundations Iris had made to keep the building together were suddenly removed from existence as Shinnok had taken control of the bone magic and in a desperate attempt had done this. What followed was chaotic. Fujin had only just recovered and had been prying Liu Kang free from his restraints while Shinnok was distracted. The Wind God held Liu Kang in his arms before running across the sky before the incoming rubble could crush them.

"You alright?" Fujin asked Liu Kang.

"Fine," he replied with his thoughts more on their allies. "We need to help those on the above levels!"

"Looks like the Soul Construct has that under control," Fujin replied as he saw Ermac as he and those he had helped heal after their battle returned to the remains of the Sky Temple.

Ermac repeated the same thing he had done when the bridge in Outworld had collapsed in order to save his friends and family as well as many Demon soldiers as he could save to show them that peace can be made.

Inside the remnants of the Sky Temple, however, emerged both Shinnok and Cetrion. Shinnok began frantically digging through the rubble that surrounded them to try and hunt for where his Amulet had fallen.

"Let me help you search, brother," Cetrion offered as suddenly all the rubble burst up and attacked Shinnok thanks to Cetrion's ability of Geokinesis.

From beneath the rubble was the Amulet. She finally retrieved it, holding so much dark magic in her own hands. She then blasted the rubble covering Shinnok, exposing him from beneath the pile. Cetrion approached Shinnok and revealed she now possessed the three Amulet's. Her own, Shinnok's and their mothers.

"My pathetic daughter actually gave that away?!" Shinnok stated as if he had been betrayed. "Glad I crushed her."

"You're done hurting our family!" Cetrion yelled. "It is time your own creation punishes you."

"Iris has punished me plenty already," Shinnok claimed as he stood up and approached with raised hands. "Do what you wish."

Cetrion took a moment as she figured out how Shinnok's Amulet worked to begin dragging his brother towards it, a fate he had planned for the Elder Gods themselves. Before she could succeed, however, Shinnok quickly kicked Kronika's Amulet out of Cetrion's other hand. Kronika's Amulet landed in Shinnok's own grasp and in the nick of time he blasted Cetrion before he could be trapped in his own Amulet.

The effects of Kronika's Amulet were different to Shinnok's own. The blast had frozen Cetrion in place momentarily, as if she was frozen in time. Shinnok taunted her as she watched helplessly as Shinnok retrieved all the three Amulet's. He then ripped the gems that were the central point of the Amulet's powers out of the Amulet's and fused them into the gem in the centre of his own. His Amulet had grown even stronger.

"A fine effort," Shinnok commended her sister. "But you have lost! I have nothing left to say to you, sister… besides farewell."

Shinnok went to reverse the attempt Cetrion made moments ago and prepared to absorb her into the Amulet but Cetrion finally broke free from being frozen in time and all her built up emotions suddenly came spilling out. She charged forth and held Shinnok, burning him as she screamed in rage and flew him almost at the speed of light throughout Japan which was where the Sky Temple was in… or was until Shinnok destroyed the giant structure.

"A bold move!" Shinnok yelled as he made sure to cling onto his Amulet as Cetrion carried him. "Now what do you wish to try on me?! You can't win!"

"You'll never stop me from trying!" Cetrion yelled back only to cry out in pain as she felt a sharp pain rush through her back.

With the new benefits of his Amulet, Shinnok used the magic of elements that had been contained in the Amulet intended for Cetrion to cause a sharp rock to exude from the artifact for a moment, allowing Shinnok to stab Cetrion. In response, Cetrion began flying downwards and ended up crashing through a skyscraper in the city of Tokyo with the two siblings having flown so far across the country that they were now fighting in Japan's capital city.

After smashing through the structure, Cetrion lost her grip around Shinnok a bit. This allowed her brother to take control with him now holding Cetrion as she spun her around before smashing her into the middle of a road below, a car falling down the crater made just before it.

The civilians in the city were already in a panicked and worried state due to the unnatural change in sky colour. Shinnok was amused that Raiden's attempts to protect his people from the secrets of the realms had failed… and soon he would have failed protecting them altogether.

Shinnok charged his almighty Amulet and sent a now even greater beam down, completely eradicating the car that had crushed atop of Cetrion before connecting with his sister's flesh and pushing him back, smashing through the rest of the road as the Amulet pushed her through it. Many vehicles were destroyed in the process and many civilians on the street suffered agonising deaths as the Amulet's power struck them merely due to being too close to the action. Shinnok didn't care as he knew all Earthrealmers were to die soon anyway.

Shinnok finally ceased fire as Cetrion reached the end of the road, lying lifeless at the entranceway to another skyscraper. Shinnok had gained a new idea. He flew over to the other side of the skyscraper and suddenly commanded his Amulet to emit an energy blade so massive and so powerful that he could cut down the large structure. The building soon collapsed with Shinnok hoping to crush Cetrion again. The building stopped falling, however, as Cetrion used all her might to hold the structure up, to try and protect not only herself but those inside. Shinnok's counter to Cetrion's benevolent attempt to save innocent lives was to take the energy blade he had summoned and slice the falling skyscraper in half vertically.

Cetrion was now holding a half of the skyscraper in one half each and she saw as the cut in the middle had caused people to fall, deeply upsetting Cetrion. Due to this sight, she wasn't focused on the fact that Shinnok had created a gap to strike her down with the Amulet again…

Cetrion was smashed through the pavement but flew back up in a resilient effort as she held both parts of the skyscraper together as they were about to fall on her. Cetrion began taking the hand of one person at the edge of where the building had been halved to start rescuing those inside. Shinnok decided to speed up this process, using his new elemental powers that were within his Amulet to create two equally as tall rocks to the skyscraper before pushing them together, smashing the two broken parts of the building together as they smashed Cetrion and all came crashing down to squash her.

Cetrion soon broke free from beneath the rubble, calling out for any survivors. She felt that she still was holding onto the hand of the first person who had reached out to her. She picked apart the rubble and pulled the arm… only to realise it had been completely severed from the corpse of one of Shinnok's many poor victims. Seeing the severed arm Cetrion was holding made Shinnok chuckle as he landed beside her.

"You monster!" Cetrion yelled. "These people did nothing wrong!"

"They're fragile little things aren't they?" Shinnok remarked jokingly.

"How can you say that?!"

"You're the one who flew me here," Shinnok pointed out. "If only you had joined me… we could've saved all life in this realm."

"Life here was fine until you showed up!"

"Oh sorry," Shinnok insincerely apologised. "I meant to say spare… not save. Now where were we-"

Shinnok was surprised as Cetrion suddenly flew up and smashed Shinnok against a brick wall of a store behind them. Shinnok responded by smashing her face off the bricks before throwing her through the glass door to the shop. Cetrion was then thrown over the counter where a terrified cashier stood beside, balling their eyes out.

"Ah!" Shinnok believed he recognised the purpose of the location. "A merchant I see? Good sir, what wares do you have for me?"

"Wh-what the f-fuck…" was the only reply the cashier could utter in their native language of Japanese.

"What items can you Earthrealmers provide?" Shinnok inquired. "Please enlighten me."

Before the cashier had to speak again, Cetrion emerged from the counter, grabbed the cash register and threw it at Shinnok's head which it bounced off.

"How impolite," Shinnok commented before reaching over the counter to rip out the cashier's throat before turning back to Cetrion.

"No!" she cried out.

"Oh please, I gave you plenty of time to prevent that one," Shinnok joked as if it was a game due to how certain victory seemed for him.

Cetrion ignored Shinnok's tasteless remarks and tackled Shinnok as she leapt over the counter, smashing his head off the tiled floor before hoisting him over her shoulder and flying through the ceiling of the store and through the thick red sky into space for a second time.

"Where to now?!" Shinnok wondered as Cetrion continued flying higher and higher, gaining speed as she did so. "What is that bright light?!"

"That is the sun, brother," Cetrion informed him. "A star which provides the planet Earth with the needed heat and light… why don't we get a closer look."

"Are you that foolish?!" Shinnok asked as he began trying to break free. "You'll incinerate us both!"

"I know."

Shinnok had a plan to escape his sister's strong grip around him. He took his Amulet and suddenly released massive amounts of water from the central gem. The water blasted Cetrion's face, pushing her off of him. Due to the conditions of space, the water boiled immediately and violently burnt Cetrion's flesh.

Now realising such an aftereffect was a thing before, Cetrion now knew to return the favour. She sent a beam of water back at Shinnok, trying to push him even closer to the sun. Shinnok countered by sending a beam from his Amulet which was now strong enough to completely blast through Cetrion's magic effortlessly before shooting her down back to Earth where Shinnok impaled her through the pointy tip of the Tokyo Tower.

Cetrion tried to break out as Shinnok suddenly flew up and landed both feet onto his sister, further stabbing her down onto the pole. Shinnok clung to the nearest truss to Cetrion and prepared his Amulet, no longer wishing to waste time with absorbing her inside his incredibly powerful Amulet.

Cetrion countered the attempt by blasting Shinnok off of the tower by firing a ray of fire at his chest. Shinnok fell off yet still managed to hold onto his Amulet as he controlled his fall and began levitating. He then repeated what he had done to the skyscraper he had fought his sister at moments ago and created a massive energy blade emitting from his Amulet which sliced through the bottom foundations of the tower cleanly, causing it to topple over. Before Cetrion could allow the tower to crush many buildings and likely causr several casualties, she froze the tip that she was stuck on to snap it off the rest of the structure before picking up the tower and going to carry it away only for a blast from Shinnok's Amulet to freeze it in place.

Shinnok then flew up and rammed Cetrion through many of the truss beams that made up the tower, before throwing her up into the air. He then unfroze the now floating tower and used his Amulet to propel it into the air where it smashed into Cetrion.

Despite the pain of the blow, Cetrion clung onto the tower as Shinnok flew up to her. She used all her might to swing the tower into Shinnok, launching him aside into a nearby open area of land known as Shiba Park. Shinnok crashed into the open field at the location and dusted himself off after casually emerging with Cetrion having flown over to a safe space to place the Tokyo Tower momentarily. She then landed beside Shinnok, only to be blasted into the Zojoji Temple which the park surrounded.

"How is she still fighting?!" Shinnok asked himself as he prepared for her to emerge from being smashed through the building.

"Because she has a good heart, my son," came the familiar voice of Kronika from behind him. "You once did too…"

"Greetings, mother," Shinnok replied as he turned around. "This… isn't how I wanted you to see me."

"Then stop this," Kronika advised. "Our family needs to be united once more."

"It doesn't matter because they are in charge," Shinnok said in a referral to the Elder Gods.

"They're doing what's in their power to avoid awakening the One Being," Kronika informed him. "You should know this."

"I know that such is a lie!" Shinnok snapped. "I was busier than all of the others combined… even Cetrion."

"Because you were disrupting the balance, my son."

"Who cares about balance?!" Shinnok questioned. "You were an Elder God when the One Being was around and I respect you for that. Since their defeat the Elder Gods have been nothing more than lazy and pathetic!"

"Why so much hatred?"

"When I am in charge people will finally understand what I mean," Shinnok believed. "By a lack of true interference that allows matters that unbalance the realms to occur!"

"Where are you going with this?"

"If I was permitted to use their power to its full potential then I could fix EVERYTHING!" Shinnok yelled as he grew angrier. "And as I said, I will prove my point in due time."

"To who?"

"To everybody!"

"Despite the masses who have fallen due to your rulership of the Netherrealm and the invasions you have made your unwilling subjects embark on?"

"Excuse me?!"

"Let's be honest here, my son," Kronika requested as she stopped levitating to stand at his level. "Let's talk."

"These are necessary sacrifices that will benefit the new era I will usher in!" Shinnok tried explaining to her.

"And you felt it was necessary to try to murder your own daughter?" Kronika asked with a clearly disappointed tone. "My granddaughter?"

"I will remake her!" Shinnok promised. "I will fix her so that she doesn't have to suffer in her current state!"

"You were going to replace her," Kronika corrected his wording. "You ordered your son… my grandson… to keep her soul in a bottle for so much time."

"And I brought her back."

"Then disposed of her after a single failure," Kronika added.

"I…" Shinnok couldn't come up with an excuse this time as he finally felt a degree of guilt for his actions. "I'm sorry."

"And I am able to forgive," Kronika told him. "I just need to see that you have changed… for the better this time."

"This was absurd of me," Shinnok admitted.

"How about we return home?" Kronika offered. "We can have a civil debate with the Elder Gods instead of undergoing anymore violence. How does that sound?"

"I think I… like that," Shinnok answered. "I love you, mother."

"I love you too," Kronika replied as she opened her arms as an offer for a warm embrace.

Shinnok smiled as he accepted the hug, wrapping his arms around his mother as Kronika did the same to her son. Shinnok's smile suddenly distorted into an evil grin as he felt his Amulet as it was pressed against Kronika's back while they hugged. This was of course all a part of Shinnok's greater plan… and as he went to use the Amulet to attack his mother… he couldn't. He couldn't move at all.

"Something wrong, my son?" Kronika asked sarcastically. "I always kept hope for you… but a mother can always tell a lie."

Shinnok underwent a rush of horror as he realised he was frozen in time. He hadn't deceived Kronika, she had deceived him!

Kronika sighed as she slipped out of the fake embrace and pulled the Amulet out of Shinnok's hands.

"Mother?!" Cetrion asked as she had recovered and was now witnessing the shocking event unfold. "Why are you here?"

"The Hourglass revealed a horrifying future," Kronika confessed truthfully. "I had to have done something or else Shinnok would've won…"

"Thank you for the help," Cetrion expressed her gratitude. "I'm sorry we couldn't stop him the way you'd have preferred."

"You did your best," Kronika told her. "I am forever proud of you."

"Thank you."

"Of course," Kronika replied as the two shared a genuine hug. "Now… care to do the honours?" she asked as she held out Shinnok's Amulet.

"If I must," Cetrion replied as she accepted the Amulet and stood before the frozen Shinnok. "I'm sorry, brother."

Cetrion began to charge up the God absorption process that Shinnok had structured himself. As it began, Shinnok broke free from being frozen in place too late. All that was left was for him to watch as he helplessly tried to escape the thing he had designed to be practically inescapable. He cried out in terror before finally his body was absorbed inside his own Amulet…

Cetrion threw the Amulet to the ground before collapsing on her knees with the battle finally over. She cried with Kronika approaching to reassure her and comfort her.

"It's over," Kronika told her. "Thanks to you."

"Yeah…" Cetrion replied as she let all the emotions sink in. "I should return to the other heroes. There is still a matter of removing the corruption."

"Do whatever you feel is right," Kronika instructed. "I have my faith in you always."

"I love you, mother," Cetrion told her as she picked Shinnok's Amulet back up. "See you later?"

"Of course, dear," Kronika said with a smile with Cetrion smiling back before taking off into the skies.

Cetrion flew back over the battlefield at the Sky Temple where the aftermath of war was apparent. Many Demons had joined the good side, many had retreated to the Netherrealm and many were sent back there by force. Their losses saddened Cetrion greatly but she knew she must move forward. Her first objective was searching for Iris… who was unfortunately nowhere to be seen.

Cetrion then flew over to where she saw several of her allies standing. They surrounded what appeared to be the remnants of the Jinsei Chamber as the corrupted essence spewed out from the ground, still intact but moved as it had fallen with the rest of the Sky Temple. As had Raiden. But much to everybody's surprise, Raiden began moving.

"He's alive!" Liu Kang cheered in joy. "Raiden!"

Liu Kang ran over to embrace Raiden who weakly hugged back. The group of heroes surrounded him which made Raiden smile, but then his expression became concerned as he realised the colour of the sky.

"Shinnok…" he spoke weakly. "Is he defeated?"

"I dealt with him," Cetrion revealed as she landed before the heroes. "Trapped in his own Amulet."

"Keep hold of it please," Raiden requested. "I will make a solid prison for him… wherever my new home will be."

"Funny you say that," Cetrion replied as she sent one more beam from the Amulet with Kronika's magic reverting the damage dealt to the Sky Temple and returning the building to its previous state. "Good as new… besides the Jinsei…"

"Bring me there," Raiden requested. "I can purify it…"

"I can do that, Raiden," Cetrion offered instead.

"No," Raiden shook his head. "I need its healing properties anyway… let me purify it as I heal."

"If you're certain," Cetrion said before carefully cradling the Thunder God in her arms and flying off to the now repaired Jinsei Chamber to begin purification.

"You alright, Apep?" Lao asked his good friend as he and Liu Kang came to comfort him as he was still in a teary state.

"I'm glad that Raiden's alright," Apep commented. "But Master Bo' Rai Cho…"

"We understand," Liu Kang replied as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Apep. He's proud of us."

"I am," Bo' Rai Cho confirmed.

The Shaolin Monks spun around as their jaws dropped to see their mentor alive and well. Most surprising of all was his appearance with the pupils in his eyes being absent, similar to Raiden. His heavy steps released a magic energy, as if he was a God.

"Master?!" Apep spoke first before rushing over for a soft embrace with his old master. "I was so worried!"

"What… how are you alive?!" Lao couldn't help but ask.

"You almost sound disappointed," Bo' Rai Cho joked.

"Your eyes?" Kang had his own queries. "They're like Raiden's…"

"Is that so?" Bo' Rai Cho hadn't known until now. "I suppose my ascension to Godhood must've altered my appearance somewhat."

"You're a God?!" the three Shaolin Monks asked in unison.

"I had indeed died," Bo' Rai Cho began explaining. "But I was brought back by the Elder Gods themselves… they want me to be the new Protector God of Outworld."

"You'll be a welcome part of our Union," Mileena told the new God.

"Thank you, Empress," Bo' Rai Cho replied.

"This is indeed great news," Kitana agreed.

"Oh, Kitana!" Liu Kang called for. "I uh… have some news of my own that I wanted to share."

"And that is?"

"I… I love you."

Kitana smiled at the revelation despite her having realised a while ago now. Liu Kang smiled back kindly as Kitana hugged him with Liu Kang hugging back.

"Uh oh," Kung Lao quipped, "here comes the kissing."

Kitana giggled at the remark as she pulled away, much to the group's surprise.

"I'm sorry, Liu Kang," Kitana apologised. "I'm just not… into men that way."

"Ohhh," Liu Kang said as he suddenly realised what Kitana meant. "I understand completely."

"Thank you," Kitana replied. "Of course you are a great friend to me. As are all here."

"I second that," Kang agreed. "Well at least that settles that."

"Our roles lie in different realms anyway," Kitana pointed out. "We'd hardly get to see each other."

"Speaking of which," Apep turned to Bo' Rai Cho. "If you're the Protector God of Outworld… then we won't see you anymore?"

"You will still see me," Bo' Rai Cho promised. "Just less due to my new occupation. Have no worry though, I'm positive that the Wu Shi Academy and the White Lotus Society as a whole will still thrive despite my absence."

"What makes you think that?"

"Well you'll still be around for one," Bo' Rai Cho pointed out. "And secondly, I'm sure the pair of you will take up mentoring now that this is finally over."

"I'll be sure to retell your teachings, Master Bo' Rai Cho," Liu Kang promised. "And yes I will gladly be a teacher of the next generations to come."

"As will I," Kung Lao promised.

As the heroes spoke amongst themselves, the red sky soon reverted back to it's normal state. It was now a peaceful night time with the battle finally over at last. Raiden and Cetrion flew back over to return to their friends with Raiden and Bo' Rai Cho immediately hugging each other.

"I assume you can already tell my situation," Bo' Rai Cho guessed.

"Congratulations on the promotion, my friend," Raiden told him. "The future of Outworld looks even brighter."

"My brother is right," Fujin agreed. "Congratulations, Bo' Rai Cho. May we drink to your good health."

"For the record," Bo' Rai Cho spoke with a smile, "there'll still be plenty of time for drinking!"

The group listening all let out a joyful laugh as Bo' Rai Cho continued to raise everybody's spirits. Jax meanwhile was searching through the crowd to find his friends.

"Jax!" Sonya called for. "You're okay!"

"Of course I am," Jax confirmed.

"Nice to see you, Jackattack," Johnny Cage added as he and Sonya were holding each other while Vera checked on the injuries Hsu Hao had done to Johnny.

"Vera!" Jax finally spotted the one he had been hoping to see most. "How are you feeling?"

"Been better," she admitted. "I'm hurting from Hsu's attack… so is Johnny clearly."

"That bastard got you both good," Jax noted. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," Vera assured him. "We all trusted him."

"I know I did," Sonya said with a frown. "I just can't believe it…"

"Don't worry, sweetie," Johnny tried to reassure his new girlfriend.

"Hold up," Jax interrupted. "Did you just call her 'sweetie'?"

"You're gonna wanna sit down, Jax," Sonya advised. "This will be a long story…"

"We're totally dating!" Johnny boomed loudly.

"Johnny!" Sonya yelled.

"Right be cool, got it," he replied as Jax began laughing.

"I can't believe you came round with this guy," Jax admitted. "But I'm happy for you both."

"Before you guys start making out," Tasia interrupted as Jarek and Tremor stood beside her. "There's still a matter for us…"

"I'll see what I can do," Sonya promised them. "For all your previous crimes we're still looking at around a twenty year sentence despite this… do you understand?"

"It's your call, Tas," Jarek told her. "I'll be by your side either way."

"I'm done running," Tasia stated. "We'll have our trial."

"Thank you," Sonya said gratefully. "Your cooperation helps greatly."

"If only the Reds were like that," Jarek remarked.

"What happened to them?" Vera asked.

"Had a portal thingie of sorts," Sonya recalled, "they all went through it once the Sky Temple began collapsing."

"Dammit," Vera replied.

"We'll get them eventually," Jax promised.

"I hope so," Sonya commented. "Anyway, good job, team. Well done even to you, Mokap."

"My brain is so overwhelmed right now…" Mokap finally spoke.

"I'll make sure someone gets you home asap," Johnny promised him.

"Thanks, John," Mokap said gratefully. "What's all the laughter about?"

"Go have a look," Johnny suggested.

Mokap ventured over to where Bo' Rai Cho was speaking to his seeming audience listening to him speaking and especially listening to his jokes.

"I guess we'll be seeing more of you," Jade said to Bo' Rai Cho.

"Apparently so!" he said before letting out a kind chuckle.

"Would you care for a home in my village?" Li Mei offered as she held Jade's hand.

"Gladly!" Bo' Rai Cho eagerly accepted. "You have a fine village, Chieftess."

"Thank you," she replied.

"Oh!" Bo' Rai Cho suddenly remembered something. "The Elder Gods wanted to speak to you all."

"You were instructed to give cue as soon as possible," spoke the voice of a well armoured skeleton-like being as they suddenly showed themselves. "Please ladies and gentlemen, listen to my masters."

"Umm and who is he?" Lao asked his master.

"Not even I know…" Bo' Rai Cho admitted.

"The Elder Gods Champion," Cetrion acknowledged their presence. "How long were you watching us?"

"My task of observing you is irrelevant to my masters' message," they responded.

"Well that answers that," Cetrion replied.

"Cetrion," Ametus suddenly greeted as holographic faces of the current five Elder Gods emerged as the Champion's ribcage opened to release the holograms.

"Ametus!" Cetrion greeted back. "Are you alright?"

"I was concerned for you originally but now I'm just happy that you're okay," Ametus informed her.

"Yes," Wu agreed. "Congratulations on your victory."

"Victory?" Cetrion repeated.

"That is what my ears heard," Zeus added his input.

"No…" Cetrion replied with many of the Elder God's giving her various puzzled looks. "This wasn't a victory! Many died today! Many in that city I fought my own brother in! And my family feels as if it's been torn apart…"

"We're still here, mother," Splash told her.

"Always," Torch added.

"We love you," Geode expressed.

"Thank you, my sons," Cetrion said as she wiped tears from her face once more. "I'm so proud of the three of you."

"I'm proud of all of you," added Geras as he finally returned. "Yes, I finally reattached my body and head again."

"Glad to hear," Cetrion told him.

"Despite Shinnok, our family is still forever strong, Cetrion," Geras informed her. "Never fear otherwise."

"Thank you, brother."

"Touching," Vutix commended from her hologram that observed the emotional event.

"Back to the matter at hand," Zeus said in an attempt to get the important matters back on track. "My son, you likely will have to inform your realm of the true details about this universe."

"That much is apparent," Raiden had also realised. "I will figure out a way soon."

"I'll be ready to help, brother," Fujin offered. "Like I always am."

"Make haste with said plans," Wu requested. "As for you, Cetrion, it is apparent to us that your role is better suited in the other realms. Please continue to do such work with your family."

"I will," Cetrion promised. "I thought you'd try and call me back."

"Ametus made a strong counterargument," Vutix informed her.

"Shouldn't your other Geokinetic kin aid you also?" Zeraura inquired regarding the matter of Cetrion's alliance built up of her own family.

"Henge is long gone," Cetrion told her.

"Apparently not," Zeraura said as she pointed a finger to Tremor.

"Me?!" Tremor asked. "I am no Henge!"

"Wait…" Cetrion began realising something. "You…. Tremor was it?"

"What's it to you?" he asked.

"Please come with me," Cetrion requested. "I believe there is some information you would wish to know."

"If you say so…" he reluctantly accepted the request.

"We already have a replacement in mind to fill our sixth position in our council," Wu added to inform those who wished to know. "And with that we must all return to our roles in maintaining the balance of the realms. Farewell."

And suddenly, the holograms vanished from sight with their Champion soon following. It was clear to many of the heroes regarding what was next, and uncertainty to others. All that was clear, however, was that at least for the moment: the realms were safe.

Through countless tournaments which began with Shao Kahn's tyranny, along with his wreckless invasions, and now to Shinnok's own even more calculated attempt, balance still remained.

Despite everything, the universe's fate remained safe.