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!

80. Hell's Helpers

The Netherrealm had changed since Shinnok was defeated by the hands of his own sister, leading to him being encased in his own Amulet. Of course due to Shinnok being trapped within his own contraption, somebody new had to take over his domain. As the daughter of the former ruler, Iris herself took the throne as her father's rightful heir.

Since the shift in power, the Netherrealm has become very different. Despite feeling betrayed by Shinnok for what he had said back at the Sky Temple in Earthrealm where Iris had tried to aid her father in conquering the other realms, Iris still saw one goal of her father's that was worth pursuing.

This goal was to continue to evolve the planes of the Netherrealm. What began as a barren wasteland of ash, magma, lava, torture and suffering, had slowly evolved to have buildings made. First there was a Spire belonging to the original ruler of the Netherrealm named Lucifer, then Shinnok stole the throne with the desire of creating a true civilization for the realm he now owned.

Shinnok's efforts were partially successful, at least for the first of nine planes. There were cities and villages scattered throughout the plane but they were greatly spread apart which was largely as a result of the unique nature of the Netherrealm which made it infinite in size. In truth, a true civilisation that the other realms shared wasn't possible in a realm where tainted souls would populate a limitless space. But Shinnok had tried hard alongside certain Netherrealmers that were amongst his countless minions. Now it was Iris' turn to continue the change.

Iris' influence had spread to sizable parts of more of the planes, whereas Shinnok's only truly reached the first plane albeit those beneath him wouldn't dare challenge him. Cities and villages previously spread throughout the top plane, were now scattered through some of the lower realms which previously lacked such a level of civilisation even if what was there wasn't anywhere near as impressive as the developments that had been made in the first plane. Civilization was constantly growing with towns connecting to make cities larger, with more cities neighbouring the previous one at an equal size that impressed all travellers. With how many people were sent to this place, Iris knew it was of best interest to constantly provide more and more residence for those in the upper half of the realms. Iris wished to tackle realms even lower than the first half but a mixture of reasons such as concern of the behaviour of those with souls corrupt enough to reach lower planes alongside rebellious Oni that were even more plentiful from the fifth plane onwards. Then there were the bottom two planes which were currently… off limits.

While the length of all nine of the planes were infinite, the God known as Kharon usually had a specific range where he would send newly arrived souls to. With the aid of her brother, Iris was able to make a rough map as to what areas of the planes were most occupied by the realms residents. This allowed Iris and her servants to plan out where their construction should be focused on.

Iris' first priority was to expand the city called Nekros, which had already been the greatest location of the upper planes beforehand. Now it was even greater. The old and dirty walls that had been covered in the blood of presumably the victims of the terrifying guards that enforced some degree of law there, were taken down so that the size of Nekros could spread with smaller walled cities that were around the same size that Nekros originally which were being constantly built down from pathways extending from Nekros.

Nekros itself had evolved quite a bit over the past several years. Obviously it had grown in size, with so many buildings that it had reached the part of the plane where steep mountains surrounded a sea of lava which was most notably where the Spire had been built beside. This was the very same Spire that the previous two rulers of the Netherrealm resided in: Lucifer, Shinnok and now Iris. The current ruler watched from a balcony she had added to her throne room to view the city below the giant structure she stood at the top floor of.

Iris leant against the railing made of smooth obsidian that had been finely polished. She looked down at Nekros, busy as always. Populated by countless Netherrealmers, mainly Demons, thanks to her reforms. Having previous experience of being in charge of similar matters when Vaeternus was born and she was assigned to protect the Vampires that resided there, Iris was more than qualified to become a ruler and many approved of her position. Considering their only past rulers had been Lucifer and Shinnok, with most only knowing about the latter, this made it easy for Iris to fortunately be perceived as the greatest ruler the Netherrealm's residents had ever experienced. But that didn't mean Iris hadn't made an effort, she had made so much progress that the Netherrealm to some was being seen as its own place to live in instead of being seen just as Hell where evil monsters suffered. It was still the latter that couldn't really change, but Iris had strived to make progress and the city she was looking at was proof of such. Iris had even found the Netherrealm an alliance with a certain realm… Outworld.

Feeling guilt for the harm she caused to especially Outworld after leading the invasion against them, Iris agreed to a treaty that signalled an alliance between the two realms. Empress Mileena of Outworld had been striving to unite Outworld with as many realms as possible. The Netherrealm joined Earthrealm, Edenia and Zaterra as allies with Outworld and more specifically Mileena's Union. With this partnership, there were programs set up to determine people worthy of leaving the Netherrealm where a newly made city in Outworld awaited them with Iris' influence over construction having even expanded out to a portion of Outworld.

This expansion was put in place because the Netherrealm had natives who didn't deserve to live amongst all the evil souls that were banished to this place. The Netherrealm was seen as a punishment and despite Iris' best efforts, that was an impossible task to change. There was even a residency in Nekros made to aid with redeeming people so that they may be eligible to pass through the newly formed Gates of Hell, heavily guarded by both soldiers of Mileena who would make sure their bizarre allies were doing the correct acts as well as simply adding extra defences to the Gates of Hell. They watched over mages of the Brotherhood of Shadow which served Iris now, unaware of her and their former master's dispute. These mages would cast a spell to assess the soul of an individual with a quota of sins determining if they would pass through the gates or not. If their soul was tainted by too many sins, then they were denied entry.

This entire process all occurred at the entry to Iris' massive multi tiered Spire with the bottom floor having been transformed into a place where residents could plead for support regarding anything or if they wished to take the test and perhaps leave this realm for Outworld which had made room for more residents now that two realms had been demerged from there. Iris could see a line of Netherrealmers waiting surprisingly patiently to enter the Spire as she looked straight down over her balcony. Everything she had done as ruler so far had gone according to plan… unlike her father's plans. Shinnok's main failure being his latest attempt to conquer the realms. It had been years but Iris couldn't get the thought of what had unfolded that day out of her head, especially not the person who had saved her…

Iris had regained consciousness but she still saw darkness. She put her aching arms forth, her pure bone hands brushing against some rubble from the Sky Temple that had just crushed her. Iris quickly realised that she was trapped. Using her ability to summon and manipulate bones, Iris tried to summon several bone hands to try and pull the rubble off of her. But she was too weak from all the conflict she had found herself in, and she was unable to properly utilise her magic in her current situation. She shifted her efforts into several more hands but they were much smaller and seeped through the cracks between the several broken slates that were crushing Iris. The hands managed to pull away one slate, before throwing it aside. The piece of debris flew through the air before landing beside a group of Demon soldiers as several hordes were on the battlefield below, which the fallen Sky Temple had now landed beside. Noticing what had happened, the group ran over to observe what had caused the rubble to be thrown towards them.

"Lady Iris!" one of the Demons had immediately realised that their master's daughter was trapped as they gazed through the gap left from the thrown aside slate. "Are you alright?"

"Help…" she begged weakly.

The Demon immediately tried pulling the rubble off of her, but they were a Demon of small stature and absolutely did not have the necessary strength to move so many rocks aside.

"Help me to help her!" they ordered the other soldiers who quickly joined in pulling the rubble off of Iris before working together to pull Iris' large frame up as they carried her away from the destruction.

"Thank you," Iris expressed her gratitude as she looked to one of the Demons in particular. "Miss, I owe you my life."

"Th-thanks," they nervously stuttered. "I was ju-just… doing my job."

"You do your job well," Iris complimented. "What is your name, miss?"

"It's… Twin-Ki," they introduced themselves to Iris as she was being escorted to a portal made for evacuation back to the Netherrealm.

Twin-Ki lowered their voice so the other Demons aiding them couldn't hear as Twin-Ki said, "I… prefer to be referred to by… by sir… not ma'am…"

"Oh! My apologies, Twin-Ki!" Iris immediately apologised for her assumption. "Thank you for clarifying, sir."

"Thank you… for understanding," Twin-Ki replied as he was beginning to feel more comfortable after opening up about that to the well respected Netherrealm Princess. "This portal will take you home, Lady Iris."

"I appreciate it," Iris continued to express her gratitude which Twin-Ki found surprisingly humble from royalty. "I suggest as many of you as possible leave here too. I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else… Especially not somebody as kind as you."

The group of Demons carrying her stopped before the portal that was around the corner of one of the hills amongst the surrounding fields of the Sky Temple. One Demon occupying the portal gave confirmation that the technology gifted by the Red Dragon was functioning correctly and was ready for use again.

"We can't retreat, Lady Iris," Twin-Ki told her. "Lord Shinnok's orders were to keep fighting until we win."

"Ignore my father," Iris ordered, which made Twin-Ki confused by the conflicting order. "Please… he won't win… and he doesn't deserve our aid at all."

"We'll all be killed!" Twin-Ki argued as his voice suddenly raised as he became anxious by the decision he had to make. "Branded as traitors!"

"Look over there," Iris pointed over the fields where several Demons were beginning to rebel against Shinnok's orders. "Don't worry, we'll all be fine. I too learnt that my father isn't worth fighting for. No matter how much he threatens you all. I was a fool to trust that he was doing good…"

"Don't blame yourself," Twin-Ki told her. He looked around and saw the rebelling Demons Iris was referring to, before yelling an order, "let's get her back to the Spire! Gather as many Demons as possible to retreat as well! Princesses' orders!"

"Thank you, Twin-Ki," Iris said as she was impressed by Twin-Ki's ability to muster enough confidence when needed, despite his anxiety attempting to stop this. "It is time to go."

Twin-Ki slowly guided her to the portal where they soon headed through along with additional protection from other Demon soldiers. The other Demons headed off to order a retreat as Iris had demanded moments ago. The tide was turning in the battle against Shinnok…

The decision Iris and Twin-Ki had both made turned out to be the correct one. The Netherrealm had immediately proved since Shinnok lost all his power, with Nekros being the biggest example as Iris continued to gaze at the large city which now bore similarities to the enormous cities in some of the other realms like Earthrealm, Outworld and Seido. Iris smiled at her work, proud of the progress she had helped to make.

"Are you okay?" asked Twin-Ki who slowly approached her as he joined her on the large balcony, struggling to walk straight after some physical activity.

"I am fine, dear," Iris assured him as she turned around to face Twin-Ki while leaning against the railing.

After their connection was clearly strong after Twin-Ki saved her from being crushed, Iris and Twin-Ki had gotten to know each other more and more over the time that followed. They soon fell in love, and as a result Twin-Ki had surprisingly been promoted to a second in command role when it came to being in charge of the Netherrealm itself.

Twin-Ki's appearance had greatly changed since they first met. Previously in the form of a female Demon body, Iris offered up some of the sorcery in the books that Quan Chi had kept in his personal library, his Fortress since being a standard base with Quan Chi still captive after Shinnok banished him back to the Netherrealm. After this, guards quickly apprehended Quan Chi and took him to the dungeons of the Spire, a room with magic that prevented any sorcery from being performed when inside the walls. This left his collection of sorcery teaching books, most of which having been written by Iris' very own father, and she applied what she had learnt to Twin-Ki.

No longer in the body of a typical female Demon that resided within the Netherrealm, Twin-Ki had been granted through sorcery a body of a short lean human male who had spiky black hair and pale eyes which was one detail to distinguish him from the humans in the other realms. Twin-Ki finally felt free after this transition, and his confidence had grown quite a bit. He wore a black Brotherhood of Shadow uniform with added light silver armour such as spiked shoulder pads which paired nicely with his spiked gauntlets which he'd use as weapons as well as extra protection. He also carried a pair of katanas, one sheathed on his side and a second katana on his back.

"I still can't believe any of this," Iris remarked as she gazed at Nekros.

"I can," Twin-Ki spoke as she hugged Iris' thick arm, "because you're a great ruler… and a greater person."

"I love you," Iris expressed as she picked him up and brought him into a less than gentle hug.

"Love you too," Twin-Ki replied with his remaining breath after feeling like he had been crushed from the embrace. After being released, Twin-Ki looked over at Nekros and something caught his bright eyes. "Oni…"

"Pardon?" Iris thought she had misheard her lover.

"Oni!" Twin-Ki repeated as he pointed to a group that had emerged from an alleyway, one of many due to the now vast amount of structures in the city.

"Oh no…" Iris finally realised as she saw a horde marching down one of the pathways leading into the city. There were too many for the handful of guards at each entranceway to stop.

"We must stop them!" Twin-Ki yelled as she tugged on Iris' night black robes. "Throw me."

"You want me to do what?!" Iris was more than puzzled and shocked by the request.

"Over the balcony," Twin-Ki clarified. "It'll help me boost over to them."

"You're crazy," Iris said as she picked up and held Twin-Ki in her arms with ease as she began swinging him around to build up to her literally throwing him. "Try and stay safe, my love! I'll gather reinforcements!"

"I'll catch up with you… LAAATER!" Twin-Ki screamed the last word of his sentence as he was suddenly thrown while speaking.

The reason Twin-Ki had made such a request was because he had studied more than just the ability to change his figure through sorcery, he had also studied a bit of magic to use with Iris helping him practice. Most notably, Twin-Ki could channel this white energy that had turned his eyes purely white in the first place to make him dash forward in a blink through mental commands. When he'd dash, the white energy would follow and protect him, allowing him to phase through anything as he was completely immune to all that got in his way.

On his way to the ground, Twin-Ki dashed towards Nekros as he went over the city walls. He wrapped his hands by one of the many posts scattered on the streets that held up lanterns to provide light in the always dim and dull Netherrealm. Twin-Ki wrapped his arms around the pole and spun around, being used to such skills as one of his methods of entertaining Iris. Twin-Ki let go from the pole, propelling himself up against the nearest building to him which he ran along the walls of.

He soon leapt off the wall and dashed to the ground as he had reached one of four towers which were aesthetically like pagoda's, towers with multiple eaves that were common within the continent of Earthrealm called Asia. There was one of these tall towers in each corner of Nekros where inside were members of the Brotherhood of Shadow, the clan that was once infamous with being Shinnok's main allying faction with Quan Chi himself having trained many of the members.

Twin-Ki knocked on the door, with it soon being answered by Noob Saibot, the current leader of the warrior corner of the Brotherhood, with the faction having been split into groups that would perform specific roles. Noob and his followers, who were fellow Wraiths that he had met, they were the only people who he could relate to. Noob had been complaining about his situation even more than usual lately, and the services the Wraiths provided usually involved disobeying specific orders which made Twin-Ki hesitant to ask for help from such a group.

"What do you want?" Noob Saibot asked rudely.

"I don't want anything from you," Twin-Ki replied with equal hostility. "But there is a horde of Oni at the west gate. I suggest you and your followers do your job in taking care of these intruders."

"That can be arranged," Noob told him as he walked off to give commands to his allies in the tower. "Ruutuu! Gather everyone! We have a mission!" Twin-Ki could hear Noob yelling as a shadow clone remained at the doors in his place, slamming them in Twin-Ki's face.

"Polite as always," Twin-Ki muttered to himself before dashing off to where he had spotted the approaching Oni.

When Twin-Ki had reached the gates, he saw the few guards with their bladed weapons pointed at the horde of Oni, led by Drahmin himself who had Moloch by his side. Amongst the horde was also Moloch's terrifying brother named Torcher and the Oni's Champion: Amon. Most notably was Gagroth, the Oni Warlord who was taller than the city walls. His shadow fell upon all nearby as he stared down at the occurring events.

"Walk away, Oni!" Twin-Ki ordered as he stepped ahead of the guards. "You and your band of lunatics are not welcome in Nekros, Drahmin!"

"Ooh, if it isn't Iris' plaything," Drahmin taunted as the two stepped forward to face each other with Drahmin wearing his signature mask to assure his leadership skills were as best as they could be. "You're a perfect example of why the Netherrealm has become pathetic! My friends, it turns out that if you let the ruler peg you, then you become the second in command of this entire place!"

Twin-Ki's anger got the better of him from this insult and he immediately kicked Drahmin between the legs, causing him to instinctively go to clutch his groin in pain, only for his Iron Club bound hand to wack him in his already hurting area. Torcher sighed as he dragged Drahmin aside so he could recover while Moloch stepped up.

"It's funny," Twin-Ki said with surprising confidence, "you are exactly what Drahmin described me as but for him. Isn't that so, Mo- AHH!"

Moloch didn't even let Twin-Ki finish his sentence. Moloch simply flicked a large finger in Twin-Ki's face, propelling him into the air as he was flown back and smashed through the doors of a local business. Twin-Ki soon found himself being helped up by a fellow Demon.

"Mika?!" Twin-Ki recognised her from their time working under Shinnok. "What are you doing here?"

"This is my hotel!" Mika said cheerfully. "Are you alright?"

"I am," Twin-Ki confirmed. "But your hotel might not be! Look out!"

Twin-Ki tackled Mika to the floor to avoid a large rock being thrown inside by Moloch from hitting her. Moloch soon burst through the doors, including parts of the wall the door had been attached to due to Moloch's width and height meaning he couldn't fit through the door.

"Thank you!" Mika expressed her gratitude to Twin-Ki. "You saved my life!"

"I'll take his!" warned an angry sounding woman who emerged from behind the counter of the hotel with a cudgel formed from magic in her hands.

"Sora!" Mika called for. "Hold on! I can resolve this!"

"How?!" Sora asked only to sigh as she saw Mika making an attempt for peace as she slowly walked up to Moloch with her hands in the air.

"Excuse me," she spoke to the Oni Beast politely. "This is my property and uh…"

"Stop breaking our stuff!" Sora yelled to make sure Moloch understood.

"We don't have to fight," Mika told everyone. "If you make peace then we can get a room for you and-"

Moloch interrupted Mika as he grabbed her and flung her around the room, only being stopped as Sora hurled her cudgel like a javelin, the spiked ends stabbing into Moloch's flesh which caused him to roar loudly, the air from his mouth blowing furniture and other items around the lobby all over the place as he was making an absolute mess of everything.

"Leave her alone!" Sora yelled as she leapt over the counter and rushed over to Moloch bravely.

Sora retrieved her cudgel and ran between Moloch's legs before rapidly swinging it back and forth at his legs, causing Moloch to fall to his knees. Twin-Ki then dashed at Moloch, using the momentum from his speed to knee him in the face as he fell aside, sliding across the just recently cleaned floor through an archway leading into a little café area for the guests in Mika's establishment. Sora immediately ran inside to continue battling Moloch, while Twin-Ki peered out a window as he heard more fighting and smiled as he saw the group of Wraiths had actually come to the aid and the rest of the Oni horde were currently occupied with them.

Mika and Twin-Ki soon joined Sora and Moloch in the café section of the hotel. They walked in right as Moloch slammed Sora through one of the dining tables before taking her cudgel and snapping it like a twig. Twin-Ki dashed past Moloch and grabbed a stool by the counter to order food and smashed it over Moloch which momentarily stunned him.

"Please try not to break anything!" Mika requested politely with Twin-Ki nodding as he ran at the stunned Oni, only for Moloch to back body drop him over his head with Twin-Ki landing back first across the counter of the café.

"You cannot stop an Oni!" Moloch's voice boomed as he stood several feet taller than Mika who was the last enemy standing from Moloch's point of view.

"Can I get you anything that'd convince you to leave?" Mika asked him as she again tried to avoid conflict. "Or just anything to get you to stop hurting people and breaking stuff?"

"I'll break you next!" Moloch threatened.

"That's not very nice…" Mika remarked as she thought of something to offer him. "Oh! I know! Would you like a cake, Moloch?"

"Is the cake made of meat?" Moloch inquired as he contemplated the offer. "Mortal meat?!"

"Uhh… not really…" Mika answered honestly, much to Moloch's disappointment.

"Then you'll have to do!" Moloch yelled as he furiously exhaled, causing a visible gust of wind to blow Mila against the wall at such a force that upon impact the wall became heavily dented.

Moloch then went to finish Mika as he raised his hand in the air and made a calling sound, seemingly a bizarre command for something. A sudden hooting sound could be heard above the hotel, right before Moloch's Mystical Orb crashed through the several floors above before landing precisely in his tight grasp. Looking up, several holes in each floor could be seen with the first hole coming from the roof itself as the night black furred owl named Herald peered down from above. Herald was the deliverer of Moloch's signature weapon of death and Moloch's unlikely friend never failed to bring Moloch his Mystical Orb whenever he demanded it. Moloch then swung his ball and chain around, before launching the Orb at Mika, who moved aside at the last second, causing the Mystical Orb to break the wall down in Mika's place.

"Hey!" a man shouted as footsteps climbing down the spiral staircase could be heard with said stairs being the ones that led to the other floors of the hotel where the rooms of the hotel residents were located.

"Who is that?!" Moloch wondered as he peeked his head through the archway into the lobby where he saw the hotel resident.

The man was a Demon dressed spectacularly, especially for a Netherrealm resident. He wore a suit paired with an overcoat that was of primarily black and red colours which were complimented by his white vest. Moloch immediately noted that this Demon was one of the few who had naturally become Demons after death, and weren't a native to the Netherrealm. Such was noticeable due to the man still retaining part of his human appearances, being a horned humanoid with long braided white hair, red skin and black makeup to pair with the rest of his look.

"Malcolm Morrison, but you can just call me Mal, big guy," he introduced himself as he looked around at the destruction Moloch had caused. "I take it you're the reason a ball just crashed through my room?"

"I recommend that you stop asking questions and leave," Moloch instructed as he was surprisingly willing to show a degree of mercy to the seeming bystander.

"And miss out on all this action?" Malcolm replied with Moloch raising an eyebrow. "Not a chance."

"Then come to die!" Moloch said as he banged his Mystical Orb against the floor which shook the entire hotel.

Malcolm stretched his overcoat out and drew a pair of firearms: a double barrel shotgun and a Thompson submachine gun, both being made from primarily Hellstone with a coat of obsidian and gold accents being added to make his gear appear more flashy. As a consequence of all the enhancements that Iris had made in the first plane, there were now resources available for people to use for even more harmful weapons. The incentive to do such a thing was heightened by the addition of a currency. With the support of Outworld, the Netherrealm was funded with countless Koins with Iris choosing for the Netherrealm to have ones made from ruby which gave the Netherrealms new currency the simple name of Ruby Koins. This had its drawbacks with Netherrealmers being able to indulge in the sin of greed, which Mal took advantage of by gaining all this gear which helped to remind him of his home in Earthrealm.

Mal proceeded to fire his Tommy gun, rapidly spraying bullets at Moloch. The bullets were also made of hellstone, and constantly burned with hellfire which made being shot by them even more lethal than regular ammunition. Despite this, Moloch charged at Malcolm while soaking in the burning bullets that were shot into his bare skin, causing crimson blood to ooze out of bullet holes that dripped down his mix of dark blue and green skin. Due to the sheer size of Moloch, these pullets didn't burrow deep into his heavily layered flesh. Moloch soon ran down Malcolm as he charged forth at a surprisingly fast pace considering his enormous size.

"Pathetic," Moloch said as he scooped up Malcolm after knocking him down, clenching him within a single hand. "You're nothing more than a light snack."

Moloch suddenly went to bite the head off of his caught prey. Before he could, however, Malcolm drew his second firearm. This was a double barrel shotgun with a dagger attached below the pair of barrels, which glistened as Malcolm hurried to draw the weapon from his hip. Malcolm proceeded to shove the shotgun into Moloch's mouth as he unhinged his jaw to consume his much smaller enemy. Moloch bit on the gun, his large strong teeth denting the barrels, but Morrison soon pulled the trigger and a shotgun shell burst from one of the barrels and soon exploded into several pellets that pierced through the back and roof of Moloch's mouth. Morrison was shocked that even unloading a shotgun shot at point blank range but quickly improvised by turning his gun to the side, so that the attached knife was facing the inside of Moloch's cheek, before stabbing it forth, cutting through Moloch's chubby cheeks, as Moloch thrown him back, Morrison pulling the knife and gun out with him as he was thrown to the back of the cafe, knocking over various displays such as paintings on the wall.

Moloch howled in pain as he placed a hand over the deep cut that went from the middle of his right cheek, all the way to his mouth, where a massive gap made by the knife made it so that seeing into his massive mouth was possible just by looking at his cheek. Blood gushed onto his hand as he pressed against the wound. This distraction prompted both Sora and Twin-Ki to use their remaining energy to pick themselves up and attack Moloch once more. Mika meanwhile watched in shock of what was happening, feeling sad for Moloch who was rarely showing signs of being in physical pain, despite him having attacked her hotel.

Mika's beloved Sora didn't hesitate making her next attack though, red energy being channelled to summon a new cudgel once more which she used to propel herself into the air as she ran, landing onto Moloch's back and proceeded to use the staff part of the weapon to begin strangling the Oni Beast. Twin-Ki soon ran over, Moloch went to kick him back but he dashed past and slashed at Moloch's legs with his pair of twin katanas. Moloch countered by jumping in the air and stomping the ground, causing a small tremor in the ground that knocked Twin-Ki over. Sora remained clung onto Moloch's back though, so the Oni Beast began walking backwards before he fell backwards, throwing both himself and Sora through a nearby window as they fell into the streets, both impaled by shards of glass.

"SORA!" Mika cried out as she ran outside to check on her beloved. "Can you hear me, dear?!"

"I… yes," Sora spoke weakly as she struggled to remain conscious.

"I'll fix this, love," Mika promised her as she already began working her healing sorcery on Sora's previous wounds before cautiously picking away at the glass stuck in her body, immediately healing the wounds left from each shard.

While Mika was healing Sora, Twin-Ki and Malcolm Morrison began circling Moloch as he began trying to stand back up after smashing himself through the glass. Moloch soon paused as he saw Malcolm point his shotgun right at one of his three eyes. Moloch's eyes widened, not out of fear, but simply as a terrifying death stare. Twin-Ki nodded to Malcolm, and he didn't hesitate in pulling the trigger. Right as the bullet was shot, an abundance of countless flies native to the Netherrealm swarmed between the shot and Moloch himself. There were so many insects that they had formed a shield by coming together to form a large ball. The shotgun shell burst into the flies. Moloch emerged immediately after the insects had blocked the shot, and immediately delivered a brutal clothesline move with his meaty left arm that made Malcolm spin in the air, before being brought down by Moloch's Giant Ball of Death.

"Get off of me!" Twin-Ki began yelling aggressively as more flies had arrived and now they swarmed Twin-Ki, biting away at his flesh.

These flies were distracting Twin-Ki from Moloch who charged into Twin-Ki, knocking him into one of the lantern carrying posts. Twin-Ki slumped against the pole as the lantern dangling above him fell from the impact and smashed over his head. Moloch turned away from the four fighters that he had just beaten, to face the source of all the flying insects.

"Drahmin," Moloch said as he patted his good friend on the shoulder. "What is all of this?!"

"Wraith assassins," Drahmin explained as he tossed a severed head of a Wraith he had slain behind him which was where the Oni and Wraiths were fighting in the street. "They are a small inconvenience. Our plan remains the same, old friend."

"To the Spire next?" Moloch presumed as Drahmin nodded. "I am ready."

"You're also wounded…" Drahmin pointed out as he gazed at Moloch's body that was covered in the blood of mainly himself from being slashed at, shot with bullets, and impaled by glass. Even still, Moloch was covered in the blood of not just himself, but various enemies he had fought.

"When has that ever stopped me?" Moloch asked him, already having gotten over the pain he was feeling.

"You're right," Drahmin said as he knew better than anyone how powerful Moloch was. "I'm just concerned, friend."

"How are we getting to the Spire?" Moloch wondered with his focus on their mission as he gazed at the looming tower at the end of the city.

"He will lead the way," Drahmin said as loud footsteps could be heard shaking the ground. Moloch and Drahmin watched as Gagroth, the Oni Warlord, stepped over the battle going on between the Oni and Wraiths before lowering a hand for Moloch and Drahmin to stand on. "To the Spire, Gagroth!"

"As you command, sir!" Gagroth said as he began to march through Nekros, stepping onto any city guards who tried to stop the giant.

By the time Mika had fully healed Sora, Gagroth and the two leaders of the attack were already long gone on their way to Iris' Spire. Mika rushed over to help any others who had fallen while Sora rushed into battle to aid the Wraiths.

In the centre of the street was the Oni Champion herself. Amon immediately spotted Sora approaching and readied her Bone Sword and Bone Shield. Sora slid under Amon's legs, before spinning her cudgel into her back before she could react fast enough.

"Impressive agility," Amon praised as she began to circle Sora, assessing her for weaknesses. "You're certainly a worthy challenger."

"Shut up and fight," Sora demanded as she was fed up with this Oni invasion.

"Slaying you will be an honour," Amon replied before complying to Sora's request as she charged forth, throwing her shield up as it bashed against Sora's jaw.

Mika had no desire to see her beloved get hurt by another Oni, so she joined the fight. Summoning a stick, she activated a set of four blades from the end. It was another Wind Blade, the bizarre weapon that only Mika cared enough to master despite her relatively peaceful nature. The blades spun around as Mika swung forth, sharp steel cutting into Amon's back. Amon spun around, using the Bone Shield to block Mika's next swing, before punishing her attempt by poking the sharp blade made of bone into her leg as she threw her Bone Shield behind her where it smacked Sora in the head which temporarily stunned her. Amon then grabbed Mika and pulled her into her Bone Sword, the jagged points at the sides of the blade cutting into her painfully as Amon shoved her aside while retrieving her weapon. Amon and Sora faced each other once more.

"You're going to suffer for that," Sora said as she looked at Mika who was now injured much like how Sora was moments earlier.

"Oh really?" Amon replied with a grin. "Come ahead and make me suffer then."

"Gladly," Sora said as she ran and leapt over an attack from Amon using her Bone Sword. "This is for Mika!" she yelled while in the air as she wrapped her legs around Amon's neck and brought her down with a headscissors takedown.

"Not… bad…" Amon admitted between breath while Sora began mercilessly choking her with her legs. Amon tried to counter by slashing her Bone Sword, but Sora whacked it out of her hands using her cudgel which she had summoned and began repeatedly bashing Amon in the skull with the end of the staff-like weapon.

As Amon was passing out from being choked and beaten over the head, an approaching Oni soon interrupted Sora's offence. A shadow of an Oni Beast soon came over the pair fighting on the ground. Sora looked up and gasped as she was grabbed by the face and slammed down onto the pavement, her back landing awkwardly against the curb. Sora quickly realised that the Oni Beast was wearing an eyepatch and had a black mohawk, clear signs that this was the fearful brother of Moloch named Torcher.

"Nobody dares disrespect our Champion," he spoke deeply while pressing a foot on top of Sora. "While I was relishing in the suffering of your Demon comrades… I overheard you promising suffering on Amon there. Did I mishear?"

"Do you want me to test your hearing for you?" Sora asked angrily as she began desperately punching away at the large green foot that was crushing her body. "You're damn right that's what I said… and you're next!"

Torcher laughed evilly at the threat. He smiled as he looked down at his prey, two fangs sticking out from both his bottom and upper lips. Mika, despite her injuries, tried to save her lover as the two always did fight for each other. Mika leapt onto Torcher's back. Sora was surprised to see Mika rip off the eyepatch Torcher wore to protect his injured eye that had been stabbed by the sorcerer Quan Chi years ago. Mika proceeded to claw at the injured eye, rather savagely for her, as Torcher let out an ear piercing howl. Torcher quickly grabbed Mika and shoved her onto the pair of tall spikes built onto his shoulder pad armour. Torcher had ended up releasing Sora due to Mika's distraction and she summoned her cudgel once more and swung it between Torcher's legs.

"I will melt the flesh from your bones!" Torcher yelled angrily as he fell to his knees and punched the ground in rage while Sora pulled Mika away from him. "Death to all!"

Torcher's hands proceeded to ooze lava that seeped into the cracks he was creating on the road. Being able to command the molten fluid allowed him to make the lava burrow deep underground and pile up, before making all the lava explode as if there was a mini volcano beneath everybody on the street. Bursts of lava shot through the street as everybody fighting on either side had to try and avoid it from melting them. Torcher proceeded to retrieve the sacred Bone Shield that had been knocked from Amon earlier before helping her stand.

"The Bone Shield, Amon," Torcher said calmly as he handed the item over which Amon accepted as lava fell around them. "Let us cause more destruction."

"Clearly you're doing a good job at that," Amon remarked as she sidestepped a clump of magma that landed beside her. "Let's do this."

"Not so fast!" Sora yelled as she pointed her cudgel at the pair of Oni. "You've done enough harm already!"

"And you're going to stop us, little Demon?" Torcher asked as Amon snickered.

"Not just me," Sora replied as two more Demons suddenly darted forth, using bladed weapons to impale Torcher from both sides. "I'm sure you remember Siann and Cilene."

"Torcher!" Amon yelled as she was shocked to see the Oni Beast wounded to such an extent that he had collapsed. "You will pay!"

"Surrender now," Siann recommended as Cilene held her weapon against Amon's throat.

"I suggest you listen to her," Cilene said as she got in Amon's face. "Or else…"

"Or else I die and just reform?" Amon asked, unphased by the threat. "You think I'm afraid of that?"

"Last chance!" Siann yelled.

"We should help the wounded," Mika suggested to Sora as they both saw that their old friends had matters under control.

Mika and Sora helped Twin-Ki up after being knocked unconscious momentarily. Twin-Ki was just one of many who had been wounded badly by the attacking Oni. Many of the Wraith reinforcements were either unconscious or dead. Malcolm Morrison, the man who stood out most amongst the group, was slowly recovering too. Mika helped his client up.

"Sorry about the service," she apologised to him. "It's usually more peaceful around here."

"It's quite alright, ma'am," Malcolm reassured her. "I enjoy this."

"Uh… good to know?" Mika was unsure how she was supposed to react to this.

"Is it over?" Twin-Ki asked as he had only just regained consciousness.

"It seems so," Sora answered as she looked around to see the remaining Oni surrendering. "Well done, Siann and Cilene. You made these Oni finally gain some sense."

"We were in the area and heard all the commotion," Siann explained their presence. "It was no trouble really."

"Idiots," Amon muttered to herself. "Don't you lot know?"

"Know… what?" Cilene overheard her.

"That Oni NEVER SURRENDER!" Amon yelled as all the Oni leapt up and retrieved their weapons before ruthlessly ambushing those trying to protect Nekros.

As the fighting once again broke out, a gooey shadow black substance began filling out the ground. The action quickly paused as several shadow clones created by many Wraiths began to pull the fight apart. Emerging in the middle of all this was Noob Saibot himself, with two more Wraiths beside him.

"We have been gathering even more reinforcements," Noob Saibot informed everybody as he pulled out his sickle which he stored in his own body. "But if you won't retreat… then death will come knocking for you all. Or maybe… we'll spare you… and trap you in the Spire dungeons… an eternity of darkness."

"As if a Wraith is stable enough to show mercy," Amon remarked with the Oni behind her laughing.

"And just when has Oni ever granted mercy?" a voice came from behind the group of Oni warriors.

"Belokk!" Sora yelled in rage.

"Belokk?!" Amon was just as surprised as she spun around to face him.

"I warned you that we summoned reinforcements," Noob reminded her.

"And now you're trapped," Belokk noticed as he and a group of city guards emerged from one side of the street while the other was already occupied by the others who had been trying to stop the Oni. "Defeat them!"

Obeying the Demon General's command, the guards charged forth with the Wraiths copying the strategy in order to sandwich the Oni. Amon fought through many of the guards before being kicked to one side by Belokk with her tripping over the curb and being grounded so that Belokk could impale her with the Kwan Dao that once belonged to Lucifer.

"Amon!" Torcher roared as he burst to his feet as embers flew from him as he bled magma.

"Ruutuu! Solrac Enaj! Detain this animal!" Noob Saibot commanded the two Wraiths that stood beside him.

Ruutuu and Solrac Enaj were Noob Saibot's most trusted allies amongst the group of Wraiths he had met since joining the Netherrealm. The three of them, as Wraiths often would, agreed to keep their pasts shrouded in mystery and to focus on their life now as Wraiths. Ruutuu had a unique trait amongst Wraiths where instead of glowing a bright white, Ruutuu's eyes glowed blue as they peeped through his terrifying mask that made his mouth look like it was glowing as well. Above his eyes was a logo on his mask painted in Oni blood, symbolising the Brotherhood of Shadow. The rest of his attire was dark armour given to all members of the Brotherhood, but Ruutuu wore blue coloured rags over the protection with Oni teeth dangling from some of the pieces of cloth.

Solrac Enaj meanwhile, didn't wear a mask despite that being a common attire choice for Wraiths. Instead she covered their scarred face behind their equally dark hood. The hood was a part of robes that draped down to Solrac's legs which they wore over the typical armour of a warrior for the Brotherhood of Shadow. Her dark attire was lightened slightly by shiny dark red accents. The black and red colours paired to form a colour palette that the Brotherhood of Shadow always represented. Solrac drew a pair of sickles from beneath her breasts through the shadow magic possessed by every Wraith in the Netherrealm. Ruutuu also had a sickle of his own, it was large much like Noob's, and the handle was covered in blue wraps to allow a better grip of the weapon. Noob Saibot hand crafted sickles himself to show respect to his closest allies. Now, Noob Saibot's closest beings to friends he had would use his very own gifts to inflict punishment on the Oni.

The pair of Wraiths released a shadow clone in unison, both sliding across the floor, leaving a stream of black goo-like substance before wrapping themselves around Torcher's large legs. Torcher pounded his fists down, immediately exploding the two shadow clones. This was still enough of a diversion for Solrac and Ruutuu to run forth and both impale their sickles into Torcher's thick flesh. Torcher howled angrily as he went to grab Solrac, who athletically leapt over the massive hand, landing on top of it, and using it as a platform to jump over Torcher's massive body that was like a wall. While doing this, Solrac Enaj had removed one of the sickles she impaled into Torcher and proceeded to impale it into Torcher's back instead. Using the dark magics that Wraiths possessed, Solrac managed to connect her pair of sickles with chains made of the same mysterious substance that all Wraiths could create. The black chains had traced Solrac's movement as she began wrapping the chains around Torcher while Ruutuuu summoned countless shadow clones to try and pin the Oni Beast down.

Noob Saibot then emerged behind all the shadow clones as he unleashed a ghastly energy from his hands which was used as a ball shaped projectile. The ball of energy struck Torcher in the face as the energy seeped through his entire body. Torcher collapsed as more chains and shadow clones continued to restrain him. Torcher had been defeated. Noob Saibot then calmly despite the chaos happening around them, slowly walked over to Torcher with his sickle in hand.

"Death comes for all," Noob Saibot told him as Torcher struggled helplessly. "Even for an Oni Beast."

"It matters not," Torcher snarled fearlessly. "I haven't ever been slain before. My body is covered in wounds from the past. Kill me now… and I'll reform in a fresh body."

"Good for you," Noob Saibot remarked as he raised his sickle. "Any last words?"

"I will return," Torcher warned him. "When I do, I'll have the head of you and your entire band of cowards! and no Wraith has the benefit of being able to reform after death…"

"I'd rather that than be trapped here for an eternity," Noob told him as Torcher laughed. "What amuses you?"

"Just kill him," Solrac advised as they approached along with Ruutuu.

"You may take your time," Ruutuu told him instead as he and Solrac had made several shadow clones protecting the four in a circle so that nobody could save Torcher from what was about to happen. "Nobodies getting past all of them."

"Shadows burn," Torcher spoke once his laughter finally ceased, "and I have every intention of burning you all to ash after I bleed you out!"

"Empty threats," Noob believed as he brought his sickle down and it stabbed into Torcher's forehead.

"At least cut a little bit deeper," Torcher said before beginning to laugh again. Being an Oni Beast meant his head was much thicker so it made him a harder target to put down.

"DIE ALREADY!" Solrac Enaj suddenly screamed as they shoved Noob aside as they returned their sickles to their grasp before throwing the pair of blades into Torcher's remaining healthy eyes. Solrac then proceeded to snatch Noob's sickle from him and began repeatedly hacking at Torcher's skull before his laughing finally turned into silence.

"Torcher has been dealt with!" Noob Saibot announced to his allies as the battle continued.

"A little excessive, do you not think?" Ruutuu asked as he pulled Solrac away from Torcher's corpse as it aggressively spat out magma from the many stab wounds.

"Oni deserve even worse," Solrac remarked.

"I am sure some competent Oni are out there amongst the planes," Ruutuu theorised as Solrac sharpened their sickles. "Besides, I am considered much different from the typical Wraith."

"More like softer than the average Wraith," Solrac rudely corrected him with Ruutuu sighing in response.

"Return to your tasks!" Noob demanded as he had noticed the two idly discussing while he beheaded an Oni Goblin with one clean slice of his sickle.

"Leave them alone!" Amon yelled as she had witnessed the Wraiths' savagery from afar while fighting with Belokk.

As Noob Saibot went to eliminate another Oni Goblin, Amon rolled to avoid an incoming attack from Belokk before sprinting to Noob. Before Amon could strike the Wraith though, a now healed Twin-Ki dashed between the two as Amon ran into his set of wrist blades which impaled Amon as Belokk caught up with Amon and impaled her from behind with his father's Kwan Dao.

"Let us do this again," Noob Saibot said before slicing his sickle as he once more beheaded an Oni Goblin… this time being Amon, as she was struck by being stabbed by multiple blades. "That was your Champion?!"

"You Oni are pathetic!" Solrac insulted.

"Pathetic?" one Oni spoke up amongst the remaining group. "Even though you need several warriors to defeat just one of us?!"

"I ought to teach you a lesson!" Solrac yelled as they went to attack the Oni with their sickles, but the Oni had great agility and dodged the attacks before sliding past Solrac and their allies before retrieving the sacred Bone Sword and Bone Shield from Amon's corpse. "Get back here!"

Solrac went to attack again but once more her attack dodged. The Oni then retreated from Nekros, being concerned with preserving the legendary gear he was holding that was important to all warriors of the Oni species.

"The legendary Torcher and your own Champion have been defeated," Siann pointed out as she wished to make an offer she gave earlier once more. "I suggest you surrender now."

"And retreat like your friend there," Sora pointed to the Oni carrying the sacred gear running outside the city walls.

"Listen this time," Belokk recommended, with Sora turning to him and giving him an angry look. "Is something wrong?"

"I don't need your input!" Sora yelled.

"I was agreeing with you!" Belokk countered as he was puzzled by the outburst.

"And I have no desire for the person who stabbed my girlfriend to agree with me!" Sora continued to shout as she recalled what had transpired when the Netherrealm invaded Earthrealm and Outworld on behalf of Shinnok.

"Oh… that…" Belokk remembered. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise to me!" Sora shouted. "I slit your throat already for it so I'm already satisfied. But if you don't apologise to Mika then I'll cut you again!"

"It's fine," Mika spoke up as she approached the two. "Don't worry about it!"

"Thank you, Mika," Belokk said gratefully. "Also, yes, I do apologise. I prioritised my loyalty to Shinnok over anything else."

"I understand," Mika told him. "My loyalties are to Sora."

"Aww," Sora said as she threw her arms around Mika in a warm embrace.

"Are you done yet?" Noob Saibot asked. "The Oni have already left!"

"I think the positivity scared them off," Solrac Enaj said jokingly.

"I am surprised it didn't frighten you too," Ruutuu commented.

"I'm afraid of nothing!" Solrac defended themselves immediately.

"Focus!" Noob Saibot once again demanded order.

"We need to go to the Spire!" Twin-Ki told everyone as he became anxious. "Drahmin and Moloch and Gagroth… that's where they left for. They'll try to kill Lady Iris!"

"Then let's make haste," Noob suggested as he commanded his group of Wraiths once more.

"Finally we're on the same page, Noob," Twin-Ki remarked with the Wraith giving him a nod in reply. "To the Spire, everyone!"

The warriors of the Brotherhood of Shadow and their various allies that had joined the massive conflict in the busy streets of Nekos, all headed to the Spire at the end of the city with no quicker way of reaching it because everything behind the Spire was covered in a sea of lava with only the cliffs of the Netherrealm not being engulfed by the lava in that section of the first plane that went on for countless miles. Meanwhile, at the Spire itself, Drahmin and Moloch thanks to the aid of the Oni Warlord named Gagroth, had just made it to the Spire's entranceway which the guards had locked in an attempt to defend the structure against the incoming Oni Warlord that could be seen approaching from the other end of the entire city due to Gagroth's immense size.

"Lady Iris!" Drahmin yelled for as he stood proudly atop of Gagroth's shoulders. "Come out here and surrender your life this instant!"

"She's too cowardly to appear," Moloch remarked after the Oni waited for a few moments.

"Tip the Spire, Gagroth," Drahmin ordered with Gagroth's face meeting his and giving a nod of compliance.

Gagroth stuck his hand between the gaps in the metal gate that had lowered on the entrance to the Spire. He then pushed up, pulling the gate open as his hand wrapped around the top of the archway. Gagroth wasn't done there though, as he continued to push. As Gagroth did so, he wrapped his other arm around the Spire itself as he began to pry the Spire completely from its foundations as it began to split from the base of the structure where beneath it was the infamous dungeons holding felons so evil that they weren't even permitted to roam free in the Netherrealm. Lucifer and Lilith were the most notable names trapped there for a time, but Iris released them along with those who had done no truly awful actions and had simply been imprisoned due to rivalling Shinnok. Quan Chi was now the most infamous name amongst the dungeon dwellers and the Oni had little desire in saving the former Oni who they couldn't possibly put their full trust into.

Gagroth was now lifting up the Spire as he held the six floor structure in his own two hands. He reached over as he held the Spire up over the nearby Sea of Lava, and Iris had finally witnessed enough. Iris burst out of a window in her private quarters as she summoned wings on her back made of course by bone. She flew head on at Gagroth who tried to swipe her aside but she dodged each swing before landing on his chest. She crawled up Gagroth as she tried to reach Moloch and Drahmin with the latter peering down from Gagroth's massive shoulder to address her.

"Surrender now!" Drahmin demanded as he pointed to the entire Spire that Gagroth was holding in just a single hand as he freed one to try and grab Iris. "If you refuse then say farewell to your home."

"Do your worst!" Iris challenged as she created a bone pike which she used to reach Drahmin as she stabbed him in the shin, causing him to fall off of Gagroth as he lost balance.

Gagroth dropped the Spire before scooping up Drahmin in his arms before he fell too. Iris meanwhile, had to save something else from falling as she flew down and latched countless bones onto the structure that were all a long connection of bones like pieces of rope. With enough connected to the Spire, Iris used her godly strength to pull the Spire over to her as she guided it back to the base where the Spire stood upon. She used bones as support for the part that had been separated to the base to ensure everything was stable.

"KILL HER!" Drahmin screamed which was audible for even Iris despite having brought herself down to the surface.

Iris moved aside as Gagroth slammed his fist down onto the pathway to the Spire which Iris moved to in an attempt to prevent Gagroth causing more destruction to Nekros itself. Iris then felt herself step on something sharp. Iris looked down to see a spike impaled on her foot that came from Drahmin's mask called the face of Kun-Lo. Iris realised it must've fallen off Drahmin's face when he himself was falling. The mask being the very item that helped Drahmin remain intelligent and calm for an Oni was unknown to Iris at such a time, but she could certainly tell that Drahmin was furious.

Per Drahmin's very own instructions, Moloch picked him up and hurled him at Iris. Drahmin pointed his Iron Club forth as he was flung at Iris. Drahmin connected as Iris was stabbed by more metal spikes, courtesy of Drahmin's weapon. Iris had also grabbed onto the Iron Club and pulled it off of Drahmin's hand before tossing it to the ground right beside his mask.

"Just fists, Drahmin," Iris said as she raised her own.

"Of course you'd challenge me to this after STABBING MY LEG!" Drahmin yelled as he dove forth recklessly due to his wound but he was still successful in tackling Iris to the ground. "Give me your throne!"

Drahmin continued to scream aloud as he began strangling Iris' meaty neck. Iris wrapped her arms around Drahmin and attempted to crush his back with her sheer strength but Drahmin continued throttling her, knowing she would pass out before his back could be seriously injured. Iris recognised this and altered her strategy, rolling over and splashing her large body down on Drahmin, trying to squash him. Drahmin punched away at Iris but her sheer mass paired with being a God made her basically immune to regular blows, hence why she had challenged the Oni to a hand to hand battle in the first place. Iris soon wrapped her arms around Drahmin's head as she put him into a sleeper submission hold. Before she could make Drahmin pass out though, Moloch smacked her aside with his Mystical Orb.

"Anybody who hurts my friend I will obliterate!" Moloch threatened as he leapt from Gagroth's hand as he had placed him close to the ground to attack Iris.

"Not even you could defeat a God, Moloch," Iris told him as she summoned a bone scythe to use as her weapon of choice against the Oni Beast. "Beneath the ground we stand on are the dungeons I'll have you both placed in for this attack."

"Come and try!" Moloch challenged as the two large warriors charged at each other.

Moloch threw his Mystical Orb forth with the giant ball and chain hitting Iris in her belly. She staggered back, winded from the heavy blow, but managed to stab Moloch in his bare feet repeatedly with her scythe to prevent him from moving forward. The scythe allowed Iris a good distance against her foe, so she chose to use her powers to extend the length of the scythe before swinging at Moloch, who ducked the attack before howling which blew a bizarre gust of wind from Moloch's breath that pulled Iris forth and into a lariat from Moloch with his arm that was wrapped in the chains attached to his Mystical Orb.

Iris collapsed from the blow and Moloch wasted no time in continuing his assault. Moloch repeatedly stomped onto Iris who eventually countered by quickly summoning a spiky bone as Moloch's foot came down again only to step on the sharp object. Moloch staggered back, grasping onto his injured foot as he pulled the spike out of his flesh. Iris then charged at Moloch and bashed her body into the Oni Beast's as he began to wobble to maintain his balance now that he was at the edge of the linear pathway leading to the Spire, where the Sea of Lava surrounded the sides of.

Iris charged at Moloch again but the Oni Beast swung his arm with the Mystical Orb clobbering Iris in the face. The blow was fierce enough to knock Iris back, but also Moloch himself as he toppled over the edge. Surprisingly, Moloch managed to remain clinged to his Mystical orb though as the chains were still wrapped around his arms. The Mystical Orb itself had been dropped onto the ground, and thus was preventing Moloch from falling into the lava down beneath him.

"Moloch!" Drahmin yelled as a rush of adrenaline came over the leader of the Oni as he ran forth at Iris.

Before Iris could dunk Moloch into the bubbling lava down below, Drahmin dived forth, tackling both Iris and himself over the ledge. Gagroth quickly reacted by placing his hand right above the lava to catch Drahmin. He tried to avoid Iris landing onto him but she clung to his knuckles. Gagroth shaked his hand violently but Iris refused to let go. Drahmin meanwhile was climbing up Gagroth's arm which was like scaling a steep mountain. Iris followed Drahmin up Gagroth, despite the Oni Warlord making several attempts to flick her off. Drahmin had once again reached Gagroth's shoulder which he stood atop while heading against Gagroth's head. He then squinted as he spotted movement that was approaching.

"Do ya see that, Gagroth?" Drahmin asked with Gagroth nodding. "It seems like Iris still has some allies after all!"

"More than you, Drahmin!" Iris remarked as she pushed herself up onto Gagroth's shoulder.

"And people think the Oni are dumb!" Drahmin said with a laugh as he avoided Iris' incoming attacks with a bone scythe. "I have rallied all of my kind to stand by my side while your rule divides the Netherrealm!"

"It is only divided because of your chaos!" Iris yelled as she aggressively swung at Drahmin once more but once again he dodged, however, this caused the scythe to impale Gagroth in the cheek as they had been battling on his literal shoulder.

"I'll kill you!" Gagroth yelled as he began smacking his own shoulder as Drahmin dove off to avoid being crushed with Gagroth catching him with his other hand.

"You're really making this one wild ride, Gagroth!" Drahmin said as he lay in the palm of his giant hands.

"Where did Iris go?!" Gagroth asked as he glared at his shoulder being empty. He then raised his hand up to his face only for Iris to leap from it as she had grabbed onto it at some point. "I've got you!"

Iris was caught into Gagroth's massive mouth as he opened his mouth to catch her as she leapt over. During the process, Iris had once more slashed Gagroth with her scythe which cut his lip. The blade was so small though that these were minor wounds that would be like a normal paper cut for most other species. Before Gagroth could swallow the Netherrealm ruler, he felt his mouth being pried open as bone fingers passed his lips and began to unhinge his jaw, allowing Iris passage out of his mouth.

Before Iris left though, she decided to create a spear which she impaled onto Gagroth's wide tongue before pulling it up and pulling it back as she rammed the spear into the back of Gagroth's mouth as the pointy end skewered not only his tongue but his uvula too before twisting the spear and stabbing it into the roof of his mouth. Iris then extended the length of the spear with the handle expanding down Gagroth's throat as Iris walked out his mouth as the blood dripping from the roof dripped onto her black leather attire. Gagroth soon began to choke on the spear as Iris grew back her bone wings before soaring over to her allies that had now arrived and stood at the path leading to the Spire with Moloch staring down the group of warriors.

"Gagroth!" Drahmin called for with concern. "What's wrong?! What did that bastard do to you?!"

Gagroth couldn't speak to explain to Drahmin as he continued to choke. As one final effort, Gagroth scooped up Drahmin and dropped him into Moloch's burly arms before the Oni Warlord fell back and down into the Sea of Lava where his entire body was incinerated in mere seconds with his native soul travelling throughout the plane, inevitably going to reform.

"She killed Gagroth!" Drahmin spoke with shock in his voice as he remained laid in Moloch's grasp. "You both saved my life…"

"We reform," Moloch pointed out. "You do not."

"Have you ever had to reform?" Drahmin asked with Moloch laughing while shaking his head. "Good… because we need to get through all of them."

"He would've had you not intervened, Drahmin!" Iris claimed.

Iris now stood at the front of her group of allies with her scythe resting on her shoulder. Drahmin and Moloch turned to face the group with the latter howling in anger. After putting Drahmin down, Moloch began smashing his Mystical Orb against the ground, causing a small earthquake which knocked down several of Iris' warriors.

"Do you think the two of you can stop us all?!" Iris asked as she remained still throughout the entire earthquake. "All your other Oni allies have been dealt with."

"Perhaps we do have a disadvantage now," Drahmin admitted as he put his calming mask back on which Moloch had made sure to grab for his friend. "But we still have allies…"

Approaching from behind and quickly assassinating several of the city guards was a group of Spectres draped in mundane colours such as shades of grey to avoid drawing attention to themselves. Many of Iris' allies stood confused by this group, but many others had a good idea of who these were…

"The Vengeance Seekers…" Solrac Enaj said the group's name aloud.

"You know them?" Ruutuu said as Solrac nodded. "I take it you tried to do business with them."

"I see now why they denied my request to slay an Oni horde!" Solrac yelled angrily as she charged at the man who stood at the front of the group who quickly countered by blasting a beam of water at Solrac before using Hellfire to begin boiling it as Solrac's charcoal-like flesh became more literally burnt.

"Water?" Ruutuu was puzzled as he quickly restrained a hurt Solrac before she continued to make foolish attempts. "That's not an ordinary trait of a Spectre…"

"Let me at him!" Solrac demanded as she threw a shadow energy chain sickle at the man which was too short to reach his face but it caught his mask and ripped it off.

The man's mask came flying off his face and into Solrac Enaj's hands. She gazed at the metallic mask that was shaped like a Demon's mouth with pointy teeth. The mask had been painted so that the teeth were orange with the rest of the mask being blue, to compliment the rest of his attire's colour palette. He wore a long sea blue coloured coat as the cuffs were followed by gloves he wore that were orange much like the accents on the rest of his gear, such as his gi that he wore beneath the jacket. The rest of his attire was primarily a light grey, much like the rest of his group. Attached to his back was a pair of katanas, but his elemental ability removed the constant need of such weapons whenever he fought. He wore a hood over his scruffy brown hair which was right above his pale eyes that all Spectres had. With his mask gone, Noob Saibot began to recognise the face of the man…

"Hong Jun?!" Noob Saibot asked as the two stared at each other. "Hydro?!"

"How do you know my name?" Hydro asked as he cautiously held to his katanas. While Spectres were still recognisable to their former human form, Wraiths were completely altered and transformed into darkness personified.

"It's… I was Bi-Han…" Noob revealed to the hydromancer.

Hydro felt frozen in place as he processed the revelation. He hadn't seen Bi-Han since he left for the Mortal Kombat Tournament where he went under the mantle of Sub-Zero. As they continued to glance at each other in what felt like slow motion to Hydro, his allies began attacking those who sided with Noob Saibot and Iris. He and his mercenary allies had been hired as a distraction so that the Oni could leave the city if necessary.

"Let's get outta here, Moloch!" Drahmin ordered as he began running through the crowd with Moloch following behind, acting as his protector.

"We are Oni, we shouldn't surrender!" Moloch claimed as he still wanted to fight despite his injuries.

"We aren't surrendering," Drahmin informed him as they continued to leave, "we are retreating. We'll be back and next time we'll know not to be so sparing with how many allies I ask to come along."

"I'm glad to hear!" Moloch said as he picked Drahmin up and slung him over his shoulder. "Let's go home, my friend!"

Moloch charged through dozens of city guards with him, squashing anybody who tried to get in the way of his pathway of destruction. With the hired mercenaries to stop them from being pursued, Moloch and Drahmin soon left the city walls of Nekros as they headed off to reunite with their fellow Oni. Drahmin did not see this as a defeat as he had simply just become more knowledgeable on his enemies from this attack, and couldn't wait to prepare for the next assault. Meanwhile, the mercenaries led by Hydro continued to battle with Iris' allies until…

"Stop!" Hydro ordered with his followers immediately complying.

"This man is an old friend," Noob Saibot explained to his allies while he gave a signal for them to stop fighting also.

"We were much more than just that, Bi-Han," Hydro remarked as he approached Noob Saibot and brought him into an embrace. "I missed you."

"I…" Noob Saibot wasn't sure how to respond to such affection. "I go by the name Noob Saibot now."

"And I thought some of the other Lin Kuei members had stupid names!" Hydro said with a laugh as he assumed Bi-Han was only joking. "Good one, Bi-Han."

"I'M SERIOUS!" Noob snapped aggressively as he shoved Hydro off of him.

"Woah!" Hydro was shocked by Noob's reaction. "I'm sorry… I guess the rumours that becoming a Wraith does change you are true…"

"Is that supposed to be a dig?" Solrac asked with her arms crossed.

"No!" Hydro denied the accusation. "It's just… what happened to you, Bi… I mean Noob?"

"Do you remember the Shirai Ryu's apparent 'greatest' ninja?" Noob Saibot asked with clenched fists as he hated just thinking about the man he spoke of.

"Hanzo Hasashi…" Hydro vividly recalled. "Of course I do… he's part of the reason I'm here now…"

Hydro awoke behind bars in a small basement area. He glanced around the area and the main point of note was the bloodstains across the enclosed space he found himself trapped in. Hydro had no recollection of how he had ended up in such a place. One moment ago he was guarding the Lin Kuei Temple and the next he found himself a prisoner somewhere. He soon lost his train of thought as an evil laugh could be heard from a man who had just come down the stairway into the small room. It took some deep thought but Hydro recognised the man… it was the sorcerer named Quan Chi who had recently been a client of his clan! Hydro became even more puzzled by what was going on now.

"Where am I?!" Hydro asked the sorcerer.

"Within the holding cell at my personal Fortress," Quan Chi informed him.

"Why?!" Hydro didn't understand what was happening. "Explain yourself!"

"It is good to see you are awake," Quan Chi said with a wicked grin as he pulled a stool over to sit in as Hydro stared at him. "My friend informed me that you are the ninja who goes by the title 'Hydro'. Please confirm."

"I am Hydro," he confirmed. "I am no ninja though. I'm a Lin Kuei Warrior! It is completely different to being a scoundrel like the scum that plague the Shirai Ryu!"

"What did you say about my clan?!" Scorpion sounded furious as he stormed into the room and placed his hands on the bars.

"Hanzo Hasashi?!" Hydro was even more surprised. "Your eyes…"

"I am a Spectre now," he revealed, which was a term completely unfamiliar to Hydro. "You will call me Scorpion."

"Did you finally make up your own mantle because you're jealous of us?" Hydro mocked only to push himself back against the wall as Scorpion's hands began to set aflame which seared the steel bars.

"It is a mantle I made to honour my clan!" Scorpion yelled angrily as his Hellfire began to melt the bars. "The clan that your allies slaughtered!"

"The Shirai Ryu is dead?!" Hydro couldn't believe all this news he was having to process.

"Everyone," Scorpion confirmed. "Grandmaster Suzuki! His warriors! The families of those warriors! MY FAMILY! ME! WE ALL DIED AT THE HANDS OF THE LIN KUEI!"

"Hanzo… I'm so sorry…" Hydro apologised sincerely. "I knew nothing about this…"

"Well maybe there's something you do know," Quan Chi spoke up. "Tell us, ninja, where are the whereabouts of Sub-Zero?"

"What business do you have with Bi-Han?" Hydro asked as he grew concerned for his closest ally.

"He led the slaughter of the Shirai Ryu after killing me!" Scorpion yelled angrily with Quan Chi having to pull him back.

"What?!" Hydro couldn't believe his ears. "Bi-Han would never!"

"We ask the questions, ninja," Quan Chi reminded him. "Now answer ours!"

"I have no idea!" Hydro claimed. It was a lie to protect Bi-Han, as the Lin Kuei were all well aware of the Mortal Kombat Tournament and that Sub-Zero had been one of the warriors sent to Shang Tsung's Island.

"If you don't speak then we'll kill you," Quan Chi threatened.

"We… shouldn't…" Scorpion told the sorcerer. "He wasn't associated with my clans murder."

"If you say so, Scorpion," Quan Chi replied as he created a swirling green portal. "I will just have to ask somebody else. Watchover the ninja for me."

"As you wish," Scorpion obeyed as Quan Chi walked through his portal.

The portal took Quan Chi back to the same Lin Kuei Temple where he had abducted Hydro from in the first place. The other side of his portal opened in the throne room for the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei… Oniro.

"Ah! Quan Chi!" Oniro greeted as he sat on his throne reading from a list of assassin contracts. "What news does my greatest client bring?"

"Good news for you I am sure," Quan Chi replied as he used sorcery to summon a heavy sack he had left in his Fortress.

"Is it done?!" Oniro asked as he put his list down and began tapping his fingers together eagerly.

"My services are guaranteed to reward," the sorcerer said as he dropped the sack onto the floor with human bones spilling out from the sack. "These are the bones of the Shirai Ryu Grandmaster himself, as you requested. The rest of the clan I made sure to wipe out… I didn't even need the extra men you had sent."

Oniro immediately burst into a fit of wicked evil laughter at the sight of his rival being nothing more than just a bag of bones. Oniro applauded Quan Chi as he stood up from his throne.

"I am most impressed, Quan Chi! Well done!" Oniro praised Quan Chi's actions. "The Lin Kuei thanks you!"

"I doubt that every Lin Kuei will be so grateful," Quan Chi remarked as his mind went to Bi-Han. "I'm sure that Sub-Zero will be displeased with you instructing me to disguise myself as him…"

"It matters not," Oniro lacked any concern for his warriors. "I can always construct an excuse."

"And if not?"

"My Cyber Initiative will remove any negative opinions my servants may have," Oniro informed him as he was careless for the wellbeing of his followers. "Any potential consequence from what we have done will become null."

"I am glad to hear," Quan Chi replied. "Just out of curiosity, where is Sub-Zero anyway?"

"At an island for a tournament called Mortal Kombat," Oniro revealed to him. "Have you met a man named Shang Tsung? He is a sorcerer much like yourself."

"We are well acquainted," Quan Chi told him. "I may just pay him a visit."

"I'm sure he'd welcome you to his island," Oniro said as he approached Quan Chi and bent down to gather the bones the sorcerer had delivered to him.

"Nonetheless, I wish Sub-Zero goodluck in this tournament," Quan Chi insincerely wished.

"He survived the Temple of Elements," Oniro pointed out, which gave him faith in his greatest warrior's skills. "He also survived… you."

"He sought to gift the Amulet to Raiden! I couldn't chance that," Quan Chi defended himself for his betrayal of the Cryomancer. "If I hadn't interfered… then this transaction would've concluded with me carrying your bones instead."

"Well let's just say I am still more than pleased regarding this outcome," Oniro told the sorcerer as he observed the skull of the Shirai Ryu Grandmaster. "I shall place these remnants of that fool in my personal trophy cabinet."

"If you wish to expand such a collection then do not hesitate to do business with me again," Quan Chi offered as he turned around to his portal.

"I shall keep that in mind, sorcerer," Oniro promised him.

"Good," he replied. "I must now bid you farewell, for I have somebody I must deal with in the Netherrealm."

"Goodbye," Oniro waved as Quan Chi walked through his magic portal with it closing behind him.

Quan Chi then returned to the cell that he had imprisoned Hydro within. Scorpion had been staring at Hydro since the sorcerer left. Hydro meanwhile, simply stared at the ground as he felt helpless in his current predicament.

"What now?" Hydro asked as he heard Quan Chi return.

"Have you learnt anything?!" Scorpion had his own questions and he was far more impatient than their captive.

"I have, Scorpion," Quan Chi confirmed. "Sub-Zero is at a tournament hosted on an island in the Lost Sea."

"Lost Sea?" Scorpion and Hydro said in unison as both were confused.

"I shall take you there," Quan Chi told him. "My Brotherhood of Shadow allies have prepared a set of armour and weapons for you in my quarters. Go there now."

"I shall," Scorpion said as he wasted no time in heading upstairs.

"What about me?" Hydro asked as Quan Chi was about to leave with Scorpion.

"I'm afraid you've turned out to be useless," Quan Chi told him as he turned back around and returned to Hydro.

"So… can you let me go home?" Hydro requested only to be laughed at. "Why did I expect anything else?"

"Because you are a fool," Quan Chi insulted as he summoned his pair of signature broadswords, "as well as a dead man…"

"He used sorcery to torment me," Hydro said as he concluded his recollection of such tragic events, "then he slaughtered me with his swords."

"No…" Noob Saibot was unsure how to feel regarding this information, especially considering his allegiance to Quan Chi due to all that he had given him since becoming a Wraith. "He must've been tricked! He was probably manipulated by that foul Shirai Ryu scum!"

"I'm pretty sure it's the other way around," Hydro believed. "Considering what I later learnt that happened on your mission for him I think it is safe to say that he-"

"He saved me from being alone in the Netherrealm!" Noob Saibot claimed as he immediately dismissed Hydro's points. "He gave me something to use my new form for! Bi-Han was strong, but I?! I am much more. It is all thanks to his aid."

"Here comes the old married couple argument," Solrac Enaj muttered so only Ruutuu could hear who shushed her.

"I see he's manipulated you also then," Hydro assumed with Noob clenching his fists in anger. "I'm almost glad he only just killed me now."

"What about Scorpion?!" Noob queried. "Who do you seek vengeance against?"

"When did I mention revenge?"

"You're a Spectre…" Noob pointed out. "Of course you want revenge."

"Valid assumption then," Hydro admitted. "I've actually been more focused on getting revenge on behalf of others."

"What do you mean?"

"This is what my group does," Hydro revealed as his allies gathered around him to show their loyalty. "Our speciality is being contracted to assassinate those who have wronged others to cause them to be brought to this damn place."

"Then may we do some business?" Noob Saibot asked with Hydro nodding. "My request is for Hanzo Hasashi to die… and to stay dead this time."

"Oh, he'll get what's coming to him I assure you," Hydro replied with a smile. "While I don't understand your obsession for that wicked sorcerer, I can at least agree that Scorpion has to pay for what he's done to me… and you as well."

"When do we start?"

"Follow me," Hydro instructed. "I have a few business partners you should meet."

Noob Saibot nodded as he followed Hydro and his group called the Vengeance Seekers as they left for their headquarters. As they did that, the rest of Iris' group gathered around as they were all recovering from having to defend Nekros from the Oni horde.

"Is everybody alright?" Iris inquired as she looked around at everyone.

"We'll get to work healing the wounded," Sora told the ruler as Mika was already tending to one of the city guards.

"Thank you," Iris expressed her gratitude. Her eyes then widened as she spotted her loved one and yelled aloud. "Twin-Ki!"

"I'm alright, my love!" Twin-Ki assured her as Iris brought him into a tight hug.

"I'll have any damages compensated for," Iris assured everybody. "Make that known to the rest of the city."

"I shall spread the word," Twin-Ki offered before departing to begin announcing the news of Iris' aid.

"Well I'll be leaving now too," Malcolm Morrison announced after he had been fully healed. "Left some bags at your hotel, Mika."

"I should probably return too," Mika realised. "We need to make sure the other guests are alright."

"I'll go for you," Siann offered.

"As will I," Cilene also stepped forth beside Siann as the pair so often were side by side. "You and Sora are masters of healing sorcery. You're needed here."

"Thanks," Mika said as her long time friends headed off to her hotel.

"I must admit that I am impressed with your hotel, Mika," Belokk praised.

"Oh! I appreciate that, Belokk," Mika was surprised to hear Belokk say such kindness. "You're always welcome to stay over if you want."

"He is?" Sora asked while she focused on healing one of the wounded guards.

"Everybody is, Sora," Mika told her beloved. "The purpose of that place would be defeated if we refused entry for some."

"I would actually quite like staying there," Belokk confirmed with Sora sighing. "If… that's alright."

"When we fix all the destruction that Moloch caused then I'm sure I'll have a room for you," Mika promised the Demi-God.

"You want to remove the taint on your soul, Belokk?" Iris asked with Belokk nodding.

"That is the purpose of our hotel afterall!" Mika said cheerfully. "To help purify souls through more natural methods than something like the holy Kriss."

"Whatever happened to Ashrah's sword?" Belokk questioned.

"Ashrah still has it in her and Sareena's home in Earthrealm," Sora informed him. "Me, Mika, Siann and Cilene visit them often."

"Anyway, I'll be happy to help you, Belokk," Mika offered.

"I appreciate it," Belokk thanked her. "Times are changing again here in the Netherrealm… the initial reason why I had aided Shinnok in dethroning my mother and father. Now it is time that I change too."

"Have you spoken to your parents since I released them?" Iris asked.

"No," Belokk answered bluntly but truthfully. "I must admit that I still strongly disagree with you releasing them from the Spire dungeons…"

"They have never actually committed any wrongdoings," Iris pointed out to justify their decision. "I know you have your issues, but your issues were their decision making as rulers…"

"With you I have just one and it's this," Belokk told her while trying to be as respectful as he could. "What I did was wrong morally I will admit, but it did benefit this realm by locking them up. You especially have helped to make the Netherrealm evolve and become actually habitable."

"I try my best," she replied.

"Meanwhile my parents tried their best to make sure the residents of this realm were permanently tormented," Belokk detailed how the original state that the Netherrealm was in. "Then there was me. I had no proper power as that fell down to my parents, yet there was nothing to do because all the planes were the same desolate fiery pit as the previous."

"I understand that this was all in the past, Belokk," Iris said to him, "you do not have to state reasons why you went against them."

"You aren't seeing my point!" Belokk raised his voice as he realised he needed to convey his message clearer to the ruler. "Do you seriously think that after being imprisoned for millions of years that they will be pleased to see all their work completely altered?!"

"Maybe they'll actually be able to relax after all this," Mika stated the potential positives with the new changes to the Netherrealm. "Didn't you give them a castle further into this plane, Lady Iris?"

"I did," she confirmed.

"Do you think it was wise to give my insane parents a structure completely isolated from the main portion of our civilization?!" Belokk continued to ask questions.

"To give them a place to rest, Belokk," Iris explained her decision. "Again, the only thing they did was follow the instructions of the Elder Gods. I used to as well."

"I don't need you to tell me why you made these decisions, I'm just warning you that I find the chances of them not retaliating to all of this being very… and I mean extremely slim!"

"You seem a tad bit paranoid, Belokk," Mika said as she finished healing the last of the wounded and placed a hand on Belokk's arm to try and make him relax.

"Lady Iris, if and when they do something, they will become a problem that you have to deal with," Belokk warned.

"At ease, Belokk," Iris tried to bring down the tension which Mika had already been attempting. "I assure you that if Lilith and Lucifer did try anything that went against us then they would be stopped, as you have already stopped them previously."

"I'd recommend that you be less confident about that," Belokk suggested to Iris. "Also, we best not be aligning with that band of mercenaries with the leader that Noob Saibot seemed fond of."

"So long as they don't side with the enemy again," Solrac Enaj remarked.

"We shall see later," Iris decided. "But right now? We need to focus on repairing the damage left by the Oni. You are all dismissed."

The group split off after Iris' dismissal, with Mika and Sora walking down the street while holding hands as they headed off to check on Mika's hotel now that all the guards had been healed thanks to their magic and kindness. Belokk and the city guards themselves headed off to the city walls to deal with any potential enemies still nearby. Solrac Enaj and Ruutuu both fell through shadow portals along with the rest of their Wraith comrades as they returned to their base. Finally, Lady Iris headed back to her towering Spire to continue to create plans regarding how to resolve this situation with Drahmin and his Oni followers…