Chapter 39
Vale Ship Dock
After explaining Ruby's silver eyes, the entire group decided to head for the docks to attend the tournament despite Qrow's attempt at stopping them
"For the last time, going to this tournament is dangerous." Qrow said trying to persuade his nieces
"Sorry uncle Qrow, but we've made up our mind." Yang said
"Besides, there's no way we're letting our friends participate without us." Ruby said
"You guys don't seem to get it. You can die out there." Qrow argued
"Dying is the least of our problems." Liu Kang said. "Losing our soul is probably the worse."
"That's even worse." Qrow groaned
"Look, Mr Qrow." Sonya said
"Just Qrow." He said
"Anyway, we signed up for this when we decided to become Huntsmen and Huntresses. Have some faith in us." Sonya said as they all noticed about 10 ancient looking ships
"Couldn't they use, I don't know, airships?" Johnny asked
"Outworld isn't much on Technology." Liu Kang said
"Guys!" The group turned towards the voice of Kung Lao as he started approaching them with Shujinko (MK Deception 18 years) and Kai (17 years MK 4)
"Kung Lao." Liu Kang greeted his friend as he arrived
"So, who are your friends?" Jaune asked
"This is Shujinko." Kung Lao said introducing the mimick. "And this is Kai."
"Nice to meet you." Ren said as they both nod
"You must be Kung Lao's friends, he spoke highly of you." Kai said as Bo Rai Cho approached the group as well
"My, my, Qrow, look how much you've grown." Bo Rai Cho said enveloping the younger man in a hug
"You know this guy?" Yang asked her uncle
"This is Master Bo Rai Cho, our Teacher." Liu Kang said causing some eyes to widen
"Wait, he taught you guys?" Yang asked
"Indeed, now I say we hurry up." Bo Rai Cho said as he let go of Qrow. "We shouldn't keep Raiden waiting."
"Raiden, as in the Thunder god?" Nora asked getting exited
"Yes, the same one?" Liu Kang said as they all stepped into one of the ships
Mistral Dock
Having successfully sneaked out of the Schnee Manor, Weiss found herself on one of the ships leading to Outworld. She was about to go under board when she noticed four members of the Ace Operatives. Vine, Harriet, Elm Ederne and Marrow Amin who waved at her after noticing her.
"Miss Schnee, it's good to see you again, though I'm not sure your sister would approve you being here." Marrow said
"My sister is here?" Weiss asked
"Yes I'm here and you have some explaining to do." Winter said as she approached Weiss. "What are you doing here?"
"I had to leave, father he-" Weiss paused giving Winter an idea on what might have happened
"Still, this is too dangerous." Winter said
"That's why I couldn't come until I could do this." Weiss said as she summoned an Arma Gigas causing Winter to look at her proudly
"You've finally gotten the hang of it." Winter commented
"Salutations Ice Queen!" Weiss turned towards the site of a repaired Penny who tackled her in a hug
"Penny, you're alright, but how?" Weiss asked as Penny let go of her
"My father and Mr Ironwood fixed me." Penny announced
"So this is your sister?" Fria the current Winter Maiden asked as she approached the group alongside Ironwood. Not a moment later, all the ships in the dock started to move
"Guess there's no turning back now eh?" Weiss said as Winter signed. Unknown to the group, on another ship, Raven and Vernal are seen preparing for their journey to Outworld.
Meanwhile
Raiden kept his place amongst the white sails, unseen by any mortal. During the day, he searched for warriors worthy of defending Remnant.
The Thunder God only found twenty mortals on the ship who possessed that; Ruby, Yang, Blake, Jaune, Nora, Ren, Pyrrha, Sonya, Johnny Cage, Kung Lao, Smoke, Sub Zero, Nightwolf, Kenshi, Shujinko, Kai, Liu Kang, Qrow, Bo Rai Cho and Ozpin who stood beside him with Vale's relic concealed.
When night fell, Raiden placed himself in the deepest part of the ship and with a streack of lightning, all twenty fighters were transported. Everyone appeared in sheer confusion.
"What's going on?" asked Yang out loud.
"I don't know, but this is weird," Ruby said
Sonya looked around the room then. "Why were we all transported here?"
"Greetings mortals," a booming voice called out. Everyone turned around and noticed Raiden sitting on one of the wooden boxes, electricity surrounding him.
"Holy shit!" cried out Johnny who nearly fell over in surprise. Sub Zero only shook his head over his friend's reaction in dismay.
"Who are you?" Ren asked.
"This is the Thunder God Raiden," Bo Rai Cho said.
"Thank you for the introduction, old friend," Raiden answered. He stood up then and looked at everyone. "You are wondering why I brought you down here. That is because you all have been chosen to defend your Kingdom, and all of Remnant as a whole ."
"So you're really a god?" Jaune asked
"I have been called many things." Raiden continued. "But, for those of you who don't know, Shao Kahn lusts for power and will do anything to get it. He was the reason the Kingdoms are reduced to nothing but only four. Me and my fellow gods were able to defeat him and seal Outworld, but now Outworld is free and Shao Kahn has the aid of the Sorcerer Quan Chi who is in possession of Shinnok's amulet. With the amulet he can lay waste to Remnant. This must be stopped before it's too late."
"But what does it have to do with the tournament?" Ren asked.
"The tournament is a final means to give the rest of Remnant a fighting chance against Outworld." Raiden said
"You don't think Remnant stands a chance against Outworld?" Sonya asked
"This is not about standing a chance." Raiden said. "A war against Outworld would cause untold damage to Remnant especially with Shao Kahn involved, the tournament prevents him from participating unless directly challenged."
"Damn." Johnny muttered
"Besides Shao Kahn and Quan Chi, beware of Shang Tsung." Raiden warned
"Who?" Yang asked arching an eyebrow.
"He is a sorcerer who had lived for many years. He is able to maintain his youth by devouring the souls of fallen warriors. He will be hosting this tournament and I believe you will see him quite often throughout the tournament. Be careful, however, if you are ever near him. There are others, but I will be explaining them throughout your journey in Outworld."
"This is going to be one interesting vacation," Kenshi said.
"Indeed," Raiden answered. "There is one other thing. Once we get there, we will be meeting up with my brother Fujin. So, prepare yourselves, and good luck at the tournament."
With a streak of lightning, Raiden disappeared.
White Fang Headquarters
Inside the White Fang headquarters, Adam Taurus kneels before Sienna Khan, who is sitting on a throne flanked by two guards on either side of her.
"Adam. I'm not going to repeat myself, so I want you to listen when I tell you that the White Fang will not fight for Outworld." Sienna said
"High Leader Khan, I am begging you." Adam said
"You should beg for forgiveness and nothing else! The assault you led on Beacon was not the great victory you clearly think it was, and you should be more grateful your punishment was not more severe. You are a symbol for many in our organization, but that doesn't make you infallible." Sienna said
"I was merely trying to follow your example, High Leader." Adam said
"And what example might that be?" Sienna asked
"Strength. Strength and unwavering conviction. The humans have seen that strength now." Adam said
"I was one of the first to suggest violence where violence was necessary. Peace bred complacency and acceptance of our place in the world. I will not allow humanity to push us down without pushing them back. But the destruction of the Huntsman Academies crosses a line! The loss of the CCT has brought global communication to a crawl! And the White Fang is more of a target now than ever before! You have justified humanity's campaign against us, and for what?! Empty promises from a group of humans? Humans we still know nothing about, and come and go as they please! These are not examples of strength, Adam. They are examples of your talents being diminished by shortsightedness and now you want us to fight for a madman who wants to destroy Remnant!" Sienna growled
"If you want to know more about the humans, then why not talk to one of them yourself?" Adam rises and turns toward the entrance to the room. "Hazel!"
Hazel Rainart opens the doors to the large room. "Took you long enough."
As Hazel enters, Sienna rises from her seat and her guards all point their spears toward Hazel. "What is this?!"
"Apologies. I don't aim to cause any trouble." Hazel said
"You've brought a human to this location?" Sienna glared at Adam
"You should hear what he has to say." Adam said
"This is grounds for execution!" Sienna yelled
"Ma'am, please. Nobody needs to die today." Hazel said while kneeling. "I'm just asking for a moment of your time."
"The longer you stay here, the less of a chance you have of leaving alive." Sienna said
"I'll take those chances, if you don't mind." Hazel said
Sienna sits back down, her guards return to their neutral position and Hazel rises again before continuing to speak. "You don't like me. You have no reason to like me. But you don't have to like me to get the results you want."
"I'm starting to doubt either of you fully comprehend what it is that I want. I want humanity to fear the Faunus, to know that we demand respect! I do not want to start a war with the humans that we cannot win!" Sienna said
"That's where you're wrong." Sienna and Hazel focus on Adam who begins to advance toward Sienna while continuing to speak. "We can win a war against the humans. Not only because we have the support of Hazel's master, but because the Faunus are the dominant species of this planet. We're better than humans. We have everything humans have and more. Humans shouldn't just fear the Faunus, they should serve the Faunus and Outworld is our guarantee to victory."
"I've had enough of this conversation for tonight. Guards, take them away." Sienna ordered but the guards remain stationary. "I said, take them away!"
"I will admit, Sienna, you were right about my popularity. My followers in Vale already see me as the true High Leader. And many here in Mistral feel the same." Adam said as four armed White Fang soldiers enter through the main doors and stop, pointing their weapons into the room as Sienna rises to her feet.
"What are you doing?" Hazel asked
"What's right for the Faunus. From this day forward, I will be the one to lead the White Fang." Four more soldiers reveal themselves with their weapons drawn, two on each side of the room, as Sienna's guards point their weapons at her.
Sienna quickly judges the situation, though taken by surprise. Her eyes narrow darkly. "If you think I'll just step aside and follow beneath you, you're wrong."
As she turns toward him, Sienna is impaled by an invisible force causing everyone to stare in shock as Sienna was being lifted of the ground
"You have outlived your usefulness." A cold sinister voice echoed throughout the hall, causing goosebumps to form on the skins of everyone present
Sienna growls in pain as she lifts her hand to claw at her assailants neck. Before she makes contact the being swiftly removes his weapon from Sienna, causing her body to fall to the ground and roll to the bottom of the steps leading up to her throne. The White Fang soldiers begin to withdraw their weapons as Hazel looks down upon her body before returning his sight back to Adam with an annoyed look.
"This wasn't the plan." Hazel said
"This isn't my doing." Adam said
"Of course it isn't." Noob Saibot said as he became visible. "You are far too weak and pathetic, just like the first time we met."
Getting angry, Adam took out his sword and got into a fighting stance. "Who are you to call me weak!"
"Don't you recognize me?" Noob Saibot laughed. "Had it not been for that Ninja, you and that girl would be dead by now."
With those words uttered, Adam felt a chill run down his spine as his hands began to shake, an act that caused even Hazel to step back slightly
"Adam, who is he?" Hazel asked
"You're dead, you died that day." Adam said
"Quan Chi resurrected me, now I am more powerful than before." Noob Saibot said. "But do not worry, for now we are allies of Outworld."
"Give our former leader a proper burial. All who were here tonight will claim that Sienna was murdered by a human Huntsman. Sienna Khan will become a martyr for our cause, her final act as High Leader." Adam said after regaining his bearings
All of the White Fang soldiers leave the room, two carrying Sienna's body with them on a stretcher, leaving, Noob Saibot, Adam and Hazel the only ones remaining.
"Nobody needed to die today." Hazel leaves the room as Adam stared at Noob Saibot
"Speak your mind." Noob said
"Since we're now allies, there's something I need to speak to you about." Adam said
"And what is that?" Noob asked as he stabbed himself in the chest with his Scythe causing it to sink into his chest
"Your brother." Adam said
Land of Darkness
An arcing slash of fire moves across the black screen, quickly followed by another. There is a brief beat before two more fiery arcs slash across the screen. An irregular circle of flame bursts outward from the center, revealing behind the black a panting Cinder Fall.
Cinder swings her left arm at them, sending another slash of fire but her opponent quickly spins his sword, successfully blocking her attack.
Kabal stands ready to continue as Cinder pants again, still upright yet taking a breather.
"Enough." Salem walks forward while Cinder continues to struggle for normal breathing. "I thought you were the girl who wanted power. Did you lie to me?"
Cinder winces on the force of Salem's question before looking upward. Turning to face Salem, Cinder clearly shakes her head negatively.
"Then stop holding back. If you wish to master your new powers, you must be willing to harm him. Now-" Salem is cut off by the sound of heavy doors opening. On the opposite end of the stone hall, a sobbing Tyrian Callows enters.
He falls to his knees once in the room, both hands flat on the floor and his head bowed. "I'm sorry. She'll forgive me. Pleeeease."
Tyrian bows again on the last word. "Forgive me…"
"Tyrian!" Salem stands before him. He raises his body but remains sitting on his legs while Cinder rises from the stone floor behind Salem with Kabal crossing his arm
"Well this should be good." Kabal said
Salem holding out her arm imperially asked. "Your task - were you successful?"
"N-no."
Kabal scoffed while Cinder's eye widens. Salem also looks surprised for a moment before narrowing her eyes and walking away. Cinder watches their leader for her further reaction without looking at Tyrian.
"The last eye is blinded... you disappoint me." Salem said before turning away. "I should have sent the Spectre."
"And he would have refused." Quan Chi said as he approached them
"Quan Chi." Salem greeted and just on cue Scorpion a pillar of flame appeared in the room revealing Scorpion
"Good, you're here." Quan Chi said. "It's high time we left for Outworld. My ship is ready."
"Very well, but what of the White Fang?" Salem asked just before a black portal appeared, causing Noob Saibot, Adam and Hazel to step out of it
"Already taken cared of." Quan Chi said
"Hanzo Hasashi." Noob greeted mockingly
"Bi Han." Scorpion growled after sensing who he was
"Now there Scorpion, you will refrain from fighting him." Quan Chi said causing Scorpion to glare at him but said nothing. "Now, let us take our leave."