Author's Note: Funnily enough, I had this idea before the MK1 dlc dropped but it certainly helped tie things together! Been busy with work lately as that explains my absence, but have no fear for the gears are always turning.

Without further delay, enjoy!

-Chapter 22: Descent Into Chaos-

Remaining assembled in the fortress courtyard, the Defenders of the Realm waited anxiously for Raiden to finish his consultation with Scorpion and Sub-Zero. Fujin had joined them, leading all to suspect something fairly serious was afoot. "Can someone tell me who this 'Shang Tsung' and 'Quan Chi' are so I know why everybody's on edge about them?" Art Lean asked. Liu Kang was quick to reply.

"Shang Tsung is a powerful sorcerer in the employ of the emperor of Outworld, Shao Kahn. His power comes from the souls of others. He steals them to increase his strength and longevity. Shang Tsung would like nothing more than to steal the souls of Earthrealm and add to his power." He explained. "Quan Chi is a demon warlock of the Netherrealm."

"The Netherrealm?" Art repeated, sounding confused.

"It's like hell. But real." Kung Lao briefly described. Art looked to him with a surprised expression.

"No shit?"

"Quan Chi is one of its rulers, in control of vast armies of demon oni. If he and Shang Tsung share a common goal, it will spell disaster for Earthrealm." Liu concluded.

"Sounds like we need to go and cut the heads off the snakes." Kenshi piped up.

"If only it were that easy. Both have been alive for centuries, their power is formidable. To fight them rashly would be your death." Kai said grimly. "I have faith in Lord Raiden. He will guide us." The monks nodded in agreement, Mileena and Magnus echoing their sentiments.

"Speaking of Captain Zappy-Zap, any idea what the hell is taking them so long?" Johnny wondered in exasperation, having been pacing the courtyard since the thunder god retired with the two ninjas. No one was entirely sure.

The truth could be found in the grim-faced expressions of Earthrealm's gods as Scorpion finished his tale. Raiden studied him with a cold fire in his eyes. "You are certain these are the artifacts Shang Tsung seeks?" He asked.

"I am. They are the very ones Quan Chi revealed to me." The spectre affirmed. Fujin looked to his brother.

"This is ill news indeed, Raiden." He said quietly.

"Agreed. I have seen only one constructed before. But I know how devastating its effects can be." Raiden replied. His electric gaze turned to Scorpion. "I understand the purpose for these materials. Shang Tsung seeks them for their power, not the vessels they inhabit. Your information, while dire, could not be more welcome, Scorpion." He stated and the spectre bowed politely. "Come, we must discuss this revelation with the others."

The foursome took their leave of the isolated meeting and emerged into the courtyard, approaching the defenders who all stood in preparation for their report. Raiden spoke in a clear, loud voice that resounded like rolling thunder in the hills. "Scorpion's news is exactly the information we need. He has provided a glimpse into Shang Tsung's plans. We face a grave situation."

"How grave, Lord Raiden?" Kung Lao inquired.

"Shang Tsung seeks to construct a Soul Harvester to consume the souls of Earthrealm." Raiden stated, several shocked looks from those knowing what the object was.

"By the Elder Gods…" Liu Kang gasped.

"I have seen what just one of them can do." Syzoth whispered. "This is bad. Very bad."

"Uh… for those of us who aren't immersed in the lore, what's a Soul Harvester?" Johnny asked. Raiden's response was to open his hands and summon electric magicks to forge an image in the air. From the broad seemingly-jewel-encrusted base to the towering spires radiating with arcane power, every inch of the object was cast in perfect detail.

"A Soul Harvester calls out to the arcana dwelling in souls and draws them in, ripping them from their bodies. At full strength, it is capable of creating a Soulnado." Raiden stated.

"Should Shang Tsung manage to create a Soulnado, it will not matter if the soul possesses an arcana or not. Every soul in the immediate surroundings of the harvester will be consumed." Fujin added. While the concept was difficult to grasp, the ramifications were well understood by the defenders. Raiden shifted his conjured image, crafting multiple shapes to reveal multiple different items.

"These are the artifacts Shang Tsung needs to collect to construct the Soul Harvester," he said, "he has already plundered the Gem of Tetsurri and the Amulet of the Kafallah Warlocks. He also attempted to have the Icon of the Elements stolen. What Quan Chi told Scorpion is that he is seeking these remaining artifacts: the Deathstone of Ratannai, the Eye of Chitin, a Chaos Talisman, the Kitai Portal Stone, and the Blood Crown of Octazumeh." Each of the defenders studied the images intently, Johnny Cage pulling out his cellphone to snap a few photos for later reference.

"Lotta parts and pieces for a soul-suckin' machine. None of them look very mechanical." Jax remarked.

"A Soul Harvester is a foul arcane engine, Jackson Briggs. It relies on intensely-focused sorcery and the darkest of magicks to function. Shang Tsung seeks these relics for their power in order to couple it with his own to complete the Soul Harvester." Raiden described.

"So long as the Icon of the Elements remains safe in our temple, it will not fall into the wrong hands." Fujin vowed.

"That leaves these remaining five. I know where to find them." Raiden concluded.

"Alright then. This'll be easy-peasy." Johnny mused with a grin.

"Several of the relics are in Outworld, deep in the heart of enemy territory. The rest are scattered across other realms." Raiden explained as he allowed his constructs to dissipate. Johnny's expression fell.

"Ah… not so peasy." He murmured.

"We must divide our forces, recover the relics as quickly as possible, and prepare for the worst." Raiden stated. "Of these, the Deathstone and Chaos Talisman are the most powerful. We must prevent Shang Tsung from acquiring them."

"The Chaos Talisman is in the realm of Kaikan while the Deathstone is located in Edenia." Fujin then added. At the mention of the birth realm of her sister, Mileena said nothing but visibly stiffened, looking tense.

"The realm of Kaikan is not for the weak of spirit." Raiden said, mostly to himself. He surveyed the assembled champions, looking them over as he made an internal decision. "Mileena, Magnus Shadrix, the two of you will accompany me to seek out the Chaos Talisman." He stated. Mileena exhaled quietly, nodding in acceptance. Raiden looked around and continued to give orders. "Johnny Cage,"

The actor perked up and approached the thunder god, "Yes, your thunderousness?"

"I want you, Kenshi Takahashi, Jackson Briggs, Art Lean, and Kai to go with Fujin to Edenia in search of the Deathstone. Your firsthand experience will help bring the others up to speed." The actor beamed and crossed his arms while puffing out his chest. "Sonya Blade. Seek out your contacts within the Outer World Investigation Agency you spoke of. Perhaps they have means of scouting for unusual activity we could tie to Quan Chi or Shang Tsung."

"I'm on it." Sonya affirmed.

"Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Syzoth, remain here to maintain our defences in our absence should Shang Tsung attempt to strike us while we are preoccupied." Raiden continued. "Sub-Zero, Scorpion, you will travel to the Temple of the Elements and reinforce our defences there. We know Shang Tsung seeks the Icon of the Elements. Perhaps we can guarantee it alone will not fall into his hands."

"We will leave at once, Lord Raiden." The Lin Kuei promised as the two ninja bowed before him.

Preparations were quickly made for the various departures. As they were underway, Kai pulled Raiden aside briefly, "Lord Raiden… all due respect, but is it wise to place the actor in such a prominent position?" He inquired.

"He is a hero, Kai, though he may not yet know it. The opportunity to be a part of something bigger than himself will guide him closer to his destiny." Raiden answered, his voice taking a tone that Kai could not argue with. "Assist him as necessary. Your skill and history will be invaluable." The thunder god instructed. Kai bowed in relent and went on his way. Raiden approached Fujin. "Should you need assistance, brother, do not hesitate to reach out to me."

"I will do so only in the most dire of circumstances." Fujin promised. "I could say the same to you too, brother. Kaikan can be difficult under the most pleasant of circumstances."

"I have confidence that strong minds and spirits will prevail." Raiden replied. Taking his leave, Raiden moved towards Magnus and Mileena, the couple seated by themselves and sharpening their weapons. Satisfied with the state of his axes, Magnus rose to greet the thunder god,

"This realm… Kaikan. I am not familiar with it."

"That is my doing, Magnus Shadrix. Its inhabitants were not participating in the tournament, therefore I did not see a need to educate you on it just yet." Raiden answered.

"I know a little about it. Not enough to be helpful." Mileena chimed in as she stood with them.

"That may yet be of assistance, Mileena." Raiden regarded her. He looked back to Magnus, "Kaikan is a realm of pure chaos. It defies the laws of reality and social convention. It's denizens are unreliable and unpredictable. My powers will be limited in that realm, but I strongly suggest we stay together." Crossing his arms, Magnus let the information settle. To see Raiden make such a determined statement, instead of trusting his champions to stand on their own, spoke volumes to his perception of Kaikan.

"So be it."

The pair drew closer together as Raiden reached for the sky, generating a thunderbolt that enveloped them all in a brilliant white that blotted out their surroundings…

When the white faded, the lands around them were jaw-dropping.

Broken masses of ground hovered in the air like meteor showers frozen in place. Fractures of terrain rocked up and down in a state of permanent upheaval. The skies around them glowed a sickly green, dotted with razor-sharp spiny mountains like barbed-wire stretching across the horizon. Debris and detritus, appearing to have once been part of manufactured structures, dotted the sky and surrounding lands, sustained in place by some unknown force. Everything around them was barren and the air reeked of something otherworldly.

"Uffda…" Magnus breathed, looking around. Raiden strode forward, grim-faced.

"This is Kaikan; the realm of chaos." He introduced.

"I have heard stories… but I never could have imagined…" Mileena trailed off.

"What happened to cause this?" Magnus asked. Raiden's head tilted, his gaze concealed by the brim of his douli hat.

"A war." He said quietly, as if remembering something from long ago. "A divine war." The thunder god fell quiet for a moment before renewing his focus. "To find the Chaos Talisman, we must seek out the epicentre of civilization. Be wary; the inhabitants of this realm worship the concept of anarchy. They will be completely unpredictable." Magnus and Mileena took the warning to heart and fell in line behind the thunder god as he led them onwards across the deserted terrain.

The angled terrain made the trek to an unknown destination more arduous, everything about the realm the furthest thing from straightforward. Magnus and Mileena lagged behind, allowing the thunder god to pick out the path ahead for them. The silence and lacking native fauna proved unnerving enough that Mileena chose to strike up a conversation. "I meant to ask, although it is alright if you choose not to answer, how did you survive the loss of your family and tribe?" She asked Magnus. "I mean, being as young as you were, surely you did not spend all of your life alone."

"You are correct." Magnus responded in a low tone. "I was alone, for a few days, until allies of my father came to investigate. They took me in, helped to raise me. But I was never the same."

"Who were they?"

"Members of another tribe: the Volsungs. Much like how my people are descendants of Freyr, the Volsungs claim to be descendants of the All-Father himself; Odin."

"You question their claim." Mileena commented, making note of his tone of voice.

"There are many legends pertaining to their heritage. Despite their claim, some are unconvinced that the All-Father is the true progenitor of the Volsungs. I think Odin blessed the first of their tribe but did not sire him." Magnus replied. "Many a Volsung has a strong sense of ambition and a supernatural level of luck that helps them succeed in whatever they put their minds to. But I would not equate that to divine parentage."

"You speak as one who has seen proof." Mileena noted, knowing him well.

"In a sense, I am living proof. My ancestor; Fjolnir, the first Yngling, was the firstborn blood son of Freyr. This my people have known for generations." Magnus answered. "What started with Freyr, and continued with Fjolnir… continues with me." Mileena paused and looked to him intently. She scrutinized him for a moment until a realization dawned over her that caused her eyes to widen.

"You… You are born of the divine." She whispered. "I knew your tribe was one of divine ancestry, I did not know you yourself were directly descended from a god. For all intents and purposes… you are a demi-god."

"Demi-gods are common throughout the realms. They are not exclusive to Earthrealm." Raiden suddenly interjected.

"You knew this already." Magnus said quietly and Raiden nodded. Mileena fell silent, left with many thoughts. The group continued onwards, travelling through a valley as sheer cliffs rose up on either side of them. In the far distance they could make out the shapes buildings, some of which hovered in the air. "Is Kaikan in possession of vehicles?"

"No. What they do possess are coffin barges where the esteemed dead are interred. They are left to float in the air as an eternal memorial." The thunder god answered.

"Aimless, not anchored… seems to fit the chaos motif." Mileena mused.

The cliffs eventually fell away and gave way to another barren plateau. Cresting a rise, more spiny formations could be seen, as well as a great gap in the terrain that revealed a bottomless chasm into the endless green. "The land… it floats?" Magnus questioned.

"It would appear so." Raiden affirmed.

"Part of the divine war-related upheaval?" Mileena asked. Raiden nodded.

The high metal walls of a compound were revealed, as well as a few bands of Kaikanian individuals outside of it. "Be on your guard, and know this, Kaikan society is divided into two tribes: Yangese and Yinasi." Raiden cautioned the pair.

"Is one more preferable over the other?" Magnus inquired.

"It does not matter." Raiden stated grimly. He led them on, never wavering in his course even as the rough-looking Kaikanians rose to meet them. Magnus and Mileena placed hands on their weapons out of instinct.

Bare-chested, the natives wore rough-hewn armor strapped across their extremities. They appeared human at a glance, albeit akin to backcountry bar-brawler gangs; men unafraid of a fight. Their apparent ringleader was dressed in earth-tone robes held together with bronze plating, half og his shaved with the thick black remainder in back pulled into a ponytail. His exposed forehead and scalp was tattooed with many red markings in a strange jagged script. Dark eyes studied the newcomers and he waited until the three were close enough before he opened his mouth to speak.

"Uoy era ohw?" He questioned in a foreign tongue that left Magnus and Mileena perplexed. The man drew closer, right up to Raiden, looking him up and down. "Mlaer ruo fo not era uoy."

"Srewsna dnamed taht snoitseuq ksa uoy. Redro fo mrof a." Raiden answered in his tongue. Magnus and Mileena hung back, allowing the thunder god to play diplomat. The Kaikanian frowned, appearing displeased.

"Snoitasucca ruoy etaicerppa t'nod I." He retorted, looking up his eyes met Raiden's "Soahc fo syaw eht ni desrev era uoy ees nac I." He suddenly swung at Raiden, aiming for the jaw. The blow connected, the thunder god's head nudged slightly to the right as Magnus and Mileena watched in total surprise. Raiden fixed his gaze on the stranger again and, with a jab so fast it were as if he hadn't moved at all, struck him in response. The Kaikanian was sent stumbling back, massaging his jaw and snickering to himself. He looked to Raiden more appreciatively. "Regnarts, emoclew. Uoriad s'eman." He continued with a grin.

"Nediar ma I. Aneelim dna Sungam si siht." Raiden responded. "Soahc gnikees emoc ew." The Kaikanian's gaze brightened.

"Ygrelk eht ot uoy ekat lliw ew." Raiden nodded as the Kaikanian looked back to his fellows and began shouting things, the thunder god turning back to his followers.

"His name is Dairou and he will take us to the Klergy. They can tell us where the Chaos Talisman is."

"You can understand them?" Magnus said, more commenting and less questioning.

"Yes. And so, too, will you," Raiden answered. His hands sparkled with electric light as he place a hand on the side of Magnus and Mileena's heads. "Hanasu chikara to rikai-ryoku no tamamono o uketoru." He chanted. The two champions felt something sweep across their minds, like a new sense of understanding. Suddenly the words of the Kaikanians became as clear as plain english to them, universally understood by both Magnus and Mileena. "Now you know their language and may converse fluently with them." Raiden stated.

Dairou approached them. "Whenever you're ready. We wouldn't dare force you to move." He called out. Raiden turned to follow and Magnus and Mileena stayed close behind him. They passed through the ranks of other Kaikanians who eyed them with all manner of suspicion, curiosity, and (in Mileena's case) appreciation. She rolled her eyes and moved her hand back close to her sai.

Dairou led them through a heavy metal gate that opened up to reveal a distant civilization. However, the ground before them gave way into a bottomless chasm, the gap appearing uncrossable. Dairou instead led them to the left where a metallic platform thrummed with bright green energy. A portal opened up as he set foot upon it and promptly stepped through, disappearing from view. "Let's hope this doesn't outright kill us." Mileena murmured.

Following his lead, they stepped through, the portal revealed to be a simple teleporter in order to cross into the city. "After the cataclysm, the Kaikanians adapted to their new surroundings. Partly by scavenging components leftover from Seidan raiders." Raiden explained.

"When this is over, I should like to sit down in the library and learn more about this place." Magnus said, looking around the uneven spires leaning in every compass direction.

"I would be happy to provide you with the necessary resources." Raiden answered. "Until that time, remain close to me."

"In a place like this I have no intention of wandering off by myself." Mileena remarked. They entered the city proper and walked past irregular rows of slanted dwellings. The yellow-green in the sky seemed to settled around the town like a sickly toxic cloud. But neither Mileena nor Magnus felt any ill effects and, based on what they could see, none of the inhabitants were showing signs of sickness either… although that wasn't saying much given their actions.

Dairou led them past hooded monk-like priests who chanted in screeching voices of varying volume, "May chaos break the rules that bind! MAY CHAOS BREAK THE RULES THAT BIND!" In further religious fashion, pilgrims knelt before a waterfall that flowed in reverse, offering wailing praises and prayers in languages neither Mileena nor Magnus could understand. Although the inverted waterfall was very impressive, if not utterly confusing.

"Total anarchy is the way of Kaikan." Raiden said, seemingly reading their thoughts. "Seldom do the natural laws function as they should here." They continued on, Dairou leading them through a crowded marketplace. From every corner, priests and preaches dressed only in sacramental notes and scribbling called out to the masses;

"Obey no rules! Follow no laws! All that your heart desires is right! All that your body craves is holy! Order's minions will poison your mind, let the Klergy and our beloved High Klerics scour your souls with the blessings of chaos!"

Magnus observed them with keen eyes, noting how they encouraged randomness and deviations from what would be considered normal. His frown deepened. "My father had a saying," he said, quietly enough so that only Raiden and Mileena could hear, "Alt er tillatt, men ikke alt er fordelaktig. It means that while you can do whatever you want it does not mean that you should do whatever you want."

"A wise proverb." Mileena decided.

"Indeed." Raiden agreed. "While we will traverse Kaikan, we will not have to indulge in its ways."

The trio elbowed their way through the dense marketplace, following Dairou right to the edge of civilization where a great walled-off courtyard appeared beyond the habitation's limits. It's walls rose and fell, suspended in the air as mere fragments of stonework and gravity-defying masonry. A mighty tower jutted up from the centre, sporting many parapets and balconies that seemingly led to nowhere. It was a jumbled construction that made no sense. Dairou paused before wrought-iron gates formed in the shape of an eight-pointed star and turned to face the visitors. "This is the Krypt. Our most holy place. For death is the truest form of chaos; all orderly systems cease to function, never to engage again." He declared. Mileena glanced up at the ship-like vessels hovering overhead, each posting what resembled dragons wings on either side of a boat-like body.

"Your dead reside in these floating coffins?" She asked.

"Only the most honored. Klerics of the past and the greatest servants to the way of chaos." Dairou explained. Then he stopped and frowned, looking them all over. "Be mindful of your questions. The Klergy and High Kleric seldom like questions that require direct answers… not that I would want to chain a free spirit. But too many questions and answers can become… orderly." His tone shuddered as he spoke the word, like it was poison on his lips.

"We seek only to know chaos. We will keep to this endeavour." Raiden answered. Dairou smiled amicably and turned to throw the gates wide open. Within there stood many men and women clad in rags, bone shards, even strips of cloth made from tanned flesh. Watched in reverent awe as two men engaged in some form of kombat in before them. Dairou waded towards the front of the crowd with Raiden, Magnus, and Mileena following him.

A native of Kaikan, appearing like all the others seen so far, was fighting someone unlike the other Kaikanians the trio had witnessed. He wore an iron helm that kept his long black hair out of his face. His body was clad in scraps of iron plating tied to his limbs and strapped across his body, revealing a wiry physique beneath dark robes.

Even more notable than his appearance was how he fought.

The Kaikanian swung an iron club only for the Kleric to drop down as his knees bent inversely with the audible crunch of bones. He jumped to his feet as his knees knit themselves back together and promptly ripped off his arm, swinging it wildly like a bat as he clubbed his opponent across the face. His limb suddenly regenerated in a flash of violet arcane power.

"Odin's beard…" Magnus whispered. "What kind of hellish power is that?"

"It appears to be a form of arcana. Perhaps tainted and twisted like the realm itself." Raiden answered.

"I've never seen anything even remotely similar. Not even the natural healing of Saurians and Zaterrans." Mileena noted.

The robed Kleric ripped open his chest and withdrew his beating heart, the organ glowing a faint green. Throwing it like a grenade, it exploded in a toxic cloud that sent his opponent stumbling and coughing, giving him time to stride forward and close the gap. Grasping him with one hand, the Kleric punched him over and over until his fist and fingers broke and were shorn off, leaving only jagged arm bones which he promptly stabbed deep into the Kaikanian's side.

His opponent slumping, the Kleric tossed him to the ground and looked to the crowd. "Chaos has made destiny known! I tell you not what to think, what to do, or what to say! Instead, I say look upon those who strike me!" He gestured to several other bodies lying in the midst of the Krypt with a regenerated hand. "Only those who prove themselves most open to chaos will be accepted! Go now and know no order!" The crowd did as much, breaking up and milling about to do whatever they wanted. The Kleric spied Dairou in their midst and advanced towards them, taking in the sight of the three unfamiliar faces flanking him. "Ah, an unexpected but welcome wrinkle." He mused in a pleased tone. "What pilgrims stand here in Kaikan?"

"Give me your name, klergyman, and I shall give you mine." Magnus answered swiftly. The Kleric studied him carefully, smiling to himself.

"A free spirit. Yes. I can see yours is kindred to mine." He noted, dark eyes boring into Magnus. "Havik, High Kleric of chaos, stands before you."

"A 'high kleric' sounds like a position of authority, indicating a system of leadership… a form of order." Magnus replied. Havik snickered.

"Anyone is welcome to the position of High Kleric. But first they must defeat the existing one. Daily I am challenged but no one has ever beaten me." He replied, arms spread wide. "My every step, my every swing, all is devoted to chaos."

"Then you are who we must speak with." Raiden said, stepping forward. "We seek to understand the power of chaos."

"Wanderers… The spirit of chaos calls to you, I see. But there have been many newcomers in our realm. More often than not they are Seidan Gaurdsmen. Those poisonous slaves of order wish to restrict the flow of our water. Water was not meant to be controlled! Its shapeless, fluidic nature is a blessing. It is the purity of chaos!"

"You have conflict with the realm of Seido?" Raiden queried.

"For many long years, the powers of Order and Chaos have been at odds… but tell me this, wanderer," Havik sneered, stepping closer, "why come to me?"

"We were told by Dairou that the Klergy could instruct us in the ways of chaos." Raiden stated simply. All of a sudden, snarling erupted from the Kaikan warriors who promptly surrounded them. Magnus wasted no time drawing his axes as Dairou stepped forth.

"Explain this hostility!" The Njordborn demanded.

"You should know better than to bind a man of chaos to his word! I will free myself of this oppression… by expunging your presence from the realm!" Dairou retorted.

Mileena drew her sai. "They outnumber us!"

"We will have to thin their ranks." Magnus growled, planning to carve a pound of flesh from Dairou for this betrayal.

"Enough!" Raiden boomed, taking flight above them all. Thunder clouds churned overhead as arcs of lightning flashed back and forth while the thunder god's eyes glowed with cold fire. He summoned a thunderbolt to plow into Dairou's chest and send him sprawling across the Krypt grounds. "We have no time for such trivial things!" He touched down, the Kaikanians withdrawing as his lightning curled around his forearms and flashed in brilliant shades of blue and white. Havik, unperturbed, cackled in delighted glee.

"Well done! You have learned the first lesson of the ways of chaos: it cannot be taught if there was an agreement, a structure to the lesson." He applauded. "The unpredictable nature of experience is the best method for instruction." Raiden relaxed his power as Havik appeared docile and non-violent.

"I see." The thunder god grunted, motioning to his companions for them to stow their weapons. The Kleric studied the lightning within the thunder god's hands, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"But this… Ahh… I know this power." Havik hissed. "You have survived my test and proven your destiny. Your power… it is like Rain." The mention of the name sparked a flurry of excitement throughout the nearby Kaikanians and they began to chant the word.

"Rain! Rain! Rain!"

"He stands guard at the pool of aging. Your destiny on the path of chaos lies with him. May he unleash chaos upon your journey!" Havik invited, turning around to leave the Krypt behind. Raiden frowned but followed after him, hoping he would lead them to further answers.

"Have you seen the chaos talisman we need?" Magnus asked from behind.

"Not yet. Perhaps it can be found with this 'Rain'." Raiden replied.

"I sure hope so. I've had my fill of 'chaos' for one day." Mileena added.

Beyond the reaches of the Krypt, in the wastelands of Kaikan, there stood a great labyrinth of many ramshackle walls that defied gravity, floating broken and discordant across countless miles. Havik had long abandoned them but the proximity to such a significant landmark among nothingness indicated they were on the right path. "Let us hope this Rain is more forthcoming with answers about the chaos talisman." Magnus muttered as they overlooked the structure. A sharp wind was blowing, ruffling their robes.

"I do not see a pool. Hopefully we will not have to traverse this labyrinth to find him." Mileena said, eyeing the maze ahead disconcertingly.

"Look for an entrance. Perhaps he is a gatekeeper." Raiden suggested, urging them to advance on the structure. As a group they moved on the maze, Magnus and Mileena keeping an eye out for further traps or a Kaikanian ambush. As they drew up to the foremost wall, particles of water began to gather in front of them. Surging to create a whirlpool on the ground, it grew into the shape of a man that hardened before them.

"This must be Rain." Mileena observed. "What an… appropriate name."

The man before them seemed a part of Kaikan as the other denizens they had encountered. His dirty, stained robes bore faded shades of gold and purple. The remainder of a royal cape turned into a hooded scarf around his head, his face further concealed by a purple mask over his mouth and nose. Armor, cracked and dented, was held together by strips of salvaged cloth. Yet despite his bedraggled appearance, there was a power about him that Raiden could sense.

He was, surprisingly, not a native of Kaikan… but an Edenian.

Rain strode forward and lowered his mask. "Pilgrims! Enter at your peril. Many enter this labyrinth but only few emerge." His face was human and shaped in such a way that sparked familiarity. Raiden recognized him in a heartbeat.

"You are Prince Zefeero of Edenia!" He exclaimed in recognition. Mileena was equally stunned, shocked to see a flesh-and-blood Edenian before them. Rain was taken aback for a moment, until he realized the thunder god was more than he appeared to be and allowed his surprise to abate.

"I was. Until Shao Kahn conquered my realm and broke my people." He answered bitterly. "Tell me, stranger, how do you know of my past?"

"I am Raiden: protector of Earthrealm." The thunder god replied. "I knew the royal house of Edenia. I was on good terms with King Jerrod and Queen Sindel."

"A pity you did not intervene in their destruction." Zefeero murmured gloomily.

"I thought Shao Kahn had wiped out the royal house?" Mileena inquired quietly.

"He nearly did. My escape was a narrow one." Zefeero responded. He studied her for a moment. Despite not being able to see part of Mileena's face with her veil lifted, the contours were all very familiar. "Your face… You remind me of my cousin, Princess Kitana." Mileena turned away, feeling awkward and nearly emotional.

"How did you survive?" Raiden pressed.

"When Edenia lost a tenth Mortal Kombat tournament in a row, my uncle had the foresight to send me to the realm portal before Outworld's marauders arrived. Unfortunately hidden agents sprang an ambush to pave the way for Shao Kahn and interrupted the flow of magick needed to maintain the portal. I was catapaulted here, to Kaikan." Zefeero explained, slowly pacing before them as he recounted his past. "I survived thanks to my mastery of water magick. These people… they worship water. They see it as a form of pure chaos that can never be controlled; always fluid, always changing, never staying in one place or one form for very long. Once they realized water obeyed my command… they likened me unto a god." Flexing his hands, orbs of water appeared within his palms and churned like the raging seas. "Thousands of years later and here I am; venerated, exalted, still royalty even if it is of the most unlikely sort. The Kaikanians would defend me with their very lives. It's… not perfect. But I am content with it."

"Are you content? Or are you merely stagnant?" Raiden pried.

Zefeero frowned. "Here I am safe. Here I remain someone, not just a name on the long list of targets held by Shao Kahn's Centaurian exterminators."

"But this is exile! The Edenians survive and they need to know not all is lost." Raiden continued, trying to coax the Edenian back to current events in order to try and raise more allies against Shao Kahn.

"Exile, yes. But at least I am alive." Zefeero retorted sharply, rounding on Raiden. "When did you last set foot in Edenia, Raiden? After it had been merged with Outworld? It is no longer what it once was. There is no point in returning. I would only find pain and death there."

"You would shirk your responsibility to your people?" Raiden demanded sternly. Zefeero scoffed.

"Easy for an all-powerful immortal god to say. Now why are you here in Kaikan?" To cut tensions, Magnus stepped in.

"We have reason to believe that Shao Kahn's sorcerer, Shang Tsung, is planning to construct a Soul Harvester in Earthrealm and he needs a chaos talisman to complete it. We were hoping to obtain it here in Kaikan."

Zefeero grew thoughtful, ringing his hand as droplets of water formed in the air around his palm. Mileena was still stone silent as he pondered Magnus' words. Even now that they were back on track she refused to look his way. "There are many such talismans. Havik and the Klergymen use them to warp the minds of Seidan Guardsmen and turn them to the ways of chaos." Zefeero finally said. "But for a Soul Harvester? There is only one with that kind of power. It is also in Havik's possession." He lifted his mask back into place, becoming Rain again. "I will speak to him and ensure it is given to you. But then you must leave this realm." He started to move but Raiden stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"It is not too late for you to join us. Zefeero, Rain, whatever you choose to be, you would be invaluable help against Shao Kahn." He offered one more time. Rain shrugged him off.

"I have seen enough death and destruction in my life. I am not interested in being party to any more." He stated, firmly and definitively. He continued walking and the trio watched him go.

"Perhaps in time he might come around." Magnus offered.

"No, Magnus Shadrix, I do not think so. His mind is made up. No matter how much he abhors Shao Kahn he cannot bring himself to engage. Such a mindset does not make for a wise alliance." Raiden responded. "He who desires but act not, breeds pestilence."

Returning to the edge of civilization, Havik was found to be waiting for them with the rest of Kaikan's holy men and Klergy. Upon seeing Rain, many of them fell into discordant chants and wails. "Behold! He who water has elevated! He who is chosen by chaos! He who is the change incarnate!" To the surprise of Magnus, Mileena, and even Raiden, the high kleric knelt before Rain.

"The fluidity of change has spoken, High Kleric." Rain said. "Chaos commands that these three receive the most powerful Chaos Talisman you can give them. They will need it for the path they walk."

Havik rose and appeared thoughtful. "You are certain of this judgement?" Rain nodded. "Very well." He turned back to his assembled men and women. "Dairou! Fetch from the Krypt the great talisman! Not the small ones we give to Seidan. The largest!" The guardian scurried off as tasked as Rain turned back to the trio from Earthrealm.

"I will leave you now to return to your realm. Hopefully you have struck a blow to Shang Tsung's plans." He stated. With that, Rain stretched out his arms and transformed his body into water, disappearing into a puddle as he teleported away.

"You should rejoice, travellers!" Havik announced. "Few have ever received such great insights into chaos from Rain himself!"

"Meeting him was certainly eye-opening." Magnus remarked. "I long to see what this talisman can do for us."

"Never doubt the way of chaos. Embracing its precepts will be they key to your destiny!" Havik implored. Mileena rolled her eyes.

"We thank you for your aid, High Kleric." Raiden courteously replied. "We do not wish to detain a free spirit like yours. Once the talisman is in our hands we will depart."

"Where is Dairou?" Mileena questioned aloud. "How long does it take to find a talisman?" Magnus noted her anxiousness to leave. Perhaps it was a combination of the encounter with Rain and the enduring exposure to the anarchic nature of Kaikan. He could relate to her desire to leave. He'd had enough of the realm.

"It appears he is attempting to flee." Raiden stated with an odd level of calmness. He observed the guardian attempting to sneak away by sticking close to the shadow cast by the walls of the Krypt. Thinking quickly, he teleported right in front of Dairou and brought him to a sudden halt. Analyzing the man up and down, Raiden's expression abruptly hardened into a near snarl and promptly lashed out with an electric punch that knocked Dairou flat on his ass.

Magnus and Mileena watched stunned while Havik cackled. "How unexpected!" He hissed, revelling in the unpredictability of the encounter.

Raiden stood over Dairou. "I know not what you have done with Dairou… but you will not succeed, sorcerer!" He growled, thunder booming overhead.

In a flash of green, the form of Dairou vanished… and Shang Tsung was revealed to all.

He stood with a snarl, checking the back of his mouth against his hand for blood. "You are an eternal annoyance, Raiden. I would have gotten away with the talisman quite cleanly if not for your interference."

"We know your plans and we will stop you from constructing a Soul Harvester." Raiden retorted as lightning curled around his forearms and cold fire shone in his eyes.

Shang Tsung laughed heartily. "You are welcome to try, thunder god. But I doubt you will succeed." Green magicks formed around his hands as Shang stretched out his arms and shot bolts of energy into the Kaikanian crowd adjacent them. "What's say we introduce a little… chaos into things?" Shang wondered with a glimmer in his dark demon eyes. Raiden quickly put things together, turning around to see the Kaikanian's totally devoid of higher cognitive function; completely enslaved to Shang Tsung's will. "Kill them!"

The Kaikanians lunged for Magnus and Mileena, the pair drawing their weapons to fend off the crowd. Weapons clashed, sparks erupted from metal on metal, and blood flew as an all-out brawl erupted. "What deliciously unpredictable anarchy!" Havik howled in delight. He started punching his fellow Kaikanians, abruptly tearing off his own arm and using it like a club to beat a fellow klergyman senseless.

Raiden and Shang Tsung clashed in epic kombat, the flash of green soul energy meeting blue electric blasts that lit up the exterior of the Krypt. Lightning hammer fists slammed into a soul vortex, a thunderous hook kick shattering a fiery skull blast. Shang Tsung lashed out with his magicks, telekinetically pulling Raiden to the ground before extracting the aura of his soul to replicate. His visage shimmered as sorcerer turned into thunder god and Raiden scrambled to his feet to see his own face grin wickedly. Lunging forward with a war cry, Raiden channeled the storm into his hands as he blasted his doppelgänger and promptly bowled him over.

Landing on his feet, Raiden channeled lightning into a storm cell around him, shocking Shang Tsung out of his disguise before Raiden sent him flying with an electric vortex. "Your imitation is a poor one, Shang Tsung." The thunder god boomed.

"But it has kept your focus on me." The sorcerer sneered in retort. Pulling a scroll from his belt, Shang recited a short incantation that summoned a bloated corpse from the sky.

Back in the brawl, Magnus cut the head off a Kaikanian and promptly split another from scalp to trachea, only to find himself attacked by none other than Havik himself. The kleric tore off his own head and threw it at the Njordborn, a bloody detonation ensuing as his head grew back into place and he advanced on the stunned Earthrealmer. "You would turn on me?" Magnus demanded.

"Such are the ways of chaos, stranger!" Havik retorted. "There are no allies in Kaikan, only devoted worshippers of chaos!" Tearing off his arm, Havik swung it like a club. But Magnus buried his axe in the flesh and generated an electric shock that blew the severed limb to pieces. The limb grew back as Havik threw himself at Magnus, taking another axe blow to the torso that hacked him wide open. The kleric reached for the weapon as Magnus swung again, cutting off his hand. But Havik used the protruding arm bones to spear into Magnus' shoulder, pinning his arm in place. Magnus lashed out with his free hand, his axehead sinking deep into Havik's other arm. The kleric ripped it free, taking more of his wrist and hand with it, and used those sharp arm bones to plunge into Magnus' other shoulder. Loosing a tremendous roar, Magnus valiantly struggled to fight back as he drove his foot into Havik's left knee, shattering the bone. Totally unfazed, the kleric instead rammed his protruding bones right into Magnus' thigh, giving him enough leverage to pounce on the Earthrealmer and slam him flat on his back.

Ripping an arm free and regenerating his hand, Havik reached for his jaw and ripped it off, allowing him to spew a blood ball into Magnus' face to keep him stunned and rooted to the ground. "Now, stranger, fall to chaos!" He cackled, regenerating his other hand and ripping open his torso to pull out his intestine and wrap it around Magnus' neck in an effort to choke him out.

Plunging her sais into the head of another Kaikanian, Mileena only happened to glimpse Magnus' plight when she slammed her foe into the ground. "Magnus!" She cried out, seeing Havik attempt to kill him.

Her reaction was immediate… and brutal.

Her eyes flashed amber and turned catlike, her lips thinning and receding as her mouth morphed into its Tarkatan shape. Sprinting across the field, she teleported the rest of the way and pounced on Havik, slamming him into the ground and bowling him off of Magnus. Her jaws snapped as she lunged for Havik's face, her teeth scything through flesh and muscle as she tore into his lower jaw and ravenously shredded his flesh. Havik cried out, a burbling, muffled noise as blood filled his mouth and Mileena continued to tear into him.

With Havik sufficiently subdued, Mileena vaulted off of him and took up position beside a revived Magnus. She spat bits of flesh and blood from her mouth, hacking up the remnants of flesh caught in her throat. "He tastes disgusting!" She rasped. "His flesh… it is necrotic."

"A side-effect of his arcana." Magnus deduced. Havik seemed down for the count, gasping and rasping on the ground as the devastation Mileena inflicted upon him was made apparent; his nose was completely missing, his mouth had been eaten away with only teeth visible, much like how his jaw had been reduced to the bone held together by some sinews.

Snapping his teeth, the high kleric forced himself to stand and revealed his noseless lipless visage. "You… You think this will slow me down?" He furiously howled. "Chaos can't be ruled!"

Magnus and Mileena backed up slowly, the distance between them tightening as Havik and his Kaikanians closed in on them. Only now did Raiden take note of their plight.

"You must choose, Raiden." Shang Tsung stated smugly. "Defeat me and take the chaos talisman, or help your pets and abandon me to my wiles." The thunder god looked to him sharply, eyes blazing.

"You underestimate the abilities of a god, Shang Tsung." Raiden retorted. Grasping him by the collar, Raiden took flight and threw the sorcerer right into Havik, bowling them both over. As it happened, the chaos talisman was flung from within Shang's robes, sent skittering across the ground towards Magnus and Mileena. Crashing down between them, Raiden stooped to retrieve the amulet. "I will take this off your hands now, sorcerer. Be grateful I did not take your life as well." Raiden said, eyes alight with electric power. Standing close to Magnus and Mileena, he summoned a thunderbolt from above that promptly teleported them away from the carnage.

Shang was left empty-handed… but his smile indicated this was all part of his plan.

Returning to Earthrealm, Raiden, Magnus, and Mileena reappeared in a flash of electric light. They all breathed deeply. "The air smells cleaner." Magnus noted. "More fresh than the decay so prevalaent in Kaikan."

"Chaos cannot create, only destroy." Raiden sagely noted.

"I pray to the Elder Gods we don't have to go back there." Mileena said, as her Tarkatan jaws shrank and her mouth returned to its more human state.

"Rest assured, Mileena, Kaikan is a realm to visit only under dire circumstances. At least it proved to be a fruitful journey." Raiden continued, holding out the chaos talisman. It was a large metallic circle filled with pulsating green-purple energy. "Whatever you do, do not wear it. The power within such a talisman can warp the minds of mortals and condemn them to madness."

"Just what Havik would have wanted." Magnus remarked, sheathing his axes. Raiden nodded in agreement but then stopped suddenly as his mind came alive with a telepathic message from his brother.

"Raiden! We need your assistance right away!"

Nothing more needed to be said. If Fujin and the champions in Edenia were in trouble than something needed to be done about it. "I'm afraid we must depart again. Trouble has befallen Fujin and our friends in Edenia. We must aid them at once." Raiden told his surprised allies. Magnus simply nodded in acceptance. Mileena was poised to excuse herself or even offer a rebuttal, but the lightning from Raiden silenced her before she could give voice to her thoughts and the three vanished once again in a flash of electric light…

Elsewhere in Earthrealm…

Night had fallen in this hemisphere, mesas and buttes picked out against a massive full moon across a sprawling badlands where grass was short and the winds howled like wolves. Against the white of the moonlight, a golden glow from a small campfire marked a singular man seated by it. He was dressed in a mixture of leather and denim, his face painted as if for war, his hair held together by ornamental straps and ties as his ancestors had always done.

Alone though he may be, he was not unarmed, and sat sharpening his tomahawk by the light of the fire.

The winds picked up, soft and beckoning, and the man abruptly stopped. He turned to listen. The winds were speaking to him. She was speaking to him, calling him onwards on a new path. The direction made clear, he sheathed his tomahawk, collected his gunstock club, and set out away from the fire, following the will of the wind. Behind him, the lit flame was extinguished by a strong gust as though nature itself was presiding over his journey…

Author's Note: So you're probably wondering why I'm calling Chaosrealm 'Kaikan' in this fic. Well, Orderrealm is commonly known as Seido and that's just Japanese for 'order'. So a quick translation later and I'm using the Japanese word for chaos as the name of the realm.