The fighters gathered in the courtyard the next morning awaiting the arrival of Shang Tsung. The preliminary rounds were over meaning every fight moving forward would be proctored. Shang Tsung would host most fights in the courtyard, but some elsewhere, some even with others overseeing the match. The real tournament was only just beginning.
"I had hoped far more of us would have advanced." Spoke Liu Kang as he took in the underwhelming force that remained.
"Worry not Liu Kang, the remaining fighters are sufficient enough to reach the climax of the tournament." Replied Raiden, looking to see just over twenty earthrealm fighters had advanced. Not even a third of the earthrealm delegation. Shang Tsung was undoubtedly happy that so many of his own champions had won their first matches. None of the defeated earthrealm fighters had survived their match. Outworld's warriors were more skilled than ever before, and far less merciful.
"Combatants! I would like to congratulate you each on surviving your first encounters. Many have fallen and those remaining should feel honored to consider themselves amongst the greatest warriors in their respective realms." Said Shang Tsung.
"Does he always rant like this?" Asked Sonya impatiently.
"Unfortunately, yes." Answered Raiden. "Shang Tsung believes himself to be quite the host." Spoke Raiden as Shang Tsung Finished his speech.
"Our first match of the second round of the tournament will be held between Felix Barret and the black dragon Tasia!" Announced Shang Tsung as the two fighters entered the stage. Felix Barret, among the youngest of the earthrealm champions taking on the dangerous black dragon commando, hardly seemed fair for most of the crowd. Yet, Felix showed no fear. His composure was perfect while Tasia prepared her swords for action. The threat of blades did little to scare the younger warrior.
"Begin!" Announced Shang Tsung as Tasia darted towards Felix. He quickly lunged at her with an elbow connecting with her Jaw. She attacked with her swords, but Felix evaded before countering with a few quick strikes. She attacked again, slashing at the fighter as he dodged her attacks with ease. Her attempts at his life were cut short as he countered with a strong uppercut that caused her to drop her swords as she flew back.
She returned to her feet, and shocked the crowd as she unleashed a devastating fire ball. Felix quickly rolled under the attack before unleashing one of his own. Tasia couldn't possibly react in time, and was blown across the arena.
"It seems the young fighter steals techniques mid battle." Nightwolf said.
Tasia knew after taking a fireball directly that her odds of winning had just dwindled down to nothing, so she went for her swords that were lost earlier in the fight. Felix quickly intercepted her with a tackle to the ground before quickly getting ahold of her arm. Rather than forcing the woman into submission he quickly opted to snap her arm. She shrieked as Felix released her broken arm from the hold and returned to his feet.
"Felix Barret wins. Flawless victory." Stated Shang Tsung, somewhat frustrated. Felix headed back towards his spot in the crowd when Johnny Cage cut him off.
"Hey kid, that was awesome! Where'd you learn to throw fireballs?" He asked somewhat excitedly. "You know, my studio could save thousands if you were willing to…"
"Do you ever shut up, Cage?" Asked Stryker as he and some of the others approached.
"That was quite the performance, but I can't help but wonder how you came to be at this tournament? After all, I was not the one to invite you." Spoke Raiden, shocking some of the other heroes.
"No, I was invited by someone named Fujin." Responded Felix. "He told me about the tournament, just not the whole fate of the world part. I put that together when I got here." He explained as two miscellaneous fighters took their spots in the arena to continue the tournament.
"Fujin?" Asked Nightwolf. "I thought you handled these matters yourself, Raiden?"
"I do. I'm not sure why Fujin would have recruited a warrior himself without at least informing me." Answered Raiden.
"Who cares, this kid kicked ass." Stated Johnny Cage.
"Seems a little young to be here though, don't you think?" Asked Stryker.
"I'm old enough to be here. After all, I won , didn't I?" Stated Felix.
"Exactly how old is old enough?" Sonya interjected.
"Nineteen." Felix Stated confidently to which no one seemed satisfied.
"You will stay with us for the remainder of the tournament, Felix. And if I order you to forfeit a match you will listen." Began Raiden. Felix was about to argue when Raiden reaffirmed his stance. The boy reluctantly agreed.
"Don't worry about it kid, stick with us and maybe you'll get a role in my next blockbuster." Said Johnny, pulling Felix away from the small group.
"What are you thinking, Lord Raiden?" Asked Liu, concerned.
"I cannot see a reason why Fujin would send such an inexperienced fighter without first informing you." Added Sub Zero.
"It is strange, but I'm more interested in why I had not noticed such a powerful young warrior in the years leading up to the tournament." Stated Raiden.
"Do you think Felix is lying?" Liu Kang asked.
"No, Maybe, I do not know, but there is something strange about him and I intend to find out what." Said Raiden. "Nightwolf, keep an eye on things here." He ordered before leaving the courtyard.
Within ten minutes Raiden had found himself in a clearing of the forest, still only a short distance away. He allowed himself to rest for a minute as he sat to meditate. The sunlight hit his skin and he allowed himself to feel the breeze as he focused in. Fujin felt the call from across the realms and appeared through his own method of teleportation.
"Raiden?" Fujin asked, curiously. "I would have thought you were too busy to call for me."
"Indeed, my friend. We must be quick as I have to get back to the tournament at hand." He spoke. Fujin nodded in understanding. "A warrior has appeared to represent earthrealm claiming that you invited them to the tournament."
"I did no such thing." Answered Fujin honestly. "Who is this warrior?"
"A young man, Felix Barret." Spoke Raiden. "Does the name mean anything to you?"
"I cannot say it does, but I will investigate once I return to earthrealm." Finished Fujin.
"I would make another request of you, Fujin." Spoke Raiden, before the other god could leave. "I fear that things may not go as I had planned. Shang Tsung has done much to tilt the flow of the tournament in his favor."
"Such as?" Asked Fujin, curiously.
"He allied himself with both the Lin Kuei and Black Dragon clans. Furthermore, the netherrealm has sent several representatives to fight for Outworld, Including Quan Chi himself." He started with a sigh. "However, it's the Outworld fighters who concern me the most. I could not have expected Shao Kahn's adopted daughters to participate in this tournament, and then there is still Goro. I need you to go back to the shaolin temple to ensure Bo Rai Cho and the others are ready for war should we lose this tournament."
"It will be done." Finished Fujin before vanishing in a gust of wind.
Felix Barret had the ability to mimic attacks, but poorly as he looked unbalanced when trying to copy Tasias fireball. The boy clearly wasn't the most seasoned fighter. Yet, Raiden couldn't comprehend why someone with his abilities had gone unnoticed to the God. The only way this could happen was if he was purposely hiding himself from raidens vision, but Felix was certainly not knowledgeable enough to that. No, that meant someone else was hiding him from Raiden, or maybe someone else was hiding themselves and Felix had been dragged along.
Then the question of how he found out about the tournament would have to be asked. If not Fujin then it was at least someone who knew enough about the realms to know about Fujin and the tournament itself. Perhaps one of the gods of the other realms that Raiden had sheltered in earthrealm had taken a liking to a mortal and they had a child? No, Raiden would know if the boy was a demiGod. He was completely human, and Raiden didn't suspect he was lying, but all that meant was that Felix had been lied to. Who would hide a powerful young man and then lead them to the tournament to fight for earth anyway?
It was a question without an answer for the time being as Raiden needed to get back to the courtyard. He stopped short, however, as he felt a painful gaze watching him.
"You may come out, Scorpion." Spat Raiden as the specter emerged from his hiding place. "Where's your master, Hanzo?"
"Quan Chi doesn't watch over me like his child. Unlike you, with your champions." insulted Scorpion. "Certain ones that is. Others are left to fight and die alone."
"There are rules in the tournament, my protection only goes so far here." Replied Raiden.
"I wasn't referring to the fighters here." Said Scorpion.
"It was not I who killed you, Hanzo." Stated Raiden.
"But you didn't save me either, did you?" Shot Hanzo. "You knew who Bi Han was, what he was capable of, and you still did nothing when my family was wiped out. The Lin Kuei marched into my village and slaughtered everyone, AND YOU DID NOTHING!"
"I am sorry, Hanzo. That should not have happened, but I cannot interact with the mortal world in such a way. It is forbidden." Stated Raiden.
"You're a coward, Raiden. I may not be able to kill you for letting everyone I cared about die, but I can kill those you care about." Began Scorpion. "Liu Kang, Nightwolf, and Sub Zero will all die by my hand before this tournament is over." He finished before disappearing with a flame port.
Yet another problem for Raiden. Scorpion would be a most worthy adversary for any of earths champions. Hanzo was meant to fight alongside the earthrealm champions as one of the greatest heroes in the realm. Years ago Raiden hoped both Hanzo and Bi Han would be in this tournament fighting side by side as they did in their youths as friends from differing clans. However, as they aged the two clans changed. The Shirai Ryu had gone into seclusion with many opting to take up peaceful lives. Meanwhile, The Lin Kuei had always at least partially been a clan of assassins. They doubled down on this as many Lin Kuei had begun to use new technology as they hunted and eliminated targets for profit.
Eventually the Lin Kuei grandmaster came to the conclusion that inevitably the Shirai Ryu would become a problem for them. The Lin Kuei stormed the Shirai Ryu and completely wiped them out. Bi Han claims went a bit differently, but from what Raiden could tell, Bi Han killed Hanzo and his family. Including his young son.
A tragedy that Raiden could do nothing about. Raiden was not supposed to intervene with human conflict on any scale. His role was to protect the realm itself from outside forces, including and not limited to Outworld. All Raiden could do now was guide those still here, and pray the elder gods are guiding the souls of those that had already died in the service of earthrealm.