"For our next match, the netherrealm champion, Scorpion!" Announced Shang Tsung as the specter teleported onto the arena. He immediately stared down the earthrealm fighters. He scanned the crowd for Bi Han, but saw him nowhere.
"Where is the Lin Kuei, Sub Zero?" Asked Scorpion angrily.
"You will only have your match with Bi Han once you've proven yourself worthy." Scorpion grunted. "Do we have any challengers?" Shang Tsung asked the silent crowd of earthrealm fighters. It seemed the loudmouth actor was about to step up when Sonya Blade grabbed his shoulder to which the actor was offended. In his place an older voice spoke..
"I'll take a shot." Said Eddy Tobias stepping up onto the arena. He was older, maybe in his mid forties, but still in great shape. Scorpion respected his confidence if nothing else as he took a fighting stance. It was obvious he'd been a sports fighter from the western world, but Hanzo cared little for such things. This opponent was merely an inconvenience on his path to vengeance. Of course the fighter had to have won at least one or two fights to be here. He probably was skilled, but he couldn't hope to beat Scorpion.
"Eddy Tobias facing Scorpion!" Announced Shang Tsung. The crowd was dead silent, each audience member curious to see what abilities Scorpion had at his disposal. "Fight!"
Eddy attacked quickly with a few jabs and crosses with Scorpion evading the blows. Eddy went into a flying knee that Scorpion side stepped before countering with an uppercut that shook Eddy, but he remained upright. Scorpion went on the offensive attacking with powerful strikes of his own that were much faster. Eddy blocked most, but was being backed up into a pillar near the corner of the arena. Scorpion could attack as much as he wanted with Eddy backed up against a wall. He kept his arms up to stop the hits, but Scorpion was chipping away with strike after strike trying to break his guard. Eventually Eddy pushed Scorpion off with a front kick before rushing Scorpion who was slightly off balance. Just as Eddy was about to strike with a flying elbow, Scorpion disappeared into a flame port. Tobias froze searching the area, unsure of what had just happened. Before he could process or do anything, Scorpion reappeared with a fist colliding with Eddy's jaw. The retired fighter hit the ground with a thump as the outworld fighters and monks clapped for the display. Eddy did not return to his feet.
"Finish him." Demanded Shang Tsung. Eddy remained unconscious on the floor.
"He is beaten. There is no honor in killing an unconscious opponent." Replied Scorpion. The answer seemed to be good enough for Shang Tsung as he allowed Johnny Cage and Art Lean to help Eddy off the stage and over to Raiden to be healed. Quan Chi, however, was visibly unhappy.
"Will anyone else challenge Scorpion?" Shang Tsung asked. "No volunteers?" No one moved an inch. "Very well, I will select his next opponent myself."
Scorpion looked over to the earthrealm fighters, awaiting Shang Tsung's decision. None of them looked particularly strong to him. He may have some trouble with the shaman or the monk, but otherwise they were beneath him. Cage, who was so eager before, was happy to observe the next fight. As was the entire earthrealm delegation. Scorpion was honestly shocked they were this afraid. After all, he let his opponent live.
"Felix Barrett!" Announced Shang Tsung. "You will face Scorpion." He finished before whispering something to Quan Chi.
Felix looked excited, but Raiden quickly stopped him from accepting. "You will forfeit." Raiden commanded. "Scorpion is well beyond your capabilities."
"Listen to Raiden, boy." Scorpion spoke. "No child should be allowed in the tournament."
Felix dropped his arms in defeat and looked as though he would obey Raidens words at that moment. However, with a burst of confidence the young man jumped into the arena ready for action. "You insult yourself Scorpion. You're about to be beaten by this child in front of your master." Stated Felix, defying Raidens words.
"No, I said….." began Raiden. Shang Tsung interjected.
"The challenge has already been accepted, Raiden. There is no turning back now."
Felix rushed Scorpion, and he was admittedly pretty fast. He immediately shot into a shadow kick. The mimic of Johnny's technique was impressive, but sloppy. Scorpion caught the leg sweeping the other out from beneath him. Felix hit the ground and rolled away from Scorpion before unleashing a fireball that he'd copied from Tasia. Scorpion simply brushed the attack away. The specter already was somewhat resistant to fire, and Felix's weaker mimics wouldn't do any damage to the warrior. It looked as though Felix was charging up another mimic when Scorpion lost his patience.
Scorpion rushed the young man hitting his jaw with a devastating right hook. Then another blow, and another, each attack pushing him back as the young man tried blocking the onslaught of strikes. The young man was going to be killed at this rate, so with a burst of energy he shot an ice ball at Scorpion. Scorpion was surprised to see he'd managed to copy Sub Zero's ice attacks after watching him fight only one time. However, Hanzo didn't think it would cause him much trouble. He disappeared in a flame port before the ice projectile connected. Felix tried to dodge the upcoming strike, but Scorpion came out of the teleport with a hard kick to the young man's head. Felix hit the ground, rolling away from Scorpion. Scorpion threw a fireball, but to his surprise, Felix copied his own flameport and struck Scorpion across the face before following it up with another mimic of Johnny's shadow kick. Scorpion was sent flying as Felix's first successful attacks were strong ones.
"Go get him, Kid!" Called out Cage. Scorpion returned to his feet as Felix rushed him down. Scorpion proved to be the faster fighter, hitting Felix another dozen times without any resistance. Felix's ability to copy techniques was impressive, but he was lacking skill which he apparently could not copy.
Raiden was right to tell Felix to forfeit. He was outclassed by Scorpion by several leagues. Felix was down and Scorpion was the winner, and obviously the better fighter.
He held the warrior's head up with one hand and his sword in the other, but stopped himself. Felix was rather young to be fighting here, and even younger to face death so soon. He didn't necessarily want to kill the boy, but had already spared one opponent. Scorpion had to ask what sparing him would even accomplish? He would just be killed during the merging of realms later. Not only that, but Scorpion had promised to hurt Raiden anyway he knew how. Scorpion was unable to hurt Raiden physically, but he could slaughter his fighters. It would be the closest he would come to hurting the God. Scorpion looked to Quan Chi as he prepared to kill Felix with one last slash. Somewhat shockingly Quan Chi gave a shake of the head signaling Scorpion to stand down. Scorpion was surprised, but did as he was commanded.
"You are not yet a warrior." Spoke Hanzo as he released his grip. Raiden helped Felix off the courtyard arena.
"You alright there, kid?" Asked Johnny Cage as he returned to the other heroes.
"I've been better for sure." Answered Felix as Raiden started to heal his injuries.
"You're lucky, kid. That thing could've killed you several times over." Added Sonya.
"I tried to warn you. This was not a fight you could have won." Spoke Raiden as he finished healing the now eliminated fighter.
"Are none of you earthrealmers capable enough to even give Scorpion a challenge? Who will face him next? Or do I need to choose again?" Questioned Shang Tsung.
"I demand Sub Zero! Stop wasting my time, Sorcerer!" Scorpion said with rage overflowing.
"Forget the Lin Kuei." Spoke a masked guard as he stepped up next. "Now you face a shaolin." Kung Lao stated, discarding his prior attire. The crowd was shocked to see a surprise challenger disguised as one of Shang Tsung's guards, none more so than Liu Kang.
"Kung Lao?" Asked Liu Kang, watching in disbelief as his friend prepared to face Scorpion.
Shang Tsung was about to call the match when Quan Chi whispered something into his ear. "It appears we unfortunately do not have time for a third fight. A nasty storm will be passing by soon. I recommend you all get some rest and meet in my throne room tonight."
Kung Lao left the ring in disappointment, but Scorpion could hear what Raiden said to him when he got to his allies. "You just got very lucky, Kung Lao." spoke Raiden. Scorpion couldn't help but agree.
He had, after all, just defeated two earthrealm fighters taking almost no damage between both fights. He'd also spared both the unconscious fighter and the borderline child. He did not plan on sparing a third opponent as well. If this warrior was to fall to Scorpion he would have killed him. Hanzo looked over to his defeated opponents. Eddy Tobias and Felix Barret both stood with Raiden as he scolded Kung Lao. They had been the first humans in this tournament to lose their respective matches and live. Scorpion wasn't in the business of mercy, but a child and another fighter far past his prime, neither was worth killing. He'd already killed one fighter in the preliminary matches, and he'd surely have one more kill at least before the tournament ended. His match with Sub Zero would be soon.