Chapter 23: God of Hope vs God of Fear
The Lin Kuei continue to train as Hal and Selena watch. The two are impressed with how they fight. And in Frost's and Aster's case, their cryomancing abilities.
"For someone who claims that they're not ninjas, they sure do fight like them. And creating ice from their hands and feet and make weapons? They sure are creative." Catwoman commented.
"Yeah. It makes me wonder why we never have any of those on our side back home. There was Mister Freeze, Captain Cold, Killer Frost. Even Superman has ice breath." Hal said.
"Well, Kara can do it too. Don't forget that." Catwoman reminds him.
"True. But it doesn't hurt to have the Lin Kuei on our side. Frost mentioned she reminds me of her predecessor. Said we sound alike." Hal joked. Catwoman giggled.
They hear a strong wind coming towards them. Catwoman brings out her claws and Hal lights up with his ring. Big, strong wind comes flying down towards the ground. The two were ready to fight whoever was coming. But Frost puts a hand on their shoulders.
"At ease, my friends. There's no need." Frost assures them. Turns out, Fujin and his friends have teleported away and landed here safely with Firestorm, Jacqui, Takeda, Dinah, Oliver, Barry, Satoshi and Vera.
"Grandmaster Sub-Zero." Fujin bows his head before her. "Apologies for the unannounced visit. Unfortunately, we have matters to discuss. We can think of no safer place to be than here."
"Lord Fujin. Welcome to the Lin Kuei temple." Frost bows her head to him in respect.
Barry and his friends approach Hal and Selina. "Hal. Good to see you, best friend."
"The feeling is mutual, Barry." Hal shakes his hand and hugs him.
"Grandmaster Takahashi. Jacqueline and Kung Lao. Welcome. I sense that something has gone terribly wrong." Frost realizes.
"Oh, you know it. Some shit just went down badly." Jacqui tells her.
Fujin's side tells the Lin Kuei as well as Green Lantern and Catwoman what happened at the Sky Temple, fighting through members of the Legion, but end up losing to Superman, thanks to Earthrealm's Jinsei.
"By the gods. An outsider using the Jinsei. I can imagine the disaster Superman can bring if that power were to be unleashed on our world." Frost said.
"I must inform Lord Liu Kang." Fujin said. But before he could leave, lightning strikes down, revealing the fire god himself.
"I am aware, Fujin. As the protector, I can sense when there is something wrong with the Jinsei. Superman has only temporarily enhanced himself with it. It was a good thing you got our allies out of the Sky Temple. This compromises things." Liu Kang tells everyone.
"Well. With you on our side, we can take it back." Jacqui points out.
"Maybe. But we cannot guarantee victory. And I cannot take on Superman alone. I have received other news. A man who goes by Aquaman has captured one of the legion members named Cheetah. But Darkseid has captured Batman's son, as well as Nightwolf." Liu Kang reports.
"What?! They've been captured?! What the hell could they possibly want with them?" Takeda asked.
"I do not know. Whatever it is, it cannot be good. And I have been unable to reach Edenia. I must go to Outworld and prepare our own forces for defense and hope to rescue Nightwolf." Liu Kang said.
"Wait. But who knows who will be there. It could be Superman or Darkseid." Hal tries to stop him. "You'll need our help. If what Kara says is true, then he could be that strong.
"I understand your concern, Green Lantern. But right now, Fujin and the others are injured. They must rest here. They will need your help." Liu Kang replied.
"I'll go ahead and let Alex and Cassie know. They better hear this." Jacqui said.
"No need, Mistress Takahashi. I have sent Aquaman to the Special Forces alongside their prisoner. We will get to the bottom of this. I promise you." Liu Kang said before he teleports away.
In Outworld, everyone is living peacefully for the moment. The fighters of Outworld continue to interact with the visitors, being the Teen Titans. Superboy helps General Kotal assist his daughter Shu-Shang with her totem and sun powers.
"Like how I absorb Earth's sun, you can absorb the sunlight of Outworld. Try adding that to your strength and anger." Superboy advised.
Shu-Shang nods and closes her eyes. She takes deep breaths as she semi-closes her fists. She stands in the semi-heated sunlight of Outworld in the blue sky in the afternoon. She can feel it flowing in her veins. She swings her arms into the air and the totems appear to be just as tall as her father. Much to her and Jade's surprise, they all hear Kotal laughing in astonishment.
"Impressive, my daughter. No. I am proud of you." Kotal puts his hands on her shoulders.
"Father. It was nothing, really." Shu-Shang blushes slightly.
"Shu-Shang, you have not once given up on your desire to control your powers that I have passed to you. I too have struggled with it ever since my father died. And I have mastered the power of the sun and make myself stronger with blood. Loss of blood makes me stronger, as does all Osh-Tekk warriors. But one step at a time." Kotal smiles at her, showing how happy he is for her.
"Thank you, father. I am grateful. For you." Shu-Shang said before turning to Superboy. "And you as well."
"Hey, to be honest, it was the best advice I got. I had to retrain myself ever since I got out of the Phantom Zone. It took over a year to regain my fighting prowess and experience." Superboy stated.
"How did you escape? You previously mentioned that it is impossible to escape from such a horrendous place." Shu-Shang said. She's not the only one. A lot of people, mostly the heroes and some villains who held a grudge against the Titans such as Deathstroke, wonder how.
"Batman was able to study the Kryptonian technology alongside Barry, Professor Stein and Mister Terrific. It took more than a while and was very time consuming. He had to put in precise coordinates and reverse it in order to pull us out. It sounds complicated." Superboy does his best to explain.
"I would have hated to be somewhere like that. There are fates worse than death, but praise your friends for not giving up on you. What is it like? Having such powers like that?" Shu-Shang asked.
"Well. At first, I was only seen as a weapon. But since training under Batman and Superman, I learned to not be what they made me into. I came to accept who I am. Despite what I've been through because of him, I moved on. Continued to be who I wanted to be. I was born to be somebody. Not made. There's a difference." Superboy said.
Shu-Shang smiled at his words. He sounds brave and accepting. She has come to realize that one must accept their true selves if they are to fight at their full strength. Kotal sees this in his daughter's eyes and silently agrees with her. As do Jade and Cyan as well.
Chang Bao continues to interact with Terra and Wonder Girl. She is amazed by how Terra has earth-based powers despite not being a god. And Wonder Girl on the other hand having ancient weapons and silent armor.
Chang Bao is delivering several palm strikes and kicks to Wonder Girl's invisible armor, and she's surprisingly still standing and barely taking any damage. Cassandra smirks as she swings her lasso of lightning and grabs Chang's weapon and yanks it out of her hands before flying towards her, kicking her to the ground and pinning her with her knee.
"So? You yield yet?" Cassandra asked.
"I do. I must say, your skills are improving, Wonder Girl. You are slowly learning how to fight at a distance. And the power of the lasso. It sure is a god's weapon." Chang Bao praises her.
"Thanks. It definitely is." Wonder Girl said. All of a sudden, she is pushed back by the wind and falls to the ground. "Hey! What the hell?"
"Never let your opponent distract you. They will always find an opening to strike a fatal blow." Chang Bao giggled before helping her new friend up. "Sometimes I like to have fun in training."
"Yeah, me too. Starfire tends to take things a little too seriously while Jaime likes to have a little too much fun." Wonder Girl said. This once again makes Chang laugh.
"Just like with Shu-Shang and I and sometimes my brother Daisuki get involved." Chang Bao said.
"I wish I had siblings. I'm an only child. The Titans are the closest resemblance to a family. It sounds weird, I know. But I'm glad I met them all and Batman. But here is pretty good so far. I like you and your friends." Wonder Girl smiled.
"The feeling is mutual. I understand that you're all struggling to move on with your lives. But do not fear, as life itself can never be perfect, but it can be better." Chang Bao tells her.
"How?" Wonder Girl asked.
"I can see why Starfire trusts you. You and some others have a troubled past before your involvement with Superman. Your mental pain is mostly healed, but I sense some doubt." Chang Bao explained.
"It's just that, Starfire is thinking about making me the secondary leader in case she's not around. Since I could have the potential like Diana Prince once had before she threw away her own honor. But I'm afraid of letting others down." Wonder Girl expressed.
"I know that feeling. I too had doubts about my leadership skills, as does my boyfriend Anthony Cage. We both lead our own team together and learned to put our doubts behind us. And that leads to unlocking potential as a leader. Do not let your doubts cloud your judgment." Chang Bao advised Wonder Girl. She thought for a moment before nodding.
The two walk over to Terra, who is sitting on a boulder, eyes closed, legs crossed and arms stretched out. She has smaller rocks flowing around her slowly in circles diagonally. She breathes in and out, staying as calm as possible. She has never felt this calm before, and she can't remember the last time she was this way.
Terra opens her eyes and notices her friends approaching her. She shows a small friendly smile, glad to see them around.
"May I approach, Terra?" Chang Bao asked.
"Uhh, yeah, o-of course." Terra nodded. Chang Bao levitates in the air and moves through the rocks and takes a seat next to her while Wonder Girl hovers in the air.
"How is meditation coming along for you?" Chang Bao wonders.
"I-it feels so…. Good?" Terra awkwardly answered. "I've…. Never felt this calm ever since, well, I can't really remember."
"You're taking it slow. Do not rush anything while you're practicing." Chang warned her.
"I get that, but I wanna ask. Why meditation?" Terra is confused.
"Meditation can often be the best option to heal the mind, even the fragile ones. Your mind…. It has suffered greatly. The trauma you went through. Losing your lover. It pains you. Just like it had my mother. My grandmother and my boyfriend's father. But it is not irrevocably broken. There are things that can be fixed, and some that can't be mended at all."
"I get it. It, um, it works. All I could hear was my heartbeat. Like I'm one with the Earth or something. Even though, this isn't Earth. My Earth." Terra said.
"It's okay, my friend." Chang puts a hand on her shoulder. "You're special in your own way. We all are. And this can also mend a broken heart. I am terribly sorry for what you have been through. Enlighten me. Who was this Beast Boy?"
"Well, where to start?" Terra wondered. "He was a green alien from some other planet. He was part of the Doom Patrol until he joined the Teen Titans before I did. He was weird but friendly, funny, loved to have fun with us, loves to eat pizza. And he was honestly cute when he shapeshifted into small animals." Terra smirked a little, remembering the good times.
"He turned into an animal?" Chang Bao asked.
"All Earth animals. Though he is still green, he fights hard while in any form. Even dinosaurs, even though they're extinct." Terra's smile grows slowly. "His smile. His eyes whenever he turned into a puppy or kitten. When he purrs or whines. When he roars like a t-rex when he's mad. I just felt like he was also alone before he met us. And I realize that we both wanted the same things. Friendship. Love." Terra describes Garfield more.
"And were you thinking about him before I approached?" Chang Bao looks at her.
"Yeah." Terra nodded. "About the times we celebrated our victories at the tower after each mission. Watching tv shows, movies, eating popcorn and pizza. Hanging out there, having fun and laughing. And our first date at a carnival. Beast Boy surprisingly knew a lot about Earth, though he was never the smartest. We kissed on top of the ferris wheel, eating cotton candy. And watching the fireworks. Oh, the fireworks. They were the best. They brighten my eyes and I can't help but feel my heart beat every time I was around him. I'll…. I'll never forget those times together. My only regret was not being able to save him the day Joker attacked."
Terra closes her eyes and slowly sheds some tears as she remembers the memories she had with Beast Boy. Their first kiss on their first date. All the times they laughed and worked together with her old friends. Despite these tears being sad, she was smiling. She could never forget him. He made her very happy.
"Thank you, Chang." Terra opens her eyes and looks at her. "I… I don't know what to do without you."
All Chang could do was smile. "I'm pleased to help you. I'm sure that he would be watching over you, fighting your struggles and moving on. I know that not everything in life is easy. Nor is moving on. But I sense your strength. You are not weak. You are stronger than you realize." Chang tells her.
Terra smiles, showing her bright white teeth. She then looks at Cassandra and smiles at her too. Cassandra is amazed. She has hardly seen Terra so happy. But it brings joy to her heart that Terra's mood is changing for the better. Wait until the others see this.
Speaking of which, Starfire is interacting with Kitana Kahn, Princess Meia and Daisuki. Starfire's fingertips are glowing green as she runs them around Meia's temples. She rubs them slowly and softly, making the princess of Edenia feel warm inside. Meia is breathing in and out through her nose. Kitana looks on with interest. She has never seen such a calm, relaxing technique before.
Starfire taps her fingers around certain spots on her head in a sense of rhythm. Meia's frown began to change to a small smile and she opened her bright blue eyes. She looks at the Tamaranean leader of the Teen Titans.
"So, Princess of Edenia? How do you feel?" Starfire asked.
"I feel warm. Happy. And clear. My, that was an impressive move you did, princess of Tamaran." Meia praised.
"I agree with Meia." Kitana steps up. "How did you learn this? Who taught you?"
"My mother did so back on my home planet. When I was a child, she would use this technique and rhythm to help me sleep whenever I had night terrors. Something that humans call nightmares. I sometimes use this on my Earth to help relieve the humans of their stress, including my teammates." Starfire answered.
"I see. It is a soothing thing to witness. I wish we could do something like that." Kitana states.
"But we have my magical talents, Kitana Kahn. Mind if I show it to our visiting friend?" Meia asked for permission and Kitana nodded.
Meia brings out her magical staff and waves it in circles until it glows a bright red-orange.
"Firium Flare!" Meia shouted before slamming the endpoint of her staff onto the ground and the red-orange sphere shoots up in the air almost like a rocket and it explodes, creating small, firework-like sparkles. They brighten the sky and the area around them. Starfire smiles and clasps her hands together.
"Incredible!" Starfire said in awe. "That is some talent! Beautiful!"
"I can do much more than that." Meia said. "King Jerrod and Queen Sindel have taught me many other types of magic. I can use other elements, healing, defensive spells and so on. I learned from studying ever since they took me in."
"Impressive. I can't wait to see more. You and I would make a good team." Kory smiled.
"But first. May I have a word with you in private?" Kitana asked. The two walk alone together to discuss something. "I understand that you are taught by your mother to help those in need as well as your leader Batman. But I wanted to ask why you chose to help Princess Meia? I do not mean to sound rude."
"I understand her pain. As leader of my team and princess of Tamaran, soon to be queen someday, I felt that it was my need to help those, so they do not suffer the same tragic pain as others in my dimension, particularly Superman, his cousin Kara. My friend Terra. Even Batman himself has gone through traumatic experiences. His parents were shot and killed right in front of him. It was the worst day of his life. He formed the Justice League to protect those who shouldn't suffer the same pain he had. But we could not say the same for Superman. And I know some of your friends in this world have too." Starfire explained. "For me, I lost my true love Dick Grayson."
"Yes. You would be right. I have suffered. So has my mother. My husband Liu. And Alex. But we all moved on and healed ourselves. And I appreciate your intentions of helping young Meia. She is mentally fragile and needs our help. We can help each other, not just to fight the enemies we share, but to heal each other. Help us prepare for any challenges that lie ahead. Physically and mentally." Kitana suggested.
Fire God Liu Kang zaps in right in front of Starfire and Kitana. By looking at her husband, she immediately notices that something is off.
"Liu Kang?" Kitana asked, worried about him.
"We must prepare immediately. Somebody is coming." Liu Kang tells her.
The Fire God warns everyone about the recent bad news. With The Sky Temple being taken by Superman and his Regime and some of the Legion. And they haven't heard a word from Sindel or Jerrod, and they're not responding.
"Who do you think will attack? Mileena? Darkseid?" Kotal asked.
"Possibly both. Or Superman. If it's true that he defeated Fujin, then he is more powerful than I thought. And we do not know who else is coming. We need eyes everywhere. I will watch the skies and know where the attacks could happen. And in case we find either Superman or Darkseid." Liu Kang tells everyone.
"But father. I can come with you. Some of us can fly too. And we need all the help we can get." Chang Bao tries to protest.
"No. I am the strongest one here. We have new friends that can help us. That is, if they choose to." Liu Kang said.
"Me and my Titans are more than willing to help you defend this realm, god of fire." Starfire stands up as their leader.
"Me too. I've been wanting to kick some ass for a while." Wonder Girl follows along.
"If they are fighting, then so will we." Jade stands up. "What do you suggest we do?"
"Kitana and General Kotal will handle that. If anyone needs my assistance, I will be there within seconds." Liu Kang said.
"Wait." Kitana stops him. She grabs his wrists and gives him a compassionate kiss. "Please. Be careful, my love."
"As long as our love for each other is never forgotten, it can never be broken." Liu Kang gives her a smile before he uses lightning to teleport away.
"Mother?" Daisuki approached her. "What should we do?"
Kitana can see the fear and worry in her son's eyes. She smiles and cups his face into her hands. "Don't be afraid, my son. Everything is going to be okay. I promise."
Kitana Kahn looks up at General Kotal. If anyone knows more about strategy, it's him. Kotal is more than happy to oblige. He lays down the entire map of Outworld.
"Our major defenses will be at Tarkatan City, Sun Do Village, and Kahn Kove. Liu Kang will be at the very top of the Outworld Castle. As it is the center of the realm. I suggest that we divide up into three large groups. As the previous Kahn, it is best that I go to Kahn Kove. My people will defend it. Shu-Shang is with me." Kotal said.
"Yes, father." Shu-Shang nodded.
"Jade, my love. You know your way around Tarkatan City. You trained Cyan stealth throughout that area. Rally the Tarkatans led by King Baraka." Kotal instructs his love and his son. Jade, of course, smiles with full confidence. "And my Kahn."
"I have Sun Do." Kitana smiles. "I think it's time to say hello to an old friend. Meia would be glad to meet her."
"And the rest of us? We cannot just sit here. If Liu Kang is going to be the eyes in the sky, then we must be here, to defend him on the ground." Starfire suggests.
"And so will we and my sister." Daisuki added.
"Good suggestion, Starfire." Kitana said. "Alright. You all know your places to go. May the gods protect us all." As everyone leaves, Kitana stops Jade in her tracks.
"Kitana?" Jade asked. She doesn't say anything. All Kitana could do was hug her. Jade smiles and hugs back.
"No matter what happens, I am glad to have you as my sister instead." Kitana smiles.
"Likewise, Kitana. I will watch over them." Jade promises her before she makes her leave.
In Tarkatan City, everything has been built up for over the last twenty and a half years. It was once a war kamp, but ever since Shao Kahn's banishment, it has evolved into something anew. The Tarkatans continue to thrive in peace, equal share under Kitana's rule. Baraka was crowned King of the Tarkatans.
They have grown their own food, built their own markets and contributed with Kitana to establish laws for the Tarkatans, to ensure that they do not murder anyone just for food, and that they would be tried.
Jade has approached him and informed him of the new threats that are coming for them all. King Baraka snarls at this and raises his flag.
"Interdimensional threats? Ha! They would have to think twice before they set foot in my kingdom full of the most vicious warriors under my command!" King Baraka stated.
"And that is why we approach you now, my king. We need all the forces we can get to repel these strange forces, for we do not know who will come for us. I trust you have many fine warriors to spare?" Jade asked.
"We have trained hundreds of thousands of Tarkatans ever since the Sky Temple and the Pyramid of Argus. I will not allow my people's blood to spill without the honor of dying in battle. What do you suggest?" King Baraka asked.
"Rally the defenses for the Parademons, and offense for ground assault incoming. Anyone that approaches us, we put them down for good." Jade suggested. Baraka smirks and chuckles, liking the idea.
Baraka shouts in his own language, giving orders to his soldiers while wearing his heavy crown and armor. His soldiers prep the defenses around the Tarkat Castle with fire arrows, crossbows, deadly traps and so on. The ground soldiers have their usual arm blades out, others with swords, axes and spears, ready to cut open anything that dares to approach.
King Baraka, Jade and Cyan stand on the balcony, on the lookout. Baraka sniffs the air of his home. It smells like blood and soil to him. Just as he likes it. Then he smells something very unfamiliar to him. He looks in the distance far away and sees over dozens of parademons flying towards the Tarkat Castle. He holds up his flag in the air and roars aloud, and everyone retaliates with his command and open fire.
The fire arrows shoot in the air, soaring through the sky and make contact with so many parademons, burning some of them, killing them instantly with a shot to the head or heart. Some took multiple shots before going down. There are even some running on the ground, some wielding laser guns. The soldiers on the ground charge forward and slice through as many of them with their training while some are unfortunately shot and killed by parademons. The parademons can be cruel and vicious by tearing some limb from limb, but the Tarkatans are far worse, as they literally eat anything off of them, ranging from leg, to arm, to neck, to their face.
Some of the other Parademons managed to enter the castle. Both sides are slaying each other down. King Baraka leaps in the air, thrusts his blades through one's shoulders and rips them off, throws the body into two more, fires sparks from his blades and blows up four of them. One Parademon tries to attack from behind, but Baraka rolls out of the way and stabs it from behind, killing it instantly.
Baraka sniffs something. It is all too familiar to him. Only one person can have that smell. He hears a sound and swings his left blade through the once invisible Reptile's chest, causing some green blood to drop. He reappears and puts a hand to his chest.
"Your tricks are getting old, Reptile. Your existence under Mileena has made you soft." Baraka stated.
"At least I still have a place among my people. You betray yourself to Kitana. Allowed your own kind to be slaves to her. That will change when Mileena and her new allies take over. I have bee wanting to fight you for a long time." Reptile gets his claws out.
"So have I!" Baraka replied before they fight.
Reptile swings his claws, which King Baraka blocks with his blades and swings at Reptile's left leg, leaving a nasty cut, elbowing his chest, grabs his neck and throws him down onto his knee before throwing him into a wall. Reptile bounces off the wall and punches the king to the ground, and claws part of his face, leaving some scratch marks until Baraka kicks him off. Reptile recovers and extends his tongue to grab him, but Baraka grabs his tongue with his hand and swings his blade down on it, cutting his tongue off and making him scream. King Baraka stabs him through his throat and holds him up high in the air. Baraka grabs his chest with his other arm and pulls his head off, separating him from his body. Baraka shouts in victory before dropping Reptile's body off the balcony and it lands in some spikes. The corpse is stabbed in multiple places as Baraka eats Reptile's face off and crushes his brain onto the ground.
Jade and Cyan defeat and kill as many Parademons with their weapons as possible, with Jade throwing her razor rang, decapatating many of them as Cyan strangles one with his three sectioned staff before ripping it off and kicking the head into another parademon, before unleashing a dash kick, sending it into the air, grabbing its ankle with his weapon, throwing it down before stomping on its head.
Cyan looks forward and sees Seamus Lee throwing an explosive chemical in the air, forcing the young boy to jump backwards next to his mother.
"Good reflexes, boy. But they will not save you." Seamus Lee claimed.
"Seamus Lee. Once a resident of Edenia, turned traitor for Daegon. You are a lost cause, serving Mileena and Havik." Jade shot back.
"And I suppose you're not? We are all traitors to someone. Betraying Shao Kahn, betraying Edenia. I've known you for being fierce, but I had no idea you were full of hypocrisy." Seamus Lee said.
"Don't you dare talk to my mother that way! We've made mistakes, but she's a better person than you'll ever be." Cyan threatens him. This only makes him laugh.
"How amusing. A child protecting his mother? Such a mother's boy." Seamus Lee insults him.
"For that, I will have your tongue." Jade is angry. She and her son begin to fight him two on one.
Seamus Lee throws another chemical, but this time, Cyan swings his weapon and knocks it back outside the castle before giving him a dive kick, jumping behind him and wrapping one of the ends around his ankle and pulling him back towards him before hitting his forehead with the middle section and reverse kicking him to Jade. Jade stabs him with a razor rang blade and cuts him up from his shoulder to his back before swinging her staff in multiple places, breaking some of his ribs, kicking his already wounded back, sending him to Cyan, who swings his staff twice at his head, cracking his skull, kneeing and backflip kicking his jaw, cracking it and sending him into the air before he lands on his back. He was easily defeated.
Jade smiles proudly at her son for doing well and protecting her and Baraka. But they cannot afford to celebrate, as more Parademons are coming in. Just how many are there?
They appear to be surrounded. The Parademons start to overpower the heroes. Jade, Cyan and King Baraka are being cornered by these space monsters. Then, the clouds turned dark.
At Kahn Kove, Killer Frost and Solomon Grundy are searching everywhere for any enemies while civilians are running away, attempting to avoid capture. Many have escaped, but some have been captured by some demon monsters and taken hostage or killed.
"Some ugly, fishy place. Who the hell lives in these parts?" Killer Frost expresses disgust.
"Grundy see no Kahn lady. Grundy only hears screaming people. Not human. Look human." Grundy describes the Edenians.
"Let's get out of here. No one's here." Killer Frost said.
A moment later, they both heard someone shouting. Around over 50 Osh-Tekk archers show up and surround the dup and their pack of monsters. General Kotal comes out with his daughter.
"We have you right where we wanted you. Two mere mice fall right into a simple trap." Kotal said.
"Grundy not mouse! Grundy breaks!" He shouted.
Kotal holds his hand in the air and closes his hand and the archers fire. Killer Frost summons a small ice dome around herself and Grundy to protect themselves from the arrows that would have been fatal. Meanwhile, most of the demons have been killed, freeing the civilians. Once the archers stop, Killer Frost and Solomon Grundy show themselves to the Osh-Tekk.
"Cease your fire. They're ours to fight." Kotal ordered his men. He and his daughter Shu-Shang run down the stairs to confront their enemies.
"You made a mistake coming here in our realm, intruders." Shu-Shang tells them.
"You don't know me as Killer Frost." She introduced herself. "We were hoping to draw you out by murdering your precious people. And yet you confront us like cowards with archers."
"You two are nothing more than fruitless trees left to rot. You have not thought of a more proper plan. I am a general, serving Kitana Kahn." Kotal said.
"A general who dares to sacrifice his own child for his own selfish benefit? Pitiful." Killer Frost accused.
"For that, she's mine." Shu-Shang points her sickle at her. The two fight each other at another distance while Kotal engages Grundy. Kotal uppercuts Solomon Grundy before punching him across the face and slamming both fists down onto his head before kneeing his chin. He tackles him to the ground and slams his sickles into his shoulders. Grundy kicks him off before he shrugs off the pain and pulls the sickles out. It was painful, but he likes it. Kotal growls in anger as Grundy charges forward. But Kotal throws a disc shield at his head, stunning him long enough for Kotal to take his giant sword and slam it into the left side of his waist. Until it was nearly a quarter way in. Grundy smiles before he kicks Kotal away from him before pulling the sword out from his waist. Kotal couldn't believe it.
"Impossible! How do you live?!" Kotal is shocked.
"Grundy cannot die. Me mostly zombie." Grundy explained.
This doesn't stop Kotal as he gets up. He dodges a vertical swing down onto him, grabs a sickle and sticks it into his right forearm before grabbing his throat, headbutting him before throwing him. Kotal runs to stomp on his face, but Grundy pushes his ankle back and grabs a cleaver from his back and makes a big cut onto Kotal's chest, making it bleed really badly followed by his right leg. He sends a haymaker to his body, sending him flying before jumping in the air, grabbing his ankle and slams him into the ground, back first and cracking his spine and throwing him onto his chest, breaking some of his ribs. Solomon Grundy grabs him by the throat, ready to finish him. General Kotal notices another big cleaver stuck to his right leg. He reaches for it and swings it at Grundy's throat, forcing him to let go and step back and bleed. He grabs his sword and thrusts it through Grundy's chest, hurting him.
"Filthy creature! Begone with you!" Kotal said. He throws him into the ocean, nearly motionless as he slowly starts sinking down to the bottom of the ocean.
Shu-Shang is cutting all icicles that Killer Frost throws at her, getting the upper hand. She summons sharp icicles from the ground to try to kill her, but she was quick to react and step back. But this allows Killer Frost to backhand Shu-Shang across the face before kicking her backwards, sending her through a crate. Killer frost sticks an ice dagger from her palm to stab her in the heart. But Shu-Shang was quick. She purposefully puts her palm in the way, allowing it to get stabbed. She grits her teeth in pain as her hand is bleeding badly.
Shu-Shang grabs a dagger from her leg and cuts Killer Frost's leg with it and kicks her backwards. She holds her wounded hand in the air and drops of it fall into her mouth and her body marks glow red, making her stronger. Killer Frost is thrown off by her abilities, but wasn't gonna go down yet. She slams her hands down to the ground and a bunch of big, sharp icicles start heading towards Shu-Shang. She remembers her father's advice as well as Superboy's. She yells in anger and gathers enough strength to summon the sunlight ability, strong enough to melt all the ice almost instantly, surprising Killer Frost even more right before Shu-Shang throws her sickles into her shoulders, cracking them, before headbutting her, and knocking her out.
"Do not insult the Osh-Tekk name, ice creature!" Shu-Shang stated before running to her father. "Father! You're hurt! We need to get you to safety!"
"We.. we can keep fighting, daughter." Kotal stated.
"But you're losing blood badly. You must heal." Shu-Shang argued.
Before they could talk further, they hear lightning coming from the sky.
Sun Do. A village of Outworld that has not seen violence for many years ever since the Outworld tournament. Now free from Shao Kahn's grasp. Li Mei is now the official ambassador of the village ever since Outworld has found peace. Unfortunately, that peace will not last any longer.
At Sun Do Hall, Kitana Kahn meets with Ambassador Li Mei. She is told of the incoming threat just like everyone else has. Li Mei looks down with a sad face.
"I had hoped that a day like this would never come. An invader from another world who has conquered countless worlds, and is coming here. I could never imagine it. This is far worse than what Shao Kahn has done." Li Mei said.
"I know it is sudden, Li Mei. But we need all the help we can get. And I understand you want to protect your people as you have done so before. I approach you now because I care for you." Kitana replied. "And this young girl here is princess of Edenia. She's hoping to risk her life for it, as well for her king and queen." Kitana puts her hand on Meia's shoulders.
"I was willing to die for Outworld. I am willing to do so again. For my people." Li Mei nods. "And what is your name?"
"I am Princess Meia. Orphan and adopted niece of King Jerrod and Queen Sindel." Meia bows her head before her. "I am pleased to meet you. I heard stories about you and your bravery for Outworld. You are one of my admirers."
"My, what a polite child. I have never seen anyone like this before." Li Mei smiles. "It warms my heart to hear this. I am pleased to meet you too, princess of Edenia."
Li Mei shakes Meia's hand before turning back to Kitana Kahn. "How long do we have?"
"Not long. I have brought my own warriors to help us while leaving half at the fortress and colosseum where Liu Kang is keeping an eye on everything." Kitana explains.
"I see. Do not worry. We have fine warriors trained in armed weapons and some forms of magic. Luckily, I have prepared in case something like this might happen. My suggestion is that the three of us split up, divide into groups at one of the three endpoints of the village. It is shaped like a triangle, so we go at each corner and spread our groups out." Li Mei suggested.
"Good. But there are risks. We don't know who's coming, nor how strong they are. If all else fails, we will have to fall back and regroup at the colosseum." Kitana said.
"Quite. Alright. Let's move out. Keep each other updated and inform Lord Liu Kang if we must." Li Mei said before the three leave.
The three women split up into three groups. Meia takes ranged weaponry men as well as magic users to one corner. They see demons coming and begin their attack. While they are fighting, Meia spots some green gas on the ground before it makes its way up to her face. She could do nothing to prevent it from going through her nose. Then suddenly, she felt lightheaded and is trying to keep herself balanced.
"My, my. Your fear is impulsively strong. So strong, it may give you a heart attack." Scarecrow shows up.
"W-who are you?" Meia dizzily asked.
"I am fear itself. But you may call me Scarecrow." He introduced himself. "No one can resist my fear toxins. Now face your fears."
Meia falls to her knees and holds her head in pain. She tries to fight the pain, but then, hears voices.
"My queen? Sindel? Are you there?" Meia asked. She opens her eyes, but suddenly finds herself around Edenia. And it's on fire. Worse than what Shao Kahn did when he conquered it. The palace had crumbled to the ground, much to her own horror. Then she sees Jerrod, Sindel and Daisuki. All lying on the ground, covered in blood.
"Meia. Little Meia. H-help us. Please." Sindel begged as she choked on her blood.
"Queen Sindel!" Meia runs over to her. But as soon as she touches her, she just crumbles to dust alongside Jerrod.
"M-Meia?" Daisuki called out to her weakly.
"Daisuki!" Meia runs over to him. She couldn't bare to see her closest friend, dying on the floor, with blood on his body and face.
"W-why? Why didn't you protect us? Y…..you were meant to be the most protective person….. And you watched from the side and let us die." Daisuki claimed.
"What? No! That's not true! I… I'm doing all I can to help everyone! I would never forget anyone, you included!" Meia defends herself.
"I loved you, and yet you ignored me. Tossed me away like a corpse….. I am now….." Daisuki weakly uttered before he dies.
"Daisuki! Daisuki! Wake up!" Meia tries to shake him, to no avail. "DAISUKI!"
Meia tries to gain control of her emotions, but she is hyperventilating. Breathing too fast to think or act.
"Ah, I love it. The fast breathing and the screams of helplessness. It's music to me." Scarecrow approaches from behind.
All Meia could do was stare at him angrily as she reaches for her staff and slams it down to the ground, unleashing a wind blast that knocks away the fear toxins. Scarecrow stumbles backwards, but keeps his footing.
"You stay out of my head!" Meia shouted before they fight.
Scarecrow swings his long chained weapon in circles as he tries to attack Meia. She uses shield spells to block the swings before pushing it forward and it explodes like glass, knocking him away. He throws fear toxin grenades down to teleport behind Meia and grab her from behind and starts crushing her.
"Wind Blast!" Meia shouted and Scarecrow was knocked away from the winds and into the walls, hurting him. He leaps into the air to slam his chained sickle onto her, but she jumps backwards and wields her staff as he throws his chain sickle at her face.
"Throw Reversal!" Meia said. The sickle suddenly stops in midair inches from her face and it suddenly flies back to Scarecrow and wraps itself around him tightly. Meia finishes the fight by firing an energy blast from her staff and it knocks Scarecrow into a pillar.
"You are beaten, you monster! Surrender now!" Meia demanded.
"Hmm. Maybe some other time. But first, I think you have bigger problems to deal with." Scarecrow chuckled before he uses his fear gas to disappear into thin air.
Meia was confused now. What did he mean by bigger problems?
Li Mei is fighting demons on her side of the battlefield, killing so many of them without breaking a sweat. That was until Tanya approached her.
"Tanya. The once loyal guardian of the queen of Edenia who turned traitor to join Shao Kahn." Li Mei recognizes her.
"I'm flattered that you would remember me, Li Mei. The once weak fighter who is now the ambassador of Sun Do Village. Honestly, I was hoping you would die in the tournament." Tanya replied.
"And yet you are a fool to follow Mileena and fall in love with her. It's only a matter of time before we all die." Li Mei stated.
"And you will be next." Tanya claimed before they fight.
Tanya starts by doing fiery back kicks, which Li Mei avoids and does an energy backflip kick, sending Tanya into the air, jumps and does an aerial punch, double kick and double energy eagle kick, sending Tanya down. She gets back up and swings her tonfas, only for Li Mei to grab her wrists, kicks her twice in the chin, causing her to stumble. This allows Li Mei to do two punches to the chest and stomach, a kick to the face, dashing forward and doing a knee strike, cracking her chest. She then does rapid punches to the chest and stomach before doing another straight kick to the face, cracking the front of the skull. Li Mei ends the fight with two energy palm strikes to the chest before doing two energy backflip kicks to the top of the head, nearly breaking Tanya's skull and sending her down to the ground.
"Not today, Tanya." Li Mei tells her before she moves on.
One demon roars at Kitana Kahn before taking a swing at her, only for her to avoid it easily, slices off one of its limbs before cutting its throat open with her tessens. Kitana throws one of her weapons in the air and kicks it into one's face before decapitating another before kicking its head away. She hears roaring coming towards her, but it's not a demon. It's Torr charging through the defenses before slamming its fists down onto Kitana, but she easily jumps backwards and lands.
"Ferra and Torr." Kitana recognized.
"Kitana inferior! Mileena Superior!" Ferra shouted.
"And this is coming from the one who hated her and worked for Kotal." Kitana smirks to mock them.
"Ferra/Torr get nice award if we murder Mileena's inferior sister right here right now!" Ferra stated before they fight.
Torr grabs Ferra and swings her around so she could use her blades to stab Kitana, but she bends backwards to avoid the swings. She swings her tessens at Torr's arms and leaves multiple cuts in different spots on both of his arms. Torr once again tries to swing Ferra, but Kitana kicks her out of his hands, injuring Ferra. Ferra growls and screams like a child having a tantrum and leas in the air to kill her. But Kitana jumps as well and backflip kicks Ferra away. Still in the air, Kitana throws one of her tessen blades at Ferra's head, stabbing and instantly killing her as her lifeless body falls to the ground.
Torr is pissed that his companion is dead and attacks Kitana like crazy. He swings nonstop punches at her, but misses everytime. Kitana uses that opportunity to slam both blades into his chest and pulls them down, leaving big cuts on both sides of his chest, making him lose a lot of blood.
Kitana finishes the fight by unfolding her tessens and throws them and they spin. Their wind holds Torr midair and Kitana uses her arms from a distance to control them. She motions her arms as they spin as one is hovering over his head and the other beneath his feet. She then pulls her hands together, allowing her tessens to literally shred Torr from head to toe as they touch each other. Blood is going everywhere as his insides are shredded and leaves a small pile of blood, innards and a bone sticking out of the pile as the tessens return to their owner.
"Flawless victory." Kitana said. She sees Meia and Li Mei approaching her.
"My Kahn. We cannot hold here forever. We must retreat somewhere to safety. There's too many of them." Li Mei tells her.
"No need for that." Meia said, getting their attention. She points to the sky and they both see the lightning and hear the thunder. Lightning is about to strike down onto them.
At the Fortress, Liu Kang is destroying as many parademons as possible as they approach. They don't seem to be letting up. Neither was him. Below, the Titans as well as Chang Bao and Daisuki are fighting demons. Superboy uses his heat vision to slice them and his super strength to rip them apart. Starfire uses her ultraviolet beams to destroy them. Wonder Girl wraps a few around her lasso of lightning and electrocutes them to death. While Terra summons spiky stone pillars and slams them down onto the enemies, stabbing and killing them.
Normally, the titans don't kill anyone on Batman's orders. But given that these things have no independence, no intelligence, and are non-sapient, there was no need for them to pull their punches. But they will have to hold back with some of the enemies that they are about to face.
"Well, well. I didn't think I'd see you again, Kory." Damian said, entering the huge throne room.
"Damian Wayne. Now former son of Bruce Wayne. I, on the other hand, was hoping that you would rot in prison for the rest of your life. I don't miss you at all." Starfire glares at him.
"C'mon. We were once part of the same team. Me, you, Dick. Everyone." Damian tries to remind her.
"I want nothing to do with Dick's killer. You killed him in cold blood because of your short temper!" Starfire points out.
"Look. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have done that." Damian apologizes. Starfire, of course, refuses to accept it.
"Sorry doesn't bring him back. And don't even say that you would try the Lazarus Pit. It is a curse." Starfire said.
"I have some regrets. What I won't regret is fighting you." Damian brings out his sword, only for it to be blocked by Daisuki's Guandao.
"Leave now. Or face the wrath of Outworld's protectors." Daisuki warned.
"And you're going to stop me? Both of you. Wow, way to resort to low lives, Kory." Damian insults her.
"Daisuki is my friend, unlike you, Damian Wayne." Starfire said before they fight.
Damian swings his blade at Daisuki's Guandao, making him go on the defense before kicking him away. But then Starfire punches Damian in the left ribs, uppercuts him before firing a beam at him, sending him sliding backwards. He recovers, avoids a leg sweep, grabs Starfire by her ankles and throws her. She gets up, only for the new Nightwing to kick her in the head, chest and stomach before doing another strong kick to the forehead. He throws batarangs, but Daisuki swings his weapon and breaks them like mere toys.
Damian throws smoke pellets on the ground and vanishes, only to reappear and kick him in the back. Daisuki rolls and recovers and blocks the swings, allowing Daisuki to kick the blade away and hit Damian with the endpoint and stick part of his weapon to his stomach and forehead until He does chop strikes to his left ribs, leaving some cracks to it, kicking his left leg, nearly breaking his shin and kicking him in the chest, sending him to Starfire before she zaps his back with a beam, knocking him down and defeating him.
"You will answer to Batman." Starfire stated. Daisuki brings out some chains and cuffs his wrists behind his back while Starfire takes away his sword and utility belt to make sure he doesn't pull any tricks.
In the sky, Fire God Liu Kang continues to zap all the parademons and vaporizes all of them. But then he hears a voice.
"Fire God!" Goro shouted. Liu Kang teleports down in the colosseum and meets the former shokan prince Goro once more.
"Goro. Back for more? Have you not learned your lesson by now?" Liu Kang mockingly asked.
"Shokans are the next best thing to defeat a god besides Shao Kahn and Havik. They failed to defeat you. I am prepared. And your friend Fujin? He lost to Superman. If he's that weak, then your marriage to Kitana has made you soft." Goro said before they fight.
Goro lunges forward, grabs Liu Kang by his arms and hits him in the head multiple times with his fists before throwing him down. He grabs him by his legs and slams his head down to the ground and throws him into the air. Goro jumps to grab him, but Liu Kang teleports behind him and grabs his shoulders and shocks him before throwing him down to the ground. He teleports down as Goro gets back up. Liu Kang gives him a straight kick, stumbling him before summoning a fiery portal below him, making him fall. A portal comes from the sky as he falls. Liu Kang flies up, knees his back, cracking it and fire comes from the portal and sends him down. His chest is burned.
Goro jumps up and slams Liu Kang into the ground and delivers some punches to his back. But he jumps backwards, flies forward and slams both fists into his chest, sending him into a spiked pillar, stabbing him through the right side of his back, making him bleed greatly. He summons the strength to pull himself from the pillar and shoots a fireball at the fire god. He chops the fireball in half, sending both halves away and they explode. He does his famous dragon jump, hoping to stomp on Liu Kang. But the fire god was ready this time. He stretches his arms out and red and blue fire come out of his hands. As Goro lands, both flames form into different colored dragons and painfully grab his arms, burning them and chomping on them. Liu Kang comes up behind the strong Shokan and with a lit hand, slams it on the top of his head, slamming it through his body, bisecting him in half in the process until it slammed into the ground. Both halves of his corpse falls down and it briefly rains in his blood as it and his insides fall down. Goro finally dies as Liu Kang puts his hands together, lit in flames.
Liu Kang looks down at Goro's remains before he looks at the titans, and his son and daughter approaching him.
"Father. Are you hurt?" Chang Bao asked.
"I am fine, Chang Bao. I am glad that you are all alright. And I see we have a prisoner among us?" Liu Kang notices Damian Wayne.
"Yes. He could help provide details on what plans Superman and Mileena may have for us. What plans they are forging." Starfire said.
"We could bring him to his father. He's with the Special Forces, right? Maybe he could convince him." Chang suggested.
"Yes. And find out why Darkseid took Nightwolf." Liu Kang said. Then he sees a tall creature with big horns and a big sword. Bigger than Kotal's.
"How amazing. Mileena was right on how powerful you are. I did not realize that you would bring yourself to kill someone. Impressive." Steppenwolf said.
"You're Darkseid's second in command. Steppenwolf I assume. Here on your master's behalf?" Liu Kang asked.
"To send a message. Surrender yourself to his might. Learn to fear him. And he will spare you and your family if you tell us where your friends are hiding." Steppenwolf demanded.
"I will never betray anyone as long as I live." Liu Kang said.
Superboy flies out of nowhere and steps in to attack. He flies to punch him in the face two times before the alien general grabs him by the throat and punches his chest, knocking him away.
"Connor!" Wonder Girl runs over to him.
Terra summons a huge boulder from the ground with her geokinesis and throws it at him, but he swings his giant axe at it and it breaks into a bunch of pebbles and growls at her. Before he could step forward, he feels a hand on his shoulder. He turns and it is his master. His nephew Darkseid.
"Back away, Steppenwolf. I will deal with them myself. There are plenty of victims for you to slaughter." Darkseid orders him and he nods.
"I don't think so." Liu Kang uses his lightning powers and fires it right into the sky, creating dark clouds. Lightning strikes down in several places, teleporting everyone away, including the titans and their prisoner Damian Wayne.
"So, you are the great fire god. I heard about you, Liu Kang. Seemingly the most powerful being in this world." Darkseid assumed.
"I am the protector of the realms. Keeper of Time. Warrior chosen by the Elder Gods. Slayer of warlords and all other evil. I will not surrender my realms to any being such as you." Liu Kang introduced himself.
"And you must be aware of me as Darkseid. Conqueror of hundreds of thousands of planets. I have been undefeated. My strategy plans have never ceased to fail me." Darkseid said. "You, like all others, are brave but foolish. You plan to sacrifice yourself to stop me?"
"If I have to. I am not one to back down from a fight. I have destroyed any evil that tried to destroy us. We have won wars, many battles, including those that we believed that could create an apocalypse." Liu Kang stated.
"I have finished many wars within the first day that they started. This? This will perhaps be the quickest." Darkseid said before the two fight.
Liu Kang dashes forward and does three fiery kicks to the face before doing three more kicks to the chest, sending him backwards before shooting red and blue fire at him, sending him backwards. Darkseid recovers and finds himself surrounded by a ring of fire created by the fire god. Darkseid isn't even intimidated. His red ruby eyes shoot his deadly Omega Beams at him. Liu Kang sees this and teleports to different spots, but the Omega Beams keep following him like missiles. He teleports to the air, but the Omega Beams follow him upwards and hit him in the chest, making him fall to the ground and the fire disappears.
Darkseid slowly walks over and scoffs. Liu Kang gets back up and throws several punches, palm strikes and chop strikes, but Darkseid, using only one hand, blocks every attack. Just as the fire god is about to do an uppercut, Darkseid grabs his fist, twists it and makes Liu Kang feel some pain. He punches Liu Kang across the face, back hands him across the chest before giving it a punch and a straight kick that sends the fire god away. Liu Kang teleports and switches between kicking him in different places and teleporting several times before Darkseid catches on and grabs Liu Kang by the throat, throws him into the air, flies and delivers two strong kicks to his chest, cracking it greatly. He grabs Liu's throat and uppercuts him in his chest, sending him back. Liu Kang strikes lightning down on him, shocking him, allowing him to do his flamed bicycle kick to his chest several times before giving his face a back kick. Darkseid stumbles but keeps his footing.
Liu Kang's fist lights up with fire and charges at the new god. Darkseid retaliates by doing the same thing. Their fists collide, and Liu Kang is sent backwards. Darkseid teleports behind him, uppercuts his back, cracking his spine greatly before he fires his Omega Beams at him, sending him into every pillar in the colosseum before Darkseid slams him down to the ground with a haymaker, causing a loud crash and defeating the fire god.
The fire god is battered and beaten. Covered in blood and bruises and scratches. He lays on his chest and tries to get back up to continue fighting, but Steppenwolf stomps onto his back to make sure he doesn't move. Darkseid descends to the ground and approaches him. One warrior attempts to attack Steppenwolf from behind with a greatsword, but the alien General swings his axe behind him, bisecting the warrior in half and he drops his sword between Liu Kang and Darkseid.
"Not one person has provided me with a challenge until today. I was told about your history as the chosen one and how you have fought so many battles and won so many. I would love to continue this fight. But unfortunately, all things must come to an end." Darkseid commented.
"This isn't…. Over, Darkseid." Liu Kang said in defiance.
"It is for you." Darkseid chuckles. "And you call yourself a protector? Your Elder Gods should be ashamed of themselves." The New God's eyes blew red, preparing to finish him off.
Kitana, the leader of Outworld, sliced through many more Parademons who stood in her way. With no one standing between her and Darkseid, Kitana spins her tessens and sends a small whirlwind right in front of her, leaning towards the enemy diagonally.
With her swift movement and rapid boost she got from her own wind, Kitana Khan raises her folded tessens in the air, shouting so loud, her yells echoing the sky. She thrusts her weapons forward, until…. She suddenly stops and floats in the air with a severe, sharp pain to her chest. Blood drops from her mouth and nose and she grunts in pain before hyperventilating. She loses the feeling in her hands as she drops her tessens.
Kitana looks down and sees a sword was thrusted through her chest, leaving trails of blood on it as some fall to the ground from her big, open wound. She looks up and sees that Darkseid is the one holding the sword that was lying on the ground next to Liu Kang. The fire God's eyes widened in horror, seeing the unimaginable happen. His own wife and true love, severely wounded with a sword to the heart.
Darkseid scoffs before he lets go of the sword and holds Kitana by her neck.
"So you're this realm's great Kahn. I must say I am intrigued by the performance, but now, your time as ruler has passed." Darkseid tells her.
"Kitana! No! Let her go!" Liu Kang tries to get up, but Steppenwolf keeps him pinned and forces him to watch.
Kitana Kahn uses her strength to look at her true love. All she could do was give him sad eyes and a smile. "R-remember, Liu Kang. I have always loved you since I first set eyes on you. As long as our love is never forgotten, it cannot be broken." She sheds some tears as she closes her eyes.
"NO!" Liu Kang yelled in horror.
Darkseid smiles and he fires his Omega Beams at Kitana's forehead, causing her to scream in so much pain. Her body lights up on fire as her skin burns from its high power. Her skin burns into ashes like paper thrown into the fire, disintegrating until there is nothing left but her own skeleton, now motionless in Darkseid's grasp. The alien conqueror drops it to the ground. On impact, the scorched bones break into dozens of pieces.
Liu Kang was frozen. For the first time, he felt entirely helpless and silent as he was stuck to the ground like a broken man. His face was horrified. Sad. The one person that he loved the most was dead.
"And now. To collect a god's head as a trophy." Darkseid said as he approached Liu Kang. The fire god doesn't bother looking up. All he could think about was Kitana.
A portal opens behind Steppenwolf and he turns around with a foot still on the fire god. He and Darkseid wonder who it could be. Then suddenly, the general is hit by a powerful energy beam and heat vision. Steppenwolf was sent into Darkseid, knocking both of them down.
Alex Cage and Supergirl run out alongside Batman and Chang Bao. Alex and Supergirl were the ones that attacked. Parademons fly in to attack. Supergirl uses her ice breath to freeze them in place while Alex burns them with his fire powers. Batman throws batarangs and they explode, killing several parademons. Chang Bao uses the wind to push them back.
Alex slams his hands into the ground and brings up several earth walls and a fire wall before turning to Liu Kang. "Liu! C'mon! You gotta get up! We can't win here! Let's go!"
Alex and Bruce help Liu Kang up as Kara and Chang Bao run back through the portal. Alex and Bruce see Darkseid breaking through the stone wall with his Omega Beams and they collapse. Darkseid steps through the flames harmlessly as Bruce runs back through. Alex glared at Darkseid and Steppenwolf before he was the next to go back. Liu Kang stares at Darkseid. He feels his hands and feet shaking with fear. Part of him wants to fight, but his heart tells him otherwise. He's trembling like a child.
Liu Kang was the last one to run through the portal. Steppenwolf attempts to give chase, but Darkseid stops him by putting a hand on his chest, telling him not to bother as it closes.
"You can run. You can protect all you have left, Fire God. But my knowledge, with Superman's power and Mileena Kahnum's prowess have made us a fearsome force. Every world I have conquered with the people that have thrived. They share the same feeling that you now share with the realms that are ours: FEAR!"
Darkseid walks inside the throne room and examines it. He smirks at how many people before him have ruled Outworld, with Shao Kahn and Kitana's statues among them. He uses his Omega Beams to slice them down and they collapse. He approaches the throne and takes a seat. He smiles in victory.
Steppenwolf roars and raises his axe into the air as he and the parademons cheer for their lord and master. The parademons begin tearing down everything one by one. From robes hanging from the ceiling, the statues standing tall before them and attacking and devouring any corpses off of any deceased warriors.
The portal opens in the Special Forces base, where Cassie and the twins await them. And not only that, Jade, Kotal, their kids and Liu Kang's kids are there are well. Li Mei, Meia and Baraka are there as well. They see the five coming through. Cassie sees Alex coming through and hugs him.
"Thank god! Are you okay?!" Cassie asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine. That was a close one." Alex said. "Thankfully, Jade told us what happened and figured something wasn't right. We got there as fast as we could. Everyone is okay."
"Not….. Everyone." Liu Kang corrects him.
Everyone looks at Liu Kang and they all see how sad he is and falls to his knees.
"Father? Where's mother?" Chang Bao asked. Liu Kang said nothing. He looks down before he looks up at his children. No one has ever seen him this silent before.
And then, it dawned on them.
"No. No. It can't be true. Please tell me it isn't true!" Chang Bao tries to fight her tears.
"... I am sorry, my children." Liu Kang apologizes.
Chang Bao couldn't bring herself to say anything. All she could do was relent and cry. She was about to collapse before her boyfriend Anthony catches her and she immediately hugs him and starts crying in his shoulders. Flora covers her own mouth out of shock. She had no words to say. Kotal and his son and daughter close their eyes and bend their heads.
Jade fell to her knees and also began to cry. Alex and Cassie bend down to her level and hug her. Alex and Cassie began to shed tears as well. Bruce unmasks himself as he and Kara look on in sadness, as do Mister Terrific, Harleen and Blue Beetle.
Liu Kang hugs his son closely as he closes his eyes. He drops tears for the first time in his godhood. As he does, his face changes with different emotions. His face is sad, having been forced to witness Kitana's death. Then it changes to fear, as he is afraid of how powerful Darkseid is, like Adrelita. And finally, it changes to anger. He opens his eyes and they light up and grits his teeth. All he can think about now is killing every single one of them to avenge Kitana and prevent them from conquering any more worlds. By any means necessary.
End of Part 1
Note: Of all the chapters I have written, this one... this one breaks my heart. My eyes are filled with tears right now.