Author's Note: Been a hot minute since I touched this story… so since I got some IRL nonsense choking me out, nothing like good o' ultra-violence to relax and de-stress.
Lot's of lore in this one. Enjoy!
-Chapter 23: A Paradise Lost-
The harsh desert heat caused the very air to shimmer, making tangible dunes and rocky ruins appear like flickering mirages even at close range. Strong winds began to churn in the midst of the land, creating a miniature dust devil that abated once the magical winds died down and Fujin teleported Johnny Cage, Art Lean, Kai, Jax, and Kenshi into the realm. The actor blinked, shielding his eyes from the glaring sun. "Geez! Talk about overdoing the stage lights!" He whipped out some sunglasses from his vest and slipped them on. "Ah, much better." His gaze turned to Fujin, the wind god surveying the terrain. "I thought Edenia was supposed to be some lush paradise, not Death Valley two!"
"It is. We have yet to reach the heart of the province." Fujin replied.
"Then what's all this?" Jax wondered.
"When Shao Kahn conquered Edenia and merged the realms, the point of contact was decimated in the act, obliterating the environment on the edges of both realms and creating this desert." Fujin explained.
"The amount of magic required to merge two realms… I cannot fathom the devastation it can wreak." Kai murmured, studying lands that were once verdant and filled with an abundance of life. Now they were little more than a vast husk of ground.
"Tread carefully, all of you," Cautioned Fujin, "the climate here is inhospitable. We must move quickly if we are to survive."
The group began to trek across the sands, following a worn trail that had been used for countless centuries. Kenshi was the first to notice its stability. "This is a commonly-used path." He said aloud. "Others have walked here as we have."
"An astute observation, Kenshi Takahashi. While none truly know where Outworld ends and Edenia begins, there are those who are willing to brave a life between here among the sands." Fujin affirmed.
"That sounds like crazy talk." Jax remarked.
"Eh, maybe not, Sergeant Silverhands." Johnny countered. "I did this movie once in my early days, Gobi. You know, like the desert. We had all these tribes and native people who were living in and amongst the dunes. Some were nomads, some lived underground, others were just so used to the heat and the sand they built their towns outta the stuff."
"Much is the same here, Johnny Cage. Outworld is home to many nomads as well as those who eke out a living in this place to avoid being close to Shao Kahn's tyranny." Said Fujin.
"Do we wanna run into these people?" Art Lean inquired. "Because, if not, I don't think we should stay on this walking trail any longer than we have to."
"Our purpose is Edenia. Because of that, I would hope none would bother us." Fujin answered him. "But we will cross that bridge should we come to it."
They continued on, following the trail as it wound between carved rocks buried in the sand. Some were shaped as monuments to long-forgotten civilizations. Others revealed the remnants of ancient structures toppled during a madman's conquest. Each told a story; a story of death, destruction, greed, pride, and many other vices. This wasteland was a testament to the wanton brutality and destructive power of Shao Kahn.
"If this is what happens when Shao Kahn merges the realms, Outworld must be full of deserts." Jax mused.
"There are several." Fujin affirmed. "We are in the Drylands, adjacent to the Living Forest."
"Well that sounds a helluva lot more pleasant than this place." Johnny grumbled. "Why are we here and not there, divine-Dyson?"
"The Living Forest is not a place to tread unawares. There are many traps… namely the trees. They would consume you if you weren't careful."
"The trees would eat you? What hell kind of forest is that?" Kenshi questioned.
"Not one where you go for a leisurely stroll, apparently." Art commented.
"It is a tragic tale." Fujin said simply, unwilling to elaborate for the time being. Their path rose up the height of a sand dune, the incline shifting sharply as the humans turned to all fours in order to climb it. When they arrived at the top, they were greeted by the sight of sprawling sand, a veritable sea of dunes stretching out before them and leading to the shimmering outlines of some distant civilization. Johnny narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses.
"Well, that doesn't look too far off. Edenia here we come!"
But Fujin shook his head. "That is not Edenia."
"What? You mean to tell me that's just a mirage?" Johnny groaned.
"Well, that sure as hell ain't a mirage." Jax remarked, pointing to their left. A billowing cloud of brown approached them, a massive wall of churning sand heralded by dark clouds overhead. "A sandstorm!"
"That's not good. Out here in the middle of nowhere, it'll consume us all." Kai muttered.
"Hurry! All of you! We must get off this peak and onto level ground." They followed Fujin down off the top of the dune where they began racing across the desert towards the shimmering buildings in the distance. If it was real, it would be their salvation. If it was a mirage, they were doomed to the power of the sandstorm.
"Hey, Fujin! You're a weather god or something aren't you? Can't you just redirect that sandstorm elsewhere?" Art called out. He was in good health, as were they all, and the run across the desert was little issue. But neither he nor any of his fellow champions wanted to get caught in a storm of such a magnitude.
"We are no longer in Earthrealm, Art Lean. My powers are weaker here in Outworld." The wind god answered. The first few spewing particles of sand began to fill the air, peppering the exposed skin of the humans. "I cannot reverse the storm… but I can shield us from it." Fujin slowed and conjured magical energies that formed around his hands, taking the form of white currents. Extending his arms in either direction, he spooled up a vortex around the six of them consisting of opposing winds to ward off the incoming sandstorm. The sand struck with overwhelming force and encircled them, blowing off Fujin's shield in a display of raw natural power. It was both incredible and terrifying.
"How long can you keep this up for, Lord Fujin?" Kai inquired.
"For… as long… as I… can!" The wind god responded, straining to hold up his shield.
"We better do something! Who knows how long the storm will last for?" Jax insisted.
"We are open to suggestions." Kenshi retorted.
"Bandanna-rama's right. We set one foot outside this shield and we're getting all the paint peeled off of us!" Johnny added. They collectively fell silent, scratching their heads in a mad search for a solution.
"Let me try something," Kai stepped up to the edge of Fujin's shield, performing a brief kata as chi fire blossomed within his palms, promptly directed downwards where it erupted in columns on the other side of the shield. It superheated the sand and transformed it into glass, creating a solid wall several inches thick on the other side. It kept part of the sand at bay, providing some reprieve for Fujin and an extra layer of defence.
"Nice going, hot hands, you'd give Liu Kang a run for his money with those." Johnny commented.
"Like him, I do not have an arcana. I simply honed my chi to great effect." Kai replied. "This will hold, but doubt it will hold for the entire duration of the storm."
"Maybe do it in increments? Take the heat off of Fujin for a little while?" Art suggested.
"There is no need for that, Art Lean." Fujin suddenly interjected. "I shall adjust the direction of my magicks to afford us easier passage." Using the glass wall as a basis, Fujin narrowed his power to create a tunnel through the stand storm, pushing them a little closer towards the storm's edge. "We will move in increments as you suggest. I will sustain us a practically as possible." The group began to move into the sandstorm, protected from the gritty hail of particulate as it bounced off of Fujin's counter winds. His airstream was their saving grace and they were willing to do whatever the wind god asked of them so long as it meant maintaining their shelter from the storm. It was dark. The swirling sands blotted out the light of the sun and they had to pick their steps carefully. Injury now would be disastrous.
"Wait…" Kenshi stopped, pressing a finger to his temple has he honed his telepathic ability. "I can sense someone. There is a soul, not far ahead of us."
"They'd have to be a maniac to be out in all this." Jax remarked.
"Or incredibly hearty," Kai proffered alternatively, "which does not bode well for us."
"You speak truly, Kenshi Takahashi." Fujin said slowly. Up ahead, a dark shape was taking form within the sandstorm.
"Uh… ya think we should be worried?" Johnny asked.
"They are alone. I do not think they approach with hostile intentions." Fujin answered him. "What their intentions truly are remains to be seen." The humans clustered around Fujin, his airstream still holding, as they peered through the sandstorm to discern their impending guest. Kenshi could see most accurately, spirit pulses revealing the landscape like sonar, removing the sand and showing him the exact form of this mysterious individual.
At first glance, all they could tell was that it took the form of a bipedal creature. Soon it became apparent it was dressed in a long cloak to ward off the churning sand, the loose ends of the fabric billowing as they were buffeted by the intense winds. A long hood was drawn up, totally concealing any facial features. They moved at a careful, plodding pace, but were making a dead-on approach for them. Jax rolled his shoulders and flexed his mechanical fingers. Kai reached for the blade sheathed by his hip, just in case.
At last, the cloaked figure arrived and stood before them, just beyond the reach of Fujin's protective barrier and seemingly undisturbed by the sands billowing around them. The wind god chose to act, extending his field with a simple gesture of his hands. The ensuing surge of arcane wind blew back both hood and cloak, revealing the being underneath.
She was dressed in scant indigo clothing; a simple sash that hung down between long tanned legs, a two-piece wrap that covered her well-endowed breasts, wrappings around her toned arms and hands, as well as a scarf that encircled her hair and kept her long ebony hair flowing straight back and out of her face.
Johnny lowered his sunglasses, unashamedly giving her a good once-over. "Please tell me she's not a mirage."
The woman strode forward, carrying herself with certainty and reminding Johnny of the nomadic Gypsys that once travelled the earth. Her Asian features grew taut as she studied them all in turn. "You are not Outworlders. Who are you?" She asked in a smooth, clear voice.
"We are here seeking access to Edenia." Kai informed her. "We got caught in this sandstorm unawares."
"I can see that." The woman replied, sounding unimpressed. "Anyone who knows these lands would know better than attempt to traverse the Drylands in these conditions."
"You are well-read of the environment." Fujin observed. "You must be familiar its perils."
"My people have lived here for as long as I can remember. I was raised among these dunes." The woman replied. "I know quite well when foreigners appear among them."
"We mean you no harm or ill-will. I am Fujin, god of Earthrealm. And these are my associates. As previously stated, we merely seek passage to Edenia."
The woman said nothing right away, continuing to scrutize the lot of them with a hard stare. "Edenia is under the watchful eye of Shao Kahn. Going there would be a mistake." She said at length. "You should return to your realm. Your presence here would endanger what relative peace we have."
"Yet the fact you came to find us indicates a willingness to aid those in need." Fujin countered. The woman squared her shoulders.
"Do not mistake my curiosity for pity, Earthrealmer." She cautioned.
"Then make your choice: either leave us to navigate this sandstorm or aid us as you see fit." The ultimatum was met with stony silence. The woman tightened her cloak around her, much to Johnny's silent dismay. Her gaze remained fixed on Fujin.
"Clearly you are not agents of the Kahn." She surmised after a moment. "I will take you to my village where we can discuss your intentions in relative safety. Then we will decide if you are worthy of my help."
"We are grateful for your assistance." Fujin thanked her. She paused, looking over her shoulder before walking.
"My name is Li Mei." Lifting a hand, she generated a sparkle of pink fireworks that materialized into a solid shape, resembling a Chinese paper lantern. "Follow me to Sun Do."
Later…
The outer design of Sun Do reminded Johnny of photos he'd seen of ancient monasteries found in Thailand. The buildings were ornately carved from the natural stone of the desert and constructed with building techniques designed to provide shade and shelter from the heat while reaching high into the sky in a symbolic attempt to draw closer to the gods. But the buildings proved to be a mere shell for the real community; an underground network of a gypsy-like people who had learned to survive in the Drylands after Shao Kahn's merging with Edenia destroyed their original environment.
The people here were hearty, thick-skinned, survivors. Only a handful were survivors from the original Sun Do that was destroyed during the realm merger. Now the village was a patchwork stitching of all kinds of people from all walks of life… namely lives that opposed Shao Kahn, as the Earthrealmers soon found out.
When Li Mei led them into the underground antechambers of the village, they were greeted first by a man with tanned skin, short dark hair and goatee to match, with a curling dragon tattoo around the left side of his head. His brown robes were trimmed with yellow; specially cut to allow for quick movement and lightweight to survive the heat of the desert. "They were not the Kahn's spies as you feared. They are Earthrealmers." Li Mei explained.
The man blinked. "Earthrealmers? Out here in the Drylands? What strange times."
"We beg your pardon for the intrusion. It was not our intention." Fujin excused. They studied each other for a moment before a burst of recognition washed over each other's faces.
"You are a god." The man noted. Fujin nodded.
"I am."
"We Edenians live long lives but not so long as to forget the sight of someone such as yourself."
Johnny blinked. "Woah, time out! You're an Edenian?" He asked. Again, Fujin nodded.
"This is Taven. Prince of the royal house of Edenia."
"A prince no more, I'm afraid." Taven interjected, his gaze sorrowful as he looked towards the ground. "Not since Shao Kahn." Li Mei stepped between.
"Taven leads a small band of Edenian freedom fighters; a rebellion trying to frustrate Shao Kahn." She explained, shedding her cloak. "This is the one place they can find sanctuary, thanks to the village hearthstone."
"That is powerful magick." Fujin mused. "Your graciousness is to be commended."
"We would not have survived without the help of Li Mei and her people." Taven concurred. "Come, Earthrealmers, let us sit and take counsel together." He led them deeper into the underground rooms, the Earthrealm party discovering it was very roomy and spacious. Great effort had been put into making these caves feel homely and comfortable. A large round room contained a fire as well as a robed individual sitting by it. When they drew closer, they discovered his head was shaped like a bald eagle, beak included. A long feathery ponytail draped down the back of his head, matching the same substance that covered most of his body (whatever was not concealed by blue-grey armor). He rose in greeting, orange beak shining in the firelight. Li Mei made introductions.
"This is Asgaarth. He was the General of Edenia's armies."
"I remember you." Fujin said quietly. "You were in the court of King Jerrod and Queen Sindel."
"And I served them with distinction." Asgaarth responded. He sighed wearily. "Alas, all that remains of that great royalty is Prince Taven here."
"What a coincidence." Jax mused, crossing his arms. "The one place we're trying to get to and, suddenly, everybody's from there." Asgaarth cocked his head.
"What do Earthrealmers want with the remnants of Edenia?"
"That is what we are here to discuss." Li Mei stated. They sat around the fire, Li Mei, Taven, and Asgaarth sharing a long bench across from Fujin and the humans. Jax withdrew a cigar from within his vest and offered one to Art Lean.
"Cuban?" He asked.
"Damn right." Jax affirmed with a grin.
"Then don't mind if I do." Art accepted and partook of Jax's lighter.
With the humans comfortable, Fujin began, "We have received word that Shang Tsung conspires against Earthrealm and plans to build a Soul Harvester." Taven and Asgaarth shared looks of concern.
"We have seen these machines in motion. Whole realms have been stripped clean of life." The avian General said gravely. "It is an ill omen that he seeks to build one in Earthrealm."
"But why would he do that? Does he act on his own accord? I thought Outworld lost the last tournament to Earthrealm." Taven pried.
"We did. But Shao Kahn refuses to relent. He is attempting to force Earthrealm into agreeing to a new tournament, using the Elder Gods' own rules against them. They will not intervene should he attack us, only if he threatens to merge the realms." Fujin explained.
"Real shady shit. I know some agents in So-Cal that probably learned a thing or two from him." Johnny commented.
"His ruthlessness knows no bounds." Li Mei growled.
"Fortunately for us, we have gleaned enough information to know how Shang Tsung intends to power the Soul Harvester. We have divided our strength in an effort to collect these artifacts before he can acquire them." Fujin continued. "What lies in Edenia is the Deathstone of Ratannai. We must find it before any of Shang Tsung's agents can."
Taven leaned forward. "I know this relic. It was kept safe in the deepest vault of the palace treasury. My uncle placed the utmost importance on the danger it posed. Anyone who holds it can command the dead. They could be consumed by its power as Ratannai was."
"His story is a warning." Asgaarth agreed. "Ratannai was little more than a wandering magician at first. Until he stumbled across a dark tome that taught him ancient profane magicks. He fashioned himself into a necromancies after that and channelled his power into a stone of pure onyx. To this day, its power lingers within."
"So… what happened to this Ratannai?" Kenshi asked.
"Most of the tales say his soul was consumed by Shang Tsung. Others claim his use of the magick opened a portal to the Netherrealm where he was dragged down into its depths to serve the dead he once commanded." Asgaarth revealed. He stood up, casting a large shadow against the wall from the firelight. "We can lead you to the palace. It remains intact after the realm merger. We can depart once the sandstorm subsides."
"It will not be easy." Taven added, his expression hardening. "Shao Kahn's agents are spread throughout the remains of the realm. It is an elite force known as the Red Dragon. They respond to his regent over the realm." His gaze turned away, his hands clenching against his legs.
"A man called Daegon."
"We will cross that path should we come to it." Asgaarth promised the prince. "We are Edenians. We face our problems head-on. We are a resilient people, Earthrealmers."
"I know." Fujin said. "I was once a friend of the king and queen. Of all the mortals I have known, they were among my closest friends." He stood to approach Asgaarth and Taven. "I am sorry I could not save your realm. But we will do everything in our power to ensure both Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn feel the burn for their actions." He offered his hand and Asgaarth shook it. Fujin made them same offer to Taven and he also shook it.
"Uh… If you don't mind me asking, Big Bird, but how is it you're Edenian? No offence, but you don't exactly look like Prince Tavern or hot-gypsy-chick here." Johnny wondered.
Asgaarth regarded him like an eagle would regard its young. "I come from the realm of Interria. My island was invaded by the Kytinn and I fled through the realm portal. I was badly wounded and would have died had I not been discovered by King Jerrod and Queen Sindel. I owed them my life and pledged my fealty. My martial prowess earned me my position in their court and their army."
Johnny cocked his head. "Huh. So you're an… Edenian-by-handshake." He glanced at Li Mei and Taven. "So can anybody become an Edenian?"
Taven shook his head. "It is not that simple, Earthrealmer." He replied. "But it matters not. What few Edenians remain have had their spirit broken. The handful that fight with me, openly rebelling against Shao Kahn, they are all that is truly left of our people."
"You still have us," Li Mei said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Not all Outworlders approve of Shao Kahn."
"And by giving us food and lodging, Sun Do does more than enough." Taven told her. He rose and looked Fujin in the eye. "I have not known Earthrealmers in my life, but if you stand against Shao Kahn, that is good enough for me. And I would not be opposed to helping him suffer."
Some time later…
Old stone walls sat silent and undisturbed in near-total darkness, as they had for centuries. Moss grew between the cracks, roots hung from corner ceilings. The slow march of decay was disturbed by a vortex of swirling green magicks. The arcane power flickered as Quan Chi stepped out followed closely by a demoness. She was dressed in the usual black and red trappings of her kind, a sash reaching down between slender shapely legs bore the crest of the Circle of Shadow. Short bob cut hair parted to reveal pitch-black eyes surrounded by crimson striations in her flesh.
Quan Chi stepped to the side. "Sareena, be a dear and remove this obstacle." He commanded, gesturing to an ancient wrought-iron door that was rusted shut. Its hinges and joints were fused together, creating a solid mass that could not be bypassed. The demoness strutted up to the slab of metal and circled her hands to create an arcane sigil that seared itself into the metal. A glowing circle of hellfire erupted around the sigil as Sareena concentrated her magicks. The intense heat melted right through the iron door and collapsed the remnants into a puddle on the floor. Sareena stepped through, brandishing a pair of cresent blades as she did.
"I sense dark magicks here, master."
"Precisely the reason for our visit." Quan Chi concurred as he stepped through. The singular room behind the vault door contained a small wooden chest which the Netherrealm warlock promptly opened. Within was a smooth polished stone of onyx, radiating with hidden light. Quan Chi closed the box and lifted it off its shelf. "Let us return to the Netherrealm."
All of a sudden, symbols scripted in an arcane language began to glow across the room. Webs of energized magick quickly formed around the room, creating a net that closed off the entirety of the secret vault. Sareena started, blades flicked into ready positions. "What just happened?"
"It appears the late king and queen of Edenia were aware of what they kept in their vault." Quan Chi mused, studying the arcane wards nonchalantly. "This kind of magic can be bypassed, but not without effort." He passed the box off to Sareena and reached for his belt. Magick coalesced into a solid object; a heavy circular amulet, made of gold, with a green jewel in the centre. Quan Chi lifted his hand, taking aim at one of the glowing arcane symbols on the wall. A blast of red-violet energy struck the symbol and slowly disintegrated it over time. At last it had dissipated, but Quan Chi was rather drained from his use of the amulet. He looked down at his arm, cloaking it in a variety of magical seals. "The power of gods… Not an easy thing to tame."
Renewing himself through an arcane chant, Quan Chi levelled the amulet at another sigil on the wall…
The old throne room was dilapidated, its old finery burnt and ruined by age, conquest, and decay. There were no remnants of the previous regime leftover here. None of their decor, portraits, or sense of civility. Only a man, dressed in flowing red-black robes, with a massive scar running down the right side of his face and clear through his eye, stood within the disused throne room. He stroked his one goatee, utterly hairless apart from it, basking in the solitude of his control.
The moment was disturbed when two old wooden doors crashed open and a pair of men dashed into the throne room. One was dressed in a long black duster that reached to the floor, covered in a variety of straps and chains circling his waist and arms. His eyes were darkened and surrounded by light-deflecting black paint, making him appear near-demonic in appearance. The other bore the faded fatigues of a military officer, right down to the peaked cap. A variety of cybernetic arms kept his arms together, while a grafted cyclic generator had been fused to the centre of his chest in some arcane cyborg-like fashion. The darker of the pair spoke first, "Daegon! The arcane wards in the lesser treasuries have been sprung! Someone is trying to steal from the ancient vaults of Edenia!"
Daegon turned, his white scarred-over eye alive with malice. "Then there is little doubt in my mind who the perpetrators are; those damn desert rebels!" He growled. "Hsu Hao, you will go down to the vaults and ensure the thieves do not leave. Mavado, contact Shao Kahn in Z'Unkahrah. He will be most pleased when I tell him who we have captured."
"B-But there's more, sir, our forward spies are tracking a party of individuals entering our lands on approach from the Drylands. They appear to be from Earthrealm!" Mavado continued. Daegon stiffened, his expression knitting into concern as he pondered this reality.
"So, the rebels conspire against me with aid from other realms, do they? Well, they'll soon learn it was a mistake to cross the Red Dragon! I will gather Bannak and his brats, Jola and Kebral. We will face them and teach these interlopers a lesson!"
Meanwhile…
What remained of the realm of Edenia was a lush paradise of tranquil forests, beautiful rivers and waterfalls, as well as splendid towns and cities. Taven looked upon them with longing. Alas, the spirit of the Edenian people had been broken in the aftermath of Shao Kahn's victory and conquest. Only himself and a small handful were able to cling to their former selves. They were the remnant of the realm.
Their mission of the hour lay elsewhere. Beyond the townships and dwellings of the Edenians, surrounded by a massive moat many kilometres deep into which poured countless waterfalls, the royal palace had been left to rot and decay after Shao Kahn destroyed the royal family. What his new Earthrealm allies sought lay within its remains. "The palace remains whole, but trust not your eyes or your footing. It has been left to waste away and its physical instability presents as many threats as Red Dragon soldiers who patrol the grounds." He cautioned Fujin.
"We will send a single man in to locate the Deathstone."
"He had better be a strong man. King Jerrod ordered the Deathstone to be guarded with many magick runes and protective wards. None can remove the stone from its vault except for those who know how to bypass them." Asgaarth added.
"Man! This sounds like a movie I did, Raiders of the Missing Tomb. It was a prequel to The Temple of Katara Vala, see," Johnny exclaimed, "and we had this whole set of practical effects traps I had to get around."
"Huh, I actually remember watching that one." Jax mused. "Special effects were kinda shit."
"Yeah, the budget did not go to the VFX boys, I can tell you that." Johnny agreed.
"Then it is agreed. We will send the Cage Earthrealmer." Li Mei stated. She, like the others, here hunkered down behind a rock formation as they surveyed the old palace.
"You'll have to get in close. Not easy with Red Dragon patrols all around." Asgaarth said.
"Leave that to us." Fujin answered him. A shrill horn suddenly reverberated throughout the air, startling the Earthrealmers. Taven, Asgaarth, and Li Mei stiffened with fear.
"An alarm! We must have been spotted!" Li Mei hissed. Kenshi turned, attuning his senses.
"We've got company." He announced, drawing Sento. The ronin wasted no time striding towards the cluster of spirits his senses could discern: a total of seven armed Red Dragon soldiers. He plunged his blade into the heart of the leading man and then conjured a pulse of spirit energy to blast his body off of Sento and send his body smashing into his fellows.
"We will handle them." Taven told Fujin. "Whatever you're going to do, do it now while you still have a chance." The wind god nodded and beckoned for Johnny Cage to join him. The sounds of kombat erupted in their wake as the pair bolted for the moat surrounding the old palace. Loose grass whipped up behind their footfalls, Fujin's winds at their backs to propell them further and faster.
"What's the plan, Weather Man?" Johnny asked.
"At the very least, we get you over to the palace while I protect your escape. The Deathstone should be located in the lower levels of the palace treasury." Fujin answered.
"No sweat! This vault is gonna get Cag-… uh oh." Johnny stopped at the sudden sight of a trio of people advancing towards them. They wore matching black armor, the older of the two men sporting a commanders cape and metallic epaulettes on his shoulders, indicating some position of authority. The other two were younger than him, the man sporting a scruffy black beard dressed in black robes while the woman had malice in her eyes as silver glinted off various forms of armor strapped around her body.
Fujin and Johnny slowed, readying themselves for kombat. "Jola, Kebral, let us beat these Earthrealmers senseless. Attack, children! Attack!" Fujin rushed to the forefront, holding the pair at bay with strong gusts of wind while the older slipped around and made a beeline for Johnny.
"You, buddy boy, have got a weird concept of family bonding experiences." The actor remarked.
"Fool! I am Bannak, great and terrible soldier of the Red Dragon, loyal servant of Shao Kahn!" The man retorted.
"And I thought my resume was long." Johnny smirked as he stood his ground, steely and primed as the Red Dragon approached. Bannak whipped out throwing blades from within his sleeves, Johnny equally fast as he launched forward in a shadow kick, the green aura surrounding him deflecting the projectile knives harmlessly as his boot collided with Bannak's chin at top speed. Spun around by the blow, Bannak wasted little time recovering and drawing a sword that flicked around and knicked Johnny in the hip, forcing the actor to flinch as Bannak withdrew a black powder bomb from his belt and lit the fuse, rolling it across the ground towards Johnny. The actor lunged forward with a leaping punch as the bomb exploded behind him. Bannak quickly caught his fist, however, and landed two gut punches that knocked the wind out of Johnny before he whipped the pommel of his sword around and slammed it into Johnny's chin before a push kick sent him tumbling to the ground.
Chuckling at his seemingly imminent victory, Bannak gripped his weapon with both hands as he took up a stance to behead the actor. Nowhere near finished, Johnny performed a kip up before launching into a backflip kick that sent the sword flying from Bannak's hands, following up by a rising elbow and knee combo that struck the Red Dragon in the chin and gut simultaneously, Johnny finished it off with a sideways shadow axe kick, his boot colliding with the top of Bannak's skull. Now it was Bannak's turn to be laid out as Johnny landed, sufficiently pleased with his recovery. The Red Dragon soldier was far from defeated, though, and rolled to his feet as he sent a bottle of acid rolling Johnny's way. The glass broke as the actor stepped back, a green pool forming on the metal ground that began to hiss and crackle as the ground beneath it was dissolved. Avoiding the trap, Bannak surged forward and attacked with a dropkick, his twin boots smashing into Johnny's ribcage with a enough force to put the actor flat on his back.
Picking himself up, Bannak whipped out a pair of daggers as he slid across the ground into the rising Johnny, knocking him off his feet long enough for Bannak to stab the actor in the back. The actor recovered quick enough, forcing his way past the pain as he picked himself up to face a waiting Bannak. The hilt of his handheld weapon smashed across Johnny's face and then into his chin with enough force to catapult Johnny into the air. Bannak then hurled a single dagger that speared Johnny in the chest and knocked him down to the ground. Grimacing in pain, Johnny pushed on and got back up as Bannak approached him, surprising the soldier with a sudden axe kick that caught him in the gut. Pressing his advantage, Johnny ripped out the dagger and nailed him in the face with a punch before driving two knees into his gut and followed up with a spinning hook kick that knocked Bannak back, gasping for air as Johnny came at him again. "This has been marked 'return to sender'!" He remarked, stabbing Bannak in the thigh as a left and right jab smashed into Bannak's face before Johnny then struck with an overhead blow and then an uppercut, followed up with another shadow kick that spun the Red Dragon around.
The actor unleashed two twin shadow bolts that stunned Bannak and gave Johnny time to close the gap. A hard punch to Bannak's chest crushed his ribs and Johnny then grabbed his arm and broke it harshly, the soldier crying out in pain even as Johnny pulled his head under his arm and dislocated his shoulder, promptly turning and throwing Bannak onto his back as he writhed on the ground in pain for a moment longer before falling unconscious.
"Always wanted to do that to my old man." Johnny sighed as he rolled his shoulders. "Dad was such an asshole."
With kusanagi sword in hand, Fujin duelled with Kebral and Jola, his godly speed allowing him to handle the pair simultaneously. Alas, he could only do so much when Jola broke off and slipped past his billowing winds, the vengeful woman making a beeline for Johnny. The actor adjusted his shades as he sized up his next opponent. "Well well well, what have we here?"
"You face Jola, Earthrealm dog. I am Red Dragon. I know no fear." The woman snarled.
Johnny winced. "Geez, aren't you a ray of sunshine?" He mocked. "Whaddya say you take the plug outta your ass and we'll go get some lattes, huh?"
"I would rather flay you alive!" Jola hissed, breaking into a run.
Johnny shrugged. "Well, can't say as I didn't try to de-escalate things." He made to strike first but tripped on an unseen rock. Sprinting dead ahead, Jola staggered Johnny with a hip-check before swinging her arm around with the remainder of her momentum, executing a powerful uppercut that launched him off his feet. Drawing a pair of daggers, Jola pounced, aiming for the flesh of Johnny's neck only to strike air as the actor rolled out of her reach. With an irritated growl, Jola threw her weapons towards him only for Johnny to destroy them with a pair of shadow bolts. The actor was then on the offensive, attacking Jola with a hard backflip kick to the chin that knocked her senseless before following up with a second shadow-powered backflip that sent the Red Dragon somersaulting before being laid out on her back.
Far heartier than a first glance would suggest, Jola kipped-up to her feet as Johnny came at her again with a series of punches and kicks, each one blocked by Jola until she parried a low kick and promptly retorted with a kick to the shin that dropped Johnny to one knee, driving her fist into his face once, twice, three times, turning the third into an uppercut that knocked the actor on his back. Jola stepped forward and executed a crescent kick in an attempt to cave-in his skull only for Johnny to get up with a roll and avoid it.
"You will suffer for crossing the Red Dragon, Earthrealmer." Jola sneered.
"You know, sweet-cheeks, you have the looks to make it in Hollywood," Johnny remarked, "and the bitchy attitude to boot." Suddenly pulling out his phone, the actor snapped a picture. The burst of light from the strobe flash was enough to blind Jola long enough for Johnny to land a hard shadow kick that knocked the air from her lungs as the blow rattled her innards. Johnny turned and converted his momentum into a hook kick that caught Jola on the jaw, pitching her face to the side as Johnny then hit her with a forceball, the explosion of green energy pitching Jola back a few more feet. The actor attempted to press his advantage, only for the Red Dragon to counter with some more flash-fire powder, Johnny's clothes and hair singed by the intense flames, before she struck with two roundhouse kicks, one after another, and then using her momentum to launch into a cartwheel kick that put Johnny flat on the ground.
Rolling to the side and springing to his feet, Johnny caught the Red Dragon in an axe kick and followed up with a trio of hard kicks before executing a spinning hook kick that caught Jola across the head again. Jola attempted to get in a blow, only to meet Johnny's waiting hand as the actor parried with a krushing blow to her head that cracked her skull audibly. Johnny followed up with a rising shadow elbow before coming down in a hard backflip heel blow that smashed Jola downwards. Putting an end to the Red Dragon, Johnny dropped low and executed a kick to her shins before landing a front flip kick that smashed into Jola's chin and jaw, the hard clack of teeth meeting resounded in tandem with the crunch of bone as the blow overwhelmed her. Jola landed hard on her back and did not move as Johnny picked himself up. "I swear I had a girlfriend just like her. Can't remember who for the life of me-" He was cut off when Kebral's body slammed into a nearby tree and fell to the ground in an unconscious heap.
"Well met, Johnny Cage." Fujin prompted, sheathing his blade. "Time is of the essence. We cannot delay." The pair reached the edge of the moat and the actor peered over the edge, watching water disappear into darkness.
"That's a pretty far drop." He whistled.
"My winds will carry us across." Fujin said, beginning to conjure up a powerful tempest that would act as a bridge over the chasm. But before he could complete his kata, a flash of light appeared in the township adjacent them. They stopped and stared, realizing that a portal had opened up and was beginning to disgorge more of Shao Kahn's loyal soldiers. "Shao Kahn sends his agents aid." Fujin observed. "They will attack the others fighting with the rebels."
"Can't that guy just leave us alone for an hour?" Johnny groaned. "Now what?"
"You must go, Johnny Cage." Fujin urged. "Find and retrieve the Deathstone, but never touch it. Trust in your skills and your arcana, they will be your greatest allies in there." Summoning a powerful vortex, Fujin lifted Johnny right off his feet and propelled him clear across the moat. The actor cried out as he tumbled to a halt on the grassy ground, picking himself up as he looked back with sunglasses askew.
"A little warning next time?!" He exclaimed. But Fujin was already moving to rejoin the kombat, well out of earshot.
Standing on the edge of the township, watching his Red Dragon soldiers battle the rebellious forces plaguing his realm, Daegon crossed his arms with smug surety. "Not today, brother… this time you lose." He vowed to himself. Pounding footsteps in rhythmic march filled the air and Daegon turned to see a foursome of armored Kahn guards closing in on his position. They were led by one of the elite Umgadi which he took pleasant note of. The men halted and Jade approached him alone, dressed in her skintight green silks that concealed her many tattoos and many more hidden knives. "A pleasure, noble Umgadi. I applaud your rapid response."
"Shao Kahn took your message to heart, Regent Daegon." Jade informed him. "This had better not be a waste of his resources."
"Not at all. I spoke the truth and my urgency was entirely intended." Daegon answered, gesturing to the sprawling fight. "My Red Dragon have the culprits pinned down as we speak. I had thought Shao Kahn would be pleased to know that these cretins have been caught once and for all."
Jade surveyed the scene, nodding slowly as she took note of Kitana and Tanya joining the fight with the remainder of the Kahn's guard. "Boasting does not become you, Daegon. But you have done well. Shao Kahn will reward you richly." Reaching for her hip, Jade withdrew the base of her bo staff which snapped into full length with a flash of energy. "Come. To kombat."
The Red Dragon had proved a suitable distraction, a mere taste of the fighting to come while they bought time for reinforcements right from Shao Kahn himself to arrive and put an end to this.
Art Lean found himself surrounded by four big men. One carried two large knives, another held a spear, the other two were barehanded. "I'll give you this one chance to get outta my way," Art said as he sized them up. They were big, it was true, and apparently strong, but it seemed to him that they were most likely self- taught in the martial arts. Their stances did not reflect any particular school. "I'm not here to fight. I'm here to help my friends with an errand."
"We don't care what you're here for," the man with the spear in his hands replied. "We'd rather drag your hide back to Shao Kahn."
"That," Art said, "is regrettable." The four began to close in.
The Umgadi led the assault, singling out some of the Earthrealmers for themselves. Jax lunged at his attacker, but was knocked out of the air by a rapid-fire sequence of martial arts moves as Tanya landed an axe kick, a front kick, and a palm strike to his chest. The senior Umgadi followed with more punches and kicks, scoring repeated hits to Jax's body and face. Jax tried to counterstrike, but his blows were ineffective against the raw agility of the Edenian. A windmilling mallet blow intended for Tanya's shoulder went wild, crunching right through one of the rocks he had been hiding behind and splitting it in half with a sound like a car wreck. His next punch also strayed dangerously from its target, ramming a hole in the rock... and worse than that, getting his hand stuck inside the hole.
As he struggled extricate himself, Kai was making good use of his Shaolin training at the other side of the fight, using athletic back-spring kicks and split kicks to cut through the small group of Outworld warriors. Out of the corner of his right eye she saw Jax trying to pry his fist free of the wall, saw Tanya raise her hand for a slicing, palm-edge blow to Jax's throat, and without concern for himself flipped between them to block the attack.
Tanya's response to his intervention was lightning-quick. Brandishing her razor tonfas she hurtled them both through the air in an effort to pin the monk, but Kai eluded her efforts by jumping up and grabbing hold of a thick tree branch, then swinging like a pendulum to deliver a smashing kick to the top of Tanya's head. Driven by his own momentum, Kai leaped onto a rock, then jumped off and skillfully executed a handstand onto Tanya's shoulders. That move flowing seamlessly into a midair turn, he swung downward, and executed a front kick into the Umgadi's back that sent her flying across the landscape. "Do you need assistance, Mister Briggs?" Kai inquired, landing beside him. The taste of adrenaline was like an aluminum strip across the back of his tongue. "You are vulnerable now."
"Don't I know it!" Jax frowned and pulled his arm backward with a grunt of effort, finally tearing it free of the rock in a shower of dust and pebbly debris. He shook off his metal hand as Asgaarth joined them. Tanya, meanwhile, had gathered herself up off the ground and was coming at them again.
"Stay your hand, Umgadi! You dare touch a fellow Edenian?" Asgaarth commanded. The woman slowed and offered a humourless smirk.
"You think me so high and mighty?" She questioned in return. "But maybe I will pause for a moment. Why don't you enjoy some of my Devil's Dust instead?" Tanya flattened her hand before her face, revealing a pile of red powder within. She blew heartily and it carried on the wind, blasting Asgaarth and clinging to his feathers on every exposed surface of his person. Stretching out her arms, flowing red tattoos blossomed to life along Tanya's arms as she channeled her arcana. "Burn, rebel!"
She swept her arms before her in a cross, flashing an X of bright flame that struck Asgaarth dead-on and ignited her Devil's Dust. The Interrian was awash with flame, crying out as he burned before the scoffing Umgadi.
Fujin arrived and took note, acting quickly by channeling his power to remove the air from around Asgaarth, killing the fire instantly. Singed and blackened, the old General collapsed and was quickly aided by Taven. The prince looked up as a powerful gust blew Tanya off her feet and sent her tumbling like chaff in the wind. "He is hurt." Taven told Fujin.
"You have done more than enough to aid our cause." The wind god responded. "Go now. Leave the rest to us." Taven nodded, helping Asgaarth away from the melee. Coating his arms with arcane magick, Fujin directed his powers towards the Outworlders and conjured two powerful wind funnels that scooped up their foes and carried them away through the open air. Some slammed into the township, breaking against the cobblestone streets. Reaching for the crossbow on his hip, the wind god turned and fired a rapid barrage that struck the opened fans of Kitana, his bolts clattering off the solid metal of her weapons. Drawing his sword, Fujin whipped around to parry her assault as she struck him in a whirlwind of blue silks.
"Be gone, Earthrealmer! You do not belong here!" Kitana seethed.
"But you do. Though not as you are." Fujin retorted. He pushed her off and she backflipped to a ready position, collapsing her fans into daggers before coming after the wind god again. Fujin flicked his him blade back and forth, each parry of Kitana's swipes and lunges met with a burst of orange sparks.
"Mind your tongue. You speak to a daughter of Shao Kahn." Snarled the princess.
"Your claim rings hollow, Princess Kitana." Fujin replied, summoning a blast of wind that knocked her well away from him. "I know who you truly ought to be."
Kitana composed herself and fixed him with a narrowed glare. "You are a fool if you expect me to heed the words of a charlatan." She bit back, primed for kombat. Kitana was quick to open up with a swipe from her bladed fans, only for the god of wind to sidestep and then take control of the very air in Kitana's lungs. Drawing it out and conjuring a solid mass with his powers, Fujin promptly blew Kitana over with a burst from her own breath. As the princess recovered, her opponent was already moving, walking on air well over Kitana's head with enough speed that even a reaching slice with her bladed fan could not even catch his ankle. Fujin then reversed his walk into a dive kick that slammed into the back of Kitana's head, pitching her forward yet again.
Just as the princess tried to pick herself up, Fujin came storming in as he used his powers to hover off the ground and land a series of spinning kicks that knocked Kitana off her feet and higher into the air with each one. His kusanagi blade pulled from its scabbard, the blade then twirled around instead of his feet, slashing Kitana multiple times before knocking her back down to the ground. Forcing herself to her feet, Kitana brandished her twin fans with a short growl as Fujin alighted before her. She charged ahead with rapid, graceful slashes, each one blocked and parried by the equally swift Fujin, his thin sword posing a far greater danger than Kitana had first assumed. This fact was further amplified when Fujin sent his blade whirling like a drill into Kitana's shoulder before pulling back and attacking with a heavy overhead slash that left a bloody wound running down the princess' torso. Knowing time was short, Fujin made to end this confrontation as soon as possible... and he knew just how to do it.
Kitana quickly went on the offensive, summoning her arcana as she used her fans to conjure a vortex that lifted Fujin off his feet and spun him around. But just when she thought she had the wind god on the ropes, Fujin converted the energy conjured by his momentum into a gusting wind funnel of his own, sending it towards the princess and catching her in a billowing whirlwind that spun Kitana in circles. Priming a single bolt in his crossbow, Fujin scored a direct headshot that knocked Kitana out of the wind and crashing into some nearby debris, the princess groaning as she fell still on the ground.
Fujin turned his mind back to the others locked in kombat. Li Mei had helped her allies escape, the scorch marks leftover from her arcana evidence enough. Art Lean faced the last of his four opponents, the man who used the two knives. The man still held the knives up in a defensive cross, but he was otherwise nearly immobile. He was kneeling on the ground, and seemed hurt. Not as badly hurt as the other three, perhaps; they lay unconscious where they had fallen.
"I did warn you this would be regrettable," Art said. "But you have to understand, me and my friends really don't have time for roadblocks… living or otherwise."
"Come on, you Earthrealm bastard, I ain't afraid of you," the knife-wielder snarled. "This fight ain't over yet!"
"You're mistaken," Art replied.
His left foot snapped forward, between the raised knives, taking the man just below the ribs. The fellow was knocked backward and away with his arms flung wide. The two knives flew off and skittered across the rocky terrain.
Fujin approached him. "Are you well, Art Lean?"
"Never better. This kombat ain't so bad." Art responded. He reached for his belt and withdrew a pair of nunchucks he had borrowed from the Shaolin armory at Ying Fortress. "I didn't even have to break out these bad boys yet."
Fujin smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. "Take pride in your victory. But do not let your guard down." His gaze turned elsewhere. Tanya and Jade were rushing towards him to avenge the fallen Kitana. They were joined by other Outworld soldiers of varying species.
"I'll cover your flank," Art offered as he moved to head off the soldiers. Fujin approached the Umgadi as they levelled their weapons at him.
"To lay hands on Princess Kitana is a crime punishable by death." Tanya threatened, a naginata spear in hand.
"To learn is to suffer. To keep her from suffering is a crime unto itself." Fujin sagely responded. "Keeping her from the truth will only bring harm in the future."
"It is by Shao Kahn's command that we keep the princess secure." Jade countered. "We are her servants, not her handlers."
"By acting in the interest of Shao Kahn, you are." The wind god retorted, his body surrounded by a surge of high-pressure winds. "For which I will hand out discipline." Summoning his powers, Fujin struck both Umgadi with hard gusting winds, drawing in a southerly wind that staggered the pair before unleashing a northern gale that flattened them. Shooting ahead within a tornado of his conjuring, Fujin sucked up both Jade and Tanya and spun them around in dizzying circles before pitching them back to the ground. Jade attempted to retaliate with shadow kick, only for Fujin to draw her into a personal whirlwind and tumble her around before kicking the Umgadi out of the gusting winds where she sprawled across the ground. Tanya then attempted to teleport in and attack Fujin from behind, only for the wind god to be ready and waiting for her with his crossbow, the weapon loaded with heavily energized bolts that struck the Edenian like a pair of heavy gusts.
The two warriors had been thoroughly staggered, Fujin's attacks wearing on both Jade and Tanya to a point where they were breathing heavily. The wind god knew just how to defeat them and used his powers to suck the air from their lungs. Suddenly deprived of oxygen, their air was turned into solid masses that struck them both with enough force to lay them flat on their backs, neither of them having the breathing capacity to continue fighting. Fujin turned his attention back to the fight, where Daegon was striding onto the scene with a long golden sword in hand. "It appears the famed Kahn's daughter is not the stories claim her to be, nor her feared bodyguard."
"It is foolhardy to seek kombat with a god." Fujin said, drawing his kusanagi. Daegon chuckled and lifted his weapon up to be seen in all its glory.
"This is the Drakesword. Legends say it was forged by Argus himself." He claimed. "Perhaps only the weapon of a god can defeat a god." He offered a sinister grin as he assumed a kombat stance while Fujin levelled his thin blade in Daegon's direction…
The stream of energy from the divine amulet wore hard on the magical wards surrounding Quan Chi's arm but it wore even harder on the magical sigil within the vault. As it dissipated, the magick containing him and Sareena fell apart like so many falling stars, casting the room in a brilliant glisten of arcane light. Sighing in satisfaction, the amulet disappeared as Quan Chi strode forward confidently. "Let us step free, Sareena. I do not wish to linger where more intrusive magick may be found." The demoness followed him out into the corridor. They started walking, Quan Chi trusting his senses to know when it would be safe to open a portal back to the Netherrealm.
Before they could get too far, however, an old wooden trapdoor shattered as Johnny Cage fell through the ceiling.
"AUGH! Man! Gotta watch my footing on that stuff!" He groaned, picking himself up and nursing a cramp in his leg. He shook it off and surveyed his surroundings, freezing where he stood once he caught sight of Quan Chi and Sareena. "Uh… Ah shit, why do I get the feeling you're here for the same thing I am?"
The warlock offered an amused smile. "What is this jest? One of Raiden's blind fools has been sent on an errand." He stepped forward, green arcane power forming around his forearms. "Hear me, errand boy, let us pass and I will consider sparing your soul."
"One, Johnny Cage is no errand boy, baldy. Two, how about you let your bodacious babe there hand over the chest and you won't have to tell your sorcerer buddy you got beat up by a human." The actor retorted, adjusting his sunglasses.
With a bemused look, Quan Chi circled his hands and conjured up a field of bones beneath Johnny's feet that sprouted into a skeletal cage around the actor. Reciting a profane chant, a portal appeared behind Johnny's whose power began to push the actor towards Quan Chi. The bone cage shattered and Johnny was flung to the ground at the feet of the warlock. Sareena snickered while her master levitated Johnny's sunglasses right off his face. Quan Chi took the glasses in his hand and slowly crushed them. He dropped the fragments and ground them into the floor with his foot. "I'm going to enjoy dismembering you," he said. "If you think you can bring harm to me, human, you are sorely mistaken."
Johnny scampered to his feet and took one look at a fragment of his ruined eye-ware. "Those were five-hundred dollar sunglasses, asshole." Realizing the danger the warlock presented, Johnny knew he needed to act quickly, dropping into a sliding split as Quan Chi conjured an arcane skull and shot it forth a second too slowly. The blast of magick passed over Johnny's head as he drew his fist back, Quan Chi recognized the imminent danger he was in just seconds before it happened.
The look on his face was priceless, comical even, Quan Chi's eyes bugging out of his head as the wind rushed from his lungs. He stumbled back and clutched his groin, a victim of Johnny's 'nutkracker' punch. Johnny sprang to his feet as Quan Chi remained doubled over by unbearable pain, groaning and gasping as he struggled to recover. "I don't care what kinda guy you are, it always hurts to get nailed in the nads." The actor remarked. He looked to Sareena. "Do me a favour, gorgeous, and hand over the chest."
"Cretin!" Sareena hissed, a flash of hellfire transforming her into her demonic form; a creature of brimstone, veins of magma, utterly surrounded by dark magicks, her change left Johnny thoroughly freaked out. Taking advantage, Sareena dropped the chest and brandished her crescent blades, hooking them into Johnny's shoulders to give her the leverage to spin him around and land a kick that sent him tumbling down the hall. Harnessing her own control over magick, Sareena chanted a glyph into being on the floor beneath the fallen actor that forced him to feel drained and too weak to stand. She returned to her humanoid form and approached her master.
"Damn fool…" Quan Chi hissed. "I would flay his soul for such an indecency were I not preoccupied."
"He has been dealt with." Sareena promised, holding out the chest. "Let us flee this place once and for all." Quan Chi nodded in agreement, the warlock conjuring a portal that allowed them to step through and disappear out of the realm. The glyph beneath Johnny faded away and, by the time he found the strength to raise his head, the Netherrealmers were long gone.
Fujin's blade struck Daegon's sword again, sparks flickering between the two as metal clashed with metal. Fujin's divine skill was unparalleled, the wind god untouched through his masterful control of the duel. Daegon was cut in many places but remained upright and fighting, sustained by some ab-human physiology or an underestimated force of will.
Fujin had no doubt he could handle Daegon himself but he was more concerned for the fate of his human allies.
Kai, Jax, Art, and Kenshi were still on their feet but slowly being backed into a corner by the Outworld warriors. Princess Kitana, Jade, and Tanya were also back on their feet, helping Daegon and his Red Dragon to close in on the Earthrealmers. Kicking a gust of air under his feet, Fujin propelled himself back and away from Daegon to stand with the humans. "Are you well, Kenshi Takahashi?"
Kenshi was cut in numerous places, most notably a dark red line marred his left cheek. But a blood-coated Sento was still in his grasp and his feet were firm on the ground. "They nicked me a few times but not bad." He promised the wind god. His fighting spirit was admirable but Fujin knew the odds were stacked against them. He could not simply teleport them away, not with Johnny still somewhere in the palace. Making a chose, Fujin closed his eyes and channeled his thoughts into telepathic speech as only a god could.
"Raiden! We need your assistance right away!"
Fujin opened his eyes and drew his crossbow, taking aim at Daegon. "You think that little toy will be enough to harm me?" The Red Dragon leader scoffed. Fujin's answer was to pull the trigger, a single crossbow bolt bouncing off the Drakesword and ricocheting off armor plates, Kitana's fans, blasting through the head of one Outworld soldier, piercing the hand of another, slicing through both knees of another, before finally becoming imbedded in a tree.
"Not harm, Daegon. Distract." Fujin replied.
Thunder rumbled overhead. A flash of lightning struck the ground between them and blew the Outworlders off their feet. Materializing within the light, Raiden, Magnus, and Mileena teleported onto the scene.
"Aw, hell yeah, y'all are screwed now!" Jax exclaimed with a grin. Raiden wasted no time channeling an electric blast that kept the Outworlders at bay before Magnus charged forward with axes in hand and slammed them into the ground, generating another electric pulse as he channeled his arcana into his weapons. Any Outworld trying to get up was shocked back to the ground.
The rest of Earthrealm's champions, embolden by the appearance of the thunder god and two more of their allies, rushed the Outworld forces. Jax slammed his metal fists with bone-crunching strength into the faces of a pair of soldiers. Kai's sword cut clean through the innards of another, matching Kenshi as his katana split an Outworlder from top to bottom.
Mileena threw out her sai and teleported to them, impaling the head of an Outworld shoulder as she slammed him into the ground. She was almost immediately set upon by Kitana, a blast of arcane winds from her fans forcing Mileena back to her feet. "Father should have tasked me with killing you during the tournament." The princess growled. "I'll make up for the oversight here and now."
"I have no desire to fight you or hurt you, Kitana," Mileena replied, sais raised and gripped tightly, "but I will defend myself."
"Traitor!" Kitana threw out her weapons, collapsed into blades that Mileena rolled under, popping up just as Kitana retrieved her fans so that their weapons met in a clash of sparks.
Raiden turned to his brother. "Are you well, Fujin?" He inquired.
"Better now that we have your aid." Fujin replied. "There is nothing more to do here. Johnny Cage must be returned to us before we can depart."
"I will summon him." Raiden's eyes glowed with divine power as he summoned a lightning bolt from above that teleported the actor right into their midst. He stumbled to the ground before looking up in annoyance.
"You guys really need to give a guy some warning before you move him around like that!" He complained. Johnny shook his head and surveyed the scene unfolding behind the gods. His allies and friends were all engaged in kombat, with Magnus and Mileena being new additions. He spotted Art Lean. The champion MMA fighter had been kombating a green, carapaced Outworlder armed with a pair of sais. Art himself was using a set of nunchucks. As Johnny watched, Art had twisted one sai away from his opponent by catching it with the chain of his nunchucks. Art threw the metal weapon well away from his foe. The kombat did not last long after that.
"Where is the Deathstone?" Fujin asked.
Johnny sighed and dusted himself off. "Bad news, Windy City, some freaky bald bastard beat us to it. Him and his kinda-hot demon lady-friend." Raiden's brow furrowed.
"Quan Chi." He muttered through gritted teeth. "We are assailed on multiple fronts."
"Yeah… sorry about that." Johnny sheepishly apologized.
"There is nothing to be sorry for, Johnny Cage. There was no way we could have known Quan Chi was moving accordingly." Raiden told him. "For now, it is best we return to Earthrealm and regroup."
Mileena's heated kombat with Kitana finally reached a breaking point when the klone launched a spinning snap kick that planted the princess in the dirt. "You disgust me," Kitana spat, "allying yourself with the enemies of our father."
"I made my choice because he made his!" Mileena retorted. "I was never a daughter to him. Only a tool. And you are too, Kitana. I just wish I could make you see it."
"Liar!" Kitana roared, springing to her feet, fans clenched tightly.
"Look around you! Does none of this seem familiar?" Mileena demanded. "How can you be so sure Shao Kahn speaks the truth? That he's even your real father? He speaks only what serves his purposes, be it half-lies or total deceptions!"
"You dare sully his name?" Kitana questioned.
"I dared to open my eyes!" Mileena responded. "If you did too, you would see what I saw."
"And what is that?"
"The truth."
Silence followed for a brief, tense second. "Mileena! Hurry!" Magnus called out, wrenching his axe free from a soldier's head as he sprinted back to Raiden's rallying point. Mileena followed, glancing backwards to see Kitana standing her ground, watching instead of pursuing.
She saw no more. For the instant she was in range of the thunder god, Raiden teleported them all out of the realm.
Kitana watched the ground sizzle, ambient arcs of lightning rippling between blades of grass as the air slowly cleared after the use of Raiden's power. The Earthrealmers were gone and so was the rebellion plaguing Daegon. His name… something about it reeked of the familiar, something about him that she could not put her finger on. He had always seemed so and she simply chalked it up to his prominence as Regent of Edenia. But now the concept rang different…
So too did Edenia. Something about its presence, its warmth and light, it all seemed like a ghost to her. A thing of the past rearing its head, playing with her mind like a phantom tricking the living with its craftiness. Something about it she simply couldn't shake. Kitana collapsed her fans, cursing her traitorous sister… was Mileena even her sister? Not even in the disowned sense, had she ever been there since birth? Shao Kahn always claimed as such.
The words, no matter how much she hated them, lingered in her mind. "Princess?" Kitana stirred from her reverie as Jade approached. "Is something the matter?"
"No." Kitana lied. Her thoughts still dwelt on Mileena's words. They stirred something small and simple. Not memories, not thoughts, not concepts…
A feeling.
Meanwhile…
Sub-Zero and Scorpion had done as Raiden asked and travelled to the Temple of the Elements. They were certain their vigilant duty would be a quiet one, the spectre's defiance forcing Quan Chi and Shang Tsung to reconsider the importance of the Icon of the Elements.
Alas, that was not to be.
Scorch marks dotted the walls, almost as frequent as icy impacts did. The sounds of kombat raged through the temple amid the fallen bodies of elemental golems. Scorpion and Sub-Zero fought back to back against a pair of demonesses. The spectre knew them well; they were two of the shadow sisters who served the Circle of Shadow: Kia and Jataaka.
Kia's boomerang blades whizzed past Sub-Zero as the cryomancer rained ice shards from his hands. The pair moved in circles, attempting to score a wound from a distance that would provide them the chance to draw in close and finish the fight. Jataaka's hellfire blade clashed with Scorpion's katana, the two duelling with equally-managed demonic strength. "You will not touch the Icon!" Scorpion vowed, throwing out his kunai that narrowly missed the demoness.
"You simpleton! Do you really think that's what we're here for?" Jataaka sneered, her blade meeting his as Scorpion's kunai flew back into his hand.
"Do not play games with me!" Scorpion conjured a blast of hellfire that surrounded his body and blew Jataaka away. He whipped out his kunai again, this time spearing clean through her midsection. "COME HERE!" He bellowed, drawing her in close. Eyes seethed with burning vengeance. "You will tell me of your purpose before I send you back to the Netherrealm."
Jataaka laughed, seemingly unhurt by his kunai. "You forget, Scorpion, we demons like hellfire too." At once, she transformed into her charred demonic form, feeding off the hellfire he was conjuring. Jataaka plunged her sword through his ribs before she rammed her horns into his face, driving Scorpion to his knees. "As for what we want… well, isn't it obvious? Quan Chi wants you back, and you practically delivered yourself to us on a silver platter. All alone, with no one but a useless cryomancer around."
"Never! I refuse to return to his service!" Scorpion roared, reaching for his second katana. But Jataaka twisted her blade, halting him with a surge of pain as her spiked tail pierced through his other shoulder.
"Come, sister. We have claimed our prize!" Kia teleported away from Sub-Zero, pouncing on the back of Scorpion as she also assumed her demon form. Her blades cut deep into his back as Scorpion was pinned between the two demons.
"Hanzo!" Bi-Han cried out as he boosted himself across the temple on a slide of ice. He fashioned a spear in one hand and hurled it towards Jataaka's head. But the combined hellfire from the two demonesses melted his projectile before it could pierce her skin. "No, no!" The Lin Kuei leapt off his slide and fashioned two kori swords in his hands. Scorpion reached for him.
"Bi-Han…" he gasped, "remember me-!" With that, Kia and Jataaka sucked him down into a portal, the trio disappearing into the Netherrealm long before Sub-Zero's swords could rend them from his friend.
"No… dammit, no!" The cryomancer looked around, seeing no signs of further invasion. He cursed his failure, realizing that the demons had never come for the Icon but for the former champion of their realm. He could not imagine what horrors would be inflicted upon Hanzo as punishment for his betrayal of Quan Chi.
Water and Earth erupted within the room as Suijin and Dojin teleported into the room. "Bi-Han, we sensed a breach of the realm barrier," the goddess of water said as she approached his forlorn form, "what has happened? What of the Icon of the Elements?"
"That was not their goal." The cryomancer answered, turning around and slipping off his mask. "I fear there are much bigger problems on the horizon. If we do not act carefully, we are all doomed."