Kung Lao (3rd Timeline)

Kung Lao is one of the main protagonists of Mortal Kombat 1. He is a Shaolin Monk and one of the champions of Earthrealm, who vows to honor his ancestors. Kung Lao grew up in the village of Fengjian alongside his best friend Raiden, and was an ancestor of the Great Kung Lao. Kung Lao was far more restless than his friend, wanting to live a more exciting life than farm in the fields. 
He is voiced by Sunil Malhotra.
==Biography==
In the New Era led by Liu Kang, Kung Lao, a descendant of the Great Kung Lao, finds himself as a humble farmer in Fengjian Village alongside his close friend Raiden. Martial arts training under Madam Bo, a former Lin Kuei ninja turned restaurant owner, shapes their routine. Kung Lao yearns for excitement, leading to a friendly competition with Raiden, resulting in Kung Lao's victory after a lively sparring match. Their celebration at Madam Bo's teahouse takes an unexpected turn when a Lin Kuei ninja named Smoke threatens her. Kung Lao and Raiden spring into action, and Lao himself took on Scorpion. Afterwars, he distracted the Lin Kuei's leader Sub-Zero
defeating Smoke and others. Liu Kang, observing from afar, reveals the orchestrated nature of the Lin Kuei's attack, testing Kung Lao and Raiden's capabilities. Liu Kang, a God of Fire, unveils their destiny to defend Earthrealm, urging them to join him at the Wu Shi Academy for training.
Embracing the opportunity for adventure, Kung Lao and Raiden join Liu Kang's new group of champions. As they progress, the group expands to include Johnny Cage and Kenshi Takahashi. Kung Lao's inventive spirit leads to the creation of a unique weapon – a hat with curved blades. Despite initial skepticism, the hat's effectiveness convinces even Raiden.
Preparations for the inter-realm tournament unfold, hosted by Outworld. In a gauntlet between the champions, Raiden emerges victorious, earning the title of Earthrealm's representative. The tournament intensifies as Kung Lao, previously unbeaten by Raiden, faces defeat for the first time. Liu Kang grants Raiden a special amulet, preparing him for the challenges ahead.
With concerns for Raiden's safety, Kung Lao accompanies the Earthrealm party to Outworld. As Raiden defeats General Shao, Geras reveals Shang Tsung's rebellion. Liu Kang sends Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, and Kenshi on a secret mission to capture the sorcerer, aware that Raiden's visibility may jeopardize the plan.
Venturing into the Wastes, Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, and Kenshi encounter Shang Tsung and witness his invasion of a Tarkatan encampment, capturing Baraka. Amidst extracting bone marrow, Baraka breaks free, battling Shang Tsung. However, Kung Lao and Kenshi intervene, preventing Baraka from finishing the sorcerer, intending to hang Tsung, in a S cunning move, transforms into a Tarkatan and escapes, leaving the Earthrealm trio stunned. An enraged Baraka, believing them to be Shang Tsung's minions, attacks, but Kenshi defeats him. Kenshi then explains their mission to Baraka, who, despite initial hostility, accepts their alliance. Baraka discloses his past as a merchant afflicted by Tarkat disease, leading to his banishment to the Wastes.ent to the Wastes.
Agreeing to help the Earthrealmers, Baraka leads them to Shang's lab. Infiltrating quietly, they find Princess Mileena seemingly captive. Shang Tsung, Tanya, and Rain discuss injecting her with a serum derived from pure Tarkatan essence. Believing harm is intended, the Earthrealm trio confronts them. Tanya orders their execution, and a fierce battle ensues, resulting in the Earthrealmers accusing Shang Tsung of endangering the princess. Shang Tsung manipulates the situation, feigning innocence and claiming he aimed to help Mileena. Kenshi attempts to free her, but the distraught Mileena questions why they stopped Shang Tsung, revealing her Tarkat affliction. Shang Tsung seizes the opportunity to inject her with the serum. Kitana, General Shao, and Goro enter, with Kitana distressed over the scene. Shao accuses the Earthrealmers of interfering, and Shang Tsung suggests a conspiracy.
It's disclosed that Quan Chi made the prophecy, and Shao, Shang Tsung, and Quan Chi share a common "benefactor." They reveal their collusion and discuss the prophecy's fulfillment, with Kitana agreeing to inform the Empress. Shang Tsung explains to Shao that the Earthrealmers sought to capture him, leading to their intervention. The trio learns that they are pawns in a larger scheme orchestrated by a mysterious benefactor. Locked in Shang Tsung's gruesome underground lab, the Earthrealmers, including the now-blinded Kenshi, endure both physical and psychological torment. Syzoth, their jailer, provides Johnny Cage with medicine to alleviate Kenshi's suffering, revealing he aids Shang Tsung due to his family's captivity. Syzoth, a Zaterran with shape-shifting abilities, discloses that Shang Tsung exploited this unique trait to learn shapeshifting.
Shang Tsung arrives, announcing fatal experiments on their bodies to erase evidence. As he departs, Syzoth unleashes Tarkatans on the prisoners, intending them to be devoured. Kung Lao and Baraka managed to battle the Tarkatan clones, including a Super Tarkatan. Amidst the chaos, Johnny Cage and Kenshi are confined in electrified cages, but Baraka and Kung Lao manage to free them. During the struggle, Syzoth tries to thwart their escape but is defeated by Baraka and Kung Lao. Despite pleading for death to save his family from Shang Tsung's wrath, Baraka spares Syzoth. Shang Tsung returns, revealing Syzoth's family's demise, and initiates a poisonous gas release. Unable to open the sealed door, Baraka breaks it, allowing the group to flee into the Living Forest. Johnny Cage admires the scenery, while Baraka explains that the trees hold the souls of ancestors, excluding Syzoth due to Zaterrans being unwelcome. Syzoth shares his tragic history – once a Zaterran outcast, he became Shang Tsung's "oddity" before the sorcerer's demand for his unique gift escalated, holding his family hostage.
Encountering Ashrah battling demons, the group is mistaken for demons and attacked. After defeating her, they clarify their identity, and Ashrah explains her pursuit by demons sent by Quan Chi, Shang Tsung's ally. Recognizing aligned interests, they agree to find and confront Quan Chi. Johnny Cage protests, wanting to return Kenshi to Earthrealm for medical attention. Following Ashrah, she reveals her transformation from a demoness, seeking redemption and opposing Quan Chi's defilement of Earthrealm and Outworld. Encountering Quan Chi and his allies Nitara, Havik, Darrius, and Sareena, the heroes witness the dark sorcerer using a soul stealer. Ashrah warns that one stealer can cause massive devastation, and multiple ones on Earthrealm could lead to millions of deaths. Determined to prevent this, they decide to confront Quan Chi. Johnny Cage insists that Kenshi remain behind but gifts him Sento as gratitude for saving his life.
In the ensuing battle, Ashrah defeats Nitara, but Quan Chi uses the soul stealer to create a formidable minion, Ermac, by combining souls from the Living Forest. Despite overwhelming odds, Ashrah and Syzoth manage to defeat Havik, Darrius, Quan Chi, and Ermac. However, Kenshi, driven to protect his friends, joins the fight. Hearing Sento's ancestral voices, he gains astral vision and stabs Ermac, imbuing Sento with telekinetic power. Together, Ashrah and Kenshi defeat Ermac, causing the captive souls to go haywire. During the chaos, Ashrah shuts down the soul stealer, and the captive souls attack Quan Chi, rendering him unconscious. With Quan Chi neutralized, the group parts ways with Baraka, and Johnny offers Syzoth and Ashrah a place in Earthrealm, confident Liu Kang will welcome them. Ashrah happily accepts the invitation, having never had a home before. Meanwhile, Shang Tsung informs his benefactor, Kronika, about the progress of the soul stealers, their obedient army, and a plan to sway the Lin Kuei from Liu Kang. Kronika praises Shang Tsung's efforts, promising rewards for his actions.
Syzoth prowls the Sun Do rooftops during a festival patrolled by Li Mei's constables and General Shao's troops. Meanwhile, Mileena and Tanya flirt, drawing Kitana's caution about Umgadi, given their oaths. Kitana advises Mileena to wait until she's Empress to change laws, but Mileena walks away in dissatisfaction. The Earthrealmers and Ashrah disguise themselves while Syzoth creates a diversion. Spotted by Reiko, he's injured, leading to a confrontation with Li Mei and Kitana. Syzoth defeats them with Kenshi's aid, battles Tanya and Khameleon, and is surrounded by Shao's forces. Johnny, Ashrah, and Kung Lao intervene, allowing Syzoth to defeat Shao and Goro before escaping to Earthrealm. An irritated Bi-Han waits to see Lord Liu Kang, asserting his authority as Grandmaster. Smoke and Kuai Liang mention their father's tradition, but Bi-Han dismisses it, stating Tomas will never truly be Lin Kuei by blood. Raiden interrupts, and Liu Kang charges the Lin Kuei with finding and destroying the soul stealers on Earth and capturing Shang Tsung. Raiden offers to join, but Bi-Han dismisses him, and Liu Kang says he and Kung Lao are needed elsewhere.
During the Battle of Armageddon, Kung Lao can be selected as the Final Warrior who Liu Kang assists in defeating Titan Shang Tsung. Sometime later, Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Kenshi, and Raiden catch up with current events. Johnny plans to direct a film explaining the game events, but his friends decline roles. Raiden and Kung Lao train new initiates, Kenshi's work for the Taira shows progress, and Liu Kang helps create the Shirai Ryu clan in Japan with Kuai Liang and Smoke. Liu Kang promises to call on his friends again when needed, and they express gratitude for the positive impact he's had on their lives. 
As depicted in his ending, Kung Lao took on Shujinko as a student, confident he could train the boy, and his power to copy others abilities, on his own despite Raiden's warnings. Hoever, as Shujinko grew more arrogant, Kung Lao realised that he had failed to each him humility. After he, Liu Kang and Raiden managed to subdue his wayard student, the Fire God was forced to wipe his memory, and Kung Lao agreed that this time around, both he and Raiden would together ensure Shujinko remained on the right path. 
== Powers and Abilities ==
=== Powers ===
* Superhuman Strength: Kung Lao has incredible strength to kill anyone easily despite being human. He is strong enough to overextend anyone's elbows until they rip off. Kung Lao can also be able to uppercut someone's head off and can even separate it from his neck by launching himself up into the air.
* Superhuman Durability: Kung Lao's durability far surpasses that of a normal mortal human. He can withstand powerful attacks from other beings with immense levels of strength. Kung Lao had avoided getting injured after being knocked out by Goro.
* Superhuman Speed: Kung Lao can move and attack anyone at impressive speeds.
* Superhuman Agility:
* Magic: Kung Lao possesses magical powers that can be seen via a blue effect.
** Telekinesis: Kung Lao is able to telekinetically control his hat in order to direct its course and can also send it back to him while it's in flight.
** Shockwave Manipulation: Kung Lao can also create shockwaves with a blue effect that can send his opponents back and can also destroy the front of anyone's upper body and face.
** Wind Manipulation: By spinning round and round, he can create wind vortexes to blow enemies back and can send a severed head spinning around him.
=== Abilities ===
* Master Martial Artist: Being trained in martial arts by Madame Bo ever since he was a boy, he has proved to be worthy of joining Liu Kang's champions. He managed to best Raiden in a fight so they can decide who gets to pay for dinner. After the Lin Kuei had started an attack on Madame Bo's restaurant, he and Raiden went to fight off the ninjas whom they easily knock out. Kung Lao felt proud after besting the Lin Kuei's best ninjas like Smoke, Scorpion, and the Lin Kuei's grandmaster, Sub-Zero. However, they revealed that they were holding back and had allowed Kung Lao to win. Had they not, he and Raiden would've not have survived against them. He immediately requested Liu Kang's offer to become an Earthrealm champion. After training with the monks at the Wu Shi Academy, he became more confident and felt like he was the best. Although sometimes he can be overconfident, and his ego can sometimes cause him to lose. This happened after he told Raiden that he never had beaten him before, and it will never change, but this led to Raiden defeating him. Kung Lao was shocked that he lost to Raiden, but still gave his best friend respect. After being sent to Outworld secretly to apprehend Shang Tsung, he managed to fight off Tarkatans and Shang Tsung's hybrids. The plan failed and they were forced to return to Earthrealm by fighting General Shao's soldiers. Liu Kang marked him as one of the warriors that Earthrealm needs which shows that he is one of Earthrealm's best martial artists. He is best known for a combination of different Chinese martial arts styles.
** Praying Mantis Fist
** Shaolin Fist
** White Lotus
** Wing Chun
* Master Acrobat: Along with martial arts training from Madame Bo and his training with the Shaolin Monks, Kung Lao has become an incredible acrobat. He can perform flips and incorporate other acrobatic movements into his fighting style.
* Indomitable Will: Kung Lao's strong determination to defend his realm and deal with threats makes him have incredible willpower. Although he can be a little impulsive, he is still able to control it and remain cool. 
== Quotes ==
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