Liu Kang (Mortal Kombat Legends)

Liu Kang (Chinese: 劉鋼) is one of the main protagonists of the Mortal Kombat Legends series, which were based on the classic Mortal Kombat video game series. He is the deuteragonist of the 2020 animated martial arts film, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, and the one of the two main protagonists (alongside Scorpion) in the 2021 sequel, Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms. He is a Shaolin monk who helps Raiden to defending Earthrealm.
He is voiced by Jordan Rodrigues.
==Biography==
One night, at the Shaolin Temple, Liu Kang sits on the ground to begin meditating. Suddenly, Raiden tells his pupil to prepare himself to the tournament, and other defenders will be reunited with them. In Los Angeles, Johnny Cage, having broken up with his girlfriend, receives a call from his agent, who tells him that he should travel to China for his next job. In China, Sonya Blade engages a thug in a street fight, amid a Special Forces task to locate Kano, where she gets an invitation for the tournament.
On a boat, Johnny meets with Liu Kang, Sonya and Raiden, as they travel through the vail to reach the Island of Shang Tsung. Upon their arrival, Shang Tsung hosts the attendants. Meanwhile, Scorpion manages to infiltrate inside the treasures of Shang Tsung, but just as he is about to get the key, he is suddenly persuaded by Raiden not to steal it. Shang Tsung gives a demonstration of the tournament by capturing Sonya's partner Jackson "Jax" Briggs before forcing him to fight his champion and henchman Goro. Goro succeeds in defeating Jax by ripping both his arms off, but Raiden halts Jax's execution and warns Shang Tsung that this fight was the tournament not been officially started yet. He is able to heal Jax's wounds, but the sorcerer holds him prisoner. Shang Tsung then starts the tournament properly, and uses his magic to teleport the attendants to face each other on the Island. At Shang Tsung's garden, Liu Kang fights Kitana and defeats her, although he instead spares her life afterwards. 
In the wake of Earthrealm's success, Shang Tsung orders the Black Dragon to kill them. As Liu Kang reunites with Sonya and Johnny and later, they meet Scorpion after killing a few Black Dragon thugs. Raiden appears and tells them they must enter the throne room to face the final kombatant, but Black Dragon members try to stop them. Upon reaching the bridge that leads to the throne room, the Earthrealmers are ambushed by Kano and Black Dragon assassins. With the help of Scorpion, they manage to defeat the Black Dragon. Kano is intercepted and overpowered by Sub-Zero, who helps the group deal with the Black Dragon assassins, but Scorpion, recognizing the blue-clad ninja as his son's killer, starts to battle him in an act of vengeance. Kano runs to the torture chamber, but Sonya goes after him, while Johnny decides to help her and Liu Kang goes to the throne room to confront Shang Tsung.
Liu Kang reaches the throne, where he battles Goro. Goro easily outmatches Liu Kang, but before he is about to perform the same execution on him just like what he did to Jax, Scorpion appears and decapitates Goro with his kunai. Shang Tsung proposes to Scorpion to defeat Liu Kang, in exchange for having Quan Chi. Scorpion tricks Shang Tsung into giving him the key, and ends the tournament, making Liu Kang the champion of Mortal Kombat. Since the tournament ended, Shang Tsung leaves to Outworld and the Island starts to crumble. Raiden and Liu Kang gather with Sonya, Johnny and Jax and leave in the boat while Scorpion stays to battle Quan Chi. 
After his victory against Quan Chi, and the island crumbles in ruins, Scorpion accepts his fate as he is crushed by debris before joining his family and clan in the afterlife while Liu Kang and the Earthrealmers watch the island collapse in the distance. Liu Kang voices regret for failing, but Raiden assures him that his destiny was never to face Goro, but rather the emperor.
== Powers and Abilities ==
=== Powers ===
* Superhuman Strength: Liu Kang has impressive levels of strength. He can punch off heads with ease, completely break someone's arm, and can smash an opponent's face.
* Superhuman Speed: Liu Kang has high levels of speed. He is able to move faster than those that have peak human attributes. He can easily dodge a barrage of gunfire and counter beings who are slightly faster and agile than him, like Raiden.
** Superhuman Agility
** Superhuman Reflexes
* Superhuman Durability: Liu Kang can tolerate immense physical pain. He's been smashed against walls, floors, and even through pillars without being completely injured. After being punched multiple times by Goro, he can still stand even after being hit at the skull and the rib cage.
** Superhuman Endurance
* Superhuman Senses: Liu Kang has incredible senses. He can sense anyone using stealth, moving at very speeds, and feeling anyone's motions. He has used his senses to feel Raiden's incalculable speed and anticipate Kano's henchman's gunfire.
* Chi Manipulation: Liu Kang can use someone's chi to put more power and speed into his attacks.
* Magic: Liu Kang is most associated with the element of fire. He can shape it to do many different things. Liu can shoot magical fireballs, teleport in flames, heal himself from any curses, and can slowly descend back down to the ground from the air.
** Pyrokinesis
** Teleportation
** Temporary Flight
=== Abilities ===
* Master Martial Artist: Liu Kang has proven to be one of the most skilled martial artists in all the realms. Being trained since a child at the Wu Shi Academy, the Shaolin Monks had rose him up to the one who represent all of Earthrealm. He had bested and held his own against fighters like Raiden, Kitana, Goro, Jade, Shang Tsung, and Shao Kahn. Combining his attributed with martial arts he has taken on a group of Kano's henchmen and bested them.
* Master Acrobat: Liu Kang is one of the best acrobats in all of Earthrealm. He can leap very far distances, jump at extreme heights and deliver a bunch of fast kicks by using gymnastics in his fighting style. 
* High Intelligence: Liu Kang has incredible intelligence in fighting and formulating strategies to take on Outworlders and anyone.
* Indomitable Will: Being orphaned and raised by the Shaolin Monks, he has gained unbreakable willpower and has great perseverance. He is not afraid to stand against larger foes and always has Lord Raiden's confidence on what does for Earthrealm. 
==Gallery==
Liu Kang (Mortal Kombat Legends).png
MKL Johnny, Sonya and Liu Kang.jpg|Liu Kang, Sonya, and Johnny.
Liu Kang (Mortal Kombat Legends Scorpion's Revenge).jpg|Liu Kang in the first film.
MK Legends-Liu Kang.png
MKL-BOTR Earthrealm Champions.png
MKL BotR-Liu Kang.png
MKL-BotR Powered Liu Kang.png
==Trivia==
*Liu Kang's outfit is quite based on his primary costume in Mortal Kombat X.
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