Nexus (Mortal Kombat)

The Nexus is a plane of existence that exists as the central hub between the various realms of existence. The concept was first (and only) introduced in the game Mortal Kombat: Deception, as part of the game's Konquest mode.
According to the game, the Nexus was created by the Elder Gods to aid their chosen champion in his defense of the realms. The Nexus itself consists of a circular plane bordered by torch pillars that float amongst the clouds in an unknown place. It is rumored that the clouds are meant to suggest that it is located in the Heavens, being it that it was created by the Elder Gods, but such has not been confirmed by Midway Games. Present in the Nexus is an altar to the Elder Gods. Upon it are spaces to place each of the Kamidogu and the Amulet of Shinnok. The only entrances/exits in the Nexus are a series of six portals, which only open when the appropriate Kamidogu are placed upon the altar. The portal that opens to Earthrealm is available when the Earthrealm Kamidogu is obtained, and when it is placed on the altar, the Netherrealm is revealed. After the Kamidogu from the Netherrealm is obtained and placed on the altar, the Chaosrealm is opened. The Chaosrealm Kamidogu unlocks Outworld, which in turn will unlock the Orderrealm and Edenia when the appropriate Kamidogu are obtained and placed on the altars. It is said in the game that when all 6 Kamidogu and the Amulet are placed on the altar, the Kamidogu will be transported to the presence of the Elder Gods. Unfortunately, once all of the Kamidogu are collected, Onaga appears and steals them, preventing the player from discovering whether or not this is true. Onaga's words suggest that the Kamidogu would not be able to be transported to the Elder Gods unless one had the Amulet of Shinnok, which is not available for collecting during Konquest mode. It is suggested that only the Champion of the Elder Gods would be capable of accessing and utilizing the Nexus for easy transportation between the realms, but this is apparently not the case. As per Deception's storyline, Scorpion is deemed the true champion of the Elder Gods, but Shujinko, Monster, and Onaga all prove capable of entering the Nexus during Konquest mode.
== Return of the Dragon King ==
The Nexys pretty much existed the same way as it did in Deception, excepting that Kung Lao in his spiritual form follows Shujinko and Damashi around as the former lays down the Kamidogu from each realm onto the altar. As a new portal would open up leading to it, Lao's astral body would vanish, returning him to his living vessel as if coming out of a dream...
It was mentioned by Hanzo he failed to stop Shujinko as the Elder Gods' Champion.
Later on, Raiden unveiled to Kung Lao the Elder Gods hid the Kamidogu away in each realm, so the calamity shall not be repeated, ever since they countered the One Being and separated him into the many worlds. It was indeed constructed by them, perhaps as a forebode place. Raiden shared Lao's anxieties of Shujinko's blindness, though he encouraged him to keep following the troubled teen as long as he and the Champions can prevent the same desires as Onaga and Kahn to become the One Being.
Lao, Liu, Hanzo and Ermac arrived, and the monk's spirit and the humanized wraith reminded Lao he should sneak the Earthrealm Kamidogu away as long as the pendants aren't reunited, Onaga won't be invincible. He was hesitant, but Lao snatched away the amulet, then had a flashback as Shujinko was bewildered that all six pendants didn't teleport to the Elder Gods. He then encountered Onaga who revealed there's but one Kamidogu left, in Outworld possessed by a sorcerer. He also taunted Shujinko as the fool, since Damashi, his astral puppet, doesn't exist. Onaga was about to kill him until he had a change of plans as the elder escaped!
In the present, Liu shouted heads up, and sure enough, the Dragon King ambushed them! Lao confronted him as a keep away of the Earthrealm Kamidogu! Onaga then chased him from realm to realm as Lao let Onaga make the commotion to alert the denizens, including Havik in the Chaosrealm.
Lao soon returned to the Nexus from the Orderrealm, fatigued from the chase, and he was clipped by Onaga! When he reached the altar, Lao was at the Dragon's mercy, until he was spared by a Shokan who made several jumps incapacitating the serpent for a while, He then carried Lao thru the Outworld portal after he snatched the realm's Kamidogu. Hanzo and Ermac returned to the void first as the former accepted to cave into his wraith self. Soon came Havik, reveled to whoop the overlord, and the Shaolin and Goro were the last of the Champions to join them. They all usurped the Kamidogu into them before they prepared to fight Onaga! Havik actually bashed thru them as the first Kombatant, welcoming the severe damage as his broken limbs were reattached and made him hyper; although he was overzealous before Hanzo took over! He was able to withstand some of Onaga's fiery breath, but not the Powerbomb. Goro seemed to mimick all of Onaga's maneuvers and brute strength, but he didn't have much of a covering to endure Onaga's pyrokinesis. Ermac took over, using all his soul kinesis he possessed by Kahn, but even he couldn't last long. Finally, were Liu's spirit in Lao unleashing their aerial, pyro, and brawny fury; their moves taught by Bo' left some marks!
They rotated again, until Liu gave the strategy on destroying the Kamidogu, much to Havik's dismay as he held them as objects of Chaos. But each one was destroyed anyway for Onaga to become vulnerable to their onslaughts! Weakened as he had Onaga's power source devastated, Liu urged Lao to power up as much pent-up rage as they could, before Lao unleashed with his lethal Razor's Edge dicing the dragon with his hat before conjuring his F4 Tornado! Each Kombatant backed Onaga into it before he was caught in the funnel, then was tossed out violently! Still, he stood slowly, although he was already oozing out of the possessed Reptile! With Nightwolf's ritual binding Onaga's spirit into the Netherrealm, the Saurian became lifeless. Havik was about to make the final cut with his Morning Star until Ermac sensed him and kicked the cleric back into the Chaosrealm! Lao collapsed, then Raiden escorted everyone to the Sky Temple.
== Theme songs ==
* Kuatan Palace and Nexus (Mortal Kombat: Deception Unchained)
* Konquest Nexus (Mortal Kombat: Deception Unchained)
== Unaliving War ==
The Nexus was once suggested by Aiko in order to make the tribal drums heard for the upcoming war onto the Elder Gods as she learned from Kung Lao and the upcoming Onaga War. Liu was ecstatic to try her method and they gathered every one of their undead brethren to convert as many of their followers as possible from each of the realms.
== Gallery ==
File:ShujinkogathersKamidogu.webp|Shujinko gathers the Kamidogu in the Nexus
File:Onaga meets Shujinko.webp|Onaga meets Shujinko in the Nexus
File:Portals at the Nexus.webp|Portals at the Nexus