Mortal Kombat: The Return of the Dragon King

This was the fourth epic created by TheIkranRider. This takes place moments after her last book, Mortal Kombat: Vengeance. While writing this, she had a hard time learning on the characters and even the very tumultuous Konquest Mode... This was probably the hardest epic she ever made, even more than the previous book.
The rest of the konvoluted Konquest Mode shall be looked upon as extra bonuses. Nevertheless, she managed to get it done before April and Easter, and it took more than 3 months, though lesser than 4 months on the previous epic. Much like it, she still feels proud of it.
== Prologue ==
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Within Shang Tsung's Palace, Raiden and Fujin took in a momentary respite after they powered up the Nethership and escorted the Kombatants home to Earthrealm and Edenia. Everything was peaceful and tranquil after the brutal fight against the Deadly Alliance...
....Until Quan Chi, nearly dead, interrupted their victory with a chuckle. He taunted the "blunder gods" they'll fail since it was only a matter of time before Onaga shall return and his undead army would be reanimated! He teased they would be no match against them and shall bow down to the Dragon King, the omnipotent ruler of Outworld! Enraged, Fujin fired an aero sphere finishing off the demon sorcerer, though Raiden stood agog as he signaled his brother to witness the arrival of their greatest adversary! Amidst the dark chamber and the radical lightning, Onaga reawakened! Each one of the mummified remains became active as they worshipped their master! The two Gods unleashed all their elemental fury onto the super beast, but they were just halting his progression. Disgusted by his horrid followers, Fujin conjured a F3 funnel tossing the vermin away, but he had no effect on the towering serpent!
Several of their warriors ran up to the pair, much to their shock! Kung Lao tossed his hat, and the fatal rim just scratched Onaga's right shoulder! He charged but was caught and nearly got his leg detached until Liu Kang's fiery spirit shaped as his Dragon Animality breathed his scorching flames and shown his brute strength! Onaga discarded Lao, injuring him, and nearly crushing the other Dragon! Lao implored Liu to return to his amulet, then Sonya, Jax, Johnny, Kitana, and Nightwolf joined the fray. But to no avail... Lao tried again, only this time he was electrocuted and stunned by Raiden!
The invincible serpent caused Lao's mentor to perform the unthinkable, despite his weakened body. He conjured a powerful incantation as he gathered electricity. Recognizing the foreign tongue, Fujin became horrified! Raiden's vessel lit up as bright as the sun before he exploded!!
The sudden impact decimated the Palace, the undead legion, and the Kombatants, but barely left a scar on Onaga... He simply shook off the soot and picked up a shiny, golden amulet from within the rubble, before he declared his reign of endless terror with a deafening roar of triumph!
== Con't I: In the Beginning... ==
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The next thing Lao knew was he woke up outside, within a primitive village in Earthrealm. Trying to find his way back to the Wu Shi Academy, he noticed a bunch of kids ran thru him, as if he never existed... He also noticed anything he could do, including his kombat skills were useless, almost as if he were just in his astral form. He did come across a boy named Shujinko, who helped numerous denizens as well as following another kid named Apep to each of its promising martial arts classes. Each one had Bo' Rai Cho training him in several classes. However, he was still reprimanded as young and inexperienced to prove himself as an actual fighter and thusly can't venture outside the humongous walls. All of a sudden, the child met up with the orange sphere named Damashi, but Kung Lao couldn't interact. He found about Shujinko's quest searching for the Kamidogu and besting his mentor in kombat by mimicking and mastering the skills of each warrior! He soon observed the Earthrealm Kamidogu within the Lin Kuei temple still in northern China and he realized he was somewhere in the past...
Eventually, Lao followed Shujinko to the portal Damashi led him to, but before he stepped in, he noticed a familiar voice speak to him. Sure enough, it was Raiden, and astonishingly he can see and hear him! Lao asked what was happening to him, but it's more like when... They were sent back in time to observe the prophesized kid, and Lao hadn't yet been born; it was 1964, but he and Liu hadn't existed. As soon as he entered thru the Portal to the Nexus, he heard a deep voice whisper...
"Kung Lao... Wake up, Kung Lao, the chosen one."
He awakened inside the Jinsei Chamber and noticed Fujin, Kiba, and Nightwolf still alive. He thought it was only his ancestor speaking for him to awaken, though it was only his mentor... Fujin asked Lao's name and rank and he was able to recollect his identity, even not knowing who Onaga was when asked. Lao told them of his subconscious journey, and he was relieved Raiden's still alive...albeit clinging onto life. 
"I have been defeated... I kannot...protect the realms."
Fujin then instructed he must head to Edenia and give them info; Onaga would soon march thru Outworld, yet there were still some mysteries to be solved. He believed the wise Sindel may have some intel on defeating the Dragon King, and Lao remembered her mentioning him serving Kahn. He went thru the portal.
== Con't II: Onaga's Plot ==
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Kung Lao stepped onto the Outworld frontier, and into the frigid, wintery air. Luckily, he was almost instantly warmed via Liu Kang's fiery spirit emanating from the dragon amulet. He thanked him greatly, and it was even very helpful against the several Onis who ambushed the former monks, even making a severe burn! Lao then spotted an intruder, a shadowy figure whom he suspected it was one of Onaga's followers. He demanded him to unveil himself, though to his surprise, it was only Hanzo! He explained after he succumbed to his wraith self while fighting Quan Chi then being torn by the Soulnado, he was resting in the heavens! He was agog that Lao and Nightwolf won over the Deadly Alliance, yet the victory was all for naught since he was caught in the explosion after Onaga was resurrected! Hanzo was flabbergasted since he was tasked to stop Shujinko, whom Lao knew in his spiritual journey. He wasn't able to see his lost family nor stop the gifted man on collecting the Kamidogu. He even met his younger self in the Netherrealm as he mimicked his abilities, thus besting him. He swore to redeem himself and assist Lao on their trek to Edenia.
By the time they reached the Palace gates, the guards halted them. Everyone was on edge as they heard rumors of Onaga's second coming, which rung to be true. Sindel was also preoccupied of Kitana's wellbeing. Though it was thanks to Goro convincing them otherwise as not being a threat nor corrupt. They met up with Sheeva, Goro's lover, who escorted them before Sindel, Jade and Asgaarth. The Queen was upset Onaga rose again, thinking he was finished for good thanks to Kahn; she explained Onaga perceived him as ruler of Outworld, until he grew weary and obsessive on leading the dreaded realm. He did as his lively squads countered Onaga's unstoppable undead army, while also poisoning him! He was victorious before Sindel met Shujinko and soon had Edenia invaded, and her killing herself...
Sindel was eager for Lao and Hanzo to gather the Champions of all realms, and Goro decided to assist them; however, until all the Kombatants are found he shall stay with the royal guard, Sheeva and Asgaarth while the Edenians investigate the Lost Tomb for Onaga's remains. Lao and Hanzo took on the task, while Sindel prepares for daybreak... Until the Shaolin fainted outside!
Meanwhile, Aiko was anxiously pacing within Liu's Tomb for Lao's welfare; she would've felt severe chest pain or the gems they possessed would grow dark and brittle symbolizing their loss of life. However, hers remained lively with bright crimson, and a portal opened! Out stepped Kenshi as he sensed there was something amiss in Outworld; something drove him away as he was mourning for Hanzo, and thanks to his OIA membership, he had the generator device. Kenshi offered Aiko to come along, in which she accepted as they took it to Shang Tsung's Palace...
Which was in shambles!! Aiko was distraught; however, Kenshi never sensed any lives lost. Suddenly, they were ambushed by the soul kinetic, Ermac! Kenshi fought him off with everything he had, and Aiko, recovering from her lurching drop ran to him, with club drawn! As a glass cannon, she was fragile as she was incapacitated thanks to Ermac's free hand during a standoff of kinetic energy! Aiko's mind drifted off into unconsciousness as it observed Jin being flustered over the NES version of The Legend of Kage. Then, it held onto a key which then played a lulling tune she knew... She began to whistle to it, which grabbed Ermac's attention, and he hesitated! Seeing his chance, Kenshi made out chains and used his blade to slice them to ribbons! He also saw the spiked crown and ominous face of Kahn! With the shackles broken, Ermac changed his composure from eerie green to a pair of amber pupils! His voice changed to an earthly tone and identified himself as the lost lord of Edenia, Jerrod!!
He thanked Kenshi for freeing him and he regretted being a mindless slave and kollector of souls for Kahn. He then became determined as he noticed Onaga has returned. He teleported himself, Aiko and Kenshi to Edenia!
== Con't III: Servitude ==
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Kenshi, Aiko and Ermac arrived within the Palace Gates, and the two guardsmen blocked the entryway; they complained of the Queen's departure and now dealing with more intruders... Ermac then stepped up and attempted to assure them, he's on their side. Being that he was one of Kahn's generals, they were unconvinced. Until Kenshi used his psychokinesis by reading Jerrod's mind and projecting his thoughts onto the guards, while Aiko zoned out and whistled to that song she heard earlier. Both factors made the patrolmen change their outlooks as it was forever since the last time they met the long-lost King!! They explained Sindel, Jade and half the royal guard left to Onaga's resting place where his remains were left, Aiko realized it'd be the Lost Tomb; before she met Kenshi, her friends cleaned it out by wrecking the sarcophaguses, excepting for one... The guards then gave Jerrod a yaz symbol as a stitch to represent he's a "free man." They then teleported toward the lone pyramid. The trio arrived in the outskirts and Kenshi hesitated the team sensing something was wrong...
Sindel, Jade and half of the royal guard stepped into dormant enemy territory, along with lumps of thick dust left over by the decimated sarcophaguses of Onaga's army, along with dead flies in which Jade stated they were from Drahmin. Sindel was impressed she dealt with the Onis, Moloch and Drahmin, here and lived twice. They spotted Onaga's own resting place still intact and having the lid opened revealing its skeleton and thin wings. Sindel theorized his followers must've kept this standing if the Dragon should be resurrected in his original form if he died in his current body. She and Jade spotted some ancient engravings, until they were warned by a knight to look behind them! He was impaled in the chest by a thrown Tonfa, and the other servicemen ran to the assailant in the dark! They were all tossed asunder by a large fan! And soon walked out Tanya and...Kitana!!
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Jade easily mopped the floor with the traitor, but she barely held her own against her best friend! Even Sindel refused to fight her daughter, and her flight and sonokinesis was disabled once Nightwolf performed an exorcism and removed the banshee later to be vanquished. Not even Liu Kang's spirit was able to stall her. Until she was picked up and thrown by a green energy field! Ermac took the front, as did Kenshi and Aiko. The swordsman ordered her to whistle that lulling song and project it to Kitana's mind, while Ermac unveiled his true identity of King Jerrod!
With that, Kitana stopped and gazed at her father alive and well... She broke into tears as she embraced him tightly, making almost everyone sob. Kenshi, though, assisted Aiko and Jerrod to cure everyone, before he addressed to his wife... Sindel was flabbergasted, but momentarily she caved and reunited with him. Everyone bowed and Jerrod recognized the Champion of Earthrealm wanting to forgive him...
*ahem!*
Kenshi got their attention as Onaga was still at large; Aiko feared it was like deja vu from her dystopian future. Sindel figured attacking Onaga'd be suicidal, then using his aerosol skills Liu incinerated Tanya and the remains! 
There was that same falsetto that shouted, Toasty!, only he said Crispy! instead. Kenshi and Aiko noticed the shrill voice, but he immediately scampered away into the shadows.
The gang forged a plan to keep the last Kamidogu at bay from the Dragon and buy the Champions time to gather and challenge him. Only Liu knew it was in China, and Kenshi suggested to telepathically transfer that knowledge, knowing there'd be a spy. Upon Liu's idea, he opened a portal to Liu's Tomb, the last pinpointed coordinates; Liu said it'd be better since the destination was close. They proceeded thru, and little did they knew a shady bystander peeked from beneath the upper level...
== Con't IV: Traversing thru the Abyss ==
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Meanwhile, Kung Lao came to within the Nexus and spotted Damashi explaining the concept to Shujinko; he also noticed him lay down the Earth Kamidogu, but there were six other slots missing. Still, he followed him thru a red portal which took them to the Netherrealm! There, he witnessed the wanderer assist Shinnok in finding his amulet, which to him it seemed off. Then, Ashrah trained the teen to survive and fight the demons. Then, he spotted Ermac and assisted him on locating the Soul Stone monoliths which were said to regain his powers, and finally found Ashrah squaring off Baraka, then Shujinko helped Ermac find her who was determined to ascend away from the realm by slaying demons. Unfortunately, in his astral form, Lao couldn't intervene as the troubled teen took the soul kinetic's form instead of driving Kahn's general away...
By the time Shujinko assisted Ermac by defeating Ashrah, he soon found the Kamidogu and escaped from the accursed realm. Lao watched him place it on the altar before a yellow portal opened. Raiden then explained to him of the concept of the One Being, the war of the Elder Gods, and how the Kamidogu came to be. Lao had a hunch that Shujinko can't be trusted and as more blindly loyal than Liu Kang!! But his mentor reminded him they're in the past, and no kalamities has occurred, so it's not too late. He encouraged Lao to keep following Shujinko till he should repeat the kalamity. Lao soon returned to his vessel where he wound up in a comfy bed at an opaque room.
Li Mei was tending him for several hours after Hanzo carried him to her hut. Due to the Florence Nightengale Effect, she nearly caved into her desires, though Lao refused as his heart belongs to Aiko. Hanzo was relieved Lao finally came to, though he was disappointed he didn't receive any clues of Onaga. However, he suggested they should head to the Chaosrealm and recruit Havik, their default Kombatant, although Hotaru of the Orderrealm is his polar opposite, though he may've no desire to oppose order. Li Mei offered to take them to the ancient Outworld portal and encouraged Lao to go and worry about Aiko's welfare later.
== Con't V: The Ways of Chaos ==
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Minutes later, Lao and Hanzo followed Li Mei thru the thick and wild Kuatan Jungle; a more desolate route to the ancient portal and hiding away from Onaga. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on their side as they were suddenly ambushed by archers, even a brainwashed Johnny! Lao refused to fight, though Hanzo stated words won't work on Onaga's servant; in other words, it'd be resolved in kombat! Lao managed to defeat him, but Fujin came to their aide incapacitating the other enemies. Since Fujin conjured the funnel, he was certain Onaga would detect the Kombatants, so he retreated to Earthrealm with Li Mei and Cage while Lao and Hanzo hurried into the portal while the Wind God suspected Sonya and Jax were still under.
Lao and Hanzo escaped into the Nexus. The former was tempted to take the Earthrealm Kamidogu to divide Onaga's power source, but Hanzo held him back as Onaga may be expecting them. They eventually found Havik in the futuristic city; Lao was suffering as his head and mind were being warped by its intrinsic atmosphere. Due to the flashy decor, the caskets shaped like rockets, the insane restlessness, and the lifeless setting, Hanzo believed it was developed faster than Earthrealm and the Netherrealm upon the creation of the realms; even having a tendency to age denizens quickly and move time without perception. Hanzo was able to defeat the cleric, who was impressed he was able to break off Quan Chi's shackles over him, and since he heard of Onaga and despised his bondage over his minions, the Crusader volunteered; he dreaded Hotaru may be involved... Lao had hallucinated again and observed Shujinko retrieving the Kamidogu after challenging Havik and the Seidan Guardsmen, even aging rapidly by several years, even though he'd been there for only minutes.
== Con't VI: Brewing Darkness ==
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Meanwhile in Liu's Tomb, Kenshi and his team traversed thru the portal. Liu then suggested to contact either Hanzo or Kuai, whomever comes first, in order to reveal the Temple's location. Hanzo picked up the transmission, even when Kenshi had his muffled voice echoing in the Shirai Ryu's mind! He was surprised that his ally was still alive from the Soulnado incident! He stated he just carried Kung Lao to Earthrealm from the ancient portal after his mind began to break in the Chaosrealm. Hanzo was given a second chance by the Elder Gods, though he failed to stop Shujinko at the Nexus. He was then stranded in Outworld till he found Kung Lao, and they were on their way to recruit all the realms' Champions; however, he was unsure who...
Suddenly, the transmission went dead, even Kenshi noticed! He cursed it was due to the revenant Special Forces and he offered Aiko to share her heart gem as an alternative receptor. It worked! And since Kung Lao had the same, Hanzo was able to communicate! He was disappointed he couldn't recruit Hotaru since he was the polar opposite of Havik from the Orderrealm, as a strict fanatic of order, and he wasn't sure who the Edenian Champion was on account on how it lost 10 straight tournaments against Outworld, thus Kahn's invasion and killing the former warrior. Even Sindel and the Edenians were dumbfounded, until Jerrod suggested that he may impersonate him as a collector of souls! Liu and Hanzo agreed it was best to bend the rules, even if it was to defy the Elder Gods as petty as they are! Ermac was successful and his family became bewildered.
Liu asked him for a quick ride to the portal while the other heroes trekked toward the Temple of Elements, blindly going north. 
Liu offered to see his grandfather first who was praying inside the Temple of Light; as a seasoned Shaolin for generations, he knew where he'd be! To his stupe, the old man was astonished as Liu assured, he was real. He asked if he knew Shujinko and Damashi, to whom he knew of the former as a tween as a local celebrity but mainly vain and too kind for his own good, to the point on the villagers making him do odd jobs. Until one fateful day when he left and never returned despite training as an upcoming Champion. Liu's grandfather doesn't know Damashi, though not as a name, but rather...a Japanese word. Meaning...deception! To Liu's shock, he immediately soared back to Jerrod who took themselves to Lao and Hanzo.
Hanzo stated the Temple of Elements was north but hard to find, as he and Kuai entered there via portal by Raiden. Liu and Ermac emerged, and the monk grew worried over Kung Lao's condition. He assured his spirit may piece together his broken mind, which moments later Lao came to! He thanked his brother for leading him out of the dark, and Hanzo and Liu stated their predicament. Lao was uncertain of Shujinko as an elder, though Ermac can still sense his frail spirit...interfered by an ominous force! It almost pulled Liu's spirit away like a tractor beam if it weren't for Ermac saving him in the dragon amulet! The group went straight to the calamity since Shujinko was their last hope!
The Edenians, Aiko and Kenshi met up with Fujin, Li Mei, and a wounded Cage en route. The Wind God was desperate leaving his post in the Jinsei to escort Li Mei to safety, and he was uncertain what to do with a slaved undead! He heard the group was on its way to the Temple erected by his brother, and he was appalled how he and the other guardians lost to Bi-Han back in the day. Still, he offered them a portal to the last relic which they must protect from Onaga and his thralls! Hours later, Aiko was striking up a conversation with Li Mei, on her love for Kung Lao; she was intrigued Aiko possessed the same heart gem as did Lao's symbolizing their relationship. Aiko stated he knew him for over a few years, and he was the one who shown her the way of the benevolent Chinese, even opening her heart with the young Jin! Li was fascinated with Lao hearing how heroic he was from her master, Bo'! Even hearing of Liu Kang, and how the oaf rescued her and the Sun Do from the Deadly Alliance and the Soulnado! Bo' sacrificed his life while Lao decimated it, even won over the sorcerers! Until she heard of Onaga's resurrection, thus being evacuated, and soon seeing Lao and Hanzo. She was still appreciative on how Aiko admired him so much! 
The Edenian knights then threw down Johnny into a prison ditch as he was acting up! And Kenshi stopped an automatic stone slab trying to crush him! He then sensed something afoot from a sudden storm cloud hanging over the distant landscape, and volunteered Aiko to investigate; it was as disturbing as the suspicious activity in Outworld... Before she left, Sindel assured Aiko of her deja vu to her ruined future of enslaved revenants, before she and Kenshi went back to the Academy...
"Aiko? Even if you feel the world may be against you... Know that I'll always remain by your side. Remember that."
The duo made it to their destination, but when Aiko and Kenshi reached the Oriental walls, they received a distress call.
The Wu Shi Academy was under attack!!
== Con't VII: Corruption ==
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Nightwolf abruptly woke up inside his tech den on a cot, after he had a disturbing terror revolved around Onaga. Kiba was yelping as if he had the same vision. The shaman even had a dream of Raiden imploring him to ready a weapon in which he just remembered. The alarm began to go off as sensors picked up suspicious activity; the Matokan even sensed immense evil from that mysterious heap. The shaman then heard the benevolent Raiden urging him to conjure a pure rainstorm; he was worried of the interfering darkness, though he had little choice...
Kung Lao, Ermac, Liu Kang and Hanzo were racing toward the source of the mounting darkness and the raging red lightning storm; the monk questioned whether or not they belonged to Raiden...
Meanwhile, Aiko and Kenshi were hesitant as she noticed the radical storm. Sensing she was astraphobic via telepathy, he offered to block her nervous pangs due to her light and sound sensitivity, even though it'd be temporary, otherwise he'd be causing any severe mental problems. She was impressed he learnt so much training his telepathic abilities in the Special Forces despite his blindness. He engulfed her head for a few seconds, before she felt numb as if not feeling much... They ran to the numerous screams Kenshi picked up and they witnessed someone attacking the nearby hapless monks with orange, hot blasts as they scurried! When the crowd thinned, the pair picked up a sight they never expected, Liu Kang in pale, green-grey skin, bound with chains, with no coherent speech! Kenshi asked Aiko if there was a shelter, which he silenced and ordered her to escort the monks! Soon, the zigzags descended and out came Raiden as his more omnipotent self!!
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Kenshi attempted to reason with them, thinking it was Onaga, but the god explained he gained more power thanks to the corruption and grew weary of defending Earthrealm, being the wrathful guardian and never allowing a chance for anyone he found a threat to live. Kenshi was about to confront the undead, but Raiden immobilized him! Luckily, Fujin noticed the commotion after the benevolent Raiden confessed that he made a double of himself before the sacrifice by conjuring the lethal blast onto Onaga. Fujin remembered having that ability, though he never used it as it was far too risky. The Gods theorized Shinnok had that ability and Raiden implored his brother to stop his doppelganger, he then prayed for Nightwolf to follow through...
Fujin arrived and challenged his brother. Soon, the quartet arrived, and Lao and Liu were speechless of the sudden warp, even witnessing Liu's dead vessel! Regretting what he had done, he offered Kung Lao to share his spirit while they fight the enforcer. Liu figured the chains were the source as he once heard murmurs of the Houan, while Lao heard the same in the White Lotus Society.
Lao was able to best the zombie, courtesy of the powerups from Liu's fiery soul. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break the chains! Nightwolf was conjuring his ancestors' spirits for help while developing the rainstorm. Raiden urged him to activate his secret weapon he ordered to make. Fujin was at the Corrupt Raiden's mercy until he was hit by an ionic pulse! It stunned him for a moment, but as he resumed his death threat, the sky churned completely black, white flashes were seen, and the double was tackled by Nightwolf. He then urged the injured Lao to stay down and cover his ears, before the enemy was electrocuted from within and without!! Even the undead collapsed after being shocked!
At the Dragon Grotto, the monks, Aiko and the wounded Kenshi were flabbergasted by the sudden tremor and deafening crack of thunder! They wondered what the gigantic white flash belonged to. Suddenly, the paralyzed body imploded, as the zombie collapsed in a steaming heap! To the refugees' stupe... the same white light emerged from beneath. A few seconds later, it dissipated revealing Raiden just like new!! The monks cheered, embracing him too! Aiko was stunned, as if she doubted it was him, even Kenshi. Though it wasn't until she saw a glimmer of a hat. She called and stormed over before she tightly hugged her lover, Kung Lao! In came Nightwolf, and Liu's spirit stated he was getting smushed! The shaman explained he used an EMP, to Aiko, she knew it was an electro-magnetic pulse, although the Academy would be in blackout for several hours. Raiden restored Lao and Fujin by giving them jolts of the Jinsei. Hanzo and Ermac met up whom Raiden stated the bad news... His dark self already vanquished the foolhardy Champion of the Elder Gods, as it was up to only their recruits. Raiden urged to teleport Fujin and Nightwolf to the Sky Temple, then he ordered the latter to perform the dangerous Sin Eater ritual, while Lao and the other heroes shall finish the job. He questioned if the Amulet's safe which it was, though Liu wondered what of Kuai; the god stated he had his own inquiries. He figured Outworld would be in great peril as well as he worried for Edenia's sake.
Liu wanted to incinerate his abomination, though Raiden stated he'd preserve it till Onaga'd perish. He teleported himself, Fujin and Nightwolf to the Jinsei. 
At the Temple of Elements, Kenshi assured that Lao shall reunite with Aiko soon...
== Con't VIII - Noob Saibot ==
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Lao promised to reunite with Aiko again despite her anxieties, although Liu was more confident that they'll succeed. Unfortunately, inside the lost Houan temple, Hanzo pointed out the old man's fried and barely recognizable body, slithered and steaming! Only Hanzo identified him as the unfortunate Shujinko. He then coaxed Lao to steal the Kamidogu remembering the foolish stunt to get Onaga's attention before they raced to the Nexus!
Meanwhile in Arctika, the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei was greeted by his subordinates that a girl was seeking asylum. By the time she entered, she wasn't what the clan anticipated; her name was Sareena, she wasn't fazed by the cold, and she's a demon defecting from the Netherrealm! Apparently, she came to warn Sub-Zero of his brother, Bi-Han's, predicament, who was converted as a wraith by Quan Chi named Noob Saibot! As a spy of the Brotherhood of Shadow, she failed to fight him off, and fled to the same portal the Oni escaped from without being detected. Since then, she'd stayed in Outworld, until she gathered intel about the younger brother's whereabouts. Anxious, Kuai was willing to help Sareena and put an end to the mystery surrounding his brother; he reluctantly accepted Smoke's and Frost's help.
In Outworld, they came thru the portal leading to ancient runes foretelling Onaga and his army's second coming! It was the same area where Sareena found Quan and recovered in; even reforming her human self after she fell against the wraith. However, Tomas doubted that he and Frost would stand a chance in the underworld, contrary to Kuai and his Dragon Medallion; Frost was antsy, though she eventually understood as they can be backup for the Edenian resistance. Kuai followed Sareena to the fifth plane where Noob was resurrected and made over with rotating gears; Kuai warned Noob and the Lin Kuei were highly advanced in technology utilizing the cyber initiation, thus having Oniro overthrown and Smoke remaining as a cyborg.
Noob ambushed the pair, and they were little to no match for his brute strength and umbrakinesis; he even froze his former ally for betraying the Brotherhood! Knowing he lost all honor and his former essence, Kuai took on the battle; Noob was intrigued he was wearing the sacred Dragon Medallion and was willing to claim his soul, until Ashrah intervened! With Kriss powerful enough, she was nearly able to overmatch Noob; they were in a power struggle, until Sareena made a sneak attack by pushing him into Ashrah's volley! The holy rays incinerated the wraith and purified him!
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A hole opened, allowing the demon to ascend and emancipate from the underworld! Kuai and Sareena held onto her as she was carried by the updraft, and onto the grassy field in Earthrealm! The trio was relieved, and Raiden was astonished to meet Ashrah face-to-face, he wasn't so intrigued meeting a demon, though. Kuai came to her defense she once assisted Bi-Han and was useful against Noob, maybe she'd assist the Edenian resistance against Onaga. Raiden affirmed for her and Kuai to head to Outworld, while Nightwolf prepared for the Sin Eater ritual. He conjured another portal for Ashrah to head to the Temple of Elements and hopefully purify Johnny's soul...
== Con't IX: Declaration! ==
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Back at the Outworld runes, Smoke and Frost were anxiously waiting for Kuai's and Sareena's return, while they had a pep talk with Nightwolf. He was empowering his soul weapons for the risky ritual in which he must head into the Netherrealm. Frost grew worried of his welfare, as if losing Kuai wasn't bad enough! He stated if Onaga should war against the Champions, he'd be weak enough to bind his spirit into the underworld for eternity. Recently, he'd been at his old Matokan burial ground gathering all the sinful tribesmen to have that powerful taint, unfortunately, they weren't enough. He also remembered aiding the young Shujinko for several years on removing his evil taint, before the first tournament started and when he decided to leave his tribe for higher learning, thus being a tech geek and a sort of Matokan pariah. He figured by absorbing souls from Onaga's new army...
Baraka met up with the group, and stated he should've known the Tarkatans would work with Onaga (as they'd rather work for a ruler than fend for themselves like the Saurians), contrary to those times when they worked for Kahn by invading the city of Lei Chen, soon Edenia, and the Wu Shi Academy in which he regretted; because of his strong sense of smell, Onaga took the form of a Saurian, Reptile! When he was time-displaced, he knew his friend would be in trouble; he spotted the shattered egg recently at the Lava Shrine, before he met up with Kung Lao and Fujin at the Kuatan Jungle. The trio wondered how Onaga would take someone else's vessel and not his own. Baraka stated his original corpse was destroyed by the Edenians, though his spirit was reformed and hatched from the egg incubated by his ancient followers. Baraka alerted of the army's arrival marching either to Earthrealm or Edenia first.
At the prison ditch in the elemental temple, Johnny became stiff, as if he just sensed something... He then went all erratic as he made a successful attempt climbing out of his steep cell! The Edenian knights were on high alert, unable to subdue him! They alarmed everyone he's after the final artifact, and each Kombatant couldn't hold him for long, not even Aiko in which his heart was venomous! Some of the Knights were complacent he won't find it in the labyrinth. Kitana paused then repeated a foreign mantra, which seemed to stun Johnny though he was still ardent! That was until he was ambushed by an impatient Ashrah and stabbed him with her thrown Kriss! Her holy might was eventually too much for Johnny to resist as he was being sizzled! They held him down until he became unconscious, though Kenshi declared Cage must've had a hive mind despite compromising his equipment! Everyone summarized more of Onaga's followers are marching toward the temple from Outworld! Ashrah volunteered to round up the settlers who'd be willing to fight, as well as purify the remaining revenants, Sonya and Jax. Jade then had a flashback as did Sindel when the former was defeated by Shujinko surrendering the Outworld Kamidogu, and the latter giving the Edenia treasure to him to keep away from Kahn.
The dragon's troops declared war onto Earthrealm after incinerating a Sun Do village of people who refused to give them the intel they needed. Sonya and Jax led the Tarkatan horde thru, and Onaga stated he already had the spell needed to unite the Kamidogu, courtesy of Tanya and the revenant Kitana before he enlisted them to restore his corpse. Their fleet increased more when they noticed Hotaru and his Seido soldiers recruit with them to magnify order in all the realms, even having a flashback on Shujinko assisting them and the city of Lei Chen to thwart off the Tarkatan horde by Kahn; once Onaga would get his hands on the last Kamidogu, in which Sonya and Jax got the hive intel from Johnny, they then set foot on his conquest to become the One Being!
It wasn't easy as the Dragon and his militia came across every rigged trap! The Saurians were ready as they rained the enemies with acid or activated lethal limbs and spikes courtesy of the remaining monstrous trees. Onaga and Hotaru disabled some of the traps. Though the raptors' associates, the Chameleons, won't give up. Baraka, Nightwolf, Smoke and Frost saw Kuai and Sareena emerge, and the general picked up foul odors which he figured be Onaga's army; he was worried his doppelganger can be among their ranks.
At the Nexus, Lao, Liu, Hanzo and Ermac approached the altar, and the Shirai Ryu told the cunning monk to come forth with his idea. He was hesitant, as the large pendant shined. Thinking it might shock him, he took the Earthrealm relic quickly! To their surprise he wasn't harmed, though he received a flashback of Shujinko accomplishing his goal and encountering the "deception" Damashi pulled! Liu declared from his grandfather that Damashi meant deception in Japanese rather than a name, thus as a form of manipulation, Hanzo had a flashback of losing to him and regretting on training Shujinko in the Netherrealm to restore his taint to travel in all realms, before he lost upon Onaga's emergence. And Ermac recalled the Seido guards in Outworld meeting him even having him imprisoned then saved by Dairou during a riot he made against them! They all came to the conclusion that Damashi was Shujinko's guide for the false quest that was orchestrated by using Onaga's consciousness due to his rotted corpse at the Tomb. Everything came to a head, the armies of the Saurians, Shokans, Centaurs, and Edenians teamed up with Sareena, Ashrah, Frost, Smoke, Kuai, and Nightwolf to war against Onaga's followers!
Liu shouted a heads up before Lao was clobbered by Onaga from above; he confronted the monstrous serpent, never surrendering the Kamidogu. Furious, he took hold of Lao, though Liu's fiery spirit blinded the beast and released him. Lao then went on a chase from realm to realm as a way to lose Onaga briefly and give the denizens a severe alert that the dragon had risen!
== Con't X - Zenith ==
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Kung Lao was still frantically running away from the intimidating presence of Onaga, trying to keep away the Earthrealm Kamidogu! But no matter how far away he managed, Onaga kept sensing and chasing after it! He first was followed into Outworld, just a sheer distance away from the Edenian Resistance and Onaga's army clashing each other at the forests! The minions noticed the presence of their overlord, yet they never paused. Instead, a few noticed the intruder and aimlessly fired at Lao with Onaga on his tail, before he turned back to the Nexus! Liu Kang then suggested to head to the Chaosrealm, much to Lao's dismay, as he promised his spirit shall protect him from its intrinsic atmosphere! He took his advice, and the denizens were in utter shock seeing the beast for themselves, even Havik! Disgusted of Onaga violating the ways of Chaos and knowing Hotaru's in the mix, he recruited two of his bodyguards to investigate.
Raiden and Fujin monitored the chase in the Jinsei with Ashrah watching the disarray unfold! She soon volunteered to assist Kuai, Frost, and Baraka in the melee; the Thunder God recommended the shaman to bind Onaga, though he needed more tainted souls, and the immortal suggested from Onaga's army. With the Lin Kuei high tech, Tomas was ready as he unleashed his smokescreen and open fired from aloft! The cryomancers, along with Sareena, intervened. By the time they confronted Sonya and Jax respectively, Kuai requested the ladies to do so, before they were being impaled by the Kriss and taken to the Sky Temple by Ashrah; some of the Shokan and Centaurs suffered, though both Chameleons were proven to be formidable opponents against the Revenants. It wasn't long for Baraka to deal with his present self who labeled him as treacherous and genocidal, and they were at each other's throats, until...
The time displaced Tarkatan let loose a fiery breath like a dragon's!! He declared there's more to mutants than just fangs and retractable blades; a certain God taught him that! With the present Baraka taken off guard, he fell easily!
With every fallen foe, the shaman absorbed their souls, until he felt the taint coursing thru him. He immediately conjured a portal to the underworld. Raiden alerted Ashrah the Matokan entered the portal. 
The monks returned to the Nexus and noticed two more Kamidogu from the Netherrealm and Edenia were gone! Hanzo warned Ermac he may revert to his wraith self, in which the soul kinetic encouraged, as he needed all the strength he can muster! Out of breath, Kung Lao turned tail to the Orderrealm, a domain he never encountered before, in which the Seido guards cheered for Onaga and attempted to retaliate; it wasn't long before he turned back and got clipped by the beast! Struggling, Onaga cornered Lao, before he was plummeted by a four-arm Shokan with a few jumps! He roared and took Lao into his arms and carried him to Outworld! He conjured energy from the Kamidogu to restore Earthrealm's, and to his surprise, Lao's savior was Goro!!
Meanwhile, the skilled Hotaru was bashing thru for his enemy lines, even besting the heroes, till he was sacked by Havik's enforcers, Dairou and Darrius who massacred the Seido troops! Ermac, Hanzo and Havik met up with Kung Lao, Liu Kang and Goro who prepared for the battle of the realms!!
Liu Kang usurped Lao's vessel, although Havik was the first to break thru and attack the beast, who was just as wrathful, despite most of the Kamidogu belonging to each of the warriors excepting Seido's. By the time Havik wavered, Goro bashed toward the vicious Onaga! When he was weakened, he switched for Hanzo letting loose his rage, Ermac next, and lastly the Orientals! Each Kombatant took turns against Onaga's ferocity, and he nearly had enough strength to best them all!
However, Liu Kang seemed to be the most effective, as his combined strength with Lao's dealt double damage, much to the kleric's jealousy! Eventually, all fighters were pooped and Onaga was staggering but strong enough to stand. They wondered there was more they could do, until Liu instructed to break the Kamidogu, much to Havik's dismay as he held them as the keys of Chaos. However, with them each shattered, Onaga was open for a brutal assault. Liu shouted for Lao to break through like he did against Shang Tsung using Razor's Edge and then the Tornado Brutality, leaving Onaga battered, then stiff as he was oozing out his essence! Nightwolf's trap activated and bound Onaga's spirit inside the energy field! Ashrah guided him away as quick as possible as the possessed body turned out to be the deformed Reptile's...! From the exertion, Lao's body collapsed while Liu's dragon amulet shattered! His fatigued spirit was still inside, then Raiden arrived to instruct the warriors they must rest at the Sky Temple at once.
Ermac, as a soul kinetic, sensed Havik attempting to stab and slay Reptile, in which he caught the kleric in his forcefield before sending him a kick into the Chaosrealm portal; Havik was actually thrilled of the fight and wished to have another one just as deadly! The interior of the Temple was shortly littered with inactive bodies, with uneasy monks at the perimeter.
== Epilogue ==
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The monks patrolling the summit were waiting eagerly for the recuperation of the various, injured heroes, even those that were in the infantry. Those recovered the fastest within the Jinsei, as if they had minor injuries like bruises or abrasions. The Special Forces agents went next as their bodies and souls were cleansed, no longer having the urge to conquer nor serve Onaga's corruptive ways. Eventually, there was the possessed Reptile as he hissed and urged his Saurian warriors to head to Zaterra. It diidnt take long for Hanzo, Ermac and Goro to cure themselves, although Kung Lao and Liu Kang were the last... Raiden and Fujin dreaded the procedure, as it hadn't been done in millennia. Nightwolf and Ashrah arrived just in time and the gods relied on the shaman's help. Kiba exited his body and carried over the same tomahawk he used for prayers over Kahn and Shinnok. Each of the spectators gathered round, even Kenshi comforted Aiko despite the lightning, as Raiden performed the spiritual cleansing and journey onto Kung Lao.
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Thankfully, it wasn't as difficult as Liu's spirit entered him voluntarily, despite the dragon amulet being destroyed. He was the first to come to and even Aiko felt his pure soul in her heart gem! Lao was ecstatic to see her, and relieved to reunite Li Mei who escaped from the Sun Do massacre. Sonya contacted Sub-Zero, with the tech working again, that he'd been healing Baraka's wounds in Outworld; she assured she shall make a portal to home, while the Tarkatan offered to rest at his own Kamp rather than a stuffy, irritable holy place.
Minutes dragged on before Fujin, Nightwolf next, and Raiden left the Temple and announced Liu Kang was forever in Kung Lao's debt. Together they'd shared the titles as Champions of Mortal Kombat and saviors of all the realms without being cursed.
== Soundtrack ==
* The Evil King Bowser - Super Smash Bros Ultimate (Music I Want in Super Smash Bros Ultimate)
* Fatality Theme (Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks)
* Trinity Dream - Don Davis (The Matrix Reloaded)
* Character Selection (Mortal Kombat Deception)
* Second Coming (Toonami)
*The Future (Back to the Future Part II) - start at 3:50
*Earthrealm Village (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*The Test of Observation (Starfox Adventures)
*Under the Influence - Bo Rai Cho's Training (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Master's Guidance - Sub-Zero's Training (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*In the Presence of a Krazoa Spirit (Starfox Adventures)
*The Chamber of Sages (Ocarina of Time 3D)
*Got a Krazoa Spirit (Starfox Adventures)
*No Dream, No Hope (Final Fantasy X)
*Join the Party (Final Fantasy IV SNES)
*Outworld Marketplace Round 1 (Mortal Kombat X)
*Valleys and Rivers (Strider (Genesis))
*Evening Bells (Mortal Kombat 1995)
*Longneck's Story (The Land Before Time IV: Journey through the Mists)
*Middle Boss Battle (Majora's Mask)
*Stage Theme - NES version (The Legend of Kage)
*Life Lost (The Legend of Kage)
*Clock Tower (Majora's Mask)
*Song of Healing (Majora's Mask)
*Romance in the Dark (Black Knight)
*Winning the Crowd (Black Knight)
*Staff Upgrade (Starfox Adventures)
*Into Battle (ReBoot)
*Kuatan Palace/Nexus (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Netherrealm - Konquest (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Mystical Energies - Ermac's Training (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Demon Huntress - Ashrah's Training (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Animality (Mortal Kombat Annihilation)
*Capture! (Strider (Genesis))
*Hara Kiri (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Konquest Mode: Chaosrealm (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Chaos Clergy - Havik's Training (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Konquest Komplete (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Sneaking (Code Lyoko: Get Ready to Virtualize)
*Kawa no nagare no yoo ni - Instrumental (Misora Hibari)
*Kawano Nagaromououni (Seiko Clock)
*Defenders vs. Lin Kuei Cyborgs (Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm - Paul Unfaces) - subtle parts
*Item Room Ambience (Super Metroid)
*Chozo Statue Awakens (Super Metroid)
*Hostile Incoming (Super Metroid)
*Space Pirate Statue Chamber (Super Metroid)
*Kirk Saves the Day (Star Trek Generations) - start at 1:03
*Ocarina of Time Middle Boss Remix
*Kidfried (The Matrix Revolutions) - start at 3:17
*Springing the Surfer (Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer)
*Snow Mountain (Donkey Kong Country)
*Staff Cavern (Starfox Adventures)
*
*Sareena Battle (Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero)
*Noob Saibot Theme - RE-recorded (Mortal Kombat: Conquest - Paul Unfaces)
*Spirit of the Universe (Matriix Revolutions) - start at 1:28, end at 2:48
*Dragon King's Temple: The Dragon Has Left the Building (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Konquest Mode: Orderrealm (Mortal Kombat: Deception)
*Konquest Mode: Outworld (Mortal Kombat: Deception)
*Konquest Mode: Edenia (Mortal Kombat: Deception)
*Helicopter Freeze (The Day after Tomorrow)
*Sweat and Bruises: Sindel's Training (Mortal Kombat: Deception)
*Konquest: The Betrayal (Mortal Kombat: Deception)
*Friends (Mortal Kombat 1995)
*The Escape of Kung Lao - Paul Unfaces version (Mortal Kombat Conquest)
*Fight Against Goro (Mortal Kombat SNES)
*He Shall Smite the Wicked (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) - end at 5:38
*The Sentinels Attack (The Matrix) - start at 2:45, end at 3:58
*Benny Runs around the Bend (The Samdlot) - start at 13 seconds
*The Roof is on Fire - Club Mix (Rock Master Scott and the Dynamic Three)
*Dragon Slayer (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*The Death of the Dragon King (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*The End of the Dragon King (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*The End (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*The Katra Ritual (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)
*The Time Has Passed (Mortal Kombat: Deception)
*Epilogue, Part 1 (Metroid Fusion)
*Halycon + On + On (Orbital)
*We Are the Champions (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
=== Bonus Tracks ===
* Kawa no nagre no yoni (Teresa Teng)
*Yin Yang Island - Earthrealm (Mortal Kombat Deception)
*Yin Yang Island - Outworld (Mortal Kombat Deception)
== Trivia ==
* thumbThe working title was Mortal Kombat: Trojan Dragon; however, according to a Twitter poll, voters said nay on the idea. And since the title, Deception, changed its name in the French version since it meant Disappointment, she just stuck with the basic idea...
* She wanted to make a little challenge as she decided to change Kung Lao's VA from the usual Joe Yau in Shaolin Monks who was in her previous works, to the new actor, Will Yun Lee; he was the VA from MKX, not counting his revenant form, and his witty, funny mannerisms were a turn-on! According to another poll, he won by a landslide!
*Inspired by Evil Emperor X using his voice in his Deception ending, it was decided that Richard Epcar shall be the voice of Raiden! He was the same VA who actually became Dark Raiden in the start of MK9 and the end of MKX! It was simple enough to use him from the NRS timeline, from Dan Bakkedahl as Raiden in Shaolin Monks during her other fics!
*Ikran had been taking a bit of inspiration from 616Entertainment's playthrough of Deception's Konquest Mode, his History of Mortal Kombat, and MK Temple.
*There was a slight mistake as Ikran neglected to mention Hanzo's memories on meeting Shujinko in the Netherrealm, as stated to Kung Lao before he went there; the part is non-canon, as Hanzo knew of Quan murdering his family/clan, even though it was set before MK4/GOLD. The best explanation could be like the Nexus, but in Star Trek Generations, as (despite sharing the same name) Lao never saw it happen, thus maybe having him and Raiden going thru a temporal flux.
**There was also a case when Ikran erroneously mentioned 1964 during the temporal flux, instead of 1962 when Shujinko spent approx. 4 decades on his 'quest'. It can be used as Deception, much like the quest itself, as it was a temporal flux warping all reality.
*There were some elements added from the MK roleplay as well as the comic Sindel_MKD made, such as Nightwolf exorcising Sindel from her banshee thus disabling some of her abilities like her flight and sonokinesis; she can still use her hair and Kwan Do.
*While it did include Sindel's ending early on, there were several changes: Onaga didn't appear as his remains were being obliterated, Sindel wasn't imprisoned by Kitana and stayed captured for days/nights.
*Tanya's ending was taken out, as hers stated she was torn and eaten by the Tarkatans after blood was spewed on her. Ikran was just desperate to eliminate her the same way Jade did back in Shinnok's Uprising.
*Raiden's ending was sort of implied, as it was stated as his dark self that he killed Shujinko and threatened that anyone who poses an enemy to Earthrealm would pay with their lives.
*Ashrah's ending was confirmed as she had slain Noob Saibot in order to ascend from the Netherrealm; while at the same time spare Smoke and Kuai. Even Sareena.
*Frost, being her psychopathic self by assassinating the Lin Kuei, was cut out due to her more heroic role from Mortal Kombat: Vengeance.
*Sareena's story remained intact, except the fact she revealed to be a demon to Kuai and wasn't in control by Quan and being assisted by Ashrah.
*Even though Kuai's death wasn't canon by Bi-Han in Deception, his demise was averted thanks to Ashrah's efforts!
*Liu's ending seemed accurate, aside from Raiden's, as his spirit reunited with his body and awakened as his normal self, contrary to his zombie fate in Armageddon, assuming that his spirit never existed...
*Much like in MK: Vengeance, Ikran was pissed off on Smoke being done so dirty; contrary to Deadly Alliance/Deception, he wasn't held in an Outworld prison after Kahn's demise, he wasn't reprogrammed by Noob even though Kuai warned Sareena of Smoke's past and the cyber initiative (thus the gears in the Netherrealm) and was still his heroic self.
*The last official song in the soundtrack, We Are the Champions by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, was caught at a spur of the moment. Ikran never saw the 1984 movie, Revenge of the Nerds, until she noticed her old man watching it, and the ending song was just too epic to pass up!
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