Kung Lao

Kung Lao is a character in the Mortal Kombat Darkverse. Together with Liu Kang, he was trained from his childhood at the White Lotus Society and Shaolin Monastery, becoming a member of Earthrealm's champions who protected Earthrealm from the forces of evil such as from the tyrant Shao Kahn and the fallen Elder God Shinnok.
Kung Lao is a descendant of the great martial arts master and champion of Earthrealm's first Mortal Kombat tournament, the legendary warrior known as the Great Kung Lao.

## Appearance

Kung Lao is a Chinese man with a muscular build and long black hair that he styles in ponytail. His attire is based on Chinese martial artist, wearing a blue, white, and black-colored hanfu-like top with a black belt, white baggy pants with tiger motif, and shaolin monk boots. He's usually seen wearing his razor-brimmed hat which is also his main weapon.

## Personality

Kung Lao is described as a "good natured soul", being a humble man who values the teachings of his mentors, especially those of Raiden, Bo' Rai Cho, and his Shaolin masters. However, despite his humbleness, he does have some arrogance in him, feeling that his skills are superior to the others, this sometimes cause him to be a bit reckless and impulsive, such as when he fought Ermac in the tournament where he thought he defeated the construct only to be defeated and get eliminated. Despite his arrogant personality, he cares for his fellow Shaolin monks and Earthrealm warriors, and is a good friend of Liu Kang and a possible love interest of Jade, he was deeply enraged when the the Tarkatan horde attacked the Shaolin monastery and murdered several of his comrades. Like Liu Kang, he holds great respect for Raiden, as Earthrealm's protector god, and mentor, and is willing to obey his command to the end, although sometimes he and Liu Kang question Raiden's orders if they feel the thunder god's decisions are too risky.

He is also competitive, as he and Liu Kang always challenge each other to see who is better in friendly sparring, with the two constantly tie their matches. Despite his friendship with Liu Kang, he sometimes feel a bit jealous of him, as while Liu Kang is often the focus of attention due to his achievements, Kung Lao feels like he is often ignored by the other, although this sometimes has caused a rift between the two, they remain good friends.

Kung Lao has romantic interest in the assassin and spy Jade, who in turn, has shown feelings for the Shaolin warrior. They started to have feelings for each other after he was saved from Shao Kahn by Jade during a mission, and she escaped with him when she decided to turn on Shao Kahn and joined the Earthrealm's warriors to defend their realm against the despot emperor. When Shao Kahn was defeated and Earthrealm was saved, they shared a passionate kiss together, further deepening their relationship. Kung Lao has even expressed a desire that he would marry Jade if it's not for his duty as a Shaolin Monk.

His relationship with his fellow Earthrealm Defenders are mostly positive. He respects Raiden's role as the protector of Earthrealm and has a friendly rivalry with his brother-in-arms, Liu Kang. He has a somewhat complicated relationship with Johnny Cage, due to his showman nature. Kung Lao considers him obnoxious and narcissistic, however he does have respect for him as an ally, and a fighter, and is not above to admit that he does have some good traits, despite his showman personality. He and Sonya Blade share the same opinion about Johnny Cage's cocky attitude, although he does not share her dislike for him, as he is not as harsh and abrasive as her. He and Kai are good friends, and the latter does not have any hard feelings for him after being defeated by Kung Lao in a skirmish during their first meeting. He seems to have an amicable relationship with Jax as well, although the two never interacted much. He is also good allies with Kitana and Jade. While he and Jade have a romantic relationship, he and Kitana are good friends, and respectful to one another, with Kung Lao giving Kitana an endorsement for her leadership qualities, while Kitana commends Kung Lao for his loyalty towards Earthrealm.

Kung Lao is a very kind and loyal person. While he is not as friendly and open as Liu Kang, he is still a good-natured person. He is an honest man, and is very straight-forward. He is also very selfless, and will do anything to the end if it means saving the people he cares about.

Outside kombat and his duty as a Shaolin Monk, Kung Lao has interests in playing strategic boardgames such as chess and is quite skilled on them, he even has a big collection of them. He also enjoys Chinese tea, and is very used to meditate, which helps him relieve himself of stress. Kung Lao also likes to show off and being in the center of the attention, but without reaching the exaggerated level of Johnny Cage, and sometimes, his arrogance and the fact that he doesn't think things before rushing into action are some of his biggest flaws, which Liu Kang points out.

## Abilities & Powers

Kung Lao is said to be equal to Liu Kang in every way, both are skilled Shaolin Monks who were trained since childhood in the Shaolin Temple and both are great martial artists and protectors of Earthrealm. They are regarded as Earthrealm's most powerful mortal defenders.

* Superhuman Strength: Kung Lao possesses superhuman strength, allowing him to lift heavy objects and defeat powerful enemies. He is also capable of shattering diamond and other very tough material.
* Superhuman Agility: Kung Lao is significantly more agile than a normal human, this is evident through his use of his wind-based attacks.
* Superhuman Durability: Kung Lao has shown to be capable of taking a decent amount of punishment and has been able to shake off blows from opponents who are far more powerful than he is.
* Superhuman Speed: Kung Lao's enhanced agility combined with his training allows him to move at high speed.
* Hand-to-Hand Combat: Kung Lao is a formidable hand-to-hand combatant, as shown in his training with his brother-in-arms, Liu Kang.
	+ Martial Art Master: Like Liu Kang, Kung Lao is a master in the art of Shaolin, he is also an expert in Wing Chun, as well as Karate.
	+ Weapon Mastery: He's extremely skilled in using his razor-brimmed hat as a weapon, which he wears at all times. He has mastered the art of controlling his hat in mid-flight, allowing him to cut down several foes in quick succession.
* Acrobatics: Kung Lao is incredibly acrobatic and is able to pull off complex maneuvers.
* Teleportation: Kung Lao can teleport, appearing behind his opponent to attack, or avoid an attack.
* Wind Manipulation: Kung Lao can manipulate wind due to Fujin's teaching. He can accelerate his attacks, knock his opponent back, and create cyclones to keep his enemy off balance by spinning. He can also propel himself through the air via a gust of wind.
* The Power of Baihu and Genbu: Kung Lao possesses half of Four Guardian Beasts' powers, the White Tiger and the Black Tortoise, which is given by Raiden and the other elemental gods of Earthrealm to battle Shao Kahn together with Liu Kang.
	+ Fierceness of Baihu: By calling upon the Fierceness of Baihu, the White Tiger, Kung Lao can summon his power to enhance his attacks, creating energy white tiger claws that slice his opponents. He can also command Baihu to roar to disorient his opponent, leaving them open for free hit.
	+ Tenacity of Genbu: By calling upon the Tenacity of Genbu, the Black Tortoise, Kung Lao can summon his power to heal himself, create an image of black tortoise shell with his hat, which will shield him and block projectiles.

## History

### Early Life

Kung Lao, alongside with Liu Kang, was raised in the Shaolin Monastery from his childhood.

## Quotes

* "For the Shaolin!"
* "I always see my opponents as a worthy combatant, never once i underestimate them"
* "Don't worry, lord Raiden. Either Liu Kang or me will win this tournament"
* "I let you win, lady" to Jade after she defeated him