Mortal Kombat Timelines

This is a list of timelines taking place in the world and realms of Mortal Kombat. These timelines were formerly kept by Kronika, and currently by Fire God Liu Kang. However, the initial battle for the Hourglass between Liu Kang and Shang Tsung was revealed to have ripped the fabric of time, creating separate Main Timelines; one where Liu Kang was the victor, and the other Shang Tsung.

## Original Timeline

As the original timeline isn't the focus of the Punch Time Exploders series, it will count as an alternate timeline.

### History

Millenia had passed since the Outworld Emperor Shao Khan had conquered Edenia and other various realms, and he turned his attention to the conquest of Earthrealm, in which many considered to be a jewel. Shao Kahn sent Shang Tsung to establish the sacred tournament as a competition between his armies and Earthrealm. The prize for the winner of Mortal Kombat would be that the champion would not age for 50 years until the next tournament. Kahn would only be allowed to take Earthrealm if he won ten of these tournaments in a row. Raiden rallied the best fighters of Earth into the White Lotus Society, a group established to discern a champion every 50 years to defend Earth in the tournament. The Great Kung Lao was one such warrior defeating Shang Tsung and becoming Grand Champion. Lao out of mercy spared the sorcerer, but this would be his undoing as Lao only kept the title for one generation before eventually falling to Shang Tsung's then-new secret weapon, a Shokan prince named Goro. Goro quickly dispatched and killed Lao, winning that and the continuing 8 tournaments, giving the Outworld warriors nine consecutive victories.

Imprisoned in death for centuries after his betrayal by Shao Kahn, the angered Dragon King learned of Shao Kahn's treachery, infuriating him, so then he secretly worked to revive his physical body. By transferring his essence into an apparition, he appeared to Shujinko, a very promising warrior who was set to be the chosen Earthrealm kombatant in an upcoming Mortal Kombat tournament. Claiming to be an emissary of the Elder Gods named Damashi, he tricked Shujinko into embarking on a quest to obtain the Kamidogu from the various realms and placing them in the Nexus, a special location created between the realms to ease the travel of the Champion of the Elder Gods.

Before the events of the next Mortal Kombat tournament, Shang Tsung unknowingly made a deal with Quan Chi, on Shinnok's behalf and he accepted the arrangement. The deal was that if Quan Chi can help Shang Tsung's Shadow Priests in the proposed resurrection of Sindel if Shao Kahn's plan to merge Earthrealm with Outworld through the tournament has backfired, Shang Tsung in return can give the sorcerer the information on where Shinnok's Amulet is located. Quan Chi had recruited Sub-Zero the Elder to before helping him in retrieving the ancient amulet after Sub-Zero and Scorpion, who was a rival clansman of the Lin Kuei, the Shirai Ryu and the same man Sub-Zero killed years before, as an insurance in case Sub-Zero failed were to obtain the map which contains the Temple of Elements from the Shaolin Temples. Sub Zero proceeded to venture through Earthrealm, defeating the gods of Wind, Earth, Water, and Fire and was about to obtain the amulet. Quan Chi obtained the amulet first and explained it's true purpose. After Quan Chi returned to the Netherrealm later to give the fake amulet to Shinnok, whilst he kept the original for himself, Raiden then confronted the Lin Kuei warrior and revealed to him his mistake by allowing Quan Chi to possess the amulet. Reluctantly, Sub-Zero then proceeded to enter the portal to the Netherrealm and retrieve the amulet from Shinnok. Sub-Zero was successful in his mission and preserved the peace of all reality for the time being. Somehow, that task caught Shang Tsung's attention and he was invited to compete in the upcoming Mortal Kombat Tournament, with secret orders from the Lin Kuei Grandmaster, which was to assassinate Shang Tsung and win.

Two years later, Earth rallied some of its best fighters in order to win the tenth tournament and preserve Earthrealm's freedom. Amongst the established warriors were Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage. With the help of Raiden, the Earthrealm warriors were victorious and Liu Kang became the new champion of Mortal Kombat, resetting Outworld's counter to 0. Scorpion and Sub-Zero fought each other again. In the end, however, Scorpion slew Sub-Zero in retribution for his own death by Sub-Zero the Elder's Hands. Thus sending his soul into the 5th darkest plane of the Netherrealm and turned him into Noob Saibot.

Despite Shang Tsung being unable to deal with his failure in the last Mortal Kombat Tournament, Shao Kahn ordered the Tarkatan horde to attack the Wu Shi Academy. The Tarkatan horde raided and killed most of Liu Kang's fellow monks, including his Shaolin Masters, sending a direct message to Raiden and the Earthrealm warriors. This enraged Liu Kang enough to follow them into Outworld. He was not alone. Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, and Major Jackson Briggs, who was in search of his missing subordinate, Sonya Blade, were also following right behind Liu Kang into the realm seeking revenge, and to compete in the next Mortal Kombat tournament at the same time. But unbeknownst to Raiden and the Earthrealm warriors, the tournament in Outworld was a diversionary trap set by the Emperor in an attempt to break the rules set forth by the Elder Gods themselves Kitana had forewarned. In rescuing Sonya, Shao Kahn's scheme was thwarted and the Earthrealm warriors prevailed, with Liu Kang defeating Shang Tsung and the emperor, Shao Kahn. However, Kahn responded by resurrecting Queen Sindel on Earth and stepping across the dimensional portal gates to claim her, thus successfully merging it with Outworld, starting the Battle of Earthrealm. At one point, prior to the Earthrealm invasion, Shao Kahn attempted to merge Outworld with the Netherrealm, but the backfiring problem for the emperor was that the former "demon" and member of the Brotherhood of Shadow, Ashrah had slain most of his Netherrealm allies, which allowed Scorpion to roam the Earth. The Earthrealm warriors rallied themselves for the first time in a battle, and upon Shao Kahn's defeat the second time by the shaolin monk Liu Kang, the threat to Earthrealm was over for now. Escaping back into Outworld, the emperor was severely wounded, weakened, and defeated. But most importantly, Edenia was freed from Outworld and returned to a whole realm for the first time since Kahn conquered Edenia so many years ago. Shao Kahn's final attempt to conquer Earthrealm has failed once again.

#### Second Earthrealm War

During his time in the Netherrealm, Shinnok rallied an army of allies to help him avenge his losses. With the help of his disguises and his allies in Earthrealm (Noob Saibot) and Outworld/Edenia (Tanya), Shinnok escaped to the newly restored Edenia, setting the stage eventually for returning to the heavens. Shinnok proceeded to kidnap Queen Sindel and Princess Kitana in the process of ruling with an Iron Fist as much as he could in his takeover of Edenia for the second time, (the first time was Shao Kahn) as part of his scheme to launch his declared attack on the Heavens as an audacious act of vengeance, including murdering several of the Elder Gods and many of the lesser gods like Raiden as his prime target, for his suffering in the Netherrealm for millions of years ago and to finally end the war once and for all.

Fujin and Raiden escaped to Earthrealm, where they rallied the Earthrealm warriors to assist them and the Elder Gods in the secondary Earthrealm conflict. But unlike the last one against Shao Kahn following the aforementioned Mortal Kombat Tournament and the Outworld Invasion, this time, they are up against Shinnok and his minions in the Netherrealm Invasion. Thus, the Second Earthrealm War begins. And after a long arduous battle between the Fallen Elder God and Earthrealm's champion of Mortal Kombat, the war came to an end as Liu Kang prevailed once again, defeating Shinnok, and emerging victorious in saving both Earthrealm and Edenia, leading to Shinnok's re-banishment to the Netherrealm, along with the sorcerer Quan Chi when he was about to do the same to Scorpion where he was believed to have been killed. However, It was revealed to Scorpion by Sub-Zero, that it was the sorcerer who was the true mastermind in hiring the Lin Kuei, behind the death of his family and clan the whole time. Scorpion was sent to the Netherrealm along with him, and thus the ninja spectre was on a manhunt for the sorcerer. This time he is out for vengeance, and in which he vowed not only to protect the future Lin Kuei warrior of Good as atonement for killing his brother once more, but to kill Quan Chi for the death of his family and his clan. After Shinnok's defeat, the Elder Gods appointed Raiden an Elder God. Raiden then in turn, appointed Fujin as the new protector of Earthrealm.

#### The Deadly Alliance

While in and escaping from the Netherrealm using a secret portal returning to Outworld, supposedly regaining his dark strength once more, Quan Chi discovers much information about its past, via unlocking the secret of the ancient runestone, including the existence of the Dragon King's seemingly immortal army. He approached Shang Tsung with an offer to join forces, Thus forming The Deadly Alliance. Quan Chi established a Soulnado in Shang Tsung's fortress with the agreement that Shang Tsung would use some of the souls to animate the army. Together with their combined strengths, they planned to overpower their two foes who could one day prevent their total domination of ruling the realms. Their first target, was Shao Kahn. Previously, Shao Kahn was humiliated of his consecutive defeats and setbacks at Outworld, with most of his subordinates abandoning him. This only made him easier for his elimination. They first approached in a feigning allegiance to the Emperor and attacked him, seemingly killing him in his weakened state. However, unbeknownst to the Deadly Alliance, It was later revealed that the Shao Kahn they killed was a clone, and the real Shao Kahn had escaped death once again and would begin scheming to reclaim his throne. Then they traveled to Earthrealm via a mystical portal to double-team and kill their next target, the only one who could possibly stop them, Earthrealm's Mightiest Warrior and Champion of Mortal Kombat, Liu Kang.

In order to protect Earthrealm once again, Raiden, in disgust, in protest, and defiance of the Elder Gods' wishes, forfeited his seat as an Elder God and rallied the Earthrealm soldiers to stop this impending threat. Also included in the battle were newcomers Li Mei and Nitara. Nitara's realm, Vaeternus, had been merged into Outworld against her will, whereas Li Mei was trying to free her land of Sun Do from The Deadly Alliance. Others joined the fight as well, including the newly restored Cyrax (now working for the U.S. Special Forces Unit with Jax and Sonya), as well as Kenshi, a warrior who had been blinded by Shang Tsung's treachery and like Scorpion, who sought revenge. Unfortunately, these heroes were unable to stop the Deadly Alliance, as the two sorcerers overcame all foes, with Kung Lao and Princess Kitana trying to avenge Liu Kang's death. Shang Tsung defeating Kung Lao and Quan Chi defeating Princess Kitana and destroying the majority of the opposition, with most dead or fleeing and managing to put their plan to near success.

#### The Return of Onaga

It had taken Shujinko years to complete the quest Damashi had given to him but finally Shujinko had collected the sixth and final Kamidogu from Edenia. Shujinko placed the Edenian Kamidogu on the altar in the Nexus with the other five. After the Kamidogu had been collected, the egg Onaga was imprisoned in hatched; the Dragon King resumed his physical form by merging with the ninja Reptile. Back in the Nexus, Shujinko began to wonder why the six Kamidogu were not transported to the Elder Gods as he had been told, it is then Onaga emerged in the Nexus to confront Shujinko revealing him to be the avatar Damashi all along. Onaga reveals his true plan of obtaining ultimate control over all that exists once he claims Shinnok's amulet, currently in possession of the sorcerer Quan Chi, while using Damashi to manipulate him 41 years ago. Shujinko escapes from Onaga into the Earthrealm portal and blamed himself for all the events following his return.

Meanwhile, Raiden (with his allies laying dead on the entrance of Shang Tsung's Palace), faced the Deadly Alliance on his own. Despite managing to hold his own for a time, he was ultimately defeated by their combined power. With their victory in hand, Shang Tsung and Quan Chi quickly turned on each other, each looking to grab all the power for themselves mainly for the reason that Tsung wanted Chi's amulet. Quan Chi emerged victorious, but the Sorcerer's victory was short lived, as the Dragon King returned to Outworld, attempting to retrieve Shinnok's amulet. Quan Chi proceeded to try to stop him, and the quickly recovering Shang Tsung and Raiden aided as well, forming an impromptu alliance against the greater threat. This attack was successful in the short run, but quickly the Dragon King quickly was making his advance towards them. Realizing that they were unable to defeat the Dragon King even with their combined power, Raiden released all of his godly essence to a practically nuke like explosion, destroying the temple and its surroundings, sacrificing his life. Unfortunately this sacrifice was in vain as the explosion had little to no effect on the revived former ruler of Outworld who was now in possession of Shinnok's amulet which had been held by Quan Chi.

Sometime later Raiden's essence, now corrupted from his encounter with Onaga and tainted with Onaga's dark magic, gathered again in the Earthrealm. He had now became furious with the way Earthrealm's inhabitants had treated their own realm, almost always taking their protection for granted. He became even more enraged when he learned that Shujinko had foolishly unleashed the Dragon King by attaining the Kamidogu of various realms for him. Raiden, with his patience exhausted, decided he was going to punish those who placed Earthrealm in harm's way, including brutalizing and slaying those that would threaten the realm, starting with Shujinko him for his errors, but Shujinko was able to escape and survive, Raiden then turned his attention towards Liu Kang's corpse.

Desecrating Liu Kang's tomb and removing his body from its grave, Raiden took it to an underground temple that belonged to an ancient sect of necromancers called the Houan, whom he had destroyed centuries earlier after Shinnok's imprisonment and defeat eons ago. Binding Kang's body with enchanted shackles the Houan had used to control their revived undead, Raiden spoke the enchantments etched into the temple's walls infusing it with a thunderclap of lightning and reviving his friend. The corpse of Liu Kang was now the enforcer of Raiden's will, and he sent it on a mission to wreak havoc on those he believed did harm to Earthrealm.

Onaga revived the previously deceased Earth warriors as his pawns and used them and a newly-forged alliance with the Tarkatan horde preventing Edenia's army from interfering with his plans while he searched for the spells that would allow him to fuse the Kamidogu together and grant him supreme power. However, just as he was about to do so Shujinko rallied the remaining warriors and turned against him and in a moment absorbed their combined fighting power. Empowered beyond the Dragon King's own expectations, Shujinko shattered each of the six Kamidogu, the source of his invulnerability. Weakened and in defeat Onaga attempted to retreat only to vanish into thin air. As it turned out, Nightwolf carried, traversed, ventured, and absorbed all the sins and traveled deep within the Netherrealm itself. Using a method of knowledge passed down to him by his forefathers called the 'Sin Eater', Nightwolf drew a binding symbol on the ground and chanted the ancient words that drew the spirit of the Dragon King. When the spirit of the Dragon King appeared before him, knowing that he had carried the burden long enough, Nightwolf released all the sins of his people into the mystic symbol, and their weight bound Onaga to the Netherrealm, thus freeing Earthrealm from the corruption that he had harboured for so long.

#### Armageddon

It was during the time of the Dragon King's conquest of the realm, The Prophecy predicted by Delia was fulfilled. However, as Caro mistook the loss of Blaze's contact (possibly when he was kidnapped in order to watch over the Dragon King's eggs) as the signal to begin the race, as a result of Shinnok's act of misdirection, Daegon had mistakenly been awakened centuries early.

He discovered what the aim of the quest was, and became obsessed with the power which would be granted to him. Daegon set up the Red Dragon clan (to represent the Red Dragon that awoke him) and enslaved Caro in order to use him to create portals.

The Red Dragon's primary aim was to find Blaze and to assassinate Taven set by his brother Daegon in order to claim the prize for himself, although they were also a powerful crime organization. When Taven was finally awoken at the correct time, during Onaga's return, he was constantly ambushed by Red Dragon warriors. Eventually, Taven made his way to his father's temple, only to find the weapon that was meant to be there had been stolen. As he finally made his way to his mother's temple, which was now occupied by the Lin Kuei, he managed to find the suit of armor that had been placed for him. During this time, Quan Chi assembled the other Evil warlords, including Shao Kahn, Shinnok, Onaga and Shang Tsung. Quan Chi had managed to find out about the power that Blaze contained, and the power that would be passed as a gift to the one who defeated him. In the process of discovering this, Quan Chi killed Orin, Taven's protector Dragon. The Forces of Darkness united in order to claim this power, whilst the Forces of Light united either in order to stop evil, or claim the power for themselves, thus culminated in the Battle of Armageddon.

Just as Delia had predicted, at the crater within the Edenian ruins, The defining prophesied conflict came to a head. As Taven made his way to these ruins, he encountered Blaze who revealed the true nature of this quest: to either use the power to destroy all of the Mortal Kombat warriors, or simply strip them of their power. Daegon not only revealed that it was he who had killed their parents over the prize, with the very weapons their father Argus created to be used to fight against Blaze (as it became apparent that Daegon was the one who had stolen Taven's sword), he also told Taven that Shinnok warned him that their parents made the decision to assist Taven and not Daegon, in which he was envious of. As the Sons of Argus fought within the ruins with tremendous ferocity, Taven was victorious at a huge terrible cost. As this happened, the warriors clashing within the crater were suddenly stopped as the huge pyramid placed by Argus millennia earlier rose from the ground, with Blaze, now empowered and huge in size, waiting at the top. The warriors began to make their way to the top, fighting amongst themselves and turning on each other in order to claim the prize. With Daegon defeated, Taven took his sword and made his way into the crater himself, in order to defeat Blaze. However, in the end, It was not Taven who defeated Blaze as he was destined in order to prevent Armageddon to the shock of all the kombatants themselves, It was none other than the supreme ruler of Outworld, Shao Kahn.

However, after The Battle of Armageddon ended (while the Kombatants from both sides are dead), left Raiden and Shao Kahn, the only two survivors. Defeated and about to be dealt the final blow, Raiden used his last attempt to cast a spell on his amulet, now shattered, to contact his past self and quote "He Must Win!" before he was killed. The Time Lords then declared all of the previous events an alternate timeline.

## "He Must Win!" Timeline

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### History

Millenia had passed since the Outworld Emperor Shao Khan had conquered Edenia and other various realms, and he turned his attention to the conquest of Earthrealm, in which many considered to be a jewel. Shao Kahn sent Shang Tsung to establish the sacred tournament as a competition between his armies and Earthrealm. The prize for the winner of Mortal Kombat would be that the champion would not age for 50 years until the next tournament. Kahn would only be allowed to take Earthrealm if he won ten of these tournaments in a row. Raiden rallied the best fighters of Earth into the White Lotus Society, a group established to discern a champion every 50 years to defend Earth in the tournament. The Great Kung Lao was one such warrior defeating Shang Tsung and becoming Grand Champion. Lao out of mercy spared the sorcerer, but this would be his undoing as Lao only kept the title for one generation before eventually falling to Shang Tsung's then-new secret weapon, a Shokan prince named Goro. Goro quickly dispatched and killed Lao, winning that and the continuing 8 tournaments, giving the Outworld warriors nine consecutive victories.

Imprisoned in death for centuries after his betrayal by Shao Kahn, the angered Dragon King learned of Shao Kahn's treachery, infuriating him, so then he secretly worked to revive his physical body. By transferring his essence into an apparition, he appeared to Shujinko, a very promising warrior who was set to be the chosen Earthrealm kombatant in an upcoming Mortal Kombat tournament. Claiming to be an emissary of the Elder Gods named Damashi, he tricked Shujinko into embarking on a quest to obtain the Kamidogu from the various realms and placing them in the Nexus, a special location created between the realms to ease the travel of the Champion of the Elder Gods.

Before the events of the next Mortal Kombat tournament, Shang Tsung unknowingly made a deal with Quan Chi, on Shinnok's behalf and he accepted the arrangement. The deal was that if Quan Chi can help Shang Tsung's Shadow Priests in the proposed resurrection of Sindel if Shao Kahn's plan to merge Earthrealm with Outworld through the tournament has backfired, Shang Tsung in return can give the sorcerer the information on where Shinnok's Amulet is located. Quan Chi had recruited Sub-Zero the Elder to before helping him in retrieving the ancient amulet after Sub-Zero and Scorpion, who was a rival clansman of the Lin Kuei, the Shirai Ryu and the same man Sub-Zero killed years before, as an insurance in case Sub-Zero failed were to obtain the map which contains the Temple of Elements from the Shaolin Temples. Sub Zero proceeded to venture through Earthrealm, defeating the gods of Wind, Earth, Water, and Fire and was about to obtain the amulet. Quan Chi obtained the amulet first and explained it's true purpose. After Quan Chi returned to the Netherrealm later to give the fake amulet to Shinnok, whilst he kept the original for himself, Raiden then confronted the Lin Kuei warrior and revealed to him his mistake by allowing Quan Chi to possess the amulet. Reluctantly, Sub-Zero then proceeded to enter the portal to the Netherrealm and retrieve the amulet from Shinnok. Sub-Zero was successful in his mission and preserved the peace of all reality for the time being. Somehow, that task caught Shang Tsung's attention and he was invited to compete in the upcoming Mortal Kombat Tournament, with secret orders from the Lin Kuei Grandmaster, which was to assassinate Shang Tsung and win.

#### He Must Win

Two years later, Earth rallied some of its best fighters in order to win the tenth tournament and preserve Earthrealm's freedom. Amongst the established warriors were Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage.

However, Raiden appears with Liu Kang in the *Mortal Kombat* tournament hosted by Shang Tsung, now armed with visions of the events from his future self when his amulet first cracked. After the first two rounds of the tournament, with Johnny Cage defeating both Reptile and Baraka, Raiden and Liu Kang met with Cage and explained to him the reason and purpose of *Mortal Kombat*, which he refused to believe at first. Johnny Cage then finds Sonya Blade (whom Johnny Cage had flirted with earlier) while she was contacting the Special Forces, and he offers to help her out. Initially hostile, Sonya warms up to Johnny Cage after he saves her from Kano, during which time Johnny Cage begins to understand the truth in Raiden's words and took it seriously. Later, Sonya rescues Jax with assistance from Raiden. The Thunder God then explains to the four Earthrealm warriors his visions he possesses and what they foretell.

Later, Raiden receives more future visions whereby he sees the ninja specter Scorpion killing Sub-Zero and a new warrior forming (now known as Noob Saibot). Raiden confronts Scorpion and requests he spare Sub-Zero's life, offering to ask the Elder Gods to restore his clan, the Shirai Ryu, back to the mortal realm. this causes Scorpion to accept the request but his request would later be short-lived. In Shang Tsung's Throne room, Scorpion later confronts Sub-Zero, (after fighting Sektor and Cyrax), battled him in The Netherrealm and there defeated Sub-Zero, honoring Raiden's request not to kill him, until Quan Chi appeared and shows Scorpion visions of Lin Kuei forces attacking the Shirai Ryu clan and Sub-Zero killing his wife and child reminding him of his goal for vengeance. This enraged Scorpion, causing him to renege his deal with Raiden, and killing Sub-Zero much to Quan Chi's delight. He returns to the Throne Room in regret holding the burned skull of Sub-Zero and disappears enraged much to Raiden's dismay. Cyrax is later contracted by Shang Tsung to kill Johnny Cage, but is rebuffed by Raiden for doing so. Cyrax defeats Johnny Cage in their match, but honors Raiden's wish and lets him live, much to both Sektor's displeasure and Shang Tsung's dismay. Cyrax is confronted by Sektor regarding the interaction, but defeats him in a brawl.

Meanwhile, Kitana attempts to kill Liu Kang, but is defeated and spared. Later, Liu Kang then defeats Ermac, Scorpion, Quan Chi, Goro and Shang Tsung in the tournament. However, despite their short-lived victory, Raiden's amulet cracks further. Disappointed with Outworld's defeat, Shao Kahn orders Shang Tsung's execution, but relents after being given the proposal of holding a second tournament in Outworld. During the events of the tournament, Kitana learns that Shao Kahn lied to her and the fact that she was replaced by Mileena as his "true daughter" while Jax, Johnny Cage, and Raiden attempt to rescue Sonya. Along the way, Sub-Zero's younger brother and Smoke infiltrate Outworld to learn of the original Sub-Zero's fate, while Ermac maims Jax. However, due to Raiden's assistance of Smoke, Sub-Zero instead undergoes cybernetic transformation, inadvertently altering the timeline. Even worse, because of Sonya's rescue by Jax earlier, Kitana instead was taken to the Colosseum. Raiden attempts to substitute Kung Lao as the champion of the next tournament, only for Kung Lao to be killed by Shao Kahn after defeating Kintaro, leaving Liu Kang to be the champion of Mortal Kombat two times in a row.

Despite Liu Kang's seemingly fatal victory over Shao Kahn, the latter launches an invasion of Earth. Among the response teams would be riot cops Kabal and Kurtis Stryker. Although Stryker managed to defeat Kintaro, Mileena, and Reptile on his own, Kabal suffered severe burns from Kintaro. Meanwhile, after defeating Ermac (unbeknownst to Stryker that Kabal disappeared), he was recruited by Nightwolf to aid Raiden in defending Earth. However, it was revealed that Kabal has been recovered by Kano only to escape from Outworld. After defeating Sub-Zero (now a cyborg), fending off Sheeva, and assisting Smoke in helping him, they both joined Raiden's defenders, composed of Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Kitana, Cyber Sub-Zero (his humanity having been restored), Jax (now with cybernetic arms), Jade, Smoke, Nightwolf and Stryker. Sub-Zero, working undercover, confronted Sektor and retrieved the intelligence from his data-banks. As Sub-Zero gained information from Sektor, he learned that Quan Chi was sacrificing Earthrealm's souls via a new soulnado to merge Outworld with Earthrealm, and confronts his older brother, Noob Saibot, allowing Nightwolf to halt Quan Chi's ritual. However, the interference causes Shao Kahn's forces to assault the headquarters of the Earthrealm warriors, where everyone (except for Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Raiden, and Liu Kang surviving the ambush), are killed by Sindel, with Nightwolf sacrificing himself to kill the empress.

During these events, Raiden, after failing to convince the Elder Gods to interfere, travels to the Netherealm in an attempt to convince Quan Chi to join forces with him against Shao Kahn, offering the souls of all the fallen Earthrealm warriors in exchange. Before he did so, Raiden beats down Scorpion for siding with Quan Chi. However, Quan Chi laughed, and mocked the powerless thunder god, revealing that he already had these souls as part of Shao Kahn's agreement, thus fully solidifying their alliance. Quan Chi then summons these souls and pits them against Raiden. Raiden successfully defeats six of the reanimated souls in his fury towards the sorcerer, while Quan Chi remarks at how Shao Kahn has already won. On hearing this statement, Raiden realizes that Shao Kahn has to win because by conceding to Shao Kahn, the Elder Gods would intervene and punish Shao Kahn for merging the realms illegally without having won 10 consecutive tournaments. Raiden returns to Earthrealm and explains his plan to Liu Kang, however, Liu Kang, delusional with grief mistrusts Raiden and goes to face Shao Kahn.

Perhaps for Kronika however, it could be a second chance for Chaos to reign supreme once more, as Raiden, knowing that if Liu Kang wins the battle against Kahn, Armageddon will ensue, attempts to stop Liu Kang, fighting and defeating him. Undeterred, Liu Kang refuses to back down from these unforeseen consequences. Raiden inadvertently kills Liu Kang while trying to stop him from fighting Shao Kahn. That was an even greater mistake that the Thunder God would regret and be haunted for the rest of his life. Raiden loses to Shao Kahn voluntarily, only for the Elder Gods to intervene and grant him tremendous power. Raiden defeats Shao Kahn who is attacked by the Elder Gods and is taken away for punishment, thus ultimately ruined Kronika's Armageddon plan as she raged at the Elder Gods, especially Raiden for ruining her plans once again.

In the aftermath of the whole debacle, Raiden vows to rebuild Earthrealm with Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage, the last remaining Earthrealm warriors. Worse, even though Raiden had indeed stopped Shao Kahn from merging Earthrealm with Outworld, he would unknowingly suspect that Armageddon could still happen, but with Shao Kahn gone, Raiden cannot foresee another force of circumstance might one day unleash it, and that still altered the timeline. However, Quan Chi and Shinnok decide to use the chaos to their advantage to make their plan successful in order to claim both Earthrealm and Outworld in the name of the Netherrealm for themselves.

#### The New Generation

A few years following Shao Kahn's defeat, Shinnok escapes the Netherrealm and launches an invasion of Earthrealm. Shinnok personally goes to Raiden's Sky Temple with the intent to poison the Jinsei, the life force of Earthrealm. Shinnok nearly imprisons Raiden and Fujin within his amulet, only for Johnny Cage to intervene and knock the amulet from his hands. Shinnok incapacitates Cage's companions, Kenshi and Sonya Blade, but Johnny manages to hold off the former Elder God and passed the amulet over to Raiden. With the tables now turned in their favor, Raiden imprisons Shinnok within his own amulet. At Fujin's recommendation, the two gods take the amulet to the Elder Gods, seeking their guidance.

Soon after, Johnny and Sonya travel to Quan Chi's fortress in the Netherrealm, hoping to take down the necromancer and his revenants before they can cause any more trouble. In the fight against Quan Chi, Scorpion, and the revenants of Jax and Sub-Zero (now returned to a human form), Johnny Cage is stabbed, and Quan Chi begins summoning a revenant as his soul leaves his body. Sonya manages to defeat Quan Chi, however, and Raiden is able to reverse Quan Chi's spell, saving not only Johnny Cage, but also returning Sub-Zero, Jax, and even Scorpion to life.

In the years that follow, Johnny and Sonya marry and have a daughter, Cassie, and later divorce. Scorpion revives the Shirai Ryu clan while mentoring Kenshi's son Takeda, and Sub-Zero becomes the new Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei after killing Sektor.

Twenty years after Shinnok's defeat, Johnny Cage assembles a new team of fighters composed of Cassie, Jax's daughter Jacqui, Takeda, and Kung Lao's cousin Kung Jin. After undergoing a training exercise with Sub-Zero which was meant to test the teamwork and effectiveness along with Cassie's leadership, they are deployed to Outworld to resolve a civil war between former empress Mileena, who has obtained Shinnok's amulet, and Outworld's current emperor Kotal Kahn, with whom Earthrealm had ceasefire known as the Reiko Accords.

Meanwhile in the Special Forces base on Earthrealm, Sonya captures Kano and forces him to reveal where Mileena is keeping the amulet. Armed with this information, Cassie's team aids Kotal in recovering Shinnok's amulet and capturing Mileena. After executing Mileena, Kotal decides to keep the amulet in Outworld's hands, and takes Cassie and her friends hostage to prevent Raiden from retaliating despite the violation of the accords. Kotal's second-in-command D'Vorah, who is revealed as a double agent for Quan Chi, steals the amulet. Cassie and her team escape captivity, and inform Sonya of D'Vorah's intentions.

Jax and Kenshi, aided by Sareena, lead an assault on the Netherrealm and manage to capture a weakened Quan Chi, who is brought back to Earthrealm and held at a refugee camp. Scorpion, having learned from Sub-Zero the truth of Quan Chi's involvement in the deaths of his family and clan, not only ended the feud between the two clans, but infiltrates the refugee camp alongside his clan with the intent of assassinating Quan Chi, defeating Kenshi, Johnny and Sonya in the process. As Scorpion prepares to kill Quan Chi, D'Vorah arrives with the amulet. Quan Chi manages to finish a spell moments before being beheaded by Scorpion, releasing Shinnok from captivity. Weakened by the Shirai Ryu's previous attack, Johnny is taken prisoner by Shinnok and D'Vorah. With the aid of Quan Chi's revenants, Shinnok and D'Vorah assault the Sky Temple, where they subdue Raiden. Shinnok then enters the Jinsei and corrupts it, transforming himself into a powerful demon in the process.

Cassie's team pursues Shinnok, only to be intercepted by Kotal Kahn and his army. They tried telling him about Shinnok's return and Kotal decides to kill them, hoping to appease Shinnok and buy time to bolster Outworld's defenses. Sub-Zero and his Lin Kuei comrades appeared just in time to repel the Outworld forces and congratulating Cassie's team for their teamwork and bravery, granting them ultimate consent to save Earthrealm. At the Sky Temple, Jacqui and Takeda occupy the revenants, while Cassie and Jin enter the Jinsei chamber. There, Cassie defeats D'Vorah and Shinnok, and rescues her father. A grievously-wounded Raiden then purifies the Jinsei, stripping Shinnok of his powers and forcing the revenants to withdraw. Sonya and her soldiers arrive, and the Cage family reunites.

#### Timelines Collide

Some time later, the revenants Liu Kang and Kitana are revealed to have assumed leadership of the Netherrealm in Shinnok's absence. Raiden, hinted to have been corrupted in the process of purifying the Jinsei as a final warning, presents them with Shinnok's severed, yet still living head tells them that they will face "fates worse than death" if they threaten Earthrealm.

After Raiden leaves, The Keeper of Time, Kronika, appears in the chamber, annoyed at Raiden for upsetting the balance of time after *Mortal Kombat X*’s events. She approaches and tells Shinnok that the arc of the universe bends at her will, and that it is only a matter of time.

Tired of Earthrealm’s defiance, Kronika will bring order to the universe through any means necessary.

Two years later, Sonya Blade announces to Cassie Cage, Johnny Cage, Jacqui Briggs, and the Special Forces that Jackson "Jax" Briggs has retired, and therefore, Cassie, Sonya and Johnny's daughter, is promoted to commander, but not before passing her final test against her mother in kombat.

Dark Raiden arrives shortly after to inform the Special Forces that Liu Kang and Kitana are planning to invade Earthrealm. In order to stop them, the Earthrealm needs to assault Netherealm's main cathedral.

While Dark Raiden creates a diversion, drawing out the main Netherrealm army, the Special Forces storm the cathedral forces led by Jade and Kabal. Upon hearing of Earthrealm attacking the cathedral, Liu Kang and Kitana ambush the Special Forces, resulting in Sonya getting trapped under an avalanche of rocks. After ordering Cassie and the Special Forces to flee back to Earthrealm, Sonya activates the charges that detonate and destroy the cathedral, killing her.

As Liu Kang and Kitana contemplate their next move, Kronika appears before the Netherrealm King and Queen to request an alliance, stating her goal to restart history and create a New Era... one without Raiden. Liu Kang and Kitana, disgusted by Raiden's actions, agree to Kronika's terms.

Meanwhile, Kotal Kahn has the imprisoned Kollector brought into the middle of the Outworld Koliseum for execution, for "escaping Kotal's justice and sucking dry the bounty of Outworld's people". Kollector warns Kotal that his death will cause him to lose much wealth. Kotal, who insists he is not to be compared to Shao Kahn, tells Kollector he doesn't want to "inflict a bandit upon the poor". But just before he can execute Kollector, Kronika begins changing time, causing timequakes in the present.

Johnny, Cassie, and Jacqui encounter younger versions of Johnny, Sonya, and Jax, while Dark Raiden is erased from existence, leaving behind Shinnok's Amulet.

During the Outworld timequake, Kollector breaks free from his bondage and, along with Kotal, encounters the past versions of Skarlet, Erron Black, Baraka, Kano, Shao Kahn, Liu Kang, Kitana, Kung Lao, Jade, and Raiden. Shao Kahn is surprised that Kotal is the new Kahn of Outworld, to which Kotal explains he became Kahn by right after Mileena's and Shao Kahn's deaths. Raiden explains to Kotal that Kung Lao had just defeated Quan Chi and Shang Tsung, which Kotal reveals to the Thunder God happened over 27 years ago. Raiden deduces that the past and present are colliding, while Kotal reunites with his lover, Jade. Shao Kahn's forces engage in kombat with Raiden and Kotal's forces to reclaim the Outworld throne. After Kotal defeats Baraka, Skarlet, Erron, and Shao Kahn, D'Vorah arrives to rescue Shao Kahn's forces and Kollector, bringing them to her hive. Kotal and Raiden agree to work together and solve this crisis, while both Kitana and Jade stay in Outworld to aid Kotal. Raiden, Liu Kang, and Kung Lao then get into Earthrrealm to learn more about their tragic future.

Back in D'Vorah's hive, Kollector tells Shao Kahn about how Kotal ascended to the throne and the whereabouts of Mileena. D'Vorah then tells Shao Kahn that after Kotal takes Shao Kahn's throne, she killed Mileena. But before Shao Kahn can attack D'Vorah for killing his daughter, Kronika appears before his forces, recruiting them for her cause.

Meeting with the Special Forces, Raiden learns the tragic events of the future he would endure, confirming what Kotal told him at the Koliseum. Young Sonya learns that her future self was recently killed in action, and verbally tears into Cassie for abandoning her mother, causing Cassie to fire back that she only did so on her mother's orders. Liu Kang and Kung Lao are shocked to discover that their future selves have become undead revenants of the Netherrealm. Shortly after, the Special Forces are informed that the Netherrealm creatures have invaded the Wu Shi Academy.

On their way to the Wu Shi Academy, the past Liu Kang and Kung Lao begin lamenting their dark futures. Liu Kang decides to continue to put his faith in Raiden, but Kung Lao begins feeling skeptical.

Upon infiltrating the academy, the Shaolin Monks encounter the same Scorpion from their timeline. One of the monks works to disable the traps while the other fights Scorpion, at first to no avail, until the arrival of revenant Jade, who is under Kronika's orders to keep the Shaolin Monks alive. This allows the two an opportunity to make the revenant Edenian and the time-displaced wraith retreat.

Upon arriving in the Heavens, Raiden consults the Elder Gods, with Cetrion telling him what to do. The duo then come across Geras, who is stealing vials that contains Earthrealm's life force, the Jinsei. Geras knew they were coming, however, due to the revenant versions of Liu Kang and Kung Lao. After defeating their counterparts, the two then fight and defeat Geras before he freezes them in time. If Kung Lao fights Geras, Kronika's strongman reveals that he met and fought the Great Kung Lao once.

Kronika appears and although Geras states that it would be dangerous to let them live, Kronika keeps them alive, as if they die, their revenant counterparts would cease to exist. Geras and Kronika disappear as time resumes for the duo.

Back at the Special Forces Desert Base, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Sonya, Cassie and Johnny Cage learns that the realms are in crisis. Raiden tells the two what he have learned, and promises not to lead them to their deaths as Dark Raiden did. He will find a way how to solve it.

Sub-Zero is in a quarry, monitoring the recently reactivated Cyber Lin Kuei factory. Hanzo Hasashi, Scorpion's living present-self then arrives, and enquires as to the whereabouts of Sektor, as he doesn't want him to threaten his clan again. Sub-Zero informs Hanzo that, while the factory had been previously shut down and buried in the quarry, when the time merger restored Sektor, he reactivated the facility, and kidnapped Lin Kuei warriors to be turned into cyber slaves. He tells Hanzo of his plan to infiltrate the factory – an assault on the main entrance will be bloody, so he proposes to enter via a less-populated entrance, and obtain help from the inside.

Both enter the factory, only to find dismembered bodies lying on the ground. Hanzo swears to Sub-Zero, who broods over the bodies, that they both will avenge the dead Lin Kuei. Both hide as Cyrax and an unknown cloaked figure arrive to create more cyber warriors. Sub-Zero tells Hanzo that if they disable Cyrax's behavior inhibitors, he'll have his humanity restored and turn on Sektor, and will be able to shut the Cyber Lin Kuei down, as all cyber warriors are linked to a common network. They split up, with Hanzo focusing on Cyrax, while Sub-Zero is dealing with the cloaked figure, who is revealed to be Frost. He accuses her of betrayal after all he did for her, whilst Frost counters by accusing him of corrupting the Lin Kuei by making peace with Hanzo, and that with Kronika's help, she will "restore the clan's honor".

If Sub-Zero fights Frost, he calmly informs his former student that there is no future in which she could be the head of the clan. Frost angrily replies that he has always doubted her and that Kronika has seen her real potential from the beginning. If Hanzo fights Forst, she angrily tells him that she should have killed him the day Sub-Zero invited him to the temple. Hanzo replies that she already tried and failed.

After defeating Frost, Cyrax reappears with some activated Cyber Lin Kuei warriors, saying that they are defending Kronika's cause, and that the new Cyber Lin Kuei will help usher in the New Era. The chosen character will fight Cyrax while the other will deal with the remaining cybernetic warriors.

If Sub-Zero fights, he berates Cyrax for being enslaved by Sektor and Kronika, vowing to break him free again. If Hanzo fights, Cyrax tells him that he will be forced to serve. Hanzo replies that he has been down that road, and will never let it happen again.

After Cyrax's defeat, Sub-Zero begins to disable the behavior inhibitors. Hanzo is ambushed by Noob Saibot, who claims that in the New Era, Kronika will make sure that he would lead the realm's deadliest clan of wandering shadows, before he is defeated.

If Sub-Zero fights, Noob claims that he has always mimicked him, and that he is a poor grandmaster. Sub-Zero replies that he is withholding the Lin Kuei principle he thought his brother shared. If Hanzo fights, Noob claims that without Quan Chi's influence, Hanzo is weaker.

After Noob is defeated, Cyrax comes to, and realizes with horror what has become of him. He learns what he needs to do to destroy the Cyber Lin Kuei, before Sektor fires rockets at the trio, which Cyrax stops by using his net. Sektor has been warned by Frost that Sub-Zero and Hanzo had become allies, and is astonished at Sub-Zero engaging in an "act of dishonor".

If Hanzo fights, Sektor reveals that he was the one who started the massacre on the first Shirai Ryu by setting it on fire, swearing that he will finish what Quan Chi failed to accomplish in their deal. If Sub-Zero fights, he tells Sektor that he has taken his head once, and will do it again. Sektor replies that the past is no longer set as the Cyber Lin Kuei will usher in the New Era.

After Sektor is defeated, Cyrax manages to get into the Cyber Lin Kuei servers, and informs Sub-Zero that he can disable the factory, but begs Sub-Zero not to bring him back as a cyborg. Sub-Zero reassures Cyrax that, whether he is machine or man, he has a warrior's spirit, and as long as Sub-Zero is grandmaster, he will be welcomed to the Lin Kuei.

Cyrax then destroys the main power source of the factory, which disables himself and the rest of the Cyber Lin Kuei, including Sektor, who is transported back to Kronika's lair by Frost and Noob. Sub-Zero and Hanzo discuss what they should do next, both agreeing that they should inform Raiden of their accomplishment.

Back at Kronika's lair, Geras questions a younger Kano and Erron Black about if they can restore Sektor, and whether he can be copied thousands of times. Suddenly, the older Kano appears, and tells them that they should agree to serve Kronika.

In the Briggs house, present-day Jax tried to contact his daughter, Jacqui, but her phone was lost connection due to the time quake, which made him frustrated about it. Moments later, Kronika recruits the present-day Jax to her side.

Raiden is having a conversation with Kotal, Jade and Kitana in Outworld, about stopping Shao Kahn from reclaiming the throne.

The past Jade and Kotal scout the Lost Hive of the Kytinn, believing it is where Shao Kahn is located. They are ambushed by Revenant Jade and D'Vorah, who are eventually defeated.

After locating Shao Kahn at the Tarkatan Kamp, Jade fights Kollector, and then incapacitates the Tarkatans. As Kotal and his Osh-Tekk warriors prepare to execute the Tarkatans, Jade steps in, knowing how far he may go. She defeats Kotal, before they are both captured by Shao Kahn.

Meanwhile Raiden attempts to consult with the Elder Gods once again, only to discover that their domain is in ruins. All of the Elder Gods are gone with the exception of one – the goddess of virtue, Cetrion. She reveals that Kronika is her mother, and Shinnok her brother. Kronika's plan is then revealed: she intends to restart time so as to restore balance between darkness (Shinnok) and light (Cetrion), which can only be maintained if the realms fight each other. However, as Dark Raiden decapitated Shinnok, the balance was damaged, which has prompted Kronika's desire to remove Raiden from the picture. Raiden then tells Cetrion that he will make sure Kronika does not succeed, but the goddess informs him that Shao Kahn has captured Kotal. Raiden then says that the Earthrealm warriors will keep fighting.

Back in the Special Forces base, past Jax tests his new cybernetic arms, and Jacqui talks with him about what happened to the present Jax: since his traumatic experiences as a revenant, and worst of all, the death of his wife Vera a year prior, Jax has become a shut-in, only feeling safe at the Briggs' farm.

Johnny starts to find common ground with his past self as they jointly admire Sonya, before the younger Cage ruins it by being crass and boastful. Johnny hauls him out to teach his younger self a lesson. Suddenly, the base is attacked by the Black Dragon and the Cyber Lin Kuei. The two Johnnys put differences aside, and fight back against the Black Dragon, before the younger Johnny is grazed on the cheek by a bullet, causing a faded scar to appear on the same spot for the present Cage. Driven into a rage, the younger Cage charges headlong into the melee, firing wildly and pushing back the Black Dragon henchmen, leaving his older counterpart to deal with the past Erron Black, who is still affiliated with the criminal group. Johnny questions the gunslinger's allegiance, since his present counterpart remains in a tenuous alliance with Earthrealm by virtue of staying in Kotal Kahn's service. Black responds that he always picks winners, to which Johnny counters that he chose poorly after defeating him. The elder Cage finds Cassie, alive but injured, who informs him that past Sonya has been captured. Johnny heads out to rescue her, commandeering a tank on his way to deal with the Cyber Lin Kuei.

Johnny's tank is taken out of commission when Sektor calls in a missile strike from an aircraft, but Johnny in turn lures the plane in and destroys it, evening the odds. Confronting the leader of the Cyber Lin Kuei, Johnny beats the cyborg, before he's challenged by the past Kano, who eats a punch to the groin for his troubles. Angered by the thug's threat to his wife and daughter, the Cage patriarch beats him down, before pressing a boot to his neck. Unfortunately, he is interrupted by a bullet to his knee, fired by the present Kano, who has also taken the younger Johnny hostage. The Special Forces have no choice but to watch as the Black Dragon leave with the past Sonya and Johnny in their clutches. Fortunately, Cassie places a tracker on their aircraft as it flies away.

However, their troubles are not over, as Kano had fitted Sektor with a nuclear bomb, which he activates during his exit. They are saved by the timely arrival of Raiden, who teleports them to the Shirai Ryu Fire Garden seconds before the explosion. The present Johnny Cage is out of commission for the rest of the battle to stop Kronika, recuperating from his injuries. As Raiden’s Sky Temple, Sub-Zero’s Lin Kuei army and Special Force HQ had been compromised, Hanzo welcomes the surviving Earthrealm allies to the Shirai Ryu's Fire Garden as the only safe haven left. The surviving Earthrealm’s heroes learns from the past Raiden that the other Elder Gods have ceased to exist, and Cetrion and Shinnok are Kronika’s children, realizing the fallen god's mother was directly responsible for one of the heroes’ past tragedies in many timelines. Raiden told his warriors that the traitor Cetrion informed him of Shao Kahn captured both Kotal Kahn and younger Jade. The younger Liu Kang ask Raiden to send him and younger Kung Lao back to Outworld and reunite with younger Kitana. Raiden is pleased and prays his Shaolin disciples to return victorious, almost slipped his mind to forget his fellow gods no longer exist anymore, but himself.

Through the power of Kronika's sands of time, the past Kitana is transported to the present timeline along with the other kombatants. After a fierce fight in Kotal Kahn's arena, she congregates with the other "good" kombatants after D'Vorah transports the "bad" kombatants to her hive. She is instructed to seek out and recruit Sheeva, as her armies would prove useful to assist Kotal against Shao Kahn. However, Kitana, Liu Kang and Kung Lao must first confront Baraka, whose Tarkatan warriors are claimed by Sheeva as a necessary requirement for her to join their cause.

After saving Jade from Skarlet and convincing Baraka to join her, Kitana, along with her allies, invade the Koliseum. After defeating Kollector, Kitana then fights Shao Kahn. She manages to defeat him, and slashes his face with her fan, blinding him. Due to his serious injuries from his fight against Shao Kahn, Kotal Kahn relinquishes his title to Kitana as the new Kahn of Outworld.

At the Fire Garden, Cassie prepares to rescue her parents’ younger-selves. As her time is limited to save her younger parents, if either of her parents dies, Cassie will cease to exist, much to Raiden’s fear.

Sonya wakes up locked up in a cage, where both Kanos organize illegal fights. They send the past Kabal to fight her, with the present day Kano telling him that it was Sonya who disfigured his face. When the past Kano asks if that's true, his older self tells him that he only made it up to motivate Kabal in his fight. After Sonya defeats Kabal, she demands to fight both Kanos, but instead they bring up her next opponent – the younger Johnny Cage, who is in bad shape. While Sonya refuses to fight him, Johnny insists, telling her that fighting will buy them time.

Cassie infiltrates the fight club and they engage in battle with the Black Dragon members. Both Kanos then send the younger Erron Black to deal with Sonya and Johnny, shooting Cage in the arm. But before he can finish him off, Sonya interferes and eventually defeats him. Cassie then arrives in the cage, freeing both. As they are escaping, the older Kano attacks them armed with a minigun. Whilst the trio hide behind a truck, Kano uses his cybernetic eye to find their hiding spot, injuring Cassie as she tried to surprise him. Kano then closes in to finish the job, but is blindsided by Sonya. With his munitions deplete, Sonya who uses her gauntlets to disarm him.

After being disarmed and knocked down, Kano tosses his knife at Sonya and begins to run. Going after him, Sonya is ambushed by the younger Kano. Both Kanos begin to taunt her, with the older Kano lamenting that it should have been him who killed her. After defeating the younger Kano, Sonya is confronted again by the older Kano, who holds Johnny hostage. He reminds her that it is a two-for-one deal – should he kill Johnny, Cassie will be gone as well. Sonya thanks him for reminding her of the rules, and pulls out a pistol before shooting the younger Kano in the other eye, killing him instantly. With his younger counterpart's death, the older Kano also gets the same wound on his eye that his past self had before he vanishes into sand moments later.

A medical crew then tends to Johnny and Cassie, with Johnny inviting Sonya to dinner as gratitude for saving his life. But before the trio can escape, Geras arrives to confront Sonya, telling her that Kronika has sent him to avenge Shinnok's defeat at the hands of Cassie Cage. After he's defeated, Cassie rams him with a forklift, pinning him to a garage door, before throwing a grenade in for good measure. Sonya apologises to Cassie, stating that she was wrong to blame Cassie for the death of the older Sonya. As the two embrace, Geras begins to regenerate, confirming Liu Kang and Kung Lao’s warning about him, and forcing the trio to evacuate immediately.

Back at Kronika's isle, Kronika and the revenants are displeased with how the tide has turned against them with the loss of the Outworld army and the Black Dragon. But Kronika tells them that Raiden's allies fighting Shao Kahn and Kano has bought her precious time to finish off her work at Shang Tsung's Island.

Jacqui and the past Jax arrive at Shang Tsung's Courtyard in an attempt to find Kronika's crown. The Briggs' approach the old Courtyard, only to find corpses of the decayed shaolin monks, realizing that the island has been abandoned since after the first tournament. The revenants of Jade and Kabal ambush them, but are easily defeated.

After Jax and Jacqui defeat the duo, they continue on further into Goro's Lair in search for the crown. While walking along the cavernous corridors of the lair, Jax remembers how he was imprisoned prior to the first Mortal Kombat tournament. They approach the Well of Souls, only to be ambushed by Noob Saibot and his clones. Jacqui demands to know who Noob is, and he reveals his identity as Bi-Han, whom Jax confirms as the previous Sub-Zero, who had been killed by Scorpion. The two manage to defeat Noob and his shadowy clones, and take the crown. They are then shocked by the sudden arrival of the present Jax, who reveals that he has sided with Kronika in an attempt to alter time, so that his daughter will never become a soldier. The younger Jax berates his older self, stating that his suffering is no excuse for betraying his unit and family. This leads to a showdown between past and present Jax, before the younger Jax defeats his present self.

The Briggs' start to leave Goro's Lair. Cetrion arrives, and convinces them that the crown belongs to her mother. Both Jacqui and Jax refuse to surrender the crown, so Cetrion opens a fissure that swallows Jacqui, leaving her hanging over a cavernous pit. Cetrion tells Jax to surrender the crown, in return for sparing Jacqui's life. The older Jax begs his younger self to relinquish the crown for Jacqui's sake, and, reluctantly, past Jax agrees, tossing the crown to his older self. Cetrion keeps her word, reversing her spell to save Jacqui. Jacqui angrily demands how her father can do this to her, which prompts him to respond that he's doing it *for* her. Cetrion and the present-day Jax then teleport back to Kronika's keep.

Pleased with her daughter's actions, Kronika puts on the crown to reform the timeline. Jax, however, is not satisfied for what he has done, unlike his younger counterpart after he saved his daughter from her fate.

Back to the Fire Garden, Cassie tells Raiden that Kronika has her crown. Raiden tells her that he cannot bear the dark power of Shinnok's amulet.

Hanzo and Kuai Liang are at Kharon's home, the Sea of Blood. They see Cetrion, along with Demons and Cyborgs, teleport away. He tells Kuai that Kharon is their best and only hope to get to Kronika's Hourglass, and instructs the Grandmaster to return to Earthrealm and tell the others that they have found him. Hanzo rescues Kharon from D'Vorah's clutches, who was torturing Kharon for refusing to assist Kronika, defeating her in combat. Scorpion later arrives to confront his present, living counterpart. He tells Hanzo that he believes Kronika can restore the Shirai Ryu to their true potential and original bloodline, viewing Hanzo's rebuilt Shirai Ryu as tainted and imperfect. The two Scorpions clash, resulting in the victory of the present Hanzo, who knows that his past self only sides with Kronika just to restore their wife Harumi, and their son Satoshi, not including other original Shirai-Ryu clansmen. Hanzo tells Scorpion that one of Kronika's goals would be to resurrect Shinnok, the very being responsible for their family and clan's demise.

Hanzo is ambushed by D'Vorah, who stabs him with her pincers, fatally injecting him with her venom. Scorpion, convinced by Hanzo's words, slices off her pincers and forces her to retreat. Scorpion's dying counterpart implores him to seek out Raiden and the others at the Shirai Ryu Fire Gardens, and tells him that the Shirai Ryu are defined by their heart, not blood, before dying in Scorpion's arms.

As per Hanzo's wishes, the past Scorpion returns in his place to Raiden's base of operations to see the Fire Gardens rebuilt, realizing that his present self was right. He is attacked by a suspicious Sub-Zero, managing to defeat the Lin Kuei Grandmaster, but is electrocuted by Raiden. Scorpion then defeats Raiden and tries to tell him that Kharon is on his way with his fleet.

Liu Kang tries to reason with Raiden, saying that Scorpion may be telling the truth. Raiden refuses to listen and attacks Scorpion using Shinnok's amulet. After Liu Kang tries to stop him, Raiden attacks him with the amulet as well, saying that their time has run out and he has got to save Earthrealm. After the battle, Liu Kang decides that the Revenants were actually right, and that Raiden cannot be trusted. Raiden replies that he does not need trust, but demands obedience, his eyes and lightning now glowing red. As Liu Kang prepares to use his fire power against him, Raiden comes to a realization: "This has happened before". He begins seeing visions of himself and Liu Kang fighting each other in various places and alternate timelines. The locations shown are the Rooftop in *Mortal Kombat (2011)*, the Pyramid of Argus in *Mortal Kombat: Armageddon*, and supposedly, Apokolips in *Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe*. Recoiling in horror, Raiden drops Shinnok's amulet.

He realizes that the only reason why he and Liu Kang were fighting is because Kronika has always wanted it to happen. After that, he proceeds to heal Scorpion and apologizes to him, saying that he was also a slave to anger. While Liu Kang and the others initially fail to understand what is happening, Raiden explains that Kronika has restarted time on multiple occasions, with each timeline pitting him and Liu Kang against each other, and Liu Kang dying in each battle. Just when Raiden assures the others that Kronika will no longer control them, time is frozen and everyone else along with it, with the exception of Raiden. Kronika arrives, and tells the Thunder God that the combined powers of both Raiden and Liu Kang pose a threat to her vision of the timeline, which is why she has always set them against each other. Raiden then threatens her that this timeline will end differently, but Kronika rejects his claims, stating that they have had the same conversation multiple times, but it has never changed the outcome. She then challenges him to confront her one final time, but without Liu Kang by his side. As time resumes, Kronika takes Liu Kang to her isle, where his revenant counterpart steals his soul to increase his own strength.

Shortly after, Raiden and his allies are on board Kharon's fleet for the final battle. But against them, Frost and Geras are leading a large ship with Cyber Lin Kuei warriors. Kharon says that his fleet is not prepared for battle, but Raiden assures him that the ships will be protected by the combined forces. As the ships collide, the Cyber Lin Kuei attack. Present day Jax is then sent to fight Raiden in a losing effort. Raiden successfully convinces him that Kronika has manipulated him all along, which causes Jax to turn on Kronika's forces. Then Geras fights and loses to the Thunder God, who binds him to a chain and anchor. Geras says that drowning cannot kill him, but Raiden tells him that the Sea of Blood is bottomless and he will sink forever. After this, Geras is dragged into the Sea of Blood. Frost then appears to Raiden, telling him that the Cyber Lin Kuei are under her command, and challenges him. After defeating her, Raiden short circuits Frost's head, causing the connection to sever and shutting down the entire Cyber Lin Kuei army.

In the meantime, the revenant Liu Kang has absorbed the soul of his mortal counterpart and goes after Kharon's fleet to challenge Raiden. When the two confront each other, Liu Kang attacks Raiden knocking him back. Raiden is shocked that Liu Kang has taken his own soul, to which Liu Kang replies that this was a lesson Raiden taught him: to fight his enemies by any means necessary. After defeating the revenant, Raiden tells Liu Kang that he has overcome the darkness within himself and that Liu Kang must do the same. While Liu Kang demands him that he has to kill him, Raiden says that he'd rather save him and not repeat the same event all over again. He grabs and encircles Liu Kang in a lightning force field. During this, the mortal Liu Kang gets teleported out of Kronika's Keep to the lightning force field. Shortly after, the force field dissipates. The result is a merged form of Raiden and Liu Kang – Fire God Liu Kang.

Thanks to Raiden's and Liu Kang's combined powers, Earthrealmers and Outworlders realize that, this time, they might have a chance to beat Kronika. The armies of Earthrealm and Outworld begin their assault on Kronika's Keep, with Liu Kang's new abilities wiping out several Netherrealm legions to get through. Once inside, however, a shocked Kronika wastes no time, and has her revenant minions attack Liu Kang. In the process, Liu Kang manages to defeat all the revenant counterparts of his friends. Frustrated, Kronika summons Cetrion to fight Liu Kang, who exploits her servitude to her mother to defeat her. After witnessing her daughter's defeat, Kronika then gives Cetrion one final order. Cetrion has her own essence absorbed into Kronika, making her all-powerful. Kronika then reverses time to the primordial state of the universe, erasing everyone from existence. Fire God Liu Kang is left unaffected due to his godly status. The two eventually get into a final fight to determine the fate of the New Era.

If Kronika wins, she decapitates Fire God Liu Kang the same way Dark Raiden did to Shinnok. She then declares the beginning of the New Era.

If Fire God Liu Kang wins during the prehistoric age, he attacks an incapacitated Kronika with a blast of fire, turning her into a glass statue, which he proceeds to shatter. Liu Kang then meets Raiden, now a mere mortal, who tells him that he is worthy of being Earthrealm's new protector and that the Sands of Time are now his to shape. Liu Kang objects that he cannot do the duty alone, so Raiden tells him to choose someone who can share this adventure with him in a lifetime. Knowing this, Liu Kang chooses Kitana. Raiden quickly recognizes the choice, saying that it is their destiny to be together through love. As Liu Kang is being brought to the dawn of time, Raiden parts ways with him, promising that they will meet in the new timeline. Back at the dawn of time, Liu Kang meets Kitana as he begins his quest of shaping the timeline. Kitana worriedly tells Liu Kang that no matter how they shape history, they cannot plan for every possibility, as villains like Kronika may always turn up. But Liu Kang assures her that they will face what's coming together.

##### Aftermath

After Fire God Liu Kang wins during the dawn of time, he attacks an incapacitated Kronika with a blast of fire, turning her into a glass statue, which he proceeds to shatter. Liu Kang then meets Raiden, now a mere mortal, who tells him that he is worthy of being Earthrealm's new protector and that the Sands of Time are now his to shape. Liu Kang objects that he cannot do the duty alone, so Raiden decides to accompany Liu Kang for as long as his mortality allows him.

However, he is suddenly interrupted by the appearance of Shang Tsung, Fujin and Nightwolf. Before the events of the time-merger, they had been imprisoned by Kronika in the Void, unable to do anything but watch the events unfold. With Kronika's death, they were released from the Void, and have traveled through the Hourglass to stop Fire God Liu Kang from using it. Shang Tsung explains that without Kronika's crown (which was unknowingly destroyed by Fire God Liu Kang), using the Hourglass would destroy all realms. Fire God Liu Kang suggests going back in time and defeat Kronika a different way, thereby gaining the Crown, but Shang Tsung points out that plan would be too risky and would not be guaranteed. He instead suggests that he be sent back into the past to regain the Crown at his island. Mortal Raiden does not trust Shang Tsung, and although Fire God Liu Kang shares his sentiment, it is agreed to go with Shang Tsung's plan. Fujin and Nightwolf are sent along with Shang Tsung to watch over him for any signs of betrayal.

Shang Tsung, Fujin, and Nightwolf are brought back to the past, only to find themselves in Kitana's battle against Shao Kahn. With the battle going on, they hurried to the Beast Pen, only to draw suspicion by the Kollector. He follows them into the Beast Pen and lets loose two of the beasts. Shang Tsung and Fujin deal with the beasts while Nightwolf defeats the Kollector. During the time, Kitana has defeated Shao Kahn and was named the new Kahn. With the crowd distracted, they safely escaped the Koliseum. However, since they were seen by others during their arrival, they cannot just go to Shang Tsung's island. It is very likely that Kronika would be alerted of their presence. Seeing that they cannot enlist their past allies' help without altering the current timeline. Shang Tsung suggests on reviving Sindel, since she plays no part in the events to come. To do so, they must first acquire energy from Earth's Jinsei Chamber to heal her body and use Outworld's Soul Chamber to free her from Quan Chi's influence.

While in the Jinsei Chamber, they encounter Frost and Geras and eventually defeat them. Geras is sent to the Chaosrealm. On their trip to the Netherrealm, they are captured by revenant Liu Kang and his minions and taken to Shinnok's Bone Temple. As the decapitated and still living head of Shinnok watches on, the revenants of Nightwolf and Sindel prepares to torture Shang Tsung, Nightwolf and Fujin. Nightwolf manages to free himself and the others, and defeats Sindel and his revenant self. However, Shang Tsung is mortally wounded and Nightwolf is forced to let him drain the soul energy out of his revenant to recover. Taking the unconscious body of revenant Sindel with them, Nightwolf and the others head back to Outworld for Sheeva's aid.

On the way to Outworld's Soul Chamber, Nightwolf, Shang Tsung, Fujin, and Sheeva carry the coffin holding Sindel's Revenant self in it, with Shang Tsung disguising as a Shokan troop. They have to make their way through the Kahn's acid pits: the Dead Pool in order to reach the Soul Chamber. The squad almost makes it past the Dead Pool but then they are caught by Baraka, and Erron Black, who are accompanied by several more Tarkatan warriors. Sheeva tries to talk Baraka out of the situation when Baraka senses that the Shokan holding the coffin was Shang Tsung. He walks behind Shang Tsung, smell his scent and stabs him from the back, forcing the sorcerer to reveal his true human form. Baraka and Erron, who are surprised by Shang Tsung being alive, attack them. But Erron proposes that Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, Sheeve and Fujin will come with him and Baraka quietly so that nobody will get hurt. But they decline this deal and the Tarkatans attack Shang Tsung, who accidentally made one of them fell into the acid and they all watch as the Tarkatan trooper dissolves. Jade comes along after Baraka and Erron are knocked out and also gets beaten down.

They reach the Soul Chamber where they see Kotal Kahn is healing himself due to the injuries he got from fighting Shao Kahn. Kotal leaves the soul well and gets held back by Sheeva. Kitana attempts to stop the sorcerer, before Sheeva intervenes. With the essence of the Jinsei, Sindel was brought back to life. She then have a reunion for her daughter, Kitana and tells her about her first death at the hands of Quan Chi.

Kronika sent her daughter Cetrion to Shang Tsung's former island, in order to take the crown immediately.

Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, Sindel and Fujin have arrived to his island, now in ruins, to find Kronika's Crown. They are ambushed by the revenants of Kabal and Jade, but manage to defeat them. Nightwolf and Sindel remains on the topside to deal with Cetrion, while Shang Tsung and Fujin search for the crown in Goro's Lair. While walking along the cavernous corridors of the lair, Fujin questions the sorcerer on how long he will betray them. They approach the Well of Souls, only to be confronted by Jax and Noob Saibot. Fujin defeats Noob and stops Shang Tsung from draining Jax's soul. After defeating Jax, Fujin managed to talk him into joining forces against Kronika.

Outside, Sindel and Nightwolf are fighting Cetrion. After Cetrion subdues Nightwolf, he tries to sacrifice himself to defeat Cetrion, but Sindel intervenes and fights the Elder God. With Cetrion incapacitated, Shang Tsung, Fujin and Jax emerge from Goro's Lair and Shang Tsung teleports Cetrion away. With the Crown in hands, a Special Forces team led by Jacqui and past Jax ambushes the group, but present Jax manages to talk them down and explain the situation. Sindel has Shang Tsung send her back to Outworld and Nightwolf decides to accompany the Briggs', while Fujin and Shang Tsung go to the Fire Gardens to deliver the Crown to Raiden. At Kronika's Hourglass, Cetrion informs her mother of her failure to retrieve the Crown. Knowing this, Kronika decides that Shang Tsung is now a threat to her master plan, vowing to stop him.

In the Fire Gardens, the past Scorpion surprises both Sub-Zero and the past Liu Kang, who leaves to warn Raiden. Sub-Zero is distrustful of Scorpion, but before a kombat ensues, Shang Tsung and Fujin emerge from a portal, requesting to talk to Raiden. Believing this to be Shang Tsung's trick, Sub-Zero freezes the sorcerer and asks for Scorpion's assistance in fighting Fujin, but both ninja are defeated. After their defeat, Fujin frees Shang Tsung from being frozen with the help of his plasma crossbow. Raiden arrives with Liu Kang and questions Fujin on his allegiance with Shang Tsung. They present the crown and voice their plan of using it to defeat Kronika, but Raiden, under Shinnok's amulet's influence, refuses to believe the sorcerer and attacks him. He tries to attack Liu Kang as well, but Fujin intervenes and defeats him. Regretful, Raiden puts down the amulet and realizes that he have let himself to become a slave to anger, within Shinnok's amulet. So he decides he will not use it anymore and to listen.

The warriors regroup and Fujin explains how Raiden turns Liu Kang into a Fire God, but before he could explain more, Kronika teleports to the Fire Gardens and freezes the warriors in time, sparing only Raiden, Shang Tsung and Fujin. Kronika confronts Shang Tsung and Fujin about her defeat and reveals that the crown was Shang Tsung's design, before warning that he will eventually betray them. Raiden states that she will be finished and if Shang Tsung betrays them, they will have to finish him too. They attack Kronika, but she freezes Raiden and Shang Tsung in time. She then create a sandstorm, which will end their existence. However, Fujin puts the crown on before he is frozen as well and unfreezes Raiden and Shang Tsung, who both helped him in sending Kronika away. The other warriors are unfrozen and prepare for the upcoming battle at Kronika's Isle.

In the Outworld castle, Sindel secretly spoke with Shang Tsung on how Kitana was a fool for working alongside with Raiden. After her conversation ended, Kitana entered her room and Sindel falsely greeted her. When Shao Kahn was being tortured by two Shokans, Sindel killed them to rescue Shao Kahn. The two planned on dethroning Kitana. As Sheeva overheard the conversation, the two clashed, leading to Sheeva's defeat. More Shokans arrived and discovered Sheeva's unconscious body. Sindel pins the blame on Kitana, leading the Shokans to join her against Kitana to avenge Sheeva.

Geras, wearing new armor, confronts Sindel and the rejuvenated Shao Kahn in the Soul Chamber, and demands their services to Kronika. Feeling betrayed by Kronika due to Kitana gaining the Outworld throne, Shao Kahn refuses his services and instead decides to attack the construct with Sindel. Being defeated, Sindel knocks a weakened Geras away where Shao Kahn approaches and mercilessly beats a downed Geras over the head repeatedly with his wrath hammer, completely destroying his head with one final slam.

Shao Kahn and Sindel went on a mission to intervene in the battle between Raiden and Kronika's forces to seize the Hourglass for themselves. They defeated Sonya, Cassie and past Johnny, seizing their ships that they were planning to take across the Sea of Blood. Dumping cargo to increase their speed, they caught up to Kitana Kahn's ship. While Kitana lost contact with the Shokan, Commander Cage, and the Special Forces, Kung Lao suspected Sindel's betrayal, but Kitana denies it. Kitana uses her scope to check the incoming fleet, only to discover Sindel's betrayal. In the keep, Kronika manipulates all Outworlders to fight against each other with the Hourglass.

Boarding the vessel, they fight Kung Lao and throw him overboard into the Sea of Blood. Kotal and Jade confront Shao Kahn and Sindel, only to be brutally struck down. Kitana pleads with her mother to stop the chaos, questioning what spell Shao Kahn had used on her. In reality, Sindel was never bewitched. She willingly married Shao Kahn. She explained why she betrayed Jerrod and to strengthen her bond with Shao Kahn, she helped him kill her husband. Much to Kitana's disgust, she clashes with her mother and is defeated. Shao Kahn then fights Liu Kang and defeats him. He and Sindel then lie to all of Kitana's soldiers (Osh-Tekks and Tarkatans) by saying that Kitana is the traitor and a bad leader. With all of her soldiers betraying her, the injured Kitana reaches for the injured Liu Kang's hand, only to be crushed by Shao Kahn. Sindel wants Kitana to be put in chains to suffer the 'anguish of defeat' and Shao Kahn summons his hammer with an evil grin.

Raiden, Fujin, Shang Tsung and the others are seen preparing to battle Netherrealm's demons. Fujin wears the crown to prepare to open the gates of Kronika's Keep. After doing so, present Jax tells Raiden and others that he will stay to keep in company with Fujin. When fighting, Raiden tells revenant Liu Kang that the cycle that Kronika placed him and Liu Kang to fight each other must end. As Liu Kang rushes towards Raiden, he falls down with a broken right leg. As seen in one of Kharon's ships, Shao Kahn smashed past Liu Kang's left leg with his hammer, in which the revenant Liu Kang tells Raiden that Shao Kahn smashed both of his legs. Raiden, becoming furious, sees Shao Kahn and Sindel leaving Kharon's ships. Following this, Kotal gets executed by decapitation. As Sindel and Shao lead the charge against Earthrealm's forces, Raiden tells Fujin that he need to use the crown against Shao Kahn and Sindel. Fujin gives Raiden the crown, only to find out that it was Shang Tsung who was impersonating Raiden to get the crown from Fujin. When Raiden discovered that Shang Tsung deceived them the whole time by freeing Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung then wears the crown at the right moment to revitalize and superpower himself, claiming to be as equal as Kronika herself. Fujin realizes that this was all been Shang Tsung's endgame, from the moment he was trapped in the Time Void. As Shang Tsung wields the Crown, he easily overpowers Raiden, Jax and Fujin.

Nightwolf faces Shang Tsung after realizing he had deceived the group in taking the crown. Nightwolf is then defeated and knocked out. As Shang Tsung is about to steal Nightwolf's soul, Raiden and Fujin intervene. Shang Tsung defeats them and then drains the powers from the two, causing their bodies to dry out. Shang Tsung then tells Shao Kahn and Sindel to keep the demigods alive, while keeping them unaware of his plan to drain their powers for himself.

Later on, he, Shao Kahn and Sindel burst into the Hourglass. Cetrion allowed Kronika to absorb her essence in an attempt to strengthen her mother and the remaining revenants so they could defend the Hourglass. The revenants Kitana, Kung Lao and Jade try to stop them, but all three of them were easily overpowered and killed. Shang Tsung weakens Kronika, and only then betrays and defeats Shao Kahn and Sindel, telling them that killing Kronika is his destiny. After their defeat, he then tells them that his service to them is over, and that their service to him begins. Shang Tsung then takes their souls, leaving them as withered husks. Kronika recovers and then tell him that he has no one left for him to betray. He then confronts her and offers her to either serve him in his New Era or be wiped from history. Kronika refuses to submit, forcing Shang Tsung to fight her. After defeating Kronika, Shang Tsung absorbs her soul, causing her to dissolve into sand.

As Shang Tsung prepares to use the Hourglass, Fire God Liu Kang, aware of Shang Tsung's true intentions, comes from the dawn of time and confronts him. Shang Tsung realizes Liu Kang had allowed him to progress as he did for the latter to claim the crown, at the cost of losing his friends. The sorcerer compliments the Fire God's deviousness, and the two eventually decide to settle it all in a final fight. With Raiden's sacrifice in the creation of the Fire God inside Liu Kang to defeat Kronika before sending Shang Tsung back in time to steal the crown before Kronika sent Cetrion, and Kronika now defeated, and killed when her soul was absorbed into him, their whole rivalry has indeed and finally come full-circle.

If Shang Tsung wins the final battle, he absorbs Fire God Liu Kang's soul, acquiring all his powers in the process. Shang Tsung then uses the Hourglass to conquer all realms under his influence, with Raiden and Fujin becoming his minions. However, if Fire God Liu Kang wins, he uses the power of the Hourglass to erase Shang Tsung from existence. He then takes Kronika's crown from Shang Tsung, who slowly vanishes into sand. Once he puts on the crown, Liu Kang uses the Hourglass to create a New Era, where he meets his ancestor, the Great Kung Lao.

## New Era Timeline

With the power of the Hourglass, Liu Kang restarts time, beginning at the dawn of the universe and spends eons creating the Mortal Kombat universe. After eons more, he divides the universes into those realms, and then spends yet more eons filling those realms with life. He designs his New Era around the opportunity to find peace, but it will be up to each mortal whether or not it can be done.

The Story begins with Shang Tsung selling snake oil in Outworld, however an Angry customer approaches him exposing his schemes. That night as Shang Tsung was about to leave the kart, he was approached by a mysterious benefactor called Damashi who offers him to become the greatest sorcerer to which Shang Tsung accepted the offer.

### History

#### Part 1

The story proper begins focusing on Kung Lao and Raiden, who are simple farmhands and martial artists living in a remote village. Within this village is Madame Bo, whose restaurant and bar the pair like to visit frequently. During this visit, however, Madame Bo is assailed by the Lin Kuei, who are looking to extort her. After Smoke defeats Madame Bo and knocks her out, Kung Lao and Raiden come to her aid. Defeating most of the Lin Kuei, the pair are then challenged by Sub Zero and Scorpion. Kung Lao becomes inspired by the use of his hat and a throwing blade as a weapon, and he and Raiden ultimately defeat the last two Lin Kuei. Afterwards, Liu Kang appears and introduces himself, revealing that the Lin Kuei were working for him, and that this was actually a test of their abilities. He invites them to join the Wu Shi Academy and, after some initial reluctance, the two agree, although Liu Kang reveals that there are others he must gather as well.

Meanwhile, Johnny Cage is exploring an ancient temple with his friend Adam (in an obvious homage to Indiana Jones and *Raiders of the Lost Ark*). Avoiding most of the traps, Cage and Adam are assailed by multiple monsters called Kalima and the undead guardian of the temple, Katara Vala, and Adam falls into liquid mercury and is killed. After Cage defeats the final guardian, it's revealed that this was a movie set, and Johnny is hoping that this film will be able to get his failing career back on track, although the director (a nod to director Steven Spielberg) seems doubtful and unwilling to make further films with Johnny, as he only did this one as a favor to the struggling actor.

Johnny's wife, Cris, tries to tell him the reality of his failed career, and the fact that they are financially struggling due to Johnny's extravagant purchases, such as their lavish Malibu home and various rare artifacts such as the ancient katana Sento, which Johnny purchased for $3,000,000. Johnny refuses to listen, and merely drinks, while explaining to his wife that in order to be successful, they must first project it or else "Johnny Cage" is done. Cris retorts that she married John Carlton, not "Johnny Cage", and said she would do anything to have him back before leaving -- seemingly for good.

As soon as Cris leaves, Johnny's home is invaded by Kenshi Takahashi, descendant of the dead Taira clan, who has come to take Sento back . When Johnny refuses to let him have it, the two fight and Johnny Cage comes up victorious. Tying up and interrogating Kenshi, Johnny learns that Taira Clan went into hiding centuries ago under the new name "Takahashi". Johnny, however, doesn't believe Kenshi's story and is simply buying time for the police, whom he believes has arrived when the doorbell rings. Outside, however, he finds Liu Kang, Sub-Zero and Scorpion and believes that this is a prank set up by his wife.

Liu Kang asks Sub-Zero to free Kenshi, and Johnny (still believing it all to be a prank) grabs Bi-Han's arm to "demand" he stop. An enraged Bi-Han slams Johnny into his expensive Hichuli artifact, which breaks and angers Johnny enough that he begins to fight seriously, no longer caring if it's a prank or not. Johnny Cage is victorious again, but Liu Kang proves his identity as the God of Fire by encasing his body in flames hot enough to activate Johnny's fire alarm. Now believing Liu Kang's words, Johnny questions why he has been chosen by a god, and Liu Kang answers that he believes he will rise to the challenge and change the arc of his life.

Months later, at the Wu Shi Academy, Raiden, Kung Lao, Johnny Cage and Kenshi have all trained with the Shaolin monks diligently in preparation for the next Mortal Kombat tournament with Outworld. In the meantime, Johnny Cage's ex-wife has divorced him and Kung Lao has perfected his bladed hat weapon. The day has finally come for the four of them to fight to see which of them will represent Earthrealm in the tournament. Liu Kang explains that the tournament is intended to foster peace between the two realms, although there are many belligerents within Outworld that wish for open warfare with Earthrealm. The tournament is intended to stifle these efforts by proving Earthrealm does not lack for strength.

The first match pits Raiden against Johnny, and when Raiden is victorious, he then faces Kenshi, where he is again the victor. Liu Kang declares a pause in the proceedings until the evening, where the final match will take place between Raiden and Kung Lao. Despite Kung Lao's boasts that Raiden has never beaten him before, Raiden believes there is a first time for everything and proves it by defeating Kung Lao and becoming crowned Earthrealm's champion. Having exceeded all of Liu Kang expectations, the God of Fire rewards Raiden with an amulet forged by the Elder Gods which grants Raiden lightning powers equivalent to the abilities Raiden once had as the God of Thunder in previous timelines.

Immediately after, Liu Kang opens a portal to Outworld which brings all of his warriors and students of the Academy to Outworld, where they are greeted by the Umgadi and the twin princesses of Outworld, Mileena (the heir apparent) and Kitana. The Earthrealmers are impressed by the fantastical beings and sights of Outworld, and in particular struck by the beauty of the princesses. They take part in a parade thrown by the Outworlders, which is interrupted as Constable Li Mei and her subordinates clear Tarkatans from the city. Mileena is incensed by the interruption of the festivities, despite Li Mei's fears that Tarkatans would spread their infection through the city. Mileena then insults Li Mei, and Liu Kang explains that the hostility is due to Li Mei once being the Umgadi who was on duty the day that Mileena's father, King Jerrod, was assassinated.

Finally reaching the palace, the Earthrealmers meet General Shao, who scoffs at Earthrealm's champion being "scrawnier than usual". Kung Lao attempts to defend his friend, but Liu Kang states that the champion will prove himself soon enough within the tournament. Shao questions Liu Kang for not telling most Earthrealmers the truth of the existence of Outworld and other realms, believing this to be proof of Earthrealmers' frailty, which Liu Kang denies.

At last, Empress Sindel (alongside her daughters) enters and takes the throne, welcoming Liu Kang and the Earthrealmers to Outworld. She states that Raiden feels nervous, and he agrees, as he is a stranger in an unfamiliar land. Sindel cautions him about the difficult path ahead, and introduces the first opponent in the tournament: Li Mei, although she also shows hostility to Li Mei and says she would not even be present if not for Jerrod's traditions. Despite Li Mei's eagerness to prove herself, she is defeated by Raiden and exits the palace. General Shao next introduces his second-in-command, Reiko, who was orphaned during the Kalallah War and survived, being taken in by Shao, who molded him into the "perfect soldier". Reiko questions in what armies and wars Raiden has served, and when Raiden answers that he has done neither, Reiko mocks him as woefully unprepared. Despite Reiko's bravado, Raiden is victorious and a displeased General Shao exits.

Empress Sindel postpones further matches until first light, and invites everyone to a banquet in the evening. There, the Outworlders and Earthrealmers eat and mingle with one-another. During the feast, Mileena becomes unwell, but assures Tanya that things are stable for the moment. Empress Sindel asks everyone to engage in open dialogue to foster friendship between the realms, and Raiden makes a speech stating that he finds more similarities than differences between the realms. General Shao counters that he instead believes they couldn't be more different. Sindel interrupts him and dismisses his presence; sometime later, she later calls Shao to the throne room and berates him for his comments. Asking to speak freely, Shao states his belief that Outworld must act quickly to respond to "the sorcerer's" prophecy that Liu Kang and Earthrealm will soon act to conquer Outworld. Sindel responds that she will not act without seeing evidence of the prophecy's validity, and warns Shao not to forget that his father taught him that war must be the *last* result and not the first.

Mileena and Kitana enter, and Shao takes his leave. Sindel tells her heir that she witnessed Mileena's illness during the banquet and despite Mileena claiming that she feels fine, Sindel states that they can't chance it and Kitana will take her place in the tournament. Mileena protests, as she feels many Outworlders already feel Kitana should be the heir and not her, but Kitana tells her sister that their mother is only looking out for Mileena, as if her affliction with Tarkat becomes known, she will be banished to the Wastes. Outnumbered, an angry Mileena then storms off.

The tournament continues, and it's revealed that Raiden also defeated Kotal, Motaro and Sheeva. However, there has been a change in the scheduled bouts and Kitana will take the place of Mileena. When Liu Kang protests that Raiden is unprepared, Sindel retorts that Earthrealm's champion should be able to adapt. Raiden agrees to the bout and faces Kitana, where he is again victorious. This now brings him to the final match against General Shao himself, and when he is successful, Sindel declares his victory in the tournament and exits. Raiden attempts to help Shao to his feet, but is brushed aside.

#### Part 2

Returning to Earthrealm, Liu Kang is visited by Geras, who reveals that an unknown manipulator has uplifted Shang Tsung from the meaningless life Liu Kang crafted for him and returned him to the path of a villainous sorcerer. Troubled by this news, Liu Kang asks Geras to investigate further and the next day requests Kung Lao, Johnny Cage and Kenshi to infiltrate Outworld and bring back Shang Tsung for questioning.

The trio explore the Wastes, where they find Shang Tsung and his forces invading a Tarkatan encampment and taking Baraka captive. After extracting bone marrow from Baraka's spine, the Tarkatan breaks free and battles Tsung, gaining a clear advantage. While Johnny Cage is content to allow Baraka to finish him, Kung Lao and Kenshi intervene as Liu Kang still needs Shang Tsung for questioning. The two stop Baraka, and Shang Tsung escapes by shifting into a Tarkatan, stunning the three Earthrealmers.

An angry Baraka attacks the Earthrealm trio, believing them to be Shang Tsung's minions, but Kenshi defeats him and asks to allow him to explain. After Kenshi tells Baraka of their mission, he attempts to shake Baraka's hand in friendship, but Baraka explains that Tarkatans are mutants afflicted by Tarkat disease and thus do not shake hands. He also explains that he was once a merchant who lived a comfortable life before he contracted the disease and was banished to the Wastes. Kenshi offers to find out why Shang Tsung attacked the Tarkatans, and Baraka accepts, ordering the other Tarkatans to back down. He also offers to lead the Earthrealmers to Shang Tsung's lab.

Entering the lab quietly, the group encounters princess Mileena seemingly captive and strapped down on a table while Tanya, Rain and Shang Tsung discuss injecting her with a serum extracted from pure Tarkatan essence. Believing that they intend to infect the princess with the disease, the group attacks. Likewise, Tanya orders them all to be killed, as they have now seen too much. The Earthrealmers are victorious and surround Shang Tsung, accusing him of trying to harm the princess. Shang Tsung, however, uses this to his advantage to act sheepishly, stating that he was intending to help the princess. Unbelieving, Kenshi attempts to free Mileena, who asks if it's finally over. When Kenshi tells her that they stopped Shang Tsung, a distraught Mileena asks why, as her Tarkat affliction begins to manifest. Shang Tsung again begs them to let him help her before it's too late, but a mutated Mileena breaks free and attacks the group. During the struggle Mileena comes close to biting Johnny Cage before she's pulled away by Kenshi. Still, she quickly grabs her sais and stabs Kenshi in both eyes before Shang Tsung finally subdues her by injecting her with serum.

At that moment, Kitana, Shao and Goro enter, a distraught Kitana asking what happened. Shang Tsung accuses the Earthrealmers of attempting to stop the treatment so that Mileena's disease would become public, and when Johnny Cage tries to argue, he is quickly knocked out by Goro, with Shao countering that he could not stomach "Earthrealm lies". Shao and Shang Tsung then declare that these events are proof of the prophecy's truth, whereupon it's revealed that the sorcerer who made the prophecy was Quan Chi. Quan Chi further validates that today's events were the final confirmation of the prophecy, and Kitana agrees that the Empress must be informed of the events. When she is gone, Shao asks Shang Tsung what truly happened, and Tsung explains that the Earthrealmers had come to capture him for reasons unknown. It's then revealed that Shang Tsung, General Shao and Quan Chi are all colluding with the same "benefactor", and it was she who rescued them all from meaningless lives.

The Earthrealmers and Baraka are locked in a dungeon: Shang Tsung's *true* lab underneath the false front, where he indulges in many horrific and depraved experiments. Kenshi, now permanently blinded, is struggling with both his disability and the agony from his injuries. The captives are visited by Syzoth, their jailer, who gives Johnny medicine to relieve Kenshi's pain and reveals that he is only helping Shang Tsung because his family is being held captive. He also reveals that he is a Zaterran, and the only of his kind that can change his shape, which Shang Tsung used to learn how to do so as well. Shang Tsung visits their prison and declares he will use their bodies for fatal experimentation, leaving no traces or evidence of them that will allow Liu Kang to retaliate. As he leaves, Syzoth unleases a wave of ravenous Tarkatans on the prisoners, opening both cages to allow the prisoners to be devoured. During the battle, Johnny Cage and Kenshi are placed in electrified cages, but Baraka and Kung Lao are able to fight back and free them. Syzoth makes one last attempt to prevent their escape, but Baraka defeats him. Syzoth demands to be killed so that Shang Tsung may spare his family, but Baraka spares him. Shang Tsung returns and interrupts the escape and reveals to Syzoth that his family was killed long ago. Before Syzoth can retaliate, however, Tsung escapes and fills the room with poisonous gas. Unable to open the door, Baraka breaks it and the group escapes into the wilderness.

Escaping into the Living Forest, Johnny Cage marvels at the scenery while Baraka explains that the trees hold the souls of their ancestors, save for Syzoth's, as Zaterrans aren't welcomed by "warm-bloods". The four listen as Syzoth explains his origins, where he was considered a "freak" by his fellow Zaterrans but found a place as an "oddity" peddled by Shang Tsung during his days as a huckster. After Tsung learned real sorcery, however, he demanded to study Syzoth's gift and took his family hostage when he refused.

The group run into a battle between Ashrah and several demons, and she confuses the group as the latter and attacks. After defeating her, they explain that they are not demons but Outworlders and Earthrealmers, causing Ashrah to apologize and explain that she is being pursued by demons sent by Quan Chi, who is also working with Shang Tsung. Seeing that their interests align, the group agree to find Quan Chi and defeat him, to the protest of Johnny Cage, who wants to return Kenshi to Earthrealm to deal with his injuries. The group follow Ashrah, as she explains she is a former demoness that found her magical blade that not only senses evil but allows her to shed her demonic traits with each evil being she kills. When Johnny asks why a demon would want to be less evil, she explains that while the Netherrealm was originally all she knew, upon seeing the beauty of Earthrrealm and Outworld, she knew there was a better way to live and could not allow Quan Chi to defile both.

The group come across Quan Chi, alongside his allies Nitara, Havik, Darrius and Sareena powering up a soul stealer. Initially, Havik and Darrius are reluctant to assist, but is compelled by the other three to uphold their end of the deal. A concerned Ashrah tells the rest of the heroes that one soul stealer can end thousands of lives, and if they use multiples of them on Earthrealm, it would cause millions of deaths. They resolve to stop Quan Chi, but before they do, Johnny forces Kenshi to remain behind, but gifts him with Sento for saving his life. During the battle, Ashrah defeats Nitara, but Quan Chi uses the soul stealer to take the souls from the Living Forest and combine them into a new minion: Ermac.

Ermac overwhelms the group of heroes, but Ashrah and Syzoth still manage to defeat Havik and Darrius, and Quan Chi and Ermac. However, Kenshi resolves to protect his friends and attacks, being easily knocked aside until he hears Sento calling out for him in the voices of his ancestors. Using the astral vision gained by Sento, Kenshi reengages Ermac and manages to stab him, thus imbuing Sento with a fraction of Ermac's telekinetic power. Ashrah and Kenshi join forces and defeat Ermac, causing the souls within Ermac to go haywire. During the confusion, 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, but Johnny offers Syzoth and Ashrah a place in Earthrealm, where they are sure Liu Kang will welcome them. Ashrah happily accepts, never having had a home before. Meanwhile, Shang Tsung convenes with his benefactor, Kronika, whom he tells that the soul stealers are under construction, that the army will obey her every command, and that he has devised a plan to steal the Lin Kuei from Liu Kang. Kronika praises Shang Tsung's efforts, promising that he will soon reap the rewards of what he's sown.

Syzoth prowls the rooftops of Outworld during a large festival being patrolled both by Li Mei's city constables and General Shao's troops. During the festivities, Mileena and Tanya flirt, and Kitana cautions her sister about consorting with Umgadi, given their oaths, having noticed her sister's desires. She tells her sister to wait until she has become Empress to change the laws, but a dissatisfied Mileena simply walks away disgusted. The Earthrealmers and Ashrah disguise themselves in festival attire while Syzoth creates a diversion to help them get away. However, he is spotted by Reiko, who uses a projectile to injure the Zaterran and allowing the others to chase him down.

Li Mei demands that Syzoth surrender, but he refuses, knowing that General Shao will have him killed in order to silence him. Aided by Kenshi, he defeats Li Mei and then Kitana, lamenting that he has no time to explain the misunderstanding. He then battles against Tanya and Khameleon before being surrounded by General Shao's forces. Johnny, Ashrah and Kung Lao come to their aid, allowing Syzoth to defeat Shao and Goro before he and the others escape through a portal to Earthrealm.

Once there, Liu Kang welcomes them home but is shocked to see that Kenshi has been blinded. While he is happy to know that Kenshi has bonded with Sento, he says he wishes it had been under difference circumstances this time. When Kenshi is confused by the words "this time", Liu Kang claims that he misspoke and tells his friends to recover before they debrief him of their mission. However, upon welcoming Syzoth and Ashrah, and learning that Quan Chi and Shang Tsung have formed a new Deadly Alliance, Liu Kang asks to be debriefed immediately. He later consults once more with Geras, trying to piece together how these events have reoccurred despite Liu Kang's efforts. Geras informs him that an unknown woman has been aiding both sorcerers, as well as General Shao, but her identity is unknown. Liu Kang questions if the woman could be Kronika, but Geras states that this is not possible, as Titans can never be reborn once killed. Liu Kang realizes that this means the previous timeline must have another survivor -- someone with a vendetta against him in particular.

#### Part 3

An irritated Bi-Han waits to see Lord Liu Kang, but is told by his younger brother that there are many matters that require the Fire God's attention and that their father would wait without protest. Bi-Han asserts that their father is gone and he is now Grandmaster, and that he doesn't intend to allow tradition to shackle them. When Smoke protests, Bi-Han proclaims that although their father adopted him, he will never truly be Lin Kuei by blood. At that moment, Raiden interrupts and explains that Liu Kang can see them. Liu Kang charges the Lin Kuei with finding the soul stealers being constructed on Earth and destroying them, as well as capturing Shang Tsung. Raiden offers to join the mission but is dismissed by Bi-Han, and Liu Kang confirms that he and Kung Lao are needed elsewhere.

Arriving at the site of the soul stealers' construction at a massive fortress, Bi-Han is ecstatic to face a worthy foe, and the two brothers again argue about the Lin Kuei's future. The three ascend the walls of the fortress, but Smoke is attacked by Nitara. The two brothers battle and defeat Nitara, Sareena and Ermac before infiltrating further into the fortress and attempting to capture Quan Chi. However, they are briefly distracted by the vast hordes of wealth found in the fortress, which Bi-Han realizes will be distributed as the spoils of the war. Once they find an opportunity, the Lin Kuei assault the Deadly Alliance duo, and though they are initially successful, they are later ambushed by Shao's forces and taken captive. Rather than execute them, however, Shang Tsung appeals to Bi-Han's ambition, enticing him to turn against Liu Kang, whom he accuses of holding back the clan's growth.

Meanwhile, Geras watches the initial meeting between Shang Tsung and "Kronika", wondering who the woman actually is before suddenly coming to a realization.

Shang Tsung and General Shao explain their plans to the Lin Kuei warriors, and Bi-Han shuts down Kuai Liang's attempts to dissuade him. When Bi-Han questions the soundness of their plan, Shang Tsung explains that the soul stealers are not the principle weapons -- instead they intend to invade with the invincible Dragon Army of Emperor Ying, powered by souls and directed by the Dragon Crown.

When Bi-Han pledges his allegiance to the Deadly Alliance, he reveals to Kuai Liang that he believes their father was a doddering fool, and that he allowed their father to die so that he could become Grandmaster. Having learned the truth, Kuai Liang turns against his brother, and the two battles against Shao, Shang Tsung, Rain and Quan Chi to escape. During his escape, he also fights off Havik and Darrius's attempts to burn him alive, instead burning Havik's face until the flesh melts away. Defeating the two, he reunites with Smoke and the two defeat Bi-Han. After the battle, Kuai Liang defects from the Lin Kuei, realizing that Sektor and Cyrax would follow their Grandmaster into dishonor, and that they must instead choose a different path.

At Liu Kang's temple, he watches as the soul stealers are activated, and is visited by Geras, who reveals that the benefactor helping the Deadly Alliance comes from another timeline which runs concurrently with Liu Kang's. Liu Kang realizes that the only way to prevent the destruction of both Earthrealm and Outworld is to travel to Outworld himself and entreat with Empress Sindel and reveal to her his prior role as the Keeper of Time. Entering Outworld, he is stopped by Li Mei and her constables, who warn him to turn back. Liu Kang explains Earthrealm's innocence and implicates General Shao and Shang Tsung as traitors, and that Shang Tsung gained favor with the empress by treating Mileena's Tarkat disease. Li Mei believes him and agrees to grant an audience.

Along the way, the two are ambushed by Reiko and Motaro, who attempt to sway Li Mei to their side and eliminate her when she refuses. Fighting them off, the two continue to the palace, where they are ambushed by Tanya and the Umgadi, whom they also defeat. They bring a captive Tanya with them to prove to the empress that they are not hostile, but this attempt backfires when Tanya attacks Li Mei in the throne room, forcing her and Liu Kang to fight her, Kitana and Mileena. When Mileena's Tarkat disease suddenly manifests and she nearly kills Empress Sindel, Li Mei saves the empress's life and neutralizes Mileena until the serum can be administered. Sindel immediately forgives Li Mei and allows Liu Kang to state his claims, demanding proof. Liu Kang states that if what they find in Shang Tsung's laboratory doesn't convince her, he will surrender Earthrealm without a fight.

A horrified Sindel is disgusted by what she finds in the lab, and is further rattled when Liu Kang reveals his prior role as the Keeper of Time and creator of all that exists, summoning Geras to prove his claim and show Sindel her life in the previous timeline. Sindel is awestruck and wonders why Liu Kang gave up his power and does not seek worship. He explains that he knew he would fare no better than Kronika had he kept the power, and that he was only Keeper of Time due to circumstances, and is in no way divine. They are interrupted by the arrival of General Shao and his forces, who brandishes the Amulet of Shinnok. Despite Liu Kang's warnings about using the amulet, General Shao traps Kitana, Mileena and Geras within it before engaging Sindel, Li Mei and Liu Kang in battle. Sindel defeats Nitara, Reiko, Rain and then Shao, allowing Liu Kang to retrieve the amulet and free Geras and the princesses. Liu Kang asks for her help to save Earthrealm, and when Sindel asks if this is the command of a creator, he states that is the request of a friend.

The combined Outworld and Earthrealm forces travel to the Deadly Alliance's fortress and work together to neutralize their forces and shut down the soul stealers. Ermac appears and defeats Tanya, breaking her ribs and Mileena engages and defeats him, causing King Jerrod to gain control of Ermac. Jerrod reunites with his beloved queen and daughters, and once again joins forces with Liu Kang. Mileena offers to act as a diversion for the group, and they infiltrate further into the fortress as Mileena pretends to defect to the Deadly Alliance's side. Once in position, her allies attack the Alliance and their forces, defeating Shang Tsung and demanding to know who his benefactor is. Confidently Shang Tsung introduces his benefactor as "Damashi". However, everyone is stunned when the person that appears is another Shang Tsung.

This Shang Tsung reveals himself as the same one Liu Kang battled for the Hourglass. Their battle ripped time apart, resulting in twin timelines: one in which Liu Kang was victorious and another where it was Shang Tsung's. Upon learning of the other timeline, Titan Shang Tsung decided to destroy all life within and then merge it with his own. Realizing that they have been pawns, the Deadly Alliance turn against the Titan, who unleashes his own minions, made up of "Dark" doppelgangers from Shang Tsung's timeline. Mileena defeats Dark Raiden while several kombatants surround Dark Sindel, only to be soundly defeated by her. Empress Sindel battles her dark counterpart and initially gains the upper hand and disarms her, only for Dark Sindel to reclaim her weapon with her hair and fatally impale the Empress. An enraged Mileena battles her dark mother and is victorious, but requires the serum from Tanya to avoid transforming.

A dying Sindel is glad to have had a few more hours with her lost husband, and declares Mileena the new Empress of Outworld before passing away. Ermac uses his magic to absorb Sindel's soul into his being, where she and Jerrod will now be together.

As the Dragon Army awakens, Liu Kang declares that his allies must withdraw, and they retreat into the hills surrounding the fortress, watching as the Army begins its invasion. They realize that the army will require a nexus of portals to invade the other realms, and they prepare a force to intercept and stop it. Meanwhile, realizing that they are overmatched, Shang Tsung poses the theory that Titan Shang Tsung is mistaken about there only being two timelines: if there are two, who says there can't be more? Geras posits that the theory is plausible, but only a Keeper of Time could attempt a search. When Liu Kang reminds him that he gave up that power, Geras tells him there may be a way to reclaim it. Fearing that Liu Kang would need the power of a Titan again, he collected and hid the power rather allow it to dissipate. Liu Kang questions why Geras never told him this, and Geras says that he did not want Liu Kang's joyous life as the Protector of Earthrealm to be ruined by the temptation of a Titan's power. Liu Kang thanks his friend and says he may have saved them all with his wisdom. In the meantime, Dark Geras reports to Titan Shang Tsung that Liu Kang is even more resilient than anticipated, and Shang Tsung orders him to be found, as he alone is the true threat to their plans.

#### Part 4

Johnny Cage uses a drone to survey the Dragon Army to Mileena's astonishment, as Scorpion devises a plan to split their forces: Shang Tsung, Quan Chi and Raiden will close the portals to halt the Army's invasion, Kenshi and Jerrod will destroy as much of the Army as they can, and everyone else will battle their Dark doubles to throw the army into disarray.

The plan commences as Jerrod and Kenshi cause a landslide on the Army's forces and rain down attacks from a vantage point. Then, the sorcerers and Raiden attempt to close the portals, but they are thwarted. The Deadly Alliance, angered at being double-crossed, fuel their rage into defeating Titan Shang Tsung's minions and finally destroy the portal. The Deadly Alliance is trapped and ambushed by Rain and Smoke, but rescued by Raiden. They reengage their opponents and defeat them before defeating Dark Shao in a concerted effort. Realizing the Dark Shao's life force feeds the portal, the Deadly Alliance attempt to kill him, but are interrupted by Dark Scorpion and Sub Zero.

This time, the Deadly Alliance save Raiden from Dark Shao, and then do battle against him and Dark Reiko, killing both and shutting down the portals. The stranded Army will still fight to the last man, however, so the Alliance and Raiden join with their allies to defeat them.

##### Final Battle

The Light Titans battle the Dark Titans, with Liu Kang and an ally chosen by the player ascending the Pyramid and doing battle with 9 possible opponents.

Upon reaching the top, Liu Kang and his ally battle the Titan Deadly Alliance, but Liu Kang is defeated and captured, forcing the ally to battle in his place. When the ally succeeds, Liu Kang praises their efforts and takes over to destroy Shang Tsung and his timeline. As the timeline begins collapsing, Liu Kang sends his ally home to their own dimension.

Some time later, Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Kenshi and Raiden catch up with current events, as Johnny now has a successful career and is planning to begin directing a Cinematic Universe explaining the events of the game (and slowly getting the public used to the existence of other realms). He offers his friends parts in the film, but they all decline. Raiden and Kung Lao have new initiates to train at the Academy, Kenshi's work to revive the Taira is beginning to pay off, and Liu Kang is assisting Kuai Liang and Smoke in creating a new clan in Japan called the Shirai Ryu. Liu Kang says that when the time comes, he will call on his friends again, and they thank Liu Kang for "changing the arcs of their lives", as he promised.

Meanwhile at the Pyramid of Argus, a Titan called Lord Havik revels in the blood, death and chaos that he'd witnessed at the second Battle of Armageddon alongside several companions: a Quan Chi/Sub-Zero, Tanya/Kitana and Kenshi/Kano. When Kenshi/Kano expresses remorse that it ended too fast, Lord Havik replies, "The next time, it won't."

## Other Timelines

These timelines take place outside the video games.

* Original Movies Timeline
* Defenders of the Realm Timeline
* Arcana Timeline
* Legends Timeline

## See Also

Mortal Kombat Timelines/Timeline Branches

Mortal Kombat Timelines/Alternate Characters