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"Raiden," Fox says as he stares at the portals. "I have something I wanted to ask you about."

"Of course," the thunder god replies. "But I must insist we keep things brief."

"These alternate worlds I have travelled to... Their realities are so wildly different from my own, so fractured, that I couldn't help but think that perhaps there is some relation between Havik's plan and the instability of each of these other realms."

"A connecting thread, you mean? In what way?"

"I mean if he was drawn to them because of the ever-present conflict in each one, or if they were somehow drawn to him when he used our reality's Kamidogu."

"The machinations and plots of Chaosrealm have always been nigh-impossible to truly understand by any not of their ilk. The carnage of each reality may be how Havik came into contact with his parallel selves... Our recent incident with extraplanar time travel may well have weakened the universal boundaries to allow this. The release of great energies such as those woven within the fabric of the realms and heavens can allow for such a thing; and if one has a mind great enough, or insane enough, to perceive events before they happen they can manipulate fate itself to bring about a convergence such as we are seeing now."

Fox looks back over his shoulder. "Is there nothing we can do to prevent this from happening again once we fix it?"

"Greater powers than you or I guard against such things, but there are ways around them. Havik is exploiting one of them, and it is up to us to stop him before it is too late. You must hurry."

Fox gives him a single nod and runs towards the Netherrealm portal, vanishing into its swirling red surface. This portal, as Fox discovers, is more stable than the last and he is glad to step through the other side relatively unphased by its magic. He is in a dark hallway of black stone that shines like obsidian, and torches set within spiked iron holders line the walls.

It is a sight he has seen before: Shinnok's Spire. When last he was here, it was ruled by Noob Saibot, and the walls seemed as though covered in an oily black film. These walls are cleaner, but no less sinister. He knows he must be cautious.

>Take a torch
>Start exploring hallways
>See if you can find a window
>Try to listen for any noises
>Other

>>2036982
>See if you can find a window
>Try to listen for any noises

>>2036982
>Try to listen for any noises

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>>2036987
>>2036993

Crouching low to the ground, he stops and listens. Despite the crackling fires of the nearby torches and braziers, he can hear footsteps echoing from further up ahead. Fox takes off in a silent run towards the source of the noise. It sounds like a pair of heavy boots accompanied by several metallic noises, almost like a keychain and a set of... handcuffs?

Fox takes cover as he nears a corner, then peers out and takes in a bewildering sight. A man is patrolling the hallways of Shinnok's Spire with a flashlight. He appears to be a police officer, specifically a SWAT officer. That's when Fox realizes just who he is. Kurtis Stryker, Samantha's father, but undead, with grey skin, glowing yellow veins and eyes to match. The undead officer swings his flashlight from left to right, scanning the hall as he patrols.

'What the hell have I portaled into? A minimall?'

Fox hides behind a pillar as Stryker walks past. He watches the officer's back as the man stops and turns to look down the hallway Fox came from before sniffing the air like a bloodhound. Just when the Shirai Ryu thinks he may have been caught, Stryker turns and keeps walking in the same direction he was originally patrolling in.

'Well, that was something,' Fox thinks in equal parts relief and confusion. 'An undead Kurtis Stryker... I wonder how they managed it? And just who else is wandering these halls?' He looks back the way he came and thinks about what he knows in regards to the layout of the spire. 'If memory serves, there should be some kind of lift that runs throughout most of the central spire... Whoever's in charge is likely at the top. But is that where I want to go? Where could the Kamidogu of this realm be?'

>Follow Kurtis
>Go in the other direction
>Attempt communication
>Find a staircase
>Other

>>2037042
>Find a staircase
You know the central elevator is being watched.

>>2037042
>Find a staircase

>>2037042
>Follow Kurtis

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>>2037049
>>2037060

'That lift is likely guarded, though... But there's always more than one way up.'

Further down the hall, he finds just what he was looking for: a staircase. He follows the rune-enscribed steps to the top where he can see a bright light. Thinking that perhaps it is another hallway, he instead discovers that it is a large room that resembles a chamber of trophies. Blazing fires line the walls, making him sweat from the constant heat, but offering plenty of illumination for the many interesting items placed upon black pillars. He carefully approaches and inspects some of the items; a sword, a book, a strange uniform folded up, a glowing green orb, among other things.

He looks up and down the wide room, seeing pillars with their unique items lining the entire length of the central walkway. 'It's almost like a museum,' he thinks to himself. 'Half of these items look ancient, but half look newer than the others.'

One thing that catches his eye as it glints in the light of a nearby fire is a medallion depicting a yin-yang symbol. He approaches it and looks upon it, then notices a belt on the pedastal next to it. It is a belt, with an image depicting an elder dragon coiling upon it.

"They were won in Mortal Kombat," a raspy voice from behind suddenly speaks up. Fox whirls around, wondering how someone could have possibly snuck up on him, when he realizes that nobody did. The voice came from a head in a jar. The severed head, its neck torn with tattered bits of skin and flesh hanging from the hole, seems to be placed on a metal spike running up into its neck. His skin is chalky white with milky eyes. The expression on the face is one of both pain and fatigue. Fox doesn't recognize the head.

"Come closer," the head says. "I promise, I don't bite. It wouldn't go anywhere."

>Listen to what it says
>Ask him some questions
>Ignore him and move on
>Search for an exit
>Other

>>2037195
>Ask him some questions
Who's in charge around here?
You seen any Chaosrealm clerics pass through?

>>2037195
>>Ask him some questions
Who was the champion that won it for the neatherrealm?

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>>2037216
>>2037230

Curious, Fox takes a step closer. "Who won that belt?"

"The ruler of this realm."

"They won it for the Netherrealm? In what tournament? Against what realm?"

The head, despite the obvious pain it is in, smiles, his cheeks stretching thinly. "He did not win it for the Netherrealm, but he remembers enough of his past life to maintain keepsakes."

"Who is it, then?"

The head looks up with bleak eyes. "Who are you?"

"I'm the one asking the questions, that's who. Tell me who is in charge of the Netherrealm."

"You do not know? Interesting..." His eyes drift back downward, towards Fox's chest. "That symbol... familiar..."

Fox brings up a finger and taps the glass. "Answer my question."

The head twitches in irritation. "How dare you... I am not some exhibit in a museum to be poked at and prodded. The insolence..."

"You look like you're in a museum to me. But if you'd rather I left you here, so be it."

As he turns, the head calls out. "Wait! Why have you come here? I can sense you have a soul... uncorrupted by the dark magics of this realm. Dark enough to remain, but not tainted permanently..."

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because I could help you," he replies. "I know much... secrets that are mine and mine alone to know. But I would be willing to share some of them..."

"In exchange for what?"

"Freedom. I languish in this place... I long for a return of my body... the pain and shame are overwhelming, you couldn't possibly imagine my torment... Immortality and my cruel captors have cursed me to an eternity of suffering within a glass jar like a relic of the past... I beg of you, stranger, help me..."

>Agree
>Who are you?
>Disagree
>Negotiate
>Other

>>2037267
>>Negotiate

>>2037267
>Negotiate
I'll be back when I figure out what I need.

>>2037267
>Negotiate

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>>2037270
>>2037300
>>2037359

Folding his arms as he faces the head once more, he says, "Let's say I'm interested in... negotiating. What can you offer me? Something tangible."

"That depends on what you seek," the head replies. "Many come to the Netherrealm in search of a lost soul. Perhaps a lover?" His eyes narrow. "No... I can't detect that within you. But there is purpose, yes... An intense focus."

Fox finds himself becoming a bit more guarded. "You can read my mind?"

"Not your mind, your soul... I was once a master of the art, but much of my power has been taken from me. Stripped of what I was, now I am but the miserable wretch you see before you... A piece to a greater whole that has been lost."

"Oh, shut up!" a new voice calls out from further down the line. Fox turns his head to see where it came from. "All he does is cry, cry, cry! 'Oh, boo-hoo, look upon me with such pity: the once-great and almighty overlord of all of the Netherrealm, now just a head in a jar! Oh, woe is me!' What a joke! Except I'm not laughing anymore!"

"Don't listen to that fool!" the head insists.

Fox disregards the head he was speaking to in order to get a closer look at the new speaker. It is another head, only without a jar, and without any skin or flesh for that matter. It is a skull, a talking skull, whose mouth moves with every word.

"Can you get a load of that guy? How the hell did he ever take over hell, anyway? He couldn't take over a wet bag if you stuffed him in it! Which, given his current state, would be rather easy to do. You wouldn't happen to have a wet bag on you, would you?"

"Who are you?"

The skull laughs, its teeth chattering. "Just another guest of his royal majesty over there, and by majesty, I mean majestic pain in my ass. Not that I currently have one, it's a metaphore you understand."

The previous head shouts out, "I swear, by all of the Netherrealm, when I retrieve my body the torment I inflict upon you will be unceasing, you pathetic prattling paperweight!"

"Wow, a whole sentence! Usually he just moans and cries."

"Hold it," Fox holds up a hand. "You said he once ruled all of the Netherrealm? That means..." He looks back at the chalky head. "You are Shinnok! The fallen Elder God!"

The skull laughs. "Ding-ding-ding!"

"Enough!" Shinnok says. "Ignore that jeering fool! I can help you, mortal!"

The skull snaps up, "Oh yeah, trust the guy who ousted Satan, that's a good way to go. If I had eyes they'd roll right back out of my sockets!"

>Leave them be
>Talk to the skull
>Talk to Shinnok
>Take one of them with you
>Other

>>2037461
>>Talk to the skull
I trust this guy more then the old leader of the neatherrealm, he can probably answer our questions.

>>2037461
>Talk to Shinnok
If anyone has a stake in what's happening to this Netherrealm, it's old chalk-face. He'll know what's going on and know he's not in a position to argue.

>>2037461
>>Talk to the skull
Figure out who he is and how he can help us. I would rather not put our trust in Shinnok. I'm sure he would betray us as soon as he had his body back.

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>>2037472
>>2037513

Shinnok shouts, "Mortal! Come! We have yet to negotiate!"

"Hold it," Fox holds his hand up in the former Elder God's direction. "I talked to you. Now I talk to this one."

"The insolence..."

"So, what's your story, skull?"

"I'm just an ex-con trying to go straight and get my kids back. Hah! I actually just want my body. You wouldn't have happened to have seen it at some point, would you?"

"No, I can't say that I have. What does it look like?"

"Good joke."

"That wasn't a joke."

"I like you! Let's be friends. What do you say?"

"I didn't come here to make friends, exactly, but it hasn't stopped me."

"Great! So, friend, where should we start looking for my body?"

"I'm not looking for your body, sorry. I'm looking for a Kamidogu."

At that moment, Shinnok speaks once more. "The Kamidogu! So that is what you are so focused on! If that is what you seek, I know where they are!"

"He's lying," the skull says. "He doesn't know where the Kamidogu are. He just wants his body back!"

"Isn't that what you want as well?"

"Yeah, but I'll at least admit that I don't know where the Kamidogu are! And I won't betray you as soon as I get my body back."

"But if you don't know where they are, I don't have much cause to take you with me."

Shinnok grunts in frustration and pain. "But I do! I know what you seek, and where it is! What's more, I will take you there... after you have helped me regain my freedom! I need not my old body, merely a means of locomotion... Such as this fool's body."

The skull gasps... somehow. "You know where my body is, and you never told me! Shinnok, I'm shocked!"

"Shut up," he says, then looks up at Fox. "Take me to this fool's body, and I will take you to the Kamidogu."

"You don't even know which one I want," Fox says. "How do I know you truly know where they are?"

"I was once lord of this realm, and I still know much! I know what the master of this realm speaks, for I listen to his discussions... I know much that they think no one does."

>Take Shinnok
>Take the skull
>Take them both
>Leave them for now
>Other

>>2037635
>Take them both
We'll just let Shinnok lead us there then give rattle me bones back to his body

>>2037635
>Leave them for now
Shinnok never answered our question about who's in charge here, so he gets to stew for a while.

>>2037649
I'll change my vote to this

>>2037635
>>Take them both
I want to put them both on the same body to help temper Shinnok's attempted betrayal.

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>>2037649
>>2037755

Fox thinks for a moment, weighing the potential pros and cons of allying himself with each, when it occurs to him that they won't be going anywhere for a while. "I think I'll wait," he says to them both. "I want to have a look around first."

"Drop by any time," the skull says.

"Do not tarry! I am in perpetual pain!"

"Perpetual annoyance, perhaps," the skull mocks the Elder God once more.

Just then, a set of doors at one end of the hall open up. Fox dives behind cover of one of the pillars before looking out and seeing who it is. Several people enter the room, wearing robes and black prayer beads. What confuses the ninja is that they look, for all intents and purposes, like Shaolin warriors, monks and martial artists. Were it not for their black attire and heavy body-wide tattoos, they'd seem almost a mirror match.

"The master has detected a living soul somewhere in the fortress," the lead monk, tallest and strongest-looking, announces to his underlings. "Spread out and guard the master's trophies."

They begin to do just that, and Fox realizes he is quickly going to run out of hiding places. 'If they can detect my very soul, hiding is going to be doubly difficult...'

>Make a run for it
>Try and get up on the ceiling
>Remain as still as possible and hope they don't notice
>Attack them
>Other

>>2037835
>Try and get up on the ceiling

>>2037835
>Try and get up on the ceiling

>>2037845
>>2037928

Give me some 1d100s, please.

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>2037977

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>2037977

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>2037977

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>>2037982
>>2038014
>>2038078

'Nowhere to go but up,' Fox quickly decides. Taking out his kusarigama, he throws the weighted end up to the ceiling where it wraps around a spike and begins to climb. The many fires in the room disguise his silhouette until he is safely among the shadows above. 'It's a good thing that the Netherrealm is fond of dangerous architecture...' he muses as he holds onto the massive obsidian spike.

Below, the dark monks walk directly beneath him. One walks directly past the skull and then Shinnok, but does not interract with them, nor they with him. 'Sensible... Both of them think I might be able to help them. They wouldn't sell me out... not yet, anyway. I'll just have to trust that, for now, their interests lie with me not being caught.'

The large man strides towards the center of the room, and Fox observes him more closely. He is armed with a chain weapon as well, one very similar to his own, though of a much more brutal variety, with blades and spikes lining the chain. It looks almost impractical in a way, like it would hurt the user as much as his opponent, but Fox would rather not find out.

He watches as they cover the exits; two main entrances to the room and the stairway from which he initially entered. 'Damn. No way out...'

"Minion," a raspy voice from below calls out. Fox, and the large man, both look at Shinnok's head. "I thirst... bring me water."

The large man approaches Shinnok and laughs. "The masters have decreed you are to receive nothing."

"I built this spire with power greater than you could ever know," Shinnok says with contempt. "There are secrets within that you could never hope to discover with your feeble intellect... Did you know that the very ceiling of this chamber is but an illusion?"

At first Fox thinks he is goading the guard into looking up, but the first insult he hurled at the man keeps him looking squarely at the head. However, Fox understands the message all too clearly and begins to climb up the spike. Sure enough, even as the man below continues to mock the fallen Elder God, Fox tests the ceiling with his hand and discovers it to be like water.

He holds his breath and climbs up into the black pool, discovering it to be like an oil. He continues to scale the black spire connected to the spike, only to surface in a dark chamber lit by green lamps. Though covered in black liquid, he is able to swim to the side of the pool and climb onto solid ground.

'This chamber must be one of his hidden rooms...' He looks around at the pool, seeing the many spires that rise from it; what appear to be simple features of the ceiling for the trophy room below are in fact devilish stalagtites sticking out of the suspended pool, which actually originate in this room. He looks and sees another hall. 'Shinnok is playing a game, and he's betting on me to win it. He did help me...'

>Search the room for anything else
>Go down the hall and explore this level
>Attempt to contact Raiden
>Clean up
>Other

>>2038257
>>Search the room for anything else

>>2038257
>Search the room for anything else

>>2038257
>Search the room for anything else

>>2038257
>>Search the room for anything else

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>>2038272
>>2038281
>>2038298
>>2038307

Fox takes a moment to inspect his surroundings. 'If Shinnok hid this room, what might it really be concealing?'

Given that it is over the trophy room, he suspects it may hold something valuable. His suspicion is proven correct when he discovers an alcove that glows bright green from writings on the walls. At its center, set within black metal skeletal hands is a staff, wrought of brilliant gold, ending in a large 'omega' symbol at the top. The symbol itself seems like it is meant to house a circular object, one that is missing, but Fox can immediately guess at: Shinnok's Amulet.

'Good thing it isn't just lying around in this reality,' Fox thinks as he picks up the staff. 'But what will this do? It won't give me a way out of here---'

As the thought enters his mind, a nearby wall in the alcove opens up, revealing a hallway. At the end of the hall is a red light, and Fox pauses as he stares. The passage, apparently opened in the solid obsidian of the tower, leads directly to the outside and the infinite red skies of the Netherrealm.

Fox looks down at the staff in his hands. 'This staff... can shape the tower. Shinnok said that he built it with great power... and a tool, clearly. He must've hid this staff before the change in ownership took effect... And now that I hold it, I effectively control the tower. This could come in handy...'

With another thought, he seals the hole he just made, and considers now how to best use this new tool.

>Travel to the top of the spire and see who is running the joint
>Go back down and take out those monks in the museum
>Command the tower to be sealed; nobody gets in or out
>Fuck it, bring the whole tower down, why not?
>Other

>>2038531
>Command the tower to be sealed; nobody gets in or out

>>2038531
>Command the tower to be sealed; nobody gets in or out

>>2038531
>>Command the tower to be sealed; nobody gets in or out

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Going to hit up bed; we'll resume in the morning! Thanks for participating so far.

>>2038531
>Seal the tower!
>Seal the doors of the museum room.
>Make the floors of the Musuem room like quicksand for everything but support pillars and the trophy pillars. (Basically try to trap the guards in the floor)

>>2038535
>>2038540
>>2039418
>>2038584

We'll be resuming shortly.

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Lifting up the scepter, an idea comes to his mind, which he enacts with a simple tap of the staff on the floor. He can hear the sounds of the tower shifting around him as everything from windows to doors, anything with access to the outside of the Netherrealm, is sealed with thick obsidian shards. With entry---and exit---barred, he knows that those within the tower will be on high alert, but at least they won't be able to call in reinforcements from the outside.

'Now, to find someone who knows where the Kamidogu is. Shinnok claims he does... but I would be a fool to trust him. But perhaps I can take advantage of his knowledge while planning to not follow up on my end of the bargain?'

Looking down at the pool, he waves the staff over its surface; it changes from oily black to a clearer state, allowing him to look down into the museum below. 'Besides, it isn't like he's the Shinnok of my reality. What do I care if he swears vengeance on me? He won't be able to reach me once Raiden and I fix this whole situation.'

As he looks on, he sees the doors to the museum fly open as a new figure emerges. Standing tall and broad-shouldered, Fox instantly recognizes the bald bearded warrior as none other than Jackson Briggs, but similar to Stryker, undead. His augmented arms have been given a nefarious redesign complete with spikes and red lights, complimenting his orange veins and eyes. The ninja cannot hear through the water, but he watches as Jax approaches the head of Shinnok, breaks the case he is in and grabs him. He pulls the head off of the display spike, holds it up and questions it.

'They must suspect Shinnok has something to do with the tower being sealed, or at least knows why...' Fox guesses. 'What kind of reality is this, where all the great Defenders are servants of darkness?'

After a moment, Jax turns to leave, taking the head with him. The monks appear to be departing as well.

>Prevent them from leaving
>Let them go and follow them
>Jump down and attack
>Take out the minions
>Other

>>2039458
>Prevent them from leaving/Seal the trophy room.

>>2039494
My bonus objective for this reality is to have Yorick and Shinnok share a body. I think it’d be hilarious!

>>2039458
>>Prevent them from leaving

>>2039500
Agreeing as hard as I can here.

>>2039458
>Prevent them from leaving

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>>2039494
>>2039510
>>2039533

'I don't think so.'

With another mental command, the doors to the museum slide shut, slamming in Jax's pale face. The revenant, surprised by this turn of events, holds up Shinnok and makes a demand of him, but the head is powerless.

Some of the monks turn towards the other exits. Fox seals those off as well, creating a solid wall of bars at the opening to the stairwell.

Jax tosses Shinnok to one of his underlings and turns to face the door, holding up his arms. Knowing all too well the great strength of his mortal counterpart, Fox reinforces the door with more material. Jax begins to pound away at it, smashing chunk after chunk of obsidian and bone-like webbing off of the doors, but so long as Fox keeps concentrating the doors are repaired faster than he can damage them.

Fox finds himself smiling, taking delight in them scurrying down below as they try to find a way out, attacking the walls and doors. 'Like mice trapped in a maze...' he thinks with no shortage of amusement. They seem so small and pathetic from up here, and this staff allows him to play god with their lives. In fact, he might as well simply be like a god to them. Wielding it feels good, and he drops his kusarigama to the side to better focus his thoughts. 'I could use this to find the Kamidogu,' he thinks. 'Hell, I could use it for all kinds of things! How did I even get along before finding this?'

>Turn the floor into quicksand
>Have the ceiling spikes fall upon them
>Close the walls in on them
>Wait, something's not right...
>Other

>>2039574
>>Wait, something's not right...

>>2039574
>>Wait, something's not right...

>>2039574
>Turn the floor into quicksand

>This power is intoxicating! I love it! Wait, is something wrong?

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>>2039585
>>2039620
>>2039623

That thought strikes Fox as strange... alluring, yes, but strange... almost as if something is... wrong!

Without a moment more for the staff to influence him, he lets go of it. It drops to the floor with a clang and Fox backs up, breathing heavily. Free from its influence, he suddenly realizes just how much that influence was. The staff was making him consider torturing those men below, playing with their lives, draining him of his empathy to dehumanize them. While they may be dead and enemies, they don't deserve torture.

Fox takes a few deep breaths, focusing on his objective. Now, as he looks upon the tool, he thinks that it seems obvious in hindsight: a tool of Shinnok would be both powerful and corrupting. Pausing to look around, he realizes that even though he has released the staff the changes he mage with it still seem to be in effect.

However, down below, Jax's unrelenting attack against the door begin to bear fruit now that it is no longer being constantly repaired. The demonic energy infused into the circuitry of his arms allows him to ignore pain and exhaustion as he batters away at the black surface, tearing through solid chunks of material. Fox can tell that it won't be long before he gets through.

>You are strong enough to wield the staff without succumbing to its temptation.
>Just use it one more time, and then no more.
>Return the staff to its resting place.
>Perhaps you can destroy it somehow...
>Other

>>2039668
>>You are strong enough to wield the staff without succumbing to its temptation.

>>2039668
>>You are strong enough to wield the staff without succumbing to its temptation

>>2039676
>>2039684

Well, let's see, shall we?

1d100s, please.

>>2039724
Here we go....

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>2039727

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>2039724

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>2039724
Fall to the dark side, Fox! They have cookies and cake!

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>>2039730
>>2039738
>>2039791

As he looks upon Jax tearing through the door, the thought of repairing it once more enters his mind. He looks over at the staff and begins to wonder if it could be used without corrupting the user.

'Surely one of strong will could resist,' Fox muses. 'And Kaito did say that I was especially well-suited towards resisting outside influences, like that of Chaosrealm...'

He kneels alongside the staff, staring at it. 'Perhaps I can wield it, now that I know that it means to influence me. Surely if I guard myself against its power, it won't take hold. But for how long must I, and can I?' Within the gold of the staff he stares into his reflected eyes. 'I can hold this power,' he convinces himself. 'I know I can...'

Just as he is about to grab hold of the staff, his inner debate is interrupted by a new noise in his ears: that of crackling flames. Fox turns around and stands, only to come face-to-face with his master and teacher, Hanzo Hasashi. But not as he knows him. His eyes widen as he looks upon Scorpion for the first time; he had always heard rumors of what the spectre was like, hushed whispers spoken amongst the lower Shirai Ryu out of fear of reprisal should they be heard, but none of them compared to the vision of what he sees before him now, one of power and lethality taken to a fiery extreme.

Scorpion looks upon Fox with blazing eyes, a fury barely held back. "I have never been to this place before," he says, his voice low and sinister. "One of Shinnok's many hidden rooms, it seems... But your soul led me right to you." He then looks upon Fox's chest and sees the emblem of the yellow scorpion upon it. "What is this? Some ill-conceived joke?"

Slowly, Fox raises his hands. "Hanzo, I---"

Scorpion's eyes blaze even more brightly. "What did you just call me?"

'It figures it would be the opposite with this one, wouldn't it?'

>Appeal to his humanity
>Explain that he is your teacher
>Grab the staff and use it!
>Get out of this room
>Other

>>2039795
>>Explain that he is your teacher

>>2039795
>Stand stunned and silent for a moment!? Error! Must reboot system!

>>2039795
>Explain that he is your teacher

>>2039795
>>Explain that he is your teacher

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>>2039800
>>2039833
>>2039856

As the yellow-clad specter steps closer, Fox tries to explain. "You don't understand! You are my teacher!"

"The only thing I will teach you is how to die in pain!" Scorpion's hand shoots up and a spear-tipped chain launches from his underarm, the famous stinger of the Shirai Ryu master flying right towards the younger ninja! Fox, having been taught by Hanzo himself, dodges the attack by stepping to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.

"I don't want to fight you!"

"Then this will be easier!" Scorpion yanks the chain back, gripping the head as he charges towards Fox.

>Current Meter: 1
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>2039877
Leg takedown. Maybe if we do a move he taught us, he'll recognize his own fighting style and let us explain.

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>2039877
Like >>2039883 says, sweep the leg and knock the wind out of him.

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>2039877
>>2039883
This works

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>>2039883
>>2039892
>>2039908

In the heat of the moment, Fox does not have time to think. His mind returns to an earlier point in his life, a moment vastly different from this one, yet similar in a few key ways: a sparring match between him and his master, in which Hanzo was charging at him much like Scorpion is now.

Fox impressed his master by using his own move against him, a leg takedown with opposing sweeping motions. Perhaps if he does it now, this version will know that he has been taught by him. And so he does, dropping to the floor and slicing with his legs, grabbing Scorpion at the knee and waist and tripping him. The specter hits the ground hard and grunts, but the significance of the move is not lost upon him.

"That technique..." he mutters as Fox rolls back up to his feet, "...that is mine!"

"It was taught to me by you!"

Scorpion vanishes in flame and appears behind Fox, who feels the heat of his very presence before he knows he is even there.

"I WILL SUFFER NO IMITATORS!" Scorpion shouts, taking out one of his two swords and swinging in a donwards chop!

>Current Meter: 2
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>2039944
Blind-block with the kusari-gama, kick him away, and bop him with a Stay Over There.

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>2039944
Give him a sludge

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>2039944
Dodge a slash then hit him with a gut punch followed by a knee to the head

>>2039944
Hit him with a sludge bomb, then leap at him with a teleport punch minus the teleport.

"I am trying to tell you I'm no imitator, I am Shirai Ryu! I come from a world where they yet live."

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>2039981
forgot the roll

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>>2039950

Without having time to look, Fox brings up his sickle and holds it perpendicular to Scorpion's blade, catching it and keeping it from coming down upon him. As they struggle for a moment, pushing back against each other, the younger warrior spaces out his footing before turning his waist and kicking the spectre in the gut. As they part, he spins the weighted end of his weapon around twice as he faces Scorpion before underhand-throwing it up into his face. The heavy ball cracks the yellow mask in half, causing both pieces to fall to the floor and bounce away.

Fox looks upon the half-skeletal face of Scorpion, whose throat burns with hellfire. "Now your suffering shall be legend," Scorpion says, his teeth parting to reveal a spout of flame!

>>2039971

Thinking to stop him with a sludge bomb, Fox throws one at his mouth, but the fire that emerges burns the bomb to a crisp as it surges towards him. Fox brings up his arms and tries to back away, but suffers some burns upon his arms. The cloth bands he wears upon his wrists burn away and fall to the ground.

>>2039972

Scorpion stops shooting flames from his mouth when he sees his opening, going in for a horizontal slash. Fox hears him coming and leaps upwards, flipping over his master's head and landing on the other side of him. He turns and punches Scorpion in the back, then jumps to deliver a twisting knee to the side of the spectre's head.

In response, Scorpion lunges backwards, gaining some distance. Fox lands, his mind spinning from having to fight such a twisted version of his beloved mentor, one very much intent on killing him. But he knows this is not the Hanzo he is familiar with, and is one he may be able to defeat; but an ally would be much more valuable.

>>2039987
>>2039981

Fox takes out another sludge bomb and throws it at Scorpion's feet, keeping him there for a moment. Fox, rather than press the attack, attempts to reason with him some more. "I am trying to tell you I'm no imitator, I am Shirai Ryu! I come from a world where they yet live."

"I am the Shirai Ryu, and the Shirai Ryu is dead!" Scorpion opens his mouth and burns the sludge at his feet away once more.

"But they could live again!"

At that, Scorpion momentarily pauses, but only for a moment. He rushes towards Fox, this time drawing both blades!

>Current Meter: 2
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>2040033
EX Stay Over There. Keeping Scorp at arm's length is doing us wonders.

>>2040033
Try to catch his swords with our palm-claws and keep talking.

"You're on the wrong side of this, Hanzo. Why fight for the Netherrealm? Quan Chi is the one who killed your family!"

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>2040080
Dammit, did it again.

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>2040033
Keep him away, dodging his attacks and zoning with knife throws, while telling abouot how great his school is and all the students he has

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>2040033
Disarm him with a chop to the arm before kicking him back

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>>2040080
>>2040082

Fox brings up his chain and blocks the swords with it, causing them to stare into each other's eyes. Scorpion's continue to burn with vengeance.

"You're on the wrong side of this, Hanzo. Why fight for the Netherrealm? Quan Chi is the one who killed your family!"

"AND I KILLED HIM FOR IT!" They part when he attempts to kick Fox, who leaps back. "Now I serve the Netherrealm because it is all that I have left. That, and the chance to kill fools such as yourself!" Once more he charges, his feet leaving fiery footprints behind.

>>2040074

'Fine then,' Fox thinks, taking both ends of his weapon in hand. 'If you won't hold back, then neither shall I!'

They charge at each other and attack, with Scorpion slicing both high and low, scoring a cut on Fox as he passes by. But Fox, though he received the wound, left the head of his sickle buried in Scorpion's side. When they part and slide away from each other, Fox yanks it free, causing the spectre to spin and hit the ground, bright red blood leaking from the wound in his side.

>>2040088

Wanting to maintain distance, he begins to throw knives, tossing them as Scorpion rolls back up to his feet. "I know your fighting style, Hanzo! You taught me everything you know! You were the greatest teacher I could have ever known!"

"I taught you nothing!" He knocks a kunai out of the air with a sword before teleporting behind Fox.

>>2040090

Having grown wise to the move, Fox turns around and chops Scorpion's arm, knocking the sword from his grasp. With both feet he then kicks the ninja away, knocking him back. Fox lands on his feet and gathers his chain back together.

"You're right, you didn't. Not this version of you... so blinded by anger and rage. In my world, I'm nowhere near the level of my master, but here we're at least even."

"You are nothing..." Scorpion says as he gets up to his feet. "Nothing!"

Before they can continue, the very ground at their feet suddenly shakes, violently throwing them both to the floor. Fox's ears pick up a strange sound, a ringing as though from far away, but getting louder and louder. The vibrations beneath them suddenly intensify in magnitude, causing the floor to crack.

Then, it breaks, and a banshee-like wail fills the room. Fox shouts in pain as he, Scorpion and Shinnok's staff fall through the floor, landing in a hallway outside the museum chamber. The ninja lands amongst a pile of debris, holding his ears which are filled with the sonic shriek that brought the roof down.

Slowly, he opens his eyes, taking in several forms. Notably, Queen Sindel, Kabal, Nightwolf and Smoke, all in the same state as Stryker and Jax, both of whom linger nearby. They all look upon Fox with glowing eyes.

Sindel sneers. "This runt is the soul we have detected? Scorpion, how have you failed to capture him?"

The spectre gets up to his feet. "I was handling it! If you had not interfered..."

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>>2040144

"Not another word," she threatens, then looks down upon Fox. "The Emperor and Empress wish this one taken to them... alive."

>Run
>Fight
>Talk
>Surrender
>Other

>>2040147
>Talk
Since when did the Netherrealm have a monarchy?

>>2040147
>>Run

>>2040147
>Run

>>2040147
>Run

Make for the staff if we can?

>>2040203
Adding to take the staff

>>2040193
>>2040203
>>2040209
>>2040258

Let's 1d100 it out, since we're outnumbered and surrounded.

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>2040271

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Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>2040271
Oh boy, can't wait to fail and die horribly.

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>2040271

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>2040271

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>>2040292
>>2040311
>>2040330
>>2040405

Fox, desperate to escape, makes a lunge for the staff. Several hands come up to stop him, but the one that does it doesn't need to lay a single hand on him. Sindel opens her mouth and lets out a sonic scream that shatters the ground around him, causing him incredible pain. Fox's ears, sensitive and highly trained, are filled with a loud ringing as his body is pressed against the floor by the sheer strength of her voice.

When she stops screaming, Smoke transforms into several tendrils of black fog that encircle Fox, picking him up and binding him. Stryker then walks up and slaps a pair of handcuffs upon his wrists as he is disarmed by Jax. The barely-conscious Fox is then forced to march, though he is hardly aware of his surroundings by this point.

Dimly, he is aware that they are on a lift going upwards. When the lift stops, he is marched forward again, and then kicked onto his knees. The ringing in his ears has begun to fade, and as he looks up to behold two thrones, he sees Shinnok's staff being presented to the master of this place: Liu Kang.

The undead Shaolin holds the staff before him, looking upon it with orange eyes before holding it up and commanding the walls to change. Several of them slide open, blasting Fox with warm wind as the sky of the Netherrealm is revealed. Fox's eyes drift to Liu's side, where sits a dark and terrifying woman, whose regality can only mean she is Kitana. Both of them wear dark armor of burnt iron. Off to the side of both thrones stands Kung Lao, with a razor-bladed hat, and Sub-Zero, both revenants like all the others.

Fox begins to hear clearly as these dark visions of Liu Kang and Kitana, two of the greatest heroes he knows, rise from their black thrones and walk towards him. They look down upon him.

"Speak," Liu Kang commands. "Who are you, and why have you come here?"

>Introduce yourself.
>I am from another reality.
>I am here to save you.
>Say nothing.
>Other

>>2040448
>Introduce yourself.
>Other
I am Forrest Fox. I'm here for Havik and the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm. No more, no less.

>>2040453
Yeah make sure to mention that he is probably gonna fuck up Lui Kangs sweet gig. If he asks why there is a problem in the first place shake your head and say it was the elder gods, he will understand.

>>2040461
Mentioning the Elder Gods in any capacity is only going to piss Liu Kang off.

>>2040489
To be fair, Fox doesn't know this Liu. His Liu is still a good guy.

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>>2040453
>>2040461

Squinting slightly, he straightens up and says, "My name is Forrest Fox. I have come seeking Havik and the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm... nothing more."

Liu and Kitana look at each other before he motions to one of the revenants under his command to step forward. Fox watches as Nightwolf holds up a bloody bag, reaches in and pulls out a severed head.

Havik's.

"Ahahahahah!" the head cackles. "The destroyer has come! The end of the Netherrealm is nigh! All are doomed, doomed to chaos!"

Liu Kang looks down at Fox. "As you can see, we have already taken care of the emmissary from Chaosrealm. He is of no concern."

"Doomed, doomed! He brings the destruction of all with him!" Havik continues to rant, and so Nightwolf puts him back into the bag.

"So this young warrior is the one Havik spoke of?" Kitana asks, looking down at Fox with bored contempt. "He's not much to look at, is he?"

"And yet he discovered the amulet staff of Shinnok," Liu Kang replies, holding it up. "But not, I think, without some help..."

Jax steps forward now, and holds aloft the head of Shinnok. Liu takes hold of the fallen Elder God and turns him to stare into his eyes. "A plan of your own devising, oh lord-of-darkness?"

Shinnok does not speak. Liu scoffs and tosses him away; the head bounces on the ground and rolls before coming to a stop near Stryker's boots.

The emperor of the Netherrealm crouches and looks at Fox. "Havik is ours, but we know nothing about his Kamidogu. Perhaps you do? Tell us, and I will lessen the pain that is to come."

>Explain about Havik's plot and his other selves
>I am looking for the Kamidogu, but I know not where it is
>Shinnok said he knows where it is
>Say nothing
>Other

>>2040569
>Explain about Havik's plot and his other selves
>Shinnok said he knows where it is

>>2040569
>>Explain about Havik's plot and his other selves

We're here to save the realms from him and his other selves, so this "destroyer" business he's rambling about must mean he's setting some sort of trap he expects us to trigger.

>>2040593
Yeah this makes the most sense, I don't wanna explain the kamigdou to them.

Quick dinner break.

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>>2040589
>>2040593

Fox closes his eyes and shakes his head. "You don't understand... There is more than one Havik, and they are all working together."

"Oh?" Liu stands up and looks at Kitana with some amusement. "Perhaps there are several of us all, running around, but we do not know it?"

"I'm serious," Fox says, when suddenly he feels a blade at his neck. Kitana is holding one of her fans down at his throat, extended to reveal its wicked, silvery edge.

"You will show respect to the Emperor of the Netherrealm, cur."

"There won't be a Netherrealm to rule if Havik has his way," Fox replies, staring defiantly up at them. "He and his companions mean to destroy the very fabric of the realms in order to sow discord throughout all of reality."

Kitana looks back at Liu, who sits upon his throne. "I do not believe it," he replies. "Havik and Chaosrealm are no threat to us. They are too fickle to ever enact such a plot with much success."

"Underestimating our mutual enemy is exactly why he is in the position to succeed," Fox warns.

However, it falls upon deaf and dead ears. "As I have said, Havik is of no concern. We have dealt with him. Now, the question remains, how to deal with you?"

"Let me torture him, my love," Kitana offers. "I will loosen his tongue and he will speak the truth."

"A tempting thought... It is unfortunate your sister is no longer with us. She was more gifted with torture than you." Kitana reels slightly at the perceived insult, but Liu doesn't care. "Send him to the dungeons. Let him languish for three days, then we shall see what he has to say."

Kung Lao steps forward. "My lord, I suggest we merely kill him now."

"He is too defiant," Liu replies. "Were he to die now, his soul might even escape our clutches. I will wear him down first. Now, I have spoken, and my orders have yet to be carried out. Move!"

The revenants behind Fox, Kabal and Stryker, pick up Fox and take him back to the lift. As he is dragged back, he makes eye contact with Scorpion, finding the spectre staring at him with folded arms. Fox stares back, though what the undead ninja could be thinking he does not know.

The two revenants take him to the lowest level of the tower and bring him to a cell, where they toss him inside. Stryker closes the gate and locks the door. "You won't be going anywhere," he says with a sneer. "Not while I have the keys."

He walks off as Fox approaches the bars. "A once-great SWAT officer, now a glorified hallway patrol man and jail guard? That must sting."

Stryker ignores him and leaves the cell area. Fox struggles against the handcuffs that yet remain on his wrists, but they do not break.

>Search your cell
>See who else is imprisoned down here
>Call for the guard
>Take out your hidden knife
>Other

>>2040950
>>See who else is imprisoned down here

>>2040950
>Search your cell

>>2040950
>>See who else is imprisoned down here

>>2040950
>>See who else is imprisoned down here

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>>2040968
>>2041001
>>2041028

Fox takes a breath to keep himself steady and looks across the way. He's not alone down here in this prison, as someone else in incarcerated in the cell opposite his own. The figure sits up against the back wall in the shadows, staring back at him wiith one glowing blue eye. The ninja squints, studying the silhouette of the man opposite him, and suddenly comes to a startling realization.

"Fireseed?"

The figure stirs. "I don't know you."

"But I know you," Fox replies, staring intently at him. Half of him is cloaked in thick and unnatural shadow that clings to him like thick oil... almost like a wraith. "What happened to you?"

"It is none of your concern."

"Right now, you are all of my concern, until I figure out a way out of here. Are you turning into a wraith?"

"Something worse," he mutters, standing up and approaching the bars. As he steps into the light of the nearby torch, Fox sees that half of his face is covered in wraith-like features, complete with the blue eye. "And it'll only get worse."

"What happened? Why are you down here?"

"They're keeping me here until I fully transform," he explains. "Until this... thing takes me over."

"Is there nothing you can do?"

"There is one who could have helped me, but he is long since gone. He, too, is a shadow of his former self... a servant of this realm."

"Nightwolf?"

"It was he that did this to me. Cursed me with the sins of our ancestors, and now..." He holds up a black hand. "The corruption spreads."

"I wish I could help you," Fox tells him sincerely.

"You seem to care for reasons I cannot understand. I've never met you."

"Where I come from, another time and place, we know each other. We're friends, fighting together on a team."

"I don't have any team. I don't keep friends."

"I know. Believe me, I know. How are we getting out of here?"

"We aren't," Fireseed says, returning to his sitting position. "I've tried. All that remains is waiting for the end."

>What kind of attitude is that? You can't give up.
>Perhaps not alone, but if we work together, we could escape.
>That thing hasn't taken over you yet. There's still hope.
>Explore your cell
>Other

>>2041082
>Perhaps not alone, but if we work together, we could escape.
>That thing hasn't taken over you yet. There's still hope.

>>2041082
>>Perhaps not alone, but if we work together, we could escape.
>>That thing hasn't taken over you yet. There's still hope.
Or you can help me get vengeance on Nether realm, including Nightwolf.

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>>2041110
>>2041154

"Alone, maybe," Fox concedes. "But you needn't be. We can work together and escape."

Fireseed doesn't reply, offering the barest of grunts and nothing more.

Fox shakes his head. "That thing hasn't taken you over yet completely. There is still hope."

"Hope... There's no such thing."

The ninja sighs. "Look... I know you, Joshua. You're always focused on the mission, but because you think you have failed and there is no way out, there's no reason to go on. But I have a mission, too. One that will save everything and everyone. I can't fail in my mission, which I will if I stay in this cell. Even if I die succeeding, I'll die knowing that I made a difference. How will you die? Knowing that you gave up?"

Fireseed looks up, his blue eye piercing the darkness. "And just what is this 'mission'?"

"Preventing the destruction of all reality."

"Good luck with that."

"I don't need luck. What I could use is some help."

"There is no help down here," Fireseed says with an annoyed tone. "And no hope, for that matter. If there is even any shred of a chance that rescue will come for either of us, I'd help you on your quest."

"You swear that upon the Elder Gods?"

"Sure. Why not. Like it makes any difference."

Just as Fox was about to reply with, "I hope so too," a ceiling grate falls and clangs onto the floor. A lone figure in a black outfit drops down, carrying a dragon-headed staff with a quiver on his back. He lands with perfect footing and then stands up.

"Kung Jin!" Fox exclaims, and the archer is surprised that someone knows who he is. He draws an arrow and places it upon his staff, which creates a silver bowstring that he pulls back.

"Who the hell are you?" he demands.

"A friend," Fox insists. "And I'll prove it! You are Kung Jin, cousin to Kung Lao, a member of the order of Shaolin. I don't know what you are doing in the Netherrealm, but I know that we both fight for Earthrealm, and if you get me out of this cell, I'll help you."

Jin stares at him for a moment, then lowers his bow. "Alright. Deal."

He fires his shot at the lock, breaking it. Fox pulls open the door. "Alright, now shoot his."

"Who's he?" Jin asks, warrily looking at the half-cloaked figure.

"Another friend, one who has seen better days, but one who just swore to help us. Isn't that right, Fireseed?"

The cursed man lets out a sigh. "The Elder Gods are bullshit..."

Jin shoots his lock and opens the door.

>Ask Jin why he is here
>Follow the archer
>Ask him about the Kamidogu
>Lure the guard back
>Other

>>2041368
>>Ask Jin why he is here
>>Follow the archer

>>2041368
>>Follow the archer
>>Ask him about the Kamidogu

>>2041368
>Ask Jin why he is here

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>>2041425
>>2041466
>>2041486

As Jin walks further up the hall, Fox asks him, "Why are you here, exactly?"

"I need to get a set of keys from a dead police officer."

"Well, the good news is that he isn't far. They've got him on guard duty for the jail."

"Yeah, I heard someone got themselves caught." Jin looks over with a cocked brow. "That'd be you, then?"

"Not anymore, thanks to you."

"Yeah, well, don't thank me yet, I haven't seen what good you are yet. If you can't hold your own in a fight, I can't take you with me."

"Don't worry about that. We're both warriors, like yourself."

"How do you know so much about me, anyway?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Sounds like an interesting story. I'd love to hear it, but I don't think we have the time."

Fox is about to agree when he sees what Jin meant: Kabal and Stryker stand in the hallway up ahead.

"An intruder, and an escape attempt," Kabal remarks from beneath his mask, the eyes of which burn orange.

"Looks like a good old-fashioned prison break alright," Stryker agrees, taking out his baton and pistol. "Emperor Liu will understand if his captives end up dead."

"He won't even have to know," Kabal replies, taking out his hookswords. Jin draws his bow, and as he is bereft of his weaponry, Fox raises his fists alongside Fireseed.

No further words are spoken as both groups rush in.

>Current Meter: 1
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>2041540
get some sludge in his eyes and kick out his knees.

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>2041540
Bang someone's head against a wall Bas Rutten style. This is relatively tight quarters.

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>2041540
Flip Stryker's gun on him and end him, fuck this guy.

>>2041540
Throat punch Stryker and grab his baton to smack Kabal with

Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>2041634
Whoops

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>>2041555
>>2041562
>>2041569
>>2041634

Stryker raises his gun and fires once. The hellfire-infused bullet lodges in Fox's gut and explodes, showering the nearby wall with blood.

The End

Hahaha, could you imagine? Losing to Stryker of all people? We did get shot, though.

Fox shouts in pain and falls back, grasping his side. Stryker continues to fire until Jin fires an arrow into the barrel of his handgun, causing it to explode when he tries to shoot. As Fireseed tackles Kabal to the floor, Jin delivers a leaping kick to Stryker, knocking him down.

Fox feels a pair of hands on his shoulders pull him back out of the fight. He briefly catches sight of a hooded woman, and as she props him up against a wall, he realizes that it is Ling!

"Ling," breathes, coughing up some blood. "Where did you---"

"Shut up and drink this," she says, shoving a bottle into his hands. She takes out her staff and rushes to join the fray. Looking down, Fox observes the red liquid in the bottle, and seeing no better options, pops off the cork and drinks it.

Almost immediately he feels a rush of relief running through him, along with the sensation of pain leaving his body. Slowly he is able to stand, and when he removes his hand from his side he discovers that he is no longer bleeding. He looks over and sees the Kung cousins battling Stryker while Fireseed, having taken one of Kabal's hookswords, duels against him with it.

Fox clenches his fist. The healing potion worked its magic, now it's time for some payback.

>Current Meter: 1
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>2041682
Dive and roll, grabbing pieces of gun shrapnel and throwing them like shuriken at Kabal.

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>2041682
smash the bottle in strikers face and then disarm him of his gun

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>2041682
Sneak grab a hell grenade pull the pin and toss it to Stryker while yelling "Catch!"

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>2041682
Try and disarm Kabal of his other hooksword.

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>>2041695

Deciding to dive right into the fight, Fox dashes between Jin and Ling, rolling along the ground and picking up the remains of the gun as he does. He throws them at Stryker, who brings up both arms to block the shards of metal.

>>2041706

In response, Stryker brings up a boot and plants it on Fox's chest, stomping him onto the ground. Jin fires another arrow while Ling extends her polearm, lunging towards him with a spear head. Stryker manages to deflect both while Fox grapples with his leg, reaching up towards his belt.

>>2041711

As Fox grabs at the man's belt, Stryker kneels down, picks him up and tosses him back at the Kungs, leaving them to catch him.

"Is that the best you kids got?" he laughs.

"I've got this," Fox says in a taunting tone, holding up a grenade pin.

Stryker's smile vanishes as he looks down, and then blows up. The grenade on his belt sends both shrapnel and body parts flying in all directions. The blown-off head of the officer lands alongside Fox, who stares at it for a moment.

'To think, I just helped a version of your daughter save her world. Life's funny.'

He knocks the head aside and stands back up.

>>2041776

Nearby, Fireseed's hooksword is locked against Kabal's, both pushing against the other. Kabal's eyes suddenly turn purple as he blasts a plasmic burst out of his mask into Fireseed's face, knocking him back, but in this moment Fox sees his opening and runs in. He kicks the hooksword out of the undead warrior's hands, causing the head to become embedded in the ceiling above. Fox grabs it and pulls himself up before using both feet to kick him backwards against the wall.

Jin fires three arrows, pinning him in place while Ling extends her staff, impaling him through the neck. The light fades from Kabal's eyes, and as she withdraws the spear, he slumps downwards, held up only by Jin's arrows.

Fox drops back down to the ground and helps Fireseed back up to his feet. Nearby, Jin is searching the remains of Stryker for his keys and finds them, holding them up. "Got what we came for," he says with a smile. "Not bad work with that grenade trick... I was starting to think you were in over your head."

"I'm better with my weapons," Fox admits. "Thanks for that potion."

Ling frowns. "It was our last. I took a chance giving it to you, stranger."

"Introductions, then. I'm Forrest Fox, this is Fireseed, and we're on a mission to save all of reality."

"That's what you're going with, huh?" Jin says with a smirk. "Alright. You can start by helping us break into Kung Lao's school in the city of Nekros. These keys," he jingles them for effect, "will allow us to get where we need to go."

>You broke me out and healed me, so I owe you two.
>What do you know of the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm?
>What do you hope to accomplish at Kung Lao's school?
>I need to get my weapons first.
>Other

>>2041834
>I need to get my weapons first.

>What do you hope to accomplish at Kung Lao's school?

>>2041834
>I need to get my weapons first.
>What do you hope to accomplish at Kung Lao's school?

>>2041834
>You broke me out and healed me, so I owe you two.
>>I need to get my weapons first.
I'm sure fireseed would also like something to fight with.

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>>2041845
>>2041849
>>2041856

"Wait, I'm going to need my weapons," Fox says. "My kusarigama and knives must have been taken nearby."

Jin takes out a watch, opening it to check it. "I suppose we have time. Ling, go with him. I'll secure our way out."

She nods as Jin tosses her the keys and heads back in the direction of the cells. Fox looks over at Fireseed. "Coming?"

He picks up Kabal's hookswords. "I'll use these for now."

"Fair enough."

As he and Ling walk down the halls, he turns towards her and says, "I know I already said thank you, but I appreciate you giving me that potion."

"Try not to think about it too much. I hesitated and thought it would be better to keep it for myself first."

"Then I'm glad you changed your mind. If you don't mind me asking, what do you hope to accomplish at Kung Lao's school?"

"We're going to lure him out. Jin has a plan to purify Lao's soul, to return him to the world of the living and free him from his undead mind control."

"And that's why you're here as well?"

"Of course," she snaps back, somewhat defensively. "Why wouldn't I be here?"

"I know. He's your father."

She focuses on the hallway ahead. "Yes. He is."

"Where I come from, things between you and your father are... tense, but have softened somewhat. I take it that in this world you've never really had a chance to get to know him, have you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," she replies. "Is this all some kind of game you've made up?"

"I'm not playing around. This world is very different to my own... so many heroes that live in mine are dead here, transformed into these... revenants."

"Sure must be nice for you," she says, rolling her eyes.

"You don't have to believe me."

"Good, because I don't." She stops walking when they reach a locked door. She takes out the keys, finds the right one and unlocks it. Within is a small armory of various weapons, and upon a table are his. He walks up and grabs them before noticing that he can replenish some of his lost supplies; there is a box of smoke bombs alongside several kunai and shuriken.

"Hurry up," she says as he arms himself. "We don't want to be---"

Suddenly she is silenced and a rush of wind fills his ears. "Ling? What is it---" He turns around only to discover that she has been frozen. Fox gets up to his feet and rushes outside, where he sees Sub-Zero and Jax.

"Shoulda known the rent-a-cop wasn't up to the job," Jax grunts. "Especially once we detected more souls down here."

"Now you will feel the chill of death," Sub-Zero adds, his arms glowing blue with cryonic energy.

As Ling breaks out of her icy prison, Fox considers his options.

>Take them down
>Grab Ling and make a run for it
>Hold them off
>Get them into the armory and lock the door
>Other

>>2041963
>Get them into the armory and lock the door
Better than a scooby doo chase throughout the palace.

>>2041963
>Get them into the armory and lock the door

>>2041963
>Get them into the armory and lock the door

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>>2041978
>>2041987
>>2042007

Fox kneels down to help Ling up. As he does, he whispers, "Do you still have those keys?"

She looks up at him, then realizes what he means. She nods and they both stand to face their opponents.

Jax goes in first, ready to pummel them both into the ground. They dash to the side and Ling uses her staff, extending it and placing it in front of his feet, to trip him. He winds up falling flat on his face into the armory.

For his part, Fox throws his sickle out towards Sub-Zero, who freezes it mid-air. This provides Ling with a distraction, allowing her to change the end of her staff into a hook which she places around his foot. She retracts he pole, taking the revenant with it, and once he is within reach they both grab him and throw him inside, on top of the recovering Jax.

Ling then slams the door, Fox redoes the latch and she locks it with the key. They both step back and, knowing that it won't hold them for long, make a break for it. Already the door has frost creeping around its edges and they can hear Jax pounding on the other side.

Once back in the cells, Ling grabs onto Fox and holds her pole straight up. It extends and carries them both up into the passage above where Jin and Fireseed await them. From here they make their way towards a drain pipe.

"Hurry! We've got exit transport ready to go!" Jin calls back from over his shoulder.

The four of them jump out of the pipe, and into a boat. Fox, after landing, takes a moment to adjust himself before he looks and sees who is driving the vessel; a cloaked figure with skeletal hands and a long oar, with no discernable face, merely darkness.

"Extra for two more passengers," he whispers in a faraway voice. Jin reaches into his pocket and produces two onyx koins which he hands to the ferryman, who begins to push them away from Shinnok's spire.

Ling breathes a sigh of relief, but Jin cautions her not to be too relaxed. Having just escaped the tower, they'll come looking for them. He tells the ferryman to pull off into a cavern where they can hide for a short while until the danger has passed, and the dark figure does just that, guiding them into a cave whose opening is that of a giant stone skull's mouth.

"We'll head out soon," Jin explains, paying the ferryman again for his time. "Just be ready."

"As you wish," the figure replies.

>Talk to Jin
>Talk to Ling
>Talk to Fireseed
>Communicate with Raiden
>Other

>>2042052
>Communicate with Raiden

>>2042052
>>Communicate with Raiden
He can probably prove we are legit.

>>2042052
>>Communicate with Raiden

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>>2042060
>>2042069
>>2042174

Fox walks towards the back of the cavern and takes out the stone used to communicate with Raiden. He holds it up, but nothing happens. He attempts several times to activate the communcation, but to no avail. Raiden is not there.

"Raiden? Hello? Can you hear me?"

Wondering if perhaps the cave is somehow interfering, and then banishing the thought because it isn't a cell phone he is dealing with, Fox's brow furrows in worried thought. 'Could something have happened to him?'

Jin walks up behind him. "Trying to contact Raiden?" He looks at the stone. "That's one of his, alright, but I wouldn't even try. The thunder god isn't very conversational these days, ever since he absobed some of Shinnok's dark energy at the Jinsei Chamber."

"It's not your Raiden I'm trying to talk to," he replies, sliding the stone away. He turns around and looks at Jin. "I just don't understand. How could things have gone so wrong in this timeline?"

"Are you really from the future or something?"

"A parallel dimension. A mirror world to yours, but in mine all of the foes we have been fighting are alive."

"Fascinating... I've read theories about such things, alternate worlds, but to actually learn the truth... Tell me: in your world, is Lao still alive?"

"He is. The grandmaster of the Wu Shi Academy, and you are one of his students." He nods in the direction of Ling, who sits with her back to them. "So is she, and several of our friends."

"Well, there's not much hope of that happening here now," Jin says, leaning up against the cave wall. "Liu Kang destroyed the White Lotus Society, enslaved its monks and rebuilt it as the Black Lotus Society, just to spite Raiden, who might as well be evil now too, with how dead-set he is on beating Outworld in Mortal Kombat."

"Your timeline sounds awful."

Jin shrugs. "You make the most of it and hope that one day things can get better. That's why I'm here, anyway."

"Specifically, you're here to rescue Lao? Ling told me. How do you plan on doing so?"

"Ancient Chinese secret. A ritual to purify a soul. It won't bring him back to life, but it will free him from the influence of the evil spell that made him undead. From there, we're hoping he'll come to his senses."

>What about Fireseed? Can you help him?
>Why not use it on Liu Kang?
>Can it be done on someone like, say, Scorpion?
>Talk to someone else
>Other

>>2042249
>>Can it be done on someone like, say, Scorpion?

>>2042249
>What about Fireseed? Can you help him?
"I'm gonna go ahead and guess that because he has a different kind of energy flowing through him he'd have to do a shamanistic ritual involving nature."
Ritual wouldn't work on Lui cause he doesn't want it.

>>2042249
>>Can it be done on someone like, say, Scorpion?

>>2042249
>Can it be done on someone like, say, Scorpion?

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>>2042252
>>2042258
>>2042279

We'll resume in the morning. Thanks for playing!

>>2042249
>>What about Fireseed? Can you help him?
>>Can it be done on someone like, say, Scorpion?
Why not both?

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>>2042252
>>2042257
>>2042258
>>2042279
>>2042859

Fox brings up his hand and places it under his chin in thought for a moment. "Could such an ability---your ritual---be used on someone like Scorpion?"

"Strange question, but I don't think so," Jin replies. "Scorpion is a spectre, not a revenant---they have different rules. Technically, nothing is controlling him, except his anger, whereas a revenant is directly changed as part of the spell. Negative emotions, like hatred, jealousy, cruelty and sadness are magnified while positive emotions are rendered almost non-existent. What my ritual does is reverse that process until the real person within can take back control of their body."

Fox looks towards the entrance of the cavern, where Fireseed sits in watch. "What about him? He's turning into something."

Jin follows his gaze. "I don't know... I'm not familiar with whatever is happening to him. But I get the sense that he is struggling against some external force... almost like a possession. A foreign spirit or something similar."

Fox's brow furrows as he considers this universe's Fireseed, and wonders if the one from his own home reality is facing such a trial. He has been absent of late, and the higher-ups have been vague as to why... Could he also be at risk for such a possession?

His train of thought is interrupted by Fireseed standing up and moving into a hiding position alongside the cavern entrance. Everyone else quickly follows his lead, as he has seen something. Fox peers out from behind a rock to behold a pack of flying beasts in the distance, dragon-like creatures with long serpentine necks, carrying revenants upon their backs. Down below, other revenants are riding some kind of mounts that resemble large goats that leave fiery trails behind.

"We should be shielded in here," Jin remarks. "They can track souls, but we travelled across water, and the waters of the Netherrealm are filled with the souls of the damned."

"Lucky us," Ling deadpans.

>See if you can see Scorpion
>Search the deeper reaches of the cavern
>Wait until it is safe to travel
>Tak to someone
>Other

>>2043114
>Search the deeper reaches of the cavern

>>2043114
>>Search the deeper reaches of the cavern

>>2043114
>Search the deeper reaches of the cavern

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>>2043119
>>2043124
>>2043125

As the others observe the outside, Fox turns back when he thinks he hears something from deeper within the cave. He slips away and listens carefully, hearing a wet, dripping noise onto the stone floor. He crouches low and moves further in, where he begins to discover strange remains of carcasses and discarded bones, followed by a crunching sound. He comes upon a dark hollow with blood all over the floor.

Within he sees a hunched-over figure, tearing away at something, eating it and clearly enjoying himself. Fox hears the blood as it drips onto the floor, then realizes that it isn't just from the meal: the man's entire body is bleeding, for he has no skin. As he realizes this he steps back, knocking a pebble aside---and earning the thing's attention.

He turns his head, but not any other part of his body, completely around and stares at Fox through the darkness; one white eye hangs from its socket. "Hello," he says with a half-full mouth.

"Stay back, demon," Fox warns, holding up his blade.

"Demon? Is that what I am now?" The skinless figure rises, his torso twisting to match his head, displaying his thick musculature. A bloody loin cloth covers his lower half. "I am no demon! I am MEAT!"

"We mean you no harm. We shall leave soon."

"We? Who is 'we'?" Meat walks forward and Fox backs up. He stares out of the hollow at the others. "I didn't know I had guests. Such a rare thing in the Netherrealm these days..."

"As I said, we will be leaving soon. Do not think you can eat us."

"Eat you? I'm full! Besides, I don't have a taste for man... But that woman over there does have rather nice thighs..."

Ling looks back. "What the hell is that thing?!" The others take notice and draw their weapons.

Meat holds up his hands, which drip red blood onto the floor. "Calm yourselves, it was just a joke... I know we're in hell, but that's hardly an excuse for no sense of humor."

"What are you?" Jin asks, lowering his bow slightly. "Cursed?"

"I was born like this, honestly," Meat says with a shrug. "So, what brings you to my little home?"

>Nothing. We're leaving.
>We are headed to Nekros.
>We're hiding from the revenants.
>Ask him some questions
>Other

>>2043165
>>Ask him some questions
>>Other
Hang out with Meat. Too bad we didn't take Yorick, we could have had a reunion.

>>2043165
>>We are headed to Nekros.
>>We're hiding from the revenants.

>>2043191
This

>>2043165
>We're hiding from the revenants.

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>>2043191
>>2043202
>>2043208

"We are hiding from the revenants," Fox says, keeping his distance from the skinless man.

"Ah... Not on good terms with them, eh? Neither am I! Terrible neighbors. They once caught me and sought to use me as a never-ending food supply for their armies."

"What do you mean, never-ending food supply?" Jin asks, and then immediately regrets doing so when Meat tears off a wet, thick chunk of his arm and holds it up. Before their eyes the missing flesh on his arm regenerates back to its original state, still without skin.

"I'm a walking, talking meat factory," the man jokes, before chomping down on himself. The sight is revolting and they react appropriately. "What? It's just me. It's like picking a scab and then eating it."

"Nobody does that," Ling says, keeping a hand in front of her mouth.

Fox turns his head away. "We won't be long. We'll make for the city of Nekros soon and begone from your... home."

"Nekros? I know a way in!" Meat says as he finishes chewing. "I can take you there."

"That's really not necessary..." Jin begins, but Meat cuts him off.

"I insist. If you're going to stick it to those revenants somehow I'm all for whatever it is you're doing. I'll help in any way I can! I know a secret path into the slaughterhouse. I used it to escape from there. You can get into the city with no trouble at all!"

>Take him up on his offer
>Decline
>Ask him some questions
>Let the others decide
>Other

>>2043251
>Take him up on his offer

>>2043251
>>Take him up on his offer
>>Other
Ask him if he's sure he can escape from there after. Don't want him getting caught again.

>>2043251
>>Take him up on his offer

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>>2043254
>>2043263
>>2043271

Fox considers the offer. "Time is of the essence," he says to the others. "The sooner we can get into that city and do what needs to be done, the sooner I can get back to finding the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm."

"That's what you're looking for?" Jin asks.

"Yes... Do you know where it is?"

At that, Jin pauses. "Actually, I do. Before Liu Kang destroyed the White Lotus Society, the Shaolin kept meticulous records, most of which we were able to smuggle out to safety. I know exactly where that Kamidogu is... we've just never needed to retrieve it."

"We do now, trust me. The cleric known as Havik has a plan to destroy all of reality as we know it by merging the Chaosrealms of several universes into one."

"I can't even begin to imagine that could do," Jin says. "Alright... As soon as we free Lao, we get the Kamidogu."

"I know I'm helping you because I owe you, but I appreciate your help," Fox says, walking over and clasping Jin's hand.

"Hey, don't mention it."

Ling remains silent, but something is clearly weighing heavily on her mind. Fox looks over at her and when she catches his gaze she turns away in a huff. He is about to ask her what may be wrong when Jin and Meat pull him over to discuss the plan to infiltrate the city.

Less than an hour later, the five of them are on the boat, which is now getting quite cramped due to the fact that nobody wants to sit next to the bloody, dripping fleshbag that is Meat. After paying for additional passage, the ferryman takes them downriver towards Nekros, whose black spires loom against the red horizon.

As per Meat's instructions, the ferryman heads towards a large sewage pipe. The party disembarks and advances into the pipe, and from here Meat takes the lead. After taking many twists and turns and wading through much foul-smelling blood-colored water, they reach the bottom of the slaughterhouse, where the smell is foulest and chunks of discarded corpses float in the water.

>Scout ahead
>Sneak through as a group
>Split up and regroup on the streets
>Let Meat lead the way
>Other

>>2043399
>Let Meat lead the way

>>2043399
>Let Meat lead the way

>>2043399
>>Let Meat lead the way

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>>2043407
>>2043448
>>2043474

Meat leads them to a trap door which opens into the slaughterhouse's basement. The five of them climb up and crouch behind a large stone pillar and look out over the work floor. This level is primarily a storage area, with many crates that leak blood and other substances stacked on top of each other. Workers mill about the area, moving and stacking things, while several attempt to keep the floors clean. Light streams in from the grated ceiling, beyond which the main work area can be seen: row after row of large chopping machines and spinning blades that are constantly fed corpses to be cut or ground into various meals.

"This isn't a nice place," Meat remarks. "Let's not stick around long!"

The group moves from cover to cover until they reach a backdoor, taking them out into an alley. From here they are able to climb to the streets.

"This is where we'll need to be extra careful," Jin cautions. "The area around the school will be well-guarded by the Black Lotus, and we don't want to be seen by anyone from the tower who may be looking for us... Some disguises would help."

They wait for a small group of hooded figures to pass by, then leap out, grab them and pull them into the alley. After subduing them and ensuring they won't be a problem, they don the dark robes and move out into the open streets.

Fox walks alongside Ling and speaks to her in a hushed tone. "How do you know Lao will be drawn out once we reach the school?"

"He will come," she says. "He is the grandmaster of it, and he still has some twisted sense of Shaolin pride we can exploit. Oh, he'll be there alright..." Her voice fades off as she gains a distant look in her eyes that isn't lost on Fox.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine," she is quick to insist. "Never better. Let's just find the school and get this over with."

>Scout ahead for the school
>Stay as a group and search the streets
>Get up on the rooftops
>Stick to the alleyways
>Other

>>2043551
>Stick to the alleyways
"My Ling enjoys playing tricks on her friends, are you like that at all?

>>2043551
>Stick to the alleyways

>>2043551
>Scout ahead for the school

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>>2043603
>>2043617

As the group looks on, a large procession of monks can be seen walking down the street in their direction. They duck into a nearby alley, where Fox moves to hide Ling with his taller frame. He looks down at her. "Something's weighing down your mind. I can tell."

"This isn't the time to talk about it," she says back.

"I disagree. You're about to face your father and if you aren't ready---"

"I'm ready," she says, her eyes showing a fierce determination. "I've been ready for years. It's the only reason I'm here or with Jin. I'm ready to do what needs to be done."

"And what is that for you, exactly?"

She averts her eyes. "We're here to confront Lao."

"You mean save him." She doesn't reply, and suddenly Fox realizes why. "You mean not to... You want to kill him, don't you?"

"What does it matter to you?"

"It matters because where I come from---"

"Oh, enough of that already! 'Where I come from' this and 'where I come from' that. I'm not from where you're from, now, am I?"

"No... you aren't."

"So what if I plan on ending his life? You didn't cry over Stryker or Kabal."

"He's your father."

"Not to me," she mutters.

"The road's clear," Jin says, looking back at them both. "Am I... interrupting something?"

"No, let's go," Ling says, pushing past Fox. Jin moves to follow her. Reluctantly, Fox takes up pace with them, with Fireseed and Meat behind him.

Lao's school is surrounded by a high wall, with guards in front of its closed gate. It resembles a Chinese temple, but built of black rock and burnt steel, with a decidedly sinister motif with spikes lining its walls like much of the architecture in the Netherrealm. The group observes the school from a distance, looking on at the guards.

"No easy way in," Jin mutters. He takes out the keys taken from Stryker's belt. "But once we're inside the walls, we can use these to get into the school proper."

>Attack the front gate
>Climb up the wall
>Leap over from a nearby tall building
>Everyone infiltrate in their own ways
>Other

>>2043773

> Leap

>>2043773
>Everyone infiltrate in their own ways
>Leap over from a nearby tall building

>>2043793
Let's roll

>>2043793
yes, do this.

>>2043793
this

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>>2043793
>>2043784
>>2043819
>>2043835
>>2043847

"No easy way for all of us at once," Fox notes, "but we've all got our own ways to get inside."

"Split up and meet on the other side, then?" Jin nods and the group parts ways, with Fox immediately climbing up the nearest building with his claws. Once at the top, he slides the class back onto his belt and looks down, seeing the courtyard of the school past the front gate. After checking to make sure all of his gear is secured, he moves back and takes a running leap, soaring through the air like a bird before landing on the wall. He immediately drops down behind some wooden barrels.

There are a few monks in the courtyard who were far too busy with their training to see him. Peering over the barrels, he sees that their training consists primarily on ganging up on the weakest member, beating him to a pulp and then finding the next weakest of the group until only one remains standing. He watches as the monks battle with nothing held back, for as he learns the first one to fall is put to the sword; a method of motivation to keep them despate to be better than their peers, it seems.

He watches as Ling uses her staff to pole vault over the wall and onto the roof of the school. Fox sticks to cover and moves over to the edge of one wall before climbing up to where he saw her land, where he confronts her again.

"You aren't going to kill your father," he tells her. "I may not know you, but I know a version of you, and she would never cross that line."

"Think whatever you like. When the time is right, I'm going to do what I promised I would do a long time ago."

"Jin wants to save him. What if he stops you?"

"Maybe I'll kill him, too," she says, but doesn't sound nearly as sure.

"You have Kung blood running through your veins, the blood of the Great Kung Lao. So does Jin, and so does your father. You can't kill them because they are your kin."

"I don't need this lecture," she says, pointing her staff at him and changing the head to a spear. "As far as I am concerned, none of that means anything to me. Where was this 'family' when I needed them the most? Where was my father? Dead."

"That isn't his fault. The Ling I know was angry at her father for not being there when her mother died, but---"

"Not being there when she died? He WAS there! He---"

The two of them are suddenly interrupted by Jin dropping onto the rooftop. They both look at him, and he looks back with suspicious eyes. "What's going on here?"

Fox knows she is about to deflect his question, just as she did before.

>Let her; continue the mission
>Cut her off; tell Jin she means to kill Lao
>Insist that she finish what she was about to say
>Let her deflect, but then talk to Jin in private
>Other

>>2043880
>Insist that she finish what she was about to say
Get this sorted now so there's no confusion during the showdown.

>>2043880
>Insist that she finish what she was about to say

>>2043880
>Insist that she finish what she was about to say

And if she refuses or deflects:
>Cut her off; tell Jin she means to kill Lao

>>2043880
>Insist that she finish what she was about to say
"He killed your mother..."

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>>2043888
>>2043924
>>2043933
>>2043934

Fox stares intently at Ling. "He killed your mother, didn't he?"

Now Jin stares at her as well, watching as her hands begin to subtly shake.

"Yes," she whispers. "And I'm going to kill him for it."

"How could you have never told me?" Jin says, facing her directly. "I thought you wanted to save him, as I do! Our family wants him back!"

"I don't care what you or your family wants," she says, her voice faltering. "I just want my revenge!"

Fox takes a step closer. "Ling, listen to me, I've seen what happens to someone when vengeance consumes them. You'll lose yourself. You can't---"

"Shut up!" Now small tears form at the corners of her eyes. "I'm going to do what I came here to do... no matter what!"

Jin reaches for her but she steps back, bringing up her weapon. She swipes it at Jin's hand, stealing the ring of keys from him before leaping down into the courtyard below. As the other monks take notice of her, she runs up to the front door and uses them to unlock it before running inside.

"Damn," Jin mutters, taking out his bow. "Come on!"

Fox follows him in leaping down, where they are confronted by several warriors. "Intruders!" one of them grins. "Good, we've been needing some fresh meat! Get them!"

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>2044018
Y'know what? We're a fucking ninja, let's act like it and run on the top of the mooks' heads to get to the door

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Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>2044018
Swing the chain, all day err day.

>>2044021
My bad guys, I *thought* we were a ninja. Perhaps Hanzo purposely trained us wrong as a joke.

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>2044018
throw a couple of smoke bombs and chase Ling. the element of surprise has been lost.

Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>2044021
Rolling to prove that our training wasn't a joke

>>2044047
Fox wasn't trained wrong, he's a master of "My face to your foot" style

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>>2044021

Fox's first thought is to run into the doors of the school, but as he turns around, four more emerge from within to block his path. He finds himself back-to-back with Jin.

"You ready?" the archer asks, holding his staff in front of him.

Fox takes out his kusarigama and pulls tightly on its chain. "Always."

>>2044023

The mooks rush in, with the four at the top of the stairs running down to meet Fox. "Duck!" he tells Jin, who drops to the floor as he raises the weighted end high up in the air and begins to swing. He smashes it against the closest warrior and the others back off as they watch the weapon carefully.

Jin takes advantage of this as he ducks, aiming his bow and firing an arrow at one of the warriors. He goes down with a pained cry.

>>2044032

"Just rush them!" one of the minions shouts and they all move in. Fox takes out two smoke bombs with his other hand and drops them down at his feet, covering him and Jin completely. The monks rush into the smoke and pile up on each other; what they did not notice, however, was their enemies sneaking out of the cloud and running into the school.

As the smoke clears and the monks realize their mistake, they quickly regroup---until Fireseed cuts off one of their heads with a hooksword. Behind him, Meat tears off his head and rolls it between the half-possessed warrior's legs, knocking over three more monks like bowling pins.

With the outside warriors distracted, Fox and Jin make it to the center of the school, where a large brass arena is held aloft by several demonic statues over a pit of fire. Ling stands at the center of it, using her staff to ring a bell. "COME OUT!" she demands, shouting at the top of her lungs. "COME OUT AND FACE ME!"

"They summon their master by ringing that bell," Jin explains, then looks at his cousin. "Ling! Stop this!"

"Never," she says, smacking her staff against it once more.

At that moment, several candles around the room blow out as a foul wind blows into the school. Ling's hair flies to one side as a small tornado of wind manifests at the center of the ring, from which emerges the undead Kung Lao. He flies up and lands in a wide stance, his razor-lined hat obscuring his face until he lifts his head to stare at the stunned girl with glowing orange eyes.

He smiles. "My daughter... I've missed you."

Ling screams and charges at him with her staff.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>2044121
Kung Lao is a slippery sumbitch, so we shouldn't expect to tie him down so easily. Just hunt for attacks of opportunity and bop him with the chain.

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>2044121
Put a hand on Ling's shoulder and give her the Fox look of understanding and compassion.

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>2044121
get in close and tag team him with ling

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>>2044144

"Can you perform your ritual?" Fox asks.

"We'll need to weaken him first, and not if she is trying to kill him!"

"Damn." Realizing what he must do, Fox leaps into the arena and swings the weighted end of his weapon at Kung Lao, who vanishes in a gust of swirling wind to appear nearby. He grips his hat and throws it at them both, slicing their shoulders as it passes between them. The hat then comes back around for another attack from behind, but they duck underneath it. Lao catches it, dons it and smiles at them.

>>2044147
>>2044150

Ling shouts and moves to attack, but Fox grabs her by the shoulder and forcefully pulls her back. Nearby, Jin leaps into the arena to attack his cousin.

"Get off!" she says, trying to shake him free. "He's right there!"

"Only if you promise not to kill him."

"The only promise I'm going to keep is the one I made to myself," she mutters, bringing up an arm to knock his away. "Either stand with me or get out of my way!"

"I'm going to stand with you," he says, looking into her eyes. "You're the one who is going to make the right choice, because even if you think I don't, I know you. You're better than this."

She stares back for a moment before they both rush in to join Jin. Kung Lao brings up his hands to block their attacks, moving with the speed and fluidity of a master, but he is outnumbered. His cockiness soon turns sour as a punch from Jin gets through, followed by a kick from Ling. He relies on his mobility, staying away from them and teleporting around the arena in bursts of wind.

As Fox lands a hit with the weighted ball of his chain, Lao falls to the floor, stumbling to laugh. "I must say, my daughter... you're not nearly as strong as I thought you'd be, to have to rely on others."

"Don't listen to him, Ling," Jin warns her.

"It must burn for you to be such a failure... you couldn't save your mother, and you can't kill me."

The hands holding her weapon twitch ever-so-slightly. "I can kill you... I will kill you!" She charges towards him with her spear pointed at his chest!

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>2044274
Tarzan swing if Kung Lao tries to get cheeky with his teleport.

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>2044274
STAY OVER THERE HIS BITCH ASS!

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>2044274
Wait for the right moment and incapacitate with our chain. Especially watch for teleport shenanigans.

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>>2044285
>>2044292
>>2044294

Having baited her, Lao vanishes into the floor below, only to pop up behind her, hat in hand. Before he can bring it down, Fox throws his weapon's weight at him, striking him in the back of the head and stunning him. As Ling skids away, Jin sees his chance and dashes in, ready to perform the ritual.

Ling sees her chance as well, and prepares to attack Lao's incapacitated form. Fox, however, steps in front of her, grabbing the head of her spear and moving it aside before grappling her. "I can't let you do that."

She attempts to trip him with her staff, but he brings up his leg and then steps on it. In response, she turns and moves to elbow him in the gut, but again he dodges the attack and forces her arm behind her back. Struggling against his grip, Ling is forced to watch as Jin battles Lao without her.

"You said you would let me choose!"

"And I will, but only when your father is among us."

"He's right there! I want to kill him! You weren't there, none of you were there! You don't understand!"

"I understand plenty," Fox says calmly, keeping her in place. "But he's the only parent you have left. You'd be making the greatest mistake of your life, because that thing down there isn't your father. It's a pale immitation."

The dragon head of Jin's staff begins to glow white, shining like a beacon as he holds it over Lao while chanting.

"That thing killed my mother! It has to die, he has to die!"

"Then watch."

She continues to struggle, but as Jin finishes the ritual, the orange light in Lao's eyes begins to fade and his body goes limp. What remains is a corpse, cold and with cracked skin, but still alive.

Slowly, Lao picks himself up, milky-white eyes staring in confusion around him as though he had just woken up from a deep slumber. He stares at his hands, then looks up at the three of them as Jin walks up to Fox's side.

"What have I done?" Lao gasps, then looks upon his daugther. "Ling, I..."

Fox lets go of her as she holds up her spear, pointing it at his neck. "I hate you," she says in a venomous tone. "I hate you..."

"Ling..." he says, his throat contracting slightly as she pokes her spear at his skin. "I'm sorry."

Jin stares at her. "He's free, Ling. That thing that killed your mother is dead. Don't ruin what we worked to acheive here..."

"You weren't there," she whispers. "It was him... Only him..." Tears begin to stream down her face freely now as Lao closes his eyes and awaits his fate at her hands.

>Let her choose
>Stay her hand
>Talk to her
>Hug her
>Other

>>2044432
>Talk to her
No one sane would willingly make themselves an orphan. Take it from an orphan.

>>2044432
>>Hug her
Your choice is yours, we weren't there but we're here now. Now you have power and a choice.

>>2044445
Couldn't of said it any better

>>2044432
Supporting
>>2044445

>>2044493
It's still pretty shitty to say that. Sure, we're an orphan, but we haven't been through the shit she has. It's passive aggressive and insulting. Especially in the mindset she's in right now.

>>2044516
We're trying to have a "break the cycle of hate" moment.

>>2044523
A hug is way better than telling her that she's crazy for wanting revenge.

>>2044445
This

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>>2044445
>>2044493
>>2044511
>>2044539

Fox moves to her side, but doesn't touch her. Instead, he merely says, "Don't make yourself an orphan, Ling. Take it from one: there's nothing worse than being alone."

Ling's face reveals her despair as she tries to breathe steadily. Her hands are shaking.

"You killed my mother," she says through her teeth, her voice breaking. The staff falls to the floor and she to her knees, where she looks her father in the eyes. "Give her back... I want her back..."

Lao is speechless, his shoulders slumped and his face sullen. Now that he is no longer a slave to his darker side, the guilt of his actions is bearing down upon him. Jin kneels next to his cousin and helps him up, taking him off to the side to speak with him, leaving Fox alone with Ling.

He kneels down next to her and places a hand on her shoulder. She breaks down and buries her face in her hands, saying over and over, "I couldn't do it."

"You're not a failure, Ling."

"I made a promise and I broke it," she cries. "What kind of person am I?"

"The kind who didn't murder her only father," he replies, sitting next to her. "The kind who made the right choice."

She sniffs, rubbing her eyes. "You said I would." Her eyes meet his, and he sees the pain within them, but there is life there as well. It brings him comfort that she didn't succumb to the darkness of the Netherrealm and lose herself to vengeance, like this world's Scorpion had. It brings him hope that even in the worst of moments, people can still change for the better.

>We shouldn't wait here. Let's get somewhere safe.
>Give her a hug
>Let her talk to her father
>Kiss her
>Other

>>2044604
>Give her a hug
>We shouldn't wait here. Let's get somewhere safe.

>>2044604
>We shouldn't wait here. Let's get somewhere safe.
>Give her a hug

>>2044604
>>We shouldn't wait here. Let's get somewhere safe.
Still in the middle of evil kung fu hell dojo.

>>2044607
>>2044635
>>2044637

Sounds good. We'll resume tomorrow; I need to go to bed early for work. Thanks for playing today.

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>>2044607
>>2044635
>>2044637

Ling is quiet; all Fox can offer her is a hug. However, when Fireseed and Meat arrive with news of imminent reinforcements attempting to get through the front gate, they know that they cannot remain much longer. Fox takes her by the arm and pulls her up to her feet.

"We need to go," he tells her. "There will be time to sort through all of this later. For now, we must be warriors."

She nods, taking her staff in hand as they make for the back of the school. "This way!" Kung Lao calls out. "I know a secret exit... Right through here." He takes them into a dark room with a trap door that he and Jin lift up, revealing a stone stairwell leading deep into the ground. "This leads to a tunnel system that runs underneath the city. Before this school was built, it was used for smuggling vessels of souls."

They close the door behind them and move further into the tunnels. "Is there a way out of the city from here? No doubt the main entrances will all be watched for any sign of us."

"There is," Lao nods. "But... I fear I cannot go with you."

The group stops and looks at him. "What are you talking about?" Jin says, walking up to him. "We just freed you from your control, you can't just stay here."

"They do not know that you have done this, but I cannot go back with you. I must remain."

"Snap out of it. I came to get you out of the Netherrealm."

"This is where I belong now. I have done far too much evil in the service of my fallen friend..." He looks at Ling. "And I have forever tainted what chance at a normal life I had. There is no going back. I will distract the guards and allow you to make your escape."

"I'm not leaving without you!" Jin says forcefully. "I vowed to bring you back. I won't accept any other answer."

"I am lost," Lao replies dejectedly. "There is no redemption for a soul such as mine. I must return to my master and die with what little honor I have left."

"You're going to throw yourself at Liu Kang and just die? I don't think so."

>Find redemption in helping me save the universe.
>Let Kung Lao stay here.
>Encourage Kung Lao to come along
>Have him go back to the other revenants, but do not attack them; work from the inside
>Other

>>2046717
>Find redemption in helping me save the universe.
You thought the Great Kung Lao beating Goro was something? Kung Lao is about to partake in something fucking mental.

>>2046717
>Find redemption in helping me save the universe

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>>2046729
>>2046748

"Perhaps you can find redemption another way," Fox says, pushing up to the front. "Helping me save the universe."

Lao looks at Fox for the first time since his turn, his expression suddenly changing. "You... That's right! Before your capture, Liu Kang knew Havik was up to something, but doubted it could mean him any harm. After you appeared, he sent Scorpion to seek the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm... I think he does truly fear something, but knows not what it is."

Fox folds his arms. "It's the end of all things. Havik plots to merge several Chaosrealms from across multiple realities into one ultra-realm; the resulting chaos from this would destroy everything we know."

Jin looks at his cousin. "Does either Liu or Scorpion know where that Kamidogu is?"

"No... I do not believe so."

"Good, because I do: Quan Chi's fortress."

"But he is dead," Lao points out. "Killed by Scorpion himself."

Jin turns towards the others and elaborates, "Quan Chi was once in possession of three Kamidogu: Netherrealm, Earthrealm and Chaosrealm. We took back the Earthrealm Kamidogu, but when he was killed by Scorpion the Netherrealm Kamidogu went into the hands of Liu Kang. The Chaosrealm Kamidogu remained hidden within his fortress."

"Are you absolutely sure about this?" Fox asks.

"I know it. The question is if we can get there before Scorpion comes looking for it."

"If this truly is an end to all things, I will help you," Lao tells them. "It will not ease the burden on my soul, but if it means I can save others... it is a worthy cause." Again he looks at Ling, but she remains silent, keeping her eyes away from her father.

"Then we need to find a way to his fortress and fast," Jin replies.

>Steal a carriage
>Capture wild mounts
>Travel there on foot
>Use your last portal charge to get there instantaneously
>Other

>>2046894
>Capture wild mounts

>>2046894
>Capture wild mounts

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>>2046907
>>2046932

Outside the city, they find the answer to that problem in the form of several beasts roaming the fiery plains. The ram-like monsters are caught and quickly forced into servitude, but not without some hearty resistance. Fox leaps upon the back of one, wrapping his chain around its head to stretch across its mouth, yanking hard to force the creature to yield. It fights him, just as the others fight his allies, but after a few moments of unrelenting domination the beast succumbs to his commands.

They turn their rams in the direction of Quan Chi's tower and ride on, charging across the hellish wastes. They past throngs of undead, lost souls and rivers of lava, eventually making their way to higher ground. The hooves of these beasts leave flaming imprints upon the ground which burn for several moments before snuffing out, leaving Fox concerned that they could easily be tracked and followed, but there is little time for such considerations.

They reach a crossroads and make their way across a great stone bridge spanning a massive river. In the distance looms a great structure comprised of several floating rocks tethered together by great chains, upon which are built several structures and towers, with the centralmost one being the largest and grandest. As they approach the fortress, Fox notes that it seems as though in disrepair, with some buildings outside half-destroyed or collapsed in on themselves, and others looking like they have survived several attacks including a prolonged siege.

Eventually they must abandon their mounts when it becomes too difficult to approach the fortress by beast, and they stampede away into the distance. The group stands upon a large stone overlooking the swirling vortex of lava the fortress hovers over.

"There are several ways inside," Jin notes, pointing some of them out.

"Is anyone going to be inside?" Fireseed asks.

"Hard to say... It's been a while. Who knows who---or what---could've taken up residence in here since then?"

>Main entrance; staircase
>Climb up one of the massive anchoring chains
>Split up
>Leap onto one of the nearby floating rocks
>Other

>>2047076
>Leap onto one of the nearby floating rocks

>>2047076
>Climb up one of the massive anchoring chains

>>2047076

> leap

Wanted to go front door, but I despise ties.

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>>2047086
>>2047241

Fox looks on as a large boulder slowly moves by, orbitting around the fortress as though it were a planet orbitting a star. Several such boulders of various sizes can be seen, and nearly all of them pass alongside one of the smaller support stones. Taking out his sickle, he begins to whirl it around overhead before throwing it out and latching onto a boulder as it passes by. He swings from the ledge, clinging to the chain as he is brought to dangle over the spiraling inferno below. Hand over hand, he climbs to the top and looks on ahead, judging when and where to jump next.

Following his lead, the group each begins to climb atop their own boulders. Ling expertly pole vaults onto one while Kung Lao throws his hat and uses it to teleport. Kung Jin attaches a rope to an arrow and fires it into one of the flying rocks, burying it solidly within; he, Fireseed and Meat all use the rope to climb to the top as it carries them over the pit. Fox once more uses his kusarigama to hook onto one of the more solid and permanent rocks connected to the main fortress, climing up to the top where he meets Lao and Ling. Jin, Fireseed and Meat are not far behind.

"Be careful," Jin advises. "We don't know what we're going to find here..."

The group stays in a wide formation, not completely splitting up but spread apart so as to cover more ground, as they advance upon the main fortress. There they enter a large chamber by way of a downward-spiraling staircase, discovering what was once Quan Chi's laboratory. The walls and columns are covered in ancient artifacts, potions and shelves of books, along with a number of display cases.

Fox, weapon in hand, walks onto the main floor, where he sees a large pool of blood. He kneels down alongside it, staring into its crimson surface and seeing himself reflected within.

"I once served Quan Chi in this place," Lao says mournfully. "It was he that initially resurrected us, after so many of us died in the invasion of Earthrealm..."

The others are distracted by his words, but Fox still stares at the blood, noticing something. Suddenly his eyes widen as he realizes that a figure is hiding on the ceiling!

He turns around and kicks the weighted end of his weapon up towards the shadows, where it is deflected aside by a green bolt of energy. Everyone whips around to look upward as a robed figure begins to descend.

"You dare intrude upon my domain?" the sorcerer says, his arms glowing green.

"Quan Chi!" Lao shouts in surprise.

Meat, however, is the first to recognize who it truly is---his creator. "Shang Tsung!"

Fox steps back as the elderly Shang Tsung drifts down to the floor, his golden and blue robes in tatters. His beard is long and white, as are his nails. "Why have you come here?" he demands threateningly, his arms still glowing.

>Why are you here?
>We seek the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm.
>We are not your enemy.
>Attack him when he isn't looking
>Other

>>2047311
>Why are you here?

>>2047311
>Why are you here?
>We seek the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm.