It is now Quan Chi's turn to smile. Shang Tsung is less than happy with

this turn of events, but goes along with Quan Chi to face Kung Lao.

QUAN CHI: No Earthrealm boy can stop this Deadly Alliance.

SHANG TSUNG: On that we agree.

They fight. Fighting one sorcerer alone would be a challenge, let alone

both of them at once, but it is a challenge Kung Lao more than steps up

to. Using all of the fighting skill at his disposal, he puts up an

amazing battle and, against all the odds, emerges victorious against the

two sorcerers.

KUNG LAO: It is done!

SHANG TSUNG: No, Kung Lao. Not nearly so.

Quan Chi and Shang Tsung pick themselves up and walk back to Shao Kahn's

throne. The gates to one side of the Coliseum open to reveal a gigantic

Shokan - or more accurately, a tiger Shokan. As the crowd cheer the

beast's appearence, he roars out loud and faces Kung Lao.

KINTARO: I will eat your heart!

They fight. The tiger Shokan proves to be the most intense fight of Kung

Lao's life. It takes everything the Shaolin monk has left in him to

remain in the battle, but he eventually manages to fight his way through

Kintaro's defenses and take the melee to him. Finally, the mighty

Kintaro falls to Kung Lao's onslaught and is left unconscious on the

floor.

Laughing in victory, Kung Lao parades to the booing crowd, bowing in

mockery and waving his hat at them. He then turns to the Thunder God.

KUNG LAO: You see, Raiden? Earthrealm is fre--

He never finishes the sentence, as Shao Kahn grabs him from behind and

snaps his neck like a twig. The crowd burst into cheers as Kung Lao

falls dead.

RAIDEN: Kung Lao!

Liu Kang, who's knocked out the Tarkatan guards and is in the process of

freeing Kitana, watches the whole thing happen.

LIU KANG: NO!!

As Kahn basks in the crowd's cheers, Raiden charges up a lightning blast.

RAIDEN: I will strip the flesh from your bones!

Roaring in fury, Liu Kang tackles Shao Kahn from behind. They wrestle on

the ground, forcing Raiden to cancel his attack. Kahn quickly kicks Kang

off him and they both pick themselves up, Kahn laughing as he does so.

SHAO KAHN: Witless boy. Do you know who I am?

LIU KANG: The murderer of my friend!

SHAO KAHN: I am Shao Kahn! Konquerer of Worlds! You will taste no victory.

LIU KANG: You will taste your own blood!

They fight. Shao Kahn is every bit the mighty warrior he claims to be,

with control of both dark magic and superhuman strength at his disposal.

But Liu Kang, fuelled with vengeance at seeing his friend die, takes it

to the emperor and dishes out an absolutely brutal beating. Finally, after

an epic battle, Kahn is knocked to the floor.

LIU KANG: On your feet!

As Kahn struggles to his feet, barely conscious, Liu Kang raises his fist,

which lights up with his signature fire.

LIU KANG: For Kung Lao, the Shaolin and Earthrealm!

In slow motion, Kang charges forward and punches Shao Kahn straight in the

chest, his fist bursting through the other side of Kahn's body. He

withdraws his fist and Kahn falls to his knees, coughing up blood. With a

final gurgle, he falls forward, unmoving. The arena is completely silent.

SHANG TSUNG: I cannot believe... Earthrealm has won.

As with Liu Kang's victory before, a light from the heavens shines down on

him, the Elder Gods noting his victory in the new tournament.

RAIDEN: The Elder Gods have spoken. Earthrealm is free of Shao Kahn

forever.

With a flick of his head, Tsung motions to two Tarkatan guards. They pick

up Kahn's body and walk off. All of Kahn's minions follow, save Kitana.

Kitana walks up to Liu Kang's side. They look briefly at each other, but

say nothing as they both lay eyes on Kung Lao's body and walk over to it.

RAIDEN: But the price of victory was almost too steep to pay. Kung Lao's

death is my fault. I encouraged him. Our triumph was not meant to be

achieved in this way. I see now. "He must win" refers to you. But to

prevent Armageddon, you needed to defeat Shao Kahn, not Shang Tsung.

Raiden takes his amulet off his chest and looks at it once more. More

cracks adorn it.

RAIDEN: It cannot be! Shao Kahn is dead! Yet the future remains

unchanged!

Liu Kang looks up in confused anger at Raiden, which goes unnoticed by

the Thunder God.

Back in Shao Kahn's throne room, all of his lieutenants (Baraka, Goro,

Mileena, Sheeva, Ermac, Sektor, Cyrax, Shang Tsung and the centaur

Motaro) are discussing what to do next.

GORO: Shao Kahn is finished.

BARAKA: Mileena is his heir. She should rule.

SHANG TSUNG: Mileena? She exists only because of my sorcery.

SHAO KAHN: And you breathe because I restrain mine.

The lieutenants turn around. Shao Kahn is indeed alive and walking

toward hem - albeit shakily and with a hand on his former chest wound,

with Quan Chi by his side.

SHANG TSUNG: Emperor!

MOTARO: You live!

Everyone except Tsung bows before him.

SHAO KAHN: I am not so easily killed. Quan Chi accelerated my recovery.

SHANG TSUNG: Emperor, I--

SHAO KAHN: Not. One. Word. Because of you, Outworld can no longer merge

with Earthrealm!

QUAN CHI: There may yet be an alternative, Emperor. Invasion.

SHANG TSUNG: Uh-- Invasion?!

Shao Kahn holds his hand up. Tsung immediately shuts up.

SHAO KAHN: Do you mock me? Sindel's Ward prevents me from setting foot