Back in Shang Tsung's throne room, several masked guards are escorting a new warrior, covered in a mask of cloth and red clothing.

"Kombatants! I present this latest creation of Shao Kahn. He is many warriors, their souls fused into one being. Behold... Ermac!" Shang Tsung announces.

Ermac then assumes a fighting kata. He glows with green energy, makes a magic light crackle before him and the air around him into ripples. Johnny Cage is once again impressed. Kano just snickers under his breath.

"Be wary, you two. He is unlike anything you have fought before." Raiden warns.

Liu Kang and Manado then steps up to face Ermac.

"Liu Kang! You and Raiden's champion are the sole Earthrealm warriors to progress to this final stage of the tournament! Which one of you is worthy to face Ermac?" Shang Tsung asks.

Liu Kang turns towards Manado.

"I'll handle this." Liu Kang says.

Manado nods before backing up. Liu Kang then assumes a fighting stance.

"I am ready." Liu Kang says.

"We are many. You are one. We will destroy you." Ermac says.

They then fight. Ermac's telekinetic powers and control over magic would be an even match for several kombatants, but Liu Kang is no ordinary warrior. After an intense battle, his fighting skill overcomes the mystical warrior.

"Earthrealm will not fall into your master's hands." Liu Kang says.

Ermac rises again, ready to face Liu Kang again when Manado steps forward.

"Time to teach this construct some humility." Manado says, causing Liu Kang to stay back.

"No one, not even you, can defeat us. We will have your soul." Ermac says.

They then fight. Manado finds himself in a tough fight against Ermac'a power but like with Liu Kang, Manado pushes through and finally knocks Ermac unconscious.

"Shao Kahn will never conquer Earthrealm!" Manado announces.

With the fight finally over, the kombatants take their leave. Kitana walks over to Shang Tsung, who is seething with rage.

"They are a greater threat than anticipated. I will ensure they do not reach the final challenge." Kitana assures.

Shang Tsung nods his approval and Kitana departs after Liu Kang and Manado.

Later in the forest, Manado is practicing a kata with Raiden watching.

"Remember your teachings Manado. For my vision to be realised, you must not let emotion overpower you." Raiden says.

"I do gotta wonder though. Your visions. What causes them?" Manado asks.

"My future self sent them to me. Perhaps to ensure some outcome." Raiden replies.

"Or perhaps to prevent one." Manado suggests.

Raiden then gasps again. Another vision appears in his mind, this time of future Raiden.

"He must win!" Future Raiden says before the vision disappears.

"What is it?" Manado asks.

""He must win". Those are my last words before I die. I believe it is you who must win." Raiden says.

He then takes his amulet off his chest.

"This amulet was forged by the Elder Gods. It cracked here in the present after my first vision. If we choose wisely, the future will be secured and the cracks healed." Raiden explains as he places the amulet back on.

"Well, I trust that you will make the right decisions Lord Raiden." Manado assures.

"We must trust in the Elder Gods, Manado." Raiden says before he teleports away in a flash of lightning.

Manado prepares to resume his kata, only to find Kitana walking toward him.

'Guess she's not here for a friendly chat.' Manado thought as he assumes a fighting stance.

Kitana attacks immediately, but Manado blocks all of her attacks and kicks her away. She tries again, fails to land a good hit and he kicks her away again. Getting angry, Kitana tries another attack, but Manado grabs both her arms before she can connect. He seems rather intrigued by her efforts.

"You're good! Shall we continue?" Manado asks before Kitana pushes him back.

"Do not underestimate me, Warrior." Kitana warns.

They then start to fight. Even with ten thousand years of experience behind her, Kitana is pretty much outclassed by the Osh Tekk warrior. She is soon down on the floor.

"I am impressed." Manado says.

"Do it." Kitana says.

"Do what exactly?" Manado asks.

"Kill me." Kitana replies as she sits back up.

Manado then kneels next to her.

"Now why would I do that?" Manado asks.

"I came to kill you. I have failed my father. My emperor." Kitana says with shame.

"You have not failed anyone." Manado assures.

"I have disgraced him. You must kill me." Kitana demands.

"I will not." Manado insists. She then looks up at him in confusion.

"This encounter never took place. You have disgraced no one." Manado assures.

Manado then removes his helmet and his face is in full view.

"And besides, I have no reason to kill my rescuer." Manado says.

Kitana sat there confused for a moment before she realized who he was.

"Manado?" Kitana asks.

"It's good to see you again, your highness." Manado says.

"I... I don't understand. How are you here?" Kitana asks.

Manado then extends his hand out to her, who hesitantly accepts it and is helped back up to her feet.

"Turns out that gem you gave me opened a portal to Earthrealm. Raiden found me and took me in, making me his new champion." Manado explains.

"I never thought I'd see you again. Now look at you. A formidable warrior in is own right." Kitana says.

"Well, while I would love to reconcile, I must return to the tournament." Manado says.

He then begins to walk away, but turns around one last time.

"I hope we meet again Kitana. Just under... different circumstances." Manado says.

He then walks off, leaving Kitana to ponder what took place.

Later that night at the courtyard exterior. Liu Kang and Manado walks in, with Kung Lao and Raiden behind him. Earthrealm's remaining warriors, along with Shang Tsung and Kitana, are all waiting in anticipation.

"Kombatants! Only two Earthrealm warriors remains." Shang Tsung announces.

Raiden nods and Kung Lao places his hand on Liu Kang's shoulder. They nod to one another.

"The Shaolin Liu Kang and Raiden's champion. Are they ready to bear such a heavy burden? Earthrealm's fate is in their hands. Your opponent will be... Scorpion!" Shang Tsung announces.

The hellspawn ninja then appears in a flash of fire. Liu Kang and Manado assume a fighting stance.

"We do not fear you, demon." Liu Kang says.

"Fighting with Scorpion... the sorcerer Quan Chi!" Shang Tsung announces.

Quan Chi then teleports through a portal, laughing as he does so.

'You have got to be kidding right now.' Manado thought as he then takes a deep breath.

"You have already lost." Scorpion says.

The four warriors then fight. The odds are truly stacked against Liu Kang and Manado, but they rises to the occasion and surpass both Netherrealm denizens with their strength, speed and fighting prowess. After an intense battle of endurance, Liu Kang and Manado prevail.

"As I said, we do not fear you. we pity you." Liu Kang says.

Shang Tsung's eyes narrow with displeasure. Liu Kang and Manado then walk up to Raiden.

"You have done well. But the tournament is not yet over." Raiden says.

"Goro." Manado says, knowing what Raiden means.

"What's a "Goro"?" Johnny asks Sonya.

Sonya shrugs in answer.

"Liu Kang... it has been years since an Earthrealm warrior has progressed this far, far longer has it been since more than one has progressed to this stage of the tournament. But the reigning champion is far beyond your ability. To the Lair with you!" Shang Tsung yells.

He then opens a portal right under Liu Kang and Manado's feet. They fall right through it and lands hard on the floor of Goro's Lair. It turns out to be the prison Sonya fought through, and notably there is a large throne that has no one in it.

Liu Kang and Manado rise to their feet and look around, spotting no one.

"Where is he?" Liu Kang asks.

"I don't know." Manado says.

No sooner than those words comes out, a new voice sounds out behind him.

"I did not expect to fight in this tournament." Goro says.

Liu Kang and Manado then wheels around. They come face to face with an eight foot tall, four armed humanoid who is actually the Shokan named Goro.

"But eventually even the Shaolin and Raiden produce warriors worthy of a Shokan." Goro says.

He then stalks forward to face Liu Kang and Manado.

"We know who you are! We are ready for you!" Liu Kang says, assuming his fighting stance as Manado does the same.

"I will give you both a warrior's death." Goro promises.

They then fight. The battle is the most intense of Liu Kang's life, same goes for Manado. Goro's strength is unparalleled and his endurance is legendary. It takes all of Liu Kang and Manado's skill, speed and stamina to keep in the fight, but amazingly they manage to take it to the Mortal Kombat champion. After what seems like an eternity, Goro finally goes down to the warriors.

"It seems the Shaolin and Raiden trained warriors greater than a Shokan." Liu Kang says.

Sensing Goro is out cold, Liu Kang and Manado clasp their hands in a prayer of thanks. A portal then opens up behind him. They look up at it with grim determination.

In Shang Tsung's throne room, Raiden and the others await the arrival of the victor. Shang Tsung then sneers unhappily when he sees it is Liu Kang and Manado. He steps from his throne to the floor as Raiden takes in a deep breath in anticipation.

Liu Kang approaches Shang Tsung but Manado stops him.

"This is my fight." Manado says.

"Are you sure?" Liu Kang asks in concern.

"Trust me. I need to do this alone." Manado replies.

Liu Kang, although hesitant, back off to where the rest of Earthrealm's combatants stand, much to everyone's confusion. To add to their confusion, Manado removes his helmet and drops it to the ground. He then approaches Shang Tsung and assumes a fighting stance.

"Shang Tsung! Only one fight remains! I, Manado Chijin, challenges you... in Mortal Kombat!" Manado announces.

A sinister grin then plasters onto Shang Tsung's face.

"How unexpected Chujin. Time to join your family." Shang Tsung says.

The two then fight. The evil sorcerer brings all of his dark magic to bear, from his fireballs to the ability to morph into any fighter he chooses. But Manado fights past all of it, delivering a vicious beatdown to the treacherous servant of Shao Kahn. Finally, Manado knocks Tsung to the floor, leaving him beaten.

"Say it." Manado commands.

After about a moment, Shang Tsung makes his choice.

"I concede." Shang Tsung says in defeat.

The Earthrealm warriors all cheer in unison.

"Well done, my friend." Kung Lao says.

"He has saved Earthrealm." Raiden acknowledges.

Suddenly, A large beam of light, emanating from a portal, descends into the throne room. The Earthrealm warriors all surround Manado, offering him congratulations.

"That was awesome, Manado!" Sonya says.

"Congratulations." Nightwolf says.

"Way to go, kid!" Jax says.

"MVP, baby!" Johnny says.

Shang Tsung and his minions all take their leave through a portal back to Outworld. The last to depart is Kitana, who casts a longing look at Manado. He smiles at her as she exits through the portal. Manado then turns to face Raiden, who bows his head in congratulations. Manado does the same. As Kung Lao and Liu Kang puts a hand on his shoulder and Manado nods back, Raiden takes another look at his amulet expectantly... only to find more cracks appear among it. He ponders the meaning of this with a look of worry.

Back in Outworld, Shang Tsung is on his knees before Shao Kahn. Baraka, Reptile and Kitana stand over the sorcerer expectantly.

"You failed me! Five hundred years I have waited! Now I must wait five hundred more!" Shao Kahn says in frustration.

"My lord! All is not lost!" Shang Tsung begs.

Shao Kahn then turns around and begins speaking to himself.

"Curse the Elder Gods and their tournament!" Shao Kahn says to himself.

"My lord!" Shang Tsung begs.

"I should have taken Earthrealm by force! But I am bound by their rules." Shao Kahn says to himself.

He then sits on his throne.

"Rules that cannot be broken." Shao Kahn realizes.

"My lord–" Shang Tsung say before Shao Kahn cuts him off.

"Kill him!" Shao Kahn orders.

Baraka and Reptile then restrain Shang Tsung as Kitana prepares her bladed fans.

"But what if the rules were changed?" Shang Tsung asks, resorting to anything to stay alive.

Shao Kahn then holds up his hand.

"Kitana!" Shao Kahn calls out.

Kitana pauses.

"Continue..." Shao Kahn says.

Meanwhile, at the Wu Shi Academy in Earthrealm, Manado walks through a congregation of monks and his new friends from the tournament (minus Nightwolf, who's presumably returned to his homeland) towards Raiden. He clasps his hands in respect and bows his head. Raiden then presents him with a golden medal with a dragon at its forefront, signifying Manado's new status as Champion of Mortal Kombat. He hangs the medal around Manado's neck as the crowd applauds.