The rooftop Stryker and Kabal were at earlier in the day can now be seen. The area is now devastated from Outworld's assault and a giant portal has been opened on the rooftop. It can seen that Shao Kahn's throne has already been placed on the rooftop. Suddenly, blue lightning strikes down onto the rooftop and as it dissipates, it is shown to be the forces of light.

"The portal to Outworld. Shao Kahn is nearly ready to begin the merge." Skarlet warns.

Suddenly, a group of tarkatans, along with the specter Scorpion and the sorcerer Quan Chi appear from the portal and charge towards the forces of light.

"He must've sent them to worn us down for his arrival." Kitana points out.

"Then we don't have much time. Let us finish this." Raiden says before the forces of light charge towards the approaching Outworld force.

As the forces battle, Scorpion appears before Raiden in a flash of hellfire and assumes a fighting stance.

"It disappoints me to see you here." Raiden says.

"Save your pity." Scorpion says.

"Is this why you chose not to save your family and clan? To maintain your place at Outworld's feet?" Raiden asks.

"Do not talk of my family, Raiden!" Scorpion warns.

They then fight. While Scorpion be a force to be reckoned with, but Raiden is at full strength in Earthrealm which gives him the advantage as he demonstrates that he didn't become the protector of Earthrealm by being a pushover in kombat. He takes the fight to the ninja specter and manages to knock him to the floor.

"You are beyond saving, specter." Raiden says.

Raiden then turns and blocks a overhead strike from Quan Chi before responding with a fist strike to his sternum, knocking the sorcerer back but doesn't manage to knock him off his feet.

"You will fall like your minion, sorcerer. Shao Kahn will not succeed." Raiden says.

"How noble, Raiden. Yet utterly pointless, especially when you couldn't even save your champion." Quan Chi says.

They then fight. Quan Chi's magic, although very powerful in its own right, is not a match for Raiden's power of thunder and lightning. After a very on sided battle, Quan Chi is knocked down.

"Curse you, Quan Chi." Raiden says.

As the forces of light finish off the remaining forces, a sound from the portal catches their attention. Shao Kahn is beginning to walk through it. The forces of light then face him down, assuming their fighting stances with Raiden and Liu Kang close behind. A moment passes before he finally passes through the portal, laughing as he sees the forces of light.

"You've all come here to die as I destroy your world. How fitting." Shao Kahn says.

"Remember. We don't need to kill him. We just need to slow him down long enough for the elder gods to arrive." Raiden says.

The forces of light nod their heads in response before charging towards the war lord. Johnny strikes first but finds his face coming into contact with Shao Kahn's hammer, shattering his sunglasses and sends him flying backwards. Kabal then charges him with his super speed as he strikes him in the chest with his hookswords and zooms away before charging again and hitting him in the back before zooming away again. He then charges once again but Shao Kahn manages to grab his arm and slam him down onto the ground, destroying his mask and respirator.

"Pathetic." Shao Kahn says.

As Kabal dies from suffocation, Stryker then charges his his baton and bashes him straight in the face. Shao Kahn then looks back to him in anger as he then forces his hands into his chest before ripping him apart with his bare hands. Skarlet then teleports in the air in front of him and sends her daggers striking for his eyes but Shao Kahn sees it coming and sends a punch straight to her head, causing her to drop the daggers and fall to the ground with a loud crack as the ground underneath her broke.

After seeing what has occurred, Liu Kang clenches his hands into a fist as he glares at Shao Kahn in anger.

"This isn't working." Liu Kang says before deciding to face Shao Kahn himself.

Raiden notices his intent and grabs his arm.

"No! Do as I say! Have faith in the Elder Gods." Raiden says.

He then releases Liu Kang's arm.

"Have faith in me." Raiden says.

Liu Kang shakes his head and starts to walk towards the portal. Again Raiden stops him.

"Liu Kang, I cannot let you fight Shao Kahn!" Raiden says.

"Then you are my enemy!" Liu Kang snaps.

They then start to fight. Raiden is forced to defend himself against Liu Kang's furious assault. Fueled by desperation, both kombatants fight with all of their strength, and it is an even match due to the merger weakening Raiden's powers. However, Raiden manages to get an advantage and he knocks Liu Kang to the floor.

"Liu Kang, do not interfere!" Raiden orders.

Liu Kang struggles to his feet as the fight behind them ensues. Skarlet can be seen being lifted into the air by the neck, courtesy of Shao Kahn.

"You are a traitor Skarlet, and I don't take too kindly to traitors." Shao Kahn says.

He then summons his soul magic in his hands and drains Skarlet before eventually leaving her emptied and charred. As he drops her body, Shao Kahn summons his hammer and blocks a strike from Cyber Sub Zero's ice sword. Shao Kahn then swings his hammer, shattering the ice sword. He doesn't stop there and sends the hammer down onto Sub Zero's head and then proceeds to swing the hammer down another dozen times, destroying Sub Zero's mainframe, along with everything else. Kitana and Jade then charge towards him.

Liu kang then rises again before attempting to charge towards Shao Kahn again.

"Liu Kang, stop!" Raiden orders as he blasts lightning at Liu Kang's feet to stop him.

In response, Liu Kang charges up his fist with his signature fire. Johnny Cage, who got back up onto his feet, notices this along with Sonya Blade next to him.

"Liu Kang! Raiden! No!" Johnny yells as he and Sonya rush towards them.

"Enough of your madness! If you must die, so be it!" Liu Kang yells.

Liu Kang then charges forward with the intent of running through Raiden as he did Shao Kahn. In self defense, Raiden generates a shield of lightning. As Liu Kang collides with the shield, the resultant backlash not only blasts Liu Kang with lightning, but his own fire as well. Liu Kang screams as his body is both electrified and scorched at the same time.

"By the gods, NO!!" Raiden calls out.

Raiden then rushes to Liu Kang's side as he falls over, the electricity and fire wearing off. He cradles Liu Kang's head in his hand.

"No. This was not meant to happen." Raiden says with the sound of regret in his voice.

"What did you do?!" Johnny asks in shock.

Liu Kang is having difficulty breathing and he is blinded in his left eye, but the look of hatred on his face says everything.

"Liu Kang, forgive me..." Raiden pleads.

"You... have killed us... all..." Liu Kang says before he then gasps for air and dies.

Raiden closes his eyes sorrowfully.

By this point, Kitana has been knocked down onto the ground as Shao Kahn and Jade engage in kombat with their spear and staff. After awhile, Shao Kahn manages to land a stab through Jade's abdomen. The then yanks his spear out as Jade then falls onto the ground, bleeding to death. Shao Kahn then turns his attention to the downed Kitana.

"You should have never defected, Kitana. How could you have fallen for someone as weak as that boy?" Shao Kahn asks mockingly.

Kitana looks at him and defiantly glares at him. Shao Kahn laughs in amusement before a blast of red energy hits him in the chest. Staggering back a step, Shao Kahn looks to see a still severely burned Manado glaring at him with his red glowing eyes, grasping onto his stomach as he limps towards him.

"Because Shao Kahn... as long as I still draw breath... I will not stop until I avenge my friends." Manado says.

Shao Kahn then chuckles in amusement.

"Too bad you won't be breathing for much longer, even as you see those you care about die before your eyes." Shao Kahn says before lifting his foot up and sending it straight down onto Kitana's head, effectively exploding it.

Manado angrily yells out and charges. He attempts to strike Shao Kahn but finds that his weakened state is hindering his ability to do so. Shao Kahn then takes advantage of this and sends him onto the ground face first. Shao Lahn then summons his spear and stabs him in through the back and out through the chest. As Manado screams out in pain, Shao Kahn grabs his head and forces him to look at him.

"You are nothing." Shao Kahn says before releasing his grip on his head.

Manado then slowly falls limp as the blood loss has finally takes its toll. Shao Kahn then turns his attention back to the remaining earthrealm warriors.

"C'mon! It's up to us!" Sonya says.

Sonya and Johnny then rush forward to face Shao Kahn before assuming their fighting stances.

"You will pay for everything you've done. And for the record, those were $500 sunglasses you just broke, asshole." Johnny says.

Shao Kahn laughs and blasts them away with his magic, knocking them all unconscious.

Seeing Shao Kahn approach, Raiden gets up and bows to him.

"Ah, Raiden. You have come to your senses." Shao Kahn says.

"Earthrealm's citizens suffer. Further resistance serves no purpose." Raiden replies.

"All these ages you have fought me. You denied me my rightful claim. Not this time." Shao Kahn says as he then uppercuts Raiden across the rooftop.

Raiden lands hard on his back, his hat falling from his head. Raiden's visions briefly flash to Armageddon, where the same happens to Future Raiden, before fading back into the present.

"The Elder Gods fear me now!" Shao Kahn says.

He then laughs and picks Raiden up. Again the visions flash to the parallel scene from Armageddon.

"Their pathetic Mortal Kombat shackles me no longer!" Shao Kahn says.

He then methodically pounds Raiden across the face, with the visions flashing between the present and Armageddon. Shao Kahn then throws Raiden across the rooftop and his amulet falls, shattering into pieces. Raiden lands on the very edge of the rooftop and Kahn stalks over to him. His hammer magically appears in his hand.

"They masquerade as dragons, but are mere toothless worms." Shao Kahn says.

As Raiden rolls over, Shao Kahn slams his boot into his chest. Again the visions flash to the same one in Armageddon.

"I know you can feel it. It is the end of all things." Shao Kahn says as he then glows green with the energy of the souls he has consumed.

"Elder Gods, where are you? Why do you forsake me?" Raiden asks, begging to the Elder Gods.

Shao Kahn then picks Raiden up again. The vision flashes to Armageddon once more.

"Your time has passed." Shao says as he then throws Raiden across the rooftop.

"Ages wasted in foolish resistance." Shao Kahn says as Raiden struggles to his knees. "I have won." Shao Kahn says.

"Yes... you have won." Raiden says, admitting defeat.

"Now, Raiden. Your world ends." Shao Kahn say as he then lifts his hammer up and prepares to deliver the finishing blow.

Before he can, golden lightning flashes before his feet. More flashes strike the rooftop around them, and from a portal from the heavens, six golden dragons fly out and to Raiden's surprise, fly past him and begin to fly around Manado's body, lifting him into the air and revitalising him. With a final flash, Manado stands before Shao Kahn, his wounds healed and been revived. The dragons still surround him and when he speaks, his voice is of the Elder Gods.

"You violate our will, Shao Kahn. You merge realms without victory in Mortal Kombat. Our penalty is clear." Manado says as he then charges up a golden variation of his energy and blasts Shao Kahn with it.

It has no effect and Shao Kahn laughs out loud.

"An anemic effort from ineffectual deities. Today, I become THE Elder God!" Shao Kahn announces.

They then fight. The battle is truly epic, with neither the repowered Manado or Shao Kahn getting any clear advantage for the majority of it. For what seems like an age, the two titans with everything they have, but eventually the Champion of Earthrealm prevails and knocks Shao Kahn to the floor. As he struggles to his feet and tries to charge again, Manado blasts him once more with the golden energy.

This time, the blast has an effect, and the dragons surround Shao Kahn as he is blasted. They begin biting into his body at various places, causing him to scream in pain. His body is scorched by their magic while Manado is finally released from their control. As he falls forward in exhaustion, the Elder Gods' assault on Shao Kahn cause the warlord to explode in a flash of golden light that reaches to the heavens. The Elder Gods immediately depart in the same light, and as the portal dissipates, the dark clouds surrounding the sky clear away, leaving the sun to shine through.

Manado then gets back onto his feet and picks up Raiden's discarded amulet before giving it back to him. Raiden remains on his knees, and looks to his amulet one more time. Finally, the cracks adorning it are removed, and it remains as it once was.

"It is over." Raiden says.

He then places the amulet back on his chest as Manado and Johnny Cage help him to his feet with Sonya behind them.

"But only at the gravest of costs." Raiden says as they all then walk over to Liu Kang's body. "So many are gone. Their light has sunk into the earth. I am responsible for their loss." Raiden says.

"You did what you had to. To protect Earthrealm. Losses in war... are... are inevitable." Sonya says, her voice breaking at the end.

Manado then places his hand on Raiden's shoulder.

"You were left with no other choice Lord Raiden. It had to be done." Manado assures before removing his hand from Raiden's shoulder.

"Come. Let us tend the fallen. Then we must help our realm rebuild. Our work has only just begun." Raiden says.

He then teleports himself, Johnny, Sonya, Manado and Liu Kang's body away in a flash of lightning. Only Shao Kahn's war helmet remains on the rooftop, forgotten by all... except the one who walks through an unseen portal and picks it up; Quan Chi. As he examines the trophy, another being fades into existence before him.

"Your plan worked to perfection, Lord Shinnok." Quan Chi says.

"Shao Kahn was blinded by rage. How easily was he convinced that the Elder Gods would ignore his merging the realms." Shinnok says.

"Yet the Thunder God still lives." Quan Chi informs.

"No matter. Neither Earthrealm nor Outworld can now withstand the Netherrealm's onslaught. It is time. Soon I will be free. Earthrealm and Outworld will be ours." Shinnok says.

(Note: I've got one more chapter before we finally move on to MKX.)