In the streets of the capital city of Z'unkahran in Outworld, a battalion of Kotal Kahn's warriors march through, along with the Outworld equivalent of oxen dragging a large carriage. Leading the march are the wandering mercenary Erron Black and the living amalgamation of souls known only as Ermac. Inside of the carriage is Outworld's latest emperor; the Osh-Tekk warrior Kotal Kahn. Sitting next to him is Manado, Kotal's General.

"Twenty million." Kotal Kahn offers.

The person he is speaking with is the Earthrealm mercenary Kano, leader of the Black Dragon. Sitting beside him is D'Vorah, Kotal's lieutenant from Kytinn.

"Emperor, what's the expression? "S' not worth the dirt on my shoe"?" Kano asks.

"Kotal Kahn has always bargained with you fairly, Kano." D'vorah points out.

"Sure, sure. I'm just sayin'; upgraded weapons, my intel - and poof! The long Outworld civil war - done. Might be nice to kick back a bit, eh?" Kano asks.

"You know Mileena's location." Kotal says.

"And 'er whole rebel army. S'gotta be worth at least fifty." Kano says.

"I must attack her. Immediately. End this conflict. As you say..." Kotal Kahn says before Kano looks over to the rooftops through the carriage windows. He spots the former empress Mileena running over them, accompanied by the Edenian demigod Rain. "...it drains us." Kotal Kahn finishes.

Kano then refocuses his attention on Kotal.

"Right. Do we have a deal?" Kano asks.

The driver of Kotal's cart suddenly calls a halt, bringing the carriage to a stop. D'Vorah immediately checks the window.

"What is it, D'Vorah?" Kotal Kahn asks.

"The emperor should not be concerned. Accident ahead. This One will clear it." D'vorah says.

Kotal then turns to Manado.

"Manado, aid D'vorah." Kotal orders.

Manado nods and follows D'vorah to exit the carriage.

As they exit the carriage, they see the reason behind the halt. Two massive carts of stacked crates blocking the roadway. Kotal's soldiers move to heave them aside as D'Vorah and Manado walk up to them.

"Make way for Kotal Kahn! Move!" D'vorah orders.

On the rooftops, Mileena and Rain spy on the proceedings, accompanied by the treacherous Edenian Tanya and several Tarkatans.

"The Tarkatans are in position. We await your order." Tanya informs.

"It is given, dearest Tanya." Mileena says.

Tanya then sneaks off with several Tarkatans in tow.

"Stopping a carriage is nothing. Killing an emperor–" Rain says before being cut off.

"FALSE emperor!" Mileena reminds.

"--requires power. Power you have, Mileena. And won't use." Rain finishes.

Mileena begrudgingly pulls out what Rain is referring to, Shinnok's Amulet.

"It pains me to use it, Rain. I need more time. The usurper's excursion came too soon." Mileena explains.

"The rain falls when it may." Rain says.

"No matter - if Kano does what I paid him to do." Mileena says.

"And what of your other objective?" Rain asks.

"Once you've been given the opportunity, you know what to do. But I would be wary, he is not to be underestimated." Mileena replies.

Back at the cart pile up, Ermac is telekinetically moving the crates, while Kotal's soldiers still struggle with the carts themselves.

"Now! Do it!" D'vorah orders.

More soldiers then walk over to help.

Inside the carriage, Kotal Kahn waits impatiently and silently with Kano, who seems to be staring him down to pass the time. A shout outside the carriage attracts Kotal's attention, and he turns to see an entire army of Tarkatan warriors madly rushing down a back alley directly at his forces. Outworld civilians scatter at the rush, but Kotal's forces rush in to intercept them. At the same time, more Tarkatans rush in from an alley on the opposite side of the carriage, forcing the soldiers to divide up to fight them off.

Seeing the army approach, D'Vorah, Ermac, Manado and Erron Black charge into the foray. Ermac ducks a blade swipe from a Tarkatan, telekinetically lifts him into the air and viciously bends him backwards, snapping his spine, before blasting his corpse into another Tarkatan.

Erron Black shoots a charging Tarkatan in the face with his revolver, killing him instantly. He turns and blocks a swipe from another, before putting his gun directly into the mutant's mouth and pulling the trigger. As that one falls dead, Erron is tackled by a third, knocking his hat off in the process.

Several Tarkatans surround Manado, who assumes a fighting stance. One of them charges before jumping and bringing down one of its arm blades to stab Manado who quickly backs up, resulting in the tarkatan stabbing the ground instead. Manado then retaliates by holding the tarkatan in place before delivering two punches to the chest before ripping out one of the arm blades and stabbing the tarkatan in the head. As the tarkatan falls dead, the others charge as Manado continuously blocks their attacks with the arm blade.

Two of Kotal's soldiers gang up to stab a Tarkatan to death, while another Tarkatan slashes a soldier across the chest with his arm blades, killing him. That Tarkatan spots D'Vorah and charges her along with two more of his comrades. As they approach, D'Vorah extends two of her hidden appendages, brutally stabbing the mutants to death before they can get in range of her. She pauses to take a breath, and as she does she spots even more Tarkatans charging into the melee.

Inside the carriage, Kotal Kahn watches all of this with barely contained fury. He then curses in untranslated Osh-Tekk.

Kano cunningly strokes his beard.

"You said a mouthful..." Kano says.

He then reaches behind him and pulls out one of his knives. He stabs downwards at Kotal, who blocks it with a forearm and punches Kano across the face. Kano tries another downward stab with both arms this time. Kotal catches his wrists and pushes them away.

Kotal pushes Kano down, grabs his cybernetic heart and lays in several measured punches, before delivering a headbutt that hurt Kano badly.

Kano then rallies and grabs Kotal by the shoulders. They struggle for a moment and Kano throws Kotal down. He tries to fry the Outworld emperor with his laser eye, but Kotal blocks the beam with a forearm and grabs Kano with his other hand, plunging his thumb directly into the mercenary's eye. Kano screams in pain, but miraculously isn't blinded by the ordeal.

Kotal kicks him away, grabs him and throws him into the carriage side. Kano destroys one of the carriage window frames with his face. He tries to fight back with a double axe-handle smash, but Kotal blocks it, punches him in the stomach twice, then grabs him and throws him to the other side of the carriage. This time, both Kano and Kotal crash through the carriage door to the outside.

While on the ground, Kotal punches Kano repeatedly, but Kano catches his hand and throws Kotal aside. They both then roll to their feet in fighting stances.

"You wound me, Kano. Your offer of aid was but wind and air?!" Kotal Kahn asks.

"Keep yer fifty million. Mileena's giving me twice that to take you out!" Kano says.

They then fight. While Kano's fighting strength and cybernetic enhancements have only grown in the years he's lived, Kotal Kahn's life experiences far outshine his. The Outworld emperor lives up to his title by beating Kano into the ground.

"You're not worth the dirt on my shoe." Kotal Kahn says.

As Kano tries to struggle back to his feet, Kotal pulls out his ceremonial dagger. Pinning Kano to the ground with his boot, the Kahn plunges the spiked weapon square into Kano's back. He withdraws it and prepares to slit Kano's throat. Despite Kano trying to block the dagger, Kotal gradually overpowers him, but he is suddenly struck by a fireball that knocks him to the ground. The one who threw it, Tanya, leaps gracefully from the carriage she perched on and lands on the ground.

The two then circle each other in fighting stances.

"You are the Edenian, Tanya." Kotal Kahn says.

"I'm pleased you remember me, Ko'atal." Tanya curtseys mockingly before throwing a burst of fire.

Kotal catches it in his palm and his arm begins to charge with energy.

"I will never forget those who freed Mileena." Kotal Kahn says.

He then throws the burst back at Tanya, forcing her to cancel her spell. She then pulls out a pair of kama (miniature scythes).

"She vowed to create a free Edenia - something you refuse to do." Tanya points out.

Kotal swings the dagger at her but she blocks the attack with both her kama.

"A united Outworld stands strong against its enemies." Kotal Kahn says.

"It will never be united under your rule." Tanya says.

They then break off their clinch.

"Your rebellion is all that prevents it." Kotal Kahn says.

They then fight. Tanya's speed and magical prowess prove to be little match for the strength and power of the Osh Tekk warrior. After a swift and fierce battle, Kotal leaves Tanya on the floor unconscious and beaten.

"You are a fool to trust Mileena." Kotal Kahn says.

A Tarkatan warrior charges straight at Kotal following the battle. Kotal blocks a blade swipe, elbows the Tarkatan in the stomach, sweeps his leg and knees him in the face, knocking him out. He then grabs the arm of another Tarkatan charging at him, punches him in the side and face, then sweeps his legs with his arm, taking him down.

As the Kahn searches the battle, he spots Mileena on the rooftops.

"She tasks me... for the last time." Kotal Kahn says.

His body then suddenly glows with fire and he teleports to the roof where Mileena is. He then approaches her, Rain and the three Tarkatans with them with his shoulder ornaments (a pair of hooks) drawn for kombat.

"Mileena." Kotal Kahn greets.

"Kano was to kill you, miserable snake!" Mileena snaps.

She then barks out an untranslated order in the Tarkatan language. One of them charges and gets an arm sliced off for his efforts, followed by a slash through the heart. The second Tarkatan leaps into the fray with a kick, but Kotal grabs his foot and slices his leg off at the knee. As he drops, the final Tarkatan rushes toward him, only to take several slashes from the hooks, dying when one is embedded into his torso, and the other into the side of his head. Kotal snaps his neck with the last strike and leaves the hooks in his corpse, kicking it away.

Mileena charges at him, screaming. She throws a spin kick that Kotal blocks, followed by several more kicks that are blocked or dodged, before landing a punch across his face. The Kahn replies with two face punches of his own and then lifts his hand to the sky, absorbing a ray of sunlight. With an untranslated chant, he blasts Mileena with this ray, sending her crashing through the rooftop wall and down to the street below.

Kotal then looks over to Rain.

"Another Edenian. The supposed half-god." Kotal Kahn says.

Rain replies by trapping Kotal in a water bubble, suspending him in the air.

"I am a son of Argus. I was not merely declared a god by befuddled commoners, Buluc." Rain says.

Kotal glows with sunlight once more and bursts the water bubble he is in.

"Surely Mileena suspects your true intentions, son of Argus." Kotal Kahn says.

He then charges at Rain, who disappears in a flash of water. The Kahn stops short of the rooftop edge, but is unaware that Rain teleported behind him. Rain leaps in the air and dropkicks Kotal in the back, sending him off the rooftop to the street below. He lands hard on his front.

As he struggles to his feet, Rain teleports to the street to meet him in kombat.

"My "intentions" are to teach you the difference between pretension and godhood." Rain says.

They then fight. In spite of being a half-god, Rain's arrogance gets the better of him in the fight with the determined Kotal Kahn, who's sun-based strength manages to see him through the melee. Eventually Rain is left beaten on the ground by Kotal's hand.

"That should silence you." Kotal Kahn says.

As Rain struggles to his knees, Erron Black runs up to the Outworld emperor. Kotal gives a silent nod to Erron, which is returned. Black walks up to Rain.

"You won't touch him again." Erron Black says before he kicks Rain square in the face, knocking him onto his back.

As Rain tries to recover, Erron puts his boot on Rain's throat and levels his revolver square at Rain's nose. Before he can pull the trigger, a sai flies out of nowhere and impales Black's hand, forcing him to drop the revolver.

"But I will." Mileena says.

Mileena then turns to face off against Kotal. Rain teleports away while Erron backs off as well.

"As the heir to my father Shao Kahn, I, Mileena, Kahnum of Outworld, order your execution!" Mileena orders.

They then start their fight.

As this was happening, Rain and Tanya face down Manado.

"Mileena requests that you come with us." Rain informs.

"Not gonna happen, edenians." Manado says.

Manado then charges and engages in kombat with the two edenians. Each of them deliver various strikes without any of them seeming to gain an advantage, that is until Manado finds an opening and sends two elbow strikes to the two edenian's faces before focusing on Rain and uses his red energy to blast him down onto the ground. With Rain down, Manado focus on Tanya. The two find themselves in a lock with their weapons, Tanya with her Kama and Manado with his daggers.

"You should've left Mileena in prison, Tanya." Manado says.

"And leave Outworld under Kotal's tyrannical rule?" Tanya asks.

"He is merely trying to end Shao Kahn's corruption on Outworld. This rebellion is only hindering his progress. Whatever Mileena wants from me, it will not involve me any longer." Manado says.

He then breaks their clinch and with a fierce kick, sends Tanya to the ground. As he prepare his magic for a finishing blow, Rain suddenly forms a water bubble around manado, rendering him immobile. Tanya rises again and sends a flying kick through the bubbles and sending it straight to Manado's face, sending him flying before falling to the ground unconscious.

"That choice is not yours to make, Osh-Tekk." Tanya says.

Tanya then takes the unconscious body away from the fight scene. Rain however stays behind.

Meanwhile, as vicious and desperate of a fighter as Mileena is, not even her magic and skill is a match for the Osh Tekk warrior known as Kotal Kahn. After a brutal fight, Mileena is knocked to the ground by the Kahn.

"There will be an execution this day." Kotal Kahn says.

The Tarkatan forces have now been routed, and several of Kotal's warriors surround Mileena, who manages to get to her feet. She tries to flee but cannot see a way out.

"You will atone for your dissent, Mileena. Your blood will make right." Kotal Kahn says as he then begins to absorb more sunlight into his palm.

"Up the stair path... to the fire's edge!" Kotal Kahn finishes.

As he shoots off a ray of sunlight, Mileena pulls out Shinnok's Amulet and fires it off. The two rays of magic collide in midair and struggle against one another until Kotal is forced to break his attack. The trapping magic is shot off in all directions, engulfing three of his soldiers who are instantly teleported into the amulet. The effect visibly scars Mileena's arm, and she cries out in pain as the magic halts, falling to the ground unconscious.

Rain suddenly teleports into the fray, grabs Mileena and disappears again with her in tow. Kotal remains on one knee, visibly struggling to get to his feet. D'Vorah helps him up, but he puts a hand to his head, still dizzy.

"What did my emperor see?" D'vorah asks.

"A mere cub... grown to be a jaguar." Kotal Kahn replies.

He says nothing more, but looks to where Mileena was for a moment, before noticing Manado's absence.

"Where is General Manado?" Kotal Kahn asks.

Erron Black and Ermac then walk up to the emperor.

"The edenians have taken him. Back to their hideout no doubt." Erron Black informs.

"Whatever Mileena wants with Manado, it won't end well for him. Send out the scouts. We must find his location as soon as possible." Kotal Kahn says.