In the Kuatan jungle, where Team S.F. have now reached, Takeda is speaking to Kenshi through his communicator.

"We're all in one piece. No one seems to be tailing us." Takeda says.

"Have you been able to determine where D'Vorah was headed?" Kenshi asks.

"We think she's headed for the Sea of Blood." Takeda says.

Another voice is then heard over the communicator.

"Damn!" Jax says.

"Dad?" Jacqui asks, surprised to hear her father's voice.

"She's coming here. To Quan Chi. There's a secret portal near the Sea of Blood. Quan Chi had it built when we were gettin' ready to invade Outworld." Jax explains.

"Great." Cassie says.

"Dad, what are you doing? Why are you in the Netherrealm?" Jacqui asks.

In the Netherrealm. Jax is walking along the Krossroads with Kenshi, Manado and a squad of Special Forces soldiers, speaking into the communicator.

"Well, now who's being overprotective?" Jax jokingly asks.

"I know you think you have things to make up for, but–" Jacqui says before being cut off.

"I'm doing this for Sonya. She's family." Jax explains.

"That's why I'm worried." Jacqui says.

"I'll be fine. You stay safe, y'hear?" Jax asks.

"You stay safe too. I love you. Briggs out." Jacqui says.

"Briggs out." Jax replies before he switches off the communicator.

"Feeling better? Or worse?" Kenshi asks.

"Not sure. Maybe both." Jax says.

Kenshi chuckles and places a hand on Jax's shoulder.

"They'll be fine." Kenshi assures.

"Question is, will I be?" Jax asks.

"Don't worry about it." Manado says.

They then walk over the Krossroad's bridge to the landscape before it. Several soldiers have set up a perimeter behind cover, facing outward into the hellish landscape beyond.

"We have good crossfire position. But why is it Quan Chi travels by conventional means?" Kenshi asks.

They then walk over to another person, one of the Netherrealms' more known denizens, for their answer.

"He seems unable to fully use his magic. He's weaker than when I was... in his service." Sareena explains.

"Sareena's dead on. He doesn't have Shinnok as a power source. He's still Quan Chi, though." Jax says.

Kenshi nods at this. The four of them take up a position behind some rocks as cover.

"I realise you agreed to guide and observe. But you are welcome to assume any role you wish." Kenshi says.

"I'm too rusty. I don't wanna jeopardise the mission." Jax says.

Kenshi silently accepts this.

"I'm just not so sure about this." Manado says, looking at the ground.

"Is this about our 'friends'?" Jax asks.

"Yes... I failed them once. I won't fail them again." Manado says.

Sareena looks into the distance beyond their cover.

"He approaches." Sareena informs.

The soldiers around them ready their assault rifles. Jax, Kenshi, and Manado crouch with Sareena behind cover, Jax with a growing dread visible on his face.

The hell-horses can be seen galloping toward the unseen ambush at full speed. Quan Chi leads the group. All of the available soldiers take cover and aim their weapons directly at the approaching horde. Accompanying Quan Chi are Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Kitana, Sindel, Kabal, Stryker and Nightwolf. Kenshi waits a few moments before giving his command.

"Now!" Kenshi commands.

The soldiers then open fire. They don't score any immediate hits, but the barrage is enough to spook the hell-mounts. They rear up on their hind legs and refuse to go forward. One soldier aims his gun and shoots a hell-horse on its shoulder, causing it to rear up and throw Kung Lao from his saddle. Seeing this, Sindel and Kitana both jump off their mounts and take cover. Jax notices this, looking very concerned.

Sindel then shoots off a blast of purple magic from her palm that hits a soldier near Jax. He falls to the ground, either unconscious or dead. Stryker aims a pistol from his mount and fires, blowing a hole through the skull of another soldier.

A bullet fired from another soldier clips Quan Chi's mount in the neck. It drops dead, falling on it's master's leg in the process. Liu Kang immediately dismounts from his hell-horse to assist Quan Chi. Two more soldiers shoot at Kabal's horse, and he responds to their poor aim by charging them. As the horse approaches, Kabal pulls his hook swords from their sheaths, readies one in his hand and decapitates a soldier as he gallops past.

Kenshi comes out of cover to assist, and Jax realises that the skirmish is going to end badly.

"Shit..." Jax says to himself.

As Kabal takes the head off another soldier, Kenshi pulls out Sento and yells out in Japanese, loosening off a telekinetic push that shoves Kabal off his mount. As he rushes in to engage Kabal, Liu Kang finishes pulling Quan Chi's leg out from under the hell-horse carcass. Several soldiers run up to engage them, and Liu Kang lets loose one of his fireballs, which now looks more like a black hole encased with dark red energy. The fireball lands dead centre of the soldiers, exploding into flames and roasting them instantly.

With the way now clear, Liu Kang takes his master by the arm and escorts him through the ambush, with Kung Lao following close by them. They rush past Jax's hiding spot, not noticing him as they move towards the Krossroads. Realising that no one else can stop them, Jax takes a second to ready himself and stands up from behind cover, charging after them.

Kung Lao turns around and spots Jax approaching, and moves to intercept him.

"Do not interfere, Jackson Briggs. Go back into hiding." Revenant Kung Lao says.

"Hiding. I guess I have been." Jax says.

They then fight. Kung Lao proves to have lost none of his speed and skill in undeath and the battle is a difficult one for Jax to go through. But his strength and power have not left him, and his cybernetic arms are as reliable as they always were. After a fierce melee, Jax manages to overpower the former Shaolin monk and leave him unconscious.

"That knocked some of my rust off." Jax says.

On the other side of the Krossroads, Liu Kang and Quan Chi have taken cover behind a large rock. More S.F. soldiers shoot their assault rifles at them, not hitting but forcing them to stay in cover. Liu Kang shoots off a dark fireball that kills one, but the others keep steady... until Liu Kang shoots another fireball that immolates them both.

With the soldiers dead, Liu Kang motions to his master and they make a break for it. Hot on their heels, Jax scoops up an assault rifle. He takes aim, but a banshee scream and the purple soundwaves it produces, courtesy of Sindel, knock him not just off his feet, but into a roll that takes him right off the Krossroads bridge. Jax only stops himself from plummeting into the lava below by grabbing the edge of the bridge with one hand.

Sindel walks over to where he hangs on, laughing with glee. She stomps on the hand, trying to force Jax to let go. He hangs on but his metal fingers are strained by the action, especially when Sindel grinds her heel in.

She rears her foot back for another stomp, but at the last moment Jax lunges up, grabbing her by the ankle. Taken off balance, Sindel is dragged off the edge of the bridge along with Jax. Instinctively, she whips her hair out and manages to latch it onto the giant rock seen earlier. The effort stops them both from falling into the lava.

Jax keeps a death-grip on Sindel's legs, preventing her from kicking him off. With no choice, and an increasing pressure on her neck, Sindel draws herself back onto the bridge by her hair, taking Jax up with her.

As Sindel's hair loosens itself from the rock, they both quickly get to their feet, Jax in a fighting stance, Sindel with her arms open and ready to hug him, bizarrely enough.

"Welcome home, Jackson Briggs." Revenant Sindel greets.

"This hell is not my home." Jax says.

"Then why be fool enough to return?" Revenant Sindel asks.

"I got a family to protect." Jax replies.

"Quan Chi reunited me with my family. He will do the same for you." Sindel says.

They then fight. Facing off against the woman who killed him is yet another giant challenge for Jackson Briggs, but whatever power Sindel had possessed in life has been considerably weakened by her years in the Netherrealm. As such, Jax is able to fend off Sindel's attacks and take the fight directly to her, which ends with her down and defeated at his hands.

"Quan Chi's not helping you." Jax says.

Behind Jax on the ambush spot before the bridge, Kenshi is engaged with Sento against Kabal's hook swords, and Sareena is fighting Kitana. She throws two roundhouse kicks that Kitana evades and blocks a fan strike, but takes a punch across the face. She staggers back and tries to reason with Kitana.

"It is possible to escape Quan Chi, Kitana. I can aid you as Bi-Han aided me." Sareena says.

"You became too familiar with Bi-Han. Allowed emotion to corrupt you." Revenant Kitana says.

"Emotion freed me!" Sareena says before punching Kitana in the face.

Kitana swipes low with her bladed fans, but Sareena backflips to avoid them. She throws a crescent kick that Kitana catches, but lashes out with an enziguri kick with her other leg, sending the former Edenian sprawling. Sareena kips up as Kitana gets back to her feet, but she takes a moment too long and eats a flying kick to the chest from the revenant that knocks her out.

Kitana stands over her unconscious frame and prepares to finish her, but Jax calls out to her as she readies her fans.

"I don't understand, Kitana. I mean, I hate the things I did here. But you enjoy being a revenant!" Jax says.

Kitana steps away from Sareena and into Jax's path.

"It suits me. I am a victim, no longer." Kitana says.

She then charges at Jax and somersaults over him. Jax turns around quickly and staggers her with a right hook. She falls back into a fighting stance.

"Yeah, I know what you mean, but this ain't the way to assert yourself." Jax informs.

They then fight. Once more, Jax finds himself taking on an enemy with speed and skill superior to his own, but with his confidence restored in his previous bouts, Jax allows his strength to truly shine through here. It isn't long before Kitana also finds herself in the same condition as Sindel and Kung Lao; defeated on the floor.

"I gotta believe there's hope for you." Jax says.

Kitana then gets back on her feet but before she can fight Jax again, Manado steps forwards to face her.

"You sure about this, Manado?" Jax asks.

"I'll be fine. Go help Kenshi." Manado says before Jax walks off.

Kitana walks towards Manado, preparing a fighting stance.

"Never thought I'd see you here Manado." Kitana says.

"I have a duty to defend the realms from the likes of the one who enslaved you." Manado says.

"Quan Chi has freed me and reunited me with my mother." Revenant Kitana says.

"You mean the one who nearly killed you!" Manado says.

"Because she was bewitched by Shao Kahn. Now nothing can separate us anymore." Revenant Kitana says.

Manado then sighs.

"You know it pains me to do this." Manado says, assuming his fighting stance.

"I know it does, and when you fall, you will be in for a surprise." Revenant Kitana says.

They then fight. Despite Manado's reluctance to fight the woman he deeply cares for, he knows there is no reasoning, so he uses everything he has against the former princess. Kitana's undead power along with her skills however is not enough against Manado's skills. After a brief and painful battle, Kitana calls onto the floor, unconscious.

"I just hope one day, I can restore you." Manado says.

Manado turns around to the ambush site and assesses the situation. The S.F. troops have repelled the rest of the revenants, but many are dead and those who've survived look in need of hospital beds.

Manado and Jax walk over to Kenshi and Sareena. Kenshi is resting near a rock, and Sareena is crouched near a badly injured soldier who's helmet looks like charcoal.

"Mother o' God..." Jax says.

"We've lost many. The rest are wounded." Kenshi informs.

"And our "friends"?" Jax asks.

"The tide turned against them. They fled." Sareena says.

"How you two doin'?" Jax asks.

"I'm fine." Kenshi says.

As he says this, he staggers. There's a large wound on his right leg that has gone straight through his armor to the flesh below.

"That's what I thought." Jax says.

He then turns towards Manado.

"How are you holding up?" Jax asks.

"Physically, I'm fine. Mentally, I'm not sure." Manado says.

Jax then turns around toward the Krossroads.

"Where are you going?" Sareena asks.

"Gonna bag me a sorcerer." Jax replies.

"Alone?" Kenshi asks.

"You'll be killed!" Sareena says.

"Wouldn't be the first time." Jax says before walking down the bridge.

"I can't just let him go alone." Manado says.

He then tries to walk off but a hand pulls him on his arm. He turns and sees Sareena.

"Be careful out there." Sareena warns.

"I will." Manado says.

"Listen. I need your help. I may be a demon but I have no wish to remain trapped here in this hellish world. Would you aid me?" Sareena asks.

"After we deal with Quan Chi, I will do what I can." Manado says.

"Thank you." Sareena says before letting go of Manado, allowing him to try and catch up with Jax.

In Quan Chi's fortress. Liu Kang stands over Quan Chi, who is seated on a throne.

"In your weakened state, is it possible for you to release Shinnok?" Revenant Liu Kang asks.

"I am more than capable." Quan Chi assures.

"And D'Vorah? Are you certain she is capable?" Revenant Liu Kang asks.

"She WILL bring the amulet to me." Quan Chi says.

"And I'll be waiting for her." Jax says.

Liu Kang turns around to see Jax and Manado.

"Jackson Briggs. Manado. A pleasant surprise." Quan Chi says.

"Nothing' pleasant about it." Jax says.

"Especially when it involves the likes of you, sorcerer." Manado says.

As Jax approaches, Liu Kang gets into his fighting stance.

"So you return to Raiden? The fools follow fools." Revenant Liu Kang says before firing a dark fireball.

Jax sidesteps it and walks forward while Manado does the same.

"Raiden did his best. He saved Earthrealm!" Jax says.

Liu Kang then charges up another fireball.

"HE MURDERED ME!" Revenant Liu Kang yells.

Liu Kang throws the fireball, but Jax ducks the projectile and continues forward while Manado moves towards the right and moves forward.

"That isn't true!" Jax says.

Liu Kang throws another fireball. Jax dodges this one as well.

"You were not there! He stole EVERYTHING from me!" Revenant Liu Kang yells.

"I was there. And he defended himself. His lightning just accidentally backfired." Manado explains.

Once more, Liu Kang throws a fireball. Jax doesn't bother dodging this one; he bats it away with his mechanical arms. He and Manado have now reached Liu Kang, much to Quan Chi's surprise.

"You do not deserve to rejoin us." Revenant Liu Kang says.

Jax only chuckles at this. Liu Kang throws two last fireballs, but each one is knocked away by Jax, who pounds his fist into his palm, ready for battle. Manado walks over to Quan Chi to battle him.

"Instead you will learn... there are worse things than death." Revenant Liu Kang says.

They then fight. The battle proves to be one of the toughest of Jax's life. The former Champion of Mortal Kombat has all of the speed, strength, stamina and skill he had when he was alive, and he's every bit the fighter he was when he defeated Shao Kahn. But Jax's own skill and courage give him the strength he needs to keep fighting, and even though the fight is close, Jax manages to take Liu Kang down.

"I wish I could help you, Liu Kang." Jax says.

With no more bodies to help him, Quan Chi gets thrown into the throne by Manado. Quan Chi then rises as Jax approaches, seemingly to reason with him.

"Jax, there is no need for hostil–" Quan Chi says before being cut off.

"Just stop talking!" Jax says as he then punctuates his point by uppercutting Quan Chi square in the mouth.

The sorcerer is thrown high into the air and crashes into a wall of skulls. He slumps down, KO'ed in one hit.

"S'good to be back." Jax says.

He then switches on his communicator.

"Kenshi. we got 'im." Jax informs.

"Excellent work." Kenshi says.

"I'm staying here. D'Vorah's on her way. You need to get Quan Chi to Sonya. She'll make 'im spill his guts." Jax says before hanging up.

"I would aid you, but I must go to aid somebody in need. Be careful, D'Vorah is one nasty piece of work." Manado informs.

"I'll be fine. Good luck." Jax says.

Manado nods before walking out of the fortress. Later, Manado can be seen with Sareena in the deeper parts of the Netherrealm by many lava falls.

"You said there was another demon who wishes freedom from the Netherrealm?" Manado asks.

"Yes, and if I remember correctly, she should be somewhere behind one of the falls." Sareena says.

"She?" Manado asks in confusion.

"Her name is Ashrah. She and I were once part of Quan Chi's sisterhood of shadow before defecting and turning against him." Sareena informs.

As the two start searching behind the falls, they then hear what sounded like someone fighting. They then rush towards the sound which came from one of the falls and they discover a woman fighting a pair of Oni. The woman appear to be wearing white attire with strings of yellow in around the wrists, body, and ankles. The woman also appears to be wearing a hat similar to Raiden's, only pure white with a yellow strap holding it on her head, and it has some form of a cape.

The woman appears to be fighting a pair of Oni that have attacked her. After the woman kills the oni pair, she turns to face Manado and Sareena.

"Who are you? How did you find me?" Ashrah asks, wielding her kriss.

Sareena then steps forward.

"Stand down Ashrah, he wishes no harm towards you." Sareena says.

Ashrah then drops her fighting stance and puts away her dagger.

"Sister? What are you doing here?" Ashrah asks.

"This is Manado. He wishes to aid us finally escape the netherrealm." Sareena explains.

"Interesting. If he really does wish to aid us both, he must first prove that he can be trusted." Ashrah says.

"And how would I do that?" Manado asks.

"By defeating me in kombat." Ashrah says.

"If I must." Manado says before approaching her and assuming his fighting stance.

Sareena thens turns towards Manado.

"Don't underestimate her." Sareena warns.

"Trust me. That's the last thing I would do." Manado assures.

Sareena then backs up, allowing the two kombatants to engage in kombat.

"Let us see what you can do." Ashrah says.

They then fight. Ashrah proves to be quite the challenge using techniques that Manado has never seen before. Plus her demonic magic and skills using her kriss gives her quite an edge, but Manado quickly adapts to the fighting style and learns how to counter the attacks. In the end, Manado is victorious.

"You have fought well, Ashrah." Manado says.

Ashrah struggles to stand so Manado offers his hand and Ashrah accepts.

"You fight with honor and humility, a true rarity in all the realms." Ashrah says.

"Thank you, Ashrah." Manado says, bowing to her.

Sareena then stands beside Ashrah.

"Now that I know you wish no ill will towards me and my sister, how do you plan to free us from the Netherrealm?" Ashrah asks.

"I have an idea, but we would need access to the ancient texts that Quan Chi used to learn sorcery." Manado says.

"There's an old temple south from here, near the sea of blood. Quan Chi used to venture there on occasion. It just might have what we're looking for." Ashrah explains.

"Then that is where we go. Lead the way." Manado says before he, Ashrah and Sareena walk off to find the temple.