Pain, Guilt, Sadness, and Despair. All these emotions are what a young Manado Chujin is feeling right now as he has felt for years as he is sitting in the corner of the prison cell he was thrown into. All he can think about is that faithful day that led to him being trapped here. He was just an ordinary 6 year old child in the realm of Outworld, living with his parents, Ren and Delia Chujin, a couple that were originally citizens from a realm called Osh-Tekk before it was conquered and merged into Outworld by Shao Kahn, the emperor of Outworld. Those that survived were forced to become a part of Outworld's diverse population, Ren and Delia being part of them. Manado was born after the invasion but his parents helped fill him in on the life an Osh-Tekk lives. When Manado turned 6 however, everything changed. Shao Kahn ordered one of his minions, a sorcerer by the name of Shang Tsung to collect a select group of people that no one will miss and turn them into more of his minions and unfortunately, the Chujins became Shang Tsung's target. The sorcerer broke into the Chuijin home and though Ren and Delia did their best, Shang Tsung killed the both of them and their souls became a part of his collection, much to his delight. Shang Tsung then turned his head and noticed the young Manado has witnessed what has transpired. With a devish thought in mind and a smirk plastered on his face, Shang Tsung took the child to the flesh pits and began to conduct various experiments on the child. And that was Manado's life for the next half dozen years. Although he stayed strong, Manado knew there wasn't any hope of him escaping the endless cycle of torture and experimentation.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, Manado heard footsteps coming from the staircase, thinking Shang Tsung was returning to continue the experiments. But then a voice calls out that he didn't recognize.

"What in the name of..." The voice says in shock.

Manado turns his head to see a woman wearing a blue two piece dress looking around the flesh pits. The woman stood at a height of 5'9' with brown eyes and flowing black hair. As soon as Manado's eyes registered the appearance of the woman, he knew who it was. It was Shao Kahn's daughter, Princess Kitana. Although he never met her in person, all of Outworld knows about the Princess and what she looks like. For Manado, maybe this could be the opportunity to finally escape the flesh pits, so he came up with an idea.

"Princess!" Manado calls out.

Kitana appeared to have heard him since she took a fighting stance as she slowly looked around, awaiting potential danger.

"Who's there? Show yourself." Kitana demands.

"Over here!" Manado calls out.

Kitana hesitantly heads in Manado's direction until she reaches the prison cell where she the young child, beaten and battered.

"By the gods, what is a child doing in a place like this?" Kitana asks.

"The sorcerer kidnapped me and locked me in here. Can you please let me out?" Manado asks.

"Now why would I do that? For all I know, you could be a threat." Kitana replies.

"Please your highness, I can't stand the torture anymore! I can't stand the horrible experiments! Why couldn't he just kill me like he did with mom and dad?" Manado says as he is on the verge to cry.

Kitana becomes surprised by the revelation.

"He... what?" Kitana asks.

"Shang Tsung killed my parents and took me here and it's been bad. Please! I can't take it anymore." Manado says before he begins to silently sob with his face in his hands.

Kitana began to feel bad for the kid. To her, it reminded her to how she lost her mother at a young age. It broke her heart to hear about her 'suicide', knowing that she took her own life and from her perspective, essentially abandoned her.

And now, seeing this little kid locked up in the flesh pits, going through the same tragedies she went through and then has been beaten relentlessly for the sake of experimentation, it angered her to know that Shang Tsung could do this to someone so young. She now knew what she had to do. She then took her bladed fans and broke the lock and the door opened as a result.

Manado heard the sound and looked up and with his watered eyes saw Kitana through the now opened door with her hand reaching out to him.

"Let's get you out of here." Kitana says.

Manado finally showed a small smile through his tears, something he hasn't done in years, and grabbed her hand, with the newly found hope that he can escape the pain that has been put on him. Kitana then kneels down to his level.

"I didn't catch your name." Kitana says.

"Manado. Manado Chujin." Manado replies.

"Manado... it suits you. Now let's get out of this horrendous place." Kitana says, and with that, the two finally walk back up the stairs and leave the flesh pits.

A short time has passed and Kitana and Manado can be seen in a desert like field, located just outside Shao Kahn's koliseum, much to Manado's confusion.

"Why are we here, your highness?" Manado asks.

Kitana then kneels down to Manado's height and looks him in the eye while grasping his shoulders.

"This will be difficult to understand, but I need you to listen, ok?" Kitana asks.

Manado nods his head in acknowledgement.

"If you stay in Outworld, you would be at a great risk of being recaptured by Shang Tsung. Which is why I need you to leave the realm." Kitana explains.

"Leave the realm?" Manado asks in confusion.

Kitana then takes out a blue jewel and places it in Manado's right palm.

"This will open a portal. Use it to leave Outworld." Kitana says.

"But... what do I do? Where do I go once I go through the portal?" Manado asks.

"I don't know. All I know is you will be in a safer place." Kitana says.

"Will I ever see you again?" Manado asks.

"Maybe. Maybe one day." Kitana replies.

Manado smiles and hugs Kitana, much to her surprise.

"Thank you." Manado says.

Kitana stays silent but hugs him back in acknowledgement. After a brief moment, they end the hug.

"So how do I use this?" Manado asks, looking down at the jewel in his hands.

"Hold it out in front of you and the jewel will do the rest." Kitana explains.

Manado nods before turning around. He then holds out the jewels out in front of him and after a moment of concentration, the jewel begins to glow in a color of dark but bright blue and a portal of the same color appears before him, much to his surprise. He then looks towards Kitana, who gestures to Manado to proceed through the portal. Manado then walks up to the portal but just before he walks through the portal, he looks towards Kitana one last time.

"Until we meet again, your highness." Manado says.

And with that, he turns his head back and walks through the portal, the portal closing up behind him. Kitana, who continues to look upon the spot where the portal used to be, smiles through her mask.

"Until me meet again." Kitana says.

A short time later, Manado finds himself in a large city of some kind, much more futuristic than anything Manado has seen as he doesn't recognize anything he is seeing. Knowing he needs to find someone to help him figure out where he is, he begins to wander down the strange stone roads ahead of him when a voice is heard from behind.

"You lost, little boy?" The voice asks.

Manado turns towards the voice and sees a male with what could be described as tattoos on his arms and head. Behind him are two other men, displaying similar tattoos, signaling that his group is some kind of a gang. Not understanding the situation, Manado greets them.

"I'm just trying to figure out where I am, sir." Manado replies.

"You're in New York kid. Our turf." The leader says.

"You're turf? So you're like the king or something?" Manado asks.

The gang members look at each other laughing.

"Listen kid, we're not kings. We just run the streets around these parts and you're trespassing." The leader says.

"I'm sorry. I'll be leaving now." Manado says before turning to leave.

The gang however, have a different idea as they grab onto his shoulder to prevent him from moving.

"I don't think so kid. Instead you'll see what happens when you trespass on our turf." The leader says as he then pulls out a pocket knife.

Manado now understands the situation and tries to break free but finds he is unable to be released from the man's grip. So he then starts kicking and manages to hit the man's most sensitive spot between his legs and he releases him, which allows Manado to turn and run off as fast as he can.

"Son of a bitch! Get that bastard! Find him!" The leader orders as the other two gangsters chase after Manado with their leader behind them.

Manado runs through the alleyways of New York in an attempt to escape the people that were after him but he eventually runs in the wrong direction and finds himself stuck in a corner with a fence blocking his path. He attempts to climb up the fence but it proves futile as he falls. He then curls up into a ball against the fence as he sees the gangsters close in front of him with knives in their hands.

"You got guts kid, I'll give you that. But I think it's time to say goodbye." The leader laughed.

The gangsters then ready up their knives to strike Manado but before they can, the three are suddenly shocked by electricity. Manado looks up to see them being shocked, much to his surprise. The three gangsters then fall to the ground which allows Manado to see another man behind them approaching him.

The man was wearing what appears to be a white full body ninja outfit with a blue ninja vest over it. The man was also wearing arm wristbands and a straw hat on his head. When Manado looked into his eyes and saw them glowing with light blue electricity. The electricity then fades from his eyes but are still glowing in a light blue hue.

"Are you alright little one?" The strange man asks.

"Y-yes. How'd you do that?" Manado asks.

"I am Raiden. Protector of Earthrealm. God of Thunder." Raiden introduces.

"I'm Manado Chujin. I come from a place called Outworld." Manado says.

Raiden then widens his eyes hearing the realms name.

"What is an Outworlder doing in Earthrealm?" Raiden asks.

"I was forced to flee from someone named Shang Tsung." Manado admits.

"Shang Tsung?" Raiden asks.

"Yes. He killed my family and took me in for torture and experimentation. But I managed to escape and managed to arrive here with this." Manado says as he shows Raiden the blue jewel.

Raiden looks at the jewel with great interest. Then Raiden comes with a solution.

"Well Manado Chujin, you are a very brave one to escape from the sorcerer's clutches. There is a place where I can take you, where your life can be changed for the better. The Wu Shi Academy. The monks there will help you. Outworld threatens Earthrealm and I am in need to gather champions. Would you like to be one of them?" Raiden explains and ask.

Manado was shocked. A god asks him to be one of his champions? He never expected that to happen. Manado than thought of the situation he's in. He has nowhere to go. And if he declined, he'd be living cold and hungry for the rest of his life. So his decision has been made.

"I accept the offer, Lord Raiden." Manado says as he does a slight bow.

Raiden then shares a slight smile.

"Then let us begin." Raiden says.

He then takes the boy's hands and uses his lightning to teleport him and Manado to the Wu Shi Academy. It looks like Manado's story is just beginning.