At the Sky Temple. Team S.F. and Manado creep up behind a wall overlooking a crevice as D'Vorah speaks with Liu Kang, Kitana and Sindel.

"Lord Shinnok is nearly finished. Soon the Jinsei's corruption will be irreversible." D'Vorah informs.

"The invasion can then proceed. Raiden and his allies will be unable to offer resistance." Revenant Kitana says.

Kung Jin missteps, and some stones crumble under his feet and fall into the crevice below them. Takeda and Cassie stop Kung Jin from falling.

"Once the realm falls, our path to victory will be clear. Advise Lord Shinnok that the Oni and Orochi are ready. At his command, we'll unleash them on Earthrealm." Revenant Liu Kang orders.

D'Vorah nods and walks into the Sky Temple. The revenants of Manado, Kung Lao and Smoke walk up to the rest of the revenants. Manado takes notice of his revenant counterpart.

"Not him again." Manado says.

Zaveer sees who Manado's referring and a look of horror is plastered on his face.

"How is this possible? You're not even dead." Zaveer asks.

"That will be explained another time. Focus on our objective." Manado says.

Zaveer nods in head as the Chujins listen in on the revenants.

"Have you found Raiden's portal to the Heavens?" Revenant Liu Kang asks.

"Yes, but his wards protect it. We can't break through." Revenant Kung Lao says.

Team S.F. peer over the wall along with the Chujins at the revenants.

"That is unacceptable. After Earthrealm is destroyed, we must complete Lord Shinnok's vengeance; invade the Heavens and destroy the Elder Gods." Revenant Kitana says.

"Come." Revenant Liu Kang says before he, Kung Lao and Smoke/Enenra walk off.

"Make war on the Heavens?! If Shinnok can take down the Elder Gods–" Takeda says before being cut off.

"End of the universe. Got it." Jacqui says.

"Kung Lao... to see him like this..." Kung Jin says.

"We'll all be hangin' 'round the Netherrealm water cooler if we don't pull this off. C'mon." Cassie says.

As they creep along the wall, a rock comes loose from where Takeda puts his foot. Unlike Kung Jin before him, the rest of Team S-F or Manado are unable to catch him and he falls, just barely grabbing into the crevice edge in time.

"Takeda!" Jacqui calls out.

She reaches her hand for Takeda to grab. Sindel and Kitana notice the noise. Realising they've been spotted, Cassie motions to Kung Jin, Zaveer and Manado, then they spring out of cover, running forward and engaging in kombat.

Kung Jin swings his staff at Kitana as Cassie fends off Sindel's strikes. Kitana gets through Jin's staff swings, punches him in the stomach and kicks him in the face as he bends over, staggering him. Zaveer attempts to strike Kitana, but she blocks his strikes and staggers him back. Manado confronts his revenant self.

"Yet again we meet. With your disgrace of a son no less." Revenant Manado says.

"Yet again. You insult him at your peril." Manado replies.

"Not likely." Revenant Manado says.

As the Manado engage in kombat, Cassie punches Sindel, who blocks two more strikes from her and sends her reeling with a punch of her own. Cassie begins to retreat as Sindel advances on her.

"Has your mother ever told you what I did to her friends? Pummeled them all in the blink of an eye." Revenant Sindel says.

"And your own daughter. You proud of that?" Cassie asks.

"We are bonded in death. You will join us and I will give you a proper upbringing!" Revenant Sindel says.

They then fight. Without the magic of Shang Tsung and his consumed souls in Sindel's body, she is unable to bring up the same power and strength that killed so many of Earthrealm's warriors. That is why she finds herself unable to take down Cassie so easily and that allows the leader of Team S.F. to rally and beat her down, eventually leaving her unconscious on the ground.

"Nice offer, Mommy Dearest, but I'll pass." Cassie says.

Zaveer is sent flying towards Cassie who catches him before he hits the ground. As Sindel rises, Kitana join s her at her side.

"I'll keep the former empress occupied." Zaveer says.

Cassie nods her head before charging towards the princess, causing her to be pushed back. Zaveer then confronts Sindel.

"Manado told me of your existence. And I must say, I am very disappointed." Revenant Sindel says.

"The feeling's entirely mutual, Sindel." Zaveer says.

"Then let us begin." Revenant Sindel says.

They then fight. Sindel quickly discovers that Zaveer fights in a very similar manner as Manado but with more aggression. And that aggression gives him the edge in this fight. After an intense battle, Sindel is knocked down to the ground.

"Sorry for the beat down, Grandmother." Zaveer says.

Jacqui is still trying to reach down and pull Takeda up from a sticky end at the bottom of the crevice the Sky Temple rests on. They both strain to reach each other's outstretched hand. Takeda suddenly loses his grip and falls... but Jacqui leans down and grabs his hand in the nick of time. Both of them struggle for a few moments, but eventually Jacqui pulls Takeda back up.

"I owe you one." Takeda says.

She then pats him on the shoulder.

"I'll remember that." Jacqui says.

Kung Jin yells out as he is flung backwards, crashing into the large gong in the temple courtyard. He passes out from the collision.

As Kitana moves in to finish him, Cassie calls out to her.

"Back off, princess!" Cassie says.

"You think mere words can stop me?" Revenant Kitana asks.

Kitana turns as she spots Takeda, Zaveer and Jacqui running toward her. The three of them surround the revenant. Revenant Manado is then forced to join her in being surrounded, courtesy of Manado.

"Thanks for the assist." Cassie says.

"Any time." Jacqui replies.

"Tick tock, ladies." Takeda says.

"We can talk about this later." Manado says.

Kitana blocks strikes from Cassie and Jacqui with her fans, kicking Cassie away at the same time she punches Jacqui backward. Takeda lands two punches across her face, but she blocks a third and counters with a roundhouse kick that staggers him.

Manado then charges at his Revenant self but gets pushed back from a surprise punch to the face. Revenant Manado then blocks a strike from Zaveer before grabbing him and throwing him into Manado, knocking them both to the ground.

Kitana then levitates Takeda and Jacqui into the air with her fan-nado attack and chucks one of her fans into Takeda's abdomen. She follows up on Jacqui by throwing her remaining fan into her shoulder. With them both down, Kitana recalls one of the fans to her and stabs Manado in the side.

Now that they are down, Kitana recalls her fan blades and twirls them around, turning to face Cassie.

"No!" Cassie calls out.

"You wish to die first? So be it." Revenant Kitana says.

They then fight. Kitana proves to be a huge test for Cassie, as her speed and skill in battle matches and surpasses the young Earthrealmer. However, Cassie shows that she has tricks of her own up her sleeve, and these allow her to remain in the fight and take it to the revenant. After a fierce battle, Cassie manages to emerge victorious.

"You're not killing anyone." Cassie assures.

Manado can be seen writhing in pain as his revenant self engulfs him with his red energy. In quick fashion, Zaveer kicks him in his side, knocking him down and ceasing his magic. Revenant Manado then rises again and confronts Zaveer.

"Didn't think you'd have the stones to attack your own father." Revenant Manado says.

"You are not my father, creature. You are merely an aberration that must be disposed." Zaveer says.

"It matters not. You will watch your father die just like I did, once you have been pummeled." Revenant Manado says.

They then fight. Zaveer finds himself in a tough fight as Manado's revenant proves to be just as skilled of a fighter as Manado. Knowing the revenant will know everything he knows, Zaveer relies on what his mother has taught him, making him unpredictable in his kombat. After a devastating battle, Zaveer manages to knocked Revenant Manado to the ground.

"Never... threaten my family." Zaveer says.

As Kung Jin pulls himself to a seated position, Cassie rushes over to Takeda as Zaveer rushes over to Manado.

"Help Jacqui!" Cassie orders.

Realising the situation is dire, Kung Jin does as he's told for once. Cassie helps Takeda to his feet. He's favouring his abdomen, which is bloodied up from Kitana's fan.

"Messed you up pretty bad." Cassie says.

"Ugh, great bedside manner. I can fight." Takeda says.

Cassie puts his arm around her shoulder to support him. They then walk over to Kung Jin and Jacqui, who's sitting down and favouring her shoulder.

"Jacqui?" Cassie asks.

"It's nothing. Just like Kurdistan." Jacqui assures.

They then see Zaveer and Manado walking towards them, with Zaveer keeping Manado steadily upright.

"How you two holding up?" Cassie asks.

"I've been through worse." Manado says.

"Yeah. We're okay." Zaveer assures.

Team S.F. and Manado then hear someone call out in Chinese. They turn to spot Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Smoke rushing toward them.

"You four go. Jacqui and I'll handle them." Takeda says.

"What?" Cassie asks.

"We'll just slow you down." Jacqui says.

"Forget it!" Kung Jin says.

"That's suicide!" Manado says.

Cassie realises the truth in their words. She looks to them and pulls out her pistols.

"Damn it. Keep your heads down. I'll see you on the other side." Cassie says.

She nods to Kung Jin and they take off into the Temple.

Zaveer looks towards Jacqui.

"I'll come back for you." Zaveer says.

Jacqui responds by kissing Zaveer on the lips, giving him surprise. She ends the kiss a second later.

"I'll be fine." Jacqui assures.

Zaveer nods his head before rushing into the temple.

Manado turns towards Jacqui and Takeda.

"Take care." Manado says before following Zaveer, Cassie and Kung Jin into the temple.

In the Jinsei chamber, Shinnok has now completely corrupted it with his presence. Raiden is still trapped in the skeleton hand, barely conscious. D'Vorah is with the cocooned Johnny Cage, watching as her insects slowly eat into his face.

"They taste your flesh. Burrow deep. Inside you they will grow. Gnaw your innards." D'Vorah says.

Johnny is still fully conscious during this horrific ordeal, but he refuses to cry out in pain. Cassie, Manado, Zaveer and Kung Jin then rush into the Jinsei Chamber.

"By the gods!" Kung Jin says.

"DAD!" Cassie calls out.

D'Vorah turns around at their voices and engages them in kombat. She blocks a kick from Kung Jin and a punch from Cassie, kicking her in the stomach and forcing her backward. She blocks a punch from Jin and extends one of her stingers, stabbing him in the chest. Manado rushes to aid him as Zaveer pushes D'Vorah back away from them but then strikes him with her fist and ducks a right hand from Cassie. Once more, D'Vorah launches her stinger, but Cassie catches the appendage. She blocks D'Vorah's strikes as best she can, but is forced backward by a punch to the face.

"First father, then daughter. Will they taste the same?" D'Vorah wonders.

They then fight. Under normal circumstances, the fighting prowess and powers of D'Vorah would have been too much for Cassie to handle alone. But now the daughter of Johnny Cage fights with an aggression and strength unknown to her before. She relentlessly pummells the Kytinn, not stopping until she is well and truly unconscious at her feet.

"You're the bug? I'm the windshield." Cassie says.

D'Vorah rises again and charges towards Cassie, but then Zaveer teleports from the air and sends out a kick, knocking D'Vorah to the ground.

"Help your father. I got this." Zaveer says.

As Cassie rushes towards her father, Zaveer confronts D'Vorah.

"This one enjoyed ending your mother's life. Now her son will suffer the same fate." D'Vorah says.

They then fight. By normal circumstances, D'Vorah would be a difficult opponent to defeat, but the comment she made about Mileena angered Zaveer and increased his aggression, making his attacks erratic and unpredictable, giving him a surprising edge and after a long battle, D'Vorah is knocked unconscious.

"That was for my mother, Kytinn." Zaveer says.

Outside in the Sky Temple courtyard, Takeda is fending off attacks from Revenant Manado, Sindel and Kitana as best he can, while Jacqui is busy fighting off Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Smoke. Takeda catches a break by punching Sindel backwards, but Jacqui gets pummelled by Liu Kang and Smoke. Kitana lays into Takeda with some punches and Revenant Manado hits him with a roundhouse kick as Jacqui manages to uppercut Liu Kang.

Back in the Jinsei Chamber, the insects burrowing into Johnny's face have all died once D'Vorah fell unconscious. He looks up to find his daughter trying to free him from the cocoon.

"Hey... Punkin..." Johnny says softly.

"I'm a little old for "Punkin"." Cassie says.

The cocoon proves to be tough for Cassie to open, but she still goes at it.

"No... Get... Shinnok." Johnny says.

"But–" Cassie says.

"I love you." Johnny says before he falls silent and his eyes close.

"Dad?" Cassie asks.

Before she can check if Johnny has died, the corrupted form of Shinnok descends from the Jinsei onto the chamber floor itself, looking toward her.

"So you are the issue of Johnny Cage. Fitting that I exterminate his entire line." Corrupted Shinnok says.

Cassie's fear at the sight of the fallen Elder God is quickly replaced by determination and resolve.

"You want him, you're gonna go through me." Cassie says.

As Shinnok strides towards her, Cassie lets rip with several punches that he effortlessly blocks. One slips through, but it doesn't faze him. She throws a supergirl punch, but only hurts her hand when she punches his skull. Shinnok throws a light jab that almost floors Cassie before grabbing her by the throat and lifting her into the air. He throws a measured punch to her face that sends her flying across the chamber, just barely conscious.

"Yes, that's better. Watch, Miss Cage, as I rend your father's flesh." Corrupted Shinnok.

Shinnok then summons magic into his palm and blasts Johnny square in the face with a red beam of power. This time, Johnny is unable to keep from screaming in pain. Cassie looks up and struggles to her knees as Shinnok breaks off the spell.

This is what awaits those who defy me: excruciating, exquisite death." Corrupted Shinnok says.

He then blasts Johnny again in the face with his magic, prompting more screams from him.

Cassie gets back to her feet and charges forward.

"You son of a BITCH!" Cassie yells.

As she runs at Shinnok, the same green energy that surrounded her father twenty years ago envelops her as well. As Shinnok blasts her with his magic instead, she puts up her hands to block it. Like Johnny before her, the magic has no effect and she throws off the blast. She takes a moment to look at the glow on her body.

"Holy shit, it does run in the family!" Cassie realizes.

"Your father's power will not save you. You cannot hope to survive!" Corrupted Shinnok says.

A voice then gains their attention.

"Shes not alone." Manado says.

Corrupted Shinnok looks to see Zaveer and Manado standing before him, ready for kombat.

"You? You are no more than mere mortals." Corrupted Shinnok laughs.

"That is where you are wrong!" Manado announces.

Zaveer then summons purple energy that surrounds his body.

"Turns out power runs in the family like you, Cassie." Zaveer says, earning a smile from Cassie.

"With that out of the way, tell me Shinnok. Have you ever considered why the elder gods made me Outworld's protector?" Manado asks.

"No. But they were foolish to make you its champion." Corrupted Shinnok says.

"Well today, you will see the level of power coursing through me." Manado says.

Suddenly, the entire temple begins to shake. Zaveer, Cassie and Shinnok begin to stagger as the temple shakes. They then look at Manado as black smoke suddenly begin to engulf Manado's body. As the black smoke fully engulfs his body, the smoke begins to float into the air as bright red glowing eyes appear. As the shaking ceased, red energy forms around what would be considered arms on what now looks like a black puff of smoke with a humanoid shape.

"Manado?" Cassie asks in shock.

"There is no Manado for the moment. There is only... Nightmare!" Nightmare says in a deep, demon like voice.

Nightmare then turns towards Shinnok as he walks to stand next to Cassie and Zaveer.

"Now, we will end your reign of terror Shinnok... Forever." Nightmare says.

"Ha! No matter the power you may now possess, your fate has already been sealed. No one can stop me now." Corrupted Shinnok says.

They then fight. The battle is truly epic, with neither the empowered Cassie, transformed Manado, empowered Zaveer or Corrupted Shinnok getting any clear advantage for the majority of it. For what seems like an age, the daughter of Johnny Cage, the son of Manado Chujin, the protector of Outworld and the fallen Elder God fight with everything they have, but eventually Cassie Cage, Zaveer Chujin and Nightmare gain an advantage and with one final assault, Cassie knocks Shinnok to the ground.

"You got Caged." Cassie says.

As Shinnok rises, Cassie throws a knee that he blocks, but hits a kick that connects to his stomach. She follows through with a punch to his abdomen, an overhead punch to his head, a low roundhouse kick to his crotch and a knee to his face, staggering him. Zaveer then sends a wave of purple energy towards Shinnok. As he writhes in pain, Zaveer jumps forward and lands one more punch to Shinnok's face. Nodding at Cassie who nods back. The two finish him off with a somersaulting kick that leaves the fallen Elder God on the floor.

But Shinnok doesn't know when to stop as he rises again, so Nightmare decides to finish the job. He summons his magic and summons his shadow demons and sends them to attack the fallen Elder God. The Camazotz fly down and hold his arms up as the Fenrir bite down onto his legs, rending him immobile. A pair of Abaddons join at Nightmare's side and the three then blast Shinnok with red fireballs and red energy. After multiple blasts to Shinnok's body, the shadow demons dissipate as Nightmare approaches the now downed Shinnok. Nightmare then grabs Shinnok by the horns and begins to send fist after fist to his skull before lifting his body above his head. He then slams Shinnok to the ground, cracking the ground underneath and finally rendering him unconscious.

"The fallen god had felled further." Nightmare says.

With Shinnok defeated, the green glow of power surrounding Cassie and Zaveer fade out. Kung Jin picks himself off the floor and walks over to them, noting that Shinnok is out like a lightbulb.

"That you two? Nice." Kung Jin says.

He then turns to where Nightmare is and see his shape begin to change in more of a cloud as the red eyes vanish. After a moment, the cloud takes shape again and dissipates, revealing that Manado has turned normal again, but it's clear that the transformation took out a lot of energy as he began to stagger before falling to his knees.

"Manado? What was that?" Kung Jin asks.

"A new trick I've discovered. Though it drains a lot of energy from me." Manado explains as Zaveer helps him back to his feet.

Then a voice breaks their silence.

"Cassandra Cage..." Raiden weakly says. Raiden is still imprisoned by the skeleton hand, which has since blackened slightly with Shinnok's defeat. Manado, Zaveer, Cassie, and Kung Jin run up to him.

"Put me... in the Jinsei." Raiden asks.

"What?" Cassie asks.

"Raiden, you can't." Zaveer says.

"He's right!-- it-- it'll kill you!" Kung Jin points out.

"Must... be... cleansed. Hurry." Raiden says.

Together, Cassie and Kung Jin support Raiden and walk him onto the floating rocks leading up to the Jinsei. He floats into the corrupted Jinsei and starts chanting in Japanese. His arms charge up with lightning that envelops his body. As Cassie, Kung Jin, Manado, and Zaveer look on with concern, he blasts Shinnok in the chest with a lightning bolt, lifting his unconscious form into the air.

The lightning acts as a conduit, and Raiden begins to absorb the corrupted essence of Shinnok into his own body. He begins to grimace in pain, but does not stop the spell. Shinnok's demonic form is eventually restored to his original self, still unconscious and now no longer holding his amulet.

With the power gone from Shinnok, Raiden cries out once more and blue essence expels itself from his body, back into the Jinsei. The chamber is completely filled with white light, so bright the entire chamber whites out.

Outside of the Sky Temple, the revenants have been unable to beat Jacqui and Takeda. Everyone stops fighting as the corrupted cloud pouring out of the Jinsei Chamber dissipates, and the clouds above it begin to lose their blood red hue.

"We must withdraw." Revenant Liu Kang suggests.

Jacqui and Takeda look to the sky, smiles on their faces as sunlight breaks through once again. They only notice too late that a portal opens up that takes the revenants back to the Netherrealm. Nonetheless, this does nothing to their current joyous mood. Takeda puts a hand on Jacqui, and they both walk over to the temple, sitting down near the giant statue of Raiden, completely exhausted.

"So... you and Zaveer huh?" Takeda asks.

"Yeah. Not something I expected to happen, but you know what? I'm glad it did." Jacqui says.

Takeda chuckles.

"You know Cassie might give you some competition." Takeda replies.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Jacqui says.

They look at each other and smile.

Back in the Jinsei Chamber, the lifeforce of Earthrealm is back to its regular blue hue. Cassie Cage and Kung Jin both hold Raiden up and walk him back to the chamber floor. Raiden has fallen motionless from the ordeal and they set him down as gently as they can as the Chujins then check on his vitals.

"Is he alive?" Cassie asks about Raiden.

"Barely. We'll help him. Help your father." Kung Jin suggests.

Cassie runs back to Johnny, still cocooned but alive. He smiles as he spots her.

"And to think... I was worried when you started dating." Johnny jokes.

"Afraid I'd come home with someone like you?" Cassie asks.

"Funny, beautiful, saves the world. My work here is done." Johnny says.

He then looks towards Manado.

"Hey Manado!" Johnny calls out.

Manado then looks towards him.

"It seems like you and I might be brother in laws in the future." Johnny says.

Manado widens his eyes as he then looks at Zaveer who looks away in embarrassment. Cassie then looks at Johnny again.

"How... How did you..." Cassie asks before being cut off.

"Oh come on Cassie, did you really think you can keep secrets from your old man? I've seen how you look at him." Johnny say before giving her a wink.

Manado then looks towards Johnny.

"You know Johnny... I don't think I'd be opposed to that." Manado says.

Zaveer smiles at his father, knowing he and Johnny willing to accept he and Cassie's feelings towards each other.

Suddenly a voice can be heard.

"This way! In here!" Sonya yells.

Sonya arrives in the chamber, behind her are Special Forces soldiers.

"Isolate Shinnok and D'Vorah. And get the medic!" Sonya orders.

She then runs up to Cassie and Johnny, finally looking at her ex-husband with concern.

"We'll fix you up. Help is on the way." Sonya assures.

"You shoulda seen Cass. Wiped the floor with Shinnok." Johnny says.

"I believe it. And you... you did a great job with your team, Johnny." Sonya says.

"You hear that, Cass? She called me "Johnny"." Johnny says.

"I thought she might." Cassie says.

As the Cage family smile at one another, Zaveer looks back towards Manado.

"You sure about this father?" Zaveer asks.

"Zaveer. I am proud of the person you've become. Whoever you decide to love, that's your choice. Don't let anyone else stop you." Manado says.

The Chujins then smile at one another before embracing each other in a hug.

Later in the Netherrealm, Raiden stands in the throne room of a gigantic fortress, but it's not the Raiden seen earlier. He wears darker attire, his skin tone is darker, his eyes glow yellow instead of blue and most tellingly of all, Shinnok's Amulet is now worn on his chest. Who he is speaking to is currently unknown.

"Too long have I allowed Earthrealm to endure the horrors of war. Time and again we've defeated our enemies. But we've exacted no retribution. Demanded no remuneration. What have we gained for our mercy? More intrigue. More senseless violence. As the new rulers of the Netherrealm, heed me. No longer will I simply defend Earthrealm. I will seek out and destroy all who threaten it. No mercy will be shown. No quarter given." Raiden explains and warns.

He then opens up a satchel that he has been carrying and throws out the contents. It is the severed head of Shinnok, still alive and in terrible pain.

"Shinnok was an Elder God. Impossible to kill. There are fates worse than death." Raiden says before he then teleports out of the fortress.

The people Raiden was speaking to are now seen to be the Revenants of Manado and Kitana, now the Emperor and Empress of the Netherrealm. They both regard the head in silence.

(Now that the main MKX story has been completed, time to move on to the expansion story with characters that haven't been seen in quite a few chapters.)