The Outworld Koliseum can then be seen. The influence of Mileena Kahn is evident, from the edenian design of the buildings to the large statues of Mileena herself on opposite sides of the superstructure.

Inside of the Koliseum, and amidst the raucous cheering of the crowd, we see Mileena and General Kotal... imprisoned in the center of the stadium in a stock. They struggle within it, but cannot even move a muscle. Shao Kahn stands next to them (with Kollector slightly behind), addressing the crowd.

"You've suffered too long at these pretender's hands. But I've returned, and I will save you from their madness!" Shao Kahn announces.

The crowd - only caring about seeing a good show - cheers his words. Shao Kahn magically summons his warhammer into his hands.

"Only I can rebuild the empire. All realms will tremble before me! Outworld will again be conquerors, never the conquered!" Shao Kahn announces.

The crowd begins to chant Shao Kahn's name, increasing in intensity. He roars in triumph as they cheer in excitement. Shao Kahn walks over to Kotal and Mileena, preparing his warhammer to crush their heads into paste. But before he can properly begin his swing, a loud banging resounds throughout the Koliseum.

Shao Kahn's soldiers walk over to the main doors of the stadium. Though they are barred, the doors vibrate as the banging continues. The soldiers draw their weapons as the bars on the doors begin to splint and break. Finally, we see the other side of the doors; six Outworld soldiers hold a battering ram and slam it into the door, breaking it open.

Behind them, numerous other soldiers, Tarkatans and Shokan - as well as Kitana, Jade, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Sheeva, Baraka and even the older Erron Black - raise their hands and cheer. Zaveer, Tanya, Khameleon, Nitara also march alondside them. Taken aback, Shao Kahn's soldiers back up as the new arrivals stride into the Koliseum. The crowd also falls into a shocked silence as Kitana faces down her adopted father.

"Where's this boldness been hiding, Kitana? Had you shown it before, I'd have had no need for Mileena." Shao Kahn says.

Kitana then slowly walks toward him.

"At least my 'sister' is not an unholy monster, like you, 'father'." Kitana says.

As soon as she is within striking range, Kitana pulls out her bladed fans and lunges at Shao Kahn, who backpedals just in time to avoid being vertically sliced down his chest. He dodges several more swipes and parries one with his warhammer, swinging it back at her. Kitana dodges two of his strikes, then attacks him again with the fans, forcing him to parry them.

The rest of the soldiers have now started fighting. In the midst of this, a tornado of sand appears in the middle of the arena, depositing Shang Tsung, Fujin, Nightwolf, Zaveer and the Manados. The six of them take in the battle occurring around them.

"When have we arrived?" Shang Tsung asks.

"Immediately after the time merger, yes? The battle between Kotal, Mileena, and Shao Kahn?" Fujin asks.

"It appears to be that way, Fujin." Zaveer says.

Nightwolf stares into the distance and points, placing a hand on Shang Tsung's shoulder as he does so.

"No. Look!" Nightwolf says.

From his point of view, he has spotted Jade picking the lock of the stock holding Kotal. After a moment, she finishes and helps him to throw the stock off. She then turns to intercept a sword strike from a Shao Kahn loyalist, punching him across the face, kicking him in the knee and knocking him over with a roundhouse kick. Behind her, Kotal punches a soldier across the face, drills his fist into his stomach, then turns his back and throws the soldier over his shoulder, slamming him hard into the ground.

"It's much later than that. This is Kitana's battle with Shao Kahn." Nightwolf points out.

"Then we are almost out of time. We must escape quickly." Shang Tsung suggests as he points over to a nearby open trap door, leading down to the fighting pits beneath the Koliseum.

Younger Manado then speaks up.

"Why not we aid the others against Shao Kahn?" Younger Manado asks.

"Changing this battle's outcome could cause Cetrion to claim the crown earlier than expected." Shang Tsung's points out.

"And guarantee our failure." Fujin adds.

"Then let's not waste anymore time." Manado says.

"Let's go!" Nightwolf urges.

The six of them then run off to the trap door. As they approach, a nearby Shao Kahn soldier slams his sword through the skull of a Tarkatan, killing him, but the soldier does not look over to the trap door, which they reach without impediment.

Kollector, who is fighting with a Kotal loyalist, then parries several sword strikes from the soldier with his flail, then counters with several slashes across the leg, chest and back with the knifes held by three of his four main arms. With the soldier stunned, Kollector holds up his flail and magically shoots it outward, exploding the soldier's head in a violently gory display.

Kollector looks around the battle just in time to spot Nightwolf entering the trap door, followed closely by Shang Tsung, Fujin, Zaveer and the Manados. His eyes widen as he recognises the scheming sorcerer. Another Kotal loyalist attempts to stab him from behind, but Kollector shanks him through the top of his head without even turning to face him. He pulls out his knife and snarls menacingly, walking toward the trap door.

In the interior below the Koliseum. Shang Tsung, Fujin, Nightwolf, Zaveer, and the Manados walk through the hallways lined with prison cages. As they walk past one, they are suddenly started as an Outworld beast, a creature resembling a giant rat but with the jaw of a saber-toothed tiger, rushes at them, slamming into the cage bars. It screeches and claws in an attempt to maul them, but cannot get past the metal in its way. After taking a moment, the six continue on, with Shang Tsung crushing a smaller rat underneath his boot.

"We escaped the battle undetected." Shang Tsung says.

Unbeknownst to them, Kollector sneaks up from behind.

"Shang Tsung!" Kollector calls out.

All of them whirl around at his voice, getting into fighting stances.

"Or not." Fujin says.

"Where have you been hiding? You consort with Earthrealmers now?" Kollector asks.

"His business is none of yours, Kollector." Nightwolf says.

"My business is collecting what Shao Kahn wants." Kollector says.

He then points toward Shang Tsung.

"He will pay handsomely for you." Shang Tsung's says.

Shang Tsung briefly smirks, but also readies his soul magic. Nightwolf steps in front of him.

"You're outnumbered, Kollector." Nightwolf points out.

"Am I?" Kollector asks.

He then snaps his fingers, letting loose a burst of blue magic. Behind them, the prison doors are opened with the same magic and two giant rats emerge from them.

"Stand back. I'll let them deal with this." Manado says.

With a flick of his hands, Manado summons five Fenrir and they charge towards the giant rats. Younger Manado approaches his older self.

"I didn't know I could do that." Younger Manado says.

"There's a lot of things you don't know." Manado says.

They then turn to see three more giants rats approaching them.

"Of course more would appear." Manado says.

The giant rats then roar out loud and leap into the air. As they approach, Nightwolf rolls to the side and the rats go for Fujin, Zaveer, the Manados and Shang Tsung, forcing them to backpedal.

Nightwolf looks up to see Kollector hurling his flail towards him and he rolls out of the way in the nick of time, the heavy weapon slamming into the sand beneath him. Kollector recalls the retractable flail back to his grip and faces Nightwolf down.

"These are indeed strange days. How do Earthrealmers profit from protecting Shang Tsung?" Kollector asks.

"He shares our goal: Kronika's defeat." Nightwolf says.

"You will be partners in death!" Kollector says.

They then fight. The Naknada proves to be a most unorthodox opponent for the Native American, and his numerous weapons and magical abilities prove to be a challenge in kombat. But Nightwolf has his own weapons, magic and fighting skill on top of that, all of which he bears against Kollector. After a fierce melee, Nightwolf eventually triumphs.

"Thank you, Great Spirit." Nightwolf says.

As that battle finishes, Fujin catches one of the beasts in a tunnel of wind that not only spins it around, but peels the skin right off it. As the beast falls dead, the second one charges towards older Manado who merely stands still and sends a blast of red energy at the charging beast, leaving it cooked on the ground. Manado looks up momentarily and sees his Fenrir eating from the carcasses of the giant rats they fought. He then turns to see the third one stalking toward Fujin and Shang Tsung. It then leaps straight into a tornado from Fujin that levitates it into the air. Fujin disperses the wind for a moment to allow the beast to fall to the ground, then summons it immediately after to pin it down. As the beast struggles, Shang Tsung charges his hands with fire and unleashes a flamethrower blast that roasts the beast in an instant.

He takes a moment to smirk in triumph, and then looks overhead. Above them, sand falls, a loud gasp emanates from the crowd and the sounds of battle start to die down.

"Kitana has defeated Shao Kahn." Nightwolf says.

"I always knew she could." Manado says.

"He always had more ego than skill." Shang Tsung points out.

"Come. Let us leave while the crowd is distracted." Fujin suggests.

The six of them turn around and head toward the exit.

They stopped outside of the Koliseum, by a roadside some distance away. Nightwolf, Fujin, Zaveer and the Manados are in a heated discussion, while Shang Tsung sits in the shade of a nearby tree.

"No. We're already here later than we wanted to be." Nightwolf says.

He then turns to Shang Tsung and points at him.

"Let's go to your island now and take the crown. No detours!" Nightwolf suggests.

"Nightwolf is right. We must take possession of the crown before Cetrion does." Zaveer says.

"Our rather public arrival at the Koliseum makes that impossible. Kronika's Outworld allies will inform her of our presence. Go to my island now, we could be ambushed by Cetrion herself." Shang Tsung explains.

"And our combined power won't stop her." Fujin says.

"You forget Fujin, for I have the power to defeat the elder gods." Manado points out.

"But we can't risk Kronika finding out about your identity. Or we'll all wound up being ambushed by Kronika herself." Fujin explains.

Fujin then turns towards Nightwolf.

"We need help." Fujin says.

"But whose help?! We can't recruit any of our allies without altering this timeline's events." Nightwolf asks.

"I don't know if you noticed Fujin but all our allies play major roles in this timeline." Zaveer points out.

Fujin walks away, unable to answer. Shang Tsung stands up, grinning to himself for a moment, before giving Nightwolf a sly sideways glance.

"Sindel." Shang Tsung says.

Upon hearing her name, Manado and Nightwolf's eyes narrow.

"What?" Zaveer asks in shock.

"Sindel's a revenant." Nightwolf points out.

"Who can be restored to life. And who plays no major part in the battles that lie ahead. We can safely recruit her without disrupting events." Shang Tsung explains.

He then clasps his hands together.

"It's a tactic Kronika is unlikely to anticipate." Shang Tsung points out.

Fujin then walks back toward him.

"She was Shao Kahn's Empress, his equal in evil." Fujin counters.

"Because he had her bewitched. Returning Sindel to life will restore her original, more heroic self." Shang Tsung says.

"And if we fail? The Sindel I knew defeated most of Earthrealm's champions in a single battle." Fujin says.

He then points to Manado.

"If Manado hadn't risked his own life to stop her, she would have killed them all." Fujin says.

"I still remember it like it was yesterday. Sindel is not someone to trifle with." Manado says.

Shang Tsung then points back at Fujin.

"That is the power we need to assure victory against Cetrion. Sindel is the key." Shang Tsung says.

Shang Tsung turns his back on them, one hand behind his back, the other lifted in contemplation. Nightwolf throws up his hands in exasperation.

"And I suppose restoring her will be easy." Nightwolf says.

Shang Tsung gives him another side-ward glance.

"Anything but. We can use Earthrealm's Jinsei to heal Sindel's body. But to break Quan Chi's spell and revive her soul, we will need access to Outworld's Soul Chamber." Shang Tsung explains.

Nightwolf looks away, unconvinced. Fujin sighs to himself.

"You have a different plan, Nightwolf? A better one?" Fujin asks.

"As much as I would disagree Nightwolf, this may just be the only option that we have." Zaveer says.

Nightwolf then turns back to Shang Tsung.

"One hint of betrayal, sorcerer, and we will finish you." Nightwolf says.

Shang Tsung takes the threat in stride, only smirking back at Nightwolf.

"Where do we start?" Nightwolf asks.

"Earthrealm, to acquire the Jinsei." Shang Tsung says.

He then swirls his arms around and summons a portal. The six of them walk through it and it disappears behind them.

In Kronika's Keep, The Titan of Time is using her magic to shift the sands in her hourglass. As she does so, her top enforcers, the construct Geras and the cyborg ninja Frost, walk up to her.

"Shang Tsung, Fujin, Nightwolf. All were seen in the Koliseum. How is that possible?" Geras asks.

Kronika turns to face them.

"It should not be. Those cast into the void do not return." Kronika points out.

"If Shang Tsung were to–" Geras says before being cut off.

"--I am aware, Geras. Take Frost and find them. We must discern from when and whence they came." Kronika orders.

In the Dragon Grotto, Fujin scoops some of the Jinsei liquid from a pool into a metal vial the size of his hand.

"That will be sufficient." Shang Tsung says.

He motions as if to take the vial. Fujin glares at him and seals the vial himself.

"You four may leave. Me and Manado will stay behind to secure the Grotto." Fujin says.

He then turns directly to Shang Tsung.

"Your aid is not required." Fujin says.

Once again, Shang Tsung replies with nothing but a knowing smirk. He mockingly half-bows to Fujin as Nightwolf, Zaveer and Younger Manado walk past him, then leaves the grotto himself.

As they leave the springs, Manado takes a collection of vials and collects his own amount of Jinsei. This doesn't go unnoticed by Fujin.

"That's for the revenants, isn't it?" Fujin asks.

Manado sighs and turns towards Fujin.

"I've planned this since the day I learned sorcery. But thanks to Kronika, I never had the chance. Once we secure the crown, the future will change for good. And when that happens, I will go and free them all from their enslavement." Manado explains.

Fujin then places his hand on Manado's shoulder.

"Just promise you won't get yourself killed. One can only imagine how Raiden would feel if the boy he raised has died." Fujin says.

"Sure thing... Uncle." Manado says, earning a chuckle from Fujin.

As Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, Zaveer, and Younger Manado pass from the cave into the arena, Shang Tsung stops at the entrance. He holds up a hand to prevent Nightwolf, Zaveer, and Younger Manado from entering, then picks up a nearby pole. He uses the pole to prod a loose tile just ahead of them. Immediately, several long spikes on either side of the doorway shoot into the space above where the tile is. On one of those spikes is the bloodied remains of a treasure hunter, impaled through his shoulders, pelvis and legs on one side of the spikes.

There is enough time for the dead man's mask to fall from his face before the spikes are retracted back into the wall, along with his decaying body. Shang Tsung smiles in appreciation.

"These traps are excellent. Who knew the Shaolin were so diabolical?" Shang Tsung's asks.

Nightwolf looks at him quizzically.

"From you, that's high praise." Nightwolf points out.

For a change, Shang Tsung looks offended at this remark. He contemptuously shoves the pole into Nightwolf's hands and walks into the trap dungeon before them.

"Indeed." Shang Tsung says.

Nightwolf drops the pole and follows after him. The four of them don't manage to walk very far before a swirl of sand magic starts to appear before them, prompting all four men to get into fighting stances. The tornado of sand soon begins to disperse, revealing Geras, Frost and twelve cyber Lin Kuei.

"Nightwolf, Shang Tsung, Zaveer, Manado. Come. Kronika is keen to question you." Geras says.

The cyber Lin Kuei then charge them. As Shang Tsung ducks into a low stance, Nightwolf readies one of his tomahawks and throws it straight at one of the cyborgs, impaling it through its head. As the cyborg sparks and staggers from the fatal impact, Nightwolf runs up and pulls his tomahawk free, running up and vaulting off the cyborg's shoulders in doing so. As he leaps, he raises his tomahawk, magically summons a second one into his spare hand and brings both weapons down through the chest of another cyborg. It tries to rise, but Nightwolf knocks it back down with a headbutt and rolls forward.

As he stands up, he catches another cyborg with a tomahawk to its gut, doubling it over. He chops it across the back with his other tomahawk to drop it and then spins around, using the motion to decapitate another cyborg. He knocks his weapons together and runs into the fray of remaining ninjas, while one of them breaks from the crowd and rushes at Shang Tsung.

Shang Tsung is ready and parries the cyborg's attack, countering with a knife hand chop to its throat that stuns it. He hits another cyborg with a punch to its face, grabs and spins it around for a few moments, then drops it with a clothesline. A third cyborg manages to sucker punch him in the face, but he hits two counter punches to stun it. He turns to the first cyborg and kicks it in the chest, then hits another palm strike and a jumping kick to the third, sending it sprawling.

A fourth cyborg charges in, but Shang Tsung grabs its arm, wrenches it down and knees it in the face, knocking it back. The first tries to punch him, but he dodges its strike. It swings multiple times, but Shang Tsung dodges each swipe, even putting his hands behind his back while doing so. He then uses his fire magic to suddenly roast the cyborg where it stands, and finishes by punching off its head. A fifth cyborg attacks, but Shang Tsung blocks both of its strikes, then he inflames his hands and downward chops the cyborg twice across its chest. He finishes with a fiery palm thrust that goes straight through the cyborg's chest. He lifts his hand up, from chest to head, splitting the cyborg vertically in half in doing so.

As Shang Tsung and Geras approach each other, Zaveer and Younger Manado start fighting another cyber Lin Kuei who attempts to strike them down, but they avoid the attack and blast the cyborg down with their red and purple energy.

Nightwolf then finishes the last of the cyber Lin Kuei by splitting it in half with his tomahawk. He then faces Frost as she approaches.

"Kronika isn't the future, Frost. We've seen it! Join us on the right side of history." Nightwolf says.

"The only side is Kronika's. My place in her New Era is assured." Frost says.

They then fight. Frost's control over ice combined with her cyberneticnupgrades proves to be quite a challenge for Nightwolf, but he has faced down greater threats than her before. Taking advantage of her arrogance, he manages to break through her attacks and take the fight to her, leaving her beaten on the ground.

"Nothing is assured, Frost." Nightwolf says.

Over to his side, Geras throws a haymaker that Shang Tsung blocks. He hits Geras in the chest several times, chops him the face and lands a gut punch that staggers him. Geras recovers and throws a spinning haymaker that Shang Tsung catches, but the construct keeps throwing punches, eventually landing a short uppercut to Shang Tsung's chin that he follows with a gut punch.

The sorcerer staggers back, clearly winded. Geras magically generates his armoured gauntlet and pounds Shang Tsung straight in the chest, sending him flying across the dungeon. Shang Tsung whirls back to his feet and shoots out a fireball. It impacts on Geras' chest, but only staggers him for a moment.

Shang Tsung powers up and shoots out a flaming skull. This time, Geras is knocked back and crashes through a wooden pillar, splintering it into matchwood. As Geras lies motionless, Shang Tsung falls to one knee, exhausted. Fujin and Manado walk up behind him.

"Is he finished?" Fujin asks.

As they look toward Geras, they find he is already standing to his feet.

"I am eternal, Fujin. My will and my strength, infinite." Geras says.

Fujin, Manado and Shang Tsung charge up their wind, soul magic, and red energy, shooting it at Geras together. He holds up his arms and takes all three rays head on, blocking them and pushing forward. The magic stalls him for a moment, but he pushes back and outward, dispelling the rays.

Fujin, Manado and Shang Tsung stagger for a moment, but they rally and shoot their magic out once again. Geras again blocks their rays of magic and slowly makes his way forward... until a tomahawk slams into his face. This in turn causes Fujin, Manado and Shang Tsung to stop firing at Geras, watching as he nonchalantly pulls the tomahawk out of his skull. His wound instantly heals as he throws the weapon aside.

Nightwolf, Zaveer, and younger Manado step up next to Fujin, older Manado and Shang Tsung. All six of them enter fighting stances. Geras roars and charges them, engaging in mortal kombat.

Fujin hits a palm strike to Geras' chest, following through with a knee that is blocked, but he manages to kick Geras in the chest as a follow up. Shang Tsung throws a sidekick that Geras parries, but he punches Geras in the face, leaving him open to Nightwolf, who punches him twice in the face and backhands him in his abdomen. Zaveer then an overhead strike to his head followed by Both Manado's sending an ax kick to Gera's sternum, which staggers him even further back.

All six of them throw high kicks that Geras blocks, but each one forces him back, until Nightwolf throws a dropkick that breaks his defenses. Geras rallies and punches into the ground, activating his powers over sand as he does so. A burst of sand suddenly appears before the group, catching Shang Tsung, Zaveer, the Manados and Fujin as they charge in. They are thrown into the air and land heavily on the ground.

Nightwolf readies a tomahawk and leaps into the air, but Geras catches his arm and counters with a haymaker to Nightwolf's gut. As Nightwolf drops his weapon, Geras grabs him by the throat and lifts him into the air. He generates a portal of sand on the ground underneath and throws Nightwolf through it, causing him to emerge on the other side of the dungeon.

Shang Tsung kips up to his feet and attacks, but Geras parries his punches, countering with a punch to the gut and two to the face. Fujin tries to attack, but Geras sends him flying with a shoulder barge. He uses his time powers to freeze Shang Tsung where he stands, then uses the same power to grab Fujin. With a gesture of his hand, he drags Fujin toward Shang Tsung, causing them to collide in a heap, both knocked out from the impact.

He then tries to freeze the Manados but it doesn't work.

"We're immune to time changes, Geras. That won't work on us." Manado points out.

"But this will." Geras says before sending a frozen Zaveer straight into the Manados, sending them flying.

Nightwolf manages to stand, though he's still not fully recovered. Geras walks over to him.

"Of all the Nightwolves I have fought, you are the fiercest." Geras says.

"It must be why the Great Spirit chose me to wear the mantle." Nightwolf says.

"You are also anomalous. No one has ever escaped the void." Geras says.

They then fight. The battle proves to be one of Nightwolf's toughest yet. Geras is not fazed by any one of his magical weapons or his fighting abilities. Every fatal blow is absorbed by the construct to no effect. But Nightwolf does not give up, and manages to knock Geras to the floor for a moment.

Geras lifts his face, growling at the Native American. Nightwolf readies two of his tomahawks and throws them together, severing Geras' arms at the shoulder. He falls flat on his face once more, but still tries to look up.

Fujin, Shang Tsung, Zaveer, and the Manados, now conscious, walk up to Nightwolf.

"Was that necessary?" Fujin asks.

"To buy us time. We must be rid of him before he recovers." Nightwolf suggests.

Sure enough, a swirl of sand magic begins to reattach Geras' arms back onto his body. Shang Tsung readies himself by generating his fire magic.

"Fujin, summon the wind!" Shang Tsung orders.

As Shang Tsung creates a portal, Fujin readies his wind magic, blasting it directly at Geras. His hands grip down on the ground, but they have not finished attaching to his body yet. Even still, Geras isn't moving. Manado notices this.

"It isn't enough. You two! With me!" Manado calls out.

Zaveer and Younger Manado nod and together, the three of them purple and red energy to aid Fujin.

With a loud cry, the construct is blown back into the portal. One of his arms inches toward Nightwolf and grabs his foot. Nightwolf looks down and contemptuously kicks it away, watching as it slides into the portal as well.

"Where did you send him?" Fujin asks.

"Chaosrealm. Havik will keep him entertained." Shang Tsung.

"Let's get to the Netherrealm. We're running out of time to find Sindel." Nightwolf suggests.

"And let's keep it secretive this time." Younger Manado suggests.

Shang Tsung then creates another portal in front of them. Before they could enter however, they notice that older Manado remains standing where he stood.

"Manado. We don't have time for this." Nightwolf says.

"Fujin's right. We can't let Kronika discover that I have survived just yet. The same applies to my revenant. Which leaves me with no choice but to stay behind." Manado explains.

"Dad..." Zaveer says before being cut off.

"Manado's right, Zaveer. It's too risky." Fujin says.

Zaveer looks down in uncertainty. Older Manado takes notice of this and approaches him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"You don't need to worry about me. I'm not gonna just disappear anymore. I'll be fine." Manado says.

Zaveer nods his head in response. Older Manado then looks towards Fujin.

"I will meet you in Outworld once your task is done." Manado says.

Fujin nods his head in response, with Manado doing the same. He then looks down towards Zaveer and hugs him momentarily before turning. He then summons his magic and a red portal opens before him. He then looks over his shoulder towards Zaveer, Younger Manado. Fujin, Nightwolf, and Shang Tsung.

"See you soon." Manado says before walking through the red portal, the portal closing behind him.

Later in the Netherrealm, an army of oni walk across the hellish landscape. Mounted nearby on an undead fiery steed is the revenant Jade, who jabs a demon close to her that walks too slowly for her liking. Kung Lao and Kabal are also seen on mounts of their own overlooking the marching army.

Nightwolf, Fujin, Shang Tsung, Zaveer, and Younger Manado watch the army pass by from the cover of a nearby rock.

"No sign of Sindel." Nightwolf says.

"Not entirely unexpected, given that she did not aid in the Keep's defense." Shang Tsung points out.

"What was her role, then, if she is such a formidable weapon?" Fujin asks.

As they talk, the shadows of three figures approach their position.

"Is it possible tha–" Nightwolf says he suddenly cries out in pain, clutching his chest.

Fujin, Shang Tsung, Raiden and the Manados look surprised at this, but say nothing for the moment.

"Great Spirit!" Nightwolf calls out.

"What is it?" Fujin asks.

"What's happening?" Zaveer also asks.

"My revenant... he is close." Nightwolf says.

"Oh no." Younger Manado says.

Realising the implications, all five turn around, now sensing the approaching figures. They appear in shadow, but there is no mistaking the revenants. They are Manado, Liu Kang, Kitana... and Nightwolf.

"The Great Spirit cannot save you." Revenant Nightwolf says.

Nightwolf, Shang Tsung, Fujin, Zaveer, and younger Manado get into their fighting stances, but Revenant Manado raises his hand. He holds some kind of fiery medallion that shoots out what appear to be molten tentacles. These tentacles wrap themselves around the five of them, instantly restraining them. Despite their best efforts, all of them fall to the ground, losing consciousness. Revenant Manado withdraws the tentacles back into the medallion.

"(To Revenant Nightwolf) Take them to the Bone Temple" Revenant Manado orders.

Later, an unconscious Fujin can be seen hanging from the ceiling, suspended by the shackles on his arms. He awakens to find himself in the Bone Temple. He looks at his restraints and tugs at them, unable to free himself. As he looks around, he spots both Nightwolf and Shang Tsung, each man bound by shackles to pillars on each of his sides. Both of them are still unconscious. He then spots the Manados tied next to Nightwolf and then Fujin sees Zaveer tied right next to him.

"Nightwolf! Shang Tsung! Zaveer! Manado!"

Eventually, all men open their eyes. Nightwolf looks around.

"Where are we?" Nightwolf asks.

Shang Tsung looks around for a moment before he answers, spotting a familiar looking decapitated head.

"Shinnok's Bone Temple." Shang Tsung says.

Everyone else then look towards the former ruler of the Netherrealm. As they last saw him before, Shinnok is still held in place next to a wall by two skeleton hands. Behind the wall is a raging inferno. Sparks of red electricity emit from Shinnok's head frequently; the torture Raiden inflicted upon him still causing him constant pain. Manado glares at the decapitated head and the head appears to be glaring back at him.

As Fujin takes in this sight, a familiar sounding voice echoes out behind him.

"Raiden's violence against our Lord will not go unavenged, Fujin." Revenant Sindel says.

The revenant Sindel does not step out of the shadows surrounding her, instead remaining just out of Fujin's line of sight.

"Prepare to pay for your brother's sins." Revenant Sindel says.

Sindel then walks around the pillar holding Shang Tsung, suddenly appearing at his side. The revenant Nightwolf hangs back in the shadows.

"Sindel... you look well. Death becomes you." Shang Tsung says.

She smirks at the remark, but there is no amusement on her face. She places a hand on his cheek.

"Always the charmer, Shang Tsung. I will enjoy feeding Lord Shinnok your soul." Revenant Sindel says.

She then pulls her hand away and walks toward Manado. He grunts as he struggles against his restraints. Out of Sindel's line of sight, he magically conjures up a glowing knife made of his red energy in his right hand, using it to cut away at the chain on his shackle.

"But you, Manado... you get the privilege of suffering most." Revenant Sindel says.

She then grabs him by the throat, though not tightly enough to strangle him.

"Only the best will do for the man who killed me." Revenant Sindel says.

"I should've saved you. Hopefully we will today." Manado says.

The knife finally manages to cut his shackles. He swings it out at Sindel, who backpedals just in time to avoid it. He charges forth, swinging it thrice more, but she dodges each time. As the revenant Nightwolf readies his tomahawks, Sindel screams into the air, her banshee cry magically echoing across the temple. A multitude of oni hear the cry and storm into the room.

Manado then uses his red energy and frees Nightwolf from his chains. Nightwolf then brandishes his tomahawks and throws them at Zaveer and Fujin's shackles. They snap them instantly, freeing them both. He then readies himself as the revenant Nightwolf charges. Sindel merely points with her finger, letting the charging oni do her work for her.

As they approach, Nightwolf frees Shang Tsung by slamming his tomahawk into the chain that binds him, and all five of them get into fighting stances and charge. Shang Tsung engages the revenant Nightwolf, while the living Nightwolf charges into a group of oni, tomahawks drawn. Fujin conjures up a tornado around Nightwolf, spinning him around while his tomahawks are outstretched. The result of this unique combo is that any oni that approaches Nightwolf is messily chopped to pieces by the spinning tomahawks. Within a few seconds, all the oni are laying dead on the ground and Fujin dispels the tornado. Zaveer and younger Manado then work together to fight off the Oni and Orochi.

As Fujin prepares to help deal with the Netherrealm demons, Nightwolf approaches Sindel, who stood off to the side as all this took place.

"You can't kill me, Sindel. Not without killing my revenant." Nightwolf points out.

"I'm not going to kill you." Revenant Sindel says.

She then gives a throaty laugh as she walks forward.

"As Raiden said to Lord Shinnok... there are fates worse than death." Revenant Sindel says.

They then fight. Earlier in this timeline, empowered by Shang Tsung's magic and strength, Sindel was too strong for Nightwolf to defeat without Manado's aid in the battle. But Sindel lost this strength when she became a revenant, and thanks to this, Nightwolf is able to overcome her sorcery with his own magic, eventually leaving her unconscious on the ground.

"I can imagine few fates worse than yours." Nightwolf says.

A cry from behind him catches Nightwolf's attention. He turns around and spins, slashing out with his tomahawk as an oni rushes him. He catches the demon on the throat, dropping it. Another one tries to kick him, but he plants his tomahawks into its rising ankle and leg. As it hobbles in pain, he drives a tomahawk square into its chest to drop it. In the background, his revenant staggers Shang Tsung with a spinning sidekick to the gut.

The revenant summons lightning into his tomahawk and blasts Shang Tsung square in the face. He falls down and writhes in agony as the revenant continues to electrocute him. The living Nightwolf, meanwhile, plunges his tomahawks into the chest of another attacking oni. As it falls to its knees, Nightwolf spots his revenant and yanks his weapons loose, taking off toward them.

He parries a swipe from an oni with his tomahawk before repeatedly stabbing it in its torso, finishing it with a stab to the throat. He then charges his revenant from behind and shoulder barges him, causing him to break the lightning spell. Old Nightwolf lands hard but gets to his feet as smoke begins to rise from Shang Tsung's badly burnt form.

The two Nightwolves circle each other. Old Nightwolf brandishes his tomahawks threateningly.

"You will die by your own hands." Revenant Nightwolf says.

Younger Nightwolf puts his hands up in appeasement.

"Harming me only hurts you." Nightwolf points out.

"My sacrifice will save the Matoka." Revenant Nightwolf says.

"Kronika has no love for our people. The Great Spirit–" Nightwolf says before being cut off.

"--is a fraud! Who allowed us to suffer! Kronika is our future." Revenant Nightwolf says.

They then fight. The battle is even in its beginning, with both kombatants equally matched in strength, fighting skill and magic powers. But the elder Nightwolf is at a disadvantage thanks to what his younger self realised earlier; every time the elder harms the younger, he is hurt as well. This allows the younger Nightwolf to press the advantage, and though the battle is tough, he eventually knocks his revenant down.

"Kronika is not the answer." Nightwolf says.

As the revenant rises back to his feet, he is suddenly enveloped by soul magic and cries out in agony. He falls to his knees as Shang Tsung begins to devour his soul.

"Shang Tsung, stop! We can restore him!" Nightwolf calls out.

Shang Tsung is not a pretty sight at the moment. The lightning attack damaged him so badly that his face is nothing more than a skull with two blinded eyes staring out of them. His voice is barely more than a strained groan from rotted vocal chords.

"He wounded me. If I die, we fail." Shang Tsung says.

The soul magic transferring into his hands begins to restore his face, growing flesh back onto his skull. Young Nightwolf does not look convinced at his words. He starts charging toward Shang Tsung.

"Sorcerer, I'll–" Nightwolf says before...

"No, Nightwolf!" Fujin says as he and Zaveer grab him by the chest and shoulder, holding him back.

"Shang Tsung must live." Fujin says.

"Fujin's right, Nightwolf." Zaveer says.

Shang Tsung recovers enough to stand up fully, and uses his other hand to channel soul magic as well. His face is now bloodied, but recognisable, and soon his facial hair grows back as well, and within moments he is completely healed, looking just as before. The revenant Nightwolf meanwhile is sucked dry, and as the spell is finished he falls forward, his body withered and even more grey than before. His eyes are milk coloured and glazed over, and there is no question that he is dead.

With his trademark smirk, Shang Tsung walks over to Nightwolf, Fujin Zaveer, and Younger Manado.

"Are you happy now?" Nightwolf asks.

"I am healthy, Nightwolf. That should be your concern." Shang Tsung says.

"Both of you, please." Fujin says.

He then looks to Sindel, who is still unconscious.

"We must make haste to the Soul Chamber." Fujin suggests.

Shang Tsung turns around and walks off.

"Then let us hurry... and hope Sheeva is as eager to aid us as I anticipate..." Shang Tsung says.

Fujin, Nightwolf, Zaveer, and Younger Manado stare after him, each lost in their own thoughts at his words.