Back at the island's arena, Shang Tsung, his bodyguards and the monks have taken their places once again. Only this time, Quan Chi now stands by the Grandmaster's throne. The kombatants present at the last fight are back again, waiting for the next match. One masked guard catches the eye of Raiden. He then gasps and receives another vision, and this one reveals Kung Lao running at Baraka. Raiden realises the true identity of the guard and leaves his place.

"Kombatants! The next match will now begin!" Shang Tsung announces.

In a burst of hellfire, Scorpion teleports onto the arena floor at the monks' applause. Johnny Cage gasps in awe, and even Liu Kang and Manado look impressed.

"Scorpion! Specter of the Netherrealm! Resurrected by the sorcerer Quan Chi! Who among you is worthy of this challenge?" Shang Tsung asks out to the other kombatants.

"Where is the Lin Kuei Sub-Zero? He killed my family and clan. I will have his head!" Scorpion says out loud.

Raiden then approaches the masked guard.

"I know it is you, Kung Lao. The Shaolin monks chose Liu Kang to represent your order in this tournament." Raiden says.

"I am Liu Kang's equal!" Kung Lao insisted.

"That remains to be seen." Raiden says.

"Watch and see." Kung Lao says.

He then promptly walks onto the arena floor, discarding his disguise as he does so.

"I accept the challenge!" Kung Lao announces.

"Kung Lao?" Liu Kang asks in shock.

"What's he doing here?" Manado asks himself.

Shang Tsung looks quite disturbed at this new turn of events. Kung Lao faces Scorpion.

"Never mind the Lin Kuei. Now you face a Shaolin." Kung Lao says.

He then accentuates his point by running two fingers across his razor-sharp hat and assuming a fighting stance.

"You will regret your impulsiveness." Scorpion says to the shaolin monk.

They start to fight. Although an expert fighter in the Shaolin arts, the powers of the Netherrealm prove too much to cope with for Kung Lao. Scorpion soon beats him into an unconscious form on the ground.

"You are not yet a warrior." Scorpion says.

"Kung Lao!" Liu Kang and Manado call out.

Liu Kang rushes to the aid of his Shaolin brother with Manado close behind him. Raiden then walks over and begins to admonish Kung Lao.

"Listen when your elders speak! You could not win this fight." Raiden says as he assists Liu Kang and Manado in helping Kung Lao to his feet.

Scorpion watches the exchange without emotion, then turns to face Shang Tsung.

"I have defeated the challenger, Shang Tsung. I demand Sub-Zero!" Scorpion demands.

Raiden suddenly gets another vision at that moment; first of Scorpion holding Sub Zero's removed head along with his spinal cord, then the head morphs into the visage of the wraith Noob Saibot.

"You will demand nothing! Nightwolf!" Shang Tsung calls out.

The native American then walks over to Scorpion and addresses him.

"Your aggression is misplaced." Nightwolf says.

"What do you know of my pa–" Scorpion asks before being cut off.

"You are not the only one whose people have been victimised. But I have found new purpose in serving the Spirits. I do not cling to the past." Nightwolf explains.

"You no longer seek retribution? You dishonour your kind. I will honour the memory of my fallen." Scorpion says.

They then start their fight. Nightwolf's powers prove more of a match for Scorpion that Kung Lao did, but even he cannot withstand the fury of the vengeful ninja. Scorpion once again emerges victorious and leaves Nightwolf unconscious on the ground.

"The spirits have forsaken you, Shaman." Scorpion says.

"An impressive start!" Shang Tsung says, impressed at what he has seen.

Scorpion then clenches a fist at Shang Tsung that bursts into flame.

"You waste my time, sorcerer!" Scorpion yells at the sorcerer.

Quan Chi then holds up his hand.

"Restraint, Scorpion." Quan Chi commands.

Although not pleased about it, Scorpion acknowledges the order and his hand returns to normal.

"You will fight Sub Zero soon enough." Shang Tsung promises.

He stands up and takes his leave, with Quan Chi following. As Scorpion lowers his head and ponders recent events, Raiden attracts his attention.

"Scorpion, I understand your desire for revenge. But Nightwolf is right. There are other ways in which you may find peace." Raiden explains.

"Sub Zero deserves death." Scorpion says.

"Defeat Sub Zero if you must, but do not kill him. I fear his death will give rise to a more treacherous foe." Raiden warns.

"I will have my revenge!" Scorpion says, obviously not listening.

"Spare Sub Zero's life and I will request that the Elder Gods return the Shirai Ryu to the realm of mortals." Raiden offers.

This got Scorpion's attention. Scorpion then takes a few moments to contemplate this new turn of events. He eventually looks at Raiden in the eyes and nods his consent. Raiden nods back and walks off with Manado, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, leaving the spectre alone.

Some time later, the door to Shang Tsung's throne room is opened and Scorpion walks in. Several kombatants are milling around discussing things with one another. Two of those kombatants are Cyrax and Sektor of the Lin Kuei.

"I understand there are benefits to the Grand Master's plan, but his plan goes against Lin Kuei principles." Cyrax says.

"We are Lin Kuei, Cyrax. We will obey the Grand Master's commands." Sektor says.

"It means giving up our free will... our souls. It will turn us into–" Cyrax say before Sektor stops him as Scorpion approaches them.

"Scorpion." Sektor says as Cyrax turns to face the specter.

"Your inferior clan is dead. Soon you will join them." Cyrax says.

"My clan may walk the Earth once more." Scorpion says.

Cyrax then pushes him back in response. Shang Tsung immediately spots this.

"A challenge! Scorpion versus Cyrax and Sektor!" Shang Tsung announces.

"Your obsession with Sub Zero ends here." Cyrax says.

They then fight. Both Cyrax and Sektor are formidable warriors with plenty of weapons and technology to fight with, but Scorpion's unnatural strength and powers still give him the edge in kombat. Both members of the Lin Kuei are soon knocked unconscious.

"I will have my revenge, but I will not kill Sub Zero." Scorpion promises.

As Raiden nods his approval, a new voice attracts everyone's attention. "Will not? Or cannot?" Sub Zero (Bi Han) asks.

Sub Zero (Bi Han) then walks into the room.

"You!" Scorpion says.

The two enemies then walk up to one another.

"The Shirai Ryu are dead. You will suffer as they did." Scorpion threatens.

"To hell with your clan!" Sub Zero (Bi Han) snaps at the specter.

"No, to Hell with YOU!" Scorpion yells at the cryomancer as he then grabs Sub Zero and they both disappear in a flash of hellfire.

They reappear in a place filled with fire, burning bodies and malicious architecture.

"The Netherrealm." Sub Zero (Bi Han) realizes.

"This is where I was reborn. This is where you will pay!" Scorpion says.

The two rivals then start their fight. The battle is truly an epic one, with both kombatants equally matched in strength and fighting skill. In the end, Scorpion's fury gets the better of Sub Zero and he is beaten into submission.

"I have avenged my family and clan." Scorpion says.

Quan Chi then teleports into the realm behind the victorious Scorpion.

"This is your retribution? Scorpion, kill him." Quan Chi orders.

"I... I will not. He has been beaten." Scorpion says.

"Have you forgotten?" Quan Chi asks.

Quan Chi then magically creates a visage.

"What is this?" Scorpion asks.

The visage then shows the homeland of the Shirai Ryu. The entire village is in flames. Shirai Ryu clansmen are cut down by a hail of arrows.

"No..." Scorpion says, realizing what he is seeing.

Another is decapitated by a Lin Kuei assassin. Yet more are run through by katanas from horseback riders and arrows from archer marksmen. Among the horse riders is Sub Zero.

"Your clan. Your family." Quan Chi says before he magically creates another vision.

It shows Scorpion's wife and infant son huddled in a corner of their home. The door opens to reveal Sub Zero, katana in hand. He unsheathes it, and unmoved by the wife's tears, brings the blade down. All that is seen is a blood splattering the walls, along with the petals of a rose worn in his wife's hair. The implications are all too obvious.

"NO!" Scorpion screams.

The vision fades. Sub Zero, badly wounded as he is, is on his feet and holding a hand up in mercy.

"That is not me!" Sub Zero (Bi Han) begs.

Scorpion then rips his mask off his head. All that is present is a skull enwrapped in flames.

Back in the throne room of Shang Tsung, Scorpion reappears. Shang Tsung smiles in anticipation. Wordlessly, Scorpion holds up a scorched skull with the spinal cord attached.

"Ouch." Johnny Cage says.

His head hung in either sorrow or despair, Scorpion lets the skull shatter on the ground. With a loud scream, he then bursts into flame and disappears. As the kombatants leave, Raiden looks over the skull alongside Cyrax.

"Despite my efforts, my vision has come to pass. An unfortunate end. He once defended Earthrealm from the Netherrealm armies of Shinnok and Quan Chi." Raiden says.

"Scorpion will pay for this!" Cyrax says with anger.

"Sub Zero's fate is his own doing." Raiden says.

"His own doing?!" Cyrax asks, dumbfounded by what he just heard.

"The Lin Kuei have a history of making ruinous choices." Raiden says.

Cyrax glares at Raiden and begins to storm off, but Raiden's next words stop him short.

"Such as the Cyber Initiative." Raiden says.

Cyrax turns back around to face him.

"I am among those speaking out against the Grand Master's plan. Surgically transform the Lin Kuei into glorified robots? It kills our intuition, our instincts." Cyrax says.

"Did you speak out against the Lin Kuei's participation in this tournament?" Raiden asks.

"We were invited by Shang Tsung." Cyrax replies.

"He pays you to kill Earthrealm warriors. Betraying your own realm? I expect better, even from an assassin." Raiden says.

"My loyalty is to the Grand Master." Cyrax says.

He tries to walk off again, but Raiden stops him once more.

"Victory for Shang Tsung means the end of Earthrealm. And the Lin Kuei." Raiden explains.

Cyrax pauses for a moment, but still walks off. Baraka, who has watched the whole exchange, snarls ominously and also leaves to inform Shang Tsung.