Within the temple ruins, Sub Zero and Scorpion, still chained, can be seen following General Shao and Shang Tsung through the structure, accompanied by several Outworld soldiers.

"My realm and your clan have much in common. We both feel the pull of Liu Kang's leash." General Shao points out.

"Once Outworld rules Earthrealm, you will be free to remake the Lin Kuei in any manner you see fit." Shang Tsung says.

Scorpion looks towards Sub Zero.

"Bi Han, don't listen! We must stop them, not --" Scorpion warns before being cut off.

"Silence, Kuai Liang!" Sub Zero orders.

"But brother --" Scorpion says before being cut off again.

"Obey your Grandmaster!" Sub Zero commands.

Scorpion ultimately complies and falls silent. Sub Zero looks back towards Shang Tsung.

"Can you win this war? Soul stealers are deadly, but they're not enough." Sub Zero asks.

"You only think so because you don't understand their true purpose." Shang Tsung points out.

"Explain." Sub Zero says.

They then walk into a tomb deep within the ruins. In it stand hundreds of stone statues in the shape of ancient soldiers.

"Emperor Ying built this fortress during one of Earthrealm's most turbident periods. Enemies beset him on all sides. He built a great army to protect his army. He built a second one to protect him in the afterlife. This is Emperor Ying's Dragon Army." Shang Tsung explains.

"Impressive... But does this history lesson have a point?" Sub Zero asks.

"These statues were constructed and enchanted, by the great mages in the Emperor's court." Shang Tsung replies.

They then walk to an area of the tomb where a chest sits. Shang Tsung opens it to reveal a crown and five vials containing a glowing green substance. Shang Tsung picks up the crown and one of the vials before turning towards Sub Zero.

"They are animated by fragments of souls. (Pours the vial onto the crown, causing it to glow green) Once alive they fight tirelessly, unburdened by remorse or pity." Shang Tsung explains.

Shang Tsung places the crown onto his head and six of the statues come to life, moving in unison as they preform a stance.

"As our ally, you will be given command of several battalions. Few in Earthrealm could then resist the Lin Kuei." Shang Tsung adds.

Sub Zero considers the offer as he approaches Shang Tsung. He then lifts up his chained wrists and Shang Tsung begins to release him of his bonds. Scorpion looks on in horror.

"Bi Han!!" Scorpion calls out, being held back by two soldiers.

Shang Tsung then removes the chains and Sub Zero looks towards Scorpion.

"How could you?! Father would turn in his grave if he saw this!" Scorpion says.

"He was a dobbering old fool! He did us a favor, having that accident. And I was right to let him die." Sub Zero replies.

Scorpion looks on in shock at this realization.

"Let him die?! You said you tried to save him!" Scorpion points out.

"A lie. Because you couldn't, and still can't, face the truth. Father has doomed the Lin Kuei to mediocrity. Now we will achieve greatness." Sub Zero explains.

Angered, Scorpion knocks the two soldiers holding him to the ground. General Shao, Shang Tsung, and Sub Zero rush in to stop him but quickly share the same wrath of Scorpion's rage. Scorpion then tries to hit Sub Zero again when a soldier grabs the chains holding his wrists together. Scorpion is not deterred and merely knocks him down to the ground and slamming his fists into his face three times, spilling blood. He then turns and sweep kicks another soldier to the ground. Another soldier tries to punch him but is then sidestepped and Scorpion wraps the chain around his neck and lighting it ablaze, burning the neck clean off, the head and the body falling limp to the floor. Three more soldiers rush in but are quickly kicked, decapitated and killed. General Shao then rushes in with his axe and swings it at him. Scorpion manages to wrap the chains around the weapon, kicks General Shao in the face and managing to toss the axe away from him. General responds by punching him in the face but Scorpion recovers quickly and manages to avoid another punch. He then jumps onto the General's back and wraps the chain around his neck, attempting to strangle him. General Shao struggles but manages to rip the chains off, freeing both himself and scorpion. As Scorpion rises back to his feet, General Shao recovers his axe as he is accompanied by Shang Tsung.

"(laughing) He is a fiesty one." Shang Tsung says.

"Are you going to blather or make yourself useful? This Earthrealmer must be neutralized." General Shao says as he assumes a fighting stance.

They then fight. Scorpion finds himself at a disadvantage fighting both General Shao and Shang Tsung at once. Their skills in kombat combined with their Outworld magic makes them a force to be reckoned with. However, Scorpion does not back down and through sheer determination, he manages to win the fight, knocking the General and the Sorceror down to the ground.

"Neither of you are up to the task." Scorpion says.

Sub Zero looks towards Shang Tsung who rises back to his feet.

"Do not let Kuai Liang escape!" Sub Zero orders.

Shang Tsung channels the magic within the crown and several stone soldiers awaken and charge at Scorpion. Scorpion summons his fire magic and melts them down just before they can even touch him. Afterwards, Scorpion makes haste and quickly flees from the tomb. Shortly afterwards, Scorpion finds himself back in the treasure room, noticing Quan Chi and Rain and hides behind a pillar.

"Pollutants impact efficiency. Like barnacles on a ship's hull, they create drag and reduce speed." Quan Chi informs.

"Heh... I see." Rain replies.

Scorpion then attempts to sneak past them as Rain sees his reflection within a mirror hanged on another pillar. Scorpion quietly moves along as Rain then sneaks up from behind him and blasts him down with his water magic.

"So you've declined Shang Tsung's offer. I assume your brother has not?" Rain asks.

"The sorcerer tempted him into forsaking his oath." Scorpion replies.

"He can be convincing, can't he? Spurring him... is a grave mistake." Rain says.

They then fight. Rain proves himself as capable of a fighter in both skill and magic as Scorpion's previous opponents. However, Scorpion prove to be the superior fighter as after a tough fight, Rain in knocked to the ground.

"The mistake is yours, Outworlder." Scorpion says.

Scorpion looks up to see Havik and Darrius enter the room.

"What have you done!?" Havik asks.

Before Scorpion can reply, Havik and Darrius then charge in to attack him. They send in several strikes in which Scorpion dodges before swatting them back. They don't cease and continue pushing forwards but are quickly punched back as Scorpion then sends his Kunai towards Havik, stabbing him through the abdomen and sending him smashing into a pillar. Scorpion then moves onto Darrius who blocks a strike from him. He then sends a strike of his own which is grabbed by Scorpion who then punches him twice in the head before Havik kicks him away. Scorpion staggers towards a vat of boiling, liquid metal, his hands burning from touching the stone containing it. Havik and Darrius then grab hold of him and attempt to push his face into the boiling metal. Desperate, Scorpion manages to headbutts Darrius and punch Havik away from him. Scorpion then elbows Darrius in the face before grabbing hold of Havik and sending his face into the liquid metal. Scorpion shortly afterwards releases his grip on him and Havik screams in intense pain, his hands covering his burning face as blood pours from his face. After a moment, Havik turns towards Scorpion, his lips and cheeks having been completely burned off.

"I am not finished. For burning me, you will burn in the Netherrealm!" Havik says angrily.

They then fight. Havik's unorthodox style in kombat proves to be quite the challenge for Scorpion. That combined with the sheer rage from having the lower half of his face burned off makes him a dangerous force. Scorpion does not give up and after a brutal fight, manages to knock Havik unconscious.

"A Lin Kuei's flame is not easily smothered." Scorpion says.

Scorpion then turns to the sound of Sub Zero's voice.

"Split up! We must find him!" Sub Zero commands.

Scorpion does not intend to stick around and quickly makes his way out of the temple. He then makes to the gate where Smoke is waiting for him, who is then confused on where his brother is.

"What happened?! Where's Bi-Han!?" Smoke asks.

"He's betrayed us. We're all in imminent danger." Scorpion warns.

The two quickly leave the grounds of the temple as Scorpion explained to Smoke the situation.

"Letting Father die,.. Forsaking Earthrealm! He is abandoned for all reason!" Smoke exasperates.

"I knew Bi Han's frustrations ran deep. But I never thought they could inspire such madness. We can't let his corruption spread." Scorpion points out.

"Whatever it takes I am with you." Smoke assures.

"Thank you, we may not share blood, but we are brothers." Scorpion says.

The wind then picks up and the snow covers their vision. The wind quickly settles and the snow scatters, revealing Sub Zero.

"Do your oaths mean nothing?! It's your duty to obey my will!" Sub Zero says.

"Not when it betrays Lin Kuei's principles! We won't sacifice them to serve your own ambition!" Scorpion points out.

Sub Zero then forms an ice dagger and attacks him. He swings the dagger at Scorpion, who manage to dodge the attacks before sending a kick to both his chest and face. He then grabs hold of Sub Zero's wrist, attempting to releases his grip on the dagger, but he gets his hand kicked away as he then sends another kick to Sub Zero's face. They reengage in kombat and after several dodges, Sub Zero manages to slash Scorpion's right hand after recovering from a strike to his throat. Sub Zero then sends an overhead strike towards Scorpion to try to stab him but Scorpion manages to grab hold of his brother's wrist. He then looks up to find the dagger missing from his hand, leaving him confused. He looks at Sub Zero who then slashes him across the face with the dagger, which ended up being in his other hand. Scorpion grips his face in pain as Smoke quickly rushes to his aid.

"Kuai Liang!" Smoke calls out.

Scorpion stops him from advancing, revealing a large cut going down on his face, but luckily avoiding his eye.

"Stay back! This is my fight." Scorpion warns.

"End this, brother! Embrace the future!" Sub Zero says.

"I want no part of it! You pervert all that it means to be Lin Kuei!" Scorpion yells.

They then fight. This fight proves to be of equal grounds. Both warriors are in equal grounds when it comes to strength and kombat, and their magics both counteract the other. In the end, it became a battle of wills to see who perseveres. After a long brawl, it is Scorpion who emerges victorious.

"You are my grandmaster no longer." Scorpion says.

Scorpion then removes his Lin Kuei badge from his vest.

"What are you doing? Once he's exposed, won't you be made Grandmaster?" Smoke asks.

"You forget Cyrax and Sektor. Their loyalty to Bi Han is absolute. They'll sooner abet his corruption than follow me. We must chart a new course. One that both that honors our Father's legacy and serves Earthrealm. Help me. We can't leave him here to aid Shang Tsung." Scorpion explains.

They then carry Sub Zero away from the temple but cease once they see the soul extractors activate, their green beams sent into the sky above and can be seen for miles around. In a structure several miles away, Liu Kang and Manado can be seen as they look out at the beams in the distance.

"Oh no." Manado realizes.

"How did you achieve this, sorcerer?" Liu Kang wonders.

They the turn to see Geras materialize before them.

"You arrive not a moment too soon, Geras. What have you learned?" Liu Kang asks.

"In scrutinizing Shang Tsung's first meeting with his benefactor, I made an important discovery. Her life essence, the very time crystals that make up her being... ...are not of this timeline." Geras explains.

"Not of this timeline? How could someone from a previous timeline enter this one?" Manado asks.

"That cannot happen." Geras replies.

"If that cannot happen, then what has happened, Geras? There are no other timelines than those that have come before." Liu Kang asks.

"All evidence points to the presence of a second timeline, which exists concurrently with ours." Geras explains.

"Two timelines, side by side, moving forward simultaneously?" Manado asks.

"Never in a billion lifetimes have I seen this. But that does not make the other timeline any less real. There can be no doubt that Shang Tsung's benefactor hails from it." Geras says.

"Hmm.... And who she is, why she's here, where she's from... ...all questions we need answered. Which we can't, while we are under attack. Me and Manado will go to Sindel. Convince her to withdraw from Earthrealm by showing her how history is being manipulated." Liu Kang explains.

"That will require revealing to her your prior roles as Keeper of Time." Geras points out.

"We never wished for this to ever occur. But now, with the situation at hand, it gives us no choice.

"We will need your help. Geras. To prove our claims to the Empress." Liu Kang says.

"I will meet you at the Wu Shi. There is another that must accompany us." Manado says.

With a nod from Liu Kang, Manado summons a portal and walks through it. When then exits on the other side, he finds himself at the Wu Shi, where he sees Talion waiting for him.

"I have seen what has happened, father. What's going on?" Talion asks.

"We are in a dire situation, my daughter. You must prepare yourself immediately, for we shall return to Outworld... and confront our family." Manado informs.