Back in Shang Tsung’s throne room, several masked guards are escorting a new warrior, covered in a mask of cloth and red clothing.
SHANG TSUNG: Kombatants! I present this latest creation of Shao Kahn. He is many warriors, their souls fused into one being. Behold… Ermac!
Ermac assumes a fighting kata. He glows with green energy, light crackling and the air rippling around him. Johnny Cage is once again impressed, Kano snickers under his breath.
RAIDEN: Be wary, Liu Kang. He is unlike anything you have fought before.
Liu Kang steps up to face Ermac.
SHANG TSUNG: Liu Kang! You are the sole Earthrealm warrior to progress to this final stage of the tournament!
LIU KANG: I am ready.
ERMAC: We are many. You are one. We will destroy you.
They fight. Ermac’s telekenetic powers and control over magic would be an even match for several kombatants, but Liu Kang is no oridinary warrior. After an intense battle, his fighting skill overcomes the mystical warrior.
LIU KANG: Earthrealm will not fall into your master’s hands.
With the fight over, the kombatants take their leave. Kitana walks over to Shang Tsung, who is seething with rage.
KITANA: He is a greater threat than anticipated. I will insure he does not reach the final challenge.
Shang Tsung nods his approval and Kitana departs after Kang. Later in the forest, Liu Kang is practicing a kata with Raiden watching.
RAIDEN: Remember Bo’ Rai Cho’s teachings. For my vision to be realised, you must not let emotion overpower you.
LIU KANG: Your visions. What causes them?
RAIDEN: My future self sent them to me. Perhaps to ensure some outcome.
LIU KANG: Or to prevent one.
Raiden gasps again. Another vision appears in his mind, this time of future Raiden.
FUTURE RAIDEN: He must win!
The vision disappears.
RAIDEN: “He must win”. Those are my last words before I die. I believe it is you who must win.
He takes off his amulet.
RAIDEN: This amulet was forged by the Elder Gods. It cracked here in the present after my first vision. If we choose wisely, the future will be secured and the cracks healed.
LIU KANG: I trust you will make the right decisions.
RAIDEN: We must trust in the Elder Gods, Liu Kang.
Raiden teleports away in a flash of lightning. Liu Kang prepares to resume his kata, only to find Kitana walking toward him. She attacks immediately, but he blocks all of her attacks and kicks her away. She tries again, fails to land a good hit and he kicks her away again. Getting angry, Kitana tries another attack, but Liu Kang grabs both her arms before she can connect. He seems rather intrigued by her efforts.
LIU KANG: You’re good! Show me more.
She pushes him back.
KITANA: Do not underestimate me, Shaolin.
They fight. Even with ten thousand years of experience behind her, Kitana is pretty much outclassed by the Shaolin warrior. She is soon down on the floor.
LIU KANG: I am impressed.
KITANA: Do it.
LIU KANG: Do what?
KITANA: Kill me.
Kitana is now sitting up. Liu Kang kneels next to her.
LIU KANG: Why would I do that?
KITANA: I came to kill you. I have failed my father. My emperor.
LIU KANG: Shao Kahn is your father?!
KITANA: I have disgraced him. You must kill me.
LIU KANG: I will not.
She looks up at him in confusion.
LIU KANG: This encounter never took place. You have disgraced no one.
He stands up and begins to walk away, but turns around one last time.
LIU KANG: I hope we meet again. Under… different circumstances.
He walks off, leaving Kitana to ponder what took place.
The scene cuts to the courtyard exterior. It is now night, and Liu Kang walks in, flanked by Kung Lao and Raiden. Earthrealm’s remaining warriors, along with Shang Tsung and Kitana, are all waiting in anticipation.
SHANG TSUNG: Kombatants! Only one Earthrealm warrior remains.
Raiden nods and Kung Lao places his hand on Kang’s shoulder. They nod to one another.
SHANG TSUNG: The Shaolin Liu Kang. Is he ready to bear such a heavy burden? Earthrealm’s fate is in his hands. Your opponent will be… Scorpion!
The hellspawn ninja appears in a flash of fire. Liu Kang assumes a fighting stance.
LIU KANG: I do not fear you, demon.
SHANG TSUNG: Fighting with Scorpion… the sorcerer Quan Chi!
Quan Chi teleports through a portal, laughing as he does so.
SCORPION: You have already lost.
They fight. The odds are truly stacked against Liu Kang, but he rises to the occasion and surpasses both Netherrealm denizens with his strength, speed and fighting prowess. After a intense battle of endurance, Kang prevails.
LIU KANG: As I said, I do not fear you. I pity you.
Shang Tsung’s eyes narrow with displeasure. Liu Kang walks up to Raiden.
RAIDEN: You have done well. But the tournament is not yet over.
LIU KANG: Goro.
JOHNNY CAGE: (To Sonya) What’s a “Goro”?
She shrugs in answer.
SHANG TSUNG: Liu Kang… it has been years since an Earthrealm warrior has progressed this far. But the reigning champion is far beyond your ability. To the Lair with you!
Tsung opens a portal under Kang’s feet. He falls right through it and lands hard on the floor of the Lair. It is in fact the prison Sonya fought through, and notably there is a large throne that has no one in it. Kang rises to his feet and looks around, spotting no one until a voice sounds out behind him.
GORO: I did not expect to fight in this tournament.
Kang wheels around. He comes face to face with an eight foot tall, four armed humanoid.
GORO: But eventually even the Shaolin produce a warrior worthy of a Shokan.
He stalks forward to face Liu Kang.
LIU KANG: I know who you are! I am ready for you!
GORO: I will give you a warriors death.
They fight. The battle is the most intense of Liu Kang’s life. Goro’s strength is unparalled and his endurance legendary. It takes all of Kang’s skill, speed and stamina to keep in the fight, but amazingly he manages to take it to the Mortal Kombat champion. After what seems like an age, Goro finally goes down to the Shaolin warrior.
LIU KANG: It seems the Shaolin trained a warrior greater than a Shokan.
Sensing Goro is out cold, Liu Kang clasps his hands in a prayer of thanks. A portal opens up behind him. He looks to it with grim determination.
In Shang Tsung’s throne room, Raiden and the others await the arrival of the victor. Shang Tsung sneers unhappily when he sees it is Liu Kang. He steps from his throne to the floor as Raiden takes in a deep breath in anticipation.
LIU KANG: Shang Tsung! Only one fight remains! Face me… in Mortal Kombat!
SHANG TSUNG: So be it.
They fight. The evil sorcerer brings all of his dark magic to bear, from his fireballs to the ability to morph into any fighter he chooses. But Liu Kang fights past all of it, delivering a vicious beatdown to the treacherous servant of Shao Kahn. Finally, Kang knocks Tsung to the floor, leaving him beaten.
LIU KANG: Say it.
SHANG TSUNG: I concede.
The Earthrealm warriors all cheer in unison.
KUNG LAO: Well done, my friend.
RAIDEN: He has saved Earthrealm.
A large beam of light, eminating from a portal, descends into the throne room. The Earthrealm warriors all surround Liu Kang, offering him congratulations.
SONYA: That was awesome, Liu Kang!
NIGHTWOLF: Congratulations.
JAX: Way to go, kid!
JOHNNY CAGE: MVP, baby!
Shang Tsung and his minions all take their leave through a portal back to Outworld. The last to depart is Kitana, who casts a longing look at Liu Kang. He smiles at her as she exits through the portal. Kang then turns to face Raiden, who bows his head in congratulations. Liu Kang does the same. As Kung Lao puts a hand on his shoulder and Kang nods back, Raiden takes another look at his amulet expectantly… only to find more cracks appear among it. He ponders the meaning of this with a look of worry.
Back in Outworld, Shang Tsung is on his knees before Shao Kahn. Baraka, Reptile and Kitana stand over the sorcerer expectantly.
SHAO KAHN: You failed me! Five hundred years I have waited! Now I must wait five hundred more!
SHANG TSUNG: My lord! All is not lost!
Kahn turns around and begins speaking to himself.
SHAO KAHN: Curse the Elder Gods and their tournament!
SHANG TSUNG: My lord!
SHAO KAHN: I should have taken Earthrealm by force! But I am bound by their rules.
He sits on his throne.
SHAO KAHN: Rules that cannot be broken.
SHANG TSUNG: My lord
SHAO KAHN: Kill him!
Baraka and Reptile restrain Tsung as Kitana prepares her bladed fans.
SHANG TSUNG: But what if the rules were changed?
Kahn holds up his hand.
SHAO KAHN: Kitana!
She pauses.
SHAO KAHN: Continue…
At the Wu Shi Academy in Earthrealm, Liu Kang walks through a congregation of monks and his new friends from the tournament (minus Nightwolf, who’s presumably returned to his homeland) towards Raiden. He clasps his hands in respect and bows his head. Raiden then presents him with a golden medal with a dragon at it’s forefront, signifying Kang’s new status as Champion of Mortal Kombat. He hangs the medal around Kang’s neck as the crowd applauds.