**MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD**





Foregoing cast list this time because there’s no new info, save the following:

Johnny Cage – Straight-to-video action star (lol)

Following after the already previewed pages depicting Scorpion’s death and rebirth and the opening salvo of the Scorpion vs Raiden fight, Scorpion elbows Raiden in the face, stabs him in the chest with his spear, and wraps it around his neck, telling him that “if he’s in there, he hopes this hurts”. Bringing him to his knees and strangling him, Hanzo, in full Scorpion mode, blames Raiden for giving him the dagger, destroying the second Shirai Ryu, and now killing Takeda. But Kenshi’s son calls to him, severely weakened.. Scorpion goes to assist him, while Raiden, coughing, apologizes, stelling them he is now purged, and that they must act quickly to save Takeda’s life.

(It isn’t explained specifically, but the implication is that going by Kano’s earlier statement that only death can free someone of the Kamidogu curse, I’m guessing that Scorpion stopped Raiden’s heart just long enough for it to count as a momentary death for a god who can never die – this is likely how Raiden is freed.)

The two take Takeda to the Jinsei Chamber, home of Earthrealm’s life force. Raiden attempts to heal Takeda (awash in blue enrgy and lightning), but he does not wake up; he states that the Netherealm is fighting for his soul, but Takeda is fighting back; Hanzo taught him well. Takeda then awakens, feeling ‘invincible’. Raiden now explains his actions:
We flash back to the aftermath of the Netherrealm war: Raiden implores the Elder Gods to destroy Shinnok’s amulet which now keeps him prisoner; they banished him once, he returned and they banished him again; he needs their help to end this. The Elder Gods explain that destroying the amulet would release Shinnok; that which binds him also keeps him safe. Raiden suggests safeguarding it within a dark dimension; The Elder Gods agree; but a lock is only as good as its key – by their behest, the Kamidogu appear before Raiden.

Each blade has tasted the blood of the One Being, its essence dwells within them. United, their force will contain Shinnok, with the help of the blood of a god – the elder gods enact a ritual, sending the Kamigodu flying into Raiden’s flesh. The ritual worked.

Back in the present, Raiden explains that it was not safe to keep the Kamidogu in one location; he entrusted them each to deadly champions. Hanzo is irate at this, as Raiden never explained their possessing, psychotic side effects. Raiden tells him in was in the champions’ best interests to consider them nothing more than sacred relics in the event they were ever pressed for information (“you can’t betray ignorance”.) He did not, however, foresee a demon corrupting the blood magik. Scorpion suspects Quan Chi; Raiden doubts this, but states that Fujin is investigating the Netherrealm border, just in case. Scorpion asks who else has these daggers...


Continued...