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The dark blue portal to Edenia is like a rippling pool of water, seemingly more stable than the others in the Nexus, but Fox has learned that things on this journey have rarely been what they seemed. With no one to guide him but himself, he takes a moment to breathe deeply before leaping within. The portal swallows him and he is thrown across space, time and reality, pulled through a spiraling tunnel that grows darker and darker with each moment. But before he can comprehend what that may mean, he is free from it, ejected through its exit into a room with no light.

Fox touches down on all fours, highly alert and ready for anything. Other than the very dim glow of the portal behind him, which offers very little illumination, Fox does not detect anything. The room is too dark to see more than a few feet from the portal, and the stone floor is cool to the touch and somewhat damp. He focuses with his highly-sensitive ears, but can hear nothing.

Slowly, he stands up, trying to adjust his eyes to the blackness to no avail. Beneath his mask, he silently curses his distaste for technology, as he could really use a flashlight right about now.

'Lessons for later, I suppose,' he begrudgingly admits to himself. He takes an experimental stomp, a sharp noise to judge the dimensions of the room he is within based on the sound bouncing off the walls. The room isn't very large and the ceiling is low, likely only a foot and a half taller than his head. He considers his next move carefully.

>Search along the walls of the room
>Move forward with echolocation
>Attempt to construct a light
>Try to use what little light can be gained from the personal portal generator
>Other (write-in)

>>2528936
>Search along the walls of the room

>>2528936
A Shirai Ryu who doesn't carry the means to ignite a fire? Hanzo, the fuck are you doing with these kids?

>Search along the walls of the room
>Move forward with echolocation

>>2528970
>A Shirai Ryu who doesn't carry the means to ignite a fire?
No he's got stuff, he just lacks kindling.

>>2528993
When all you need is a light source, a match or lighter comes with its own fuel. Just sayin'.

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>>2528950
>>2529002

Fox holds up his hand and approaches what he judges to be the nearest wall, placing his palm upon the stone and feeling around. He takes careful, measured steps as he searches for anything, any kind of feature, but as he does his mind continues to wander.

'Where is Raiden?' He closes his eyes, not that it matters in such darkness. 'I do not understand where he could have gone... He did not respond to the communication sigil. How could that be?' As his brow furrows, his thoughts begin to grow as dark as the chamber. 'Perhaps he was defeated... but if so, why were the Kamidogu left untouched? What if I am doing the wrong thing? Is all of this for nothing?'

Just then, his hand feels something metal set into the wall. It feels like rusty iron, and is a torch holder, complete with a torch. He smiles and removes the wooden stake and takes it over to the portal, where he uses what little light there is to see. He takes out two of his weapons and begins his work, striking them against each other.

Thankfully he discovers that the torch takes sparks well, and suddenly lights up after several attempts. He holds the burning beacon in front of him and turns around, discovering that the room is far from empty. Several skeletal bodies hang from chains on the walls or lie in heaps in the corners of the room, and the door on the far end is thick with metal bracings.

'This is a dungeon,' he realizes quickly. 'I thought as much. At least now I can see...' Upon approaching the door, he pushes it open into a dusty hallway, one just as dark as the room he was just in. He pauses to listen, but again hears nothing. He walks out of the room and down the hall, towards the only direction he can go, and comes upon a three-way split: he may go forward, left or right.

>Forward
>Left
>Right
>Call out
>Other

>>2529098
>Left

>>2529098
>>Left

>>2529098
>>Left

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Well aren't we all just the green club today? Team Mini
>>2529106
>>2529125
>>2529212

'Left,' he decides, thinking that it if this is to be a maze, he might as well pick one side and follow its wall. He holds the torch in front of him as he proceeds onwards, though it is not a maze, but a straight corridor. It extends for several dozen meters, to the point where he wonders what it could possibly lead to, before he notices something white and round on the floor.

He kneels as he approches it: a skull. He picks it up and inspects it. 'The last skull I dealt with was a talker... but I don't get the feeling this one has much to say. That's when he notices another skull a few feet away, further down the hall... and another after that.

The end of the hallway opens up to a large room, which would seem quite spacious were it not so utterly filled with skeletal corpses. Fox's eyes widen as he steps through the entryway only to behold a mountain of corpses with a single light shining down upon it from high above; some kind of circular hole in the ceiling. His torch further illuminates the ground beneath him to be littered with the dead. Scattered remains of ribs, arms, legs and heads mix until it becomes impossible to determine to which body each bone belongs.

'So many...' he nearly says aloud. 'How could there be this many dead? A mountainful of corpses, all bleached white and devoid of flesh... Skeletons of all sizes, young and old...'

The sheer immensity of bone before him is staggering. The room smells dry and somewhat stale, not at all like a tomb would smell, save for a hint of mustiness. But what continues to unnerve him the most is the sheer, all-encompassing silence. No wind, no rats, nothing...

>Go back
>Climb up to that hole in the ceiling
>Make your way around to the opposite end of the room
>Call out
>Other

>>2529268
>>Climb up to that hole in the ceiling

>>2529268
>>Climb up to that hole in the ceiling

>>2529282
>>2529322

Give me a 1d100, please. He has climbing as a skill, so it'll be +10.

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>2529442

Rolled 82 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>2529442

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>>2529584

Setting the torch down, Fox takes out his climbing claws and approaches the nearest wall. 'Might as well follow the light,' he thinks and begins to climb. He encounters some difficulty on the smooth surface, but as he moves higher, the climb becomes somewhat easier. The ceiling slopes and has several recessed groves leading up to the hole, allowing him a wider diversity of hand and footholds. He makes certain to dig his claws into the cracks of the stone with each movement; he is now hanging nearly completely upside-down as he makes his way towards the ray of light.

'Not even any cobwebs or spiders...' he thinks to himself. 'It's almost as if everything in this entire realm is...'

As he reaches for the next handhold, the stone breaks off in his grip. He tenses from the sudden loosening, holding on with his three other limbs as the rock slips from his grasp.

>>2529686

Fox maintains his hold and stays in place. The chunk of stone falls below and hits the slope of the skeletal mountain, rolling down and knocking aside several corpses. Dust and fragments of tiny bones fly up in its wake. The sound is surprisingly loud in this chamber, with the noise of rattling bones bouncing off the walls for a few seconds longer than normal before fading.

The Shirai Ryu hangs on, keeping very still. Eventually he releases the breath he was holding and keeps going, making sure now to carefully test each stone he grabs.

But down below, his ears pick up the sounds of bones moving, and not because of the fallen rock. He pauses and looks back over his shoulder as small bones begin pulling towards one another, locking into place. And following them, larger ones.

His eyes widen. 'Oh no...'

Before his eyes, the skeletons begin to rebuild, their bones returning and beginning to softly glow with a faint green tint. But as they completely reform, the glow is not dim, but overpowering. First there is one, then four, then eighteen skeletons, the shared light of their glowing bodies enough to now completely illuminate the chamber walls---and Fox himself. They look up at him with bright eye sockets, and though their movements are awkward and gangly, they begin moving towards one another and grabbing hold, allowing others to climb upon them, quickly creating a ladder.

"That's not good," he mutters to himself, now hurrying much more quickly towards the hole.

>1d100+10 to climb!

Rolled 48 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>2529721

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>2529721

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>>2529726
>>2529856

Down below as the horde grows, the skeletons continue to pile on top of each other, their bones rattling and teeth chattering. Sweat rolls upwards on Fox's forehead and drips off onto a skull as he desperately attempts to reach the hole.

Fox reaches the edge and immediately pulls himself within, but as he does, he feels a skeletal hand grab his ankle and pull. His claws scrape against the edge of the smooth stone tube, but they dig in and he is able to hold on. He grunts as he kicks downwards with his other leg, freeing his ankle with a bone-shattering kick. He looks up and squints at the dim light shining down from above, and continues to climb.

The skeletons do not cease, and now give chase after him, scaling the walls of the tube themselves. Fox grunts as he breathes hard and fast, clawing his way up hand over hand, foot over foot. His sole focus is on the light up above. Finally, he begins to see the top and this spurs him on to reach it even as his ears are filled with the sounds of the skeletons a meter beneath him.

He reaches the top and pulls himself over, not taking a break for a moment even though he desperately wants to. The ninja looks all around for something to cover the hole with, but even though he is in a nicer part of whatever structure he is in, with more polished walls and columns which reach up to the ceiling, there is no grate or cover to impede the skeletons that are about to swarm up in seconds.

Looking up, he notices that the light is coming from another hole in the ceiling, but this chamber has a few doors as well, each constructed differently: wood, metal and a portcullis in its down position.

>Go for the next ceiling hole; keep going up
>Go for the wooden door
>Go for the metal door
>Go for the portcullis
>Other

>>2529910
>Go for the wooden door

>>2529910
>>Go for the wooden door

>>2529910
>Go for the wooden door

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>>2529929
>>2529932
>>2530043

'One door's as good as any other,' he quickly decides, running towards the nearest door, which was made of wood. To his satisfaction, it is unlocked, and he quickly slams it shut and finds that it locks from his side. He slides a metal latch across the door's edge, preventing the skeletons from coming after him, but he can hear them clawing and pounding upon the other side. 'Better keep moving...'

Fox runs through a series of hallways, and finds that he is beginning to recognize some of these surroundings, but only slightly. 'This is supposed to be Edenia... am I in the palace?'

He skids to a stop next to a window and looks out, finally seeing the state of the realm: a wasteland, devoid of any hint of life. No grass, no birds, nothing. Fox finds the sight chilling. 'Kaito once told us of what Edenia was like before it was separated from Outworld... Lost Edenia. This looks like that...'

Stepping back from the windows into the shadows, he begins to think some more. 'Is this realm still merged with Outworld? No, can't be. Not even Outworld felt this... dead. This timeline is broken... Where do I even begin to look for the Kamidogu?'

Suddenly, he hears a noise from deeper within the palace, what sounds like a battle. Shouting, something being knocked over, and a scream from something inhuman. 'That sounds like a good place to start...'

>Follow the noise
>Get on the roof and search out the noise from above
>Wait where you are and see if it gets closer or farther away
>Try contacting Raiden again
>Other

>>2530146
>Get on the roof and search out the noise from above

>>2530146
>>Get on the roof and search out the noise from above

>>2530146
>Wait where you are and see if it gets closer or farther away

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>>2530152
>>2530226

Deciding to approach the situation from an unconventional angle to maximize the element of surprise if needed, Fox dashes out of the shadows and through the window, grabbing the top of it and flipping upwards and backwards as he does. His claws connect with the wall and he scrambles up the wall, reaching the roof before running in the direction of the sounds.

As he runs across the tiled palace rooftops, the sky nearby suddenly lights up as a bolt of lightning strikes a courtyard. The first thought to cross his mind is one of hope. 'Raiden!' He charges in that direction and leaps over a section of the roof, but upon coming to a stop, discovers that he is incorrect.

It is not the god of thunder, but rather one of the New Defenders' sworn enemies, Rain.

The purple-clad warrior prince is battling the undead, encasing them in spheres of water and smashing them against the ground, the walls and each other. He carries a sword in one hand that he uses to slice several of the creatures in half, and as the ninja watches he raises a hand to the sky and calls down another bolt of lightning, destroying a skeleton and sending its body parts flying in twenty directions.

Rain is not alone, Fox notes. A small group of warriors are with him, similarly clad in purple, though wearing armor and carrying lances and swords. He recognizes them as the Edenian Knights, the royal family's guard. They work together to hold back the tide of swarming dead while Rain finishes them off, but more are constantly coming; there is no end in sight to the horde.

Fox finds himself torn. On the one hand, Rain is a known traitor and deadly foe. On the other, this is not the Rain he knows, and he is fighting with the Edenian Knights. The fact that he is embroiled in battle precludes sitting down and having a conversation with him about his current alignment.

>Stay here and watch what happens
>Jump down and help Rain
>Jump down and attack Rain
>Explore elsewhere; let the undead focus on him and his group
>Other

>>2530387
>>Jump down and help Rain

>>2530387
>Explore elsewhere; let the undead focus on him and his group
Need more intel.

>>2530397
>>2530400
I'll need a tie breaker.

>>2530387
>>Jump down and help Rain
>>

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>>2530397
>>2530489

'Hell with it,' Fox decides before leaping down into the courtyard. He lands a few yards from Rain, who immediately turns to assess the new potential threat, hesitating when he sees Fox is no undead assailant.

"You're alive," Rain says in a tone indicating disbelief. "Whose side are you on?"

Fox takes out a kunai and throws it at Rain---or more specifically, just over Rain's shoulder to impact in the skull of the skeleton behind him.

"That answer your question?" Fox asks, taking out his kusarigama.

"For now," is all the prince replies. Fox turns around and whips the weighted end of his chain into a crowd of four undead, the sheer force of the blow bashing through the skeletons and cutting them in half. Rain flips over the heads of three, creating a surge of water beneath their feet as he does which launches them up into the air. When he lands, he turns around and slices at them as they fall down. Nearby, the Edenian Knights form a shield wall, blocking most of the horde from getting through the courtyard's main entrance. They pull at the shields and try to claw their way around them, but the second rank keeps them at bay with their polearms as the first stands their ground.

Fox backs up and finds himself back-to-back with Rain as the two of them do battle against their common foe. With lightning and speed, they destroy each enemy that comes at them.

"Look out!" Rain says, raising a hand and blasting a charging skeleton with a line of water, pushing it back into a group and knocking them all down.

Fox turns and sees one of the boney fiends attempting to leap down upon Rain from a nearby rooftop; he kicks the weight at the skeleton's leg, knocking it out from under it, causing it to fall forward and crash headfirst upon the ground, crumbling into a useless pile.

As the two of them square away against the next coming group, they briefly make eye contact. 'Never thought I'd see the day I'd fight by his side...' Fox thinks.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>2530573
Drop kick the skelemen

>>2530573
Make good use of that weighted end of the kusari-gama.

"So, I'm from out of town. What happened here?"

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>2530573
use the chain on the kusarigama to tangle up and pull apart the skeletons.
Like wrap it around skulls to pull them off.

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>2530598

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>2530573
Dodge the incoming attack, and trip skeleton into more skeletons.

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>>2530588

As one draws near, Fox brings up both feet and plants them firmly in the ribcage, knocking it backwards. The skeleton's remaining body parts fall to the floor as the green glow fades.

>>2530598
>>2530672

Now on the floor, and with more enemies incoming, Fox grips his chain weapon tightly and spins it over his head, creating a protective barrier that allows him to get back up. Still, heedless of their own safety, the skeletons charge into the weighted end, displaying a complete lack of self-preservation and higher thinking.

Behind him, Rain's water powers converge in a wave that washes a dozen of them away, smashing them up against a wall. Fox looks over his shoulder at the purple-clad warrior. "So, I'm from out of town. What happened here?"

"You have come to the realm of death," Rain says simply, using his sword to slice a skeleton down the middle.

"I thought that was the Netherrealm!"

"Even the Netherrealm is more lively than what Edenia has become," Rain says solemnly. His tone picks up as he punches another in the neck, breaking it and sending the skull flying upwards. "I know not who you are, stranger, but you should know that we are nothing more than a distraction."

"A distraction...?"

>>2530635
>>2530846

Fox's eyes narrow. "Rain, get down!"

He does so, allowing Fox to swing the sickle in a wide arc, cutting down a few skeletons before wrapping around a large group of them, keeping them in one place. Rain sees his chance and raises both hands to the sky, calling down several bolts of lightning upon the group. Fox quickly drops his chain as electricity surges through the weapon, super-heating it as the skeletons burn and turn black.

The group falls into a heap as the chain goes slack. "A little warning next time?" Fox asks, attempting to pick up his weapon but finding it too hot.

"Apologies," Rain mutters, raising a hand. A gentle torrent of water spouts from his palm, which he directs at the chain, cooling it rapidly. After a moment, Fox is able to pick it back up.

Nearby, the Edenian Knights prepare for another wave of undead.

"Does it ever end?" Fox wonders aloud.

"An entire realm's worth of dead? It does, but not for a very long time," Rain replies. "We must move to a new defensive position. This one is compromised."

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>>2531382

"What do you mean?" That's when he notices that slowly, some of the skeletons they just slayed are starting to pull themselves back together. "You can't be serious... We have to completely destroy them?"

Rain doesn't reply, leaving Fox to figure things out for himself. As he commands the Edenian Knights to fall back and prepare to find a new spot to defend, the sky above seems to darken even more. At first the ninja believes it may merely be clouds summoned by the edenian prince, but there is something different about them, something much more sinister. He resolves to not find out.

"Stay with us or strike out on your own, stranger," Rain says. "Or stay here and die." He runs towards the other end of the courtyard with the knights, not waiting for his response.

>Go with Rain
>Explore elsewhere
>Stay here
>Attempt to contact Raiden
>Other

>>2531384
>>Go with Rain
Might as well

>>2531384
>>Go with Rain

>>2531384
>Go with Rain

Sorry for the slow pace, hanging out with some old friends. Will update soon.

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>>2531432
>>2531541
>>2531702

Fox hesitates for only another moment before taking off after the group. He follows them through the desiccated courtyard towards a large entryway that he vaguely recognizes from his last trip to Edenia. As he passes under the ruined archway, he notes the cracked tiles, broken columns and torn tapestries of the great hall, all of which seem to indicate a great battle that took place long ago.

His mind races as fast as he runs. 'What happened here? Why is everything either destroyed or dead? Except for him and those knights...' 'Questions for later, I suppose...'

He catches up to Rain and the knights as they come to a stop before a large set of doors wrought of black iron and covered in strange runes. "This is where we make our stand," Rain declares. "Take up positions at the hallways, ranks of two!"

The knights follow his orders to the letter, moving to take up strategic positions at each potential avenue of approach. Fox is about to ask a question of the prince, but before he can, Rain speaks to him. "If you are going to stick around, make yourself useful and don't get in the way."

"You said we were a distraction? For who?"

"The others," is all he gets for a response. He turns his head and looks in the direction they came. "They are coming..."

Fox turns and holds up his weapon as the sounds of the oncoming horde grow louder and louder. Only now, there is something else to the skeletal horde, a series of loud shrieks that ring through the halls.

Their source is revealed when dark shapes swoop out of holes in the ceiling, heading towards them: dark, stone-skinned and humanoid with wings. Fox at first disbelieves his eyes, but then realizes just what he is looking at: gargoyles. The creatures, their hands covered in claws and their eyes glowing bright red, draw nearer with each second, carried by bat-like wings.

Just as the first wave is about to reach the knights, Rain raises both palms to the sky and calls forth several bolts of lightning, which strike the animate statues and utterly destroy them. Fragments of rock fall to the floor as dust and smoke fills the spot where the beasts once were.

"There will be more," he mutters. "Ready yourself!"

The skeletons are in sight now, and over their heads swoop in a second wave of gargoyles.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>2533377
Deter the gargoyles with the chain and an occasional Tarzan swing.

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>2533377
Hook a gargoyle and swing it into skeletons

Heading home, will be able to update when I get back. Thanks for your patience.

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>>2533395
>>2533567

As the skeletons crash into the shield-wall of the Edenian Knights, the demonic-looking gargoyles fly overhead and towards the pair. Rain blasts two down with a hydro surge from his palms, but as Fox throws his weapon upwards, the gargoyle twists downwards and soars beneath his attack, tackling him to the floor.

The wind briefly leaves Fox's lungs as the heavy creature takes him down, and the cold stone of the floor isn't offering any comfort. The gargoyle looks down upon him with fiercely red eyes, seemingly staring into his very soul as it raises a hand. A sword, jagged and dull, appears in the monster's hand, which it then prepares for impalement.

Fox brings up both hands, catching the blade between his palms as it is pressed downwards towards his chest. The strength of the creature is great and the deadly weapon grows nearer and nearer while sweat pours down Fox's forehead, his eyes desperately darting between the blade and the stone-beast holding it.

Rain sees this, turns and creates another torrent of water, knocking the gargoyle off with a high-pressure spray. "Make yourself useful!" he shouts at Fox while using his sword to block the attack of two other sword-wielding foes.

Life returns to Fox's lungs as he takes a deep breath, flips back up to his feet, and kicks one end of the kusarigama back up to his hand. The gargoyle, wet and annoyed, gets back up and prepares to attack him once more.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>2535328
Crush its head with the weighted end.

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>2535328
Hunker down, and fight defensively, You've been fighting nonstop for some time now, and are getting reckless.

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>>2535608

Fox turns half-back and then steps forward, bringing the weighted end of the chain down towards the gargoyle. The creature hops to the left with a flap of its wings, dodging the weight and causing it to smash the tile where it was standing. Before Fox can pull it back, the creature turns and slices him across the back with its sword, slicing through fabric and flesh. The ninja shouts and falls back, nearly dropping his chain.

>>2535713

More of the creatures circle overhead. Fox finds himself growing unsteady on his feet; for a moment, his vision blurs, and then he is somewhere else, somewhere long ago. He is in a forest.

The forest of his home, in Japan. He is alone, but he hears the voice of his master.

'You cannot always win by overwhelming your opponent. Sometimes, your opponents will overwhelm you by number alone. Even if you are greater than they, they will seek to wear you down, to tire you out. They want you to make mistakes. To be reckless.'

Just then, several pillars of fire erupt from the ground, surrounding him, and from within those flames emerge figures: hellish things, burning skeletal monsters. The infernal summons of the grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu. Fox knows them well: he had been fighting them for several hours non-stop. He attacks them with the same ferocity he has used since the beginning, but one of them gets through and rakes its claws upon his back.

'Fight defensively!' he hears his master shout. 'Hunker down. Let none approach!'

Fox digs his feet into the earth, grits his teeth, and suddenly he is back in Edenia. 'I remember, master.'

He holds his weapon up and dares the gargoyle to come forward. When it does, he catches the sword with the chain, wraps it around the blade and throws the gargoyle away from him, disarming the creature. As it hits the ground, he swings the weight once and then brings it down, smashing its head into tiny bits of stone.

Two more swoop down, and Fox backflips to gain some distance. They land in front of him and both try to attack, but they are uncoordinated and bump into each other. He takes advantage of this by throwing his chain around their legs and pulling, yanking them off of their feet. As they try to scramble to get up, Rain brings down a lightning bolt and destroys both of them before turning to consider his next foe.

>Attempt to lure some of the gargoyles away
>Fight next to Rain
>Help the Edenian guards keep the hordes at bay
>Look for a way to collapse the hallways
>Other

>>2536569
>>Look for a way to collapse the hallways

>>2536569
>>Look for a way to collapse the hallways

>>2537321
>>2537401
Writing now.

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>>2537321
>>2537401
Fox looks left and right, seeing that both hallways are soon going to be swarming with the creatures. He then looks around, seeing the broken columns and cracked walls of this ruined palace, and an idea begins to form.

He reaches into his vest and feels the explosives he received in Earthrealm. The bandolier still has several charges that were unused---but not for long.

Fox rolls to the side to avoid a gargoyle's strike before leaping towards one of the halls. As he does, he thows the sickle up towards the archway, where it hooks upon stone. He immediately scales the chain, moving faster than he's ever climbed before, and at the top he works quickly to set one of the bombs.

As he does so, he is suddenly tackled by a gargoyle from beneath, and carried to the opposite side of the chamber, where it pushes him up against the wall there. Fox grapples with the grip of the monster as its claws sink into his back, causing him no shortage of pain, but through it all his mind remains clear and focused. He takes out another explosive and sets it, matching its twin across the way. One primed, he brings both fists down upon the gargoyle's back, hitting it three times before it lets go and they both fall to the floor. There, he takes out a kunai a jams it into the eye of the statue, cracking its skull in half.

He gets up and hobbles towards Rain, his body aching all over. "Pull your men back from the sides!" he shouts.

Rain roundhouses a gargoyle in the face. "And let the horde within? Are you mad?!"

"Trust me!" he cries, holding up the detonator. Rain looks left and right, seeing the small lights upon the charges, and gives the order. As he does, Fox presses the button.

Two large explosions rock the archways of both hallways, and the lackluster state of the building does the rest of the work. They both collapse in fits of fire and smoke, sealing off both. Now, there is but one path from which their enemies can attack them.

"Good work," Rain complements him as all of the Edenian Knights take up position to reinforce the first group.

"No problem," Fox pants, holding his bleeding side. "I don't mean to complain... But how much longer are we---"

A bright green light draws their eye, and they both turn to behold the great doorway to the throne room glowing. Fox watches as the many runes upon its surface fill with emerald energy, and his ears pick up a soft rumbling that grows louder with each passing moment.

"Is that good or bad?" Fox asks his unlikely ally.

The doors open, revealing a solitary figure: a woman clad in green, holding a staff and a key, her skin dark and beautiful to behold.

"Jade..." Fox recognizes her immediately.

"We have what we came for," she says to Rain, sparing Fox only a noticing glance. "Tanya has prepared the portal. We must leave immediately!"

>Go with them
>Ask Jade what is going on
>Seal the door shut behind you
>Plant bombs on the door's hinges
>Other

>>2537523
>>Ask Jade what is going on

>>2537523
>>Go with them
>>Seal the door shut behind you
>>Plant bombs on the door's hinges
Ask them to wait a moment, and see if we can plant them in a way that after they finally open the door is when the explosives go off.

>>2537523
>Ask Jade what is going on

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>>2537548
>>2537549
>>2537744

"Knights! Fall back to the throne room!" Rain commands, and they quickly begin a measured retreat, all the while holding off the monsters.

Fox backs up into the throne room. "What's going on around here?" he asks, though he already knows he will receive no answer.

"Make haste," Rain says, pushing past him. "Unless you want to be left here, stranger."

"No, I'm good," he says, running to catch up to him and Jade. He stops, thinking that it would be best to cover their escape with more explosives, but as the last of the knights push through the doors, they begin to close. He looks back at Jade, holding a key in one hand, which she is pointing at the door, clearly using some kind of magic to seal it shut.

"This way!" Rain shouts from further within the throne room. Fox follows, pausing only briefly to look at the thrones, destroyed and left in ruin, much like everything else.

He turns towards the wall to behold a purple portal, and standing in front of it is another one of his enemies: Tanya. Rain approaches her and they exchange no words; he merely turns and commands the knights to fall into the portal. They file within it, vanishing into its depths, and Fox is about to follow when Jade puts her blade up to his throat, halting him from moving any further. "Who are you?" she demands.

Thankfully, Fox doesn't need to explain himself. "He's not with them," Rain says. "He can fight."

Jade looks down at his vest, and her eyes suddenly widen. "That symbol... Your crest. Do you fight for Scorpion?"

He is about to answer when he catches himself; he doesn't know anything about this Jade or her relation to this reality's Hanzo. For all he knows, it could be a terrible thing to say yes to that question.

"We don't have time for this!" Rain shouts. "Even if he is a spy, the sigil will mask his presence just as surely as ours!" He turns and walks into the portal, having said his peace. Tanya follows him.

Fox feels the need to speak up. "I'm from Earthrealm," he says, hoping that still means something. "I'm here to help."

Jade stares at him, her emerald eyes seemingly cold and detatched. But still she lowers her staff. "Very well. Move!"

Fox runs to the portal, trying to ignore the fact that he is now following two members of the Deadly Alliance into a strange portal.

On the other side, he discovers a dark cavern lit by torches and braziers; some kind of underground lair. Before he can do anything else, Jade, having followed him through the portal and sealing it behind her, smacks him in the back of his knees with her staff, forcing him down. "Your weapons. Surrender them."

>Give them up
>Try to explain yourself
>Demand some answers about this realm
>Refuse
>Other

>>2537780
>Try to explain yourself

>>2537780

> Demand answers about this realm.

>>2537780
>Demand some answers about this realm

>>2537780
>>Demand some answers about this realm

>>2537863
>>2537890
>>2537920
Writing now.

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>>2537863
>>2537890
>>2537920

In response, Fox falls further forwards onto his hands, where he takes several deep breaths. His fingers dig into the dirt as he balls his fists. "Someone... just tell me... what is going ON in this realm!" he demands. He grimaces as he gets up to his feet, returning to favoring one side with a bloody hand. "What happened? What happened to Edenia?"

Jade is about to strike him again when a strange tendril of white reaches down from the ceiling and wraps around the head of her staff. They both seem equally surprised by this; Fox follows the tendril up to the ceiling, where he sees what could only be described as a web of the material covering nearly every surface of the cavern's ceiling, and most of its walls, too.

It all spreads outwards like the branches of a tree, growing thicker towards a central point further in the cavern that he cannot see. Jade struggles against the pull of the strange string before relenting. "My queen, he is a stranger. We cannot allow him to---"

A voice echoes through the tunnels, carried as if by some supernatural means. "Bring him to me."

Rain and Tanya exchange looks as the tendril releases Jade's staff. "Very well, my queen." She points the end of her weapon at Fox and says, "You. If you want answers, follow. You are being summoned."

Fox slowly lowers his hands and nods. He looks around, noticing that everyone is staring at him: Tanya, Rain, the knights. Jade begins walking towards the heart of the complex and Fox is quick to follow along.

"Where are we going?" he asks her.

"Silence."

Growing more frustrated each moment he is without answers, he keeps his temper in check and allows her to bring him before a truly awe-inspiring sight. The white tendrils all grow from a central mass which resembles a white tree, which stretches from the floor to the ceiling. But the floor is not where it originates, for he now sees that those tendrils are not mere fibers, it is hair, and woven into this trunk of white is the one who grew it.

Queen Sindel.

She is kept suspended, her body half-covered by the immensity of her hair. She looks almost like the victim of a spider, for her skin is pale and seems dry. Her face, once beautiful and regal, is now sullen-looking and burdened. Fox cannot tell if she is a prisoner by choice or by circumstance, but as they approach and her eyes open, gazing upon solely Fox with a brightness that makes him flinch, he realizes that her power is still great, even suspended as she is.

"I do not know you," she whispers, but her voice is as clear as though she were whispering into his ear, "yet I know why you are here."

He hesitates, looking at Jade, then back at her. "You... you do?"

She sounds as though in pain, but the Sindel that he is familiar with can still be heard within. "Calm yourself, my child... I will heal you, if you allow it."

>Accept healing
>Ask questions
>Say nothing
>Kneel before her
>Other

>>2538056
>Accept healing

>>2538056
>Accept healing

>>2538056
>>Accept healing

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>>2538068
>>2538075
>>2538101

Fox closes his eyes and nods. Sindel opens her mouth and speaks words he does not know, but he feels their power. Mysterious sonic waves wash over him, filling him with a warmth he finds difficult to resist. It is almost as if it is a song, a lullaby of wellness that both cleanses his mind as well as his body.

His muscles relax as the various wounds around his body begin to mend, sealing shut. He takes a deep breath as he feels bruises ebb away under the tone of Sindel's spell, opening his eyes and looking down at his hands; he watches bloody knuckles and broken skin vanish.

Then it ends, and Fox feels both renewed and reinvigorated. "How?" he asks softly.

"Old magic," Sindel responds, as softly yet as sharply as before. "It is the only means the only means left to me to help you."

"Not the only means," Fox says, tightly flexing his hands and testing their strength. Satisfied beyond measure, he looks up into her white eyes. "I have questions."

"You will address her properly," Jade warns him. "You are speaking to---"

Sindel's voice immediately cuts her off. "He knows exactly to whom he speaks, Jade. This one knows me well."

"But, your majesty..."

"He has come far and has faced much on his journey. He does not need adversity from us; his destiny has given him more than enough to contend with."

Jade remains silent, respectful of her queen's wishes. Fox looks at her and she avoids eye contact, and so he looks back up at Sindel.

"Questions, then?" Sindel says with a faint smile.

>What happened to Edenia?
>I am looking for the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm.
>How do you know why I am here?
>If you know so much, do you know what happened to Raiden?
>Other

>>2538358
>How do you know why I am here?
>What happened to Edenia?
>I am looking for the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm.
In that order.

>>2538358
>>What happened to Edenia?
>>I am looking for the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm.
>>How do you know why I am here?

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>>2538375
>>2538376

"What happened to Edenia?"

Sindel closes her eyes, and her tone takes on a somber nature. "Death. Two decades ago, there was a war not for Edenia, but for the survival of all realms, against the returned fallen Elder God Shinnok."

"I know of this war," Fox replies. "But... my knowledge of its outcome must be very different from your own."

"Shinnok had won. Edenia was his. But so confident in his victory, he failed to notice the scheming of his most powerful servant: Quan Chi. In possession of Shinnok's amulet, and having supplied his master with a clever forgery, the demon sorcerer destroyed the fallen Elder God and finished his work, destroying all life in Edenia: its people, its plants, its gods. None were spared, and now Edenia is a realm of the dead."

"But how are you still here?"

"What you see before you," Sindel says, opening her eyes, "is all that remains of Edenia. A handful of people fighting against the most powerful sorcerer in all the realms. We are kept alive only because of me, and what I have had to become: a living vessel for the Kamidogu of Edenia."

Fox's eyes widen. "You mean...?"

"The Kamidogu exists within me. It has anchored me to my home realm, and given me the power to hide and protect what remains of my people. It has also given me knowledge, and sight beyond the confines of my realm... and what we consider reality."

"Then you do know why I am here, as you said," Fox realizes. "I seek the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm."

"Yes... and if I were in posession of it, I would grant it to you. But I do not have it."

"Let me guess who does... Quan Chi."

"You are perceptive."

"Just catching on to how things usually go." He sighs, then balls his hands into fists, feeling determination and absolute conviction flood back into his veins. "Very well. If your fight is against Quan Chi, and he's the one with the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm, then your fight is my fight as well. I will do everything in my power to help you."

"I am glad," she says, suddenly sounding much more weary than before. "Jade will tell you all that needs to be done. I must... rest."

His brow furrows in concern. "Are you well?"

Jade grabs him by the arm and none-too-gently pulls him back. "The Kamidogu is both a blessing and a curse. We mustn't keep her from her meditations."

Fox pulls his arm free, but does not protest. He follows her out of the chamber, looking up at her hair holding up the ceiling. "She made this place?"

Jade talks as she walks. "She did. It is far underground, and well-hidden. She is every reason we are alive, and the only reason Edenia still has any life in it at all."

>What were you doing at the palace?
>What is our plan to kill Quan Chi?
>What about the other realms?
>Who else do we have who can help us?
>Other

>>2538772
>What were you doing at the palace?
>What about the other realms?

>>2538772
>>What were you doing at the palace?
>>What about the other realms?

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>>2538791
>>2539002

"So, what exactly were you doing at the palace? I sort of stumbled upon you guys... haven't really had a chance to get caught up on everything."

"We were there to steal an artifact of great power. This." She holds up the key that Fox glimpsed earlier. "While Tanya and I retrieved this, Rain and his knights served as a distraction. It seems you did as well."

"And what does it open?"

"Everything important to Quan Chi," she says. "Including his armory."

"And is the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm there?"

"Perhaps."

"Then I assume it's our next target," he surmises. "What help can we get from other realms? What about Earthrealm? If we can get ahold of the Kamidogu, then---"

Jade stops and points her staff at him. "Listen carefully, earthrealmer. I do not know who you are, nor do I truly care. You are here because my queen has given you her blessing, but your mission is not my own, no matter what you think. I care nothing for the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm, only that it is another tool Quan Chi possesses that gives him power."

Fox holds up his hands. "I think you don't understand the gravity of the situation. Allow me to---"

"I do not understand?" Her eyes suddenly carry so much anger that if they were not brilliant green, they would be fiery red. "How dare you. I have lived for millenia and have lost more than a pitiful mortal like you could ever hope to understand. My realm, my friends, my love!" She jabs him in the chest with her staff. "Don't you dare speak to me about not understanding the situation."

"But you could lose so much more! The very fabric of your reality and mine is under attack!"

She turns dismissively away. "Once we deal with Quan Chi and avenge those he has taken from us, then none of what you say will matter."

"Quan Chi isn't the one I speak of. It's Havik!"

But she is already walking away. Fox wordlessly watches her go, confused about the exchange. "What is with the people in this realm?" he mutters to himself.

"Don't mind her," a startling voice says from behind. Fox turns and beholds a familiar face, once that startles him twice as much. "She's been like that ever since father died."

"Andela..."

"You know my name?" Vapor asks, stepping out of the shadows. He looks upon her face, seeing that she perfectly resembles his teammate, right up eyes that resemble her mother's. She tilts her head and asks, "Who are you?"

>I'm a friend who wants to help.
>I'm Fox. I'm on a mission from the Elder Gods.
>You don't know me, but I know you; another version of you.
>What happened to your father?
>Other

>>2539120
>I'm Fox. I'm on a mission from the Elder Gods.
>You don't know me, but I know you; another version of you.

>>2539159
this

>>2539159
>>2539279
Writing.

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>>2539159
>>2539279

"My name is Fox... Forrest Fox. I'm on a mission from the Elder Gods."

"That's impossible. The Elder Gods are dead."

'Damn. That's how messed up this reality has gotten?' He clears his throat. "Well, then, let me explain a few things. I know you very well, or rather, I know another version of you very well."

She blinks a few times. "I don't understand."

"I'm from another reality. One that isn't quite as..." he chooses his next words very carefully, "unfortunate as this one. Where I come from, you and I are friends. Teammates, even."

Her eyes fall downwards for a moment, then she looks back up. "If what you say is all true, then what is my favorite color?"

Fox swallows. "Uh... Green?"

She puts her hands on her hips and seems a bit disappointed. "Are we really friends?"

"Well, look, it's just... Sometimes you live alongside and fight alongside a person and hang out with them but don't know their favorite color, alright? Look, how about this: I know you are half-demon, on your father's side. I know you fight with a staff like your mother, but prefer use of a section-staff because you admire its flowing quality more. And, if that isn't enough, I know you were raised in the Lin Kuei temple."

Her hands drop from her sides and she gets a forlorn look on her face. "Yes, that's all true... but it was a long time ago. I suppose you are telling the truth, though." She pauses, then asks a difficult question. "Where you come from, is my father alive there?"

He takes a moment to think about his answer, but tells her honestly, "He is."

She steps forward. "Then can we go there? Could I live there, and see him again? Could all of the Edenians go there?"

>I'm afraid not. I'm sorry.
>Change the topic
>(Lie) There cannot be two of you in the same reality at once.
>Perhaps... but not without the Kamidogu.
>Other

>>2539411
>Other
Migrating between realms is one thing, but migrating between parallel universes is WAY more complicated. Besides, I'm only here because I'm dealing with Haviks from multiple realities getting the same idea and trying to prevent a mess that's going to ruin everyone's universe.

>>2539424
Supp

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>>2539424
>>2539502

"I... I can't say." He averts his gaze as he tries to explain himself. "Migrating between realms is one thing, but travelling between parallel universes is another entirely. I don't know much about it myself. All I truly know is that several versions of Havik are attempting to merge each Chaosrealm into one, which would bring devastation for all realities involved. I'm trying to stop them. And once I do, I don't think our realities will ever be able to crossover again."

"I see," she says softly. She approaches a nearby wall and sits against it, not speaking for a few moments. Fox respectfully gives her time to sort things out, looking back only when she speaks. "I suppose it was too good to be true... one cannot escape from reality, even if theirs is not the best."

"I'm sorry, Andela."

"It's alright... Still, it is comforting to know that somewhere, some version of me is able to be with him. And perhaps her mother is not so cold. Your reality must be nice."

Fox looks back up the passageway before deciding to sit next to her. "If it's any consolation, perhaps there is a reality where I did not lose my family, and wasn't trained. Perhaps it is this one."

"You are an orphan?" He nods. "Do you know how they died?"

"I remember the fire. Not much else. To be honest, I don't even remember their faces." He rests his head against the cavern wall, looking up at the white tendrils on the ceiling.

"I'm sorry. Maybe it isn't so nice after all."

"Perhaps reality is too complicated to judge based off one person's experiences. One reality that seems like a nightmare to the person living in it might seem like a paradise to someone else."

"I never thought about it that way."

"I never thought about there being other realities at all until this mess." He looks down at his hands, and then at her. "Vapor, I need your help."

"I don't know how well I could. I'm forbidden from leaving this place. My mother doesn't want me to."

"Why? Doesn't she know how good of a fighter you are?"

"She knows exactly how good I am... and how good my father was. She is afraid of losing me." She hugs her knees close to her chest. "Ironic that she doesn't see how different she's become has only made us more distant."

"I know your mother is focused on revenge. I'm very familiar with it. People with nothing but revenge on their mind make mistakes, trust me on that one. But if we don't get that Kamidogu, nothing is going to matter. Your reality, mine, all of it is gone. I know how this sounds, but... this is bigger than any of us, or the fight for any realm."

"It's a lot to take in..." Her fingers play with the edge of her robe as she contemplates what he has told her. Eventually, she lowers her head slightly while shaking it. "I'm sorry, but... I don't think I can help you."

>You can't let your mother decide what is best for you.
>Don't be afraid. You can pull through.
>You're right. It's probably for the best.
>Is this about your father?
>Other

>>2539710
>>You can't let your mother decide what is best for you.

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We'll be continuing tomorrow. See you then!

>>2539710
>You can't let your mother decide what is best for you.

>>2539710
>>You can't let your mother decide what is best for you.

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>>2539719
>>2539733
>>2539906

"If this is about your mother, you can't let her decide what is best for you."

"It's not just that," she insists. "Maybe in the world you come from, I am a great fighter and teammate, but... I'm not."

"You were trained by the Lin Kuei. They are great warriors," he says, and he is almost surprised by how quickly he admits that.

"Once," she whispers. "I stopped training a while ago."

"Training is only half of it. The other is fighting for a purpose and never giving up on it."

"Then I would only be half useful."

"That's not the way to look at it. Your powers make you more versatile than almost anyone that I know. If you don't want to be hit, you don't have to be. If you want to get somewhere, you can just go there. If you don't want to be seen at all, you can choose not to be."

Though his words are passionate and true, the more he says the more she shies away. "You don't understand... I'm afraid."

"I understand that well enough. The truth is, so am I. Raiden was supposed to be there to guide me, but he's gone now, and I don't know if what I am doing is right. But I do know this: if I hide, the problem won't go away, and it'll only get worse. In this case, 'worse' means 'the destruction of everything,' so I have no choice but to keep going."

She doesn't make eye contact with him as she quietly replies, "I... I can't. I'm sorry."

He stands up and looks back down at her. "You're stronger than you know. I know, because I've seen it. I've seen many alternate versions of people I know, and one thing is true about all of them deep down: no matter how different their worlds may be from mine, no matter how different their lives have been lived, they're still the same person I know deep down. That's why I know you'll do what's right when the time comes."

At that, she does look up. "W-when will that be?"

"You'll know. So will I."

"I think you've got a lot of faith in me that's misplaced."

"I think you've just forgotten where you placed yours."

For a moment, all is silent and still as they look at each other. Finally, she shakes her head, and once more says, "I'm sorry," before vanishing from sight. He nods and walks off towards the chamber Jade went towards earlier.

>Talk to Jade
>Talk to Rain
>Talk to Tanya
>Attempt to communicate with Raiden
>Other

>>2541426
>Talk to Tanya
There's a face you don't see often.

>>2541426
>Talk to Tanya
Maybe we can find some good in here that we can use in our own realm

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>>2541437
>>2541481

Fox enters the living areas of the caverns, discovering several chambers used to store equipment, supplies and beds to sleep on. Various warriors, members of the Edenian Resistance and many of them knights, are situated around the area and are cleaning weapons and assisting their wounded comrades. Many of the conversations are low and infrequent; a pervasive sense of dread hangs over them all after having lost so much and fighting for so long.

His ears, however, are drawn to the sounds of an argument. Fox follows the sound until he comes to a smaller antechamber where Jade and Tanya are in heated debate.

"We must strike now, while we still have the element of surprise," Tanya insists.

Jade stands firmly and points at her. "And as I have told you, we do nothing without the consent of the queen."

"That could be hours or days before she awakens once more. You know how weak she has become of late. She may even die soon."

Jade moves so fast that Fox hears the slap before it registers to his eyes. Tanya steps back, nursing her cheek. "How dare you speak such blasphemy. You are the reason she was forced to merge with the Kamidogu in the first place!"

"And I am trying to set things right! But how am I to do so, when I am constantly undermined by you!"

"Because the only reason you still draw breath is because I was commanded to allow it," Jade coldly snaps back. "Were it up to me, I would have long ago seen you impaled upon a spike, traitor. We will not attack Quan Chi's fortress until our queen decrees it."

Jade is about to leave when Tanya speaks up again. "You know what will happen when she does die, do you not? Her line is gone. Kitana is dead. Only one remains with any hint of a right to claim the throne and the Kamidogu, and he favors me more than you."

"Speak no more, lest my loyalty to my queen's decree falter," Jade says as she moves out. Fox hides as she leaves the chamber; she does not notice him. Tanya leaves, but in the opposite direction.

>Converse with Tanya
>Follow Tanya
>Follow Jade
>Converse with Jade
>Other

>>2541675
>Converse with Tanya

>>2541675
>>Converse with Tanya
“It’s never easy is it? Seeing someone you respect dearly not listen to you?”

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>>2541689
>>2541786

Fox narrows his eyes and begins to formulate a plan. Slipping into the hall, he approaches Tanya from behind. "It's never easy, is it?" he says to get her attention.

She turns around, surprised at his sudden appearance. "You? What do you want?"

He ignores her question. "Not being listened to. It can really wear on your nerves."

She folds her arms. "What are you getting at, exactly?"

"I'm saying that I know what that's like." He walks forward, stopping a few paces in front of her. "And for what it's worth, I agree with you." He watches as her brow subtly raises in interest. "The more time we give our enemy, the harder it will be to defeat him."

"Yes, but Jade is her captain. She doesn't so much as breathe without permission." Tanya shakes her head and looks away. "The damn fool can't help but adhere to the old ways..." She then seems to remember who she is talking to, and changes the topic. "Why are you here? Why are you talking to me?"

"I'm here to help. And it's clear to me that one camp is more interested in getting the job done than the other." He waits for her reaction. Though it is understated, he can tell that she is pleased.

"That much is obvious; I don't try to hide my disdain for her ways, even as capable as she is. If she would only see reason, we would have no reason to quarrel as such."

"You must respect her greatly."

"I respect her as a warrior, but she is a fool. She's going to get us killed."

"We need to follow someone who understands the importance of taking action."

Her eyes seem to brighten. "Exactly! At least you are not so foolish."

Beneath his mask, he hides a small smirk. 'Getting on her good side is easier than I thought...'

>Come up with a plan with Tanya
>Ask about her family
>Ask about her relationship with Rain
>Tell her you will support her when the time comes
>Other

>>2541833
>Ask about her relationship with Rain

>>2541833
>Ask about her family
“Are there any of your bloodline left? How many edenians remain?”
After that
>Come up with a plan with Tanya
Jade is extremely powerful in her own right so getting her on our side is imperative. We need to make her realize that if she doesn’t allow everyone to fight, then there may be no one left. Is there anyway to wake sindel? Even for a short amount of time? We must convince her so that Jade will also stand with us. Make sure to mention that killing Sindel is a terrible idea, and that it will only make the situation worse. Sindel is obviously weakened but I feel as if she is gathering all of her power for one last burst.

>>2541833
>>Come up with a plan with Tanya

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>>2541841
>>2541873
>>2542122

"What we need is a plan."

Tanya looks around briefly, confirming their isolation from anyone else. "Come with me," she invites him. "There is someone I would like you to meet."

Fox and Tanya begin walking down the hall together. As they walk, he asks, "How many edenians are left?"

"Not many. At the end of the war with Shinnok, some of them were able to escape from other realms, but the vast majority all perished." Her voice now becomes soft and somewhat sad. "It is my fault. I was the one who helped Quan Chi and Shinnok enter Edenia. I... did not think it would end this way."

They both stop and Fox faces her. "What did you expect would happen?"

"Not the extinction of my people. I was promised that I would get to rule Edenia once Shinnok had his revenge and became lord of creation, but Quan Chi only sought death. I suppose Shinnok may have done the same... but I was blind to it." She clenches her fist. "It does not matter now. What is done is done, and there are so few edenians left that we cannot do anything but stand together. Even Jade, who hates me above all other things, accepts this as truth."

"What about your family? Are they still alive?"

"All but one, and she wants nothing to do with me or our realm. My youngest sister, Nadia. She tricked the prince of Outworld into sleeping with her and secured her place at his side in that realm's court."

Fox narrows his eyes. "You mean Cao Kahnzedah?"

"Who?" she asks, and Fox shrugs. "No, some other brat of Kotal's... Still, in a strange way, I think I'm proud of her. It's a move I might have pulled if I weren't committed to seeing Edenia free of Quan Chi."

"But here you are. Why?"

"Trying to make things better," she mutters. "There is a lot of blood on my hands, more than I was ever prepared to deal with. It will take much to wash it off. But enough about that. Follow."

She takes him to the quarters of Rain, where the prince has attempted to make a comfortable home out of the cave, with tapestries and pillows alongside a modest bed. He turns as she enters, removing his mask with a smile. "My love," he says, taking her by the waist and kissing her.

Fox stands respectfully aside while simultaneously noting every detail he can; any information gained about his enemies here could be useful one day in the future after this mess is fixed. "You two seem close."

"It is no secret," Tanya replies, pulling away from her lover.

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>>2542215

"Still around, eh?" Rain says, sizing Fox up. "I suppose you proved yourself at the palace. You're not nearly as powerful as I, but at least you made yourself useful and kept some of those creatures off of me."

'Losing his realm hasn't dampened his ego, I see.' Fox clears his throat. "I'm looking to take down Quan Chi."

"Good luck with that," Rain says, walking over to a chest and taking out a bottle of wine. "As much as it pains me to say, he's more powerful than anyone here. The amulet alone gives him nigh-invulnerability."

"Which is why we must seek allies wherever we can," Tanya reminds him. She gestures towards Fox. "I think he will work well. He understands."

"Is that so?" Rain takes a swig.

"I see the big picture," Fox replies. "And I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

Rain wipes his lips and hands the bottle to Tanya. "Well that's good to know, but words are words. What are you prepared to do?"

Fox studies his eyes, seeking for the deeper meaning of his question.

>I would sacrifice myself for the greater good.
>I'm willing to kill to do what needs to be done.
>I'll do anything but kill the innocent.
>Get to the point.
>Other

>>2542222
>Get to the point.
Don't commit ourself to anything we won't do.
Sick quads

>>2542222
>>Get to the point

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"Get to the point."

Rain smirks again. "I like that. Here's the point: Quan Chi is so powerful because he has every tool the Elder Gods used to make the realms, except one. He's assembled all of the Kamidogu but can't find Edenia's, because Sindel has it hidden within her. But this is slowly killing her and only prolonging the inevitable."

"What are you suggesting?"

"The only thing that can counter Shinnok's amulet is all six Kamidogu brought together and wielded against it."

Tanya now explains, "The amulet can bind the power of the Kamidogu, but we have a way around that."

Rain brings up a fist. "We can use his own power against him, but not without the Edenian Kamidogu. And so long as it resides within Sindel..."

Fox is quiet for a moment, then casts his eyes upwards. He realizes this chamber doesn't have any of Sindel's hair within it, and given that it was able to react when Jade attempted to subdue him earlier, Fox guesses that is exactly why Rain chose this for his personal living space. He looks back down at them both.

"So you mean to kill her."

The prince strides forward and clamps a hand over Fox's mouth, pushing him back up against the wall. "Quiet, you fool. No, we don't mean to kill the queen. Her life keeps us hidden from Quan Chi, but so long as she lives, we cannot hope to defeat him!"

"If we were to kill her, the Edenians would never follow us," Tanya explains. "But... it wouldn't hurt to hasten the natural process a bit."

Rain lets go of Fox. "Sindel's power is fading, and the time of her rule is ending. There is no point in not recognizing it. By merging herself with the Kamidogu, she sealed her fate, and it will come... sooner or later."

"I can't let you harm her."

"No, not us," Tanya says. "But you can."

>I won't do it.
>How, exactly?
>There must be another way.
>I need to think about it.
>Other

>>2542540
>There must be another way.
What of taking Quan Chi's Kamidogu?

>>2542540

> Another way

This seems horrifically short sighted considering the minute she dies Chi finds all of us.

>>2542540
>>There must be another way.
“Sindel is no fool, she has to be gathering her strength for a plan we aren’t aware of. Perhaps you can sneak me in, and I can speak to her. I will convince her that whatever she has planned must come to fruition now. If that doesn’t work... Well there is always your plan.”

>>2542605
Quan Chi has literally all of them except Edenia’s. Reaching, and stealing them would be a huge task.
>>2542698
I agree

>>2542605
>>2542698
>>2542711
Writing now.

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>>2542605
>>2542698
>>2542711

"There must be another way. The moment she dies, wouldn't Quan Chi be upon this place like a moth to a flame?"

"Indeed," Rain says. "He would. That is part of the plan."

"If you don't mind me saying, it sounds like a very shortsighted plan. Wouldn't it make more sense to steal some of Quan Chi's Kamidogu first?"

Tanya and Rain exchange a knowing, bemused look. "He catches on quick," she says to him, then explains to Fox, "That was the other part of the plan. With the key that Jade now possesses, we can enter his armory where he stores them."

Rain continues, "We don't want Sindel to die, but she is going to. There's no stopping it. Once she does, and the Edenian Kamidogu shines like a beacon in the dark, we need to be ready and set a trap for Quan Chi. And knowing him, he'll stumble right into it."

"Are you so sure Sindel is going to die?" Fox asks. "Perhaps she is gathering her strength for a plan we aren't aware of."

Rain waves a hand. "If that's the case, Jade would know. Not that she would share it with us, especially if she were asked to keep it secret."

"I doubt that Sindel has a plan she is keeping from us. She's been very forthcoming; I don't see a reason to keep secrets."

'Perhaps because she knows two potential traitors live under her roof,' Fox thinks. "Still, how do you know the Kamidogu are even going to be in the armory? What if Quan Chi is the one who is laying the trap?"

Rain smirks again; his face proves to be surprisingly punchable, but Fox keeps himself in check. Now he knows what Kaito had felt for so long. "We have someone on the inside. Their intelligence is what led us to the key in the first place."

"Who?"

"Never you mind," Tanya replies. "What matters is that we know Quan Chi's attention is elsewhere at the moment, dealing with his ongoing invasion of Earthrealm and Outworld. Our window of opportunity will not last forever, which is why we need to act now."

Rain folds his arms in front of his chest. "This is where you can prove yourself useful. We need that key from Jade. It doesn't matter how you do it, we need it."

"If we wait for Sindel to give Jade the order, our window may be closed. His armory is at its most undefended right now, but Jade is far too stubborn to realize it and move without Sindel's command. She also doesn't know or trust either of us, but Sindel spoke to you. That means Jade may lower her guard around you."

The prince slides his mask back on. "So, can you do it?"

>I'll talk to Jade.
>Who is this insider? How do you know they won't betray you?
>I'll see about getting that key.
>I won't steal it from her.
>Other

>>2542845
>>Who is this insider? How do you know they won't betray you?

>>2542845
>I'll talk to Jade.
We’ll give nothing away, and if she isn’t forthcoming we’ll go with the plan.

>>2542845
>I'll talk to Jade.
There are way too many variables Tanya and Rain aren't accounting for.

Lunch update!
>>2542880
>>2543096

"I'll talk to Jade."

Rain moves forward threateningly, but Tanya grabs his arm. "Do not mistake our intent, boy," she cautions. "We do not intend to kill the queen. Ideally, if she could be talked into 'letting go' it would be for the best. If you go to her and misinform her of our intentions, we will not take kindly to it."

"You do intend on getting that key from her, though."

Rain scoffs. "She already knows that. Talk to her if you must; you'll have more success talking Quan Chi into surrendering."

Fox turns to leave, walking down the tunnels. Once out of earshot from them both, he stops and speaks. "I know you're there."

Vapor reforms alongside him. "How?"

He points at his head. "The hairs on my neck. I felt them the entire time I was speaking with them; I'm very familiar with it. You often spy on others, even the people on our team. I'm just one of the few who can tell."

"So you knew the whole time, but agreed to help them?"

"I didn't agree to anything," he whispers, stepping closer. "Where I come from, those two are my enemies. I was hoping to learn something I could take back with me."

"Did you?"

"Perhaps... But first, you need to know that I don't plan on helping them if it means going against your queen, your mother or you. They're schemers. As soon as they defeat Quan Chi, I easily see them claiming the remainder of the Kamidogu for themselves. Never trust a traitor."

"They are right about one thing, though... Sindel is dying. I often sneak into her chamber to spend time with her, though mostly she is asleep. I've seen her grow weary with the burden, and she has told me as much before. I don't know how much longer she'll last..."

The subject clearly distresses her. Fox puts a friendly hand on her shoulder. "She's fighting for a greater cause. She told me that her merging the Kamidogu has allowed her beyond her reality, and how important my mission is. If I don't get that Kamidogu from the vault, everything is destroyed."

"I... I don't know if I can help you fight, but maybe I can help in another way."

He nods encouragingly. "Please."

"If we were to go to that vault, I could help steal the Kamidogu and keep it from Tanya and Rain."

"Only if you think you can."

She looks up at him, her green eyes shining. "Do you?"

"I don't think you can, I know you can. There isn't anyone better at infiltration than you, and I say that as a trained Shirai Ryu."

Her eyes widen. "Shirai Ryu... You're..."

He holds up a hand. "Not the Shirai Ryu you may know. In this world, Scorpion may never have redeemed himself, but in mine, he is a hero who has resurrected his clan and helps defend Earthrealm. He is my master."

"I see..." She is quiet for a moment. "I think... I think we should speak to my mother. She would know best."

>We can do this without Jade.
>Let me speak to her alone.
>You should speak to her without me.
>Let us speak to her together.
>Other

>>2543970
>You should speak to her without me.
Fox's word is worthless to Jade, but Vapor's isn't.

>>2543970
>>You should speak to her without me.

>>2543986
>>2544029
Writing now.

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>>2543986
>>2544029

Fox purses his lips. "I never spent much time with Jade in my world. At all, really. I know of her by reputation and have seen her, but I've never directly spoken with her. What I'm getting at is that I have almost no experience with your mother. But you, on the other hand..."

"You're saying I should talk to her alone?"

"You're her daughter. I'm nobody."

Her eyes drift off to one side and she seems ashamed to admit, "I don't think it'll do any good. She is my mother, and I love her, but she has... changed since my father left us." She closes her eyes and swallows. "Died. Since he died. I'm sorry, it's just hard... She's taken it harder. I think she blames herself, that's why she takes her duty so seriously. Everything else is secondary."

"Even you?"

"She cares for me in that I am kept safe and out of harm."

"But surely she would care enough to listen to her daughter when a matter is urgent enough."

"I suppose I'll find out..." She gives him one last look before turning into mist and vanishing.

Fox returns to the main chamber of the cavern, finds a comfortable corner for himself, and waits. He sits with his back against the wall and closes his eyes, trying to find his inner calm. His thoughts are noisy and riddled with doubt; he attempts to shut them out and ignore them.

He finds the task difficult. Something about seeing Sindel and hearing her words has added more questions about the nature of the Kamidogu. How many people throughout the ages, throughout the realms and throughout various realities wielded them and glimpsed what he is experiencing first-hand? Alternate realities, entire universes set upon terribly different courses, sometimes from the smallest of changes. How many are there? Infinite?

'How did Havik do what he has done?' Fox wonders. 'Contact himself across several dimensions and orchestrate this plan? How many times has he tried this before?' His eyes open as a worrisome thought occurs to him. 'How many times has he succeeded?'

If there are truly infinite realities and infinite chances to succeed and fail, then Havik must have done this before, and he must have succeeded. That must mean that some version of Fox, or someone like him, must have failed to stop it. But what if there are not infinite realities, but a finite pool of them? How many have been destroyed because of things like this?

Fox puts his palm to his eyes and rubs them roughly. 'This is madness to think about... What if this is one of the realities where I am destined to fail? Is it even possible to avoid it? Does destiny mean something I can't possibly understand or change?'

>No! That is not my destiny!
>I must keep going... no matter what.
>It doesn't matter. Perhaps nothing does.
>Maybe I should give up...
>Other

>>2544575
>I must keep going... no matter what.
A Shirai-Ryu doing a half-assed job is no Shirai-Ryu. We're playing to win, to hell what the cards say.

>>2544575
>>I must keep going... no matter what.
Fuck whatever destiny is. Get the job done.

>>2544575
>>I must keep going... no matter what.

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>>2544591
>>2544633
>>2544769

He stands up, his fists tightly clenched. 'No. I must keep going, no matter what, to whatever end. I am Shirai Ryu. I will see this job done. To hell with destiny, to hell with chaos.' He looks at his hands, opening them up to behold his palms. 'I was chosen for this mission because chaos has no effect on me. Not on my body, not on my mind. I am a stone that the waters of chaos must flow around. I am a tree in the forest, strong and tall, with roots that go deep. I will not be moved. I cannot be moved.' Filled with resolve, he once more tightens his grip and stares into the darkness of the cavern, as though staring into the eyes of the abyss itself. 'I am Forrest Fox.'

When Vapor returns, she discovers Fox sitting in meditation, looking absolutely in control of himself. She approaches stealthily, but he still senses her. He opens his eyes as she reforms in front of him.

"It didn't go well," she replies softly.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"We don't have long before she finds out that I took this," she reveals the key from within her robe.

Even Fox is surprised. "Why did you take it?"

"At first I tried to convince my mother of what we spoke on, but she would not listen. Then I heard a whisper. I think I was told to take it."

"By who?"

At that moment, a tendril of hair reaches down from the ceiling to gently caress Vapor's hand. "Sindel wishes to speak with us," she says. "We must go."

"We won't be seen if you take us."

She nods, and puts a hand over his. Fox readies himself as they are both turned into mist and carried through the tunnels, slipping through the cracks until they reach the central chamber. There they reform before the pillar of hair keeping the queen suspended. Vapor hastily removes her hand from his with a light blush.

Sindel opens her eyes and speaks with a low voice. "My children... I have a task for you."

"I'm ready," Fox says. He looks at Vapor, who hesitates before nodding.

"Andela... ever have I considered your mother like a daughter to me. That makes you family. As much as it pains me to say it so, Jade has lost her way. The brief from my daughter's death and the loss of her love weighs so heavily upon her heart that it is no longer open. She can no longer do what must be done, for when I am gone, she will be unable to lead."

Vapor nods. "Yes... It saddens me, but I know it's true."

"And yet neither can I trust Rain and Tanya... Edenian though they may be, they are lost to their own ways. I cannot rely on them to do what is right when the time comes. But you two... you carry the future with you. You are the ones who will make it right, who will do what must be done."

>What must we do?
>Send us to the armory.
>We'll need Jade's help.
>How much strength do you have left?
>Other

>>2544817
>What must we do?
>How much strength do you have left?

>>2544817

> Send Jade and Us to the armory.

>>2544817
>>What must we do?
>>How much strength do you have left?

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>>2544827
>>2545019

Fox steps forward. "What must we do?"

"Quan Chi's armory lies within the heart of a mountain. It was once a prison, and he was once confined to it. He knows well its protective qualities and so has made it his place of storage. I will open a portal and send you to this place. You must enter it, face its guardians and retrieve the Kamidogu."

"How much strength do you have left? Enough to get us out once we do?"

"Yes," Sindel nods. "I will rescue you when you escape the prison."

"Then I am ready."

"Wait," Vapor interjects, walking forward before her queen. "Are you... going to die, doing this?"

She smiles. "No, I will not die from conjuring a simple portal."

Her lips quiver. "But you will die."

"Yes. I will." She lets out a long, low breath. "I have lived long, child... I have seen many centuries, countless sunsets and star-filled skies, and felt the wind of ages long past. But Edenia no longer knows the sun, or stars, or wind. All I have done has been in service towards bringing those back. My line is severed... my family, gone. All that remains is my home, and if I must die so that it may live, I will die happily."

Vapor lowers her head and begins to wipe tears from her eyes. "It isn't fair."

"No... It is not. But it will be right. I promise you."

Nearby, strands of purple-colored energy begin to form, swirling into the shape of a portal. Fox looks at it, then back at his ally. "We must go."

"Wait," Vapor says. "I... I'm not ready. I changed my mind, I can't do this. I'm n-not the one."

Fox is about to protest, when he sees the wrappings holding Sindel begin to unravel; her arms and legs are freed. It seems as though she is about to fall, and he moves to intercept her, but then he notices how slowly and gently she is moving. She floats down to Vapor, her hair trailing behind her almost like a grand veil of fabric, and embraces her.

Fox watches as the young girl returns the hug, crying into her shoulder. Sindel wears a warm, kind smile as she whispers into the girl's ear. Just as before, Fox hears it as well, though he would later suspect it was because she wanted him to.

"I know you have ever been frightened of the demonic blood within you, Andela. It haunts your dreams and you fear succumbing to its predatory nature. Your mother has feared it as well, ever since the same happened to your father." Fox watches as she holds the girl at arm's length, her hands firmly gripping her shoulders. "You are not a demon. You are not what you fear. You are exactly what you desire to be."

She stutters over her tears. "I... I can't do it."

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>>2545265

"You can. You are the future of Edenia. Whenever you are afraid, look deep within, deeper than your fears can ever go. Your father is there, and your mother, and I will be there as well." She pulls back her hands and slips a golden ring from her finger, placing it in Vapor's palm and closing her hand around it. "You are so much more than you know. You are beautiful, you are strong. You are edenian."

Andela says nothing. She hugs Sindel again, and Fox watches in silence. When they part, Vapor wipes her eyes, and tries to return the ring.

"Keep it," Sindel says, levitating back up to her place amongst the roots of her hair. "You need it more than I."

She places the ring on her finger, then looks up at her queen. "I don't know what to say..."

"Do not say anything. Now is the time to act, and through your actions you will speak more words than a lifetime's worth of talk. Go, my child."

Vapor looks at the portal, then at Fox, and back to her queen. "I'll do it. I'll do it and I'll return."

"Your mother and I will be waiting."

Fox steps up and holds out his hand; it feels right. Andela hesitates. "Wait... One moment." She then vanishes in a cloud of thick fog. Before his eyes, as the greyness clears, she is standing there in her Lin Kuei uniform, clad from head to toe in the dark grey garb of her father's clan. "I'm ready."

She takes his hand, and together they step through the portal.

Once upon the other side, they find themselves outside of a large mountain, standing upon the rocky ground at its base. A wide mouth yawns before them, for a massive face has been carved into its side, its open mouth forming a cavernous entrance.

"Beautiful," Vapor says. "But... ominous."

"We must be cautious." Fox tightens his belt where his kusarigama hangs and walks forward. "Let us go."

As she walks up behind him, she says, "Listen, what you heard in there, a-about my fears and all..."

"We all have them."

"I know, it's just, it was very personal and I'd hate to think you have the wrong idea about me."

"That's impossible. You're my teammate and my friend, no matter what universe I'm in."

"That's... good," she says, nodding. "That's good. Um, on to the task at hand, then?"

"But, I will say... I never knew you were afraid of becoming a demon."

"It's, ah, very complicated..."

"I can only imagine. We'll have to talk about it later."

"You mean, us talk? Or you and the other version of me?"

"I suppose we'll see, won't we?"

"Yeah, right," she says, sounding relieved. They pass under the opening of the mouth, beneath large carved teeth. "Before anything happens, though, I want to say thank you. It's been... an enlightening hour of my life."

"You're welcome," he says with a smile. "I think I can say the same."

Up ahead, they begin to see two massive doors, much like the iron doors in the palace that Fox saw earlier. They are sealed shut, and flanked by large statues of armored figures.

>>2545268


>Approach the doors openly
>Search for another way inside
>Take up hidden positions on opposite sides of the entryway
>Wait a while and see if anything happens
>Other

>>2545272
>Search for another way inside

>>2545272
>>Search for another way inside

>>2545272
>>Search for another way inside

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>>2545343
>>2545388
>>2546001

"It was once a prison, which means it has to have air flow. Perhaps there is another way inside," Fox suggests. Vapor hands him the key and vanishes, slipping into a fog that begins to explore the interior of the cave and then the exterior of the mountain. After several minutes, she returns and reforms in front of him.

"I found some holes that might've been used for ventilation, but they've all been sealed," she says. "I could keep looking---"

"No need. I think there's only going to be one way inside, and that's through the front door."

"You're precisely correct," a voice from behind says. Both Fox and Vapor whip around, surprised that anyone could have snuck up on them. "Quan Chi has sealed this prison with powerful wards, preventing all forms of teleportation, scrying and communication."

"Reveal yourself," Fox demands, holding a hand over his weapon.

The figure steps out of the shadows, revealing simple robes of black and red and two glowing blue eyes set beneath a dark hood. "Steady yourself, young one. You are about to make a mistake." He lifts his head slightly, allowing Fox to see that the lower half of his face is without flesh, an apperance he knows all too well belongs to only one person.

"Havik!"

He holds out his hands. "One, yes."

>Charge
>Tell Vapor to flank him
>Demand to know what he wants
>Wait for him to make the next move
>Other

>>2547450
>Demand to know what he wants
Let me guess: Quan Chi has the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm, and you want the five-finger discount. Snap one bone for "yes," two for "no."

>>2547450
>Demand to know what he wants

>>2547450
>>Demand to know what he wants

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>>2547453
>>2547517
>>2547539

"What do you want, Havik?" Fox says, then shakes his head with a sigh. "Actually, let me guess: Quan Chi has the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm, and you want the five-finger discount. Snap one bone for 'yes,' two for 'no.'"

A low, rumbling chuckle emerges from Havik's throat. His voice is oddly evenly-toned and much less manic than Fox is used to hearing, but somehow that only makes it all the more sinister. "How many bones should I snap if you are only half-correct? One cannot half-snap a bone or snap a half-bone."

"Shut up and talk before I snap all of them."

"Quan Chi does indeed have the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm, but I do not want it. I want you to have it."

A moment of silence passes before Fox lowers his hand slightly. "What?"

"Tell me, Fox---you have fought so many versions of myself that you must be able to answer a simple question: what is chaos?"

"Is that a trick question?"

He waves a finger. "No, not at all. Chaos is the opposite of order. The fundamental balance of the universe is not the struggle between order and chaos, but rather their coexistence, and therein lies the paradox: both chaos and order require the same thing, and that is existence itself."

The cleric begins to pace from one end of the cavern to the other, his arms folded behind his back, but his eyes never leaving the pair. "What my misguided other selves are doing will result in too much chaos; hard to believe there is such a thing, I'm well aware. But tip the scales too much and the scale itself will tumble, and then you have nothing. No order. No chaos. No anything."

"That's what you want, isn't it? That's what all of the other Haviks are working towards."

"Because they have been led astray. They have come to believe that chaos itself is sustainable by itself. Chaos inherently relies on something to unravel. When there is nothing but chaos, as this 'ultra-realm' would create, feasting upon all other realms until everything is Chaosrealm, it will have nothing left to consume but itself. Chaos cannot sustain chaos. Eventually, as your god of thunder has told you, all of reality will cease to exist. But to answer your question... No, no I do not want that. I am a cleric of chaos, which means I must ensure chaos survives. Which means I must help you."

>I don't believe you.
>Why don't any of the other Haviks believe this?
>I don't want your help. I'll get along on my own.
>If we were to work together, what do you get out of it?
>Other

>>2547608
>>Why don't any of the other Haviks believe this?

>>2547608
>>If we were to work together, what do you get out of it?

It sort of makes sense that there would be a Havik who is against the other haviks.
If all Havik's were unanimous, then that would be an Order to the opinion of Havik. but Havik is chaos, and so cannot have Order, even in who Havik wants.

>>2547608
>Other
My Raiden said yours was one of the five or so universes pinged as part of this cross-reality conspiracy to unite the Chaosrealms by as many Haviks. Now you're telling me you're not one of them and want to bust up this deal. Either this universe was a false positive, or there's something someone's not telling me.

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>>2547668
>>2547671
>>2547679

Vapor looks at Fox with uncertainty as the ninja remains firm. Many thoughts are going through his mind. Part of him sees the logic of Havik's words---after all, it sort of makes sense that there would be a Havik who is against the others. If all Haviks were unanimous, then that would be an order to their scheme. But then he realizes the danger of believing any word that comes out of Havik's mouth---any Havik's mouth, and so he looks deeper.

"It doesn't add up," he says.

"Well, we are dealing with very large numbers."

"No, we aren't. We're dealing with six." He holds up six fingers. "My universe and five others, including this one. Six Haviks that teamed up and made a deal to merge their Kamidogu. My Raiden said yours was one of the six partitipating in this cross-reality conspiracy. Now you're telling me you're not one of them and want to bust up this deal. This wouldn't have happened if it weren't for all of them cooperating on some level, and if you opposed it from the beginning like you seem to be claiming, we wouldn't be here and I'd only be dealing with five realities. Either this universe was a false positive, or there's something someone's not telling me, and I'm betting it's you."

Havik's eyes narrow, but he quickly adjusts his reaction. "You're much smarter than you look, Fox. The truth is that I did agree to the deal, all the while intending on not seeing it through to the end."

"And why would you do that?"

"Because when this is over, I will have gained something and you will return to your universe. You and I will never see each other again, and we'll both get to continue existing, content with our roles in saving all of reality."

"If you think I'm going to let you help me with that kind of vague answer, you've got another thing coming. Tell me what you stand to gain out of all of this."

"Does it truly matter? As I said, when our business is concluded and you return home, this entire reality will be of no consequence to you. Everyone you meet here will forget you ever even existed, including your little friend there."

Vapor puts a hand to her chest. "Is that true?" she asks. "Will I... forget everything?"

"Don't listen to him, he just likes to twist words."

"This isn't the first time it's happened, you know. When the first breach was sealed and repaired and the universes set straight once more, all involved lost any memory of what had transpired. Makes it easier for the Elder Gods to keep their realities in line if nobody knows about the others and tries to contact them, or travel to them. Ultimately there is no point to denying my help, because we won't remember it all anyway."

"Then how do you remember it even happened?"

"Well... Not everyone forgets. And it's not impossible to learn, either."

>I don't want your help.
>How do you plan on helping me?
>You're not getting your hands on the Chaosrealm Kamidogu.
>Okay, you can tag along, but I'm watching you.
>Other

>>2547798
>>How do you plan on helping me?

>>2547798
>>How do you plan on helping me?
>>Other

He knows he's not getting the Kamidogu...what else does Quan keep in there that might be of value?

>>2547798
>How do you plan on helping me?

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>>2547801
>>2547834
>>2547861

"How do you plan on helping me?"

"I've already helped you, in one way. You possess that key because I leaked information about its location to the resistance."

Fox grits his teeth. "So, you're the 'insider' that Tanya and Rain spoke of. You've been helping Quan Chi?"

"Only because he possesses my realm's Kamidogu," Havik replies with a meaningless shrug. "He believes that control if it grants control of me. Ever have I been working against him, because I find him boring and without vision. This realm is his ideal, and everything in it is dead. If I am to spread chaos, I must return life to Edenia."

"You're very strange," Vapor says.

"Understatement of the century, believe me," Fox replies to her comment. "You've helped the resistance, fine. But that doesn't answer my question."

"I am well familiar with the traps of this dungeon. I will guide you safely through them so you may claim the Kamidogu."

"You already know you aren't getting the Kamidogu... so what else is in there that you are after?"

"There is nothing else I want in there that is not my realm's Kamidogu."

Fox begins to realize something. "But you do WANT the Kamidogu. Meaning that after I set things straight, it'll be in your possession."

He shrugs once more. "Naturally. That is the way of things. I help you, and once you no longer have need of it, I'll simply take it. I am the best one to take care of it, after all." He indicates the front door. "Shall we?"

>Leave him here
>Attack him
>Bring him with you
>Agree, but only for now
>Other

>>2547979
>Agree, but only for now

>>2547979
>>Agree, but only for now

>>2547979
>>Agree, but only for now

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>>2547994
>>2548096
>>2548112

Slowly, Fox straightens and stares Havik down for another moment before saying, "Fine. I'll agree."

"I knew you would. You're smart. You see this from the same perspective that I do."

"I doubt that very much."

"Don't worry; you will." He begins to walk forward.

As he approaches, Fox whispers to his companion, "Don't take your eyes off of him. We can't trust him, no matter what."

She nods. Havik walks between them and approaches the front doors of the stronghold, approaching the two warrior statues.

"Hey, hold on!" Fox calls out.

"Not everything is going to spring to life and attempt to kill you," Havik says with a chuckle. He walks up to one of the statues and taps on its foot with a knuckle. "See? Now, if you don't mind: the key."

Fox looks at Vapor and nods. She approaches, takes out the key, and holds it up to the door. The artifact begins to glow green and runes on the door do the same. Just like before at the palace, the doors swing open. Havik casually strolls right in before the doors can fully open, humming a strange tune to himself.

"What is with him?" Vapor asks, putting the key in a secure pocket. "Are all chaosrealmers like that?"

"I'm glad that I don't know." They follow the cleric into the prison, carefully splitting their attention between him and the environment. The interior is dark and cold, much like the dungeons that Fox initially entered the realm in back at the palace. The walls are smooth stone, featureless and somewhat dusty. They approach a semi-large chamber which contains several more statues as well as a staircase leading down into the prison proper. Several small rooms exist off to one side that were once used as a barracks for guards who are long since dead.

"This way," Havik casually says as he walks down the stairs. "Hurry now, we don't have until the end of the universe."

They follow along and enter the prison proper. There, they see row after row of cells with iron bars.

"Where is the armory?" Fox demands.

"Up ahead. But first, we'll need to deal with the guards."

"And where are they?"

"That is a fantastic question," Havik says. He looks up. "Ah, there they are."

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>>2548252

They follow his gaze whereupon they see that the ceiling of this place is covered in bones, specifically, many corpses hanging from the ceiling. When they are spotted, they let go and drop, revealing that each of them has been modified to have multiple limbs; some four, some six, and each wielding weaponry. Fox and Vapor jump back; Havik doesn't react at all.

The skeletons fall and brandish their weapons, all facing the two of them while ignoring the cleric. As they advance, Fox calls out, "Why aren't they attacking you?!"

"I'm one of Quan Chi's servants, of course. You're the strangers here."

"So help us fight them off!"

"I'll scout ahead and make sure some of the traps are disabled while you handle this; I assure you, it'll save us all some time. Have fun!" He turns and walks further into the prison.

Fox feels his blood begin to boil. "Havik!"

The nearest skeleton, resembling a shokan with its four arms, charges and swings four blades held by each!

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>2548254
Use the weighted end of the kurigama to knock the swords out of the skeleton's hands

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>2548254
Trip it and break its legs.

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>>2548259

'Damn that cleric.' Fox goes to his weapon and whips the weighted end of it out in a tight arc in front of him, smashing the swords out of the hands of the skeleton. The warrior stops in its tracks and lets out an angered shriek.

>>2548281

Fox dashes up to him and kicks out the legs beneath the skeleton, anticipating bringing the entire thing down. What he then discovers, however, is that these are no simple animated skeletons, for although the legs do indeed drop, the upper body remains, hovering where it was. The skeleton looks down at him and if it still had a face would likely have worn an amused expression.

It drops onto Fox, wrapping all four handless arms around him and opening its ribcage to further clamp around him. The ninja lets out a surprised shout as the skeleton's mouth opens wide and begins to bite his shoulder.

Vapor, temporarily stunned by what had just transpired, quickly rushes in to assist. As two of the skeletal constructs swing six blades at her, she transforms and they pass through nothing but fog. That very fog wafts onto Fox, rescuing him from the boney hug, drifting them both onto the opposite side of the throng. There they reform, now between their skeletal foes and Havik, who continues casually strolling past the cells.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>2548332
Find something big and heavy to crack some skulls with.

>>2548332
Throw the weight into a skeleton face.

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>2548350
roll

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>>2548342

Looking to his left, Fox spies a cracked pillar. He throws the weight at its base, breaking it further and sending stones flying before running towards it. He leaps onto the wall, pushes off and brings up both feet to kick the pillar as hard as he can, forcing it to lean on its now-broken side. Momentum and gravity take care of the rest, allowing the pillar to fall onto several of the skeletons, utterly crushing them.

Vapor brings up her hands and pushes outwards with a burst of smog that pushes aside all of the dirt the pillar kicked up. All the skeletons not crushed by the stone are now scrambling over it, cackling as they ignore their fallen brethren to charge at them both.

>>2548354

Fox yanks on the end of the chain, pulling it out from beneath the rubble. As one of the skeletons gets up close, he sidesteps its downward swing, responding with one of his own in the opposite direction. The weight swings upwards into the skeleton's face, cracking it into pieces; the remainder of the body then crumbles.

"Their weakness is the head!" Fox shouts to Vapor, who is busy dodging attacks by phasing through them.

As she dodges one swing, a tendril of smoke shoots upwards into the hollow skull. It then solidifies into her fist, breaking it from the inside, causing the rest of the body to fall. She is about to celebrate when a six-armed foe leaps at her; she opts instead to teleport out of its path.

That same foe lands in front of Fox and forgets its previous quarry and shifts its focus onto him. It stands up before him, looming several feet tall. This one was clearly not human, as its skull is more ape-like, with large teeth and an odder shape. Fox vaguely remembers something about a race of monkey-folk in Edenia who lived far in the south under the rule of a king, but he read that report long ago and had forgotton most of the details. The six-armed skeleton leaps at him, all arms spread wide.

>1d100 and an action!

>1d100 and an action!

I'll just leave this here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ZlpTp_dJA

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>2548473
Aim for the pelvis to knock the skeleton on the ground, then stomp on it's head

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>2548473
Grab some rubble and chuck it at him.

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>>2548540
>>2548541

Fox rolls forward, under the leaping figure, then turns around and kicks it in the pelvis before it lands. The bones snap and the sudden loss of its legs prior to touching the ground causes it to fall to the floor.

The six arms now become like the legs of an insect, pushing its body off the ground. It scuttles in place, turning to face Fox, but he is already gone. The skeleton looks around, seemingly confused, right up until the ninja lands upon its back, having leapt up high overhead.

Now flattened on the ground, the skeleton's head whips around to look up at him. Fox, holding a stone he picked up from the floor, merely smirks and drops it on its head, then stomps the stone into pieces.

Nearby, Vapor finishes off the remainder. He looks up at her as she rapidly dematerializes and rematerializes, each time reaching into the bones of her foes and then ripping them apart from the inside. As the corpses pile up at her feet, he collects his kusarigama and watches for a moment until she is finished, standing amidst the bones and panting.

"Well done," he compliments her. She looks at him and lets out a small half-chuckle.

"I haven't done this kind of thing in a while... I felt sloppy."

"You're a natural. It's in your blood."

She sheepishly looks away, tucking a strand of white behind one ear. "Thanks."

They both hear the sound of metal scraping on metal from the end of the hall. "Havik," Fox mutters, and they take off after him. At the end of the prison they encounter a large room in which the cleric is moving a metal box on a tiled floor.

"What were you thinking, leaving us like that?" Fox demands to know. "I thought you wanted to help us."

"And I am. Look, I solved this block puzzle here while you were fighting off the guards. I assure you, you were having much more fun doing that than this." He finishes pushing the final of several boxes into place; a loud clicking noise is heard and they begin to lower into the floor. Havik dusts off his hands as he speaks. "And if you had gotten it wrong, poisonous gas would have flooded the chamber. It used to be deadly insects, but they're all dead now."

"How helpful of you," Fox mutters. Nearby, a large door opens as several blocks move out of the way and a stone circle rolls into a slot on the wall. They watch as three more barricades move out of the way, including a metal grate and a series of spiked chains.

"What is this room?" Vapor asks.

"This was where the most dangerous were kept," Havik explains as they walk into the now-open passageway. "Quan Chi himself was once imprisoned in this very room. Now he uses it as a treasure vault. His idea of poetic justice, I suppose. Or perhaps just irony. Possibly both."

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>>2548746

As soon as the final gate opens, their eyes are flooded with light from within the chamber. Piles of gold, silver and gem koins are scattered around the room, and several small pillars with artifacts placed upon them can be seen.

Fox squints as he beholds two floating objects emitting light, but none of them are the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm.

"What? Where is it?" he asks.

"Likely on Quan Chi's person," Havik muses, picking up one of Kitana's fans before throwing it over his shoulder like a piece of trash. Vapor dives for it. "He keeps the Kamidogu of Netherrealm and Outworld upon his person. It is likely he keeps Chaosrealm's as well."

"You didn't feel like mentioning this?"

"No." He approaches the two Kamidogu. "Orderrealm and Earthrealm. How boring. But they will be enough to draw him out."

>So, what, now we set a trap for him?
>Stay away from those. I'll take them.
>Where is Quan Chi now?
>Let's just get what we came for and leave.
>Other

>>2548748
>Where is Quan Chi now?

>>2548748
>>So, what, now we set a trap for him?

Can we wield the powers of these kamidoguo against Quan Chi?

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>>2548766
>>2548774

"Where is Quan Chi right now?"

Havik does not immediately respond. He looks around the treasure room, eventually coming up to a golden belt with a dragon symbol. "Ah, this is a classic," he says, picking it up. "Liu Kang's, I believe. But not worth my time." Again he drops it and moves on.

"I asked you a question, cleric," Fox says, his voice growing increasingly agitated. Vapor goes to pick up the belt.

Havik looks over his shoulder. "Hm? Oh, yes, he's somewhere else. Not here at the moment."

"Obviously. What is the plan? You said these would lure him out. Are we going to set some kind of trap?"

Again he ignores the question outright, instead holding up a green gemstone set in a small golden amulet. "You know, little girl, you might want this one. It has Sindel's husband's soul in it." He throws it over his shoulder in such a way as to make it impossible for her to catch it where she is. Vapor, however, teleports across the room and catches it, clutching it tightly to her chest.

"Stop that!" she shouts. "These are important artifacts that other people may care about!"

"What are you doing?" Fox says, approaching the Kamidogu. "Why are we not leaving?"

"Oh... I'm just stalling until they show up," Havik admits. He picks up a hairbrush. "Now why would this be here...?"

Fox strides over to Havik, kicking some koins aside in the process. "Who?"

He looks towards the entrance of the vault and points. "Them."

The two of them follow his gaze to three figures standing in the doorway, each clad in black and red armor and their skin painted with tattoos. Women assassins, wielding dangerous-looking blades that glow with an ethereal energy. Fox stares at one of them with a white streak in raven-black hair, recognizing her. 'Sareena... Zian's mother...'

"Kia, Sareena, Jataaka, how nice of you to join us," Havik says in an amused tone. "You took longer than I thought. Getting sloppy, are we?"

"Long have we sought an opportunity to rid ourselves of your meddling presence, cleric," the tallest and darkest one, Jataaka, says. "Quan Chi will be most pleased at your treachery."

The cleric holds a hand up to his face and gives a small yawn. "Yes, yes, let's just get down to it, shall we?" He takes a large morning star out from behind his back, holding it in front of him like a baseball bat. "This'll be fun!"

"Bring our lord their heads!" Sareena cries, and the three of them rush in to battle. Jataaka goes for Havik while Kia runs at Vapor, leaving Sareena, the mother of Fox's friend, to charge at him.

>Current Meter: 1
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>2549588
SMOKE BOMB *POOF*

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>2549588
charge in and use the blade of the kusarigama to cut Sareena up

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>>2549593

Reaching into his vest, Fox withdraws a smoke bomb and throws it at the floor in front of him. Sareena charges into the brightly-colored smoke, slashing at nothing. As the smoke scatters and fades, Fox appears to be gone.

He leaps out from behind a pile of treasure, bringing up a leg and kicking her in the lower back. She grunts and rolls forward, coming to a stop amidst various koins. She scowls, reaches for a dagger and throws it at him---he catches it.

"You're fast," she compliments him as Jataaka and Havik battle nearby. "Nobody's ever caught my knives before."

He turns the weapon over in his hand. "I don't want to do this, Sareena."

"Good. Then you'll die quickly!" She throws another dagger as she charges.

>>2549926

Fox throws her first dagger and they collide in the air and bounce harmlessly on the floor. Fox takes his sickle in hand and rushes to meet her where they engage in combat, trading slashes, punches and kicks while dodging and blocking.

Sareena is skilled, but so is he. Their speed seems matched as their weapons create sparks with each blow against each other. Fox tries to wrap her hand in his chain, but she flips forward, slipping out of his grip. They both turn and strike, each missing the other by a hair before he kicks at her feet. She steps over his attack, twists to one side and attempts to bring a serrated blade down onto his back. Fox brings up his arm and blocks the attack; she drops the dagger and grabs it with her other hand and now goes in from below. He brings down his arm and rolls over her back, landing on the other side. They both step away from each other before turning back to reassess their foe.

On the other side of the room, Vapor plays defensively as Kia's relentless onslaught of attacks forces her to continually turn into mist to avoid being struck. Fox pries his attention away from her to focus on Sareena, who withdraws two blades, holding one in each hand.

>Current Meter: 2
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>2550637
Use the chain to force Sareena to fight outside her desired range. Getting her frustrated can only play to our benefit.

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>2550637
hit her with a sludge bomb

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>>2550648

'She does well up close,' Fox thinks as they size each other up. 'Let's not let her.'

He begins to swing the weight over his head. Sareena watches cautiously as they slowly pace around the room. Fox takes a calculated mistep on a koin, seemingly losing his balance when it slides out from under his foot---and she takes the bait, darting in.

The weight snaps downwards as he straightens his elbow, and it smacks her across the face. Sareena spins away and lands in a pile of treasure, knocking over a pillar with a pot atop it. As she tries to get back up, Fox kicks the weight at her, hitting her in the stomach. She rolls to the side, gasping for breath as she gets to her feet. His next attack is low, aimed at her legs, which she jumps over, leaving her open to his next strike when he throws the sickle at her ribs. It digs into her side and he pulls, getting her close before ripping it out and knocking her away with a fierce kick.

Sareena falls to the floor and does not get back up.

>>2550802

For good measure, he tosses a sludge bomb on her, holding her in place.

Havik brings the morningstar down upon Jataaka's head, crushing it and painting the adjacent wall with blood and brains. He looks at Fox. "Adequate work! Now kill her. We need to leave."

Fox looks over at Vapor, who is choking Kia with her gaseous mass. The woman's eyes roll into the back of her head and she goes limp, falling backwards as the half-demon seeps out of her mouth and nostils to reform. She looks down at her kill but does not linger on the sight, turning away to walk towards Fox.

"We haven't all day," Havik reminds him. "Go on, kill her."

"No," Sareena says, coughing. "Please..."

"Oh, here it comes," Havik mutters. "I can see where this is going a mile away..." He hefts up his bloody morningstar and walks towards them. "Stand aside, I'll clean up your mess."

>Stop him; she lives
>Stop him; kill her yourself
>Let him kill her
>Free her and convince her to join you
>Other

>>2550881
>Other
At least hear her out, if she's going to beg for her life.

>>2550881
>>Other
Hear what she has to offer. If it's crap, just kill her.

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>>2550903
>>2550958

Fox holds up his hand. "Hold it." He walks over to Sareena and kneels down alongside her. "Speak up. I want a good reason."

"Don't send me back," she says softly. "I don't want to go back."

"Back where?"

Vapor answers for her. "The Netherrealm... she is a demon."

"I'm not brave enough to die," she confesses, her eyes tightly shut. She holds her bleeding side. "I don't want to lose myself again."

Havik leans on his morningstar and lets out an exhausted sigh. "Every time with this one..."

Fox looks back. "You have something to say?"

"Oh just kill her, you'd be doing us all a favor," he says. "Every single time little Sareena here is about to get sent back to the Netherrealm, it's tears and begging and 'Oh, I'll change this time, I swear!' and then you hop universes or give it a year or so and she's back to working for Quan Chi and calling for heads. It's all so tiresome."

"She changed in my universe," Fox points out.

"Oh please, don't get me started on your universe," Havik says as he shakes his head. "Do you have any idea how many exceptions your reality has compared to the universal standard? I mean, take you for example."

Slowly, Fox stands up, glaring at the cleric. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Havik chuckles. "How many other realities have you encountered where you were even a factor? Not many. You're very unimportant to the grand scheme of things."

"And yet I'm the one you're backing to save both of our realities."

"Believe me, you're not my first choice. Don't fool yourself into thinking you're anything but the one who happened to be in the right place at the right time. I think it's a terrible shame that they didn't send someone more capable, like Takeda. Or your precious master. Frankly I'd have taken anyone on your team over you, even Sam."

Fox clenches and unclenches his fist. "You can't get to me with jokes, Havik."

"I don't need to make jokes; the universe has made you its joke."

"What are you all talking about?" Sareena asks, dumfounded.

As Fox is about to step towords him, Vapor materializes between them both. "Enough," she says, holding up both hands. "Were we not leaving?"

"We were," Havik replies. "You know, I've changed my mind. Let her go. She'll tell Quan Chi what has happened here and it'll hasten his falling into our trap."

"You just said it was a trap," Fox deadpans.

"It doesn't matter whether he knows it is a trap or not; he'll still spring it. It's in his nature."

>Kill Sareena
>Let her go; tell her to go to Quan
>Let her go; tell her to find Sub-Zero
>Leave her here to figure things out for herself
>Other

>>2551093
>>Leave her here to figure things out for herself

>>2551093
>Let her go; tell her to find Sub-Zero

>>2551093
>>Leave her here to figure things out for herself

>>2551093
>>Leave her here to figure things out for herself

Eh, you can lead a horse to water but it sounds like this one has a history of not wanting to drink. Sub-Zero might not even be alive or could have a different history here anyway.

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>>2551105
>>2551166
>>2551383

"It doesn't matter, because she's not going anywhere," Fox says, continuing to stare down the cleric. "She's staying here. Let her figure out things for herself."

Sareena says nothing as Havik shrugs and walks towards the exit. "Don't forget those Kamidogu," he calls out over his shoulder.

Vapor and Fox retrieve the two artifacts; he carries the Kamidogu of Orderrealm, and she Earthrealm. As they are about to leave, Sareena then calls out one simple question, "Why?"

Fox looks down at her. "You asked not to die." He takes another step, hesitates, then looks back. "That sludge will wear off soon. Get out of here when it does."

She doesn't say thank you; she merely looks down and hides her face. As the two of them walk down the prison cells, Vapor whispers, "I'm glad you didn't kill her. I killed mine, but she didn't give me any choice. Maybe if I had tried..."

"Don't worry about her. She isn't important. That one, back there? She could be. In my reality, she's the mother of one of our friends... in fact, your best friend."

Surprise colors her face as she looks at him with wide eyes. "What? Who?"

Fox swallows. "I suppose it doesn't really matter in a way, does it? The window for his birth in this reality is long gone... he can't exist here. Maybe I shouldn't have even mentioned him to you."

"No, no... thank you. I like learning things about my other self, strange as that may sound. Tell me, though... is she, that is, am I in love? With anyone?"

"In love?" He blinks a few times. "Uh... No, I don't think so. At least, I never asked. I mean no offense, but you mostly keep to yourself. And I tend to not approach people anyway."

Vapor grows quiet. "I never got much of a chance to meet too many people. Edenians, earthrealmers... B-but I always thought that if things were more normal, I'd be able to... do more normal things, like fall in love. Do you think she is lonely?"

"No, she isn't lonely. She's surrounded by friends all the time, or at least when she chooses to be." He stops walking and looks at her. "I'm sorry if it sounds like she's living a better life."

"Don't worry, I know she is," Vapor says softly. "I thought I'd be jealous, that she lives a life so different from mine..." Her eyes drift up to meet his. "But in a way, it's like I've learned something amazing."

"What's that?"

"That fate isn't set in stone. If our two worlds can be so different from each other, but we can still be so similar, that must mean that things can get better as surely as they can get worse. And if there is a chance that the future can be brighter, then I'll fight to make it happen."

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>>2551396

"I didn't think of it like that," Fox admits, speaking honestly. "I like that way of looking at things." A warmth spreads through him as her words affect him deeply, and he smiles in spite of himself. "Hope. When we get out of this, Andela, I'm going to try to be a better friend to you."

Her eyes shine brighter. "I'm sure my other self would like that very much."

"Are you two done?" Havik shouts from up ahead. "I've glimpsed realities that you cannot fathom and those sights did not make me as sick as this all this sentiment does."

Outside the prison, they discover a purple portal created by Sindel. As the three of them approach it, Fox suddenly realizes that allowing Havik to enter this portal means bringing him straight into the heart of the resistance's base and right to the queen. With mere seconds to spare before they walk through, he rapidly comes to a conclusion.

>Walk through with Havik.
>Tell Havik he isn't coming.
>Attack Havik and leave him here; get through the portal without him.
>Force him to surrender his weaponry and hands.
>Other

>>2551399
>>Tell Havik he isn't coming.

>>2551399
>Tell Havik he isn't coming.

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>>2551478
>>2551509

"You're not coming," Fox says, holding an arm up to block him from walking into the portal.

"Of course I am," Havik replies in an amused tone. "You really are quite adept at wasting time, you know that?"

"That doesn't mean much coming from you."

"You think either one of you knows how to actually use those shiny rocks you're holding? Or how to use Quan Chi's Kamidogu against him?"

"We'll figure it out."

Havik holds up a finger. "I told you I want to see the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm put in your hands so you can do what must be done. I am as much a part of this as you are."

"I don't trust you."

Havik's face grows close, allowing Fox to see the fine details of his mangled appearance. "This again. You absolute blithering fool, I have told you that all of reality as we know it is on a ticking clock and you have seen the effects firsthand. Are you so dense as to not comprehend what that means? We have been over this for what feels like an eternity! I want chaos to continue to exist, and that means working with you, as much as it rots my core to accept. I'm certain the feeling is mutual."

Fox inhales sharply. "It is, don't worry."

"The only thing I am worried about is how unlikely you are to succeed. Put your arm down, stand aside and the three of us will step through that portal and be all the closer to being rid of each other for good, you simple-minded excuse of a Shirai Ryu. Stop wasting the universe's time; you already do that enough with your own normal existence."

>Punch him
>Go through the portal
>He's not coming, period
>Attempt to trick him
>Other

>>2553189
>Go through the portal

>>2553189
>Go through the portal

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>>2553226
>>2553228

Fox is about to punch the cleric when he feels Vapor gently touch his shoulder, encouraging him to calm down and not let Havik's words get to him. Slowly, Fox lowers his arm, all the while continuing to glare. Havik chuckles. "So glad we're on the same page, Fox."

"I don't think I've ever met anyone that disgusts me more than you, Havik."

"If it is any consolation, when this is over, I don't intend to ever think about you again," Havik says with another deep, low chuckle. "Let's go meet the queen."

Vapor steps up. "If you try anything---"

"Quiet, little girl," Havik shuts her down and walks through the portal. They both hurry after him.

Once on the other side, they immediately behold the sight of Queen Sindel in a state of inactivity. Nearby are three figures, clad in green, yellow and purple: Jade, Tanya and Rain.

"Andela!" Jade cries, running up to her daughter. She throws her into a tight hug. "What are you doing? What were you thinking? You could have died!"

"Mother, I---"

Before she can defend herself, Jade looks at Fox and Havik, rapidly coming to a conclusion. "You! You did this! You stole the key, and consort with Chaosrealm filth!"

Fox looks at Havik, who shrugs. "Don't look at me."

Vapor attempts to pry herself from Jade's grip. "Mother, listen to me! I didn't---"

But Jade is having none of it. She takes out a metal rod which elongates into her staff and points it at Fox. "Under the authority of Queen Sindel, you are under arrest! You will face an immediate sentencing!"

"Mother, stop!" Vapor slips out of her grip with a burst of fog. She then reforms in front of her, placing herself directly at the end of her mother's staff. "I stole the key! I went to the prison with him willingly!"

Jade's face softens. "What?"

Fox looks over as Tanya folds her arms and smiles. "Can't even control your own daughter anymore, Jade?"

The emerald-clad edenian ignores her rival's snide remark, focusing entirely on Vapor. "Why have you done this?"

"I'm sorry, mother. Queen Sindel asked us to go," she explains. She takes out Kitana's fan and holds it out to her. Jade's eyes widen as she takes the elegant weapon, holding it in one hand and inspecting every inch of it with her eyes. The warrior's lip quivers as she is flooded with the memory of her dearly beloved friend.

Vapor respectfully steps back as she further explains herself. "The queen sent us there because she knows there is something much worse happening, something that threatens us all. It's greater then Quan Chi. And this one here," she indicates Havik, "is helping us... in a way."

"No gratitude," Havik says with a sigh. "Solved the block puzzle for you. You're welcome."

Rain now speaks up. "Can you prove that Queen Sindel asked you to steal from your mother?"

>Back up her word
>Let Vapor continue
>Out Havik as Rain and Tanya's co-conspirator
>Reveal the Kamidogu
>Other

>>2553259
Vapor has the signet ring. Shouldn't that be proof?

>>2553270
True

>>2553259
What >>2553270 said.

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>>2553270
>>2553284
>>2553307

Fox looks at Vapor, or more specifically, her hand. "Vapor, the ring!"

She looks down at it, then holds it up, facing it so that all of them may see. "Queen Sindel gave me her signet ring, right before we left!"

"More likely she stole it as well," Tanya says with a sneer.

"My daughter would never dare steal from the queen!" Jade says in her defense. "As for me... If the queen truly commanded it, then I forgive you." She moves to embrace her daughter. "Oh, Andela... I was so worried."

The younger girl tightly embraces her mother. "I'm sorry I frightened you."

"Isn't this sweet," Havik says, clasping his hands together. "But we have business to attend to."

Jade stares the cleric down. "Just what are you doing here, Havik? You may have fooled these two into thinking that you are here to help, but I know better."

"Mother, please listen," Vapor insists. "There is a threat to reality as we know it. I don't fully understand it, but Fox was speaking the truth. He's from another reality and has come here to help save both of ours, and others. And Havik wants to help out of self-preservation."

Behind them, Rain scoffs. "Rediculous. I think that cleric has been filling your head with nonsense."

Havik sighs. "We don't have time for this..."

>Out Havik as Rain and Tanya's co-conspirator
>Explain Havik's role in the multiple reality conspiracy
>Get Tanya and Rain to leave the room
>Havik is right, we're wasting time. We need to confront Quan Chi
>Other

>>2553344
>Get Tanya and Rain to leave the room

>>2553344
>Havik is right, we're wasting time. We need to confront Quan Chi
Show them what we have

>>2553344
>>Havik is right, we're wasting time. We need to confront Quan Chi

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>>2553362
>>2553372

Fox looks at him. "For once, I'll agree with you. We need to confront Quan Chi."

"Good that you're starting to see reason. I was beginning to think you were like those two over there, who can't see the bigger picture over their desire for the throne."

"Be silent," Rain says.

Fox gives Havik a strange look as the cleric goes on to say, "Don't presume to give me any commands, prince. The nature of our partnership has changed."

Jade looks back at them. "What? Why was I not aware of this?"

Havik raises his hands. "Oops. Cat's out of the bag on that one." For his part in this escalating situation, he seems amused.

Fox's brow furrows. 'I thought he wanted us to leave. Why is he provoking them?'

Tanya dismissively waves her hand. "Ever have we worked towards a free Edenia, Jade. You know this. Everything we have done has been in service to that."

"Behind the back of our queen and myself!" Jade now faces them fully, disregarding Havik and Fox. "Ever have you worked towards a free Edenia, indeed! You work towards one that you may rule! That was your motivation to help Shinnok in the first place! Your petty ambition and selfishness is what led us all on this path from the very beginning!"

"Be like your queen and be silent for once in your miserable life!" Tanya shouts, taking out a blade from behind her back. "Your time is over, Jade. You're like that fan you hold: a useless and forgotten relic."

"Let's not let this come to violence," Rain says, sounding morally superior. "Jade, put your weapon down."

"I will when she does. I am captain of the guard, and will not take threats lightly!"

"I think it's time we taught her a lesson," Tanya remarks, taking out a matching blade.

>Focus on Jade
>Focus on Tanya
>Focus on Rain
>Focus on Havik
>Other

>>2553452
>>Other
Stop fighting. We have 2 kamidoguo, and Quan chi is going to want them back. You can sort out your succession crisis after we deal with th greater threat.

>>2553452
>Other
In case you haven't noticed, we have three of the Kamidogu, including Sindel's. Quan Chi is on his way here RIGHT NOW. The less people we have to stand up to him and take the Kamidogu from him, the less chance there will be a universe for Edenia to even exist in.

Apocalypse now, rules of succession later. Why does no one ever get this?

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>>2553460
>>2553479

Fox moves towards the center of the room, holding up his hands. "Alright, enough! We have two Kamidogu, three counting Sindel's." He points at Tanya and Rain. "You two told me that we could use them to our advantage. Quan Chi is going to learn very quickly that we broke into his vault. If we don't stop him and I don't get the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm, all of this will be for nothing. Edenia won't even exist! Apocalypse now, rules of succession later." He turns towards Havik. "Tell them."

"I think he could explain it better," the cleric says, pointing at Rain. The entire group looks at the prince, who seems slightly baffled.

That's when Fox's ears pick up the sounds of a knife being drawn. 'No, Havik, no!' He reacts quickly, but not quickly enough. The cleric throws his knife at the suspended queen, burying it in her chest. Sindel's eyes open and she gasps, the strands of her hair holding her up becoming loose. Her arms and legs begin to drop.

"No!" Jade cries, dropping her staff and running to her queen to catch her as she falls. She reaches her in time, taking the queen into her arms and carefully placing her upon the floor. Everyone looks at the queen, stunned, as Jade looks at the wicked blade sticking out of her chest.

Fox takes out his sickle and threatens to throw it at Havik, who, seemingly weary of his reaction, mutters, "Stop that. We need that Kamidogu to defeat Quan Chi. I'm only speeding things up. Ticking clock, remember?"

"You just murdered her!"

"I took her off life support. Besides, Rain was the one who instructed me to do so when I got the chance! It was all part of the arrangement."

Fox can hardly believe the cleric is still trying to rile them up. "Shut your damn mouth, Havik! You're only making this situation worse!"

As Jade holds the dying queen in her arms, she looks up at Rain and Tanya. "Is this true?"

"Our deal changed!" Rain shouts at Havik.

Jade curses loudly. "This is your fault! You were the ones who conspired against her with him! The people of Edenia will never follow you, Rain! I will see that they know of your partnership with Chaosrealm! Cursed traitors, both of you!"

"Enough!" Rain shouts, throwing out one hand while clenching the other. He seems determined to take advantage of the situation. "Long has the queen laid dying! It no longer matters how it happens, so long as it happens! Now Edenia has no choice but to follow me. History will forget the small details, and when I free Edenia from the wrath of Quan Chi, I will be known as the one who saved the realm from extinction!"

"Especially if we cut out the tongues of those who would spread lies about our new king," Tanya says with a wicked grin, holding up her blades. Vapor then teleports in front of her mother.

"You so much as touch her and I will choke you where you stand," she threatens them both.

>Fight with Havik
>Get the Kamidogu and get out of here
>Try to de-escalate the situation
>Help Jade with the queen
>Other

>>2553550
>Help Jade with the queen
>Get the Kamidogu and get out of here
Just keep thinking "pebble in the rapids" and we'll somehow make it out of this in one piece.

>>2553550
>>Get the Kamidogu and get out of here

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>>2553575
>>2553588

'Damn it Havik.' Fox moves over to help Jade with Sindel. "We need to get the Kamidogu out of here."

Jade shakes her head. "We can't move her. Her hair and the wound---"

Sindel speaks, and it is brief. "Stop." Jade looks down at her, the queen's eyes half-lidded and her breathing shallow.

"My queen," Jade says, holding her gently. "I have failed you. I am so sorry..."

She smiles. "My Jade... you haven't failed me. You've done everything I've ever asked you to do. Never has there been a more loyal and deserving warrior to be the guardian of my family." She reaches up and touches her face with a wrinkled hand. "I love you as surely as I loved my daughter. Forgive me for sending your child away... but it was necessary."

"Of course I forgive you," she says, kissing the hand and squeezing it softly.

"Just as my death was necessary... My time is ended. I have bided and kept us safe, but now I must go beyond. It is as I foresaw."

"What will we do without you? Where will we go?"

"Edenia... will live on. I have made sure to leave it in the most capable hands..."

Rain steps forward, hands on his hips. "Then relinquish the Kamidogu to me."

Sindel's laughter is short, for she is dying, but full of as much mirth as she can muster. It disarms Rain of his certainty. "Elder Gods, not you. I speak of the eldest son of Argus..."

The prince glares down at her. "What are you talking about? There are no other sons of Argus. I am the only one."

Again, she laughs, but much more weakly. "How quickly we forget..."

Jade leans close. "Who is he? How will we find him?"

"Worry not. I chose the location of our hidden home purposefully." She does not elaborate further, but rather takes a deep breath and coughs. Her eyes flutter as she brings up her other hand to touch Jade's. "Edenia will live on... through its true sons and daughters... Edenia will live on. I go now to see my daughter... I..."

Tears flow freely from Jade's eyes as Sindel's form goes limp, and then begins to glow. Her body brightens to such an extent that it becomes blinding, and all avert or cover their eyes. Her hair, stretching from her body to every part of the cavern, also begins to glow, bringing light to every dark corner. Each tendril begins to retract toward the central mass, vanishing into the light.

When the light is completely gone, so is Sindel, leaving only her legacy---and the Kamidogu of Edenia---behind. Jade looks down at the artifact in her arms, the last remnant of her queen, before hugging it close to her chest.

The moment is ended by Rain. He strides forward and stops in front of Vapor. "It is done. Give me the Kamidogu. It is now my birthright."

>The Kamidogu stays with Jade
>Take Jade and Vapor, leave
>Denounce Rain and Tanya
>Demand Havik follow through on his deal
>Other

>>2553718
>>The Kamidogu stays with Jade
>Demand Havik follow through on his deal

>>2553718
>The Kamidogu stays with Jade
>Demand Havik follow through on his deal

>>2553776
Addendum: We are now on a hard timetable. Quan Chi knows where we are, guaranteed. There is no more room for error.

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>>2553724
>>2553776

"The Kamidogu stays with Jade," Fox says.

Rain's eyes narrow above his purple veil. "You have no say in this matter, outsider."

"I have every damn say in it. I'm here, I'm saying it." He looks back at Havik. "And you better keep your word, now that we have it."

Havik reaches up to his head and snaps it backwards, then back to its proper facing. "Sorry, that was me getting rid of the pain in my neck from having to constantly repeat myself! Are we done here? She has it, she'll keep it, I don't care, so long as we---"

That's when the first small pebble falls on Rain's head. Then another lands near Fox, and a few more near Havik. A cracking noise is heard as they all look up.

The ceiling, no longer held up by Sindel, begins to crack. More rocks fall, and the rumbling only grows louder. A slight vibration can be felt in the ground beneath them that only grows more intense with each passing second.

"---leave," Havik finishes his earlier sentence before taking off towards the exit. Vapor pulls her mother to her feet and follows after him; Rain and Tanya follow after them. Fox curses under his breath and takes up the rear. Now the cavern is truly beginning to collapse, with large sections of stone falling and crashing onto the floor. The group is forced to avoid the collapsing ceiling as they rush to the cave's mouth, where the remainder of the resistance is already evacuating.

The small group makes it out beneath the night sky as the entire cave collapses. Dust and sand shoot out of the cavern's entrance as the deep rumbling noise from within slowly grows softer and softer until only the silence of night remains.

Fox picks himself up, having been the last one out and thus leaping from the entrance without a moment to spare. He looks back at the collapsed cave, then at his surroundings. There are within some kind of valley or crater, a desert-like badland. He dusts himself off and looks around at the remaining edenians before finding Vapor. She is standing next to Jade, and across from them are Rain, Tanya and Havik, and from the looks of things, not even the cave collapsing is enough to deter Rain from making his demands.

The prince takes out his sword. "As I was saying... Hand over the Kamidogu of Edenia!"

"Over my dead body," Jade spits at him.

"We're outside," Fox points out. "Can we not do this right now? We just got over this!"

Rain, ignoring him, turns towards the resistance. "Queen Sindel is dead! I, Prince Rain, now proclaim myself lord and ruler of Edenia!"

Tanya is quick to proclaim, "Long live King Rain!"

Rain points at Jade. "And my first decree, for all my loyal subjects, is to bring me the Kamidogu of Edenia!"

>Figure out a way to create a portal
>Denounce Rain in front of the resistance
>Get everyone to safety, out of the open
>Punch that purple fuck out already
>Other

>>2553860
>Punch that purple fuck out already

>>2553860
>>Punch that purple fuck out already
You don't deserve to rule if you're going to waste time fighting while Quan Chi is coming/

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>>2553874
>>2553880

After a moment, one of the Edenian Knights steps forward. He looks at both groups, and then walks to stand behind Jade. Another follows, and then another, and soon the whole of the resistance is behind them.

"What are you doing?" Rain shouts. "I am your king now! You will obey me! Tanya, see that they---"

At that moment, Fox, who had approached Rain a brisk pace, punches the prince squarely in the jaw as hard as he can. The edenian goes down hard, crashing into the dirt. Fox shakes his hand as Tanya kneels to help her lover.

"I've never felt better about sucker-punching someone in my life, you purple fuck," he says with a long breath. "Some king..."

"You dare...?" Rain rips off his veil, revealing a bloody lip. "You dare strike me, you insignificant peon?!"

"I don't dare, I did," Fox replies.

Rain scrambles to get up. "I'm going to... to..."

His voice trails off as he looks in the distance. Out of the corner of his eye, Fox notices it as well. The sky is darkening. He feels the hair on his neck stand up and can hear a great noise rising on the horizon. "They're coming," he says. "A realm's worth of dead..."

The legion is charging at them. Here, out in the open plains of these badlands, the overwhelming numbers of Quan Chi's skeletal army and gargoyles will have the advantage. The ethereal glow of the green magic holding them together causes them to stand out from the dim horizon. They swarm over hills and rises like a legion of bright green ants, all coming for them.

"We need a way out of here," he says, running back towards Jade and Vapor. "Who has a portal?"

"I can create one," Jade says, kneeling. "Quickly, give me that key."

Vapor doesn't hesitate in handing it over. Jade takes Kitana's fan in her other hand and begins a low chant. She moves her arms in a measured trance, precise and sure.

"I don't suppose there is a shorter ritual," Havik urges her on.

Just then, a wave of water washes over them all, knocking Jade out of her ritual and separating them. Rain leaps upwards through a puddle of water atop her and begins attempting to wrestle the Kamidogu from her grasp. "It's mine! Hand it over!"

"Persistant fool," Havik says, getting up to his feet and withdrawing his morningstar. "You know not what you do!"

As he walks over, there is a quake from the ground. Everyone stops as it happens; pebbles on the canyon floor vibrate softly. It passes, and then there is another, of even greater intensity. Fox looks up and sees the clouds start to swirl overhead, disrupting the oncoming horde of darkness in the sky.

"Something is happening," he says to Vapor. "Something big..."

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>>2553961

At that moment, a pillar of rock emerges from the ground nearby, splitting open the natural floor. The entire region, it seems, begins to violently shake. Vapor holds onto Fox as everyone tries to keep their balance, to no avail. Something is rising, and it rises beneath the skeletal army as it draws near.

Fox can hear the stones beneath the valley being torn apart and shoved aside; he can feel it through his feet. He begins to back up as he realizes the sheer scale and power of what he is witnessing, though he knows nothing of what it could possibly be. Against his better judgment, he finds it impossible to look away.

Stones and rocks break apart as they are violently displaced by a massive object emerging from below. Everyone looks on, half in awe and half in terror as a structure begins to reveal itself, each section of it getting greater and greater. Four-sided and coming to a flat surface at the top, a monumental pyramid is revealed, its presence dwarfing the nearby mountains and now taking up nearly all of the horizon. Pillars at each corner split the rocks and emerge, each covered in archaic and ancient runes. The pyramid itself, a ziggurat-like structure with several tiers, finally settles.

Four grand and ornate staircases run up its sides, and much like the pillars at each of its corners, the walls of the incredible wonder are adorned with carvings and hieroglyphics of an ancient language, as well as images depicting warriors of ages long lost to history. Then, when all seems still, a great fire emerges from the top of the pyramid. The sky turns from blue to red as this great pillar reaches up towards the clouds, creating a swirling inferno. Before every stunned set of eyes, this fire then leaps towards the swarming gargoyles, roasting them in the sky, charring their stone bodies and causing them to fall like flaming meteorites upon the displaced skeletal horde.

"Incredible," Jade whispers. "I have read of this legend... The Pyramid of Argus..."

"I didn't see this coming," Havik says, seemingly equally blown away by what just happened.

>See what happens next
>Urge her to continue the ritual
>Demand Havik to explain what is happening
>Take this opportunity to punch Rain again
>Other