He is one of the most well known characters of Mortal Kombat, he's the hero, he is the Champion. He's Liu Kang. Though not nearly as popular as Scorpion or Sub-Zero, still he is a huge name in the game franchise.
This is Part 2 of this 5-part story of Mortal Kombat's champion; Liu Kang.
As we left off from our last page (click here). Liu Kang's origins of being trained by Bo' Rai Cho and his participation in the Mortal Kombat Tournament made him a hero in his native Earthrealm.
Prologue[]
For the last few months, Liu Kang (now the Champion of Mortal Kombat) has a reputation to uphold as well as a duty to protect Earthrealm. Shortly after he returns to his Order of Light, he began to train, but he also went into seclusion to do so. Within these few months, he has learned new moves such as the "Flying Bike Kick" and honed his dragon fire powers. But as he was preparing for future battle. One will eventually come.
After Shang Tsung's failure to take Earthrealm for Shao Kahn, he faced execution. But in a last ditch effort, he convinces Shao Kahn to let him live, thus Shao Kahn grants him his youth and thus newfound power to formulate a plan to lure Earthrealm's warriors (Liu Kang in particular) into a death trap so Shao Kahn can take Earthrealm. Shang Tsung then makes an offer to Raiden to have his warriors compete in Shao Kahn's own Mortal Kombat tournament in Outworld, after Raiden refuses. Shang Tsung gives the signal to Outworld's Tarkatan Horde to invade Earthrealm. This included a Hollywood Studio where Johnny Cage was filming his latest movie, an undercover military operation (led by Sonya) to take down Kano's Black Dragon ring which ends in Sonya and Kano being captured.
The hardest hit places in all of Earthrealm was the Order of Light Temple where Liu Kang was raised. It was a terrible massacre with Kung Lao being the only survivor. When Liu Kang came back from his training, he was shocked and angered by this horrible event. Kung Lao told him everything that has happened, and then they were visited by Raiden who told them that Shao Kahn was behind these recent attacks on Earthrealm. Seeing no choice, Raiden pleas to the Elder Gods that he and his Earthrealm warriors will participate in Shao Kahn's tournament. Liu Kang and Kung Lao along with Johnny Cage and Maj. Jackson Briggs (BKA Jax) venture to Outworld to participate in Shao Kahn's tournament.
It's unknown on exactly who Liu Kang fought in the tournament. But when he was told to venture into Outworld's wastelands. He runs into one of Shao Kahn's assassins; Kitana. A huge fight then ensued, eventually Liu Kang wins, and then notices that Kitana's body was trembling, despite her leas to Liu Kang to kill her for her defeat, Liu Kang refuses, and decrees that the fight did not take place.
This could be where Liu Kang develops feelings for Kitana.
Anyway, Raiden comes to Kitana and tells her that she should go on a journey to discover the truth as somewhere deep within Kitana that she shouldn't serve Shao Kahn, but to oppose him. While Kitana is on her personal journey, Liu Kang continues his participation in the tournament. Still feeling a sense of fury from witnessing the destruction of his Temple, he faces Baraka (who led the Tarkatans in the attack on the Order of Light) and defeats him, and then realizes that fury's power has limitations, he tries to calm down and remain focused if he is to defeat Shao Kahn.
Final Stages[]
With every warrior on both sides winning and losing, only Liu Kang and Kung Lao (as Cage and Jax lost in previous battles). Eventually, Earthrealm's warriors made it Shao Kahn's arena right next to his palace. Shao Kahn (who is upset with Liu Kang's victories over his warriors) makes him challenge Shang Tsung again, during this fight Jax takes the opportunity to free Sonya and Kano and the 3 escape from Outworld. Eventually, Liu Kang again defeats Shang Tsung (despite the latter's restored youth and power). But as Liu Kang was getting ready to face Goro's successor; Kintaro, Kung Lao steps in and says to Shao Kahn that he'll challenge the Shokan.
With a chance to prove himself, Kung Lao challenges Kintaro to Mortal Kombat. After an epic fight, Kung Lao defeats the raging Shokan.
With Kung Lao's victory, Shao Kahn gets into a ferocious rage, and challenges both monks. As the fight goes on, Kitana (who now knows the truth, she is Edenia's lost Princess) and Raiden aid the monks in their fight against Shao Kahn.
Shao Kahn's rage works against him, and this allows the 4 kombatants to use their combined strength against the Outworld emperor, and they defeat Shao Kahn who now lays on the ground, soundly defeated. Knowing that he has to concede defeat and acknowledge Earthrealm's freedom with their victory in his tournament. Earthrealm's warriors can now leave knowing that they once again defeated Outworld.
That'll do it for Part 2. In Part 3 (click here) we will talk about Liu Kang leading Earthrealm's warriors in Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm. Until next time, this is JohnnyOTGS signing out.