7 The world gone to hell pt. 6

As the stone entrance crumbles at their impact, Raiden and Fujin are both on the floor at Shinnok's mercy. Before them, all is the Jinsei - a mysterious glowing blue energy that is Earthrealm's life force Fujin coughs and says

"You'll not touch the Jinsei!"

Shinnok like a child who will not listen says

"Oh, I will, and all of Earthrealm will learn the truth... of death!"

He sends out another blast from his amulet. This one drags both the Earthrealm gods towards Shinnok. They are rendered helpless as the amulet seems poised to imprison them in it for eternity, fitting as it once held him. But just before Raiden's hand touches the amulet, Shinnok is kicked in the back by Johnny Cage, sending the amulet from his grasp and breaking the spell, distraction breaks the calling every time. The amulet clatters to the ground a good distance away from Shinnok, who faceplants on the chamber floor, in a most undignified manner. Johnny strides cockily into the chamber, Sonya, and Kenshi by his side he says feigning apologies

"Oh, sorry ma'am! Didn't see ya there!"

Shinnok brings himself up to his knees and barks

"Miserable wretch! Insignificant speck of feculent scum! How DARE you!"

He lets loose a magical blast that knocks Kenshi to the floor unconscious. Raiden spots the amulet as he and Fujin get to their feet, and he then locks eyes with Shinnok.

"That is mine!"

Raiden loses a lightning bolt, but Shinnok catches it in a magic blast and shoots out a corrupted red form of the bolt that strikes Fujin and knocks him out. Sonya fires off an entire clip of ammunition from her assault rifle at Shinnok, who effortlessly creates a shield that deflects the bullets. She throws the gun aside.

"Ready?"

"As always."

They both charge Shinnok and engage in hand to hand kombat. Shinnok easily blocks and dodges their attacks, kicking them both in the stomach with the same leg in a motion impossible for a human. With them doubled over, he jumps up in a split kick that catches them both in the face. Sonya is knocked out of the fight, but Cage recovers quickly and charges in with more punches, all effortlessly blocked by Shinnok with one hand while he isn't even facing Johnny. Shinnok goes on the attack and strikes Johnny with a roundhouse kick, but Cage weathers it and lashes out with a kick to the side that staggers Shinnok. As he recovers, Shinnok levitates Johnny into the air with his magic and hurls him across the chamber. Johnny hits hard against the wall and is knocked out of the fight too. Sonya and Raiden both charge for the amulet, but Shinnok holds his hand out, charged with red energy. The amulet blasts the two of them as they come close, knocking them away. Shinnok then blasts Sonya with a red lightning bolt, leaving her writhing on the chamber floor. Johnny rises in time to witness this.

"She will be the first to join me."

As he readies for a finishing blast with both hands, Johnny charges in, glowing green with his latent superpowers as he does so.

"No!"

In slow motion, Shinnok blasts out his magic as Sonya raises one hand in desperation. Johnny dives in front of the blast, fully absorbing it. He then, to the amazement of both Sonya and Shinnok, rolls to his knees and rises without impediment, still glowing with green energy.

"I'm not sure what just happened to me..."

The green glow fades as Johnny circles Shinnok, ready to fight.

"...but I am sure of this: You don't even THINK of hurting her!"

They fight. Johnny gives the fight of his life against the fallen Elder God. Try as he may, Shinnok is unable to overcome him, and after a vicious brawl, he is left on the ground by the movie star.

"You really are a fallen Elder God."

Shinnok slowly rises to his feet, clearly weakened by Cage's assault. Nonetheless, he gets into a kombat stance as Johnny glows green once more, ready for battle. Raiden gets to one knee as this unfolds.

"Johnny Cage! The amulet!"

The amulet is by Johnny's feet. With Shinnok briefly unable to conjure up more magic, Johnny steps on it and flicks it backward, right into Raiden's hand.

"No!"

Johnny dodges aside as Raiden activates the amulet. The blast from it hits Shinnok just as he manages to fire off some magic from his hands. Despite his struggling, there is nothing Shinnok can do as he is slowly but surely dragged towards his amulet.

"NO!"

With one final cry of anguish, Shinnok is sucked into his amulet. As Raiden pants in exhaustion, Johnny lowers his stance and allows himself a moment of triumph.

"Enjoy the new digs, Gramps."

Hearing Sonya stir, Johnny rushes to her side.

"Sonya?"

"Johnny... did we...?"

"Yeah. We got 'im."

Sonya manages one last look of relief before falling unconscious in Johnny's arms. Raiden walks up to them, holding the amulet.

"Remain here. The chamber's properties will heal Sonya Blade in short order."

Kenshi and Fujin run-up to Raiden. Kenshi sighs

"Quan Chi and the others; they're gone. A surge of power within the chamber overwhelmed my senses."

Fujin says calmly

"We can deal with Quan Chi later, Kenshi."

Raiden nods saying

"We've netted a bigger prize this day."

"Shinnok's Amulet..."

He holds his hand toward it, telekinetically feeling its properties. His face shocked

"...and within it..."

"Ol' Fishface himself."

Fujin nods before saying

"Let us take the amulet to the Elder Gods."

"They cannot destroy it. No one can."

"They might offer counsel. Shinnok can never escape."

Raiden wordlessly offers his consent and the two gods leave the chamber. Kenshi is left with Johnny, who is still holding Sonya. He is smiling and at peace, unlike Kenshi, who is still clearly concerned with the events that just occurred.

"The war is not over. Quan Chi has escaped. Why are you smiling?"

"She called me "Johnny"."