LIU KANG VS REPTILE

Reptile runs at Liu Kang at top speed. Liu quickly lands a round house kick in the face, knocking him back and to the ground. Liu Kang doesn't take a fighting stance, just stands straight up and stares down the creature. Reptile gets angry and charges at Liu Kang again. He throws multiple strikes at the monk, but he quickly doges each one.

Sonya, Johnny, and Raiden watches on with a smile as Shang Tsung watches on with a scowl. Liu Kang grabs Reptiles punch and sweeps his leg. He follows up with a spinning back fist to the face, causing his opponent to stumble back. He then lands a destructive gut punch and a spin kick, knocking him back to the ground.

A bloody and bruised Reptile spits out a tooth and some blood. He then disappears, just like against Johnny.

"That freaks vanished again." Sonya says.

"Liu needs to watch out." Johnny adds.

"Do not worry about Liu Kang. He has trained for this." Raiden tells them.

Liu Kang closes his eyes, focusing on sensing Reptile. He then does a side kick, jamming his foot deep in the creatures gut. Katana and Shang Tsung along with Sonya and Johnny are shocked. Reptile clutches his gut, then disappears again. Liu Kang then charges fire through his fist.

"Is his hand on fire?" Johnny asks.

"His hand is on fire." Sonya answers.

"Incredible." Katana says to herself.

Reptile reapers and goes for a punch, but Liu Kang quickly ducks the strike, and punches straight through it's chest. As Reptile falls to the ground, Liu Kang and Shang Tsung stare down each other once again.

"The winner... Is Liu Kang!" Shang Tsung begrudgingly says.

As Liu Kang walks off the fighting stage, he is met with praise from Sonya and Johnny.

"Dude, that was totally kickass!" Johnny tells him.

"You did great out there." Sonya says, punching Liu in the arm.

"Thank you, I appreciate the kind words." Liu Kang tells them.

Raiden places his hand on Liu Kangs shoulder.

"You did well, Liu Kang."

"I think you killed that guy though. Not that I'm complaining, guy was kind of a dick." Johnny points out.

"On the contrary, his people have a very advanced healing factor." Raiden tells him.

Raiden then notices a mask man in the crowd.

"If you all will excuse me for a moment."

Raiden then walks over and stands beside the masked man.

"I know it is you." Raiden tells him.

The mask man stays silent.

"The shaolin monks chose Liu Kang to represent your order in this tournament."

"I am Liu Kangs equal."

"That remains to be seen."

Shang Tsung begins to speak.

"The next match will now begin!"

Scorpion appears on stage with flames.

"Scorpion! Specter of the Nether realm! Resurrected by the sorcerer Quan Chi! Who among you has the courage to face him?"

"Where is sub zero? I will have his head." Scorpion demands.

The masked man then jumps on stage and takes off his disguise to reveal Kung Lao.

"I accept the challenge!" Kung Lao says, putting on his razor sharp hat.

"Kung Lao?" Liu Kang says, surprised.

"You know that guy?" Sonya asks.

"Yes. He is a shaolin monk, just like me. He's also my best friend. I had no idea he was on the island."

"I do not wish to fight you, Kung Lao. My business is with sub zero." Scorpion says.

"Never mind the Lin Kuei. Now you face a Shaolin."

The two take a fighting stance.

"Fight!" Shang Tsung yells.

Kung Lao throws his razor sharp hat, but Scorpion disappears to avoid it. Scorpion then reappears behind Kung Lao and goes for a kick. The monk flips away, avoiding it and grabbing his hat. As Scorpion runs at him, Kung Lao goes for a punch. The revenant catches the punch and flips him to the ground.

"Stay down." Scorpion tells Kung Lao.

A frustrated Kung Lao gets back to his feet and swings his hat wildly, trying to cut Scorpion. Scorpion however, side steps the monk and chops him in the back of the neck. When Kung Lao turns around, he is then met with an uppercut, knocking him out cold.

"Excellent. Now, Finish him!" Shang Tsung says.

Scorpion looks at Kung Lao, then at Liu Kang.

"No. He is not the one I wish to kill."

Scorpion then disappears again, leaving Kung Lao alone. Liu Kang and Johnny Cage rushes to Kung Lao's side.

"Listen when your elders speak. You could not win this fight." Raiden tells the barely conscious Kung Lao.

As the fallen monk is taken away, Katana and Shang Tsung speak amongst themselves.

"The second Shaolin monk was a surprise." Katana says.

"I am more concerned with the first one." Shang Tsung replies.

"He is a greater threat than anticipated. I will insure he does not reach the final challenge."

Shang Tsung nods and Katana walks away.

Meanwhile, the earth realm fighters all sit and talk.

"Are you ok?" Liu Kang asks his childhood friend.

"I am alright." Kung Lao replies.

"Really? Cause I wouldn't be if I got my ass kicked like that." Johnny says.

Sonya elbows Johnny in the side.

"You did get your ass kicked, smart guy." Sonya reminds him.

"Hey easy, I'm still injured here."

"Come on, let's give them some privacy."

Sonya and Johnny leave the room.

"Kung Lao, why did you do this? You told me that you were fine that the monks chose me to represent the white lotus, so why?" Liu Kang asks.

Kung Lao stays silent for a moment, slowly taking off his hat.

"Ever since we were kids, it felt like I was always in your shadow, that I was inferior to you. I wanted to prove that I was just as capable as you. That I could represent our order as well. I guess I failed."

Liu Kang reaches over and puts his hand on his shoulder.

"No, my friend. You had nothing to prove in the first place. You've kept up with the same training as I have. You are my equal, both as a warrior and as a person. You are also my brother."

The two smile, then bow to each other as Raiden watches with a grin.