Chapter Text
A/N: On July 28th, 2023, the RP began between me and a special friend of mine who's currently away in a 3-month military training course. Since then, I'd decided to use the transcript we'd unfolded together. This was originally named as the Darkseid War but since it's been too common, my collaborator requested to change it to this; in a way, it's like a sort of gift art to him. I hope he shall endure all those intense trials, pass the academy, and return in one piece...
The Unaliving War
Through darkness, diamonds spread their richest light.
Liu Kang, after the Titan War against the ethereal Deadly Alliance, was bent on ensuring that things never go sideways like that again. Just as they did with Titan Havik. He set out to implement a new system to make sure his timeline would not be bothered again, but during his divine escapades he ended up being contacted by an entity that resembled Revenant Raiden. Turned out this Raiden was augmented by Darkseid and his Omega Force. It leeched onto Liu after he triumphed over Raiden, thus gave him the clarity he needed to make short work of the Elder Gods and implement this new system that he desired.
During one of her escapades, during the aftermath of the first Battle of Armageddon, Aiko was alone. She saw something grey from her peripheral vision; something that wasn't there before. It couldn't look like a boulder or a monolith as it often stayed put even thru the most intense storms, and she'd pass one since she's used to its placement. Upon closer examination, it had shiny orange wristbands and chains. Then a large pile of hair emerged as well as a face with glowing red eyes! To her horror, Aiko made out the sudden structure as Lord Liu Kang, only as his undead self she encountered since her dystopian future; unlike then, he was alone instead of with his evil cohorts!
Aiko: Whoa! What's this!? You caved into your Revenant self!?
Unaliving Liu Kang: Taking the fight to the living is WELL overdue.
{The undead zombie says in a guttural tone.}
Aiko: This...this can't be you! You're one of the Revenants! From my dystopian future!
She backed away a step...
Liu Kang didn't want to fight his sister. But rather...let her join him! With several bites and scratches, Aiko tried to resist, and despite the scars they began to grow... Little by little, she began to change, physically/mentally. After a while, her mind began to fog, and she was starting to feel a certain lust... She soon realized...he wanted to have her join him... She began to succumb to her new desires.
Aiko: B... Brother. Lord Liu Kang... I will join you...
She responded in a low bow. She slowly rose.
Aiko: Kung Lao... Is he with us...?
{Liu's lifeless gaze would shift towards her, followed by a smirk grazing his features rather quickly.]
Unaliving Liu Kang: If he doesn't join us, Lao will certainly rest somewhere that's a far cry from paradise!
Aiko hesitated, trying to understand his words.
Aiko: Then, we must convert him. You caught me unawares. We must do the same.
[He'd hold his hand out, gesturing for her to take it and rise by his side. Their conquest will soil the new world and all of its patrons. War bells are ringing.]
Her eyes brightened as she sneered, her fangs showing. She took her brother's hand. And she could've sworn she heard war drums ringing in her ears making her aroused. Before she knew it, she was at Liu Kang's former base of operations, Netherrealm's Bone Temple which once belonged to the fallen Elder God. She could hear the enticing rhythms in her ears, the hefty heat and dopamine in the air that nearly felt like intense gravity, and the opaque chambers that seem to absorb sunlight. They were definitely far from Heaven's graces.
Aiko: I should've joined you when I had the chance... Let us begin... Who are we performing this conquest for...?
Unaliving Liu Kang: We are performing it for us. We have been wronged, turmoiled, lied to and left for dead. The elder gods will feel our combined wrath. Their judgement is here."·
She nodded.
Aiko: Yes... I have heard how petty and ignorant the Elder Gods are!
She recalled Liu being killed by Shang, even when her world was destroyed, or close to being merged and they did nothing! Remembering Shinnok's corrupt family, with Kronika as Titan and Cetrion as her golden child corroding the Pantheon or even ensuring Raiden on false victories resulting in countless deaths and having Shinnok rise, it dawned on her.
Aiko: Then, it shall be done. But we must recruit our brethren for our cause...
Unaliving Liu Kang: Removing the Elder Gods will truly bring about a rightful era. One that doesn't have outside forces meddling with every aspect of our free will. I must have a word with the demi-gods themselves to rally support.
Aiko understood completely of the Elder Gods' meddling. After all, they forbid the Gods to participate to defend what is theirs. Still, she wondered.
Aiko: The demigods...? Who?
Unaliving Liu Kang: Fujin and Raiden first, then the leaders of all realms next. Whomever doesn't acquiesce to the cause will become our enemy. For in death, conversion is promised.
She can't believe it...
Aiko: Raiden & Fujin are with us... I thought they'd still be Gods, but I s'pose they lost. Still...I am grateful they're with us, and we must find our family too. We must convert them. I shall warp their hearts while you punish them!
Her eyes glazed, but hesitated. At first, she mentioned Shinnok, his former master, however he became uneasy as he was thankful for the breakaway of his and Quan's rule and embracing his own freedom. Aiko soon found out on Liu's joy over making his own destiny; he also mentioned that Kitana, as former Empress, left him...
Aiko: Wait. I've a better way. Is Nightwolf with us? If he is, I'll need his help and you converting them, without killing them. Do you remember...my weakness...? We must use it. They'll cave into their urges as they hear the drums...You once told me, that the universe does not hear what we are saying. It feels the vibration we are offering. Maybe we won't have to fight, but if we use our dark hearts and the war drums... They won't resist us...! And you will be the God of Hellfire yet...!
Recalling her uncanny prowess, Liu found a nearby tall, crimson hand drum decorated with blood-soaked feathers and skulls. She sat cross-legged tightly and then began...
Aiko: The Makeba tribe of Outworld had once converted me, for a while... So, by using their methods, our brethren may be converted without us fighting. And with my dark heart, it might magnify the effect. We must have Kung Lao, Jin, Fujin, Raiden, Kai and others fight with us. We shall triumph, Brother...! I'm now converted as an undead & member of the Brotherhood of Shadow...
She stood before the occult within the Bone Temple.
Aiko: Lead me, to the darkness. The Elder Gods will fall; our brethren will unite. It has begun...!
She beat her drum converting...
The thunderous drums unwind the fate of many, morphing them into the vessels that are needed to derail the Elder Gods and their insufferable meddling.
[Liu openly laughs, because he knows they'll win, one way or another.]
With the tribal drums and the black hearts..
Aiko: If Lord Shinnok were here, he would be pleased! We shall triumph over them!
As Liu made some devilish laughs, Aiko just beat harder and faster, drawing their undead brethren's attention inside the Bone Temple.
Aiko: We shall declare war! Lead us to victory, chieftain...
She made a low kowtow and worshipped her solemn brother.
Aiko: Our dark hearts shall be our strength...
She gifted everyone her black hearts courtesy of hers and Liu's own hearts as the darkness grew.
[Accepting this precious gift, he'd open a portal between realms, about to lead the charge from the Netherrealm to Outworld.]
A/N: During July 2023, I had seen my roleplay partner suddenly change his avatar from Liu's living form as the Fire God from MK11, to reverting back to his undead self. I was at first thinking it'd be regression to old habits or if Liu had succumbed to his sinister self since both forms and Raiden merged and might've become Mr. Hyde from the broken Dr. Jekyll.
This was also Aiko's reversion too, as she hasn't been an undead Kombatant before, but once converted by Shinnok and then Konga briefly, hence her insight on recruiting their demonic followers, the Makeba, soon utilizing Matokan customs, etc. As she has...a certain fascination as well as triggers and weaknesses involving tribal customs, as shown in Shinnok's Uprising, MK Vengeance and Koherence. She was also familiar with the pettiness of the pantheon recalling those said incidences from MK9, 11, Deadly Alliance, as well as her dystopian future. It was actually a change of heart I had once my partner decided to assimilate my OC, just a change of pace rather than resisting; I'm actually glad I did this, as was he apparently!
This was also a slight tie-in to MK 2023, securing Liu's New Era, while Aiko was relaxing from the first Armageddon showcased in my finale. And my partner's currently away on some strict military testing for 3 months... So, for Memorial Day, I shall honor him with this.