Kaged in The Pitt: The (2011) Rise and Brutality of Shao Khan

ACT 1 — THE BEGINNING

“Love can be a beautiful beginning or a catastrophic ending of something with more significant potential.”

The dawn of the Khan era was descending on the realms of Outworld and Endenia at the turn of the century. When the realms were shaped by the sands of time, the kingdoms of Outworld and Endenia were recognized as the forerunners of Darkness and Light. In his quest for absolute power in Outworld, Emperor Shoa Khan discovered an underground pyramid hidden in unknown regions of Outworld thought to be inhabitable.

When word of this discovery spread throughout the otherworldly kingdoms, King Jareed of Endenia had prepared his troops for the impending war. The foretold power capable of wreaking havoc on the realms resided in an underground structure like this one in Outworld.

As any Endenian descendant will tell you, fighting on through the War of Realms was far from easy. And yet, with the gift of incredible strength, it couldn't be any more helpful to Endenia than it had been for eons. The Endenians also possessed a finely tuned connection to all forms of Magicka. And, while other kingdoms scattered across the realms possessed a plethora of gifts and secret powers. The Endenian race took it upon themselves to learn everything they could.

The Endenia race could already live for tens of thousands of years before the first signs of aging appear. Sindel, the Queen of Endenia, was the wife of King Jareed, the ruler of the light kingdom. Sindel and Jareed protected the people of Endenia for centuries as a loyal wife and protector to her husband.

It wasn't until Sindel discovered she was pregnant with twins that she began to question King Jareed's motives, as the struggling conflict with Outworld and the remaining realms seemed to bump heads every other day. King Jareed and Queen Sindel encountered the mighty emperor Shao Khan in the kingdom of Outworld while on a mission to eliminate soul-infused explosives.

Shao Kahn's men were covered in the heaviest poured water droplets over the battlefield that day, with the demigod Rain assisting the emperor in battle. For a brief moment, time seemed to slow down. Every drop of water seen floating in the thin air.

The mud and earth clash with the blood and sweat on the floor, encircling opposing warriors. Shao Khan grazed the Queen's eyes in a moment of genuine tranquillity.

Any rage directed toward the Endenian Queen vanished from within Shao Khan's freezing heart at that moment. Sindel had no idea how deeply connected she had become in that moment. When releasing his soul spear into an enemy warrior, the Outworld emperor lowered his shoulder.

Queen Sindel threw up her hair, wrapping it in a whip-like structure. The Endenian Queen enhanced her hair with magic and dominated her side of the battlefield.

Sindel tried to ignore the feeling she was having, recalling her gaze with the tyrant emperor. As the night wore on and the battle dragged on, King Jareed was killed. It was at that point that the balance of power shifted, and a new era began.

King Jareed began to crawl to whatever shelter or safety he could find. The emperor Shao Khan knew deep within himself that he had grown tired of causing realm dominance through the kingdoms. The Emperor looked the Queen in the eyes again, this time with genuine intent and conviction.

"Hear me, warriors of Outworld and Endenia: you've been plagued by the invasion of other realms for far too long. Too long have the elder gods begged mortal kombat for their tributes. Ignore these false idols, for they will perish as well. Hear me, warriors of Outworld and Endenia: I am your new King."

The thunderous swing of Shao Kahn's hammer broke the dramatic silence created by the emperor's speech. Queen Sindel's eyes shone with a purplish light. It is now better than the emperor's hammer. He was making every strike from that day forward, including the crushing blow delivered by the previous King, even more devastating.

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