"You will end this day hungry.", Bi Han exclaimed as he stood undefeated.

White breaths seeped from his mask. As soon as you deemed it save you made your way across the place to rejoin with him.

His gaze fell onto the blood that covered your blade and hands and without thinking he turned to meet you half way.

As he did so, green strands of magic wrapped their fingers around his legs and forced him to stop dead in his tracks. The hairs in the back of your neck stood up straight.

"What is this?!", he asked and tried to break free.

But ultimately he failed and remained chained to the ground. Carefully, you took one step closer but backed away again as he gifted you a glance that told you not to come any closer.

All of a sudden a shadow crawled across the snowy landscape. Both your heads shot up only to meet a creature that was as ashy and grey as a corpse.

Glowing green eyes examined the blade in your hand before moving on to look at Bi Han who had walked into its trap.

"We are charged with defending the fortress.", its voice seemed to come from far away yet it made the ground tremble like an ancient being. "None will escape us."

Green light started to glow along its fists. It jumped over to Bi Han, forcing his arms apart in such a manner that it would dislocate his shoulders if not dealt with quickly.

"Argh!", the grandmaster groaned, worry and a hint of fear visible in his eyes.

Your legs were glued to the ground. Everything inside you screamed to rush to his aid. But it was impossible to tell how.

This being didn't look alive so you doubted there would be blood. And you weren't able to get it either since it seemed to fly high in the air with no attachments or wings.

Bi Han struggled against the influence of the magic. Groaning, he tried to force his arms back together. Pressure forced them apart again but he didn't give in.

Your head was spinning.

In this very moment the grandmaster managed to swing his arms together. White mist grew between his fingers and within a second he had a projectile of ice to charge it at the creature.

With a groan, it fell from the sky, shattering its ribcage at the impact with the ground.

A trembling breath of relief escaped your lips. You rushed to Bi Han's side who now eyed the enemy with his eyebrows knitted together.

"You are Quan Chi's creation.", he noted. "Liu Kang warned about you. I had hoped for the chance to battle your dark magic."

He was right. It was ridiculous how you had managed to forget but one of the many warnings that the god of fire had given you on your way was that Quan Chi had created a strange creature that consisted of many souls from Outworld's dead and resting.

It was to possess mighty powers and should not be dealt with lightly.

"Dammit.", you cursed and almost immediately regretted that you had used your powers so soon, on an enemy that seemed to unimportant next to this creature.

All of a sudden Bi Han pushed himself between you and the green glowing eyes. The attention shifted back to him. Ice covered his knuckles, you could tell he was about to attack.

With a quick glance over his shoulder he made sure that you understood. He would take it from here. Judging by the very small cuts he had suffered from the previous fight he'd manage just fine.

With a nod, you retreated and instead turned on your heel to rush over to Kuai Liang who still struggled to get Tomas back over the wall.

Bi Han stayed behind.

Without a second doubt in his decision he faced the opponent, ice seeping from his fingers. Snow rained down on the two of them while a skin tearing kind of wind chased over the walls of the fortress.

Green strands of magic stretched their fingers out for him, tried to dig their nails into his flesh and force him to his knees.

But Bi Han leaped into the air, a weapon formed from ice in his hands and charged right at the enemy. Struck by the sudden offence, it jumped back. As Bi Han's axe hit the ground it split stone wide open.

Even though you were several steps away from him you could sense the vibration of the force in your feet. A shiver crawled down your spine.

Without wasting a single second the grandmaster pushed further forward, so much so that the enemy stumbled all the way back to where the body of the previous fight lay.

Frozen in its tracks, it looked down for just a split second. That was enough to land a fatal strike. Ice grew between his fingers we Bi Han charged forward, formed a blade.

Once more he swung it with all his might.

The creature tried to jump out of the way but failed as ice chained it to the ground. Crystals crawled up both legs, pierced the grey flesh.

Just as you had thought there was no blood, just open wounds and clothes that got shredded in the attempt of escape.

Bi Han's blade of ice cut through the chest of the creature with ease. Muscles and flesh parted, revealing rotten bones and organs that weren't ones of the living.

Screaming and crying the creature sunk to the ground. Immediately, ice devoured the body until not a single motion was possible anymore.

The grandmaster let his weapon crumble to pieces.

"You are not so fearsome.", he scoffed.

Finally, you managed to grab Tomas stretched out hand. Together with Kuai Liang's help you pulled his feet over the edge of the wall.

A sigh of exhaustion escaped your lips.

"You're all unharmed?", Bi Han asked as he reached you.

Sweat shimmered on your forehead. Your fingers trembled, either from the adrenaline or the exhaustion that the use of your powers started to inflict on your body.

You weren't quite sure which of the two it was.

"We are, brother.", Kuai Liang said.

"Good. After our years of idleness, it pleases me to again face kombat."

You frowned.

"I will be pleased when we complete our mission.", Kuai Liang said with a slightly furrowed brow.