The Spider of Earthrealm (Male Spider-Man Reader x Mortal Kombat)

Chapter 41: History Repeats

At the Shirai Ryu Fire Garden, Raiden, Y/N and Cassie walk across a bridge toward the central area, deep in conversation. 

Raiden: The report from Jacqueline Briggs... her father's actions have compromised our situation gravely. 

Cassie: I know. I can't- 

She sighs, looking dejected. 

Cassie: I can't believe he did this. 

Y/N: Can we still beat Kronika?

Raiden: Even if we locate her Keep, Kronika's power now likely exceeds the might of our combined forces. 

Y/N and Cassie stops walking, unnoticed for a moment by Raiden. 

Cassie: Maybe we should rethink using Shinnok's amulet. 

These words stop Raiden in his tracks. He turns back to face her. 

Raiden: We cannot, Cassandra Cage. 

Cassie: I've seen what you can do with it. You held off the entire Netherrealm army. You weren't even at full strength. 

Raiden places his hands on the edge of the bridge, deep in contemplation. 

Raiden: I dare not risk the temptations of its dark power. Even now it calls to me... 

Cassie walks over to him, but says nothing. Raiden closes his eyes for a moment, lost in thought and when he reopens them, they flash red instead of their normal blue. It only lasts a split-second, and his eyes return to glowing electric-blue as he gathers himself. 

Raiden: Despite Kronika's advantages, we must attack as soon as we know the Keep's location. 

Cassie: It's been hours since we heard from the Grandmasters. What's the plan if they don't come back? 

Raiden: They must, or else hope is lost.

In the Netherrealm, in this part of Hell, a sea of blood crashes upon a rocky shoreline, admist the carcass of a long dead sea creature. Across the shoreline, the Grandmasters of the Shirai Ryu and Lin Kuei walk toward their destination. They stop to take in the view of a large bridge of rock - too thin to be a natural occurrence, and with no visible support from one end to the other - stretching across the skyline. On the bridge itself, a massive army, numbering in the thousands, of Netherrealm oni and Cyber Lin Kuei walking across it. A glowing figure beaming light from her being hovers high above the bridge, and that figure is Cetrion. She is visibly straining, and her arms are held aloft in the air. It becomes apparent that the constructed bridge of rock is her doing, and she is focusing on keeping it aloft for the army of demons to traverse across it. Back on the shoreline, Hanzo Hasashi looks to Kuai Liang and Frost. 

Hanzo: Those warriors must be headed for Kronika's Keep. 

Sub-Zero: Agreed. 

Frost: Why not use Kharon's fleet? The bridge clearly taxes her power. 

Kanzo: The fleet's bound to Kharon. It sails only by his command. That it's still moored suggests he won't help Kronika. 

Sun-Zero: In which case he may help us. 

Back on the bridge, the last of the Netherrealm army has finished crossing. Still focusing as best she can, Cetrion disperses the bridge, causing it to disintegrate into a green mist. On the shoreline, a scream of agony resonates across the surroundings. Hanzo turns to look at a nearby shack, determining that was where the scream came from. 

Hanzo: It looks like Kharon is home, perhaps hosting some unwelcome guests. 

He turns to Sub-Zero and Frost.