The first thing everyone noticed was the room.

A massive circular chamber stretched endlessly beneath a golden domed ceiling. Comfortable seating surrounded a gigantic screen mounted on the far wall. Tables overflowed with food, drinks, and various items.

The atmosphere felt wrong.

Too peaceful.

Too controlled.

Too intentional.

Near the center of the room, Johnny Cage immediately looked annoyed.

"Fantastic. Another budget-less publicity stunt."

Sonya Blade scanned the room carefully.

"This doesn't feel like Shang Tsung's sorcery."

"That's somehow worse," Johnny replied.

There were faces from every realm and chapter of their lives.

Liu Kang.

Kung Lao.

Kitana.

Jade.

Raiden, stripped of his usual thunderous aura, stood looking deeply contemplative.

Across the room stood the modern rulers and executioners of Outworld. And suddenly, the Earthrealm defenders became much more nervous.

Shao Kahn calmly surveyed the chamber, his heavy armor gleaming under the golden light. Beside him stood

Sindel, perfectly composed and regal as always.

Mileena bared her Tarkatan teeth, while Baraka looked eager for a fight

. Rain looked deeply suspicious, and Kotal Kahn watched every possible exit, his hand resting where his macuahuitl usually hung.

Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang) immediately moved closer to the younger Lin Kuei recruits. Protective instincts taking over. Beside him, Scorpion (Hanzo Hasashi) looked around with cautious curiosity, his hand twitching near his belt.

"What exactly is this?" Kung Lao asked.

"No idea," Sonya answered. "And that's usually a bad sign."

A few feet away, Kano smirked, spitting onto the pristine floor.

"Well, if we're all trapped together, this should be bloody entertaining."

Sonya groaned. Johnny pointed an accusatory finger at Kano.

"Can we vote the cyclops out already?"

"Still obsessed with me after all these years, mate," Kano replied, winking with his cybernetic eye.

Jax looked exhausted.

Across the room, Shao Kahn suddenly spoke. His booming voice instantly silenced half the chamber.

"Whoever brought us here possesses immense power." His eyes narrowed beneath his skull mask. "Powerful enough to seize gods, specters, sorcerers, cyborgs, and champions simultaneously."

Even the Kahn sounded intrigued.

Then a cheerful, disembodied voice echoed from everywhere.

"WELCOME, EVERYONE!"

Several martial artists instantly shifted into defensive stances.

Liu Kang’s hands ignited with fire, Hanzo’s eyes flared with hellfire, and Raiden stepped forward, though no lightning answered his call. Kano reached for a cybernetic knife that wasn't there.

The voice continued. "You have not been brought here to fight."

Johnny Cage raised an eyebrow.

"That's exactly what someone planning a fatal ambush would say."

Mileena laughed a shrill, mocking laugh. Even Jade smirked.

The unseen host sounded delighted.

"Tonight, you will be reacting to someone extraordinary." The room fell silent. Curiosity slowly replaced hostility.

Even Shao Kahn seemed interested.

A mechanical click echoed through the chamber. The gigantic screen flickered to life. Static danced across the display.

Every ninja.

Every sorcerer.

Every monk.

Every soldier.