Mortal Kombat X Issue 3

Chapter Seven: Betrayal in Outworld: Part One
In Outworld, standing before the gathered crowds outside of his palace, Kotal Kahn informs the populace that Goro has gone missing while pursuing Mileena into the Golden Desert and has declared that his father, Kotal K'etz, will personally search for Goro before continuing to hunt for Mileena. Kotal also reveals that he has given Shao Kahn's Wrath Hammer to his father to use on the mission, which K'etz proudly displays. The crowds cheer for their emperor, and after Kotal and K'etz return to the palace, accompanied by many of Kotal Kahn's trusted warriors, K'etz is impressed by Kotal rallying the people.

Kotal is quick to remind his father that speeches are not enough and informs him that Reiko has destroyed the northern trade route, days before the harvest of crops, which will anger the people as they starve. K'etz tells his son that his family is with him and he promises to return Mileena in chains. Kotal clarifies that Mileena is not the problem, and Kotal tells his father of his past with Reiko, as well as stressing Reiko's genius in strategies.

Informing K'etz that their spies have revealed that Reiko has seduced Mileena to become her closest advisor, but have also located their hideout in the Golden Desert. Kotal Kahn orders his father to bring no one back in chains and declares history is written in blood. With that, Kotal orders that both Reiko and Mileena be killed.

In the Golden Desert, Reiko discusses with Goro their strategy to usurp and defeat Kotal Kahn. Reiko reveals to Goro that in the past, when he and Kotal fought side-by-side, Reiko discovered that Osh-Tekk draw incredible power from the sun, but are likewise weakened when cut off from its light. Goro is unimpressed, but Reiko stresses that they no longer have access to the imperial army and must use patience and strategy if they are to win.

The next day, Kotal K'etz and his band of warriors, among them Reptile, approach the temple where Reiko and Mileena are hiding in the Golden Desert, when the sun is suddenly blocked out by storm clouds, with Reiko's monologue from the previous day revealing Rain to be the culprit. Though momentarily shaken, K'etz presses on and confronts a waiting Goro.

Goro calls K'etz a fool for coming while K'etz declares him a traitor and readies the Wrath Hammer as the two warriors face each other. K'etz strikes first with the Wrath Hammer, striking Goro across the face and shattering several teeth, but Goro is hardly fazed and challenges him to do better. As Goro and K'etz battle, Mavado and the Red Dragons are revealed to have been hiding using Lin Kuei cloaking technology, and the mercenaries quickly spring a surprise attack on K'etz warriors. Goro ultimately gains the upper-hand over K'etz, smashing his skull against a rock to stun him.

Claiming the Wrath Hammer for himself, Goro kills K'etz with a single blow to his head, decapitating the former ruler of the Osh-Tekk.

Later, Reptile reports to a shocked and shaken Kotal Kahn, who is disbelief over his father's death. Drawing his own Kamidogu dagger, Kotal Kahn carves a wound across his chest to offer the blade blood and invoke the blood code to become a Blood God to avenge his father and defeat Goro. Unknown to the emperor, this was Reiko's plan all along.

Chapter Eight: Betrayal In Outworld: Part Two
In the Golden Desert, Goro, with Rain by his side, rallies the Red Dragon mercenaries by informing them of Kotal Kahn's approach, alone, and the emperor's enraged state. Goro declares that Kotal will die as his father did, by his hands. While Goro speaks to the Red Dragons, Reiko and Mileena discuss behind him, with Mileena hopeful that Kotal's death will allow her to reclaim Outworld's throne.

Reiko however, feeds lies to Mileena of Goro desiring the throne himself once he finishes Kotal. An enraged Mileena declares her intent to eat Goro's face before lovingly clinging to Reiko and calling him the only one she can trust, and Reiko leads her away, telling Mileena to let Goro fight Kotal alone before vowing to the would-be-empress that he will finish whoever survives the upcoming battle.

As Goro and Rain watch Kotal's approach, Goro has Rain block out the sun once more. Though the Edenian complies with the Shokan's prince orders, Kotal is able to use his enhanced power to call down his Sun God power and burn Rain alive. Unfazed by his comrade's swift defeat, Goro orders the Red Dragons to attack Kotal, but the mercenaries are made short work of by Kotal, who demands Goro face him.

The Shokan Prince complies and orders the Red Dragons back before confronting Kotal, telling him that Shao Kahn would never have allowed an Osh-Tekk on the throne. Kotal points out that Goro would be willing to serve a deranged woman like Mileena, but Goro tells Kotal that Shokan tradition forbids subservience and declares his people live to conquer as he attacks. A wounded Kotal struggles to get up while Goro attacks further, telling Kotal the only reason he didn't kill his people ages ago was because Shao Kahn believed they would be useful in kombat.

As Goro lifts a struggling Kotal up and bids him to die with dignity as his father did, Kotal becomes so enraged he tears off the arm Goro was using to choke him, shocking and greatly wounding the Shokan champion. Kotal then picks up his sword and cuts off the rest of Goro's arms, leaving the prince humiliated and kneeling before him. Kotal then orders Reptile to reveal himself, and the Saurian lowers the cloak around himself, D'Vorah, and Ferra and Torr, who attack the remaining Red Dragons.

Goro begs to be finished by Kotal Kahn, but the emperor refuses, mockingly citing Shokan tradition forbids such things.

Later, after burning the temple to the ground, Reptile informs Kotal that both Reiko and Mileena escaped, while D'Vorah chides her emperor for taking such an unnecessary risk. Kotal agrees that it was extreme and the Kamidogu dagger has extracted a heavy toll from his body. Before they can return to Z'unkahrah, Kotal is shot and knocked off his mount. When D'Vorah rushes to his defense, his attackers are revealed to be Special Forces led by Sonya Blade, who demands to know where her daughter is.

Featured
In order of Appearance:
 * Kotal Kahn (Flashback/Main Story)
 * Kotal K'etz (Death)
 * Reptile
 * D'Vorah
 * Erron Black
 * Reiko
 * Mileena
 * Goro
 * Mavado (First Appearance)
 * Red Dragon
 * Rain (First Appearance, Possible Death)
 * Ferra & Torr
 * Sonya Blade
 * Special Forces
 * Johnny Cage (First Appearance)
 * Cassie Cage
 * Jacqui Briggs
 * Black Dragon
 * Kano (Flashback/Main Story)
 * Sub-Zero (Flashback Only)
 * Scorpion
 * Takeda
 * Raiden

Mentioned

 * Shao Kahn