Master Cho

Master Cho is a powerful warrior who made his first and only appearance in the Mortal Kombat Conquest in the episode entitled “The Master”. He served in the series as being the original master and mentor to Shang Tsung and Omegis.

The Master
The origins of Master Cho are vague, but as he stated to Kung Lao that a raid from an Outworld invasion caused the death of his family and the destruction of his home. He had then trained many fighters over the years compete in the Mortal Kombat tournaments to stop the Outworld threat. Master Cho had somehow was able to stay alive for many centuries, but unknown to many his “eternal life” was obtained by draining the life force of another, which is what Master Cho needed to stay alive. This is perhaps one reason why Master Cho had never competed in the Mortal Kombat tournaments due to the restrictions by the Elder Gods' rules for the tournaments.

Master Cho's latest students were Shang Tsung and Shang Tsung's former girl-friend and lover Omegis. Specifically Shang Tsung, Master Cho taught him in the ways of Kombat as well as sorcery. Shang Tsung was not taught the secrets of preserving his youth just as his mentor, but has expressed a great deal of interest in discovering this secret (not just for himself but also for Omegis, who originally wanted to retain her youth forever as well). Master Cho had boldly forbidden Shang Tsung to learn that secret and demanded that Shang Tsung obtain eternal life from the Elder Gods by winning the Mortal Kombat tournament.

Shang Tsung's betrayal
When the time came for the sacred Mortal Kombat tournament, Shang Tsung faced off against one of Shao Kahn's warriors. Though Shang Tsung fought well, he was losing the battle against his adversary. Shang Tsung attempted to defeat his opponent with an energy blast, but his opponent dodged the attack and retaliated with a blast of his own. Out of desperation, Shang Tsung pulled someone from the cheering crowd to shield him from his opponents attack killing the bystander instead. This resulted Shao Kahn retaining the right to disqualify Shang Tsung for violating the rules of the tournament and take him prisoner. Sensing the anger and hatred in Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn used this opportunity to persuade Shang Tsung to join his cause in exchange for the secret that Shang Tsung had been wanting for sometime: the secret in obtaining eternal life. Shao Kahn demonstrates the power to steal souls to Shang Tsung with the same warrior who defeated Shang Tsung via disqualification.

Master Cho later urged Shang Tsung not to join Shao Kahn, but Shang Tsung was not willing to continue any further as Master Cho's pupil unless he teaches him the secrets of obtaining eternal life. When Master Cho still refused to do so, Shang Tsung took matters into his own hands. During a group of thieves failed attempt to kill Shang Tsung, Master Cho watched in horror as Shang Tsung consumed a soul for the first time, using one of the fallen thieves. The night that followed, Master Cho was confronted by both Shang Tsung and Omegis to assure him that they want to continue to follow his ways despite what had transpired earlier. This was proven to be a deception as Omegis used one of her potions immobilized Master Cho. Before losing consciousness, Master Cho gave Omegis what she wanted, and that was immortality. With the last strength he had left, Master Cho cursed Omegis with immortality, contributing to the years of torment that was to follow for Omegis. Shang Tsung and Omegis imprisoned a now unconscious Master Cho inside a cave, intentionally to seal him away for eternity since they did not know the means to kill him. Shang Tsung later abandoned Omegis to join his new master Shao Kahn in Outworld.

Return of The Master
After more than four centuries of imprisonment, Master Cho was freed by another hateful enemy of Shang Tsung: Vorpax. Master Cho confronted his Shang Tsung and challenged him into kombat. Despite how powerful Shang Tsung became over the years, he was no match for his former master, and was defeated. Master Cho could have finished off Shang Tsung but could no since Omegis' whereabouts like he could for Shang Tsung. Master Cho drained Shang Tsung of his youth, leaving him as a withered and old man. As Master Cho anticipated, Shang Tsung would call for the aid of his former lover Omegis, who Shang Tsung deserted long ago. Master Cho would proceed to introduce himself to Great Kung Lao and his friends Taja and Siro and offers Kung Lao the opportunity to train him as a more superior fighter, much to the dismay of Taja, who quickly finds that she does not trust him since he once trained Shang Tsung.

Master Cho was discovered by Kung Lao to have the ability to steal the life-force from others. Kung Lao was convinced that Master Cho was no different from Shang Tsung and advised Master Cho to never see him again. Master Cho humbly abides to Kung Lao's request, but believes that he has already served his purpose. As Master Cho predicted, Omegis would come to Shang Tsung's aid and restore his youth and powers but only in exchange to undo Master Cho's over Omegis. Master Cho declared his attentions to kill both his former students for their acts of betrayal and faced them both in Mortal Kombat. This time, Master Cho was defeated by Shang Tsung and Omegis and was once again placed him in the same cave that his former students trapped him in centuries ago.

Shang Tsung went against his word to restore Omegis' mortality for assisting him in defeating Master Cho. As an act of retribution against her former boyfriend, Omegis had freed Master Cho and gave him an offer which remains unknown along with Master Cho's fate.

Powers and Abilities
In addition to being a true master of kombat, Master Cho is also an immensely powerful user of the dark arts and/or sorcery. Much of the power he has displayed overtime is his manipulation over life. During his many lifetimes, he discovered the means to stay alive by draining the life-force of others. He claimed he needs to do so in order to survive, but it is debated if he really needs to take life energy considering he was still alive throughout the times he was imprisoned by Shang Tsung. It is unknown if he is truly immortal due to Shang Tsung's claims that he cannot be killed.