User blog comment:Soap1997/Issue of fact/@comment-201.13.10.240-20130829184928

Who killed Blaze ? Taven. How did Shao Kah got his god-like powers ? You just need to pay attention to the konquest'e endings and the arcade ending of Taven

Konquest: [...]''I alone defeated Blaze in Mortal Kombat. The energy released by his death passed through me, granting me full godhood. The excess power then filtered through my armor and passed into the other kombatants. Though this energy was to have one of two effects on them -- death or annulment of their powers -- a third, unforeseen outcome resulted. The quest did nothing to resolve the instability of the realms. But as protector of Edenia, I vow to stave off Armageddon until a solution can be found.''"

Taven's arcade ending:

''Taven finally completed the quest by slaying Blaze with the sword I left for him in my temple. As intended, the godlike energy passed through him, transforming him into a full god. The surge of power then passed through the armor given to him by his mother and was dispersed into every kombatant within the crater. The result was intended to strip them of their special powers, but Blaze had been corrupted long ago by the Dragon King's holy men. Instead of nullifying the kombatants' power, it made them stronger than before! The quest was a failure! May the Elder Gods forgive me!''"

That is, Taven killing Blaze made everyone stronger, including Shao Kahn. That explains how he shows all that power in the intro of MK9. Then, everyone killed each other until only Raiden and Shao Kahn remained in the end of the battle.

The only problem here is Taven's own fate: did he die in the following battle with everyone stronger? or, now that he became a god, he would be unable to physically interfere in the battle ?