New Era

Cronchnika — Kronika shaping the Sands of Time.

The New Era was the name of the planned reset of history by Kronika, a Titaness and the Keeper of Time using the ancient and powerful artifact known as The Hourglass as the central plot point of Mortal Kombat 11 and later in Mortal Kombat 1. It is a critical moment in a timeline's history, as it is the ending of a current timeline to begin a new based on the design created by the Keeper of Time. Within the multiverse, many characters assume the role of Keeper of Time, succeeding Kronika and thus create their own "New Era", for better or worse.

Overview

Kronika's idea of a perfect timeline was to pit the realms into an endless battle of light and darkness. This would be fronted by the constant conflict of her children, the Elder Gods Shinnok and Cetrion. This lust for "perfect balance" drove the Titaness insane, causing the destruction of multiple timelines that she did not see fit her needs. Due to multiple occurrences of interference with the timeline by Raiden, including the beheading of her son, Kronika decided to abandon her plans for the current timeline by restarting it, however she needed the process done quickly. As a result, using the Hourglass, she merged the past and present timelines, events going on during Mortal Kombat (2011)'s Story Mode and the concluding results of the events of Mortal Kombat X's Story Mode.

With this process, she not only altered the events of the current, ongoing timeline, but restored many aspects of the timeline that had changed, including the revival of Shao Kahn and the Tarkata, as examples. This allowed her to form alliances with many characters, good, bad, or indifferent as a means to complete her plans to restart history. She also promised changing the fates of many per their assistance and alliance to Kronika, bringing even more conflicts into the timeline as a result.

Proposed Promises for the Future

As stated, Kronika made promises to many of her allies which eased the way into forming her army to restart the timeline. These promises and commitments include the following for certain characters, however, it is unclear whether or not she planned on honoring her commitments.

Shao Kahn - Revived and gaining a throne and empire vaster than that of Outworld
Revenant Characters;
- Liu Kang - A life not involving Raiden, thus preventing his death and resurrection
- Kitana - A life not influenced by Raiden, preventing her death and resurrection
- Kung Lao - A life not involving Raiden, allowing him to achieve similar glory and accolades to Liu Kang
- Jade - A life not involving Raiden, thus preventing her death and resurrection
- Nightwolf - Restoration of the Matoka Tribe without The Great Spirit
Frost - Becoming the Lin Kuei Grandmaster instead of Kuai Liang at the cost of becoming a cyborg
Sektor - Revived and the restoration of the Cyber Lin Kuei under Frost's leadership
Noob Saibot - Preventing his death and resurrection as a Wraith and gaining his own, deadlier clan to lead than the Lin Kuei
Scorpion - A younger variant who is promised the restoration of his original Shirai Ryu clan and family
Kano - The Black Dragon becoming the ultimate criminal enterprise
Baraka - Revived and the restoration of the extinct Tarkata
D'Vorah - Survival and restoration of the Kytinn
Jax Briggs - Preventing his daughter Jacqui Briggs from joining the Special Forces

Some characters such as a younger variant of Nightwolf and Shang Tsung, as well as the present Fujin, refused to aid Kronika and were banished to the Void even though they were made offers.

Refusal to Cooperate

Despite these offers, Kronika was met with resistance from some, and even a change of heart from some, resulting in both defiance and defection:

Raiden - After his present self is erased form the timeline and the crisis at hand, he seeks to solve a solution to said crisis
Younger Variants of Characters;
- Liu Kang - Following Raiden, he chooses to aid him
- Kung Lao - Following Raiden, he chooses to aid him, despite signs of distrust in the Thunder God
Special Forces - Along with their younger counterparts, they refuse to ally with Kronika due to the circumstances of her merging timelines as well as the arrival of past enemies
Sub-Zero - Refuses to aid Kronika due to the revival of the Cyber Lin Kuei and Sektor
Scorpion - Aids Sub-Zero and the others due to Sektor's revival and his past actions of allying with Quan Chi
- After his present variant is killed by D'Vorah, the younger variant sides with Raiden to honor his present counterpart's death
Kotal Kahn - Refuses to aid Kronika due to her revival of Shao Kahn, which triggered another Outworld Civil War
Jade - Due to past romantic connections, a younger variant of Jade allies with Kotal Kahn
Sheeva - Now Queen of the Shokan, aligns with Raiden and his allies for the betterment of Outworld after falling into another Civil War
Baraka - Feeling the Tarkata have once again been mistreated and used, Baraka aids Sheeva and Kitana to stop Shao Kahn, thus breaking their alliance with Kronika
Jax - Persuaded by Raiden to join him, he abandons his wishes of stopping Jacqui, joining his daughter to stop Kronika.
- In the altered timeline in Aftermath, it is Fujin who convinces Jax, who does so sooner than Raiden

Finalization of Kronika's New Era

If Kronika did succeed in resetting the timeline, what happens next for now depends on the ending of Mortal Kombat 11's Story Mode:

If the player loses one round to her, Liu Kang is unable to keep her from resetting time and going back to the Chaotian Age, erasing everything that has ever existed. This way, only the Chosen One and Raiden remain to sculpt the Sands of Time.
If the player manages to win both rounds, Liu Kang is not only successful in avoiding Kronika resetting everything by her own, but as the timeline still goes on, he is capable of bringing Kitana with him. Once he does, both reset time to erase Kronika's mischievous plans, and they assume the mantles of Keeper of Time and Protector of Earthrealm.
If the player loses both rounds, Kronika kills Liu Kang and begins to finalize her New Era.

Aftermath

It is revealed that the ending where Kronika wins once and Liu Kang wins twice is the canonical outcome for this story. However, Liu Kang and Raiden were stopped by Fujin along with time-displaced a Shang Tsung and Nightwolf from using Kronika's Hourglass to create the New Era due to the destruction of Kronika's Crown. Shang Tsung reveals that her Crown was not merely an amplifier, but the most vital component of the Hourglass. Without it, the Hourglass will begin to break and in doing so, doom all of reality. The following story will eventually end up with the two different scenarios at the end.

If Shang Tsung becomes the Keeper of Time:

Raiden and Fujin become his loyal Dark servants.
Shang Tsung conquers Earthrealm, Outworld, and the Netherrealm.
Shang Tsung plans to conquer Chaosrealm and Orderrealm.

If Fire God Liu Kang becomes the Keeper of Time:

Great Kung Lao is chosen as Liu Kang's first champion.

Liu Kang's New Era

After assuming the role of Keeper and gaining control of the Hourglass, Liu Kang forges his version of the New Era, creating new versions of the people he once knew. Geras, who previously served Kronika, now serves Liu Kang and watches over the timeline with him. Having completed the timeline, Liu Kang did not want to fall in the same insanity that Kronika had before, relinquishing his powers as Keeper, as well as his lightning abilities he gained from merging with Raiden to become Earthrealm's Protector as the God of Fire instead. Geras then becomes the Guardian of the Hourglass and gains access to it, something Kronika did not let him do.

In designing this new timeline, Liu Kang made several changes to the fates of the people he once knew, though he did not entirely design the later outcomes of their lives. These include the following;

Prominent Characters

Great Kung Lao - Liu Kang's original Champion, who does not die by Goro's hands, rather by of natural causes.
Shang Tsung - Designed to be an Outworld-born con artist to prevent his eventual rise as a powerful sorcerer and the eventual formation of The Deadly Alliance.
Quan Chi - Designed to be an Outworld-born miner to prevent his eventual rise as a powerful sorcerer and the eventual formation of The Deadly Alliance.
Shinnok - Designed to be a normal, mortal inhabitant in the timeline instead of the Elder God of Death, preventing his Amulet from being created.
Raiden - Designed to be a mortal who eventually becomes Liu Kang's new Champion, effectively swapping their respective roles from previous timelines. He is given an amulet that grants him his Electrokinetics from Liu Kang.
Kung Lao - Designed similarly to his previous timeline counterparts as a Champion alongside a chosen Champion, in this case Raiden, in a similar bond he had with Liu Kang before.
Kenshi Takahashi - Designed to be a gangster in the Yakuza instead of a member of the Red Dragon. He does not get blinded by Shang Tsung and is later recruited as one of Liu Kang's Champions.
Takeda - Designed to be Kenshi's cousin as well as a Yakuza gangster. Due to no longer being his son, Suchin is never murdered by the Red Dragon. He is never given to Hanzo Hasashi as a means to protect him, as such, Takeda does not become affiliated with the Shirai Ryu nor the Special Forces, as neither organizations exist in this timeline.
Johnny Cage - Designed similarly to his previous timeline counterparts but lacks his the power of Mediterranean magic. He never begins a relationship with Sonya Blade, and instead already married to a woman named Cristina, who later divorces the actor because of his lavish lifestyle.
Bi-Han - Restored to his original Cryomancer form from previous timelines instead of becoming the Wraith Noob Saibot and designed to be the legitimate successor of the Lin Kuei's Grandmaster rather than Sektor. He is also the son of the Lin Kuei's Grandmaster instead of Sektor and becomes Grandmaster after his father's death.
Kuai Liang - Designed to become this timeline's Scorpion instead of Hanzo Hasashi, becoming a Pyromancer and utilizing similar fighting styles and abilities as Hanzo did from previous timelines when he was resurrected as a Spectre.
Sektor - Designed to be female, the daughter of Madam Bo, is romantically involved with Bi-Han and is the head armorer of the Lin Kuei, replacing her father. She is no longer a cyborg.
Cyrax - Designed to be female, now originates from Niger and part of a sub-clan within the Lin Kuei and is a close personal friend of Kuai Liang. She, like Sektor, is also no longer a cyborg.
Smoke - Designed similarly to his previous timeline counterparts but never becomes a cyborg nor a Revenant. He is also designed to be the adopted brother of Bi-Han and Kuai Liang, although Bi-Han does not consider him family unlike Kuai Liang.
Mileena - Designed to be the biological twin sister of Kitana and daughter of Sindel and Jerrod instead of being a genetic experiment like in previous timelines. She is the heir to the Outworld Throne, set to eventually succeed her mother.
Kitana - Designed to be the biological twin sister of Mileena and daughter of Sindel and Jerrod. She is an Outworld Champion and no longer has a romantical connection to Liu Kang like in previous timelines.
Sindel - Designed to be the benevolent Empress of Outworld alongside Jerrod, where she's no longer brainwashed or purely evil. Their reign is considered the "Golden Age" of Outworld.
Jerrod - Designed to be the benevolent Emperor of Outworld alongside Sindel. He is later murdered during their reign by unknown assailants, where his soul resides in the Living Forest.
Li Mei - Designed to become the First Constable of Sun Do and serves the royal family. Before that, she was an Umgadi and trained Kitana and Mileena. She resigns after Jerrod's murder, taking the blame in not protecting him despite not being responsible.
Tanya - Designed to be a loyal servant of the Outworld Empire as part of the Umgadi, unlike her previous timeline counterparts. She and Mileena have a secret romantic relationship, which is forbidden to the Umgadi.
Shao Kahn - Designed to be a top General in Outworld's army instead of Reiko, loyally serving Sindel, instead of becoming the ruthless tyrant he had been before.
Reiko - Designed as a top soldier in Outworld's army trained by Shao, who is essentially his adopted father.
Rain - Designed to be an Edenian Hydromancer and High Mage of Outworld rather than a Demi-God like his previous timeline counterparts.
Daegon - Designed almost identically to his previous timeline counterparts, being the half-brother of Rain and leader of the Red Dragon, but he is not a Demi-God.
Mavado - Designed nearly identically to his previous timeline counterparts.
Reptile - Designed to be Zaterran, where unlike his previous timeline counterparts, he possesses the ability to shapeshift - appearing as his normal reptilian form while being able to change to a human appearance, which ruled him an outcast amongst his people.
Baraka - Designed to be an Edenian merchant and former soldier in Outworld's army. He is infected with the Tarkat disease, transforming him into the Tarkatan he was in previous timelines.
Ashrah - Designed to be a half-demon unlike her previous timeline counterpart who looked fully human, as she continues her path in seeking absolution.
Nitara - Designed to be the same Vaeternian but with her realm separated from Outworld, serving the Coven.
Havik - Designed with a similar background to Dairou, whom Havik now shares a name with and is now from Orderrealm, part of its lower and heavily oppressed caste.
Darrius - Designed nearly identically to his previous timeline counterpart, however he is a part of the same caste as Havik, whom he is closely allied with.

Minor Characters

Harumi Hasashi - Designed to be a Japanese warrior now with the surname Shirai and later the love interest of Kuai Liang, similar to Hanzo's wife from previous timelines, however Satoshi does not exist.
Onaga - Designed similar in appearance to his previous timeline counterpart, however he is deemed the most powerful, non-Deity inhabitant is all of Outworld.
Argus - Designed to be a legitimate God in Outworld. He is no longer the father of Rain or Daegon.
Delia - Designed to be a legitimate Goddess in Outworld. She is no longer the mother of Rain or Daegon.

Realms

In addition to certain people, Liu Kang also changed the fate of the realms as well, including the following;

Earthrealm - Designed nearly identical to the one Liu Kang knew and grew up in. Most of its inhabitants are completely unaware of Outworld's existence, as well as other realms.
Outworld - Designed similarly to the realm from previous timelines, however many of the merged realms either do not exist or are independent. Despite most Earthrealmers having no knowledge of Outworld, the realms' relations are overall peaceful, with little to no animosity between the realms.
- Sun Do is the capital city of Outworld instead of Z'Unkahrah due to the Osh-Tekk not having any seat within the Outworld Throne like Kotal Kahn or his father Kotal K'etz in the previous timeline.
Edenia - Does not exist, however Edenians are a subspecies in Outworld, although they retain many traits from the previous timelines that Edenians had.
Vaeternus - Never merged with Outworld, thus remaining its own separate realm and home to Vampires like Nitara.
Netherrealm - Designed identically as it was in previous timelines.
Orderrealm - Designed to be the home realm of Havik and Darrius, who are oppressed heavily.
Chaosrealm - Does not exist. Havik wishes to disrupt Orderrealm's influence of order by remaking it into a realm made from anarchy.

Clans

Many clans from previous timelines were also designed by Liu Kang, including the following.

Shaolin Monks - Designed identically to previous timelines. They are closely affiliated with Liu Kang as they were with Raiden.
Lin Kuei - Designed as the most notable clan that defends Earthrealm
Red Dragon - Designed as the precursor of the criminal underworld in Earthrealm, operating for many years.
Tarkata - Created from those infected with the Tarkat disease. Tarkatans are banished from Outworld and executed within city limits.
The Brotherhood of Shadow - Does not exist, however, a version of the clan called The Sisterhood of Shadow is established later on.
Shirai Ryu - Does not initially exist. Later formed by Kuai Liang
Black Dragon - Is stated to exist but never extensively elaborated on. Main clan of the assassins Kobra and Kira.
Special Forces - Does not exist.

Disruption of the New Era

Unknown to Liu Kang and Geras, his battle for the Hourglass in the previous timeline with Shang Tsung fractured time, breaking open the multiverse and allowing Shang Tsung to secure it in an alternate, mirrored timeline instead. After ascending to the status of a Titan, he finds a way to travel between the two timelines, where Titan Shang Tsung arrives and forever alters Liu Kang's New Era, changing the course of the timeline as a result:

The Titan Shang Tsung begins interacting with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi under a false alias, turning them into the sorcerers they have always been in previous timelines.
General Shao begins interacting with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, beginning to despise both Liu Kang and Earthrealm. The three eventually plot to overthrow the Outworld throne, with General Shao becoming the realm's new Emperor like in previous timelines.
Shang Tsung begins genetic experimentation on other Outworld species, particularly the Tarkatans, allowing him closer to the Outworld throne due to Mileena's infection. General Shao allows the secret experimentation to go unnoticed. During this, he keeps Syzoth, or Reptile, as his servant in exchange for his family's freedom, not knowing the sorcerer had already killed them.
Kenshi Takahashi becomes blind again after being attacked by Mileena, something that wasn't supposed to happen like previous timelines.
Through his newfound sorcery, Quan Chi creates Ermac in the Living Forest instead of Shao Kahn in previous timelines. Jerrod's soul eventually gains control over Ermac's body, allying with the Earthrealm and Outworld champions against the new Deadly Alliance.
Bi-Han turns on his brothers, Liu Kang and Earthrealm in exchange for control over the Dragon Army by Shang Tsung and General Shao, freeing the Lin Kuei of Liu Kang's laws, becoming an antagonist like his previous timeline counterparts.
Due to Bi-Han's treachery, Kuai Liang and Tomas defect from the Lin Kuei and plan to start a new clan for Earthrealm's protection to replace the once again corrupted Lin Kuei.
Liu Kang reveals he is the former Keeper of Time to Sindel, Kitana and Mileena, revealing he forged the destinies of all beings. General Shao attempts to usurp the Outworld throne using Shinnok's Amulet, further leading to Liu Kang's realization that forces out of his control are tampering with the timeline.
The Earthrealm and Outworld champions form an alliance to stop Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, with Titan Shang Tsung appearing and revealing his identity and intentions. A battle ensues, resulting in Sindel's death by a counterpart of hers from another timeline, making Mileena Outworld's Empress as an unfortunate result.
A revelation of the multiverse comes to fruition, leading to Geras helping restore Liu Kang's powers as Keeper of Time and bringing in Titan counterparts from across the multiverse, leading to Titan Shang Tsung doing the same thing.
A second Battle of Armageddon then occurs in Titan Shang Tsung's timeline, with the Union of Light prevailing over the Order of Darkness in the ensuing battle. Titan Shang Tsung is then erased from existence along with Titan Quan Chi as his timeline seemingly collapses.

With Liu Kang's timeline's destruction halted, Liu Kang and his ally return to their respective timeline with events happening afterwards:

Despite Titan Shang Tsung's timeline seemingly collapsing, it is revealed it didn't, with a Titan version of Havik appearing with intentions to not miss out on a new battle.
Liu Kang resumes his role as Protector of Earthrealm, however, in taking his powers as Keeper away again, he loses his immortality but not his divinity. Due to this and his death now being possible, he anoints Geras as the new Keeper of Time.
In Earthrealm, many of the Earthrealmers resume their lives, resulting in various events:
- Kuai Liang and Tomas form the Shirai Ryu, with Kuai marrying Harumi Shirai and Tomas taking in a young Hanzo Hasashi as the clan's first student.
- Takeda eventually leaves the Yakuza, joining the clan but eventually leaving it. He and the Shirai Ryu remain allies and Takeda becomes a vigilante bent on taking out the criminal underworld in Earthrealm, including the Yakuza.
- Due to Takeda's mission, he discovers the long-standing, secret underworld clan called the Red Dragon headed by the Daegon, fighting Daegon and killing Mavado in the process.
- Bi-Han, now retreating back to the Lin Kuei, chooses not to take control of the Dragon Army, as it would draw Liu Kang's attention. Instead with the help of Sektor, they begin positive progress in this timeline's version of the Cyber Initiative.
- Sektor's progress leads to the start of the Cyber Initiative, where the Lin Kuei now have powered cyber armor for kombat, with Cyrax also joining in on the process.
- Johnny Cage resumes filmmaking, this time as a director and producer instead of acting, pursuing creating a cinematic universe following his experiences in Outworld. Per discussion with Liu Kang, Johnny's goal is to slowly introduce Outworld as a concept through various media.
- Ashrah remains in Earthrealm, joining the Shaolin Monks and White Lotus Society. She returns to the Netherrealm to save Sareena with Liu Kang's help, later forming that timeline's Order of Light.
- Kung Lao and Raiden continue their training, with Kung Lao becoming the master of a young Shujinko and Raiden getting training from the Shirai Ryu and Kuai Liang.
- Kenshi joins the FBI, then later forms the OIA (Outworld Investigation Agency) with Jackson Briggs.
Outworld begins to stabilize under Mileena's rule, resulting in various events:
- Mileena assumes the throne under Jerrod's supervision, while Kitana becomes Outworld's new General, replacing Shao, and Li Mei returns to her position as Sun Do's First Constable. Tanya zealously routs out corruption within the Umgadi, assisting Li Mei in her investigations.
- Syzoth and Baraka become emissaries for the Zaterrans and Tarkatans, respectively, with Mileena providing aid to the sickened Tarkatans.
- After the circumstances around Jerrod's murder are revealed, the Umgadi are reformed, with Tanya as the new Matron Superior.
- Mileena reveals her infection with Tarkat to her subjects. It is initially scandalous, but the shock paves way to respect for the Empress's compassion and humility, and her reign is strengthened.
- Rain retreats to Seido and is accompanied by Havik. There, Havik persuades Rain in using his powers to flood Seido, killing thousands of inhabitants. Havik basks in the glory of the chaos unleashed on a corrupted Seido, while Rain, mortified by his actions, turns himself in to Mileena, where he is imprisoned in Outworld.
- Jerrod loses control of Ermac, who frees Quan Chi from prison to heal. However, after Quan Chi tries to re-enslave him, Ermac fights him off and roams Outworld in search of a new purpose.
Shao, Reiko, Shang Tsung, and Quan Chi are all imprisoned for their actions, resulting in various events:
- Shao and Reiko escape from prison with the intention of usurping the Outworld throne, amassing a legion of followers to their cause. In desperation, Shao sends Reiko to awaken and tame Onaga the Dragon King to use him as their ultimate weapon.
- Shang Tsung escapes prison and retreats to an island to recuperate and take control of what he believes to be a Well of Souls and plans to master it to become invincible. He later attacks Kenshi in an attempt to retrieve Sento but fails, leading to Kenshi and Jax forming the OIA as previously noted.
- Quan Chi escapes prison with the help of Ermac, retreating to the Netherrealm. He continues to master his sorcery in order to destroy Liu Kang, take control of the Hourglass and achieve omnipotence.
Nitara starts kidnapping people from both Earthrealm and Outworld to use as a breeding stock and end the hunger in Vaeternus.

Khaos Reigns

Although it appeared to seemingly collapse, Titan Shang Tsung's timeline remains, with a Titan variant of Havik infiltrating Liu Kang's timeline and continuing to disrupt the new timeline. This resulted in different events transpiring;

With the completion of the Cyber Initiative, Bi-Han leads an assault on the Wu Shi Academy where Kuai Liang's wedding is being held, resulting in the deaths of many Shirai Ryu and Shaolin in the process.
Bi-Han and Sektor reveal their true nature to Cyrax, who turns on them and saves Kuai Liang and his wife.
During a trial for Sektor and Bi-Han in Outworld, Titan Havik arrives, kidnapping Geras while Bi-Han attempts to stop Titan Havik, getting himself captured in the process.
Titan Havik reveals his ability to merge timelines and warp their realities with the Kamidogu to Bi-Han before transforming him into a being of chaos called Noob Saibot, similar to Bi-Han's corruption by Quan Chi in previous timelines.
Cyrax, Sektor and Kuai Liang infiltrate Titan Havik's timeline, meeting new variants of characters from different timelines while saving Geras and Bi-Han, stealing Titan Havik's Kamidogu in the process.
Titan Havik invades Liu Kang's timeline for the final time to merge it into his own.
Bi-Han, having his mind restored but not his body, defeats Titan Havik, who is sent to the Void to prevent the destruction of his timeline and all other timelines merged with his. Bi-Han believe Havik should be executed but is stopped by Liu Kang, with Geras incapacitating the enraged Bi-Han.
Bi-Han is taken in a comatose state to the Temple of the Elements to cure his corrupted body. Liu Kang appoints Sektor as the Lin Kuei's Grandmaster in Bi-Han's absence while warning her of further Lin Kuei transgressions. Cyrax is forgiven by Kuai Liang for her efforts in stopping Titan Havik and is offered a position in the Shirai Ryu, which she accepts.
While on a mission to retrieve the Amulet of Shinnok from the Temple of the Elements for Quan Chi, Sektor finds and frees Bi-Han. Bi-Han resumes his position as the Lin Kuei's Grandmaster despite still being corrupted by Titan Havik, while Sektor vows revenge on Liu Kang for forsaking Bi-Han.