revenant liu kang

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Liu Kang (Alternate Timeline)

• View history

Liu Kang also known as Dark or Revenant Liu Kang, is a major antagonist in the Mortal Kombat series. Usually portrayed as a hero and often main protagonist of the series, starting in Mortal Kombat (2011), he began going down a darker path. He serves as a major antagonist in Mortal Kombat X , Mortal Kombat 11 , and a minor antagonist in its DLC Story Mode, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath .

He was voiced by Tom Choi in both Mortal Kombat (2011) and Mortal Kombat X and by Matthew Yang King in Mortal Kombat 11 .

• 1 Original Timeline and Background
• 2.1 Mortal Kombat (2011)
• 2.2 Mortal Kombat X Comics
• 2.3 Mortal Kombat X
• 2.4.1 Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath
• 3 Personality
• 4.2 Enemies
• 7 Navigation

Original Timeline and Background [ ]

He is the Mortal Kombat Champion of Earthrealm, and a protege of Raiden, the protector-god of Earthrealm. He was the main protagonist in Mortal Kombat 1-4, a cameo character in Deadly Alliance, an anti-villain in Deception and Armagadeon (as his corpse was revived by a corrupted Raiden and sent on rampage to destroy those who harmed Earthrealm), and one of 2 deuteragonists in vs DC Universe (alongside Batman).

In the majority of the games, he was on the side of good. But in Mortal Kombat (2011), he takes an increasingly antagonistic role as he and Raiden take different views in regards to protecting Earthrealm. And in Mortal Kombat X, he appears as an antagonist (alongside Kung Lao , Sindel , Smoke , Kitana Stryker, Nightwolf and Kabal ), having been revived as a revenant minion for Quan Chi and Shinnok , and served as the necromancer's right-hand man. His revenant form also serves as an antagonist serving Kronika, opposite his heroic past self.

Alternate Timeline [ ]

Mortal kombat (2011) [ ].

Though Liu Kang starts out as Raiden's protege and as a hero, the relationship between mentor and protege becomes increasingly strained as he watches Raiden continually fail in his duties as protector of Earthrealm. The first crack appears after Kung Lao's death at the hands of Outworld's ruler, Shao Kahn .

He accompanies Raiden to see the Elder Gods. They try to convince the Elder Gods to stop Shao Kahn, but the Elder Gods refuse to intervene. After returning from their meeting with the Elder Gods, they find to see most of the Earthrealm warriors killed off at Sindel's hands (Nightwolf sacrifices himself to stop Sindel's rampage, while Kitana lays mortally wounded). Kitana dies while holding Liu Kang's hand, and the Mortal Kombat champion becomes convinced that Raiden is slowly losing his grip on sanity; the fact that the thunder god sought Quan Chi's aid further strains this relationship.

After Raiden returns from the Netherrealm, finally correctly deciphering in what he must do to prevent Armageddon in the future. Liu Kang, being told that Shao Kahn must succeed in conquering Earthrealm, becomes enraged. Believing that the god of thunder has lost it, he attacks him out of anger. Raiden is forced to defend himself, but in the process, accidentally injures Kang with an lightning blast. The thunder god, aghast at what has happened, desperately begs Kang to forgive him, but even in his dying breaths, the former champion curses Raiden for his failures.

His Mortal Kombat (2011) ending shows him coming to believe that he should be made Earthrealm's protector over his mentor Raiden, and that the thunder god was more of a burden than an ally. In a one-match Mortal Kombat tournament, he defeats his former mentor and is made the new Protector of Earthrealm. Shang Tsung 's ending in the same game shows the sorcerer with newly increased but out-of-control magical power being trained by Bo' Rai Cho after absorbing Shao Kahn's life essence and sorcery in order to defeat Liu Kang, who had descended into madness by becoming a power-hungry tyrant after usurping Raiden's position as protector of Earthrealm.

Mortal Kombat X Comics [ ]

Due to a contract made between Shao Kahn and Quan Chi - all souls of the deceased during the Outworld-Earthrealm War were sent straight to the Netherrealm. It is then revealed that Liu Kang's soul was used by Quan Chi to create an undead version of the former Mortal Kombat champion - and Kang actually appreciates his newfound status as a revenant due to the intense contempt he has for his former mentor Raiden.

He appears in the Netherrealm alongside Kung Lao and Kitana, questioning Quan Chi of their next course of action after Havik 's failure to deliver them Shinnok's prized amulet. Kitana states they should go after it directly, though Lao reminds her that both Earthrealm and Outworld are on high alert after Havik 's rampage, and suggests subterfuge using Shinnok's new acolyte D'Vorah , to aid them in stealing the exposed amulet.

Mortal Kombat X [ ]

25 years later, it is shown that Liu Kang is still an undead revenant serving Shinnok a fallen Elder God and ruler of the Netherrealm, and Quan Chi.

Although not shown directly, his fireball was shown shooting down two of the Special Forces' Chinook helicopters en route to stop Shinnok's forces from reaching Raiden's sky temple during the first chapter.

He was seen again immediately after the sixth chapter. He, along with the undead revenant versions of Kung Lao, Kitana, Smoke and Sindel become Quan Chi's primary enforcers (with the former champion, becoming Quan Chi's right-hand man), and they go to the necromancer's fortress where D'Vorah would be arriving with Shinnok 's amulet.

As they arrive at the fortress, a Special Forces team led by Jax ambush them, with the major (a former revenant turned to the side of good) intending to capture Quan Chi and take him to Earthrealm. Jax and Sareena even lament that Quan Chi's magic has turned the fallen heroes into killing machines, with some of them (Liu Kang, Kitana, Sindel, and to a smaller degree, Kung Lao) actually liking their newfound status as revenants. Kang himself expresses disdain for Jax, telling him that Raiden failed everybody, yet the major still follows the thunder god. Jax replies that Raiden did everything he could to save his realm and minimize losses. Their arguments reaching an impasse, the two former comrade-in-arms fight, but the former Earthrealm champion is defeated and Quan Chi is captured.

Liu Kang is then shown in at the end of Scorpion's chapter (ninth), where he (along with Kitana, Kung Lao, Sindel, and Smoke) pledge their allegiance to Shinnok, before proceeding to take Johnny Cage hostage and attacking the Sky Temple. After arriving at the Sky Temple, Kang taunts his former mentor, telling Raiden that it was his fault that he and Lao ended up becoming revenants. After Raiden defeats everyone, including Lao, Kang recovers and proceeds to fight his former mentor. Before their fight, Raiden desperately tries to reach out to his former student by telling him that this is not his destiny. Kang retorts by sarcastically asking Raiden if he still has visions of the future. He then reminds Raiden of his death at the latter's hands. Raiden claims it was an accident that continues to torment him, but Kang thanks Raiden for "freeing" him and declares that he will help Shinnok overthrow the Elder Gods. The two fight, and Kang is defeated by his former mentor, but not before badly injuring the thunder god in the duel.

He is then seen in Cassie Cage's chapter, where he and the revenants are discussing with D'Vorah on next steps after Earthrealm is destroyed, with Kitana suggesting an assault on the Elder Gods, while Liu Kang looks for the portal to the Heavens.

After Shinnok was defeated at the hands of Cassie Cage, it is shown that he and Kitana have become the Netherrealm's new rulers. Raiden, now bearing a menacing appearance (after he purified the Jinsei and became corrupted as a result), declared that he will not sit by and watch Earthrealm get invaded, but will actively hunt down and destroy those who have threatened Earthrealm in the past. To make his point, he tosses Shinnok's severed, but still-alive head, warning that there will be "fates worth than death", leaving Liu Kang and Kitana to stare at the fallen Elder God's head.

His Mortal Kombat X ending indicates that without Shinnok 's controlling power, the Netherrealm had fallen into chaos. Though not a sorcerer or a god, Liu Kang's skills as a former Shaolin monk were more than enough to beat the Netherrealm's oni into submission. After this, he assumes control over the realm, and ponders on the thought of conquering other realms. In Jason Voorhees ' MKX ending, the former champion turned emperor of Netherrealm takes note of the zombie's killing spree, and offers him to take on even more bodies. But Jason, not liking this arrangement, simply responds by killing Kang - as Jason's loyalty lies only to his mother.

Mortal Kombat 11 [ ]

The revenant Liu Kang has been further corrupted by Shinnok's influence and now plans to invade Earthrealm. After Raiden and the Special Forces destroy the cathedral in the Neatherrealm, he and the other revenants ally themselves with the keeper of time, Kronika, who plans on creating a new timeline without Raiden in it.

Thanks to Kronika's temporal anomalies, the younger Liu Kang prior to his death is brought to the present timeline alongside his friends and enemies. However, the past Kang remains heroic, as opposed to his villainous revenant self. The revenants of Kang and Kung Lao protect Geras from their heroic past selves, while he gathers energy from the Shaolin grotto. During their duel, the revenant attempted to turn his younger self against Raiden, who held firm to his faith in the Thunder God and defeated him.

After Raiden realizes Kronika's plan of keeping him and Liu Kang at odds, due to fearing their combined strength, the time keeper kidnaps the younger Kang so that his revenant counterpart can absorb his soul to fight Raiden once more, which keeps the hero alive but only barely. After which Kronika sends the powered up revenant to fight Raiden, though he is defeated by the thunder god. Raiden tells defeated revenant that he must conquer the darkness within him, as the revenant angrily states his former mentor will have to kill him once more, but the thunder god had other idea in mind: purify the revenant form of Liu Kang and make him a new god. Gods exist outside of normal laws of time, which means that with gods, past and present selves cannot exist together. As Raiden purified the revenant Liu Kang and possessed him with his godly powers, both Kangs merge with each other and became Fire God Liu Kang, effectively erasing the evil revenant out of existence, while providing his knowledge of Kronika's Keep.

This makes the revenant version of Liu Kang the final revenant to be redeemed (After Sub-Zero, Scorpion, and Jax), as the revenants of Kung Lao, Kitana and Jade are destroyed and the rest are MIA.

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath [ ]

As Revenant Liu Kang, Nightwolf, and Kitana sensed Shang Tsung, past version of Nightwolf, and Fujin in the Netherrealm and he used Shinnok's amulet to capture and send them to the Bone Temple.

Before Revenant Liu Kang was about to challenge Raiden, his legs broke as the young Liu Kang is being crippled by Shao Kahn .

Personality [ ]

Though he started out as Raiden's protege, he becomes increasingly impatient with the Thunder God's inaction, becoming convinced that his mentor is losing his grip on sanity. The two eventually come to blows, and Liu Kang is killed as a result, but not before the former Mortal Kombat champion calls his mentor out for his failures. This incident would continue to haunt Raiden for years to come. Little did he know that his Liu Kang's death would change his former protege for the worst.

Throughout Mortal Kombat X 's story mode, he becomes increasingly cynical and rude, thanks to his status as a revenant. Some of his intro quotes have him becoming more of a rude and self-centered warrior, is jealous of Johnny Cage taking his spot as Raiden's champion, and even sees himself as above Kung Lao. Revenant Liu Kang is arrogant and refuses to forgive Raiden for killing him after what happened Liu Kang believes that he would be a better protector then the thunder god. While he says Raiden is the blame for many of the heroes death and the change of timeline Liu Kang believes that he has been freed from Raiden's lies and thinks that he now knows the truth about the thunder god. After becoming the new ruler of the Netherrealm and his wishes to become champion again and become the new protector of Earthrealm. As a revenant who has given into his evil side, Liu Kang has a desire for control this is strongly shown in his Mortal Kombat X ending by wanting to conquer more realms after taking control over the Netherrealm.

It is revealed that after his death at the hands of Raiden and his revival at the hands of Quan Chi Liu Kang has more of an ego it is shown in his fights against his opponents. Although Liu Kang is correct that Raiden made massive mistakes during MK9 Liu's anger blinds him making him unable to forgive Raiden. Liu Kang refuses to believe the thunder god when Raiden wishes to fix the mess he has made. Although his former friends are now his enemies Liu Kang still cares for Kitana during their fights with each other. Also, while Liu Kang now believes that he is more superior to Kung Lao the two still think of each other as brothers. Liu Kang shows loyalty to Quan Chi in the story mode of Mortal Kombat X , but despite that during his fights with the sorcerer Liu believes that he can defeat Quan Chi. Liu Kang shows this during his fights and after Quan Chi's death and Shinnok's decapitation, he believes he doesn't have to follow, listen or be loyal to the sorcerer anymore just like he believes he doesn't have to do the same thing with Raiden. Liu Kang wants to be his own master now rather than follow others and have them control him or give him commands.

As a revenant, Liu Kang only possesses his worst traits, worst characteristics and none of his good ones. He is overconfident and believes because he was champion that no one is better then him. Liu Kang also believes that he hasn't fallen instead Liu Kang believes he is free now. He thinks he has now seen the truth and thinks he is better then he was before. He seeks revenge on Raiden and kill anyone who has taken his role as champion. People he once considered his friends have now become his enemies. This is most apparent when his attack on Sonya results in her having to give her life; an action so vile that Cassie outright refuses to reason with him anymore. He also seems to have become delusional, believing that Raiden killed him because he wanted the glory of defeating Shao Khan. This version then crosses an even bigger line near the end where he uses the Dark Arts to take his past self's soul.

However, once revenant Liu Kang is assimilated with Raiden and the younger Kang, his past self's heroic psyche takes control and the evil of the revenant is no more. However, his deviousness manifests when Fire God Liu Kang decided to sacrifice his friends in the Aftermath story in order to defeat a greater evil in Shang Tsung .

Relations [ ]

• Revenant Kung Lao (destroyed by Shang Tsung)
• Revenant Kitana (destroyed by Sindel)
• Revenant Jade (destroyed by Sindel)
• Quan Chi (killed by Scorpion)
• Brotherhood of Shadow
• Netherrealm Demons
• Revenant Kurtis Stryker (MIA)
• Revenant Smoke (MIA)
• Revenant Sindel (soul stolen by Shang Tsung)
• Revenant Kabal (MIA)
• Revenant Nightwolf (soul stolen by Shang Tsung)
• Shinnok (decapitated, regenerating)
• D'Vorah (MIA)
• Tarkata (formerly)
• Baraka (formerly)
• Old Kano (ceased to exist after Young Sonya killed his younger-self)
• Noob Saibot (MIA)
• Frost (MIA)
• Young Erron Black
• Skarlet (MIA)
• Kollector (MIA)
• Chaosrealmers
• Drahmin (killed by Quan Chi)
• Moloch (killed by Kitana)
• Reiko (killed by Havik)
• Havik (killed by Scorpion)
• Young Kano (from the past, killed by Young Sonya)
• Young Sektor (from the past, killed by Old Kano via self-destruct detonation)
• Young Cyrax (from the past, formerly, later shutted down)
• Young Kabal (from the past, MIA)
• Young Scorpion (form the past, formerly)

Enemies [ ]

• Earthrealm heroes
• Raiden (currently retired mortal advisor to young Liu Kang)
• Old Scorpion (destroyed by D'Vorah)
• Bo' Rai Cho (former teacher)
• Old Sonya Blade (sacrificed herself)
• Old Johnny Cage
• Outworlders
• Special Forces
• Old Erron Black
• Old Jax Briggs
• Takeda Takahashi
• Jacqui Briggs
• Cassie Cage
• Young Liu Kang (from the past, currently a god)
• Young Kung Lao (from the past, current leader of the Shaolin monks)
• Young Kitana (from the past, current empress of Outworld)
• Young Johnny Cage (from the past)
• Young Jax Briggs (from the past)
• Young Scorpion from the past, current leader of the Shirai Ryu)
• Young Sonya Blade (from the past)
• Young Nightwolf (from the past)
• Despite seeing like that all the revenants are unwillingly evil thanks to being under the control of Quan Chi and Shinnok , according to some of Liu's quotes and other heroes' quotes about him, Kang (along with Kitana ) seems to be willingly evil as he tells Raiden that he will help his Lord destroy the Elder Gods and thanks him for "freeing him". In his Arcade ending after Shinnok's defeat, Liu Kang can be seen to have converted back to his human form and become ruler of the Netherrealm regardless of what variation he was chosen, implying that he indeed was willingly evil. This alone shows what an impact the death of him at the end of Mortal Kombat (2011)'s story mode had. The latest game outright conforms this with him eventfully becoming irrdeemable by absorbing the soul of his past self, and trying to kill Past Raiden.
• In one his interactions with himself, he says "the creator mocks me with duplicates?" which could be a nod to the series' creator, Ed Boon, but as his clone replies "the creator does not give a whit about you", something which is clearly opposite of Boon's opinion on Liu Kang, it could be that Liu was either referring to Raiden or more likely: one of the Elder Gods.

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Screen Rant

Mortal kombat: how liu kang went from human to god.

Liu Kang started as a human and Shaolin monk, but Mortal Kombat sets him on a journey through timelines that ends with him ascending to godhood.

In Mortal Kombat , Liu Kang's journey from human to god relies on the convergence of several timelines and the changes in his relationship with Raiden. The multiple timelines of Mortal Kombat  add a layer of difficulty to tracking character stories and development, but the timelines can be separated into the first and second primary timelines. It's in the second timeline - also known as the new or current timeline - that Liu Kang goes from human to god, with a few other forms in between.

Liu Kang is a Shaolin monk from Earthrealm who enters the tenth Mortal Kombat tournament with the intention to save Earthrealm by becoming the Mortal Kombat champion. As Liu Kang continues to prove his strength and battle prowess, he makes himself a threat to those who want to invade Earthrealm, such as Shao Kahn and Kronika. Shao Kahn's brutal nature, shown in the Outworld, would mean that his conquest of Earthrealm would leave it in ruins, and Liu Kang refuses to allow that to happen. Earthrealm is targeted by villains like Shao Kahn because it's viewed as the jewel of the cosmos. Because of this, Raiden has been put in charge of protecting it, and he has help from Mortal Kombat characters such as Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Cassie Cage.

Related: How Mortal Kombat 12 Can Avoid MK 11's Biggest Storytelling Mistake

In both Mortal Kombat timelines, Liu Kang and Kung Lao are followers of Raiden, trusting him to guide them in protecting Earthrealm since that's the task he's been given by the Elder Gods. The series of transitions that Liu Kang undergoes from human to god in the current timeline is linked to primarily Raiden, who is trying to prevent an apocalyptic future without any idea as to how he can accomplish that. While Raiden's originally gave his power to Mortal Kombat 4's Kai, not Liu Kang , the story makes more sense with Liu Kang becoming a god, even if his path to godhood begins with his death.

Liu Kang Becomes An Enemy Of Earthrealm In Mortal Kombat X

As Shao Kahn is about to enter Earthrealm, Raiden prevents Liu Kang from facing him to avenge the death of his best friend, Kung Lao, who was killed by Shao Kahn's hands. As Liu Kang is already beginning to doubt Raiden's judgment due to several of Earthrealm's fighters having died in Raiden's attempts to stop Armageddon, Raiden prevents him from going after Shao Kahn enrages him. This leads to Liu Kang attacking Raiden, who defends himself with lightning, and in doing so leaves mortal wounds on Liu Kang. Liu Kang's body is later taken away after Raiden and the Elder Gods defeat Shao Kahn, and he is turned into a revenant.

In Mortal Kombat , the  villain version of Liu Kang serves Quan Chi  as a revenant in the Netherrealm. At this point, Liu Kang is an enemy of Earthrealm, and he asks Shinnok if he can kill Raiden. His request is denied because Shinnok wants to seal Raiden, but in the end Raiden defeats Shinnok. Shinnok's defeat leads to Liu Kang becoming the new emperor of the Netherrealm.

Mortal Kombat: Liu Kang Meets His Future Self

The introduction of Kronika to Mortal Kombat brought with it the complications of time travel, as Kronika meddles with the timeline trying to create her perfect world. Kronika's plans, however, are always thwarted by Raiden and Liu Kang. As the Netherrealm is about to fall to the Earthrealm forces, Kronika approaches Liu Kang in order to use him for her plans. Revenant Liu Kang is interested in Kronika's plan to create a world without Raiden, and they form an alliance. Because of this alliance, both a young, living Liu Kang and the revenant Liu Kang exist simultaneously when Kronika merges Mortal Kombat timelines .

Related: Neo Is Already In Mortal Kombat

As Raiden and the younger Liu Kang are about to get in a fight, all the memories of their fights from the future return to Raiden. Having been told about his fate in the timeline before the merging, Liu Kang stands by Raiden in the new timeline. He trusts that Raiden will do what is right for Earthrealm, and he does what he can to ensure a safe future lies ahead. Liu Kang is captured by Kronika, then meets the revenant version of himself. Revenant Liu Kang absorbs the soul of his younger self, effectively killing him once more.

Liu Kang's Final Form In Mortal Kombat

Empowered by the soul of his younger self, revenant Liu Kang battles Raiden, holding onto the belief that Raiden has betrayed and doomed the Earthrealm champions by making decisions that led to their deaths. Raiden defeats revenant Liu Kang but doesn't kill him. Instead, Raiden uses his own power to fuse himself, revenant Liu Kang, and the now-deceased younger Liu Kang into one. The soul of younger Liu Kang takes control of his new form, making him into Fire God Liu Kang, taking Raiden's place as the defender of Earthrealm.

Fire God Liu Kang defeats Kronika, but not before she turns time back once more. After the defeat of Kronika at the dawn of time, Raiden separates from Liu Kang. However, Raiden is now a mortal while Liu Kang retains his status as a god. Raiden entrusts the new future to Liu Kang.  At the end of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath , Liu Kang approaches the Great Kung Lao - ancestor of his friend, Kung Lao - and chooses him to be his champion, telling him that it's time to train.

Despite the multiple timelines and the merging of some of them, Mortal Kombat's story remains relatively coherent. A  leak shows Mortal Kombat 12's disappointing roster  but doesn't give players enough information to speculate on the direction this timeline will take. After the intrigue that Liu Kang as a villain brought to the series - and looking at the multiple times that Raiden was corrupted, despite being the Lightning God - he could be put in the role of a villain once more and make mistakes, believing that he's doing what's right for the future of Earthrealm in Mortal Kombat .

Next: Mortal Kombat Trilogy Remaster Petition Started By Indie Studio

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