The Gem of Tetsurri was an ancient artifact in the form of a ruby gem, yet it is a crystalized heart organ, belonging to a long dead, evil warlord from Zaterra named Tetsurri.
History and Characteristic[]
Its history was so deep, that even Raiden believed it to be nothing more than just a legend. The gem was located in the Realm of Zaterra where it was guarded by a magical flaming skull in the Sphere of Tetsurri. It appeared as a red oval shaped jewel, which was capable of infecting anyone who was exposed to it with blinding hatred, making friends turn against one another and armies destroy themselves due to the hatred from the gem.
Though it was called a gem, it was not a jewel, but in fact, the ancient, crystallized heart of its owner. It was a demon stone, capable of darkening the soul, with its power only capable of being unleashed by an extremely powerful sorcerer. The effects of the gem only grew progressively worse, with simple arguments eventually leading to souls so dark that allies would try to kill one another. However, its effects were not limited to a person's enemies, and those who unleashed its power were also threatened to be consumed by it, and the only way they could stop the gem's powers from affecting them was to return it back to Zaterra. The powers of the gem protected it from harm, though the strongest and most skilled fighter was capable of shattering it.
Quan Chi used a portal from Earthrealm to enter Zaterra and retrieve the gem in order to unleash its powers on the defenders of Earth. It was ultimately destroyed by Nightwolf.
In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, The Gem of Tetsurri appeared in Reptile's Lair on a claw-like pedestal in a green magic aura with a vibration sound when you are near it.
Trivia[]
- The Gem of Tetsurri is not the only enchanted reptilian heart featured in Mortal Kombat. The Dragon King's Heart figures heavily in the plots of both Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance and Mortal Kombat: Deception. Interestingly, both hearts were sought after by Quan Chi to increase his power.
- Of course, this warmongering relic was the inspiration for Aiko's own heart gem. It's rumored that it can play an opposite, more positive, effect utilized as a crystalized heart based on Aiko's cardiokinesis and crystalokinesis forged by her concentrated powers.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Part II[]
Aiko mentioned that from that incident, Nightwolf became her most trusted Kombatant as they were the only ones not infected. It was thanks to him she never considered on leaving the team.
Mortal Kombat: Shinnok's Uprising[]
Aiko, Nightwolf, and Sub-Zero recognized Quan Chi from that aforementioned incident, though it was she and the shaman that remembered the gem most vividly. It was later brought up by Kung Lao as Kitana led them to the abandoned ruins of Zaterra; he thought they were resistant, when in reality she was saving some mischievous Koopalings out from a thornbush while Nightwolf was at base as the Kombatants were infected by a refugee in the Carribean rainforest. She nearly lost faith in the heroes. That incident was nearly like deja vu as there was an opal in which it enchanted Sindel, before Quan Chi and Shinnok escaped the Netherrealm. There were some moments in which Aiko may use her heart to have the opposite effect, let alone no longer have the Saurians hostile from Zaterra's savage rule and the heart's influence.
Mortal Kombat: Vengeance[]
It was at first theorized by Liu Kang that an outside source has revitalized him, Lao, Aiko and Nightwolf after the Dragonfly crashlanded by Hsu Hao's sneaky attack. Later, it turned out to be Aiko's cardiokinesis forged as a crimson gem. She gave it to Lao before he faced the Daedly Alliance to revitalize his strength. Since then, it's been rumored her item has the opposite, and more positive, effects from the same crystalized heart that Quan Chi manipulated.