Through darkness, diamonds spread their richest light.
The Unaliving War is a collaborative roleplay done by Unaliving Liu Kang and TheIkranRider. It actually took flight around August 2023, but actually started on July 28th, 2023, as soon as she saw the aforementioned RPer suddenly revert to his Dark Emperor self when he was formerly his Fire God form. Ikran's OC, Aiko Krackle, and Unaliving Liu Kang are the main stars of this Mortal Kombat roleplay soon after he defeated Darkseid when he got attached with his Omega Force. Other users also made their own versions of their Darkseid Wars, but this one centers around this said pairing.
Premise[]
Unaliving Liu Kang's appearance in the Unaliving War
Liu Kang, after the Titan War in Mortal Kombat 1, was bent on ensuring that things never go sideways like that again. He set out to implement a new system to make sure his timeline would not be bothered again, but during his divine escapades he ended up being contacted by an entity that resembled Revenant Raiden. Turned out this Raiden was augmented by Darkseid and his Omega Force. It leeched onto Liu after he triumphed over Raiden, thus gave him the clarity he needed to make short work of the Elder Gods and implement this new system that he desired.
During one of her escapades, since her perspective was set in the aftermath of the first Battle of Armageddon in Final Kombat, Aiko randomly saw Liu Kang in his undead self; the same Revenant form she once encountered during her dystopian future before she was suddenly sent back 16 years into the past! She was horrified on the Chosen One's warped self, too terrified to even fight! The Dark God gave her several lacerations, each wound growing and the dark elements seeping into her soul! After few minutes, she was subdued, and all Liu did was lend a helping hand. She...actually took it and began to embrace her darker impulses and realized his evil self pursued her before, desiring her to join their ranks. Liu confirmed this, seeing her troubled timeline. She then asked if he had converted her lover, Kung Lao yet, and he replied he'd be far from paradise.
He then explained on his agenda, his revenge onto the Elder Gods and that the war onto the living was long overdue. Remembering Shinnok's corrupt family, with Kronika as Titan and Cetrion as her golden child corroding the Pantheon, she agreed that they had always been petty and never cared for lower lifeforms, even Gods, demigods, and simpler specimens. Not even bother while having her Liu be slain by the Deadly Alliance. Aiko then accepted on her newer tempting impulses and Liu's evil purpose. And so, he took her to his place of operations, Shinnok's former Bone Temple.
Rise to Power[]
Just like his previous position as Emperor of the Netherrealm succeeding Shinnok, he reunited with his devoted unholy followers. He then recapped his dark agenda on warring against the Elder Gods in order to secure his New Era. Aiko, like the damned denizens, became intrigued and inspired. And she then became Liu's advisor on the matter by suggesting recruiting members for their cause. At first, she mentioned Shinnok, his former master, however he became uneasy as he was thankful for the breakaway of his and Quan's rule and embracing his own freedom. Aiko soon found out on Liu's joy over making his own destiny; he also mentioned that Kitana, as former Empress, left him...
Unaliving Aiko
Makeba/Outworld drumline
Taking in the Netherrealm's dark and tempting atmosphere, she mentioned to Liu there may be a way to recruit their own army onto the Elder Gods. Liu was actually intrigued on her strategy, and she was surprised to still have Nightwolf and Kung Lao, who, the latter had just joined the board. She reunited with him in the midst of a discussion with his Shaolin Brother, and then she unveiled her plan to head to Outworld with Nightwolf and convert many of its tribe she and Lao were familiar with, the Makeba. The Matokan led the ceremony, as did Aiko, then Liu became worried if her exertion from her dark heart gem, corrupted by Liu's influence, would be too much. She was more than happy to take on the tumultuous task, and it didn't take long for the Makeba to join in their cause. Aiko then revealed to Liu she was once mesmerized by the Makeba and grew up with her weakness on the tempting tribal drums. Liu was glad he found and converted her, then as Nightwolf made a victorious ceremony, she joined in. Liu was curious as he went to her side, asking her to teach him her ways. Step by step, she broke down her methods, then demonstrated and next danced slowly and sensuously around the bonfire! The Dark God became overjoyed with her method, even seeing her embrace it; he let out a triumphant laugh and was deep into the ceremony until she went to him, giving him a passionate kiss. He felt his heart warm, as if there were fireworks blasting in his soul, that he gave her the same love and embrace.
The Dark Lotus Society
Unholy Trinity featuring Chieftain Liu Kang, Chieftess Aiko, and their promising warrior, Tribal Revenant Kung Lao
Days later, the Dark Lotus Society was formed. Liu, Aiko, Lao and Nightwolf became the top drummers and warriors, even establishing their own drumline within the Makeba village converting many others. Aiko then suggested the Nexus in order to do so to all the realms, despite more of their close friends being converted, including the demigods, Raiden and Fujin. With Aiko's, and others', dark heart gems and learning how to use the Makeba's drums, the process was quick and easy. Liu then stated in the Bone Temple of his preferences on hardly getting into any fights and just by using a hand drum to make more contact and to feel its omnipotence more than sticks, and she explained they're often a form of communication and telepathy to pass on compelling messages to those who play and listen to them. He became more impressed with the cadence and power her technique held, and their relationship grew as close as Lao's. She then decided to love both males and sworn to never have Liu Kang alone the way Kitana rejected him.
Aiko then gave him a tribal, demonic headdress the damned sculpted for him, even one for her too. Liu's face just lit up and he bowed low in appreciation. She placed them on their heads, and thus became the Chieftain and Chieftess of the Netherrealm and all of the realms' tribes!
War onto the Elder Gods[]
Liu became confident on Aiko's tribal and umbrakinetic skills that they'd spearhead their way to victory against the petty, wretched Elder Gods. He declared no stone shall be left unturned nor have any lives spared! Aiko then grew concerned who may be resistant to their methods, such as those like Kenshi. She then suggested a killing spree to wipe out the resisters and recommended for Liu to use his pyrokinesis to decimate the world via volcanoes! He was a tad uneasy, but he understood.
Tribal Elder Gods
With all the meddling resistant denizens out of the picture, Liu denounced to the Elder Gods they're ready to decimate them. He led the battle along with his fellow warriors while Aiko hung in the infantry, always giving the warriors life from her cardiokinesis and the might of the tribal drums. The latter just gave them the motivation and sometimes the energy to keep fighting, just as it did with Chieftain in which he commented on Aiko's ways on using them. There were hardly any casualties on the opposing side although the advancing army made the Elder Gods retreat. They soon took out the rest of them after they surrendered, and then Liu anointed Aiko as one of the newer Elder Gods along with Kung Lao, Nightwolf, Raiden, Fujin and Geras, much to her dismay. He decided to stay as a demigod and protector of Earthrealm only, and Aiko was reluctant despite still having Lao by her side.
Tribal Liu Kang x Aiko Kang Lao
After Liu left, she became preoccupied, always praying for his return as she spent nights looking up at the starry sky and feeling isolated beyond the realms. She wished to assist him in any way possible since the new Elder Gods are treated more like Titans able to manipulate time, space, and the realms to their whims. Nevertheless, they vowed for each other to be their eternal consorts.
Prepping for Darkseid[]
One night, she decided to drum for the missing Chieftain she pined so much... That was until he suddenly shown up! They both reunited and she poured out her heart, stating how lonely she was, and it felt like an endless void. With the way Earthrealm had been functioning with its constant wars against itself, he actually made the offer for her to go with him back to Earth. She was overjoyed, even though Liu assured that the new Elder Gods can partake with the other realms instantly at any time in which she never knew. She always wondered how they'd deal with Liu's remaining nemesis, Darkseid. He stated they'd need a whole army and it'd be complicated since intel and strategies on Darkseid were inconsistent. Aiko then said that Nightwolf mentioned about the intimate gathering known as the annual Tribal Ceremony and Liu was interested.
The Tribal Ceremony
The three of them, with Kung Lao, Raiden, Geras, Fujin, Kung Jin, Kiba and his new mate joining their ranks, used their new Tribal Ways to convert all those that opposed into believers of this new age. However, the power of Darkseid still existed, as Liu described his archnemesis to the Enticers atop the Eternal Palace, and he knew eventually he’ll have to repel Darkseid after the deity killed one of his Titan followers. This lead directly to the fourth Tribal Ceremony, a small intimate gathering of believers in a new temple that is built atop the Eternal Place that the Elder Gods used to live in. Here, the gathering was festive like but only believers were allowed, and the assembly will signify another year of peace and stability in the realms.
After a night or two on finding their new faction, Liu offered Aiko to vacate for a while. He queried to Aiko if she'd want a bustling location or a relaxing one, in which she picked the latter since she felt so isolated and always hated noisy places with large crowds. So, with a portal built by the Shaolin, he took her to one of the desolated isles whereas they'd be out of sight from the Elder Gods' and the Titans' watchful eyes. It was a balmy, peaceful location in which Aiko figured it was amongst the Lost Sea, where it was actually close to Edenia's beaches.
After teaching her basic skills like swimming more properly from a dog paddle, or making a fire without elemental means, Liu discussed to Aiko that he had been restless and troubled for many moons. As he was unsuccessful to maintain peace throughout the realms. Aiko felt sympathetic and was willing to soothe his angsts, and the only way to do so is to "conquer the stars," while also bring an end to Darkseid and strip themselves of their powers! Aiko was reluctant, but Liu was willing to make that sacrifice, no longer fight, and live a peaceful life. She eventually accepted, and he vowed they'd stay together until the end. He noticed she was holding his hand, yet there were still many fears and regrets, but they never involved being around her; if anything would happen to her, he'd gone mad, and she assured if anything should happen, she'd offer him her heart and soul, considering she's still a cardiokinetic and that he was taught how to absorb souls by Shinnok.
AikoKang's beachhouse
In order to rid his angsts, Aiko was so taken away by their ritual that she decided to get intimate at long last, making herself forever his... They soon decided to make the desolate Edenian isle theirs.
Trivia[]
- At first, Ikran was skeptical with Unaliving Liu Kang drastically churning to his undead self as she often doesn't like the Revenants from the Netherrealm Games. But during that August, she almost instantly changed her mind and decided to try the darker route. She was certainly glad she did it, especially when their muses became intimately and mutually close.
- There were times in which she worried Liu'd give up his undead form whether it'd be his role as Earth's new protector or if he'd finally decimate Darkseid. Thankfully, it was proven his undead self'd be permanent!
- Unaliving Liu Kang was the first and only person/muse that accepted and embraced Aiko's and Ikran's guilty pleasure on being mesmerized by the temptations of the tribal drums.
- Ikran isn't familiar with the DC Universe and often doesn't follow it, so dealing with Darkseid has been a challenge in which she consults with the leading roleplayer instead.
- At first, this was named as the Darkseid War based on the unfinished comics, but Unaliving Liu Kang requested it should be renamed instead, perhaps to avoid confusion or any future conflicts.
- Unlike the majority of people, both Liu and Ikran agreed that the main character shall be portrayed by Matthew Yang King from Mortal Kombat 11/Aftermath.
- Ikran was inspired by the RP, as well as AVGN's Berenstein Bears episode, that during her short story, Koherence, she included an alternate reality in which both Chieftain Liu Kang and Chieftess Aiko were still ruling the Netherrealm within the Bone Temple. Aiko, as her light self, succumbed to a self-trance as the Matokans were warming up for the upcoming heat dance as sonokinesis emitted from her heart gem. At the same time, so was her darker self until she was the first who noticed the two realities converge.
- After Ikran received word of her partner attending an intense military test at the academy for 3 months, from May 17th to August... So, aside from roach problems which were eventually resolved, she eventually went to work on finding and editing the Twitter texts and compile them together. Her first and only script is available on multiple platforms as gift art in time for Memorial Day honoring her collaborator who's currently receiving intense military training/studies for 3 months.
Gallery[]
