Following the defeat of Shao Kahn, Shinnok attacks Earth with his army of Netherrealm forces, including the resurrected Earthrealm warriors who were killed during Kahn's invasion and are now under Quan Chi's control. After fighting and freeing their former comrades, a strike team led by Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and Kenshi open a portal to the Jinsei Chamber, the source of Earthrealm's life force, where Raiden and Fujin are battling Shinnok. They distract Shinnok long enough for Raiden to steal Shinnok's amulet and imprison him inside it, but Quan Chi manages to escape. While introducing new challengers that represent the forces of good and evil that tie the tale together the story place emphasis on aged veterans, new characters, and the next-generation offspring of the previous fighters.