Kung Lao defeats Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat and grants him mercy. However, Shao Kahn is not pleased with the loss and casts Shang Tsung to the cobalt mines as punishment. Siro captures a female thief and Kung Lao requests the Baron's blessing to marry his daughter. Shang Tsung meets Vorpax in the mines and they work together to release a deadly warrior from a scorpion.
Rayden poses as a prisoner and enlists the help of Taja to free Kung Lao. In the forest, Rayden poses as a beggar in order to make Siro think about saving Gen. As the three warriors meet up to save Gen, their path is looking a little too easy... Scorpion reveals his true self.
Kung Lao, Siro and Taja head to Zhu Zin to live in Baron Reyland's trading post. It's not long before the Lin Kuei clan introduce themselves and unleash their prized fighter, Sub-Zero, at the request of Shang Tsung.
Siro and Taja fall victim to Shang Tsung's sorcery when they drink from Kung Lao's waterbag. As they quickly age, Kung Lao faces a race against time to seek out a woman that was said to have defeated mortality before he loses his friends.
Princess Kitana and her loyal friend, Qali, seek Kung Lao's help in retrieving the Essence of Edenia. When Kung Lao and Kitana find their warrior friend, Daahraan, badly beaten and uttering his final words that Kitana is Shao Kahn's stepdaughter, Kung Lao goes after Kitana. Meanwhile, Shang Tsung has plans on getting the Essence himself so that he may be freed from the cobalt mines.
After almost getting killed, Siro seeks out Kiri, a seer, who he hopes can make him into a better fighter. She tells him about a place deep beneath the city where two great fighters dwell. If they are defeated then the victor will absorb their powers but little does Siro know about the true warrior trapped down there.
The trading post is set up for business again but a woman from an underworld organisation called The Black Dragon insists it belongs to them. Kung Lao, Siro and Taja all have differing opinions on what to do whilst The Black Dragon has its own problems with dissent amongst the ranks.
Taja is lured into Outworld by what appears to be her father. Kung Lao must follow and rescue Taja, knowing that it's a trap by Shang Tsung but Siro won't let him go alone.
Quan Chi, a powerful sorcerer, uses his magic on Kung Lao, Siro and Taja to bring out the darkness within them. The three heroes go on a killing, drinking and thieving spree respectively before Rayden intervenes.
Shang Tsung and Quan Chi join forces to create an alternate realm to trap Kung Lao. It is the life Kung Lao longs for with Gen and after 24 hours, Shang Tsung will have his soul. It is down to Siro and Taja to convince Kung Lao to leave before it's too late.
A woman visits the trading post looking for Siro, it is his brother's wife, Hanna, who he almost married. Siro's brother, Cassar, has disappeared and Hanna comes looking for Siro's help despite severing their relationship many years ago.
Shao Kahn gives Mileena the likeness of Kitana before sending her off to kill Kung Lao. Shang Tsung hears of this and dispatches Vorpax to stop Mileena because if Kung Lao is killed by someone else then he will be trapped in the cobalt mines forever. Mileena must decide whether to carry out her mission and face death once it's complete or allow Kung Lao to live and face Shao Kahn's wrath.
Tomas, a fighter who was supposed to compete at the last Mortal Kombat tournament, arrives at the trading post looking to join Kung Lao. Siro is suspicious of him due to the recent murder of a barmaid. Taja and Tomas spend a lot of time together and they begin to fall for one another but a chain of events go against Tomas' way.
A familiar face arrives in the city, bringing a macabre festival with her. Meanwhile, there's a new house guest at the trading post who used to know Kung Lao as a kid. She's anxious to learn new moves and try them out. Coincidentally, there's a contest each night for fighters to win big money if they can go all the way.
Rayden warns Kung Lao about a deadly partnership formed by Shao Kahn - Scorpion and Sub-Zero - sent to kill him. It's an unstoppable partnership, however, the two ninjas do not work well together which could go in Kung Lao's favour.
Vorpax's true intentions are revealed as Shao Kahn faces a new enemy in the form of Empress Kreeya. To help her defeat Shao Kahn, she attempts to persuade Kung Lao, Siro and Taja to join her formidable forces but Kung Lao remains cautious. After a shocking discovery, Kung Lao is forced to make an unexpected alliance in order to save Earth Realm.
Vorpax releases Shang Tsung's former master knowing he'll seek revenge for burying him alive. Master Cho arrives at the trading post looking to teach Kung Lao new skills.
Shao Kahn's forces have destroyed most of Kreeya's nests in Outworld so she is forced to protect the remaining nests in Earth Realm with the help of her new ally.
Kung Lao tracks the dead bodies, murdered at the hands of Shang Tsung, scattered around the map and figures the sorcerer is heading towards the trading post. Meanwhile, Siro and Taja become increasingly close and their behaviour seems odd to Kung Lao.
Shao Kahn's paranoia grows as he attempts to find the traitor within his ranks. Vorpax proposes a tempting deal to Kung Lao but can she be trusted?