#quannok

Quan Chi had never seen the Sky Temple in such a state. The dozens upon dozens of floors above the Jinsei Chamber had all been scorched clean through by lightning, creating a hole that extended all the way to the roof over a thousand feet above and let in nothing but rain. The monks who had at one time cared for the temple were all gone. The animals that had once inhabited the surrounding area in abundance were also nowhere to be found. Although the Sky Temple still housed Earthrealm's life force, it was now utterly devoid of life.

Shinnok's body was exactly where Raiden had left it; on its knees near the edge of the chamber, its wrists held up by shackles with chains that stretched to the ceiling, its whole form still twitching in pain. Holding Shinnok's head, Quan Chi wasted no time crossing the room to reunite the two. He cupped Shinnok's face in his hands as he knelt and placed it back onto his body. The moment his windpipe reconnected, Shinnok took in a lungful of air with a gasp that quickly devolved into a coughing fit. Quan Chi simply held him in place while his coughs subsided.

"My mother, Kronika, has returned," Shinnok rasped out as soon as he was able.

Quan Chi's hands slid down from Shinnok's jaw to the place where his neck had been severed. His hands glowed green as they encircled Shinnok's throat.

"The Titan," he asked. "Keeper of Time?"

"Yes," Shinnok replied, voice getting stronger as Quan Chi healed him. "She came to me after Raiden—" he spat the name with disdain "—cut off my head. She lamented my fate, but assured me that, as the arc of the universe bends to her will, she would restore the balance that he had upset."

Quan Chi's grip tightened ever so slightly. He was nearly done healing Shinnok's neck now.

"And yet, she chose not to restore you?"

Shinnok's mouth remained closed, but his eyes widened slightly.