Shang Tsung

But Sektor promises that Cyrax, as a member of the Lin Kuei, will not fail him and will complete his mission. Shang Tsung assigns Cyrax to face Johnny Cage. Cyrax defeats the actor but does not kill him, incurring the sorcerer's wrath.

Finally, the last Earthrealm representative remaining in the tournament was Liu Kang. Shang Tsung tried his best to stop his inevitable advancement, but Liu Kang defeated all his opponents. Finally, it was time to face the Shokan Prince Goro, the tournament champion for the past 500 years. Liu Kang defeated the powerful monster, and Shang Tsung was forced to face him personally. This was his last chance at success. Liu Kang defeated the sorcerer and forced him to admit defeat. A disgraced Shang Tsung left the island with his allies, leaving the Earthrealm warriors to celebrate their victory.

In Outworld, the sorcerer was nearly executed by the emperor for his failure. But Shang Tsung saved his life by proposing a new plan to Shao Kahn: lure Earthrealm's warriors to Outworld and hold a tournament there that would once and for all decide Earthrealm's sovereignty. Shao Kahn agreed and restored Shang Tsung's youth. Shang Tsung traveled to Earth, to the Wu Shi Academy, where celebrations were taking place to commemorate Liu Kang's victory in the tournament. There, the sorcerer offered Raiden the chance to host a single tournament in Outworld, replacing the Mortal Kombat tournaments held every 50 years. Raiden, sensing a trap, refused. Afterward, Shang Tsung attacked the god of thunder, and a portal opened in the Academy, revealing a squad of Tarkatans. Shang Tsung managed to escape to Outworld, while the Tarkatans captured Sonya Blade and the Academy masters who had trained Liu Kang and Kung Lao. According to Raiden, Shang Tsung made it clear that until the god of thunder agreed to the terms set, the attacks on Earth would not stop.

The treacherous sorcerer Shang Tsung, capable of absorbing the souls of his victims, has hosted the last nine Mortal Kombat tournaments, rigging the results in his master's favor. Shang Tsung hails from Earthrealm. His magical abilities led him to discover Outworld. There, he became an ally of Emperor Shao Kahn, pledging his life to him in exchange for power. Now bound to the emperor by powerful dark magic, he has obediently carried out Shao Kahn's commands for centuries. Should he fail in his mission to conquer Earthrealm, he will face the emperor's wrath.

As the tournament's host, Shang Tsung decides who will fight whom. The tournament's first bout was Johnny Cage versus Reptile after Cage made an insulting comment about the sorcerer's age. He then appears during Sonya's attempt to rescue Jax from the dungeon. Shang Tsung first forces Sonya to fight Sub-Zero, then tries to provoke her into a duel with him. Fortunately for Sonya, Raiden appears, turning the warrior's anger on himself and later helping her rescue Jax from the dungeon by temporarily blinding Shang Tsung and his warriors. A short time later, Shang Tsung shoots down the helicopter that was supposed to pick Sonya and Jax up off the island with a fireball and sends Kano to confront her. Sonya manages to defeat the bandit, but the sorcerer prevents her from arresting Kano. When Sonya asks him to help the wounded Jax, he only smirks. Shang Tsung later forces Scorpion to fight several times in the tournament before finally allowing him to face his greatest enemy and murderer, the elder Sub-Zero. After his death, Shang Tsung ordered Baraka and Sheeva to kill Cyrax, who was speaking with Raiden. The sorcerer feared that Raiden would persuade Cyrax to switch sides and jeopardize his plans. Cyrax manages to fend off the Tarkatan and Shokan, after which he personally appears before Shang Tsung to demand an explanation. Shang Tsung no longer trusts Cyrax.