The story begins immediately after the first Mortal Kombat tournament, with Liu Kang defeating Shang Tsung. However, the victory does not bring peace, as the heroes are attacked by soldiers from Outworld. Raiden sends Liu Kang and Kung Lao on a mission to stop Shao Kahn, traveling through areas such as the Living Forest, the Soul Tomb, and the Wastelands. Along the way, they face iconic characters like Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Reptile, and Baraka, while it is revealed that Shang Tsung plans to regain his power through souls.