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| “ | We will destroy your champion, Liu Kang. He will taste no victory. | „ |
| ~ General Shao telling Liu Kang that Raiden is no match for him in Mortal Kombat 1. |
General Shao is one of the secondary antagonists of the 2023 video game Mortal Kombat 1, the first installment of the "New Era" in the Mortal Kombat franchise.
He is a new version of Shao Kahn made by Liu Kang for his New Era. Now he is an ambitious military leader in Outworld's army, serving Empress Sindel. However his paranoia and resentment of Earthrealm put him at odds with the Royal family, leading to a rebellion.
To ensure his rebellion succeeded, he teams up with the sorcerers Shang Tsung and Quan Chi to overthrow the royal family, but was foiled by the Earthrealmers. He is the arch-enemy of the Outworld royal family and Raiden.
He is modeled after Linden Ashby and voiced by Ike Amadi, who also provided the voice of his previous counterpart from Mortal Kombat 11 and Atrocitus from Injustice 2.
Personality[]
| “ | Born into a proud military family, Shao was expected to become a soldier. But he was a sickly child who, though brilliant and eager, had an infirm body. Shao's disability infuriated his father. He dismissed his son's physicians and designed an extreme program to build his son's strength and endurance. Years of toil molded Shao into a physical colossus and forged within him an iron will. And as his father promised, Shao became the perfect soldier. His brilliant tactic and relentless effort won Outworld many victories and him much fame. Though General Shao is sworn to serve the Empress, his loyalty is to Outworld. If Sindel's rule ever endangers Outworld, he will be the first to try and end it | „ |
| ~ General Shao's bio on the Mortal Kombat 1 website. |
General Shao is more noble than his previous two timeline versions, originally content with being a general scoring victory after victory for Outworld's armies. He treats Reiko as a son to him and treats him better than he treated anyone as Shao Kahn. That said, he is not without deep flaws. General Shao believes Liu Kang, a demigod with as much power as he has, plans to betray Outworld. With Sindel not wanting to go against Liu Kang without evidence other than Quan Chi's predictions, Shao believes her weak and intends to usurp her.
He also holds his father in high regard, being the one who taught him numerous military principles and training him to be as strong as he is. However, he does not hold his siblings in high regard as he believes that they don't have the spine to follow his ideals.
Biography[]
After Shao Kahn was killed at the hands of Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 11, Liu Kang killed Shang Tsung and took Kronika's crown, using it to make his New Era. Shaping people's destinies, Liu Kang made Shao's destiny to be Sindel's loyal follower. Shao was born into a military family with siblings. As a boy, he was intelligent but sickly, his father made him go through and extensive training program to give him a strong build. Eventually, Shao would join Outworld's military and score numerous victories, becoming a general.
General Shao mocks Earthrealm's champion for being "scrawnier than usual" when the Earthrealmers finally make it to the palace. Kung Lao tries to stand up for his comrade, but Lord Liu Kang says the winner of the tournament would show himself in due time. Shao accuses Liu Kang of being untruthful in concealing the existence of Outworld and other realms from the majority of Earthrealmers, a charge Kang refutes.
After Raiden defeats Li Mei, General Shao presents his second-in-command, Reiko, who was adopted by Shao and raised to become the "perfect soldier" after becoming an orphan during the Kafallah War. When Raiden responds that he has participated in neither army nor battle, Reiko makes fun of him, calling him terribly unprepared. Even with Reiko's arrogance, Raiden wins, and a furious Shao leaves.
Empress Sindel invites everyone to a feast in the evening and postpones any more matches until first light. There, the Earthrealmers and Outworlders socialize and eat together. Mileena gets sick during the feast, but she tells Tanya that everything is well for the time being. In his address, Raiden says he sees more similarities than differences across the realms, and Empress Sindel invites everyone to have frank conversations in order to promote friendship between them. In response, General Shao says he thinks they are actually very distinct from one another.
He is interrupted by Sindel, who then brushes him off. Later, she summons Shao to the throne room and chastises him for his remarks. Shao requests his freedom of speech and expresses his opinion that Outworld needs to move swiftly in response to "the sorcerer's" prediction that Liu Kang and Earthrealm will soon take action to subjugate Outworld. In response, Sindel tells Shao not to forget what his father taught him—that conflict must be the ultimate outcome and not the first—and says she will not take action until she has proof that the prophecy is true.
Shao leaves as Mileena and Kitana walk in. Even though Mileena insists she is fine, Sindel informs her heir that they cannot take a chance on Mileena's condition and Kitana will compete in the tournament in her place. Sindel saw Mileena sick during the feast. Mileena objects, arguing that Kitana should be the successor rather than her as many Outworlders already believe that. However, Kitana reassures Mileena's sister that their mother is merely protecting Mileena since if her Tarkat condition is discovered, she will be sent to the Wastes. Then, outnumbered, Mileena walks off in rage.
As the match goes on, it becomes clear that Raiden also triumphed over Kotal, Motaro, and Sheeva. The planned bouts have changed, though, as Kitana will now face Mileena instead. Liu Kang objects, saying Raiden is ill-prepared, to which Sindel responds that the champion of Earthrealm ought to be flexible. Raiden accepts the fight and goes up against Kitana, winning once more. This puts him up against General Shao in the championship match, and if he prevails, Sindel announces his win and leaves the arena. Raiden tries to assist Shao in standing up, but he is ignored.
Later on, Liu Kang tell Johnny Cage, Kenshi and Kung Lao to capture Shang Tsung, when they do catch up with Shang, they discover Mileena attached to an operating table and attempt to free her, however, they discover that Shang is making a serum to reduce the symptoms of her Tarkat. They subdue Mileena as Shang Tsung finishes the serum.
General Shao, Goro, and Kitana all arrive at that precise moment. Kitana is upset and wants to know what happened. When Johnny Cage tries to dispute Shang Tsung's accusations that the Earthrealmers are trying to halt the therapy so that Mileena's illness will become known, Goro immediately knocks him out. Shao responds that he could not stand "Earthrealm lies." It is subsequently revealed that Quan Chi was the sorcerer who made the prophecy, after Shao and Shang Tsung announce that these occurrences are evidence of the prophecy's veracity. Quan Chi confirms once more that the events of today were the last confirmation of the prophecy, and Kitana concurs that the Empress has to be made aware of what has happened. After she leaves, Shao asks Shang Tsung what actually transpired, to which Shang replies that the Earthrealmers had come to take him hostage for unidentified reasons. Then it is revealed that Quan Chi, Shao, and Shang Tsung were all working together with the same "benefactor," who had saved them all from lives without purpose.
Johnny, Kenshi and Kung Lao get thrown into Shang’s dungeon, but escape with Baraka, and team up with Ashrah and Syzoth, better known as Reptile. During the Sun Do Festival, Syzoth patrols the roofs of Sun Do while being watched by both General Shao's army and Li Mei's city constables. Mileena and Tanya flirt throughout the celebrations, and Kitana notices her sister's desires and warns her from consorting with Umgadi because of their oaths. Mileena, who is not happy, tells her sister not to amend the rules until she has become Empress and leaves in disgust. While Syzoth sets up a distraction to aid in their escape, Ashrah and the Earthrealmers dress up as festival goers. Reiko, however, spots him and uses a missile to hurt the Zaterran, making it possible for the others to pursue him.
Syzoth is told by Li Mei that he must surrender, but he refuses since he knows that General Shao will have him killed to silence him. He bemoans the fact that he doesn't have time to clear up the mistake as he overcomes Kitana and Li Mei with Kenshi's help. After that, he engages in combat with Tanya and Khameleon until General Shao's army surrounds him. They receive assistance from Johnny, Ashrah, and Kung Lao, which enables Syzoth to vanquish Shao and Goro before he and the others depart via an Earthrealm gateway.
After the team regroups with Liu Kang, he is debriefed on what happened. Liu Kang sends Sub-Zero, Scorpion and Smoke to infiltrate the Ying Fortress where Shao, Quan Chi and Shang Tsung are building a dragon army. Once inside, they get captured by Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. Bi-Han ignores Kuai Liang's attempts to talk him out of it when Shang Tsung and General Shao give the Lin Kuei warriors an explanation of their plans. Shang Tsung responds to Bi-Han's doubts about the viability of their strategy by saying that they don't really aim to invade with the soul-powered and Dragon Crown-led Dragon Army of Emperor Ying, but rather by using soul stealers as their primary weaponry.
Bi-Han tells Kuai Liang that he thinks their father was a doddering fool and that he let their father die so he could become Grandmaster when he swears allegiance to the Deadly Alliance. After discovering the truth, Kuai Liang betrays his brother and fights Rain, Quan Chi, Shao, and Shang Tsung, successfully escaping and regrouping with Smoke.
Liu Kang convinces Li Mei, Sindel, Mileena and Kitana to visit Shang Tsung’s fleshpits to reveal their treachery. General Shao and his troops arrive with Shao wielding The Amulet of Shinnok. Shao uses the amulet against Liu Kang's cautions about utilizing it, trapping Mileena, Kitana, Tanya, and Geras inside before fighting Sindel, Li Mei, and Liu Kang. After Sindel vanquishes Shao, Rain, Reiko, Nitara, and Tanya, Liu Kang is able to take the amulet and set Geras, Tanya, and the princesses free. When Sindel inquires as to whether Liu Kang is requesting her assistance in order to save Earthrealm, he responds that it is the request of a friend. Shao gets thrown into Lei Chin prison with Shang Tsung, Quan Chi and Reiko, but escape thanks to Sub-Zero. Shao tasks Reiko with taming Onaga for war against Liu Kang with Shao himself gaining a new army to attempt to overthrow Mileena.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Draconic Humanoid Physiology: In Liu Kang's New Era, he made Shao into a renowned soldier in the Outworld Army. He was physically improved from being a weak child at birth into a conquering warrior bent on conquest and war by his unnamed father. His powers and skills are similar to his previous counterpart.
- Immense Strength:
- Immense Durability:
- Immense Stamina:
- Immense Endurance:
- Magic:
- Longevity:
Abilities[]
- Master Martial Artist/Hand-To-Hand Combatant:
- Axe Mastery:
- Advanced Intelligence:
- Intimidation:
- Deception:
- Indomitable Will:
Quotes[]
| “ | Liu Kang's trained you well. But not well enough to win. | „ |
| ~ General Shao after Raiden wins the first round. |
| “ | Enough prattle! You'll both bend a knee to Outworld's new emperor. | „ |
| ~ Shao to Sindel and Liu Kang. |
| “ | These are your reign's final moments. Savor them. | „ |
| ~ Shao after winning a round against Sindel. |
| “ | The battle had been lost, but the war isn't over. I won't stop fighting until I take Outworld's throne. That they thought Lei Chin prison would hold me is laughable. Once free, I began planning my next campaign. I would need an unstoppable army to overthrow Mileena. Unfortunately, most of my former soldiers lacked the courage to rally to my standard. Rebuilding my army would require finding new recruits. And that task…is proving easier than expected. Outworld's "Golden Age" has left more than a few behind. Without hope, without power, they eagerly heed my call to tear down Mileena's government. | „ |
| ~ General Shao's arcade ending in Mortal Kombat 1. |
External Links[]
- General Shao on the Mortal Kombat Wiki
