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Learn about the character of Sub-Zero II in Mortal Kombat and the lore he has accumulated over the years as part of the franchise.
While there has always been a Sub-Zero in the Mortal Kombat series, it’s the second one who has held the title the longest. Taking up his brother’s mantle after he was killed in the first Mortal Kombat, Kuai Liang has been more heroically inclined than his predecessor. So, let’s find out more about his lore.
Sub-Zero II, A.K.A. Kuai Liang’s History in Mortal Kombat
Kuai Liang in the Original Timeline
Kuai Liang made his debut as Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat II. Both he and his brother were Cryomancers, a race that originally came from the realm of Edenia. However, they were both born and brought up as part of the Lin Kuei clan on Earthrealm. Their father would train them as assassins against their mother’s wishes.
After Bi-Han was killed by Scorpion, Kuai Liang took up his mantle to avenge him. When the Lin Kuei clan began converting their warriors into cyborgs, he left them in Mortal Kombat 3. He was recruited by Raiden to protect Earthrealm against both Shao Kahn’s and Shinnok’s invasions.
In Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Sub-Zero becomes the leader of the Lin Kuei after defeating the current Grandmaster, Sektor. He takes on an apprentice named Frost who has similar ice powers. Unfortunately, Frost ends up betraying him and ends up frozen after trying to steal his medallion. He helps Shujinko fight the Dragon King Onaga in Mortal Kombat: Deception. This is when he encounters Noob Saibot, who is Bi-Han after turning into a specter. In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, he subdues Noob with the help of that game’s protagonist, Taven, and hopes to fix him.
Sub-Zero II in Mortal Kombat (2011)
Kuai Liang’s story follows a similar path in the reboot. However, he isn’t able to escape becoming a cyborg this time and is turned into a pawn of the Lin Kuei’s schemes. He gets his mind back but is one of the victims of Sindel’s attack in Mortal Kombat (2011) and dies. This leaves him a pawn of Quan-Chi.
In Mortal Kombat X, Sub-Zero, alongside Scorpion and Jax, is restored back to humanity. Just like in the previous timeline, Kuai Liang defeats Sektor and becomes Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. However, in this timeline he manages to make peace with Hanzo Hasashi, the former Scorpion, and the two remain allies until the end of this timeline.
Kuai Liang in Mortal Kombat 1
In the new Mortal Kombat timeline, Kuai Liang’s backstory is drastically changed. He is Scorpion this time, as his brother Bi-Han remains Sub-Zero. However, he ends up leaving the Lin Kuei after his brother chooses to not use the clan to protect Earthrealm any longer. This leads to him forming the Shirai Ryu in this timeline instead.
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