Howdy!! I'm not really a person that usually leaves long messages like these but you can just remember me as Verou, getting to the point, it just felt like I needed to get it off my chest (unlike a certain reader). It is my first time writing essentially a comment on a work, but I'm glad that it'll be because of yours. This little fic I picked up has been one of the most long-standing things I've taken part in, outlasting half my friendships to be honest.
I'll keep it brief, I really loved New Era. I started reading it back when I was obsessed with MK9 in middle school and now I'm in high school, almost graduating! Unfortunately, I'm a late reader that found this gem when it was 13 chapters in. Besides that, the fic has been one of the most fleshed out stories I've read in a while, and the characters are insanely in character. Truly a diamond found in the rough.
After checking back and finding a new update that came out last year (2025), I genuinely tweaked out at school over it and concerned my friend a little, haha! This fic was the reason I made an AO3 account and leave a kudos.
I'm glad to see that you've returned and didn't abandon it entirely, I was starting to think you got consumed by the AO3 curse to be honest. But, I'm glad that you persevered and posted another awesome work! The fight scene was especially cool to me since so far, the fic hadn't divulged much into the other battles, so the new chapter really surprised me! Safe to say, you did great describing everything. I did take a moment to imagine some parts and then cringe at how much that would hurt, but I'm glad my beloved Raiden got that victory in the bag in the end.
To be honest, I had to do my third reread on the fic because it's been a while since you've posted. But, reading back, I can tell just how much you've improved in your writing, so much so that you pulled me out of my writer's block lmao. So far, my favorite dynamic so far has been between Liu Kang and reader. Personally, I love the angst material alongside the subtle tension between the two. Imagine living a lifetime, just to become a God and live out another one, but you still can't bring yourself to confess to your crush. It's genuinely like the most slowest burn that could burn you alive at that point. Reader has got to take the hint eventually.
The arc I'm anticipating the most is probably when Kenshi loses his eyesight, just on top of when we meet Syzoth. I'm looking forward to how you'll approach it! I can imagine the tension that will rise between Mileena and reader because even if she wasn't herself that time, she was the one that ultimately blinded him. And, I'd like to see how Shang Tsung will react once he sees Reader in the mix.
But anyway, my message is getting way too lengthy for my liking, but I wish you well in everything that you do in life! Excuse some grammatical errors, and quoting a tag that made me laugh way too hard, not beta read we die like everyone in MK9.
I'm SO honored to have had such a heartfelt message from you, Verou!
Hearing how long you've stuck with this fic is wild to me, and makes me feel old haha. But it definitely reminds me why I still wanna write for this fic, even I don't physically play MK1 anymore. (Street Fighter 6 has taken me and my life) The lore of MK is crazy to me and dear to me, even if I think there are really...questionable choices LOL
Thank you! I try to keep them in character, but also add in the depth some characters I feel are lacking, you know? It truly means a lot to know that people do like how I characterize them. Haha, no AO3 curse, but with a job that takes up a lot of time, and doing art so it can become my career, I do get busy a lot. Thanks! I do try to keep the fighting scenes interesting when they're the focal point of a scene. After all, Mortal Kombat *is* a fighting game.
I'm so glad to hear my story can pull you out of your own writing block! It's really cool to hear I can be an inspiration lol. Thank you! I don't wanna state my favorite dynamics since the reasons why they are are spoilers, but also I don't want my readers seeing it and think there's some I favor way more over the others haha ^^ But Liu Kang and the Reader...well there's definitely some stuff I have for them I cannot disclose. Good thing Liu Kang is a fire god, otherwise that slow burn would eat him alive.
That arc, unfortunately, is not anytime soon BUT I do have a **LOT** of plans for that arc. Especially between the reader and Kenshi during that part :)) take that as you will. I think your interest in how that all plays out once we hit the arc that comes after this big one comes out.
Don't worry, I love long comments! I wish you well too <3 ty for sticking around and rereading my fic! And yeah HAHA I love using that tag
