‘Mortal Kombat Legends; Snow Blind’ Ending, Explained: What Does Kronika’s Hourglass Have to Do with It?
‘Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms‘ ended with Liu Kang saving the realms by becoming a vessel for the gods and ultimately defeating the One Being. In the next movie, ‘Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind,’ we see the aftermath of the defeat of champions, and Earthrealm is left looking desolated and post-apocalyptic. Power-hungry Kano is hell-bent on taking over Earthrealm with the aid of the Black Dragon to terrorize and tax the small surviving towns. Immediately we see how they have been able to take control of a larger part of the universe, considering how Kano has always been a side or background character in the previous movie.
With everyone ‘presumed’ dead, who is the focus in the ‘Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind’ installment?
A lesser-known hero but fan favorite, Kenshi Takahashi refuses to kneel before King Kano, and as punishment, he faces the wrath of the Black Dragon, almost leading to his death. Kenshi would have to learn discipline and advance from a novice to a more than competent warrior humbled by adversity and get his revenge. During his journey, he is betrayed and loses his eyesight. We also get to see what Sub-Zero has been up to years later after the downfall of Earthrealm.
Kenshi is a blind swordsman from Japan first seen in the games, and his origin story is stated that he loses his sight to Kano, but this is rewritten in his origin story. In ‘Snow Blind,’ he still lacks discipline and is trained by non-other than the famous retired Kuai Liang. The movie doesn’t change this.
‘Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind’ is an origin story with young Kenshi being a focal point. This is a refreshing change of tone. Kenshi’s desperate need for a master forces old Kuai Liang (Sub-Zero) out of retirement. Although Kuai Liang has sworn an oath not to use his power, he is forced to break his oath after Kano captures Kenshi. This is when we get a powerful scene where Kuai brings out a spear summoning Scorpion from hell. A song of ice and fire. He had reached a point of no return, and we watched the comfortable life he had built burn to the ground.
The incredible third act kicks in with Kenshi mastering his sword, and there is a team-up with Sub-Zero and Scorpion, a reminisce of the previous movie. One after the other, Torr, Error Black, Ferra, Kira, Drahmin, Tremor, and Kabal all fall. After a grueling confrontation, Kano manages to escape, which leads Sub-zero to chase him through a portal. Here, it is discovered that Kano has, in his possession, Kronica’s Hourglass. Sub-zero throws Kano in the Hourglass mechanism, ultimately ending him. Things are quickly put into perspective.
Who is Kronika, and what does her hourglass have to do with ‘Mortal Kombat Legends; Snow Blind’?
According to the Mortal Kombat Wiki, Kronika is a Titanes, the keeper of time, and has a higher rank than an Elder god. Kronika can manipulate time and past events. She is the only one capable of changing time on a large scale. Although she is a god, she resembles a human with an ethereal blue glow. The Hourglass, famously known as ‘Kronika’s Hourglass,’ is the focal point of Kronica’s power and the relic she uses to control time. Her powers include changing past events, transporting people through time, and even colliding points of the past with the present.
It isn’t explained how but Kano somehow got in control of Konika’s Hourglass and was able to twist time into what he desired. It might not seem like a big deal, but it is! This means that there is a huge change in the lore.
It has been recorded that Kronika and Kronica alone had the power to control the Hourglass for eons, but this completely changes the lore and shows a regular mortal controlling the relic. This furthermore explains how Kano has been able to keep Shang Tsung in check. He who controls time controls the world. That ended when Sub-Zero defeated Kano and toppled the building that contained the portal that led to Kronika’s Hourglass to the ground.
What happens next?
Sub-Zero faces the consequence of breaking his oath, and he has to follow Scorpion to Hell (Nether-realm). We know that in between the events of ‘Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms’ and ‘Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind,’ we know that Quan Chi resurrected Scorpion, and he might have been sent back to Nether Realm as a result of Kano’s time tinkering. We can also assume that Kenshi will take the mantle of Sub-Zero. We also know that Shao Khan’s missing body was already foreshadowing the future Mortal Kombat movies. We don’t have to wait long because the next movie is expected to come out in 2023.
