WARNING: The following contains spoilers for X of Swords: Creation by Jonathan Hickman, Tini Howard, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia and VC's Clayton Cowles, on sale now.
In Marvel's most recent event "X of Swords" the X-Men travel to Otherworld to rescue one of their members. Instead of their captured ally, they find an invading army led by Apocalypse's First Horsemen, who also happen to be the Marvel villain's children. While the two sides fought below the Starlight Citadel, the intersection of realities and the domain of Saturnyne, the Omniversal Majestrix of the Starlight Citadel and protector of the Omniverse. That title does not mean she is pure of heart however.
While watching the brewing war below her residence in X of Swords: Creation #1, Saturnyne intervened, preventing the two sides from continuing the conflict. Demanding that the groups play according to her rules, she gives both groups the an alternative that is eerily similar to premise behind the Mortal Kombat video game franchise.
Having seen an opportunity to limit the bloodshed, Saturnyne asks the Horsemen if they would be willing to participate in ten duels with the X-Men in three days' time. Should they win these fights, the Arakko Horde would be free to invade Earth without the need for Saturnyne to intervene. The Horsemen agreed and with little other choice, the X-Men also agreed to fight on Otherworld's behalf to prevent the Horsemen from breaking through into their world. But while the deal seems straightforward it bears remarkable similarities to the Mortal Kombat franchise, more specifically, the tournament for which it was named.
In the realm of Mortal Kombat, the Mortal Kombat Tournament was devised by the franchise's Elder Gods, the most powerful beings in their reality. It was designed so that there would be a fair way for powerful realms to expand into other dimensions and to limit the bloodshed that would ensue when they tried to invade. The rules of the Mortal Kombat Tournament are fairly simple: Every generation, Earth must gather its greatest warriors to fight the champions of Outworld, another dimension seeking to invade and conquer the Earth. If Outworld's champion win ten consecutive matches in a row, that dimension would have the right to invade Earth with no repercussions from the Elder Gods. But if their champions' winning streak is broken, Earth is be safe from their invasion.
The similarities between Mortal Kombat and "X of Swords" are palpable. Saturnyne's powers as ruler of the Starlight Citadel give her the same kind almost-divine weight as the Elder Gods, and she put that power on full display by freezing an entire army, several X-Men and four of Apocalypse's children. To add insult to injury, she even shrunk one of the Horsemen down to a child's size to emphasize her total power over them. In effect, Saturnyne is this tournament's Elder Goddess, making sure the rules are followed lest the participants face her wrath. That being said, Saturnyne's desire to intercede only extended so far as preventing the Citadel from being attacked. Her end goal is to ensure that her home is safe, but she will do nothing to stop the Arakko Horde from invading Earth should they achieve victory in the coming days
While the precise rules of the Mortal Kombat tournament or the procedure for subsequent invasions haven't always been followed, there are still some open questions about X of Swords' duels. Saturnyne didn't state outright how many matches each side needed to win, and she didn't mention what would happen if there was a tie.
Still, the X-Men may have their work cut out for them. These Horsemen have Apocalypse's blood running through their veins, and they have, in their own words, survived horrors that could break even someone like their father. With their ability to resurrect their fallen compromised for the tournament, the X-Men are about to face the fight of their lives.
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