A realm once ruled by the Dragon King, whose army was the most powerful that realm had ever seen. Dying prematurely, a new ruler, Shao Kahn, emerged, and he began his conquest of other realms, absorbing the likes of Edenia. Although each conquered realm expanded Outworld, it was a wasteland, populated by mutants and other races loyal to the Emperor. He kept aspects of the old realms and twisted them into grotesque new forms. The Living Forest was once a place which offered peace and tranquility to its travellers. In Outworld, it became a sinister and deadly part, inhabited by lethal plant life. After Kahn's defeat at the hands of Earthrealm warriors, many of the realms returned back into their original states. However, Outworld itself remained, and Kahn struggled to maintain his grip.