Shang Tsung

Shang Tsung is the secondary antagonist of the Mortal Kombat series. Specifically, he is the main antagonist of Mortal Kombat (1992), one of the main antagonists of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (the other being Quan Chi), as well as the secondary antagonist of both Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks and Mortal Kombat (2011), and a key antagonist in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. He is Shao Kahn's right-hand-man and the nemesis of its de-facto protagonist, Liu Kang. He is a powerful and deadly sorcerer, virtually unmatched in his mastery of sorcery, and a shapeshifter who consumes souls in order to sustain himself.

History
Much of Shang Tsung's origins remains a mystery, but it is speculated that he was human at one point. He competed in the first Mortal Kombat tournament, but cheated in one of the battles. Because of this, the Elder Gods (the highest power in Mortal Kombat) sentenced him to death. However, Shang was saved by a timely alliance with vicious Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn.

Mortal Kombat
At the behest of his master, Shang Tsung took over the Mortal Kombat tournament, changing its rules to allow the emperor to conquer the Earthrealm through it. If he achieved a winning streak of 10 tournaments, he would be allowed to conquer Earth.

Mortal Kombat II
After being defeated by Liu Kang, Shang Tsung begged his master Shao Kahn for one more chance to achieve the last victory on the tournament. Kahn, out of pity, grants him his request, restoring the sorcerer former youth and power, so he could attract the Earth's warriors to certain death at Kahn's hands.