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The elder of the two brothers who takes the name Sub-Zero, called Bì Hán (Chinese: 避寒; pinyin: Bìhán), [3] was introduced in the first game where he participates in the titular tournament as he was ordered by the Lin Kuei to kill the host and take his treasure.[4] He fails to accomplish his mission, and is killed by the specter , who sought to avenge his own death.[5] Bi-Han then becomes the undead .[6][7]

In the direct sequel Mortal Kombat II, Bi-Han's place is taken by his brother Kuai Liang (Chinese: 快 涼; pinyin: Kuàiliáng), whose codename originally known as Tundra prior assuming his older brother's codename to honor him. Upon his brother's death in the first tournament and the survival of Shang Tsung, Kuai Liang[3] is sent by the Lin Kuei to complete his brother's unfinished task.[5] In , the younger Sub- Zero escapes from the Lin Kuei who wanted to transform their warriors into .[8] They program three assassins to hunt and terminate Sub-Zero (one of which being his old friend, , who failed to escape), who by this time had received a vision from and agreed to join the rebellion against a new threat.[9]

In addition to the current Sub-Zero, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and Mortal Kombat Trilogy included a playable character known as "Classic Sub-Zero".[10] His biography states that although he was believed to have died after the first Mortal Kombat, he returned to try again and assassinate Shang Tsung.[11] However, his ending states that he is not Sub-Zero, but an unidentified warrior who was missing from the previous tournament.[12] InMortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, which serves as a prequel to the first Mortal Kombat, sorcerer hires the Lin Kuei to find an ancient amulet.[13] After the first Sub-Zero delivers the amulet to Quan Chi, he is sent back to the Netherrealm by Raiden upon learning it is the key to releasing the god .[14] Sub-Zero regains the amulet while fighting Shinnok and returns it to Raiden.[15]

In , Raiden once again summons Sub-Zero to assist in the defense of Earthrealm against the former Elder God Shinnok.[16] In the meantime, Sub-Zero fights Scorpion, who was told by Quan Chi that the Lin Kuei killed his family, but he leaves him upon discovering Quan Chi was the actual person responsible.[17]

In Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Sub-Zero defeats in a fight for leadership of the Lin Kuei Clan.[18] He also meets Frost, his apprentice, and takes her to fight alongside Earthrealm's warriors against the alliance of Shang Tsung and Quan Chi.[19]

In Mortal Kombat: Deception, Sub-Zero joins Shujinko's group to defeat the new threat in Onaga. He also confronts his corrupted older brother, now the undead Noob Saibot, across the game.[6][7] In both Deadly Allianceand Mortal Kombat: Unchained, Sub-Zero comes to encounter Frost for the Lin Kuei's leadership, but he remains victorious.[20][21] In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon 's Konquest mode, Sub-Zero faces the warrior Taven, who invaded the Lin Kuei Palace. Both eventually decide to ally to stop the invading Noob Saibot and Smoke. After the invaders' defeat, Sub-Zero stays with the unconscious Noob Saibot to find a way to save him.[22]

In Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, which reprises the events from Mortal Kombat II, Sub-Zero first appears as a character, but then allies with the protagonists and for a short time during the search of his older brother. He is last seen pursuing Noob Saibot in the Netherrealm.[23] Mortal Kombat: Fire & Ice, which would star Scorpion and Sub-Zero in co-operative , was cancelled when Paradox Development, creators of Shaolin Monks, "couldn’t do it in time and under budget."[24]