Path of the Berserker

Princess Lunalah studied herself in the full-length mirror, turning slightly to get a view of her figure from the side. Her elegant robes were adorned with the imperial trim of beige, white and gold. Her crown, a sacred artifact which augmented her cultivation speed was nestled perfectly atop her head of golden locks. So too had she decorated her six Jade Urns with gold trim, which now hovered soundlessly behind her, serving as both a means to passively cultivate as well as to augment the techniques of her Sacred Soul arts.

It was perhaps a bit much for the backwater of Jurin Province.

But gracing even her lowest of subjects in person demanded nothing less.

It wasn’t often she made appearances outside the capital in physical form, but for this event, she wanted to see and feel the despair within young Silver Light’s heart when she finally made the announcement of the Iron Bull’s death.

His loss still saddened her.

But today her grief would be sated with malice.

“You look elegant as always, your majesty,” Ling Wei said, standing next to her.

“Summon the skiff,” she said, ignoring Ling Wei’s shameless pandering. Lunalah knew how well she looked. She didn’t need the likes of some lowly aide to confirm it. “I wish to arrive right before the trial begins and leave as soon as it is over.”

* * *

I pushed hard through the latest horde of Star Born demons, Frenzy and hatred burning through my soul. My Twin Dao was in full effect, tapping into the core of retribution that lay at the heart of [Everyone’s Pain] when it came to the people of Fhae I’ung.

They were gone now.

And so too was the embodiment of their life force—the spirit of Fhae I’ung herself.

All that was left.

Was me.

And my rage.

I cleaved through a monster that looked like a giant elephant with three sets of tusks and a trunk that ended with the mouth of a lamprey. Just the sight of the bizarre thing made my flesh crawl but thankfully my mind was focused more than ever.

I lost track of how many wounds I had now endured. My body was slick with both my blood and that of my foes, but I pressed on with [Indifference]. The martial cries of Blue Rose’s annunciated techniques was a constant presence within my ears, and my main means of ensuring she was still alive. She was relentless with her dagger sprays, finishing off and cutting down any stray demons that snuck past my axe.

The three-blind-mice and Wu Liang was still with us as well, running as close to me as possible to stay within the range of my [Sacred Soul Shield] but far away enough to not taste a stray swing of my axe. I’d kept my technique going strong, using the Frenzy generated from all my killing and my Dao, but still that wasn’t enough.

I had long lost track of time, but I had chugged down an entire canteen of Blue Lemonade already. Monitoring how much supply I had left became my only measure. Still, we pushed on. Close call after close call, but I didn’t care. My vision was tunnelling, my body numb. I was in a zone of madness and aggression, tempered only by the faint voices of my comrades every now and again. It was only when I heard Blue Rose screaming repeatedly that I finally paid attention to what was actually going on.

“Max Stop!”

I finally understood what she was saying and came to myself. I looked around. Surrounding me was a mountain of demon corpses, seeped in black blood. But that wasn’t what truly surprised me.

I looked up to find us now under a blanket of stars and the subtle red hue of the Bloodmoon. I immediately collapsed to my knees, breathing out a huge sigh of exhaustion and relief.

We’d done it.

We’d gotten past the worst part.

“How long has it been night?” I asked.

“For nearly an hour,” Wing Pho answered. “You were in such a frenzy. We didn’t think you would stop.”

I chuckled at his choice of words. “You got no idea, buddy.”

Muffled shouts came from the hog-tied Jei Su Long, but I paid him no mind.

“You guys alright?”

“Dead tired but alive thanks to you,” Wu Liang said. “I don’t know how you did it. You took a killing blow meant for me more than once.”

“That goes double for me,” Blue Rose said.

“Are you certain you are only within the Sacred Soul Realm?” Wing Pho said, staring at me through his Scholar glasses. “What you did today has made history.”

“Well, we won’t be able to tell any of it if we don’t get to the landing site,” I said, looking up at the stars. I studied them trying to get a bearing on our current position. “The slog through the Cursed Star demons was tougher than I thought. I figure we’re just over a third of the way there now.”

“A third?” Wing Pho said. “How will we make it? We have less than half the time left.”

“We’ll make it,” I said and reach for my second canteen of Blue Lemonade. As I gulped down the fiery liquid, I felt my Dantian replenish. I cycled the fresh, concentrated Frenzy and instantly my vigor and body felt restored.

Hot damn, I thought. This stuff was invincibility in a can.

“We can make up the time at night,” I said. “The last deployment would have landed by now.”

“Let’s pray they made it down safely,” Wing Pho said.

I chortled and kicked Jei Su Long in the ass, causing more muffled screams.

“With this bastard no longer messing shit up, I say they have a good chance,” I said. “All we got to do now is get there before they leave.”

“Can we do it in only 12 hours?” Wing Pho asked.

“We got no choice,” I said and charged my body with lightning. “From here on. Every chance we get. We fly.”

* * *

Fia’s stomach roiled with anxiety and the movements of the baby both as she readjusted her mummer’s robes. Her mother, Rhi Dong, and Yu Li, both fussed with her robes as well, constantly shifting them from side to side. Kel Zhi was there as well, but focused her attention on dressing her jian blades with the flower-covered flags that would soon serve as her extra sets of fans.

From within the changing room beneath the floor of the arena Fia could hear the muffled roars of the crowd gathering upstairs. She had arrived when the arena was empty, but now she could only imagine how many people had turned out for this trial now turned public event.

A knock came from the changing room door. “Fia are you ready? It’s time.”

The voice was that of her father, Hei Dong.

Fia looked to her mother nervously, biting her lip.

“Everything will be fine,” Rhi Dong said, pushing aside a stray lock of Fia’s silver hair. “He hasn’t noticed you yet and neither will anyone else. Once you have won the trial, we’ll reveal your little secret to him.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“I’m still worried about Max showing up in time,” Fia said, glancing down at her now hidden stomach. “I’m just a few weeks away now.”

“He’ll be here in time,” Kel Zhi said. “He wrote to me about that. Getting home before the baby is born is his only goal. Plus, it’s a full moon tonight. After the match I’ll try and make contact with him again. If he’s close I’m sure to reach him.”

Fia prayed it would be so.

“Okay,” she said. “I’m ready.”

“We’ll be cheering for you from the front lines,” Yu Li said. “Make those Bird Sisters pay.”

Fia smiled and nodded to her, the gusto in Yu Li’s voice filling her with fresh confidence and resolve.

I can do this, she thought. It’s just the bird sisters. I’ve beaten them a hundred times before.

Collecting her two fans and four jian blades, Fia opened the changing room door to find both her father Hei Dong and Jian Yi standing there, each of them dressed in their barrister robes. With all the excitement from the crowd, it was easy to forget that this was still a matter before the courts, but the reason for it became all too clear once she entered the floor of the arena with her father and Jian Yi by her side.

There, hovering high above the stadium was the largest and most ornate skiff she had ever seen. Banners of the imperial seal hung from it and upon its deck looked like what had to be a hundred or more, armed guards all dressed in imperial robes.

Just below it was another skiff that was equipped like a dais with three separate chairs. In one was the Warden, Lady Silver Tear, in another the High Magistrate, Yi Xhi Yen, but the third chair that sat in between them lay bare.

There was no question whom it was for, but as for why the Princess herself had chosen to attend the event was beyond her. The people in the crowd didn’t seem to mind though. The seats of the stadium were filled beyond capacity and below the floating Dais was a floatilla of smaller skiffs that lit up the night sky like strung lanterns.

On the floor of the arena, three figure stood already at its center.

The bird sisters.

The ladies Silver Hawk, Silver Dove and Silver Sparrow. Or as Fia had come to know them from childhood: Wi Shen, Fi Shen and Di Shen. They were dressed in their imperial robes instead of the normal garb of the Silver Leaf clan. It was yet another reminder of the nature of this match. They were representing the crown and not themselves.

Could that be why the Princess had decided to attend? she wondered.

Silver Hawk, ever the boldest of them, stepped forward with a smirk on her lips. “We didn’t think you’d even show, little Fia. And what the hell is that which you are wearing? Have you come to entertain us as a clown?”

All three of them burst into their cackling laughs.

Fia bit her lip, her hand balling into a fist.

“I’ll remind you that your contention is with me, Vice Wardens,” her father, Hei Dong said. “The Lady Silver Light is here as my proxy.”

“And I am here as the former vice warden’s counsel,” Jian Yi said, cutting in before any of them could respond. “As you are all here as mere proxies for the crown, I suggest you refrain from making direct comments to my client or his proxy and instead wait for your services to be called upon by the magistrate. You are here to do your jobs as mere public servants today. I suggest you adhere to just that, least you find yourselves in contempt.”

Silence fell as Silver Hawk’s mouth fell open, but nothing came out.

Fia nearly laughed in her face, but suppressed her own reaction with a smile. Her father did the same, but let out a chuckle.

Dumbasses, Fia thought. Or at least that’s what Max would have called them.

And thank goodness for Jian Yi. Her tongue was as quick and as sharp as her wit.

The loud banging of a gavel resounded throughout the arena and Fia looked up to see the High Magistrate, Yi Xhi Yen had risen from her seat and had taken a position at the head of the dais.

The crowd settled until the only voice that could be heard was that of the High Magistrate when she finally addressed the assembly. “I hereby call this trial of martial combat to order,” she said. “Will the accused step forward.”

Hei Dong did so with his hands behind his back.

“My client is here, your honor,” Jian Yi said. “Master Hei Dong, former Vice Warden and member of the Silver Leaf Clan.”

“Master Hei Dong, you are charged with tax evasion of the highest order, a crime that has a penalty of 25 years imprisonment. As a formal writ by the crown has been served against you, which you have contested through martial means, who now do you send to stand as your defense?”

“High Magistrate,” Jian Yi said. “We wish to contest the charges via his daughter, the Lady Silver Light.”

Fia stepped forward and bowed.

“Very well,” Magistrate Yi Xhi Yen said. “Master Hei Dong, as already proposed and agreed by yourself, the crown has elected to nominate the three Vice Wardens, Lady Silver hawk, Lady Silver Sparrow and Lady Silver Dove to answer your contestation.”

“Our proxy stands ready, your honor,” Jian Yi said and then turned about to her a little smile.

Fia smiled back but could feel the anxiety boiling her insides.

The High Magistrate then took a step back. “As this is a writ filed by the crown, it would normally be the role of her majesty’s representative, the Seventh Warden, Lady Silver Tear, to discharge the responsibility to commence the trial. However, people of Jurin Province, we are graced with a special privilege. Tonight, the highest representative of the imperial crown is within our very midst. I now acquiesce to her authority to commence this trial by combat. Please all be standing, for the arrival of Her Divine Majesty, Ruler of Planet Terra and its surrounding domains, Third Princess Lunalah, Two Hundred and Fifty-Seventh heir to the Imperial Yee Dynasty.”

* * *

At the mention of her title, Princess Lunalah stepped from off her imperial skiff and descended with the slightest burst of Qi. The crowd was on their feet, cheering and clapping as the imperial anthem began to play.

She circled her six jade urns behind her, adding to the pageantry of her entrance, creating a sight befitting of the most powerful cultivator on the planet. She waved elegantly to her subjects, greeting them all with a pleasant smile.

But within her, her heart was ablaze with hate and envy.

She could barely look at the girl.

The Lady Silver Light.

Everything about her irked Lunalah.

Her beauty.

Her youth.

Her cursed naiveite.

But today she would put and end them all.

“Cherishes citizens of the realm, and natives alike,” Lunalah said in a Qi augmented voice as she touched down on the dais. “I greet you in the name of my father, the Great Soul Emperor Yin Yee.”

At the mention of her father’s name, Lunalah performed a small head bow and her subjects mirrored her action with deep bows of their own.

“Before I perform my official duties in commencing this trial by combat, I have an announcement to make.” Lunalah paused to retrieve one of the official letters from Du Gok Bhong from her robes. “It is well known that this year was one of history for both this planet and Jurin province. For the first time in fourteen years, this planet had the privilege of sending a royal tribute to the prestigious Legionnaire Academy of Du Gok Bhong. And it is because of that great achievement that I chose to be here amongst you today to issue this very special announcement.”

* * *

Fia’s heart leapt.

She looked up at the Princess and to her royal skiff beyond.

Elation filled her.

The princess had come because of Max?

It could only mean one thing. A smile spread across her lips. The timing made sense. Max did arrive on time or perhaps only slightly delayed, but he was never on that transport vessel in the sky. He must have been transported via the Princesses very own means as a reward for his success.

Fia bounced on her toes, trying not to look excited.

Now it made sense why the princess chose to attend the trial personally.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

She was going to reveal Max as their hero returned from the Hell Worlds and he would easily step in her place to win this trial. Fia closed her eyes, thanking the heavens for working things out so perfectly.

I should never have doubted you, she thought.

She could barely wait.

Where are you, Max?

The princess paused a moment more before lifting a piece of paper to eye level and then began reciting from it.

“Honorable Third Princess Lunalah, I President Tzu Li Zen of Du Gok Bhong academy do salute you in the name of your father, the Great Soul Emperor Yin Yee. It is with the deepest of regret that I have the sad duty of informing you, that your tribute, the Iron Bull has been killed upon the Hell world of Fhae I’ung.”

Silence fell.

Fia’s countenance fell with it.

And then her heart fell right through the floor.

Her breath stopped.

Her mind froze.

No…she must not have heard her right.

The world spun as her knees grew weak.

Max can’t be dead!

Max, you can’t be dead!

A violent gut-wrenching cry ripped the air and it took her a moment more to realize that it had come from her own throat. A throat now raw with grief and disbelief. Tears blurred her eyes as she looked for Kel Zhi in the crowd.

She found her standing next to her mother and Yu Li.

It didn’t make sense.

She had sensed him, hadn’t she?

Kel Zhi stared back at her with unsure eyes, a slight shake of her head.

Fia’s stomach grew sick with grief as the realization hit her again. It was the polar opposite of what she had envisioned just moments ago. But in some sad way, it made far more sense than the fantasy she had quickly concocted on the spot.

There was a reason she hadn’t heard from Max for weeks.

Why Kelsey couldn’t place where he was.

Why the princess had come.

Max…was gone.

No…she still couldn’t believe it.

Max… was gone?

* * *

Lunalah reveled in the anguished cries that came from the center of the arena as Silver Light fell to her knees in shock and grief. She drank in every second of it. Every ounce of the girl’s heart ache replacing that within her own soul.

Feel the loss, you stupid little girl, she thought as a smile creased her face with delight. Feel the loss of what you should never have had.

“Your majesty?” the Lady Silver Tear whispered next to her. “Is this true?”

She chortled. “Yes, Warden. You need not fear your impending duel with the Iron Bull any longer. He has failed his mission. Your position to rule this putrid little province is secure.”

Silver Tear grimaced before glancing down into the arena. “And what of her?”

Lunalah’s hatred and anger stirred as she watched Silver Light wallow and sob on the floor of the arena.

“Carry out my instructions as planned,” she said. “Your nieces should find her a much easier opponent now.”

Silver Tear smiled. “I am sure they will.”

“I hope they enjoy it,” Lunalah said and then stepping center stage of the dais, she raised her Qi augmented voice again. “To the Vice Wardens, I expect you to carry out your duties to the full extent of the law. Show no mercy to those who seek to break it.”

They turned and bowed to her and then each of them dropped into a low, ready stance. They encircled Silver Light’s prone form like a trio of jackals about to pounce and rip apart their prey.

Lunalah couldn’t wait to witness it all.

“Oh… and to the betrothed of the Iron Bull,” she said flippantly, purposefully posing it as a stray after thought. “Condolences. Best of luck in your fight.”

She then leered at the girl as Silver Light stared up at her perplexed.

“Commence!”