Path of the Berserker

General Gong read the status report and grimaced.

Behind him, Governor Tai Su Long argued with Captain Li Jeng.

The results were certain, as far as he could ascertain. The skiff due to return from the deployment was overdue by thirty minutes with no trace of contact at all. A heaviness hung in his heart.

All those souls lost.

But of course, for the governor, only one mattered to him.

“Must I make it an order?” Tai Su Long said agitated. “Send another skiff! My nephew must be found.”

Li Jeng, to his credit, handled the governor with the upmost professionalism.

He bowed with an apologetic frown. “Would that we could, governor, but the protocols strictly forbit it.”

“To hell with the protocols!” Tai Su Long shouted. “You have a member of the royal family down there!”

Something suddenly snapped inside General Gong and he turned about swiftly to face the governor. “Master Tai Su Long, I’ll remind you that your nephew was there by choice and as a legionnaire, not a member of your royal house. We have lost twenty legionnaires today, plus a pilot and our protocols prevent us from losing any more.”

“I know the damn protocols, general!” Tai Su Long shouted. “I am giving the order to override them!”

“We have done so twice already with allowing your nephew to accompany the skiff!” Gong shouted back. “And we have witnessed nothing but tragedy as a result!”

Tai Su Long’s eyes widened with insult. “What are you insinuating? Choose your next words carefully, general!”

Gong indeed did just that. Tai Su Long was a powerful man, but even he was not above his own station. Still, he would need to demonstrate it for him plainly so that he would understand.

“We must respect the experience of what has come before us and learn the lessons thereof,” Gong said. “A totally failed deployment is an indication that whatever resistance encountered on the surface was too strong for even a platoon of legionnaires to withstand.”

“Well send a battalion then!”

“Governor, sending another ship for a rescue will have the same result. And a platoon of legionnaires is far stronger than a battalion of normal soldiers. This theory has been tested for centuries, which is why the protocols exists. I am sorry to say, Governor, but your nephew has been lost. Along with twenty other legionnaires and I remind you, a full platoon of legionnaires before that. One could only imagine the report I would have to offer Princess Rheutera, if I lost a full battalion as well.”

Tai Su Long’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything.

Then, as if the reality finally hit him, he let out a groan. “What am I going to tell my sister? Jei Su Long was her first born.”

Gong could not say that he sensed any kind of grief or true remorse from the man. Perhaps his own involvement in causing his nephew’s death prevented him from doing so. But at least there was acceptance and for Gong, that was all that mattered now.

“Tell her that he died a legionnaire,” Gong said. “They all did. The last deployment as well.”

A sudden malevolence entered his eyes. “Not the Iron Bull. Do not conflate the loss of the previous deployment with this once. My nephew put down that traitorous dog. He should be doubly honored for saving the empire that time too.” A look of resolve then entered his gaze as he stared off into the distance. “Yes, my nephew shall be honored. I will see to it that the president does so publicly and then, once I return to the core worlds, I will break the news to his parents personally.” ŕ

Li Jeng bowed. “We shall away at once then Governor. Our condolences for your loss.”

Tai Su Long merely grimaced again. “Not a word of this leaves here until I return. I don’t want his parents finding out by some other means.”

“Understood Governor,” Gong said, and then breathed a sigh of relief when Tai Su Long finally turned and left.

He looked to Li Jeng. “Well handled.”

Li Jeng nodded. “Yes. But a heavy price this was. At least our dealings with the Su Long family will be over with for now.”

Gong let out a scoff. “That rotten boy’s karma caused all of this, I’m sure. I pray for all those lost souls down there. The Iron Bull especially.”

Both he and Li Jeng remained silent for a moment.

“Perhaps it was this Hell World that was cursed,” Gong said eventually. “Fhae I’ung. The next mission will be our final deployment to it, thank the heavens.”

“A full reset,” Li Jeng said. “We’ll loop back to the initial drop zone for the final run. Let’s hope the last deployment has better luck on ground already tread upon.”

“I pray so,” Gong said. “After two losses like this, President Tzu Li Zen will need a win indeed to keep within the good graces of the empire.”

* * *

Princess Lunalah trembled as she read the letter in her hands.

Having arrived by special courier and marked with a royal seal, she had immediately taken it to be another correspondence from her half-sister, Princess Ul’vera.

But this was a letter of a different kind and from a sister she didn’t expect.

Third Princess Lunalah,

I know you not personally.

But I now know that your shame has no bounds.

How dare you attempt to perpetrate such a selfish and traitorous act?

Your showboating tribute, the Iron Bull, has not only embarrassed himself in my court, having disgracefully won an exhibition match by unsavory means, but he has further disgraced your planet by having now committed an act so vile, it can easily be considered treason against the empire.

And one sanctioned by your very own pen.

Lunalah paused at the same point in the letter again, hesitant to read further.

She knew who her elder half-sister, Rheutera was, but she had never met her. She was far out of her realm when it came to status, further even than Princess Ul’Vera in that sense. Ul’vera had warned her that Rheutera might write to her regarding that exhibition match, but now she seemed to be hinting at something else.

Something that she was somehow responsible for.

She read further.

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I have attached a copy of the bloodied letter that was found on the corpse of your so-called prodigy tribute.

Her breath caught and she read the line again.

Corpse?

What was this letter saying?

She read on as her heart began to race. She turned the page and saw something was indeed attached to it, a transcription of the very letter she had written to the Iron Bull weeks ago. Her world came crashing down as she re-read it quickly. The subtle inuendo of the words mocked her like a slap in the face, knowing that someone like Rheutera had read them.

But what did this mean?

Corpse?

Her mind still couldn’t comprehend it.

You clearly instructed your tribute to murder his entire platoon for the selfish gain of your planet. And so he tried.

But failed.

His death came at the hands of one of my subjects, a young master of the Twin River sect and a fellow legionnaire.

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“No!” Lunalah cried out. “No, it’s not true!”

He’s not dead! she said in her head over and over again. He couldn’t have died!

She read the words again and her heart shattered, a ragged sob escaping her lips. Shock and horror turned her stomach. She felt sick. Faint.

No…This had to be a lie.

A fabrication.

“Your majesty, are you alright?”

The muffled words came from behind her closed office door and a second later Ling Wei poked her head inside. “Your Majest—?”

“Go away, Ling Wei!” she cried.

Shame and embarrassment burned her face and her vision blurred with tears.

It had been over a decade since she had cried like a damn mortal.

No way could she do that in front of Ling Wei.

“Go!”

Ling Wei rushed out of her office, closing the door.

Lunalah let out a sob openly then, unable to contain the shock and grief ripping apart her soul.

Why? She thought. Why has this occurred?

Her plans unraveled by some lowly young master?

How?

Visions of the Iron Bull returning triumphantly to push aside his betrothed and take her as his own, fueled Lunalah’s grief-stricken mind. She screamed in rage and frustration, lifting her desk overhead before smashing it into the marble floor. She struck out at the walls next, unleashing her tears and screams as she tore holes through the stone. She pounded on them again and again until finally she lost all strength along with her will to even live anymore.

“How could you die?”she whispered with bitter tears of desperation and loss.“You’re all I had to hope for…”

She finally collapsed to the ground sobbing.

Her Iron Bull.

Her hope for love.

Her hope for everything.

Now gone.

She still couldn’t accept it.

Didn’t want to believe it.

But then why else would she have written this?

Lunalah finally reached for the letter again.

Half of it still lay unread.

The cavaliering bitch Rheutera had dared to make light of her loss, but what else was she accusing her of?

Anger quickly matched the grief in her heart as Lunalah read on.

You should count yourself lucky that his uncle, so happens to be one of my governors and brought me this letter discretely. If I were to share it with our father, who knows what would become of your pretty little head.

But I will have mercy on you for now, little sister.

This shall remain between only us, so long as you comply with my wishes.

As for what those are, I still have yet to decide.

You have so little to offer.

But when you do, rest assured, it shall be mine.

Second Princess Rheutera

Lunalah balled up the letter and threw it across the room.

“Damn bitch!”

She began sobbing again.

Why was her life so cursed?

To have come so close and to now have not only lost her love, but to now be accused of treason and blackmailed by her own sister? She released another frustrated cry and suddenly felt a soft hand upon her back.

She jumped startled, until she saw it was Ling Wei again.

“How did you get in here?” she spat. “I told you to leav—!”

“Your majesty created new ways of access, I’m afraid,” Ling Wei said.

Lunala looked and saw in her grief that she had indeed collapsed one of the walls.

Ling Wei handed her a handkerchief and Lunalah took it wordlessly, immediately drying her eyes. “You should not see me like this.”

“Like what, your majesty? I see nothing out of the usual.”

Lunalah paused. Ling Wei was nothing but loyal.

Thank goodness it was only her within earshot.

“Ensure no one else enters and have my office repairs addressed discreetly. I am clearly unwell and will retire to the palace.”

“Understood, your majesty.”

Lunalah pulled herself from the floor and was about to leave when a thought occurred.

“Ling Wei,” she said. “Has there been any official correspondence received from the Legionnaire academy?”

“Concerning the Iron Bull?”

“Any,” she said.

“I would not expect to see anything until perhaps a week from now when the normal transport carriers arrive. Are you expecting something?”

“Monitor all incoming parcels for anything from Du Gok Bhong, even those addressed to the Lady Silver Light. Understood?”

Ling Wei raised a brow. “Will do, your majesty.”

Lunalah could barely bring herself to care about the stupid little girl anymore, but with this threat now over her head from Rheutera, who knew what the academy itself might be saying about the Iron Bull’s demise.

She couldn’t risk anything being known about the details.

And perhaps it was only fitting that she, his true destined, would learn of his death first.

Not that clueless little girl.

“Are you alright, your majesty? You still look troubled.”

Lunalah looked at Ling Wei and hesitated.

She could see sincere concern behind her eyes.

The ache in her heart yearned for comfort.

From anyone.

Even her.

“The Iron Bull is dead,” she said simply. “Killed upon the Hell Worlds.”

Ling Wei let out a gasp, but Lunalah couldn’t tell if it was genuine or not.

“I am so sorry to learn of this news,” Ling Wei said with a bow. “Such a terrible loss for our nation.”

It was a loss worth far more than that, but she didn’t correct her. Lunalah had revealed far too much to Ling Wei already with her actions. The worst thing she could do now, was confirm them with her words.

“Shall I inform the Warden of Jurin Province?” she said. “The Lady Silver Tear was going through much preparation for the Iron Bull’s eventual return and their impending duel.”

Lunalah had nearly forgotten about all that. “No… we shall keep this quiet until I have received official notification from the Academy.” The last thing she needed was rumors spreading. “As I said, I wish to vet all communications first.”

“Should his betrothed not be informed?” Ling Wei said. “She is herself preparing for a duel of her own.”

His betrothed has been informed, Lunalah wanted to say, but those kinds of thoughts, which once brought the joy of fantasy, merely pricked her soul with anguish now.

“What duel?” she asked.

“A court challenge from the Warden’s three nieces whom she made vice wardens,” Ling Wei said. “It has become quite the public event. The entire city will be in attendance.”

Lunalah’s heart waxed cold.

This was likely the Warden’s doing, carrying out her instructions to make the girl’s life as miserable as possible before her demise. But the Iron Bull would no longer be returning. So what was the point in any of it now?

So much preparation and all for naught, she thought.

The emptiness of it filled her only with hate.

Anger and hatred for everything.

For everyone.

Why should that little girl get the right to grieve him, as well? She’d done nothing to deserve him.

A new thought twisted its way through her grieving mind.

One that brought her solaced if not a small sense of revenge.

Against the universe.

Against everything that was conspiring against her.

“I shall inform her personally,” Lunalah said. “When is this duel of hers?”

“Two weeks, your majesty,” she said.

That would coincide with any official correspondence from Du Gok Bhong. She could vet the information then and easily pass it off as genuine concern. But truly, the loss in her heart could only be quelled by inflicting the same pain she felt on another.

And Lunalah would deliver that pain via the most egregious means possible.

The thought returned the faintest of smiles to her lips.

A bitter grimace of hate and satisfaction.

“Do not reveal my purpose. Communicate to the Warden that I only wish to observe the proceedings.”

Ling Wei nodded.

“I will do so, your majesty.”

* * *

The Bloodmoon was hanging low in the sky and my Frenzy reserves were hanging even lower. We’d been at it for two hours nonstop, blasting across the hellish sky where we could and then landing to fend off surging hordes of demons on the ground when the tentacle-rays and other flying monstrosities got too thick to [Lightning Walk] through.

I wished for anything that I could just grab Blue Rose and [Ride the Lightning] with her to get back to the tunnel in a matter of minutes, but we had Wing Pho, plus Jei Su Long’s unconscious ass and his two cronies to worry about.

With the constant fighting and flying, we hadn’t even had chance to discuss why he was needed to be kept alive yet, but I trusted Blue. She was a hell of a lot smarter than me and had been on the outside to boot.

We barely had chance to communicate enough for me to learn the two other Tributes names were Wu Liang and Song De. I knew them by face, and recalled they were already Black Robes when I first got to Du Gok Bhong, which meant they were on the slower side when it came to progression.

I had arrived a Brown Robe and had surpassed them and was still ahead of them by a couple of rotations by the time I deployed. That meant when it came to surviving, they were closer to token legionnaires like Wing Pho than true ones. Blue Rose had to keep an extra eye out on them as they carried Jei Su Long, using her Qi Dagger techniques to cut down huge swarms of demons from over-running them.

It was surprising to see how much Blue Rose herself had grown. A couple months ago she was on the brink of insanity under the Bloodmoon’s Demonic Qi, but now she was thriving. Part of that was perhaps due to the small barrier technique I could sense from Wing Pho. It seemed to be a weaker version of my [Soul Shield] technique that ran on Qi instead of Frenzy.

That proved helpful when we would stop to catch a breather and replenish our reserves for the next hop into the sky. It gave me a chance to save some Frenzy by turning off my [Soul Shield] technique. It was from its protection that primarily gave us the ability to run across the Hellish landscape without going completely insane. After my recovery, I found that the radius of my aura had expanded substantially, now covering a good fifteen-foot radius where it had only been about five before.

Still, even with it, traversing the Hell World was a savage gauntlet and I could already sense the Dark Frenzy building within them, slowly poisoning their souls. I could shield them from the demonic rays of the Bloodmoon, but I couldn’t cleanse them from the Dark Frenzy.

That meant we needed to get to a source of aetherite before too long.

I put in most of the work, cleaving through the vast swarms of endless demons with my [Lightning] charged techniques. Wu Liang and Song De were Blade Masters and acted as a defensive phalanx to take care of stray demons that got to close. Blue Rose played scout, popping into the air with her [Shadow Step] techniques to get a quick vantage above the endless sea of demons, while at the same time looking out for Wing Pho.

Jei Su Long, as per normal, was good for nothing and stayed unconscious the entire time.

And that was just fine with me.

We were a rag tag team of mix-matched talent, but I shouted the commands to make it all work smoothly together. I didn’t realize it until now, but over the last couple of weeks, while hunting for food on the surface, I had developed a handler’s sixth sense for the general ecosystem of the Hell World. I knew which types of demons roamed with others, and how to spot the tell tales signs of the behemoths that roamed the scorched earth.

We were far too weak to handle one of those.

With precision and patience, I navigated us through the harsh terrain, choosing the paths that provided the least resistance. After another hour I finally saw a familiar landscape. We were close. I took a quick detour to track down a couple of scorpions and when I quickly killed them and slung them on my back, Blue Rose looked at me questioningly.

“What’s that for?” she said.

“Dinner.”

Wing Pho looked appalled. “What?”

“Come on, we’re nearly there.”

I blasted through the last swarms of demons surrounding the tunnel entrance and dove inside. I warned them about the last step and together we floated down into the cavern. I’d never been so grateful for refuge before.

After the constant exertion and adrenaline, the ability to finally just stop caused us all to collapse. I pulled them towards the small aetherite crystal. It still had its healing properties, but I couldn’t sense Fhae I’ung’s voice anymore.

This was the remnants of her core.

No different than the sliver of lightning core still tucked below my Dantian.

Weariness overcame me immediately.

Fighting and moving like that had been even more taxing than surviving my initial night on the Hell World. I was just about to ask Blue Rose what the hell was going on, but under the effects of the crystal she had immediately passed out along with everyone else.

“Well shit,” I muttered, realizing I was the only one still awake.

It was a testament to just how much stronger I had become by being down in this hole.

It had been an intense work out for me, no doubt, but for them, it was an ordeal.

One that had perhaps nearly killed them, and certainly would have it I wasn’t there.

I got with the program and settled in for some rest myself.

They had to recover from the effects of the Dark Frenzy before we could go any further.

But when we woke, we had a lot of stuff to figure out.