Path of the Berserker

Hein barely looked at the infant as he approached her with a cunning smile. Close behind him was the one-handed girl, Zu Tien, and their landlord, Li Fet.

“So lovely to see you again, Yu Li,” Hein said. “And still radiant as ever.”

Yu Li ignored his advances as she continued to bounce Su Ling on her hip.

“Young Master Hein,” she greeted him formally with a bow, but nothing more.

Hein’s eyes narrowed. “I hope you have come prepared to make atonement for your errors, Yu Li. I will of course be merciful to you if you do.”

Despite the anger in her heart, Yu Li forced herself not to defy him outright. She smiled instead. “I am sure today you will get everything that is owed to you, Young Master Hein.”

The irritated expression on his face was worth holding back her anger for.

“I’m sure I will,” he said with disdain. He then glanced about the square where the entire community was gathered all dressed in their finest of robes. “I’m sure all of you will be prepared to face your fate once the outcome of this duel is decided.”

He then blinked and looked up in shock at Gui Zu who was standing by her side, only just noticing him apparently. Immediately he burst into laughter. “Is this a jest? What in the nine hells are you doing here, Gui Zu?”

Gui Zu remained stone faced as he replied, “I stand with Miss Yu Li, Young Master Hein.”

Hein laughed again. “You shame me to have ever taken pity on you, Gui Zu. Now look at the pathetic excuse for a station you now hold. Have you no pride? Have you no face to save?”

“He has plenty,” Yu Li said. “And he is twice the man that you’d ever be.”

Gasps went throughout the crowd as Hein’s eyes grew wide and furious.

“What did you just say to me?!” he bellowed. He drew his hand back to strike her, but the one-handed girl jumped ahead of him.

“Let me deal with her, master,” she said. “She is too far beneath you!”

Yu Li steeled herself for the oncoming slap or worse, but the smacking of skin on skin came only from Gui Zu deflecting Zu Tien’s hand with a skillful block. More gasps of shock resounded through the crowd as Zu Tien balked with disbelief.

“Gui Zu!” she screamed. “You dare? You are nothing but a disgraced reject of the Silver Leaf Clan. A talentless oaf, bested by a mere mortal!” Zu Tien then glanced back at Hein. “Master, please allow me permission to execute this lowly dog to restore your honor.”

“Are you certain you wish to do that?”

All eyes turned at the voice to see Jian Yi stepping confidently through the square. Behind her was a young man, that looked in his twenties who wore beige and off-white robes, the colors of the empire.

“You’d be engaging in an unprovoked attack against another sect,” Jian Yi said as she came to a stop before Zu Tien. “I am not certain if you understand the implications of that, but we’d be within our rights to seek restitution under the law. Is that not right, Junior Magistrate?”

The young man in imperial robes bowed. “Indeed correct. A pleasure to greet you, Young Master Hein. I am Junior Magistrate Hui Long. I shall be officiating the proceedings this afternoon.”

“What?!” Hein lowered his brows in a scowl, pushing Zu Tien out of the way. “What is the meaning of this? No one invited you here.”

“I did,” Jian Yi said with a bow. “Jian Yi of the Terran Sect. As are we all. I trust this may have come as a surprise, but I would hope that under the circumstances you would welcome an official representative of the empire to ensure your property does not pass possession unfairly. Do you not agree, Honorable Li Fet?”

Li Fet, their fat landlord, blubbered something incomprehensible under his breath and then looked to Hein for some kind of direction. Jian Yi waited patiently for an answer from him, egging him on a pleasant smile.

Yu Li herself was now smiling. She never would have expected it, but Jian Yi truly was bold and skillful enough to stand toe-to-toe with them. How she’d managed to get a Junior Magistrate to come was yet another mystery.

How many connections did this girl have?

“What is this Terran Sect nonsense?” Hein said, approaching the magistrate. “Explain!”

Hui Long produced the papers Chun had sent her and showed them to Hein. “It is all here.”

“Let me see that,” he said, snatching them away. He then squinted as he studied the fine print, his face turning red.

“What in the nine hells is this?” Hein shouted irate. “That idiot, Chun, became a citizen? A leader of the Terran Sect?” He glared at the magistrate. “Clearly this is a case of fraud! Need I summon my father, the Vice-Warden, to put you under investigation for perpetuating this nonsense?”

“A thousand apologies, Young Master,” Hui Long said, bowing. “But I have already verified the validity of the documents. This is indeed an officiated sect under the protection of the law. I understand you have already arranged a duel to settle one civil matter in regards to a rent increase and a property forfeit, but if you wish to settle a further dispute I can oversee that as well.”

A long moment of silence passed as Hein stood there fuming at the magistrate.

In that moment, Yu Li understood now the secret to Jian Yi’s confidence and the true gift Chun had given them by creating the sect. Were it not for that piece of paper, that same magistrate would have simply looked on with indifference if Hein and Zu Tien had both slaughtered the entire lot of them. But now he was at Jian Yi’s beck and call it seemed.

The power of the law was a power like none other indeed.

“It matters not,” Hein said finally. “Officiate all you want. The outcome will be the same regardless.” He then looked at Yu Li with a smirk. “If and when your oafish friend decides to finally show up, he will learn his place. As will you all. And then we’ll see about restitution.”

* * *

Sweat poured off my back like a waterfall.

I’d been pushing hard for over three hours but still it felt like I was getting nowhere. The terrain had proven far more difficult than I had anticipated. I had added a few extra hours as a contingency, but I didn’t expect for the forest to be so thick and full of hidden obstacles. I’d spent just as much time traversing up and down hills and valleys as I did skirting around cliffs and lakes.

I glanced up at the sun.

My current oppressor.

It alone now dictated my fate.

If I didn’t make it back in time all would be lost.

I burned solid Frenzy from my core, bursting along small stretches of abandoned highway where I could find them. But instances like that were few and far between.

As time went on, my body began to feel the burden of my plight.

But it wasn’t just physical anymore.

Something deep inside was ailing me.

I’m not going to make it.

The thought hit me like a punch to the gut.

I refused to believe it at first.

Just keep going, I told myself.

But as time went on and the shadows on the ground began to extend, the reality of my situation finally took hold. I slid to a stop on my knees in some unknown part of the wilderness and let out an anguished cry.

It had to be well after two in the afternoon by now.

Damn it, I thought. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to leave them that manual.

I could have left earlier if I hadn’t.

But what if I never returned…?

It was that fear that kept me there, kept me translating the manual.

But had I just traded one community for another?

The thought caused the Struggler to stir.

No, I told myself. I can’t give up.

I had to make it back. Being just a few hours late shouldn’t matter.

I pressed on, digging deep into my core, but as the sun sunk lower, so did my spirits and my resolve. I thought about what had to be happening to them by now. Hein had surely claimed his victory. I envisioned him punishing Yu Li, that instance where he’d nearly slapped her replaying in my mind. Gui Zu would try to stop him no doubt, but as skillful as he was, he’d be no match for a cultivator like Hein.

“They could all be dead already…” I whispered, my thoughts turning dark as my Flame soured and began to grow cold. I lost all strength then, my Frenzy evaporating as I gave in to the despair within my soul.

Shit…I really had gone and messed up again.

Yu Li, Su Ling, Mu Lin.

I’ve failed all of you!

I collapsed to my knees again and cried out at the fading light in the sky. I was getting close to home now I realized, some of the landmarks in the distance looking familiar to me. But I was running barely at normal speed now, my [Mark of the Beast] having long since worn off from lack of Frenzy. It would take me hours still to reach home now.

But it didn’t matter.

I was already too late.

Hein had won.

And I had lost.

* * *

I was limping by the time the east gate came within view, the color of dusk in the sky.

I stumbled through the pillars, soul and body broken.

It was nearly dark now; even the guards and enforcers had already left for the day.

But nothing mattered anymore.

The void of emptiness inside me grew only stronger as I saw the all too familiar surrounds of my old workplace. While I was in the wild, I had acknowledged my failure, but it seemed all academic compared to now.

Now the reality hit me like a speeding truck.

I’d made it back, but far too late.

As I approached the handler station, I saw something else that crushed my soul.

Mu Lin…

She was here, but no longer in the flesh.

A portrait of Mu Lin had been placed on a small altar. Reality hit me for the second time as I stared into the big brown eyes of one of my closest friends. A friend I’d now lost forever. A small part of me was holding onto a sliver of hope that perhaps she had somehow survived. But that all evaporated now. There was no way she could have escaped the trap I’d placed her in. And now, to actually see the proof of her demise was like experiencing her death all over again. Then I saw something else that immediately brought tears my eyes.

There before her picture was an offering.

A single persimmon.

I fell to my knees before the altar with a sob, my soul coming undone. The compounding of my grief was almost too much to bear as I thought of the beautiful young life that had been snuffed out. She’d just passed her exam, gotten accepted into the academy—a bright future ahead of her. All that stripped away in an instant.

More thoughts of everyone else I’d failed resurfaced. Yu Li and Su Ling. Gui Zu. Jian Yi. How could I ever face them again?

The answer was simple.

I couldn’t—my shame and grief too great.

It was all I could do to just sit there and weep for their loss and mine.

“Hey!” a gruff voice called out. “Who the hell is back her—”

I glanced upwards to see Sumatra staring down at me, the big gray giant’s jaw hanging wide open. His eyes widened to the size of saucers. In that instant, all grief and suffering flash converted into rage within my soul as the Demon yanked the Struggler from the controls.

“You piece of shit!!!”

Terror spilled from his soul as Sumatra let out a scream, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

“Noooo!” he cried, already turning to run. “Stay away! Stay away from me! Whatever the hell you are!”

I was in Beast form before I knew it, my savagery overwhelming me as I gave in to my rage. I bounded ahead of him with a single leap, cutting off his escape from the handler’s shed. He shrieked again as I backhanded him across the chest, his soul filled with so much terror that it alone could keep my [Mark of the Beast] sustained. I lapped it up greedily, cultivating his fear as I picked him up off the ground by his neck.

He was spitting blood already, every organ within his chest popped by the single blow. But I wanted him to suffer way more than that. He was mouthing something pathetically as his arms and legs dangled, my height surpassing even his own as I juiced myself with [Mark of the Giant]. A small part of me realized I was now employing two Marks at once. A feat impossible before. But now anything seemed possible for a Core Realm Berserker fueled with the power of hate and rage.

“You killed her, you bastard!” I shook him like a rag doll. “You didn’t need to get her involved. You took her from this world!”

“Wasn’t me…” he muttered. “Wasn’t me! Hong Feng…”

“Oh, don’t you worry,” I said, my voice deep and distorted under the Demon’s control. “He’ll be paying for his sins soon enough. But it’s time for you to finally go to hell for yours. Die, you vile piece of shit!”

I clenched my fists and made his neck pop, just like I had Yin Chu’s.

The final look of shock and disbelief on Sumatra’s face was priceless as his head popped clean off his body. As it fell to the ground I stomped on his chest with rage, caving it in, sending a gush of blood jettisoning from his neck. I picked up his body and with a primal roar, hurled it over the wall like a hammer throw. His enormous bulk sailed for what must have been half a football field before finally falling out of view. I turned about and grabbed his head next, piercing his eyes with my thumbs and tearing his skull in two before hurling both halves over the wall with a wail of anguished pain.

My breathing was ragged, my Flame raging and craving more.

One down, one more to go. I’ll avenge you yet, Mu Lin.

A new thought came with my pledge.

There would be no more sorrow tonight.

Tonight, the Demon was taking control.

I recalled my vision with Threja and how I’d asked her if I could do both—to be both protector and avenger.

I guess I had my answer now.

Fate had given its verdict and the Demon was smiling brightly within my soul.

“You’re next, Hong Feng,” I said as I stared out into the wild and imagined the beasts already feasting on Sumatra’s twisted and broken body. “You and all your kind.”

I had a few stops to make to prepare, but I was no longer in a rush now.

There was no one left to save.

Anger and hatred boiled over in my soul—the power of Frenzy and an ice-cold resolve coming with it.

I may have been too late to save my family.

But it was never too late…for revenge.