Path of the Berserker

Her robes were riddled with slashes, but the attacks hadn’t been strong enough to do much against her Frenzy hardened skin.

Still, it pissed her off that they’d even managed to hit her at all.

It was a grim reminder that for all her internal progression she was still a junior when it came to martial arts. Clobbering hordes of demons with wild axe swings was more her style. But she had a duty to keep here now as well.

It was late afternoon when she’d been alerted to these three thugs approaching the gate.

She wasn’t sure if they were even part of a sect or not.

They looked washed up and over the hill as far as she could tell.

It was the type she was used to fending off now after returning to the city.

“This is your last warning!” she shouted. “You mess with the Terran Sect, you’re going to get your face pushed in. If you leave now, I’ll allow you to spread the word and keep your lives.”

Jian Yi, who was a few paces behind her held up her self-defense forms. “She speaks the truth. You have already violated our sovereign rights as well as imperial law just by being here.”

“So call the enforcers then,” one of the thugs, a wiry man wielding a spear said. “Or if you want, you can pay us our due and we’ll be on our way. Else prepare to meet your end and we’ll take what we want.” The man then smirked at Kelsey. “I got no qualms killing a kid who thinks herself a damn hero.”

Ire burned in her gut.

“I’m no kid!” she shouted.

Kelsey charged at him with her axe, trying to remember to use her actually forms instead of attacking wildly. The three countered her while slipping out of her reach. She took three more embarrassing cuts to her robes and hardened skin beneath while her axe slammed ineffectually to into the ground, causing a huge crack in the asphalt.

The one with the spear laughed. “Strong little bitch, you are. But your technique is shit!”

She growled and roared, pumping Frenzy.

If she could go all out, she could kill all three of them.

But deep down she knew she couldn’t.

For as many demons as she’d slain, she’d never killed an actual person before.

At least not intentionally.

Images of her taking Jim’s life while under the effects of Dark Frenzy still haunted her, even if she had lost all control while in her demon form. This was no different. She was strong but she wasn’t Max. She didn’t have the same resolve of his Dao—to fight against the cultivators and the empire who had taken over their world. Her battle was against the monsters and demons of the Bloodmoon.

Not people.

Even if they were assholes like these.

It burned her inside, but they were right.

In many ways, she was still just a kid.

But that didn’t mean she was weak.

Summoning her Flame, Kelsey cycled her meridians and sent a burst solid Frenzy to her jing. Yellow lightning erupted from her axe as she let out a massive yell with [Fear the Flame]. She slammed her axe down in front of them again and an explosion of asphalt and lightning sent them flying into the air. She screamed wildly before they even hit the ground again, giving into her feral side. Kelsey finally sensed the fear she’d been looking for and chased after them as they began to retreat.

“I didn’t sign up for this!” one of them cried. “That bitch is Core Realm!”

Kelsey slung a few more bolts of lightning into the air for good measure. “Tell that to your friends, assholes! The Furious Lightning Clan still protects the Terran Sect!”

When then finally ran out of sight, Kelsey collapsed to her knees exhausted.

Summoning lightning still took a lot of out her and without the cultivators sparking fresh Frenzy from her Flame like the demon’s did, she was always having to dip into her reserves.

She was still breathing heavily and recovering when Jian Yi casually stepped next to her.

“Hopefully that should keep them away for a while,” she said. “At least until the next group appears.”

Kelsey sighed. “Yeah.” She felt guilty for a moment. “Sorry…I’m not able to do much more than scare them away.”

In every encounter thus far Kelsey had managed to use her inner strength and [Fear the Flame] technique to cause the cultivators to flee instead of killing them and on odd occasions leave them with a serious wound or two. But it was nowhere near as effective as when Max was laying down the law.

He didn’t give a shit.

If you kept messing around with Max you were about to find out.

She wished she could be like that at times, and maybe she would be if the circumstances ever called for it, but she had to accept that just like the shuras said, every Berserker’s path was different. And while Max had certainly helped speed her down her own path, it was indeed her own, she was not simply following Max’s.

“You are doing more than you know,” Jian Yi said. “But I don’t think these are random occurrences either.”

Kelsey squinted at her. “What do you mean?”

“I meant what I said about them breaking imperial law just by being here. Do you not find that strange?”

“Huh?”

“Random Yee cultivators always seem to arrive when the enforcer patrols are nowhere to be found, yet when Fia risks a visit, they are here within minutes. See what I mean?”

Kelsey pondered that a moment. “So this was all set up?”

“Yes. More tinkering from the Bird sisters I imagine,” Jian Yi said. “I’m just grateful you were able to return to us each time. I know you have other responsibilities at the bunker now.”

Kelsey nodded. “Yeah. Juggling this crap is hard. I don’t know how Max did it.”

For the last three weeks Kelsey had been making trips to and from the bunker almost nonstop. A day in the city and two in the wild. Every chance she got she was cultivating the Bloodmoon, strengthening her core and the spiritual root of her Dao. She’d even seen that monstrous beast again, or glimpses it back at the bunker.

It had follower she realized, because when she returned to the city the surges against the barrier had stopped. But eventually if she hung around, they would start up again. That meant the thing was actually hunting her and not just attacking the barrier randomly.

That got her Flame ticking just thinking about it.

A challenge like never before.

Maybe she was still too young to understand the intricacies of the politics and laws of the new world, but she understood demons. And a big one was itching to claim her soul. And no way in hell was she going to allow that to happen.

“How much longer do you think this dumb law thing is going to last?” Kelsey asked.

She didn’t want to add that her needing to be here constantly was interrupting her training to face the demons, but without Zu Tien and Gui Zu to cover, it was really making things hard.

“I’ve written twice already to the Chief Magistrate to appeal to the Princess,” Jian Yi said. “But nothing is moving forward. I imagine it is being intercepted by the Warden. I’m going to try again though, but through a different route this time.”

“Oh yeah?”

Jian Yi smiled craftily. “Do you recall the Grand Sage who attended the courts for Fia’s trial?”

Kelsey shrugged. “Kinda maybe? A lot was going on back then.”

“At any rate, Master Hei Dong was wise enough to keep in contact with him. He has agreed to use his influence to get a letter directly to the princess via her top aide. Hopefully we may see some movement then.”

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Kelsey sighed. “I hope so. Doing this double duty is rough.”

“You’re good for it though, Kel Zhi,” Jian Yi said with a smile. “Our own little mini- Max as our protector. We are all so thankful for you.”

Kelsey smiled and reluctantly accepted the lemonade.

It didn’t feel completely earned though.

But when you were in a city with no demons, a Berserker like her had to cultivate whatever she could find.

“No problem, Jian Yi,” Kelsey said with a smile. “I’ll call you when the next group of punks arrive.”

* * *

Fia gently cultivated the diffuse essence of Qi around her, flowing it through her meridians with care. She took extra time and effort to cultivate now. Inwardly she could sense the second soul forming within her, and not of the sacred soul variety.

Her child was growing.

Would it be a boy or a girl, she wondered?

Hopefully a strong boy to be Max’s firstborn, she thought wishfully. An heir to carry on his bloodline.

It had been nearly three months now.

For all the research she had done when it came to childbirth, she knew she had to take care with cultivation beyond this stage. Too much Qi cultivation could affect the unborn soul within her. But the right type of cultivation could also do wonders.

She eagerly wanted her mother’s advice and support, but she hadn’t spoken a word of it to anyone other than Max as yet. It was a hurdle she would need to overcome within the next three months, however. Her condition would be no longer easy to hide at that point.

The guilt and shame of what she’d done began to creep into her mind then.

When she’d made the decision, she’d been so sure.

But now with the reality of it on the horizon, the mechanics of just how she would share this secret with others and endure the consequences thereafter was wearing on her soul. At least she still had times to come to grips with it.

Three months.

Not much time all told.

“Lady Fia?”

Fia roused from her meditation to find Ju Gong bowing patiently at her doorway.

“Ju Gong? What is it?”

“A thousand apologies for interrupting you, my lady,” Ju Gong said. “But you are being summoned. There appears to be one of the Vice Wardens at the gate.”

“Vice Waren?” Anger and anxiety filled her immediately. “Which one? And what do they want?”

“Some tax matter,” Jui Gong said. “And I am not certain as to which Lady it is.”

Damn them all, Fia thought as she rose from lotus position.

“Fine. I’m on my way.”

* * *

Angry shouts from her father could already be heard as Fia made her way across the courtyard. One of the bird sisters was indeed there with a contingent of Enforcers and Imperial Guards along with a barrister dressed in imperial robes—a court prosecutor it looked like. When Fia got close enough she could make out that it was Di Shen, the Lady Silver Dove.

That caused her to pause.

Di Shen was the quieter of the three, but just as calculating as Fi Shen, the Lady Silver Hawk. And now that she had true imperial power, who knew what they could be in for. Fia straightened herself as she approached the group standing just outside the gate, taking a place beside her father.

Fia bowed mechanically. “Vice Warden Di Shen. Such a pleasure.”

Di Shen furrowed her brow. “Do not refer to This One by her Personal name. It is Vice Warden.”

Fia smirked. Perhaps too much of Max was rubbing off on her.

“A thousand apologies,” she said. “A pleasure to see you, Vice Warden. What seems to be the issue?”

“Your father is guilty of tax evasion,” she said as the prosecutor presented a set of papers to her.

“Accused, you mean,” Hei Dong said with a scowl. “These charges are preposterous.”

Fia glanced over the papers briefly.

They were transactions from the auction house, it seemed. Sales of items from the Furious Lightning Sect to various individuals. Fia knew right away what this was about now.

“These transactions have nothing to do with my house,” Hei Dong said. “I do not know why they are being presented as evidence.”

Her father perhaps knew the same of course, but he was a barrister as well as an artisan. Fia kept silent and allowed him to take the lead.

“Chief Prosecutor,” Di Shen said to the man who had served the papers. “Would you be so kind as to explain to Master Hei Dong the evidence against him?”

“The seven items listed on these transactions are signature weapons crafted by yourself are they not, master Hei Dong?” The prosecutor, a middled aged man with goatee said.

“Is this a court of law?” Hei Dong said. “I am not obliged to answer any of your questions.”

“Your failure to answer speaks for you already,” the prosecutor said with a smile. “The documents show evidence that at some point in time these weapons passed from your possession to that of the Furious Lightning Sect.”

“Speculation at best,” Hei Dong said.

The prosecutor chuckled. “I think it would take a far less skilled scholar to prove these weapons were crafted by your hand, Master Hei Dong, than it did to prove that that quill was produced by your daughter.”

Fia’s insides lurched with unease, the sudden reminder hitting like a punch to the stomach. “How dare—!”

“It’s alright,” Hei Dong said cutting her off, but Fia could see her father’s jaw tightened with anger. “I would tread lightly with your words, Chief Prosecutor. If you have a point to make, then make it.”

“By imperial law, all enrichment by the sale of direct goods is subject to taxation. It seems you have failed to report the said transactions where these items left your possession and entered into that of the Furious Lightning Sect.”

Fia’s insides bubbled with fear. She had not given thought to them sifting so closely in the dirt to prove something like this. Her father, however, wore an infallible countenance of neutrality. She wasn’t certain if he had some clear way out of this or not, but the tensing of his jaw said that he wasn’t completely at ease.

“Even if your wild speculations were accurate,” Hei Dong said. “Such an offense is a minor misdemeanor at best. Are you here to simply waste my time?”

“Whether minor misdemeanor or capital crime depends on amount, Master Hei Dong,” the prosecutor said. “And judging by the value these items fetched on the open market, it would seem you have well passed the threshold of 5000 spirit stones, making this an offense worthy of incarceration.”

“Perhaps they were simply a gift,” Hei Dong said with a shrug.

“Perhaps we will need to order an audit of your family’s treasury to see.”

Sweat beaded on Fia’s brow. She glanced at her father, but couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Well, Chief Prosecutor, if you believe that your research and evidence holds merit, then by all means present them to a magistrate to see if they will issue a summons. Until that time, I wish you good da—”

“Do not mistake what this visit is, Master Hei Dong,” Di Shen said. “Clearly, I could have issued an order for the Chief Prosecutor to pursue this matter through the courts already. I came to you directly to see if you would first like to settle the matter out of court to maintain your good standing within the community.”

Hei Dong harrumphed. “A settlement?”

“What is maximum punishment for tax evasion, Chief Prosecutor?” Di Shen asked.

“25 years hard labor,” the prosecutor said.

Di Shen smiled at Fia. “A long time. Perhaps your father may even join your fiancé at Du Grok Bhong, should the Warden recommend it. What a reunion that would be.”

Anger flared within her.

“You’re despicable, Di Shen!” Fia shouted, unable to contain herself any longer. “You all are!”

“Mind you tongue!” Di Shen shouted. “I am your Vice Warden. That insult alone is worthy of—”

“What is your offer of settlement?” Hei Dong said, suddenly drawing her attention. “What do you want?”

Di Shen cut her eyes at Fia and then looked back to Master Hei Dong. “To satisfy This One, you would need surrender your estate to the crown. If it pleases This One, I will allow a small stipend for you to rebuild your family. You would retain your artisan’s license, of course.”

Hei Dong let out a mirthless laugh. “Is this a jest? Do you have any idea of what you are even doing in that position, Vice Warden?”

“I am Vice Warden now!” Di Shen snapped. “And if you do not like the terms then you are free to seek your absolution in courts. But with such evidence, I wonder if only a martial challenge could save you.”

Di Shen leered again, clearly well pleased with herself.

There it was.

What she truly wanted from all of this.

To pull the Dong family into yet another fight.

And the only one to defend them would be Fia.

“And who would the crown nominate if we were to challenge these charges by martial means?” Hei Dong said. “The Lady Silver Light is qualified as Gold. I know that you and your sisters have been so for some time now. You’d certainly be eligible.”

Fia looked at her father perplexed.

What was he doing?

“I am a Vice Warden now,” Di Shen said. “It would be entirely inappropriate for This One to—”

“And yet your Great Aunt is cultivator enough to face her own challenges head on,” Hei Dong said with a countering smile. “Are you not able to do the same? You are not an artisan like me. You have no excuse not to fight. A martial Vice Warden should be able to defend her position as well as the crown. Else you might be accused of being unfit.”

Di Shen blinked, clearly put on the backfoot now. She looked about herself suddenly unsure.

“Perhaps you need to confer with your sisters?” Hei Dong said. “It is quite rumored that neither of you can make a single decision without the others. Perhaps you share a single mind as well as birthday?”

Hei Dong laughed, and Ju Gong stifled a laugh with him, causing a few of the enforcers to chuckle as well.

Di Shen’s eyes swelled with fear, embarrassment and rage. “S-silence! That was an insult I will not stand f—!”

“I will make it easy for you then,” Hei Dong said. “I will not accept your offer of settlement, Vice Warden. Chief Prosecutor please do take your paltry evidence to the magistrate. If, per adventure, I do receive a legitimate summons, I will spare us all the burden of official court proceedings and will contest the charges via martial law. My capable daughter, the Lady Silver Light, will stand in our family’s defense. In turn I will accept as nomination from the prosecution not only yourself as proxy, Vice Warden, but that of your two sisters as well. Simultaneously.”

Fia’s heart jumped. “What? Father!”

Di Shen opened her mouth, but didn’t say anything, glancing at Fia nervously. “I-I…”

“You need not answer now, Vice Warden,” Hei Dong said with a confident smirk. “Confer with your sisters. I am certain they would relish the chance to prove themselves as worthy Vice Wardens to the populace by facing my daughter publicly in the ring as I am sure the courts would indeed with this to be a public trial, would they not?”

Again, Di Shen had no words.

Hei Dong smiled triumphantly. “Well, until we receive the summons, I bid you all good day.”

* * *

Fia was beside herself as Ju Gong closed the main gates behind Di Shen and her entourage of imperial subordinates. She looked to her father next, a mixture of anger and confusion spilling from her heart.

“Father what was that?” she said. “You truly want to put us in such risk?”

He let out a laugh. “Dear daughter. Do not let that daft little girl shake you. She’s started a game she can barely comprehend much less finish.”

“What do mean? Are those charges legitimate or not?”

“They are,” he said. “I honestly didn’t think they would stoop so low, but clearly they mean to destroy us.”

“And you think me fighting them will be a fair fight?”

“It will likely not even come to that,” Hei Dong said. “I’ve forced all three of them into a position where their own face will be at stake now. Chances are they will show their cowardice as usual and never even submit the claims to the courts. This matter is likely over already.”

“And if they do?”

Hei Dong raised a questioning eyebrow at her. “Need you even ask that, Fia? These are the Shen sisters! You’ve bested all three of them since the time you were twelve. They are no match for you. If they send that writ, it will be to their own detriment. Although their hubris may well force them to do so regardless. And if that be the case, then enjoy getting your own vengeance for what they’ve done in the ring.”

Her father was right.

Any other time facing the three Shen sisters, even all at once, would be laughable.

But now…?

Fia looked down at her stomach apprehensively, fearful of the fragile soul growing inside of it.

“What?” Hei Dong said. “What is it? You can’t seriously be fearful of such a match, are you Fia?”

“N-no father,” Fia said reluctantly, unsure what she would now do. “I will do my duty. I will defend our family if and when the time comes.”

There was no other way.

If the Shen sisters did pursue this, she would have to defend her family.

Fia’s only question now.

Was how?