Path of the Berserker

The plan was to leave Du Gok Bhong by evening the next day, which gave me about ten hours, starting from dawn, to keep my promise to Chief Yora and share the knowledge I had gleaned upon the Hell Worlds.

After a hardy breakfast, I hit the library and began making my insertions into the tome that contained the monstrous illustrations, curtesy of my predecessor, Imperial Marshal Wi Chu Lou.

It was a bit surreal that I was now following in exactly the same footsteps—adding new illustrations of the demonic creatures, providing descriptions and names and even signing with the same title now: Imperial Marshal Max Chun.

When President Tzu Li Zen and Chief Yora came to check up on me, I provided them a slide show presentation and much to my surprise, even they suffered mental strain from viewing the drawings.

Most surprising however was when I told them that I had encountered a Deep Dweller.

After priming them, I showed them the picture I had made of the monstrous Spider woman, G’hru’julah, and was shocked when they both only saw a blank piece of paper. It was a reminder of just how much I had been exposed to.

“I suppose we may never know what one looks like,” Chief Yora said, staring at the page. “You alone will hold that secret. Or at least until either the President or I have a breakthrough to withstand what you are now showing us.”

“Truly remarkable,” Tzu Li Zen said. “Now, you must explain to us how you managed to survive upon the Hell World. Is it something we can replicate as a new strategy?”

“Not easily,” I said. “Finding that deep cavern with a chunk of aetherite at the bottom was the key to our survival. It protected us from the rays of the Cursed Star and healed us when needed. I didn’t have the luxury to test the theory of how common such set ups might be, but from what I could gather, I lucked out in many ways finding that when I did.”

I went into some smaller details about the eco systems of the planet surface, how I navigated, avoided behemoths and even what I did for food. They were perplexed by my affinity for the scorpion meat. Even now I still had a taste for the stuff.

I pondered internally for a bit how much else I could share regarding the secret knowledge I now possessed. I knew the true correlation between the Bloodmoon and the Cursed Stars, how the aetherite was formed and why.

Going into all that would perhaps not even be helpful in terms of strategy.

Considering both Chief Yora and the President’s reaction to the drawing just now, to seek out and destroy a Deep Dweller was a task perhaps only a Berserker could undertake. Besides that, the levels of Dark Frenzy would need a [Soul Shield] technique to withstand.

I decided to keep the rest of the debriefing basic with them, but once finished I made a pledge to ensure my knowledge was shared in some way. Once they had left, I paid a visit to Master Eiji in his lab. He had access to a furnace, and I put in a request to have a bit of my axe handle melted down into a thin sheet.

“What’s this for?” he asked.

“A drawing I’m working on,” I said. “I want to make a stencil of it.”

“You can use something a bit cheaper than this,” he said, pointing to my axe.

“Nah,” I said. “I want it to last a long time.”

Thankfully Eiji merely shrugged and after filing off a sliver of material from my axe, he assisted me in melting it down to something the thickness of a soda can.

“Perfect!” I said. “Thanks, Master Eiji.”

“No problem, Marshal.”

We both had a chuckle at my new title and then I returned to the library. Once I was sure no one else would be coming inside, I evoked my [Brand of the Frenzied Flame] technique and inscribed the thin sheet of Corrupted Steel with every ounce of secret knowledge I possessed.

I describe what Fhae I’ung had revealed to me, about the alien origins of the Greater Will and how it sought to recreate our realm by first destroying it, through the power of the First Flame, and remaking it in its own image. I then described the origin of the Frenzied Flame and how a single human concept caused it to come into being.

The act of defiance.

An instinctual rebellion against annihilation.

Even as I thought on it, I felt it resonate with my Flame.

I added information about I’Xol’ukz next, the Chain maiden I’xan’dra and notes about Fhae I’ung and G’hru’julah. There wasn’t a whole lot of space left, but I ended my inscription with what I saw as the true cosmic struggle at hand.

The mortal realm will see no peace from the Cursed Stars until the first Flame accomplishes its task of annihilating all life from existence. We who follow the Frenzied Flame are duty bound to defy this great injustice. By destroying the Deep Dwellers who attack the very cores of the besieged Hell Worlds, we can perhaps slow down their progression, but to truly stop them, will mean facing the First Flame itself and perhaps even the Greater Will beyond. I have no idea what that will take, but this is now my path. Should I fall, then this path should now become your own.

Brother Max Chun, Imperial Marshal

Fellow follower of the Frenzied Flame

As I sat back to admire my engraved handiwork, I could not help but feel a bit of permanence now added to my progression. Not that my Strength could falter and regress, but now at least, even if I failed, there was now a record of the knowledge I had obtained that could be understood by any Berserker that followed after me, to continue the great struggle against the stars.

I pressed the thin leaf of corrupted steel into the inside back cover of the book and then closed it before sealing it away.

* * *

I made use of the rest of the day to get in some meditation time before doing my final rounds of goodbyes. As I sat in the courtyard, I inhabited my inner world and relaxed on the lakeside beach.

This had become my default retreat. A place where I could gather my thoughts, study or even practice martial arts and techniques if I wanted. But I decided this could not be the inner world that I would seek to project to accomplish my next tier of advancement.

I brought up the Sacred Soul Tier Levels in my mind.

I had been refining my lakeside home for ages now, but that wouldn’t be the world I would want to project. I recalled when Threja used [Furnace of the Frienzed Flame] during that first battle and how the sky had turned dark and was streaked with fire. I perhaps couldn’t feel it then, but the entire atmosphere was perhaps exuding Frenzy.

Since my execution of the Bird Sisters, a new thought of what my [Furnace of the Frenzied Flame] should be, had come to my mind. Just like with Threja, my Inner World Projection could be a weapon if crafted right.

I evoked the multiple spheres of my inner worlds and selected the one I had been working on for the past few days while on the transport to Du Gok Bhong. It had originally started as my mental image of when I was on the spiritual surface of the moon. But after experiencing the Hell Worlds and the divine radiance of a Cursed Star, there was no question what an ultimate trump card arena would look like for me.

As I touched the sphere, my surroundings instantly change, turning from peaceful beach to a rocky desert under the oppressive light of a Cursed Star and a waning Bloodmoon both. Just looking up at the turbulent sky brought back memories, but that was all they were for now.

I had no idea if I could power my inner world with their unearthly powers to be true sources of Cursed and Dark Frenzy to scorch my enemies while I remained protected within my [Sacred Soul Shield], but it was something to aspire to.

The framework was at least in place.

I just now needed the artifacts to absorb to bring them to life.

I was still trying to figure out what that would even mean.

Perhaps another trip back to the Hell Worlds was in order.

But at least I would have a focus for my down time now.

With the battles I had yet to come, I would probably need to advance to the Lesser Deity Realm sooner than later. Which was even more reason to perfect Inner World Projection before making my attempts at Tier 9, Sacred Soul manifestation.

Like all the realms before it, mastery of the 9th Tier was basically entering the 1st Tier of the next Realm. I had already proven pretty formidable with just the ‘ghost’ form of my Sacred Soul. I could only imagine how much power I could crank out if that became my actual body.

And that was before I would even put my normal manifestation techniques to use, like [Mark of the Giant] [Mark of the Beast] and [Mark of the Demon] on top of that. I wondered for a moment if they could even be stacked on top of one another like that. Or if perhaps taking on my [Spectral Body] was a manifestation in and of itself. I supposed that I would have to wait until I broke through to the Lesser Deity Realm to find out.

That made me even more eager to—

“The last time I found you here sitting on the ground, you were moping about not being able to fly.”

The interruption stirred me out of my inner world, and I opened my eyes to find Chief Yora smiling down at me.

I smiled back at her. “That brings back some interesting memories.”

“I’m sure,” she said. “I’m sorry to interrupt but there is one final official task for you before you depart.”

I looked at her quizzically. “What’s that?”

“Come with me,” she said.

* * *

I was racking my brains trying to figure out what this could possibly be. I had given my report, updated the demon manual and hell even left a secret note behind for some future Berserker to find. But as Chief Yora led me to the far side of the courtyard, I saw a group of Black Robes all gathered together and from their makeup I started to get an inkling of what this was all about. Most of the Black Robes were sullied, way more than half in fact, but common among all of them were the large Phalanx Glaives resting on their shoulders.

“Is that the phalanx platoon?” I asked.

Yora chuckled. “Yes. It is customary for departing Legionnaires to select a Phalanx guard. Gathered are all those who qualify.”

“Damn, I’d nearly forgotten about that.”

“It would normally occur with the return assembly, but as you had a somewhat unordinary promotion, I decided to arrange this special selection for you.”

“Don’t feel like I really need a bodyguard,” I said.

“Perhaps not you, but for many, especially those who return home with their minds and souls damaged from Demonic Qi, it’s a necessity. It is in fact, for just that reason the phalanx guard exists.”

I frowned as I thought back to some of the weak and struggling legionnaires I had seen return home in the past. “I never really gave thought to that. Perhaps I’ll forgo this to leave phalanx for those who truly need it.”

“Don’t be silly,” she said. “This represents an opportunity for the phalanx as well. It is their way to leave Du Gok Bhong. And, not to mention, that for you, as an Imperial Marshal now, having such a retainer would be almost expected.”

I stopped.

“Wait, so I need to have a ‘retainer’ now?” It didn’t quite make sense to me. “But I would be much stronger than any phalanx. What purpose would that serve?”

Chief Yora chuckled as she placed both hands on my shoulders like a proud aunt. “Iron Bull, for as powerful as you have become, you still have much to learn to navigate the ways of Yee society. Especially that which you are about to enter now. Your retainer will be for your political protection and status. Not to mention, there are some conflicts now, which must fall below you. It will be the role of you retainer to address such matters.”

I thought on that a moment. “Like a mini-boss?”

“I don’t know what that is, but they should be someone you can trust. They will be oath bound to be loyal to you to death. Come now, they are waiting.”

As we approached the platoon, they all stomped their feet to attention.

I hadn’t given any thought to who I would select to be my retainer, but there was only one person that came to mind. “Where is Tu’lok?”

Yora chuckled. “Already selected by your friend, Blue Rose.”

“Shit,” I cursed. “That bitch stole him from me?”

Yora shrugged. “Apparently.”

As I looked over the faces within the platoon, I spotted the woman who reminded me of Threja. I still didn’t know her name, but I remembered she defended me when that ass Jei Su Long tried to ridicule me about not being able to fly.

“I choose her,” I said, pointing to the giant woman in the crowd.

Yora lifted her brows. “Oh… so you choose to rob us of our best Phalanx instructor, do you? Very well then.” She then lifted her voice, calling to the woman. “Mal’kira, step forward.”

As she did, the rest of the platoon let out a gasp.

It puzzled me for a moment, until I realized most people looked almost sad to see her go. She came to stand before me, dwarfing me by a head or so and then immediately dropped to one knee.

“I swear my loyalty to you, Marshal Iron Bull,” she said. “While I still take breath, I will serve you till my very last.” She then glanced up at me. “But, should you somehow predecease me, rest assured, I will find my way back to Du Gok Bhong to fulfil my service.”

“Your service is well fulfilled, Mal’kira,” Yora said. “You have been selected and you must go.”

“But who will train them now, Chief Yora?” she said and then stabbed a thumb over her shoulder. “Ghim’jo?”

“Oy!” someone, who I assumed was Ghim’jo shouted out in mock offense.

That caused a rumble of laughter to ripple throughout the platoon.

“We’ll manage,” Chief Yora said. “You’ve earned your freedom twice already now. And like before, I will look forward to your return.”

I gave Chief Yora a double take. “She’s left twice already?”

“I have,” Mal’Kira said. “But considering you are now my master, I don’t expect to be returning here anytime soon.”

It was a compliment I realized, coming with a chuckle and a hint of lemonade.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “I do plan on returning myself. Just have a few urgent items to deal with first.”

She then bowed to me deeply. “I am at your command.”

I felt even more assured about my choice considering what I knew of her now. She was loyal to the core, and to the cause of the academy as well. I returned her a bow. “I suppose you had better get packed up while I make my final rounds then Mal’kira.”

“You may refer to me simply as Kira, Marshal Iron Bull,” she said.

“Only if you call me Max.” I then shook her hand, wrist to wrist. “Come find me when you’re finished packing. There are some people you have to meet.”

* * *

It was about an hour later when Mal’kira showed up at my quarters, duffle bags in hand. I had taken care of the majority of my official goodbyes already, meeting a final time with the President and Chief Yora, along with Master Eiji.

For the final round of goodbyes, I saved the best for last. Dragging Mal’kira with me, I left the prison compound and headed for the fields and the barns just on the outskirts. When I knocked, Blue Rose greeted me at the barn door with a cup of homebrewed booze in hand.

“About time you showed up!” she said, clearly buzzed already. “Lo Ren! Chu Ren! He’s here!”

As I made my way inside, I saw Tu’lok along with Hein and the Ren brothers, all of them chugging away on the moonshine. Tu’lok’s eyes went wide when he saw Mal’kira behind me and he immediately stood at attention.

“Master Kira?!” he said, a worried expression on his face. “What are you doing here?”

“Relax, Tu’lok,” she said, waving her hand. “I was drafted like you. I’m the personal phalanx of Marshal Iron Bull now.”

His look of worry turned instantly into a wide smile. “Well nine hells! That’s excellent news! You’ll be joining us then! Come! We are having a last toast.”

“I thought we’d wait till we were back in the real world for this,” she said, but took a seat next to Tu’lok.

“Why wait?” Lo Ren said, passing her a cup of brew. “We have the best liquor in the empire right here.”

That started a round of laughs and as I downed my first drink, I was transported back to the first time we had snuck away to do something like this. While technically we were still sneaking, as an Imperial Marshal now, there wasn’t much anyone could say.

I made introductions between everyone, which turned out to be only Hein and Mal’kira really, since everyone else knew each other. My last few hours at Du Gok Bhong flew by with merriment and laughter. Tu’lok and Mal’kira got along famously, as did Blue Rose and Hein, for obvious reasons, considering how much time they had spent together on the trip back from the Hell Worlds.

I still didn’t know if they were an actual item or not, but I didn’t care. So long as they were getting along that was just fine with me. By the time we were ready to depart, we were all half drunk and made our way sloppily to the rooftop of Du Gok Bhong to find an imperial skiff waiting for us. Ling Wei was there with a couple of guards and when she saw the lot of us, her mouth fell open.

“Who are all these people?” she said in a hushed whisper as she rushed towards me.

“Don’t worry,” I said half drunk. “It’s just my entourage. We’re all headed back to Terra.”

“Entourage?”

“Hey, what can I say? I’m an Imperial Marshal now.” I then gave her a cheesy grin. “I got new standards to uphold.”

“You’re due to meet with the princess as soon as we arrive,” Ling Wei said. “But only you have been granted an audience. Not all these people. And this is her personal transport.”

An audience with the princess? That sounded just about as fun as eating glass.

“Well, you better let the princess know in advance somehow,” I said, pushing past her. “Because we’re all a package deal now.”

I didn’t wait for a response.

With title came privilege.

And with me finally returning back home, I was going to damn well make the most of it.