Path of the Berserker-Chapter 14Book 5:

I filled Kelsey and Fia in on the details as we made our way back to the village center.

Fia knew about our secret path, but I had to be careful not to share too many details of my encounter as to spare her sanity. Regardless of her being a Core Realm cultivator, these were still glimpses into the unknown.

The last thing I wanted to do was drive my wife-to-be even more insane than I normally did with my chun-like antics. I roughly explained who and what the Chainmaiden was, without revealing her true name, and then how she was connected to I’xol’ukz and how it was through her powers that the Dark god had marked our son.

“Why did she do it?” Fia asked. “And how did she even know I was pregnant?”

“It wasn’t her,” I said. “She just follows orders. But the Dark god’s influence is everywhere. My best guess is that when it was controlling that demon in the stadium, it sensed the connection between the two of us and took the opportunity.”

I then described the conversation I’d had with the Chainmaiden, down in that crystal chamber and what I had seen when I [Spectrally Projected] to its location in the real world. I kept the details light, describing the gloom and decay and the animated skeletons, leaving out the shrieks I’d heard from that weird white slug.

“Are there normally undead creatures on cultivation worlds?” I asked Fia. “First time I’ve seen anything like that, even after being on a Hell World.”

“Undead?” she asked.

“Like when corpses come back to life,” I said.

Fia shook her head. “Normally that’s associated with demonic possession, but the empire is large. Who knows what may exists on native lands.”

“So what does all that tell us?” Kelsey asked. “You think I’xol’ukz is where you were?”

“I sensed a strong presence of him and then bam! I was ejected back into the spiritual realm. I didn’t get to see much, but wherever that place was, I’xol’ukz had to be there as well. It’s the strongest presence I’ve ever felt of him.”

“So do you think you know where that place is?” Fia asked.

“I may have a clue.” I thought back to when I was first trying to research the name of I’xol’ukz. “I met with Xi Xha once and she mentioned one of the soul emperors sealing a dark god on the day of his ascension. I’m pretty sure that I’xol’ukz and the dark god mentioned in that ancient script is one and the same. If there is some history on where and how he sealed it, I’m sure it might lead to the place I saw.”

“Which Soul emperor?” Fia asked.

“I don’t remember, but Xi Xha probably will,” I said.

“You think it will be that easy to find?” Kelsey asked.

I shrugged. “Not sure. But the place also had three moons, so that’s got to be rare right?”

Kelsey twisted her lips. “Not really. Saturn has seven moons.”

“Huh? Seven? You sure?”

“Yeah, Mom taught us that in school.”

“Shit,” I said. “Anyway. I need to get back and talk to Xi Xha. She’ll put me on the right path.”

Fia suddenly stopped. “You won’t be seeing any Xi Xha until you sort everything else out, Max.”

“What?”

“Our son is safe until he gets older, right?”

Kelsey and I shared a glance. “Yeah, kind of but...”

“But nothing,” she said. “You need to do a hell of a lot more before you go taking on some dark god. Our home is in shambles and you’ve this thing to do with the princess. Until you accomplish all of that and make yourself a Duke, we have no real future. I’m stuck here until you’re able to protect me from her. That means we still can’t truly be together until all that happens.”

I still hadn’t explained to her what could happen to Bryce if he were exposed to the Bloodmoon. I didn’t want it to seem like I was pulling out a trump card to win an argument or anything, but Fia needed to understand what was truly at stake here.

“Fia there’s more,” I said and after a deep breath I relayed to her exactly what Venja had told me. “Bryce can never go under the Bloodmoon. With that gate on him, the effects would be instant.”

“Instant?” she said, looking to Kelsey. “Meaning what?”

Kelsey frowned at her and then glanced back towards the demon corpses just outside the barrier.

Fia let out a sobbing gasp. “What? Are you serious? Max?”

“I didn’t want to believe it either,” I said. “But it’s true.”

I could sense the fear building in her soul.

“You understand now, right?” I said, pulling her to me. “One slip up and we lose our son. I’m not going to allow him to grow up with that kind of hatchet hanging over his head.”

Fia cradled her head in her hand as she looked down at Bryce. “How did we bring such misfortune on him? He’s just a child.”

“It’s not we who brought it,” I said. “It’s me.”

Fia looked up at me perplexed.

“This is my doing,” I said. “I’m picking fights with gods and that asshole is deciding to hit me where he knows it will hurt. But he didn’t count on me being too much of a chun to give a damn about knowing my limits. I won’t rest until this is done, Fia. I can’t. Not until I’m certain that monster can no longer harm our son.”

She merely nodded then.

“Then you gotta do both, chun,” Kelsey suddenly said. “And I agree with Fia on this one.”

“Huh?”

Kelsey then squared up on me with [Struggler’s Resolve]. “The Berserker in you needs to find a way to slay I’xol’ukz, I get it, but the cultivator in you needs to seduce this princess or whatever to get her to make you a Duke. You’ve got to save this world as well as your son, Max. And trust me, I can sense your Frenzy levels right now. You went in for a peek and just about burned yourself out. How the hell are you supposed to stand up to the real deal in the state you are now?”

Shit…she was absolutely right. That little dive had the potential of killing me for real. I would need to get a hell of a lot stronger to truly go toe-to-toe with I’xol’ukz. Breaking through to the lesser Deity realm at least, maybe even beyond?

It actually scared me to think what that truly meant.

To go even beyond the Lesser Deity realm.

To become a true god and ascend like Threja.

Would that mean leaving my family behind?

“You can find I’xol’ukz all you want,” Kelsey said. “But you won’t be able to do shit until you’re powerful enough to kill him. You’d be better off saving our planet beforehand.”

Fia looked to me with pleading eyes and I let out a sigh.

“Alright,” I said. “Guess I’ve got a lot more progressing to do.” I then sighed again. “And a lot more princess woo’ing…whatever the hell that means.”

I totally wasn’t looking forward to that part. Throwing myself into the depths of the unknown and fighting demons to within an inch of my life paled compared to spending time with that sociopathic princess.

Stolen novel; please report.

Still, a man had to do what a man had to do.

The Struggler’s going to have his work cut out for him for sure, I thought.

“Don’t worry,” Kelsey said. “I’ll make sure there is no chance that Bryce ever steps outside a barrier.”

I smiled at her. She had misread the dismay on my face. “Thanks, Kelsey. I know I can count on you.”

“Thank you, Kel Zhi,” Fia said and then gave her a hug. “For convincing this lunkhead of mine to do what’s best.”

Kelsey laughed as Fia hugged her.

“Now come on you,” Fia said to me. “You’ve just gotten home and before you leave me behind again, I want at least one night with you all to myself.”

With that she grabbed my hand and led me off home.

* * *

I wanted nothing more to finally enjoy our reunion together, but as soon as I had Fia nestled in my arms, the mental and spiritual exhaustion of diving into the depths of the Chainmaiden’s realm had me drifting off to sleep in seconds.

We made up for it in the morning though, making love passionately in the predawn hours while the baby slept. As day broke, we were treated with yet another celebratory feast consisting of a pancake breakfast complete with bacon and eggs.

We began our goodbyes then, with me spending a few quiet moments with Fia and the baby while Master Hei Dong did the same with Fia’s mom. There was no political reason why Rhi Dong could not return to the city, she wasn’t a target after all, but she opted to stay with Fia to help with Bryce.

Kelsey stayed as well of course, serving as the vigilant protector of the newly thriving village, but she made plans to visit every so often as did I, seeing as for me, journeying across the wild was but a short [Ride of the Lightning] away.

Hein decided to return to the city as well, causing his mother to have a crying fit before we departed. It was just as well, I supposed, seeing as he’d done what he’d come here to do, making amends with Yu Li of sorts. Yu Li even coaxed Su Ling to give her “uncle” Hein a hug goodbye, so perhaps some kind of relationship could be had in the future.

“How much leave you got from the army anyway?” I asked him, as both he, Master Hei Dong and I made our way towards the edge of the village.

Hein shrugged. “A couple of months. I had a lot of time saved up.”

“Two months?” Hei Dong smiled. “Very good then. I’ll put you to work as well. You’ll look to the city’s regiment. It’s a disheveled mess thanks to Lady Silver Tear and her nieces, curse their souls, but I’m sure as the man you’ve now become, you can whip the militia back into shape in no time.”

Hein grinned, pride beaming. “It would be my honor, father.”

“Cool,” I said. “So, what’s my first job?”

“You?” Hei Dong looked at me like I was an idiot. “What do you mean? You’re the one that needs to be telling me what to do.”

I froze for a second, unsure of what to do or say. My stress level suddenly increased, until Hei Dong finally laughed. “I jest, my boy. I’ll guide you, no worry. The first order of business is to reestablish order. Call a general assembly and reinstall me as Vice Warden. I will do the rest.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew. I was having a panic attack there.”

Hei Dong looked at the sun now stretching into the mid-morning sky. “We must be away quickly. People will be expecting something to happen before noon.”

In the scant time we had left, I rushed to give a final kiss, hug and goodbye to Fia and Bryce and then gave Kelsey a tackle hug. The rest of the community saw us off as I took to the sky with [Lightning Walk] carrying master Hei Dong on my back. Hein floated beside us with his [Silver Sail] technique.

We pushed hard and made it back in a little over an hour.

Our first stop was to the Native Housing District where I collected Jian Yi along with Blue Rose, Tu’lok and Mal’kira. We then made our way, as an entourage, to the Imperial city in the sky. As we rode the skiff upwards, it was hard to believe that I technically was in charge of all this, but people on the streets didn’t let me forget it.

Everywhere I turned, people were bowing and prostrating themselves with kowtows, wishing me well as the new Warden. By the time we reached the imperial chambers and the former Warden’s residence we must have had half the city following behind us.

Servants in imperial robes were quick to welcome me inside with low bows.

“We praise your arrival, Marshal Warden,” they all said in unison.

Master Hei Dong then went swiftly to work, issuing orders.

“The new Warden wishes to address the people,” he said authoritatively. “Send word at once to all corners of the city. Assemble at the stadium.”

“Yes, Master Hei Dong!”

Although he wasn’t even officially reinstalled as Vice Warden yet, the Imperial staff certainly knew and respected him. It made me feel all the more relieved to have him by my side. It took a few hours to get the word out, but we set a time for early afternoon for me to address the city.

I spent that time trying to find words to an opening speech.

Master Hei Dong offered to write something for me, but when I read it, I just couldn’t feel it in my Flame. The words were too big and eloquent and written in formal Yee.

“This doesn’t sound like me,” I said.

“It shouldn’t,” Hei Dong said. “You are a Warden now. You need to start sounding like one.”

I grimaced at that thought and then looked back at the speech Master Hei Dong had written for me again. The language was imposing. I got the gist of it, but there were some characters I had to ask Hei Dong to sound out for me like I was a damn chun.

This was stepping into a whole new league for me.

Half the time I couldn’t understand it myself when people spoke with formal tones.

A weird anxiety built within me. A fear of sorts, but not one I could convert into Frenzy. By the time we made our way to the stadium, I was sweating like crazy and my heart was pounding in my chest. I kept re-reading the speech and sounding the words out in my head.

The Imperial anthem played as our skiff descended into the arena and I felt even more uneasy as I realized that I was now officially the local representative of the princess and emperor. The chief magistrate took to the stage first, rattling off some legal proclamation that I could barely focus on as I tried to study the three pages of speech now shaking in my hands.

“And now let us all welcome, the new Warden of Jurin Province,” the Magistrate said as she ushered me forward. “His Imperial Marshal, Leader of the Terran and Furious Lightning Sects and rightful ruler of these lands, Max Chun, known to you as the Iron Bull and more recently the Iron Marshal. Stand to your feet and welcome him!”

The applause resounded like thunder.

I stepped towards the dais and what looked like the entire population of Jurin province floated into view. I waved and smiled like I was down on the clay turf of the arena below, but after a while the applause died down and they were waiting for me to speak.

Nerves ripped my stomach apart as I focused on the characters on the sheet.

“In the name of his Imperial Majesty, Great Soul Emperor Yin Yee, I honora…bab-babily….”

Shit!Got the tones wrong.

I tried again. “I honorably greet… thee, those…I mean thou… in the presence here… with…”

My mind was reeling. I really should have tried reading it out loud more instead of just in my head. The tones were so much easier to pronounce that way. The seconds of uncomfortable silence dragged on and I felt the heat of embarrassment burning the back of my neck.

I looked out at the crowd.

I’d been in front of these people dozens of times before.

But now I was choking like a complete chun.

Come on, I told myself with [Struggler’s Resolve], these people are counting on you.

Don’t look so weak!

I glanced back at Master Hei Dong as he kept trying to mouth the next word for me.

The silence got worse.

Ah, to hell with it, I thought. If I was going to look like a damn chun, I might as well go all the way.

“Alright, look,” I said in plain Yee. “I’m not gonna lie. That was a damn elegant speech, but it won’t be read by the likes of me. I’m not here because I’m a scholar that went to some fancy school. I’m here because I faced the fires of the Hell Worlds and came back alive to talk about it.” freewebnoveℓ.com

Shockingly that got a round of hoots and hollers and a shit load of lemonade.

My fear evaporated instantly and suddenly I felt back at home, riling up the crowd again like I was back in the ring. “And I’m not here to impress you with any of that either. What I’m here to do is set the province back in order and get common folk living decently again.”

That got more measured applause this time.

“Someone once said, those with strength rule, but those with wisdom are chosen to lead. Now the man who wrote the speech for me, is the wisest man I know. And for that reason, I believe it only fitting that he, Master Hei Dong, who served this province as Vice Warden for many years, be restored to his rightful post.”

I started the claps with that one and then ushered my future father-in-law forward.

Master Hei Dong joined me and then bowed graciously. “I live to serve thee and your people, honorable Marshal Warden. May your years of rule be long and endless.”

He spoke with his formal tones, and I couldn’t help but laugh inside as he grinned at me like a private joke. He then deferred to me again and I tried to think of what else I could say. More silent moments passed. I stopped thinking then and looking out at the people, sensed [Everyone’s Pain].

This wasn’t just a pep rally.

These people needed real hope.

They needed to know that this wasn’t just another changing of the guard.

I would fight to save these people with the same determination as I would to save my own son.

My Flame then flared with the strengthening of my Twin Dao.

“I know you’ve been through a lot recently,” I said with [Struggler’s Resolve]. “And fancy words and promises won’t do a lot to change things right away, I know. Still, I hope you’ll put your trust in me that I will do right by all members of this community, Yee and native born alike. We will rebuild and grow, and we will do so together. And know that I will fight as hard for all of you as I fought on the Hell Worlds of the Cursed Stars. We’re all going to make it happen. We’re all going to thrive!”

The crowd surged with thunderous applause, and I could feel it both physically and spiritually this time. I began to get a bit choked up myself from all the lemonade that flowed. I finally pulled things to a close and fireworks went off from somewhere.

After another few minutes we departed and went back to the imperial residence.

“So…” I said. “How was it?”

Master Hei Dong chortled. “Interesting.”

“So… good, not good?”

“I measure by different means, but I would say overall… effective.”

“Yeah,” Hein said. “The people love you. Chun and all.”

All my companions laughed at that.

“Now,” Master Hei Dong said. “Time for the real work to start. The people are ripe for change, and you need to provide it. What is it you wish to be done?”

I furrowed my brow. “Wait… I thought you said you were going to handle everything.”

“Administratively yes,” he said. “I’m here to guide you, not think for you, Max.”

Master Hei Dong then sat behind a desk and pulled out a quill.

“So, what is it you wish to do with your province, Marshall Warden?” He then smiled at me. “This humble public servant awaits receipt of your first decree.”