Path of the Berserker-Chapter 41Book 5:

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Lunalah was a terror on wheels.

And the thought of being actually married to her curdled my stomach.

If I did have to settle for that though, I wouldn’t be able to kill her right away either. That would look too suspicious. So what would that mean then? Staying married to her for months? Years?

To hell with that, I thought.

I could barely stand being in the carriage with her, much less having to live out a sham marriage for years. Not to mention what that would do to Fia and I.

Or our son.

I let out an inward sigh as we continued our ride to the starport. I shifted my thoughts then. Lunalah or not, I needed to mentally prepare for what I would have to do next. Before anything, I was going to have to battle a dark god from beyond the stars. Was I ready? I wasn’t sure, but I needed to face the challenge to propel me to the next realm, so that part was a given.

No matter what happened on that planet, I’d have to figure it out.

But that wasn’t the main problem I needed to solve at the moment.

As I endured yet another spat between stepdaughter and stepdad, the more pressing issue became clear.

What the hell was I going to do about Lunalah?

Compared to I’xol’ukz she was by far the more dangerous foe. At least I could predict and depend on I’Xol’ukz to just try and kill me. But Lunalah on the other hand, could throw a monkey wrench that could derail any plan. And so said, so done. I had gone through the trouble of earning my title ahead of time to avoid marrying her, but now she had thwarted that.

As the carriage ride went on, a growing loathing burned inside of me the more I stared at her. It would be just like the bitch to pre-empt everything by making an announcement like this. And it was just her style to showboat it on the grandest stage possible, at the High Council in front of the whole damn world. She didn’t even seem to care about the trial anymore really. Having won her latest argument with stepdad, all she kept talking about now, was the wedding details and how shocked and amazed everyone would be.

“You can have one or two of your associates travel via the Omni Gate from Terra to witness the ceremony of course,” Lunalah said. “But not too many. You can throw a parade or holiday or whatever you want for your native kin once we return. You’d be a Duke, after all.”

“Yeah, that’s real thoughtful of you,” I said with barely veiled contempt.

“I’m going to invite Princess Ul’vera of course,” she said grinning. “I already invited her to the trial, but now, to offer her a wedding invitation right after the event? Beyond priceless! She will die of jealousy!”

She let out a cocky laugh that hurt my ears and caused Jin Yoo Sai to roll his eyes.

Maybe I could just throw the damn fight, I thought. Get her ass executed and solve everyone’s problems.

Not sure how that would look on an imperial stage like this, though. Pulling something like that on a backwater like Earth would likely go unnoticed by officials. But here in front of the High Council and the whole empire? Something like that would look sus as hell. ꞦÄ₦Ỗ𝖇Εʂ

Not to mention that I’d be going up against Rhe Su Long.

I doubted she’d be into letting me live if I surrendered. And damn it, I didn’t want to lose to that bitch either, not on the world stage. I thought on it some more as we neared the starport. A myriad of skiffs were lined up and taking off into the evening sky and as I watched them, I felt the growing pressure to formulate a plan before I too would be set aboard one to depart.

Lunalah was still jabbering away about how great it would be to finally display our ‘love’ in front of all her cousins and make them jealous as well. Just the thought of that had my stomach churning. But then something occurred. Her announcing our engagement on the world stage would make it neigh irreversible.

But the same would be true for anything that happened that day.

As the carriage was lowered to the ground a wild idea took hold. One that would not only save me from getting married but secure the safety of Fia and my son as well.

If I could pull it off.

As soon as the carriage door opened, I rushed out ahead of Lunalah, eager to find my entourage who had been walking alongside us. I wouldn’t have much time to relay my message and doing it without Lunalah’s knowledge would be key. I approached Blue Rose and grabbed her by the elbow, pulling her off to the side.

“What the hell’s going on?” she said. “And what are we doing here? We’re not leaving for that planet now, are we?”

“I think so,” I said. “But that’s not important right now. I need you to send a message for me.”

“What?”

I glanced over my shoulder to where Lunalah was having a last-minute spat with stepdad, before exiting the carriage.

“I need to write something real quick,” I said. “You got some paper?”

“I do,” Mu Lin said, approaching us. “What are you doing, Max?”

“I’ll tell you when I’m done. Give it to me. Quickly.”

Mu Lin handed me a rolled scroll and some writing implements and I began scribbling down my plan. It took less than a minute and as I handed it to Blue Rose she squinted.

“What the hell is this?”

“It’s called English,” I said. “Native Terran language.”

“I know that, you idiot!” she snapped. “What does it say?”

“No time to explain. It’s best you and no one else know for now. Just take it to Kel Zhi. She’ll explain everything from there.”

“What?” Xi Xha said, joining us along with Tu’lok. “Is something wrong, Max?”

Before I could speak further, Lunalah shuffled over with Jin Yoo Sai and Ling Wei. Blue Rose stuffed the letter in her robes and stood with Xi Xha and Mu Lin casually.

“So, this is the team you’ll be taking?” Jin Yoo Sai asked, skeptically.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“No, these here will be travelling back to Terra via the Omni gate,” I said. “One of my fellow elders from the Firebird Clan and Master Zin Tai will be joining me.”

“And me,” Mal’Kira said stepping forward.

I glanced at Mal’Kira. I didn’t know what I was heading into, but I was definitely going to have to cut loose, and I couldn’t have her witnessing that. Not to mention she was still a mortal no matter how skilled.

“It’s too dangerous, Mal.”

“Like hell,” she said. “I swore an oath. You need someone watching your back on the transport over there at least.”

“That goes for me too,” Blue Rose said.

I stared back at her stupefied. “Blue, I already told you what I need you to do for me.”

“Which I think Tu’lok would be more than capable of handling.” She then eyed me with something that reminded me of [Struggler’s Resolve]. “You’re going to the closest thing to a Hell World outside of the Cursed Stars. No way in hell am I letting you go down there alone. You need at least one legionnaire backing you up.”

Jin Yoo Sai chuckled. “I’d listen to her, lad. You already know my thoughts on your chances. You should take as much help as you can get.”

I huffed, frustrated, but it did make sense. Blue Rose already knew my secret and barely cared. I could cut loose in front of her. And it was my trust in her that made me consider her taking the message in the first place. But Tu’lok was just as trustworthy for doing something like that.

Damn, was I already not thinking straight?

Then again, that message would be the key to everything.

And I had to keep its contents secret even from Mu Lin and Xi Xha, who already believed that Fia was dead. A voice suddenly called out and half a block away, I spotted Zin Tai waving to us while riding a rickshaw, along with Hun Wu.

Shit, there wouldn’t be much time now.

“Alright,” I said. “I guess it’s the same teams from before then. Tu’lok, you escort the ladies home safely via the Omni Gate. Blue and Mal’Kira, you’re with me.”

Blue Rose smiled and elbowed Tu’lok. “Come with me a second.”

I distracted Lunalah with a quick kiss to her hand while Blue Rose took Tu’lok to the side, and then watched out of the corner of my eye as Blue slipped him the letter. That part was handled at least.

Lunalah giggled like an idiot and then pulled me closer to whisper in my ear.

“You’ll be kissing more than that soon,” she said. “Hurry back and make a true woman out of me.”

I hid a shudder of revulsion as I smiled at her. “I can’t wait to tear you apart.”

That caused a gush of lemonade, but I meant every word of it.

I made hasty goodbyes as Hun Wu and Zin Tai appeared on the scene, avoiding them by giving departing hugs to Mu Lin and Xi Xha.

“Thanks for everything guys,” I said. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Or me…”

I rolled my eyes as Zin Tai once again snuck up on me from behind. “You got an odd habit of butting into conversations, Master Zin Tai.”

“Apologies,” he said and pushed past me to formally bow to Xi Xha and Mu Lin. “I am here to say my goodbyes as well. Xi Xha, I will ensure to send my endorsements to the Academy for both you and Mu Lin before we reach Dokumu.”

“Thank you, Master Zin Tai,” the two of them said in unison with another bow.

Zin Tai then chuckled. “While I don’t intend to set a foot on that foul world, you never know what might happen. Isn’t that right, Marshal Iron Bull?”

I shrugged. “Depends on what kind of ship you got taking us.”

“Me? I’ve not arranged the ship.”

“I have,” Jin Yoo Sai said. “And it’s a fine one. But it’s also why you need to hurry. It’s shortly about to depart. Say your goodbyes quickly.”

* * *

I did just that, making sure to give Tu’lok a final bro hug as well.

“Make sure Kel Zhi gets that letter,” I said. “Everything is riding on that.”

“You can count on me, boss.”

As I waved my friends off, Hun Wu came to stand by my side.

“We must talk once we get underway,” she said in a whisper. “I spoke briefly with Master Zin Tai on the way here. He gave me some insight about this world we are headed to, and there might be more here than you understand.”

I raised a brow at that one.

It was likely I still knew more than her, but it would be interesting to hear her interpretation on it. I gave her a nod.

“Sure thing.”

“This way,” Jin Yoo Sai said taking the lead.

As he led us deeper into the starport, I got an appreciation for how vast the operation was. Space-worthy skiffs were parked in marked bays and were landing and departing like a busy airport back in the old days.

“I called in a favor from an old friend still in the fleet,” Jin Yoo Sai said. “I’ve arranged for transport via an imperial corvette. You will reach Dokumu in only three days instead of five now.”

“Mother has spared no expense to ensure your success,” Lunalah said beaming. “It will give us more time to plan the ceremony once you return.”

I just smiled and nodded.

She still didn’t have a clue that I might never return.

Or care perhaps.

All she cared about was this damn wedding.

I looked at the hundreds of skiffs taking off from the platform and tried to pick out the one we were headed for. And then, like seeing something out of a dream, I saw what had to be our ride, right away.

“Is that what I think it is?” Blue Rose said.

There on the deck was a legionnaires’ drop skiff, complete with the tethers.

“No way,” I said.

Jin Yoo Sai chuckled. “I thought it would be a nice added touch. Plus, with the danger involved, it was the only way I could convince the captain to lend his crew to ferry you down to the surface.”

I smiled, nodding my head. “You did alright, stepdad.”

The sudden humor caught Jin Yoo Sai off guard, and he let out a surprised chortle along with a hint of lemonade. “I’m glad you approve.”

A slim, bald guy that looked in his thirties, trotted over to us and introduced himself as Captain Teng.

“Is this it, Admiral?” he asked, looking surprised at my dwindling entourage.

“Unfortunately,” Jin Yoo Sai said. “But this one here is quite capable.”

Captain Teng’s eyes lit up when he saw me and he gave a deep bow. “The great Imperial Marshal Max Chun, it is an honor to meet you in the flesh.”

“The pleasure is mine,” I said and cultivated the lemonade he produced as I returned the bow. “Thanks for taking us.”

“I’ve heard of your tales from the Hell Worlds,” Teng said. “I would very much like to hear them firsthand if you have time.”

“He’ll have at least three days’ worth,” Jin Yoo Sai said. “Good luck to you, Marshal Iron Bull.”

I paid my final respects to Jin Yoo Sai with a deep bow. I didn’t know him very well, but he seemed a decent guy despite the company he kept, which I chalked up to his military background most likely.

“Thank you, Admiral,” I said. “For everything you have done. I’ll keep my promise. I won’t embarrass you in the High Council.”

He simply chuckled.

I then endured a long and uncomfortable hug from Lunalah before finally being released to board the skiff. A huge wave of nostalgia hit me as we rode into orbit. Five years. That’s how long ago the Hell Worlds were for me now.

But to everyone else, those exploits were barely a year old.

As we approached the corvette in orbit, I got an inkling why the thing was so fast.

It was shaped like an arrowhead and barely bigger than the Princess’s yacht we had flown on before. But I had a feeling it was at least twice as fast. When we got onboard a second wave of nostalgia hit as a platoon of army infantry came to attention on deck to welcome us.

We spent an hour getting a quick tour of the ship, which was small yet functional.

They then treated us to a welcoming dinner in the mess hall before pushing off into space, beginning my journey to the Dark World of Dokumu. I watched the glowing spheres of the core worlds grow smaller in the distance from the observation deck, wondering just where the Flame was taking me to next. Ascension or a trapped hell.

Those were the only two options.

I thought of Fia and Bryce then.

Five long years, but I had literally millions of miles to go, before I could see them again. But if everything worked out, I’d be able to see them freely.

Forever.

I was just about to leave to get some sleep when Hun Wu appeared.

Shit…

“Finally,” she said. “I’ve been trying to get you alone all evening.”

“What’s up?” I said nonchalantly.

Hun Wu produced a book from her robes and showed it to me. “Do you know what this is?”

I glanced at the title. “The Dark Forest?”

I recalled Zin Tai mentioning the book. “Yeah, it’s a fairy tale that is supposedly based on the place we’re going to.”

She scoffed. “Is that all you think it is?”

“Why?” I asked. “What do you think it is?”

“It truly saddens me how much you do not understand,” she said. “This book is no mere fable. It is one of our holy texts.”

I raised my brows at that one. “What?”

“It tells of how our master was imprisoned. He must truly be working through you to bring you here so ignorantly.” She then smiled. “My sister was right about you. You were destined for greatness, but she lacked the patience to let you grow. To allow you to reach your full potential.”

I still didn’t know what she was getting at, but at least that was further confirmation that I had found I’xol’ukz’s lair.

“I will teach you what the story means,” Hun Wu said. “It is cleverly disguised as a mere fable, but with the right insight, I can teach you the truth behind it.”

I wasn’t expecting that, but I supposed the more info the better.

“Sounds good,” I said.

Hun Wu then chuckled as she leaned over the balcony of the observation deck with me.

“Who would have thought I would be so blessed to witness this firsthand,” she said. “After thousands of years, we are finally going to set our master free.”