Path of the Berserker - Book 4: Chapter 0.4 - Intro and Book 3 Recap

Blurb

A world destroyed. An axe to grind. And a path to infinite power. Welcome to my reality.

School is out, but my education is just beginning.

My trials at Du Gok Bhong Academy pushed me to my limits and then some, fueling my breakthrough into the Sacred Soul Realm. But with new power comes new responsibilities, and my twin Dao to not only defeat the Empire but protect it from the demonic scourge of the Cursed Stars has me on a collision course for the Hell Worlds.

Good thing that’s where I’m headed next. Now the only thing standing between me returning to Earth a full-fledged Legionnaire, is a planet full of eldritch demons ready to tear me a new one.

With my problems back home multiplying and the ones ahead of me looking even worse, the odds are against me like never before. But that’s okay.

Beating the odds is just what a Berserker does.

Path of the Berserker Book 4 is a progression fantasy novel that contains immortal cultivators, an oppressive intergalactic dynasty, rage-inducing imperial bureaucracy, magical spirit beasts, fantastical martial arts and one pissed off MC who’s sick of it all. Fans of western style cultivation fantasy, post apocalypse and Xianxia will enjoy.

#Max’s Techniques and Abilities

Max’s Berserker TechniquesTaken from the sacred scripts regarding the Path of the Frenzied Flame.

“Thou art indeed a kindled Flame, a frenzied spirit, tempered by struggle and sorrow, fueled by rage and pain…” -Unknown

Shura 1

Think not that we speak for the Flame, for the Flame of Frenzy has no master nor does it seek to create masters of its own accord. We who speak, have through consult agreed to these doctrines, not by direction, but through independent revelations of the Flame. Know with confidence then, that these words are true and are fit for enlightenment along your path.

Shura 2

They call us Berserker, we who follow the Frenzied Flame. Let us embrace the moniker, for it instills fears in our enemies. And fear is our strength.

[Frenzied Flame] – the most basic of all techniques within the Berserker’s domain. Use it to instantly channel your internal energies of Fear, Rage, and Pain into Frenzy. Evoking this technique can also stir the embers of an Unkindled or even reignite the fallen Flame of a Waning Ember.

[Fear the Flame] – the simple baring of one’s fangs is sometimes all that is required to defeat one’s foe. Gather your Frenzy and with a mere look or phrase, exert your dominance and feed from the fears of your enemies or bolster the resolve of your allies.

[Mask of the Despised] – take heed always, kindled one, for the hatred of the Frenzied Flame is great amongst those who follow the path of Qi. Use this technique to mask your strength while in their presence, for their own arrogance shall paint you as a mere fool, simpleton, or dull brute in their eyes. Use this to your advantage to move freely among them while posing no threat.

[Lust for Battle] – not a true technique, but a trait shared by all kindled of the Frenzied Flame. The drawing of blood in battle, even one’s own, can trigger a burst of Frenzy. And to slay one’s enemy will produce even more so. Yet take heed, kindled one, for the pull of the bloodlust is strong and the need to draw blood can easily extend to a friend as well as foe, if left unrestrained. Let not the Demon within you take full control.

[Struggler’s Resolve] – the path of the Struggler is forever filled with tribulation. This technique will convert your Frenzy into an iron will of determination that even others can feel and see.

[Indifference] –Think not, dear kindled, that your power lies in aggression and hostility alone. To induce rage and fear in others can be many more times as effective, for nothing offends the proud and powerful more than indifference. Use this technique to withstand attacks and to demoralize your foes through your apathy when you disregard even their strongest techniques with a scoff.

[Odds Against Me] – there is no greater thrill than a challenge. Without challenge, without struggle, there can be no progression. The cowardly prey on those who are weaker to ensure easy victory, but the Berserker seeks to oppose strength far above his own. When facing greater odds, either by strength, numbers, or both, this technique will generate enormous amounts of Frenzy by suppressing your inner fears and unleashing your Flame’s full potential. The power of this technique is limitless, bound only by the strength of your foe and your ability to withstand him.

[My Turn] – a retaliation technique used best when combined with [Indifference]. Unleash a mighty burst of Frenzy with your next strike by releasing the stored Pain energy of any previous attacks endured.

[Death Mastery] – the fear of death grows only stronger the closer one gets to immortality. Power over this fear defies not only the Heavens, but mocks it to its face. Consider it no small wonder then, dear kindled, that your path shall be blighted with misfortune, for the Heavens are not lightly mocked. In exchange for this rebuke, you shall enjoy the bounty that is clarity of mind, body, and soul in places where others falter and fail. Your words and actions will instill fear and respect in others and your Flame will burn yet brighter with each evolution, heightening the potency of all your abilities.

(Max’s Death Mastery Levels)

Fear of Uncertain Death (Mastery) – [Foundation Realm]

Fear of Certain Death (Mastery) – [Core Realm]

Fear no Death (Mastery) – [Sacred Soul Realm]

Death Wish – [Deity Realm]

[Iron Core] – (internal) use concentrated Frenzy to temporarily form a layer of protective armor around vital organs and bones to withstand tremendous blows.

[Death’s Door] – (internal) should you suffer a fatal wound use concentrated Frenzy to replace any bodily function that is lost.

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[Iron Skin] – (external) use concentrated Frenzy to temporarily form a layer of hardened armor on a specific part of the body.Use defensively to avoid critical strikes or offensively on the knuckles, feet, or palms when fighting unarmed.

Marks of the Berserker

Take special care when utilizing the marks. While initially only one Mark may be used at a time, higher levels can sustain as much as two. In very rare practitioners, all three marks can be manifested, but take heed, as such will quickly Frenzy thy Flame towards complete madness.

[Mark of the Beast] – (external) take on the likeness of a frenzied beast, greatly increasing one’s reflexes and speed.

[Mark of the Giant] – (external) grow in physical size, greatly increase all of one’s physical strength and power.

[Mark of the Demon] – (external) take on the likeness of a demon, greatly increasing the potency of one’s Frenzy and the effectiveness of Frenzy techniques.

[Steel Skin] and [Steel Core] – enhanced variations of the [Iron Skin/Core] techniques.

[Soul Shield] – the most elementary of soul techniques. Use it to guard thy Flame from attacks from both without and within the spiritual realm.

[Spectral Body] – the form of one’s soul is forever being molded, but for it to take true shape, it must first develop a body. Use this technique to both envision and inhabit a spectral body within thy own Core. Tread thou carefully however, for the refection of one’s true inner self is forged not by will, but the history of one’s thoughts and deeds.

[Spectral Armor] – once developed, this armor can embody the strength of one’s soul and protect one’s spectral body in the spiritual realm.

[Spectral Weapon] – the extension of one’s will in spiritual form, use it to inflict damage within the spiritual realm.

[Everyone’s Fear] [Everyone’s Sorrow] [Everyone’s Rancor] – the lamentations of the masses can hold much strength when in large numbers. Be they the oppressed or the downtrodden, so long as a focus for their oppression can be challenged, so too can a Frenzied Flame lend its strength to aid the many.

Max’s Demonic Cultivation Techniques

[Absorption] – a demonic technique that renders Qi essence from solid cores.

[Devil’s Shadow] – a demonic technique that masks one’s Dantian with the Qi gained through [Absorption]. By absorbing the essence of a sliver of Lightning Core implanted in his body, Max is able to mask his Frenzied Core as a normal lightning core.

[Faux Lightning] – by combining [Absorption] and [Devil’s Shadow], a small sliver of lightning core can be sent to Max’s jing meridian to create a small spark of lightning.

Max’s Martial Training

One and Two handed Axe Mastery – derived from a standard training manual.

Phalanx Glaive Mastery – perfected under the tutelage of Venja and Iron Pot Wong

Axe and Glaive Mastery – a combined martial form utilizing the quick strikes of the axe in conjunction with the slow and heave strikes of the Phalanx Glaive

Max’s Self Made Martial Techniques

[One/Two Log Chop] – a powerful vertical cleave utilizing the power of Frenzy

[One Chop Cleave] – a powerful spinning horizontal chop designed to fell a tree in one blow.

[Struggler’s Lightning Fist/Blade/Cleave of Fury] ­– a group of hybrid spiritual techniques involving the partial projection of his [Spectral Body] and [Spectral Weapon] for a single attack that can cause Lightning, physical and spiritual damage simultaneously.

Max’s Lightning Techniques

[Frenzied Lightning] – by utilizing solid frenzy and sending it to his jing meridian, Max is able to produce Lightning the same as a Lightning Qi master.

[Lightning Arc Strike] – manifests an arc of lightning that is cast from the edge of his blade.

[Wrath of a Thousand Slain Souls] – a manifestation technique that releases a large burst of [Frenzied Lightning] from Max’s body.

[Lightning Splits the Towering Oak] – a technique combining [Frenzied Lightning] and [Three Log Chop] to produce a devastating killing blow.

[Steel Lightning] – an ablative armor technique utilizing a combination of [Steel Skin] and [Frenzied Lightning]

[Lightning Walk] – a modification of the [Air Walk] technique combining [Frenzied Lightning] to produce the ability to walk on air.

[Ride the Lightning] ­– an advanced form of [Lightning Walk] utilizing the power of [Wrath of a Thousand Slain Souls] to move at incredible speeds.

Max’s group affiliations, titles and martial rankings

Furious Lightning Sect ­– Sect Leader

Terran Sect – Founder, Leader and Warden

Wooden Bracket League – 1st place Ranking and overall winner

Iron Bracket League – 1st place Ranking and overall winner

Gold Bracket League – 92nd Ranking

Du Gok Bhong Academy – Graduate Legionnaire

#The story so far

As Max prepares to leave for his training at Du Gok Bhong Academy, he struggles to breakthrough to the Sacred Soul Realm due to not being able to combine the split personalities of his soul—the Demon and the Struggler. Fia comforts him and they have a last intimate moment together before they leave to say their goodbyes to the community.

Upon his departure Max learns that the Warden has made the three bird sisters Vice Wardens of Jurin Province in order to harass Fia and his family while he is away. Fia, worried she may not see Max again, foregoes her Qi technique to prevent pregnancy in order to conceive a child from their last union. Max only learns of this later, putting him in the dilemma of possibly having a child out of wedlock while he is off at the academy.

On route to the academy via a prison transport, Max encounters a prisoner name Shen Liu who is a notorious pedophile. On a stopover on a remote asteroid, Shen Liu escapes and Max is tasked to hunts him down as a volunteer tribute. After being jeered and taunted by the man that he is too highly connected to face punishment, Max decides to deliver the justice the empire refuses to and kills him.

The swift justice earns Max a demotion to a prisoner tribute for his crime of murder, and he joins the academy several levels below where he should have as a volunteer tribute.

Now as a prisoner Tribute, Max befriends a family of prisoner tributes who are destined for Du Gok Bhong as he is. Facing a gauntlet upon arrival, Max manages to save the two sons of the family, Lo Ren and Chu Ren while their parents both eventually die.

Having passed his first trial, Max is elevated to a Brown Robe and meets two more cultivators, Blue Rose and Ho Chin who are both antagonistic from the start. After saving Blue Rose later however, Max eventually earns Blue Rose’s trust and the two become friends along with Chu Ren and Lo Ren.

Back on Earth the bird sisters enact a new law that prevents non Terrans from living in the Native Housing District, tearing apart the community. Fia steps in and helps by moving Yu Li and her family to live with her parents in the Imperial city. Without Zu Tien and Gui Zu being able to protect the Terran Sect, it is left to Kelsey to do so.

Kelsey has newfound problems of her own however as she discovers a powerful demon has emerged in the wild and learns that it is also seeking her out specifically. Upon confronting it, she discovers it is a reincarnation of Hong Feng who is determined to not just destroy Kelsey, but the entire city as revenge. After nearly dying to the monster, Kelsey senses Max in the spiritual realm which leads her to realize that there may be a way for her and Max to somehow communicate across the stars as Berserkers.

Max encounters a rival Tribute named Jei Su Long who is from a privileged family and who is only at the Academy to earn an easy Diamond Ranked title as Legionnaire. He despises Max immediately and their mutual resentment grows, culminating in a duel which Max wins, embarrassing Jei Su Long further.

Max discovers that he is able to commune with the aetherite crystal protecting the academy and discovers a spiritual being within that appears to be the remnants of an entire planet’s civilization. The being known as Fhae I’ung urges Max, as the Frenzied Flame, to take revenge for what the Stars have done.

Max advances through the academy quickly, especially when he learns that his powers as a Berserker allow him to resist the eldritch effects of seeing the unseen, allowing him to retain his sanity while others are driven mad. This propels him ahead of his classmates, including Blue Rose, who feels jilted and hurt that she is being left behind by him and that she may have to face her own tour of the Hell Worlds without Max by her side.

This eventually leads to resentment and a betrayal of Max when he is trying to master his new [Air Walk] technique, with Blue Rose embarrassing him in front of the entire academy as revenge. Blue Rose instantly regrets doing it, but has too much pride to admit what she did was wrong and leaves this unsettled between them.

Max and Kelsey eventually figure out a crude form of communication is possible if they are both under the effects of the Bloodmoon. They also use the link to lend strength to one another when in need.

On his final exam, Max is pitted against both Blue Rose and Jei Su Long in an exercise where they must both harvest crystals as well as endure the Full Bloodmoon for an entire night. In the course of the exam, Max discovers that Blue Rose cheated on her assessment and was not ready to endure the Bloodmoon exposure. At the risk of seeing her permanently driven mad, Max abandons the exam to save her. In the process to try and get her to safety, Max relies on Kelsey’s strength and discovers the secret to combining his inner souls, is to combine his paths. After swearing to not only avenge and free the earth, but to also destroy the demons of the cursed stars, Max ascends to the Sacred Soul Realm.

With his newfound power, Max saves Blue Rose and then faces off against I’xol’ukz directly as the dark god inhabits the corpse of a giant spirit beast. After defeating it Max swears his vengeance to follow I’xol’ukz back to its home world.

Max manages to still pass the final exam and attains the rank of Graduate Legionnaire. He reconciles with Blue Rose and promises to return to join her on her own tour when she is ready. Max departs as Commander of the Legionnaire Platoon, set to board the army transport vessel Xin Long for passage to the Hell World of Fhae I’ong.

The book ends with I’xol’ukz perplexed at the rapid growth it sees in Max and the gall of him threatening to confront it on its home world. For the first time, It feels ‘fear’.