Path of the Berserker-Chapter 39Book 5:

My dearest Elder Sister Rheutera,

I am certain you must have heard the rumors by now, for if I, being on a distant fringe world have heard the whispers, then you, being within the core worlds, must surely be hearing the same news proclaimed from the very rooftops.

But I write to confirm for you that those rumors are indeed true.

My Champion, the Iron Bull, has performed a technique that has left the entire patriarchy of the Fire Bird clan confounded. He reduced a crowd of some 200,000 of them to ash! So while you have sought to level the odds against me by officiating your Lesser Deity Realm proxy, you now know full well the challenge you face.

It’s not too late to back out.

The loss of face you will endure from this defeat shall be irrevocable.

Choose your next move well, sister.

See you in a month.

Lunalah.

Princess Ul’vera released a tired sigh as she handed the letter back to Rheutera. “She actually sent you that?”

Rheutera gave a mirthless scoff as she sampled her tea. “By rapid Qi Stone communique no less. Can you believe the gall of that girl?”

Ul’vera leaned back on her lounge chair and chuckled. They were within her private antechamber, accompanied by only her personal attendants and a small contingent of guards. It wasn’t often that her elder sister left her home planet of Lu Shui Prime to come visit her on El D’Shar, but the fact that she had, hinted of her wanting something.

Something important.

They had always been on good terms, but the chance to be owed a favor from her elder sister demanded that she welcome her with open arms. Not that Rheutera looked older. The childhood prodigy was still very much girl like. Long plaited hair, still golden and vibrant. Ul’vera on the other hand wore her age barely better than a mortal. Anyone looking at them would perhaps assume Rhetera her daughter, rather than her older half-sister by some two hundred years.

“I can,” Ul’vera said. “The little bitch even sent me a letter some months ago.”

Rheutera’s eyebrows lifted. “Did she? About what?”

She waved her hand dismissively, not wanting to share those embarrassing details. “I barely remember. It was droll, though. The same as this letter here. The girl needs to be taught a lesson, that’s for certain.”

“Which is exactly why I have come, sister.” Rheutera set down her tea. “Lunalah proves the inaccuracy of rumors. The Iron Bull didn’t kill 200,000 cultivators. Merely a few dozen, but the power of this technique has been confirmed.”

“Oh?” Ul’vera said, waiting for more. “Has it?”

“Apparently a Grand Sage was present to witness the technique. He has since deemed it was a technique on the order of a 9th Tier, Lesser Deity Realm cultivator in terms of raw strength and power.”

“Lesser Deity Realm? Was he not within the Sacred Soul Realm a few months ago? Has he ascended?”

“Not to my knowledge, but it causes me a bit of unease to know the Iron Bull is capable of such a sizable technique while still within the Sacred Soul Realm.” 𝘳ἈΝ𝐎𝖇ЁＳ

Ul’vera smiled as good-naturedly as she could manage. “You fear your edge is slipping?”

Rheutera scowled. “That man has proven an anomaly ever since surviving that Hell World ordeal. But to see this level of power confirmed, I would be foolish to now not take extra precaution.”

Ul’vera nodded. “Of course. So how can I assist you, dear sister?”

Rheutera smiled. “Straight to the point. You are aware of my own champion, yes? The Lady Rhe Su Long of the Twin River Clan?”

“Your famous Little Princess? Of course.”

“Then you know she is a prodigy the same as me, perhaps even more skillful at cultivation if I am honest. She has a blood feud to settle with the Iron Bull for slaying one of her cousins, the nephew of Governor Tai Su Long, as well as her own honor to restore, following her last duel with the Iron Bull. She ascended to the Lesser Deity Realm just to ensure her victory, but now, after hearing this news, I fear she may still fall short.”

“How can I help?”

“The core of that Thrantor that my general slew for you, do you still have it?”

Ul’vera smiled. “You wish to use it? It’s a demonic core. You realize that?”

“Yes, I know,” Rheutera said. “The Lady Rhe Su Long resisted ascension for decades, passively cultivating while still strengthening her Dantian. When she finally did ascend, her Qi density was so great, it immediately propelled her to near the 3rd Teir of the Lesser Deity Realm. But she will need a tremendous source of Qi to get her to the 9th. She needs to be on the same level as the Iron Bull to withstand him in the ring.”

“You believe she can cultivate that quickly? To achieve 9th Tier in only a month?”

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“She is nearly there already,” Rheutera said. “She has the talent. She has been diligently cultivating for the last five months and stands now on the 6th tier. The power held within that Thrantor core will be enough to propel her to the 9th.”

“But the core is demonic, like I said. It will need to be sealed within a Holy vessel to harvest its Qi safely. And I admit, I have not invested in such a thing. I’ve merely put it on display. But even if I did possess such a relic, the Qi release would be very slow. It would take years. I would think only elixirs would be fast enough to advance so quickly.”

Rheutera laughed. “I’ve already gone that route. I’ve exhausted my entire stock of High Tier Elixirs, kingdom wide, to get the Lady Rhe Su Long from the 3rd Tier to the 6th in only five months.”

It was Ul’vera’s turn to widen her eyes in shock now. “Your entire supply?”

“Yes, and I doubt even you would have enough to take her further. The core is the only way.”

“But it will take too long.”

“Yes…if sealed within a relic.”

A pause lingered as Rhetera continued to smile and Ul’vera quickly discerned what she meant. “Don’t tell me you plan on turning the core into an elixir.”

Rheutera chuckled. “I’ve already sent for a High Priest and alchemist from Genisha to perform the extraction and purification. An Elixir Baron from the Yi Fae family itself, no less.”

“This is the Awakened core of a Fallen Star, sister. No matter how skilled your alchemist, the risk of demonic poisoning must still be high.”

“They’ve said the same,” Rheutera said with a shrug. “But I’m willing to take the risk.”

“And is she?” Ul’vera asked. “You’ve placed a heavy wager and burden upon this girl, sister. Is she even capable?”

“Would you like to ask her for yourself?”

Ul’vera was surprised yet again. “You’ve brought her with you?”

“Of course. I would not ask you to take on such a gamble with me without knowing the odds. Shall I summon her from my skiff?”

Ul’vera didn’t expect this, but it hinted at her sister’s resolve. She came here fully prepared to leave with that core. Which meant there was little to be gained by resisting.

“By all means.”

Ul’vera sipped her tea quietly while Rheutera sent a servant to fetch her champion. She methodically calculated the core’s worth in Rheutera’s eyes and what she could possibly ask for it, in return. At this rate, there was no limit.

The antechamber doors opened and two people entered within.

The tall frame of Governor Tai Su Long caught her eye first, the man giving her a warm smile before bowing deeply.

“Princess Ul’vera,” he said. “May the heavens bless you.”

She received him with a head nod. “So good to see you again, governor.”

A blue-haired girl with pigtails and cerulean eyes stepped from behind him and performed a kowtow. “Greetings Princess Ul’vera, this one is honored to be in your presence.”

Ul’vera had seen the Lady Rhe Su Long before, but never like this. She was still but an adolescent girl in appearance, but her stare was that of a hardened warrior. And now, that stare held power like she had never seen before. She could sense the pressure of her Dantian’s Qi density even from where she sat a good fifty feet away.

“The honor is all mine, Little Princess,” Ul’vera said with a smile. “My congratulations on your ascension to the Lesser Deity Realm. You do your people and princess proud.”

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“Your Princess tells me you wish to use a core of an Awakened Thrantor to cultivate to the 9th Tier. Do you believe yourself capable of this?”

“Yes, if you will allow it.”

“And you understand the risk of trying to turn such a thing into an elixir?”

“I do.”

Ul’vera looked to her sister and frowned. “Does she really?”

“Perhaps I must demonstrate the source of my confidence,” Rhe Su Long said. “With your permission, your majesty?”

Rheutera nodded excitedly. “Go on. Show her.”

With a quick motion, Rhe Su Long bounced to her feet and then dropped into a martial stance.

“[Ultimate River God Naga Form]!”

With the annunciation of the technique, the entire antechamber filled with water, that immediately pooled in a sphere around Rhe Su Long’s Body. The bubble then burst and there in her place was a towering woman with luminescent white skin. The lower half of her body was that of a giant snake with vibrant blue scales, standing upright like a cobra. A shock of blue hair undulated about her shoulders and above her head a golden crown hovered like a halo. The same golden armor covered her breasts and hips, leaving her midsection exposed to reveal a gleaming sapphire embedded in her navel. Her face was similar to that of Rhe Su Long, but now matured to represent her true age and finally matching the stare of her glowing blue eyes. With a wave of her arms, two shimmering scimitars appeared in her hands, their blades made out of flowing water.

“Witness now my celestial form,” she said, and as she spoke the room reverberated with power. “I am blessed with the River Dragon’s spirit, and with it, all the attributes of a true dragon. In this body I fear no demonic poisoning. I will cultivate…not as a mortal, but as a god.”

A shudder of fear coursed through Ul’vera, twisting her insides.

It wasn’t often she came face to face with true Lesser Deity Realm Cultivators.

This ‘girl’ now possessed the same qualities as King Theos and Lady Sylph. Planet crushing strength that could perhaps kill her and Princess Rheutera both, if she wished. It unnerved her that it was only the thin sliver of Imperial Rule that saw such a being still placed under their control.

“Very well,” Ul’vera said. “I will grant you the Thrantor core sister, but with one request.”

Rheutera cocked a brow at her. “Go on…”

“When you defeat Lunalah, branding her a traitor, you will lay claim to her domain I presume?”

“I hadn’t truly thought about it, but yes, I suppose.”

“Then I would request that when you do, the Iron Bull be placed into my servitude.”

“What?” Tai Su Long said. “But your majesty. I have a blood vendetta against this man. He must be killed!”

Ul’vera ignored him and looked to Rheutera. “Sister, tell me. Does Lunalah not flaunt this man before us every chance she gets? He is her prized possession. Her only claim to significance.”

“Indeed she does.”

“So what is the greater torture? Destroying one’s favorite toy? Or seeing someone else possess it?”

Rhetera smiled before huffing out a laugh. “I do like the way you think, little sister.”

“Your majesty!” Tai Su Long said, but Rheutera silenced him with a raise of her hand.

“If fate will have him survive the match, then yes, you may have him.” Rheutera then nodded to Lady Rhe Su Long. “I shall leave that to the capabilities of the Little Princess to ensure. Can you?”

The naga goddess grimaced, clearly displeased. “I will do my utmost, your majesty.”

Ul’vera was once again thankful for that thin veil of control.

“Rest assured Governor,” Ul’vera said to him with a smile. “The Iron Bull will be reduced to a surf if he survives. His everlasting shame should bring you some solace.”

He bowed his head. “I acknowledge your request, Princess Ul’vera. We of the Twin River Clan, shall acquiesce.”

“Good,” she said. “Then it is settled. Sister, I grant you my Thrantor core.” She then chuckled. “I suppose it only fitting that it comes to this. It was the Iron Bull who singlehandedly slew that beast, after all. Ironic that its same power will now be used to see him undone.”

“He slew it?” Rhetera said.

“Did your governor not tell you?” Ul’vera laughed. “All the more reason to not see another prodigy go to waste.”

“I make no guarantee of his survival,” Rhe Su Long said. “When we clash, we shall be as two gods fighting for dominion, but I will endeavor to fulfil your request.”

“It is all I ask,” Ul’vera said.

Rhe Su Long crossed her flowing blue blades in a salute. “I thank you for the granting me of this power Princess Ul’vera. With it I shall cultivate to the very limits of the Lesser Deity Realm, achieving 9th Teir and beyond.”

“Beyond?”

“Yes,” Rhe Su Long said, as her eyes flashed with malice and her voice boomed with power. “When I face the Iron Bull, I plan to be but a half-step away from being a true god.”