Something felt off the moment I neared the square.

It was getting late, approaching the hour most of the food vendors and resident cleared out for the night, but the crowd looked to be almost triple what it usually was. But that wasn’t the really odd thing about it all. It was deathly quiet and as I neared the entrance I could finally see why.

There in the center of the square, seated on a makeshift throne was Young Master Hein.

Standing behind him was the bitch Zu Tien and seated at his side was my fat ass landlord, Li Fet. Four enforcers added window dressing to the trio, along with an Imperial Guard. I could care less about Hein and Zu Tien, but the enforcers and Li Fet caused apprehension to stir within my flame.

What the hell was this now?

I tucked the manuals tighter against my skin, adjusting my overcoat to hide them. As I entered the square every eye fell on me and a wall of anger and resentment came my way. A slow clap filled the air as Hein gave mock applause for my entrance.

“And there he is finally,” Hein said. “The man of the hour himself. You’ve kept your neighbors waiting, Chun.”

“Perhaps he was busy gambling away my rent money as usual,” Li Fet said with a chortle.

I ignored him with [indifference] while Hein laughed at the joke.

Finding Yu Li within the crowd, I made eye contact with her, but she gave me only a helpless headshake. Whatever this was, she had no clue what was going on either. I stepped into the square with a hint of [Fear the Flame] and grinned inwardly as the enforcers and Li Fet eased back a little, Li Fet’s face growing pale.

Hein and Zu Tien, however, seemed strong willed enough to resist it.

I looked to the woman and noticed a glove-like prosthetic with blades, attached to the end of her left arm. “Long time no see, Zu Tien. How’s the hand?”

She scowled at me and worked her prosthetic to give me a one bladed salute.

I gave her a shit-eating grin in return. “You bring all these guys here to get a matching set?”

“Stop!” Hein rose to his feet, his anger spiking. “You will not address her! I am of the highest standing here. You will address me as a representative of the ruling clan of this province. Show your respect!”

“Great apologies, Young Master.” I gave him a halfhearted bow and a leering smile. “I’m sure you’re soon to tell me why you’re here. Or are you perhaps coming to call off your apology?”

“You should be apologizing to him!” someone yelled out from the crowd.

“Silence!” the Imperial Guard barked, and one of the enforcers threw his bamboo baton indiscriminately into the crowd. I wasn’t sure if he hit who had spoken or not, but it shut the entire crowd up quickly.

“This One will forgive that disrespectful outburst only because it speaks of the truth,” Hein said more calmly as he surveyed the crowd. “Your apology Chun should be well forthcoming, but I am a man of honor. You still have ten days left to prepare to humble yourself before me.”

“So why are you here?”

The direct question seemed to take him aback, but he steadied himself and then looked to Li Fet. “I am not here of my own accord. I have been invited by the honorable Li Fet, the lawful owner of this property. Li Fet, you may speak freely.”

I focused on the fat man with and his eye grew wide, his mouth hanging open.

“I said speak!” Hein shouted again and Li Fet broke into a stutter.

“I-I heard of the great disrespect this community has shown towards Young Master Hein. It has also come to my attention that you, Chun, have especially failed to demonstrate even the slimmest amount of contrition or remorse for your actions.” Li Fet paused to clear his throat, unable to keep eye contact with me as he continued, “thus, to make it clear to you the gravity of your offenses, I today have signed before this Imperial Guard and representatives of the throne, a rent increase for the entire block.”

A wail of gasps and moans erupted from the crowd.

“Let him finish!” Hein shouted and his words were quickly backed up with action by the enforcers, the black-robed men threatening the residents with more violence, yelling at them while swinging their clubs. When it all died down, Hein resumed speaking. “I assure you it will be in your best interest to hear Li Fet in his entirety. Continue, Li Fet.”

Li Fet made a big show of holding up a paper with his signature on it. “See here! It is an imperial order to double your rent to one tael per month.”

More gasps emerged, but quieter this time and the anger in the crowd quickly slipped towards cold-blooded fear.

“But, as you all know, I Li Fet, am a merciful landowner,” he said with a smile. “If in ten days from now you all apologize and show the proper respect due to Young Master Hein, then I, Li Fet, will be inclined to tear up this order.” His eyes then focused on me. “But…if this one, known as Chun, refuses to apologize or show respect, then not only will I not rescind this order, but I will triple your rent instead.”

The roar from the crowd grew uncontrollable as their fear boiled over into anger directed entirely at me. I suffered through it with a poker-face, channeling the frenzy from them into [Indifference].

“Or…!” Hein shouted and then waited for the noise to die down. “Or, you Chun…You can simply apologize now. Just you…on behalf of everyone… and all will be forgiven. This is my last great mercy to you and your people.”

His leer grew wide, relishing the victory of his chess move.

Or what he thought was a victory anyway.

Murmurs in the crowd grew more pronounced and when Hein stayed the Guard’s hand, who was about to silence them, the people grew even more vocal.

“Do it now!”

“Speak you fool!”

“Apologize!”

“He’s giving you a chance!”

“Show your respect!”

I looked to Yu Li, bouncing Su Ling on her hip. She looked torn and I could feel her insides quivering with fear. They were all afraid. But unlike Hein I didn’t need to save face or rely on the approval of others. The only thing I needed to do, was to stick to my path.

“I already told you what you’re going to get from me ten days from now, Hein. I suggest you not be late to receive it.”

I backed my words up with [Struggler’s Resolve] and the crowd went wild with fury.

“Do you see?” Hein shouted, a mad grin on his face. “Do you see the insolence? The selfishness? He will not humble himself. He would rather sacrifice you all in the name of his own pride!”

I grimaced as his second chess move went into play. Touché, Hein, touché.

“Residents of D-Block, feel free to show the great, Chun, how you all feel!” Li Fet shouted. “It is only you who can convince him now. Show him with your fists!”

Holy shit, I didn’t expect that…

I hardened my body with frenzy as the crowd surged forward as one, preceded by a hail of bottles and bowls. They swarmed me as a mob, their curses biting even deeper than their punches and kicks. I hunkered down as I took the slams, the struggler fully in control.

Being mortals, I could barely feel their hits through my frenzy-infused skin, but a dark part of me began to emerge from deep within me as their assault continued, their hatred and vitriol gnawing at my soul.

These people were clueless. Why did I put up with them? If not for them, I could throw caution to the wind and just exact my revenge and not care about any form of retaliation. They didn’t even understand that I was doing this all for them. But would they even understand? Would they care? Or was it too late for them?

Maybe it was too late for the entire Earth.

Maybe everyone was already too far gone and too brainwashed to care. Too young to remember the old world, too ignorant to know there was more than this. More than being manipulated by cultivators and being turned against one another for survival.

The thought of it burned hot ire in my soul. A deep resentment at the injustice delivered to us by people much stronger and much crueler. A people who saw us as savage animals to be domesticated and controlled. And then in that instant, I understood. I understood why I still struggled for the freedom of these people, even though they couldn’t yet understand it.

This was the core of my Dao.

My righteous struggle.

The burden that tamed the demon in my soul.

Without it, I would be no Berserker, no follower of the Frenzied Flame, but simply another madman out for revenge. Then, as if the flame were acknowledging that truth within my hear, I spotted Yu Li Through the mayhem. She had tears in her eyes as she clutched Su Ling, her free hand raised in protest against the mob.

“Stop! Don’t do this! Don’t hurt him! He’s fighting for us!”

Her words stirred my flame and soothed my spirit. She’d found some faith in me and was clinging to it. Even if doing all this was just for her and Su Ling, it would be worth it. But there were more people to inspire and encourage just like her. There was a whole city full of Terrans to inspire and show the truth, with multiple cities beyond that.

But if I were going to make it that far, I needed to start with the angry mob writhing on my back. I focused not on them—that was Hein’s ploy—to turn us against each other. But we weren’t cultivators. We didn’t think or act selfishly like they did. When facing a greater enemy we stood together, not fight amongst ourselves to be scattered apart. The spike of anger for what he was trying to do, fueled my system with Frenzy of its own.

I had my mask. There was no need to hide my strength before me people now.

If I was going to instill faith in them like I had with Yu Li, I needed to show them what was possible. I let free the struggler’s grip, releasing the demon as my inner flame surged with rage.

“Enough!”

I stood to my feet, throwing the entire mob off of me in a single flex, sending people flying back ten feet or more. I focused on Hein and leapt toward him in a burst of frenzy, closing the thirty-foot gap in an instant. I stopped just short of him, my momentum sending a cloud of dust into the air.

The cultivators reacted by taking quick martial stances, Hein’s chair flying backwards as he stood and Zu Tien drawing her sword. But Li Fet and the enforcers recoiled in fear. Only the Imperial Guard seemed non-plussed, as if merely an observer to the events.

“I have a counterproposal for you, Li Fet,” I said with [Struggler’s Resolve], but then glanced towards Hein. “There will be an apology ten days from now. But it will not be coming from me.” I then focused directly on my fat landlord. “I challenge you for the ownership of this residence, an unofficial Trial by Might with Young Master Hein as your proxy.”

“W-What?”

“You heard me. If I lose, I’ll not only apologize, but I’ll pay the extra month’s rent for all the residents and then I’ll leave myself. For good.” I paused to let it all sink in. “But if I win, you hand over the keys to me.”

Li Fet shook his head, shrinking back in his chair. “This is nonsense! You cannot claim a Trial by Might. You’re no citizen. And you hold no ranking to match the likes of Master Hein!”

“I said unofficial, didn’t I?” I looked to the Guard, who merely shrugged. Li Fet was perhaps panicking too much to realize not being a citizen prevented me from owning the land too. If he had, he probably would have agreed right away. But it didn’t matter. I’d have my citizenship by then. “Since the guard here don’t seem to care ether way, I’ll sweeten the deal for you, Li Fet. I’ll take on both Hein and his lacky Zu Tien.”

“Master!” Zu Tien said, rushing to Hein’s side. “Take heed. I sense he is stronger than before.”

“Don’t be a fool, Zu—”

Hein’s dismissive tone dropped instantly as he no doubt flexed his Qi to sense the lightning core within my stomach. “What is this? How is this possible?”

“I told you,” Zu Tien said. “He is odd. Has strength beyond his means. He was a mere mortal a few weeks ago. He must be some kind of cheat!”

“Or maybe I’m just better at this cultivation bullshit than the both of you,” I said with a cocky grin.

The anger inside Hein boiled over but Zu Tien’s insides chilled with fear. I lapped up frenzy from both their reactions. “So, I guess this means you want to reconsider your position now?”

“Reconsider?” Hein’s brows lowered, his breath whistling through flared nostrils. “You’ve just signed away your life, you fool. I took pity on you before as an ignorant mortal. But now, you wish to challenge me as a cultivator? With your fledgling Qi and nonexistent skill?” He leaned his head back and laughed to the sky. “So be it! You have chosen death, Chun. And I don’t need Zu Tien’s help to deal with the likes of you.”

I ignored him and looked to Li Fet instead. “So, you heard him…do you agree?”

“Yes, he agrees!” Hein shouted. “Agree, you fool! Agree!”

“Ah…” Li Fet looked at Zu Tien. “I…I would feel more comfortable if she were still involved, Master Hein.”

“Yes, please Master Hein!” Zu Tien dropped to one knee. “Allow me to regain my honor. Allow me to challenge him before you. If I am killed, I will have proven I am unworthy to serve you or the Sect. I only ask a bit more time to complete my own recovery and training. An additional week perhaps.”

Hein harrumphed, looking down at Zu Tien like a dog begging for her supper. “Fine, I’ll allow it.” He then looked to Li Fet who nodded before finally looking back at me. “It’s settled then. You’ll have your Trial. And consider yourself lucky, Chun. This is a mercy extended to my subordinate, not to you, although you may well benefit from it all the same. The date is move by one week. That’s seventeen days from now.”

“Can’t wait,” I said.

“If you do not show up, expect to be hunted down…by my entire family.”

He snapped his fingers and walked off, Li Fet and the enforcers following behind him.

As Zu Tien walked by, she stopped to give me a nasty sneer.

“Know this, fool. Before I take your life, I will take what you took from me…and more.” She then glanced down at my crotch. “You’ll be begging for your death before I’m through with you.”

“Sure thing,” I said with a laugh. “Give my regards to the knitting club.”

* * *

A shitstorm of chaos erupted once Hein and his entourage finally cleared out of the square. People were screaming and shouting, most of them filled with fear, but a few were bubbling with the beginnings of hope as well. I took to a table top and cupped my hands to my mouth.

“Everyone shut the hell up!”

I said the words with a healthy dose of [Fear the Flame]. The result was instantaneous, everyone got the point real quick and I drove it home with [Struggler’s Resolve].

“Most of you weren’t old enough to remember our true home, but this ain’t it.” I pointed up at the pagoda. “And these people aren’t gods who came to save us either. Far from it. Now I’m not asking you to believe any of that. All I’m asking you to do, is wait 17 days and allow me to show you what true human potential can be.”

“You really think you can defeat that girl?” someone shouted out. “Defeat Master Hein?”

I grinned like a bastard. “I’m not going to tell you what I think. But I’ll tell you what I believe. I believe we will see an Earth ruled by Terrans once again. A place where we no longer cower in fear of losing our homes or our lives for offending someone’s honor.” I found Yu Li in the crowd and met her gaze. “A place where our children will be free to follow their own dreams and not enslaved to the spiteful wills of arrogant Young Master to decide our fates.”

I felt confidence surge from within her as she broke into a sob.

“We may not all live to see it,” I continued. “But I’m starting the ball rolling, right here in D-block.” I then paused to look out over all of them, their faces rapt with uncertainty and fear, but a glimmer of hope as well. “Seventeen days from now I’ll either be killed and all your lives will go back to normal, or I’ll succeed and you’ll all have your first taste of true freedom. This is my Dao. My path. And this is my oath to you. I will fight for you, for the Earth…or die trying.”

With that I hopped down and started making my way off the square. The crowd burst into an uproar of uncertainty and confusion again, but I didn’t care. Words could only do so much. Even I had my doubts when I first met Threja. This was the same. They would have to see to truly believe.

“Wait!” someone shouted from behind me. “How can we help you?”

I stopped and turned around and saw the same old guy in the hat. Damn, he wasn’t even Terran, but he believed. Or maybe it was the fact that he wasn’t Terran that gave him more faith than the others. He’d seen things. Seen what cultivation could do to change a man.

“There’s nothing you can do to help me,” I said. “But you can help each other. Stay strong. Stay together. Solidarity is a trait the cultivators know nothing about. Show them what it means to band together to become stronger.”

I gave Yu Li a smile as I passed by and she pulled me into a wordless embrace, tears in her eyes but hope in her heart.

“Seventeen days,” I said again. “That’s all I ask.”

And with that I finally left the square

* * *

When I got to my apartment, I immediately pulled out the manuals.

I’d lit one hell of a fire under myself again, signing more blank cheques I knew I couldn’t cash. Not yet anyway. But screw it…that was the kind of fire I needed to progress. To push myself beyond what even I thought was possible.

Seventeen days. That’s all I had to become a top-ranking Iron Bracket competitor strong enough to defeat both Hein and Zu Tien—maybe even at the same time. I sat in lotus position on my cot and channeled all my frenzy into enhancing my Mental Capacity. I cracked open the book entitled Basic Infantry Weapon Techniques and began reading.

Frenzy surged as I opened my mind’s eye, taking in the hundreds of diagrams of positions and forms. It was almost too much as once, but I endured the headache as I flipped through. Conviction and determination was in my heart, the struggler now stirring my flame.

This entire book was going to be memorized…tonight.