29. The Legion of Berserkers

The events that had unfolded on the streets of the imperial capital swiftly reached the ears of Emperor Tyron.

“What did you say?” Emperor Tyron was astonished upon hearing the report from his attendant. “You mean a troop from Mist City has entered the capital?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It is the lord’s armed force from Mist City, led by Her Highness the Princess herself,” the attendant replied loudly. “They are all berserkers—and what’s more, they are in a berserk state.”

“What is this Mo Fei up to? And Vivian, she truly knows how to stir up trouble. Does she not realize how much chaos she could cause by bringing so many berserkers into the city? They haven’t caused any disturbances, have they?” Emperor Tyron asked.

“Your Majesty, I heard that shortly after they entered the city, they were stopped by Victor, the son of the Minister of Finance and captain of the patrol squad. A conflict broke out, and Victor, along with the twenty patrol members he commanded, were overpowered by just three berserkers!” the attendant reported truthfully.

Emperor Tyron drew in a sharp breath, but his face broke into an excited smile. “Ha ha ha! Excellent! To defeat over twenty elite patrolmen with only three berserkers—what formidable strength!”

“Send word immediately: if they enter the palace, do not hinder them and report to me at once,” Emperor Tyron said, almost impatient to witness this berserker army for himself.

The attendant received his orders and hurried away.

Meanwhile, Mo Fei and Vivian, leading their troops, arrived at the gates of the royal palace.

The commotion outside had already alarmed the palace guards.

“Heavens, what is the Princess planning?” the guards murmured among themselves. Without orders, they dared not allow so many fully armed berserkers into the palace, even if they were led by the Princess. “Quick, report to His Majesty,” one guard said to his companion.

“There’s no need. They are Mist City’s guards, and His Majesty has personally ordered that they be allowed into the palace,” said the attendant who had just received the Emperor’s command, arriving at the gate.

“Greetings, Your Highness, Princess. Greetings, Lord Mo Fei!” The guard approached Vivian and Mo Fei and bowed respectfully.

“What’s this?” Mo Fei asked.

“I am acting under His Majesty’s orders, here to escort Lord Mo Fei and the berserker guard into the palace.”

“Oh, then I’ll trouble the general to lead the way.” Mo Fei hadn’t expected Emperor Tyron to receive news so quickly and make arrangements for their welcome at the palace gates.

Mo Fei and his party followed the guard into the palace grounds, arriving at the training field, where Emperor Tyron was already seated on the dais, accompanied by numerous officials, awaiting Mo Fei’s arrival.

“Your Majesty, the berserker legion of Mist City is now fully assembled, comprising twenty thousand berserkers and ten thousand dwarves in the logistics division. I have brought a portion of the warriors to the capital for Your Majesty’s inspection. With further training, our troops will soon be ready for the frontier, and will surely not disappoint Your Majesty’s expectations,” Mo Fei said, gazing up at Emperor Tyron.

“Good, very good!” Emperor Tyron looked at the formidable berserker legion before him. Their finely crafted, retractable armor revealed only their eyes, and their massive axes were held across their chests. The entire formation exuded an oppressive, murderous aura; the berserkers, once transformed, were indeed ferocious.

“With such a force, what need is there for another half-year’s training? They could enter battle at any time. Mo Fei must be trying to extract more military funds,” Emperor Tyron thought, seeing through Mo Fei’s intentions and cursing him silently.

“To assemble such a well-equipped force must have cost a great deal. Is there difficulty with the military funds?” Emperor Tyron asked directly, not bothering to beat around the bush.

“Your Majesty is wise! Indeed, assembling this army has emptied my coffers, and the equipment for the twenty thousand berserkers is still incomplete. I hope Your Majesty will grant additional military funds,” Mo Fei said, feigning embarrassment.

“Your Majesty, you must not! This legion of twenty thousand berserkers has already consumed fifty million in military funds—over five times that of other units. Yet they have not accomplished anything so far. If more funds are allocated, it may incite discontent among the empire’s other legions,” objected a minister nearby—the Minister of Finance, Victor’s father.

“Oh, the minister’s words are not without reason. Our legion is newly formed, and indeed has little to show for it. Though our expenses are great, we put every coin to its best use. Though we number only twenty thousand, our combat strength is not inferior to an army of one hundred thousand. If the minister feels we are not worth the investment, he is welcome to call forth a thousand imperial soldiers to match against my hundred berserkers,” Mo Fei replied confidently in his berserkers’ strength.

Emperor Tyron, eager to witness their prowess firsthand, agreed to Mo Fei’s proposal.

Soon, Emperor Tyron ordered a thousand palace guards to assemble at the training field. Upon hearing that their opponents numbered only one hundred, the guards could scarcely believe it. They were palace guards because they were the military’s elite, the finest unit. That someone would dare to pit one hundred against their thousand—it was a blatant challenge. The palace guards swore to teach their opponents a lesson.

As the thousand guards arrived and saw the hundred intimidating, battle-ready berserkers of the ox tribe opposite them, they finally realized the terror of their adversaries and took the contest seriously.

Cain and his companions, the strongest berserkers, were born for battle. No matter how many opponents, they would never retreat. Since they had begun practicing Mo Fei’s improved battle aura technique, they no longer feared the weakness that followed berserk transformation. Moreover, they had found that Mo Fei’s refined technique rivaled the continent’s most advanced methods.

The two units faced off. When Emperor Tyron, acting as judge, declared the contest begun, Cain was the first to transform, followed swiftly by the other hundred berserkers. Instantly, the force of their transformation raised clouds of dust over the field. The air was filled with berserker war cries, and crimson battle aura coiled around their giant axes. The sheer visual impact made the palace guards tense.

Cain, after transforming, charged the guards’ formation headlong. The hundred berserkers followed close behind.

With one swing, Cain cleaved through a palace guard’s shield, sent the armored defender flying, and knocked down several others behind him. The battle was now truly underway.

Cain seized the momentum of his first strike, piercing the palace guards' ranks like a knife. His giant axe, imbued with berserk battle aura, whipped up a crimson whirlwind, sending all nearby soldiers flying. None could withstand even a single blow.

Once the berserkers and guards clashed, the battle became utterly one-sided. Though the other berserkers were not as powerful as Cain, they were clad in dwarf-crafted, custom-fitted armor. Seeing that ordinary attacks could not harm them, they abandoned defense and focused entirely on offense. The thousand palace guards found themselves utterly helpless.

The battle ended swiftly. The spectators watched the thousand palace guards lying on the ground, then looked at the neatly arrayed berserker legion, not a single one fallen—a stark contrast.

Emperor Tyron was beside himself with excitement. With such a force, the empire need no longer fear war with the Magus Martial Empire—provided this army was firmly held by the empire. He turned to Vivian beside him, realizing he needed to bind Mo Fei securely to the empire’s interests.

“Gentlemen, now that you have witnessed the combat strength of the berserker legion, I trust there are no objections to increasing the military funds?” Emperor Tyron asked the assembled ministers.

“We have no objections!” they replied.

“Mo Fei, I hereby appoint you commander of the Berserker Legion, with full authority over all matters concerning it. I grant you the title of Marquis, with the Mist Mountains as your fief, exempt from imperial taxation. I shall provide an advance of two hundred million gold coins in military funds, to expand the legion to fifty thousand troops. Do you have any objections?” Emperor Tyron spared no expense, offering Mo Fei numerous benefits—effectively allowing Mo Fei to establish a state within a state.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I have no objections!” Mo Fei replied, eager to accept.

Emperor Tyron nodded in satisfaction. “Marquis Mo Fei, please see to the Berserker Legion’s affairs at once!”

Mo Fei received his orders and prepared to leave the palace with his legion.

Vivian was about to leave with Mo Fei when Emperor Tyron called out to her. “Vivian, you’ve been away so long, and haven’t visited your mother? She misses you dearly. Is it true that now you have someone you care for, you’ve cast your father and mother aside?”

“How could I possibly cast aside my father and mother? I only wanted to see Mo Fei off!” Vivian, her little scheme exposed by her father, stuck out her tongue at Mo Fei and turned to explain to Emperor Tyron.

In the end, Mo Fei departed the palace with the berserker legion alone. Vivian remained behind, detained by Emperor Tyron—no doubt for a thorough questioning!