Chapter 157: Berserk

Chapter 157: Berserk

Chapter 157

Berserk

Sylas deliberated for a long while between walking back up the mountain and over the hurdle and simply resetting the world. In the end, however, he chose to walk--in part because he felt he was approaching the breakthrough in his Way, and in part because he simply wanted a simple hike to gather his thoughts.

"I'll be ready, soon," he said as the group reached the summit once again, electing to take a break.

Ready for what? Valen asked curiously while Asha winced.

Are you sure? she asked. I know youve grown stronger...

Sure? Not really, Sylas shrugged with a bitter smile. Like most things in this world, it will be a gamble. Well, can we even call it a gamble if I have infinite re-rolls? Isuppose not...

Gamble? Stronger? What are you guys talking about? Valen mumbled in frustration. Dont keep me in the dark! Im one of those in the known now!

You are, eh? Sylas grinned. If youre one of those in the known, what will your all-knowing self do about Ryne?

...

Theyre still young, Asha slapped the back of his head gently. Leave them alone.

Valen, Sylas tone grew serious suddenly. Youre clever enough, so you must have realized it. This Kingdom... will beget ashes. No matter what we do, I dont think we can circumvent that story beat. You will inherit a wasteland that you will have to rebuild grounds-up.

Its fine, Valen said. With you by my side, building it back up will be easy enough. That aside, what were you talking about? Sounds like youre about to go off and fight someone.

Aye, someone... ye, thats one way to describe im, I guess, Sylas shrugged, taking out a gourd of water and sipping it down his parched throat. If it erupts as far as I think it will, theres a genuine chance you might see some aftereffects all the way in the castle.

As such, there was only one path forward--south. Once he was confident in being able to defeat the Shadow, hed march south, after winters end. Nothing else mattered but getting Valen to the castle, army in tow. While the Prince fought to convince others of his birthright, hed finally get the answers he desperately wanted.

The question was... what then? Looking up through the mist, he pondered. For innumerable years, all hed known was... this. Fighting. Dying. Living. Dying. Training. Dying. Crying. Dying. Dying. Dying. Dying. He couldn't even fathom the kind of life without it. Not anymore, at least. Most of his life on Earth was all but gone from his mind. He couldn't recall a single face from back then. Couldn't recall more than 2-3 distinct memories that shaped who he was at some point in time.

For all intents and purposes, he may as well have been born upon coming to this world. All he'd known since was the struggle. And if that was suddenly taken away from him... he'd be lost. Should he stay by Valen's side and guide the young Prince through the Kingdom's rebuilding? Should he take Asha and start a family with her somewhere far away from it all? Should he continue to explore the world? Should he stick around to see the possible 'war with Gods' happening?

He couldnt know--not until he knew the past, anyway. He sighed, wondering just how much he has changed. The worst part of it all was that he had no frame of reference. Even Asha, who likely knew him the best out of everyone, all knew his past self in sporadic flashes and her own little conclusions. If he met someone who knew him from Earth... would they recognize him? No, rather, did anything of his Earthly self even remain thus far?

There was a growing doubt in him that all of it was gone. It wasn't strange; it's been over a hundred years--a whole century. Unprecedented, really. It would be like asking someone whether they were the same person at 110 years of age and 10. There's nothing left of that ten-year-old boy in the husk of a 110-year-old man. Similarly, there's nothing left of that jumpy youth he thought he was. The few memories he retained... were mostly of him being traumatized by things that he completely ignored today. No, some of which he even committed without a second thought himself.

Suddenly, as though a dam was broken within him, he felt his blood boil for a moment as a surge of energy enveloped him. Just as he was about to question what happened, a window popped in front of him, elaborating.

You have successfully evolved Way of Madness!

Even in Madness, there is Method, there is Modus, there is Reason

Madness born of Lunacy is hollow

Madness born of Desire is greedy

Madness born of Clarity is holistic

...

New Mantra Gained: Berserk

--Berserk-- The longer you fight, the more ungodly you become. Careful, however--surrendering yourself entirely may lead you to darkness!