Chapter 80: The Berserker Element Part 1

The next day, Lu Shu exited his private tent and Bakura revealed itself to the Tiger Army. Many people were frightened, seeing an undead samurai with a tiger's skull and gold flames for eyes. None of them thought about the height. They just wondered where it came from. Especially the mage apprentices studying summoning and necromancer magic.

"G, general," Lu Gong started, seeing the samurai. "What is that? It looks like an undead, but it has a tiger's skull! Wait, is that a tail made of bone?"

"Uh," Shu said, noticing the tail. "Oh, I didn't notice that before. That could also be utilized as a weapon and a way to regain your balance. Be sure to integrate it with your combat style, Bakura."

"Yes, Lord Lu Shu," the samurai bowed.

"General?" Lu Gong, Cao Wei, Jiro, and Ken asked in unison.

"Ah, this is Bakura. He is a former wraith that is now an undead samurai. He will fight alongside me as my personal bodyguard," Shu answered, shocking everyone.

"A wraith?" many mage apprentice necromancers cried with envy, awe, jealousy, and intrigue.

"I'm surprised you don't walk the Devil Immortal path. Wraiths are usually made and controlled by those Practitioners," Ken said, staring at Bakura with unease. "However, there is no doubt it is the best protection. It cannot die without the death of its master. It could be destroyed, but it could also be remade spontaneously. Sword Immortal and Devil Immortal cultivators have all the superior fighting power."

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"I'm just glad it's not a rogue wraith," Jiro shivered, many nearby soldiers nodding furiously.

"I'm just glad it's one," Cao Wei sighed.

"If only you knew. I wonder what they would think if they saw Wraith?" Shu asked Bakura, using telepathy as he was its master.

"Lord Lu Shu, it is best not to scare your men too much. A leader must be more feared than the enemy, to prevent insubordination. However, too much fear will sow chaos among your ranks. Clearly, they can barely tolerate my own existence," Bakura replied.

Shu shrugged and said, "Have the six armies ahead of us begun their march?"

"They are packing their tents as we speak," Cao Wei answered. "General, once we pass the final island we conquered, we must travel one of seven paths. Great General Meng Cao is giving us the most explored path of the unconquered island, but that will also mean the enemy will be expecting us there."

"Lu Gong, I only killed two types of Hyperion. Several Hyperion were like beasts of immense strength while the other type was a humanoid. Which ones used to inhabit the island we conquered. We might need to be wary of attacks from the skies and seas, while we make our way through the bridges and islands," Shu nodded, thinking of any possible ambush tactics the Hyperion might use.

"There is one amphibious type Hyperion. It comes from the sea and then destroys the bridge as others climb and kill the soldiers crossing it. As for the flying Hyperion, we are too far away for them to escape an assault so easily," Lu Gong answered. "General, we should proceed across the bridges with the infantry carrying shields and walking on the sides of the bridges. Our archers should be in the center of the bridge. Our mages will help guard the supplies and staff. Our cavalry will have to occupy themselves with protecting their mounts. The Hyperion are growing stronger, their numbers even greater than before. Worst of all, their tactics have changed, even weak human Hyperion revealing themselves to lead guerilla attacks. The savages are getting smarter and more cunning."

"We'll do as you suggest," Shu said. "I want all our water mages to focus their mana into their surroundings and maintain a vigilant watch on the water's current. If it suddenly shifts, something is down there. I want all mages capable of summons to hide. We need them to fight against the Hyperion."

"Yes, general," the lieutenant generals cried and ran to tell the soldiers their orders.

"I'll make sure the summoners are hidden. I can't fight, but I can offer support outside of battle," Jiro said.

"I will also ensure the cavalry are well prepared," Ken said, leaving Shu alone.

"Shu, whatever you do, don't reveal your wings here. The Hyperion should be able to recognize the vermillion wings," Spook warned. "You can use your Phantasmal Sky technique to fly in the sky now albeit with high spirit energy consumption. However, you have an exceeding amount. You should be fine. As for your elements, your water and ice element is still your best. Your darkness has evolved, due to constant use with poison. Your earth and nether flames are of little consequence. You should not focus on earth and your nether flames originates from your sword. The problem is your lightning."

"Why?" Shu asked, changing into his armor and mounting his collared tiger.

"It has become a living spirit technique. That is true, but it did not change. The emerald lightning only applied in Spirit Road and you never enhanced your lightning. You need to come up with a method," Spook said before becoming inanimate as Shu's men arrived.

Shu rode at the front of his army, spreading his spirit sense all around him. Occasionally, he sensed a magical beast within the water as they crossed the islands and bridges. The fact that only one approached, momentarily pausing before speeding away, meant that the Hyperion were indeed becoming smarter. The magical beasts were dead. Naturally, the Hyperion would send scouts to monitor the islands conquered by the Yan soldiers.

"Phew," Jiro sighed. "We made it to the last island the Yan conquered without casualties. Now all we need to do is make several bridges to lead the nine armies there."

"This is bad news, not good news," Lu Gong said. "I can tell the general sensed Hyperion in the waters around the islands and the bridges. It takes enormous magical power to create a bridge of diamond to the next island. If they haven't launched an assault on us...."

"They're waiting for when we make the bridge and cross. We have no choice as the mages creating the bridge can only stand ten feet behind bridge and need to cross the bridge to extend it further. They're waiting for us to divide our forces: some to protect the base of the bridge and the others at the front protecting the mages as they continue to solidify and extend it," Cao Wei agreed. "We would be better off if it were the aerial Hyperion or rogue magical beasts of Giant's Chain. The Hyperion are many times more organized."

"No," Shu said ominously as he watched the mages begin making the bridge, holding his head. "The sea is perfect. They're coming. Thousands upon thousands. Let them come. Just stay here. I will show you the reason Spirit Shamans of the tenth stage are the most feared among any army of the Mortal Realm."

"Lord Lu Shu?" Bakura asked as Shu began walking on the surface of the sea.

"I feel like I'm home," Shu said, a cerulean lobster skeleton appearing on the back of his chest and head, two eyes glowing as the cerulean lobster's head was above his own. The soldiers began to shiver as cold frost wind blew from Shu as he walked thirty feet off shore. Then, Shu began to swirl his arms as if he were molding a clay orb in his hands. The water began to swirl around him, forming a sphere around his body.