Loser System and Berserker Me

At Shule…

“DAMN IT!!!” City Lord Rajmaya slammed her fist on her little table, jolting the items on it.

A plate of piping-hot naan fresh from the fire, a platter of delectable roasted lamb, and a cup of fine alcohol; all of these fine delicacies were smashed to the ground.

Rajmaya cursed with reddened eyes, “Those damned Tang slaves! Accursed remnants of the Shu clan! They aren’t going to let it rest, are they?!”

She would have never thought that a remnant of the massacred Shu clan would suddenly appear years later and wreak havoc. Even more so, she could have never imagined that Bikna, whom she greatly valued, would fall for their dirty tricks and be taken down…

She assumed that Bikna must have fallen for the enemies’ tricks, for there was no way someone as valiant as her could have been defeated in a frontal battle. There was no doubt that the Shu clan had resorted to underhanded methods!

Recalling Bikna’s lifeless words through the transmission tool made her heart ache.

“Dispatch our troops right now!” Rajmaya roared. “We have to rescue Bikna!”

Bikna was the leader of her personal guards, as well as an esteemed warrior recognized by all in Shule. She couldn’t afford to lose such a hero!

Rajmaya tried to calm down and analyze the situation.

First, we have massacred most of the Shu clansmen. There won’t be that many of them left. They could rally the bandits, the other Tang slaves, as well as the other races’ slaves to join their cause, but their army will be lackluster nevertheless.

I reckon they only have 200 to 300 soldiers at most.

Bikna is a formidable warrior, not to mention she has a team of veterans with her. She should be able to put up a fight even when caught by surprise. At least, she should be able to stall for time.

Also, there’s a talented apothecary I have been wanting to recruit living at the place where Bikna’s expedition team headed to. I have been sending valuables over now and then, so I don’t think Baysema would turn a blind eye to Bikna if she seeks her help.

In conclusion, this is a pathetic attempt at an uprising by those pitiful slaves.

“The Shu clan’s remnants must have either stumbled upon a divine relic or a powerful mage with evil ambitions, but if you think that this will shake my rule…” Rajmaya sneered. “I’ll show you Avīci.” (T/N: Avici is the lowest level of hell in Hinduism, where the worst sinners go.)

Her army quickly gathered under her orders.

“My warriors!”

Rajmaya wore her enchanted armor and climbed on top of a giant wolf mount. Standing before her army, she furiously roared, “Yet a bunch of pathetic slaves think that they can oppose their masters with their measly strength. It’s high time to let them know that their masters are not to be defied! Old rules—kill them all! There’s no need to spare anyone!”

She was treading carefully despite speaking about the slaves in disdain, evident from the huge army she had gathered.

There were 10,000 normal soldiers, 3000 Tibetan heavy infantrymen, 800 bloodthirsty war slaves, 500 wolf cavalrymen recruited from the grasslands, 200 forest snipers, and 50 skilled mages…

This was a powerful army.

Rajmaya, together with her army, charged to the location where Bikna sent her last words. Shortly after they left the city, she beckoned one of her military commanders over and ordered, “I want you to secretly return to the city with a portion of the soldiers and lie low. Don’t take off your armor. Don’t alight from your steeds. Don’t loosen your grip on your weapon. If any family tries to cause trouble while I’m away, take them down right away. Mercy is unnecessary!”

In a temple located at Shule’s suburbs…

“Abbot Palkyi.”

A monk entered the prayer room and performed an awkward Buddhist bow to the old monk meditating inside.

Abbot Palkyi opened his eyes.

The monk’s eyes were glowing with excitement. “Abbot, that fellow really left the city! That Tibetan city lord took half of her troops away with her! Shule’s defense is greatly weakened now!”

The other samaneras in the prayer room could hardly conceal their excitement. Most of them were fake monks. (T/N: Samaneras are novice monks.)

The Western Region was a region with a high concentration of Buddhists. Most people from foreign races who didn’t want to submit to the Tibetans operated under the cover of monkhood to scheme against them.

Rajmaya was not an incompetent city lord. Hidden beneath her rowdy personality was a highly meticulous individual.

They had been wanting to stir trouble for the longest time, but there was never a chance for them to strike. Yet, an opportunity presented itself before them today!

Sometimes, it was really about luck!

“…” Abbot Palkyi continued fiddling with his prayer beads. “Are you certain?”

Great Tang might have retreated from the Western Region for decades now, but there were many who still missed it. Rajmaya could be using this expedition as a cover to bait them out and capture them in a single swoop.

“We have verified it,” the monk hurriedly nodded. “I made sure to avoid getting in touch with those who could potentially be spies. This is really a rare chance for us!”

Heavy breathing could be heard in the prayer room.

The Tibetans had been ruling with an iron fist in recent years, so those from the other races viewed them in hostility. Some of the powerful Hans living in the cities were also unhappy with the Tibetans.

If we could exploit this chance to take over Shule and raise the flag of rebellion…

Abbot Palkyi began moving the prayer beads faster.

Everyone in the prayer room stared at him with tense eyes as they waited for his verdict. As much as this was a good opportunity for them, it had happened in the spur of a moment, such that they weren’t prepared to launch an attack either.

The garrison Tibetan guards were still a formidable force to deal with, and they didn’t have a lot of weapons at their disposal. Furthermore, even if this wasn’t a trap, Rajmaya would have made arrangements beforehand to secure the city.

But so what?

None of them here feared death!

Just then, a little monk’s exclamation echoed outside.

“Master! The pond!”

With a bam, the little monk dashed into the prayer room with a pale face. He pointed outside with a trembling finger. “The lotus in the pond!”

The lotus buds in the pond had blossomed all of a sudden, but the lotuses that emerged were neither snowy-white nor vibrant like the evening afterglow. No, they were pitch-black!

“Black lotuses?!”

“This…”

Everyone was tongue-tied.

Even though they were fake monks, they were still devout Buddhists. The sight of blossoming black lotuses, which symbolized death, sent shivers down their spine.

Abbot Palkyi’s prayer beads moved even faster. “The lotuses have blossomed, but they are all black lotuses?”

He looked eastward and murmured, “I heard rumors that Kucha has plunged into eternal night. Could Buddha be trying to relay something to us?”

Abbot Palkyi put his hands together. “Amithabha.”

A moment of thought later, he opened his eyes and said, “We can’t afford to wait anymore. Commence the operation!”