Chapter 14...

Zhang Bao and another two green-clad warriors waited in a small camp in the forest on the outskirts of the city. They had been ordered by Commander Shang Xiang to stay put and remain as a relief squad for when the wounded returned to camp.

The three of them were all young and developing into powerful warriors. One of them, a boy who also wielded a sword as wide and long as Gat Su's gazed over the edge of the hill. "Hey guys you better take a look at this."

Zhang Bao rushed over and gazed in horror at the black dome which had encapsulated the entire capital of Wu. Come on Gat Su! You guys have to make it back alive...you promised me."

The third young warrior, a dazzling young girl with medium-length black hair, rested her hand on Zhang Bao's shoulder. "Please don't fret brother...I know that man will survive...I just hope the others can too..."

…

Sun Quan's troops had reached a ridge-line several kilometres away from the dark dome that was once their city. Lu Xun rode beside the Tiger General and regarded the doomed city. "My Lord, I'm afraid the capital will no longer be recovered, however it seems Liu Bei's forces are caught in the middle of this phenomenon.

"Sun Quan smiled as he contemplated Shu's defeat. "That leaves just one enemy for us to topple now!"

…

Meanwhile across the other side of the city, another odd army of warriors – barbarians if you will call them, were making their way North. All of them wore bamboo armour and some rode atop mighty beasts with tusks. Their leader, a bloated man who wore the claws of bear on his hands, belched in delight as he witnessed the Eclipse engulf Jian Ye.

"So honey, it looks like we were too late." His promiscuous wife, called over atop another elephant.

The Elephant King rubbed his belly and bellowed in laughter. "HAHA! No matter, all the more chance to clear out these Northerners!"

…

"What's happening to Liu Bei?" Shang Xiang rushed over and cradled the man in his arms.

"STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" Gat Su charged over as the earth began to rumble. Several large mounds rose from the ground, lifting up any wayward soldiers on top. As they fell to a brutal death the mounds rose higher until eventually the entire ground was elevated. Everyone stabbed their swords or lay down to hold themselves steady as the earth rose to the heavens. Soon it appeared the mounds were in fact five fingers, curled upwards; everyone was resting on the palm of this giant hand, extending out of the earth as if Satan were trying to grasp the moon itself.

"AGHH! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!" The soldiers were all trembling and becoming clouded with fear. Shadows were swaying in the distance, forming a ring around the band of mercenaries.

"EVERYONE STAY CALM, WE HAVE TO HOLD OUR FORMATION AND NOT PANIC!" Gat Su, tried to command the troops as he pulled Shang Xiang away from Liu Bei.

The leader of peace rose to his feet, his head lowered as blood continued dripping from his mouth like a leaky tap. "Well done Gat Su...I must commend you for bringing everyone here on this very special occasion..."

Gat Su roared at the man who had betrayed him and his entire army. "You son of a bitch! How could you sell your soul to the God Hand?"

Liu Bei slowly lifted his gaze, revealing the eyes of the devil himself. As he spoke, it was as if another bloodthirsty warrior was hiding behind the man's face. "We could have ruled this filthy place together...Make a new world, ruled under one leader...I could offer you everything you ever wanted...Then things that would make any man roll over and cry in ecstasy...I could have even brought back your frien-"

"Don't you dare mention them...I'll die a hundred – a thousand times before I submit to scum like you."

"How very disappointed I am...It seems Lord Femto was right when he warned me about you...The Cursed Swordsman who shatters the dreams of those he follows..."

Suddenly Gat Su raged forward menacingly with his Dragon Slayer raised. "GRIFFITH YOU BASTARD"

"Commander Xiang, what should we do?" Ma Chao rushed over to the Tigress, who was already paralysed with fear.

"...Lord Liu Bei...he's...that's...that's not him anymore! He been-"

"Commander!" Ma Chao tried to shake her senses together. "We need you to lead us! Our soldiers are frightened, we all want to get out of this place...We beg of you, please give us our orders." Ma Chao lowered his head, holding back his own grave fears.

Shang Xiang wiped away her tears and faced the army with her Chakrams drawn. "Follow Gat Su's orders, remain in tight formation and do not panic...We will make it out of this place alive, I swear on my very life."

"GAGGHH! Somebody help me!" A solder suddenly broke away from the group, his body swallowed by the shadows. Everyone turned their formation to face the shadows. The next moment a pair of legs and an ear spat its way out of the shadows.

"MY GOD! WHAT THE HELL DID THEY DO TO HIM!" One of the solder's jumped off his horse and picked up the man's remains.

"No stay back from there!" But Shang Xiang's orders were met with another deadly bone crunching sound of death. The next man had his bones thrown to the solders. Soon it became clear what exactly was hiding behind the shadows as hordes of tentacles, eyes and fanged, saliva-drenched jaws, mad their way out of the darkness.

"DEMONS!"

…

"I won't let you take them." Gat Su vowed as he slammed his blade against Liu Bei's arm. Liu Bei's body had now been clothed in thick white armour. His helmet sprouted spiked wings as he fended his opponent.

"The Gods beckon a sacrifice..." Liu Bei extended his right hand as a sword of light manifested itself. He raised the sword of pure light as Gat Su blocked with his own sword of darkness. "Join our kingdom and you will never have to suffer the pain of loss anymore...decline and I vow to take everything you cherish from this world."

"I'll stop you...I've killed your kind many times before!" The Black Swordsman spat back at the man of light.

"What makes you think I'm comparable to the rest of those filthy Apostles down there..." As Liu Bei pointed towards the ground Gat Su noticed the entire band of mercenaries were being gobbled one by one by the Apostle's feeding frenzy below. "Just say you will submit your soul to me and I can end this...Or would you rather I take someone more dear to your heart?"

"No...you wouldn't dare...If there's a shred of Liu Bei left in there I know you wouldn't"

The demon formerly known as Liu Bei scoffed. "Hah, that's your second big mistake...I'm no longer Liu Bei...I am both Peace and Chaos itself...I am both Light and Darkness, Light and Day, Water and Fire, Yin and Yang...I am..."

…

CHENG DU CASTLE:

Sima Yi entered the throne-room as Cao Pi was being served some more wine and tendered to three beautiful maids. "My Lord, it appears an interesting phenomenon has occurred in the Wu capital.

Cao Pi smirked as he waved for his maidens to depart. He crossed his legs and rested his head on his arms showing a relaxed reaction. "I know, I can hear him...My father calls for me..."

…

"GAGK!" The Demon Lord Liu Bei was struck by surprise when Gat Su fired his arm cannon. If it wasn't for his supernatural armour, Liu Bei may have eaten those last words quite literally. "Curses! How dare you mock me? I will not forget this Gat Su...My army shall return upon this mortal plain when conditions permit...We will withdraw, but I'm taking my succubus with me!" Liu Bei's sword extended across the battlefield until it pierced Sun Shang Xiang's chest from behind. The young Tigress gasped as her heart was being gripped by Liu Bei's wrath.

"NO! BRING HER BACK!" Gat Su tried to reach him but he had reached beyond Gat Su's grasp. His helmet grew a pair of steel wings – wings resembling an Angel of Death. As Gat Su fired a few arrows in a last ditch effort – the mighty Demon Lord swatted them away like flies.

"Don't fear dear Gat Su...She isn't dead...I have a much greater use for her now! MWAHAHAHA!" Liu Bei mocked the warrior who had helped him found a Kingdom in his name, he had mocked the one who had followed his dream. Liu Bei had betrayed a Demon Slayer...

And as the former leader of peace departed this small hamlet of Hell, Gat Su threw his giant blade like a javelin piercing the heavens in his anguish even as the lower demons converged upon the lonely swordsman to feed upon the scraps of grief.

"...NOOO!..."

ROMANCE OF THE BERSERK

TO BE CONTINUED

And that's where I'll leave things for now. I have a bunch of other stories to work on at the moment, but I've left this one open for a sequel. So for now I'm gonna do a Kentaro Miura and give this story a break for a while. Watch this space as I do have some more plans for this X-over in the future - especially since this story was based entirely around the Golden Age arc and there are still three more in the Manga so...