Pierre Dimaculangan is a digital artist, designer, and author of Trials of the Middle Kingdom series. He was born in Manila and grew up in Queens, New York. He’s a lover of world history and Chinese culture and civilization. He loves to read, conquer story-driven video games, play drums, and practice Muay Thai and Parkour. He’s currently pursuing a master’s in history at Harvard University Extension School. 

Follow the story of a legendary wandering swordsman and a political cabal of vigilantes known as the Martial Scholars as they investigate the maritime arrival of a mysterious nonhuman military force. A thorough investigation reveals the truth about their agenda as well as a conspiracy against the emperor and the entire Ming Empire. Through careful planning and utilization of their deep network, they succeed in warning the emperor who then prepares the nation for the possibility of war. First however, he must quell the Underworld where rebel groups and secret societies have risen against him, and conspire with the nonhuman foreigners to create a new world order. Together with a motley crew of misfits, the legendary swordsman ventures into the Underworld to discover the deeper plans of the enemy. His new friend, an enigmatic sage, insists that the real battle is, in fact, a spiritual one, and that victory lies only through following the will of Heaven.

Trials of the Middle Kingdom

Every time he shut his eyes, faces were all he could see. The faces of fear, hatred, anger, and even sorrow- each one flashed through his mind the faces of all those who met their deaths at the tip of his blade. Not one, he felt, deserved to live another day. They were cowards, the lot of them. They were monsters who thrived and prospered under the suffering, pain, and anguish of those crushed beneath their boots. Every experience, every contract, every operation had culminated to this very moment. Deep meditation had only ever reawakened the thirst in him... and brought back the many hues of blood that had streamed down the frosty edge of his blade. Ultimately, it all felt in vain. 


Chapter 24: The Gears Turn