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

All riders halted their gallop and faced each other, both companies looking like they'd just emerged from fighting in hell. It was already late in the afternoon, and only a few hours of light remained.


"General! We saw the fires and the smoke from hours away. What has happened??" Sun Xin questioned.


"The worst has happened, son. We were attacked, full force with no restraint or respite. I can't explain it, but the-the-these creatures attacked us at the dead of night. They looked like corpses. Then the Underworld attacked the capital when morning came. Thousands of them came from nowhere like the dead. Our forces are severely crippled. Unless something miraculous happens, I don't think we have enough strength and ammunition to hold off another assault."


"Good Heavens," cried Wen Xiao as she cupped her mouth in disbelief.


"Rah! Blow them up; blow them all to smithereens!" shouted Big Bang in angry excitement. 


Chapter 29: A Duel of Opposites