The cold stone floor pressed against Lukas Veridan's cheek, but it wasn't the chill that startled him awake—it was the stinging, coppery scent of blood in the air. He blinked, confusion clouding his mind, as memories crashed into him all at once—flashes of lightning, a sharp pain, and the world going white.
No, not Lukas,' he thought, blinking against the darkness. 'Xander Greys.'
His breath caught. The memories from two lives blended together in a dizzying haze. The rural village... the robbery… his untimely death. And then, waking up here, in this weak body. A flash of pain throbbed in his head as he fought to make sense of it all.
His body ached, and his limbs were sluggish, but he forced himself upright, surveying his surroundings. He was in a cramped alleyway, surrounded by debris. And there, just a few feet away, was the lifeless body of his retainer—Zane.
"No… no!" Lukas—Xander—scrambled toward the body. His hands shook as he checked for a pulse, hoping, and praying, but it was too late. Zane's face was pale, blood pooling beneath him from the fatal wounds. The assassins had succeeded in their plan, leaving no witnesses.
For a moment, panic set in, but just as quickly, a steely resolve followed. 'I failed him once, I won't fail again.' But how had they gotten here? 'The brothel. The fight with the rogues…' It was all coming back now. The memory of the assassins who had disguised themselves, waiting for Lukas and his retainer to leave the brothel. Their attack had been swift, and precise, leaving no room for error. Lukas remembered the chaos, the screams, and Zane throwing himself between the blade and his young master.
They had both died—he was sure of it. So how…?
A sharp, cold voice echoed inside his mind.
"Welcome to *Echelon Ascendant*. You have been chosen. Initiating system awakening."
The voice was calm, and mechanical, but it sent a jolt of clarity through him. Xander's heart raced as he stood up, scanning his surroundings again. His hand instinctively went to his chest, feeling the rapid thud of his heartbeat. He could feel the weakness in his limbs, the frailty of this new body. It was not the body of a soldier.
'Lukas Veridan,' he realized with dawning horror. He had woken up as the spoiled, talentless young master whose reputation in Valeria was stained with arrogance and failure. He could vividly remember snippets from Lukas's life—his grandfather, the ruthless Supreme General, and the doting grandmother who tried to shield him from the harsh reality of the world. Lukas had been weak, cowardly, and utterly useless when it came to cultivation or strength. His life had been filled with indulgence, never preparing him for the world outside the walls of his family's estate.
And now, Xander was trapped in that body.
The voice from the system interrupted his thoughts again.
"System initializing... Welcome, Host. You have been granted the *Echelon Ascendant* system. This interface will assist you in restoring power and achieving sovereignty in the world of Valeria."
"Echelon Ascendant?" Xander muttered, his mind whirling. He had heard of systems in fantasy stories, games, and even vague military simulations, but this was… real? 'Am I really in another world?'
It took a moment for the gravity of his situation to fully sink in. This was his second life—a second chance. The system would be his guide in navigating this unfamiliar world.
"Echelon Ascendant" has three primary functions:
- Strategic Interface: Displays tactical advantages, enemy weaknesses, and battlefield scenarios.
- Army Builder: Allows for the recruitment, training, and management of soldiers with strategic upgrades.
- Cultivation Paths: Offers the Host a unique method of cultivation, compensating for initial weaknesses. Customizable paths can be unlocked through quests and achievements.
The words hung in the air, but before Xander could fully process them, a figure stirred beside him.
He turned sharply, ready for another attack, but instead, he found Zane groaning and rolling over onto his back. 'Zane is alive?' His retainer's eyes flickered open, and for a moment, there was only confusion.
"Wha—what happened?" Zane asked groggily, clutching his head.
Xander's breath caught. The realization hit him like a sledgehammer. 'Zane had been reincarnated too!'
"You're... alive?" Xander asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Zane blinked, his memories still foggy. His eyes widened as he took in his surroundings, and then recognition flashed across his face. "Wait, I remember! The robbery, the lightning, and... you!"
Both men stared at each other for a long moment.
"We died," Xander whispered, his voice hoarse. "But we're here now, in this world. We've been reincarnated."
Zane's face paled as the truth sank in. His gaze flickered down to his own hands, taking in the unfamiliar clothes, and the weakness in his limbs. "This... isn't my body," he muttered, horror creeping into his voice.
"It's not," Xander confirmed. "We're in a different world, in someone else's bodies. And we're not just anyone… you're my retainer, Zane, and I'm... Lukas Veridan."
"Lukas Veridan? The spoiled young master?" Zane exclaimed, incredulous. He had heard whispers of the Veridan family, a once-glorious name now tarnished by its weak and dishonorable heir.
Xander—now Lukas—nodded grimly. "Yes, the very same. But that changes now. I'm not the same man they think I am, and with this system, we're going to fix everything."
Zane stared at him for a long moment before nodding slowly. "I'm with you," he said quietly. "Whatever this new life is, I owe you. Let's make it count."
---
Hours Later – Veridan Estate.
The grand estate loomed in the distance, surrounded by tall iron gates and guarded by a handful of sentries. It was an imposing structure, a remnant of Valeria's golden age, but the weight of decline was visible in its worn walls and unkempt grounds. Lukas—Xander—felt the heavy gaze of the guards as they passed, but none dared question their young master.
Stepping into the sprawling courtyard, Lukas felt the burden of expectation falls heavily on his shoulders. Inside, his grandfather awaited—General Arman Veridan, the iron-willed Supreme General of Valeria. Xander had learned enough from Lukas's memories to know that the old man was a force of nature. Brutal. Unyielding. And disappointed.
But this time, things would be different.