The scent of incense and polished wood filled the grand hall of the Veridan estate. Heavy tapestries lined the walls, each depicting scenes of Valeria's glorious past—wars fought and won, alliances forged in blood, and the mighty Veridan clan standing tall at the kingdom's peak. But that glory had faded, like the worn banners now hanging listlessly in the corners. Lukas—no, Xander—stood at the entrance, his eyes scanning the hall as a cold wave of apprehension washed over him.
His steps echoed as he walked further into the room, Zane trailing silently behind. But before they had entered the hall, both of them had needed to make one critical stop. There was no way they could stand before the General in their current state—bloodied, bruised, and still reeling from the aftermath of the night's assassination attempt.
After dragging their exhausted bodies back to the estate, Lukas and Zane headed directly to their chambers to change. The rough fabric of the young master's clothes clung uncomfortably to his body, stained with blood, mud, and the stench of battle. His once pristine tunic was torn in places, a clear reminder of the fight he had narrowly survived.
Standing in front of a cracked mirror, Xander stripped off the ruined tunic and examined the injuries on his new body. He could still feel the lingering aches—though much of it was more from the weariness of fighting in a weak body than from actual damage. He looked at the reflection staring back at him. This body was soft, unused to any real strain. 'This has to change,' he thought, determination settling in his chest. 'If I'm going to survive in this world, I need strength—real strength.'
Zane, now in the adjacent room, was similarly changing out of his tattered clothes. His lean frame showed the bruises from the scuffle, but his fighting spirit remained unbroken. Though the body he was in wasn't nearly as trained as his old one, it was better than Lukas's. Still, they both shared the same unspoken goal—to make their new bodies as strong as the lives they had left behind.
When they were finished, they both looked somewhat presentable—fresh tunics, and boots polished. The blood and grime from the night had been washed away, but the memories of the fight remained sharp in their minds.
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Three Hours Later – The Grand Hall
The cold air in the grand hall was enough to chill anyone to the bone, but Xander—now dressed in the regal attire of a Veridan—stood tall, his back straightened with resolve. The tension between him and the General was palpable as he recounted the night's events.
"You dare show your face here?" The General's voice was sharp, like the crack of a whip. He didn't turn as he spoke, but the sheer force of his words was enough to make even a seasoned soldier flinch.
Xander inhaled deeply, steeling himself. "Grandfather," he said, the word foreign in his mouth but necessary. "I know I've—"
"Enough!" The General spun around, his eyes blazing with fury. His face, weathered from decades of war, was a mask of barely controlled rage. "You know nothing, boy. You shame this family with every breath you take. Weak. Pathetic. A disgrace to the Veridan name." His voice lowered, but the danger in it was unmistakable. "Do you have any idea what it took to protect you after that fiasco in the streets?"
Xander felt the weight of Lukas's past mistakes fall heavily on his shoulders. He had all the memories—of the nights spent in brothels, the reckless brawls, and the failed cultivation attempts that had made him the laughingstock of Valeria. But none of that mattered anymore. This was a new life, and he was not the same Lukas Veridan.
"I won't fail again," Xander said, his voice steady, meeting his grandfather's furious gaze. He needed to assert control, to show the General that this was no longer the spoiled boy he had known. "I've changed."
"Changed?" The General laughed bitterly, pacing toward Xander with slow, deliberate steps. "What could possibly change in a coward like you? You can't even cultivate, and yet you walk in here, after another night of drunken debauchery, expecting forgiveness?"
Xander swallowed the rising frustration, reminding himself that this was a different world, with a different set of rules. "I know I've failed before," he began, his voice calm but firm. "But something happened last night, something that changed me."
The General stopped in his tracks, his gaze narrowing. "Changed you?"
Xander nodded. "I was attacked. An assassination attempt. If it weren't for Zane and a stroke of luck, I wouldn't be standing here."
General Veridan's face darkened at the mention of an assassination. His posture straightened, and Xander could see the wheels turning in the old warrior's mind. Assassinations weren't uncommon in the noble houses, but this was different. An attack on the heir of the Veridan family would be seen as an attack on the entire clan.
"An assassination?" the General repeated, his tone measured now. "And you expect me to believe you survived?"
Xander nodded, fully aware of the disbelief in his grandfather's voice. "I fought them off. It wasn't easy, but I managed."
The General studied him, his eyes scanning Xander's face as though searching for any sign of deceit. For a moment, there was only silence.
"And what makes you think I'll believe such a story?"
Xander hesitated for a moment, then spoke carefully. "Because I'm not the same Lukas you knew. Something awakened in me last night. I've… gained a power. A system."
There was a long pause as the General's eyes narrowed. "A system?" His voice was low, dangerous.
Xander nodded again. "It's called Echelon Ascendant. I don't know much about it yet, but I know it will help me restore our family's honor."
For the first time since Xander had entered the hall, the General seemed uncertain. Systems were rare—almost mythical in Valeria. Those who possessed them were often granted abilities far beyond the norm. If what Lukas—Xander—said was true, then this changed everything.
"And what does this system do?" The General's voice was cautious now, no longer filled with the same seething rage.
Xander exhaled, relieved that the conversation was finally shifting in his favor. "It's still unlocking, but I know it gives me access to strategies, army building, and cultivation paths that can make even the weakest body strong."
The General remained silent, his mind clearly working through the implications of such a revelation. He glanced briefly at Zane, who stood loyally behind Xander, before turning back to his grandson.
"If you're lying to me," the General warned, his voice once again sharp, "I'll have you thrown out of this estate, stripped of the Veridan name, and left to rot in the streets. Do you understand me?"
Xander met his gaze with unwavering determination. "I'm not lying."
The tension between them was palpable, but after a long, agonizing pause, the General turned away, his hands once again clasping behind his back as he gazed out of the window.
"If what you say is true," the General said slowly, "then you have a chance—a slim one—to redeem yourself and this family. But don't mistake my tolerance for forgiveness. You've brought nothing but shame to this house for years, and it will take more than a miraculous system to restore what has been lost."
Xander nodded, the weight of the responsibility settling in his chest. "I'll prove myself."
The General was silent for a moment longer, then without turning around, he spoke again. "There's a battalion stationed at the eastern border, guarding against incursions from the Drevyn rebels. I'll send word for you to join them. If you survive, perhaps then you'll have earned the right to call yourself a Veridan."
A battalion? Xander's mind raced. He hadn't expected his first challenge to come so quickly, but this was his chance—an opportunity to show not only his grandfather but also the entire Veridan clan that he wasn't the weakling they thought he was. And with the *Echelon Ascendant* system, he knew he could turn even the most dire situation to his advantage.
"I'll do it," Xander said confidently, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
"Good," the General replied curtly. "You leave in two days. Prepare yourself."
As Xander and Zane turned to leave the hall, the General's voice called out one final warning.
"And, Lukas… if you fail, don't bother coming back."
The words hung heavy in the air as Xander exited the hall, the reality of his situation sinking in. He had been given a task that, for the old Lukas, would have been a death sentence. But Xander Greys had faced worse odds before.
Outside, Zane let out a long breath. "That went… better than expected."
Xander smirked, feeling the adrenaline begin to course through his veins. "It's only the beginning."
As they walked back toward their quarters, the Echelon Ascendant system pinged softly in his mind, and a new notification appeared before his eyes.
[New Quest Unlocked: Prove Yourself]
Objective: Assist in the defense of the eastern border. Gain favor with the battalion's leadership. Rewards: Army Building Features Unlocked, Strategic Interface Upgrade.
Xander's smirk widened. He had a system, a mission, and a second chance at life. Now, it was time to show Valeria just what the Veridan heir was truly capable of.