The Sovereign System.

Kayson's face morphed, switching between surprise and suspicion. He moved forward, grabbing Luke by the arm and pulling him close, as if to keep the conversation away from prying ears.

After looking around briefly and seeing that the coast was clear, he leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone, "It sounds like you're about to say something that could get you into a lot of trouble. I had ordered a background check on you after our first duel, so I already had my suspicions regarding your identity. Of course, this was before I declared you as my brother."

Luke's eyes widened briefly, but inwardly he felt that Kayson's actions made sense. At the time, they weren't acquainted, and it was likely that being beaten by a commoner was a source of humiliation for the viscount's son. 'Were it not for my actions after the chess match, the two of us could have ended up sworn enemies,' he thought.

A flash of guilt crossed Luke's face, but he steeled his resolve. "I'm sorry for lying to you, brother, even up until this stage—"

Kayson made a gesture with his free hand, cutting him off. "It is forgiven. Now tell me what this has to do with our orders to travel to Valand City," he queried, slightly impatient.

Luke felt gratitude in that moment, realizing that the man in front of him was truly on his side. 'Perhaps one day I can tell him that I am not from this world?' he thought briefly, but the notion was quickly discarded. 'One scandal is enough for today.'

He explained what had happened with the traitors at Valand City, giving as much detail as possible. He left out the part about the maid within the Academy, as it did not add value and might steer the conversation in another direction.

He told his friend that Sebastian was, in fact, his butler posing as his father, and that he was the sole reason why Luke was still alive.

Kayson was silent for a while, as if processing Luke's words. His face turned angry, and just as Luke thought he might lash out against him for lying, the handsome man pulled him into a firm embrace.

"I am sorry, brother…" Kayson said, his voice filled with sorrow.

'Huh? Why is he hugging me?' Luke thought with utter confusion. He had considered many ways this conversation could go, but this was certainly not one of his predictions.

"I can't imagine your pain, knowing your father was betrayed by those under him. To know they still live without consequence, parading as the new City Lord." Kayson patted Luke on the back firmly.

After a few moments, he stepped back and held Luke at arm's length. "Luke Nero, my brother. We will take back your birthright in time. Once my father hears about thi—"

"Luke Nero is dead," Luke replied, cutting him off, his face expressionless. The statement was true in every sense—literally and figuratively.

A look of confusion crept onto Kayson's face, so Luke clarified. "The 'me' standing before you is Luke Drakon, a commoner in the Military Academy and brother of Viscount Diego's son."

A brief silence stretched out between the two, and Luke wondered if he had gone a little too far. He had done his best to be upfront and vulnerable with his friend, but perhaps he had approached it the wrong way.

"You are right, brother," Kayson said eventually, letting out a small sigh. "It is not my place to pursue revenge for you. I will respect your wishes, but know that I am always here if you need help."

Luke nodded. While he held no personal feelings for his host body's father, he appreciated Kayson's stance on the matter and his willingness to assist him. However, this still left the pressing problem of being recognized in Valand City.

"Can you help me disguise myself?" Luke asked.

Kayson took a step back, giving him a once-over, his expression thoughtful. "I could probably mark your face with some charcoal or cinnabar to make you look disfigured. Your face is already asymmetrical, so it shouldn't be hard to convince people that you have an affliction."

"That's wonderful… Thank you," Luke said stiffly, though inwardly he was crying. 'If you think I'm ugly, just say it…'

"Of course, brother, don't mention it," Kayson replied, letting out hearty laughter that made the mare beside him harrumph in annoyance.

Now that he had a way of disguising himself, Luke felt both relieved and slightly depressed. He killed some time while waiting for the Lieutenant Commander to gather the men, and then they set off riding west.

As they departed, Luke noticed rising plumes of smoke and caught the acrid smell of burning flesh carried on the wind. The bodies of the Marxx Kingdom soldiers were being burned to prevent the spread of disease among the living.

This was a common practice in this world, but the smell made him nauseous, especially atop his mount. Were it not for the fact that they were riding away from the site, Luke might have needed to empty his stomach.

His muscles stiffened quickly, particularly in his thighs and lower back, though he felt slightly more confident riding than he had before. They continued until nightfall, setting up camp on the edge of a forest.

By now, all the men were familiar with Luke and Kayson, having spent a considerable amount of time together. While Luke had initially commanded them with fear and his Domineering Air skill, he noticed a subtle shift in their demeanor toward him.

Even the long-faced Lieutenant Commander treated Luke differently, no longer avoiding him during their time in camp.

At first, Luke was confused by the change in behavior, but after checking his status window, it began to make sense.

User: Luke Drakon

Title: Officer in training

Subordinates: 2

Stats:

Ambition: E+

Charisma: C-

Intelligence: C+

Prowess: D

Zeal: F

Loyalty: F

Additional notes: An officer in training with merits. Shows promise on the battlefield.

As a result of the successful siege and capture of Xiu Fortress, Luke's Charisma had skyrocketed to a C- grade. Seeing this increase only reinforced his theory that Charisma was linked to fame and renown.

As for its uses, a prime example was how others perceived him. The soldiers who had initially followed his orders out of fear now showed respect after witnessing his exploits and reliability on the battlefield.

This gave Luke valuable insight, though it remained to be seen how much it would affect the execution of his commands. Perhaps he could inspire greater loyalty from his subjects as his Charisma skill climbed higher.

Moving on, Luke's eyes flashed with satisfaction upon noticing that the Additional Notes in his system had also changed. The fact that he was no longer being mocked by the system almost offset the sting of being called ugly by his friend earlier. Almost.

But this wasn't the reason he had opened his system in the first place. He turned his head, ensuring Kayson was still asleep, before opening the Quest Window.

Main Quest: Ascent to Power (Part 2)

Details: The Sovereign System will not settle for weakness. Only those who aim to leave their mark in history may wield its power.

Task: Successfully reclaim Xiu Fortress within 5 days [Complete]

Reward: Skill Selection 

Failure: Removal of the Sovereign System.

[Quest Complete]

[Please choose your reward:]

Journeyman Spear Proficiency: Considered the Dragon of weapons. Wield your spear like that of someone with 20 years experience.

Journeyman Sword Proficiency: Most popular and one of the easiest to learn, yet hardest to master. Gain 20 years experience of wielding a sword.

'Damn!' Luke cried inwardly. He rubbed his eyes a few times to ensure he wasn't reading incorrectly. Upon confirming, a wide smile spread across his lips.

The first Ascent to Power quest had only provided regular proficiency, equivalent to 10 years' experience. Even that had allowed him to shoot somewhat accurately over 600 feet.

'What kind of mastery will 20 years' experience give me?' he wondered. 'Could I move through the battlefield unhindered with that kind of skill?'

He hesitated briefly. 'What should I take?'

The Bow Proficiency option was no longer available, likely because he had already chosen it in the previous quest. This made him consider whether the trend would continue. Would the next quest offer 30 years of experience for the remaining options? If so, he needed to be strategic with his choices.

After a few moments of reflection, Luke realized he only had one real option. Neither his body nor his mind was ready for true close combat. The mere thought of using a sword to hack through enemies threatened the sanctity of his stomach contents.

'I don't see any other choice but the spear,' he thought. 'It's also commonly used in the army.'

With his decision made, Luke willed the first option and watched as a series of windows appeared before him.

[Congratulations, you've acquired: Journeyman Spear Proficiency.]

In that instant, Luke felt the room spin, and a wave of fatigue pulled at his body. One moment he was staring at the ceiling of the tent, and the next, he lost consciousness.

The next morning, Luke awoke to the sound of Kayson calling him, urging him to pack up camp. He rubbed his bleary eyes a few times and looked around, only to see that it was still dark outside.

Letting out a yawn, he stood and exited the tent, stretching his muscles. They were still tight and slightly fatigued, but he felt better than the day before, which was a welcome change.

Luke noticed a soldier standing nearby with a polearm, acting as a lookout. A sudden idea struck him—he wanted to test his new Spear Proficiency to see how much he had improved.

Back at the Academy, he had been introduced to a variety of weapons in Master Boyd's classes, but he had found all of them awkward to use. No matter how hard he tried, he was as uncoordinated as a toddler attempting to use chopsticks for the first time.

"Mind if I borrow this?" Luke asked politely.

"A-Ah, yes, Commander," the soldier stammered, handing over the polearm.

Luke assessed the weight of the ji, a weapon that seemed like a cross between a spear and a dagger-axe. With a spear tip and side blades, it was effective for both thrusting and slashing, especially from a mounted position.

Taking a forward-facing stance, Luke wielded the polearm with ease. In an instant, he shot forward, delivering a lightning-quick thrust at a nearby tree. The bark shattered on impact.

He retracted the weapon and began spinning it expertly in his hands while retreating a few steps. Every movement felt natural and effortless, as though he had performed the actions thousands of times before.

Luke slammed the butt of the spear into the ground and vaulted forward, spinning it once more before bringing it down in a sweeping slash. He used his body's momentum and weight to deliver the blow.

His muscles protested, nearly causing him to drop the spear. Thankfully, he recovered and returned to his initial stance before inspecting the weapon again.

'It seems this mastery granted me both muscle memory and visualization,' he thought. 'But I'll need to build the appropriate strength to wield it properly.'

"Thanks," Luke said, handing the spear back to the soldier, who wore a stunned expression. The man didn't even respond before Luke had already left to find his horse.

After locating his precious mare, Luke's mood improved—at least until Kayson appeared once more, grinning from ear to ear.

"Okay, it's time to work on your disguise, brother," he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.