The Sovereign System.

Sleep came swiftly for Luke, who was drained from the strategy meeting. His dreams were pleasant for the first time this week, allowing his body to get some much-needed rest and recovery.

Luke felt his body being nudged softly, rousing him slightly.

"Be gentle~," he mumbled, half-asleep.

In the next moment, his body was thrown from the bed, landing on the cold, hard ground with a thud. His eyes snapped open, only to see Kayson staring down at him with a hint of disgust.

"What the hell were you dreaming about?" Kayson questioned, his eyes shadowed with dark bags—a clear sign he'd struggled to get proper sleep last night.

Luke felt a twinge of guilt, at least until he remembered the heartless way he'd been kicked off the bed. "Wouldn't you like to know," he replied, flashing his friend a glare before unceremoniously collecting himself from the ground.

"Are you ready?" Luke asked, his tone solemn.

Kayson's expression faltered briefly. "As ready as I'll ever be. I think I'm dreading the three-day ride more than the actual battle itself," he admitted.

"Ugh, don't remind me. I've never ridden a horse before."

"What?!" Kayson looked shocked. Luke could almost read his thoughts verbatim: Why didn't you mention this during the strategy meeting?

"It's fine. I'm a quick learner," Luke replied, waving it off. He didn't really have a choice in the matter. In truth, he was quite happy with his assignment—it granted him the freedom to make his own decisions.

While Hayden had given him clear instructions for what to do after destroying the dock, the process itself was left up to Luke. It was a little daunting, but he felt an odd sense of confidence within.

Leaving his friend still gawking, Luke packed his weapon and a spare change of clothes, rolling them up neatly. "Let's go. We don't want to delay our trip."

Soon after, the duo arrived where the five-hundred-strong cavalry unit had gathered. Luke's eyes widened in shock at the sheer number of horses in one place, all accompanied by stern-faced soldiers.

He instinctively knew five hundred was a large number, but seeing them up close made him realize just how many people and animals it truly was.

As the two made their way to the front of the pack, soldiers glanced at them—some with curiosity, others with undisguised contempt. Luke didn't react. He understood their frustrations, having to entrust their lives and well-being to a teenager from the Academy.

But that didn't mean he would let it slide in the future.

"You two must be Luke and Kayson. Commander Tryst has told me everything."

A man dismounted from his mare, his armor clinking together as he touched the ground. He stood at least a head taller than Kayson, with a wiry physique. His eyes were deep-set and serious, his face long and gaunt.

Luke's gaze moved from the man to his horse, and he almost let out a laugh. His hand shot up to his mouth, quickly suppressing any noise.

'They're almost identical!' he shouted inwardly.

The soldier frowned before ignoring Luke and holding out his hand to Kayson. "I'm Lieutenant Commander Stoddard," he said, introducing himself.

Kayson shook the offered hand while Luke focused on composing himself.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant Commander. When will we be set to ride?" Kayson asked.

"We were just awaiting your arrival. Your horses are nearby. Once you're ready, we'll set off."

"Great. Round up our horses, and I'll address the soldiers," Luke interjected, finally recovered from his earlier state. His tone was casual—too casual—lacking the respect one might expect.

The Lieutenant Commander's eyes narrowed. "I will speak to my soldiers. You need only concern yourself with mounting your horse and following along."

Oh great, another pissing contest, Luke lamented inwardly, though his expression remained carefree.

"Tell me, Lieutenant Commander," Luke began in a conversational tone, "you mentioned that Commander Tryst told you everything. Did he, perhaps, forget to mention that we're leading this operation?"

The man opened his mouth as if to respond, but Luke cut him off. "Because even if he did forget, General Hart was kind enough to temporarily grant us the rank of Commander." He patted the tall man on the shoulder, flashing a bright smile.

The Lieutenant Commander's face grew solemn, his long features tightening. After a moment of silence, he said, "Understood, Commander." The words seemed to pain him.

"Bring the horses!" Stoddard barked, before excusing himself.

Seeing his tactic succeed, Luke sent a smug smile toward Kayson, who let out a weary sigh. "You sure know how to make enemies," Kayson muttered, exasperated.

Luke shrugged. "The guy was posturing. If I didn't take him down a peg, there's a chance they'd ignore our orders later."

Kayson said nothing at first but eventually nodded in reluctant agreement. "You can address the soldiers… just as soon as you mount your horse."

'Ah, fuck…' Luke had completely forgotten about that part. With nearly five hundred pairs of eyes locked onto him, the pressure was suffocating. Whatever respect he had just gained now felt precariously at risk.

His unease deepened when two soldiers approached, leading the horses they were to ride during the campaign. Both animals were massive—at least 15 hands tall—with powerful, muscular builds.

Kayson accepted the reins from one soldier and vaulted onto his horse effortlessly, stroking its head as he whispered soothing words.

'This bastard…' Luke cursed inwardly, watching the ease with which Kayson mounted his horse, looking composed and confident. 'He couldn't have waited, could he?' Now, all eyes were on Luke.

As his horse was led closer, Luke steadied himself, his mind racing through the information he'd read in the library on his first visit. While most of it had been about breeding, he managed to recall the practical passages he needed.

'Okay, observe the horse's behavior first.'

His eyes scanned the animal, noting its pinned ears and the way its tail swished violently. He didn't need to be an expert to recognize the horse's agitation.

Luke extended his hand, palm down, and approached the mare slowly, his movements deliberate. He wasn't an animal enthusiast by any means, and his attempts at soothing the horse felt awkward even to him.

"There, there, beautiful. No need to be skittish. I just want to say hello," he said softly, his tone calm despite his nerves.

The mare sniffed his hand and let out a huff that sounded suspiciously like a scoff. Luke chose to ignore the perceived slight and began stroking her head gently, murmuring calming words. To his relief, the mare's agitation seemed to ease. Her pinned ears relaxed, and the swishing of her tail grew less aggressive.

Luke's confidence grew. He ran through the mental checklist he'd cobbled together from his readings. First, he checked the saddle and girth strap, ensuring they were secure but not overly tight. Satisfied, he nodded to himself and moved on.

Gathering the reins in his left hand, he positioned them over the saddle, gripping tightly. His left foot found the stirrup, and with a leap, he swung his right leg over, landing in the saddle.

'I did it!' he thought triumphantly, silently applauding his success.

The mare, however, had other ideas. She gave a sudden, playful buck that nearly sent Luke flying. His heart jumped into his throat as he clung to the saddle, squeezing his thighs to keep from toppling off.

Chuckles rippled through the nearby soldiers. Luke's face flushed with embarrassment, but he forced himself to remain composed. Instead of reacting, he stroked the mare's mane and spoke in soothing tones. After a few moments, the horse settled, responding to his calm persistence.

Testing his control, Luke gave a gentle nudge with his heels. To his surprise, the mare moved obediently, following his commands with precision. Her training was evident, and his confidence soared.

With a deep breath, Luke guided the mare to the front of the gathered soldiers. Hundreds of eyes bore into him, their gazes filled with skepticism and disdain. He couldn't blame them—he was an outsider, an unproven leader whose decisions would dictate their survival.

He needed to earn their respect.

[Activating Domineering Air]

A pulse of invisible energy radiated outward as his skill activated. Luke saw the shift in their expressions almost immediately—eyes widened, backs straightened, and the murmurs of discontent fell silent.

"Men," Luke began, his voice steady and commanding. "I, Luke Drakon, alongside Kayson Diego, have been appointed as your Commander for this mission. By order of His Majesty, we are tasked with reclaiming Xiu Fortress and restoring it to the Marxx Kingdom."

His words carried weight, resonating through the assembled soldiers.

"Our mission is critical. We will strike the riverside port with precision, cutting off their supply chain and crippling their defenses. Failure is not an option. Success is our only path forward."

As he spoke, Luke guided the mare along the front line, his gaze meeting the eyes of those in the ranks. Their expressions held traces of doubt, but the aura of authority he projected kept them attentive.

Luke raised his arm, his voice rising with fervor. "So I ask you, soldiers of the mighty Marxx Kingdom… ARE YOU WITH ME?"

A smattering of cheers responded. "Yeah!"

Luke frowned, unsatisfied. He took a deep breath, his voice thundering as he shouted again. "I SAID, ARE YOU WITH ME?"

"YEAHHHH!"

The roar of five hundred men shouting their agreement filled the air, sending a thrill down Luke's spine. A smile tugged at his lips as adrenaline surged through his veins, making him feel invincible, as if he could charge headlong into an oncoming army without a second thought.

I guess this is why pep talks really make a difference, he thought wryly.

"Mount your horses! We'll begin our ride shortly," Luke commanded, guiding his mare toward Kayson and the Lieutenant Commander, who waited at the front of the formation.

Kayson's jaw hung open, his wide-eyed stare fixed on Luke as though he were a ghost. The Lieutenant Commander, on the other hand, wore a tight-lipped expression, his simmering resentment clear. It was as if he'd been secretly hoping Luke would fail.

"Lieutenant Commander, please mount your horse," Luke said with a smile that barely concealed his satisfaction. Watching the man struggle to maintain his composure was unexpectedly gratifying. For once, Luke felt like he was in control.

But the moment was fleeting.

Once the group set off, reality hit him hard—specifically in the thighs and the, well, more sensitive areas.

'This is ten times worse than the carriage!' he screamed inwardly, every bounce of the saddle a fresh reminder of his inexperience.

Luke stole a glance at Kayson, who rode his mare with effortless grace. The man's golden hair fluttered in the breeze like he'd stepped straight out of a Hollywood movie. It was both impressive and deeply annoying.

Meanwhile, Luke was locked in a battle for survival. Bugs slapped his face, his knuckles turned white as he gripped the reins, and his back ached from the constant jarring. He was fairly certain his mare had it out for him, too, given the occasional mischievous sidesteps that nearly unseated him.

By the time they reached the Xie Forest, the terrain became more challenging, forcing the riders to slow their pace. Luke's thighs burned with every step his mare took, and his crown jewels protested the abuse with increasing vigor. Emerging on the other side of the forest at dusk, Luke felt as though he'd been through a war already.

When they finally dismounted, his legs turned to jelly. He nearly stumbled, barely catching himself on the saddle as his mare let out what sounded suspiciously like a snicker.

The soldiers quickly set up camp, brushing down and feeding the horses with practiced efficiency. The Lieutenant Commander took charge of the arrangements, sparing Luke and Kayson from the duties.

"That ride was great," Kayson said cheerfully, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "Much better than I anticipated."

Luke shot him a withering glare but didn't bother responding. He needed to conserve his energy—and his blood pressure.

Despite his struggles, he couldn't deny he'd learned a lot from the ride. By the end, he'd managed to put some of his library knowledge into practice, even if his body was paying the price.

'Just two more days…' he thought grimly, massaging his aching inner thighs.