A cold wind howled through the battlefield, carrying the scent of blood and death. The night sky was overcast, thick with smoke from the burning wreckage of a small village in the distance. Scattered bodies lay motionless across the dirt road—soldiers, peasants, even women and children. The aftermath of yet another pointless slaughter.
Beneath an overturned wooden cart, half-buried in mud, a young man stirred. His breathing was shallow, his body covered in dirt, blood, and bruises. His clothes were torn, a mix of common rags and the remnants of a noble's attire.
Slowly, his eyes flickered open. Pain shot through his skull, forcing him to grit his teeth. He could barely move. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest as he tried to push himself up.
Where… am I?
His mind was sluggish, his thoughts clouded. Then, like a floodgate breaking open, memories surged back.
The ambush. The fire. The betrayal.
He remembered running for his life, arrows whizzing past him as he fled into the darkness. His pursuers—mercenaries hired by the very kingdom he once called home—had tracked him down like a beast. He had fought, struggled, and ultimately fallen.
He should be dead.
And yet…
[World Conquest System Activated.]
A foreign voice echoed in his mind, smooth and emotionless. His vision blurred again, but this time, it wasn't from exhaustion. A translucent blue screen flickered before him, filled with strange glowing text.
---
[Welcome, Leon. You have been chosen as the bearer of the World Conquest System.]
[Starting Quest: Survive and Conquer!]
[Objective: Secure your first territory.]
[Reward: Beginner's Army Summon x1]
---
Leon's body tensed. His breath hitched as he stared at the floating text.
A system? Like the old legends of warlords chosen by the gods?
For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating. Maybe the pain and exhaustion had driven him insane. But as he focused, the screen remained—stable, unwavering.
He clenched his fists, forcing himself to sit up despite the burning pain in his limbs. His dark hair, matted with blood and sweat, clung to his forehead.
He had nothing left. His family was dead. His house had been erased from history. He was nothing more than a fugitive, a wanted man in a world where power was everything.
But now, something had changed.
A spark of hope—or perhaps something darker—ignited in his chest.
His fingers twitched as he instinctively swiped at the air. Another set of glowing words appeared before him.
[Beginner's Army Summon Available. Would you like to summon your first troops?]
Leon hesitated, his mind racing.
Troops? Soldiers? The ability to command an army?
His lips curled into a slow, dangerous grin.
"If the world wants me dead… then I'll take the world instead."
With a deep breath, he willed the system to activate the summon.
The air around him trembled. A golden light erupted from the ground, swirling in a vortex of energy. The surrounding trees shook, their leaves rustling as a deep warhorn echoed through the night.
A formation of armored warriors materialized before him—steel-clad figures standing tall and disciplined. Their armor gleamed under the dim moonlight, their swords strapped to their waists, shields slung over their backs. Each man radiated an air of unwavering loyalty, their gazes sharp and focused.
The tallest of them stepped forward, kneeling on one knee. His voice was deep, steady, and filled with purpose.
"Commander, we await your orders."
Leon exhaled slowly. The reality of the moment settled in. He wasn't dreaming. This was real.
The weak, powerless fugitive he had been mere moments ago was gone.
He had been given a chance—no, a destiny.
He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of command settle on his shoulders.
He wasn't just going to survive.
He was going to conquer.
And this was just the beginning.
The First Command
The night air was thick with tension. The newly summoned soldiers stood before Leon in perfect formation, their armor gleaming under the pale moonlight. Their disciplined stance and unwavering gazes sent a chill down his spine.
These were not mere bandits or mercenaries—these were trained warriors, summoned by the World Conquest System.
Leon took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. His body was still sore, his wounds aching, but there was no time to dwell on pain. He had to act.
The lead soldier, the one who had spoken first, remained kneeling. His helmet was tucked under his arm, revealing a rugged face with sharp eyes and a scar running down his cheek. His expression was unreadable, but his loyalty was undeniable.
"Commander, what are your orders?"
Leon hesitated. Orders?
For a moment, doubt crept into his mind. He had never commanded troops before. He wasn't a general, a warlord, or a king. He was just a man who had lost everything.
But then, he clenched his fists.
No. He wasn't just anyone anymore. He had been given power. And power was meant to be used.
He straightened his back, forcing confidence into his voice.
"Report your numbers."
The lead soldier nodded.
"We are a platoon of fifty men, equipped with standard swords, shields, and light armor. We have basic combat training and are capable of defending or attacking small settlements. We require food, shelter, and orders, Commander."
Fifty men. Not a massive force, but far more than what he had before—nothing.
Leon's mind raced. His first mission from the system was to secure his first territory. That meant finding a place to establish himself—a village, a fort, anything he could claim as a base.
He turned his gaze toward the distance, where the faint glow of burning embers flickered on the horizon.
A village. Or at least, what remained of one.
Memories of the slaughter returned. He had been running when he had stumbled upon the village, only to find it under attack. Mercenaries, likely hired by a noble or a rival kingdom, had stormed through it, killing and pillaging without mercy.
If there were survivors… they might need help.
And if the mercenaries were still there… he could use them as his first stepping stone.
Leon looked at his soldiers.
"We move out. There's a village nearby. If there are survivors, we take them in. If there are enemies…" He narrowed his eyes. "We cut them down."
A flicker of something dark and cold stirred within him. A part of him that had always been buried beneath his noble upbringing, beneath the years of being powerless.
He had been weak before. But weakness had no place in this world.
The lead soldier nodded.
"Understood, Commander."
Leon turned toward the village and took his first step forward.
The road to conquest had begun.