Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 380: Marching ahead 2

Lucas reined his horse to a slow halt before his squad, the twelve cultivators already standing in a loose but disciplined formation. Their robes bore the marks he had ordered, subtle yet unmistakable, and each of them carried themselves with the quiet readiness of people who understood that what lay ahead was not a drill or a show of strength but a march toward places where death waited patiently.

He dismounted and took a few steps forward, his boots sinking slightly into the churned earth. For a brief moment, he simply looked at them, letting the silence stretch until every wandering thought settled.

"We are not here for glory," Lucas said at last, his voice steady despite the faint rasp that still clung to it. "We are not here to prove that we are stronger than the rest of the army."

Bartho inclined his head slightly. "Then what are we here for, Leader?"

Lucas met his eyes without hesitation. "We are here because someone has to walk into the fire first," he replied. "And because if we do not, others will die in our place."

Jennifer’s expression tightened, though her voice remained calm. "That means casualties are likely," she said. "Even among us."

"Yes," Lucas answered simply. "That is why vigilance matters more than courage. Courage burns bright and fast. Vigilance keeps you alive."

One of the men shifted his stance and asked, "And if we are cut off?"

"Then you fall back together," Lucas said. "No heroics, no lone charges, no chasing enemies into shadows. If you cannot retreat together, you retreat toward me."

Bartho gave a low breath that sounded almost like a laugh. "You really intend to be our anchor."

"I intend to be your problem," Lucas corrected. "If the enemy sees me, they will focus on me. Use that."

The group exchanged brief glances, then nodded almost as one.

Lucas turned slightly and gestured Tom forward. "Tom," he said, lowering his voice just enough to separate this from the general address.

Tom stepped closer immediately. "Yes, my lord."

"You will go back and join Volde," Lucas said. "The Core of Dominion Gauntlets are now your shared responsibility."

Tom hesitated, surprise flickering across his face. "Why not use your spactial storage, my lord?"

Lucas shook his head slowly. "Not now," he said. "My state is unstable. My Qi, my meridians, even my spatial control are not as reliable as they should be. One misstep and I could damage it or lose it entirely."

Volde, who had approached quietly from the side, spoke with a low and respectful tone. "You are wise to be cautious," he said. "That artifact is not something fate should be tempted with."

Lucas looked at him. "I am trusting you with it," he said plainly. "Both of you."

Tom swallowed and nodded firmly. "I will not fail you," he said. "Even if I have to die guarding it."

"You will not die," Lucas replied, placing a hand briefly on Tom’s shoulder. "Your task is to stay alive and make sure the gauntlets reaches the moment it is needed."

Volde inclined his head. "We will guard it as if it were our own hearts."

Lucas straightened and looked back at his squad. "You heard everything," he said. "Once we move, there will be no turning back to ask questions."

Jennifer stepped forward slightly. "Then allow me to say this now," she said. "No matter what happens ahead, I will keep you all breathing as long as my hands can move."

Lucas nodded to her. "That is all I can ask."

He took a slow breath, feeling the weight of the coming march settle into his bones, then lifted his gaze toward the road ahead. In his mind, he acknowledged the truth he had not spoken aloud. Everything about him truly was unstable, his power, his body, his fate. That was precisely why he could not afford to hesitate.

"Form up," Lucas said quietly.

The squad moved at once, falling into place with practiced ease, and as Tom and Volde turned back toward the secured wagons, Lucas mounted his horse again, eyes forward, already walking the first steps of a path that would not forgive mistakes.

The temperature around the front of the formation shifted subtly as the ice belle appeared beside Lucas, already mounted, her presence alone enough to frost the edges of the air. The horse beneath her was calm despite the unnatural cold, its breath coming out in pale streams. Several members of the squad glanced her way instinctively, then straightened, their spines stiffening as they recognized who now rode with them.

Lucas turned his head slightly toward her. "You can ride a horse?" he said with surprise.

Her eyes flicked to the silver mask covering half his face before returning forward. "You underestimate me a lot," she replied.

He let out a soft breath that might have been a laugh.

Jennifer, riding a little behind, leaned closer to Bartho and murmured, "With her at the front, the scouts ahead might as well pray."

Bartho nodded faintly. "Or run."

Lucas raised a hand, signaling the squad forward. "We move now," he said. "Maintain distance but keep me within sight. Do not break formation unless I give the order."

The ice belle urged her horse forward until she was riding level with him. "Your soldiers listen to you without question," she said. "They trust you."

"They trust the position," Lucas answered. "Trust in me is earned with survival."

She glanced at him again, lingering this time. "Then survive," she said simply. "All of you."

As they rode, the ground ahead seemed to quiet, the distant sounds of the main army fading behind them.

One of the scouts at the far left spoke up. "No movement ahead so far, Squad Leader."

"Do not relax," Lucas replied immediately. "Silence is not safety."

The ice belle’s gaze swept the horizon, her senses extending far beyond what the eyes could see. "The land ahead has been disturbed recently," she said. "Heavy footsteps. Not human."

Lucas’s grip tightened slightly on the reins. "How far?"

"Far enough that they do not yet know we are here," she answered. "Close enough that they will soon."

He nodded once. "Good. Then we set the tone."

Behind them, the army was still organizing, banners barely visible in the distance, but at the front there was only this small group cutting into uncertainty like a blade. Lucas felt the faint ache beneath his mask, the reminder of how close he had come to dying, and he welcomed it. It kept him sharp.

The ice belle leaned closer as their horses crested a shallow rise. "If things turn bad," she said softly, "you will not tell me to stay back."

"No," Lucas said after a brief pause. "I will fight beside you."

A hint of approval touched her expression. "Good," she replied. "Then ride."