From Ruin to Reign Leander's Unbreakable Will novel Chapter 288

Chapter 288 No One’s Buying It

“Oh? You looking to throw hands with me?” Leander barely blinked. His gaze slid toward Boomer like he was sizing up a fly on the wall.

Boomer took a step forward and threw out a salute, his voice booming across the field. “Permission to engage, Chief! I’d like to learn from you.”

It sounded respectful, like he was just asking for a friendly spar.

Everyone knew better.

Finished

Boomer wasn’t there to learn. He was out to test the new guy–to see if this young, pretty–faced Chief Instructor had the guts and the game to back up that tough talk.

In Boomer’s book, Leander was a fluke–the first outsider parachuted into the top seat without earning his stripes, something that never happened in Southern Wyvern Blade before.

He believed the whole thing stank of privilege. Leander had “connected” written all over him- probably some brass‘ favorite nephew, sent here to play soldier for a few months before cruising into a soft chair behind a polished desk.

Boomer thought, There’s no way a guy like that got here on merit.

Leander raised an eyebrow, expression unreadable. “Learn from me?”

He let his gaze sweep across the squad. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he asked, “Is that what the rest of you want too?”

The silence said it all. A few subtle nods confirmed it. His earlier jabs had clearly hit nerves. Most of the squad looked ready to “learn” from him, preferably with fists.

Leona, lingering at the back, tilted her head slightly, and that cold glint flickered back in her

eyes.

Boomer is no pushover; even Uncle Larry only had a slight advantage over him when he served as their Chief Instructor.

If Leander actually takes the bait? He’s going to lose badly.

And once that happens? The squad will eat him alive, and Uncle Larry’s chances of reclaiming the role get a whole lot better.

She crossed her arms, watching closely. Alright, wonder boy. Let’s see how you handle this.

Leander didn’t rush his answer. He took a beat, then gave a simple shake of the head. “I’m going

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to have to pass.”

The air shifted instantly.

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No one saw that coming. They were expecting some speech or a slick excuse, not a flat no.

Boomer narrowed his eyes. “Chief… are you scared?”

Seriously? That’s it? He’s folding already? What a letdown. I have no idea what General Leon and the others saw in this guy, Leona muttered under her breath, shaking her head with a look of growing disdain in her eyes.

Leander’s response came with a smirk. “Scared? There’s nothing in this world I fear. I’m not stepping into that ring with you because, frankly, you’re not ready. You’re not strong enough.”

He said it flat, like it was nothing more than a passing thought–no heat, no emotion–just cold, casual truth.

That did it. You could almost hear the squad’s collective temper snap. Every muscle on the field tensed like they were ready to pounce.

Oh, come on. You’re the one dodging the challenge, and now you’re covering it up with big talk and cute little excuses?

That was the thought running through everyone’s head.

At that moment, the entire Southern Wyvern Blade had already written Leander off. As far as they were concerned, he was done.

Boomer clenched his fists, knuckles cracking. “You keep calling us weak, yet you won’t lift a finger to prove otherwise.”

“I don’t owe you proof,” Leander snapped. His voice cut through the air like a blade.

He pointed straight at Boomer.

“I’m the Chief Instructor of the Southern Wyvern Blade. That means you follow my orders.”

His tone sharpened. “So, here’s one–shut up and fall in line. Now.”

Boomer stood frozen, jaw clenched. The unit’s rules were explicit–commands from superiors were mandatory. Despite his desire to punch, he knew he couldn’t without risking repercussions.

With no alternative, he stepped back into the formation, his eyes filled with frustration.

No one said it out loud, but the thought was there.

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Chapter 288 No One’s Buying I

ร0

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If he genuinely proves himself, we’ll be ready to follow him.

However, this? A guy who avoids fighting, behaves as if he’s superior, and demands respect solely because of his title?

To the squad, he didn’t embody the role of a leader. He was nothing like their former Chief Instructor, not even in the slightest.

Leander didn’t seem the least bit bothered. He wasn’t here to win their approval–he was here to turn them into the best.

“Alright. Listen up,” he commanded.

“I’ve gone through your records and will draft custom training plans for each of you, tailored to your skill sets and gaps. It’ll take a few hours. For now, stay in your current positions and do not move a muscle until I get back.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and went to the office, calm and unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world.

This wasn’t solely about buying time. Leander was establishing authority, signaling he was now in charge, and they needed to accept it.

He knew the squad well–definitely not rookies; they were elite, confident, and mostly acted as if they were too good to be bossed around.

His goal was simple: break that ego, make them pause, and force a reset.

Of course, the order didn’t sit well with any of them. Not one.

Still, nobody moved. Not with Leander’s rank, and not after the way he laid it down.

Once Leander disappeared into the building, Boomer couldn’t hold it in

“Unbelievable!”

He kicked the dirt, voice sharp with frustration.

anymore.

“This guy talks big, struts around, but won’t even take a simple challenge. What kind of Chief Instructor is that? General Leon really dropped the ball by bringing in someone like him.”

He was so mad that he even dragged Darrow into it.

Torre’s voice cut in immediately. “Watch it, Boomer!”

His tone was firm. “If word of that gets out and reaches General Leon or anyone else, you’ll be

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the one answering for it.”

Boomer clicked his tongue and shut up. Torre sighed, his expression heavy.

Still… this isn’t looking good.

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As captain, he wanted to believe in the chain of command. He wanted to trust that whoever was chosen to lead them was up to the task.

Yet with Leander at the helm? It was hard for him to stay optimistic, especially with the next Wyvern Cup around the corner.

Then, from the middle of the formation, Skyler’s voice broke the silence. “Guys… I wouldn’t poke the hornet’s nest. He’s the one I told you about.”

Heads turned his way in unison. “What?”

Boomer looked confused for a beat, then scoffed. “So what? He couldn’t even handle a simple match. How’d you lose to someone like that?”

Skyler’s expression turned serious. “He’s not what you think he is. Just a few days ago Ravenridge, I saw him drop two armed men from a distance. No sound, no movement… nothing. Just–boom. Gone. They hit the ground like someone flipped a switch.”

in

The others fell silent.

Torre frowned. “From a distance?”

His voice carried the same doubt that everyone else was thinking.

“That’s not something just anyone can do. Not even Chief Hooper’s got that kind of reach. Only Martial Sovereigns can do that–strike clean from ten steps out. You trying to say this kid’s one

of them?”

Skyler didn’t answer right away. He took a breath, then gave a slight shake of the head. To hell if

I know.

He wasn’t some trained martial prodigy, far from it. He’d stumbled into his inner strength by accident, almost like tripping over a hidden door and falling straight into the world of martial arts. He knew just enough to realize how deep and brutal that world was.

From what he’d picked up, Martial Sovereigns were quite rare and rarely young. Typically, guys at that level were usually grizzled veterans in their forties, fifties–people who’d spent half their life training and the other half surviving.

So yeah, thinking Leander was one of them? It sounded completely nuts to him, but what he saw in Ravenridge wasn’t fake.

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Boomer scoffed again, clearly unconvinced. “Martial Sovereign? Come on. Even Chief Hooper’s still stuck at Elite Grandmaster–still one step away.”

He jerked his chin toward the building, insisting, “That kid doesn’t look a day over twenty. No way he’s got that kind of power. Killing people from a distance? You probably got played- illusion, trick, weapon, smoke, and mirrors. Something like that.”

The rest of the team seemed to lean his way. Skyler didn’t argue. He just looked down, frowning in silence.

Inside the office, Leona stood across from Leander.

Her voice was flat. “Chief Ashcroft, don’t you think making them stand out there for hours is a bit much?”

She was already fed up with his so–called show of authority. This whole power–trip thing? She wasn’t having it.

Leander didn’t even look up. “You handle your role, I’ll handle mine.”

He was busy flipping through profiles, completely unbothered.

Suit yourself. Leona scoffed and turned away.

As she walked down the hall, she pulled out her phone and made a call.

“Uncle Larry,” she said as soon as he picked up. “That new Chief Instructor got the entire squad standing at attention out in the heat like statues.”

She didn’t hold back, laying out every detail.

There was a brief pause on the other end. Then came his voice–low, steady, and full of bite.

“Hmph. That kid’s all bark.”

“I’m heading over. I want to see for myself what makes him think he’s fit to take my place. The squad might be too polite to call him out–but I’m not.”

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