Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

The training yard was a whirlwind of chaos, the air thick with the scent of sweat, dust, and the faint electric buzz of mana.

The packed dirt under Jae's boots crunched as he stood with his mismatched team, the shouts and clangs of other groups echoing around them.

Amira, her dark hair pulled tight and her scowl sharp enough to cut glass, was already taking charge, barking orders like she was born to lead.

"Jeon, you're with me," she snapped, her voice dripping with authority. "We're going for their flag. Move fast, hit hard." She turned to Elise, the quiet girl with a bored expression, and pointed. "You stay close behind us. Heal if we get banged up. Got it?" Elise gave a half-hearted nod, her eyes barely lifting from the ground.

Then Amira's gaze landed on Jae, her lip curling like she'd smelled something bad. "Commoner," she said, the word a sneer, "just stay out of our way. Don't screw this up."

Jae's jaw clenched, heat rising in his chest. He wanted to snap back, tell her he'd wipe the floor with her precious plan, but he bit his tongue.

Let her think she was in charge. He'd show her and everyone else what he could do. His team's opponents loomed across the yard: three massive boys, all muscle and bravado, and a girl with a cold, determined stare that set off every alarm in Jae's head.

Amira's plan fell apart faster than a cheap chair. She and Jeon charged toward the enemy flag, their mana shields flickering like they hadn't practiced enough.

The opposing team was ready, moving like a well-oiled machine. One of the big guys slammed into Jeon, his fist crashing through Jeon's shaky shield, sending him sprawling with a grunt.

Amira tried to dodge, but the girl with the mean stare was too fast, landing a mana-charged kick that dropped Amira to the dirt, gasping. Jae's heart raced, his fists clenching as he watched his team crumble.

They were going for Elise next, the three boys circling her like wolves, their grins cruel. Elise froze, she tried summoning a spell.

Jae didn't thinkx he moved. Leaping in at the last second, he hardened his mana shield, the blue sheen wrapping around him like armor.

A massive fist slammed into his chest, the impact rattling his bones, but his shield held firm, absorbing the blow.

The boy who'd swung looked stunned, his knuckles red, and Jae seized the moment.

"My turn," he muttered, activating Gravity Touch.

He thrust his hand forward, the air crackling as an invisible force hit the boy like a truck, sending him flying. He crashed into the stone wall behind with a sickening thud, dust billowing around him as he slumped to the ground.

The other two boys roared and charged, their heavy footsteps shaking the dirt. Jae's pulse pounded, but he was ready.

He activated Phantom Step, his body blurring as he vanished, reappearing behind them in a heartbeat.

He aimed a Gravity Punch at the closest one, the air warping around his fist, but the boy was quick, ducking under the blow with a smirk. Jae followed with a kick, his leg slicing through the air, but the boy dodged again, moving like he'd been born fighting.

Before Jae could recover, the second boy saw an opening and struck, his fist slamming into Jae's stomach with a force that felt like a sledgehammer.

Pain exploded through Jae's gut, and he collapsed, coughing hard, the taste of bile sharp in his mouth. The yard spun, the shouts of the class fading into a dull roar.

Most of the class had stopped their own fights, their eyes glued to Jae's group. He could feel their stares, a mix of shock and judgment, as he struggled to his knees, one hand pressed to his stomach.

The boys on the opposing team high-fived, already turning toward Elise, who was backing away, her face pale. They were going for the flag, thinking Jae was down for the count. Big mistake. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain screaming through his body, and activated Phantom Step again. In a flash, he was in front of Elise, blocking their path.

"Not so fast," he growled, summoning Gravity Touch once more. He thrust his hand out, sending another boy crashing to the ground, his shield buckling under the force.

The last boy, a hulking brute with a cocky grin, aimed a kick at Jae's ribs. Jae ducked, his reflexes sharpened by the system, and saw his chance. He aimed low, his fist glowing faintly with Gravity Touch, and drove it straight into the boy's crotch.

The impact was brutal, the enhanced force making the boy's eyes bulge as he dropped, twitching and gasping in agony. The class gasped, some stifling laughs, others whispering in shock.

Jae stood tall, his breath ragged but his smirk defiant. The girl, the brains, stood alone now, her eyes narrowing as she weighed her options.

Instead of fighting, she raised her hands, her voice steady. "We surrender." She tossed their flag to the ground, and Jae snatched it up, holding it high, his chest swelling with triumph despite the pain throbbing in his gut.

He dropped to his knees, the flag slipping from his hand as the adrenaline faded, leaving only exhaustion and pain. Elise rushed to him, her hands glowing with soft green healing mana.

She pressed them to his stomach, the warmth easing the ache, and Jae's breath steadied. He looked up, surprised she'd chosen to heal him first over Amira and Jeon, who were still groaning in the dirt.

"Thanks," he said, his voice rough but genuine, a small smile tugging at his lips.