Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

Jae gripped his Mana Blade, its blue glow pulsing in the dim hallway, the air heavy with the scent of polished stone and the tense anticipation of the crowd packed around him.

His head throbbed from Fin's earlier kick, a dull ache radiating from the back of his skull, and the sting of blood on his cheek kept him sharp.

Fin stood across from him, his black hair falling into those cold, evil-looking eyes, his confidence shaken after Jae's Anti-Fire Cloak had eaten his fireball like it was nothing. The crowd's stunned silence buzzed in Jae's ears, but he pushed it aside, his focus locked on Fin.

Time to end this, he thought, his heart pounding with a mix of adrenaline and determination. He rushed forward, his boots slamming against the stone floor, slashing at Fin with his Mana Blade in a swift, glowing arc.

Fin moved fast, his body twisting out of the way, but he wasn't quick enough to dodge completely. The blade caught his cheek, slicing a thin red line that glistened in the torchlight.

Fin froze, his eyes wide with shock, his hand flying to his face as blood trickled down. Jae seized the moment, his muscles burning as he swung again, the Mana Blade humming with power. Slash after slash connected, cutting Fin's arms, chest, and side, each hit drawing sharp gasps from the crowd.

Fin stumbled, his movements sluggish, his earlier speed gone as shock paralyzed him. Jae's blade moved like an extension of himself, each strike fueled by the frustration of being called a weak commoner.

Finally, Fin collapsed to his knees, bloodied and beaten, his body crumpling to the cold floor.

The hallway went dead silent, the crowd's collective breath held as they stared at the scene. Jae, panting, lowered his blade, its glow fading as he stepped back.

Fin, a top-five student, lay defeated, his dark uniform stained red. The students' faces were a mix of disbelief and grudging respect, their whispers swallowed by the weight of what they'd just seen.

Jae had won, flawlessly, it seemed, but his chest felt heavy, like it was a fluke.

Fin was too shocked to fight back right, he thought, his jaw tightening. The Anti-Fire Cloak had thrown Fin off, and his surprise had given Jae the opportunity to launch his attack. It wasn't skill, it was luck that made him.

Next time, his opponent wouldn't be shocked at his ability, they would be ready, and he would have to win for real. The thought soured his victory, leaving him moody despite the crowd's stunned stares.

Sun shoved through the crowd, his face twisted with anger as he knelt beside Fin. "Get a healer!" he yelled, his voice sharp, his eyes flashing with frustration as he glared at Jae.

The crowd parted, and a few students ran off, their footsteps echoing down the hall. Jae turned away, his legs heavy as he found a bench against the wall and sank onto it, his Mana Blade vanishing back into his inventory.

He felt the weight of the students' eyes, some now looking at him with a flicker of respect, but it didn't sit right. I'm a fraud, he thought, his fingers clenching.

Fin had outclassed him physically, dodging and landing hits with ease until Jae's trick caught him off guard.

He had a long way to go to compete with the top students for real, and the realization gnawed at him, his mood darkening.

Elise pushed through the crowd, her dark hair bouncing, her eyes wide with worry as she reached him. "Jae, let me heal you," she said, her voice soft but urgent, her hands already glowing with faint green mana.

She knelt beside him, her floral scent cutting through the hall's stale air.

Jae shook his head, his voice low. "No, I'm fine," he said, his tone sharper than he meant. "I need to feel this."

The bruises, the sting of his cheek, the ache in his skull, they were reminders of how easily Fin had tossed him around before the surprise turned the tide.

He needed the pain to push him, to remind him he wasn't good enough yet. Elise frowned, her hand hovering, but she nodded, stepping back, her eyes still filled with concern.

Jae stood, brushing off his uniform, and headed back to class, the crowd parting silently as he passed. His boots echoed in the quiet hall, the weight of his fake victory heavy on his shoulders.

Next time, no tricks, he thought, his jaw set. He had to get stronger, train harder, figure out how to close the gap between him and the elites. The tournament was coming, and he couldn't rely on surprises forever.

Unknown to Jae, a pair of sharp eyes had watched the entire fight from the edge of the crowd.

Princess Yuna, her blonde hair tucked under a hood, had slipped in among the students, her heart racing as she saw Jae turn the tables on Fin. His Mana Blade, his Anti-Fire Cloak, the way he'd fought through Fin's speed, she couldn't believe a commoner had pulled it off.

Her curiosity burned, her mind replaying his moves as she followed him quietly, her soft footsteps masked by the crowd's lingering murmurs.

Jae felt a prickle on the back of his neck, like someone was watching him. His instincts, honed from cave missions, kicked in, and he whipped around, his fists raised, ready to fight.

But it was just Yuna, her hands up, her blue eyes wide with surprise. "I didn't mean to startle you," she said, her voice calm but clear, a small smile on her lips.

Jae's heart was still racing, his frustration spilling over. "Well, you did," he snapped, his voice sharp, his hands lowering as he recognized her.

The princess, of all people, trailing him after the fight? Byun's warning about staying away from her echoed in his mind, but Yuna's curious gaze held him, and he wasn't sure what to make of it.