Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

The bat, enraged and desperate, spewed another jet of fire, the roaring orange blaze tearing through the air toward him, illuminating the cavern in a fleeting burst of light.

But Jae didn't flinch, his confidence bolstered by the cloak's magic, which rendered the fiery attack utterly useless, the flames fizzling harmlessly against its shimmering surface.

With a surge of determination, he lunged forward, his boots scraping against the rocky, uneven floor, and slashed with his Mana Blade, the glowing arc of energy slicing cleanly through the bat's sleek, black body.

The creature's screech cut off abruptly as it split in half, its broken form crumpling to the damp stone floor, dark blood pooling beneath it in a slick, glistening puddle.

Jae bent over, his hands resting heavily on his knees, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps as sweat dripped from his brow, stinging his eyes.

His muscles burned with the effort of the fight, a dull ache spreading through his arms and legs, and the cave's cold, musty air stung his lungs with every inhale.

He took a moment to steady himself, his heart still pounding wildly in his chest, the adrenaline making his pulse thrum in his ears. If the lesser monsters are this tough, he thought, wiping his sweat-soaked face with the back of his trembling hand, what in the world is the boss going to be like?

He straightened slowly, his grip tightening on the hilt of his Mana Blade, the weapon's faint glow a beacon in the dim cavern. With a deep breath to steady his nerves, he pressed deeper into the cave, the tunnel narrowing around him, the air growing colder and heavier, thick with the scent of damp, mossy stone and a faint, sour tang that set his nerves on edge.

As he ventured further, the tunnel's walls seemed to close in, the rough stone brushing against his shoulders. Two more bats swooped from the shadows, their red-edged wings beating the air with a leathery, ominous thud, their glowing eyes glinting like burning embers in the gloom.

Jae didn't hesitate, his instincts kicking in as he swung his Mana Blade in a swift, glowing arc, the blue light slicing through the darkness.

The first bat fell with a sickening crunch, its wing severed cleanly, tumbling to the ground in a heap of twitching limbs. The second bat took a deep slash to its chest, collapsing with a shrill, pained cry that echoed off the cavern walls.

But as Jae swung again, aiming to finish the job, the blade flickered and vanished, the system's chime cutting through the air like a warning bell: Mana Blade Cooldown: 5 Minutes.

Jae's heart sank, a cold wave of frustration washing over him as his grip tightened on empty air.

Of all the times for this to happen, he thought, cursing his reliance on the skill, his mind racing to adapt.

Just then, a grating, bone-chilling hiss echoed through the chamber, low and menacing, sending a shiver crawling down his spine. He froze, his eyes darting to the darkness ahead, his breath catching in his throat.

That's gotta be the boss, he thought, his pulse quickening with a mix of fear and anticipation.

A massive shape slithered into view, its scales glinting a sickly green under the faint glow of the bioluminescent moss, casting eerie reflections on the wet stone walls.

The Acid-Fanged Snake was enormous, its head larger than Jae's entire body, its cold, slitted yellow eyes gleaming with predatory malice. Two gleaming, razor-sharp fangs bared as it hissed, the sound vibrating through the air, deep and guttural, shaking Jae to his core.

Its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air, zeroing in on him with unnerving precision.

The system's panel flashed urgently before his eyes: <Acid-Fanged Snake: Possesses Corrosive Fangs. Caution Advised>.

Jae's stomach twisted tightly, his breath hitching as the snake's gaze locked onto him, its massive coils shifting with an eerie, almost hypnotic grace that made his skin crawl.

The snake reared back suddenly, its head swaying, and spat a stream of sizzling, green acid, the liquid hissing viciously as it arced through the air toward him. Jae dove to the side, his Phantom Step activating in a blur of motion, his body moving faster than thought as he narrowly avoided the attack.

The acid splashed against the stone where he'd stood, leaving a smoking, melted patch that bubbled and hissed, the sour stench burning his nose. His heart pounded furiously, his mind racing as he scrambled to his feet, his eyes never leaving the snake's swaying head.

With his Mana Blade still on cooldown, he faced a stark choice: stay defensive, dodging the snake's relentless attacks until the skill refreshed, or go on the offensive and deal damage up close, risking everything.

Can I even last five minutes dodging that thing? he wondered, his eyes tracking the snake's fluid movements, its speed and deadly acid making defense a dangerous gamble.

His Stamina was high, bolstered by his Level 2 stats, but the snake's sheer power and agility were daunting. Offense is the best defense, he decided, his jaw clenching with resolve as he rushed forward, his boots pounding against the cold, uneven stone.

He activated Gravity Touch, the air warping and shimmering around his fist as he swung at the snake's massive head, the skill amplifying his punch with a surge of invisible force.

The snake twisted with unnerving speed, its shimmering scales catching the moss's glow as it dodged effortlessly, its body a fluid ribbon of muscle.

Jae swung again, his glowing fist crackling with energy, but the snake slithered out of reach, its movements almost taunting. It hissed again, rearing back, its fangs gleaming as it spat another stream of acid.

Jae activated Phantom Step once more, blurring to the side, the acid grazing the edge of his Anti-Fire Cloak, the sour stench overwhelming as it stung his eyes and nose.

Too close, he thought, his pulse racing, his body tense as he recalculated his approach, his mind sharp despite the fear clawing at his chest.

A sharp chime sounded, cutting through the tension, the Mana Blade was back online. Jae's eyes lit up, a fierce grin tugging at his lips as he summoned the glowing weapon, its vibrant blue light slicing through the cave's oppressive gloom, casting stark shadows on the walls.

He charged forward, his confidence surging, feinting left, then right, his boots scraping loudly as he baited the snake into striking. It lunged, its massive fangs bared, exposing its vulnerable side, and Jae slashed with precision, the Mana Blade biting deep into its scales.

The snake hissed in agony, dark blood oozing from the deep gash as it retreated, coiling protectively around itself, its yellow eyes narrowing with a burning, furious intensity. Jae's heart soared with triumph, but he didn't let up, his adrenaline pumping as he charged again.

He feinted one way, his body moving with fluid grace, his Mana Blade raised for another strike, aimed at the snake's other side, ready to press his advantage and end the fight.