Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

Feinting left, then right, he lunged, his boots scraping the slick stone floor. The snake fell for it again, its head jerking the wrong way, and Jae slashed at its face, the Mana Blade grazing its scales.

The hit barely scratched the beast, but it enraged the snake, its hiss echoing like a grating roar, its fangs bared as it coiled tighter.

The snake struck, its jaw stretching impossibly wide, aiming to clamp down on Jae with those corrosive fangs. His heart lurched, and he activated Phantom Step, blurring to the side, the air whistling as the snake's jaws snapped shut inches from him.

He spun, thrusting his Mana Blade toward its head, aiming for the eyes, but the snake's tail whipped around from behind, slamming into his back with bone-rattling force.

Jae flew forward, crashing into the cave wall, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. Pain exploded through his ribs, his vision swimming as he slid to the ground, his shoulder scraping the rough stone.

Lying there, his chest heaving, Jae's mind flashed back to his early days at the academy, when he'd been powerless, a commoner mocked by nobles like Sun. Their sneers echoed in his memory … weak, useless… and the sting of Councilman Dio's words hit harder: "You have to work three times as hard to prove yourself."

Jae's jaw clenched, his fists tightening against the cold floor. He'd vowed never to be that helpless again, not if he had a second chance in this world.

The snake's hiss snapped him back, its coils shifting, ready to strike again. I'm not done yet, he thought, his resolve hardening like steel.

Jae pushed himself up, pain shooting through his back, and reached into his inventory, pulling out a Smoke Seed.

Without hesitation, he hurled it at the snake, the tiny pod bursting on impact into a thick, choking cloud of gray smoke that billowed through the chamber, obscuring the beast's glowing, malevolent eyes and filling the air with an acrid haze that stung Jae's nose and eyes, burning his throat.

But he didn't falter. Leaping through the swirling, disorienting smoke, his Mana Blade flared brighter, its vibrant blue glow cutting through the murky air like a beacon of hope.

With a fierce, determined cry, he drove the blade into the snake's massive head with all his strength, his muscles straining as he pushed the weapon deep into its flesh, feeling the resistance of its thick scales give way.

The snake thrashed violently, its hiss turning into a wet, gurgling screech that echoed off the cavern walls, its enormous body writhing in agony.

Then, with a final, shuddering convulsion, it collapsed, its massive form hitting the stone floor with a heavy, resounding thud that shook the ground beneath Jae's feet. The beast was dead.

Jae staggered back, panting, his heart pounding with triumph, but a sharp, burning sting flared on his thigh.

He glanced down, his stomach twisting as he saw the damage: a splash of the snake's acid had burned through his pants, the fabric charred and frayed, and eaten into his knee, the skin red and raw, bubbling painfully.

The system chimed, its green panel glowing in the dark:

<Quest Completed: Defeat the Boss Monster.>

Reward:

<Mana Breastplate Armor>

<Acid Fang >(Single-Use, Injects Corrosive Acid).

Jae's lips twitched into a weak smile, the promise of the armor and the new weapon, a fang that could unleash acid, sparking a flicker of pride despite the pain.

He limped out of the cave, each step a struggle as the acid's sting pulsed through his leg, the cool night air outside a sharp contrast to the cave's musty heat.

The scent of pine and damp grass filled his lungs, the moonlight casting long shadows across the academy's grounds as he dragged himself toward the dorms.

His body ached, his clothes singed and torn, but he kept moving, his mind focused on getting back before he collapsed.

At the dorm entrance, Byun leaned casually against the rough stone wall, his usual cocky smirk plastered across his face, his blond hair glinting faintly under the flickering, golden torchlight.

But when his eyes landed on Jae, limping heavily, bloodied, his knee a charred, painful mess, his smirk vanished instantly, replaced by a look of genuine, uncharacteristic concern.

His eyes widened, his brows knitting together as he stepped closer, his gaze flicking to Jae's ruined leg, taking in the extent of the damage.

"Whoa, what the hell happened to you?" Byun asked, his voice sharp with worry, a rare crack in his usual carefree, teasing demeanor. Jae forced a weak, lopsided grin, his voice hoarse and strained from exhaustion and pain.

"Just a training accident," he said, waving it off dismissively, though the pain made his head spin and his vision blur at the edges, threatening to pull him under. He reached into his inventory, his fingers closing around the cool glass of one of his two Refresh Elixirs.

He uncorked the small vial, the faint glow of its contents shimmering in the torchlight, and drank deeply, the sweet, tingling liquid spreading a soothing warmth through his battered body.

The sting in his knee dulled slightly, the raw, bubbling skin starting to knit together, though the wound remained far from fully healed, still aching with every step.

Jae hesitated for only a moment before grabbing his last Refresh Elixir, his fingers trembling as he weighed the decision, knowing he'd have no more left after this.

With a quick nod to himself, he uncorked it and downed the second dose, the liquid working faster this time, the wound on his knee closing almost completely, leaving only a faint red mark and a lingering, dull ache that pulsed faintly.

He sighed heavily, leaning against the cool, rough stone wall of the dorm, his body still heavy with exhaustion, his muscles aching from the ordeal, his skin prickling as it slowly mended on its own.

Byun watched him closely, his frown deepening, his usual teasing replaced by a quiet concern that Jae wasn't used to seeing from him.

Jae just shrugged, forcing another weak, tired smile, his mind already drifting to the Mana Breastplate and the Acid Fang, his thoughts buzzing with excitement about how they'd give him an edge in the upcoming tournament.

Despite the pain, despite the exhaustion, a spark of anticipation burned in his chest, he was stronger now, battle-tested, and ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.