Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

The grand hall vibrated with an intense, almost palpable energy, the air thick and heavy with the mingled scents of sweat, the acrid tang of burnt mana, and the faint, metallic hint of blood from the ongoing tournament matches.

Jae's next match was against a wild, unpredictable opponent, a girl named Veyra, whose long hair writhed and twisted like living snakes, infused with poisonous mana that shimmered a sickly, unsettling green in the arena's light.

She whipped her hair toward him with a sharp flick of her head, the strands lashing out like venomous tendrils, aiming to wrap around his arms and legs with deadly precision.

Jae's heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm, his focus sharp as he dodged with Phantom Step, his boots sliding across the smooth, polished floor with a soft scrape.

The crowd murmured, their whispers a mix of awe and skepticism as Jae activated his Mana Blade, its vibrant blue glow flaring to life, slashing at the writhing hair to keep it at bay.

Veyra's attacks were relentless, her hair snapping and twisting with ferocious speed, but Jae's quick thinking gave him an edge.

He feinted a direct charge, drawing her attention, then used Gravity Touch to pin her hair to the ground with a heavy, invisible force, leaving her momentarily exposed.

Seizing the opportunity, he delivered a swift, decisive slash with his Mana Blade, and Veyra collapsed to the floor, defeated.

The referee's voice boomed, declaring Jae the winner, and he panted heavily, his chest heaving as he returned to his seat, a surge of pride mixing with the bone-deep exhaustion settling into his muscles.

The crowd's cheers were a distant hum, their voices blending into the arena's electric atmosphere.

xxx

Next, Jae's attention turned to Sun's match against a boy named Gil, who wielded ice magic with deadly, razor-sharp precision.

Gil's attacks were swift and brutal, his ice shards glinting like polished glass as they streaked toward Sun, each one aimed to pierce and draw blood.

The crowd held its collective breath, their eyes wide with anticipation, but Sun's domain pulsed with a low, resonant hum, the air compressing around him in a shimmering barrier.

The ice shards deflected harmlessly, shattering into glittering fragments that scattered across the floor.

One shard grazed Sun's cheek, leaving a thin, red line of blood, but his smirk never wavered, his dark eyes gleaming with unshakable dominance.

With a casual wave of his hand, he crushed Gil's defenses, the ice splintering under the overwhelming pressure of his domain, and Kael fell to the ground, bloodied and defeated, his body limp.

Jae's stomach twisted into a tight knot, Sun's raw power a stark, daunting reminder of the vast gap between them.

He's invested in this, wants to crush everyone, Jae thought, his fists clenching tightly, his knuckles whitening as Sun strutted back to his seat, his gaze flicking to Jae with a mocking, challenging glint that burned in his mind.

xxxx

Byun's match followed, pitting him against a fire mage named Rion.

Jae leaned forward, expecting a long, drawn-out fight, fire was supposed to counter shadow, its bright light disrupting the darkness, but Byun's shadow-weaving proved overwhelming.

His shadows flickered and danced like living smoke, confounding Rion's blazing fireballs, which fizzled harmlessly against the dark tendrils. Byun's precise touches numbed Rion's arms, sapping his strength with eerie accuracy.

The fight ended quickly, Byun's shadows pinning Rion to the ground, leaving him helpless.

The crowd roared in approval, but Jae noticed something unsettling: Byun's usual cheerful grin was absent, his eyes distant and almost resigned, as if the victory meant nothing to him.

What's eating him? Jae wondered, his brow furrowing with concern. Unlike Sun, who fought with a fierce desire to dominate, Byun seemed detached, his movements mechanical despite their flawless precision, a stark contrast to his usual lively demeanor.

xxxx

Elise's fight came next, and Jae's heart lifted as she stepped into the arena, her dark hair tied back tightly, her face set with fierce determination.

She faced a girl named Lila, who wielded wood magic, conjuring vines and branches that lashed out like thorny whips, snapping through the air.

Elise fought in her unorthodox style, her fists and legs glowing with vibrant green mana, her strikes fierce but unpolished, driven by raw power.

Lila's vines scored hits, leaving scratches and bruises across Elise's skin, but her healing magic flared instantly, the green glow knitting her wounds closed in seconds, her health replenishing with each pulse.

The fight dragged on, Lila's relentless wood magic forcing Elise to heal repeatedly, draining her Stamina bit by bit.

By the end, Elise landed a heavy, mana-charged kick, toppling Lila to the ground, but she was ragged, her breaths coming in short, labored gasps, her uniform torn and frayed.

The referee called her the winner, and Jae's grin widened, pride swelling in his chest, though he saw the heavy toll the fight had taken on her, her face pale and her body trembling as she staggered back to her seat.

xxxx

By the time only sixteen fighters remained, exhaustion was setting in for everyone. Jae's muscles ached, his mind heavy from watching so many powerful, dazzling techniques unfold.

His next opponent was a boy named Torv, an earth mage who'd maxed out his defense, his body encased in a thick, rocky shell that gleamed dully in the arena's light.

Torv barely attacked, his shell repelling Jae's Mana Blade and punches with ease, each swing bouncing off with a dull clang. Torv countered with slow, heavy blows that pushed Jae back, his fists like boulders.

The crowd whispered, impressed by Torv's unyielding defense, but Jae stayed sharp, tricking Torv into blocking high with a clever feint before swinging low with a Gravity Touch-enhanced punch.

The hit cracked Torv's rocky shell, the sound echoing sharply, and Jae followed with a swift Mana Blade slash, ending the fight.

The referee's call sparked a wave of cheers, and Jae returned to his seat, panting but triumphant, his body weary but his spirit soaring.

xxx

Sun's next fight was against a wind mage named Saria, who put up the most resistance he'd faced yet. Her gusts tore through the arena, sharp and fast, slicing through the air like invisible blades.

But Sun's domain crushed her attacks with a suffocating pulse, the air compressing until Saria crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath under the relentless pressure.

The match ended quickly, Sun's dominance unchallenged, his smirk wider as he shot a glance at Jae, his eyes gleaming with arrogance.

He's unstoppable, Jae thought, his resolve hardening despite the doubt creeping into his mind.

xxxx

Elise's next fight was brutal, her wood-magic opponent pushing her to her absolute limits.

The vines wrapped and struck relentlessly, forcing Elise to heal constantly, her green mana flickering as she fought through bone-deep exhaustion. She won with a final, desperate punch, but staggered back to her seat, her face pale, her body trembling with fatigue.

Jae's heart ached for her, but he knew they all had to keep pushing. Only sixteen fighters remained.