Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

The tournament had reached the quarterfinals, and only eight fighters remained, their presence commanding the attention of the roaring crowd.

Jae sat among them in the special section, his muscles sore and aching from his previous battles, his heart pounding with a turbulent mix of pride for making it this far and nerves about what lay ahead.

He, Elise, Sun, and Kael were among the elite few still standing, each a formidable force in their own right.

The first quarterfinal match was announced, the referee's voice booming through the hall: "Sun versus Elise!"

Jae's stomach twisted into a tight, painful knot, a sinking feeling settling deep in his chest as he leaned forward in his seat, his eyes locked on the arena.

He didn't want to watch, a heavy certainty of the outcome weighing on him like a stone. Sun, with his terrifying domain, was a force of nature, ranked number two in their class for a reason, his power unmatched by most.

The crowd seemed to share Jae's grim certainty, their murmurs subdued, their anticipation tinged with resignation.

Yet Elise stepped into the arena with her chin held high, her dark hair tied back neatly, her eyes burning with a fierce, unyielding resolve that made Jae's chest tighten with both admiration and dread.

She knows she can't win, but she's still giving it everything, he thought, his fists clenching so tightly his nails dug into his palms, drawing faint pinpricks of blood.

He wished desperately that he could take her place, sparing her the inevitable defeat.

The bell rang, sharp and clear, signaling the start of the match, and the arena fell into a hushed, expectant silence as Elise and Sun circled each other like wary predators.

Elise moved first, throwing a sharp, precise left jab, her fist glowing with vibrant green mana that hummed softly in the air.

Sun dodged effortlessly, his body swaying with that infuriating, almost lazy grace, his dark eyes glinting with a bored amusement.

Elise pressed forward, undeterred, following with a spinning kick, her leg arcing toward Sun's side with swift, determined force.

But Sun caught her leg mid-air with one hand, his grip firm and unyielding, pushing her back with a casual flick that sent her stumbling.

The crowd murmured, their voices a low buzz of surprise, and Jae's heart sank further, his throat tightening with unease.

Then Sun's expression shifted, his smirk sharpening into something colder, more menacing, as he activated his Sovereign Vein.

His domain flared to life, the air compressing around him with a low, resonant hum that vibrated through the arena, a glowing circle pulsing around him with raw, oppressive mana.

The pressure was so intense it forced Elise to her knees, her body buckling under the invisible, crushing weight, her face contorted in pain as she gasped for breath.

Elise gritted her teeth, her healing magic flaring in a radiant green glow that enveloped her body, knitting her grazed skin and replenishing her reserves in moments.

She staggered to her feet, her breaths ragged and labored, but her resolve remained unbroken, her eyes blazing with defiance.

With a fierce, guttural cry, she rushed at Sun, feinting a punch before switching to a swift kick aimed at his ribs, her movements quick and desperate.

Sun caught her leg again, his grip like iron, holding her knee aloft with ease.

With a slight, almost mocking tilt of his head, he pressed down, and the gravity within his domain tripled, a suffocating force that crushed Elise to the floor.

She yelled, the sound raw and filled with pain, her body slamming into the polished wood with a sickening, bone-jarring thud that echoed through the arena.

Jae closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight, his heart pounding as memories of Elise sparring with him, her fiery spirit, her warmth, her unyielding strength, flashed vividly through his mind, each one twisting the knot in his chest tighter.

But Elise wasn't finished. Her healing magic surged again, the green glow wrapping around her like a protective cocoon as she pushed herself up, her face pale but fierce, her determination unyielding.

She charged at Sun with renewed vigor, unleashing a relentless barrage of blows and kicks, her fists and legs a blur of mana-reinforced strikes that lit up the arena.

Thirteen hits landed in just six seconds, the crowd gasping loudly, their cheers rising in a wave of excitement as they thought she might have done some damage.

Jae opened his eyes, a flicker of hope sparking in his chest, but it was quickly extinguished.

Sun was untouched, dodging each blow with effortless, almost mocking precision, his smirk never wavering, his dominance absolute.

The crowd's excitement faded, replaced by stunned, uneasy whispers as Sun's superiority became painfully clear. He was toying with her, drawing out her defeat, and Jae's fists clenched tighter, his nails breaking the skin of his palms, a hot surge of anger mixing with his helplessness.

Sun grew bored, his expression hardening into one of cold finality. He raised a single finger, and a wave of crushing force slammed into Elise's chest, flinging her across the ring like a rag doll.

She crashed into the arena wall with a deafening impact, the sound echoing through the hall, and crumpled to the floor in a heap.

She tried to stand, her arms trembling with effort, but her body refused, her eyes fluttering as she blacked out, her strength spent.

The referee's voice boomed, "Sun is the winner!" and the crowd's cheers were mixed with uneasy murmurs, some in awe of Sun's power, others shaken by the brutality.

Jae leapt from his seat and joined the healers rushing to Elise's side, their green mana glowing softly as they knelt beside her, tending to her wounds.

xxx

His fight was called next, and he stepped into the arena, his mind still half on Elise, his heart heavy with her defeat.

His opponent, a lightning-fast blade dancer named Ryn, came at him with spinning daggers that gleamed in the light, their movements a blur.

Jae's grit carried him through, using Phantom Step to dodge, his Mana Blade clashing with Ryn's weapons in a shower of sparks.

A well-timed Gravity Touch pinned Ryn long enough for a decisive slash, and the referee declared Jae the winner.

He returned to his seat, panting, his victory feeling hollow with Elise's loss weighing on him.

xxx

Byun's fight followed, and Jae watched closely, his friend's shadow-weaving as mesmerizing as ever.

Byun faced a stone mage, his shadows flickering like dark, living flames, numbing his opponent's limbs with precise, calculated touches.

The fight ended quickly, Byun's victory decisive, but that same strange resignation lingered in his eyes, his usual cheer absent, his movements almost mechanical.

Jae frowned, his brow furrowing as he wondered what plagued his friend, but the tournament's relentless pace left no time to dwell.

The quarterfinals were over, and the semifinals loomed, promising even fiercer battles ahead.