Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

The grand hall buzzed with a tense, electric energy, the air thick and heavy with the mingled smells of sweat, polished wood, and the sharp, stinging bite of mana lingering from the fierce battles of earlier rounds. The crowd, packed tightly into the stands, leaned forward in their seats, their breaths held, their whispers hushed to a low murmur as the referee's voice boomed through the arena, announcing the next fight: Sun versus Byun.

The glowing orbs strung high across the towering, vaulted ceiling cast a warm, flickering light across the scarred, polished wooden floor below, where the semifinal round was about to unfold.

Jae sat among the remaining competitors, his muscles sore and aching from his own grueling battles, but his focus was locked entirely on the arena, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves.

Sun, with his terrifying Sovereign Vein domain, and Byun, the shadow-weaver with unmatched control, were the top two in their class, and their clash promised to be nothing short of explosive.

Jae's eyes flicked between his friend's stoic, unreadable expression and Sun's arrogant, self-assured smirk, knowing this fight would reveal just how wide the gap was between him and the elite fighters at the top.

Sun stepped into the arena first, his flowing robes billowing slightly as he moved, his dark eyes glinting with unshakable confidence as he surveyed Byun with a cool, calculating gaze.

"You're not your usual cheerful self," Sun noted, his voice smooth but edged with a sharp curiosity, his head tilting slightly as he studied his opponent. "More… thoughtful today, aren't you?"

Byun, his blond hair catching the golden glow of the orbs overhead, gave a faint, almost wistful smile, his eyes shadowed with something heavy and unreadable, a weight Jae couldn't quite place.

"I've got a tough decision to make," Byun said, his tone calm but carrying a deep, underlying heaviness, as if he bore a burden too big for the moment.

Sun's brow arched in response, his mouth opening to press further, but the referee's bell rang out, sharp and clear, cutting him off and signaling the start of the match.

The crowd fell into a hushed, expectant silence, the tension so thick it seemed to hum in the air, pressing down on everyone in the arena.

Sun didn't hesitate, acting with swift, commanding precision. He activated his Sovereign Vein with a quick flick of his wrists, and the air around him compressed instantly, a low, resonant hum vibrating through the arena like the rumble of an approaching storm.

A glowing circle flared into existence around his feet, its edges pulsing with raw, crackling mana, plunging the arena into an oppressive, suffocating pressure that felt almost tangible.

The crowd gasped audibly, some students clutching the edges of their seats, the weight of Sun's power so intense it was felt even in the stands.

Jae's stomach twisted into a tight knot, memories of Sun's earlier fights flashing vividly through his mind, Varic pinned helplessly, Elise crushed under the relentless force of his domain.

Can Byun even stand against that? Jae thought, his fists clenching so tightly his nails dug into his palms, drawing faint pinpricks of blood as his heart raced with worry.

Byun, however, appeared unfazed, his expression calm and focused. He walked forward slowly, his boots scuffing softly against the polished wooden floor, his shadows curling around him like living smoke, dark and fluid.

The tendrils pushed outward, reaching the edge of Sun's domain, then crept inward with slow, deliberate intent, like ink spreading through clear water, defying the crushing pressure.

Sun's eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation crossing his face, and he flicked a finger, sending a burst of raw mana shooting from his domain, a shimmering bolt that streaked toward Byun with blinding speed.

Byun dodged cleanly, his body swaying with effortless, almost graceful ease, and boldly stepped into the heart of Sun's domain, the first opponent to do so willingly, unafraid of the overwhelming force.

The crowd's murmurs erupted into gasps of shock and awe, and Jae's eyes widened, his heart pounding faster.

He's insane, Jae thought, leaning forward in his seat, unable to tear his gaze away from the daring move.

Sun's smirk faltered for the first time, his expression shifting to something sharper, more focused, and for the first time in the tournament, he unsheathed his weapons, twin blades, their edges gleaming with infused mana, their intricately carved hilts catching the light.

He rushed at Byun with swift, predatory grace, slashing at his midsection with a blade that hummed through the air, cutting with deadly intent.

Byun reacted instantly, his shadows coalescing into a dark, shimmering barrier that blocked the swing, the impact sending a dull, resounding thud echoing through the arena.

He stepped back, his shadows swirling protectively, but Sun pressed forward relentlessly, his blades slicing through the shadow barrier with a burst of raw force, the mana crackling loudly as it tore the darkness apart, sending fragments of shadow scattering like ash.

In that split second, a single shadow tendril lashed out, brushing Sun's shoulder with a fleeting touch.

Sun's right arm twitched, growing slightly numb, the effect weaker than Byun's usual strikes but enough to make his eyes widen in surprise, his blade pausing mid-swing.

"How are you doing that inside my domain?" Sun asked, his voice sharp with irritation, his confidence shaken for the first time.

Byun's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with quiet, defiant resolve. "Shadows can never be held back," he said, his tone calm but laced with a bold challenge, his shadows curling tighter around him like a protective cloak, their dark forms pulsing with energy.

The crowd buzzed with excitement, students whispering feverishly about Byun's audacity, and Jae's mind raced, trying to process how Byun could wield his shadows so effectively against Sun's overwhelming, oppressive power.

Sun's frown deepened, his patience clearly fraying at the edges. He raised a hand, and the space in front of Byun compressed further, the air thickening like hot, suffocating engine oil, slowing Byun's movements to a sluggish crawl.

Byun groaned, his face contorting with discomfort as the crushing pressure bore down, his steps faltering, his shadows flickering under the immense strain.

The crowd leaned forward, their murmurs rising in a wave of anticipation, some wondering if Byun would buckle like Sun's previous opponents. Jae's heart clenched, his friend's struggle almost painful to watch, but Byun wasn't done.

He coated himself in shadows, the dark tendrils wrapping his body like a suit of armor, and pushed forward with stubborn, steady resolve, the heat and pressure sliding off him like water off smooth stone.

The crowd gasped loudly, and Jae's breath caught in his throat, his admiration for Byun's resilience swelling, a spark of hope igniting in his chest.

Then, in a sudden, breathtaking flash, Byun vanished, dissolving completely into his shadows, the dark tendrils swallowing him like a void.

The arena fell into a stunned, breathless silence, Sun's eyes darting frantically as he scanned the ring, his twin blades raised defensively, his domain pulsing with heightened, almost desperate intensity.