Lust System: Conquering the World Beauties

Liam stood quietly in the center of the open space outside the guild, his robe swaying gently in the morning breeze. His expression was calm, almost bored, as he looked across at Rowan, who was already stretching his shoulders with an arrogant grin plastered across his face.

The crowd had naturally formed a wide circle around them, giving the two men plenty of room. Adventurers stood shoulder to shoulder, mugs forgotten in their hands as everyone fixed their attention on what was about to unfold. Some had climbed onto carts while others stood on barrels just to get a better view.

Liam simply met Rowan’s gaze.

Then...

He lazily raised one hand.

With a relaxed expression, he curled his fingers toward himself.

”Come.”

That was all.

No fighting stance.

No preparation.

Not even the slightest hint of caution.

Just a casual gesture, as though he were calling over someone to have a conversation rather than preparing for a duel.

Rowan’s face darkened instantly.

The veins on his forehead bulged.

”...You little bastard.”

The complete lack of seriousness in Liam’s attitude infuriated him far more than any insult could have.

This weak pretty boy...

This nobody...

Actually dared look down on him?

”I’ll wipe that smile off your face.”

The next instant—

WHOOSH!

Brilliant flames erupted around Rowan’s entire body.

Orange fire spiraled upward from beneath his feet before wrapping around his arms, shoulders, and torso like living serpents. The heat distorted the surrounding air as waves of scorching temperature rolled outward.

Several spectators instinctively took a few steps backward.

”...Fire affinity.”

”So that’s Rowan’s specialty.”

”The flames are even stronger than last month.”

”What incredible control.”

Alden folded his arms as he watched from the side, slowly nodding.

”Good.”

”He’s not underestimating his opponent.”

Even though Alden believed Rowan should win comfortably, beginning the fight seriously was still the correct decision.

In a duel...

Carelessness killed people.

Rowan lowered his center of gravity.

Fire gathered beneath his boots.

Then—

WHOOSH!!

The ground exploded beneath him.

A burst of flame propelled Rowan forward like a cannonball.

His speed instantly doubled as the fire accelerated every step he took, leaving burning footprints and fiery trails dancing behind him.

Gasps echoed around the battlefield.

”So fast!”

”That’s Rank Two for you!”

”I could barely follow him!”

To everyone watching...

Rowan’s movement looked explosive.

His acceleration was enough to leave afterimages in the eyes of weaker adventurers.

But...

Liam merely watched quietly.

His face didn’t change.

Not even a little.

Inside his vision...

Rowan wasn’t fast.

Not remotely.

After the massive increase to his agility...

Combined with Combat Prediction...

Combined with his sharpened senses...

The charging Rowan looked...

Slow.

Painfully slow.

”...He’s slower than a snail.”

Liam almost felt disappointed.

He didn’t even bother activating Omniscient Eye.

There was no need.

The difference between them was already obvious.

Rowan roared as he closed the final distance.

The flames around his right arm suddenly intensified, compressing around his fist until it glowed a deep crimson.

The heat became suffocating.

”I’ll destroy that face!”

His burning fist shot straight toward Liam’s head.

There was no hesitation.

No mercy.

The target...

Was Liam’s face.

The same face Rowan had envied from the moment he walked into the guild.

Liam’s eyebrows drew together slightly.

”...So that’s really your goal.”

He leaned his head just a fraction.

The flaming fist passed harmlessly beside his face.

Not even a strand of his hair was touched.

Rowan’s eyes widened.

”What—”

He had missed?

Impossible!

Before Rowan could even process what had happened...

Liam had already moved.

He calmly stepped around Rowan’s side.

Turned.

Reached out.

Then...

Grabbed Rowan’s shoulder.

The entire crowd froze.

”...What?”

”He touched him?”

”Is he insane?”

”Doesn’t he know Rowan’s body is covered in flames?”

Ordinary people would have avoided direct contact at all costs.

Touching someone engulfed in magical fire with bare skin was practically asking to have your hand burned to the bone.

Yet...

Liam simply held him.

With his bare hand.

As though the flames didn’t even exist.

Several people blinked repeatedly.

”...Why isn’t he screaming?”

”Shouldn’t his hand be burned?”

”Look!”

”It isn’t even smoking!”

But Rowan wasn’t paying attention to any of that.

His pupils had shrunk violently.

His mind was focused on something much more terrifying.

”...Move.”

He tried twisting his shoulder.

Nothing happened.

His body...

Wouldn’t move.

Liam’s fingers were wrapped around his shoulder with terrifying strength.

It felt less like being grabbed by a human...

And more like being trapped inside an iron vice.

Rowan immediately tried forcing himself free.

His muscles bulged.

The flames around his body surged even higher.

He pushed.

Twisted.

Pulled.

Nothing.

Liam didn’t budge an inch.

Not even slightly.

His expression remained as relaxed as before.

”...Impossible.”

Cold sweat began forming beneath Rowan’s burning aura.

Just a second ago...

He had thrown a punch.

Liam had dodged.

Before Rowan could even turn around...

Before he could regain his footing...

Liam was already behind him.

Holding him.

The realization sent chills down his spine.

Around them...

The spectators slowly began understanding exactly what they were seeing.

”...Wait.”

”Rowan...”

”...can’t move.”

”He’s actually being restrained.”

”That shouldn’t be possible.”

”No...”

”It IS possible.”

”...Because Liam is physically stronger.”

A stunned silence gradually spread across the crowd.

Even Alden’s folded arms slowly lowered.

His calm expression had completely disappeared.

His sharp eyes locked onto Liam.

”...This...”

”...doesn’t make sense.”

Yesterday...

This same young man had nearly been killed by a single kick from a Rank One adventurer.

Today...

He was overpowering a Rank Two with one hand.

How?

No...

When?

Before anyone could voice the question...

Liam finally moved.

Still holding Rowan effortlessly by the shoulder...

He bent his knees slightly.

Then...

With one smooth motion...

He lifted Rowan completely off the ground.

”...Huh?”

Rowan’s feet left the earth.

His eyes widened so much they nearly bulged from their sockets.

He...

He had been lifted.

Like he weighed nothing.

The crowd collectively forgot how to breathe.

Liam didn’t even grunt.

He simply swung Rowan downward.

BAAAAAANG!!

The impact shook the entire street.

The ground cracked violently beneath Rowan’s body as dust exploded outward in every direction.

Fragments of stone shot through the air.

Several nearby spectators instinctively shielded their faces.

The shockwave rippled across the earth.

Then...

Everything became silent.

No cheers.

No laughter.

No shouting.

Nothing.

The only sound left was the settling dust drifting through the morning air.

Every pair of eyes stared at the crater Liam had just created.

Nobody...

Absolutely nobody...

Could believe what they had just witnessed.

The young man who had been sent flying by a single kick yesterday...

Had just picked up a Rank Two adventurer...

And slammed him into the ground like he was throwing away a sack of grain.

Dust continued to drift lazily through the air as silence lingered over the street.

The crater Liam had created remained in the middle of the battlefield, its cracked edges serving as proof that what everyone had just witnessed wasn’t an illusion.

Then...

A hand gripped the edge of the crater.

Rowan slowly pushed himself upright before springing backward in one swift motion, creating a considerable distance between himself and Liam.

His boots slid across the stone road before finally stopping.

His breathing was uneven.

His chest rose and fell violently.

Most importantly...

The arrogance on his face was gone.

In its place...

Was pure disbelief.

His eyes remained locked on Liam as if he were looking at a monster wearing human skin.

”...You.”

His voice was low.

”You’ve been hiding your strength...”

The words escaped through clenched teeth.

Only now did he understand.

Yesterday...

The weak-looking young man who had been kicked away...

The same person everyone had laughed at...

Had actually been concealing his true strength.

His fists slowly tightened.

Then...

Something dark flashed through his eyes.

His humiliation replayed itself over and over inside his head.

Being grabbed.

Being lifted.

Being slammed into the ground...

In front of everyone.

In front of the entire guild.

His pride had been crushed in a single move.

The spectators around them whispered among themselves without bothering to hide it anymore.

”I’ve never seen Rowan handled like that.”

”He couldn’t even break free.”

”That slam...”

”I felt it beneath my feet.”

Some even chuckled quietly.

Those tiny laughs...

Were like knives stabbing Rowan’s ears.

His breathing became heavier.

The veins on his forehead pulsed violently.

”...If I don’t kill him today...”

”...how will I ever show my face again?”

His murderous gaze settled completely on Liam.

There was no longer any intention of winning.

No intention of teaching someone a lesson.

Only one thought remained.

Kill him.

Slowly...

Rowan slipped one hand into the pocket of his robe.

Liam immediately noticed the movement.

His relaxed expression remained unchanged, but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

Rowan pulled out a tiny glass bottle no larger than two fingers.

Inside...

A crimson liquid swirled slowly, almost glowing under the morning sunlight.

Liam’s eyebrows rose.

”...Potion?”

Before he could think any further—

Ding!

The interface appeared before his eyes.

⸻