Bound sovereign: Reincarnated with the lust system

Eran tilted his head just slightly, his voice low enough that only Miyu could catch it.

"Not bad… after all."

The words slipped like a spark into her ear. Her breath caught, and before she could mask it, a flush of crimson bloomed across her cheeks. Her lips twitched, fighting between a frown and an involuntary grin. Why now…? she cursed inside, but her heart betrayed her pride.

That tiny flicker of distraction was all it took.

The remaining skeletons hissed, bones clattering as their sockets glowed with malice. With a sudden lunge, four of them rushed forward, jaws gaping and claws extended, rattling as if mocking her falter.

The nobles outside gasped.

"She lost focus!"

"They're going to break through !"

Miyu's eyes widened at the charge, her mana still pulsing but slightly fractured from her slip.

And just behind her, Eran's smirk deepened. His gaze sharpened on the lunging skeletons, the flicker of a choice already rising in his mind, whether to keep playing the weak mask, or step in before she faltered completely.

At the very last instant, Miyu's eyes snapped open, violet mana spiraling like a whip around her arm. Her body twisted with precision, and she lunged forward, her strike cleaving the lead skeleton's skull in half. The impact cracked like thunder, shards of bone scattering across the glowing circle.

Gasps flared around the chamber.

"She recovered!"

"Unbelievable control…"

But just as quickly, whispers slithered through the crowd, louder now and aimed squarely at Eran.

"That commoner… just standing there."

"Why is he even paired with them?"

"He's dead weight."

Eran's lips tugged upward in the faintest smirk. He didn't bother responding, didn't even move, he only watched.

The other boy, desperate to prove himself, roared and surged forward with his mana blade. For one glorious second, he looked triumphant, until a skeleton's bony fist slammed square into his jaw.

THUD!

The sound echoed. His body spun in the air like a ragdoll, crashing against the barrier with a smack before sliding down in a daze. A ripple of laughter cracked from the nobles watching, muffled but impossible to hold back.

Miyu didn't laugh. She snapped her head toward Eran instead, her violet aura still flaring, cheeks burning hotter than her mana.

"You pathetic," she spat, voice sharp but trembling from her flush. "Watch me and step back before one of these things sends your balls flying too."

Her words seared through the whispers, leaving some of the nobles blinking in stunned silence… and Eran's smirk finally broke into a quiet, knowing grin.

Miyu stormed forward, violet mana wrapping her like a storm, every movement sharp and precise as her pride screamed louder than the bones she shattered. Each skeleton lunged, but her fury cut them down, mana circles flaring beneath her feet, violet arcs cleaving through ribcages and skulls.

From behind, Eran stood calm, his eyes half-lidded, that faint smirk tugging at his lips. Inside, the system purred:

[WHISPER OF SUGGESTION ACTIVE...]

NAME: Miyu Velarene

{COUNTDOWN (00:47...)}

QUEST PROGRESS: 65%

He tilted his head, voice low enough that only she caught it through the clash of bone and mana.

"Hey, Miyu. catch up to the others, won't you?"

Her blade halted for just an instant, her cheeks flushing even redder despite the bloodthirsty aura she wore. She whipped her head back, glare sharper than her mana arcs.

"Shut the fuck up!" she snapped, the words breaking through clenched teeth.

But the flush didn't fade. If anything, it deepened.

Her body moved on instinct, yet her lmind wrestled with his voice—his suggestion—slipping beneath her pride like a hook she couldn't shake. She swung harder, faster, violet light rippling in wild arcs, as if trying to bury her own trembling with every strike.

Eran only chuckled quietly, unseen. His smirk grew at the corner of his lips, satisfied, savoring the cracks forming in her wall.

She might rage, she might spit venom, but her pride couldn't hide the truth, Miyu was already slipping into his grasp.

And then...

The clash of bone and mana rattled the barrier, the air inside humming with power. Miyu darted forward again, her mana-lit blade arcing with violet fire, cleaving through the air with precision. For a moment, she was unstoppable her pride flaring higher with each strike, almost as if she was showing Eran that she didn't need him, that she could win this on her own.

But just as she was about to bring her blade down for another perfect strike, there was a sharp clatter, one of the skeletons caught the blade in its bony grip.

The entire barrier seemed to go still for a second.

The skeleton's jaw rattled like a twisted laugh as it held the blade steady, and then two more came bounding from behind, claws raised, growling as their hollow sockets locked on Miyu.

Miyu clicked her tongue, cheeks flushing hotter partly from irritation, partly from the fact that she knew Eran was watching. She could feel his gaze on her back, that smug smirk still tugging at him from behind.

"Let go!" she snarled, twisting the blade, but the bones only tightened their grip.

Then her mana flared.

Behind the skeleton, a wide, violet circuit circle burst to life, lines of glowing script and runes humming with energy, like a mirror suddenly summoned from the void. The skeleton turned its head slightly as if sensing something wrong, but too late.

A second blade of pure violet mana burst forth from the circle behind it, surging clean through its back and straight through its chest cavity.

The skeleton's body convulsed, its grip slackening as its skull rattled once before collapsing into a pile of bones, dust scattering in the charged air.

"Try me again," Miyu hissed, panting slightly as she ripped her blade free and whirled toward the others.

The remaining skeletons growled louder, enraged by the loss of their comrade. Two of them lunged in unison, their claws slashing through the air.

Miyu barely had time to step back, spinning on her heel as she swept her blade low, but one claw caught her arm just enough to leave a thin, burning scratch along her skin.

A sharp hiss escaped her lips.

Her violet eyes flared in anger as she staggered back, clutching the arm for half a second before her pride forced her to straighten again.

Outside the barrier, some of the other nobles whispered, a mix of awe and shock.

"She's insane…"

"Did you see how that circle struck from behind? That was..."

"Forget that, she's bleeding, and she's still glaring at them like she's about to kill someone."

Inside, Eran only stared, his arms still folded.

He leaned slightly forward, voice low but perfectly timed.

"Careful, Miyu. Wouldn't want that pretty arm of yours to get ruined."

Her head whipped back toward him instantly, her flushed cheeks now practically glowing.

"Shut.. up!" she barked, her voice trembling with anger.

But there was no mistaking it, her stance had shifted, her strikes coming even harder, as if to prove him wrong.

She raised her free hand, summoning another circuit, this one larger, brighter, almost humming with fury, and with a single swipe of her blade, she sent a wave of violet mana roaring forward.

The air itself rippled.

The skeletons were caught in the blast, their bones rattling in protest before two more were sent flying into the barrier wall, shattering into a rain of dust and fragments.

The rest of the students outside gasped and shouted in disbelief, their usual composed expressions breaking into excited whispers.

Even Evelis, standing at the edge with his arms crossed, allowed himself a faint nod.

"Good. Very good…" he muttered under his breath.

Miyu stood there, breathing heavily, her cheeks red not just from the fight but from the battle raging inside her pride.

And Eran?

He only smiled deeper.

COUNTDOWN SUCCESSFUL...

{00:00}

[QUEST UPDATE: 70% Completion ]

[Target resistance cracking ]