The Sovereign System.

Luke walked out of the library after about half an hour, a wry expression on his face. He had managed to read close to 500 books, but the content had been underwhelming.

'Well, at least I'm now an expert at animal husbandry…' he mused sarcastically.

The library was enormous, but there were quite a few people wandering around. Luke's reading technique wasn't something he could do in the open—at least not without risking getting kicked out.

So, he had been forced to retreat to a corner shelf filled with books on farming and animal care, a subject he had very little interest in.

'As Einstein said, knowledge is its own reward.'

Luke let out a chuckle. Quoting someone from Earth felt odd, especially since Einstein's theories would likely fall on deaf ears in a place like this. They might even think he was a lunatic.

Dragging his thoughts back on track, Luke began meandering toward his living quarters—or at least he tried to. The Military Academy estate was massive, and he hadn't paid attention to the route earlier while being 'escorted' by Victoria.

Thankfully, after asking someone for directions, he managed to arrive with little time to spare. He quickly changed into a set of tight-fitting robes and headed to the meeting point for his next lesson with Master Boyd.

He arrived at a massive courtyard paved with large stone tiles, slightly raised above ground level. Other than the gathered class and Master Boyd's imposing figure standing akimbo in his armor, the space was empty.

It was clear he was the last to arrive again, so Luke tried to quietly tiptoe into place behind the others. However, Master Boyd's sharp eyes caught him instantly.

Unlike Master Gayle, who would have singled him out, the large man merely ignored him, allowing Luke to let out a sigh of relief.

'It seems this guy isn't unreasonable,' he thought.

"Today, we will be learning unarmed combat," Master Boyd announced, his deep, gruff voice echoing across the bare courtyard.

'Unarmed combat? Perfect. At least I know how to use my fists, unlike weapons.' Luke reassured himself. After all, he had worked hard to establish his dominance over his classmates and didn't want to embarrass himself now.

"You, up here."

The giant man's sausage-like finger pointed through the crowd, its target unmistakably Luke, who was lingering at the very back.

Luke flinched. The words felt like a death sentence. His theory about Master Boyd being reasonable was quickly falling apart.

With heavy steps, he trudged through the parted crowd. Toward the front, he spotted Kayson shooting him a worried glance, which did little to boost his confidence.

Now standing before Master Boyd, Luke finally grasped the stark difference in their sizes. The story of David and Goliath flashed through his mind, though even if he had a sling and knew how to use it, this guy looked like he could survive a bullet to the head.

Master Boyd grabbed Luke by the shoulders and effortlessly lifted him off the ground, casually moving him so the entire class could see the demonstration clearly.

'What the fuck?!' Luke cried inwardly. The man's hands felt like boulders, their sheer size spanning the length of his upper arm.

Being manhandled so easily, Luke knew he didn't stand a chance. Whatever demonstration Master Boyd had planned, resistance was futile.

"Pair up. I'll demonstrate the moves," Master Boyd said curtly, his deep voice commanding immediate action. The class scrambled to find partners, leaving Luke alone in his predicament.

Master Boyd wasn't one for many words, as if each one carried immense value. But Luke didn't need an explanation to understand his current situation—it was punishment for his tardiness.

Once everyone had paired off, the moment of pain and humiliation finally arrived.

"Luke, take a defensive stance."

'Defensive stance?' Luke panicked. The only defense he knew involved pumping his legs and running as fast as possible.

Still, he planted his feet shoulder-width apart and raised his hands, mimicking a crude boxing stance he'd seen on TV. It was full of openings and screamed inexperience, but it was all he had.

Master Boyd nodded, accepting the amateur stance as adequate.

"Watch closely."

Before Luke could blink, Master Boyd's massive frame seemed to teleport in front of him. The next moment, Luke felt weightless before his back slammed into the hard ground. The impact knocked the air out of his lungs, leaving him gasping.

Flat on his back, Luke stared up at Master Boyd's towering figure. Beyond him, the cloudless blue sky stretched endlessly, but Luke had no clue what had just happened.

"That was a shoulder throw, a simple and effective takedown," Master Boyd explained calmly, as if he hadn't just crushed Luke.

"Master Boyd, I missed it. Could you demonstrate again?"

'Get fucked!' Luke's eyes darted to the speaker—a smug older student with his hand raised. A snide grin tugged at the corner of the guy's mouth, his enjoyment of Luke's suffering evident. Luke seethed with frustration.

"Mmm. Come up here, and I'll show you personally," Master Boyd said, beckoning the student forward.

The smugness drained from the guy's face, leaving him pale. He hesitated but had no choice but to step up.

'HAHAHAHA!' Luke roared inwardly, momentarily forgetting his own misery. If this wasn't instant karma, he didn't know what was.

Luke jumped to his feet, his earlier aches seemingly forgotten. He retreated into the crowd, happily taking the place of the unfortunate soul now destined for the demonstration.

Determined to savor the moment, Luke peeled his eyes wide open, eager to witness the guy's downfall.

"Take a defensive stance," Master Boyd ordered.

The older student complied, though his stance was just as amateurish as Luke's had been.

Master Boyd moved with surprising agility for his size, closing the distance in a flash. He grabbed the student's arm, hooked it over his shoulder, and twisted his body in one fluid motion.

The poor guy flew through the air like a bag of sand, landing flat on his back with a resounding thud. The move was devastatingly fast and efficient, leveraging the opponent's weight against them.

Luke grinned from ear to ear. Watching someone else suffer the same fate as him was oddly therapeutic.

'That technique looks a lot like a shoulder throw in Judo…' Luke mused, his eyes narrowing in thought as he replayed the demonstration in his mind.

"Anyone else need another demonstration?" Master Boyd's gruff voice echoed across the courtyard.

The class shook their heads in unison, not a single student willing to volunteer for another round of being tossed like a ragdoll.

"Good. Now practice on your opponent."

'Eh?' Luke turned to face his assigned partner. His stomach dropped.

The guy paired with the cocky student from earlier was at least a head taller than Luke, with broad shoulders and a frame that screamed physical strength. He lumbered toward Luke with a wicked grin, his confidence practically radiating off him.

Luke felt a twinge of intimidation, but annoyance quickly overshadowed it. The guy's smug expression struck a nerve.

'He's looking down on me…' Luke thought, licking his dry lips.

This wasn't unfamiliar territory for him. Back on Earth, he'd been discounted plenty of times—mocked for his hobbies, dismissed as a "Mobile Otaku" or nerd. The memories stirred a familiar resentment in him, and for once, it gave him focus.

Luke's mind raced as he slowly backed away. Master Boyd's demonstration replayed vividly in his head. His Scholarly Pursuit skill activated instinctively, breaking down the shoulder throw into precise, analyzable steps. Each movement was dissected, cataloged, and internalized as if he'd studied the technique for years.

'Explode forward. Grab his arm. Twist and pull until he flips over my shoulder,' Luke repeated in his mind, psyching himself up.

The larger student closed in, still wearing that smug grin.

'I can do this.'

Time seemed to slow as Luke felt his heartbeat hammering in his throat. His mouth was dry, making it hard to swallow, but he refused to falter.

In the next moment, Luke lunged forward, keeping his head low. His hands shot out, gripping the larger student's arm with determination.

He shifted closer, his movements mimicking the fluidity of Master Boyd's demonstration. Twisting his torso, Luke pulled with all his strength, using the other guy's weight to create leverage.

For a brief, exhilarating moment, he felt it work. His opponent's body lifted off the ground. The pressure on Luke's frame eased, and a triumphant grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.

'Now he'll land on his back, and I'll have done it perfectly,' Luke thought, satisfaction blooming in his chest.

But the sound that followed wasn't the expected dull thud of a body hitting the ground. Instead, a loud crack echoed across the courtyard.

Luke froze. His eyes widened in horror as he saw his opponent sprawled on the stone tiles—not on his back, but face-first.

The guy's body remained rigid for a brief, agonizing moment, like a toppled statue, before collapsing into a crumpled heap.

'HOLY SHIT! Did I just kill a man?!'

Luke stood frozen, staring at the motionless, bloodied form of his classmate. His heart pounded, his thoughts racing in panic.

As he gawked at the horrific scene, a translucent window appeared before his eyes.

[Activating Domineering Air skill.]

'Huh? Why would that activate now?'

A sudden, oppressive force radiated from Luke's body, unbidden and unstoppable. The intensity of the aura seemed to amplify the gruesome tableau before him—the blood seeping from his opponent's face pooling on the once-pristine white tiles, painting a macabre picture.

Luke's head snapped up, and he realized more than twenty pairs of eyes were fixed on him. Fear and trepidation were etched onto every face.

'Ah, I'm so screwed,' he thought, his expression morphing into one of quiet despair. Surely, there had to be severe consequences for injuring a classmate so badly—or at least, he assumed.

Desperately, his gaze sought out Kayson, the one friendly face among the crowd. But even Kayson hesitated, his expression unreadable as he stood rooted in place.

"Maids, take Liu to the infirmary," Master Boyd's booming voice broke the oppressive silence, snapping everyone to attention.

The massive instructor strode toward Luke, placing a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"Try to refrain from seriously injuring your classmates," Boyd said, his tone surprisingly casual. "Next time, push off your feet and pull down after grabbing the arm. You'll get the leverage right."

With a couple of firm pats on Luke's shoulder, Boyd turned and marched back to the front of the class, as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

"Continue," he commanded, his voice carrying over the faint sounds of maids collecting the unfortunate student's scattered teeth.

Luke blinked, stunned.

'What…?'

No punishment? No reprimand? He'd been prepared for a stern lecture, detention, or worse. Instead, he got a pat on the shoulder and some pointers on his technique.

'What the hell kind of place is this?' he thought, a mix of horror and disbelief swirling in his mind.

Still, Master Boyd's advice lingered. As terrifying as the situation had been, Luke could already see where he'd gone wrong. With the height difference, he hadn't compensated properly—he should have pushed off the ground to ensure a clean throw.

'I'll do it right next time,' he resolved grimly.

"Ah, Master Boyd. I don't have a partner," Luke called out hesitantly, breaking the tension once more.

The atmosphere shifted in an instant. The students, still shaken from the earlier spectacle, scrambled to look busy with their partners. No one wanted to be next.

Master Boyd scanned the group and nodded. "Zack will be your partner," he said, pointing at the cocky student from earlier.

Zack visibly paled, his expression one of sheer terror. He looked as though he might faint on the spot.

Luke couldn't help but grin gleefully.