Bully Lord

Part-178

James didn't reply. Instead, his eyes narrowed, the faint glint of Sloth View activating as he observed Arad’s stance. The world around him slowed, allowing him to study every twitch of Arad's muscles, every subtle shift in his footing. With Crisis Mode and Sloth View combined, James became a force to be reckoned with.

Suddenly, Arad lunged forward, aiming a vicious punch at James’s chest. But to James, it was as if the punch was moving through molasses. He dodged to the side effortlessly, using the momentum to strike back. His hand shot out with a Snake Jab, moving at blinding speed, and landed squarely on Arad's side. The attack, infused with 300% of James’s attack speed, hit Arad before he could react.

Arad grunted but barely flinched. He was strong—much stronger than anyone James had fought before. The Snake Jab did damage, but it wasn’t enough to slow Arad down.

"That the best you've got?" Arad taunted as he quickly recovered, his fists flashing forward in a rapid combination of strikes aimed at James's torso. But James, with his enhanced reflexes, blocked each blow using Crabs Arm, his forearms absorbing the brunt of the hits. For 10 seconds, the Crabs Arm skill provided near-perfect defense, repelling 80% of the damage. Arad's punches felt like taps against steel.

The seconds ticked by, and James knew he had to counter before Arad caught on. As Arad pulled back for a roundhouse kick, James saw his opportunity. Time slowed even more as he activated Sloth View fully. He dodged the kick with grace, sweeping under Arad's leg, and delivered a powerful Kangaroo Cut, an uppercut charged with 80% of his total strength.

The impact was thunderous, sending Arad stumbling back, blood dripping from his mouth. For the first time, James saw the hint of anger in Arad's eyes.

"You’re faster than I expected," Arad spat, wiping the blood from his lip. "But speed won't save you forever."

James didn’t need speed alone. He needed precision. His body, still in Semi-Auto mode, had been studying Arad’s movements, his patterns. Every punch, every kick was being analyzed. His body was already adjusting for the next phase of the fight.

Arad charged again, this time aiming low with a sweeping kick, but James anticipated it. Using Sloth View, he saw it coming from a mile away. He leaped above the attack and, mid-air, activated Thunderclap. His hand, moving with terrifying speed, slapped across Arad’s cheek, the force sending shockwaves through Arad's body. The electric jolt sensation of Thunderclap caused Arad to stagger, momentarily dazed.

But Arad wasn’t finished yet. With a snarl, he powered through the pain and countered, launching a powerful knee strike aimed at James's gut. This time, James wasn’t quick enough to dodge entirely. The blow connected, sending James skidding backward, the wind knocked out of him.

For a brief moment, James's vision blurred, his chest aching from the impact. But his body, still operating in Semi-Auto mode, recovered quickly. He could feel his stamina dipping slightly, the toll of Crisis Mode and Sloth View slowly catching up. He knew he had to end this soon before his stamina dropped below 30%.