Bully Lord

Part-191

The exams loomed closer, and with each passing day, James became more and more immersed in his textbooks. His mind was filled with formulas, theories, and problem-solving techniques. At one point, he even began to dream about his study material. He could feel the pressure, but his determination was unshakable.

Then, the day of the exams finally arrived. James sat at his desk, surrounded by other students, his heart pounding but his mind calm. He had prepared as much as he could. As the proctor distributed the exam papers, James took a deep breath, knowing that everything he had worked for was on the line.

Hours passed, and when the exams were over, James left the room feeling cautiously optimistic. He knew he had done well, but whether it was enough to secure a top-three rank remained to be seen.

As James stepped outside the exam hall, he spotted Emdad leaning against a tree, looking a bit worn out. Curious about how his friend had handled the exam after his time away, James approached him.

"How'd it go?" James asked, playfully nudging him on the arm.

Emdad let out a long sigh, running a hand through his short, newly styled hair. "Honestly, man? I think I bombed it. I spent so much time training in Thailand, I forgot what studying even feels like. I blanked on half the questions in each exam."

James chuckled. "Come on, Emdad. You’ve always been a solid student. I’m sure your basics will carry you through. Besides, you’ve been through Muay Thai boot camp! If you can survive that, you can survive a little exam."

Emdad grinned, his trademark confidence returning. "I hope you’re right. I’d hate to explain to my parents why I came back all fit but failed my exams."

They both laughed, sharing the kind of easy camaraderie that had been the foundation of their friendship for years. After a few more minutes of catching up, Emdad glanced at his watch.

"I’ve got to run—boxing club is calling. Good luck with the rest of your day, man. Let’s grab lunch later."

"Definitely. Catch you later," James replied, watching Emdad jog off, his athletic frame cutting easily through the crowd.

As he stood there, James's thoughts drifted to the events of the previous night. After completing Mission 22, which had required him to study for twelve straight hours every day until the exam ends, he had received an unexpected reward. A simple oil lamp had appeared on his desk—small and unassuming. The system had called it the **Lamp of Time**.

At first, James had been puzzled. He’d received stat bonuses from the system before, but this was his first physical item. He hadn't tested it yet, too focused on the looming exams. Now, with the first exam behind him, he realized it might be time to figure out what the lamp could do.

James decided to head back to his house to investigate. Walking through the crowded campus, he kept thinking about the lamp. Was it magical? Did it somehow manipulate time? He had no idea, but the name hinted at something powerful.