Bully Lord

Part-203

He leaned back against his bed, his mind wandering to the Judo competition. The thought of competing at a national level thrilled him. It wasn’t just about winning—though he certainly wanted to make his club proud—but about testing his limits.

But also the idea of training at Mili’s family dojo, under the watchful eye of masters like Kashem and Tia Chowdhury, made it even more appealing. They weren’t just regular martial artists; they were legends in their field. If anyone could help him refine his techniques and elevate his skills to the next level, it was them.

James smiled to himself. The summer ahead was going to be intense, but in the best possible way. There were endless opportunities to grow stronger between his friends, the dojo, and the Lamp of Time.

But first, he needed to prepare for what was coming next in the dungeon. He stood up from his bed and approached the Lamp, the soft glow reflecting off the surface of the ancient relic. Its power was vast, but so were the risks.

He wrapped his fingers around the Lamp, feeling the slight warmth that pulsed from it. He had learned the hard way that rushing in recklessly would only lead to disaster. This time, he would approach it with a plan. Before returning to the dungeon, he would study the techniques he had learned in judo and in Mili’s dojo. Every move, every strike, and every block would be refined until they became second nature.

With the oil replenished, he knew he could return to the dungeon at any time. But instead of rushing back immediately, he decided to wait. There was no need to rush.

James placed the Lamp back on the desk and pulled out his notebook. If he was going to face whatever was waiting for him in the dungeon, he needed a strategy. He began to jot down the various techniques he had been practicing, both from judo and from the moves he had used in the dungeon, like **Thunderclap** and **Crisis Mode**. Each had its strengths, but they also had weaknesses—weaknesses that could be exploited by the next set of enemies.

Tomorrow’s sparring session with Ryan would be key. Ryan’s years of experience in judo, combined with his familiarity with the dojo’s techniques, would help James identify the gaps in his strategy.

James closed his notebook and lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow would be the beginning of a new chapter—both in the real world and in the mysterious dungeon.

As sleep finally began to overtake him, one thought lingered in his mind: **What lies beyond the midsection of Level 1?**

Whatever it was, James was determined to be ready.

-----

A few days ago, at the Fire Fly Headquarters, the Managing Director’s office was its usual hive of activity. Stacks of reports lay neatly on the desk, framed certificates lined the walls, and the soft hum of city traffic filtered through the large, tinted windows. Mr. Rahat, the Managing Director, sat behind his polished mahogany desk, going over some paperwork when his personal assistant, Ali, knocked lightly on the door and entered.

"Sir," Ali began, a hint of tension in his voice, "the AIGP, Mr. Sam, wants to meet with you."