Bully Lord

Part-214

James stared at the wooden sword in his hand, giving it a few test swings. The weight felt balanced, the handle smooth in his grip, but there was nothing particularly special about it. To him, it seemed like any ordinary wooden sword, its "double pain" attribute likely only noticeable when actually landing a blow. Still, James wasn’t exactly an expert in sword fighting, and he wasn’t eager to rely on something so unfamiliar, especially not when he had more reliable skills in his arsenal.

After a moment of contemplation, James sighed and strapped the sword to his back. It would serve as a backup, nothing more. He couldn't afford to lose focus, especially with what lay ahead—Level 2.

He moved forward, entering the Normal section of Level 2. The air here was thicker, the temperature colder, and the ambiance more menacing. The walls, now a sickly green stone, seemed to pulse with an eerie glow. As James stepped into the first room, his senses heightened, eyes scanning for any signs of danger.

And then, he saw them—four humanoid green creatures with short, stocky bodies and sharp, gleaming eyes. Goblins. They stood around, brandishing crude weapons like rusted swords and jagged clubs. Their faces twisted into snarls as soon as they noticed him.

James clenched his fists, his body tensing as adrenaline surged through him. He had faced plenty of enemies before, but these goblins seemed different from the Ratling Scavengers. They were smarter, faster, and more coordinated.

Without hesitation, the goblins charged at him. James quickly activated **Sloth View**, his surroundings slowing to a crawl. He sidestepped the first goblin’s wild slash, countering with a **Snake Jab** to its side. His fist connected, but the creature barely flinched, recovering almost immediately and swinging its club with surprising speed. James dodged again, but the other goblins were closing in.

Despite his best efforts, the goblins' coordination overwhelmed him. One after another, their attacks chipped away at his defenses, and soon James found himself cornered. Desperately, he activated **Crisis Mode**, allowing his body to automatically react with perfect precision. His movements became flawless, dodging and countering with smooth efficiency, but even this wasn’t enough. The goblins were relentless, and their attacks were wearing him down.

Within minutes, James was defeated.

He respawned at the beginning of the Level 2 Normal section, frustration gnawing at him. "What am I doing wrong?" he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples as he replayed the fight in his mind. The goblins were different from anything he had faced before. They were faster than the Ratlings, and their teamwork made it hard to isolate them one by one.

James realized that brute force and quick reflexes weren’t enough. These enemies required strategy. If he was going to survive and progress, he needed to rethink his approach. The key, he figured, was to exploit their weaknesses while minimizing his own.

He took a deep breath and reviewed his abilities once again. **Sloth View** was a lifesaver, allowing him to slow time, but it wasn’t effective if he couldn’t land decisive blows. **Crisis Mode** was powerful, but it drained his stamina too quickly, and against multiple fast-moving enemies like the goblins, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.