Bully Lord

Part-101

The familiar cacophony of grunts and thuds filled the air of the school Judo club. James, clad in his pristine white gi, faced Zia, his brown belt gleaming under the harsh gym lights. Today, however, there was a newfound glint in James' eyes, a spark of confidence that hadn't been there before.

He remembered the events at the market – the confrontation, the unexpected fight, and the strange new skill the System had awarded him: Bear Grip.  With a determined glint in his eye, James reached out and grabbed Zia's gi with surprising strength. This wasn't his usual grip; it felt different, almost as if an invisible force enhanced his natural hold.

Zia, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden strength, stumbled slightly. James, seizing the opportunity, flawlessly executed a De Ashi Barai, the sweeping throw he'd been relentlessly practicing. Zia, usually a seasoned opponent, found himself sprawled on the mat, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Whoa, James! That Grip is something else," Zia exclaimed, scrambling back to his feet. "Where'd that come from?"

James, a hint of pride coloring his cheeks, simply grinned. "Let's just say I learned a valuable lesson the other day." He didn't elaborate, not wanting to get into the details of the market brawl.

The rest of the practice session continued with a newfound intensity. Today, they were evenly matched. Even when Zia switched into his "serious mode," known for its lightning-fast throws, James managed to hold his ground. In the end, the score was a tie – 20 throws each.

Zia, impressed by James' rapid progress, clapped him on the back. "Wow, dude! You've gotten way stronger since you started. Keep it up, and you might just give me a run for my money at the next one, in terms of Judo technique!"

James, his chest swelling with pride, chuckled. "Thanks, Senior Zia. I'll definitely try."  He knew a large part of his progress came not just from regular training, but also from the System's subtle enhancements and the new Bear Grip technique.

Exhilarated from his evenly matched practice session with Zia, James exited the dojo, the setting sun casting an orange glow across the school grounds.  His mind, however, buzzed with questions about the System's capabilities, particularly the enigmatic "Semi-Auto Battle Mode" he'd used at the market.

He replayed the scene in his head – the adrenaline rush, the calculated movements, the decisive takedown of the leader boy.  It had been effective, undeniably so, but a shiver ran down his spine as he recalled the near-uncontrollable surge of aggression that had accompanied it.

The name itself, "Semi-Auto," was confusing.  Did it mean he still had some control over his actions?  Or was there a chance he could completely lose himself in the throes of battle?  The lack of information gnawed at him.

James wasn't naive.  He understood the potential dangers of such a powerful tool.  While the System had proven helpful in subduing the bullies, the experience had left him with a lingering unease.  What if, in the heat of the moment, he couldn't deactivate the mode?  What if it malfunctioned, turning him into a mindless attacker?

The thought sent a cold dread through him.  He envisioned himself lashing out at innocent bystanders, his body a puppet controlled by an unknown force.  The very idea was terrifying.