Bully Lord

Part-68

The bell signaling class change echoed through the halls, a welcome break from the droning lecture.  James took out his notebook and pen, his mind buzzing with conflicting emotions.  Nuri's unexpected praise had given him a much-needed boost, but the prospect of facing Alex still sent a tremor of fear through him.

"Knowledge is power," he muttered to himself, remembering the cryptic description of his "Know Your Enemy and Ally" skill.  Taking a deep breath, he activated the ability as he approached Sourov, who was surrounded by his usual posse, boasting about the "lucky punch" that had landed him in his current state (a black eye and a bruised ego).

A translucent blue box materialized next to Sourov's head, the numbers flashing into view:

**Sourov**

**Combined Stats:** 192

**CHA (Charisma):** 13

James blinked, surprised.  He had defeated someone with nearly triple his own stats?  A mixture of disbelief and a flicker of pride washed over him.  Maybe there was more to fighting than just raw power.  Maybe technique, a little bit of luck, and a good dose of Crisis Mode could level the playing field.

Emboldened by this newfound knowledge, James decided to check out Ryan, the smooth-talking Judo club member who had been flirting with a group of girls across the hallway.  As Ryan regaled them with a tale (most likely exaggerated) of his latest touchdown, James activated his skill.

**Ryan Thompson**

**Combined Stats:** 203

**CHA (Charisma):** 65

The numbers sent another jolt through James.  Ryan was not only stronger than Sourov, but his charisma stat was off the charts.  No wonder he could charm the birds out of the trees.  So, this was the real deal, the one everyone whispered about as the school's "Judo champion."  James felt a wave of apprehension wash over him. 

Lost in thought, James subtly moved away from both Ryan and his admirers, his mind already formulating a training plan. 

James' steps faltered as Mili approached him.  He hadn't expected her to initiate conversation, especially after their brief exchange the day after the fight.  She was usually straightforward, bordering on blunt, but today, a hint of awkwardness lingered in her posture.

"Hey, James," she mumbled, glancing around the hallway as if searching for eavesdroppers.  "You, uh… you feeling alright now?"

James felt a warmth spread through him.  Though her question was simple, it held a subtle undercurrent of concern.  "Yeah, I'm doing good, thanks for asking.  Just a bit sore, but that's to be expected."

Mili shuffled her feet, a flicker of frustration crossing her features.  "Good. I mean, not good you're sore, but… well, you know."  She cleared her throat, clearly struggling to articulate her thoughts. "Look, next Friday, are you free?"

The question caught James off guard.  "Next Friday?  Uh, nothing major planned, as far as I know."

Mili looked at him with an intensity that made him feel like he was under scrutiny.  "Good. Be ready then. I need to go somewhere, and… well, you better be ready."  Before James could decipher the cryptic message or even attempt a reply, she spun on her heel and marched towards her desk, leaving him feeling more confused than ever.

James watched her retreating form, his mind racing.  Where was she taking him?  Why the secrecy?  A spark of curiosity ignited within him, quickly overshadowed by a flicker of apprehension.  Was she leading him into some kind of trouble?