Bully Lord

Part-75

Mili's voice dropped to a whisper, a touch of guilt lacing her words. "James," she began, "the real reason I didn't want you involved with Ryan… or Sourov, for that matter… it wasn't just about protecting them."

James raised an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity sparking in his eyes.

"It was about protecting you," she confessed, her voice barely above a murmur. "As far as I knew… well, you were always the quiet kid, the one who got picked on.  I never saw you fight back, not even against bullies."

A pang of understanding hit James.  He remembered the shy, timid boy he used to be, the one who'd wilt under the pressure of a raised voice.  He offered Mili a reassuring smile.

"That was a long time ago, Mili," he said gently.  "A lot has changed since then."

He glanced around the training center, the rhythmic thuds and grunts of exertion a stark contrast to the memories she'd evoked.  "The truth is, I learned karate a few years back.  Not because I wanted to fight, but because… well, because I wanted to feel stronger, more capable of taking care of myself."

Mili's eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of something akin to admiration crossing her features.  "You never mentioned that."

James shrugged.  "There wasn't much to mention.  Just a few classes, a way to learn some self-defense."  He paused, a mischievous glint entering his eyes.  "Maybe enough to handle a schoolyard bully or two."

Mili couldn't help but let out a small laugh, the tension dissipating from her shoulders.  "Maybe," she conceded, a playful smile gracing her lips.  "But let's not get too cocky, alright?  These guys here are the real deal. And trust me, you haven't seen anything yet.  Sourov was a walk in the park compared to some of the bullies here.  They're strong, fast, and some of them even have a few years of training under their belts.  And that's not even mentioning the big leagues – the four Bully Emperors who rule the school with an iron fist.  Those guys are on a whole other level.  We're talking black belts, regional champions, the kind of guys who could take down a grown man without breaking a sweat."

James felt a surge of adrenaline course through him.  Sure, what Mili described sounded intimidating, but it was also strangely exhilarating.  A part of him, the part awakened by the System and the hidden world it revealed, craved a challenge.  He wasn't naive enough to think he could take on these "Bully Emperors" right away, but the knowledge that they existed, that there was a hierarchy of strength, fueled his newfound determination.

"Bully Emperors, huh?" he repeated, a slow grin spreading across his face as the name sank in. "I've heard about them, but I've never seen them in person. They sound like something straight out of a video game, don't they? But from what I know, they're not your typical bullies who pick on kids in the schoolyard. These guys are the top tier, the ones who control all the other bullies from the shadows."