Bully Lord

Part-97

The leader boy, momentarily stunned by James' swift dodge, stumbled slightly.  This unexpected turn of events silenced the snickers from his friends, replacing them with a look of surprise.  James, seizing the opportunity, straightened up and met the leader's bewildered gaze.

The leader, clearly frustrated by the missed punch, snarled and wound up for another swing. But James wouldn't give him the chance. Thanks to his Judo training, his body was primed for reaction. He remembered Ryan's words about using the opponent's momentum against them. 

As the leader's fist launched forward, James dipped under it once more. This time, however, he didn't simply dodge. He used the leader's forward momentum to his advantage. With a swift movement, James executed a technique he'd been drilling relentlessly – the Snake Jab. 

Three rapid strikes, precise and controlled, landed on the leader's pressure points on his throat. The effect was immediate. The leader's eyes widened in surprise as a gasp escaped his lips. He clutched at his throat, the air trapped in his lungs as he choked for a breath.

Capitalizing on the momentary window, James followed up with a well-placed uppercut. It wasn't a knockout blow, but it was enough to send the leader stumbling backward, coughing and wheezing. The surprise attack, coupled with the unfamiliar technique, had thrown the leader off his game.

Seeing their leader falter, the other boys, who had been emboldened moments ago, hesitated. The second-in-command, a stocky boy with a shaved head, roared and lunged at James, aiming a reckless kick. James, his focus sharp, easily sidestepped the attack with a well-timed pivot. 

This created the perfect opening for another Judo technique – the De Ashi Barai, the very move he'd been practicing with Zia.  With a smooth sweep of his leg, James knocked the second-in-command off balance, sending him sprawling onto the hard ground with a surprised grunt. 

The remaining boy, unsure of what had just transpired, charged at James with a wild swing. James, however, remained calm. He countered with a thunderclap slap, a powerful open-handed strike delivered diagonally across the boy's face. The impact wasn't enough to knock him unconscious, but it was enough to send him reeling back, his hand flying to his stinging cheek.

It was a swift and decisive display of James' skills. He wasn't using Auto Combat, relying instead on muscle memory and the techniques he'd absorbed through grueling training.

The market stood frozen in stunned silence. The scene had gone from a tense confrontation to a one-sided display of dominance in mere seconds. The group of boys, who had moments ago been bullying vendors, now lay sprawled on the ground, groaning in defeat.  James, chest heaving slightly, stood tall amidst the stunned crowd.

James surveyed the scene, a mix of adrenaline and disbelief swirling within him.  The bullies were subdued, their earlier bravado replaced by whimpers and groans.  He turned his attention to the old woman, concern etching his features. "Are you alright, ma'am?" he asked, approaching her cautiously.

Just as he reached out to help her up, a blur of movement caught his eye. A young woman, her face a mask of fury, materialized in front of him.  "How dare you touch my grandma!" she shrieked, her voice laced with outrage.  "I was at the meat shop when my friend told me someone attacked her. I won't let you bully her!"