Part-103

  James, initially speechless, finally found his voibsp; "It's going well, thanks, Senior Robin," he stammered, slightly surprised by Robin's knowledge. "I'm learning a lot."

  Robin nodded. "That's great to hear. Strength isn't just about physical ability, you know. It's also about ce and standing up for what's right." His words hung heavy in the air, carrying an unspoke.

  Before he could say anything, Robin spoke again.

  "Anyway," Robin tinued, his tone lighter, "see you around, James. Keep up the good work." With a final friendly nod, Robin turned and walked away, leaving James standing there in a thoughtful silence.

  While Robin hadn't explicitly mentiohe Emdad's mobile stealing i, James couldn't help but feel a e between his words about ce and the events that had unfolded just a day ago. Perhaps Robin, in his own way, was aowledging James' as.

  This realization filled James with a sense of pride, mixed with a hint of apprehension.

  As James tinued walking home, his mind raced with mahoughts.

  Three days of relentless practice. Muscles screamed, sweat drenched his gi, but James persevered. Finally, with a triumphant grunt, he pleted his huh throwdown. The System chimed, a monotonous notification devoid of fanfare.

  **Mission 16 & Mission 2 plete.**

  A familiar pang of disappoi washed over James. He yearo uand the System's purpose, the reason behind these cryptic missions. Yet, there he was, left with only the satisfa of a job well done.

  "No reward, huh......... Maybe the system will give me everything at once? Oh well......... This time, it took a long time to plete," James muttered.

  He slumped onto the mat, catg his breath. pleting this missio like ay pared to the first. Was the difficulty going to increase with eae? A shiver ran down his spine, both from exertion and a hint of trepidation.

  Just then, the System's voice echoed in his mind, devoid of its usual meical tone. A hint of amusement, almost… anticipation, colored its words.

  **Mission 17 Assigned. ( Mission 3) Defeat an oppo using only Judo teiques. Crazy Mode disabled.**

  James' eyes widehis wasn't just araining exercise. This was a real fight, a test of his newfound skills without the System's skills. A surge of adrenaline coursed through him. Fear mingled with a spark of excitement. Could he pull it off?

  The m sun cast long shadows as James ehe schoolyard. The air buzzed with the usual pre-css chatter, a stark trast to the turmoil brewing within him. Mission 17 loomed rge, a stant reminder of the challehat awaited him.

  Suddenly, a figure stepped into his path, blog his way. James halted, his senses on high alert. The boy wasn't familiar – short and wiry with a shaved head and a smirk pying on his lips.

  "Alex wants to see you," the boy announced, his voice dripping with a false sense of authority. Before James could formute a respohe boy tinued, "And don't be te. He doesn't like waiting."