Part-83

  The tide began to shift, albeit slightly. James, fueled by the System and sheer willpower, started tering Ryan's throws with throws of his own. Auto bat, a relentless student, identified patterns in Ryan's movements, allowing James to anticipate and block his attacks. The initial awe from the orphed ied whispers. The underdog, the skinny newer, was holding his own against the Judy.

  Sweat dripped down both their faces, slig their judogi. They grappled, they threw, they tered each other in a freic dispy of athleticism. James, despite his unorthodox style, dispyed surprising agility and strength. Ryan, frustrated by his oppo's ued resiliearted res tgressive throws.

  Just then, a particurly forceful throw from Rya James flying. He nded hard on his back, the air knocked out of his lungs. Stars danced in his vision, and a wave of pain washed over him. Auto bat, however, remained eerily calm, analyzing the situation even as James gasped for breath.

  A gasp ripped through the crowd. James had taken a brutal fall, the impact eg through the training area. Everyone, including Ryan, braced for the referee's call, expeg the match to be over. Yet, a flicker of movement caught their eye. James, defying logid the limitations of his human form, slowly pushed himself to his feet. It was as if the System, reizing the importance of the fight, had temporarily dialed down his paiors. James could feel the throbbing in his back, the sting in his shoulder, but his body moved on autopilot, guided by the relentless efficy of Auto bat.

  Ryan, initially stunned by James' sudden recovery, narrowed his eyes. This wasn't the same oppo he'd faced a few days ago. This new James fought with a trolled ferocity, his movements fueled by a blend of System-enhanced reflexes and raw determination.

  Ryan then said to James, "You're behaving like a mae right now. Not a single sound of pain from you. But I'm sure you're in pain, aren't you?"

  Seeing James remain silent, Ryan tinued, "So, you're keeping quiet, huh?"

  After receiving no response, Ryan gave up and refocused otle.

  Auto bat, having analyzed the limitations of brute force against Ryan's Judo expertise, shifted tactics. It delved into a sedary database within the System, a fotten archive beled "Pressure Point Teiques."

  James, unaware of the internal ws of the System, simply felt a shift in his focus. His strikes became more precise, targeting specific points on Ryan's body. A lightning-fast jab to the inside of Ryan's wrist sent a jolt of pain through his arm, momentarily weakening his grip. Another well-pced strike to his knee sent a wave of numbness, f him to stumble back slightly.

  Ryan, a seasoned Judo fighter, had never entered su unorthodox style. He was used to grappling, throws, and takedowns. James' strikes, though g in traditional martial arts grace, were surprisingly effective. The numbness in his wrist hampered his throws, and the slight instability in his knee made him wary of lunges and sweeps. Frustration began to cloud his judgment.