Part-85

  Sensing an opportunity to end the match decisively, Auto bat prompted James to unleash another Kangaroo Uppercut. With a powerful lunge from a low crouch, James uhe strike. Ryan, weary and frustrated, attempted to raise his arm in a block, but it was too slow. The uppercut ected squarely with his jaw, sending a jolt of pain ripping through his head. The impact propelled him backward, his legs bug beh him. He nded o with a heavy thud, the wind knocked out of his lungs.

  It was just as Kashem thought: despite being weaker overall than Ryan, James had a remarkably strong lower body. The main reason for this was his sistent jogging over the past few days and his regur cyg. These activities had signifitly developed his leg strength.

  Silence desded uporaining area. The crowd, whients ago had been a cacophony of cheers and gasps, held its breath collectively. Had the underdog actually pulled off the impossible? Had James, the newer wielding a strange blend of raw power and unorthodox teiques, defeated the Judy?

  A beat of stunned sileretched through the room, broken only by James' ragged breaths. Then, a collective gasp ripped through the crowd as Ryan stirred. He pushed himself up with a groan, his face flushed but his eyes burning with renewed determination.

  "Damn it! What kind of beast is he?" Ryan thought, astonished. He never imagined he would be pushed this hard by James, who seemed so unassuming and not particurly strong in his eyes. Despite having researched him beforehand, he had found absolutely nothing of signifi James' data.

  But he smiled.

  "This damn bastard is making me excited! I hought I would get this much fun out of this," he thought with a thrill."

  The surprise attack had caught him off guard, but Ryan wasn't out yet. He'd faced tougher oppos in national qualifiers, and this newer, despite his unorthodox style, wouldn't break him.

  Shaking off the lingering effects of the uppercut, Ryan adopted a rategy. Gohe pyful taunts and the initial uimation. He treated James with the respee would accord a top-notational Judo fighter. He circled cautiously, his eyes locked on James, searg for an opening.

  Suddenly, Ryan lunged. It wasn't the traditional Judo throw James had grown aced to. This was a low, fast tackle, more akin to a move a track athlete might use t down a petitor. The goal was simple - get James to the ground and pin him there. The crowd held its breath, anticipating the iable takedown.

  But James, guided by the ever-calg Auto bat, was ready. In a move that defied his limited training, he twisted his body with surprising agility, slipping under Ryan's tackle. As Ryan shot past him, momentum carrying him forward, James saw his bsp; Auto bat, having analyzed Ryan's shift in strategy, had identified a termeasure – a variation of the Kangaroo Uppercut specifically desigo exploit takedown attempts.