Part-197

  Without hesitation, James activated **Crisis Mode**. A sudden rush of energy surged through his body, his movements being fluid and instinctive. He could feel his muscles tense as his body prepared itself for battle, almost as if it had a mind of its own. There was ize or calcute—his body would do the work for him.

  The ratlings charged, and James’s body responded immediately. His fist ected with the ratling’s skull in a perfect **Kangaroo Cut**, sending it flying backward. At the same time, his hand shed out with a **Snake Jab**, striking three ratlings in rapid succession before they could eve.

  For the first time, James felt in trol. His **Thundercp** lit up the cave as he struroup of ratlings, the shockwave rippling through their small, frail bodies. He dodged their attacks effortlessly, every move flowing into the like a perfectly chraphed dance. His **Crabs Arm** activated automatically, blog the ining swipes of cws and redug the damage from their desperate attempts to overwhelm him.

  Despite the chaos of battle, James remained calm. **Crisis Mode** ehat his body operated at maximum efficy, and for the first time in the dungeon, the ratlings’ numbers didn’t feel overwhelming. Each strike he delivered recise aating, and within mihe swarm began to thin.

  The battle dragged on, but James remained untouchable. His **Bear Grip** allowed him to grab two ratlings at once, hurling them against the cave wall with such force that they crumpled into a heap. With each ratling he defeated, his fidence grew. The tide had turned.

  Finally, after what felt like hours of bat, the st ratling fell. James stood in the ter of the cave, breathing heavily but victorious. The swarm that had once seemed invincible now y defeated at his feet.

  As the adrenaline wore off, **Crisis Mode** deactivated, and James's body slumped from exhaustioumbled to the ground, his muscles screaming in protest from the strain of the battle. For a moment, he simply sat there, catg his breath, the reality of his victory sinking in. The midse had been cleared.

  A notification appeared in front of him.

  **[Midse Cleared. Proceed to the area.]**

  James let out a deep sigh of relief. He had finally overe the challehat had beaten him so many times before. But this was only the beginning. The Lamp of Time dungeon had more levels, more secrets, and undoubtedly, more powerful enemies waiting for him.

  He gnced down at his trembling hands. Despite the pain and exhaustion, a small smile crept across his face. The ratlings had tested him, pushed him to his limits, but in the end, he had prevailed.

  "Finally..." he muttered, leaning against the cold stone wall. He allowed himself a moment of rest. The level could wait—James had earhis victory.

  As James leaned against the cold stone, sav his hard-won victory, a peculiar sensatioook him. His eyelids grew heavy, and the cave around him began to blur. Before he could fully process what was happening, exhaustio over him. His head drooped, and in an instant, he was ed by darkness.