No, it is specifically stated that his "black flesh" makes everything stronger. My point isn't that his level two armour is invincible, but that it's obviously not black just because it looks cool. He's doing something to it.
If what he's using at the second level is so weak, then how the hell did he bust through Valravn's mystical plate armour? Plate armour that is apparently capable of withstanding Deryl Rebis' plasma cannon. I know he has the mantis shrimp mechanic enhancing the kinetic force of his blow, but he's still using something that you're claiming isn't "even real metal".
Except... it is strong. As I pointed out, the venom incapacitates a large and sturdy human almost instantly.
Yes, but they're also designed to have direct hits, not graze the target.
We're specifically talking about grazes you fucking idiot, because you can't hit Jake with a direct shot.
Yes, it is easier, and that's the problem. The easier it is, the harder it would be to focus intently on it to keep yourself from being affected by Jake's passive protection. Especially with how quickly you're firing bullets from multiple assault rifles.
The bolded part (and other prior statements) is what makes me think we're talking about what he should have done during the fight, not before it.
Yes, it makes everything "stronger" in lore, but that means nothing in practice. He is repeatedly injured and damaged through his basic crocodile skin armour. Literally everything he fights goes through it, even basic bullets. He is able to defeat valravn with fast dodges and mantis punches, and each mantis punch destroys his arm. The only reason he is able to use those efficiently is because he has went through like 6-7 more training cycles after jakes fight, before the mall incident.
Yes, a large guard instantly, and a weak, completely non-physical level 2 in like 30-60 minutes (not fatally, btw) with bleeding and gas poisoning and impalement wounds to help. Its very strong. Funny how two genetically different beings handle poison differently. Almost like being superhuman makes you, i dunno, STRONGER AND MORE DURABLE.
"Meant for direct hits"? You mean like every other weapon in existence? Do you know why a bulletproof vest is a vest and not assless chaps? Its suprisingly NOT because of fashion, but because that is where all your gooey "need it to live" parts are! Of frickin course it was meant for center mass, but a electric plasma cannon shot to a leg is just as useful, what with the decreased ability to dodge.
Firstly, EVERY weapon can graze someone, and when a bullet grazes you, it leaves a hole where it does. Those bleed, bad. Secondly, not being able to hit his core vitals does not mean you can't hit his legs and arms (there wouldn't be any grazes from any weapon otherwise), and finally, a machine gun has bullet spread. Do you know what that means? Do you know why the millitary decided to invest more in assault rifles with full auto instead of sniper rifles? Because full auto guns tend to wobble back and forth, SPREADING (hence "bullet spread") lead over a target area. Trained people can make this area smaller, but in practice it is a luck based weapon group. Jakes weakness? When a weapon has a mechanical aspect to aiming, ie deryls traps, or the wobble of a gun from recoil. MC would only have to aim near jake and he would still be hit, sometimes even in the chest.
When i mentioned poison, literally every time he used it on Jake, there was a better option, be it an armoury before the ambush, be it two anti spawn guns after it, be it backing off and letting deryl fight for him, every single time he used it he could have found a better way. I am not talking about just a single moment.