Chapter 88 - Iron Chain

The echoes of victory still lingered in the arena as Emily, after a quick victory, joined her friends outside. Ahiro, Sia, Melvin, and John greeted her with smiles, the excitement of the previous match still reflecting in their eyes.

"Hey, Emily! That tornado move was insane!" exclaimed Melvin, his eyes wide with amazement.

"Yeah, you caught everyone off guard," added Sia, a proud grin on her face.

Emily blushed at the praise, still not entirely accustomed to being the centre of attention. "Thanks, guys. I'm sorry for not telling you about my rank earlier. I just didn't want it to change anything between us."

Ahiro stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Emily's shoulder. "Emily, our friendship isn't defined by ranks.No matter what we are friends."

"That's right," John chimed in, adjusting his glasses with a knowing smile. "Whether you're F-rank or B-rank, you're still our geeky friend, and we love you for it."

Emily chuckled at the familiar banter, grateful for the understanding and acceptance of her friends. "You guys are the best. And, thanks for cheering me on. It meant a lot."

As they made their way to the mess hall, the conversation shifted to Emily's awakened ability. Ahiro was the first to ask, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. "So, Emily, what exactly is your power? That tornado was impressive."

Emily explained, "It's called <>. I can create powerful tornadoes with just a clap of my hands. It's a little difficult to control and very dangerous."

Melvin knew she didn't like to talk about her power for certain reasons so he quickly shifted the topic "Ya she used to create these storms out of nowhere whenever she lost in games against me"

They all laughed, at Melvin's jokes. The group reached the mess hall, and as they found a table, Sia raised her drink in a toast. "To Emily, the queen of tornadoes and our secret B-rank powerhouse!"

The aroma of a hearty meal lingered as the friends finished their lunch in the mess hall. With satisfied smiles, they rose from their seats, ready to support John in his upcoming battle. The excitement in the air was palpable as they made their way back to the arena.

As they walked, Ahiro clapped John on the shoulder. "You've got this, John. Show them your power!"

Sia, walking beside them, chimed in, "And don't underestimate your opponent. We've seen surprises today."

John chuckled, a confident glint in his eyes. "I've got a few surprises up my sleeve too, you know."

They reached the entrance of the arena, the looming structure echoing with the sounds of ongoing battles. The friends paused, and Sia looked directly into John's eyes. "Win this, okay? I am counting on you."

John nodded, touched by the sincerity in her words. "I won't let you down."

Sia smiled, giving him a playful punch. "That's the spirit."As John made his way to the waiting area, the rest of the friends headed towards the stands.

The arena was alive with anticipation as John entered the battleground. This match was crucial – it marked the third round for the Explorer department, and John had emerged victorious in all his previous encounters. If he triumphed in this one as well, he would secure a spot in the semifinals. In the stands, Ahiro, Sia, Melvin, and Emily found their seats, eyes fixed on the arena below.

The arena crackled with anticipation as John stepped onto the battleground, his eyes focused on his opponent, a skilled Awakened with the ability <>. The crowd murmured, intrigued by the clash of these formidable abilities.

John, confident in his <> ability, took a deep breath. He began stacking rocks upon himself, the stones melding seamlessly into a towering stone golem. His transformation was swift, and soon, he stood as a formidable figure made of interlocking rocks.

Across the arena, his opponent, armed with a staff and surrounded by a swirling mass of iron chains, assumed a battle-ready stance. 

As the referee signalled the start, the iron chains shot forward, aiming to ensnare the stone golem. John, however, anticipated the attack. The golem's rocky exterior shifted, allowing the chains to pass harmlessly through the gaps.

Seizing the opportunity, John's golem lunged forward, delivering a powerful punch. The opponent skillfully dodged, but the golem's fist left a resonating impact on the arena floor.

The iron chains retaliated, swirling in a controlled frenzy. They formed a protective barrier around the opponent, deflecting the incoming blows from the golem's rocky fists. The opponent manipulated the iron chains to coil around the golem's legs, attempting to immobilize it. Undeterred, John used his <> ability to disassemble and reassemble, breaking free from the iron restraints and breaking most of the chains in the process. 

To the onlookers, it appeared to be a one-sided battle – John's <> ability easily thwarted the iron chains that lacked the power to do any real damage.

The crowd's consensus was clear – John would be a sure victor. However, unbeknownst to the spectators, the opponent harboured a cunning strategy. The opponent, with a calm demeanour, decided to change his approach. He undid his <> ability, causing all the iron chains to disappear. The sudden move left John vigilant, prompting him to add more layers of rocks and transform into a colossal rock golem. He took a defensive stance, scanning the arena to discern the opponent's intentions.

the opponent reactivated his <> ability, this time with a twist. Instead of firing chains directly at John, he allowed them to coil around the tip of his staff. As the chains started to stack up upon each other they began to transform the ordinary long staff into a giant ogre club, its formidable appearance belying the hidden threat within. 

John realised that the opponent was up to something, and he could no longer let him continue building his strength. He decided to take the offensive, charging at full speed toward his opponent.

John threw a powerful punch, aiming to interrupt what even his opponent was doing. The opponent also swung the giant chain club in response. The giant chain club collided with John's punch, resulting in an explosive burst, covering the whole arena in the dust.