The arena was shrouded in stunned silence as the dust settled, revealing the aftermath of the intense clash between John and the opponent. The golem form that John had assumed was marred by the unexpected turn of events – his arm broken into pieces, the rocks scattered.
Amid the hushed murmurs from the spectators, John's voice echoed from cracks in the rocks laughter emanating from it. "Ah, man, you saw right through me," John chuckled, his amusement reverberating through the arena.
His laughter paused momentarily as he raised the broken half of his arm, examining the scattered rocks. "The faster I gather the stones, the more unevenly they get arranged, and the defence of my armour is decreased. So, you used the club made of chains to exploit those gaps. I quite like your game plan," John admitted, acknowledging the opponent's strategic prowess.
As he spoke, the broken arm began to transform. The scattered rocks started to converge, forming a cohesive structure once again. In seconds, John's arm was restored to its full glory.
His confident declaration echoed through the stadium, "But if this was it, I am disappointed," signalling his readiness to continue the battle.
On the opposing side, the adversary, aware of the discrepancy in their abilities, knew that he had to give his all. Determination etched on his face, he retorted, "You think I will let you do whatever you want," as he propelled himself towards John, brandishing the chain club high above.
John raised his left arm, which underwent a significant transformation. It no longer resembled a collection of rocks bound together; instead, it looked like a massive boulder had been sculpted into a single, seamless, and imposing arm. The surface was smooth, devoid of the gaps present in the previous configuration.
As the opponent's chain club collided with John's reconstructed arm, there was little to no damage. The unexpected resilience left the opponent momentarily stunned. Seizing the opportunity, John swiftly manoeuvred, lifting his other arm to deliver an uppercut. The opponent, disarmed by the strength of the boulder-like arm, was sent hurtling out of the ring.
The audience erupted into cheers as John secured the victory. With a triumphant smile, John nodded towards his friends in the stands. The victory marked another step forward for John in the tournament, bringing him closer to the coveted semifinals.
The group of friends, fueled by the excitement of John's victory, gathered around to offer their congratulations. Sia, particularly jubilant, hugged John, exclaiming, "It means John is on top of our class now!"
Ahiro chimed in, saying, "Yes, that means we will see his semifinal tomorrow along with our department semifinals."
John, with a smile, acknowledged, "Yes, tomorrow will be an exciting day."
As the friends continued their conversation, Ahiro, who had been keeping tabs on the tournament updates, shared some additional information. "Hey, guys, the top 5 list for both departments is out."
The group opened their tabs reading the list on the student's form.The selection process was a combination of both tournament performance and popularity among the students. As the list was revealed, it became apparent that these individuals were not only skilled but also held a significant following among their peers
For the Explorer Department
1. Ethlind (Iron Princess): Known for her <
2. Ethan (Black Hawk): Renowned for his swift and precise attacks, Ethan's <
3. Jade (Snow Tiger): With the <
4. June (Sword Median): Mastering the <
5. Melvin (Thunder Gun): Melvin's <
For the Striker Department:
1. Aiden (Un-beatable): A fiery combatant, Aiden got his nickname from the fact that he had won every match till now without anyone knowing what his ability was.
2. Serena (One Slash): Known for her graceful and deadly moves, Serena's <
3. John (Golem Guardian): Emerging victorious in battles with his <
4. Ryker (Shadow Phantom): Mastering the art of shadow manipulation with the <
5. Luna (Celestial Archer): Possessing extraordinary archery skills, Luna's <
The friends exchanged glances, realizing the tough competition that awaited them in the upcoming rounds. All of them were happy that 2 of their friends made it into the top 5. Sia was the first to speak, her enthusiasm shining through. "Melvin John, you both did it! I knew you could make it to the top 5! "
Melvin, rubbing the back of his head with a modest smile, responded, "Well, you know, it was expected."
Ahiro chimed in, "And John, my man! Top 3 in the whole department! It really shows your strength.."
John, with a grin, replied, "Thanks, All of you. I was expecting to be in the top 5 but to be in top 3 is a good feeling"
Emily, with his arms folded and a fake angry look on her face said, "Hey what about me we may not have top 5 ranking in the seeker's department but I am the winner, congratulate me too."
All of them turned towards Emily who just realized she spoke out loud without thinking, her face turned red from embarrassment all her other friends turned towards her and said " All hail queen Emily" bowing towards her.
After relishing the moment and laughing, they decided to head back to their dorm room. The friends bid each other farewell, knowing that the next day would bring even more excitement and challenges in the arena.