The tension in the arena was palpable as John and Serena found themselves locked in a deadlock. Each contemplating their next move, the audience held its breath, waiting for the next explosive moment in the battle.
Serena's energy blade gleamed as she assessed the situation. Her attacks, while powerful, seemed to be ineffective against the fortified golem form of John. Frustration flashed in her eyes as she recalculated her strategy. She needed to find a weakness, a vulnerability that could tip the scales in her favour.
On the other side, John was grappling with his challenges. The strain of maintaining his advanced golem form was taking its toll. His mind raced, searching for a solution. He knew he couldn't keep up this level of transformation for much longer. The pressure to end the match and secure victory weighed heavily on him.
Amid the standoff, Serena made her move. With a swift motion, she launched a barrage of energy crescents at John, forcing him to defend. The arena reverberated with the clash of attacks and defences, each strike echoing through the air.
John, on the defensive, continued to dodge and deflect. Despite the agility granted by his transformed state, he couldn't match Serena's speed. The strain was evident on his face as he struggled to keep up.
As the battle unfolded, Ahiro, Melvin, Emily, Sia, and the rest of their friends in the stands were engrossed in the unfolding spectacle. Each tried to guess what would happen next and cheered for their friend John.
In the arena, Serena continued her assault, determined to find a crack in John's defence. The audience roared with anticipation, sensing that the climax of the battle was drawing near. The bright lights of the stadium illuminated the fierce determination on both contestants' faces.
In a sudden burst of inspiration, John's eyes lit up. A plan formed in his mind, a risky gambit that could turn the tide. Ignoring the fatigue, he prepared to execute his next move, ready to bring the semifinal to a thrilling conclusion.
It was a risky plan but this was something he had to do if he hoped to finish this fight soon. So he prepared, he took a defensive form crossing both his arms across his chest and ran towards seerna. As John made his move, Serena, sensing the shift in strategy, responded with a renewed onslaught of energy crescents. The bright, glowing blades whizzed through the air, each one aimed at exploiting any potential opening in John's defence.
The continued onslaught kept on increasing the stress on John's mind and body. The rocks that composed his golem form seemed to vibrate with the impact of each energy crescent. Serena pressed on, launching a relentless assault, but John held firm, he was determined to see this match to the end.
Ahiro, watching from the stands, muttered to himself, "What is John thinking? He's taking all of Serena's attacks head-on."
Melvin saw through John's plan and replied, "It's a calculated risk. If John can endure Serena's barrage, he might be able to capitalize on her lack of defence, Serena is faster than John and she still isn't using her full strength, which means John couldn't attack her nor keep on defending hoping he would win in terms of stamina, therefore he needs to take the risk to finish the match."
John kept on tanking the attacks and had reached near her now, he quickly took an offensive stance and lunged forward. Serena, realizing the imminent danger, attempted to dodge, but it was too late. John's fist, reinforced by the sturdiest rocks of his golem form, connected with Serena's side.
The impact echoed through the stadium, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Serena, despite her agile prowess, couldn't withstand the sheer force of John's punch. She staggered backwards, visibly winded. The audience erupted into cheers and gasps, witnessing the unexpected turn of events.
The dust settled, revealing the aftermath of the intense clash. Serena stood, her once majestic sword now broken in half. The audience, captivated by the unfolding drama, could sense the imminent conclusion of the match. Throughout the entire spectacle, John had become the unexpected underdog, and the crowd couldn't help but rally behind him.
Serena, despite her broken weapon, wore a smile. "You have improved very much, John. You've surpassed all my expectations. And since that's the case, I think I'll up my game too," she declared. The anticipation in the air heightened as she picked up the broken halves of her sword.
"Amplification Stage 2," Serena announced, and a radiant glow enveloped the shattered weapon. The brightness intensified, casting a brilliant aura across the entire arena. As the glow reached its peak, the broken sword began to reform and reshape itself.
To the astonishment of everyone present, what emerged in Serena's hands was a giant sword made up of blue colour energy that had covered her sword till now, towering over her. The colossal weapon radiated power, its gleaming edge showcasing the amplified strength Serena now wielded. The audience erupted into gasps and whispers, fully aware that the dynamics of the match had just shifted dramatically.
"John, get ready. If you hope to win, you'll need to defend against this," Serena warned, her eyes focused and determined. John, though fatigued from his previous efforts, squared his shoulders and prepared for the impending clash.
The crowd fell into a hushed silence, awaiting the next breathtaking exchange between the two formidable contenders. The colossal clash reached its peak as Serena swung her giant sword down with incredible force, aiming to strike John. The imminent attack triggered John's instincts, urging him to give his all in defending against the impending onslaught.
In a split-second decision, John discarded his previous form. With every bit of remaining energy, he stacked up more rocks, creating layers upon layers of armour that enveloped him. His towering height increased from 9 feet to a staggering 15 feet, forming a colossal figure designed solely for defence.
As Serena's sword descended, John raised his massive arms to shield himself. The impact was immense, as it struck the golem's arms it met with only a slight resistance before the giant blade sliced through the rocky armour, cutting through arms. John titled the golems body to right nearly dodging being sliced in half. The force of the strike resonated throughout the arena, causing a shockwave as it struck the arena cleaving the ground beneath them in half.
John had reached his limit the enormous structure collapsed into a pile of sand, leaving a collapsed John at the centre. He had a visible slash across his chest but most of the damage was absorbed by the armour uniform. The referee quickly assessed John's condition and called for a stretcher to escort John to the infirmary. As the situation settled, the referee took Serena's hand and raised it up declaring Serena the victor.
The audience, still caught in the intensity of the moment, erupted into a mix of cheers and gasps. Serena, breathing heavily from the exertion, stood as the triumphant contender in this fiercely fought semifinal match. John, though defeated, earned the respect and admiration of everyone present for his valiant effort against overwhelming odds.