The match's intensity rose with every passing second. The score stood at 2-1, but it felt like the game had only just begun. Everyone on the field had evolved — their egos clashing, their skills sharpened through brutal training. Now, it was time to see who could truly devour the others.
As Team 1 took possession, Kazuya Mori passed the ball to Renji without hesitation.
"Let's keep the pressure on," Mori said.
Renji nodded, his eyes scanning the field with Hawk's Eye — his enhanced field vision making every movement crystal clear. But the moment the ball touched his foot, Riku Saionji was already closing in.
"You won't break through me so easily," Saionji warned.
Renji didn't flinch. Instead, he activated Specter Drive, his unpredictable, fluid movement making it almost impossible for Saionji to pin him down. A sharp cut to the right — then a sudden shift left — Renji escaped.
But Sho Nakata was waiting.
Renji's vision caught the danger, and with a swift Marseille Turn, he spun away, leaving both defenders behind.
"Don't get too comfortable!" Sora Amagi surged toward him.
Renji smirked. "I'm not."
As Amagi closed in, Renji activated his Void Strike. A powerful, curving pass cut across the field, finding Yuto Kisaragi in perfect position.
Yuto controlled the ball with a featherlight touch, but Kaede Arata was already on him. The two clashed, their skills evenly matched — until Yuto feinted left and delivered a Trivela Pass back toward Mori.
Mori charged forward, his instinct for scoring flaring up. He prepared his shot—
But Isamu Oda intercepted with a perfectly-timed Sliding Tackle.
The ball spun loose.
"Mine!" Kazuki Shindo darted forward, his speed now almost impossible to keep up with. But just as he reached the ball—
Reiji Sakamoto crashed into him, using his physicality to force Shindo off balance.
"Stay out of my way!" Sakamoto growled.
But Shindo wasn't backing down. With a sharp cut and La Croqueta, he slipped past Sakamoto.
"Too slow."
But the moment Shindo lined up his shot, Takuma Ogawa was ready. The goalkeeper dove with incredible reflexes—
And saved it.
The ball rebounded into play — and Team 2 launched their counterattack.
Riku Saionji took control, his passes slicing through the field with surgical precision. A quick one-two with Kaede Arata, and suddenly Haruto Inoue was charging down the flank.
Kenji Takahashi intercepted, but Inoue used a Sombrero Flick to lift the ball over him.
The field opened up.
"Not happening!" Hajime Ueda rushed in with incredible speed—
But Inoue used his strength to hold him off, keeping control of the ball.
He fired a powerful shot—
But Jin Kazama was ready. With lightning-fast reflexes, he parried the ball away.
The danger wasn't over. The ball fell to Sora Amagi just outside the box. Amagi's Phantom Step activated instantly — his movements ghostly and impossible to read.
Renji charged in, his vision locking on. He read Amagi's feint — and countered with a Panna, sliding the ball between Amagi's legs and taking possession.
But as Renji tried to push forward—
Riku Saionji was there again.
The two clashed, skill against skill, vision against vision. Renji tried to break free with Specter Drive, but Saionji's positioning made it difficult.
"Let's see how far you've come," Saionji challenged.
Renji smiled. "Let's."
He activated his Fourth Key — a technique born from his relentless training. Phantom Waltz— a sudden acceleration that left Saionji completely off balance.
With space created, Renji sent a long pass toward Kazuya Mori. Mori controlled it perfectly—
But before he could strike, Kaede Arata intercepted with a Block Tackle.
The game had become pure chaos — a battle of egos and evolved skills.
And it was far from over.
To be continued…