The air was thick with tension as Group 1 walked off the training field. Sweat dripped from every player, their bodies exhausted, but their minds were racing. That last goal… it had changed everything.
Renji Kurogami's eyes stayed locked on Kazuya Mori's back. The top scorer. The one who had just outplayed everyone, even Ryusei Hoshigaki [Old Legend].
He used me. And I didn't even realize it until it was too late.
Renji's fists clenched at his sides. The frustration burned, but underneath it was something sharper — an undeniable hunger.
"Renji."
He turned to see Ryusei Hoshigaki [Old Legend] approaching with his usual lazy smirk. "You felt it, didn't you?"
Renji didn't answer. He didn't need to.
Hoshigaki grinned wider. "That's the feeling of being devoured. It's the same feeling I had when I went up against the monsters in my own EOS days."
"Why didn't I see it sooner?" Renji muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
"Because you're too focused on keeping up," Hoshigaki said. "You're so busy copying and modifying that you forget one thing."
Renji looked up, his eyes narrowing. "And what's that?"
"To be the one who gets devoured the least," Hoshigaki said, his voice dropping. "It's not about keeping up. It's about controlling the game. You need to be the one others revolve around — the one they have no choice but to follow."
Renji's breath caught. It was exactly what he'd seen Mori do. He hadn't just played the game — he'd dictated its entire flow.
"Tomorrow's a new day," Hoshigaki said, his eyes gleaming. "And my training's over. Let's see how far you take this."
With that, Hoshigaki walked off, leaving Renji standing there, his thoughts spinning.
Later that night — Dining Hall
The room was alive with chatter, but Renji sat quietly, his mind still replaying the day's match. Across the table, his teammates from Team Zeta were talking excitedly.
"Man, I can't believe how intense this training is," Reiji Sakamoto said, stretching his arms. "Hoshigaki's insane."
"No kidding," Kaede Arata added. "But it's working. I feel faster — more precise."
Renji looked up. "What kind of training did you guys get with the other legends?"
Reiji grinned. "We've been with Daigo Fushimi [Old Legend]. His shooting drills are brutal. He makes you hit a moving target the size of a coin from twenty meters out — while running."
Kaede nodded. "He calls it the 'Hawk's Eye' drill. It's all about accuracy under pressure."
"And what about you, Kaede?" Renji asked.
Kaede's eyes lit up. "Eiji Kobayashi [Old Legend]. Long-range shooting specialist. He's been teaching me how to put insane power and curve on my shots. I'm getting closer to mastering it."
Renji felt a spark of excitement. Everyone was evolving. The gap between them was narrowing — and he couldn't let himself fall behind.
"What about you, Renji?" Riku Saionji asked. "You've been training with Hoshigaki, right? What's it like?"
Renji hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Hell. But it's the kind of hell that makes you stronger."
They laughed, but Renji's mind was already on tomorrow.
The Next Day — Training Field
The air was electric as Group 1 gathered for their next training session. But today, there was a new figure waiting for them.
Seiji Nakamura [Old Legend].
Renji's eyes widened. The captain of the old legends — the ace among aces.
"Today's training will be different," Nakamura said, his voice calm but commanding. "We're going to focus on vision. On seeing the game before it happens."
Renji's heart raced. This was his chance.
"To do that," Nakamura continued, "we're going to play blindfolded."
The group froze.
"Blindfolded?" Kazuki Shindo repeated, his eyes wide.
"You heard me," Nakamura said. "We'll start with passing drills. No sight — only instinct and awareness."
As blindfolds were handed out, Renji felt a rush of anticipation. This was insane. This was exactly what he needed.
And as the first whistle blew, he dove headfirst into the darkness.
(To be continued…)