The air was electric — every player on the field was fighting for their survival, and the hunger to devour each other grew stronger with every touch of the ball. The match stood at 2-1, and Team 2 was pushing forward aggressively.
But this time, it wasn't Renji or Amagi who took the spotlight. It was Kazuki Shindo.
As Riku Saionji tried to thread a pass to Haruto Inoue, Shindo burst forward with Blitz Drive, his newfound speed making him a blur across the field. He intercepted the pass with flawless timing.
"Not bad, Shindo," Saionji said, regaining his balance. "But let's see if you can keep up."
Shindo didn't answer with words. He answered with his feet. Using a lightning-fast Elastico, he shifted the ball left and right, slipping past Saionji's challenge.
But Sho Nakata was already on him.
"You're not getting through!" Nakata lunged forward.
Shindo smirked. "We'll see."
He activated his Thunderclap Drive — a sudden acceleration combined with a sharp turn that left Nakata frozen in place. With his speed unleashed, Shindo tore down the right wing.
Kenji Takahashi surged forward in support, matching his pace. "Let's finish this!"
Shindo nodded, sending a quick Outside-Foot Pass toward Takahashi. But before Takahashi could strike, Kaede Arata read the play and intercepted with a perfectly timed Standing Tackle.
"Not so fast," Arata said calmly.
But Takahashi wasn't giving up. Using his Storm Surge Key, he twisted his body and reclaimed the ball with a sharp Roulette Turn.
The space opened up.
Takahashi fired a cross into the box — and Tetsuya Aikawa was waiting.
Aikawa's presence was impossible to ignore. His strength and aerial dominance made him a terrifying target. As the ball sailed toward him, he leaped higher than anyone else — and with a powerful Diving Header, he smashed the ball toward the goal.
But Takuma Ogawa was ready.
The goalkeeper dived with perfect timing, his fingertips grazing the ball just enough to push it over the crossbar.
"Not bad, Ogawa," Aikawa said, his eyes burning with determination. "But next time, you won't stop me."
The corner kick followed. Kazuya Mori stepped up, his vision scanning the field. He delivered a curling ball toward the near post — but Hideo Morita rose above the crowd and cleared it with a towering Header.
The ball fell to Rikuya Asano, who controlled it smoothly and looked up.
"Let's turn this around," Asano said, sending a quick pass to Sorao Hamada.
Hamada's footwork was dazzling — with a Step Over Feint, he bypassed Reiji Sakamoto and pushed forward. But Shun Takagi was already closing in.
The game had turned into a fierce exchange, with every player using their evolved skills and keys to fight for dominance. And the more they clashed, the clearer it became:
No one was willing to be left behind.
To be continued…