The tension in the air was thick as the 22 remaining EOS players stood in front of Kaizen. Their bodies still ached from the brutal ranking match, and their minds raced with anticipation. The silence was broken by the slow, deliberate sound of Kaizen's footsteps as he approached them, his ever-present smirk hinting at something dangerous.
"You've all done well to make it this far," Kaizen began, his eyes sweeping across the players. "But survival in EOS isn't enough. Evolution is mandatory — and stagnation means death. That's why… I've prepared a special challenge for you."
Everyone's eyes sharpened. A special challenge? After everything they'd already been through?
Kaizen's smirk widened. "In three days, the top 11 players from EOS will face off against the World 11 — the best players in the world… plus the world's number one goalkeeper."
A stunned silence fell over the room.
"The World 11…?" Riku Saionji's voice was barely a whisper, but the shock was evident.
"These are the same players you've admired, watched, and dreamed of surpassing," Kaizen continued. "They're monsters — the very top of the world's footballing talent. And you? You're nothing but unknowns. It's time to prove you deserve to stand on the global stage."
The room exploded into a mix of reactions.
"World-class players… I get to devour them?" Sora Amagi's voice dripped with anticipation, his eyes gleaming with twisted excitement.
"This is insane…" Kazuki Shindo whispered, his fists clenching. "We finally get to see where we really stand."
Renji Kurogami said nothing. He stood still, but his mind was already working. The World 11… an opportunity like this wouldn't come twice. If he wanted to become the best, he needed to crush them. All of them.
Kaizen raised a hand, silencing the chatter. "But before that, you have three days. Use them wisely. Train, evolve, and prepare. Because if you step onto that field unprepared… you'll be annihilated."
The room fell silent again, the weight of Kaizen's words pressing down on them.
"Training starts now."
—
(Day 1 – A Desperate Struggle for Evolution)
The players scattered, each of them driven by their own desperation. Some sought out the old legends for guidance, others pushed themselves alone, and the fractures between them only deepened.
Renji Kurogami stayed back as the others rushed off. He felt a familiar presence approach him — Seiji Nakamura.
"Come with me," Nakamura said simply. "We don't have time to waste."
That night, under the cover of darkness, Renji stood on a private training ground. Eiji Kobayashi joined them, his piercing gaze making Renji feel like prey.
"You've got four keys," Nakamura said. "But that's not enough to take on the World 11."
"Not even close," Kobayashi added. "We'll push you past your limits — or break you trying."
Renji's heart pounded. He welcomed it.
Meanwhile, across the complex:
Kazuya Mori trained alone, his movements sharp and fluid. He didn't trust anyone to keep up with his vision — he needed no one.
Riku Saionji sought out Ryohei Sakamoto, the master playmaker. Their session was a battle of minds, with Riku learning how to control the entire flow of the game.
Sora Amagi worked with Shinobu Hayashi, perfecting his agility and feints. His unpredictability sharpened into a weapon.
Tetsuya Aikawa trained with Daigo Fushimi, his frustration boiling over as he fought to find his killer instinct — the goal that had eluded him for too long.
Every player pushed their limits, but the real question was: who would evolve?
To be continue.....