The game restarted as Kurona passed the ball to Kunigami. Kunigami skillfully weaved through Tsunzaki with quick footworks. One-two, one-two, the ball was exchanged between Reo and Kunigami, a fluid movement exchange that left the opposing team scrambling to keep up.
As the ball got past Nanase, a player from Team A, Reo spotted Nagi making a run towards the goal. He swiftly kicked a brilliantly arced cross in Nagi's direction.
Nagi, usually a picture of serene idleness, met the cross with enthusiasm.
But Murano foresaw that as he jumped even higher and sent the ball away with a precise header—a missed opportunity by Team C.
Hiori seized the loose ball, took a turn, and then sent a pinpoint cross towards Tsunzaki.
Out of nowhere, Kunigami came charging in with a slide tackle to regain possession of the ball. He then moved forward, confidently dribbling the ball at his feet, and passed the ball as soon as he spotted Reo.
However, Reo was unsure of what to do next. Should he pass to his trusted partner Nagi for a safe play? Or take a risk and pass it to Haiji instead?
Reo, adamant about giving Nagi an assist, attempted to make a cross to him, but Haiji demanded that Reo give him a through pass instead.
With a decisive flick of his foot, Reo unleashed a pass that seemed to defy physics.
Shidou, however, had read their play like a well-worn book. He intercepted, anticipating Haiji's touch, but to his surprise, Haiji let the ball sail past him.
It wasn't a cross, not a through ball, but a straightforward spin pass that bent its way to Kurona.
The ball, defying all logical trajectory, evaded both Shidou and Haiji as it landed gracefully at Kurona's feet. With Murano now marking Kunigami, Kurona saw his chance and sent a short cross to Nagi, who was marked by Nanase. But with a graceful balance, Nagi controlled the ball on his chest and fired a powerful shot while still in the air.
Magically, Murano was in the net as he extended his left leg with impossible reflexes, deflecting the shot.
But the rebound, like fate itself, fell directly at Kurona's feet. Without hesitation, he unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot. The net rippled as Anri announced the score. As his teammates swamped him, Kurona simply grinned, a single word escaping his lips, "Perfectly."
...
..
.
Team A 2-1 Team C
Team A sighed disbelief as the net bulged. Murano, still slumped on the ground, let out a groan of frustration, his hand grabbing the grass in disbelief. Nanase, who was marking Nagi, slumped to his knees, head in his hands. The rest of Team A exchanged shocked glances.
Shidou, however, was different. He remained standing, until he clapped his hands once, sharp and resolute. "This is amazing! So explosively done" he yelled. "Let's put on a more explosive show," he grinned.
----
Team C was looking more engaging and enthusiastic as they had just managed to pull one back. So they shaped themselves in a new formation, with Kunigami at the front, ready to take Team A on.
"Let's crash their souls," Murano muttered as he stood on the middle line along with Hiori.
"You're planning on taking them all on by yourself?" Hiori asked disbelievingly, eyeing Murano's fierce gaze.
"Yeah, what of it?" Murano challenged, his confidence exuding from every pore of his body.
"Do you honestly believe you can defeat them all?" Hiori pressed.
"Even if they come at me with everything they've got, I'll find a way to break through their defenses," Murano declared, a hint of arrogance inching into his voice. "Though I have to admit, Kunigami and Reo could pose a bit of a challenge."
"And if that happens, will you lose?" Hiori pressed further.
A sneaky smirk spread across Murano's face. "Nah I'd win." The boldness in his words sent shivers down Hiori's spine, knowing that Murano would stop at nothing to crush them.
----
'It will be advisable that you don't strain yourself during the integration' The system noted lastly as Murano took off.
The game restarted once more as Hiori passed the ball to Murano. Murano's main goal was to dribble through the whole team and score.
He rushed forward, ignoring the System's cautious remarks about conserving energy during the 'integration' phase. "Screw the integration nonsense," he thought.
The first person on his path was Kunigami. It was a one-on-one situation. With the ball at his feet, he did multiple stepovers which led to Kunigami guessing where he would move next until Murano spun and effortlessly executed a textbook Marseille Turn as he bypassed Kunigami.
"One down," He whispered as he bypassed Kunigami.
As Murano continues his relentless attack, the rest of Team A finally realizes his intent. Kurona charges in from the right side while Haiji comes at him head-on. Unfazed, Murano takes a quick glance and plans to face them.
Haiji was the first to arrive. Murano touched the ball lightly before elegantly executing a rainbow flick over his head. With Kurona quickly closing in, Murano decides to take a shot.
But Kurona lunges forward in a desperate attempt to block the shot. It turns out to be a fake as Murano smoothly hits a nutmeg as the ball passes through Kurona's legs, taking advantage of the situation.
"You got this Reo!" Nagi yelled.
Reo was the next in line as Nagi had already moved upfield instead of facing Murano. Nagi believed that Reo could stop Murano.
Without considering passing to his teammates Murano made a 'Roulette' move with the ball to move past Reo.
After the spin, Murano was already around Reo.
Without stalling, Murano fires an explosive shot that sends the ball straight into the next.
"Yeahhhhhhh!" Murano let out a roar he inadvertently stuck out his tongue as the ball smashed past the Blue Lock Man and into the goal.
Team A 3 - 1 Team C