Chereads / Saijō no Hachiban / Chapter 45 - ## Chapter 44: 血の狂気 (Blood Lust)

Chapter 45 - ## Chapter 44: 血の狂気 (Blood Lust)

Ayataro stood in the empty locker room, the echoes of his teammates' cheers and celebrations still ringing in his ears. His heart pounded with a mix of exhilaration and frustration. They had won, yes, but the victory had left him feeling hollow. His desire to perfect his game gnawed at him like an insatiable hunger.

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He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "Not enough," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. "It's never enough."

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The shadows in the dimly lit room seemed to close in around him, amplifying his sense of isolation. He knew he had to push harder, to train more relentlessly than ever before. The memory of his father's cold, judging eyes haunted him, driving him to the brink of desperation.

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### A Burning Resolve

As he exited the locker room and stepped onto the deserted field, Ayataro's thoughts raced. He needed to find a way to channel his bloodlust, his desperation, into something tangible. Soccer was his only escape, his only means of proving his worth.

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He began his training regimen with a ferocity that bordered on madness. Every movement, every kick, was executed with precision and power. His mind was a whirlwind of strategies and techniques, each one more complex and demanding than the last.

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Ayataro's body moved with a fluid grace, his feet dancing over the ball with a finesse that seemed almost supernatural. He practiced his dribbling, weaving through an imaginary defense with lightning speed. He took shot after shot, each one more powerful and accurate than the one before.

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"Faster," he whispered to himself, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Stronger."

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### Pushing the Limits

The night deepened, but Ayataro showed no signs of slowing down. His determination burned brighter than ever, fueling his relentless pursuit of perfection. He imagined himself in the midst of a fierce match, his opponents closing in from all sides.

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He envisioned Saijo, Ryuji, Kenji, and Gon as his adversaries, their faces set with determination. Ayataro's movements became more intense, his blood boiling with a fierce desire to overcome them. His kicks cut through the air with lethal precision, his dribbles leaving imaginary defenders in the dust.

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Ayataro's mind drifted back to his encounter with Saijo and his friends. Their skill and teamwork had been impressive, but Ayataro had something they didn't—an unyielding desperation that drove him to the brink. He remembered the look of surprise and respect in Saijo's eyes after their brutal one-on-one match.

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"Is that all you've got?" Ayataro had taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "You think you can beat me with that half-hearted effort?"

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### Unleashing the Demon

Ayataro's training intensified, his body moving with a speed and precision that bordered on the supernatural. He felt like a demon unleashed, his every action driven by an insatiable need to prove himself.

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He practiced his dribbling, weaving through cones with lightning speed. His feet moved with a fluid grace, the ball seemingly glued to his feet. He executed complex maneuvers with ease, his body a blur of motion.

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"Not enough," he growled, his frustration mounting. "I need more."

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He set up targets at various points around the field, each one representing a goalpost. He took shot after shot, his legs a blur of motion. The ball flew through the air with deadly accuracy, each shot hitting its mark with pinpoint precision.

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His mind raced with thoughts of his father's scornful gaze, the memory fueling his determination. He imagined his father's voice, cold and unforgiving. "You're nothing without soccer. Prove yourself, or you're worthless."

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### The Desperation Deepens

The hours slipped by unnoticed, the night growing colder. Ayataro's body screamed in protest, his muscles aching from the relentless training. But he refused to stop, his mind consumed by the need to perfect his game.

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He practiced his passing, sending the ball flying across the field with pinpoint accuracy. He imagined himself in the heat of a match, his teammates relying on him to deliver the perfect pass. Each movement was executed with flawless precision, his body moving with the grace of a seasoned warrior.

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Ayataro's eyes burned with intensity, his blood boiling with a fierce determination. He envisioned his opponents, their faces twisted with fear and desperation. He could feel their bloodlust, their desire to crush him. But Ayataro welcomed it, relished it. It fueled his own desperation, driving him to push harder, to be better.

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### A Test of Will

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Ayataro's training showed no signs of letting up. His body moved with a mechanical precision, each action driven by a singular focus. His mind was a battlefield, his thoughts a chaotic blend of strategies and techniques.

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He practiced his tackles, his movements sharp and precise. He imagined himself in the midst of a fierce match, his opponents closing in from all sides. His tackles were executed with a brutal efficiency, his body a blur of motion.

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Ayataro's thoughts drifted to the upcoming match, the Aurora Cup looming on the horizon. He knew that his desperation, his bloodlust, would be his greatest weapon. He would channel his inner demons, his need to prove himself, into every movement, every action on the field.

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### The Unyielding Warrior

Ayataro's body screamed in protest, his muscles aching from the relentless training. But he refused to stop, his mind consumed by the need to perfect his game. He knew that his bloodlust, his desperation, would be his greatest asset.

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He practiced his shooting, his legs a blur of motion. The ball flew through the air with deadly accuracy, each shot hitting its mark with pinpoint precision. His mind raced with thoughts of his father's scornful gaze, the memory fueling his determination.

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As the sun began to rise, casting a golden light over the field, Ayataro finally stopped. His body trembled with exhaustion, his breath coming in ragged gasps. But his eyes burned with an unyielding determination, his mind consumed by the need to prove himself.

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He knew that his bloodlust, his desperation, would be his greatest weapon. He would channel his inner demons, his need to prove himself, into every movement, every action on the field. And he would not stop until he had achieved perfection.

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### A Moment of Reflection

Ayataro sat down on the field, his body still trembling with exhaustion. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. The memory of his father's scornful gaze haunted him, driving him to the brink of madness.

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He knew that he had to find a way to channel his desperation, his bloodlust, into something tangible. Soccer was his only escape, his only means of proving his worth. And he would not stop until he had achieved perfection.

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As the first rays of sunlight warmed his face, Ayataro felt a sense of calm wash over him. He knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult, but he was ready. He would face whatever challenges came his way with unyielding determination.

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### The Battle Within

As Ayataro walked through the empty streets, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He knew that his bloodlust, his desperation, would be his greatest asset. He would channel his inner demons, his need to prove himself, into every movement, every action on the field.

---

He thought of his father, his cold, judging eyes. The memory fueled his determination, driving him to the brink of madness. He knew that he had to find a way to channel his desperation, his bloodlust, into something tangible. Soccer was his only escape, his only means of proving his worth.

---

Ayataro's thoughts drifted back to his encounter with Saijo and his friends. Their skill and teamwork had been impressive, but Ayataro had something they didn't—an unyielding desperation that drove him to the brink. He remembered the look of surprise and respect in Saijo's eyes after their brutal one-on-one match.

---

"Is that all you've got?" Ayataro had taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "You think you can beat me with that half-hearted effort?"

---

Ayataro's determination burned brighter than ever, fueling his relentless pursuit of perfection. He knew that his bloodlust, his desperation, would be his greatest asset. He would channel his inner demons, his need to prove himself, into every movement, every action on the field.

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### The Road Ahead