Elian smiled to himself, this was it for Enzo. He wondered where and how Enzo had managed to lay his hands on such a skill. Elian had seen the mechanism behind the skill and it was a perfect ball winning technique, with that much precision and power, who would be able to avoid it when it came suddenly?
Elian sighed to himself, no wonder he hadn't even noticed when Enzo stole the ball away.
Elian moved the ball to the side, avoiding Enzo's leg. He watched as Enzo's pupils constricted in shock. Enzo raised his brows, surprised that his sure-kill skill had failed to work this time.
Enzo was smart, he pulled back immediately and studied Elian closely.
Elian was impressed by this. No doubt this was the reason he had already made it this far at such a young age. He was a critical thinker, even in the game of football, he didn't jump into situations without having a vivid understanding of what the game was like too.
He stared at Elian, more curious than confused. "Did he understand how my skill works just by seeing it once? No…Hooksnatch should be more complicated than that, or was it a fluke?"
Enzo wasn't a fool. He knew what a fluke looked like. And this wasn't it looked like at all.
"Tsk…I really don't want to accept it but, you're quite something, U-19 boy!" Enzo said, shaking his head.
Elian smiled, using his hands to urge Enzo forward. "Thanks a lot, but I know that already."
Elian shrugged to himself, Enzo was quite good for his age, but ut was nothing good enough to make him that proud, as a matter of fact, Elian hadn't even used his system yet, but the score was still 1-0, Enzo really needed something to cut down on his pride, and he would willingly give it to him.
Hearing Elian shrugging away his compliment so casually, Enzo's face tightened in annoyance. "Hey, U-19 boy…if someone gives you a compliment, especially someone like me…then you should be proud and accept it wholeheartedly!"
With that, Enzo charged forward again, aiming for the ball.
*Hooksnatch*
*Hooksnatch*
*Hooksnatch*
…
Elian skidded over to his back and tapped Enzo lightly on the head. "Hey, is that damned Hooksnatch all you've got?" Elian asked, already getting bored. Enzo was repeatedly trying to use the same skill to win the ball but it was quite easy for Elian to evade him since he already knew what he wanted to do.
"Referee! Isn't that a foul?" Enzo stopped and turned to Amir, shouting at him.
But he was forgetting something.
*Twap!*
"No referee in the game, dumbass!" Elian said, slapping his head lightly again. It was a very light slap, a tap even. The type commonly seen among friends, but when it was between Enzo and Elian, Enzo didn't find it amusing one bit.
Enzo turned around angrily, only to see the ball in his own net.
"He turned back to stare at Elian who smiled at him. The score's 1-1 now, bro."
Elian smirked, and something seemed to flash within his eyes.
Enzo was even angrier, Elian was making fun of him right now.
Enzo dribbled the ball forward, calculatedly closing the distance between them. He had been thought to keep a cool head and play at extreme temperaments, no matter how angry he was getting, he could always shrug it off and concentrate fully.
Enzo increased his pace, using the fastest dribble method he was taught, it wasn't that effective in a match, but one a 1V1 situation like this, it was super effective to confusing your opponent and making him seem foolish. It was a showboating technique.
Elian stared at Enzo's foot, his eyes starting to spin. "This guy's good." Meta spoke into his head.
Elian shook his head. "That kind of hurts my feelings."
Meta laughed silently. "I know, he's good but not good enough to trick me."
"Can you see through it?" Elian asked.
"Of course." Meta replied, he continued. Since hems a right footer, he's more inclined to go right and that's where he takes the ball most of the time, he also leans forward every time he touches the ball twice, from my analysis of his movement, he will soon dash forward with a flurry of dribbles."
"How do I counter it? By stepping back?" Elian asked.
Meta responded in the negative. "Stepping back is not nearly enough to stop him. At least for you. Stopping him right now, is impossible."
Elian was surprised. "How could Meta say that to him? Enzo wasn't that much better than him, he was sure of that.
Meta continued. "You do not possess any skill to stop the dribble dash right now, however you can stop him before he reaches that level.
Elian grinned widely, he knew exactly what Meta meant.
…Perfect Copy…Activate!
"What the hell are you grinning at?" Enzo asked, a deep frown on his face.
"Now!" Meta shouted.
Elian's foot made an air rippling sound as it tore through the air, moving at light speed. It went right through the unsuspecting Enzo's defense and his leg made a hook around the ball, pulling out effectively.
Enzo, stumbled forward before he regained his balance again.
"What's the matter?" Elian asked, fighting his uncontrollable urge to laugh. "Did you drink?"
Amir and Carson who stood at the sidelines couldn't resist the urge of laughter and they laughed out loud, however, Enzo shot them a glare that made them close their mouths immediately.
Enzo was now more angry than ever, there was nothing to say to Elian, he had made a complete fool out of him already. There was no way to rectification that wasn't to hurry and trash the kid.
But it was already too late, if he could steal the ball right now, maybe he could…
Enzo's pupils constricted as a cold breeze swept past him, with it Elian had disappeared. Enzo turned around sharply, inhaling a quick breath as he saw Elian behind him, the ball in the net.
Elian cracked his neck, a cold glint in his eyes, there was a red glow to his eyes, something eerie and unfathoming.
Elian grinned like he was the devil himself as he walked past Enzo. "Hey, Meta. How does this body enhancement thing work? I feel like a mountain right now."
Meta chuckled. "As you already know, the system is pure science. Body enhancement is achieved by the system's stimulation of your brain to release adrenaline and testosterone in a very high quantity, pushing the blood vessels to circulate faster and faster, giving you superhuman strength."
"Superhuman strength? I could lift a car?" Elian asked, almost wanting to become a weight lifter.
"No." Meta replied curtly, killing his budding excitement. "But you'd be able to do that, if you trained your body very hard, building body mass and density, after all it is your overall strength that is being boosted in body enhancement."
Elian nodded. He wa never doing it though, what did he need to lift a car for? It wasn't like he was a monster or anything. He liked his stature, if he got too bulky, it would be pointless, his speed would be reduced and he would become less flexible.
Enzo turned around and dashed towards Elian, he was in a hurry right now, he certainly couldn't apologize to his useless friends no matter what the reason was. Whether he was wrong or not, he wouldn't apologize, after all he was the better one, they had to respect and revere him.
Enzo moved forward, carrying out a series of intricate dribbling movements. Elian followed up, even though he felt he was being rigmaroled by Enzo.
Enzo suddenly dashed forward, and Elian moved even faster, blocking off his path.
Elian expected to hear a painful groan from Enzo as their body jammed. But he suddenly noticed that the distance between them was decreasing instead. Enzo was turning backwards, it was a fake. Elian cussed himself for getting ahead of himself, but Meta's shout brought him back.
"Don't underestimate the system! Your reacting time is faster than this! Turn around and pursue the ball."
Elian acted on impulse. He spun around and within a few steps, he was onto Enzo. This time he tried for a second round of strength contest with Enzo. Enzo welcomed it whole heartedly, not knowing what he was getting into.
The moment their bodies collided, Enzo lost his balance and was sent rolling to the floor. Elian controlled the ball to a stop.
He turned around to look at Enzo, he had to make this moment awesome.
…Projectile Shot…Activate!…
"Get ready to stop in five…four…three…"
*Thud!*
Elian hit the ball with his heels, he was backing the post and he used his heels to hit the ball, but…
The ball rose high and swerved beautifully, shocking Enzo.
Carson's voice kept on echoing. "Two…one…"
*Splash!*
The ball hit the back of the small net, increasing the scores.
"Zero…Stop!"
Enzo stared wide eyed as he sat on the floor, did he just see that? Elian had managed to do that while backing the post? And he even still managed to leave such a curl on the ball? And he stil hit the target? That was simply superhuman.
Elian walked up to him. "Seems like you didn't even score more than one, Apologize."
Enzo stared at him, before turning to look at his friends, his face remorseful. Enzo was a player who believed in his own abilities, if he couldn't beat Elian, then he had to respect him.
But one thing was sure, they would certainly do this again, and when that time came…he was certainly going to win!
"I am Sorry…"