Prelude to Battle
The rematch against Team Q was set. Their previous encounter had left Team Z struggling, with Raiju Okami (#260) leading his squad to dominance. This time, however, things were different.
Kuroka Bachira had awakened.
The once selfish dribbler now played with a terrifying precision and hunger, using his teammates as mere tools for his rise.
Sora Himekawa, once hesitant to support Kuroka, had submitted to his role—an elite assister, feeding passes to the tyrant who demanded absolute victory.
And Kaito Isagi?
The once-promising striker was falling.
Kickoff – The Wolf Strikes First
As the whistle blew, Raiju Okami (#260) wasted no time.
"Out of my way!" he roared, bulldozing past Kaito with raw speed and aggression.
Takuro Hayate (#261) streaked down the wing, matching Raiju's pace, before cutting inside and threading a perfect through-ball.
Raiju didn't hesitate. He unleashed a feral strike, the ball curving just beyond the goalkeeper's reach.
GOAL! 1-0
"Tch," Kuroka sneered, unfazed. "Just a beast playing with instincts."
Kuroka's Awakening
With a snap of his fingers, Kuroka demanded the ball from Sora.
"Feed me," he ordered.
Sora gritted his teeth. He hated this. He hated being under Kuroka's thumb. But he also knew—if he wanted to rise, he had to play the role of the perfect pawn.
The next attack began.
Sora weaved through defenders with surgical precision, acting as the midfield general.Kuroka lurked like a predator, waiting for the perfect opening.
A flick. A pass.
And then—BOOM!
Kuroka leapt, executing a bicycle kick with ruthless accuracy.
GOAL! 1-1
Team Q's defense froze. They had expected Kaito to be the ace. But this was different.
This was a monster on the field.
Kaito's Fall
Kaito desperately tried to regain his shine, pushing forward on the next attack. He called for the ball—"Sora! I'm open!"—but his voice was drowned out by Kuroka's command.
"Ignore him. Give it to me."
Sora hesitated for a moment. Then, he obeyed.
Kaito watched in horror as the attack unfolded without him.
Sora to Kuroka.
Kuroka to the goal.
A curved shot that bent around Keisuke Asano (#263), the Wall, leaving Team Q's goalkeeper stunned.
GOAL! 2-1
Kaito clenched his fists. He had become a spectator.
But Raiju wasn't done.
A growl rumbled from deep in his throat as he charged down the field.
Hiroto Kanzaki (#262) delivered a perfect through-pass. Raiju outmuscled Toma Iguchi, forcing his way into the box. With a feint, he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way before blasting the ball into the net.
GOAL! 2-2
Team Q erupted in howls of triumph.
"You think you're a king, Kuroka?" Raiju snarled. "Then fight me like one."
The clock ticked down. Five minutes remained.
Kuroka refused to let this end in a tie.
With one last attack, he orchestrated a final assault:
Sora Himekawa, despite his resentment, delivered an absolute masterpiece of a pass. Kuroka launched forward, weaving between defenders. The goalkeeper Yuto Mizushima (#268) rushed out.
But Kuroka was already one step ahead.
A feint. A flick. A lob.
The ball arced beautifully over the keeper's head and into the net.
GOAL! 3-2
Victory.
The match ended, and the new ranks were announced.
As the players left the field, Kaito lowered his head in shame.
🔺 #280 – Kuroka Bachira (The Tyrant King, unstoppable and ruthless)
No longer just a player—he is the ruler of Team Z. His curved shots, bicycle kicks, and control over teammates make him the most dangerous force on the field. Kuroka doesn't pass—he commands.
🔺 #281 – Sora Himekawa (The Puppet, an elite assister despite his hatred)
Sora hates being used, but he can't deny that his passing has become elite. Forced into a playmaker role, he ensures Kuroka shines, even as he plots his own comeback.
🔺 #282 – Toma Iguchi (The Opportunist, for his crucial assist)
He isn't the flashiest, but he's always in the right place at the right time. His game sense and ability to create key chances keep him among the elite.
🔻 #283 – Kaito Isagi (The Pawn, outshined and discarded)
Once the team's ace, now a forgotten shadow. He fights to reclaim his dominance, but under Kuroka's rule, he's reduced to a mere tool for others.⚔ The Mid-Tier Warriors – Caught Between Glory and Obscurity
🔺 #284 – Renji Suda (The Silent Enforcer, the backbone of the defense)
A tactician rather than a star, Renji anchors Team Z's defense, cleaning up mistakes with precision.
🔺 #285 – Kenta "Bear" Motosu (The Tank, an unmovable wall but limited in technique)
His brute force keeps him relevant, but he lacks finesse compared to the top players.
🔺 #286 – Juzo Nakamura (The Lightning Speedster, but mentally fragile)
His insane speed keeps defenses on edge, but under pressure, his decisions falter.
🔺 #287 – Itsuki Hoshino (The Flashy Trickster, more style than substance)
His dribbling is mesmerizing, but his inconsistency stops him from climbing higher.
🔺 #288 – Daigo Shigematsu (The Elusive Dribbler, unpredictable but inefficient)
Impossible to mark, but also unreliable when finishing.
🔺 #289 – Yuji Tanabe (The Long-Range Sniper, a deadly but inconsistent weapon)
Can strike from anywhere, but his accuracy remains a major flaw.🛠 The Struggling Underdogs – Fighting to Prove Themselves
🔻 #290 – Tetsuya Gojo (The Selfless Playmaker, still hesitant to take control)
A reliable passer but afraid of seizing opportunities for himself.
🔻 #291 – Haruki Daisen (The Hotheaded Striker, reckless and wasteful)
Takes too many bad shots, costing Team Z valuable chances.
🔻 #292 – Osamu Inui (The Feint Master, unable to capitalize on openings)
Embarrasses defenders but rarely finishes his plays.
🔻 #293 – Makoto Ise (The Copycat, still struggling to master techniques)
Steals techniques but fails to use them effectively.
🔻 #294 – Jinro Matsuda (The Chaotic Wild Card, unpredictable but undisciplined)
His randomness makes him dangerous, but unreliable.
🔻 #295 – Akihiro Soma (The Gambler, relying on luck rather than skill)
Takes wild risks, hoping for miracles instead of crafting plays.
🔻 #296 – Daichi Kurogane (The Team's Weakest Link, a jack-of-all-trades with no specialties)
Lacks any defining skill, making him the easiest target for elimination.
Kuroka passed by, barely sparing him a glance.
"Step aside, Isagi. You're not needed anymore."
Kaito clenched his fists. His fire wasn't out—not yet.
But for now, there was only one king on Team Z.
And his name was Kuroka Bachira.