The stadium was filled with an eerie tension as Kuroka Bachira's team stood on the pitch, staring down their opponents—Young Julias' team.
Julias, the Crowned Prince of England, stood tall with an almost regal air, exuding the confidence of an unshakable monarch. Beside him, Daichi Kurogane, the unpredictable wild card, stretched his limbs, his eyes burning with untamed intensity. Takura Kemura, the silent playmaker, stood composed, while Korsei Shinzuka smirked, eager to tear through his opponents.
Kuroka grinned, his golden eyes filled with excitement. "Finally, someone worth crushing."
Kaito Isagi, however, felt the weight of Ego's words from their last conversation. Devour them. Prove you're the protagonist. His fists clenched. He couldn't let this match slip away.
The whistle blew.
First Half
Julias' team wasted no time. Within minutes, Julias orchestrated a perfect offensive play, setting up Korsei for a clinical finish.
1-0.
Kuroka clicked his tongue. "Tch, they're fast."
Before Team Kuroka could recover, Daichi made his move. His footwork was nothing like before—now, it was precise, powerful, and completely unreadable. He danced past Renji, faked out Toma, and fired a devastating shot past the keeper.
2-0.
"Daichi… what the hell?" Kaito muttered, shocked.
Kuroka snarled. "Damn it. We were too slow."
Julias smirked. "You're all unworthy pieces on my chessboard."
Kuroka's frustration grew, and before he could reorganize, Julias launched his own attack. He effortlessly maneuvered past Kuroka himself and delivered a pinpoint strike from outside the box.
3-0.
"His precision is absurd," Keiji Mikage muttered, analyzing every step.
In the next sequence, Takura Kemura intercepted a sloppy pass and set up Daichi for another devastating shot.
4-0.
Silence. Team Kuroka was getting annihilated.
Kaito clenched his fists. Not like this… I won't let this be my story.
The Final Minutes
With only minutes left, desperation kicked in. Kaito charged forward, breaking free from Kuroka's shadow. He read the field, saw the gaps, and made his move.
Sora, still playing as Kuroka's loyal puppet, found an opening and delivered a perfectly timed assist to Kaito. Without hesitation, Kaito fired a powerful Direct Shot.
4-1.
The goal was a statement. Kaito wasn't just a supporting character anymore.
The energy shifted. Kaito's presence suddenly became overwhelming. He intercepted a pass meant for Julias, broke through the midfield, and, with cold determination, buried a second goal into the net.
4-2.
Kuroka grinned. "Finally, you're useful."
With Kaito's resurgence, Kuroka seized the momentum. He danced past Takura and Korsei with dazzling footwork before smashing in a shot that defied logic.
4-3.
The comeback was real.
But Julias had enough. He stepped forward, exuding an aura of absolute dominance. The field felt smaller, the air heavier.
Kaito's heart pounded. What… is this presence?
Then it happened.
With a single touch, Julias launched Emperor's Impact.
A shot so powerful, so precise, that no one even reacted before the net shook violently.
5-3.
Kuroka's eyes widened. We couldn't even move…
As the seconds dwindled, Korsei put the final nail in the coffin, weaving past Renji and blasting the sixth goal past the exhausted defense.
6-3.
Game over.
As the match entered its final seconds, something clicked in Keiji Mikage's mind. He had spent the entire game observing Julias' Emperor's Impact, analyzing every detail.
And now, he understood it.
Julias turned in mild amusement as Keiji positioned himself. "Interesting," he muttered.
Then, Keiji replicated Julias' movements, down to the smallest muscle shift. He launched a shot with the same devastating force.
The ball tore through the air, and the keeper—despite being a hologram—failed to react.
6-4.
Julias smirked. "Looks like you finally figured it out."
The whistle blew.
Victory belonged to Julias' team.
Julias stepped forward. "We're taking Keiji."
It wasn't even a request.
Keiji, without hesitation, walked toward them. "I'll see you later," he muttered, his expression unreadable.
And just like that, Kuroka's team was back to what it was before.
As the teams dispersed, Ego's voice rang over the intercom.
"You all have one week off. Use it wisely… or be left behind."
Kaito's body ached, but his mind was sharper than ever. He had scored against Julias. He had proven something.
But before he could rest, another message arrived.
Report to Ego's office immediately.
Kaito's eyes narrowed.