"Heh, you really don't pass, Muscle Gorilla."
"You couldn't beat me one-on-one in that match. And now? We're not even in the same league anymore!"
Right as Shōei Barō stared in shock, Ryūma Banjō moved like he had rehearsed it a thousand times.
When the ball reached the right side, Ryūma's right foot was already there. He intercepted it cleanly, then spun with smooth precision, using his back to shield Barō.
With that, Barō had zero chance of taking the ball back. He couldn't outmuscle Ryūma, so all he could do was watch helplessly as Ryūma kicked the ball behind him.
And behind both of them—right where Yo Hiori had just sprinted from—was Kairu Saramadara.
"Counterattack, Hiori!"
With that, Ryūma unleashed his full speed, breaking away from Barō completely as he bolted toward Team B's side.
Yo Hiori dribbled just a few steps before Kairu Saramadara cut him off. But Hiori was clearly ready for it.
The instant Saramadara moved in, Hiori adjusted his angle and passed the ball.
"Wahaha!! The Golden Player arrives!!"
Hiori looked up at the figure soaring high into the air and blurted out instinctively:
"Shido?!"
Sure enough, that airborne figure was Ryusei Shido. Still mid-air, he redirected Hiori's pass, firing it toward another spot on the field.
But Shido might have forgotten—no matter where he appeared, Rin Itoshi never took his eyes off him.
The ball Shido kicked hadn't flown far before Rin jumped up as well, chest-stopping it cleanly.
As soon as he landed, Rin didn't give Shido even a second to close in. Just as the ball dropped a few centimeters above the grass, Rin decisively sent it to the right flank of Team B's front line.
"Finish them, Ryūma!"
In the next moment, Ryūma Banjō flashed into the exact position, catching Rin's pass with perfect timing.
By now, Ryūma had already shifted into his Limit-Breaking State.
Back in his Slow-Motion World, he had read Rin's positioning and the intent in his eyes—instantly grasping what Rin planned.
In this state, Ryūma was the final blade meant to cut down Team B.
Aside from Ryusei Shido, who could hold him off for maybe ten seconds, the remaining four players on Team B couldn't even slow him for two.
If Kudo Tōya were still at his peak, he could've fought Ryūma evenly. But right now, he was suffering the mental strain of constantly using God's Eye—
…and the relentless drain of his stamina.
Worst of all, his opponent—Ryūma—was still at peak condition, perhaps even beyond it.
The biggest reason Ryūma dared activate his Limit-Breaking State so decisively was because Kudo's condition kept deteriorating. Otherwise, Ryūma would never trigger it lightly.
Staring at Kudo Tōya standing in his path, Ryūma couldn't help thinking:
(Yeah… no matter how great your talent is, without stamina to support it, it means nothing.)
(Still, Kudo's incredible. This entire match has been an extreme back-and-forth between us.)
(And even if my stamina is "limitless," I do feel tired.)
(Right now, both my body and mind keep telling me: "I'm exhausted…")
"Heh… forcing me this far is impressive, Toya. But this is where you step aside."
Ryūma didn't slow down at all—clearly intending to smash straight through Kudo Tōya.
Kudo grit his teeth, activating God's Eye again and again, desperately trying to find a counter.
But nothing worked. Ryūma overpowered him completely, pushing him deeper into Team B's area.
(What do I do? Am I losing? Am I losing to him again?)
(Am I… going to be the loser again?)
Kudo had already failed several interceptions in a row. He could barely keep up through sheer will alone—and still couldn't stop Ryūma's advance.
(If this continues, he'll be in shooting range any second…)
(Damn it—no! I refuse to lose!)
As Ryūma drove him back step by step, voices resurfaced in Kudo's mind—his father and coach speaking to him the day he first showed talent.
[Father: Kudo, you're a genius! You have real talent!]
[Father: Hahaha! Kudo, you're heaven's gift to me. My unfulfilled dream—son, you'll accomplish it for me!]
[Father: I look forward to the day you become the world's No. 1 striker! From now on, whatever you want, I'll give it everything I have!]
[Coach: Remember this, Kudo—just keep winning. Nothing else matters. In football, victory is everything.]
[Coach: The moment you lose, any excuse becomes meaningless!]
(Losers are stripped of everything—teammates, dignity!)
(In this world, victory is all that matters! The victor is praised, the defeated are scorned!)
"I will defeat everything! The whole world will praise me—cheer for my victory!!"
Ryūma froze for a moment. He had no clue what had snapped inside Kudo Tōya, but he wasn't about to stop moving.
In the next second, Ryūma cut sharply—slipping past Kudo. Even he was surprised it worked. Grinning, he shouted:
"Heh, I'll crush you all again next match. This one's over. Bye-bye, Tō—"
Ryūma's words stopped dead in his throat.
His pupils shrank as he whipped his head back toward Kudo in disbelief.
Because Ryūma realized—
The ball wasn't at his feet.
Kudo Tōya had stolen it.
The crimson hexagram in Kudo's eyes had vanished completely. In its place were two red rings—one deep, one faint—etched into his pupils.
(What the hell happened just now?! How did he steal it from me?)
(Tch—no time. I'll get it back first!)
Ryūma moved to intercept, but Kudo had already begun a passing motion.
Luckily, Ryūma was still in Limit-Breaking State—if he burst forward with everything he had, he could still cut off the pass.
But before Ryūma even made contact, Kudo changed his motion mid-stride.
Startled, Ryūma halted abruptly, bracing to react—
And at that exact instant, Kudo switched again, flicking the ball with his heel—
Straight between Ryūma's legs.
Ryūma reacted instantly, snapping back into Slow-Motion World.
But Kudo's two consecutive feints triggered a terrifying suspicion deep within Ryūma's mind—