Chapter 7: Igaguri's Resolve
"Kira, just admit defeat already. Save us all some time. Amen." Igaguri, who'd been secretly watching from the sidelines, had scurried back to join the group at some point. After his sneaky observation, even he seemed convinced Kira didn't stand a chance and chose to blend in with the others.
The group silently judged him. What an opportunist.
"Oh? Is that what you think?"
Kira hadn't moved yet, still adjusting to the surge of power coursing through him from the Shidou Ryusei Attribute Trial Card. His body burned, as if brimming with untamed energy.
'So this is what it feels like to be Shidou Ryusei?'
'That wild, beast-like strength… no wonder he's a maniac on the pitch.'
Every player had their signature style, and now even the way Kira trapped the ball had shifted subtly, exuding a new intensity.
The others sensed it too—a change in Kira's aura that left them uneasy.
"Hey, Kunigami, catch this!" Kira flashed a grin, the curve of his smile almost theatrical.
He took a few steps back, building momentum. Then, with a powerful run-up, he swung his right leg, striking the ball's lower-right side with the instep of his foot.
The ball rocketed into the air, spinning wildly.
Confusion rippled through the group. The shot wasn't heading toward Kunigami at all—it curved sharply, veering toward the left side of the room where no one stood.
"Hahaha, what's with that shot? He completely missed!"
"There's nobody over there! Where's he even aiming?"
Kunigami frowned, just as baffled. 'Is this Kira guy overhyped? Can't he even kick straight?
Japan's so-called football prodigy… is this all he's got?'
Kira, unfazed, pressed his index finger to his lips. "Shh. Let the ball fly a little longer."
Isagi's eyes tracked the ball's arc, his instincts kicking in. 'No, that curve… it's not just flying left.' A sudden realization hit him. It's going to curve back. It's aimed at Kunigami!
"It's a banana shot, Kunigami! Watch out!" Isagi yelled.
'Banana shot?'
Kunigami whipped his head to the left, pupils trembling. The ball, tracing a perfect semicircle, abruptly shifted direction, accelerating straight toward him.
"Damn it!"
Kunigami ducked just in time.
Whoosh!
The ball whistled over his head, grazing the top of his hair.
"That… that was too close," Kunigami muttered, collapsing to the floor, heart pounding. 'A split second slower, and that would've smashed my face.'
'What a shot. That angle, that curve… it's not something you pull off without pinpoint control over power and foot placement.'
Kunigami, who prided himself on his own powerful kicks, knew he couldn't match that kind of precision. He shot a grateful glance at Isagi, but Isagi's face was pale, his voice urgent.
"It's not over, Kunigami! The ball's coming back!"
'Coming back?'
Kunigami snapped his head forward.
In the distance, Kira launched himself into the air, his body twisting mid-flight, suspended in a dramatic sideways pose—left foot low, right foot high. With a ferocious swing, he struck the rebounding ball off the wall with the outside of his right foot.
'That hang time… unreal!'
An outside-of-the-foot volley.
BOOM!
The ball screamed through the air, faster than anything Kunigami had ever kicked.
I… I can't dodge this.
Despair washed over Kunigami as he braced himself, eyes squeezing shut. For the first time on the pitch, the towering striker felt utterly powerless.
BOOM!
The ball slammed into Kunigami's face with a sickening thud, sending him crashing backward to the floor. A deep, red football imprint marked his cheek.
"So… so fast," someone whispered.
"He did that from mid-air?"
"Kunigami… he got hit?"
Hiss~
The room fell silent, stunned by Kira's display. First, a pinpoint banana shot, then an explosive outside-foot volley.
Is this guy a monster? He's too strong.
Isagi stared, wide-eyed, at Kunigami sprawled on the floor. "So strong… Kunigami, the powerhouse, didn't even last twenty seconds."
His mind raced. 'If I faced Kira, could I hold out any longer?'
Kunigami, nose bleeding, lay dazed, staring at the ceiling. "So fast… so fast…" he mumbled.
…
Monitoring Room
Anri Teieri stood frozen, her gaze flicking to Ego Jinpachi.
That banana shot was the kind of highlight-reel play pros dreamed of pulling off. But while most aimed for the goal, Kira's target was Kunigami's face—a much smaller mark. The precision was staggering.
And then that outside-foot volley? The core strength needed to unleash that kind of speed mid-air was beyond comprehension.
"VAR test," Ego said, his expression calm but his eyes glinting with curiosity. "What was the speed of Kira's final kick?"
Anri checked the data, her voice trembling. "It's… 100 km/h."
A speed on par with high-level pros.
Ego's lips curled into a knowing smirk. 'So fast. A true diamond in the rough.'
…
Inside the Room
The screen's [Demon] avatar switched to Kunigami.
Time remaining: 65 seconds.
The ball, after striking Kunigami, ricocheted to the far side of the room. Kira strolled over casually, placing his foot on it. The [Demon] avatar flipped back to Kira.
Time remaining: 60 seconds.
"So…" Kira's voice was low, almost playful. "Who's next?"
He began dribbling slowly, advancing toward the group like a predator stalking prey, his movements deliberate and menacing.
"Run! Get out of here!" Igaguri shouted, his voice cracking with panic.
Who'd be crazy enough to face this guy?
Run!
His yell snapped the others out of their shock. Intimidated by Kira's overwhelming skill, they scattered like startled prey.
Kira, unfazed, dribbled leisurely, giving chase. Room Z descended into chaos, mirroring the frantic [Demon] Tag games in the other rooms.
...
30 Seconds Later
Thud!
In the pandemonium, Igaguri took a direct hit to the head. His poor stamina and sluggish reflexes had left him vulnerable, unable to dodge in time.
The screen's [Demon] avatar switched to Igaguri.
Kira blinked, surprised. Huh? I was just kicking it around for fun. Hitting someone wasn't even the plan. There's still plenty of time left.
Isagi caught Kira's reaction, his mind racing. Something's off. He's challenging all of us, but since Kunigami went down, we're the ones running from him. And he doesn't even seem eager to pass the [Demon] Tag. What's your game, Kira? What are you plotting?
"Waaah! How'd this happen? I'm the [Demon] now!" Igaguri spun around, panic in his eyes.
'Challenge Kira? No way. I'd never land a hit on him.'
'I don't want to go back to the temple and live as a monk forever…'
'If I'm going to survive, I need to target someone closer to my level.'
His gaze locked onto one person.
After a split-second decision, Igaguri gritted his teeth, turned, and fired the ball straight at an unsuspecting Isagi.
BOOM.
The ball struck Isagi's body.
"Hey!"
"Kick it at Kira! Aren't we on the same side?"
The group erupted in outrage at "Buzz Cut's" betrayal.
"Kira's too strong! You think I can hit him by myself? Come on, look at the situation!" Igaguri shot back, his voice firm. "Focus on not getting eliminated yourself! This is a game where our football careers are on the line!"
İgaguri stood tall, unshaken, his resolve unwavering.
His words hit hard. He's right. This game is about eliminating or being eliminated.
'Buzz Cut's' move might seem dirty, but if it's for your football career, is it really wrong?
The screen updated.
Time remaining: 30 seconds.
The [Demon] avatar switched to Isagi Yoichi.
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I want your power stones!! Give me your power stones!!! 💎💎💎