Chapter 15: Just a Pesky Bug
Central Pitch
A blue blur wearing the number 10 jersey darted into the penalty area. It was Kira, charging forward with unwavering trust in Bachira's pass. He hadn't even glanced at the ball—his teammates' shouts and Team X's panicked cries told him his run was perfectly timed.
'The ball's coming!'
As Kira reached the heart of the penalty area, Bachira's cut-back pass rolled into his path. He slowed, adjusting his footwork with precision, stealing a glance at the goalkeeper's stance. With the ball at his feet, Kira's right leg tensed, and he struck it with force.
'Left side!'
The Team X goalkeeper reacted, leaping high, fingers stretched to deflect the shot. But the move came too fast. The ball soared just above his outstretched hand, curving slightly upward before slamming into the top corner of the net.
Boom!
Goal!
Less than three minutes after kickoff, Team Z led 1-0.
Kira pumped his fist, adrenaline surging as his teammates swarmed him, their cheers echoing across the pitch.
"That was insane, you three! So fast!" Kunigami roared, his praise genuine. He'd sprinted down the left wing, but Kira, Isagi, and Bachira had moved like a well-oiled machine, tearing through Team X's disorganized defense in seconds.
"Kira, how'd you know I'd pass there?" Bachira asked, eyes wide with excitement. "I wasn't even sure anyone would be there!"
Kira pointed at himself, then at Bachira, grinning. "Remember our passing drills that night? That cut-back was straight out of our triangle passing practice."
Isagi's eyes lit up with realization. 'That's it! Bachira's instinctive heel pass from the byline—it's the same triangle pattern we drilled over and over that night.'
Kira felt a quiet thrill. 'The cut-back pass is a pro-level move. These guys must've practiced it in high school, but it needs trust and chemistry to pull off.' That night, when Isagi joined him and Bachira in training, Kira had seen the potential for something special. 'If we built trust early, we could spark some real chemistry in matches. And today, it paid off—Team Z's unity shredded Team X's defense right out the gate.'
But a flicker of concern crossed his mind. 'Team X is on our level. If they regroup and tighten their defense, this game's gonna get tough. We need to keep pushing while they're still rattled.' His gaze shifted to the opponent's half, confidence rising. 'If it comes to it, I've got my cheat cards ready.'
Across the pitch, Shoei Barou's jaw clenched, his teeth practically grinding to dust. His glare locked onto Kira, brimming with murderous intent. As Team X's striker, he hadn't been involved in defending that goal, and Kira's brilliance stung. 'No one outshines me on the pitch,' Barou thought, refusing to entertain the idea of defeat. 'Let these scrubs celebrate for now. There's plenty of time.'
His teammates, however, weren't so resolute.
"Are they really a new team?"
"That combo was too smooth. I'd swear they've been playing together for years."
"How are we supposed to beat this?"
Unlike the original story, where Team X overwhelmed Team Z, doubt crept into their ranks. They'd assumed they could just grab the ball and shoot. The idea of 11 strikers playing with such coordination was unthinkable.
...
Monitoring Room
Anri Teieri stared at the screen, her jaw slightly dropped. "Team Z looks prepared! Their positioning and teamwork—it's like they've been a unit forever."
Ego Jinpachi's eyes narrowed, a spark of surprise flickering within. He'd expected chaos in every room's first match—11 strikers fighting for the spotlight, tripping over each other's egos. Yet Team Z was defying that. 'It's impossible for 11 strikers to accept their roles without a strong leader.' His gaze settled on Kira, mobbed by his celebrating teammates. 'So it's you, Kira. You've shaped this team from the start.'
"Team X is in trouble," Anri said, analyzing the flow of the game. "They're rattled."
Ego nodded, a rare moment of agreement. "But it's only the beginning. Let's see how their so-called King responds."
…
Central Pitch
Team Z's celebration was brief.
Beeeep!
"Match continues," the loudspeaker announced.
Team X kicked off, but their play was disjointed. The ball circulated in their midfield, unable to penetrate Team Z's tightly knit lines. Barou, their core, hovered eagerly, ready to receive, but a shadow stuck to him like glue, impossible to shake.
That shadow was Jingo Raichi. Following Kira's pre-match orders, Raichi ignored the ball's movement, focusing solely on marking Barou.
Kira's words echoed in his mind: 'Raichi, you're the key to Team Z's victory. Stick to their big guy like a leech. Our win depends on you.'
Raichi gritted his teeth, mirroring Barou's every step. 'Kira actually asked me for help? No way I'm letting this guy breathe!'
Though Team X held possession, Team Z controlled the game's rhythm.
12th Minute, First Half
"Great tackle, Raichi!"
A pass aimed for Barou sailed into Raichi's range. Positioned perfectly, he stretched out a leg and stole the ball cleanly.
"You maggots are no match for my sexy football!" Raichi crowed, his mocking laugh ringing out. In the same motion, he launched a long ball toward the right wing. "Run for it, elf boy!"
The pass was ambitious but sloppy, sailing straight to a Team X defender while Bachira was still meters away.
"Gaaah! My bad!" Raichi groaned, clutching his head in frustration.
"Just a pesky bug," Barou muttered, brushing off Raichi's taunts. He dropped back to defend, realizing that as Team X's striker, he couldn't just wait for chances. 'If I don't step up, this game's over.'
The Team X defender controlled Raichi's wayward pass, spotting Bachira closing in. He quickly passed backward to a teammate—but immediately regretted it, grabbing his head in dismay.
In his line of sight, a figure in a blue number 11 jersey intercepted the back-pass.
It was Isagi. He trapped the ball smoothly, shouting, "Counter-attack!"
Team Z surged forward, all 11 players—including the four defenders—flooding into Team X's half, their momentum unstoppable.
----
For every 100 total Power Stones, I'll drop another +1 bonus chapter!
Don't forget to drop power stones and comments for the novel!
Also, if you're enjoying the story and want to read future chapters early, just search "DemonicFiction" on "P4trƐon"