Chapter 18: Kunigami's Defense
The stadium fell silent, the air heavy with tension.
Then, like a storm breaking, Team X erupted into wild cheers. Their players, faces alight with excitement, rushed toward Barou, their roars shaking the pitch.
"RAAAAAAAH!!"
Barou marked his goal with a fierce shout, fists clenched at his chest, exuding the aura of a king reclaiming his domain.
Team Z watched the celebration, frustration simmering. Their early lead now felt like a fading dream.
"Sorry, that goal was my fault," Raichi said, his face flushed as he approached Kira. "I won't let that spiky-haired jerk get past me again."
Kira raised an eyebrow, impressed by Raichi's accountability. He hadn't pegged him for the type to own up. Patting Raichi's shoulder, he said, "It's not on you. Barou played his cards close to his chest."
Kira berated himself silently. Barou had kept his dribbling skills hidden in the first half, and Kira, swept up in the game, forgot to warn Raichi about his flair. That lapse left Raichi vulnerable. 'I messed up too,' he admitted inwardly.
His eyes shifted to the defenders who'd tried to cover but were easily outmaneuvered. Igaguri's frustrated grimace was no surprise—his skills had limits. But Chigiri Hyoma, slumped on the turf, looked utterly defeated, his spirit drained.
'Tch, the princess is still unawakened, just like in the original,' Kira thought. 'Defense is on the others for now.'
He signaled Kunigami over. The tall striker jogged up, his face set with determination.
"Kunigami, Barou's a monster when he shields the ball," Kira said. "You're the only one who can match his raw power. If he drives forward, back Raichi up and lock him down."
Kunigami nodded, though a shadow of doubt flickered in his eyes. Barou's dominance had shaken him.
"Leave the goals to me," Kira said with a confident smile. "Just focus on shutting him out."
Kunigami's tension eased, his resolve solidifying. Kira's assurance steadied him.
Kira sized up Barou's level. 'Without the system, this'd be a coin toss. But with my cheat cards, I've got the upper hand.' He steeled himself, ready to seize the next opportunity.
The celebration ended, and both teams repositioned.
"You hid your tricks well, King!" Kira called out, grinning at Barou.
"Hah! Still got a smile?" Barou growled. "You maggots think you can win? I live for crushing hopes."
"Oh? Let's see who breaks first!" Kira shot back, unshaken.
Beeep!
"The match continues."
Team Z took possession, circulating the ball among themselves. Barou led Team X's aggressive high press, their midfielders swarming like hornets. The pressure fractured Team Z's passing, disrupting their flow.
Isagi, Team Z's playmaker, felt the weight. Unable to hold the ball under the intense press, he resorted to quick backward passes, leaving Kira's forward runs stranded.
'I'm too average,' Isagi thought, frustration eating at him. 'My passes can't match Kira's movement. My ball control's weak. Even my vision's useless here.'
"Isagi, heads up!" Bachira shouted, passing the ball back.
Caught in his thoughts, Isagi froze. A figure lunged in like a beast, snatching the ball in an instant.
"Intercepted!"
Isagi's stomach dropped. 'I lost focus and gave it away!'
On the pitch, opportunities were everything, and Barou pounced. He charged forward, ball at his feet, with Raichi blocking his path. Wary of Barou's dribbling after the rainbow flick, Raichi hung back, retreating cautiously to avoid another embarrassment.
They approached the edge of Team Z's penalty area.
A towering figure barreled in from the side, slamming into Barou with force.
It was Kunigami, stepping up to cover.
"Hey, where'd this knight come from?!" Barou snapped, his body rocked by the impact but still pushing forward.
"Get out of my way! I'll crush you!" Barou roared.
Kunigami locked eyes with him, unflinching. "Bring it."
"Raichi, I've got him now!" Kunigami shouted, sticking to Barou, jostling and crowding him relentlessly.
To Kunigami's shock, Barou kept advancing, his speed dulled but his will unbroken. 'This guy's power is unreal,' Kunigami thought, rethinking his earlier dismissal of Barou as just a brute.
Thump!
Kunigami spotted an opening and struck at the ball. Barou, refusing to back down, met it head-on. Their clash sent the ball popping loose.
Neither relented. Limping slightly, they chased the loose ball, colliding again with even greater force.
THUMP!
The bone-jarring impact of their feet echoed, making nearby players wince. Raichi, trailing behind, muttered, "These guys are insane."
The ball broke free again, and both players, now hobbling, refused to yield, their eyes burning with defiance.
This time, it rolled to Team Z's defender, Igaguri.
"Amen! I gladly accept!" Igaguri declared, planting his foot on the ball. He hesitated, unsure of his next move.
"Igaguri! Here!" Isagi called, waving from midfield.
Kira saw the counter-attack opening and started his run. 'This is it.' He thought, Use Barou Shoei Trial Card.
[Barou Shoei Trial Card activated!]
[Dribbling +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Strength +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Speed +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Shooting +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
"Here, Isagi!" Igaguri launched a long pass, but instantly grabbed his head. "Damn it! Misfired!"
The ball veered wildly, far from Isagi, heading straight for a Team X player.
Isagi's face fell. 'Useless. I can't reach that, and that guy's too tall for a header.'
Just as hope faded, a figure soared in front of the Team X player, leaping skyward.
It was Kira.
His jump was staggering, defying gravity like a high jumper. The crowd gasped in awe.
Kira snapped his head, redirecting the ball back to Isagi's feet.
"Charge, Isagi!" Kira roared as he landed.
"Charge!" Isagi echoed, rallying himself. He surged forward, aiming to catch Team X's defense off balance.
But the plan hit a wall. Team X's defenders were sharp, closing in tightly. Isagi's dribbling attempts fizzled—he didn't have the skill to break through.
"Pass back, Isagi!" Kira's voice cut through his frustration.
Kira had followed up after the header, positioning himself just behind and to Isagi's left. Isagi, grasping the lifeline, passed back without hesitation.
Kira took the ball on the left flank and exploded forward.
"So fast!" onlookers shouted.
Fueled by the Barou Trial Card, Kira's speed was unreal, leaving the Team X defender marking him trailing far behind. His aura radiated a fierce, almost primal intensity, echoing Barou's own beast-like presence.
"Go, Kira!"
"Charge!"
Kunigami and Igaguri, watching from their half, waved their fists, cheering as Kira tore down the flank.
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