The Ninja, the Samurai and the Giant
"You're still as crazy as always, Mr striker." Yanagi enthusiastically leaped onto Jude's back, his potential blunder that might've resulted in a dangerous counterattack was completely averted by Jude's intervention.
"Never a dull moment with you around," Miyata chuckled as they retook their positions.
"Next ball's mine!" Akira's enthusiastic roar boomed from across the field.
Jude winced at Akira's flamboyant display. "They're a strong team, don't underestimate them or you'll end up playing as a midfielder in no time."
"I don't care how formidable they are. I will show them who's the most worthy to be called a striker!" Akira exclaimed. His eyes fixated on the opposite team's star player, Otoya, who was now getting ready to pass the ball back to their striker.
As soon as the whistle's sound echoed through the stadium, a sharp pass was sent to Team W's striker, Ishikari. The ball was neatly controlled by him before being sent back towards the midfield as he rushed forward.
Jude made use of his fast acceleration and sprinted toward the midfielder who had the ball in hope of intercepting it, but unexpectedly the player was fast enough to pass the ball back to his teammate who was standing on his right.
"That's an impressive reaction time," Miyata complimented. He had already predicted the midfielder's play and positioned himself in the ideal spot to intercept the ball.
"I never expected someone to identify the same weak spots as me. Team X is really full of amazing players."
Hiiragi moved one step ahead of Miyata and intercepted the ball in front of him, his vacant white eyes locked on Team X's strategic genius.
In response to the unexpected twist, Miyata swiftly adjusted his position, standing squarely in front of the samurai-like player.
"Though your blade may be no more than a small dagger, your mind and eyes have honed it to a degree worthy of my respect. Unfortunately for you, unless you refine your blade, your keenness will remain futile." Hiiragi commented, his face remaining stoic as he praised Miyata's mind, while simultaneously pointing out his lack of physical strength.
"What about you stop with your bullshit and come at me instead," Miyata taunted. As if to reply to him, without wasting a single second, Hiiragi dribbled past him with ease.
Miyata tried his best to relentlessly follow after him, but his limited stamina didn't allow him to sprint for extended periods of time.
"You did well, Miyata. You held him off long enough; now leave it to me," Jude reassured, standing face to face with the still expressionless Hiiragi.
"Your dribbles were pretty fun, go ahead and try using them on me."
"A wise man knows the art of strategic retreat, for in yielding, one preserves the essence of strength. To engage recklessly against overwhelming force is to squander the spirit." Hiiragi declared with solemnity, withdrawing from the helpless face-off with Jude and sending a long ball through towards the far right side of the field.
Team X's left back, Fujita, was taken aback by such a fast long ball and tried his best to intercept it, jumping in the air with his small stature in hope of controlling the ball with his chest.
Unfortunately for him, Otoya was already waiting for this opportunity and stealthily appeared behind him, successfully controlling the long pass that was meant for him.
As soon as he noticed that, Fujita did his best to make up for his blunder and rushed to stop Otoya. The ninja skillfully dragged the ball with the outside of his foot and nutmegged the small boy before sharply crossing the ball to the penalty area.
The two defenders, Shun and Kentaro, both fairly tall players, jumped up to clear the ball. Michio also reacted as soon as he noticed the dangerous cross and went out of his cages, trying to punch the ball away with his fist.
"Good job, ninja. That's a wise decision."
A lazy voice echoed as the freakishly tall Ishikawa jumped up between the three of them. Although he was the last to jump he easily outreached all of them in height and even the tall Michio's extended hand was too late as Team W's Giant headed the ball into the net.
1-1, the mechanical screen announced.
"Good job, giant, get ready for the second one."
"Try to cross it a little higher next time, this one was a little short for me."
The two Team W players discussed, joking between each other as they went back to their own half of the field. In a little over 10 minutes, the score was once again back to a stalemate. Both teams proving to be very evenly matched.
Jude recognized that the conceded goal was bound to have a detrimental impact on the mentally fragile players, in order to counter that, he went up to take the kick-off himself. A portion of the heavy pressure weighting on Team X's shoulders was lifted off as soon as Jude's feet came in contact with the ball, successfully activating his [Emperor's Aura].
He understood that in such an evenly paired game, the decisive point was going to be mentality, the team who's going to be able to hit back as soon they get hit, are the ones who will ultimately win.
"Damnit, how can someone be so tall? I'm jealous!"
Akira exclaimed, his wide smile betraying his excitement. Jude smiled as he looked at his teammate's rant.
When it came to sheer willpower, Akira was by far the strongest in this field, it was reassuring to know that even if hell came down and Team X was losing by 10 goals, there would always be a cheerful fool who would brainlessly run around in hope to score.
"If you're jealous go ahead and destroy them," Jude said as he passed the ball back to Akira and dashed forward.
"You can count on me!" The happy fool shouted at the top of his lungs, sprinting straight towards Team W's left wing. Taken aback by such an unexpected move his legs slightly bent, getting ready to stop Akira in his tracks.
"Get out of the way!"
Akira picked up his pace, going even faster, his direction set on the innocent left wing.
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(AN: bonus chapter tomorrow for Christmas. Might even add another bonus chapter this week if my dear readers spam the Power Stones!)