Chapter 25:Team Z Vs Team V

The day of the final match arrived, tension hanging thick in the air as both teams stepped onto the pitch. Team Z donned their familiar blue jerseys, while Team V appeared in sleek black kits. The formations were as expected, with Team V opting not to change their strategy—why mess with a system that had been dismantling opponents left and right?

The referee's whistle pierced the air, signaling the start of the game. Team V kicked off, sending the ball straight to Reo Mikage, who confidently dribbled toward the center. Isagi and Bachira immediately pressed forward, determined to block his path. "Reo's passes always turn into goals," Isagi thought, recalling their video analysis. "We can't let him control the midfield!"

As the pressure closed in, Reo calmly pulled the ball back and passed it to Zantetsu, who had been shadowing him for support. Zantetsu surged down the right wing, but his advance was quickly met by Chigiri and Raichi, cutting off his path forward. With no clear options ahead, Zantetsu launched a cross to the left, aiming for Nagi, who was roaming the field with his usual indifferent demeanor.

The ball soared through the air toward Nagi. Just as it descended, Kira Ryosuke sprang into action, using his God Speed Impulse to intercept the pass with precision. Without hesitation, Team Z launched a counterattack, Kira passing quickly to Bachira on the wing. Bachira expertly dribbled past his marker and cut into the center of the box. With perfect timing, he sent a cross toward Iemon, who muscled his defender aside.

Iemon rose, towering above the defenders, and directed the ball toward the goal with a header, but the V Team's goalkeeper reacted swiftly, snatching the ball mid-air. Iemon grunted in frustration at the missed opportunity.

"Nice effort," Kunigami said, patting Iemon on the back.

"I'll get the next one," Iemon replied determinedly.

From the back, Reo Mikage couldn't help but be impressed. "Wow, that was close," he thought. "Their transitions and passing are nearly perfect."

The game continued with intense back-and-forth play. Kira's sharp physical training, especially his vertical leaps and stamina, allowed him to dominate the midfield and contribute both offensively and defensively. As the match progressed, Kira could feel his Ultimate Copy evolving, learning from every movement of his opponents. His Perfect Body and growing Ego were pushing him past his physical limits, strengthening him by the day.

Meanwhile, Isagi and Bachira were executing Kira's strategy of double-teaming Reo Mikage, ensuring that Team V's attack was stifled before it could fully develop. This approach was critical, as Mikage was the orchestrator of V Team's offensive plays.

"You're really tenacious," Mikage remarked as Isagi and Bachira pressed him hard. Although the defense was tighter than he had expected, Mikage remained calm and in control. He signaled to Nagi, who lazily scratched his neck, uninterested. "Hey, Nagi! Let's try that play we practiced," Mikage called, eyes gleaming with excitement.

Nagi sighed, indifferent. "Sure, whatever..."

Isagi narrowed his eyes. "What are they planning?" But before he could fully process it, Mikage pulled back into his half and sent a long, low pass to Nagi, the ball spinning with incredible speed. "No way he can control that..." Isagi thought, but his eyes widened in disbelief as Nagi effortlessly cushioned the ball with a single touch, stopping it dead at his feet.

"WHAT!?" Team Z gasped in shock. Nagi's ball control was on another level.

"You idiot, Zantetsu!" Nagi called as he quickly changed his dribbling motion, performing a feint that left Isagi and Bachira behind. With no hesitation, Nagi passed the ball to Zantetsu, who accelerated down the field like a jet engine. Chigiri, known for his speed, was left far behind.

"How is he this fast?" Chigiri thought in disbelief, as Zantetsu rocketed toward Team Z's goal.

Just as Zantetsu was about to shoot, Kira appeared out of nowhere. With his God Speed Impulse and enhanced physique, he overtook Zantetsu, making a clean steal from behind. He swiftly turned and launched a long pass forward.

"Great pass!" Bachira exclaimed as he received the ball and charged into the opponent's half. V Team's defenders, led by Reo, quickly closed in, but Bachira, grinning, played them as decoys. He passed the ball to Kunigami, who was unmarked on the left side.

Kunigami took a deep breath and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot.

"GOAL!" The ball soared into the top corner of the net. Team Z had taken the lead, 1-0.

"Nice one, Kunigami!" Isagi shouted, and the rest of Team Z celebrated.

But the lead was short-lived. Reo Mikage calmly reset the play and lobbed a perfectly weighted pass over the Z Team defense. "This can't be right," Raichi muttered as the ball spun through the air.

Suddenly, Nagi leaped into the air with astonishing athleticism. Even Kuon, known for his jumping ability, couldn't compete. Nagi's foot hooked around the ball like a clamp, controlling it with his Superb Ball Control. He adjusted his body mid-air and volleyed the ball into the net.

"GOAL!" The score was leveled at 1-1. Nagi's raw talent was on full display, his calm demeanor unshaken even after scoring.

Kira's eyes narrowed as he watched Nagi and Reo. "Six months of playing, and he's already this good?" Kira thought. He felt the Ultimate Copy within him stirring, ready to absorb the skills of these elite players.

The game raged on, with Team Z and Team V battling fiercely for control. Kira knew that he would need to push his abilities—his God Speed Impulse, Perfect Body, and growing Ego—to their absolute limits to secure victory. Each day in training had strengthened him, and now, on the biggest stage, he felt his powers reaching new heights.

As the whistle signaled the continuation of play, Kira smirked. "This is where it all begins."