Chapter 21: Instinct and Execution

Angle-wise, Jin Woo's sunback kick has the advantage because of its better downward angle. However, Chiko seems to have also realized this and decided to put more effort on his jump. His aim was to have a higher execution of his spike and to make the first contact with the ball.

Jin Woo's face took a slight turn to get a clue of Chiko's position.

Wooosh!~

"What?!"

It was only then that he realized that the latter was not joking around when it positioned himself for a spike. The ball was perfectly in between the two and the Star Players never expected Chiko to grab this opportunity to compete with another spike.

Jin Woo watched as Chiko flew higher and executed the Santi-style rolling spike!

"Damn it! I can't move properly" Jin Woo, has no choice, Chiko has the higher ground and he is left with no other choice but to block. But with the suppression effect of Chiko's spike, Jin Woo could only bend his body awkwardly.

KAPOOOM!!~

"Successful block!"

"From sunback kick to a block!? Amazing. Is this the supreme control abilities of the Star players?"

Rino and his team was appalled at the intense performance of Chiko and Jin Woo. Both John and Kurt had their mouths wide open all this time. Of course, they wanted the star players to win.

"What? It succeeded?" Even Jin Woo could not believe himself. He never expected his makeshift block strategy was able to work against the Santi-inspired spike.

The reason was simple; It was because Chiko lacked the proper aiming control. Despite his beautiful Santi-style strike, his inexperience in this field of sport managed to grabbed his ankle. It was like having the most powerful weapon but the user doesn't know the proper techniques to aiming.

On the other hand, Mr. Gaje was sweating like he was in a rain.

"This sly bastard..." He mumbled to himself.

After finally seeing Chiko performing Santi's spike two times. He is now convinced that this vendor looking farmboy actually has the skills! Although his inexperience made him an unpolished gem, with just a couple of training and discipline, he is quite sure he can make another Star pointer out of him.

But he remembered the bet with Mr. U-Bear.

If Chiko scores even once against the Star Players, he has no other choice but to leave and lose the precious opportunity to recruit Chiko. He could only hope that Jin Woo would win and don't allow a single score!

He took a slight glance at U-Bear and his warm and gentle smile was like a thorn in his eye.

Suddenly, Mr. Gaje looked at the court and shouted,

"Jin Woo! If you let that guy score even once, you will lose your allowance for this month! Do you understand!?"

"This wicked old geezer...." Jin Woo grumbled after hearing it. Luckily for him, the ball hit his backside and bounced high back at Chiko's side of the court.

"Ouch my back!" it took some time before the pain finally kicked in. The back spot where the ball hit actually made a terrible mark and the muscles were swollen.

"I can't make it!" Chiko saw the ball flying away from him as his body was still falling. Because of the power behind his kick, the rebound of the ball was also extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, the ball has already flown away inside his court!

After landing, Chiko felt extremely helpless. He tried his best to chase the ball before it falls to the ground. His leg muscles are twitching painfully due to lack of training and proper stretching but he still managed to move around.

The only thing that bothers him is the number of times he can play. He has already done those extremely complicated spikes three times now and although he lasted longer this time, the shouting pain of his leg muscles warned him of an even more painful rebound later.

Chiko must make use of every single round and give it his best. But the way things are currently unfolding, it seems that this round will go to the Star Players.

"DON'T GIVE UP!"

Chiko snapped out of his daze after hearing a familiar voice. His eyes traced the origin and realized it was Gantes who just beckoned.

"Don't forget you have a team behind you! Don't you ever give up our unlimited samgyupsal!" Gantes was currently moving while limping towards the spot where the ball was about to land.

"I might not be good at doing kicks at this time but here is what I can do!"

With a sudden burst of his speed and having his bald head at the front, Gantes dived toward the floor and managed to save the ball - although he has to suffer the consequences!

PONNG!~

BAAAM!

"Gantes!" Chiko called out to the massive fluffy guy who intentionally dived to the floor just to save the ball.

"I am okay!" Gantes instantly declared while giving a thumbs up towards Chiko. His face was still flat on the ground and there were signs of his nose bleeding.

The ball was safe and is currently going in another direction, too bad, the save from Gantes was too low and Chiko will still not be able to make it on time.

Sniff, sniff.

"I hate this smell." Yang got a whiff of the blood's smell from Gantes. His aswang instinct instantly activated and his body suddenly became extremely agile and light.

The star players were about to celebrate their win when a blurring shadow caught their eyes.

"What insane speed!"

"Was that a black cat!?"

"W-wait. What was that?"

At the spot where the ball was about to land, Yang's figure suddenly appeared.

His eyes were as sharp as a cat's eye and there was a terrifying aura lingering in his body. It was dark, it was terror and it was scary. It was the curse of a blood awakened Aswang. He showed a superhuman speed and agility that not even their fast eyes were able to keep up!

PAANG!

With a casual swooping low kick, Yang managed to save the ball and sent it flying towards Chiko's direction.

"My body...." Yang knew that the moment he enters the aswang mode, his energy consumptions becomes abnormally high. With a sudden burst of speed of agility, his remaining energy also depleted like magic.

With his power quickly draining down in his Aswang mode, Yang told Chiko his last words before falling to fatigue sleep,

"Please win. For the team Madtaks..."

THUD!

With both his team members suddenly lending him help despite their bad conditions, Chiko felt an unfamiliar feeling.

His body was warm, his mind was inspired, his heart was beating fast, his muscles were twitching and his eyes were shedding tears.

It was the feeling of finding true friends and brotherhood.

"Thank you. Yang. Gantes." Chiko closed his eyes and whispered faintly as he moved towards the net and prepared to receive the ball that his two friends worked so hard just to save.

Just when the ball was about to reach the perfect height for a strike, Chiko suddenly opened his eyes - instantly locked at the incoming ball and shouted,

"This is for team Madtaks!"

Chiko suddenly jumped for another rolling spike. With his mind inspired and calm, he found the right way to control the ball's direction. His silhouette resembled that of a flying god! It was not a Santi-inspired kick.

Chiko felt his soul bursting with power. He left himself to the call of his instinct and his body just moved on its own. He was in a trance while executing.

It will be Chiko's own kick this time.

Wennng!~

The three-star players felt it.

Another King's suppression aura burst out from Chiko's direction. They all felt like they were being locked in place, feeling like their weights are dragging them down. Their mind was blank because of awe and intimidation. And they could not help this feeling of being inferior towards the guy in front of them.

Their eyes were nervous.

They knew it was a strong one.

"Get ready!" Fu Chin barely positioned herself in the middle.

"Sh*t! Why am I getting goosebumps!" Jin Woo exclaimed and stood to defend the right side.

"It feels like a super typhoon is coming." Diros quickly said.

Chiko's body was like a natural floater in the air. By using his body momentum, he spun his body while his striking feet followed along like a whipping blade.

Fu Chin watched with all her focus and yelled, "It's coming! Wait-"

However, after spinning once, Chiko did not release his strike. it was only after spinning twice in mid-air that his flinging right foot finally made an overwhelming contact against the ball.

"A double spin rolling spike!!?"

The Star players, Rino's team, and even Mr. Gaje and U-Bear were shocked.

A double spin rolling spike was an extremely difficult move that even the most advanced players could not casually execute!

All their eyes were wide open while their mouth was hanging towards the ground.

Just how the heck did a beginner player, with nothing but balut-selling experience, can execute such a legendary move!?

PAAAANNGGG!!!~

Chiko's spike rang all over the gym. It was the sound of a new team officially entering the sepak takraw world.