Chapter 32: 1v1

" It would be difficult for Team Z to break through such a defense... By the way, Mr. Ego, which monster were you talking about earlier? Is it one of these two teams?"

"You'll see if you look closely, Teieri."

Ego replied, his gaze not shifting from the screen even for a moment.

"When a monster is about to prey, it will naturally show its fangs."

.....

Niko made a pass with his foot, accurately delivering the ball to Okawa's feet.

"Finally!"

Okawa, upon receiving the ball, had a smile on his face and swiftly dashed towards the opponent's goal at top speed.

Okawa possessed exceptional individual attacking abilities. In the original work, he effortlessly penetrated Team Z's penalty area and took a shot!

At this moment, Team Z's defense in the midfield was very weak. The few remaining defenders looked solemnly at Okawa charging towards them, feeling extremely nervous. Even Iemon, the goalkeeper, had sweat dripping from his forehead.

The opponent was the scoring king from a certain region, and his strength should not be underestimated. It wouldn't be easy to defend against him.

Just as Okawa was charging forward, a figure appeared before him like a barrier.

Kira Ryosuke.

Kira was stationed in the rear of Team Z.

"Come on, try to get past me."

"You arrogant fellow!"

Looking at Kira in front of him, Okawa felt a spark of anger in his heart.

Kira, as the ace of Team Z, appeared in the position of a defender, making Okawa feel that his team, Team Y, was being underestimated.

"Watch me get past you! I'll score the first goal of this match!"

Okawa shouted loudly.

He possesses attacking skills no less than Baro, and that's why Okawa was chosen as the sole attacker for Team Y.

'Kira Ryosuke is a forward, so his abilities as a defender must be quite average!'

Okawa made such a judgment, preparing to accelerate and directly get past Kira.

If they could score first, not only would it establish an advantage, but it would also provide a huge boost to their morale.

At this moment, Kira adjusted his breathing and entered a state of complete focus. A strong sense of pressure emanated from him, heavily weighing on Okawa.

"What's going on with this guy?"

Originally prepared to accelerate past Kira Ryosuke, Okawa felt the change in Kira's aura and couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. But now he was like an arrow on the string, forced to release, and could only grit his teeth and try to forcefully get past Kira with speed!

However, Kira's speed was faster than Okawa had imagined. No matter how much he accelerated, he couldn't get past Kira. The opponent was like a towering wall, firmly blocking his path.

Okawa could only move sideways and couldn't get close to the penalty area.

"No positioning error at all! Great defense! Kira, you're impressive!"

Kuon praised with a smile.

"Okawa is already fast... but Kira Ryosuke is even faster..."

In the other half of the field, Niko couldn't help but sigh. Although Kira Ryosuke had already demonstrated his exaggerated speed in the recorded footage, it was during sprinting attacks, which were different from the lateral movements emphasized in defense.

But Kira Ryosuke's lateral movement was also beyond the level of others.

This guy... is truly a monster, a complete package of offense and defense...

"But Okawa is no ordinary opponent!"

Niko still had confidence in Okawa because his most impressive aspect was not just his speed, but his incredibly delicate attacking techniques!

"Darn... is this guy good at defense as well? I can't gain an advantage even with physical contact..."

Okawa knew that continuing like this wasn't a solution. Although he had been fighting Kira Ryosuke for just a few seconds, it was enough time for other defenders to close in on him.

The defensive counterattack strategy formulated by Niko made the defense in Team Z's half vulnerable, and the entire team relied on Okawa's powerful attacking abilities.

But it also meant that Okawa didn't have any teammates to cooperate with. All the other teammates could only stay in their own half of the field.

Okawa didn't have the option to pass the ball; he could only choose to attack on his own.

But if he, as the team's strongest attacker, was single-handedly defended by Kira Ryosuke, who appeared for the first time on the defensive line...

"No, I can't let that happen!"

Okawa shouted in anger.

"If I can't surpass you in speed, then I'll surpass you in skill!"

Okawa changed his footwork, continuously stepping on both sides of the ball

Stepover!

This was one of the most brilliant moves in football dribbling, using the motion of crossing the legs around the ball to disrupt the defender.

"Stepover! And the rhythm is outstanding..."

Kuon, also a defender, couldn't help but praise as he watched Okawa's movement.

The key to the Stepover technique is a good sense of rhythm, as well as excellent body coordination. It uses the motion of stepping over the ball to deceive the defender.

On one hand, this move can disrupt the defender's balance through rhythmic body movements, while also allowing the attacker to accelerate and break through when the defender's balance is compromised.

Okawa possessed exceptional skills. If it were any other defender from Team Z, it was highly likely that he would be directly beaten.

At this moment, Okawa kept his eyes fixed on Kira, searching for any opening

As long as Kira Ryosuke's body balance shifted even for an instant, Okawa could get past him!

And in front of him, Kira Ryosuke was equally focused, staring at Okawa intently.

The Stepover move performed by the opponent was indeed very realistic and easily deceived the defender.

But the Kira now had made tremendous progress compared to the first match.

He unlocked the "Rice Spirit" and possessed excellent dribbling skills. The Stepover move also underwent a qualitative change under his feet.

Moreover, the Rice Spirit's ability enhanced Kira's understanding of dribbling techniques.

In other words, Kira Ryosuke not only had a new move, but he also knew how to counter these moves.

That was the reason he could appear on the defensive line.

Feinting with his footwork, changing the body balance, and even misleading the opponent's line of sight Okawa had achieved mastery in these aspects, and so had Kira.