Ego: Pride and Gluttony

Yuga notices the people on the bench warming up but says nothing and goes back to his position, seeing as he was still on the field now, he could only do everything in his ability to stay on the field even if it meant running himself to his knees, he swore that no matter what he would win Asura youth this match himself, not after learning what he knows, anyone who knows what he does now that still tries to satiate his ego is an idiot through and through.

The Day Before Kick-off

Yeongha had gathered members of the team he thought to be the most rational of the bunch, those that could produce results but not lose that form over petty hindrances. This group included Li Tantai, Pisu Yang, Garreth King, Yuga Kannon, and Hyung Ji; the only reason Yuga was in this group though was the simple fact that this information would be nothing but detrimental to a player like Longwei, as such, Yuga was the next best alternative.

Yeongha: I am sure you're all wondering why I've decided to only gather you lot here, it might be because of the positions you play, the natural gifts you bare, or even your influence on the team {Turns around} Frankly it is none of that, it's from your reasoning, so think with me {Gestures to them all} What do you all think of the Zone??

Yuga: I can't say I know exactly what it is, but the definition of the zone that the media is pushing isn't it, I can't say I'm surprised though after a good number of people who wrote those definitions have either barely scratched the surface of the zone or simply speak from what they've seen rather than what they experience

Yeongha: That's a good start, now who here can tell me what this media definition of the Zone is??

Tantai: The media portrays the Zone as this higher level of skill that only the absolute pinnacle of athletes have even a chance of gracing, that only the heaviest, driven, primed and trained athletes have even the smallest chance of accessing the Zone and frankly that's just not true

Yeongha: What about that definition do you think is so wrong??

Pisu: All of it, after all, a rookie chef I know who had a rough idea on a dish, has tapped into the zone and he was still barely a graduated trainee of the restaurant

Yeongha: In that case, it would seem even an average person can access the zone, and not only that it can be accessed outside of sports; it can be in music, sculpting, design, script writing and even something as mediocre as poetry has people who have accessed the zone before, so what exactly is the barrier for entry that stops everybody from accessing it?? cause it's not the body

Hyung Ji: It would have to be the mind, when I touch on it I always seem to understand what I need to do to stop a shot despite not being able to visualise the shot, be it muscle memory from prior similar saves or awareness of my goal posts' size, it all blends into that one momentary save

Yeongha: and why do you think that is?? Because I'll tell you for free it's not because you practised a lot that you tapped into the zone and entered that higher mental state, in fact, awakening and freely using the zone has very little to do with you and more about what you do with your mind, think about it, how come a normal person can feel the intensity of someone In the zone despite not having access to it themselves, if it was a body thing only those with access would be able to feel it but the zone works in such a way that even a below average man can at least feel the intensity of the Zone... what part of the human mind deals with intensity and understanding all in one??

Yuga: It's concentration, the key to unlocking the Zone would be the focus and sharpening your focus to the highest possible degree, mixing your entire understanding of a field out to achieve a set purpose and that absolute concentration

Pisu: Will free up your body to everything within its ability to bring out said knowledge and experience

Yeongha: exactly, the zone is a state of focus that allows one's body to run in perfect accordance with one's mind even matching the speed at which one's thoughts change, and depending on one's concentration the intensity of the zone could go up and then the time between when an action is decided in your head and when your body performs said action would drastically reduce; that being said many people despite accessing this zone complain they can't grow and no how much training they put in with the zone on, why is this??

Yuga: Because once you've reached the level of focus required to enter the zone all it does is fully bring out abilities that were already there, meaning no matter how much you practice with the zone you won't develop or improve, the only way to improve your abilities while in the Zone would be to improve your everyday abilities so once you enter the Zone state there is the more physical ability to bring out.

Yeongha: Very good, who can tell me what the only flaw the Zone has is, after all, it's related to why those who first awaken it have bouts of exhaustion inflicted on them... Tell me why???

Garreth: Because prolonged periods of maximum possible concentration burn at your stamina quickly and makes you lose focus until you've recovered, that being said knowledge on the Zone isn't developed enough for people to make that particular discovery

Yeongha: No, It isn't developed enough, but I can tell you right now I have a plan that will potentially allow every one of the members of Asura's first youth team can freely use and improve on the zone as long as they wish without limit. would you entrust your development to me ?!

Yuga: Before we do coach... what exactly is your goal in all of this, why would you waste your valuable knowledge on a bunch of kids who aren't even bound by a contract yet??

Yeongha: That much is simple little Yuga, I have a dream despite my age {Grins widely} and with the completion of my zone training, I will finally---

........

Back to the present moment

???'s P.O.V

It seems the solution to my problem is simple, if I can't destroy Yuga and take his career away, I will devour him and outshine him so thoroughly that they'll have no choice but to acknowledge me... Yes, Yes, I'll show all of those insects my true skills, maybe then they'll learn their place beneath me.

Reader's P.O.V

Chrono passed back to Adam, who passed back to Sae. This time Sae crossed the ball up the right side of the Asura field for Sora who had Antonio running slightly ahead of him when he got the ball, the situation quickly evolved into a three v two when Luo Ji, Mo Xu, and Ai Fei all closed in to mark the two, Ai Fei blocked off the pass to Antonio while Mo Xu won the ball with a sliding tackle forward, Luo Ji went on to intercept the loose ball and cross it upfield towards Gareth who controlled it perfectly beneath his foot and rolled it forward to begin his advance.

Garreth: (4-1 is a safe score to stop using the Zone, for now, once we get this goal we'll pull the rest out with us, though after what we heard that day doubt the coach would be satisfied with such a result regardless of reasons)

Gareth moved upfield and directly challenged both Callum and Shin, he faked a cross and rolled into a sharp right side 360 to break past Callum, then moved into a back heel cut breaking towards the left side all at full speed, before he knew it he was in the perfect position to broke away beyond the left-most edge of the Yufeng box with Marcus and John chasing him down, Marcus went in sliding so Gareth simply faked a shot and kept going, but John wasn't as easily relenting, regardless of what Gareth tried John stayed a good distance away so could stop Gareth breaking into the box with a skill or pass. In that light Garreth decided to improvise, he faked breaking into the box to draw John in then quickly cut back outside and ran to the edge motioning for a cross, John wasted no time throwing himself in the way just for Garreth to cut back once more leaving him for dead, upon his breakthrough Gareth sent a left-footed trivela-pass towards the penalty spot, Yuga was moving down the other side of the box ready to secure his hattrick and finally put the game to rest.

That wasn't everyone's plan though, as Yuga leapt for a diving header a black shadowy aura greater than anyone before it rushed in front of Yuga flicking the ball high into the air, even Lucas who was mid-dive to stop Yuga twisted his angle at the sudden shift in direction, the Player leapt high into the air and twisted gracefully with his boots high above its head and his only connection to the ground is his left hand, the figure swung his form on the ball performing a falling scissors kick that drove the ball off of the ground and into the roof of the post. Yuga lay on the ground looking at the almost blurred figure leaking a pitch-black aura that seemed to consume his entire being.

???: {leaves the Zone with a disgusted look on his face} Disappear you vile insect and never challenge my presence again {Walks away}

Yeongha: (The beast has finally borne its fangs huh??) {Frowns}

Tantai: (Now the bastard decides to put in the work)

Pisu: (This Lazy piece of shit finally did something)

Garreth: (Just what the hell are you doing now??) Longwei {Frowns and walks back to position}

Yuga: {Gets up} and what the hell is that supposed to mean??

Longwei: {Stops to give Yuga a side glance} Earlier you had the nerve to take a goal that was mine, I simply returned the favour... Sit on the sidelines and watch my show like the good puppet you are, maybe I'll even let you pass me the ball a few times

And just like that the referee blew the whistle signalling the end of the first half and the official first rest period either team got which became all the more apparent when players from both teams collapsed in exhaustion.