Chapter 43: The Dazzling Knight
"Damn it, this guy always appears in the right place." Reo turned and saw Kira's figure.
He hurried over, but he was too far — all he could do was rely on teammates to stall until he arrived.
Reo thus shouted loudly: "Mark him tight! Don't let him break through!" hoping his teammates could delay until he arrived.
Kira heard Reo's shout, but he remained calm. Before receiving the pass, he quickly turned his head to locate his teammates' positions.
There were two Team V defenders in front of him.
The defenders near the opponent's penalty area were also watching him. And Reo Mikage was rushing towards him.
Kira instantly had an idea. Without overthinking, his feet seemed to sprout wings as he started dribbling.
Facing the charging Team V defender, Kira appeared exceptionally calm. He nudged the ball and instantly accelerated. His explosive speed directly bypassed one Team V defender.
From a distance, Zantetsu swore Kira was copying his running form!
The starting motion was exactly the same.
Kira's feet didn't stop, continuing forward.
"This ends here…" Reo finally arrived.
"Hah!"
Facing Reo's defense, Kira instead gave a smirk and directly crossed the ball!
'What?'
'He's not continuing his dribble?'
'Crap!'
Reo suddenly realized. He had been too eager to come and cover.
Now the entire Team V defensive formation had been drawn to Kira. A huge gap had appeared in the central area.
If a Team Z player received the ball there and shot now… Team V's goal would be in danger!
But… Team Z shouldn't have a player with that kind of long-range shooting ability, right?
Thinking this, Reo felt slightly relieved.
However, the next second, he turned his head and discovered…
A tall figure had appeared in the central area just outside the penalty box!
He had already raised his left foot high!
'Was he going to shoot from there?'
'Is he crazy?'
That's at least 40 meters from the goal…
How much power would you need to score from there?
Reo Mikage couldn't believe this shot could go in. In his heart, he had already sentenced this attempt to failure.
Kira, however, lit up. He hadn't been mistaken earlier.
After trying to observe the entire pitch like a spectator, he had spotted Kunigami's unmarked position.
But he never expected Kunigami to have the courage to shoot directly.
So he cheered loudly for Kunigami: "Go for it, Kunigami! Don't you want to be a Superhero? Now's the time!"
"Raaaaaaaahh!"
Kunigami roared, as if Kira's cheer had given him a huge stimulus. He concentrated all his strength into his left foot. And delivered a mighty kick to the ball.
BOOM!
A loud sound echoed. The football described a perfect arc flying towards the goal…
"Stop that ball!"
Reo wasn't panicked at this moment. He thought the shooter was too arrogant. That long-range shot was indeed far. But precisely because it was far, it gave the goalkeeper ample time to react. Such shots were easy to save.
However…
Swish!
The ball speed was too fast!
The Team V goalkeeper jumped, his hand actually reaching the football. But the tremendous force on the ball actually knocked the goalkeeper's hand away.
The Team V goalkeeper fumbled it!
The ball went in!
Team Z equalizes.
3–3.
The next moment.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Kunigami excitedly punched the air and jumped up.
He did it. He actually did it.
The distance of Kunigami's shot was something he had never attempted before.
So far he didn't even believe he could score from there. He never expected to score it today, in a match like this!
Kira also went up to give Kunigami a high-five.
Smack.
"Thank you for seeing me… That pass was… was great," Kunigami stammered, too excited to speak clearly.
Kira responded with a smile. "A righteous knight is dazzling wherever he goes…"
Hearing Kira's praise warmed Kunigami's heart inwardly. 'This guy really never stops affirming everyone.'
"Kunigami, what a beautiful world-class strike!"
"That's amazing, that long-range shot!"
"We tied it up! We can win! We are the true number one in Building 5…"
The Team Z players went crazy with Kunigami's goal!
It was so pleasing to the eye.
A powerful, spectacular long-range strike!
This was the charm of Kunigami Rensuke!
The final few minutes of the first half passed without major incident for either side, ending 3–3.
…
Team Z Locker Room
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
Everyone was replenishing water in large gulps.
It was too intense. This match was against the strongest opponent they had ever faced.
They once thought—they were going to lose.
They never expected Bachira and Kira stepping up would make the entire team start to evolve… Everyone was beginning to grow.
"Kunigami, your shot was so cool!"
Igaguri was shouting and yelling in the locker room. "Kira, your Rabona was so elegant! I really want to learn it!"
"Idiot, you'll never learn it…" Raichi said mercilessly.
"Ahhh, Raichi! I really don't like the way you talk! You know that?" Igaguri felt critically wounded!
"Kunigami, how does it feel?" Kira moved closer to Kunigami.
"I don't know how to describe it… Normally, shots beyond 28 meters would fly over the bar because I put too much power. But just now, I tried to focus all my energy on aiming…" Kunigami paused, then continued, "And then… I felt like I found a new kind of shooting sensation…"
Kira nodded satisfied. 'Good, very good, excellent.'
If he hadn't already absorbed four Trial Cards today, he would have loved to absorb Kunigami's card and experience the feeling of that powerful shot.
But there would be plenty of chances in the future! Kira wasn't in a hurry.
Isagi's eyes, however, were somewhat dim.
Besides Kira, first Bachira, then Kunigami, even Igaguri had a standout moment in defense.
And me?
I haven't accomplished anything.
'Am I also just ordinary? Not Special enough?'
"Isagi, think about what your advantage is. Recall the feeling of your last goal… Remember what I told you last time? About using your [Spatial Awareness] to serve yourself?" Kira noticed Isagi's confusion and struggle and offered his advice.
Isagi's eyes instantly brightened. 'That's right! My strongest asset is my eyes. I need to utilize my eyes properly.'
Clap, clap.
"Alright, everyone. For the second half, we'll maintain the five-defender formation. We'll play on the counter-attack. As long as we stifle their offense, victory is ours!" Kira laid out the plan for the second half.
"1, 2, 3!"
"Go! Victory belongs to Team Z!"
Everyone walked out of the locker room full of fighting spirit, ready for the second half.
…
Meanwhile, Team V Locker Room
The Team V players also gathered around their three cores, discussing tactics for the second half.
"If nothing unexpected happens, the opponents will still fall back and play on the counter-attack in the second half. We need to change our tactics too!" Reo analyzed calmly.
Zantetsu also shouted angrily: "I'm not even acquainted with that redhead, yet he calls me an idiot! I must slay him…"
"Zantetsu, keep up that foolish spirit! Nagi, there's no way we can lose…" Reo's eyes were very determined.
"Mhm…"
Nagi responded seriously for once.
This Team Z… really couldn't be compared to the teams they had encountered before.
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