Chapter 20: Ace vs. Ace — The Ultimate Showdown Between the Strongest Players!
Isagi looked at the chaos unfolding within Team X and couldn't help but swallow hard before glancing at Kira beside him.
If Kira hadn't predicted this situation and made preparations in advance, our Team Z would've ended up the same way... As expected of Kira...
Just as Team X was on the verge of complete internal collapse, a tall figure suddenly stole the ball right from his teammate's feet and, with terrifying speed, charged straight toward Team Z's half.
Barou Shouei!
His teammates tried desperately to catch up, but none could match his pace.
"So fast! We've got to stop him!"
Isagi reacted immediately, stepping into Barou's path.
But Barou's face was expressionless as he sprinted forward — his eyes glared down at Isagi with the contempt one might show an ant. The pressure radiating from him was suffocating, almost freezing Isagi in place.
"Don't stand in my way."
"Trash."
"I'll crush you."
Isagi could feel the overwhelming aura pouring off Barou, making it hard even to breathe.
Where's he going to attack from — left or right?
In the instant of hesitation, Barou moved.
He raised his foot, stepped firmly in front of the ball, and flicked it up with his heel.
The ball soared cleanly over Isagi's head — and before Isagi could even react, Barou had already burst past him, controlling the ball off his chest with ease before continuing his relentless charge toward the goal.
That single move made one thing clear — Barou's skill level was far beyond Isagi's.
"Quick! Stop him!" Isagi shouted.
"Shut up!" Raichi roared as he rushed in, with Kunigami closing in from the other side to help.
But Barou slipped between them effortlessly with a nutmeg dribble — in the blink of an eye, he was right in front of the goal.
He shot!
The ball curved beautifully past the goalkeeper's side — so fast that Lemon didn't even have time to react. He could only watch helplessly as it slammed into the net.
"A-Amazing…"
Team Z's players were stunned speechless. Barou's attacking prowess was on another level, and within moments, the score was tied again.
The joy that had filled their faces moments ago had completely vanished.
"Listen up, you idiots," Barou said coldly. "To me, soccer isn't about friendship or teamwork."
"It's just a spherical servant — something that exists to make me shine."
"Out here on the pitch, I am the king."
Standing before Team Z's goal, Barou spread his arms slightly, his every movement and expression radiating arrogance and contempt, as if everyone else on the field were nothing but ants beneath his feet.
His eyes, however, locked onto Kira — as if declaring the insurmountable gap between them.
Kira frowned, staring back at Barou seriously. Everyone thought he'd been angered by Barou's provocation. After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke.
"Uh, nobody asked you, right? Isn't it kinda embarrassing to monologue like that?"
"…"
Barou froze, confusion flashing across his eyes. Then the veins on his forehead bulged — he was the one getting angry now.
"You bastard…"
But he didn't say anything more. Muttering "So damn annoying…" under his breath, Barou turned away from the penalty area.
"Hey, Lemon! What the hell are you doing?! You can't even handle your job as a goalkeeper?!"
"I—I've never been a goalkeeper before!" Iemon retorted weakly.
As his teammates started arguing, Kira stepped forward, placing a finger to his lips.
"Shh. Stop fighting. We're on the same team right now — this isn't the time for internal conflict."
He pointed toward the opposing half.
"Look — after that goal, their formation isn't chaotic anymore. They've realized their problem."
Just as Kira said, Barou's stunning play had acted like a stabilizing force for his teammates. They now understood clearly — their only path to victory was to make Barou their absolute center.
The once-fractured team had regained its spirit, and the equalizing goal reignited their morale.
"So, what now? Double-mark Barou?" Isagi asked.
"We'll need more people defending him, yes — but not after he gets the ball," Kira replied calmly. "The key is to stop him from receiving it at all."
A composed smile spread across his face as he looked toward the opposing half.
"Leave the next attack to me. I'll crush Barou head-on."
Though Barou had scored and tied the game, Kira didn't see that as a bad thing.
That goal would make Team Z feel the pressure — and if Kira could lead them to victory afterward, the team's trust in him would deepen. They'd come to believe that he could guide them to triumph.
That way, he could also prevent the betrayal by Kuon that had happened in the original timeline — that betrayal was born from doubt in Team Z's ability to win.
Moreover, the more goals Kira scored, the more his teammates would realize that their only path forward was through team victory, pushing them to give their all on the field.
As long as I completely crush Barou, Team X's morale will be utterly shattered.
Kira had already decided—he would create a 1v1 situation with Barou Shouei soon—
and then completely crush them.
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〔TL〕
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