Isagi Yoichi snapped out of his daze quickly.
He realized that truly unique abilities were almost non-existent in this world. Finding someone with the same weapon wasn't a curse; it was a blessing. It was proof that his "vision" was a legitimate talent shared by the elite.
Aki let out a dry chuckle. Isagi probably didn't fully grasp the value of his weapon yet—it was the hallmark of top-tier athletes on the world stage. In this facility, everyone had to polish their specific tool to a mirror finish just to stand out.
After all, whether it was shooting, passing, stamina, or speed, there were always countless players at the top whom they hadn't even met yet. If Isagi lost his nerve just because an opponent shared his weapon, he might as well pack his bags now.
Having cleared his mental hurdle, Isagi wiped the sweat from his chin and flashed a determined smile. "I'm really glad I came here!"
"Glad to hear it. Now remember to pass me the ball," Aki interjected bluntly.
Isagi stiffened for a second and gave a wry laugh.
The whistle shrieked again.
This time, Bachira held the ball. He looked at the closing defenders and didn't flinch; instead, his eyes sparkled with excitement. "Here they come again!"
"Just like Aki said... you really do have the power of prediction, don't you?"
On the pitch, Team Y's defense remained flawless. Bachira felt like a mouse caught in a maze, his technical skills being systematically boxed in and restricted. He had no choice but to recycle the ball.
Kunigami received the pass and frowned. His weapon was his mid-range shot, but he was still in the midfield. He was far from his "Golden Zone," and defenders were already collapsing on him.
He fired the ball off to Raichi.
"Hahaha! It looks like none of you have the guts to score!" Raichi roared as he took possession. "Then let me do it!"
He charged forward with reckless abandon.
"No! Stop! That's a trap!" Kuon Wataru screamed from the back. He had seen the pattern. "Raichi, pass the ball out!"
Aki watched from the periphery, his lips curling into a smirk.
Their strategy had officially shifted to the "rotation" system, but on the pitch, whoever had the ball dictated the ego. Team Y, standing with their backs against the wall, had clearly done their homework. Ego was watching everyone, and if Team Z knew the data, then Team Y certainly did too.
The moment Raichi stepped into the final third, the Team Y defenders shared a silent, synchronized look. They moved as one.
Thwack!
Raichi unleashed a shot.
But it didn't hit the net. A figure intercepted the play, and the ball dropped at Niko's feet. Niko smiled thinly. "It seems your shot isn't quite as terrifying as the Demon King's."
In the next heartbeat, Niko's gaze shifted up-field.
In the center, Okawa Hibiki was already sprinting toward the box. Niko launched a long ball.
The pass carved through a momentary gap in Team Z's formation—a gap created by their own over-eager offense.
Isagi's pupils dilated. So that's it. He understood now. Niko had the same predictive power he did. Their entire strategy was to bait Team Z into an all-out attack. Because Niko understood this "team of strikers" perfectly, he knew they would all chase the glory of a goal, leaving themselves wide open for a "One-Kill Counter."
"Finally! I was starting to get bored!" Okawa grinned, tracking the ball as it fell toward him.
Niko made a "telescope" gesture with his fingers, watching the play unfold. "It's all yours, Okawa-kun. Under my vision, even the Demon King you fear is nothing more than an obstacle I've already cleared."
"Back! Get back! Defend!!" Kuon Wataru shrieked, his earlier warnings having gone unheeded.
"Ara... looks like we got played," Bachira said, scratching his head as he looked over at Aki.
Both of them had stopped moving. Neither made an effort to chase. The play was already beyond their reach.
Aki's crimson eyes flashed with a hint of disdain. "I wouldn't call it 'getting played.' It's just a basic tactic. Though, I didn't expect them to stay this composed under pressure."
"A player with Spatial Awareness... they really are the most annoying 'Heroes' to deal with."
"Heroes?" Bachira chuckled. "So, how do you plan on dealing with these 'slimes' for the rest of the match?"
Aki's smile turned sharp. "I'm going to crush them."
Inside the box, Okawa Hibiki let out a cold laugh. "You can't stop this!"
He adjusted his body and找准角度 (found the angle). He unleashed a strike that flew like a cannonball. Gagamaru dived, but the power was too much to suppress.
Score: 1 - 1.
Okawa raised his arms, a look of pure triumph on his face. He was a top scorer, after all. He'd taken a hit to his pride earlier in the game, but he didn't miss the shots that mattered.
Niko walked up to him. "Good work."
On the other side, Team Z huddled for a few frantic minutes before retaking their positions.
Aki's gaze locked with Niko's beneath his long bangs. An invisible tension crackled between them.
Who is the predator, and who is the prey?
Because of the rotation, the ball was at Kunigami's feet for the restart. As Aki bypassed him, he whispered a low, chilling sentence.
"If you think your weapon is too weak, try thinking differently. But abandoning your teammates isn't the 'Ego' you need right now."
Kunigami's pupils shrank. "I know that! I don't need you to tell me!"
He passed the ball out immediately. Even though the play was supposed to revolve around him, he felt a crushing weight... like he was a child trying to show off in front of a god.
Isagi received the ball, his eyes scanning every inch of the pitch.
He knew Niko was predicting their every move. To break that foresight, he needed a non-conventional force—a variable that existed outside of Niko's "logic."
But how do you become unpredictable?
There was only one way: Multiple Weapons. Team Y had watched the tapes; they knew the "basics" of Team Z. They knew their individual specialties. To break through now, they needed something unknown.
Aki's words from the training room echoed in Isagi's mind: "Some people aren't limited to one weapon."
He finally understood.
Whack!
Isagi fired a crisp pass directly to Aki's feet.
A fierce, predatory light ignited in Isagi's eyes. "Hey, 'Demon King'... you said you had more than one weapon, didn't you?"
"It would be pretty pathetic if you kept them hidden now, wouldn't it?"