The moment Ryan blasted the ball into the net, Bachira practically jumped onto his back in excitement.
"I knew you could do it, Ryan!"
Kunigami and Chigiri rushed up as well.
"You guys are insane
Scoring against world-selection players right from the start?"
"Seriously! How did you even end up there?
For a moment I thought Bachira's pass was aimed at me!"
Aryu folded his arms, analyzing calmly:
"Chigiri and Bachira stimulated each other, sparking a cooperative sequence.
Ryan then devoured that cooperation with his own style.
Since they were teammates before, their instinctive chemistry allowed this play to exist.
And against world-class opponents
it still worked.
A noble three-way relationship.
Utterly… fashionable."
He stepped forward and draped an arm over Ryan's shoulder.
"Allow me, the great Aryu, to join the relationship!
Let it become a quadrangle!"
Chigiri rolled his eyes.
"You've been reading too many romance dramas."
Everyone crowded around Ryan, praising his inhuman skill.
But unlike earlier, Ryan didn't revel in it.
He cleared his throat dramatically and shushed them with both hands.
"Calm down, calm down. Just basic stuff.
It's only one goal.
You're acting like we already won.
Save the applause for when I finish carrying us."
"Annoying brat…"
Silva glared bitterly from afar.
His cheek still burned from humiliation.
Moments ago, he vowed that Ryan wouldn't touch the ball once.
But not only did Ryan touch it he shoved Silva aside and scored.
"Kids… they sure are something."
Luna chuckled softly.
He noticed Silva's irritation but chose not to comment.
World Stars Ball
Luna passed the ball to Loki.
Chigiri stepped in to cover him.
I didn't score the first one…
So the next goal… will be mine.
Chigiri stared intensely at the French prodigy.
Seventeen years old.
Already a national representative.
But Loki wasn't rushing forward.
He just… rolled the ball lazily under his foot.
Was he looking for a passing lane?
Then he spoke in a quiet voice Chigiri barely understood:
"Are we done?
You're giving me so much space."
What?
Chigiri tensed
only for a blur to whip past him.
A gust of wind slapped his face.
He turned, shocked
Loki was behind him.
What speed…!
His first-step acceleration was monstrous.
Although his top speed rivaled Ryan's,
his no-slowdown dribbling made him even more lethal.
Ryan at top speed was explosive, but still incorporated flair and micro-adjustments.
Loki was pure efficiency.
In the seconds Chigiri froze, Loki had already plowed through three defenders.
"Sorry. His step-width is ridiculous."
"If you react late, he's gone."
Kunigami and Aryu lamented, helpless.
And then
Ryan appeared in Loki's path.
"Caught you, buzzcut."
Hearing the nickname, Loki didn't get angry.
He simply smiled faintly.
"Oh? But my speed… is superior."
His foot slammed into the turf.
Instant acceleration.
Ryan's eyes narrowed.
"So you wanna race?
I've never lost a race in my life."
Using his dynamic vision, Ryan predicted Loki's movement instantly.
With a breathtaking pivot, he mirrored Loki
A direct chase between monsters.
Even though Loki had the jump-start,
Ryan's positioning let him close the gap.
Loki burst into the penalty box.
The goal was in sight.
He lifted his leg
And then
A chill ran up his spine.
A deep voice whispered beside his ear:
"On your left."
Loki's pupils contracted.
Out of the corner of his eye,
Ryan was suddenly there.
Loki hadn't even unleashed his full speed yet
these opponents weren't worth it.
But the fact Ryan could catch him at all
Interesting.
Still, Loki ignored him and prepared to shoot
But Ryan wasn't going to allow that.
The instant they matched strides, Ryan lowered his shoulder
And rammed into Loki.
Loki had expected a collision.
He tensed his core and shoved back.
After all he was a prodigy who made the French league at seventeen.
He wouldn't lose a physical duel that easily.
And no way was he going to dodge a challenge.
Prodigies had pride
and Loki had enough to meet Ryan head-on.
Monster vs. Monster.
The clash exploded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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