On the other side of the field, with the world-star team
Luna reached out a hand toward Loki, who was slumped on the grass.
Loki grabbed Luna's hand and struggled to his feet.
Yet there was no trace of frustration on his face, no resentment from being defeated by Ryan once again. Instead, he looked deep in thought.
Luna noticed immediately that Loki was thinking hard, so he did not interrupt him.
After a short while, the other two players had mostly recovered as well.
Seeing that Loki had steadied himself, Luna patted him on the back.
"Been thinking for a while now. Let me guess… about that move of Ryan's that throws people's balance off?"
Loki shook his head.
"No. That's important too, but what really caught my attention was Ryan's state just now."
Loki looked toward Ryan, who was laughing and chatting with his teammates.
"The feeling he gave me was like a calm sea… but with terrifying energy hidden beneath the surface."
"That wasn't the same Ryan as before. It was like he'd stepped into an entirely different realm."
Luna listened carefully to Loki's analysis.
When Loki finished, Luna spoke.
"So you felt it too? I thought I was the only one who noticed."
"That state… I've heard senior players mention it before."
At that point, Luna paused deliberately.
Loki immediately urged him on.
"What is it?"
After teasing him for a moment, Luna continued.
"Zone."
"Zone?"
"I've heard of it too, but… does that thing really exist? I thought it was just exaggerated talk."
Luna shook his head.
"No. It's not nonsense. It's just that only an extremely small number of people can reach that realm."
"Even though footballers around the world are countless, those who can touch the Zone are few and far between."
"…Then can I reach it too?"
Luna looked at the super rookie who had become world-famous at just seventeen.
Even though he did not want to crush a young man's confidence, he also could not let him cling to unrealistic hopes.
Because when expectations shatter, no one knows what the consequences will be.
"To touch the Zone, you must first love football with your entire being."
"Next, you need talent and strength far beyond ordinary people no, far beyond everyone else."
"And finally… you need a bit of luck."
"That's exactly why the conditions are so harsh. Countless people collapse right in front of the door that leads to the Zone."
Understanding what Luna meant, Loki did not feel discouraged.
"…I believe that one day, I'll reach that realm too. I'll surpass Noah and become the world's number one striker."
Luna patted his shoulder in encouragement.
"Yeah. You're still young, and your talent is exceptional. I believe you'll get there one day."
Then his tone shifted.
"But right now, we have an extremely troublesome opponent in front of us."
"Ryan Hoshino."
"That man doesn't just enter the Zone, he enters it whenever he wants."
"At this age, to already possess this level of strength… I can't even imagine what kind of impact he'll have on football."
"You noticed it too, right? Turning the Zone on and off for him is as easy as drinking water."
"At this point, we simply don't have a method to deal with him."
Loki nodded solemnly.
That was right.
The most urgent issue now was figuring out a way to counter Ryan.
But they had already tried everything.
Five-man encirclement.
Pure individual confrontation.
In front of Ryan, all of it was as fragile as paper.
As Loki was thinking this, Luna's urging voice reached his ears.
They had rested long enough. If they kept standing around, the match itself would become meaningless.
The world-star team kicked off.
Luna passed the ball to Loki.
Loki received it and prepared to use his speed to tear open a gap in the defense.
And then
That nightmare-like figure appeared in front of him once again.
"Where do you think you're going, Loki?"
Seeing Ryan blocking his path, a fleeting thought crossed Loki's mind
If I pass the ball now, he won't be able to steal it.
But he crushed that thought instantly.
No.
How could I choose to run away at a moment like this?
If I pass the ball now, then in the future when I face someone stronger than me will I keep running away like a stray dog?
Loki was not like Barou, a cancer who hogged the ball and never passed.
He simply had his own pride. His own conviction.
His brain began spinning at full speed, searching for a way to break the deadlock.
Relying on teammates wouldn't work.
Facing Ryan alone wouldn't work either.
Before he had even started running, sweat was already pouring down his face.
Then
A spark of inspiration flashed through Loki's mind.
If I can't beat Ryan with my current strength…
Then I just need to become stronger than I am right now.
Even if there's only the slightest chance, I have to try.
At that moment, black streams of light began to rise from Loki's body.
Ryan, standing closest to him, immediately noticed the change.
"This is…"
"Flow?"
Yes.
Loki had entered Flow.
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