"Hey, you! The score is still 0-0! The match resumes with Ixal Fleet, Aegir's throw-in!"
Matatagi prepared himself from further back, and as soon as the ball was thrown, he rushed in and took it from under their nose. He ran up the pitch, only to be frozen by Ishigashi's glare, much to his frustrations.
From him, the ball went in Sakura's direction, though another Ixal member got to it faster than she could and brought it down precisely to Ozrock's feet. Minaho and Manabe moved to stop him, but he easily pushed through them. Tetsukado and Konoha's hissatsus too.
"Unbelievable! Ozrock's power is fearsome!"
"Ibuki!"
"Stop him, Ibuki!"
"Yeah!"
Ozrock kicked into the sky, the ball glowing in a bright blue light. It exploded in the dark sky, leaving traces of its particles shining. "Stargazer!" Ozrock appeared in the midst of it all, bringing his hand down as a signal for all the particles to fall like a million shooting stars.
"Rising Slash!"
Though, even with enough time to bring out his move, Ibuki was still forced into the goal, the ball right on his stomach.
"Goal! Ixal Fleet makes the first goal!"
For a second, they could only stare with their jaws wide open. Ozrock, with his smirk ever-present, walked past them and said, "This is Ixal Fleet's soccer." He let out a disdainful laugh. "For a long time, we have endured and conquered harsher environments than you will ever know. This fight is of no hardship to us."
As they all got back into position, Matatagi couldn't help but to send a glare in Ishigashi's direction. "That tour guide's shown his true colors."
"Ishigashi-san..."
He turned to their captain with a look. He hated to admit it, but, "He had incredible spirit."
"All of the opponents we'd face have played soccer with vigor in order to save their planet..." Tsurugi added in. "But Ixal Fleet goes even higher than that."
A smirk slipped out at that. "Bold words coming from someone who missed nearly half the tournament."
Amber eyes shot him a look. "Don't forget that the FFI Vision 2 were all aliens too. I was with you guys until Sandorias, so I think I'm more than qualified to make that comment still."
"Fair enough. You did also fight us as Faram's captain, so maybe you do understand the aliens' feelings more."
"Yeah... But not theirs." He muttered, casting a glance at their opponents.
"It's as if it's soccer, but not soccer." Shindou piped in suddenly. "That's how it feels like."
"Not soccer?" Tenma asked.
"Coach Kuroiwa called it madness. When we try to go in and steal the ball, we're close to being dragged into the darkness in their hearts."
Matatagi's eyes narrowed. "If we wanna smash through that and steal the ball, the soccer that we've played so far isn't going to work."
"... I'm going to play my soccer." The captain said. "I'll attack them straight on from the front."
"Captain's right. I think it's the best way."
"That's our soccer!"
"Okay! Let's take back that point!"
"Yeah!"
A small smirk came out. As the two forwards made their way back to their positions for kickoff, the navy haired one turned to him with a look.
"What are you thinking about?"
He chuckled. "Just wondering if the captain's plan really will work out."
"It will."
"And you're so sure because what? He's your friend?"
"There's that, but there's also another reason."
That made him stop, and he watched him take a few more steps before finding his voice to ask, "And that is?"
The pause was only for a split second. Then, amber eyes bore straight through his black ones. "Ixal Fleet aren't the only ones who have conquered insane bullshit."
That forced his more serious side to return. "... Damn right they aren't."
In the next round, they decided to be a bit more aggressive, with multiple backups in case their first try wouldn't work. The two forwards and Tenma became the head of the attack, the ball being brought up by the brunette with Shindou and Kusaka's support. The captain clashed against Ozrock, blasts of energy crashing throughout the stadium.
"The pressure again!" Even Matatagi found himself being stopped by its intensity.
They could only watch as the two continued their struggle, with Tenma surprisingly being able to get the ball back after Ozrock let it slip away. The two forwards quickly followed after him as he transformed into his Soul, Horse. Being the closest to him, Matatagi could only sit there with his mouth open as he was suddenly on top of the golden horse's back, but he quickly got back to his senses as they charged through together.
The ball was passed to Tsurugi, who went head-to-head with two of the opponents. He jumped and flipped, to try and use Bicycle Sword. The two got in his way, so he used the momentum to change both his and the ball's angle.
"Tsurugi! Over here!" He called out as he dove under the two that got baited.
As soon as the ball reached his feet, he aimed to use Parkour Attack, but with another one trying to get in his way―"Anticipated that one too!"― He let out a smirk and simply kicked the ball past him.
"Anticipate the anticipated."
It reached the captain and their ace striker as they moved in sync towards the goal. They jumped high, flames swirling around them.
"Fire Tornado Double Drive!"
And with that, the score was tied.
~~~~~
"Alright! That was amazing, you two!"
"The game flow is back on our side!"
"As I thought, the team has a sharper edge to it with Tsurugi-san on the team!"
"Those two were so pretty just now."
"They were in such synchronization."
"The quality of Tsurugi's plays has gone up. Could he have gained skills on Faram Orbius that he couldn't have on Earth?"
Nothing like that... He kept on as neutral of a face as he could as their side of the field were full of compliments being thrown at him. The team was talking amongst themselves, but they weren't doing it very quietly, so for their sake― and his own― He'll pretend he didn't hear any of it.
Really, it was still surreal to him how easily they just accepted him back after the stunt he pulled the day before. Even if he did it all for a good reason, there was still some lingering guilt.
(He expected at least a scolding, like the one his brother gave him when he found out about this contract with Fifth.)
But the purple planet didn't have much to do with his improvement. After all, he spent most of the month within the castle walls, and even when he does go out, he barely gets to touch a ball.
If there was anything to thank for his current strength...
The girl in front of him let out a small laugh, holding a hand up. "To the end."
It'd be that.
"It's an exciting game! The obstinacy of both teams as they clash remains firm! The first half is at a 1-1 tie as Ixal Fleet makes their kickoff!"
None of them knew what they were expecting, but it definitely wasn't the intense energy waves that Ozrock gave off after having kicked the ball. He passed it to one of the forwards, who's only job seemed to be possessing it during his show of intimidation before giving it back.
"Stargazer!"
And with a single move, all eleven of them were knocked off their feet.
"Explosion! A transcendental shoot immediately after the kickoff! Bitway Ozrock's power is incomparable to what it was in the early stages of the match! Earth Eleven couldn't move a single step!"
The score was 2-1, Ixal Fleet in the lead.
"Lose your hope! Be ravaged by soccer! It won't be the black hole that destroys the galaxy. It will be soccer."
Tenma wouldn't have it. "Soccer is hope!"
"What hope? With soccer, you brought despair to other planets. Now, it's your turn for soccer to bring you despair."
Menacing glares came from behind the enemy captain, his entire team chanting for the galaxy's downfall.
"I believe in soccer. Because I love soccer! We're only here right now because of soccer! We came here carrying the feelings of the many players we've fought against! If you say that you'll destroy everything with soccer, then with soccer, we will protect everything! We'll protect them and show you!"
Another burst of energy blasted through the field, one much warmer and gentle compared to Ozrock's.
However, he only smirked. "You can't do it. You can't protect anyone or anything."
After that foreboding statement, both teams got into position for Earth Eleven's kickoff. Tsurugi stared dead ahead, refusing to succumb to their daunting auras. They had too much to lose in this match... Though, frankly, that seems to be an on-going theme in every match he's fought in during this one school year alone. The stakes kept getting higher and higher, to the point it's barely even believable anymore.
How the hell did we go from reforming a law to this? His eyes briefly snuck a look towards their bench, seeing Aoi, Shinsuke, and Ichikawa all tense. The blonde he was looking for was nowhere in sight, and he cursed under his breath for even trying when he saw what had happened right before his eyes. If he had known that would happen, he never would've told her to shut up for the entirety of the last match. I'll just have to apologize when she comes back.
"I'll go this time." Matatagi suddenly came up beside him, practically spitting out the words.
He was a little taken back by the attitude, but the determination in his dark eyes was enough to assure him. Not a single person on this team isn't being serious right now. "Heh. Alright then."
~~~~~
Matatagi went full throttle as soon as he received the ball. Then, he passed it to Shindou, who immediately lost it to them. Neither Kusaka nor Sakura were able to stop his pass, and Tetsukado could only barely deflect it, though even then, the ball still went to the enemy's feet. In the end, it was Tenma who went all the way back and stopped their shot, sending the ball out of bounds.
"Captain!"
"Nothing less from you!"
"Guys, let's go!"
The brunette, with his usual bright smile, led the way for the rest of them to prepare for the throw-in.
... It was honestly sickening.
"You're being too nice."
To the untrained eye, their clashes may seem like an equal battle. But he knew otherwise.
Every single one of them kept getting outrun, outpowered, and outsmarted at the final second. They were only barely keeping up, and the enemy knew this too.
Ozrock let out a laugh. "Writhe, writhe, writhe! No matter what Souls you possess, they are no match for my jet-black beast!"
Shockwaves rushed violently throughout the stadium. It might've even gone through the city. Whatever the case, in the brilliant flash of dark purple, Ozrock had turned into a gigantic octopus-looking creature (Though, the only reason an octopus came to mind was because of the eight tentacles and nothing else).
All eight pointed towards the ball, infusing it with a dark energy before shooting it like a laser towards the goal.
Tetsukado, Manabe, Minaho, and Ibuki called out their Souls to stop it, but to no avail.
"Goal! Ixal Fleet makes its third point!"
"They're so powerful..."
"Is it some form of obstinacy that comes from their hatred?"
"Is that the thing called 'madness'?"
Matatagi was just a little bit behind Tenma and Tsurugi as they had their little talk. But right as the brunette mentioned the word, he saw Shindou stopping in the middle of the field to look around. When the ash harried boy finally found the spot to rest his stare, he simply stood there for a minute, lost in thought.
It didn't take a genius to know that he found the man who first said the word to them.
But sitting around daydreaming isn't going to get us anywhere!
He kept himself from snapping though. He knew that Shindou of all people would already know that.
In the next round, the playmaker soon brought out his flaming conductor's wand, guiding them through the opponent's formation. They managed to get the ball to the front, where Tsurugi was ready to bring out his Soul and shoot. However, he was blocked by the enemy keeper's soul easily.
Their ace striker's possibly strongest shot... Damn it!
The keeper wasted no time and threw the ball towards his captain, however, Tenma was able to intercept it before it could get too close. But when he passed it to Kusaka, the ball was easily taken before it reached him too. They made passes and the ball flew with the strength similar to a hissatsu, throwing back those who it flew by.
He was one of them, but he refused to stay down for long.
"Matatagi!"
Ignoring the captain's call, he charged for the ball at full speed, bringing out his Soul for extra power too. The one that had the ball did the same and they clashed, sending the ball out of the field.
DAMN IT!
"Matatagi!" The brunette captain had just caught up, and now he was scolding him. "You have to work with the others!"
Not this shit again. "Working together won't help us get past these guys! Working together is what's slowing down the team's judgement!"
"E-Eh...?"
Why won't you see that?!
"You're right that the enemy's speed isn't ordinary." Tsurugi was suddenly behind him, surprisingly calm. "You're the only one wo can keep up with them."
"If you know that, then don't talk back to me!"
He remained unfazed. "We can't catch up to their running speed, but everyone here can at least react to it."
"What? What are you trying to say?"
Turning to where the other striker was looking, he found Shindou, Kusaka, and Sakura behind them. They weren't wearing any faces, simply staring at him. 'Everyone here', he said... The midfielders and Tsurugi?
His eyes widened at the realization. Then, a smirk dawned on his face. "So that's it."
After the next throw-in, he caught up with where the ball was headed and cut its course, passing it to the captain. Then, he ran for the goal as fast as he could.
"Shindou-san!"
"Nozaki!"
"Kusaka!"
"Captain!"
"Go!"
The ball made its way back to Matatagi's feet, just as he and Tsurugi were about to reach the goal. He passed it backwards with his heel, and the other striker returned the gesture by kicking it far past him, the ball glowing with the dark blue aura most of his other hissatsus have. Then, he amped up his speed, keeping up with the ball's pace, and as it curved upwards, he jumped to reach it. When his right foot made contact with the ball, the aura turned jet-black, resembling a dark sun.
"Black Dawn!"
The keeper couldn't react on time, standing there dumbfounded as the ball entered the net.