"You did it!"
"They're in perfect harmony! As expected, those guys aren't ordinary!"
"This reminds me of the Asia district preliminary finals. I feel the same momentum that we had when we scored two points at the same time."
"The game flow has clearly changed."
"Yeah."
Shindou couldn't help the smile on his face as their team's motivation began to rise once again. Tsurugi and Matatagi's new hissatsu got them their second point, with backup from the midfielders. Hopefully, with how constantly pissed the latter had been, this would be enough to get him to calm down.
"This goal is a big one! This is the real Earth Eleven!"
"'Real', huh?"
...?
"Shindou-san, let's go!" Tenma said as he walked past.
"Yeah." Though he smiled, it could only stay up for so long.
Matatagi walked past him with a blank expression, confusing him further. Just what was it that was irritating him so badly?
~~~~~
The next round was Ixal's kickoff, though they seemed to have no intentions of advancing. In fact, they even let Matatagi take possession of the ball before turning back and positioning themselves on their side of the pitch.
"Know your place!" Ozrock was in the very center of it. "Berserk Ray!"
A strange pattern of light appeared on the field, creating something similar to ritual circles (or more specifically, pentagons).
Suddenly, the entire Earth team on the field were holding their chests, trembling in what looked like pain. Blue auras went on and off, as if they were calling their Souls but also denying their release.
"Guys? What's going on?" Shinsuke asked. None of the eleven could answer.
"Their Souls..." So Ichikawa relayed his own theory.
Matatgi tried to pass to Tsurugi, but the ball went into Shindou's direction instead. Then, the ash haired boy kicked it even further back. Suddenly, Hayabusa appeared and sent it into the net.
"Unbelievable! Matatagi makes an own goal!"
"No way..."
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"I don't know either!"
"What's going on?" Aoi's voice quivered with concern.
But with what just happened, Ichikawa could confirm his theory, as unsettling as it may be. "His Soul did it against his will... That's how it appeared to me."
As the next kickoff began, the ball was sent back once again, with them being able to see shadows of the team's Souls. Tetsukado was next to use his for an own goal, going as far as tossing Ibuki away with his horns.
"The light that Ozrock and his team are giving off... They must have the ability to drive their Souls mad!"
"How could it do that?" Aoi asked.
"To my understanding, Souls are the power of beasts that reflects the strength within a person's heart. This Berserk Ray may have the ability to confuse those beasts, making them turn violent against their users' will."
"That sounds like...!"
"Yes... What happened to Kimiko-san with her keshin, as she was under the influence of the deception buds."
"What should we do?" Shinsuke was up on his feet, seemingly ready to jump into the field on command, but Ichikawa shook his head.
Looking down with his fists clenched, his jaw moved stiffly. "There is nothing we can do from here..."
In the next kickoff, another back pass was made. The captain got hold of the ball, and a small glint of hope came into their hearts when he was able to successfully pass it forward. However, the hope shattered as it flew in the other captain's direction.
"Shudder from fear of your own Souls!" With a smirk, Ozrock jumped up to receive it. "Stargazer!"
"Goal! Another point!"
It was 2-6, Ixal Fleet in the lead.
"Ibuki!"
"This is completely absurd! It doesn't even feel like we're playing soccer anymore!"
Red eyes widened at the shorter keeper's words. Absurd...? The last time he heard that word being so prominently used was...
"I also have no patience to go through that absurdity twice on the same day."
"A-Absurd...?"
"Kimiko-san..."
"Huh?"
"Zanakurou?"
"... What would Kimiko-san do if she saw this scene happening right before her eyes?"
The two beside him turned to each other before looking back up at him. However, before either of them could reply, two flashes of light appeared from the queen's VIP seat. Upon closer inspection, one of them was Pixie, and the other was... a purple Pixie?
The two headed for Ixal's side of the field, flying in circles around and above Ozrock. Suddenly, there was a burst of light and they disappeared, the Berserk Ray along with them.
When the rest of the team finally returned to their senses, realization dawned on them at once.
"Pixie..."
"They... offered up their own lives to stop them for us."
Ozorck was clearly annoyed. "... That was uncalled for."
Two whistles came. "Hey! The first half is over! The score is currently 6-2! Earth Eleven is behind by four points! Will they recover it?! Don't miss it!"
Looking over the team, Ichikawa's first move was to go to Matatagi, who was the most beat up and worn out, and help him walk over to the side. The rest were able to manage themselves as Shinsuke and Aoi got to work on preparing their towels, drinks, and med support. However, it was clear as day how drained they all were.
Almost everyone is collapsing, and even someone like Tsurugi-san is breathing hard... His mind went back to earlier in the day, when they all saw him training alone with the cannons. And yet, from just this... "Is this from the effects of your Souls going berserk?"
"Apparently so." Matatagi, even with how exhausted he must've been, could still keep up his attitude. So that was reassuring.
Tetsukado was laying flat on the ground, looking like he could pass out at any moment. "My body's still shaking..."
Meanwhile, Aoi and Shinsuke, after handing everyone their towels and drinks, headed for their best friend.
"Tenma..."
"They made your Souls go crazy. Those guys don't play fair!"
The captain couldn't reply, too busy catching his breath.
"Will everyone be able to fight the second half properly in this state?" Shindou asked, voice filled with concern.
"We have to." The brunette finally spoke up, turning towards the black hole. "Otherwise, we can't protect what must be protected."
"Or take back what was taken from us..." In the dead silence they've fallen into, Tsurugi's whisper reached all their ears. Turning back, they found him with his eyes casted down, the familiar pendant clenched tightly in his palm.
"Tsurugi-san..."
Before anyone could comment, a loud flapping sound caught their attention. Looking up, they found six birdmen flying circles right above their heads. Suddenly, they began to descend.
"That's..."
"The village elder?"
"Yeah... It's the people of Planet Gardon!"
"Look at that!"
As they got closer, they were able to see that the five aside from the elder were holding on to people as well. When they were at a close enough distance, they dropped the five people off and let them land on their feet alongside the elder.
A familiar yellow giant was smiling. "Faram Orbius' Shitennou has dropped in!"
"Hey, Ozrock-san." The smallest of them gave a confidant smirk to the other team. "Don't think I was gonna let you end it like that for us."
"B-But how?" Tenma began walking towards them in bewilderment, but his steps began to waver. The older of the twins caught his arm easily.
"Awesome, Ryugel-nii! We came back!" His younger brother was right behind him too.
"Don't say it, Gandales. Don't say another word more."
Out of everyone, Tsurugi's eyes were the widest. "Didn't Ozrock erase you guys?"
"Yeah." The eye-patch-wearing girl answered as she casually leaned on Roglos' wing. "But these people saved us."
"It's good to see you again, Shindou."
"Elder..."
"Why are you guys...?"
"Oh, it's a very simple explanation. As the device that was meant to erase them casted a blinding light throughout the stadium, we used the chance to pull all of Faram Dite away without anyone noticing."
"But then, why didn't you show yourselves sooner?" Their ace striker continued to ask.
"Because we wanted to surprise Ozrock, of course!" The little one said, before clicking his tongue. "... Is what I want to say, but the truth is, they got us good. We were knocked out when they got us, and by the time we came to, the whole city was already flocking to the stadium to see the match."
"But luck is on our side, as had the match been done the same day as the finals, we wouldn't have a chance at paying Ixal Fleet back for what they did." The giant said, his grin still wide. "As lucky as being able to see the first flowers of spring bloom right before one's eyes!"
"And the others? Argo, Selen, Radon, Kiseno, Salfer, and Neol? Where are they?"
The five turned to each other with surprised expressions.
"... I take back what I said." The girl, who Ichikawa had only ever remembered receiving sneers and glares from, had a surprisingly nice smile all of a sudden. "Never thought you'd bother to remember all our names after the match... You're a damn good captain."
"Not to worry, Tsurugi. Everyone's just fine." The older twin pointed up at the stands, where the remaining six of the group were sitting. Upon getting attention, the goalkeeper was the one to smile at them.
"Ryugel-nii is right! We're all fit as a griddle!" The younger grinned proudly.
It's 'fit as a fiddle'... No one had the heart to actually correct him though. Not with how glad they all were to see them.
"Thank god..." Tsurugi fell on his back, slinging an arm over his face. They could just barely see the wide smile he had underneath as his entire body shook with laughter. "Thank fucking god..."
"Oh, they're here." The elder of Gardon suddenly said, turning to the tunnels.
They all followed his gaze and―
Shindou was first to react. "It's you...!"
"We have been watching you since your finals match with Faram Orbius." The elder's wingless-yet-armed son, Arbega was first to speak up.
"Tenma," The first alien captain they met in space, Kazelma called out. "Would you allow us to help you in this fight?"
"Kazelma!"
Matatagi's eyes suddenly narrowed, pulling away from Ichikawa's hold. "You're the one from the water planet!"
Unlike how she acted throughout their match, she showed a large smile that seemed quite genuine. "Hi, boy with the Azul! Powai's here!"
"You..." Kusaka's voice shook as he called out to the last person there. The reaction was honestly understandable as that person was... "Banda...?"
"You must be Kusaka-san!" The one who seemed to be a perfect clone of their departed friend greeted them calmly. "I'm his son, Banda Junior."
"Son?!"
"Please let me join the match! I want to fight for my father's sake!"
"'Son', he said..."
"Haha! Surprised?" Suddenly, Faram's striker was by the brunette's side. "The children from Banda's race are born out of their parents' corpses."
... What were they supposed to say to that?!
However, the young alien was understanding of their confusion and continued on with his explanation. "The team has told me a great deal about my father and you. Please!"
"Yesterday's enemies are today's friends! By crossing through planets, we have now gathered here!"
"You're so cool, Ryugel-nii! You're so fierce, Ryugel-nii!!!"
"Leave this to us."
"Fighting with your team has connected us to you with a strong bond. Your fight is ours."
"Guys..." The captain's eyes were sparkling. "Thank you!"
"Tenma!"
"Huh?"
"I'm playing too!"
"Shinsuke!"
Seeing that, Ichikawa couldn't hold back a smile as he walked up to the brunette too. "Fortunately, as I was outside of the field, I was untouched by the effects of the Berserk Ray. I will play as well."
"Zanakurou!"
"Comrades from different planets who have come together!" Arbega raised an arm up in a rally. "We, the Galaxy Eleven, now sally forth!"
"Yeah!"
~~~~~~~~~~
Can you all believe this is chapter 150? 🫢
It's been nearly 2 years since this book was first published... Wow.