MTLNOVEL Chapter 23: Striker’s Dominion Begins
The Final Fourteen stood in the massive stadium, the roar of unseen crowds vibrating through the walls. The tension was suffocating. Every player knew — this stage would push them to their absolute limits.
Eizen's voice boomed over the speakers.
"Welcome to Phase 2: Striker's Dominion."
The screen above flickered, and the rules appeared.
— Players will be divided into teams of 3, reshuffled after every match.— Points are awarded for individual performance: goals, assists, steals, defensive plays — everything counts.— Winning the match doesn't guarantee safety. Only your personal score matters.— At the end of Phase 2, the bottom 3 players will face immediate elimination.
The players exchanged tense glances. Winning wasn't enough anymore. Even if your team won, if your individual score was too low — you were gone.
"Let's see the teams," Eizen continued.
The screen shuffled, and the first lineup appeared.
Team A: Renji Kurogami, Riku Takane, Kaede AizawaTeam B: Reo Hisame, Jin Kisaragi, Sora Iwane
Renji's eyes narrowed. Their team was stacked — but that didn't mean anything here.
The field opened before them, and the two teams stepped onto the pitch. The air crackled with anticipation.
The whistle blew.
Kaede launched forward instantly, his speed explosive. He snatched the ball and rocketed down the field — but Reo was faster.
Reo intercepted, but Kaede didn't stop — he spun mid-step, stealing the ball back with impossible agility.
"Too slow, Reo!" Kaede taunted.
Renji watched from midfield, eyes sharp. The real battle hadn't even started yet.
Kaede sprinted toward the goal, but Jin was waiting. Jin was a wall — fast, strong, and unreadable.
Kaede feinted left — but Jin didn't bite.
The ball was gone in an instant.
"Damn it!" Kaede hissed.
Jin countered with terrifying speed, sending the ball rocketing downfield toward Sora. Renji moved.
The two collided mid-sprint — and for a split second, it seemed like Renji had the upper hand. But Sora twisted, breaking away with a fluid motion.
Renji's eyes widened.
This wasn't going to be easy.
Riku was already in position, his sharp mind reading the play before it even happened. When Sora passed — Riku was there.
"Not happening," Riku muttered, stealing the ball cleanly.
But then Reo was there — and the two clashed.
The stadium erupted in chaos.
In the middle of the frenzy, Eizen's voice cut through.
"Reminder: Only your personal performance matters. Play smart — or face elimination."
The pressure skyrocketed. Every pass, every steal, every move was a battle for survival.
And then — Sora broke through.
He fired a shot at the goal — and Renji was the only one who could stop it.
Renji dove — and the world seemed to slow.
The ball streaked toward him — and his fingers grazed it —
But it was too fast.
The net rippled.
0-1.
Renji lay on the ground, eyes wide.
Sora's voice cut through the silence. "You're not the only one aiming to be the best."
Renji's heart pounded. For the first time — he felt it.
Doubt.
And the game had only just begun.
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