Striker Genesis: E.O.S (Evolution of Strikers)

The scoreboard glowed ominously.

0-1.

Renji stood slowly, his breathing uneven. The sting of that goal burned deeper than he expected. Sora Iwane — a name he hadn't given much thought to until now — had just shattered his defense.

Riku walked up beside him, his usual calm voice cutting through the tension. "Stay focused. There's still time."

Kaede's frustration was boiling over. "Forget time — we're not losing this!" He pointed across the field at Sora. "You got lucky once. That's not happening again!"

Sora just grinned, his confidence undeniable.

The whistle blew — and the game resumed.

Kaede was the first to react, launching forward like a bullet. He zigzagged past Jin with dazzling footwork, his speed nearly impossible to track. But the second he reached the box — Reo was there.

"Not so fast." Reo's tackle was clean, and the ball slipped away.

Kaede cursed, but Renji was already moving.

He intercepted the loose ball and spun toward the goal. Riku flanked him on the right — but Renji didn't pass.

He didn't need to.

Renji accelerated, his mind clear and focused. He dodged Reo's attempt at a steal and powered forward, every step pushing him closer to the goal.

And then Jin was there.

Renji didn't slow down.

Their clash was brutal — pure force against pure skill. Jin's defense was a fortress, but Renji wasn't backing down. He faked left, then twisted right —

But Jin saw through it.

The ball slipped from Renji's control.

"Damn it!" Renji hissed, spinning back — but Sora had already taken off.

"Too slow," Sora called back, his voice full of mockery.

He was fast. Faster than Renji realized.

But Riku was already waiting.

The two collided with a fierce intensity, and for a moment, it seemed like Sora would break through again — but Riku anticipated every move.

With a sharp pivot, Riku stripped the ball and launched a perfect pass downfield.

Kaede was ready.

He caught the ball mid-sprint and blazed toward the goal.

Reo came at him again — but this time, Kaede didn't hesitate.

He leapt —

And with an impossible mid-air twist, fired the ball.

The net rippled.

1-1.

The stadium erupted.

Kaede landed, grinning. "Told you it wouldn't happen again."

But the celebration was short-lived. The clock was ticking — and every player knew the importance of their individual performance.

This wasn't just about winning. It was about survival.

The final minutes were a frenzy. Riku's precision passes kept their offense alive. Reo's speed turned every counterattack into a threat. Jin's defense was a wall, unyielding and relentless.

And through it all, Renji fought.

But the doubt lingered.

As the clock wound down, the game reached a boiling point.

And then — in the final minute — Sora broke through again.

He fired —

And Renji moved.

This time, there was no hesitation.

Renji dove —

And his fingers met the ball.

The shot deflected, bouncing off the post.

But the danger wasn't over.

Reo was already there — ready for the rebound.

He fired.

And the whistle blew.

Cliffhanger.