MTLNOVEL Chapter 30: The Weight of Numbers
The aftermath of the match felt like a dream. Renji sat on the bench, his body aching from the brutal fight they'd just endured. The scoreline 4-4 echoed in his mind — they hadn't lost, but the draw left a bitter taste.
The stadium screens flickered. A familiar voice — cold and mechanical — filled the air.
"Match concluded. Calculating individual rankings based on performance, impact, and goals scored."
The tension in the room was suffocating. Everyone's eyes stayed glued to the screen as the rankings appeared.
1. Koga Ren — 7 points (3 goals, 1 assist)2. Renji Kurogami — 6 points (2 goals, 1 assist)3. Shiro Amani — 5 points (1 goal, 2 assists)4. Kaede Arata — 4 points (1 goal, 1 assist)5. Riku Saionji — 3 points (2 assists)6. Tetsuya Hoshino — 3 points (Goalkeeper, 7 saves)
Renji's fists tightened. He was second — but second wasn't enough.
Kaede whistled low. "That Koga guy's a monster."
"He's not unbeatable," Renji said, his voice steady. "Not for long."
But Riku's eyes were on the bottom of the list. "Three points…" His voice was soft, thoughtful. "It's not enough. If we slip up in the next match, someone's getting eliminated."
The room went quiet.
Everyone knew what was at stake.
"Next match announced. Team Kurogami vs. Team Yamada. Kickoff in 24 hours."
Renji's head snapped up. Yamada's team was dangerous — but they were beatable. And if they wanted to stay in this fight, they had to win.
The next day.
The air buzzed with energy. The stadium roared as both teams lined up on the pitch.
Across from them stood Yamada Kensuke — a striker known for his brutal physicality and long-range shots. Beside him was Sora Itsuki, a playmaker with insane passing accuracy.
But Renji didn't care.
This was their chance to take the top.
The whistle blew.
And the final battle for Phase One's top spot began.