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

The intensity on the field was suffocating. Every step felt heavier, every second stretched longer. The scoreboard flashed: 1-0, but Renji knew that lead was hanging by a thread.

Yamada Kensuke stood at the centerline, eyes locked on Renji. His body radiated power, like a beast ready to pounce. Sora Itsuki stood behind him, calm and composed, while Kaito Shiba bounced on his feet, a wild grin plastered across his face.

The whistle blew — and the storm began again.

Kaito exploded forward with impossible speed. He moved like a blur, his footwork unpredictable and dangerous. Kaede rushed in to block him, but Kaito twisted, flicking the ball through Kaede's legs in a perfect nutmeg.

"Too easy!" Kaito taunted, laughing as he surged past.

Renji chased him down, but Kaito's dribbling was chaotic — no pattern, no rhythm. Just pure, instinctive movement.

But Renji wasn't about to back down.

He timed his steps, watching the ball, waiting for the right moment. Kaito shifted left — and Renji struck.

His foot slammed into the ball, stealing it mid-dribble.

Kaito's eyes widened. "What?!"

Renji didn't waste a second. He drove forward, but Yamada was already there. The towering striker crashed into Renji like a wall of muscle, knocking him off balance.

The ball slipped free — and Sora Itsuki was waiting.

"Checkmate," Sora whispered.

His pass was a razor — fast, precise, and deadly. Yamada received it and fired without hesitation.

BOOM!

The shot was a rocket. Riku dove — but he couldn't reach it.

1-1.

The crowd roared, and Renji's fists tightened.

"Damn it," Kaede growled. "That Yamada guy's a freakin' tank."

Riku pulled himself up, his eyes sharp. "We need to stop Sora's passes. He's the key."

Renji nodded, his mind spinning with strategy. "Then we shut him down — no matter what."

The game resumed, and Renji went for Sora immediately. He hounded him, sticking close, cutting off his passing lanes.

But Sora was unfazed. He moved with grace, his control perfect. Even with Renji breathing down his neck, he kept the ball moving.

Then Sora made a mistake.

A slight misstep — a fraction of a second's hesitation.

Renji pounced.

He stole the ball and took off, blazing toward the goal. Yamada came charging in, but Renji didn't slow down.

He planted his foot — and struck.

The ball curved like a missile — a perfect, impossible shot.

"Oblivion Strike!"

The net rippled violently.

2-1.

Kaede whooped. "That's what I'm talking about!"

But there was no time to celebrate. Sora's eyes had sharpened.

And the game was far from over.