The roar of the crowd still echoed in Kaito's ears as he returned to the holding area. His chest heaved with the aftereffects of the test, but the adrenaline rush hadn’t quite faded. His heart was still pounding from the sheer intensity of the challenge. He had done it—he had scored. But this was just one step in a series of trials that would determine his future.

The atmosphere was tense. Players who had failed were now on their way out, their dreams shattered in an instant. Some walked with their heads hung low, others with an angry fire burning in their eyes. But Kaito didn’t have time to think about them. There was more to come.

“Alright, listen up!” Coach Kuroda’s voice rang through the stadium’s speakers. “You’ve all passed the first round. But now, it’s time for the real test.”

Kaito’s stomach clenched. The real test.

“Everyone line up. You’ll be facing off against one another in one-on-one matches. The rules are simple: score as many goals as you can in five minutes. The player with the most goals at the end of the match wins. The loser is eliminated. We are not here for fair play. We are here for results. Understand?”

A chorus of nervous murmurs swept through the group. This wasn’t a game anymore. It was survival. Kaito could see the fear in the eyes of some players who hadn’t experienced this level of intensity before. But Kaito wasn’t afraid. Not anymore.

The players lined up, and the one-on-one matches began. Kaito watched as the first few duels played out. The field was filled with chaos—aggressive tackles, quick passes, and intense strikes. Some players showed off their skills with smooth, calculated plays, while others relied on sheer brute strength. The robots had been a test of precision; this was a test of raw power and adaptability.

Finally, it was Kaito’s turn.

His opponent was a towering figure—a player named Ryuji Tanaka, a forward known for his powerful physique and ruthless approach. Kaito had heard of him. Ryuji was the type of player who didn’t care about finesse. He was a bull on the field, relying on his strength to bulldoze through defenses. The idea of going up against him made Kaito’s pulse quicken, but he was undeterred.

As Kaito stepped onto the field, Ryuji cracked his knuckles, a smirk crossing his face.

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“You’re that guy who scored against the robot, huh? Impressive,” Ryuji said, his voice low and taunting. “But robots don’t hit back. I’ll show you what it’s like when a real opponent is standing in your way.”

The whistle blew, and the match began.

Ryuji charged forward like a freight train, using his size and speed to push Kaito off balance. Kaito danced around him, using quick footwork to stay just out of reach. Ryuji’s aggression was predictable—he lunged at Kaito again and again, trying to break his defenses with sheer force. But Kaito had something else in mind.

He knew he couldn’t match Ryuji’s raw power. But Kaito had something Ryuji didn’t: creativity.

Kaito feinted left, then right, drawing Ryuji into a tackle that missed by mere inches. With a quick step, he was past the giant, closing in on the goal. But Ryuji wasn’t done. He recovered fast, sprinting after Kaito, determined to stop him at any cost.

Kaito glanced over his shoulder, feeling the pressure of Ryuji’s pursuit. The goal was only a few meters away, but Ryuji was closing in fast. Kaito’s mind raced, calculating his options. He couldn’t afford to waste time.

In a split second, he made his decision. He stopped on a dime, pivoting to the side and sending the ball through Ryuji’s legs with a slick nutmeg. The big forward stumbled, throwing off his balance just long enough for Kaito to take a quick shot on goal.

The ball flew toward the bottom corner of the net.

“Boom!” The net rippled as the ball hit its mark.

The whistle blew.

Kaito stood frozen for a moment, feeling the rush of triumph and disbelief. He had scored.

Ryuji stood with a stunned expression, his chest heaving. He glared at Kaito, clearly irritated, but said nothing. Kaito didn’t have time to bask in his victory. The match wasn’t over yet.

Ryuji, now enraged, came at Kaito even harder. This time, there was no finesse. Ryuji bulldozed through Kaito’s defenses, using his size and strength to force his way into the penalty box. With a powerful swing of his leg, he took a vicious shot at the goal. Kaito barely managed to dive to his left, but the ball brushed his fingers and ricocheted off the post.

Kaito’s heart raced. He was on the edge of his limits. One more mistake, and it would be over.

But then, something snapped inside him.

Kaito wasn’t just going to survive this match. He was going to win.

In the final moments, with Ryuji charging toward him again, Kaito used his smaller frame and quick reflexes to slip past the larger player. With only seconds remaining, he launched the ball toward the net with everything he had left.

Goal.

The whistle blew once again, signaling the end of the match. Kaito had won.

Ryuji, battered and furious, stormed off the field without a word. The other players watched, some in awe, others in disbelief. Kaito had taken down one of the most feared players in the program.

Coach Kuroda’s cold gaze landed on Kaito as he walked off the field, his expression unreadable. “You’re not the strongest player in this room, Suzuki,” he said. “But you are the most dangerous.”

Kaito’s pulse was still racing, but he stood tall, a fire burning in his chest. This was only the beginning.