Team A vs Team B

The list of names appeared on the massive screen, etched in cold, emotionless text.

Yamiyo Kou. So Yugen. Sazanami Inyo. Ota Akane. Kaede Iori. Hirano Kumi. Hirano Kaito. Iwai Jin. Kagero Sosei. Sei Yuto.

Each name carried weight now.

The selected candidates entered the arena one by one, the echo of their footsteps cutting through the vast silence of the Kelshea training facility. Their bodies carried the tension of the unknown, but their eyes burned with conviction. Anticipation hung in the air like a storm waiting to break.

The announcer's voice rang out, calm yet commanding.

"Team A, please enter."

From the shadows, Team A emerged.

Their aura was suffocating—cold, composed, and unreadable. Their every step exuded experience. Among them, a tall, lanky boy with silver hair and an innocent-looking expression raised a hand and waved toward Yugen.

It was Sai.

Yugen instinctively tensed but gave a curt nod in return. His muscles had gone stiff. His instincts were screaming.

Yuto scoffed beside him. "That's Team A? Pfft. They don't look that special."

Akane crossed her arms. "Don't let appearances fool you. They're Team A for a reason."

Iori said nothing, eyes locked on their opponents like a sniper choosing a target.

Yugen clenched his fists.

No… They're strong. I can feel it.

KICK OFF.

The whistle blew. The match exploded into motion.

Within moments, Kou pierced through the midfield and set up a goal for Yuto—then immediately followed up with one of his own.

"Good work," Yuto said with a grin.

Kou didn't even glance at him. He walked past like Yuto didn't exist.

Yuto scratched the back of his head, laughing awkwardly.

Yugen narrowed his eyes.

That play… Kou read everything. Even Yuto's goal was just bait to set up his own. He used us all—just to shine brighter.

What a monster.

But Yugen wasn't here to be used.

"I don't care if we're winning," he muttered. "I'll score my own goal."

High above, in the observation room, Mika popped a piece of candy in her mouth and smirked.

"That Kou kid," she murmured. "Used everyone like chess pieces for a solo checkmate. (Munch, munch.) That's enough, Kuro."

---

RESTART.

Sai, still smiling, took center stage. "Playtime's over," he whispered.

"Huh?" Iori blinked.

Kuro burst into motion.

One moment he stood still, the next—he vanished. A blur of motion tore through the field.

The entire facility froze. It wasn't just speed—it was inhuman.

But the ball was still with Sai.

That gentle smile twisted into something razor-sharp.

Yugen's body moved before his mind caught up.

They're setting up a pass-and-shoot. No time to think—go!

Sai glanced sideways. "You've got good foresight," he said softly. "But that alone changes nothing."

The pass was launched. A bullet disguised as a football.

Yugen and Kou both lunged to intercept.

It's too fast, Yugen thought. There's no way anyone can control it cleanly—

But Kuro—

(Flashback: A quiet street pitch under the fading sun. A younger Kuro passed the ball to another boy—their rhythm matching perfectly, one touch, two. No words, just harmony. It was the only time Kuro ever felt like someone moved like him. Like they breathed the same game.)

—smiled.

One touch. Perfect trap.

Second touch. Instant shot.

GOAL.

The entire room held its breath.

Kou's eyes widened. Yugen stood paralyzed.

This... this is world-class.

Sai jogged up, grinning. "Nice."

Kuro turned without a word. "You pass," he said. "You're the official Team B Squad of Kelshea."

Then he walked away.

Yugen blinked. "Eh?"

Soge clapped him hard on the back. "He said you pass, dimwit."

Sai leapt at Kuro. "Super goal, Kuro!"

Kuro sidestepped without breaking stride.

Above, Mika smirked. Her experiment had just begun.

---

TEAM B SLEEPING CHAMBERS

The tension was palpable as they arranged their futons.

Then—

"Why the fuck do we have to share a room?!" Inyo snapped. His tone was icy, but his rage boiled underneath. "There's gotta be more rooms in this damn facility!"

A screen on the wall flickered to life.

Mika's sleepy face appeared, yawning. "Shut up, kid. Go to bed."

Inyo's eye twitched. "Don't give me that crap—!"

Her eyes snapped open, voice deadly cold. "You got a problem with that?"

Silence.

Inyo clenched his jaw and stormed off.

Mika's face brightened again. "Well, good night~!"

Akane snorted, barely containing his

laughter. Inyo's head swiveled toward her.

A heavy silence.

...She's scary, they all thought.

Trying to shift the mood, Akane turned to Sosei. "Team A is terrifying, right?"

Sosei nodded. "That speed, that control... They're on a different level."

Yugen stared at the ceiling.

That play… it was so simple, yet so deadly. As expected of monsters.

---

NIGHT TRAINING

Unable to sleep, Yugen wandered through the halls until he found a quiet training room—and there he was.

Kou.

Alone, drilling shots into the net with surgical precision.

Yugen approached. "You're amazing. That last play—you read Kuro's run like it was obvious."

Kou didn't stop. "It was obvious."

Then his eyes slid toward Yugen.

"But how did you see it?"

Yugen shrugged. "Just a feeling."

Kou's gaze sharpened. "A feeling? You reacted faster than me."

Yugen grinned. "Now that we're both here… how about a 1v1? Mr. Genius."

Kou sighed. "Know your place, weakling."

"Oh, come on. One more ."

"…Fine. But don't cry."

1V1: YUGEN VS. KOU

Kou stood still. Then

Boom. A blur of motion.

"So fast!"

Yugen barely reacted before Kou came to a dead stop.

He stopped?!

Yugen lunged for the ball

But Kou flicked it up and over him. A smooth left-foot loft.

The net rippled.

Yugen stood still.

He baited me. Played me like a fool. Speed. Technique, shooting. Everything… he has it all.

"One more," Yugen said.

"No," Kou replied.

"One. More."

Kou stared him down, then nodded. "Fine. But you won't win."

---

Kou didn't even move this time.

Yugen charged.

Then—Kou lifted his leg.

From there?!

Boom.

The ball tore through the air and struck the net like thunder.

GOAL.

Kou looked down at him, eyes like ice.

"You want to be the best striker in the world with that? The world's filled with monsters. Get stronger. Or get devoured."

He walked away.

Yugen stayed on the ground.

Then he grinned.

"I will. I'll be the best striker in the world."

---

NEXT DAY – BRIEFING ROOM

Team B gathered in silence. Mika leaned against the desk, cheerful as ever.

"Hey, everyone. Congrats on surviving. But don't relax. This club? Your teammates? They're just stepping stones to the top."

He clapped his hands.

"Let's skip the fluff."

The screen behind him lit up.

"You're all going to fight each other."

Silence.

Sai stepped forward and casually shoved Mika aside. "What he means is—a 5v5 match. Team vs team."

Mika nodded. "Exactly. Results matter. That's all. If you want to shine on the world stage—failure's not an option."

The teams appeared on screen.

TEAM 1: Kou, Jin, Inyo, Sosei, Kaito

VS

TEAM 2: Iori, Yuto, Yugen, Akane, Kumi

Mika waved, voice sing-song. "See ya~!"

Then came the announcer's voice.

"THE MATCH WILL COMMENCE IN ONE HOUR."

A massive countdown appeared.

59:58…

59:57…

The battle for survival had begun.

CHAPTER ENDO