Chapter 9

The Rivalry

The morning air was light and crisp as I woke up early, anticipation buzzing faintly in my chest. The clock read 5:15 AM, but my body moved like it was already noon. I showered quickly, tied my hair back, and dressed for travel. Alina, already waiting, wore a hoodie over her usual tank top and jeans combo. We exchanged a look, and without many words, began our journey to Spain.

The train ride was long but quiet. Alina leaned against the window, the golden morning sunlight highlighting her raven-black hair. I found myself watching her reflection in the glass as she dozed off for a moment. I couldn't help but feel at peace, even though my mind was always racing, calculating, planning.

We arrived around midday. Spain greeted us with warm air, bright architecture, and the rhythmic pulse of life in the streets. We checked into a small but modern hotel near the coast. While flipping through the local sports news on my phone, I noticed a headline:

"Big Match Tomorrow – Local Stadium to Host Junior International Showcase"

A spark lit in my mind. I booked two tickets on the spot.

"Alina," I called.

She leaned over my shoulder, saw the page, and grinned.

"You and your obsession with football."

"You knew what you were getting into," I teased.

We spent the rest of the day exploring. I took her to famous historical streets lined with flowered balconies and artisan shops. In return, she showed me hidden gems for food – quiet tapas bars, a gelato café tucked in an alley, and a bold little bakery with chocolate-filled churros. Her enthusiasm was infectious.

By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, we found ourselves walking through a city park. That's when I saw him.

A boy, drenched in sweat, breathing hard. Black hair slicked down, long lower lashes, and intense blue eyes that mirrored mine. He staggered for a moment, but his gaze—no, his entire presence—radiated destruction. It was like watching a storm coil in human form.

"Is that…?"

My thoughts raced.

Itoshi Rin.

Sae's younger brother. No mistake. His Destroyer Flow was beginning to show—but unconsciously, unrefined. He was devouring opponents, kids and teens trying to defend, but he was burning through stamina like a meteor falling to Earth.

I stood there for a moment longer, watching him. That look in his eyes… like he wants to tear the world apart to prove something. I made a mental note of the field, the benches, the trees surrounding the pitch—I'll need to remember this place.

Alina gently tugged my hand, and we headed back to the hotel. Inside, the room had two beds. She threw her stuff onto one and I did the same. I grabbed a fresh set of clothes and walked into the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, I emerged towel-drying my hair. Alina was lounging on her bed, texting her coach. She looked up, smiled, and walked over to help fix my hair with quick, practiced fingers.

We sat together on my bed, watching highlights from around Europe.

In England, Adam Blake was setting the Premier League ablaze. One goal after another, a complete finisher—no wasted movements, no hesitation.

In Italy, Juventus vs. Roma. The screen showed Aloe Dybala, the 16-year-old Argentine prodigy, weaving through defenders like a phantom. He scored a goal that made time seem irrelevant—reacting before anyone else even moved.

My eyes narrowed.

"They're polar opposites," I thought. "Blake destroys with precision and hunger. Dybala… he sees the game three steps ahead. Like he's already lived it."

The screen cut to a press conference.

Reporter: "Why were you subbed off? Was the pressure too much?"

Dybala: "I'm still new to the starting eleven. No need to push too hard. Snuffy's a legend—I admire him. But give it time… I'll surpass him. Maybe even go to Germany. Play under Noa."

Then he walked away, calm as still water.

I looked over. Alina was still playing with my hair absentmindedly. She asked, "You'll come to my next fight, right?"

"In the winter," I promised. "During holidays. I'll stay at your camp and train with you."

She lit up, hugged me tightly, then giggled and flopped back on her bed, pulling out her phone to schedule with her coach.

I laid back, eyes on the ceiling. So many geniuses. So many monsters in the making. If I want to be number one… if I want to stand above them all—I have to beat Loki. Blake. Rin. Dybala. Noa.

The Kaiser Impact isn't enough. I need to master it… then move to the next.

The next morning came quietly. Alina was still asleep, wrapped in her blanket, soft breaths rising and falling. I got up at 4 AM and laced up for a run. The city was silent, painted in soft blues and greys before sunrise.

I ran toward the park we saw yesterday.

Halfway through my run, a ball flew toward me from the side. Without thinking, I spun and scorpion-kicked it back.

Itoshi Rin stood across the field, slowly approaching.

He was taller than I remembered, and calmer—on the outside. But inside, that same chaotic hunger still burned.

We didn't speak. We just knew.

1v1.

I activated Meta-Vision. The world bloomed into lines of motion, shifting possibilities, and open lanes. My brain processed Rin's movements—his subtle footwork, how he shifted to control open space, luring me like a spider with invisible threads.

But I didn't fall for it. I activated Velocity Sync and accelerated, using a burst step with the whip-like movement from Kaiser Impact.

×1.5 speed—I slipped past him and took the ball.

Dodging his steals, I scored at his end, then walked back calmly.

System Notification

New Skill Variation Acquired

Falcon Impact Flow – Level 1

Aerial dive speed. Each lunge increases acceleration. Transfers force through the body like a falcon dive. Can be combined with dribbling for rapid, precise destruction.

Now it was Rin's turn.

He started with the ball—his aura twisted with that Destroyer Flow. His body language screamed "I will break you", tongue slightly out, eyes sharp as blades.

I activated everything:

Top Performance Flow

Meta-Vision

Dual-Consciousness Flow

Falcon Impact Flow

I was ready.

He came forward, fast. I matched his burst, stole the ball with a leg sweep—but he didn't stop. He body-checked me hard. If I moved wrong, I knew he'd injure himself just to get the shot.

"How crazy is this guy?"

I backflipped to dodge, bouncing the ball off the wall, using the rebound. He pressed me, cornering like a predator, but I stayed low and used burst step #1, then burst step #2 to explode forward.

He stayed with me—but I faked a kick, then slipped the ball between his legs and let it bounce off the wall at a sharp angle.

In one fluid motion—I jumped. 540 spin.

Mid-air.

Full rotation.

The second burst step gave me the lift.

Kaiser Impact – Prototype

But this time—the distortion was more visible.

The boom louder.

The motion smoother.

The ball blasted into the goal like a comet.

I landed and turned.

Rin sat on the ground, panting, sweat dripping down his face. His aura began to fade, Destroyer Flow retreating into silence.

System Notification

You have defeated Itoshi Rin in a 1v1 match.

Template Copy – Pending…