The moment had arrived.
After three days of brutal training—pushing their limits, refining techniques, and clashing in heated internal battles—the EOS top 11 now stood on the field, facing the ultimate test.
Across from them stood the World 11—players they had only seen in highlights and admired from afar. Legends who had crushed elite defenders, broken through world-class midfields, and scored goals that defied logic.
Yet, not a single EOS player showed fear.
Instead, their eyes burned with determination.
Kaizen stood at the center of the field, arms crossed, watching both teams with a smirk. "This is your final test," he said. "You wanted to be the best? Prove it."
The World 11 players were relaxed, chatting among themselves, unfazed by the EOS players. Kaiser Eberhart, the world's number one, stretched casually, glancing at Renji and Mori.
"Which one of you is supposed to be the best?" Kaiser asked, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Mori grinned. "You'll find out soon enough."
Renji, silent as ever, just locked eyes with Kaiser. He wasn't interested in words—only in victory.
The referee blew the whistle.
Kickoff.
The First Strike
The World 11 started with possession. Thiago Santos, Brazil's playmaking genius, moved with the ball like a dancer on a stage, his dribbles smooth and effortless. He flicked the ball to Kylien Marcel, who exploded forward, his speed cutting through EOS's midfield in an instant.
EOS's defense immediately tightened. Riku Saionji read the movement, sprinting into position, but Marcel didn't slow down. Instead, he feinted right, then burst left—past Riku in a blink.
Kaede Arata rushed in, attempting to close the space, but before he could react—BOOM!
A perfectly timed through-ball from Santos sliced through EOS's backline.
Leonel Castillo, the Argentine midfield king, was already in motion. He met the pass and fired a powerful first-time shot from outside the box.
The ball tore through the air—unstoppable.
But then—
Takuma Ogawa dove.
His fingertips brushed the ball, redirecting it just enough to send it crashing into the post instead of the net.
EOS players exhaled in relief.
"Not bad," Noah Weiss, the World 11 goalkeeper, muttered from his end. "But let's see how long he lasts."
EOS Strikes Back
The rebound fell to Haruto Inoue, who wasted no time. He launched the ball upfield with a long pass—straight toward Kazuya Mori.
Mori controlled it smoothly, but before he could advance, Aleksandr Volkov, Russia's defensive monster, was already on him.
A brutal battle began.
Mori, sharp and agile, used his tight ball control to weave around Volkov, but the Russian's sheer physical presence made escape impossible. Just when it seemed Mori was boxed in—
Renji appeared.
Mori flicked the ball to him in a no-look pass.
Renji didn't hesitate—a lightning-fast turn to his left, immediately accelerating toward the box.
Kaiser Eberhart, watching from midfield, suddenly grinned.
"Heh… Interesting."
As Renji rushed in, the World 11 defense collapsed on him. Three players closed the space—Volkov, Bianchi, and Jisoo.
But Renji wasn't playing alone.
Kaede Arata sprinted down the right wing, and Renji sent a quick diagonal pass into his path. Kaede didn't stop—he curled a pinpoint cross into the box.
The ball curved perfectly toward the waiting figure of Sora Amagi.
Amagi, grinning, leaped into the air—
Volley shot!
The ball screamed toward the net.
Noah Weiss reacted instantly, diving toward the ball—
But it was a feint.
Amagi miskicked just enough to send the ball bouncing unpredictably—straight toward Riku Saionji, who had rushed forward unnoticed.
With a single calm, clinical strike, Riku buried the ball into the net.
GOAL!!
EOS 1 - 0 World 11.
For the first time in years, the World 11 conceded first.
The Mood Shifts
The stadium was silent for a moment.
Then—
"Heh…" Kaiser chuckled.
The World 11 players exchanged glances, their relaxed expressions fading.
DeLuca adjusted his gloves. "I guess we underestimated them."
Thiago Santos smirked. "This might be fun after all."
From the sidelines, Kaizen grinned. "Good. Now let's see how long they can hold their lead."
The World 11 kicked off again—this time, serious.
The real battle had just begun.
[To Be Continued…]