Ryōsuke dodged Michael's sneak attack and fired a powerful shot straight at the goal!
❖ Thunderclap and Flash ➠ Thunder Kick! ❖
His shot blasted through the goalkeeper's defense!
[ Scoreboard ]
[ 3:1 ]
The lead extended to three points!
Under normal rules, scoring three points would have secured Bastard München's victory — but Jinpachi had modified the rules to heighten the match's intensity.
Though it wasn't the final blow, Ryōsuke's team had seized a commanding lead. His teammates rushed to celebrate with him.
Meanwhile, Michael stood alone and dejected amid the festivities. He glanced uncertainly toward his coach, but Noel's attention lay elsewhere.
From the start, Noel had focused solely on Ryōsuke, his usual stern expression softening into one of appreciation and respect.
In that moment, Michael knew he had suffered a complete defeat.
"Lavi, didn't I warn you?" Noel remarked from the stands, his face impassive as he addressed Lavinho, "Even your presence on the field wouldn't be enough to turn this around."
"How irritating! Should I come over there and knock some sense into you?" Lavinho snapped, waving his hand, "Besides, you probably couldn't win either if you were playing!"
"Instead of wasting time arguing with me, focus on making the most of what's left." Noel replied.
"Tch." Lavinho scoffed and turned to watch the field.
He realized he had become nothing more than Ryōsuke's stepping stone. While Ryōsuke's stock would soar, his own reputation might take a hit.
However, Lavinho didn't care about such things — compared to money and external matters, he preferred to enjoy freedom on the field.
"What a pain, time's almost up, and I haven't backed up any of my tough talk. I need to make something happen in these final minutes." He muttered to himself. After glancing at his teammates thoughtfully, he walked over to them, "We can't leave empty-handed after I've come on the field. Let's enjoy the game~"
"Oh?" Meguru heard his words and looked at him questioningly.
"I'm going to cast a spell of freedom on this match~ Everyone do your best!" Lavinho's face showed a meaningful smile.
On the other side of the field, Yoichi quickly shared his strategy.
"We just need to defend for the remaining time. The star player substitution rule has a time limit — Lavinho can only play for ten minutes! More than half that time has already passed. If we prevent them from closing the gap now, victory will be ours!"
The score was 3:1, and with Lavinho's entry, Barcha was at their strongest. If they could withstand this offensive surge, victory would be secured.
Though Noel hadn't yet used his star player substitution — which could guarantee Bastard München's victory if he entered later — the coach seemed content to let them win the match themselves.
Yoichi clearly understood that this was Noel's test for them!
"Mm." Ryōsuke nodded, also recognizing that the upcoming offensive and defensive battle would determine the match's outcome.
FC Barcha quickly took the kickoff, with Lavinho controlling and advancing the ball.
Ryōsuke immediately moved to defend — if the opponent tried to break through again, he'd likely intercept just as before.
"I thought I'd reached my peak in technique, but I never expected someone like you to exist." Lavinho smiled at him, "Someone who can intercept me like this — there hasn't been a second person, even Noel is the same. How about it? Won't you consider joining our Barcha? We'll definitely give you a big contract!"
"I might consider it later, but aren't you worried about losing your ace status?" Ryōsuke said with a smile.
"You're quite bold." Lavinho stared intently at him while leaning forward.
Instead of challenging Ryōsuke one-on-one, he passed the ball in another direction!
To Sae's position!
"Lavinho actually chose to pass this time?!" Jingo exclaimed in surprise. He never expected a player of Lavinho's caliber to willingly cooperate with teammates.
"Looks like Barcha has truly fallen to rock bottom." Noel frowned as he watched the superstar.
"Sorry, but if I let you predict my moves, where's the fun in that?" Lavinho laughed loudly as he darted into position.
"What a troublesome guy." Sae's expression remained blank as he advanced with the ball.
Meanwhile, Tsubasa, Meguru, and the others made strategic runs, giving him multiple passing options.
"Get back on defense!" Kenyū shouted anxiously.
"No, they're not the key!" Yoichi called out from the side.
With his Metavision, he knew who posed the real threat — Lavinho.
The star player now moved freely across the attacking half, following no discernible pattern. Even Yoichi couldn't read his tactics. It was as if he existed outside the match itself.
Yet it was precisely these unpredictable movements that threw both teams into chaos, affecting both attack and defense.
Even without the ball, Lavinho remained Barcha's most dangerous player, forcing Bastard München's defensive line to scramble chaotically across the field in pursuit.
Lavinho's style resembled Ryūsei Shidō's, but he surpassed him in every way — physical ability, ball control, and tactical experience. His lightning-quick positioning left several players struggling to keep up.
Using his unique method, Lavinho was systematically dismantling Bastard München's formation.
Even with Ryōsuke defending against him, Barcha had multiple threats — Tsubasa, Meguru, Eita, and even Sae could launch attacks.
Bastard München's defensive formation teetered on the edge of collapse.
Their first priority: block Sae's passes!
Yoichi charged forward to compress Sae's space — but despite being stronger than before, he was still outmatched.
Sae's eyes sharpened as he entered a Flow state, moving like a phantom!
Even with Yoichi's complete focus, Sae's supernatural speed let him slip past in an instant!
Benedict rushed up to defend, but Sae had already released the ball.
"Go put on a show, Kappa-head." He said coolly.
"Still with the nicknames, just like with your brother!" Meguru laughed as he received the pass.
With Bastard München's defense scattered, this was their perfect chance to strike.
"Let's add fuel to this chaos!"
Meguru burst toward the goal — when Rensuke attempted a sliding tackle, he deftly hooked the ball and leaped over the challenge!
But Gin was already moving in as the next defender.
Despite Meguru's excellent ball control, he couldn't gain much advantage against an opponent with such overwhelming physical abilities!
Yet this was exactly what he needed! Meguru feinted left, successfully misleading Gin, while deftly back-heeling the ball to the side!
Lavinho had already reached that spot!
"This is what freedom feels like!" He chested the ball down and spun to shoot.
But Ryōsuke materialized in front of him, halting his movement!
"What terrifying physical abilities..." Lavinho marveled, his body pressed against Ryōsuke's, unable to break free.
But as a world-class player, such challenges only drove him forward! He kept pushing against his opponent, using his strength to pivot, searching for a shooting angle!
But Ryōsuke was even faster!
The instant Lavinho turned, Ryōsuke had already claimed that position, an impenetrable wall that left no shooting lane!
"What fearsome defense." Lavinho had to admire these defensive skills — unmatched even in La Liga.
Yet Lavinho had anticipated this scenario. He stepped back and delivered a back-heel pass.
In the back, Eita stood ready!
True to his ninja-like style, he took aim at the goal's corner and unleashed a powerful shot!
Genzō launched himself forward, his right fist clenched as he punched the ball away with tremendous force!
"No way!" Eita couldn't believe his shot from such an angle had been saved.
The ball soared skyward, and Kenyū leaped up, determined to intercept it first!
But someone was faster, jumping even higher!
Tsubasa spun in the air like a waltz, his foot expertly hooking the ball!
"What kind of technique is this?!" Kenyū gaped, unable to believe someone could control their body so precisely mid-air.
It was as if Tsubasa was swimming through the air itself.
Though Kenyū was already falling, Tsubasa remained suspended above — Kenyū would pressure him the moment he landed, giving him no chance to shoot!
But Tsubasa wasn't finished! Still airborne, he adjusted his body further, controlling the ball beneath his foot!
❖ Flying OverDrive Shot! ❖
"What?!" Kenyū watched in disbelief.
To execute such a move from that position — it seemed beyond human!
The shot rocketed toward the goal like a missile! With such incredible speed, and Genzō not yet in position!
'From here, no one could possibly stop this shot.' Lavinho thought, glancing to where Ryōsuke should have been...
Huh? Where is he?
That guy, who had been right behind him, had vanished.
In a mere instant, Ryōsuke had already created distance from Lavinho — so fast that even he hadn't noticed.
❖ Thunderclap and Flash ➠ Sixfold! ❖
Power surged through his legs as he reached the goal at superhuman speed, extending his foot!
BANG!
The shot crashed against Ryōsuke's foot with a thunderous sound — Tsubasa's powered shot carried incredible force! No ordinary person could have withstood such power.
But... This level of power meant nothing to Ryōsuke!
❖ Thunderclap and Flash ➠ Thunder Kick! ❖
Power coursed through his blood like a raging river, concentrating in his right foot!
BANG!
With a thunderous roar, Ryōsuke completely destroyed Tsubasa's powered shot!
The ball was cleared!
As it sailed out of bounds, Barcha's relentless attack finally came to an end.
At that moment, the announcement came over the speakers:
"Ten minutes have elapsed. Player Lavinho, please exit the field for substitution."
"Damn, this is frustrating! That cyber-nerd Noel was right! Couldn't they extend the time a bit? I was just getting into it!" Lavinho scratched his head in frustration, then rolled his shoulders and returned to his usual carefree demeanor, "Oh well, oh well, it's up to you guys now — good luck!"
He returned to the sidelines, put his sunglasses back on, and took the towel handed to him by a teammate, wiping his forehead.
Only then did he realize how much he had sweated in just ten minutes.
"Man, I thought this would be easy money, but look what happened." Despite his words, Lavinho's face beamed with smiles.
He had experienced that blood-pumping excitement again after so long.
"The Youth World Cup is coming up soon — I'm really looking forward to seeing how he performs on that stage."
❖❖❖
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