LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 42: The Fall of Team Zeta
In this stage of Phase 2, all six teams will compete against each other. The top 10 goal scorers, along with the goalkeeper with the most saves, will advance to the next stage. Each team will play one match against every other team. The first match kicks off with Team Alpha facing Team Zeta. Let the battle begin.
The cold, empty air of the stadium pressed down on Team Zeta like a weight. The silence was deafening , only the sound of their breathing and the distant echo of the ball being passed. As they stood across from Team Alpha, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Renji Kurogami's eyes locked onto the player standing at the front of Team Alpha's formation — Kazuya Mori. Even without saying a word, his presence dominated the field. The way he stood — confident, calculating — made it clear he wasn't just a player. He was a predator.
"Alright, listen up," Renji spoke, gathering his team one last time before the match. "We're going in without proper coordination, but we can't let that shake us. Play to your strengths, and we'll adapt as we go."
The team nodded, but there was hesitation in their eyes. They hadn't played together long enough to truly understand each other's styles.
Team Zeta's Formation:
Goalkeeper: Jin Kazama
Defenders: Riku Saionji, Yamada Goro
Midfielders: Haruto Inoue, Reiji Sakamoto, Itsuki Maeda
Forwards: Renji Kurogami (Captain), Sora Amagi, Kaede Arata, Shun Takagi, Kaito Nishimura
The whistle blew. The match began.
Within seconds, the cracks in Team Zeta's foundation began to show.
"Pass it here!" Kaede shouted, running into space. But Sora didn't hear him — his focus was on moving forward. By the time he finally passed, it was too late — the ball was intercepted by Shiro Nakamura from Team Alpha.
"Stay focused!" Renji barked, but the damage was done.
Team Alpha moved like a machine. Their coordination was flawless, their positioning perfect. And at the center of it all was Kazuya Mori.
He didn't just control the ball — he controlled the field. His spatial awareness was terrifying. It was like he could see the entire pitch from above, every player just a piece in his game of chess.
In the 8th minute, the first goal came.
Kazuya didn't even touch the ball — he directed his teammates with subtle signals, moving them into place until Takeshi Arai slammed the ball into the net.
1-0.
"Dammit!" Riku growled. "We need to tighten up!"
But no matter how they adjusted, Team Alpha was always a step ahead. Their players moved in perfect synchronization, always knowing where the others would be. Team Zeta? They were disjointed — individuals instead of a team.
In the 14th minute, Kazuya struck.
The ball landed at his feet, and in a flash, he was past Haruto and Reiji. He slipped between defenders with ease, his movements so precise they looked effortless.
Jin Kazama braced himself in goal — but Kazuya's shot was a bullet. The net rippled violently.
2-0.
By the 22nd minute, frustration boiled over. Kaede tried to push forward on his own, but without support, he was immediately dispossessed. Another perfect counterattack from Team Alpha — and another goal from Kazuya.
3-0.
"This is insane!" Yamada shouted. "It's like they know exactly what we're gonna do!"
"They do," Renji said through gritted teeth, his eyes locked on Kazuya. "Because that guy is reading everything."
But knowing it didn't help.
In the 29th minute, Kazuya scored again — his third goal, a hat trick.
By the time the final whistle blew, it was 5-0. A total annihilation.
As the teams walked off the pitch, Kazuya stopped beside Renji. He didn't even look at him.
"You're not worth my time," Kazuya said coldly.
Renji didn't respond. His fists were clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms.
But deep inside that frustration, a fire was starting to burn.
To be continued…