Chapter 3: "Saitama Prefecture Pt. 2"
The whistle blew.
The ball was passed to Kira.
Matsukaze's forward took a few swift touches.
Isagi stood at the edge of the action.
Watching as his opponent began to dictate the flow.
The crowd roared with excitement as the two teams clashed on the field.
But for Isagi, the world seemed to slow down.
He focused on the space around him.
His mind running calculations, assessing every move.
Then he immediately saw what others might miss.
The small pockets of space that Kira was about to exploit.
"That's where he's going," Isagi thought.
The ball came to Kira's feet.
He surveyed the field, eyes darting between his teammates and the defenders closing in.
The ball was passed quickly to one of Matsukaze's midfielders.
But Isagi knew where the next move was headed.
He surged forward, cutting across the field.
Kira then faked left, dribbled right, and sent the ball rocketing toward the goal.
Isagi barely managed to adjust in time.
His feet reaching for the ball as it sailed past him.
Slightly changing it's trajectory.
Ichinan's goalkeeper leapt in the air.
Narrowly deflecting the shot.
Isagi, with his incredible game intelligence.
Had calculated the best time to intercept it.
But Kira's shot was lethal.
Had he been a second too late.
It would have shot through the goal.
Minutes passed…
Each one feeling like a battle of wits on the field.
Matsukaze dominated possession, but Ichinan wasn't backing down.
Their defense was sharp, intercepting passes and disrupting Kira's rhythm.
Isagi found himself in a constant chess match with Kira.
One wrong move could lead to disaster. '
But Isagi was learning.
Each touch, every shift in positioning, brought him closer to understanding how to outplay the sniper.
In the 25th minute.
Isagi received a pass from his teammate.
The ball rolling into his path with perfect timing.
Isagi glanced quickly to his left—his teammate was there.
Ready to receive a through ball.
But Kira was closing in.
His positioning was perfect.
If Isagi tried to pass, Kira would intercept it before the ball even left his foot.
But Isagi didn't pass.
Instead, he dribbled, weaving around a defender, and then another.
In a flash of brilliance, Isagi dropped his shoulder and feinted to the right.
Kira bit, lunging forward.
And in that split second, Isagi changed direction.
Sending the ball through the smallest of gaps between two Matsukaze defenders.
His teammate was there, sprinting forward.
Ready to make the final push toward the goal.
For a moment, Isagi could see everything.
The space, the movement, the perfect moment for the shot.
The ball came to his teammate's feet, and without hesitation.
He launched it toward the goal.
The ball hit the back of the net.
Goal!
1-0
Ichinan High erupted in a roar of victory.
The crowd exploded into cheers.
Waving their flags and chanting their team's name.
Kira showed no sign of frustration.
His expression remained cool, impassive.
But Isagi saw it—the slight narrowing of his eyes.
This match is far from over.
Minutes ticked by.
Matsukaze pushed hard to recover.
And in the 55th minute.
Kira, ever the sniper, found an opening.
A precise pass from his midfielder put him in a perfect shooting position just outside the box.
The crowd held their breath as Kira wound up.
Eyes focused solely on the target.
Kira's shot was swift and powerful.
It looked destined for the net.
But Ichinan's goalkeeper made a miraculous dive.
Barely deflecting the ball.
It bounced off the post.
But Matsukaze wasn't done yet.
Kira recovered quickly, racing for the rebound.
He pushed the ball into the open space and fired once more.
This time, the ball flew past the goalkeeper's outstretched hands.
Goal!
1-1
Matsukaze High had equalized.
The crowd erupted in cheers once again.
This time for the Matsukaze's fans.
Chanting their team's name with renewed fervor.
The game had just become even more intense.
With the clock winding down.
Both teams knew they needed one more breakthrough to claim victory.
Isagi kept his focus, scanning the field with sharp eyes.
The next opportunity would come soon.
In the 78th minute.
He found it.
A quick counterattack, a well-placed pass.
And Isagi was charging forward with the ball at his feet.
Kira tracked his movements from a distance.
Isagi feinted left, cutting to the right, but Kira anticipated it.
The two clashed at the edge of the box.
Kira trying to disrupt Isagi's flow.
But Isagi had a moment of clarity—a space, a window for a pass.
He slotted the ball to his teammate.
But Kira reacted faster than expected.
He slid in, intercepting the pass at the last moment.
Sending the ball to the other side of the field.
The clock ticked toward the final seconds.
With a final burst of energy.
Matsukaze launched one more attack.
Kira, leading the charge, made one last push to break through.
But Isagi had already positioned himself.
Reading the play like a book.
The whistle blew, and the match ended.
1-1 Tie.
The crowd was on their feet.
The stadium roaring with excitement.
It was a hard-fought draw.
One that showcased both teams' incredible skill and determination.
As the players walked off the field.
Isagi exchanged a glance with Kira.
Post-Match
Kira approached Isagi.
A faint smile on his face.
"That was a great match, Isagi," he said.
Offering a handshake, "I didn't expect that at all."
Isagi took his hand.
Feeling the strength in Kira's grip.
"Me too," he replied.
Kira nodded.
"But next time, I'll win."
Isagi laughed, a glint of thrill in his eyes.
"I'll look forward to it."
…
As Kira walked off the field.
Isagi was notified of a reward from the System.
[Draw Against Matzukaze High (Match)]
Reward:
+Devour Shop → (Unlocked)
+Talents ?/~ → (Unlocked)
+50 Points for a Draw
Match Performance Points:
+30 Points per assist.
+200 Points for being named MVP of the match.
Total Points Earned:
= 280 Points
Isagi stared at the points for a moment.
Still processing the unexpected gain.
280 points.
That was a lot more than he expected.
Especially for a draw.
But before he could think too much about it.
Something else caught his attention.
The Devour Shop.
Suddenly, another window materialized in front of him, glowing faintly.
Welcome to the Devour Shop
Points Available: 280
Purpose: Use these points to enhance your abilities by purchasing Talents or Devouring the skills of others.
Devour Requirements for Talents:
F Rank: 50 Points
D Rank: 150 Points
C Rank: 300 Points
B Rank: 600 Points
A Rank: 1,200 Points
S Rank: 2,500 Points
Devour: Devour the talents of players around you. Choose a target, and the cost will be based on the rating of their talent. Use the points to absorb and upgrade your own skills.
Isagi blinked, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Devour?" he whispered to himself.
The word sticking out more than anything else.
He instinctively reached out and tapped the "Devour" option, intrigued by what it meant.
A list of players appeared before him—his teammates.
Players from Matsukaze, and even some players from other teams he had played against before.
Each name was accompanied by a rating—F, D, C, B, A, S, W—based on their talents.
He could see Kira's name in the list, his Sniper's Aim talent labeled as an A Rank.
The cost to devour it would be 1,200 points.
"That's a lot of points," Isagi thought.
But what if he could gain a talent like that?
His mind raced, processing the possibilities.
He could improve his own abilities—become even more of a threat on the field.
Suddenly, a list of available talents appeared.
And he couldn't help but scroll through them.
Talents Available in the Shop:
F Rank (50 Points)
Quick Feet: Increases agility and footwork.
Iron Will: Slightly boosts stamina and resilience in critical moments.
D Rank (150 Points)
Long Shot: Increases shooting range and precision from long distances.
Quick Reflexes: Improves reaction time in fast-paced situations.
C Rank (300 Points)
Midfield Vision: Enhances vision on the field, increasing passing range and decision-making under pressure.
Dribble Mastery: Boosts dribbling skills, allowing for more precise control and evasion.
B Rank (600 Points)
Tactical Genius: Provides enhanced tactical awareness, allowing the player to anticipate team movements and opponent strategies.
Power Shot: Boosts shot power and accuracy, especially from difficult angles.
A Rank (1,200 Points)
Precision Passer: Increases passing accuracy to near-perfect levels, allowing for pinpoint accuracy in difficult situations.
S Rank (2,500 Points)
…
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone