"Be careful, I'm coming." With a few simple steps of approach, Wu Luo's powerful leg swung and the instep struck the side of the soccer ball like a steel whip.
Buzz!
The soccer ball flew with a buzzing sound towards the top left corner of the goal, which was to the right side of Li Xiu.
Typically, a person's right arm and right leg are more agile and powerful. Non-professionals use the left leg as the main point of force when diving to the right, which affects the speed of the dive to some extent.
"Clearly possessing overwhelming strength, yet never underestimating any opponent, going all out to defeat them even when victory is certain, is truly a terrifying guy." A Fei contemplated, if Wu Luo advanced to the next trial, how could she ensure her victory, given she wasn't a professional soccer player and her skills were far inferior to Wu Luo's.
Almost at the same moment that Wu Luo kicked the ball, Li Xiu also leapt out, his body lifting into the air in the same direction the ball flew.
"He guessed the direction correctly, but it's a pity it's useless." A Fei muttered to herself, seemingly a bit regretful.
A Fei was well aware of Wu Luo's skills, if Li Xiu really aimed for the top left corner, then he was doomed to lose.
The soccer ball, clearly flying towards the top left corner, suddenly defied physics and plunged just as it was about to reach Li Xiu, appearing to pass right under him.
"What a bizarre curve, what a powerful Fallen Leaves Ball, to kick such a high dropping Fallen Leaves Ball over such a short distance is likely due to the physical enhancements he received from the Trial Gate. If it were me, could I block such a Fallen Leaves Ball?" A Fei pondered in her mind.
Bang!
A loud impact sounded in front of the goal as Li Xiu surprisingly used both fists to pound the falling soccer ball, forcibly changing its trajectory.
The soccer ball struck the ground, spun fiercely, and bounced towards the outside of the goal, barely grazing the goalpost as it flew out.
Li Xiu, due to the strong rebound force of the soccer ball, fell into the goal himself, rolling a few times and finally stopping after hitting the goal net.
"How is this possible?" A Fei and Wu Luo both wore shocked expressions.
At such a distance, the ball suddenly dropping, human nerves simply can't respond quickly enough; even if the reaction can keep up, the body matches the brain's reaction speed.
Li Xiu actually managed to respond and, with such a strange posture, precisely hit the soccer ball, altering its trajectory; this is simply unlike a normal human.
Yet Li Xiu's ranking is only 49, which, comparatively speaking, is just slightly above average physical fitness, so how is it possible to perform at such a level?
"How did he do it? Does he know Wu Luo just as well, predicting Wu Luo would definitely kick a Fallen Leaves Ball, so from the beginning, he aimed at the Fallen Leaves Ball? That's too much of a gamble." A Fei secretly speculated in her heart.
Wu Luo was somewhat annoyed, obviously, he thought like A Fei, believing that Li Xiu heard his reputation, so he predicted he would kick a Fallen Leaves Ball, which is why he performed that way. Now Wu Luo regretted telling Li Xiu his name before starting. Had he known this would happen, he wouldn't have kicked a Fallen Leaves Ball.
Li Xiu climbed up from the ground, rubbed his numb hands a bit, smiled at Wu Luo and said, "It's my turn."
"You were lucky to get one point, hope you cherish it. If you still choose to continue to the next round, you won't be so lucky." Wu Luo stood before the goal, assuming a goalkeeper's posture, his tone somewhat arrogant.
His defensive posture was much more professional than Li Xiu's. Although he hadn't played a goalkeeper position before, he occasionally served as a goalkeeper during training and was familiar with goalkeeper techniques.
For a normal goalkeeper, it is indeed very difficult to block a penalty shot, but that's for ordinary people.
With physical enhancement to Wu Luo's level, Li Xiu's ball speed kicked with such force, Wu Luo could totally react first and was confident he could catch the ball, so Wu Luo remained confident.
Even so, Wu Luo didn't take it lightly, slightly flexing his legs, shifting his focus downward, rapidly adjusting his feet back and forth in small steps, both to prevent Li Xiu from discerning his intent and to react as quickly as possible, extremely professional.
"How will you kick this ball?" A Fei looked at Li Xiu with some curiosity.
Li Xiu's previous performance exceeded her long-established judgment system, making it somewhat uncontrollable, arousing a certain expectation.
"Be careful, I'm coming." Li Xiu also, like Wu Luo, gave a warning and then quickly approached, his foot striking the ball.
The ball buzzed and flew towards the top right corner of the goal, its speed noticeably slower than Wu Luo's.
Wu Luo's stout body suddenly moved, like a beast pouncing on its prey, extending his arms to envelop the soccer ball.
Just as his fingers were about to touch the ball, it suddenly dipped, vanishing from his sight.
"Fallen Leaves Ball!" Wu Luo's pupils contracted, revealing an expression of disbelief.
A Fei, seated on the steps watching, sprang to her feet, her face full of disbelief.
The Fallen Leaves Ball is a technique countless professional players may never learn and master in their entire careers.
Even for players who can execute a Fallen Leaves Ball, it's not easy to control with precision, sometimes even requiring a bit of luck.
Yet Li Xiu managed to kick a Fallen Leaves Ball and so accurately, it was beyond imagination.
"Was my previous judgment wrong? Is he also a professional player, a top striker?" A Fei, having consistently misjudged, began to doubt her evaluative capability.
Bang bang!
The ball and Wu Luo both hit the ground, Wu Luo did not rise, his face full of bitterness.
"Trial is over, the attacker gains a point, the defender gains zero, the defensive trial failed, previous rewards go to the winner, awards are given, clearing begins..."
Bang!
In the explosion sound, Wu Luo's body instantly turned into a mist of blood.
Li Xiu felt a pricking pain on his wrist again, but this time more intense than before, the effect also seemed much stronger, making Li Xiu clearly feel as if his body was injected with adrenaline.
Four Demon Cores appeared in front of Li Xiu, two were the reward for this round, and two originally belonged to Wu Luo.
Due to a bye, in this round A Fei directly received two Demon Cores and entered the countdown to decide whether to participate in the next trial.
"Can I ask you a few questions?" A Fei asked, looking at Li Xiu.
"If they are questions I can answer, then no problem." Li Xiu smiled.
"Are you a professional soccer player?" A Fei frowned slightly, still not quite used to Li Xiu's expression.
"No." Li Xiu didn't lie, he actually wasn't.
"Have you practiced soccer?" A Fei asked again.
"No, occasionally watched some matches, it's my first real contact with soccer." Li Xiu answered truthfully.
"If you're not lying, how could someone who's never touched soccer kick a Fallen Leaves Ball the first time?" A Fei stared into Li Xiu's eyes intently, as if trying to see through him.
"Watched him kick it once, so I learned." Li Xiu said with a smile.
"You have no obligation to answer my questions." A Fei obviously wouldn't believe someone who's never touched soccer, only watched once and then kicked such a Fallen Leaves Ball. Such nonsense no one would believe.