The match was over.
EOS had lost.
The scoreboard glowed like a harsh reminder of their defeat.
WORLD11 - 12
EOS - 7
And yet—
There was no shame.
Because EOS had done the impossible.
They had scored seven goals against the best players in the world.
_
As the whistle's echo faded, a silence filled the field.
Not a silence of defeat—
But one of realization.
EOS players were panting, their bodies screaming from exhaustion.
And yet—
When they looked at the World 11…
They saw satisfaction.
Adrian DeLuca smirked, tossing his hair back.
"Seven goals against us? Not bad at all."
Thiago Santos crossed his arms.
"Didn't expect you brats to push back this much."
Even Kaiser Eberhart—the King himself—spoke.
"Pathetic."
He smirked.
"But… not a total waste of my time."
Their words sent a shockwave through EOS.
They had earned recognition from the best in the world.
And that meant…
They were on the right path.
---
Shunji Kaizen, the mastermind behind EOS, stepped forward.
His gaze burned.
Not with disappointment—but with ambition.
He looked over the players, his voice sharp and commanding.
"You all saw it firsthand."
His words cut through the air like a blade.
"The gap between you and them."
Some players clenched their fists.
Others looked down, their pride shaken.
"But let me tell you something…"
Kaizen's voice grew stronger, dripping with passion.
"Scoring seven goals against the best in the world—"
He paused.
"That's not a joke."
The EOS players looked up.
"That means you're not far off. That means you have the potential to devour them."
"But potential means nothing unless you act."
His eyes locked onto Renji, Mori, Amagi, Riku—
The ones who stood out.
"Are you going to let this loss break you?"
"Or are you going to evolve?"
His words sent a shock through everyone.
Because Kaizen didn't pity them.
He challenged them.
He was telling them—
You're not good enough yet. But you can be.
And that hit deeper than any insult ever could.
EOS wasn't finished.
EOS wasn't just some stepping stone.
They were the future.
And then—
Kaizen smirked.
"Oh, and one more thing…"
He turned, his back to the players.
"I forgot to mention something."
His next words—
Left them frozen.
"This entire match…"
He looked over his shoulder.
"Was broadcasted to the world."
---
To Be Continued…