Awakening of True Self
With the early morning mist hanging low across the field and the wet grass glistening beneath the faint golden light of the rising sun, Kaiser was already sweating from his morning jog to the training ground, a half-empty water bottle in hand as he ran. Each step he took pressed softly into the damp earth, his breath steady yet heavy from the cold morning air, and as the rhythmic sound of his footsteps echoed quietly in the silent streets his thoughts began to flash through his mind one after another.
Kaiser's thoughts:
"Tomorrow afternoon we face the giants of Portugal, and I will have to deal with their master striker. The reason I say myself… is because I will not be playing as a main striker, but as a second striker instead, allowing me to be far more free in my movement across the field and so I can face Filipe one on one directly. Why you may ask… why am I doing this? It's to find out at what level I truly stand when it comes to the masters level, to finally see with my own eyes how far the distance really is between me and those who already rule the world stage."
Kaiser's thoughts:
"He will be my biggest challenge yet, because he counters me very well actually. His play style… the way he moves, the way he reads the flow of the game… it clashes with mine in ways that could completely shut me down if I hesitate even once. And I need to beat him if I want to become the best New Gen striker, and then a master in the future. And he… he will be my test, the embodiment of my current limits standing right in front of me."
Kaiser's thoughts:
"The fast wings and long passing play style of Benfica will also be a challenge as well for James, because he will have to constantly decide whether to focus on stopping the striker or intercepting the pass before it reaches him. That hesitation… even if it lasts only a fraction of a second… will be exactly what their offense tries to exploit. And they have defenders good enough to make it so their collective teamwork in defense becomes almost impossible to get through solo, like a wall that constantly shifts yet never truly breaks."
Kaiser's thoughts:
"Overall this next match will truly have me playing at the world stage and not just the under 20 league anymore, but on the front stage where the eyes of the world begin to watch. And I still have not fully decided my philosophy yet. Even though I like the original Kaiser philosophy… it's missing something, an element that truly aligns it with my desires, something deeper that resonates with the core of my ego. But hopefully… hopefully I can grasp it soon."
After eating breakfast Kaiser leaves his apartment, quietly stepping out into the cool morning air as he tightens the cap on his water bottle, his mind still lingering on the thoughts of the coming match.
At the training ground of Madrid.
After shooting countless Kaiser Impacts towards Rossi and from multiple positions for practice, the sharp explosive sound of the ball striking the net echoing repeatedly across the field, Kaiser finally stops as Rossi raises a hand and wants to take a break while Kaiser is still running with sweat dripping down his face and neck.
Kaiser:
"How are you able to stop it seventy percent of the time Val?"
Kaiser asks while slightly narrowing his eyes, his breathing still heavy as he wipes a line of sweat from his jaw with the back of his hand, clearly irritated yet also curious.
Valentino's expression becomes one of contemplation before he answers, his brows lowering slightly as he replays the movements in his head.
Rossi:
"You're right footed… am I correct?"
Kaiser:
"Yes I'm right footed, but I can also use my left as well."
Kaiser responds almost immediately, lifting one eyebrow with a faint confused expression forming across his face as he waits to hear out the reasoning of Valentino.
Rossi:
"That's the problem… you're not truly ambidextrous."
The words linger in the air for a moment, and Kaiser remembers back to the reason why he tries to be.
Kaiser:
"What do you mean by that? It should not make much difference… just like Noa, right?"
Valentino slowly begins to sigh, rubbing the back of his neck slightly as if the explanation he's about to give is something he has already thought about many times before.
Rossi:
"Noa is different, I know because I have faced him before… and when he shoots there is absolutely no difference between either side of his body. Whether the ball falls to his right or his left, the result is the same… he is able to perform at his peak no matter which side of his body he uses. His God-given ambidexterity allows his body to always remain at peak performance no matter the situation, as if his muscles, joints, and balance were perfectly symmetrical weapons forged for football itself. There is no hesitation in his movement, no microscopic loss of power or timing… every swing of his leg produces the exact same destructive precision."
With all the sparks in the head of Kaiser suddenly connecting into place, like fragments of scattered information locking together into a single brutal realization.
Kaiser:
"And the difference in mine is that I can't do the same… my body has naturally adapted the right side of my body to the maximum Kaiser Impact, making my left side weaker even though I can still use Kaiser Impact on my left side. It ends up slower with the swing, and the ball speed drops slightly, and the timing and transition become more predictable since it's more of an unnatural movement for my body… like forcing a blade to cut in a direction it was never sharpened for."
As he says this Kaiser subtly lifts his left leg and swings it once in the air, his brows tightening slightly as he analyzes the motion even now.
Rossi:
"Yes… and with someone like myself I can adapt to your strongest Kaiser Impact, because your weaker left foot allows me to adjust and slowly learn its mechanics. Once I see that imbalance, once I observe the subtle difference in your body rotation and the delay in your swing… it becomes possible for me to counter it."
Rossi speaks calmly while crossing his arms, his eyes sharp and analytical like a goalkeeper dissecting a striker's weapon piece by piece.
Kaiser:
"Then I have two options… find a way to make my left side completely equal to my right like Noa… or abandon using Kaiser Impact on my left foot entirely."
Kaiser's eyes narrow slightly as he says this, the idea clearly frustrating him yet forcing him to confront reality.
Kaiser:
"Because my own play style will constantly force me into a position that will make use of my weaker foot even if I don't want to… and that can't happen. Because it will not only allow the goalkeeper to adapt and counter, but other New Gen 11 players and especially masters as well."
His jaw tightens slightly, the weight of that truth pressing down on him.
Luna:
"Kaiser… I see you're having trouble with your shot. Why not change it up with a clash of dribbling with me to inspire you in a different direction?"
Luna says this casually while resting the ball under his foot, a relaxed smile on his face yet his eyes carrying the calm confidence of someone considered the fastest footwork in the world.
Kaiser:
"Yeah… you're right. Overthinking this just before a game is not the best for my mental state… and I have been wanting to see if the title of fastest footwork in the world is true or not."
Kaiser exhales slowly as he says this, rolling his shoulders once as if shaking off the weight of his thoughts.
Silva:
"I want to watch this… come on Val."
Silva calls out with a grin, lightly nudging Rossi with his elbow as excitement begins to spread across the training ground.
The ball is in the middle, resting quietly on the grass, with Luna and Kaiser standing on opposite sides as Silva blows the whistle sharply through the air. And the moment the sound echoes across the field they both rush forward to reach the ball first in the centre.
Kaiser's eyes change into a unique pattern as Flawless-Eye is used… the pupils sharpening as if the world itself slows around him. Data is constantly given to him of the most optimal use of his energy, the position of his body to generate and sustain balance and speed, and how to utilize his hands to block Luna when reaching the ball. Every muscle fiber, every step, every angle of his body is calculated in real time.
Boom…
They both rush forward explosively, their cleats tearing into the grass as they accelerate. And as they get closer and closer to the centre the eyes of Luna suddenly flash into the shape of a crown, a subtle glow appearing within them as his body begins to shift and feint without even reaching the ball yet. His shoulders twitch, his hips rotate slightly, his feet flicker with micro movements… but Kaiser gets the data that it's mostly from his feet. And from that Kaiser was distracted just enough for Luna to touch the ball first.
But then Kaiser smiles slightly, a confident curve forming at the edge of his lips, knowing that Luna won't be able to do more than tap the ball since his own speed will allow him to reach the ball right after.
Luna's face is completely expressionless as his eyes glow brighter, calm and focused only on the moment in front of him. And just as Kaiser lunges with his right leg forward to take the ball, Luna suddenly lifts his toes and presses downward on the ball with incredible speed, giving the ball just enough backspin so that despite Kaiser's full foot reaching the previous position of the ball with higher speed… Luna was able to receive the ball first with fast footwork and refined technique.
And right after, with the left foot of Luna now ahead and his back slightly leaned back, his left arm shoots out naturally to block the right shoulder of Kaiser, stopping his speed and momentum for a single critical second.
And using that brief moment of control he quickly performs an inside elastico from his right foot behind his body, the ball snapping from inside to outside as he twists his body in the same direction to the left, his feet moving like flowing water.
And in the next instant he moves past on the right side of Kaiser…
Completely outclassed in technique and experience.
Kaiser's thoughts:
"He used back spin on the ball to close the gap of my speed with technique, carefully manipulating the spin and friction of the ball against the grass so that my raw acceleration could not instantly overwhelm him. And his hand… he used his hand placement against my shoulder to give himself enough time to maximize his fast footwork while neutralizing my speed and momentum for just a brief moment. That single moment was enough to change the entire exchange, now forcing me to either let him pass me completely or dip in my right shoulder so he has less impact on stopping me, then redirect my momentum into rotation in the same direction as him and follow after him without losing too much speed."
Kaiser shifted his upper body and leaned his right shoulder back while pushing the left side of his body forward, his torso twisting with precise balance as he rotated using the left hand of Luna as an axis point. The contact between their bodies became the pivot for his movement, allowing Kaiser to convert the interruption of his speed into rotational momentum instead of losing it entirely. Then with only five meters of distance behind Luna he began to use his speed again, his strides lengthening as he ran faster and faster to catch up to Luna.
Luna only smirked slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting with quiet confidence as he began to move his body from right to left in a smooth rhythm. His shoulders swayed subtly while his hips rotated in deceptive patterns, and then he suddenly used a double chop with an extra twist in his rotation, the ball snapping sharply from one side to the other to fake out Kaiser into over committing his speed in the wrong direction. But Kaiser's Flawless-Eye was able to see the plan of Luna, the minute changes in balance and foot angle revealing the true intention behind the move, and then Kaiser decided to use this to his advantage to gain more distance and reach Luna instead of falling for the trap.
Kaiser's thoughts:
"Now I have to time this perfectly, because Luna has the advantage since he is the one dictating the tempo of this duel, controlling the rhythm like a conductor guiding a symphony. And my options right now are limited… either try and steal the ball directly, commit to a full tackle and risk being bypassed entirely, or move ahead of him and force him into a second duel where the momentum resets."
Kaiser moved past Luna by using the opportunity when he used a drag back, the instant Luna pulled the ball backwards with the sole of his foot Kaiser accelerated past the line of movement. Allowing Kaiser to now face Luna once again for a second duel, both of them now standing almost directly in front of each other with the ball between them.
Luna:
"You're a lot smarter than you look… but I hope you know that to compete with players on my level you will need more than just physical abilities."
Luna says this calmly, tilting his head slightly while maintaining control of the ball under his foot, his eyes studying Kaiser carefully.
Kaiser:
"It amazes me that you can counter my advantage of speed with pure technique and body positioning, allowing you to also give yourself an advantage even in what should be a disadvantageous situation."
Kaiser responds while breathing steadily, his eyes locked onto Luna's feet with sharp concentration.
Luna's eyes glowed again as he entered Flash Crown Flow, the faint crown-like glimmer forming within his pupils as his entire body relaxed into a state of instinctive mastery. His feet began to move at a superhuman level of speed with continuous step overs flowing one after another, the ball dancing between his feet as if attached by invisible threads. And yet his center of gravity remained incredibly flexible, constantly shifting yet never losing balance, giving him multiple options at any given moment.
Kaiser's thoughts:
"I see now… with this he can do many things. He can stall for a link up play, buying precious seconds for his teammates to move into position. Or he can give time for a player to enter a passing lane and create a sudden attacking opportunity. Or even give himself enough time to recalibrate his own play style in the middle of the duel… adapting in real time depending on Madrid reaction of the opponent. He is truly the scion of Madrid6y… and a master level midfielder."
Luna:
"When your mind is given too many possibilities… it actually makes it harder for you to truly read which one is the right choice to pick."
Luna says this with a calm voice, almost like a teacher explaining a lesson.
With a scoop of the ball using his left foot towards the outside, making Kaiser instinctively move towards him to close the angle. Then Luna suddenly flicked the ball upward with his right heel, the motion quick and fluid, and twisted his body towards the right at the same time. The ball passed Kaiser cleanly as Kaiser had already committed his movement toward Luna's left side.
Luna:
"This style is my counter for all who use absolute logic and rational play styles… because the irony is that even when you are given all the options and possibilities, you still can't take every path at the same time. There are limits on the body… limits on how fast you can react."
Luna said this as he sprinted past Kaiser, his movements smooth and controlled even at full speed. And when he got out of his rotation he volleyed the ball before it could even touch the ground, striking it cleanly through the air with perfect technique.
The ball flew like a guided missile straight into the top corner of the net… with even Valentino Rossi unable to predict the shot or move in time to save it.
Kaiser only turned his head slowly to see the ball hit the back of the net, the netting rippling from the force of the strike.
And yet… Kaiser smiled despite the defeat.
Kaiser:
"I still have a long way to go huh."
Kaiser says this quietly under his breath while looking toward the net where the ball had just struck moments ago, his chest slowly rising and falling as he exhales through his nose. Yet despite the defeat there is no frustration in his voice… only a calm acknowledgment of the distance that still exists between him and the world level.
Silva:
"Now it's my turn… I can't let you have all the fun Kaiser."
James Silva grins widely as he cracks his knuckles slightly, his eyes already gleaming with predatory excitement as if the idea of hunting a strong opponent has awakened something inside him.
Kaiser:
"No… I still haven't used my weapon yet and shown Luna my true originality."
Kaiser says this while lifting his head again, his expression sharpening as the faint smile disappears from his face.
Luna:
"Ooohh… I want to see this, hold on a little house cat."
Leonardo said this with an amused tone as he casually lifted a hand toward James Silva, signaling him to wait.
Leonardo said as he spoke to James Silva.
Silva:
"Make it quick… I'm getting the itch to hunt."
Silva replies while rolling his shoulders slightly, clearly impatient yet curious about what Kaiser is about to reveal.
Kaiser's eyes blazed with his Ego as his face became completely expressionless, the calm emptiness of a predator preparing to strike. And then he looked toward Leonardo Luna carefully, studying every detail of him, and then he saw some important data about him.
Kaiser's thoughts:
"Leonardo Luna's physical age is that of a 20 year old despite being 25, his body showing the peak conditioning of someone whose muscles and joints have been refined through years of elite training. And his mental age is far more mature, equivalent to someone closer to 30, judging from the composure and calculation behind his movements. His height is 6ft1… only currently an inch taller than me right now. And the important info that I can gain just from our first clash."
Physique: at the level of a peak human, mostly shown through his hand techniques that allow him to hold position, stop opponents, or open up space for his dribbling, giving him pure domination in close proximity battles.
Physical level
Contesting – S+
Explosiveness – A+
Endurance – S+
Dribbling: the mixture of counter dribbling combined with the principles of Ginga, blended with his own unique hyperfast footwork. Allowing him to stall for teammates or instantly recognize the perfect timing to beat his opponent with the very first move.
Dribbling level
1 on 1 duels – S+
Opened options – SS+
Multiple duels – S+
Shooting: with his reading and dribbling abilities he always knows the future movements and placement of his opponents, making his shots perfectly placed and often uncontested in close range situations.
Shooting level
Short range – SS+
Mid range – AA+
Long range – A+
Sprinting: his fast footwork combined with his reflexes allow him to always react first and counter high speed movements whenever the ball is close to him, especially when combined with his reading ability.
Speed level
Long distance – B+
Short distance – A+
Vision: his ability to read the strengths and weaknesses of his opponents simply from their muscle tension and body language. And his instincts allow him to sense what type of desire they possess the most, giving him an understanding of the general type of opponent he is dealing with.
Meta Vision – SS+
Instinct perception – SS+
Kaiser's thoughts:
"So that's how you do it huh… so far Luna has the best reading ability I have ever seen. No wonder he could counter me despite me having the greatest advantage in speed. And by forcing me to stop and restart my tempo he can neutralize my speed with his fast footwork and skill. Okay… let's see how he can deal with this. My true original weapon that manifested into this world."
Kaiser, with the ball at his feet, moved forward with two step overs into an elastico from the inside, the motion smooth yet explosive. Taken from his left foot with his right, then pushed out and back in again. While at the same time Luna moved to the right toward the ball in response.
But then Kaiser suddenly grinned.
His body rotated explosively as his eyes changed into a deep blood crimson color, the veins near his eyes becoming faintly visible as his Destroyer Madness Flow was activated. The air itself seemed to grow heavier for a moment, the intensity of Kaiser's Ego spilling outward like a violent storm.
And the madness was felt by Luna, causing him to frown slightly.
While in that brief moment after the elastico returned back to the left inside in front of Kaiser, his body continued rotating… only to suddenly stop the ball with the flat side of his right foot in a rabona position.
Luna's thoughts:
"My heart can already see his Ego… and it hasn't changed. Let me stop this here and now so he can understand that the world still has many obstacles left for him to overcome. I don't want him to become conceited and satisfied here."
When he had reacted to Kaiser's elastico.
Luna's thoughts:
"Good… this is a very good level, but it's still easy for me to predict. Wait… what was that? His Ego is not the same anymore. It's like that of an insane person. That smile… he actually baited me in with that. But I won't let him think he can get through me with something like this."
Luna reflexively lunged his right foot forward with his knee bent, preparing to intercept the ball immediately.
But Kaiser only pulled the ball into a drag back and then performed a toe flick the moment his foot planted onto the ground. The ball moved directly toward the knee of Luna and rebounded back into the air from the slight contact.
Only for Kaiser to grin even wider as he immediately took a step forward and leaped into the air.
Sky Emperor…
All the muscles of Kaiser exploded as they flexed simultaneously, every fiber activating at once with violent precision. And in Kaiser's perception the world suddenly changed… becoming incredibly light, as if gravity itself had loosened its hold on his body.
It felt like his body could move into any position he desired.
With that leap his left knee moved first to hit the ball, sending it into a higher trajectory over Leonardo Luna's head. While the remaining momentum carried through his body as his knee rose almost to the height of his shoulder.
The rest of Kaiser's body flipped through the air using a Webster motion, but his hips suddenly shifted midair, altering the positioning of his body completely… as if he had actually been performing a backflip from the beginning.
While he was upside down.
His eyes met the raised eyes of Luna for a single instant.
And then came the final touch midair… Kaiser's right foot fully committing into a bicycle kick motion as the ball moved even further away while still in the air.
Kaiser landed on the ground with his back facing the trajectory of the ball that was still traveling through the air behind him, his body stabilizing as he faced Luna once again.
Then Kaiser turned.
And unleashed his speed.
But Luna was able to reach him within five meters, that sudden burst coming purely from his acceleration.
However… with the ball already halfway ahead by fifteen meters Kaiser's speed kept increasing with every step, his strides becoming longer and faster as he sprinted forward. And he kept his hands free to stop Luna from attempting to slow him down again with physical contact.
And when Kaiser reached the ball before it could touch the ground he leaped once more.
And with a high speed volley.
Rebirth Impact…
Boom…
With high speed the ball moved forward towards the goal, cutting through the air with a sharp whistling sound as the force behind the strike carried it like a missile across the field. And before it reached five meters in front of Valentino Rossi, the ball suddenly bounced on the ground with rapid spin, the rotation violently gripping the grass as it touched down. And in that very instant it changed its trajectory toward the left top corner of the goal, the unpredictable shift occurring so late that Rossi could not properly adjust his body in time… leaving him completely unable to reach it as the ball curved away from his grasp from the most tricky and deceptive shot.
Kaiser smiled slightly for a moment before returning to his neutral expression, the faint curve of satisfaction disappearing as quickly as it appeared. His eyes slowly lost their deep red hue as the Destroyer Madness Flow faded away, and the veins near his eyes gradually reduced as his breathing steadied again. The intensity that had surrounded him moments ago seemed to settle back into a quiet calm. And for a brief moment the only sound that could be heard on the field was the soft footsteps of Luna approaching, the grass crunching lightly beneath his boots as he stopped by the side of Kaiser.
Luna:
"I didn't understand it before… but now I see it. Your true ego huh Kaiser… how are you so logically and illogically at the same time."
He moved to put a hand on Kaiser's shoulder with a relaxed smile, his expression thoughtful as he carefully examined Kaiser before explaining his thoughts.
Luna:
"You're about to use both extreme ends of the spectrum and use their advantages."
Luna pauses slightly as if replaying the movement he had just witnessed in his mind.
Luna:
"But what you did should be impossible to do… since you're risking a major injury. Because with one misstep… just one slight mistake in timing or positioning… and it's over for your career."
Kaiser:
"I know that more than anyone."
Kaiser replies calmly, his voice steady and matter-of-fact, as if he had already accepted that risk long ago.
Luna:
"Then your forceful change of position midair as well should be impossible. And I have to admit… it's the first time I have ever seen anything like that, mixing dribbling with acrobatics in such a fluid sequence. What kind of monster genius are you… no, you're a prodigy with your own unique dribbling style."
Luna says this with a small laugh of disbelief, clearly intrigued by what he had just witnessed.
Kaiser:
"It just has become more natural over the recent years… but I feel that it's missing something."
Kaiser looks down briefly as he says this, his mind clearly searching for something deeper.
Luna:
"Well maybe I can help. Why do you even play football… what is your reason, your philosophy?"
Kaiser:
"I don't know actually. I have never truly sat down to think about this… life for me has been moving so fast that I have barely had any time to think."
Kaiser answers honestly, his voice quieter now as he reflects on his own past.
Luna:
"For me it's to finally bring my country a World Cup again before it declines. As you know the current most dominant country in the world right now is France."
Kaiser:
"But I don't want to just be the best striker or even the best player. The path I want to take is the one that will allow me to become the greatest football player to ever touch the ball."
As Kaiser says this his gaze slowly lifts toward the open sky above the field, the ambition in his words carrying an immense weight.
Luna:
"That's quite a big ego you have there… if I have to tell you, it's even bigger than Noa's."
Luna chuckles lightly as he says this, yet there is clear respect in his tone.
Luna:
"But what will help you realize that dream? I see that the key is something that you may already have. The way you moved just now… what is the driving force behind that Kaiser?"
With the expressionless face of Kaiser remaining unchanged, his eyes slowly began to glow with a strange hue that was completely black, deeper than the night sky itself, with what appeared to be the faint flashes of fading stars flickering within them.
Kaiser:
"Well ever since I could remember… I have had this desire to chase after the impossible. Until my very existence can only do the impossible… allowing me to become the standard for all football."
His voice is quiet but unwavering, the conviction behind those words carrying a cold intensity.
Luna:
"Then that's your philosophy, Kaiser."
Kaiser:
"Yea… well maybe you just helped me realize it."
Kaiser says this while slightly exhaling, as if something within him had finally settled into place.
And that day the seed of the philosophy of Kaiser was awakened, a small yet powerful idea taking root within his mind. And soon it would be ready to bear its weight upon the world itself… as only thirty five hours remained until the first match of Real Madrid, the match that would kick start their group stage and close the final days of the year of 2016.
Silva:
"Alright Sky Falcon… it's time for me to hunt the Prince of Royal."
Silva says this with a wide predatory grin, rolling his shoulders slightly as if loosening the muscles before a chase, his eyes already gleaming with the excitement of a coming hunt.
But the hand of Kaiser stopped James Silva as it was placed firmly on his shoulder, the sudden contact making Silva pause. As he turned to look at Kaiser's eyes he noticed something unsettling… there was nothing left in them. It felt as if all the stars in the sky were being slowly absorbed into his eyes, pulled inward by a gravitational force, as Kaiser's Ego burned fiercely and kept them from escaping.
Kaiser:
"I want the both of you… my Ego is on fire right now and only you three can stop it."
His voice is calm yet filled with an overwhelming intensity, the quiet confidence of someone whose instincts are demanding more.
Then the gaze of James also began to change, his pupils narrowing slightly as the silhouette of a giant black panther appeared behind him like a looming shadow.
Silva:
"You finally started to embrace the predator within."
Silva says this with a low chuckle, clearly amused and excited by the shift he sees in Kaiser.
The aura of a palace began to manifest behind Leonardo Luna, grand and imposing, as his Ego burned within his eyes as well.
Luna:
"Maybe you both have gotten too comfortable… I need to show you the heir of this kingdom."
His tone is relaxed yet confident, like a prince reminding others whose territory they have stepped into.
Valentino Rossi, with the ball in his hand, began to bounce it lightly on the ground several times before throwing the ball into the air between all three players.
His eyes also flashed as his irises began to glow a deep amber color, countless different codes appearing in front of his vision like streams of data being processed instantly.
Rossi:
"It's time that I show why this box is my domain."
The ball began to dip downward through the air as all three of them glanced at each other briefly, each silently calculating their next move. Luna waited patiently for his chance to slip away from the chaos.
Kaiser leaped into the air and flipped his body upside down into a backflip position, his muscles tightening in preparation. Only for him to suddenly see a figure rising very fast beneath him. As both the eyes of Kaiser and Silva met midair Kaiser instantly knew he was beat in height… but he didn't want to give up just yet. His Ego burned fiercely as Silva reached the height of the ball, while the foot of Kaiser was already in a bicycle position ready to kick it.
Kaiser's thoughts:
"This rush is different… it's like my instincts and rational thinking have become one. All fueled by my new philosophy, and my Ego is telling me that Silva has the superior jumping ability. He will reach the ball first. But I also saw Luna on the ground when I looked down, so my guess is he was planning to use the chaos we would create in the air to steal the ball. But he did not bet on me doing this instead of battling him up here."
While Kaiser watched Silva rise above him, the right knee of Silva trapped the ball first since his body was now higher than Kaiser's foot. Kaiser instead placed his foot underneath the raised boot of Silva and used that as leverage. Their boots and studs briefly touched underneath, creating a point of force as Kaiser pushed off, moving rapidly toward the ground and gaining momentum as he landed first right next to Luna.
Kaiser:
"You were waiting here to steal the ball… from the chaos we would make in the air right Luna."
Luna:
"I see now you're playing to your true potential… this type of style is rational yet also irrational."
Kaiser:
"Whatever… don't answer my question."
Luna:
"Looks like the house cat has finally come down to play."
Silva's thoughts:
"Did he really just use me as a boost to get back down faster… while keeping me here in the air longer by increasing my hang time? Impossibl— ahh… I see it now. This is your style."
Silva:
"Look at two predators scheming to ambush me… now this is the type of hunt I want."
Silva flicked the knee that was trapping the ball before his left leg absorbed the impact force when he descended. Then he struck the ball with his shoulder when he rose to his full height again. This action caused Kaiser, who had leaped forward for the ball, to miss it completely.
Only for the ball to land on Silva's head as he tilted it slightly to the side and balanced it with calm control. And from the corner of Silva's eye he watched Luna place his hand against his chest to stop his forward advancement. Only for Silva to suddenly twist his body and flick the ball with his head again, sending it past Luna.
Luna:
"Little house cat… you had a better chance not doing that."
The bright yellow glow of Leonardo Luna's eyes intensified as he stepped beside Silva and trapped the ball with a Neymar touch, instantly shifting the tempo of the chaotic free-for-all.
Silva:
"You're real damn good Leo."
With Luna having the ball at his feet he began moving into step overs, his feet moving so quickly that faint afterimages seemed to trail behind them. As he watched the left heel of Silva raise slightly, Luna instantly used that moment to nutmeg Silva and accelerate past him with a lunge, taking the ball cleanly from behind his legs.
Kaiser watched everything carefully as he waited, already knowing that if he moved in too early Luna would easily get past him with his level of dribbling. Because Kaiser knew that he himself could do the same if placed in that exact situation.
Luna moved forward as his body tricked perception with fluid body feints. Kaiser only closed his eyes briefly for a second and took a slow inhale and exhale. And when he opened them again Luna was already moving past him, lifting the ball upward to hand height right beside Kaiser.
This prevented Kaiser from using his jumping ability while also creating an awkward situation, since now Kaiser had to raise his hands slightly just to avoid touching the ball.
Luna:
"You have been countered Sky Emperor… by the Scion of Royal."
Luna's thoughts:
"If I give him even the smallest amount of space it will allow his body to generate enough force to leap. But if I force him into a close range position then I will have the advantage. But he will never take the bait so I will have to compromise slightly… while not giving either of us the true advantage. Look at me taking so much risk… but it's only right with a play style like his that I have to take such drastic measures."
The eyes of Kaiser flashed brighter as his Ego continued burning.
Kaiser lifted his hand and leaned his body forward while positioning his body into a scorpion-like stance. Only for him to catch the ball midair with his calf before it could fall back down.
Luna's expression immediately turned to shock as Kaiser's body committed into a handstand and then transitioned into an air flare, using that moment to gain a quick three hundred and sixty degree view of Leonardo Luna behind him and James Silva in front of him.
Luna's thoughts:
"Okay now all I have to do is lift the ball just enough… I think near the height of his hand should be enough. Then the ball will be between both of us when I move past him. Yes perfect… now I'm free with only the goalkeeper in sight. Wait… no way he can do that. That's a freestyle move… a calf catch into a handstand."
Meanwhile the eyes of Silva glowed intensely as his instincts sensed the danger of Kaiser's upcoming shot. Without hesitation he began sprinting past Kaiser and Luna toward the box.
Kaiser then flicked the ball as his body balanced entirely on one arm. All the force of his body traveled into his right leg as he struck the dead still ball that was floating in midair while he remained in a one-handed handstand position.
Impact Magnus…
Boom…
The ball moved past Luna instantly and with incredible speed even passed Silva before he could react. The only thing Silva heard was the thunderous sound of the shot exploding through the air.
The ball curved into a wide arc toward the top corner… heading directly toward Valentino Rossi, the only man standing in the goal.
Rossi:
"Not this time… I'm prepared for this one."
His eyes flashed amber as countless codes of calculation raced through his mind. Rossi moved toward the ball toward the center first. Despite the ball appearing as if it would enter the top corner, it suddenly curved even more during the final three meters before the goal.
Valentino Rossi smiled slightly as he realized his prediction had been correct.
He pushed off and leaped in the opposite direction, his hand now directly blocking the path of the ball.
But the ball struck the goal post on both corners of the crossbar at the top before falling down along with Valentino Rossi.
Rossi:
"It's saved now… as soon as I land I will cover the ball with my upper body and hands."
Both Valentino Rossi and the ball hit the ground at the same moment. The ball bounced slightly away.
And before Valentino Rossi could feel success he suddenly noticed a shadow above him. Looking up he saw the glowing eyes of a predator.
James Silva had already used that moment to perfectly position and time his leap with the bounce of the ball… and blasted it into the net.
Goal…
Silva:
"And with that it's three… with one goal each."
Kaiser and Luna both jogged toward the goal box, slowing their pace as they arrived. They stared at Silva with small smiles on their faces.
Kaiser:
"How did you know it would get blocked."
Rossi:
"You're underestimating my ability."
Kaiser:
"No… actually I had a feeling you would save it. I was hoping that it would bounce in after."
Luna:
"Yes house cat… it's like you knew it would bounce off the ground when Rossi saved it."
Silva:
"My instinct told me about the failed hunt… so I moved in to finish the kill."
Luna:
"Interesting… our house cat has tiger fangs."
Rossi:
"I won't let that be an option in the future."
Kaiser:
"A failed hunt huh…"
Hours later in the day after the training.
Kaiser came out of the shower as he looked at himself in the mirror, the reflection staring back at him through the thin layer of steam still lingering in the bathroom. Water dripped slowly down his face in small streams, sliding along his jaw and falling from his chin onto the sink below, while his hair remained wet and slightly messy from the shower.
Kaiser:
"Today I was able to awaken my philosophy… but I know that is just the first step. I need to be able to verbalize it clearly enough so that it becomes unyielding in the face of other philosophies."
Kaiser stared at his own eyes in the mirror as he said this quietly to himself, as if testing the conviction behind his words.
Kaiser:
"I'm using the advice of Noa that he gave to Isagi in the manga… that should be a year and eight months from now, but I could be getting it wrong."
He tilts his head slightly, thinking back to the memories of the story he once read in his previous life.
Ring…
Ring…
Kaiser's phone flashed as music began to play from the counter beside the sink. Kaiser glanced his head to the side and saw the caller ID appear on the screen.
It was his girlfriend… Alina.
Kaiser:
"We have not called in a while… mostly because I have been so busy here and overwhelmed. But I think I have finally grasped my situation."
Kaiser lifted his hand and answered the call, pressing the phone to his ear.
Call connected…
Alina:
"Why did I hear that you debuted at Real Madrid… and that you're playing in the Championship League tomorrow?"
Her voice carried a mixture of disbelief and excitement, as if she had heard the news from somewhere else and could hardly believe it.
Kaiser:
"That's my fault… I have just been overwhelmed a bit, but my head is clear now."
He rubbed the back of his neck slightly while speaking, feeling a small sense of guilt.
Alina:
"Kaiser… I know that we are currently very far away from each other, but it doesn't mean that you can't talk to me about that. I know more than anyone about the mental burden an athlete can have."
Kaiser:
"Yeah… I keep forgetting you're a fighter, so for you this is nothing… hehe."
He chuckled lightly, trying to ease the mood.
Alina:
"Yea… but I don't have millions, soon to be over a billion people watching everything I do. You will have the whole world watching you tomorrow."
Kaiser paused for a moment after hearing that, realizing the weight behind her words.
Kaiser:
"How is your recovery after the fight?"
Alina:
"I have recovered and I have started light recovery training."
Her tone sounded much more relaxed now.
Alina:
"I actually have a surprise… but I'm not great at keeping secrets, so I will just tell you. My dad got two tickets for the UEFA Championship League and we will be watching your match against S.L. Benfica."
Kaiser:
"The Portuguese giant… I'm aware that it will be my toughest game yet."
His expression slowly became serious again as he thought about the upcoming match.
Alina:
"The Stamina Freaky Train Filipe Litvinov is their commander… and he's ranked the fifteenth best striker in the world."
Kaiser:
"Actually… I will be changing positions to face him head on since he will be my perfect challenge."
Kaiser:
"I won't be able to pick you up from the airport my love, but I can take you out around Spain after my match."
Alina:
"With your victory… it will only make the date much sweeter."
After a few minutes of chatting Kaiser ended the call.
He then left the bathroom as his hair was already almost dry, lightly running a towel through it before beginning to put on some clothes.
Afterward he picked up his phone again and began searching through the internet. Eventually he discovered that Jinpachi Ego used to play for Ajax in the Netherlands, and from early on in his career he became rivals with Noel Noa while Marc Snuffy was considered the crowned best player at the time.
But this rivalry caused Ego to drop in rankings because of the World Cup. And when Japan faced France in the knockout stages, with Ego preparing for a throw in during the final seven minutes of the match while the score was five to two with France leading…
Kaiser suddenly opened his eyes wide.
Because when he watched the footage of how Ego moved his body in that moment… he felt it.
Even before his mind could properly process what he was seeing.
That was the Zone State.
Ego was moving as if the Football God itself had descended down to play through him. Even Noel Noa looked like an amateur player when clashing against him during that moment.
And yet despite ignoring his teammates completely, Ego scored a goal in the final minute… completing a hat trick by himself.
Kaiser was confused.
Why was this rivalry not highlighted all over the internet?
Until he eventually reached a site that explained that on that very day Ego was banned from playing for the Japanese national team. The official reason stated it was due to internal management issues and violations.
But Kaiser had a strong feeling that there was something much deeper behind it.
Then Kaiser continued reading further and discovered that five years ago Ego stopped playing football completely when his contract ended with Borussia Dortmund.
Kaiser:
"That's strange… why would he do that? Maybe later in the manga it's explained, but I only remember the part where Kaiser scores his first Kaiser Impact Magnus in the manga from my previous life."
Kaiser:
"I don't have any future knowledge after that."
He leaned slightly closer to the screen, narrowing his eyes.
Kaiser:
"But if my eyes are correct… then why and how is Ego using the Legendary Zone State? I know this from having the skill as a system reward years ago."
Kaiser paused slightly.
Kaiser:
"But it's a state of being that is only reached a few times in a person's lifetime… no matter if they are an athlete or not."
Kaiser:
"And in fact the flow state is just a cheaper and much easier imitation of it… with the level of difference being heaven and earth."
He clenched his fist slightly while thinking.
Kaiser:
"And even I have yet to use it myself… since I fear that it may be a one use skill and disappear forever after I activate it."
Kaiser:
"That is why with my last Template copy slot I want to pick someone that can allow me to reach that level of play somehow."
Kaiser sat down on the edge of the bed while continuing to think.
Kaiser:
"I have copied Sae and Rin's Template, which allowed me to gain Meta-Vision, Predator-Eye and Sniper-Scope… all unique vision types for strikers, playmakers and midfielders."
Kaiser:
"With my own one as well… and that ended up evolving into what I have now… Flawless-Eye."
Kaiser:
"My thoughts so far for the last people to take as my templates are Reo Mikage and Bunny Iglesias."
Kaiser:
"And my logic behind it is that with Reo I would be able to copy anyone, but it would only be capped by ninety nine percent of the original person copied from… which is very limiting."
Kaiser:
"But with Bunny it will allow my aerial dribbling to become completely unchallenged."
Kaiser sighed slightly as he weighed the choices in his mind.
Kaiser:
"But that would reduce my speed if I did that and end up increasing my shot power."
Kaiser:
"But if I copied Reo all my physical stats would be more balanced… yet my future potential would be limited."
Kaiser:
"And that would go against my current forming philosophy… and Egoism."
Kaiser laid back onto his bed slowly and placed his phone down beside him on the mattress.
He stared quietly at the ceiling above him, his mind still filled with thoughts about philosophy, the Zone State, and the match waiting for him tomorrow.
But eventually his thoughts began to fade.
And before he realized it… sleep quietly took him away.
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Authors Note:
Enjoy my longest chapter to date with 8k words,And sorry for the long hiatus everyone.
For all thoses that have been with me since the beginning I truly I'm thankful, honestly this was my first ever story and with it was my gateway to experience, what it's truly like to be a writer and with that it has slowly reawakened my creativity, with thank I am happy to say I'm fully back for Blue Lock and for the reasons why I have been gone so long , firstly it's because of my focus on my other fan fic but the reason why I did so was that , I needed more experience and a different perspective for writing and mostly because my writing on here sxcked, there is a knight and day difference if u were to compare the the two but either the less , I also lost the passion for blue lock as well because I was hoping the story would progress faster but that was not the case at the time , but as of late it has been and with that I spent my time doing some searching and some theories, and with that I say this to say I have done a lot of planning for this fan fic and a lot of my own original characters and ideas, will be coming in and I have gotten a lot better and writing other characters points of view without derailing the flow of the story, I hope that you all continue to stick around for the ride because it will only be peak from here on out, and now I fully know the direction I want to take my MC and growth direction, without just giving him the best of everything but do it in a different approach to make it more balanced, and more opponents to make it harder to rise up that's including canon characters as well, and I can't wait until we reach the NEL ARC of my story because it will enter a different story direction that I think you all might like or hate, but enough with the yapp session but for the upload schedule it will be JJK then Blue Lock, one chapter of each for 2 chapters of each a week , and what is your prediction for the France and England matches against Japan in the Manga.