"Get ready for that stroller of yours to break down right here!"
Barou might've been all bark with that line, but he didn't rush in recklessly.
He had already learned from his past defensive experiences that now wasn't the time to go wild.
In this situation, stalling was the optimal move.
If he could buy time until his teammates reorganized their defense, then the chaos caused by Kurona's massive cross-field switch would slowly be neutralized.
Of course, Agi knew that too.
That's why he didn't hesitate—he faked a shot the moment he received the ball.
But instead of taking the bait, Barou showed uncharacteristic composure.
Even though he was clearly hungry to make an impact, he followed Agi's every step with measured precision, matching his pace while retreating cautiously.
And yet, the pressure was immense.
Barou might not have the same defensive polish as Ubers' core defenders, but the threat he radiated was undeniable.
Agi could feel it: this wasn't a scared hound backing down. This was a beast holding back its fangs—waiting for the perfect moment to lunge and tear out its prey's throat.
"Man… this test environment really is nightmare-level."
Feeling the intensity of Barou's pressure, Agi abruptly stopped his advance, stopping the ball dead beneath his foot. He straightened up slightly, scanning the field, recalculating.
And that's when the beast finally lunged.
Like a demon pouncing from the shadows, Barou exploded forward, fangs bared and eyes locked on his target.
"I see now... You're the kind of greedy beast who's willing to suppress your hunger if it means securing the prize in the end. But a rookie caretaker like me… I guess I still couldn't tell which piece was the bait, and now I've walked right into the trap."
Of course, Agi's hesitation had been bait.
Just as Barou made his move—
a crimson streak shot in from behind.
It was Chigiri Hyoma.
"You're getting real good at cleaning up lately, huh? Maid Barou?"
Chigiri's teasing tone cut through the tension as he surged forward, while Agi raised his arm and used his body to shield the ball.
Even with Barou's momentum behind him, it was impossible to break through Agi's positioning and raw strength.
With his form steady and space secured, Agi calmly passed the ball off to Chigiri.
"A maid, huh...? Maybe."
Barou growled, eyes flashing.
"But even without the Sword in the Stone, this mop I'm holding's more than enough to sweep away trash like you!"
In Chigiri's widened eyes, he could clearly see it—
Barou, still in mid-sprint from his clash with Agi, had used the rebound force from their contact to shift his weight, taking a sharp step back.
And in the very next instant, he intercepted Agi's pass and sent it flying with a ruthless kick.
"If you scrub too hard while cleaning, the dust just scatters everywhere. But with just the right touch—everything gets swept neatly into the dustpan."
"No!"
Seeing possession shift yet again, Reo's eyes widened in alarm. He instinctively lunged forward toward the chaotic skirmish forming on the left side of the field—but just as quickly, he stopped in his tracks.
There wasn't time to overthink. The pitch was on fire, everything moving in a blur. But despite the urgency, Reo gritted his teeth… and turned, sprinting toward the penalty area instead.
Charging forward now would mean leaving a hole. He'd add one more body to the ball scramble, sure—but if Ubers snatched possession and launched a counter, there'd be no way for him to recover in time.
Even with his Meta Vision telling him the numbers favored pushing forward, something deep inside told Reo to trust his gut.
'It's pointless. Even if we win the ball, if I've committed too much, we won't have enough players positioned to truly threaten the goal. And if we get pulled into another slow-paced positional battle, we'll just keep playing by Ubers' rhythm. The chaos we need to capitalize on... this might be our last chance. From a ball-possession standpoint, it's optimal to contest it. But in truth, that's just suicide dressed as strategy. It won't win us the game.'
"If we want to win—then we have to bet it all! Bet that my teammates win back possession… and if they do, I'll be in the perfect spot to strike!"
Reo tore toward the final third, throwing everything into this one gamble—to be in position if fortune favored them.
Back near the scrum, possession now hung by a thread. Against the human wall of Kunigami and Barou—two walking tanks—Agi could barely hold on.
Even with all his technique and reach, he could only knock the ball slightly off-course, never truly controlling it.
The longer it went on, the more obvious it became that he and Chigiri couldn't overpower those monsters.
Chigiri was fast, sure. But speed meant little in a straight-up brawl. Desperate, he resorted to borderline fouls just to slow Kunigami down—fortunately, the VAR didn't call it. But even so, it wasn't enough.
Agi, alone and outmuscled, was being steadily pushed back. He couldn't win the ball—not at this rate.
"No way... are Agi and Chigiri really going to lose it here?"
Watching the four-player struggle, Reo clenched his fists tightly, frustration flashing in his eyes.
'Damn it… was my judgment wrong? Should I have gone after the ball? I might've been in range when Agi tapped it loose. I screwed up… and now this entire attack—'
"It's not over yet!!!"
A furious voice shattered Reo's thoughts.
A figure no one expected to see surged into the fray like a blazing comet—
A force of salvation, crashing into the battlefield.
[It's a Manshine defender! Number 17—Aryu Jyubei has joined the attack! If they lose possession now, they'll be wide open to an Ubers counter… but with that bold run, he might've just saved Manshine!]
The commentator's voice rose with the dramatic turn of events.
He wasn't as fast as Chigiri, but Aryu—his long hair flowing behind him—cut across the field with a dark streak trailing in his wake.
Then, with those ridiculously long legs of his, he jammed his foot into the tiny space between Kunigami and Barou—
and with pure reach alone, knocked the ball free from their combined pressure!
"The ultra-stylish me has arrived!"
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