Striker Genesis: E.O.S (Evolution of Strikers)

The air was electric. Every player on Team Zeta felt it — the shift in momentum, the rising hunger. But it wasn't unity driving them. It was desperation. Ego. The need to stand out and rise above the rest.

On the field, Omega wasn't backing down. They were wounded, but they weren't broken.

Shohei Kuroda wiped sweat from his forehead, his eyes burning with frustration. "We can't let them run over us!" he barked.

Makoto Yajima nodded. "Let's take them down."

The whistle blew, and the game restarted.

Omega pushed forward with fierce intensity. Kuroda and Yajima linked up again, their passes crisp and fast. But this time, they weren't alone.

Tetsuya Aikawa surged into the attack.

Renji's eyes narrowed as the three-man formation took shape — fast, fluid, and unpredictable. It was like watching a storm build, every move more dangerous than the last.

"They're using a triangle offense," Kaede Arata muttered. "We need to break it fast."

But it was too late.

Aikawa slipped through the left side, Kuroda made a dummy run, and Yajima powered through the center. The ball moved faster than Zeta's defense could keep up — and suddenly, Aikawa was inside the box.

"Jin!"

Jin Kazama's eyes locked on the ball — but Aikawa didn't shoot. He passed.

Kuroda struck. A powerful, low drive toward the bottom corner.

Jin dove —

And saved it.

The ball deflected, but Omega was relentless. Yajima pounced on the rebound — and this time, Jin couldn't reach it.

Goal.

Zeta 6 – Omega 4

The gap was closing. Fast.

Renji clenched his fists. "We need to end this," he growled.

Sora Amagi's eyes flicked toward him. "Then let's do it."

The ball rolled back into play. Kaede Arata took possession, his movements sharp and focused. But the pressure from Omega was suffocating.

"Riku!" Kaede called — and for once, Riku Saionji listened. He received the pass and drove forward with fierce determination.

Omega's defense closed in.

Renji sprinted into position. "Here!" he shouted — but Riku didn't pass.

He wanted the goal.

He cut inside, trying to shake his marker — and was instantly dispossessed.

"Idiot!" Kaede hissed.

Omega counterattacked. Fast.

Aikawa burst down the wing, his speed devastating. Yajima followed through the center, and Kuroda pulled wide — stretching Zeta's defense to its limit.

Renji's mind raced. He saw the pieces falling into place — saw the threat forming before anyone else did.

He moved.

Before Aikawa could make the final pass, Renji intercepted. A clean, precise tackle. The ball was his.

"Now we end this," Renji whispered.

He exploded forward.

Omega's defense scrambled to react — but Renji was already ahead. His spatial awareness painted the field in perfect clarity, every gap and opening laid bare.

Kaede surged up the right. Sora cut in from the left. Riku followed through the center.

Renji saw them all. And then — he saw the goal.

Aikawa rushed him. Yajima closed in. Kuroda blocked the passing lane.

But Renji wasn't stopping.

He shifted his balance — and executed a perfect La Croqueta, sliding the ball past Aikawa with a lightning-quick touch.

Yajima lunged.

Renji spun — a sharp, devastating Marseille Turn.

The goal was in sight.

The keeper moved forward, anticipating the shot —

But Renji didn't shoot.

He passed.

Straight to Sora Amagi.

Sora didn't hesitate. With a quick Phantom Step, he left his defender behind — and buried the ball into the back of the net.

Goal.

Zeta 7 – Omega 4

The final whistle blew.

The game was over.

But the war was just beginning.

Renji turned, his eyes locking onto his teammates. "One week," he said, his voice cold and commanding. "One week to become stronger. Or get left behind."

The storm was far from over.

To be continued…