The echo of Blaze's voice still thundered across the Dome.

"I will be the best striker in the world!"

The declaration rippled through the crowd like a stormwave, igniting cheers, gasps, and even a few stunned silences from the upper decks. The lights around the pitch pulsed with crimson-gold hues, feeding off the energy surge radiating from him.

Jason exhaled slowly, his heart pounding.He'd seen that fire before — the same defiant blaze that once burned in Dante's father.

"Don't burn out, kid," he muttered.

But across the field, Jun Woo's expression didn't falter. He brushed a strand of his dark hair back, a faint smile curling at his lips.

"So that's the spark everyone feared," he whispered. "Let's see if it survives a storm."

The whistle blew and the tempo shifted violently.

New Era's midfielders began to move in eerie synchronization, their boots glowing with neon-blue circuits. Their formation bent into a hexagonal rotation — an advanced Quantum Grid System that allowed players to share kinetic feedback. Every pass sent a vibration of energy to another, increasing their coordination exponentially.

Scarlet blinked, sweat trailing down her temple. "They're amplifying each other's motion! That's illegal tech!"

Lionel snarled. "We fight with skill, not complaints!"

Jason barked over the comms. "Stay compact! Don't get dragged wide!"

But it was already too late — Jun Woo appeared between two defenders, twisting midair with that same gravity-defying elegance.His foot connected, sending the ball screaming toward the net.

Hoshi dove — but the impact bent the air itself, curving around her hand like liquid light.

Goal. 2–2.

The crowd erupted, half in awe, half in chaos.

Blaze crouched, his palm pressing into the pitch. Sparks danced beneath his touch.

"So it's speed you want? Fine."

His aura flared — lightning-blue veins crawling up his neck and arms. His Elemental Speed activated at 80%, pushing his body to near-transcendent velocity.

Jason's voice crackled through the earpiece."Careful, Blaze! Don't overuse that! You'll rupture your channels!"

"Then I'll just make new ones," Blaze muttered, a smirk slicing across his face.

The whistle shrieked again — kick-off.

He vanished.

The entire New Era defense froze — their sensors lost his trace. One heartbeat later, Blaze reappeared twenty meters ahead, dragging two defenders with a spinning heel kick disguised as a feint. He snapped his leg, performing a Dragon Whip Arc, bouncing the ball into the air.

Aya caught it mid-spin, pivoting with a Tiger Elbow Pass — a martial transfer that sent the ball streaking forward with explosive rotational spin.

Blaze met it midair — and unleashed a strike so fierce it cracked the stabilizing field above the pitch.

Boom!

The keeper blocked it with both arms, staggering back two full steps, electricity sizzling off his gloves. The rebound spun loose — and Scarlet dived, catching it with a flying roundhouse kick.

Her Crimson Crescent Shot sliced through defenders like a blade.

Goal. 3–2.

Eternal Era led again.

Scarlet landed and grinned, chest heaving. "You're not the only one who can burn bright, Blaze!"

He chuckled. "Yeah, but I make it look better."

Anastasia rolled her eyes. "Focus, hotshot. We're not done yet."

High above, in the viewing booth, Vladimir rose slowly from his seat."Enough," he murmured. "Activate Silver Dragon Protocol."

Below, Jun Woo's body shimmered — the silver aura around him flaring into full form. The air grew heavy, the gravity warping slightly. His Draconic Resonance Core activated.

Jason cursed. "He's using experimental augmentation mid-match?! That's banned outside Galactic Division One!"

Vladimir smirked from his box. "Rules are for the weak."

Jun Woo blurred and suddenly, Blaze was gone.

No, not gone — sent flying ten meters into the air by a palm strike so fast it broke sound.

"Blaze!" Anastasia shouted.

He twisted midair, barely catching his balance before landing on one knee. His ribs ached, lightning sputtering around him.

"That all you got?" he hissed, forcing himself upright.

Jun Woo's gaze was cold, almost pitiful. "Your flame is wild. Mine is eternal."

He lifted his leg and the ground beneath him erupted. A spiraling torrent of silver energy shot forward — Void Dragon Spiral.

Blaze dodged, but the tail end clipped him, sending ripples of pain through his arm.

Jason clenched his fist. "He's breaking him down mentally. Stay focused, Blaze… remember your training!"

Lionel, Scarlet, and Anastasia rushed in, forming a triangular defense. "Don't you dare try to solo this again!" Lionel barked. "We're your team, idiot!" Scarlet added.

Dante looked at them, then grinned weakly. "Fine. Let's make it count."

They charged together.

Anastasia spun low, sweeping Jun Woo's legs — a classic Shadow Sweep Technique. Scarlet followed with a feinting aerial knee strike, forcing him off-balance. Lionel stepped in and drove a Shock Pass to Blaze.

Time slowed.

The energy coursing through Blaze's veins began to spiral — red and gold intertwining, forming an unstable vortex around his leg.

Jason's eyes widened.

"He's combining the Serpent Fang with Jörmungandr…"

Blaze roared —

"Serpent Fang: Infinity Coil!"

He kicked.

The ball didn't move normally it snaked through the air, twisting like a sentient serpent, bending paths mid-flight. The goalkeeper lunged left — but the ball curved right. Then upward. Then back.

It hit the net like a thunderclap.

Goal. 4–2.

The Dome exploded in noise.

Vladimir slammed his glass against the table, the shards scattering.

"How—HOW did he learn that move?! That was his father's secret art!"

Jun Woo stood on the field, staring at Blaze as if seeing a ghost.

Jason whispered from the sideline, "You've got his blood, kid… and his pride."

But Blaze wasn't celebrating. His aura flickered violently, unstable. Steam rose from his body as the overuse of Elemental Speed burned through his neural channels.

He dropped to one knee.

Anastasia rushed to him. "Blaze! You're overheating—stop channeling!"

"I'm fine," he rasped. "Just… one more."

Jason shook his head. "No. You've done enough."

Vladimir's voice came through the stadium comms, cold and venomous:

"Enough theatrics. End this. New Era — Omega Protocol."

Every New Era player froze — then their eyes glowed faintly blue.

Jason's heart sank. "Oh no… synchronized AI override."

Omega Phase

The stadium dimmed. New Era's formation shifted — every player moving with inhuman precision, executing commands at machine speed. Their martial forms blurred, becoming unreadable. The pitch itself rippled under their movements.

Jun Woo struck first — Void Dragon Rampage — a blitz sequence that broke through Lionel and Aya simultaneously. He passed — two taps — and the ball shot like plasma.

Goal. 4–3.

Eternal Era barely had time to breathe before another surge hit. Jun Woo vanished again, reappeared near the goal, and scored with a heel flick.

4–4.

The crowd was losing its mind. Both teams were now playing beyond the limits of human comprehension.

Jason barked, "Reset! Hold formation!"

But Blaze was trembling. His body was failing him — blood trickled from his nose. Yet his eyes burned brighter than ever.

Scarlet looked at him. "Don't you dare—"

He cut her off with a grin. "You know I have to."

As the timer reached its final minute, Blaze stood in the center circle. His aura flared one last time — red lightning surging through the Dome. The crowd rose to its feet, sensing something monumental.

Jun Woo met his gaze."Let's finish this."

Blaze smirked."Gladly."

They charged.

The impact shook the pitch — red lightning versus silver dragonfire.Their movements became invisible to the naked eye — two streaks of color weaving through the chaos of the field.

Then — the ball appeared between them.

Both struck.

The explosion of light was blinding.

When the smoke cleared, the ball spun in the air…and struck the crossbar.

Time froze. Then — the final whistle.

Match Draw: 4–4.

Aftermath

Both men collapsed to their knees, panting, drained. The Dome roared louder than ever.

Jason exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. "A draw… I'll take it."

Vladimir's voice crackled through the intercom.

"Enjoy your temporary glory, Jason. But the galaxy remembers who made you."

Jason glared up at the VIP box. "Yeah? Then they'll remember who surpasses you, too."

Blaze stood slowly, lightning still dancing faintly across his body.He raised his fist toward the crowd — silent, determined, unbroken.

Jun Woo, still kneeling, met his gaze.

"You haven't beaten me yet."

Blaze smiled faintly.

"I will."

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