Chapter 638: Round of 16 II
Chapter 638: Round of 16 II
Gradually, the queue began to advance. Following the queue, Hiro moved. With each step, he got closer to the exit. At the same time, the sound of cheers intensified.
With each beat of the drum, Hiro could feel his heart pounding.
Excitement coursed through his veins.
Hiro had experienced this sensation several times. But even now, he couldn't help but feel pumped.
Instantly, upon exiting the tunnel, a bright light penetrated Hiro's eyes. Compared to the sight inside the tunnel, it was a different experience.
It was like he had entered an entirely different space.
The sea of supporters buzzed with excitement, their roars traveling far and wide. Waving their flags and banners, they roared.
Hiro could spot a few noticeable fans. However, the rest had merged with the background and faded in the background.
Nonetheless, he could palpably feel their enthusiasm.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
'They must be expectant,' Hiro figured. Just like the players who had been knocked out previously, the fans must be hoping for their redemption.
Even though Hiro was saddened by their loss, surprisingly Hiro didn't harbor any ill will towards the opposing side. Given their form, they could have emerged as a dark horse if they had
Soon after they assumed their position, the game began.
Beep!
With the sound of the whistle, the players burst into action.
However, neither side took the initiative to attack. Both sides moved cautiously as if they were gauzing each other.
Hiro, meticulous as usual, focused on solidifying his position in the midfield. At the same time, the others spread around the field.
With neither side taking the initiative to go on offense, the game experienced a stalemate. To the spectators, this situation seemed rather peaceful.
However, it was far from the truth.
The players on the field could palpably feel the invisible pressure pressing on them on the field. They were aware that their mistake could cost them a lot.
Even though they moved carefully, they knew they were being monitored at all times and the opponent was waiting for them to make a mistake.
'Just why am I getting the feeling of being trapped?' Yamada despite being unmarked couldn't help but feel an eerie sensation.
He wasn't even being pinned down. Yet, he felt as if he was being cornered for some reason. Before him stood three players, each a certain distance away from him.
He swept his glance around him, searching for his teammates.
While searching for his teammates, he found something even more shocking. Though most of them were unmarked, they were surrounded the same as him.
Maintaining a certain distance from them, the opposing side created an illusion to deceive them into thinking the space was open.
But how were they able to create such illusions?
Yamada felt perplexed for a brief moment before he rolled his eyes forward. There he found that the opposing defense line had moved quite forward.
'A high-defense line.' Yamada could tell from a glance that they were setting an offside trap.
As convenient as it was, the offside trap was like a double-edged sword. If used properly, it could be a great asset but if executed poorly, it could lead to a disaster.
Yamada, however, felt relieved after noticing the trap.
He only had to get through Kovacic and the rest would fall apart.
Upon figuring, Yamada began to sprint. Mateo Kovacic flinched briefly before bracing himself. He wasn't expecting him to charge ahead.
'He should have noticed he's surrounded. So, did he decide to break the entrapment by himself?' Kovacic felt a little perplexed.
Calming himself, he rolled his eyes around him. Upon sweeping his eyes, he found his teammates by his side on standby. Noticing them by his side made him feel assured.
Kovacic's eyes gleamed with confidence, a subtle smirk gracing his lips.
In a blink of an eye, Yamada had reached Kovacic. With a few twists and turns, he left Kovacic gasping. However, the moment he got past Kovacic, another opponent caught him.
But before the defender could get close to him, Yamada struck the ball with his right foot outside, sending the ball rolling to the right.
'Huh?' Marcelo Brozovic was perplexed, his eyes widening in panic.
Under his nose, Hiro was drifting past him. Like a phantom moving under the moonlight, Hiro was steadily sprinting, leaving him flabbergasted.
Marcelo struggled to comprehend Hiro's speed. He was aware that Hiro was fast. But he wasn't aware that he could go even faster.
'Was he deceiving us the whole time? Was he hiding his real strength? Don't tell me we haven't even grasped his real strength.' Several thoughts popped into his head while his heart palpitated in panic.
At this moment, the previously lifeless-looking crowd was all riled up. Their eyes gleamed with excitement while their roar seemed to penetrate the stratosphere.
Gvardiol stepped forward to intercept. With explosive long strides, he rushed toward the ball. Being the closest to the ball, he felt confident in reaching the ball.
But despite being farther away, Hiro reached the ball almost at the same instant as Gvardiol. 'No, you won't...' Gvardiol squinched his eyes, his expression desperate.
Right before him, he could vividly picture Hiro rushing to the ball at a threatening pace. For a brief moment, he felt as if he could feel some ethereal aura leaking from him.
Even the looks on Hiro's face for some reason felt intimidating.
He had faced numerous opponents until now. Many of them were world-class players. But it was his first time experiencing such a feeling of dread from an unknown existence.
How could he exert such dominance?
Gvardiol was both astonished and intimidated.
However, he wasn't willing to accept defeat. After all, he was a highly valued defender and
one of the finest in his position.
Under the influence of four talents, "Clinical finishing", "Tactical Awareness", "Shadow Tactician", and "Phantom Steps", Hiro's current attribute had shot up to an unimaginable
level.
The boost from "Shadow Tactician" and "Phantom Steps" alone had shot his speed beyond 100. In this given moment, he had become the fastest man alive.
However, the toll on his body was equally huge.
If it weren't for the fact that he had full stamina and was in perfect condition, he wouldn't have attempted this reckless move.