Chapter 535: Emperor's Cup VI
Chapter 535: Emperor's Cup VI
He hadn't even stepped on the field, yet he could bring out such an energy. Just from a glance, one could tell about his impact on the game.
The reaction that he could bring out from the crowd was something magical.
It was as if he were a glimmer of hope in a despairing situation that could unite people. Hiro was like a brilliant ray of the sun in a sky full of dark clouds to the people in the stadium.
'They're expecting me to deliver a miracle. I can't disappoint them.' Hiro thought as he heard the cheers of the fans.
The more he heard their cheers, the more it fueled his desire to produce a miracle. He didn't want to disappoint them. So, he became even more focused as he loosened his stiff body. Even before stepping on the field, he could feel his resolve getting stronger.
Many of Kawasaki's players found solace in the sudden cheers. At the same time, some contorted their face in annoyance.
However, the opposing players felt an intimidating pressure descending upon them. It was almost as if the pressure in the field had suddenly intensified.
They couldn't help but feel their feet getting cold.
'I hate to admit it but even I couldn't help but feel my legs turning numb. Just how could you exert such an intimidating aura at such a young age?' Kaoru thought while wiping sweat from his forehead.
He was looking in the direction of Hiro, a nervous smirk gracing his lips, his eyes displaying a mix of emotions such as awe, reverence, excitement, and fear.
He was excited by the prospect of facing him. But at the same time, he couldn't help but feel intimidated by the aura he exerted on the field.
Previously, he was on his side, so, he couldn't experience it.
But now that he was playing against him, even he wasn't spared.
The way people were looking at him wasn't ordinary. It almost seemed like they were looking at a veteran superstar than a rookie.
To be able to exert such dominance at such a young age was something truly magical.
Hiro, however, appeared calm despite the pressure. Almost any young player would succumb under such pressure but he was different.
He appeared as if he could bear the weight of those expectant gazes.
Beep!
Because of a rough tackle from an opposing player, Kawasaki was awarded a free kick.
Just as the sound of the whistle resonated, immediately a huge uproar generated in the stadium. The people who had been waiting for Hiro to step onto the field couldn't contain their excitement upon seeing him preparing to enter the field.
"You can hear the anticipation and excitement in those voices. Just by listening to it, you can tell that they were waiting for him. Is this the influence a sixteen-year-old should possess?"
The commentator couldn't stop talking about the scene unfolding in the stadium. He was mindblown beyond measure.
"The weight of expectation on him is huge. Would he be able to deliver?"
Yusuke who was being replaced didn't seem happy about his substitution. As he made his way out of the field, he didn't even bother to look at Hiro.
Well, he hadn't been able to perform well. So, it was only natural to see him in such a mood. "Good jo-"
Hiro wanted to high-five him. But he ignored him and walked past him without saying anything.
"Seems like we've got quite a situation in Kawasaki's squad. It doesn't seem like Yusuke was happy about the decision."
The commentator who happened to catch the sight of the tension between Hiro and Yusuke, immediately presented his opinion.
Hiro was momentarily stunned by Yusuke's gesture. But he didn't take it on his heart as he immediately shifted his focus on the game.
He couldn't be bothered by such a minute conflict when he had a game to win.
Although Hiro forgave him, the fans weren't generous enough to forgive him. They began to curse at him as they felt that he was being rude to Hiro.
"Just because you can't do it yourself, you vent your anger on others, aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
"You damn brat! Fix your attitude or else, I'll do it for you"
Haruki initially gave him a side eye but didn't say anything to him. Yusuke on the other hand ignored everybody and threw himself on the substitution bench.
He covered his face with a towel and tilted his head as if he didn't even care about the match any further. It almost seemed like, he didn't even want to be there.
In the field, Hiro prepared to take the free kick.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Although the distance and angle appeared a bit challenging, he wasn't bothered by it. After all, he could shoot equally well with both his feet.
Shun who was aware of Hiro's prowess couldn't allow himself to become even a bit careless just because the distance and the angle were challenging.
So, he began to shout commands at his teammates.
He couldn't allow a single gap in their defense.
"Look at Shun, can you tell that he's a rookie keeper? Just look at him barking orders... It almost seems as if he could easily take rein over his teammates"
The commentator couldn't help but praise Shun's efforts.
Well, he did have a composure that defied his age. So, it was something peculiar to see. To be able to give command to the players more experienced than him was an ability only the top keeper possessed.
The opposing fans were impressed. So, were the home fans, after all, he would be their future
keeper.
After setting the ball, Hiro retracted about ten steps from the ball. Then he activated some of his skills before turning to look at the post.
Letting out a mouth full of turbid air, he relaxed his shoulder.
His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, his focus as deep as a predator eyeing its prey, it almost felt like he could warp the space around him.
Shun and many others who watched him couldn't help but see a dark intimidating aura oozing
out of his body.
Many even felt their heart palpitate momentarily while looking at him. A cold sweat ran down their forehead as they gulped their saliva.
Then a dark brilliance flashed past Hiro's eyes as he set off.
Each stride he took seemed to rumble the ground beneath. It was almost as if a mighty cavalry was on its way. The steps he took sounded like a galloping horse, evoking terror in the hearts
of some who faced him.
They couldn't tell why but they felt like running away for some inexplicable reason. It was almost as if they were being used as a meat shield to shield an incoming missile. Almost the entire stadium held their breath as they watched Hiro with much anticipation.
As Hiro got close to the ball, preparing to fire his shot, his muscles coiled like a spring preparing to release the tension.
To add momentum, he swung his body.
Then with a bam, he fired the ball.
Bam!
A soothing sensation permeated his mind as Hiro felt good about the shot. He knew that he
had connected well. He felt that it was one of the best shots he had taken till now.
The tingling sensation he felt was proof of it.
So, he couldn't help but feel delighted about the shot.
Tearing through the void, the ball soared. Witnessing the incoming ball, some players felt
their hearts shudder to stand in front of its path.
Fear gripped their heart, preventing them from launching them to stop it.
Shun had prepared well.
Yet still, due to the hesitation of some of his players, it ended up costing him.
The ball glided past the head of the wall of players. However, the sheer power of that shot was something unfathomable. It felt as if it could even penetrate the walls before it.
Although Shun guessed the direction of the ball, he failed to stop it.
Due to the sheer power and rotation of the ball, Shun couldn't stop it. The ball simply slipped
past his fingers as if his fingers were jelly.
Even the aftershock was quite off the chart.
As the ball forced its way past Shun's reach, it didn't drop immediately even after hitting the
net. Rather it kept spinning, making it seem as if it would dig a hole in the net.
Only after losing a bit of its momentum did it finally drop.
"Goal-"
The entire stadium erupted in cheers.
The movement of the onlookers shook the entire stadium as it sent ripples throughout the
stadium. It was like thunder, destructive and loud.
The excitement was palpable in the atmosphere.
Many spectators felt their blood boil with excitement. That shot was unlike any they had seen
before. Such unfathomable destructive force, such precision, such terror, they couldn't help
but keep thinking about it.
In just a matter of seconds, Hiro turned the tides.
He was like a cheat code.