The atmosphere was heavy. The field still hummed with the tension of the eliminations, but now — now it was time to see where everyone stood.
Kaizen stood before the remaining 22 players, his eyes sharp and unforgiving. Behind him, the EOS legends watched in silence.
"The rankings," Kaizen began, his voice cold and authoritative, "are based on performance, goals, impact, and evolution. This is where you stand in EOS."
He held up the list, and the names began to roll out like a judgment.
1st – Kazuya Mori (2 goals)
Mori stood with his usual smugness, his arms crossed. He'd been decisive, his goals the turning point in the match. He belonged at the top — and he knew it.
2nd – Renji Kurogami (2 goals)
Renji's eyes narrowed. He had expected this. But being second… wasn't enough. He wouldn't stay there.
3rd – Sora Amagi (1 goal)
Amagi stood silent, his cool exterior masking the burning ambition underneath. His ego had driven him forward — and his skills had backed it up.
4th – Riku Saionji (1 goal)
Riku's calm expression didn't change, but his eyes flicked toward Amagi. The playmaker had done his job — and done it well. But he wasn't satisfied.
5th – Tetsuya Aikawa (No goals)
Aikawa stood tall, his fierce competitiveness undiminished. No goals, but his influence on the game had been undeniable.
6th – Kazuki Shindo (No goals)
Shindo's fists clenched. He had evolved, pushed himself — but it hadn't been enough. Not yet.
7th – Kaede Arata (No goals)
Kaede's face remained neutral, but his mind was already spinning. He knew his role, and he knew his worth.
8th – Haruto Inoue (1 goal)
Haruto smirked, his unexpected goal pushing him higher than most had anticipated. He wasn't about to fade into the background.
9th – Yuto Kisaragi (No goals)
Yuto's frustration was clear, but his evolution had been noted. He wouldn't stay down for long.
10th – Reiji Sakamoto (No goals)
Reiji stood quietly, his eyes flicking between the top ranks. He hadn't made his mark yet — but that would change.
The rest of the rankings followed, each name carrying its own weight, its own ambitions and frustrations.
11th – Sho Nakata
12th – Daichi Fujimoto
13th – Isamu Oda
14th – Kenji Takahashi
15th – Shohei Kuroda
16th – Hajime Ueda
17th – Masato Hino
18th – Rikuya Asano
19th – Sorao Hamada
20th – Kenta Shimizu
Goalkeeper Ranking
1st – Takuma Ogawa (Goalkeeper)
2nd – Jin Kazama (Goalkeeper)
Kaizen let the weight of the rankings settle over them. Then he spoke again.
"But this ranking… is not set in stone." His eyes gleamed with something dangerous. "The next phase will push you beyond anything you've faced. And to start… I've prepared a special surprise."
The players tensed. Even Mori's confidence flickered for a moment.
Kaizen's smile was razor-sharp. "Prepare yourselves. Because tomorrow… everything changes."
To be continue....