CHAPTER 39: THE RISE OF THE DEMONS

Haruma was still on his knees, his head bowed, pulsing Golden Aura, While Kurogami was still lying on the ground releasing Black Aura.

Minato was gazing at them with wide stunned eyes, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead.

With his head still bowed, Haruma slowly rose to his feet, Kurogami pressed his both hands to the ground and rose.

Haruma and Kurogami both rise to their feets in perfect sync, both head bowed surrounded by their powerful Aura’s.

Haruma then turned his head to Kurogami who too looked up at Haruma. Their eyes meet with their faces devoid of emotions, yet their eyes burn with the glow of their Aura’s.

The eye contact made both of their Aura collide, sending chills in the air felt by both Minoto and Kento.

Feeling the atmosphere Kento’s smirk twisted into a maniacal one. Besides him Minato stood, mouth slightly opened, sweat streaming down his face, unable to stand such a powerful atmosphere.

Meanwhile Haruma and Kurogami were still staring at each other, when Haruma slowly turned away, his eyes drifting towards celebrating Raya, Makoto and Subaru.

Kurogami followed Haruma’s gaze, his eyes too fixed on celebrating Raya, Makoto and Subaru.

Now both Haruma and Kurogami are staring at them with cold serious gazes.

Just then, Itsuki approached with the ball tucked under his arm, he came and stood next to Haruma and said, "It’s fine, we’ve still got thirty five minutes left, I’m sure we’ll equalize."

Haruma didn’t respond and kept staring at the celebrating opposition, his focus unshaken.

Itsuki followed Haruma’s gaze, his eyes fixed on celebrating oppositions, "Got any plan?" he asked, maintaining his eyes on Raya’s team.

Maintaining his cold gaze at Raya, Haruma with a low chilling tone said, "Just give me the ball!"

Itsuki in a swift motion turned to Haruma, appearing confused, "Yeah, sure." he said, holding out the ball to Haruma.

Without any word, Haruma took the ball and began walking forward at the center of the field, leaving Itsuki confused.

Reaching at the middle, Haruma planted the ball in the center of the field, this simple act was enough to catch the attention of Raya and his teammates.

Their laughter fades and Raya gestures to his teammates to take their positions and he himself begins walking towards Haruma.

While approaching Haruma, Raya seemed slightly confused, seeing Haruma standing with slumped shoulders with his head slightly tilted to left, his expressions blank, but his eyes were firmly fixed on him.

Raya stopped in front of him, both coming face to face, both staring at each other, waiting for the whistle to resume the game.

Minato took a deep breath and blew the whistle once again.

Even after the whistle, neither Haruma and Raya moved, but remained standing still, staring at each other with laser sharp focus.

Itsuki, Makoto, Subaru, coaches and other remaining players got confused, watching them in silence.

In a split second, Raya’s face flashed with determination and he slid his left foot forward aiming at the ball. But just before he could reach the ball Haruma pulled the ball backwards with his right foot planted firmly on top.

Both Haruma and Raya’s face were now inches away, with Raya seeming slightly stunned while Haruma’s face remained cold and focused.

In an instant, Haruma rolled the ball to his right intending to push the ball ahead on the right. But, Raya immediately predicted his move and before Haruma could even fully execute his move, Raya swiftly shifted himself back and outstretched his foot out, cutting off the ball’s path.

Just as the ball was about to reach Raya’s outstretched foot, Haruma stopped it dead with his foot firmly planted on top, in the same breath Haruma shifted himself more to the right side lifting his right foot off of the ball, then with his left foot on the ball he spun himself around along with the ball, smoothly gliding past Raya’s defence with effortless finesse, leaving him frozen in disbelief.

It all happened in a blink of an eye! Everyone stood stunned watching with mouth agape, eyes popping out of disbelief.

Meanwhile a maniacal smile remained fixed on Kento’s face.

Haruma was now charging forward towards the nets, caught off guard, Itsuki and Makoto quickly sprang into action.

Raya shook off his shock before swiftly turning around and began his chase at Haruma.

Haruma was sprinting with a pace he never did before, his feets started to get blurry, growing Raya’s shock who was running at max speed still unable to get close to Haruma.

Itsuki running towards the net from the other side was watching Haruma’s pace with disbelief clear on his face.

As Haruma neared the nets Makoto with his face twisted with fury came between his path, blocking his way to the nets.

Haruma halted in his sprint for a moment before exploding forward once again.

Makoto with his eyes burning with fury exploded into a relentless sprint towards Haruma.

The two raced straight at each other with unwavering speed, neither showing any hint of hesitation or restraint.

As they closed the distance, Makoto came running, sliding his foot at the ball. But Haruma calmly moved the ball back, his foot planted on top of the ball, keeping it out of Makoto’s reach.

"Don’t play with meee!" Makoto shouted out in frustration as he outstretched his leg even further at the ball.

Just as Makoto’s foot was about to reach the ball, Haruma’s eyes sharpen further and he gently tapped the ball on the ground causing it to slightly move upwards, as the ball moved up he slipped his heel just beneath and ball and popped it even higher up in the air in a smooth follow up tap.

Makoto’s eyes went wide in shock as the ball sailed over his head, going to his back. Gritting his teeths, Makoto in a swift motion spun around refusing to give up just yet.

But the moment he turned, his eyes widened even more, because Haruma was already there, their shoulders pressed together while Haruma’s left foot was already placed beneath the falling ball which was yet to hit the ground.

Once again, Haruma gently tapped the ball upwards, lifting it up in the air sending it sailing over the head of Makoto to his backside

Just as the ball floated at the back of Makoto, still hanging in the air. Haruma in a one swift motion spun his body, launching himself in air, twisting himself around Makoto, swinging his feet at the ball.

Makoto was left standing still, his eyes wide with horror.

Itsuki was watching with wide eyes with nothing but just disbelief.

Raya’s sprint faded into a jog, his mouth agape watching Haruma soaring through the air with pure brilliance.

Minato and other players from the sidelines were shaken with goosebumps, their jaws dropped, their breath caught in their throats.

Kento was maintaining his maniacal smirk, his eyes dripping with unsettling delight and joy.

A big smirk appeared on Kurogami’s face, "Score! you fuckin Demon!" he muttered to himself.

With his eyes burning with fierce intensity. Haruma, the golden winged, struck the ball with all his might. The contact of his feet with the ball sent a wave of chills through the field.

In the very next second, the ball slammed into the back of the nets so fast that the goalkeeper couldn’t even move, remaining standing still in his position.

The ball dropped inside the nets, While Haruma landed on one knee, his head bowed, around him his Golden Aura was flaring, glowing even more intensely than before.