Morning broke over the EOS training grounds, casting long shadows across the field. A tense silence filled the air as the 26 remaining players gathered. The match was over, but the real test was about to begin.
The eliminations.
Shunji Kaizen stood before them, his usual cold and calculating presence amplified by the weight of what was about to happen. Beside him stood the EOS legends — Kobayashi, Nakamura, Hoshigaki, and the others, their expressions unreadable.
"Before I announce the four players who will be leaving EOS today," Kaizen began, his voice slicing through the stillness, "let me make one thing clear. This is not just about goals. This is not just about talent. It's about evolution. Those who couldn't evolve fast enough, who couldn't keep up with the pace of this battlefield — they have no place here."
The words struck hard. Even the most confident players stood rigid, waiting.
Kaizen's eyes swept over them. "The following players… are eliminated."
A beat of silence. Then:
"Shun Takagi."
The fast and agile forward flinched, his face pale. But he didn't argue. He knew. His speed alone hadn't been enough.
"Yamada Goro."
Goro's shoulders sagged, disappointment etched across his face. He had been adaptable, but adaptability without a killer edge wasn't enough.
"Hideo Morita."
The defensive midfielder closed his eyes, breathing out slowly. He'd controlled the rhythm, but control without domination wasn't enough in EOS.
And then Kaizen paused, his gaze lingering. The tension rose — only one name left.
"Ryota Minami."
The utility player stood frozen, his jaw clenched. He had fought hard, but hard work alone couldn't overcome his lack of impact.
The field was silent, the weight of the eliminations settling like a storm cloud. The four eliminated players stepped back, their dreams shattered — but there was no room for weakness here.
Kaizen turned to the remaining 22 players. "For those of you still standing… congratulations. But don't get comfortable. The real battle starts now. In the next phase, you will face trials unlike anything you've seen so far. Only those who continue evolving will survive."
Renji Kurogami stood still, his heart pounding. The eliminations were brutal, but this was EOS. The weak fell away, and the strong rose higher. And Renji?
He wasn't just here to survive. He was here to become number one.
To be continue....