The goal was right in front of him.
The goalkeeper stood between the posts, calm and unmoving, like a wall that had been there for years.
Bapala didn't hesitate.
He planted his foot and swung his leg with every ounce of strength he had left.
BOOM!
The ball rocketed toward the net.
For a split second, Bapala could already imagine the sound of the net snapping.
But the goalkeeper simply stepped forward.
THUD.
The ball slammed into his gloves.
Caught.
Just like that.
No struggle.
No miracle save.
Just… caught.
Bapala's eyes widened.
What…?
The keeper didn't waste a second. He rolled the ball to one of the center-backs.
The Blazing Tigers moved immediately.
Two players.
One ball.
Wall pass.
Pass.
Return.
Pass again.
Their movement was sharp and fast, slicing through Neo Genesis like a blade.
The Tigers were already sprinting toward the other side of the pitch.
A counterattack.
Meanwhile, Bapala stood frozen.
His chest rose and fell violently.
Sweat dripped from his chin onto the dusty asphalt.
His legs felt heavy.
Too heavy.
Move…
But his body didn't listen.
Why… didn't it work?
His mind tried to analyze the shot.
Angle.
Power.
Timing.
But his thoughts were blurry.
His lungs burned.
His body screamed for air.
He didn't even have the strength to chase the counterattack.
The Tigers were closing in on Neo Genesis's goal.
Victory was within their reach.
Then—
A shadow moved.
Tsebo.
His eyes followed the ball like a hawk tracking prey.
Pass.
Return pass.
Another pass coming.
He already knew where it would go.
The moment the Tiger tried to release the ball—
Tsebo stepped in.
Intercepted.
Clean.
Perfect.
The Tigers froze.
"Too slow," Tsebo muttered.
Without even looking up, he swung his leg.
The pass that followed was almost unreal.
The ball soared across the pitch.
High.
Elegant.
Like it had wings.
Like it had purpose.
It traveled over defenders, over midfield—
—and dropped perfectly toward Bapala.
Still onside.
Bapala blinked.
The ball was falling toward him.
Instinct took over.
He raised his foot and trapped it.
Tap.
The ball obeyed.
Soft.
Controlled.
Beautiful.
One center-back rushed him immediately.
Bapala's mind kicked into gear.
Reactive Dribbling… Updated.
He tapped the ball forward.
The defender lunged.
Bapala cut left.
Then instantly shifted right.
The defender stumbled.
Gone.
Bapala pushed forward again.
The goal was right there.
The goalkeeper stepped forward.
Bapala clenched his teeth.
His muscles trembled.
Every drop of energy left in his body gathered into his right leg.
This time…
He aimed high.
Top corner.
He struck the ball with everything he had.
BANG!
The ball screamed toward the top corner.
For a moment—
It looked perfect.
Then the goalkeeper jumped.
His arm stretched into the air.
His glove met the ball.
SMACK!
Deflected.
The ball flew away from the goal.
Blocked.
Again.
Silence fell over the pitch.
Bapala stood there, staring.
Two chances.
Two shots.
Two failures.
His breathing was heavy.
His body shaking.
Why…?
His dribbling worked.
His update worked.
But scoring…
That was a completely different system.