Rise Inazuma Eleven

The second half began.

"I don't know how this half will go, but I hope Aki-chan managed to do what I asked." I sighed, thinking about my earlier request.

I had done my part in the first half. Now, I could only hope football would still give us something to feel excited about.

"Endou-kun, it was quite interesting watching you go all out just to block our normal shots." Kidou suddenly spoke, a sinister smile forming on his lips. "As a reward, we'll show you what you've been waiting for."

"Death Zone." Kidou kicked the ball high into the air.

A shiver ran down my spine, sending chills through my body. But instead of fear… I felt excitement.

After the kickoff, three Teikoku players rushed forward and jumped together.

They took formation in the air, forming a triangle, and started spinning.

A purple energy connected the three players, swirling into the ball at the center.

"DEATH ZONE!" All three of them kicked the ball at once.

The ball shot toward me with overwhelming power. I could feel it even before it reached me.

And I smiled. My heart was pounding. This was it — what I had been seeking all along.

A true supernatural power. Something I never saw in my past life.

"Show me the true power of a Hissatsu technique!" As the ball approached, I used all my strength to catch it with both hands.

My eyes gleamed orange as I braced myself. But the shot was far stronger than anything I had ever faced.

Its power dragged me backward, and the strange energy surrounding it sent pain coursing through my body.

Even with all my strength, I couldn't stop it.

The shot broke through my defense.

"GOOOOAL FOR TEIKOKU! Not even Endou's wall could block that special attack!"

"Endou!"

"Captain!"

My teammates rushed toward me.

"Guys… did you see that?" I asked calmly, though my heart was surging with adrenaline. "That… was a Hissatsu technique."

"Yeah… looks like he's still alive." Someoka sighed.

"Well, we are talking about Endou, right?" Kazemaru chuckled.

"Captain, how are you going to stop those kinds of shots?" Kurimatsu asked, visibly shaken.

"I could feel it… the energy they used for their Hissatsu. If I can tap into it, maybe I'll be able to use one too." My body still ached from the energy around the ball, but I had never felt this close to mastering a technique myself.

"Let's go, everyone! This game is far from over!" This time, we had the goal kick.

But unlike before, Teikoku was taking the match seriously now.

"Cyclone!" As soon as we gained possession, a new Hissatsu was unleashed — this one for stealing the ball.

Handa was hit hard and injured in the process.

Teikoku got the ball and launched another attack.

One of their curly-haired players tossed the ball into the air and began kicking it repeatedly. "Hundred Extreme Shot!" he shouted, finishing the move with a powerful double kick.

Now surrounded by yellow energy, the ball came straight at me.

I could feel the energy racing through my body. I tried to direct it to my hands. If anyone looked closely, they'd see my eyes glowing orange.

As the ball approached, I braced myself and caught it with both hands.

My hands began to glow orange too, but the power of the Hissatsu was still greater.

With no other choice, realizing I couldn't stop it head-on, I shifted my weight backward and used all my strength to deflect the ball out of bounds.

It brushed the crossbar before flying out.

"INCREDIBLE SAVE! ENDOU MANAGED TO BLOCK JIMON'S HISSATSU WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY! THROW-IN FOR TEIKOKU!"

Because of how I twisted my body, my left shoulder throbbed in pain.

"Endou-kun!" I heard a voice from the sidelines. It was Aki-chan — standing next to her was Gouenji.

He was wearing Raimon's uniform.

She did it. She brought him.

The coach looked like he was about to interfere, but Kidou stopped him. So that's why they challenged us — because of Gouenji's transfer.

I exchanged a glance with Gouenji. Somehow, I understood what he wanted to say.

"Raimon makes a substitution. Handa out, Gouenji in!" Handa had to be subbed out due to his injury.

Right after the substitution, Teikoku threw the ball in, sending it to Kidou.

He tossed it into the air, and three players charged forward and leapt once again.

I recognized that formation.

"DEATH ZONE!"

Gouenji, instead of stopping the attack, started sprinting toward Teikoku's goal.

"I get it, Gouenji. I'll stop this attack!" The ball came flying toward me again, surrounded by that same ominous purple aura.

From my grandfather's notebook, I remembered the first technique. I could never figure out its real name — maybe it was Phantom Hand, God Hand, Giant Hand?

Today, I decided to give it a name of my own.

With my left shoulder injured, I gathered all the energy I could into my right hand. My eyes glowed orange.

Following the principles in the notebook, I pointed my hand toward the sky.

A giant golden-orange hand materialized above me. Yes — this was my Hissatsu.

"HEAVENLY HAND!" I stretched the glowing hand toward the ball.

The spinning ball collided with it, whirling for a few tense seconds… then finally stopped.

The giant hand shrank back into mine — and with it, the ball.

It was so hot that steam was rising from it.

"HE SAVED IT! RAIMON'S GOALKEEPER BLOCKED TEIKOKU'S ATTACK!"

"GO, GOUENJI!" Without wasting a second, I launched the ball toward him.

He caught it flawlessly and kicked it high into the air.

"Let's see it, Gouenji… show me your Hissatsu." My eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"FIRE TORNADO!" Gouenji spun in the air, flames spiraling around his legs as he unleashed the shot.

The flaming ball rocketed toward Teikoku's goal.

The keeper couldn't react in time.

"GO… GOOOOAL FOR RAIMON!!!"

Raimon 1 – 1 Teikoku

"We… we tied?!" Disbelief rippled through the spectators at Raimon's field.

Strangely enough, a few moments later, Teikoku forfeited the match — making us the winners.

I wasn't completely satisfied. They didn't take the first half seriously, and they never really respected us as a team.

But I hope we can face them again someday.

Not long after, Gouenji handed us the number 10 jersey from Raimon (Megane had begged for it, but I didn't allow it).

I hadn't expected him to play at all, so getting him on the field was a victory in itself.

So, why did he play?

Well… when I met him at my secret training field, I made him a bet. If I didn't concede a single goal in the first half, he'd have to at least play in the second half — just to see if he still felt anything for football.

And if I had let in a goal? Well… I didn't really think that far ahead. I guess I'll let my parallel self deal with that.

Whether it was fair or not… this was our first win.

But more importantly, I learned my first Hissatsu.

And I got to witness many others today.

Truly… it was an incredible day.