SWNOVELXO Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Devour the Crown
Chapter 10: Devour the Crown
The world watched.
With over 10 million live viewers tuning into the underground stream of the Ascension Gate, Rudou Kagemori's curving Oblivion Strike became more than a goal—it was a message.
A new ego had arrived.
And Japan couldn't look away.
---
Ego Facility 07 — The Black Room
In a sealed black room above the arena, five men sat watching monitors. Each wore suits with red ties. They weren't coaches. They were selectors from the Japan Football Association's secret division—Project U20 Vanguard.
One of them leaned forward.
"Who is this Rudou Kagemori?"
Another replied, "Unknown origins. Emerged from Region 3. Zero club background. Played in egoist trials. Ranked 1st in every simulation."
"Keep eyes on him."
"And the boy Takumi?"
"Ranked second in raw metrics. His system traits are sharper. But Rudou's adaptability… it's different."
They watched the replay again. Rudou's expression after the winning goal burned into the screen—like a beast that had just tasted blood.
"He's not playing football," one whispered. "He's hunting."
---
Round 2 – Sudden Rule Shift
Just one day after the first round, the 16 players were summoned to the Ego Tower's central hall.
The walls showed massive holograms of the new tournament structure:
> Round 2: Survival Scramble
16 players divided into 4 teams
Each team must play 2 matches
Top 2 teams by cumulative score advance
But… only the Top 8 Individual Players survive.
It was both team and solo.
Victory alone wouldn't be enough—if you didn't shine, you would be eliminated even in victory.
And so began the cruelest phase: the betrayal phase.
---
Team Sigma – Rudou's Squad
> Team Sigma:
Rudou Kagemori
Kenji Kurozawa
Yuki Shiranami
Yu Asaoka
A strange team. Lacked a true defender. But Rudou didn't care.
He looked at the silent Yuki, the long-shot specialist, and Kenji, the silent backheel king.
"I'm not here to hold hands," Rudou said. "I'll devour whoever slows me down."
Yu Asaoka flinched. "D-Devour? We're supposed to be a team!"
Rudou smiled. "Exactly. So score more than me. Or I eat your chances."
---
Match 1 – Sigma vs Alpha
Team Alpha had Takumi Arata.
He stood across the pitch as the whistle blew, his dark eyes locked on Rudou.
It wasn't just a match.
This was a war of ideologies.
---
Minute 7 – Takumi Strikes First
Takumi cut between Yu and Kenji like they were cones. One feint, one pass, one finish.
1–0 to Alpha.
Rudou scowled.
> [Ego Alert: Opponent Pressure Sync 58%]
"They're too slow," Rudou muttered. "I'll go alone."
---
Minute 13 – Rudou Responds
Kenji passed back. Yuki lobbed it over a defender. Rudou stormed in.
> [Oblivion Curve – Partial Trigger]
[Ego Points Channeled: 34]
He curled it into the top corner.
1–1.
> [Finisher Goal Count: 1]
[Crowd Sync: 86%]
In the observation room, one of the selectors leaned closer.
"This kid… he creates emotion out of thin air."
---
Minute 24 – Chaos
Takumi launched a 30-meter grounded missile to Rensuke, who redirected it behind the defense. Gojo stormed in and scored.