SWNOVELXO Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Trial of Twelve
Chapter 8: The Trial of Twelve
A cold drizzle soaked the Ego Complex rooftop. Flashing lights pulsed from the giant holoscreens across Tokyo as a new global transmission from the Japan Football Union began broadcasting.
> "From this day forward…
…we will no longer send players to Europe to chase greatness.
We will forge greatness here."
That message echoed through the hearts of every egoist still standing. Below that broadcast was a banner:
> TRIAL OF TWELVE: FINAL STAGE BEFORE ASCENSION GATE
---
9:00 AM – Ego Arena Alpha
Rudou stood in the tunnel, watching as the massive arena's dome opened to reveal the full-sized stadium. Twelve players from the surviving batch were handpicked by the system. Split into Team Sigma and Team Omega, it was to be a full 90-minute match under standard professional football rules.
Rudou and Takumi were both selected for Team Omega. Their opponents included some of the highest-rated egoists remaining.
But none were more dangerous than Raito Nagaoka, captain of Sigma and ranked #2 in all of Ego Phase.
---
Starting Lineups
Team Omega (Blue):
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Kazama Rei
DF: Hayato, Niiro, Takumi (CB), Issei
MF: Kaede (DM), Onishi (DM), Rudou (CAM)
FW: Kaito (RW), Daigo (LW), Shun Mizuki (ST)
Team Sigma (Red):
Formation: 3-4-3
GK: Hoshio Kenta
DF: Raito, Jin, Yuta
MF: Enma, Gojo, Matsu, Riku
FW: Seiji (RW), Kenji (ST), Sora (LW)
---
Kickoff
As the whistle blew, Rudou's heart surged. Every blade of grass, every echo of the ball, felt magnified by adrenaline.
Sigma opened aggressively. Gojo controlled the tempo with surgical passing, while Raito intercepted every attempt at counterattack like a machine. In the 14th minute, Sigma struck first.
Raito surged forward from center-back, initiated a one-two with Gojo, and drove into the box with terrifying speed.
> "He's overlapping from defense?!" Kaede shouted.
Before anyone could react, Raito chipped the keeper—1–0.
> [System Alert: OPPONENT EGO PRESSURE +12%]
[Caution: Mental Suppression Threshold Nearing Limit]
Rudou bit down on his nerves.
"I'm done reacting," he muttered. "It's time to control this game."
---
Minute 25 – Omega Counterstrike
Takumi initiated the first successful interception at the half line, pressing with perfect timing and launching a diagonal pass to Kaito on the wing.
Kaito took off, slicing between two defenders with elastic dribbles.
> [System Support: Phantom Boost Active – 14s Left]
Rudou surged into the box.
Kaito's low cross came in like a bullet—Rudou didn't trap it. He let it run through and heel-flicked it behind him, back into space.
Mizuki was there.
Bang.
1–1.
> [Phantom Link-Up Detected – New Style Available: Ego Flow Play]
---
Minute 38 – Tactical War
The midfield turned into a battlefield. Kaede and Onishi double-pivoted to hold off Enma's technical playmaking, but Riku exploited the flanks repeatedly. Rudou fell back to defend, playing both CAM and CM.
"Rudou! You're dropping too deep!" Mizuki shouted.
"I'm not just a forward anymore," Rudou snapped back. "I'll control the rhythm!"
He began orchestrating tempo. One-touch passes. Switches of play. Side-back rotations. Every decision intentional. Controlled.
> [Field Vision Synch 72%]
[Tactical Core Awakening Approaching…]
By the time the first half ended, the score was still 1–1, but the tide had changed. Omega was now in control.
---
Halftime – Locker Room
Takumi's voice echoed in the tense silence.
"They're waiting for us to tire. They want us emotional. But we stay unpredictable."
Mizuki cracked his knuckles. "They've seen our first gear. Let's show them our second life."
Rudou didn't speak. He was staring at the new system prompt only he could see.
> [UNIQUE EVENT: HERO'S MOMENT]
[Trigger Condition: Score or Assist Within 10 Minutes of Second Half]
[Reward: Unlock Personal Finisher Skill]
[Warning: Failing this will freeze Ego Points for 1 match]
He stood up, heart hammering.
"Give me the first touch," he told Takumi.
---
Minute 46 – Hero's Moment
Kickoff resumed. Rudou received the ball, shielded it from Gojo, and spun into a sprint. He didn't pass. He weaved forward, solo, as red shirts closed in.
Two. Three. Four.
One sharp touch out of his feet—he opened his body and curved a shot—
Top corner.
2–1.
> [Trigger Met: HERO'S MOMENT SUCCESSFUL]
[Skill Unlocked: Black Fang Finisher – Aerial/Curve Shot Precision Bonus Activated]
He didn't celebrate. He looked directly at Raito across the field.
Raito nodded once. A declaration.
Now it was personal.
---
Minute 59 – Sigma's Response
Sigma switched to full attack mode. Raito left the defense to join the midfield line, turning their shape into a 2-3-5. Every ball forward now passed through his feet.
In the 63rd minute, he lofted a through ball behind Omega's line.
Seiji, the lightning winger, beat Issei to it and lobbed the ball over Rei.
2–2.
The match was boiling.
Rudou looked to Takumi. They didn't need words.
---
Minute 71 – Ego Clash
Omega attacked down the left. Daigo cut inside and played a short pass to Rudou at the edge of the D. He dummied it—and let it roll to Takumi.
Takumi took one touch forward.
And chipped it.
Over the entire defense.
Rudou launched forward like a bullet, took it mid-air, and executed a spinning volley—
Goooooal.
3–2.
> [Ego Synergy – Phantom Duo Activated]
[Bonus Points: +17 Ego]
[Rudou Trait Progression: 71% → 78%]
---
Minute 90+3 – Final Chance
With seconds left, Sigma earned a final corner. Everyone, including their keeper, pushed forward.
The ball floated in—chaos in the box—Gojo connected with a header!
But Rei saved it.
He punched it out to Takumi.
Takumi sprinted.
So did Rudou.
Two-on-one against the last defender.
Takumi drew the challenge… then passed with a backheel into Rudou's path.
Rudou didn't think.
He chipped it from 30 meters.
It flew, spun, and fell into the empty net.
4–2.
Whistle.
Match over.
---
Post-Match
The arena exploded in applause, system lights flashing red and blue. The team huddled, exhausted and exhilarated.
But as they began walking off, the system displayed one final announcement:
> [ASCENSION GATE CHALLENGERS CONFIRMED:]
[RUDOU KAGEMORI – 1ST SEED]
[TAKUMI ARATA – 2ND SEED]
[RAITO NAGAOKA – 3RD SEED]
[SEIJI TAKAHARA – 4TH SEED]
[...Others Hidden]
> [EGO LEAGUE: ASCENSION GATE – BEGINS NEXT WEEK]
[SURVIVE. DOMINATE. EVOLVE.]
The trial was over.
The war for the future of Japanese football… had truly begun.