SWNOVELXO Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Ascension Gate
Chapter 9: The Ascension Gate
The newly upgraded Ego Facility 07 loomed over the misty hills of Hokkaido like a futuristic fortress. The twelve-story tower, surrounded by endless turf fields and robotic training units, was the battleground for a new war.
This was no longer a program.
This was a crucible.
> EGO LEAGUE: ASCENSION GATE
—A tournament between the top sixteen egoists in Japan, where each player fights to become the Next Generation Ace of the National Team.
---
Day One – Arrival
Rudou stepped off the transport shuttle, duffle bag over one shoulder, eyes scanning the glass exterior of the facility. A massive neon sign greeted him.
> "Welcome to the Ascension Gate, Egoist."
Takumi stood next to him, silent. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by something sharper.
They weren't here to prove they were good.
They were here to prove they were better than everyone.
"Let's eat this place alive," Rudou said.
Takumi nodded.
---
Inside the Lobby
The glass doors slid open. One by one, the top-ranked players entered the facility, each wearing their individual system-assigned ID number and ranking.
Raito Nagaoka—#3
Seiji Takahara—#4
Gojo Minami—#5
Matsu Rensuke—#6
Yuki Shiranami—#7
Kenji Kurozawa—#8
… and Rudou Kagemori—#1
Takumi Arata—#2
Each one bore the same wild-eyed hunger. A tournament without teams. Solo format. Every man and ego for himself.
---
Rules of Ascension Gate
On a 3D holoscreen, a holographic version of the system avatar, codenamed Shinigami, addressed them.
> "Welcome, egoists. You have survived the culling of 3,000 players. Now begins the real test. In the Ascension Gate, the following rules apply:"
1. Solo Rankings: Every match, players are shuffled into temporary 4v4 teams. Your individual score determines your points.
2. Ego Points Multiplied: Depending on performance, points are multiplied by up to 5x.
3. Finisher Skill Evolution: Score three goals using your Finisher Skill in one match to evolve it.
4. Top 4 Become the Core of U-20 Japan's Starting XI.
> "Only those who dominate this Gate will control the future of Japanese football."
A sudden flash on everyone's wristband: the system activated.
> [ASCENSION GATE ROUND 1 MATCHUPS NOW FORMING…]
---
Round 1 Match:
Blue Team: Rudou, Raito, Yuki, Kenji
Red Team: Takumi, Gojo, Seiji, Matsu
4v4. 60 minutes. Full-pitch, no coaches. Only their will.
Rudou cracked his knuckles.
"Takumi's on the other side?" he grinned. "Guess I won't be holding back."
---
Match Start – Ego Arena Sigma
The game started at a pace even faster than the Trial of Twelve. No buildup. No waiting. Just chaos.
Seiji took off like a rocket, cutting down the left flank. Takumi floated behind him, orchestrating like a dark conductor.
Rudou shadowed Gojo, pressing every time the midfielder tried to breathe. Raito, meanwhile, swept the backline with cold precision.
In minute 6, Gojo broke free.
He sent a slicing through-ball into the gap. Seiji latched onto it.
Bang—Goal. 1–0 to Red Team.
> [System Alert: Opponent Team Ego Synch 43%]
[Pressure Rising…]
---
Minute 11 – Rudou Responds
Yuki Shiranami, the long-range specialist, chipped a weighted pass toward Rudou at the top of the box.
Rudou chest-trapped it between two defenders.
> [Skill Activated: Black Fang Finisher]
[Angle Correction +22%]
He twisted and hit a first-time curler with his weak foot—top bins.
1–1.
> [Finisher Goal Count: 1/3]
[Momentum Boost: +5 Ego Points]
---
Minute 21 – Takumi's Break
Gojo absorbed pressure and laid off a perfect back pass to Takumi. From 25 yards out, Takumi took one touch.
Then struck it—low, slicing, left of the keeper.
Goal.
2–1.
> [System Trait: Falcon Strike Activated – Sharp Low Finisher]
The duel between Rudou and Takumi intensified. The world around them became noise. This wasn't just a match. This was an ideology clash.
Rudou: Raw unpredictability, chaos, instinct.
Takumi: Calculation, sharpness, deadly rhythm.
---
Minute 33 – Phantom Link Returns
Yuki intercepted Gojo in midfield and sent a ground pass diagonally across to Rudou. Raito overlapped suddenly from defense.
Rudou flicked it.
Raito passed it into Kenji in the box.
Kenji backheeled it—
Rudou reappeared like a ghost, shot instantly.
3–2.
> [Ego Link Detected: Phantom Flow + Duo Synch]
[Finisher Goal Count: 2/3]
[Rudou Ranking: 1st – 97 Points]
---
Halftime
All players gathered in separate dugouts. But Rudou didn't sit. He stared at Takumi across the field.
Takumi smirked.
"You're gonna need more than tricks," he said.
"I'm not using tricks," Rudou replied. "I'm becoming the trick."
---
Second Half – Ego Unleashed
The intensity doubled.
Every play now involved 3–4 touches maximum. The ball zipped like lightning. The match wasn't just physical—it was mental warfare.
In minute 49, Takumi dispossessed Yuki with a perfect timed tackle and surged forward. Seiji peeled wide, drawing a defender.
Takumi didn't pass. He curved around Rudou, then Raito, and slammed a shot with the outside of his boot.
3–3.
> [System Boost: Dual Trait Trigger – Predator Dribble + Falcon Strike]
The only ones smiling were Rudou and Takumi.
---
Minute 55 – Everything on the Line
Last five minutes.
Sudden-death golden goal now in effect.
Rudou ran with the ball, feinting left and right, spinning between Gojo and Seiji. He lifted it over Takumi's foot, took a touch, and stared at the keeper.
> [Final Trigger Available: 3rd Finisher Goal]
[Evolve Black Fang? Y/N]
He struck.
Time slowed.
The curve of the ball felt like it bent gravity.
Gooooooooal.
Match over.
4–3.
> [Skill Evolution Confirmed: Black Fang → Oblivion Curve]
[Unique Trait Evolved: Spatial Strike Intuition]
---
Post Match Rankings
> Ascension Gate Round 1 – Solo Rankings
1. Rudou Kagemori – 132 Points
2. Takumi Arata – 125 Points
3. Gojo Minami – 110 Points
4. Raito Nagaoka – 107 Points
…
5. Yu Asaoka – 68 Points
---
That Night
Rudou lay in the private pod, staring at the ceiling. His body was sore, mind buzzing.
Then the system pinged again.
> [NEW UNLOCKED ZONE: EGO ROOM – MIRROR OF SELF]
The room around him shifted. The floor turned to glass. His reflection stared back.
Then it moved on its own.
> "Do you truly believe you are Japan's future?"
Rudou clenched his fists.
"Not yet," he whispered. "But I'll become the face of ego itself."
And the war… was far from over.