The three chosen ones opposite tensed up, quickly spreading out and having their surrounding beasts approach them for protection.
The Phoenix's abilities were quite useful for playing death soccer; its flames enhanced the ball's speed and power, and it could even explode a second time for further reinforcement.
If Bai Ye had indeed kicked the ball straight at their faces, they would have likely had another one of them carried off on a stretcher.
But, the instant they spread out...
Bai Ye suddenly kicked the ball, not directly at them, but sent a high lob towards the sky.
Jin Sha shouted from behind, "Aerodactyl, Cross Chop!"
Aerodactyl swooped down from the air and used its wings to slash the ball downwards. Immediately, Jin Sha gestured again.
"Pikachu!" Jin Sha called out, "Quick Attack!"
Pikachu sprinted forward rapidly, crackling with electricity, its body transforming into a streak of lightning as it dashed ahead, catching up to the falling soccer ball.
"This is bad!"
The three chosen ones were greatly alarmed, having been faked out by Bai Ye.
Lucario had followed its master off the field, leaving Venusaur to guard the goal.
One of the chosen ones shouted, "Venusaur, use Vine Whip!"
Venusaur, a giant toad with a blooming Rafflesia on its back, was massive enough to block half the goal just by squatting there. As for the other half...
The moment Pikachu reached the ball, two vines suddenly extended from the sides of Venusaur's flower, sweeping outwards and crossing quickly to block the incoming soccer ball.
But...
The air seemed to shift.
"Careful!" a chosen one immediately warned, "They have Gengar, it can turn invisible!"
Indeed, as soon as the ball was knocked away, Gengar suddenly appeared and directly struck the ball with a Shadow Ball, sending it back.
Shadow Ball effect: The ball would become infused with shadow, becoming unpredictable.
However, with the warning, Venusaur reacted in advance, its vines weaving together again to form a net in front of the goal.
The Shadow Ball effect couldn't increase the shot's power, only make the ball erratic. With Venusaur's vines forming a net, it completely sealed off the remaining half of the goal, rendering the ball's unpredictability useless.
The next instant, the ball, as expected, fell into the net woven by Venusaur's vines, spinning against the mesh but ultimately failing to break through.
The three chosen ones breathed a sigh of relief, but at that moment...
"Did you all forget about me?"
Bai Ye's voice suddenly echoed.
The three were startled and looked towards where Bai Ye had been standing, which was now empty.
They had forgotten he could teleport!
When they looked back at the goal, Bai Ye was already there, leaping up and fiercely kicking the soccer ball.
Flames ignited!
Venusaur let out a pained cry. As a Grass-type beast, fire-type abilities were highly unfavorable to it.
The next instant, Venusaur's vines were burned away, and Bai Ye slammed the ball into the goal.
"Goal..."
The large screen quickly displayed the word "GOAL".
2-1, Bai Ye and Jin Sha took the lead again.
And...
With only five minutes left!
As Bai Ye returned to his half of the field and the ball was reset at the center circle, the three chosen ones exchanged glances, their intentions clear.
They had to go all out on offense!
With only five minutes left, it was difficult to overturn the score, but if they could score one goal, 2-2 would at least earn them ten minutes of overtime, and then there would still be hope.
But, as the whistle blew.
"Seviper, Giant Growth!"
Jin Sha decisively had Seviper grow to immense size and coil in front of the goal, its colossal body completely blocking the goal with no gaps.
And that wasn't all...
"Goodra, Protect!"
"Milotic, Mystical Power!"
Goodra and Milotic also immediately positioned themselves in front of Seviper.
Goodra excelled in defense, and Jin Sha's Milotic had also been trained for a counter-attacking style of combat.
Thus, Seviper blocked the goal.
Goodra and Milotic were responsible for defense.
Was that the end?
Of course not!
Bai Ye directly took out his sword box and smashed it onto the ground. Immediately, seven flying swords shot out of the box, transforming into streaks of light and weaving back and forth across the penalty area line, forming a net of interception.
Still not satisfied, Bai Ye threw several talismans into the air.
As the talismans ignited in the air...
Rock Throw!
The ground outside the penalty area cracked, and huge rocks began to fly up, forming a row. Soon, a trench appeared outside the penalty area, along with an earthen wall that completely concealed the area behind it.
The three chosen ones instantly felt overwhelmed.
How could they possibly play now?
This was a clear intention to go all out on defense, giving them no opportunity.
The most troublesome part was the aftermath of Bai Ye taking one of their own out.
They hadn't anticipated such tight defense, and they had even formulated strategies to break through it.
But...
With one of their beasts incapacitated by Bai Ye, their lineup was incomplete, and their strategies were stillborn.
The three gritted their teeth, staring at Bai Ye and Jin Sha's defense with a sense of dread, but they could only brace themselves and launch a fierce offensive.
However, after painstakingly breaking through the initial stone wall, the sword light continued to sweep, repelling the soccer ball. Even if they were occasionally lucky and the ball managed to pass through the flying swords, there were still Goodra, Milotic, and Seviper blocking the way.
And then...
The final minute!
The soccer ball finally broke through the defenses of Goodra and Milotic, causing the eyes of the three chosen ones opposite to light up. Facing the final obstacle, Seviper, they planned to use Hyper Beam to push it back, sending Seviper and the ball crashing into the goal together.
But at that moment...
The elusive Gengar reappeared, but this time, Gengar materialized in front of their own goal.
"Shadow Ball!"
Gengar, before the opposing Snorlax could use Hyper Beam, raised its hands high and hurled a Shadow Ball at the soccer ball.
With a boom!
The Shadow Ball hit the soccer ball, and the ball entered a shadowy state, enveloped by a circle of black smoke, then splitting into countless dark shadows that flew forward.
The next instant...
The three chosen ones were aghast. In their haste to equalize, they and their beasts had pushed too far into Bai Ye and Jin Sha's half, leaving their own half completely empty.
Then...
They watched as Bai Ye, like a cheat, teleported to their own penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot at Venusaur.
Venusaur's vines could not withstand the burning soccer ball. It could only watch as its vines were incinerated before the ball smashed into the goal, sending the net rippling.
"Goal..."
3-0!
The game was decided!
...