Aeith, Fourth, and Second glanced at each other simultaneously. Even the boys couldn't properly focus on the game because there was still a message to follow.
"If you intend to carry out your scheme, then sudden and unforeseen events will occur."
After the timer spoke, they heard an explosion.
Second turned to the left and saw that the two pompoms Aeith had been holding earlier had exploded, leaving them all confused. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
There was a bad effect on this plan. They had been caught. The boys' strategy of not shooting the ball in the ring was now invalid. If they continued with the plan, the gold team would win. There would be a team that would win. The bomb exploded on their bleachers because the silver team was losing. If the silver team didn't fight and gave the chance to the gold team, they could all die in the explosion. Everyone would be forced to fight.
Their faces became more serious. All the players were complete, but it looked like others were still suffering from pain; maybe they were enduring physical pain again because this was the final round. It would be decided which team would win, even if the enemy team was beaten.
There was a high chance their team would lose. The timer was smart enough to notice the strategy. The girls were being used as bait to force the players to fight.
00:56.
"Yes! Finally," Tenth muttered with excitement.
They scored.
She saw that the ball had turned gold, and inside it was... a brain?
"Huwaaa!"
Everyone knew this would happen again. What they were waiting for was who would be the victim of the gold team. They aided Thirtwen quickly, who was enduring the pain in his brain. He sniffed while closing his eyes.
They did score, but someone was being hurt. Second knew others felt the same way. They didn't play for fun or entertainment; they continued playing to prevent the explosion. They endured the pain just to follow the only rule in this game. She saw Thirtwen enduring the pain. The two teams continued to play even though one player was removed from the gold team. They forcefully ignored Thirtwen even though they wanted to help him, but time was running out, and the fight was heating up.
"I-It's like my brain is being pierced by worms!" Her fist clenched. She sympathized with Thirtwen. This was not a mild type of pain. They gave him water to drink, but he refused. They couldn't do anything to alleviate the excruciating pain he felt.
02:05.
It was only a minute, and Thirtwen's headache would be gone as well. Just a little patience.
03:00.
"A moment of seconds," the timer interrupted in the middle of the game, so Ninezen stopped dribbling the ball he was holding.
"This two-minute last game is the most critical one. Play to your heart's content... The two-minute game will start in 10, 9,"
"I'm okay." Thirtwen stood up and ran to the center. The gold team was now back with their full potential.
The battle was getting steamy. They had only scored once while the gold team scored thrice. If in two minutes they had not scored two or more points, they would lose this game. If the gold team could catch up and have two more shots, the game would be a draw, but the timer stated that there must be a winning team. They still needed three points. Not to be a pessimist, but losing this one carried a high chance.
This must be intentional. They meant to feel pain in the last two minutes of their play. It measured how strong their mind, heart, and body were even when struggling. This game challenged the players on which team was more determined.
And because the timer mentioned that there was only one rule, she was displeased by what she was witnessing. They were pushing and hurting to shoot the ball in the ring. Many stumbles and falls occurred from dribbling the ball to cornering the opponent's team.
Second no longer took sides with any team because, for her, they were one. During the few days they had been together, even if it was just a short time to trust each other, they had become a big part of her life. If this game were not team-based, she wouldn't mind losing at all. But to witness their endurance, suffering, and hope, she wished for both teams to win.
First seems dedicated this time. She didn't notice what part of his body hurt. It was like he was just playing normally. There was also no expression on his face, but there was a trace in his eyes of determination to win.
01:37.
Still no score. They had already lost. Even if they scored one, they still lost. Just a few seconds, and the game would be over.
01:45.
Only fifteen seconds remaining.
"Whoa, First got the ball!" Aeith exclaimed.
"Hopefully, he'll shoot that," Fourth said.
"Hurry up!" Tenth urged.
What? Was it First?
Even if he shot the ball into the gold team's ring, they still lost. The ball was gold in color, but she wondered why there was no human organ in it.
"We're still losing." The three of them glanced at her because of what she muttered.
"That's okay. At least we have two points instead of one," Aeith affirmed.
Second observes First.
15, 14, 13, 12.
He ran into the opponent's ring as Ninezen blocked him.
11, 10, 9.
He dodged and was close to the target.
8, 7, 6.
First raised his hands holding the ball and threw it.
5, 4, 3.
The ball flew in the air.
2, 1.
It even hit the metal ring and rolled.
*whistle*
The ball was shot in the ring, and the game was over.
Why did he even do that? He could hurt other people even more, even though they still lost.
She noticed something—earlier, the ball was only gold when First dribbled, but when he threw it in the air, there was some kind of red circle in the middle of it.
"It's over!"
"Who won?"