Chapter 186

Spectators marvel at Kunigami's strike as the stadium announcer confirms Bastard Munchen has pulled in front. Isagi glares at his teammate, bitter that the entire sequence with Kurona had been his design and flawlessly executed, only for Kaiser's block to force an awkward shot that Kunigami then poached. Reasoning that other elite professionals must also wield metavision, Isagi concludes Sae Itoshi surely relies on the same gift. The exertion catches up with him: he sways, drained, realizing the ability taxes both body and mind, yet resolves through gritted breath to overtake and consume Kaiser.

Further upfield, Reo studies Isagi's game and senses that his rival has stumbled onto something transformative mid-match and is now evolving fast. Tying back his hair, Reo tries to resist measuring himself against Isagi and sinking into gloom. His thoughts drift to Nagi walking away from him to partner Isagi, dismissing Reo as a burden. Reo accepts that the fault was never Nagi's; he is the one who must change.

Just as Reo commits to standing on his own rather than leaning on Nagi, Nagi comes to him and admits he wants to defeat Isagi. Nagi confesses that even while following the lessons of Chris and Agi, he still cannot grasp creativity and the sport no longer feels enjoyable. Reo snaps at him not to sulk over things going badly, but Nagi tells him soccer was more fun alongside Reo, and that he needs Reo's help to beat Isagi.

Isagi works out that Sae Itoshi must also use metavision, and he feels the physical and mental cost of the ability. Reo, wrestling with resentment over being cast aside, decides he must evolve for himself. Nagi then approaches Reo and openly asks for his help in taking down Isagi.

The chapter plants two threads that shape the rest of the match: Isagi's suspicion that top-tier players like Sae operate on metavision, and Nagi's plea that pulls Reo back toward a partnership he had resolved to abandon.