Chapter 267

Kaiser revels in his finish and shows off the rose at his neck while the commentator praises the effort and most players stand stunned. Isagi admires how Kaiser stripped everything back to remake himself, though Charles brushes it off as a poor goal. When Hiori asks why the pass went to Kaiser, Kiyora answers that either forward would have suited him, since he prefers to prop up whoever is trailing so that a win becomes his own doing.

Pressed on whether he will stay loyal to Kaiser, Kiyora insists he has committed to nobody, saying not even a god knows whose side he will take until the moment arrives. Isagi turns the idea over, recognizing Kaiser's world style ego yet sensing hidden layers he still wants to uncover before beating him.

Ness gushes that Kaiser is extraordinary, chosen by fate to be the planet's finest striker. Kaiser credits Ness for carrying him this far but decides that path cannot take him higher, cutting Ness loose and telling him to move on and find a new king, adding that living within restriction comes easier to him.

Overhearing this, Isagi separates people who flourish in freedom, like himself, from those who peak under constraint, like Kaiser. Folding in his notions of world style and self style, he maps everyone into four distinct categories of ego. Kaiser then walks up, comparing himself to a butterfly leaving its cocoon, and dares Isagi to battle for their generation's crown. Isagi accepts, viewing Kaiser's downfall as his golden ticket to becoming the best, as a listening Rin coldly promises to kill them.

Kiyora declares that he has no intention of permanently siding with either Kaiser or Isagi. Kaiser severs his partnership with Ness, telling the setter he is no longer needed. Isagi and Kaiser agree to clash for the throne of their generation.

Isagi builds a framework of four ego types by crossing the freedom versus restriction divide with his earlier world style and self style concepts. Rin overhears the challenge between the two forwards and vows to kill them.