NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 40: The First Cuts
The air in the briefing room was thick with tension. Fourteen players sat in silence, some with arms crossed, others tapping their feet impatiently. The room was dimly lit, and the massive screen at the front flickered with their names — and the points they had accumulated across the three brutal matches so far.
Renji Kurogami leaned back in his chair, his arms resting on the table, but his eyes stayed sharp. He knew what was coming. And it wouldn't be pretty.
The EOS system's synthetic voice broke the silence.
"Phase 1 of Striker's Dominion is now complete. The following are the total points accumulated by each player across three matches."
The screen shifted, displaying the rankings:
Renji Kurogami – 18 pointsSora Amagi – 16 pointsKaede Arata – 15 pointsRiku Saionji – 13 pointsKaito Nishimura – 12 pointsJin Kazama – 11 pointsShun Takagi – 10 pointsYamada Goro – 9 pointsHaruto Inoue – 8 pointsReiji Sakamoto – 7 pointsItsuki Maeda – 6 pointsArata Hoshino – 5 pointsDaigo Okabe – 4 pointsKenta Fujisawa – 3 points
The room went still. Everyone's eyes drifted to the bottom three names. Daigo, Kenta, and Arata — the ones who had struggled the most.
Renji glanced toward Jin Kazama, who sat quietly with his fists clenched. Despite his usual arrogance, there was a tightness in his jaw. He was just barely safe — but for how long?
The EOS system's voice returned, colder than ever.
"As established, the bottom three players will be eliminated immediately from Striker's Dominion."
Daigo slammed his fist on the table. "No! This—this isn't right! I didn't even get enough chances—"
"Excuses won't change the result," Sora Amagi said calmly, his arms crossed. His eyes didn't even flick toward Daigo.
Kenta stayed silent, his head bowed, while Arata Hoshino gritted his teeth but said nothing.
The EOS system continued, ignoring their reactions.
"Daigo Okabe, Kenta Fujisawa, Arata Hoshino — please exit the briefing room immediately."
No one moved as the three stood up. Daigo's face was red with frustration, Kenta looked hollow, and Arata kept his eyes forward — refusing to show weakness.
As they left, the door slid shut behind them with a quiet hiss. And just like that, they were gone.
The screen flickered again, and a new message appeared.
"Eleven players remain. Phase 2 begins now."
Renji's breath caught. He hadn't expected this. Not yet.
But the EOS wasn't done.
"Before the next stage, an important announcement: Striker's Dominion is not the only EOS training facility. Across the nation, five other EOS centers have been running their own selection process. Each center has chosen its top eleven players. In total, 66 strikers remain in this competition."
The room erupted. Kaede Arata's eyes widened. Riku Saionji's calm shattered. Even Sora Amagi's brow furrowed slightly.
Renji's pulse raced. 66 players?! He had thought this battle was fierce — but they hadn't even scratched the surface.
"Silence," the system commanded — and the room obeyed.
"Phase 2 will determine the absolute best of these 66. Only the top 11 players based on total goals scored will advance to the final stage. In this phase, it is no longer about your team — it is about your individual ability. Your ego. Your goals. Survive, or be eliminated."
Renji's fingers curled into fists. He felt it — the spark of something dangerous and thrilling.
The real battle had just begun.