Hey, what's up.
Sorry is that too informal? Haha.
It's BurntToast and I'm finally back with Book 2 in my Inazuma Eleven Fanfic Series : Fervent Dusk. Feels weird to be writing again after taking a break for so long and I'm hoping to polish my writing as I continue to write this book but I think I'm ready to start publishing chapters again!
I'm really excited for Book 2, its changed a lot since I first began to think about it months ago and the characters have really taken on a life of their own so I'm looking forward to their stories being released as Book 2 continues and I hope to whoever is reading this, also enjoy the adventure of this generation of football players.
Now, as for the story, unlike Book 1, I decided to write the chapters in advance before publishing them so I have more control over the story so I'll try to update a chapter/ two weeks if I'm not too busy but will release 3 chapters at once to celebrate the beginning of Book 2.
For updates on my self-made fanarts, I've been working on them but it's not really a priority so I'll do my best to get those done by the end of Book 2's Part 1. I'll also be deleting the art from Book 1 since I'll be updating designs and stuff.
Finally, to wrap this preface up.
The story.
If you're reading this I'll assume you've read Book 1 : Morning Twilight but just as a refresher where we were last time.
Spoilers Ahead!
Five Years after Matsukaze Tenma led Raimon to victory in Holy Road, a new generation of players began their journey at the acclaimed football school. Led by the 'Demon Queen' of strikers, Mika Kuroha, they must first pass the National Qualifiers of this year's Holy Road.
While initially reluctant to rejoin the Raimon soccer team, due to the pushing of a young first year, Yuka Fukunaga, Mika rejoins the team and after reuniting with her friend from England, Galahad Yozora, they are somehow able to win their first match against the well-trained Seidouzan.
In the meantime, Mika's self-proclaimed 'rival' in school, Serika Afuro, has also joined the team and after some training with her uncle's help she is able to learn 'God Knows' and 'Olympus Harmony' which she plans on using to dethrone Mika.
However, in their next match, Raimon's opponent is the reigning champion of last year's Holy Road, Eisei Gakuen. Extremely formidable and well-rounded due to the strict training of the Coach Saginuma, they are led by the 'Celestial Guardians' which refers to four of the top players in Japan for their age division : Daigiichi 'The Black Tortoise' (DF), Haruka 'The White Tiger' (AM), Suzaku 'The Vermillion Bird' (MF) and Seiryuu 'Japan's Blue Dragon' (ST). Seiryuu, who is currently the top ranked striker in the world for the U15 division, leads Eisei in thoroughly defeating Raimon in the second match while making Mika question why she is even playing soccer in the first place.
Going into their last match of the qualifiers, Raimon is now up against their historic rivals, Teikoku Gakuen. Revitalised however by training with a mysterious white-haired man, and reconciling with Serika, Raimon is able to rally and defeat Teikoku's 'Penguin Carnival' with the help of 'Aggressive Beat' and 'Divine Revelation' meaning Raimon is able to proceed to the National Championship as the second place seed in Block C.
While preparing for the National Championships however, Eisei Gakuen invites them to training camp with Hakuren (the winners of the Block B qualifiers) which Raimon accepts and Mika meets Hakuren's famous co-captains : Tsukishiro 'The Winter Lady' and Ryoga Katata 'The Adamantine Glacier'.
Training alongside Eisei Gakuen and Hakuren, and even meeting the Hakuren alumni, Yukumira Hyouga, Mika feels she is closer to an answer in regards to her feelings towards soccer but her training is interrupted by the Hakuren manager, Leonidas Tsujo who appears to have a tense relationship with the Hakuren defender, Ryoga.
Discussing her complicated thoughts with Seiryuu, he is surprised to find that Mika remembers him and they end the night on uncomfortable terms, further complicating Mika's emotions and while Tsukishiro does her best to cheer her up, Mika remains contemplative.
Despite her conflicted inner emotions, when she looks at Leonidas who reminds her of herself she reaches a hand out to Leonidas who is cut off by Ryoga, and he joins Raimon as a forward, leaving Hakuren behind him and thus concluding the training camp.
On their way home however, it is revealed that a never before seen school, Outei Tsukinomiya, has entered this year's Holy Road, not only having a flawless victory in Block A but soundly defeating Spain's team 'Red Matador' due to their 'Dark Keshins' and 'Child of Soccer' Tamaki Takashima.
Captained by a boy who calls himself Nosaka Yuuma, Outei declares the start of 'Project Mars' which appears to be closing down 'weak' football teams around Japan in order to 'strengthen soccer'.
And with this Part 1 concluded.
Thus when Part 2 picked up, the Holy Road Championships began with numerous high level teams from around Japan, gathering to battle it out for the title of the strongest soccer team in the nation.
Up against Hakuren in the quarterfinals, Raimon must figure out a way to get past Ryoga Katata who is the best defender in Japan and utilises the Hissatsu Tactics : 'Toxic Glacier' alongside his team to slowly drain Raimon's strength. However, in his debut match, Leonidas is able to break through with 'Beast King's Authority' while Galahad shows off a new pass hissatsu 'Shadow Link' allowing Raimon to clinch a close win.
In the other quarter-final matches, Zeus is led by the 'Saintess' Khronoa Yoshizawa and as their ace striker, she leads Zeus to victory over Susanoo Academy, a graduate of Project Mars who uses the 'Dark Keshins' reaffirming her faith in teamwork and friendship. On the other side, Eisei Gakuen and Outei have overwhelming victories over Dragonlink and Kidokawa Seishuu and it is revealed the semi-final matches will be Raimon vs Zeus and Eisei Gakuen vs Outei Tsukinomiya.
In the semi-final match, Zeus initially takes the lead with the aggressive plays of their midfielder, 'Lunar Rabbit' Selene Otsuki and their utilisation of the counter tactic 'Catenaccio Counter'. The tables quickly turn as Khronoa's infectious energy allows Mika to confirm her feelings towards soccer and she unlocks a new SH hissatsu, 'Blade of Desolation' that allows her to break the 'Catenaccio Counter'
Zeus refuses to allow Raimon to take control of the match, and show off their new aggressive, high press tactic 'Titanomakhia' which allows them to regain the lead but Serika, in a critical moment, learns to become more confident in herself and unlocks 'Heaven's Time' and finally united, Raimon wins 5-4 moving on to the finals.
They are shocked however to find that Eisei is currently losing 4-0 in the other stadium and that Yuka has left Raimon to join Outei. With skillful diving and fouling, Mika can barely recognise Yuka and thus shouts in encouragement to Seiryuu who responds by using their forbidden hissatsu tactic : 'Huanglong's Deep Slumber'. Evening up the score, Yuka is the one to put a stop to Eisei, unlocking his 'Legendary Keshin : Michael, The Sword of Justice' and using it to commit a foul against Haruka.
Enraged by the injury, Suzaku uses her Keshin 'Great Flame Emperor, Kagutsuchi' to send the ball to Seiryuu who uses a new hissatsu 'Draconic Sea' to turn the tides but just as they are about to claim victory, Tamaki interrupts with his illusory hissatsu 'Glimpse of Glory' to end Eisei's journey to a consecutive Holy Road Championship at a final score of 6-4.
Discouraged by the astonishing win, Raimon enters the final battle dispirited but Mika is determined to bring back the 'Real Yuka'.
However, though Serika does her best to counter Nosaka's numerous tactics, Raimon is overwhelmed by the 'Emperor of Tactics'. Not willing to surrender despite this, Mika finds herself facing off with Yuka proclaims his disdain for the prodigal striker from Raimon, blaming her for his decision to join Nosaka's side and use whatever tactics necessary to win.
Thoroughly exhausted, Mika surrenders control of her body to Aki who runs wild on the field and scores with 'Legendary Keshin : Calamity Incarnate Ba'al'. However, wanting to win together, Serika and Galahad bring back Mika and they score once more with 'Inazuma Overload' but just as they are about to tie the score, Yuka uses his hands to block the shoot. Confused by Yuka's words and actions, Mika is unable to resolve herself and she misses the penalty kick concluding the year's Holy Road Champions as Outei Tsukinomiya.
Now in the fallout from this result, the U15 football associations have fallen under the control of Project Mars and in desperation, select players have been sent to professional clubs around the globe to intermingle, train and grow stronger together…
What will happen to Project Mars, Mika and the others?
Find out in Inazuma Eleven 3, Book 2 : Fervent Dusk!