Episode 15: Melfelse: VS Team Arcania

"A game?" Tenma repeated.

They have practiced in the new training facility for a few days already and have leveled up quite a bit. Kuroiwa Coach apparently found a team to play against in this planet for further power up. Our first match which we are conscious about the fact the opponents are aliens.

Shindou walked forward, "Who are we playing?"

"Don't be rash," Kuroiwa Coach smiled, "You'll know soon enough."

"Captain~" Alsius smiled, "Is it all right if I go meet some people? Can I leave early today?"

Tenma thought for a bit, "Sure."

"Oh, then I'll leave too."

"Huh?"

"Bye, bye captain!"

"Wait, Narukami, Han!?" Tenma gasped, but the two left with Alsius without listening to their captain's protests.

Matatagi sighed, "Just leave them be…" he scratched the back of his head.

"The game will be tomorrow…" Kuroiwa Coach finished before leaving his team to do some final training.

The next day came. Kuroiwa Coach led his team to a soccer stadium soon after breakfast. The field was located within the building across from the Galaxy Notes, so it was very close by. Tenma was worried for Alsius, Narukami and Han haven't returned since they left yesterday. The two members, Liberta and Komori haven't even practiced with the team yet and of course, weren't present.

"Are they really going to come," Matatagi mumbled, "the other team?"

Something shone in the sky. From there a single black soccerball fell. Before colliding with the ground, the ball spun causing a large dust cloud to cover the area around it. Within the clouds, human-like figures were vaguely seen.

… "Cough, cough!"

"Hey!"

"You're overdoing it!"

"Clear the dust already!" voices hacked and coughed from within.

When the dust dispersed, 11 soccer players were seen. Every one of them coughing furiously. They wore an half white, half teal uniform with black shorts and socks. The numbers on their backs were quite random and in roman numerals. Among them were, Alsius, Narukami, Han, Liberta and Komori.

"What are you guys doing on their team!?" Tenma gasped.

"Obviously betraying us." Matatagi retorted.

Alsius smiled maliciously, "yeah, why would we team up with a weak race like humans…?"

"Hey, Haku, I'm human!" Liberta snapped.

"Liberta, come on compromise!"

Shindou stepped forward, "What are you 5 doing? Enough with your silly games and just say the truth."

"Kuroiwa Coach instructed us to teach you something, so that's why we're playing here. It's not so weird for us to play on our own soccer team, is it?" Narukami explained.

"Then what was with the black soccerball…?" Minaho asked snickering.

Alsius blushed angrily, "I told you it was weird…"

Han laughed, "Well Liberta did go overboard with the machine…"

"It's not the only reason their making fun of us!"

One of the boys on the team sighed, "We thought that was how people of earth imagined aliens would appear like. I think some mock alien organization did something like that 10 earth years ago… Ah, by the way, I'm Kenji Honda!"

"Kenji… no point saying name… everytime." A raven haired, cold eyed boy mumbled. His nose and mouth were covered by a long black scarf which hung behind him.

Kenji wrapped his arm over the boys shoulder, "C'mon Yushiro! Have fun!"

"Heavy… get…off."

Xion walked between the two teams, "Well, I am this team, The Arcania's coach, Xion de Balisk. I believe we met when your train first arrived here…" he had his hands behind his back as he walked around inspecting each of the player's faces. "I hope we have a good match, Earth Eleven." He added in the end before leading his team to their bench.

The two teams took their positions on the field. Tsrugi and Matatagi stood on the centerline, ready to do the kick off. Besides Alsius, Narukami and Han, the other team was a complete mystery to Earth Eleven. They even had doubts whether the three they have been on the team with were using their full powers.

"This will be a good opportunity to see the abilities of the two new players…" Shindou whispered to his captain.

"Uh, huh." Tenma nodded.

Tsurugi passed the ball to Matatagi who did a back pass to Tenma.

A long scarlet-haired girl went to stop Tenma from proceeding.

"Z-slash!" Tenma passed her and kicked the ball to Sakura.

Yushiro steped in her way. He put his hands together calling forth bars of ice trapping Sakura inside it, "Snow…Prison…" the cell shattered leaving the ball for Yushiro to take.

"What kind of defense is that?"

"LunA…ball." Yushiro passed the ball to the red-haired girl.

Shindou reacted quickly, "Einzatz!"

"Mirror Memory… Load, Z-Slash!" leaving a burnt marking in the shape of the alphabet 'z, LunA swiftly dodged Shindou breaking through his hissatsu.

"Tenma's hissatsu!?" Shindou gasped.

"Fubuki!" LunA passed it back to the gray-haired pointy eared boy.

He breathed in deeply, "Soul Release!" the boy, Fubuki's body was enveloped in light. From the light emerged a snow white polar bear! It had blue markings over its eyes and all over its body.

The bear grabbed the soccer ball in its mouth and ran past the defenders until it stood in front of the net. Letting go of the ball, the bear let out a deafening roar.

Scrathing at the ball it stored bold energy around it. The suddenly shot towards the net when enough energy enveloped it, "Icicle Boost!"

Unable to comprehend what was happening before him, Ibuki couldn't move letting the ball into the net.

"Th-this was not in m-my predictions…" Manabe stuttered.

Ibuki started speechless at the ball, which went in the net and at the boy who had just transformed into a bear.

"C'mon, don't be so surprised." Fubuki sighed. "You guys have this power too, you know."

"We have that power…?" Tetsukado repeated.

"Better unleash the beast buried within your blood, earthlings," Fubuki snickered, "Or you won't stand a chance against the aliens to come."

The game continued and it was soon evident that Fubuki wasn't the only one who was able to transform.

"Soul Release!" even Narukami was shown to have this power. A brown jackal-like dog with a dark blue mask over its face. Its eerie howls sent lighting forth from the skies. Narukami's movements have become more swift and agile as well.

Earth Eleven was so overwhelmed by The Arcania. Even though the first half ended 1-0, Melfelse's team was only toying with them. Earth Eleven was barely able to touch the ball. Everyone was out of breath.

"What's with them…?" Matatagi gasped, "Are they monsters?"

"The player who transformed into the bear suggested that we are able to use the same powers as them…" Manabe wheezed.

Minaho was breathing deeply, "How will we be able to do something like that? Impossible!"

"From the members joining our team, only Narukami used that power…" Shindou observed. "But, I'm sure the others are able to use it as well."

"Score wise it doesn't seem bad, but we are being pushed." Tsurugi sighed. Even he showed signs of fatigue. "Matsukaze, what are we going to do?"

"That's…" Tenma started speaking but was interrupted by Kuroiwa Coach.

"You have no chance of winning."

Everyone grew even grimmer with that one comment. They all had the feeling they wouldn't be able to win this game.

"No, we can't give up until the end!" Tenma was probably the only one who still believed in victory.

Sakura mumbled, "If they're so good, why don't they participate in the Grand Celesta Galaxy instead?"

"Who cares about that…" Matatagi grunted, glaring in the direction of the other team's bench. They were all relaxed and hardly breathing. This irritated Matatagi even more.

"There is only one way you can get victory," Kuroiwa Coach stated, "Awakening your beast powers!"

Without fully understanding what their Coach had just said, the members of Earth Eleven stood back on the soccer field to start the second half.

It was Komori who started with the ball. It was then Shindou realized that she hadn't done much during the match yet. She was still completely surrounded in mystery.

Komori passed the ball back to Fubuki right away.

Tsurugi and Matatagi quickly tackled at Fubuki. From behind the boy, Liberta jumped up into the air.

"Soul Release!" Liberta transformed into a majestic eagle.

Fubuki kicked the ball upwards and Liberta grasped it in his long talons. Spreading his wings out wider, he flew up high into the sky.

"That's so unfair!" Matatagi growled.

"You can fly too, no wait, you can't yet…" the eagle screeched flying higher and higher.

Sakura jumped as high as she could," You're not getting away that easily," however Liberta saw it coming and avoided her.

"Not bad for only being in your human form…" Liberta smiled. He then flew closer to the ground closing in on Konoha. She courageously leaped forward to steal the ball from the massive bird. A green fox-shaped aura enveloped her suddenly.

"Huh?" she gasped.

Liberta was still able to soar past here, "Close, but not enough."

Liberta was nearly in front of the goal, when Matatagi ran in between the bird and net.

"I'll stop you!" a light enveloped Matatagi and from there emerged a blue peregrine falcon. "What is this!?" It was Matatagi's voice coming from the bird.

"First one, complete…" Liberta nodded flying back into the sky. Matatagi instinctively followed upwards.

"Let's see if you can steal this." Liberta taunted.

Tenma was still trying to wrap his head around the fact Matatagi just became a bird. Does this mean we all can do the same?

Episode 16 preview:

Matatagi unleashed his 'Soul' resulting in an aerial battle against Liberta. Slowly other members of Earth Eleven too awaken their Souls. Will Earth Eleven be able to lead in the second half? Or will the game end without victory? Episode 16 Melfelse: Beast Power