Chapter 218: Joint Tryout (14)
"The rematch might have to wait, Chris."
However, Snuffy's sudden interception cut off Chris's pass. Sensing that Chris was too focused on Shinichi, Snuffy had deliberately drifted toward the area—and to his surprise, Shinichi had actually held off Chris's three heavy hits, leaving him a perfect ball to steal.
"Well then... let's go."
Seeing that Noa, who had been caught off guard by Snuffy's sudden cut, was quickly recovering and chasing him down, Snuffy wasted no time and sent the ball flying forward—to no one's surprise, right to Shinichi, who had instantly reacted, bursting forward like a launched missile.
"Here he comes!"
As the rampaging Shinichi closed in, Noahs defenders tensed up immediately, not daring to slack off in the slightest.
But some gaps just couldn't be closed by effort alone.
The difference was too great—Shinichi merely flicked the ball with speed and ease, and one by one, the youth players were left helpless in his wake like training cones.
"Got you!"
Just then, Reo suddenly appeared in front of Shinichi. Learning from the previous play, he hadn't rushed in too early but had positioned himself to intercept after Shinichi broke through the midfield.
Now, if Shinichi tried to waste time maneuvering around him, the closing defenders would box him in—and with Loki fast approaching, the trap seemed set.
"You seem to have misunderstood something."
But just as Reo was full of confidence, Shinichi's signature cold voice sent a chill down his spine. The black lightning in Shinichi's eyes surged like a devouring force ready to obliterate him.
"I dodged you because it wasn't necessary. Not because you can actually stop me. Don't get ideas above your station, small fry."
Before Reo could even register a dribble, the ball had already vanished from Shinichi's left foot, his body shifting in the opposite direction. His shoulder dropped deceptively low—Shinichi's next move was unreadable.
In the chaos clouding his mind, Reo instinctively reacted. His body blocked right—and the feeling of contact thrilled him.
"I got him! I guessed right! I stopped Shinichi's attack!"
But a second later, Reo's face fell.
There was no follow-up clash.
Instead, a brief brush of contact told him all he needed to know—and starkly reminded him of the gap between them.
"Even with some predictive ability, the difference in physical attributes is too huge. Even if I read Shinichi's first move, he can stop instantly and re-accelerate. If football were a turn-based card game, I've drawn a counter card that can stop one of his moves—but Shinichi can act two or more turns in a row. That's a fundamental difference in efficiency!"
Boom!
There was no doubt—once again, the smoke of cannon fire spread across the pitch.
The goal, though seemingly well-defended, was shattered in an instant.
Shinichi slowed down and looked back at Reo. But to his surprise, despite being so thoroughly beaten, Reo was still smiling.
"Well, what can I say... I guess beating a monster like you head-on is still unrealistic." Reo spread his hands with a wry smile. "But after that last play, I'm sure now—Chris's guess really might work. My copy ability definitely has the potential to evolve further."
"Just you wait, Shinichi. Don't underestimate a knockoff — plenty of major corporations started as copycats before buying out the originals."
And in that moment, Shinichi fully realized that his influence on the players of Blue Lock was likely greater than he had imagined. Reo Mikage — this guy was already becoming far more interesting than his original counterpart in the story.
"Don't get too full of yourself. Your ability has plenty of flaws. If I wanted to, I could just pull off moves outside your mental 'database,' making all your reactions useless. You can't rely on instinct alone. You need to consciously apply it, not be ruled by your own mental images."
With just a few words, Shinichi sent a thrill through Reo. As expected from the original owner of this ability — the insight was on another level.
'Maybe… in the next stage, I should join Shinichi's team. I could definitely improve more there. Compared to that, the prize money means nothing.'
"You guys chatting so casually — did you forget we're still in the middle of a match?"
BANG!
The ball was suddenly launched across the pitch.
Kaiser, who had been lurking, waiting for an opening, bolted forward like a wild predator. He had been waiting for a chance to strike decisively — and this was it.
"Man… I'm not even on Shinichi's team, but I'm already getting a bad feeling about Stage Two..."
Just subbed on, Hiori caught the ball near midfield.
Despite his sigh, his feet were deadly precise.
"Well, it's still a match… so don't waste my pass, fallen emperor."
"You want that shot supported by this kind of pass, right?"
Rather than his usual outswinger, Hiori fired a powerful flat shot that raced ahead to match Kaiser's stride. The moment it bounced up off the ground and seemed to stop mid-air, perfectly aligned with Kaiser's mind — it was time:
Kaiser's Impact… Magnus Curve!
BANG!
"That went wide?"
The ball veered sharply away from the goal at first, confusing everyone. But a second later, the vicious spin made the ball curve back violently — as if the air itself bent to Kaiser's will — pushing the ball toward the goal.
"Sorry… I think I can still handle that spin."
A lazy voice rang out.
White hair whipping through the air, Nagi, also just subbed in, intercepted the shot.
Though barely in time, the ball escaped his control — but Kaiser's strike was stopped.
"Well, I did promise to meet you all at the top. No way I'm letting Reo pull ahead of me."
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