Kuon's declaration echoed like a line drawn in blood.
A pledge of allegiance.
Not to friendship.
Not to fairness.
But to Ryu—the striker who demanded followers, not teammates.
Warriors, not friends.
Tools forged in his own violent image.
Compared to Barou Shouei's regal dominance, Ryu was something else.
A dark tyrant.
A dictator with a death stare and a scoring touch that bent teams to his will.
Bachira leaned against the wall, eyes glittering with mischief. He said nothing.
But Ryu didn't need to hear it.
He already knew what Bachira was thinking.
Then, Isagi spoke.
His voice trembled slightly—but his resolve didn't.
"If… if we all focus on helping you score…"
"Will you guarantee we advance to the next round?"
Every head turned to Ryu.
One seat remained at the bottom.
Only one more player could be eliminated.
If Ryu failed… they all fell with him.
It was madness. But it was also reality.
And Ryu? He stared back at them. Calm. Cold.
"If you doubt me—play your own way."
"I never forced you."
"Even if every player's a forward, I don't care."
"Because the rules are simple…"
"Dribble. Attack. Score."
"Only the one who scores gets to shine."
He took a single step forward, eyes sharp as glass.
"So decide."
"Will you become the spotlight…?"
"Or just the shadow behind me?"
He turned.
"It'll be settled on the field."
Ryu beckoned Kuon, and the two walked out in silence.
The room was left smoldering.
Raichi cracked the silence with a snarl:
"If Ryu's plan works…"
"We'll be the ones out next game."
Chigiri, seated with casual elegance, combed his fingers through red hair.
"No," he said.
"It'll be the game after that."
Raichi's eyes burned.
"So we're just going to let that guy carry us to victory?!"
Bachira's grin curled like a wolf's fang.
"Or maybe you're just confused."
"Didn't Akira say it himself?"
"If we revolve around Ryu, we'll win."
"So what's the problem now? Because we conceded two goals?"
He shrugged with mock confusion.
"You want him to score, but you don't want him to?"
"Honestly… I'd do the same."
His smile darkened.
The room went quiet.
Even Isagi lowered his head, lost in thought.
But something shifted in his gaze.
This wasn't hesitation anymore.
It was a realization.
From zero to one...
That's what Ego said.
And right now, Ryu is dragging us out of zero—by force.
Even X Team was more unified than them.
The moment Barou Shouei scored, they moved as one.
But Team Z?
Still fractured.
Still afraid.
Isagi clenched his fists, eyes burning with clarity.
He stood.
His voice rang through the locker room.
"I think I finally understand Ryu Sanada."
Raichi scoffed.
"What?"
"You mean the guy you passed to instead of scoring yourself?!"
"You gave up in front of the goal, and now you're lecturing us?!"
"Scum."
Isagi didn't flinch.
"This is exactly the problem."
Kunigami narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean… 'problem'?"
Isagi looked up.
Straight into Kunigami's eyes.
"We're self-important."
"We act like our skills mean something."
"But here, in Blue Lock?"
He pulled up his sleeve.
"Z274."
"Second to last."
He pointed toward Little Monk.
"And below me? Him."
"There are two hundred players stronger than us."
"So why… should the strong serve the weak?"
The question cut deeper than any insult.
Even Raichi was speechless.
Isagi's voice softened but grew sharper with every word:
"That's the heart of this."
"We act like we deserve the spotlight."
"Like Ryu owes us a pass."
"That's real selfishness."
"The kind that gets you eliminated."
A long silence.
Finally, Kunigami asked:
"So… you think we should help Ryu score?"
Isagi didn't nod.
Didn't shake his head either.
He stepped forward.
"Ryu can't score alone. Not forever."
"He's strong. But he's not a god."
"We're still a team."
"And if we want to survive…"
"We cooperate with the devil—and show our own strength."
"That's the only way we don't get devoured."
The whistle blew.
Time was up.
The second half began.
Team Z walked out.
No longer scattered.
No longer silent.
There was fire behind their eyes.
Team X could feel it.
They weren't facing sheep anymore.
They were staring down wolves.
And at the center?
Ryu Sanada.
His smile was sharper than ever.
"This game…"
"Has only just begun."