Chapter 34: Kira Ryosuke, What Other Surprises Can You Bring?
"It was just luck, that's all."
Kira Ryosuke said with a smile, though naturally no one else believed his modest excuse.
To win a direct 1-on-1 steal against the opponent's ace drastically boosted the team's morale.
At the same time, he opened his system interface.
[Host: Ryosuke Kira]
[Current Points: 0]
[Football Skill: Thunder Breathing — Total Concentration LV2 | Proficiency: 90.07%]
[Football Skill: Thunder Breathing — First Form: Thunderclap and Flash LV2 | Proficiency: 77.16%]
[Football Skill: Thunder Breathing — Second Form: Rice Spirit LV1 | Proficiency: 100% | Upgrade Cost: 50 Points]
So it's just as I thought. Both Total Concentration and Thunderclap and Flash increased in proficiency. Looks like, just as explained earlier, proficiency gain isn't limited to offensive shooting—defense also works.
Kira thought silently.
These skills can also be developed for defensive use. Thunderclap and Flash lets me complete instantaneous steals, while Rice Spirit helps me better judge the timing changes in an opponent's dribbling techniques. Maybe there's even more potential to unlock.
"Kira."
Just then, Chigiri once again walked up beside him, smiling as he nodded.
"Thank you."
After receiving Kira's long pass and scoring, the nightmare in Chigiri's heart had completely dissipated.
"Let's keep pushing forward."
Kira returned the smile and bumped fists with him. Then he turned to look at the rest of the team, raising his right hand into the air and clenching his fist.
"Don't relax. Let's ride the momentum and win this match."
"Yeah!"
The members of Team Z all gathered around, their fists meeting as they shouted in unison.
...
"Damn it…"
Hibiki Okawa was deeply frustrated. It was his offensive mistake that caused their team to concede a goal.
Originally planning for a defensive counterattack, they instead were scored on with the same strategy. For Team Y, that blow was massive.
"Don't dwell on it, Okawa. Maybe Kira just got lucky."
Niko walked up beside him, offering comfort.
Okawa only responded with a faint grunt. He knew Niko was merely trying to console him—Kira stealing the ball earlier was absolutely not luck.
That guy… he completely saw through my movement…
Okawa gritted his teeth, refusing to accept it.
"Who was that guy earlier?"
"Hyoma Chigiri, right? Why is he that fast?!"
"Damn it, we were caught completely off guard. Is he actually Team Z's main offensive threat?"
Players of Team Y whispered among themselves. Niko listened quietly, saying nothing. He knew his teammates were limited; they had completely missed the true issue.
It looked like their defensive line had been torn apart by Chigiri's speed.
But the real cause was Kira.
Kira shut down Okawa—that was the true key to Team Y conceding.
And Kira's long pass just now was something ordinary players simply could not replicate. It already proved he had extremely refined technique.
A chill ran down Niko's spine. Although Kira was playing as a defender today, he had already seized control of the entire match.
Unless they broke through the wall called Ryosuke Kira, Team Y had only one ending: defeat.
"Do we really only have the option to defend for dear life…?"
Niko bit his lip in frustration, his gaze drifting toward Kira in the distance—his eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
This guy… wasn't he supposed to be a striker? Why is he this terrifying on defense too?
...
Monitoring room.
"Team Z doesn't look like a group that was just formed a few days ago at all. They already resemble a stable, mature team…"
Anri Teieri commented while watching the screens.
"In Blue Lock, no team has ever looked like this. Usually a match is carried entirely by one or two standout players…"
"Team Z has completely undergone a transformation from nothing to something—and even beyond that."
Ego massaged his chin, murmuring to himself as he opened a side monitor. On the screen were dense lines of data, separated clearly by a vertical line.
"Look, Anri."
"What is this?"
"These are the players' match stats from before Blue Lock… and these are the stats up to this match."
Ego pushed up his glasses.
"Every single player on that team has shown clear improvement—both physically and in match performance. I originally considered Team Z the most unstable group—Raichi's explosive personality, Kunigami's rigidity, Bachira's… eccentricity. Their personalities are all extreme, incredibly difficult to mesh."
"But in reality, they've somehow fused together, creating chemistry far beyond my expectations."
"Why?"
Anri raised an eyebrow. Clearly, this situation went beyond what Ego had predicted.
"All because of one person. I used to think that if a player had overwhelming talent, he could turn chaotic teammates into a group that simply revolved around him. He'd be the sun, while the others became overshadowed stars."
Ego's gaze shifted to the other screens, showing matches in various buildings.
But soon, his eyes returned to the Team Z vs. Team Y match.
"But this guy doesn't just have overwhelming talent. He also makes his teammates stronger. I've never seen a case like this before."
Ego narrowed his eyes slightly, focusing intently on a certain figure on the screen.
"Rosuke Kira… what other surprises can you bring me?"
[TL: A death note? I couldn't control the urge ok?]
...
Outside Blue Lock—at the headquarters of the Football Association.
A young man with a handsome face sat lazily in a chair, looking around the room with complete disinterest.
His name was Sae Itoshi—an eighteen-year-old genius midfielder already shining on the international stage. With elite passing, control, and offensive ability, he was arguably the strongest player in the country.
However, Sae was utterly disappointed in his nation's football. He believed there wasn't a single striker in this country worthy of receiving his passes. In his mind, even joining a university team overseas would be better than staying here.
He was only back temporarily because his passport had expired.
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〔TL〕
Every 100 powerstones = 2 bonus ch.
Every 2 review after 100 ps = 1 bonus ch.