"I still want to attack, after all, we came here to become the world's best Forward, didn't we?"
Bachira laughed carelessly, breaking the silence among the group.
Kunigami Rensuke said in a deep voice, "Exactly. I will use Blue Lock as my starting point to become a hero for all of Japan."
"Haha." Raichi rolled up his sleeves. "Do you think I'll lose to you guys? Anyone who doesn't want to score a goal should switch places with me and stand behind."
Isagi Yoichi's face was full of excitement, with burning flames in his eyes. "Yes... that's right."
"We have to step up ourselves, otherwise, we'll all end up as stepping stones for a genius."
As they spoke, their gazes simultaneously fell upon Kira Ryosuke.
That indomitable fighting spirit was like a group of monsters hidden in the shadows, coveting his throne.
Kira Ryosuke chuckled, "Then I'll watch your performance, everyone."
Everyone shouted in unison, boosting their morale.
As the whistle blew, the game restarted.
Kira Ryosuke glanced at the timer; there were still more than ten minutes left.
Bachira licked his lips, took the incoming football, and facing the defending X-Team player, excitedly shouted, "This is great, this is great! So Ryosuke has been enjoying this pleasure all along. It's so unfair. Let me get excited too!"
He dribbled Forward, executing a clean Marseille Turn, shaking off the defense, and breaking through.
"Well done."
Kudou Wataru clenched his fists.
Then he saw three X-Team players rapidly closing in on Bachira, pressing him closely.
His smile instantly froze.
Raichi called for the ball from the side, "Here! Hey, sleepyhead, pass it to me quickly!"
Bachira merely glanced at him, then tightly shielded the ball, with no intention of passing it.
"Ha! You little brat, do you think you can score a solo goal like Kira Ryosuke?"
Several X-Team players were also holding their breath, almost intercepting the ball several times during the scramble.
Kira Ryosuke's eyes narrowed slightly.
He noticed a figure rapidly approaching the opponent's goal; it was Isagi Yoichi.
"Does he want to pass to that egoist?"
His thought was quickly confirmed.
Once Isagi was positioned in the back defense, Bachira's eyes suddenly became sharp, like a devouring black hole, and he muttered, "Here, right? Isagi."
Bang!
Bachira pulled back with the ball, creating space, and powerfully kicked the ball into the air.
The football arced with a strange curve, falling towards the penalty area.
"Spot on."
Isagi Yoichi seized the opportunity, perfectly stopping the ball. "Great pass, Bachira."
"Now, it's my turn to score."
The X-Team players, who had committed a lot of manpower to high-intensity pressing, suddenly fell into disarray.
Their defense was too weak at this moment.
That seemingly inconspicuous Forward, Isagi Yoichi, had broken into the penalty area, setting up a one-on-one challenge with the goalkeeper.
If he scored, the X-Team would be plunged into the abyss.
In their despair, a cold voice rang out.
"Hey, Number 11, don't even think about scoring! If you've got what it takes, try to get past me, you useless Forward!"
For a moment, space seemed to stand still.
Isagi Yoichi hesitated, various chaotic thoughts flooding his mind. It was Barou!
The opponent's powerful aura made him waver.
From his left and right, Raichi and Kunigami called out, "Pass, Isagi! You can't get past him, pass the ball to me!"
"No, pass it to me! I'll score!"
No! That's not right!
Isagi!
Kira Ryosuke suddenly frowned and shouted, "Isagi Yoichi, you're an attacking player, aren't you? There's no such thing as 'avoidance' on the path to becoming the world's best!"
"Shoot!"
To defeat Barou with his current strength, Isagi Yoichi only had a one-in-ten-thousand chance. He had to use Metavision's spatial awareness to find a shooting path and evolve his weapon.
Hearing Kira Ryosuke's voice, Isagi Yoichi's subconscious urge to pass the ball paused.
He lifted his foot and shot.
Bang!
The ball's trajectory was anticipated by Barou, who directly blocked it, and the X-Team launched a counter-attack.
"That's not right."
Kira Ryosuke frowned slightly. "Too many distracting thoughts."
There was a hint of disappointment in his heart.
If Isagi's growth wasn't as fast as he imagined, perhaps he would have to abandon his attempt to replicate Isagi and instead look for the next excellent user of Metavision: Itoshi Rin!
The X-Team had already advanced with the ball into their half.
Compared to the undisciplined Z-Team, while they weren't outstanding in individual skill, they had a significant advantage in teamwork, organizing passes and attacks, eventually landing the ball at Barou's feet.
Seeing Barou's eager expression, Kira Ryosuke sneered.
"Come on, I'll stop you right here."
He was the first to rush out of the penalty area.
Due to the side effects of his previous imitation, he was far from his former self in terms of speed and ball sense.
Even so, Kira Ryosuke did not believe he would lose.
After all, in addition to having perfect imitation, he was still Japan's top super football star.
Barou saw him rushing towards him, a flicker of struggle crossed his face, but he ultimately chose to pass the ball to a teammate first, while he himself pushed deep into the penalty area.
"Don't lose my ball, or I'll kill you all!"
Barou furiously cursed.
Facing Kira Ryosuke's defense, the X-Team players didn't even dare to wait for him to get close, kicking a long ball to pass it away.
The ball landed in front of Barou.
Only Naruhaya barely managed to cover, but he couldn't stop the king's fierce attack.
The football, like a missile, accurately pierced the net.
3:3!
The X-Team miraculously equalized the score.
Less than five minutes remained.
Kira Ryosuke pondered whether to accept the Z-Team's suggestion and push Forward to score another goal, ensuring no unexpected events occurred.
However, this thought was suppressed as soon as it emerged. If they easily lost here, it would mean they were only this good, not worthy of fighting him.
Kudou Wataru suggested, "Everyone, we cannot concede any more goals. Next time it's our possession, even if we maintain the same score..."
This timid idea was quickly met with an angry retort from the hot-headed Raichi, "What are you talking about? If we have possession, we should attack even more! If we score one more, they won't have a chance! Pass the next ball to me; I'll shoot!"
Kunigami, with a poker face, said, "I'm more of a hero; pass it to me!"
At the back of the crowd, Isagi Yoichi, holding the ball he had retrieved from the goal, softly said, "Um... I also agree with attacking."
Raichi had long been annoyed that Isagi hadn't passed the ball. "You're occupying the Forward position, and besides that one assist to Kira, you haven't scored a single goal, and you even lost that crucial point just now! If you had passed to me, we would have had it!"
"How can you even say that? Hurry up and give up your position, you idiot!"
Isagi Yoichi looked embarrassed. "Uh, I'm sorry."
The boisterous crowd continued to argue.
Kira Ryosuke suddenly strode Forward. "It's fine. Let Isagi continue to attack."
"Huh?" Raichi was about to retort, but Kira Ryosuke's cold expression made him choke on his words, unable to meet his gaze.
Kira Ryosuke smiled, spreading his hands, and stood in front of the goal.
"But this time, I don't intend for Isagi to be the sole attacker."
"Instead..."
"Everyone attacks, except for me."
Kira Ryosuke's words stunned everyone.
All-out attack? Wouldn't the defense be a hornet's nest?
"What are you talking about? Even if it's you, defending the entire half..."
The fullback, Yuda Konishi, stopped mid-sentence as he felt Kira Ryosuke's aura change, becoming like the tyrant who had previously looked down on all beings, reigning supreme.
There was an undeniable, powerful confidence in his tone.
"If we fail, and they counter-attack and you can't stop them, how will you take responsibility?"
Raichi, with some dissatisfaction, said, "You're not thinking that as long as you become the top scorer and aren't eliminated, it's fine, are you?"
Everyone harbored suspicions.
Kira Ryosuke smiled noncommittally. "If I can't stop them and we concede a goal, then I'll be the first person eliminated from the Z-Team."
"I will not go back on my word."
No one doubted the truth of his words, only marveling at his absolute confidence.
He! Was serious! This monster, could he really defend the entire half by himself?
It was insane!
Raichi was excited. "Ah, ah, it's great that a genius like you can say that!"
"I'm tired of being a midfielder anyway; let's do this!"
No one objected anymore.
When they repositioned, with only a few seconds until kickoff, the entire X-Team was stunned.
The Z-Team... they weren't going to hold possession, but instead launch an all-out attack like a desperate gamble?
Barou's pupils contracted.
Guarding the Z-Team's half was only the solitary Kira Ryosuke?