Launch the assault!
Every member of Team Z surged forward like knights in a full-scale cavalry charge. Leading the vanguard was Isagi, driving the ball down the right flank. His feet moved in a relentless rhythm, but two defenders from Team X quickly swarmed him, closing off his path.
If it were Bachira, he could weave through these two, Isagi thought, his mind racing. But if I try it, I'll lose the ball. I can't let this momentum die. What do I do? Backpass? No, this is a golden opportunity for a counter. A backpass wastes everything.
Someone, get open! I need an option up front. Anyone!
Suddenly, mid-sprint, a vision from a few seconds prior flashed in Isagi's mind. He had caught a glimpse of Kira's silhouette darting toward his front left. There was no time to trap or adjust. Isagi swung his leg and threaded a needle, sending a through-ball slicing toward the open space.
"Great ball, Isagi!"
"What a pass!"
The teammates trailing behind let out a collective cheer. They had remained silent until now, fearing they would alert the defenders, but from their vantage point, they saw what Isagi—blinded by the defenders in his face—could only sense. The moment Isagi intercepted the ball at midfield, Kira had already ignited, sprinting toward that exact spot.
"Nice!" Isagi felt a surge of adrenaline. He could already see the image of Kira taking the ball in stride for a clinical breakaway goal.
Isagi trusted his fundamental passing skills. Even a hurried ball like this should—
Just as Team Z expected Kira to collect the pass and bury it, a towering shadow erupted from the side. A body hit the turf in a fierce, perfectly timed slide tackle, clobbering the ball cleanly out of bounds.
The stadium fell into a sudden, heavy silence.
When did he get there? The sheer pressure of that precise anticipation and brutal defensive execution was suffocating.
As the figure stood up, his face came into focus. It was the heart of Team X—Barou Shoei.
"Raaaagh!" Barou roared at the sky, pumping his fists. It was a primal release of the frustration and rage he had suppressed while being stifled throughout the match. He was clearly satisfied with his own defensive masterpiece.
Isagi bit his lip, overcome with regret. The pass was too slow. If he had spotted Kira a fraction of a second earlier, Barou never would have reached it. Back in high school, no one could keep up with his passing; here, for the first time, Isagi felt like his vision was lagging behind his teammates' movements. This was the reality of Blue Lock.
"I've figured you out!"
Barou suddenly turned toward Kira, who stood nearby. "You're the heart of Team Z. Everything revolves around you."
Kira's expression turned grim.
Barou continued with cold confidence, "That number 11 is your 'eyes.' Your most dangerous attacks come from him because he's the only one who can read your movements. That big, clumsy striker on the left is just a distraction. Your true core is the right wing."
"Number 8 is your 'engine'; your progression depends on his dribbling. Your shooting and positioning might be elite, but if I sever your connection to your teammates, you're just a bird without wings. You can't fly."
"Am I right, you pathetic bird?"
Kira remained silent, but his mind was in a state of upheaval. He saw through us. In just over ten minutes, Barou had dismantled the tactical layout Kira had spent all of yesterday preparing. His football IQ is terrifying. I underestimated him.
Regaining his composure, Kira let out a cold laugh. "Even if you're right, so what? Our momentum is unstoppable. Team X is nothing but a King without subjects. Can one man stop our entire army?"
Barou didn't answer him. Instead, he turned and barked at his teammates. "Listen up, you scum! Wake the hell up! Anyone who wants to end their football career today can leave the pitch right now. Don't stand in my way!"
"Barou..."
"He's fighting that hard... how can we just stand here?"
"We're all high schoolers. Let's show them what we've got!"
The morale of Team X, which had been in the gutter, was instantly resurrected by Barou's desperate defensive play. They were ready to prove they weren't just stepping stones.
Barou tilted his head back, looking down his nose at Kira. "How about that, bird? My servants are back from the dead. Do you have the guts for a fight to the death?"
Kira's eyes flashed with a competitive fire. The seriousness vanished, replaced by the grin of a battle-hungry warrior.
"I'd be honored."
Beep. Match continues. Team Z throw-in.
The game resumed, but the atmosphere had changed. With Barou dropping back to organize the defense, Team X became impenetrable. Several of Team Z's attacks were smothered before they could even reach the box. Barou pressed relentlessly, making it impossible for Team Z's midfield to transition cleanly.
Thirty-five minutes into the first half.
Use Kunigami Trial Card.
[Kunigami Trial Card Activated.]
[Power +15 (Decaying)]
[Shooting +10 (Decaying)]
[Duration: 10 Minutes]
Kira couldn't wait any longer. They needed to break this deadlock. A one-goal lead wasn't enough; he wanted to crush their spirit. The moment the card activated, Kira sprinted toward the left.
Isagi, in possession of the ball, spotted the run. He glanced at Kunigami's position and launched a towering long ball over the defense toward the big striker.
Kunigami tracked the flight, realized it was his time, and prepared to contest the header. Most of the defenders—and even the keeper—shifted their focus toward him.
It's too high! Kunigami leaped, but the ball sailed just over his head. He cursed Isagi's aim. Does he think I'm a superhero?
No. It was perfect.
The ball cleared Kunigami and dropped right into the path of Kira, who had looped behind him. Kira swung his left leg with violent precision, meeting the ball with a thunderous volley.
If Kunigami had looked back, he would have realized the form was a mirror image of his own long-range shooting style.
"Wasn't he on the right?!"
"From that distance? No way!"
"Isn't he right-footed? That's a left-footed strike!"
The ball answered their doubts. It tore through the air in a perfect, lethal arc—a world-class screamer aimed directly for the top right corner.
The keeper, his vision obstructed by Kunigami's massive frame, didn't see the strike until it was too late. He was rooted to the spot.
It's over! Every player on Team X felt their hearts sink. Their hard-earned defense was about to be shattered again.
Squeak-squeak-squeak!
The sound of boots franticly gripping the turf echoed. A tall figure appeared on the goal line. At the final microsecond, he lunged, his legs coiling like springs as he soared into the air.
It was Barou!
Meeting the ball head-on, Barou used every ounce of his strength to propel his forehead forward.
CRACK.
The ball hammered into Barou's head and spiraled away, where a Team X defender immediately cleared it out of bounds. Barou's momentum carried him into the back of the net, where he crashed heavily to the ground.
Silence. Complete, stunned silence.
The sight of a striker making such a miraculous goal-line save left both teams in shock. Kira stood with his mouth agape. You're a striker! Is defending your job?!
Dropping back to the midfield was one thing, but appearing on the goal line was insane.
"ROAAAAAR!"
The roar didn't come from the fallen Barou, but from the rest of Team X. The keeper rushed to help Barou up as players from all over the field swarmed him, cheering for the legendary save.
In the center of the crowd, Barou stood up, his fists clenched and his face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead. His eyes never left one person: Kira, who was staring back at him with newfound respect.
Barou knew it. This "bird" had finally pushed him into a true corner.