"Stop him!"
"Quick, quick, quick!"
"Don't let him get anywhere near the goal!"
Shouts erupted one after another from the opposing backline. Two defenders immediately swarmed toward him, closing the gap with desperate speed.
Kira didn't show a hint of panic. Instead, a sharp grin spread across his face as he flicked the ball directly between the legs of the first defender.
A ruthless nutmeg!
With a sudden burst of acceleration, Kira executed a perfect self-pass, leaving the defender frozen in his wake.
"I'm still here!" the second defender roared, sticking close.
Repeat performance!
A consecutive nutmeg!
The ball under Kira's feet seemed enchanted, precisely threading the needle through the second defender's legs once more. The Team X player stood rooted to the spot, his face a mask of pure shock. He had been hyper-aware of his stance after seeing his teammate get burned, instinctively narrowing the gap between his feet—yet the ball had still sliced through.
It was an utter humiliation.
Just as Kira thought he was about to face the goalkeeper one-on-one, a shadow loomed from the periphery. It was Barou, who had sprinted the length of the pitch after his brutal clash with Kunigami. Taking advantage of the slight deceleration Kira needed to pull off the double nutmeg, Barou managed to block the path to the penalty area.
He made it!
Barou planted himself firmly in front of Kira, his chest heaving as he gasped for air.
"Impressive, King. Sprinting all that way to defend... that retreat must have drained the last of your tank," Kira said, bringing the ball to a dead stop, preparing for the ultimate showdown.
The two defenders who had just been beaten tried to scramble back, but Isagi and Kunigami arrived just in time, shielding Kira and boxing the defenders out. They left the battlefield entirely to the two aces.
Barou's gaze was heavy and focused. If I stop this attack, we still have a chance! Sweat poured down his face. How would Kira try to beat him? A nutmeg? A turn? It was Barou's first time facing Kira's offense head-on, and the uncertainty sparked a rare flicker of tension.
The moment Barou's focus hit its peak, Kira moved.
The right side? Barou immediately shifted his weight to follow.
But in that instant, Kira clamped the ball between his feet and flicked it upward.
This was... The Rainbow Flick!
The name flashed through Barou's mind instantly. As the master of this very move, he recognized the mechanics with agonizing familiarity. It was a move of pure arrogance. It required the attacker to trap the ball like chopsticks mid-stride, launch it over their own shoulder, and clear both themselves and the defender. If executed perfectly, the attacker slips behind the defender to collect the ball.
It was the ultimate disrespect to a defender.
That was why Raichi had been so livid when Barou used it on him. But now, since Barou had already dealt that hand to Team Z, Kira—the Ace—had to respond in kind to solidify his throne.
Kira was being just as unreasonable!
The ball soared over their heads. Barou spun around instantly; he knew the counter-strategy. If he turned fast enough, he could use his superior physical frame to slam into the smaller Kira and send him sprawling. They were outside the box; even if he fouled him, it wouldn't be a penalty.
Stop the attack first, deal with the consequences later. Barou calculated his move and threw his body violently into the breaking Kira.
Behind them, Kunigami instinctively closed his eyes. Having traded blows with Barou, he knew how terrifying the King's physicality was—he himself could only barely hold his own. Kira, by comparison, looked like he would be sent flying.
However, Kira didn't yield an inch. He leaned his shoulder into the contact, meeting the King power-for-power.
THUD!
The expected sight of Kira being tossed aside didn't happen. Kira's frame merely jerked for a split second.
How is this possible?! Barou's mind reeled. Even if he was exhausted from the long-distance sprint, his raw strength should have overwhelmed this "slender" kid. Instead, it felt like he had crashed into a reinforced steel wall. He couldn't budge him.
He had completely underestimated his prey.
Kira felt the massive force ripple through his body. Barou's strength was indeed monstrous, but with the Trial Card active, Kira only felt a momentary jolt before his muscles surged with power. He accelerated again.
Exhausted from his defensive retreat, Barou simply couldn't find the burst to catch up.
Kira had beaten the King.
It was another one-on-one with the keeper. Kira wound up and fired! The goalkeeper anticipated the direction, but the shot was too fierce. Despite a desperate dive, the ball grazed his fingertips and screamed into the net.
Goal! The score was 2-1!
"ROAAAR!"
Kira erupted, sprinting toward the sidelines in a victory lap as his teammates chased after him, howling in triumph.
They did it! They took the lead!
Kira pumped his fist repeatedly as he ran, his excitement overflowing. A moment later, his teammates caught up. Kunigami ruffled Kira's hair with his massive hand, while Isagi hugged Kira's shoulders, beaming with joy—this counted as his assist!
Though they all came to Blue Lock to become the "Number One," having a monster like Kira leading them toward survival made them follow him with absolute conviction.
Meanwhile, Team X stood in stunned silence. Their hard-earned equalizer had been erased in a flash, and the tide had turned against them. Barou kicked the turf in frustration. Just a little more... if I had just been a fraction faster, I could have stopped him.
Worse, that Rainbow Flick was his signature move. To have it used against him was a slap in the face. But what haunted him most was Kira's strength—how could such a body withstand his full-force collision?
Barou felt a chilling sense of despair.
The Monitoring Room
Ego Jinpachi's eyes flashed with a feverish light as he watched the replay.
"Gems... they are all unpolished gems!"
Anri Teieri nodded in agreement. While Raichi, Isagi, and Kunigami had performed well, they were eclipsed by Kira. Both goals belonged to him. His dynamic movement and that spiteful "response" Rainbow Flick had left an indelible mark on the game.
Ego picked up a data sheet, staring at Kira Ryosuke's stats. It seemed he had severely undervalued this boy.
On the Pitch
Why? Why is there someone like that over there?
Barou stood frozen in front of his goal, looking like a man who had lost his entire world.
"Hey, Barou, the match is about to restart."
"Give it everything you've got on the attack, Barou!"
"With your performance today, you're the boss of Team X. Boss, go get us another goal! There's still time!"
Barou blinked as the voices of his teammates reached his ears.
What is this? Are these "scum" trying to comfort me?
Hahaha... Me? Barou Shoei, needing comfort?
What kind of disgusting "power of friendship" drama is this? I almost forgot... football isn't about friends. It's just a tool for me to shine.
On this green field, I am the only King.
Barou lifted his head, his face contorted into a manic, battle-hungry laugh.
"Follow your King, you losers!"
Kira watched the exchange from across the field. Interesting. They haven't lost their spirit yet?
Beep! Match continues.
Ten minutes left in the second half.