Blue Lock: I, Kira Ryosuke, Obtained Thunder Breathing at the Start

Only a team that thirsted for victory could claim it.

"Good. Now, let's move on to the next stage of tactical training."

Meanwhile, in Team V's locker room.

"So, this is all the information on our opponent, Team Z. ALL IMPORT, is that how you say it?"

Tsurugi Zantetsu adjusted his glasses and spoke to the other members of Team V.

However, the rest of Team V looked largely distracted.

Even though Team Z, like them, had won three consecutive matches, and every scoreline had been extremely lopsided, most of them did not take Team Z seriously.

Most of the players had witnessed the Three Giants' strength, especially Nagi Seishiro. He could slack off for most of the second half and still defeat opponents with ease. There simply was no one who could be mentioned in the same breath as Nagi Seishiro.

Even Kira Ryosuke was definitely no match for Nagi Seishiro. After all, the latter had already reached the level of a monster.

And even without Nagi Seishiro, Team V still had two top-tier players in Tsurugi Zantetsu and Mikage Reo. Team Z's overall strength could not possibly be that great.

Besides, they had already secured qualification for the next round, so there was no pressure in the final match.

Mikage Reo lounged in his chair, leisurely watching Nagi Seishiro play games beside him. "Nagi, aren't you going to prepare at all? After all, they're a team that's also won three straight matches, just like us~"

"Ah, there's no need to prepare much. We're going to win anyway."

Nagi Seishiro said this without moving his gaze from his phone even slightly.

"That's true. We've never experienced the taste of defeat."

A few days later, the final match was about to begin.

During this time, Kira Ryosuke had not only led the team in practice every day, but had also never stopped training himself.

With the Combat Points he could earn each day doubled, he had more points to exchange for training time in the Combat Space. His skill proficiency and physical abilities had both improved further.

Everyone had now arrived in the middle of the field.

"Is that Team V?"

"That white-haired guy is Nagi Seishiro. He was terrifying in the footage..."

"This time, we're up against a real powerhouse..."

"What's wrong? Are you scared?"

Kira Ryosuke looked at everyone and asked with a smile.

"Scared? How could we be?"

"Rather than scared, I'd say we're excited."

"Team Z is going to advance with a perfect record!"

"Mm."

Kira Ryosuke nodded and shifted his gaze to the opposing half.

At that moment, Team V's eyes also fell on Kira Ryosuke.

"Reo, is that the one guy from Team Z you said was somewhat decent?"

Nagi Seishiro yawned as he asked in an extremely lazy tone.

"Yeah. He's the only one on Team Z worth paying a little attention to, but there's no way he can compare to my Nagi!"

Mikage Reo answered casually, every gesture dripping with arrogance.

"Oh."

Nagi Seishiro nodded, still looking completely unmotivated.

To him, victory was simply the natural outcome.

"Building Five, Match Ten: Team Z versus Team V will begin shortly. Team V will kick off! Players on both sides, please prepare!"

Everyone took their positions. The match was on the verge of starting.

The whistle blew!

Team V launched the first attack. Mikage Reo quickly drove through the middle with the ball, while Tsurugi Zantetsu and Nagi Seishiro pushed deep into the opposing half.

Team Z immediately tightened their formation. The first goal of every match was crucial; whoever scored it would seize the initiative.

Isagi Yoichi and Bachira Meguru chose to double-team Mikage Reo, giving him no chance to break through.

This was the tactic Kira Ryosuke had Team Z employ. Although Team V was strong, their offense absolutely depended on the Three Giants. The others were merely supporting players.

And among those three, only Mikage Reo possessed the ability to organize and control the flow of play—in other words, he was the one who initiated every attack.

If they could shut down Mikage Reo's passing, they could greatly suppress Team V's offense.

"You're really sticking to me like glue~"

Although the defense was tighter than expected, Mikage Reo still did not feel the slightest bit nervous.

Genius and Ordinary People, an Unbridgeable Gap

Mikage Reo quietly observed the situation on the field. He was the playmaker linking Team V's offense together.

"Found you! You idiot, Zantetsu!"

Suddenly changing his dribbling pattern, Mikage Reo found the right target. He first used a feint to shake off Isagi Yoichi and Bachira Meguru, creating ample space for himself, then delivered a precise long pass to Tsurugi Zantetsu on the flank.

"Don't call me an idiot."

After receiving the ball, Tsurugi Zantetsu did not hesitate. He charged forward at top speed—Chigiri Hyoma tried to catch up from behind, only to have the gap widen even further in an instant.

"What!?"

Chigiri Hyoma's eyes widened. He had known that Tsurugi Zantetsu possessed absurd explosive speed, but he had never imagined it would be this fast, like a jet fighter suddenly taking off.

Like a sharp arrow, Tsurugi Zantetsu headed straight for Team Z's goal. His overwhelming explosiveness also gave him tremendous shooting power.

"The first point is mine..."

He was now within shooting range. The only person in his sight who could stop his shot was the goalkeeper. This goal was practically guaranteed.

"Too easy."

A relaxed smile hung on Mikage Reo's face in the distance. Team V taking the lead first was already a foregone conclusion.

Tsurugi Zantetsu had raised his leg, gathering all the strength in his body into his foot as he prepared to shoot—

"I'd say you're getting a little too full of yourself."

A sudden voice sounded beside Tsurugi Zantetsu's ear. His eyes widened instantly as he glanced to the side.

A terrifying figure had already caught up behind him.

Kira Ryosuke.

"How is that possible?"

Tsurugi Zantetsu could not believe it. He had thought his speed should have already put plenty of distance between himself and the other defenders. How had Kira Ryosuke caught up?

Was this guy's speed just as absurd?

"This guy..."

Mikage Reo's brow twitched slightly. This was the first time he had seen Tsurugi Zantetsu lose to someone else in a contest of speed.

Even the listless Nagi Seishiro lifted his head slightly.

Just as Tsurugi Zantetsu was about to shoot, Kira Ryosuke stole the ball directly from behind. At the same time, he spun around at top speed and booted the ball forward.

"Great pass!"

Bachira Meguru received Kira Ryosuke's pass and charged toward the opposing half at top speed.

Mikage Reo also rushed back as quickly as he could, joining his defensive teammates to block Bachira Meguru's path.

But Bachira Meguru smiled.

"Hehe, took the bait, huh!"

Seeing that he had drawn the attention of numerous defenders, Bachira Meguru immediately passed the ball diagonally ahead to his left—Kunigami Rensuke had already appeared there.

"This is bad!"

Mikage Reo realized that Bachira Meguru had merely been bait. The one responsible for finishing the attack was not him, but Kunigami Rensuke.

"Ryosuke really saw through all your tactics!"

Kunigami Rensuke took a deep breath and raised his left foot.

He was already within shooting range, and there was practically no defense in front of him.

A left-footed cannon shot!

Goal!

Team Z led 1:0!

"Yes, Kunigami!"

"We've got the advantage first!"

"Nicely done!"

Everyone immediately erupted in cheers. Team V was their strongest opponent, yet they had still drawn first blood.

Kira Ryosuke, positioned in the backfield, also smiled. Their transition from defense to offense had been quite good just now. This was the result of their long period of training and coordination.

But Kira Ryosuke also knew that although they had scored first, they had not actually gained much of an advantage—because Team V had not gotten serious yet.

Only now had the match truly begun.

"Reo, the other side scored first."

Nagi Seishiro spoke flatly. Although his team was behind, there was not a trace of panic on his face, as though he could equalize at any moment.

"This is really irritating. We actually let those guys score."

Though Mikage Reo said that, a clear smile still lingered on his face.

"We can't let these guys break our unbeaten record of the past six months. Let's get a little serious, Nagi."

"What a pain. Once we score three goals, we can slack off, right?"

Nagi Seishiro said expressionlessly, as though he did not care much about the outcome of the match.

"That won't do. We need to score even more. These guys are starting to piss me off. Let's completely crush their confidence."

"Okay."

Team V quickly launched another attack, with Mikage Reo once again carrying the ball forward.

"This time... something feels different."

Isagi Yoichi keenly sensed a slight change in Team V's momentum. He also knew that Team V had not been serious just now.

"Nagi, let's do that one again!"

Mikage Reo raised a hand with a smile, signaling something.

"What a hassle."

Nagi Seishiro remained calm.

Suddenly, Mikage Reo launched a long pass. The ball soared toward the edge of the penalty area at an exaggerated height and arc.

"What? That was a mistake, wasn't it?!"

Raichi Jingo looked doubtfully at the incoming ball. There was no way anyone could receive that pass.

But at that moment, Nagi Seishiro, who had not made any move until then, suddenly started running.

"Is he trying to receive that ball? No way!"

Kuon Shosei said.