Blue Lock, I, Kira Ryosuke, Obtain Thunder Breathing at the Start

"You're Kira Ryosuke?"

Aida Kagetora's eyebrows twitched slightly. He hadn't expected a famous local soccer star to show up here.

After Aida Reiko explained the situation to her father, his expression relaxed a little.

"I see. Then I'll leave everything to you, Reiko."

Aida Kagetora looked at Kira Ryosuke, sizing him up, then nodded.

"You can use any of the equipment in the gym freely."

"Thank you very much."

Kira Ryosuke nodded at him.

"Then Ryosuke, follow me."

Aida Reiko quickly led Kira Ryosuke to a corner of the gym. At the same time, she took out a pen and paper from the side. While observing his body and analyzing his stats, her right hand, holding the pen, rapidly wrote on the paper, almost mechanically.

Aida Reiko was completely in work mode now, meticulous and focused, as if nothing happening around her could distract her.

In a few minutes, a blank sheet of paper was completely filled. Aida Reiko finally put down her pen, her eyes focusing on Kira Ryosuke's face:

"Alright, the plan is almost set. Ryosuke, tell me first, in what areas do you feel you need to improve?"

"Physical strength and stamina, I suppose."

As he spoke, Kira Ryosuke subconsciously turned his head to look at his right leg.

"That's right, it's a very important aspect, but it's not just that. As I said before, while your physical condition and training level are quite good for a high school player, I believe you still have room for further improvement. Your high school team's training methods are probably very traditional, but they aren't suitable for you. What you need is higher intensity, more specialized training, because I believe you should be preparing for a broader professional career in the future."

Aida Reiko paused, as if thinking of something.

"You're working so hard because the National Tournament is coming up soon, isn't it!"

"That's true, but there's a more important reason. I want to prepare for something."

Kira Ryosuke then explained that he had received an invitation to Blue Lock. It wasn't a secret, after all.

"There will be a special closed training camp... I'm quite curious about the content... But you're training intensely now to ensure you're in better shape during the camp, right?"

"Yes."

Kira Ryosuke replied very seriously.

"Because I feel there will probably be top players from all over the country participating in this training camp, and I don't want to lose to them."

Although Kira Ryosuke wasn't extremely interested in soccer right now, he would give his all to anything he was targeted for.

Perhaps, this was the stubbornness of his past as a manga artist.

Aida Reiko didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked into Kira Ryosuke's eyes, confirming his seriousness and determination. A bright smile then appeared on her face, and she handed him the list she had just written:

"Then you'll have to work hard! But let me tell you first, I don't tolerate any sloppiness in training. I'm a very strict person, and even if you're a local star, I won't make exceptions for you."

"Don't worry, I'll follow Coach Reiko's arrangements for everything."

Kira Ryosuke replied jokingly.

"Then let's begin."

After some preparation, Kira Ryosuke began practicing according to the training list arranged by Aida Reiko.

First was the core strength section. The 'core' refers to the central part of the body, from below the shoulder joints to above the hip joints, including the pelvis. The core muscles are responsible for stabilizing the center of gravity and transmitting power, serving as the main link for overall force generation. They play a crucial role in connecting and supporting the movements and force application of the upper and lower limbs. Strong core muscles provide stability and support for body posture, athletic skills, and specialized techniques during movement.

It can be said that core strength is the most important part for an athlete.

First, it was the regular plank. This was very simple for Kira Ryosuke, but soon the difficulty gradually increased: dynamic planks, plank with alternating arm and leg raises, side plank hip raises... These exercises didn't look difficult, but doing a certain number in a short period required sufficient strength to support it.

The training program Aida Reiko arranged for Kira Ryosuke was very intense and dense. Since Kira Ryosuke had shown his determination, she had no intention of slacking off.

Chapter 6: This is a Realm Beyond Genius!

"...Ninety-eight... ninety-nine... one hundred!"

Kira Ryosuke quickly completed his seventh set of exercises.

After finishing, he heard a voice from the system.

[Congratulations! You have obtained 3 Combat Points.]

For every hour of physical exercise accumulated, Kira Ryosuke could obtain a certain amount of Combat Points.

This high-intensity training was very taxing for Kira Ryosuke. The training intensity at school was far less than this, but he gritted his teeth and persevered with sheer willpower.

He only had one week; he had to make a breakthrough.

Once he made up his mind, he had to go all out.

Watching Kira Ryosuke train so diligently, Aida Reiko nodded with satisfaction. She then went to find her father, Aida Kagetora, and asked him to prepare some specific ingredients for Kira Ryosuke.

Soccer players have very high stamina requirements, so they need to consume a large amount of carbohydrates to replenish energy. Fruits and bread are quickly digested by the body and are relatively suitable choices. They also need lean meat to supplement protein, potassium-rich foods like bananas to maintain electrolyte balance, and alkaline foods like soy products or dairy to eliminate fatigue.

"All of this together won't be cheap,"

Aida Kagetora said to his daughter.

"We can just deduct it from his advertising fees later. After all, his advertising fees are far more expensive than tuition."

Aida Reiko said with a smile, turning her head to look at the entrance. As the gym opened, people began to pour in.

"Wait, is that Kira Ryosuke?"

"The one who won the district championship yesterday! The treasure of the soccer world!"

"He trains at this gym too! Owner, I want to renew my membership!"

As dusk settled, the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of fiery red.

"Thanks for your hard work! I'm heading back now! See you tomorrow!"

Kira Ryosuke waved goodbye to Aida Reiko and left the gym.

"He's a very determined young man. So much like I used to be," Aida Kagetora said, watching Kira Ryosuke's retreating figure with a blank expression.

"He is indeed a very good player. He's gained some fame but isn't arrogant at all. And he doesn't complain despite such high-intensity training. Even adults might not be able to endure this," Aida Reiko replied.

"Ah, honestly, I really didn't expect you to bring a guy back this morning. I thought you'd found a boyfriend and was about to kill him."

Aida Kagetora's face held no trace of a joke as he patted his pocket, revealing a fruit knife hidden inside.

"What are you talking about!!!"

Aida Reiko's face turned bright red as she reached out and punched her father in the jaw.

That evening, Kira Ryosuke returned home. He had already eaten dinner at the gym and lay down for a bit after getting back. The fatigue from a day of training had mostly subsided.

Although Aida Reiko's training regimen was intense, it was indeed the fastest way to quickly address his weaknesses in a short period, something he couldn't achieve by practicing blindly or with the team.

He opened his system menu. His Combat Points had reached the daily cap of 10.

"There are seven days left. That's a total of 80 Combat Points. It'll still take some time to unlock Second Form. And before that, if I want to max out the proficiency of Total Concentration Breathing and First Form, I'll need Combat Points to upgrade them too. It seems I still have a long way to go."

After resting enough, Kira Ryosuke wasn't planning to be idle. He went out for a jog around the streets where he lived.

He had already maxed out the Combat Points he could earn through training today. Even if he practiced other things now, he wouldn't gain any more points. However, Kira Ryosuke continued to practice not for the points, but to train his body.

As his skill proficiency and physical strength increased, he should be able to use the system's abilities more freely later on.

He practiced his ball skills during the day and worked on his body in the afternoon. Now, Kira Ryosuke was preparing to practice breathing techniques.

Jogging, unlike sprinting, is an aerobic exercise that improves cardiopulmonary function and enhances oxygen supply—exactly what breathing techniques require.

Kira Ryosuke jogged in the darkness, rhythmically adjusting his breathing frequency, recalling the feeling of using the breathing technique during the day.

Using breathing techniques could grant one immense explosive power in an instant. In the world of Demon Slayer, this was how the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps could wield their Nichirin Blades and contend with demons possessing strength far beyond human capabilities.

Even more powerful swordsmen could maintain Total Concentration Breathing and the Constant Reduplication state, using Total Concentration Breathing at all times, leading to a leap in their stamina.

However, Kira Ryosuke was far from reaching that level. He couldn't even maintain Total Concentration Breathing for very long; it was basically just a fleeting moment. But precisely because of this, he knew he needed much more practice.

He recalled the feeling of breathing during the day and quietly altered his breathing frequency.

Total Concentration Breathing!

Kira Ryosuke felt the oxygen entering his lungs instantly convert into energy, filling his entire body. The weight of his body seemed to vanish.

The Total Concentration Breathing state could greatly enhance human physical functions. However, Kira Ryosuke hadn't fully mastered this ability yet and could only maintain it for a moment. Using it a second time required a period of rest.

Kira Ryosuke continued to run, diligently trying to increase the frequency of entering the Total Concentration Breathing state.

On his fifth attempt to enter the Total Concentration Breathing state, a new method occurred to Kira Ryosuke.

Thunderclap and Flash!

Kira Ryosuke used the move again. The power that had just flowed through his body surged into his legs, and he then unleashed his strength, pushing off forcefully!

In that instant, Kira Ryosuke felt as if he were flying.

Soon, the familiar and distinct soreness swept over him again, this time in both legs. However, compared to the daytime, Kira Ryosuke seemed to be feeling a bit better. He leaned against the wall, panting, and used the method Aida Reiko had taught him during the day to relieve the soreness, turning his head to look in the direction he had come from.

In that instant, he had leaped several meters. This was something his past self could never have done.

This was a realm beyond that of a genius.

Chapter 7: Level Up! Total Concentration Breathing LV2

"Just like during the day, although intermittent use isn't a problem, each instance of Total Concentration Breathing can still only be maintained for a moment."

"Thunderclap and Flash seems to be a skill that increases leg explosiveness in an instant. It can be used not only for shooting but also for breakthroughs and positioning. Combined with Total Concentration Breathing, it can bring about incredibly exaggerated effects. It impacts both legs. Although the soreness is less than when shooting, it can only be used at critical moments."

"Moreover, even without being in the Total Concentration Breathing state, this skill has considerable room for use. It will be difficult for me to maintain the breathing technique for extended periods in the short term, so I must thoroughly master the basic skills..."

Kira Ryosuke wiped the sweat from his forehead. Although the soreness hadn't completely subsided, he didn't dislike the feeling.

The proficiency of Total Concentration Breathing was also slowly increasing.

Every day after that, Kira Ryosuke would train on the field before the sun even rose.

Because of the huge commotion he caused on the first day, he didn't use Thunderclap and Flash in Total Concentration state on the field again. Instead, he practiced the skill in its normal state.

Another crucial point was that a match lasted over ninety minutes. Kira Ryosuke knew the current limits of his abilities. Even being hailed as a genius or a treasure was far from enough. Total Concentration Breathing could temporarily enhance his stamina, but the duration he could maintain it during a match was limited. Furthermore, after using Thunderclap and Flash in this state, he couldn't use the move again for a short period. Therefore, the 'basic version' of Thunderclap and Flash became even more important.

The accuracy of shooting with Thunderclap and Flash, the speed of dribbling – these were all aspects Kira Ryosuke needed to practice.

Around this time every day, Aida Reiko would also come to the training facility for her morning practice. This was Kira Ryosuke's exclusive skill training time, and she wouldn't disturb him. At most, she would help him with some warm-up exercises.

However, sometimes while doing her morning practice, Aida Reiko would unconsciously get lost in thought watching Kira Ryosuke train. The skill and speed he displayed were beyond her imagination.

Of course, she also had to admit that Kira Ryosuke possessed a very handsome face.

Once the sun had fully risen, more people gradually filled the facility. Aida Reiko then took Kira Ryosuke to the gym to begin the most important stamina training. Kira Ryosuke would spend most of his day here, even having lunch and dinner in the gym.

At night, Kira Ryosuke would continue practicing the use of breathing techniques, jogging outside, adjusting his breathing, and attempting to apply the explosive power of Thunderclap and Flash to his running.

He had even bought a gourd, just like the characters in Demon Slayer, and practiced blowing air into it every day to improve his lung capacity.

Before he knew it, a week had quietly passed.

Time flew by, and soon it was the last day before he had to report to the Football Association.

It was already evening. Kira Ryosuke had just finished his final day of stamina training and was rinsing off the sweat in the gym's shower.

Feeling the gentle stream of water wash away the day's fatigue and sweat, Kira Ryosuke opened his system interface.

[Combat. Thunder Breathing. Total Concentration LV1 Proficiency 100%, Upgradable, 50 Combat Points]
[Combat. Thunder Breathing First Form. Thunderclap and Flash LV1 Proficiency 100%, Upgradable: 50 Combat Points]
[Current Combat Points: 80]

After this period of practice, Kira Ryosuke had finally maxed out the proficiency for both Total Concentration Breathing and Thunderclap and Flash today. He practiced over 1000 shots every morning and persisted with his breathing technique practice every night.