Get on Your Knees, Rin Itoshi!

Kunigami Rensuke had long since grown used to Kira Ryosuke, the training maniac, and quickly followed him.

Niko Ikki wanted to catch up with Kira Ryosuke, so he followed behind them as well.

Nagi Seishiro had always been extremely lazy and rarely trained, relying on his terrifying talent during matches. But since Kira Ryosuke was going to train, he decided to change a little and experience the joy of soccer. In the end, he put down his phone and headed to the gym with them.

After arriving at the gym, Kira Ryosuke seized the time and began training immediately after warming up. Kunigami Rensuke followed close behind.

Niko Ikki first did some lower-intensity exercises nearby while carefully observing Kira Ryosuke, wanting to see how he arranged his training so he could imitate it later.

Several hours later, Niko Ikki completely broke down.

He realized one thing with absolute clarity: Kira Ryosuke was not human at all!

The intensity of the exercises Kira Ryosuke had arranged for himself was even more insane than the program Mr. Ego Jinpachi had assigned them before. It was something ordinary people could never endure. After forcibly holding on for a while, Niko Ikki vomited from exhaustion.

"Kira... Didn't you play against us today? Aren't you tired...?"

Clutching the metal bucket, Niko Ikki sat on the floor as if completely drained.

Although Niko Ikki's physical abilities had improved considerably after ten days of intensive training, he still could not compare with a monster like Kira Ryosuke.

"It's fine. We only needed to score five goals, and the field was relatively small, so it didn't consume much stamina."

Kira Ryosuke spoke to Niko Ikki without much breathlessness while running long-distance at high speed on the treadmill.

Compared with the training plan Aida Reiko had made, this level was not particularly difficult.

"Monster..."

Niko Ikki involuntarily sighed again. During the match, he had barely participated in the attack, yet merely assisting in defending against Kira Ryosuke throughout the game had left him exhausted.

For Kira Ryosuke, that match had been completely pressure-free.

It was terrifying...

How strong was this guy's willpower, to persist with this level of training for so long?

"Since the first day he arrived at Blue Lock, Kira has maintained this terrifying training intensity every day. Even we have to admit we can't compare..."

Kunigami Rensuke was also beginning to run out of stamina and had no choice but to stop for a brief rest. Nagi Seishiro sat nearby, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a towel.

"Training really is such a hassle..."

Nagi Seishiro sighed and immediately took out his phone, planning to sneak in a little play during the break.

But at that moment, Kira Ryosuke suddenly appeared in front of Nagi Seishiro and snatched away his phone.

"Hey, I haven't even gotten ready yet."

"Training isn't over, so you can't slack off."

Kira Ryosuke said it with a smile, but his tone carried an unmistakable air of authority.

Without realizing it, he had begun to resemble Aida Reiko in her role as coach.

"Can't handle this much? Get up and run another three thousand meters as a rest!"

"Run three thousand meters as a rest?"

Niko Ikki's hand trembled slightly around the metal bucket.

He had originally planned to secretly learn Kira Ryosuke's training methods, only to discover that he could not keep up at all. This level of training was practically meant to drive people to death.

Before he could hesitate, Kira Ryosuke had already hauled him up and thrown him onto the treadmill.

"Keep it up, Niko. Treat a three-kilometer jog as a break. Just eat a little more tonight. And Nagi, I saw your hand. You're not allowed to play with your phone until training is finished."

"Your stamina is too poor, so you need to improve it significantly. You absolutely cannot slack off."

"Hey, Niko, don't throw up on the treadmill. Mr. Eikoku might make us pay for it!"

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Kneel, Itoshi Rin!

After training, it was already evening. Kira Ryosuke led his teammates through some tactical drills.

Based on the formation they expected their opponents to use, everyone would mark a different opponent.

Niko Ikki would mark Bachira Meguru, whose build was similar to his own. His excellent defensive ability should be able to cause Bachira some trouble.

Kunigami Rensuke would mark Tokimitsu Aoshi. The latter's greatest strength was his monstrous physical ability, and Kunigami Rensuke's sturdy build made him the best choice to battle him physically.

Nagi Seishiro's physical gifts could contend with Ariko Juubei.

Finally, the opposing team's strongest player, Itoshi Rin, would be handled by Kira Ryosuke.

Although there were assigned matchups, the actual situation would change as the match progressed.

At that moment, Kira Ryosuke opened the System Interface.

[Host: Kira Ryosuke]

[Current Combat Points: 130]

Today's match had only awarded Kira Ryosuke eighty Combat Points. Still, that was considerably more than he had expected. After all, the number of players and the scale of the match had both been smaller than normal, and it had taken less time. A lower reward was only natural.

However, tomorrow's opponents could be said to possess the strongest overall ability, even far exceeding Team V's former three aces.

Tokimitsu Aoshi and Ariko Juubei possessed absurd physical abilities, while Itoshi Rin's overall strength had originally made him the undisputed strongest player in Blue Lock. He not only possessed outstanding shooting technique, but also spatial awareness on par with Isagi Yoichi and Niko Ikki. He could see the flow of the entire field and even guide others to act according to his will, like a puppeteer on the pitch.

But Kira Ryosuke did not believe he would lose.

"We'll be playing someone like Itoshi Rin tomorrow. Are you nervous?"

Kira Ryosuke turned his gaze toward everyone before him and waited for their answers.

"A little, perhaps. But precisely because someone like Itoshi Rin exists, we need to defeat him fair and square."

Kunigami Rensuke answered firmly.

"I've already experienced that feeling of frustration once. I don't want to go through it again."

Nagi Seishiro still wore a calm expression, but his gaze was serious.

"Me neither. I don't want to lose again, and his arrogant attitude annoys me."

Niko Ikki nodded as well.

"Good. Tomorrow, we'll finish them off in one sweep."

A smile appeared on Kira Ryosuke's face.

Meanwhile, Bachira Meguru and Itoshi Rin were training on another field on the same floor.

"Hey, Little Rin, do you have a monster in your heart?"

Bachira Meguru, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, sat on the grass and turned toward Itoshi Rin.

"What are you talking about, bowl-cut? What kind of half-baked question is that?"

Itoshi Rin turned his head and glanced at Bachira Meguru with disdain.

"It doesn't really exist. It's a fantasy of the kind of soccer that suits your heart. I think all strong players probably have one."

"Who knows? You're weak and boring on the field because you're controlled by that childish nonsense. Go play with your monster for the rest of your life. I'll become number one in the world."

Itoshi Rin had no intention of wasting words with Bachira Meguru. He turned and prepared to leave.

At that moment, Bachira Meguru continued.

"But there's one exception. Kira. The monster in my heart is afraid of Kira. Or rather, Kira is even more terrifying than a monster. You absolutely can't underestimate him."

"What ridiculous nonsense. He's nothing more than a stepping stone for me to climb higher. I'll crush him beneath my feet without mercy."

Itoshi Rin turned his head as he spoke, then left the training field without stopping.

The next day, Kira Ryosuke and the others arrived early at the hall on that floor.

Itoshi Rin and the others had already been waiting there.

"Can't wait to come here and die?"

Itoshi Rin narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on Kira Ryosuke, disdain evident in them.

"I could return those exact words to you."

Kira Ryosuke remained relaxed as he spoke. He glanced around and saw that another team had arrived besides them, though he did not recognize any of them.

Fear was written across the faces of the four players. They had all heard of Itoshi Rin and had witnessed his frightening ability during the assembly. One of them had even faced Itoshi Rin during the First Selection.

They shared one common understanding: challenging Itoshi Rin was a dead end.

Fortunately, this round's rules required both teams to agree before a match could be established. That gave them a sliver of hope. Even if Itoshi Rin's team challenged them, they would never agree.

"Is that guy trying to die? He actually wants to play against a monster like Itoshi Rin? I've heard of him, but he can't compare with Itoshi Rin at all..."

"This is a dead end... They'll definitely drop back to the 3rd Area."

"But that's good for us. We can avoid that monster, Itoshi Rin!"

The others were utterly pessimistic about Kira Ryosuke's team. Although Kira Ryosuke was somewhat famous, and the number one ranking on his shoulder showed that he had completed the hundred-goal task before Itoshi Rin, they still did not believe he could defeat him.

In their eyes, Itoshi Rin was absolutely unbeatable...

At that moment, Itoshi Rin completely ignored the other team and looked at Kira Ryosuke with overwhelming contempt.

"Fine. I'll send you to your grave right now."

"Let me make this clear. If I win, I won't choose you. Go back to the previous stage and rebuild yourself. Let everyone see the mighty Itoshi Rin suffer a crushing defeat."

Kira Ryosuke smiled as he spoke.

"What a stylish guy. Still, I'll end the match in equally stylish fashion."

Ariko Juubei ran a hand through his hair, wearing an indifferent expression.

"Uh... can we really win...? I'm so nervous... so nervous... so excited..."

Tokimitsu Aoshi looked extremely pessimistic, but in reality, he was already eager for the match to begin.

"Little Kira, and you too, Kunigami. This time, we'll be fighting each other, huh? I'll give it my all!"

Bachira Meguru grinned at Kira Ryosuke.

"What a hassle. Let's finish this quickly."

Nagi Seishiro spoke slowly.

"We'll be the ones who win."

Niko Ikki said the same.

"Bring it on!"

Kunigami Rensuke stepped forward and bumped fists with Bachira Meguru, an eager smile on his face.

His heart was extremely tense, but he was equally eager for this match.

Soon, all eight players reached the field. After everyone completed the fingerprint verification, the match officially began.

Kira Ryosuke's team was the White Team, while Itoshi Rin's team was the Red Team.

The match began with the Red Team attacking first!

Bachira Meguru quickly dribbled past the halfway line. Niko Ikki, responsible for defending him, immediately closed in, refusing to give him any chance to break through.

"What a troublesome guy, thick bangs. I didn't expect to run into you here!"

Bachira Meguru laughed as he tapped the ball to the side and passed it to Itoshi Rin.

"What utterly boring fools. As expected, you're nothing but a ragtag bunch."

Standing at the halfway line, Itoshi Rin calmly stopped the ball. He raised his head and looked down at everyone before him, including his own teammates.

"The stepping stones in the previous round were your companions, weren't they? You're hardly any different from them. I wish you would disappear from my sight. The field is a battlefield, so I'll personally kill the lot of you."

Itoshi Rin suddenly raised his foot and shot directly from midfield!

The ball tore between Niko Ikki and Kunigami Rensuke at tremendous speed and headed straight for the goal!

"What a vicious curve!"

Niko Ikki could not help exclaiming in amazement.