Chapter Seventy-One: FLOW-Focusing on the Challenge!

As long as Kira Ryosuke chose that route to break through, they could immediately have three people double-team him and completely shut him down!

All of this was merely a trap laid by Itoshi Rin.

For Kira Ryosuke, however, this was also an opportunity.

He broke through right beside Itoshi Rin, and in the next second, Tokimitsu Aoshi, who had been lying in wait, sprang into action.

"No... I can't let you get past me!"

Tokimitsu Aoshi spoke timidly.

But that was only on the surface. Tokimitsu Aoshi possessed terrifying physical strength. In the original story, he had even managed to suppress Barou Shoei, whose physical abilities were likewise exceptional.

The instant Kira Ryosuke broke through beside him, Itoshi Rin turned around as well and followed closely behind.

According to Itoshi Rin's calculations, Tokimitsu Aoshi was stationed in front of Kira Ryosuke. With his powerful physique, he should be able to prevent Kira Ryosuke from getting past too comfortably.

As long as Tokimitsu Aoshi could use his physical advantage to create suitable contact, he could not only stop Kira Ryosuke's attack, but might even throw off his balance.

Even if Kira Ryosuke chose to use a change of direction to get past him, as long as Tokimitsu Aoshi delayed him for half a second, Itoshi Rin could seize the opening immediately and win the ball.

The combined defense of Itoshi Rin and Tokimitsu Aoshi was like the gaping jaws of a beast, ready to swallow Kira Ryosuke whole.

"I see."

The moment Kira Ryosuke saw Tokimitsu Aoshi, he guessed the trap Itoshi Rin had set.

If it had been any other player, this attack would very likely have ended in failure.

But against Kira Ryosuke, this tactic was useless.

A trap meant to catch a stray dog could not restrain a lion.

Kira Ryosuke did not slow down. Instead, he charged straight toward Tokimitsu Aoshi's side.

"That's too reckless!"

Niko Ikki shouted anxiously. He had watched clearly when Tokimitsu Aoshi had battled Kunigami Rensuke physically just moments ago. He had witnessed Tokimitsu Aoshi's terrifying physical strength, which had even put the equally sturdy Kunigami Rensuke at a disadvantage.

Kira Ryosuke should have known this as well, yet he still chose to force his way through. If he used a dribbling move instead, Itoshi Rin would have time to close in from behind, leaving him in a difficult situation. That position also made it hard to pass to anyone else.

Could it be that Kira Ryosuke was confident he could break through Tokimitsu Aoshi head-on?

Niko Ikki was puzzled, but he had witnessed Kira Ryosuke's terrifying ability. Having lost to him twice, he knew that Kira Ryosuke was the kind of person who could create miracles.

He opened his stride, used his sharp observational skills to predict what would happen next, and ran toward a certain direction.

"Is this guy planning to force his way straight through?"

Itoshi Rin was surprised, but this was not a bad thing for him.

Trying to break directly through Tokimitsu Aoshi was arguably Kira Ryosuke's worst choice. With Tokimitsu Aoshi's physical strength, he could easily disrupt Kira Ryosuke's attacking rhythm.

Once they won the ball, Red Team could switch from defense to offense in the shortest possible time and threaten White Team's goal again.

Tokimitsu Aoshi also lowered his center of gravity and prepared for physical contact.

In the next second, Kira Ryosuke had already assumed a shielding stance. His body collided with Tokimitsu Aoshi's side. On the pitch, fair physical contact was allowed, and fierce challenges were often used as an offensive and defensive tactic.

At the instant they touched, a look of astonishment appeared on Tokimitsu Aoshi's face.

Kira Ryosuke did not feel like a person. He felt like a giant boulder rolling down a mountain, sending a sharp pain through Tokimitsu Aoshi's shoulder.

With just one collision, Kira Ryosuke's speed and attacking rhythm were completely unaffected, while Tokimitsu Aoshi lost his balance and was knocked a full body-length away.

"How is that possible?!"

Itoshi Rin, chasing from behind, stared in shock. Though he treated both opponents and teammates with disdain, he knew very well that Tokimitsu Aoshi's physical strength far surpassed that of everyone else around him.

And now, in terms of physical power, Tokimitsu Aoshi had been completely crushed by Kira Ryosuke.

What the hell is this guy?

He had already displayed absurd speed and delicate technique earlier, but did he also possess this terrifying physical strength?!

Tokimitsu Aoshi had been knocked aside by Kira Ryosuke, who continued charging toward the goal!

"I'm stationed here! Don't even think about getting past me!"

After Tokimitsu Aoshi, Ariko Juubei also charged out. His long limbs and powerful athletic instincts gave him excellent defensive ability as well.

Unlike Tokimitsu Aoshi, who relied on physical contact, Ariko Juubei could use his limbs to interfere. His long legs made it easy to win the ball, while his arms gave him an advantage when jockeying for position.

But the instant Ariko Juubei rushed out, he heard Itoshi Rin shout urgently:

"You idiot! It's a trap!"

Itoshi Rin knew what Kira Ryosuke's consecutive breakthroughs had caused.

Their defensive formation had been torn apart completely! Kira Ryosuke's goal was the same as Itoshi Rin's in the previous exchange: to draw the defenders' attention onto himself—

Ariko Juubei did not understand what Itoshi Rin meant—but when he came to his senses, he realized that the ball at Kira Ryosuke's feet was gone.

Not long after getting past Tokimitsu Aoshi, Kira Ryosuke had already passed the ball away.

His target was Niko Ikki!

"As expected, Kira—you really are a monster who can create miracles!"

Niko Ikki had not expected Kira Ryosuke to truly beat Tokimitsu Aoshi head-on. He did not even think there was anyone around him capable of doing that—but his body had moved instinctively.

Because more than anyone else, he knew that Kira Ryosuke was someone who could use his overwhelming ability to make the impossible happen.

Thus, as Kira Ryosuke surged forward, Niko Ikki immediately cut in from the side.

Kira Ryosuke had noticed him as well!

"I won't let you get past me!"

Not long after Niko Ikki received the ball, Bachira Meguru immediately came over to cover him.

Bachira Meguru had initially been preparing to help defend against Kira Ryosuke and had not expected Niko Ikki to appear there. Still, he rushed in front of Niko Ikki with all his might.

But in the eyes of Niko Ikki, who possessed equally sharp powers of observation, Bachira Meguru's movement was the worst possible choice.

Three players had been drawn away by Kira Ryosuke, while Bachira Meguru had appeared right in front of him.

That meant both Nagi Seishiro and Kunigami Rensuke were completely unmarked!

Niko Ikki did not hold on to the ball for even a moment. He immediately opened his stride and sent it away.

The nearest player was Kunigami Rensuke!

"What a pass, Thick Bangs!"

Kunigami Rensuke gathered his strength into his left leg and unleashed a shot!

Like a cannonball fired from a tank, it shot into the net from beside the Red Team BLUELOCK MAN!

2:0!

White Team scored another goal!

"Well done."

Kira Ryosuke stepped forward and high-fived his teammates.

"I didn't expect you to appear in that position and make a pass like that."

Nagi Seishiro looked at Niko Ikki with interest. When his former Team V had played against Team Y, he had thought Niko Ikki was nothing more than an unremarkable player with no particular talent. Even after Kira Ryosuke selected him for the team, Nagi Seishiro had not thought he would have much chance to shine.

Niko Ikki's performance just now had genuinely surprised Nagi Seishiro.

"It wasn't my achievement. It was because Kira drew three of them toward himself."

Niko Ikki shifted his gaze toward Kira Ryosuke.

"Originally, I didn't think Kira could charge into their half in such a direct way. But my body moved on its own, as if I instinctively believed he could do it."

"Really?"

Nagi Seishiro nodded thoughtfully.

In the past, he had not understood why people without talent continued to persist in playing soccer. But after facing Kira Ryosuke and becoming his teammate, he gradually came to understand what Kira Ryosuke had once meant.

Kira Ryosuke could use his own overwhelming strength to bring out his teammates' potential as well, allowing their abilities to leap forward.

It was perhaps similar to Itoshi Rin's skill at controlling the entire field, yet it was also completely different.

Nagi Seishiro grew increasingly curious about Kira Ryosuke and became even more convinced that choosing to team up with him had been the right decision.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere on Red Team's side had grown extremely oppressive.

Not one of them had ever been forced into such a predicament in any match before.

Chapter Seventy-One: FLOW—Focusing on the Challenge!

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I couldn't stop him!"

Tokimitsu Aoshi said guiltily while forcefully striking his head with his hand.

"It wasn't your fault, Tokimitsu."

Ariko Juubei, standing nearby, brushed back his bangs.

"Have to admit it, Kira's style is above yours. In fact, I'd say he's almost on par with me."

Itoshi Rin said nothing beside them, but the anger in his heart continued to burn.

When Kira Ryosuke scored the first goal, he had not been completely serious yet.

But in that last exchange of offense and defense, Itoshi Rin had already been fighting with utmost seriousness.

And he still had not been able to stop Kira Ryosuke.

Not only had Kira Ryosuke destroyed the puppet tactic that Itoshi Rin had been certain would work with his speed, but he had also broken free from the trap deliberately set on defense through sheer force.

At this rate... at this rate, we'll lose.

If he lost to this guy, he would be one step farther from defeating Itoshi Sae.

No. No, no, no! This can't happen!

He absolutely could not lose to someone like Kira Ryosuke!

An unknown emotion was rapidly spreading through Itoshi Rin's heart.

Unlike Itoshi Rin, Bachira Meguru, standing beside him, wore a complicated expression. It looked like a somewhat strained smile, but his body was trembling at the same time.

On one hand, this was the soccer he yearned for: facing a true powerhouse and once again getting the chance to confront Kira Ryosuke directly on the pitch.

But on the other hand, Kira Ryosuke's overwhelming strength had made the monster inside him feel fear. Without realizing it, this had caused Bachira Meguru to become hesitant and restrained on the field.

It was precisely because he feared Kira Ryosuke that he had hesitated for half a second when he got his earlier shooting opportunity.

He knew that even without that half-second, Kira Ryosuke would definitely have stopped his shot. But because that terrifying feeling existed, he could no longer shoot without hesitation afterward.

At this rate, it would be even more impossible for him to defeat Kira Ryosuke. The gap between them would only grow wider!

In fact, throughout this match, Bachira Meguru felt as if he were always half a beat slower than everyone else, completely out of sync with the other players.

No. This can't go on!

If this continued, all the joy of soccer would vanish.

No matter what, he had to make the monster in his heart fall completely silent.

He had to cast aside his instinctive fear of Kira Ryosuke!

That monster had once guided Bachira Meguru's movements on the pitch, but now it had become his shackles.

That's right. It was because the monster existed that I never felt lonely when I played soccer alone.

Thank you, monster, for always staying by my side. But I can't rely on you anymore. If I do, I'll never be able to catch up to Kira!

Please disappear. Disappear! I don't need you anymore, monster!

Bachira Meguru's expression changed. His gaze became unfathomably deep, like a black hole that could swallow everything, and the smile on his face disappeared.

Beside his ear, the "monster's voice" that had guided his actions had vanished without a trace. From this moment on, Bachira Meguru was prepared to act according to his own heart.

Doing whatever he pleased—this was the soccer Bachira Meguru truly wanted!

Red Team attacked!

Bachira Meguru dribbled the ball and charged straight into White Team's half.