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

"Ah, damn, damn... we lost... it's all my fault, all my fault..."

"I'm so frustrated, I really wanted to win."

Even people with terrifying physical abilities like Ariko Juubei and Tokimitsu Aoshi were already drenched in sweat, and Bachira Meguru's legs were on the verge of cramping.

A few meters away, Itoshi Rin was gritting his teeth and pounding the ground, his teeth feeling like they were about to shatter.

This was his second loss.

And by such a huge margin.

Frustration, hatred, and anger—various emotions brewed in his heart. The excitement and the high-intensity match made his face flush, veins bulging on his forehead.

"The match has ended, and it was a very exciting game."

Kira Ryosuke slowly walked up to the four members of the Red Team. These words weren't meant as comfort; although the score difference seemed large, it was only due to the reduced field size and special rules.

Itoshi Rin and his teammates possessed strength far exceeding the previous Team V's "Big Three."

But that wasn't their true reason for defeat. Most importantly, they fought as individuals with almost no coordination.

If Itoshi Rin and Bachira Meguru had linked up, and Ariko Juubei and Tokimitsu Aoshi had created opportunities and attacked the weakest point in the defense, they could have caused Kira Ryosuke more trouble.

However, there were no "ifs." Both in terms of teamwork and individual core strength, there was still a significant gap between the two teams.

"I should also choose my teammates for the next round."

Kira Ryosuke said slowly. He didn't hesitate much; the answer was already in his heart.

"Bachira, let's go to the next round together."

He chose Bachira Meguru not only because they had a good relationship as former teammates but also because he was almost his only viable option.

Among the four members of the Red Team, only Bachira Meguru had the most normal personality and could connect the entire team.

Although Itoshi Rin possessed top-tier overall strength, his personality and playstyle tended to disrupt the team's rhythm, not unlike Barou Shoei.

Moreover, Kira Ryosuke knew who they would face in the next round—a five-person team composed of top players from around the world.

Ego Jinpachi assembled this team without any consideration for the possibility of anyone from Blue Lock winning. Even the team Itoshi Rin was on in the original story was easily crushed by their opponents. His goal was to show the players in Blue Lock the vast difference between themselves and the world's top players.

However, for Kira Ryosuke, this was just the next challenge.

"Kira Ryosuke, I will kill you. After this, I will definitely kill you. From now on, you are my arch-rival, and I will eliminate you."

Just as Kira Ryosuke and his team were about to leave the court for the next area, Itoshi Rin looked up, his furious gaze fixed on Kira Ryosuke's face, as if he wanted to devour him alive.

In his heart, Kira Ryosuke had become an existence that needed to be completely crushed, just like Itoshi Sae.

"Then come and try."

Kira Ryosuke didn't pause for a moment, leaving those words behind before directly exiting the court and entering the passage to the next area.

At the same time, the system's prompt reappeared.

[Congratulations! Combat Points obtained: 150]

The Combat Points obtained this time were almost double that of the previous match, which was enough to show the value of the previous victory.

Even though the scale of the match was reduced, all the opponents were top-tier existences within Blue Lock.

Furthermore, his teammates' strength had also increased significantly. The selection phase for the fifth player was far more important than the current one. Winning this match actually meant passing the second round of selection.

Although Itoshi Rin and the others lost, he assumed they would definitely fight their way back.

Whether it was Isagi Yoichi or Mikage Reo, they would surely do the same.

"I didn't expect to advance directly as a loser," Bachira Meguru said with a smile, then turned to Kira Ryosuke.

"But thank you, Kira. I feel like you saved me."

"Choosing you wasn't even a consideration."

"I'm not talking about you choosing me, but about the field—it's precisely because I longed to catch up to your pace that, at that moment, I felt like I was finally playing the soccer I wanted."

Bachira Meguru lowered his head, the smile on his face growing more pronounced.

"Thank you, Kira. I'm sure it will be even more enjoyable playing soccer together from now on."

After speaking, Bachira Meguru extended his hand, preparing for a high-five with Kira Ryosuke—who also extended his hand at the same time.

"Not a high-five, it's a knife-hand! Take this!"

"I knew it! Block!"

Unknowingly, Kira Ryosuke and the others had arrived before the final gate. The words "Second Round Selection Exit" were clearly displayed on the door.

They pushed the door open and were greeted by a pentagonal black room with five oversized screens.

"Gems of talent, congratulations on passing the second round of selection."

A projection of Ego Jinpachi appeared on the screen.

"You all likely noticed just now that Bachira Meguru and Itoshi Rin entered a state of high concentration at certain moments. That is FLOW, an essential element for becoming a top player."

"That was truly a very subtle feeling. I couldn't help but enter that state, and all I could think about was attacking."

Bachira Meguru looked down at his hands, trying to recall that feeling.

"This is the formula for creating miracles. You've all dabbled in it, but you've only just touched the threshold. You still have a long way to go before truly mastering it."

Ego Jinpachi's gaze inevitably fell on Kira Ryosuke. In his eyes, only Kira Ryosuke could freely enter the FLOW state.

In a sense, Kira Ryosuke's Total Concentration Breathing was his own FLOW.

"Alright, that concludes your second selection round."

As Ego Jinpachi spoke, he held up three fingers.

"Next is the third selection round. As I said, you'll have the chance to face world-class players. Twenty-four hours from now, you'll compete in a 5v5 match against world players personally selected by me. Prepare to know the world, you frogs in a well!"

Team formation area.

Most of the teams had gathered here. Many of them were hesitant to pick opponents randomly—lacking information, no one dared to fight a battle without guarantees.

Isagi Yoichi and Chigiri Hyoma's team had also returned here.

They had just defeated their opponents in the two-person team area and had recruited Tsurugi Zantetsu, formerly of Team V, as their teammate, re-entering the three-person area.

"I wonder how Kira and Rin are doing... If my predictions are correct, they should have met in the next area by now. I wonder if they'll end up playing against each other."

Isagi Yoichi muttered to himself. In his eyes, Itoshi Rin was on the same level as Kira Ryosuke; both of their strengths far exceeded his imagination.

Just then, the doors to the matching lobby were opened again.

Itoshi Rin, with a look of resentment, returned to the three-person area with Ariko Juubei and Tokimitsu Aoshi. The previously noisy lobby instantly fell silent.

Itoshi Rin's gaze didn't linger on anyone for a moment. In his eyes, these people were nothing more than insignificant dust.

Having already played one match today, Itoshi Rin couldn't immediately play a second. He didn't linger in the lobby either, heading straight for the dormitory.

To him, retreating to this area was a profound humiliation, to be stuck with these wastes and trash.

Unforgivable, unforgivable, unforgivable!

Itoshi Rin bit his lip so hard it almost bled, the flames burning in his eyes seeming capable of devouring everyone.

He wanted revenge, to make Kira Ryosuke, who had humiliated him, pay the price.

After Itoshi Rin and the others left the lobby, the silent hall finally began to regain its sound.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, isn't that Itoshi Rin? Did he... lose?"

"How did he end up back in this area? I thought he had already formed a team and advanced."

"Someone who could defeat Itoshi Rin... Does such a person really exist in Blue Lock?"

The crowd murmured, almost everyone finding it hard to believe.

Someone had defeated a terrifying existence like Itoshi Rin.

Most of them were from other floors and hadn't seen Kira Ryosuke.

In their eyes, Itoshi Rin was already an unreachable peak. Even those who hadn't heard of Itoshi Rin before would have been amazed by his skills displayed in the lobby earlier.

And an existence of this caliber actually lost a match?

Only Isagi Yoichi and his group knew clearly that only one person could have sent Itoshi Rin back here.

Kira Ryosuke.

Isagi Yoichi's team had been crushed by Itoshi Rin before. He had initially thought Kira Ryosuke was on the same level as Itoshi Rin, but it seemed he was completely mistaken.

Kira Ryosuke was an even more terrifying existence.

"Bachira must have been taken by Kira and the others. I can't let my pace slow down either!"

A hint of excitement flickered in Isagi Yoichi's eyes, and a fighting spirit ignited within him.

A few hours later, Kira Ryosuke and his teammates had arrived at the dormitory.

They were now the only team in the entire five-person area. If a team lost a match, due to the reduction in teammates and the rule of only one match per day, they would be delayed by another two days.

This five-person room was much more luxurious than the rooms in the previous areas, with various well-equipped facilities and furniture, resembling a five-star hotel.

On the screen in the room, their next opponents were clearly projected.

Five international superstars!

"Luna, the noble young master of a Spanish powerhouse club; Adam Black, the top scorer in the English league; Cavazos, the baby-faced player with the world's best free kicks; and the Heavy Tank, Dada Silva?!"

Niko Ikki exclaimed. Although his thick bangs covered his eyes, everyone could feel the astonishment in his gaze.

"Are all these guys really that good?"

Nagi Seishiro asked somewhat confusedly. While he possessed excellent football talent, he didn't know much about star players or leagues.

"These people are all world-class players!"

Niko Ikki's voice trembled slightly with excitement. He hadn't expected to have the chance to compete against such top-tier masters one day.

"To be able to invite these people, Blue Lock is truly remarkable."

Kunigami Rensuke couldn't help but exclaim.

"To be able to spar against opponents of this caliber, it's half fear and half excitement... But who is that person in the middle with the monk-like hairstyle?"

Bachira Meguru asked, holding his head.

"That's Julian Loki, a supernova who just made a name for himself in the French league!"

"Kira, what do you think? You're about to face opponents of this level, what are your thoughts?"

Bachira Meguru turned his head to look at Kira Ryosuke, and everyone's gaze fell on Kira Ryosuke in unison.

"I don't really have any particular feelings. I just need to give it my all."

Kira Ryosuke replied calmly.

"Now that we've rested enough, it's time to get ready for training!"

Soon, Kira Ryosuke led the group to the training field in the five-person area.

The others were doing some basic tactical positioning drills, while Kira Ryosuke opened the system interface.

[Host: Kira Ryosuke]
[Current Combat Points: 260]
[Combat. Thunder Breathing. Total Concentration LV3 Proficiency 100% Upgrade: 150 Combat Points]
[Combat. Thunder Breathing First Form. Thunderclap and Flash LV3 Proficiency 80.6%]
[Combat. Thunder Breathing Second Form. Rice Spirit LV3 Proficiency 60.3%]
[Combat. Thunder Breathing Third Form. Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder LV2 Proficiency 100% Upgrade: 100 Combat Points]

The previous Kira Ryosuke had already raised the proficiency of Total Concentration Breathing and Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder to 100%. The two matches earned a total of 230 Combat Points. Adding the remaining Combat Points from before, it was just enough to upgrade these two skills.