Ryūsei believed that Rin had deliberately passed the ball to him while attracting defenders to his side.
With his movement disrupted by opposing defenders, he theoretically had no shooting space. The best option would be to pass the ball back.
Rin was just using him as a relay station for ball possession!
Ryūsei could already see that guy running toward him.
"As if I'll let you have your way!"
Even though surrounded by multiple defenders, Ryūsei rotated his body within the crowd, flicking the ball up as gracefully as if performing a waltz.
He was now near the penalty area — a zone where he could score using various methods!
"How can he make such a move? Is this guy even human?" Ashito was astonished.
Even though he had heard about Ryūsei's excellent skills before, he never imagined they reached this level.
This guy was born for offense!
Ryūsei aimed at the goal through gaps in the crowd!
Shot!
Bang!
Just as he kicked the ball, Gin came charging from the side, using his excellent physical abilities to block the shot!
Successful clearance.
"That shot was too forced, you know." Gin said to him.
"Tch, it's you again!"
But a smile appeared on Ryūsei's face.
It was then that Gin noticed Ryūsei wasn't talking to him... but to Rin on the other side!
At this moment, Rin hadn't approached Ryūsei for support at all — he was racing directly to where the ball would land, as if he knew it all along!
And in fact, that's exactly what happened!
Ryūsei had thought the previous pass was a manipulation tactic forcing him to pass back, but being the super-egoist that he was, he chose to shoot instead!
And all of this was precisely within Rin's calculations!
He knew Ryūsei's personality — he absolutely wouldn't pass back. Given his character, he would choose to shoot one hundred percent of the time!
Rin had seized upon this fact. Ryūsei thought he had seen through Rin's intentions, but in reality, this was exactly what Rin had planned!
Moreover, using his Metavision, Rin had noticed Gin coming in to defend. No matter how skilled Ryūsei was, this shot would definitely be intercepted!
All Rin had to do was position himself at the most likely landing spot for the ball!
This was his puppet strategy — manipulating everyone in the palm of his hand!
At this moment, most of Bastard München's defensive line had their attention drawn to Ryūsei, leaving almost no one to defend against Rin!
"Was all of this within his calculations?" Yoichi desperately tried to chase and defend against the opponent, but there was still a huge gap in speed.
Initially, he had thought the same as Ryūsei, believing that Rin was deliberately forcing his own teammate to pass back.
But he never imagined that Ryūsei would ignore his teammate and force a shot! Even less did he imagine that Rin, as if prescient, would arrive at the ball's landing spot in advance.
Everything — absolutely everything — was within that guy's expectations!
He was like a spider, with everyone on his web, aware of each person's every move.
'So amazing...' Yoichi couldn't help but marvel, wanting to become a player like him.
At this moment, Rin had penetrated deep in front of the goal, with only Genzō left to beat.
'This goalkeeper's defensive ability is excellent — however, scoring is inevitable for me!'
Rin aimed at the corner of the goal, preparing to use an extremely difficult curving shot at close range to fake out his opponent!
But at that instant, he caught sight of someone approaching from his side at a terrifying speed! It should have been impossible to close that distance so quickly, yet this person did it!
The true monster of Bastard München's team: Ryōsuke Kira!
"So fast?" Rin was shocked.
He had thought the distance between them was sufficient, but Ryōsuke had reached him in an instant.
However, this was also understandable.
Because he was Ryōsuke! The mountain that Rin had to overcome!
He raised his foot, intending to complete the shot before that monster fully reached him!
But Ryōsuke was a step faster, sliding in directly toward the opponent's feet...
Yet again, this was all within Rin's expectations! The shot was a feint!
As Ryōsuke slid in, Rin suddenly changed his movement, hooking the ball with his ankle while jumping up, leaping right over the slide!
A successful breakthrough!
"Watch as I surpass you!" Rin shouted.
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
"Little Rin has become stronger, much stronger!"
Meguru remarked from the Spanish Stratum (FC Barcha) while watching the scene on screen.
"Indeed, he's become more mature than before in both technique and speed... If not for Kira, he would undoubtedly be No. 1." Eita replied.
"But it's still not enough."
Tsubasa spoke slowly beside them, his expression very serious.
Because he knew that Rin's play could not succeed.
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
At this moment, Rin believed he had gotten past Ryōsuke and was preparing to shoot.
But in that instant, he felt a chilling presence behind him...
Ryōsuke!
"This guy? What's going on?" Rin was utterly shocked.
Ryōsuke had just made a sliding tackle — theoretically he would need time just to get up. How could he be chasing from behind so quickly?!
In that moment, Ryōsuke had activated his Thunderclap and Flash, using its powerful momentum to rise directly from the ground while pursuing Rin at maximum speed!
Rin now raised his foot, ready to shoot… It was another feint. He wanted to trick Ryōsuke again, creating another opportunity to shoot!
However, this time he could no longer fool anyone!
❖ Transparent World! ❖
Ryōsuke had secretly activated his ability! Time slowed to one percent of normal, or even slower!
Every muscle in Rin's body was clearly visible to him. Just by observation, he could determine the next move!
Ryōsuke instantly saw through the feint! And it was precisely during this feint that Rin's ball control showed a weakness!
He naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity! His right foot struck like a blade, completing the tackle perfectly!
This is Ryōsuke's terrifying one-on-one defensive ability!
"Damn it!!!" Rin shouted in frustration. Having lost his balance, his body fell directly to the ground.
Instead of dwelling on his mistake, Rin immediately sprang into action. With incredible speed and ignoring the pain shooting through his body, he chased after Ryōsuke to stop the attack.
But as he turned around, he discovered his opponent had already passed the ball!
Distant Thunder + Thunder Swarm!
❖ Thunder Swarm ➠ Long Pass! ❖
Ryōsuke concentrated power in his right leg and launched the ball powerfully — not a shot, but a precision pass!
At the forward position, Kenyū, Yō, and others had already launched a swift counterattack!
Yō received the ball perfectly, using his exceptional control to glide past several defenders with ease.
[Such impressive ball control, his touch is as smooth as water!]
The commentator marveled at Yō's technique.
"Hey Hiori, since you have such extraordinary talent, let's settle this one-on-one!" Tabito rushed forward, trying to provoke his opponent into a direct confrontation.
"Sorry Karasu, such direct provocation doesn't work on me." Yō replied with complete composure.
On the field, he remains the calmest presence no matter the situation.
After spending time with Ryōsuke, Yō fully embraces his philosophy: every action must contribute to winning. Football is a team sport, and selfish individualism only destroys team cooperation.
Yō has become the most dedicated practitioner of Ryōsuke's philosophy!
Facing Tabito's pursuit, he chose not to engage but immediately passed the ball to Kenyū, who was in a clearly superior position.
"Go for it, Emperor!"
"Leave it to me!"
Kenyū received the pass and suddenly accelerated, charging into the opponent's penalty area like a jet plane!
The interval from Ryōsuke's tackle to Kenyū's attack was incredibly brief — an ultra-fast counterattack only possible with perfect coordination and exceptional individual skills!
This was one of Bastard München's deadliest weapons!
Kenyū accelerated even faster, his superior one-on-one ability leaving him virtually unopposed as he surged toward the penalty area!
Ahead waited Zantetsu and Aoshi's defensive marking — a formidable combination of speed and power!
Yet Kenyū showed no intention of retreating. Instead, his face lit up with an excited smile.
"Let me show you a bit of my pacifism!" He said, grinning.
He accelerated even further!
"STOP!" Zantetsu exploded forward with terrifying speed, like a bullet fired from a gun.
But Kenyū's offensive techniques had grown more diverse.
"I've learned a thing or two from Kira! And Tsurugi, is that the only English word you know? Seems like you haven't been studying well!"
Kenyū stopped abruptly, pulled the ball back with his right foot, circled it behind himself, and switched to his left foot for the breakthrough!
The instant direction change allowed him to successfully shake off Zantetsu!
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
"Kenyū Yukimiya's dribbling skills have become even more impressive!" In the monitoring room, Anri remarked, "His progress is really significant, especially considering his injury."
"This is what they call evolution driven by environment." Jinpachi said slowly, "For him, the luckiest thing was choosing the same team as Ryōsuke."
He believed that if not for Ryōsuke, Kenyū might have fallen into decline during the second stage.
But that monster's appearance changed his future, giving him a lifeline before he fell off the cliff.
Of course, this was just Jinpachi's speculation; even he didn't know what would actually happen.
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
"Y-Yuki, stop here, going further will be troublesome..." Aoshi looked at Kenyū with extreme nervousness.
But this was just his outward appearance. He actively moved forward, intending to use his body to block the opponent.
In terms of physical attributes, Aoshi is one of Blue Lock's top-tier players, with a boulder-like physique that allows him to easily overpower opponents on the field!
This is precisely why he serves as a defender on the team, using his powerful build to form Paris X Gen's most solid iron wall!
Kenyū was clever — knowing he couldn't win a physical battle against his opponent, he increased his speed to sprint past him!
But Aoshi was no ordinary player. He quickly read Kenyū's movement trajectory and stepped forward to initiate physical contact!
In that brief moment of contact, Kenyū immediately lost his balance!
Though Kenyū's physical attributes ranked highly within Blue Lock, against Aoshi he stood no chance.
Kenyū wasn't the only one who had grown stronger — Aoshi's physical abilities had reached another level entirely!
"What is your body made of, anyway?"
Despite nearly losing his balance completely, Kenyū managed to adjust his body position at the last moment and passed the ball before falling!
"He can still pass in that situation?!" Aoshi exclaimed in surprise.
On the other side, Yoichi and Ranze had arrived at the forward position, ready to receive Kenyū's pass.
But just as Yoichi was about to receive the ball, a swifter figure appeared before him like a wildfire spreading across the plains, intercepting the ball!
"What?!" Only then did Yoichi clearly see who it was.
It was Ryoma!
"The second half has just begun!"
His eyes blazed with fighting spirit!
❖❖❖
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