Chapter 10 – Devour or Be Devoured
The moment the equalizer went in, Team Z erupted.
"Nice shot!"
"Let's go!"
Everyone swarmed around Yūshin Seiichi, cheering loudly.
Isagi Yoichi quietly exhaled in relief. That was close… If they had scored again, we would've lost control completely.
Seiichi Takes Command
"From here on out," Seiichi said coldly, his cheerful grin vanishing, "give me the ball. I'll lead us to victory."
His tone allowed no disagreement.
Jingo Raichi scoffed. "Why the hell—?"
But when Seiichi's icy stare locked onto him, Raichi froze, face twitching.
"Tch… fine," he muttered. Whatever. I'll just outscore him anyway!
Team X's Breakdown
On the other side of the field, Barō Shōei—furious and red-faced—gathered his teammates.
"Just feed me the ball!" he barked.
"Barō, you're getting shut down by Yūshin Seiichi. Maybe we should try—" a teammate with dyed yellow hair started.
"Shut it! You losers don't get to question me!"
Tension flared.
Team X was unraveling.
A robotic voice boomed from the speakers overhead.
"Team X, kickoff immediately or forfeit."
Team Z Seizes Momentum
Kickoff.
Team X moved slowly. The cohesion they had earlier was gone.
Seiichi's pressure had broken their unity.
That's when Igarashi Gurimu lunged.
"I've got it!"
He cleanly intercepted the ball.
"Nice, Igarashi!"
He scanned the field and passed it to Seiichi, who waited at midfield.
"NO! Don't let Yūshin Seiichi get it again!"
Multiple defenders closed in.
But Seiichi didn't flinch.
He rolled the ball behind his heel, then smoothly flicked it into the air with his right foot. As it floated at knee height, he knocked it with the back of his heel.
The ball arced over the collapsing defenders.
In a flash, Seiichi darted past them.
He vanished from sight like a gust of wind.
"He got through?!"
By the time Team X turned, Seiichi had control again and surged toward the penalty area.
"Stop him!"
Seiichi curved a through ball toward the top of the box.
Raichi intercepted it cleanly, set himself, and—
BOOM!
Goal!
Team Z took the lead: 2–1.
"Let's go!" Raichi roared. "I told you, I'd be the one scoring!"
The Core Emerges
Team Z's players were no longer bickering.
They'd begun to move around Seiichi as the clear core.
Their confidence rose with each touch he made.
Kickoff again. But Team X's attacks didn't even make it past midfield.
Kunigami Rensuke snatched possession and quickly passed to Seiichi.
Seiichi dribbled forward.
"Block him!"
Two defenders charged in—but he danced between them like they weren't there.
"Passing you is easier than crossing the road," he muttered, slipping past with a flick of his heel.
Before they could blink, he was at the edge of the penalty box again.
Then—Barō appeared.
"Jing—Seiichi!" Barō cut him off with blazing speed.
"You're still standing?" Seiichi narrowed his eyes. "Impressive. But pointless."
Barō gritted his teeth.
Don't fall for his feints. Keep your distance. Read him.
Seiichi smiled slightly.
So you're learning.
He feinted right—Barō flinched.
Then came the ox-tail dribble, instantly followed by a high-speed roulette. Barō's positioning broke down.
"Dammit!"
Seiichi slipped past again, barely keeping balance.
But Barō had learned something.
As Seiichi rushed to cross the ball, Barō reached out and yanked his shoulder.
Foul contact.
"Let go."
But Seiichi ignored him—and flicked the ball across the penalty area.
"NOW!"
Asahi Naruhaya charged into the box.
"It's too far! He miscalculated!"
Isagi stood outside the box, watching—
BOOM!
Naruhaya jumped with a diving header and smashed the ball in.
3–1!
Team Z celebrated wildly.
Barō collapsed to his knees.
Seiichi walked past and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"You should've accepted your role earlier, Barō," he whispered.
Then, under his breath—
"If you're bad at it, train harder."
Barō's eyes widened.
That line again…
It was the same thing Seiichi had told him after beating him 8–1 in junior high.
Even after three years, he still couldn't match them.
He clenched his fists.
I refuse to be a side character!
I'll beat you, Seiichi!
Barō Awakens
Last 10 minutes until halftime.
Raichi intercepted a pass and grinned.
"Time to shine!"
He dribbled leisurely forward.
"Raichi! Look out!" Isagi shouted.
A blur of red and black exploded toward him.
Barō.
He body-checked Raichi and stole the ball.
"Now I see it all clearly."
His eyes glowed crimson. Lightning surged around him.
He's evolving!
Barō blew past Isagi.
Two more defenders rushed in.
"All of you—MOVE!"
He bulldozed through.
Unstoppable!
Then came Seiichi.
"Come, Barō."
Barō charged.
Seiichi stepped in—
Too late.
Barō threw his weight into the challenge and fired.
BOOM!
3–2.
Barō collapsed, screaming toward the heavens.
"YEEEEAAAHHH!"
The Final Strike
Seiichi picked up the ball calmly.
"Not bad," he muttered. "You're finally worth devouring."
His eyes gleamed with deep blue fire.
Final 5 minutes.
Kickoff.
Barō charged again, but Seiichi passed early—a long ball slicing the field.
Isagi sprinted onto it, chest-trapped, and dashed into the penalty area.
"Come on…"
I'm a forward. I exist to score goals!
He planted his left foot, drew back his right—
BOOM!
The ball ripped into the upper left corner.
4–2.
Whistle
Full-time.
Blue Lock Block 5: Team Z wins 4–2.
"YEAH!" Igarashi jumped onto Isagi's back.
"Nice one, Isagi!" Bachira laughed.
Seiichi jogged over with his trademark sly grin. "Beautiful shot."
"Th-thanks… But it was your pass that made it happen."
"I guess." He winked. "Still—keep that up."
"I still haven't scored a single goal!" Igarashi wailed. "Pass to me next time!"
"You're ranked last," Raichi snapped. "You have no right to ask for anything!"
"What did you say?!"
Seiichi chuckled as they argued.
Then, he glanced across the field at Barō, who stood silently, fists clenched.
He's far from finished.
Next time… he'll be stronger.