In the days that followed, Kira took command, leading Team Z through a series of grueling training sessions to prepare for their next clash. He utilized every moment on the pitch to "absorb" the attribute cards of his teammates, steadily bolstering his own foundation.
Through several internal scrimmages, Kira began to see the hidden potential within his squad. Iemon wasn't nearly as mediocre as he had first thought; the guy was a "mini-pentagon" player—solid in every department, even if he lacked a signature flare. Raichi, fueled by Kira's encouragement, had finally embraced his role as a defensive nuisance. His "pest-style" marking in practice was so suffocating that even Kira found it infuriatingly effective.
Bachira continued to dance with the ball in his usual state of joy, while Kira took Kunigami aside for some quiet advice. "Don't lean too hard on your left," he warned. "If you become predictable, you're dead at the pro level." Taking it to heart, Kunigami spent his evenings refining the power in his right foot.
As for Isagi, he remained buried in thought, desperately searching for the spark that would define his "weapon."
With the team evolving, Kira decided it was time to overhaul their tactics. He scrapped the 4-4-2 and shifted to an aggressive 4-3-3.
Kunigami, Kira, and Bachira formed the attacking trident. Chigiri, Raichi, and Isagi manned the midfield, with the rest anchoring the backline. On the surface, Kira claimed they needed more "bite" in their offense. In reality, he knew what was coming. According to his memories of the original story, Team Y would employ an ultimate 4-5-1 defensive bus. To break a fortress, you needed to flood the gates.
Days later, the atmosphere in Building 5's central stadium was electric. Team Y was already on the pitch, warming up with a grim intensity by the time Team Z arrived.
[Detection: Absorbable Attributes Found]
Vision +20 (Decaying)Passing +20 (Decaying)Duration: 10 Minutes / Storage: 24 Hours
[Detection: Absorbable Attributes Found]
Dribbling +10 (Decaying)Shooting +15 (Decaying)Duration: 10 Minutes / Storage: 24 Hours
Absorb, Kira commanded mentally.
[Absorption Successful. Obtained: Niko Ikki Attribute Card]
[Absorption Successful. Obtained: Ohkawa Hibiki Attribute Card]
Kira had kept two slots open specifically for this. Niko's abilities were essentially a leveled-up version of Isagi's current vision. He hoped that by facing such a mirror image, Isagi would finally find his own path.
"Whoa, they're here early," Isagi noted, sounding impressed.
Kira nodded. Team Y was desperate. They had already dropped their first game 0-8; another loss meant certain elimination.
"I recognize their Number 9," Igarashi whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "That's Ohkawa Hibiki, the top scorer from Kumamoto..."
The air in Team Z grew heavy. If a team with a scorer like Ohkawa had lost 0-8, how monstrous was Team V? Kira sensed the mounting nerves and clapped his hands loudly.
"Stick to the plan. 1, 2, 3..."
"TEAM Z, VICTORY!"
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The whistle signaled the start. Since the initial rankings determined possession, Team Z started with the ball.
"Go, Isagi!" Kira barked, passing back before igniting his engines and sprinting forward.
Team Z's new formation unfolded like a predator's jaws. Six players flooded into Team Y's half, leaving only four defenders behind.
"What is this? Did they read our strategy?"
"Why are they throwing so many people forward?"
Panicked shouts erupted from the Team Y players. They had spent days perfecting their 4-5-1 'One-Kill' counter-offensive, yet Team Z had arrived with a formation designed specifically to overwhelm it.
"Don't panic!" a voice shouted. It was the boy with the long bangs covering his eyes—Niko Ikki. "This is our chance. If we hold the line, their backfield is wide open. One stop is all we need for a fatal counter!"
"Listen to Niko!"
"Hold the line! Hold the line!"
Kira heard their "secret" plot but paid it no mind. He drifted through the gaps in their formation, waiting for the perfect delivery from Isagi or Bachira.
Isagi drove the ball across the halfway line, immediately met by a defender. With a quick flick of his left foot, he sent the ball to Bachira. The "Monster" began his dance, drawing two defenders toward him instantly.
Bachira stuck his tongue out. Two isn't enough to stop me, he thought, preparing to break through.
Suddenly, Kira sensed a shift in the air. Niko Ikki, a defender, had abandoned his post and was sneaking into Bachira's blind spot.
That brat isn't watching me... he's hunting the ball!
"Bachira, backpass! Now!" Kira screamed.
Bachira reacted purely on instinct. A split second after the ball left his foot, Niko's boot swept through the air where the ball had been. Isagi rushed forward to collect the pass, stabilizing the play.
Niko didn't look frustrated. He retreated back into his defensive shell, but he stole a sharp glance at Kira. In that moment, Niko felt it—this number 10 was the only real obstacle to their victory.
That was close, Kira thought. Team Y had clearly drilled their "Counter-Snatch" tactics. They lured the ball carrier in with two defenders, then used a third man to blindside them. Unlike the chaotic Team X, this Team Y was disciplined, rational, and cohesive.
This is the team that lost 0-8? Kira marveled at the sheer depth of Blue Lock.
The ball returned to Isagi. The right flank was clogged, so he looked left. He fired a crisp pass to Chigiri. The "Princess" hesitated for a heartbeat before understanding the play; he sent a pinpoint cross into the box toward Kunigami.
Because of Bachira's earlier gravity, Team Y's defense had shifted right. Kunigami was wide open in his "Sweet Spot."
Kunigami wound up his legendary left leg. BOOM.
The strike was a rocket, screaming toward the net. Just as Team Z prepared to celebrate, two Team Y defenders—who had been hiding behind the keeper—leaped as one, heading the ball away. The keeper didn't even have to move.
"No way!" Kunigami stood frozen. They had given him the space to shoot on purpose, knowing their "Human Wall" would handle the trajectory.
"The second ball! Kunigami! Get the rebound!" Isagi screamed.
Kunigami tried to move, but his shock had cost him a vital second.
I've got it, Kira thought. From the moment the space opened up for Kunigami, he had sensed the trap. He exploded toward the drop zone, his muscles coiled like springs.
He reached the ball first, trapping it instantly. He adjusted his angle, preparing to bury the rebound.
But before he could pull the trigger, a shadow flashed in. A boot connected with the ball, clearing it safely out of the danger zone.
"Beautiful clearance, Niko!"
Kira turned to see the boy with the long bangs. Niko stood there with unnerving composure.
"I saw it," Niko whispered. "The exact spot the ball would land."
Kira's eyes flashed with excitement. He let out a sharp, predatory grin. "Let's see, then. Whose shield is tougher—and whose spear is sharper?"