Blue Lock: Beyond Greatness

"Reo Mikage's sudden long pass combined with Shinichi's unexpected fast attack. Unfortunately, it was intercepted and resolved through a joint effort by the newly substituted player, Hiori Yo, and Oliver Aiku."

"That's right, as expected of the U20 national team's captain, known for his expertise in defensive counterattacks. His composed play style is truly nerve-wracking, and the new player's sharp predictive ability is also impressive."

"The ball was cleared with a powerful kick, shifting from the defensive line to the forward line. It's time for U20's counterattack!"

"Sae Itoshi has the ball!"

In an instant, the cheers in the stadium reached a new level. Amid this overwhelming excitement, Sae advanced with the ball.

"The big boss right off the bat? This isn't good," Kurona muttered nervously as he stood in Sae's path. However, Sae didn't pause for a second, lifting his foot for a long pass directly to Isagi up front.

"It's you, the clever mortal," said Karasu as he swiftly moved back to block the pass.

But Isagi paid him no attention and quickly made a cross pass to Shidou on the opposite side.

"Beautiful! It's my time to shine!" Shidou exclaimed excitedly. With his back to the goal, he twisted his body dramatically and struck a powerful flat shot.

Smack!

Fortunately Gagamaru was fully focused. He dove to the right and raised his hand just in time to block the shot, but the ball rebounded and was quickly recovered by Sae, who charged in for the follow-up.

"It's not over yet!" Jyubei rushed in to block Sae's shooting path. However, in his peripheral vision, a figure lurking behind him sent chills down his spine.

Sae wouldn't let this chance slip by. He skillfully kicked the ball past Jyubei, aiming for Isagi, who had somehow positioned himself perfectly in Jyubei's blind spot, ready to shoot.

"Hey!" At the critical moment, Raichi leaped in with his hands behind his back, using his chest to block Isagi's shot. "Sexy defense!"

The ball bounced away again. Just as Sae prepared to chase it down, Rin intercepted it directly.

"Aren't you trying a bit too hard, you idiot big brother?" Rin glared at Sae.

"Come on, greet me properly!"

Sae's actions were temporarily blocked by Rin, and the first to secure the ball's landing point was none other than U20's original ace—Sendou!

'Perfect! The opposing defensive formation is in complete chaos. I can score!' Sendou thought excitedly as he locked his eyes on the descending ball and lifted his right foot to strike.

However, an overwhelming sense of pressure suddenly surged from behind him—a suffocating fear, like being targeted at gunpoint, instantly consumed his mind.

"You've had too much screen time, don't you think?" Shinichi, radiating an unparalleled aura of intimidation, closed in rapidly.

The very air around Sendou seemed to freeze, making even the simplest movements incredibly difficult.

"Here!"

A sudden voice jolted Sendou out of his fear. Without even thinking, he instinctively passed the ball in the direction of the voice.

Isagi didn't even bother to trap the ball. Instead, he struck it directly on the fly.

The seamless, immediate shot outpaced Gagamaru's reflexes and flew straight into the goal.

GOOOOOAL!!

U20 National Team 1:0 Blue Lock Team

"Unexpected! Amid such an intense battle of offense and defense, the first goal didn't come from the highly anticipated Sae Itoshi or Shinichi, but rather from the seemingly inconspicuous Isagi Yoichi. His immediate, unadjusted shot after receiving Sendou's pass was truly impressive," the commentator's voice rose alongside the thunderous cheers of the crowd.

"Indeed! However, it's undeniable that Sae's movements disrupted Blue Lock's defense, creating the opportunity for this goal. Additionally, Sendou's selfless pass was worth noting. He clearly had ample space to shoot himself but still chose to pass the ball to Isagi."

"That's right. Teamwork and selflessness are U20's strongest traits. Sendou likely did this to help the newcomer better integrate into the team."

"That's right. Now, let's see how the Blue Lock players will respond."

...

On the field, Shinichi halted his steps and cast a cold, indifferent glance at Sendou. "Choosing to pass under those circumstances? Seems like you're just a worthless player not worth paying attention to."

"You..." Sendou instinctively wanted to retort, but the lingering memory of that bone-chilling pressure rendered him speechless.

"Sendou, don't overthink it." Aiku approached, draping an arm over Sendou's shoulder as if sensing his inner turmoil. "Your decision to pass just now wasn't bad at all."

"Not bad?" Sae, standing nearby, showed no intention of sparing the so-called ace of the U20 team. "With no defenders ahead, the only pursuing player five meters away, and a clear shot already lined up—you still passed out of fear."

"And that's why I keep saying football here is beyond saving. But..." Sae's gaze shifted to Isagi, who stood motionless near the goalpost, fists clenched tightly.

"...there might still be a glimmer of hope for change."

...

"Sorry, I couldn't block it." Gagamaru, clearly frustrated, pounded his fist into his palm. Jyubei patted his shoulder reassuringly. "It's fine. That previous super save was already impressive."

"But seriously," Bachira, who had spent the most time observing Isagi on the field, pointed out the key factor behind the goal. "Has Isagi evolved again? His movements are getting harder to read, but he always ends up in the most dangerous positions."

Everyone else suddenly understood and chimed in with their thoughts.

"Yeah, at first, he would shadow Sae, moving alongside him. The moment Sae faced a defender, Isagi would immediately position himself in the defender's blind spot, making it easy for Sae to pull off a one-two play. But once they got near the goal, Isagi always found the weakest point in our defense."

Karasu nodded in agreement. "That mortal... no, I should say physically mortal. Isagi has an extraordinary gift hidden beyond what we can see."

"He's an unconventional kind of genius."

...

"Our tactics in training seem to be ineffective," Anri said with some concern from the stands.

However, Ego, with a look of complete understanding, responded, "That's to be expected. Training is always just practice—skills shown without pressure. But in an actual match, there are countless unexpected situations that will prevent those skills from working."

"Moreover, our ace has just revealed his biggest weakness. Shinichi, with his limited experience in official matches, will find that his presence, which used to dominate the smaller games, is significantly reduced as the number of players increases in a proper match." Ego glanced at Shinichi, who looked particularly grim.

"Because Blue Lock's goal is to cultivate the strongest forward, I never anticipated we'd be in official matches this soon. So, we've been more focused on individual player abilities, which is why, apart from a few easy 11v11 games, Shinichi has mostly played on smaller fields."

"In a 5v5 game with fewer players, individual skill gaps can dramatically shift the game, much like in basketball, where one top center can anchor the team's interior defense. But that's not something that works in football."

"Shinichi's personal ability is undoubtedly the strongest on the field right now, but football isn't about who has the strongest individual ability to win. What matters is how you show that difference in personal skill within the flow of a real match. That's what marks a star's maturity."

"Then, aren't we in danger?" Hearing Ego's words, Anri grew anxious, but Ego just waved his hand dismissively. "Of course, there's a condition—only if the gap in individual skill isn't too vast."

As he watched Shinichi, cloaked in a low-pressure aura, walking slowly toward midfield with the ball, Ego leaned back casually in his chair. "Like I said, the final result is already determined. But what matters most to me is how much Shinichi can learn from this match. That's what will define the process of this game."

"Go, Shinichi, experience the difference of an official match. Then, show the world in this game..."

"A new star has emerged!"

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