BAM!
At the start of the game, Mikage Reo bypassed Isagi and, before anyone else could get close, passed the ball out.
"Team Z's weak point is precisely you, who has no one-on-one ability, Isagi Yoichi!" Reo had no intention of challenging Team Z's entire midfield defensive line. On one hand, it was a waste of effort; on the other, he didn't have that ability. The best choice was to get past Isagi, draw more defensive attention, and distribute the ball to the wing.
He had studied the recordings of Team Z's matches many times and discovered that this Isagi, who had a good relationship with Tendou, was Team Z's weak point. Although he would occasionally have a brilliant performance, those were just opportunistic tricks. Most of the time, the person in front of him could only be described as mediocre.
"Damn it!" Isagi was already unwilling to be passed so easily, and after hearing Reo's words, his composure almost broke. Since coming to Blue Lock, he had become more and more confused and resentful. Why hadn't God given him a sufficiently strong body?
"Nice pass, Reo!"
On the left wing, Tsurugi Zantetsu immediately took off. His powerful explosive force made it look as if his body had been violently pushed forward several meters.
The "young lady," Chigiri Hyoma, originally intended to compete with him. But before he could even get close, he was left four meters behind.
"So fast!"
Chigiri, who believed he wouldn't lose to anyone in terms of speed except for talent, had actually lost his man!
Seeing this, Igarashi Gurimu immediately moved to cover, and upon meeting, went straight into a slide tackle. But Zantetsu got rid of him cleanly with a simple cut and change of direction.
BAM!
Zantetsu didn't hesitate. After breaking into Team Z's territory, he sent in a cross, the target being Nagi Seishiro.
The members of Team Z did not panic. So far, their opponent's choices were completely within their expectations. No matter how Team V attacked, the ball would most likely end up at Nagi's feet in the end.
And at that position!
Raichi Jingo and Kunigami Rensuke were like two door gods, sticking to Nagi from the left and right.
"It's working! Our game plan is correct!"
Isagi secretly breathed a sigh of relief; this crisis was considered resolved.
But the next second, he was hit with a sudden blow.
The ball lifted off the ground, drawing a beautiful arc in the air, whistling as it flew towards Team Z's penalty area. In there, Nagi and Team Z's "two ghosts" were almost neck and neck, sprinting towards the box. A double-team defense—this didn't look like a good scoring opportunity at all.
However.
The existence of a genius is often to break such common sense, to turn the impossible into the possible.
Nagi Seishiro stared at the incoming ball, showing no intention of slowing down. In fact, to shake off the double-team, he even accelerated, then leaped forward, extending his leg to stop the ball.
Tss!
The ball made a sharp friction sound as it landed on his instep. Nagi gently cushioned it, controlling the ball with his instep and leg. The ball instantly became as docile as a small cat. And then, he flicked the ball behind him. Like a rainbow, the ball went over Nagi's and the two defenders' heads, landing at the edge of the penalty area.
"He trapped the ball behind him?"
"Was it a mistake? Or a pass? But there's no one behind him to receive it!"
Various possibilities flashed through Raichi's and Kunigami's minds in an instant.
A mistake? His expression didn't look like it. But if it wasn't a mistake, what was the point of trapping the ball in that position?
Nagi Seishiro immediately showed them what he could do!
After flicking the ball behind him, Nagi landed, immediately turned, and sprinted towards the ball's landing spot. Then, before the ball could hit the ground, he leaped high with his back to the goal, his dominant right foot swinging up from below.
BAM!
The ball was struck violently, deforming intensely. And at this moment, Nagi Seishiro was upside down, his head below his feet, and he fiercely shot the ball into Team Z's goal.
It was a bicycle kick!
The eyes of Team Z's players widened like saucers.
"This guy... is he even human?!"
Isagi's brain replayed the scene from just now over and over. It was a completely different feeling from watching the recording. To be able to train one's trapping to this level... one could basically shoot from wherever they wanted. He somewhat understood why Team Y had been thrashed 8-0 by Team V.
This monster-like trapping ability allowed him to stop the ball wherever he wanted at will. This way, for Nagi's subsequent shots, he could shoot wherever he wanted; there was no problem of not being able to generate power or find the right angle. Because every shot he took was from the optimal shooting angle!
"Our tactics weren't wrong. Team Z did indeed play as we predicted, but..."
They were destroyed by Nagi Seishiro's talent.
0:1!
Less than 30 seconds into the match, Team V had scored against Team Z with lightning speed. This made the overconfident Team Z feel the unpleasant sensation of having a basin of cold water poured over their heads. Consecutive victories had made them somewhat arrogant in their hearts, and the lack of pressure to qualify also made them lack a crucial sense of crisis. This goal was due to Nagi's individual ability, but also due to Team Z underestimating their opponent.
"Hey, Reo, how many more goals?"
Nagi, who had scored the goal, still lacked passion, asking his partner in a soft tone. As if scoring goals was a commonplace thing for him. He could score as many as he wanted!
"Our goal is to score 5, so we still need 4 more," Reo said, looking excitedly at his companion.
This was his treasure! And also the "chosen one" his parents spoke of!
He turned his head to look at Tendou, eager to see what expression that genius from Team Z was making now.
Was he very surprised?
Tendou disappointed him. Reo couldn't see any more emotion on his face. He was frighteningly calm, like a quiet lake where even the water was "dead." Then he silently returned to the center circle for the kickoff.
Is he bluffing?
Mikage Reo returned to his position, waiting for Team Z to kick off.
The match continued.
Tendou passed the ball to Bachira. He seemed more excited than usual today, perhaps stimulated by Nagi.
Swish, swish, swish~
His two legs flickered rapidly like phantoms, doing step-overs in front of the ball.
"That step-over speed!"
The players of Team V were stunned. Those step-overs had the flair of the "bicycle kick boy," Robinho.
Seizing the moment his opponent was stunned, Bachira tapped the ball and completed a nutmeg. Then, he met a second person, flicked the ball up, hooked it with his instep, and did a flip-flap in the air to get past another person. This gorgeous display of dribbling drew most of Team V's defense.
Bachira didn't continue to force it. The monster in his mind was reminding him to pass.
Tap!
He decisively passed the ball horizontally to the center. Tendou's figure arrived just in time. The timing of the pass was perfect.
"Too naive!"
Mikage Reo followed closely behind, his face beaming with the confidence of having everything under control.
"I've already seen through your tactical intentions!"
Team V indeed liked to give the ball to Nagi, letting him do the job of scoring. Because as long as they sent the ball over, Nagi could complete the most crucial step: scoring!
But wasn't Team Z also relying on Tendou to create breakthroughs and scoring opportunities? They had played like this for all three matches!
"Exactly as I thought! Those boring guys will only pass the ball to you in the end!"
Mikage Reo rushed up and stuck his foot out towards the ball. Believing he had seen through everything, he was already thinking about his next one, two, three moves.
But then.
Swish!
What?!
Mikage Reo's mind went blank. He only felt a sudden blur before his eyes, and a streak of white light flashed past. When he raised his head again, Tendou's figure was gone.
"Not a bad judgment," Tendou's magnetic voice sounded in his ear. "But your light... is too dim."
Light?
What light?
Mikage Reo whipped his head around and was horrified to find that Tendou had already rushed behind him, as swift as a cheetah. He also saw that Tendou's body seemed to be enveloped in a hazy, silver-white light. He was no stranger to this kind of thing. When he first met Nagi, Nagi's body had also flickered with this unique light.
That was the unique light that belonged exclusively to a genius, so dazzling that it made one despair.
Swish!
Tendou stomped his foot hard on the turf and tore through the air as he rushed out!
...
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