"No, Tendou is Tendou, and I am me. I am Isagi Yoichi!"
Isagi quickly shook his head. He shouldn't lump himself in with Tendou. What he needed to do now was to properly defend against Mikage Reo.
"Think, Isagi! Think of a way to take down Reo!"
He believed in Tendou one hundred percent. He wouldn't force himself to do things he couldn't do, but instead would use his own strength: thinking. In terms of physical attributes and player technique, he was inferior to Reo in every aspect; he had no chance in a one-on-one duel.
In his initial "thinking," he couldn't find an equation for victory.
"Then I have to think about something deeper. I need to use my opponents and teammates!"
Tendou, seeing that Isagi had already started to "put the puzzle together," thought to himself that this game was probably in the bag even without him.
...
Team V's turn.
After kicking off, Mikage Reo wanted to find Nagi Seishiro. Isagi flashed over to block his passing lane, forcing Reo to pass the ball to Zantetsu. The latter received the ball and took off, sprinting rapidly along the wing.
Team V's offense was actually very simple. After watching their three matches, Tendou discovered that their attack only had a few tricks up its sleeve. The trio of Reo, Zantetsu, and Nagi was indeed very strong. Reo organized the attack, Zantetsu tore apart the defensive line, and Nagi delivered the final blow. The ball was at the feet of these three for most of the time, and that included defense.
But... playing too simply was their weakness. As long as the skill gap wasn't too large, such a simple offense could be easily contained.
"This time, it's my turn to take you down, you idiot four-eyes!"
Chigiri Hyoma immediately started moving his legs, fully intending to have a showdown with Zantetsu.
"Idiot? Do I know you well?!" Zantetsu's face darkened. It was one thing for Reo and Nagi to call him that, but who were you?
The two "fast horses" began to tear at each other along the wing. All the way to the half-space near the penalty area, Zantetsu decisively sent in a cross.
Still looking for Nagi Seishiro!
Chigiri reacted quickly, throwing his body out to block the ball at the last possible moment.
Tap!
The ball hit his foot, changed direction, and bounced high into the air. Nagi was forced to brake and turn to chase the ball's landing spot. His speed wasn't slow; if not top-tier, it was at least first-class. After all, his natural physical talent was there for all to see.
Tap!
He easily brought down this "hospital ball." With a gentle touch, the ball was controlled perfectly.
And then.
Nagi's body spun like a top. At least 30 meters from the goal, he volleyed the ball in mid-air.
BAM!
THUD!
The sound of the ball being struck and the sound of it hitting a human body rang out one after the other.
It was Isagi.
He had come out of nowhere, blocking Nagi's volley at the last moment.
"As I thought... the place with the strongest scent of a goal is here!" He looked quite pathetic at the moment, having taken a ball to the face. Even though it was his forehead, it still hurt. Isagi had appeared in the most critical place. His thinking was not limited to himself and Reo, but had included his opponents and even his teammates.
Basketball or football, it's the same. The purpose of tactics is to create better scoring opportunities. And Team V's tactics were clear at a glance. If it were a normal person, they probably wouldn't have thought of this position; they would have thought the penalty area was the most dangerous zone. They would have thought that Nagi could get the ball into the box and then shoot.
But Isagi thought deeper! He had included his teammate Chigiri in his calculations and finally came up with this answer.
This was his talent!
Next.
It was Team Z's counter-attack.
"Nice one, Isagi!"
Kunigami, who was tracking back, effortlessly gained possession of the ball and then sent it towards Tendou. The pace of the match was very fast because both teams were the type to play very simply.
Team V was a three-point line, with the unshakable iron triangle playing amongst themselves, and the others not really doing much. Team Z, on the other hand, would send the ball to Tendou as soon as they got it, using his individual ability to tear apart the opponent's defensive line. Both played very simply.
Tap!
A perfectly-timed pass. Tendou controlled it steadily. Three matches of cooperation were enough to let Team Z know Tendou's speed. The moment the ball landed, Tendou's body had already shot out. The kicked-up turf and dirt were proof of how swift his explosion was. All of this happened in an instant; the players of Team V hadn't even reacted yet.
"Don't just stand there! Stop him, quick!" Reo shouted again.
Hearing this, the players of Team V immediately formed a compact midfield. Four people and four people, they linked up with each other to form a line, like a chain. No matter which direction Team Z attacked from, they would have enough time and space for联动.
Chain defense? (Catenaccio)
Tendou had been watching match videos and football history every day during this time and had already recognized this as the Italians' most famous defensive formation.
No retreat, no hesitation.
Tendou crashed over like a comet, intending to break this chain.
Mikage Reo's position was further back, which allowed him to keep up with Tendou's advance from the very beginning. He didn't try to challenge him alone, but coordinated with his teammates to pincer him. The defensive line, which was originally a chain, instantly closed up, and at the same time, they prevented Tendou from passing by covering the sides. As long as Tendou dared to pass, they were confident they could intercept the ball.
This was the targeted defense Mikage Reo had arranged for Tendou.
And Tendou.
"Cleave!"
The terrifying step frequency instantly erupted: 4 touches in one second.
The incredible frequency of his touches created an illusion for Mikage Reo and the defenders of Team V. Every time they stuck out their feet, their vision had already seen their foot touch the ball...
But in reality, the feet they stuck out only kicked air. What they were defending against was the Tendou of the previous step.
"A time-lag illusion!"
It was also the first time Mikage Reo had ever encountered such a situation. Is it possible that besides Nagi, there's another person who's like Messi? In his line of sight, Tendou's body had already produced afterimages, becoming blurry.
'He's practically a superman!' the viewers watching the show couldn't help but exclaim.
Enhanced by the special effects, Tendou was like he was dancing among a crowd. The change in pace from fast to slow perfectly showcased his power.
CRACK!
Team V's first chain was thus broken by Tendou.
But they still had a second one.
"Don't stop! Keep running!"
Mikage Reo didn't stand there stunned. He chased after Tendou's back. The first chain was broken, but they still had a second. The current Tendou was right in the middle of Team V's eight players, at the center of the defensive vortex.
"Big Data Statistics: Current formation faced is Italian Catenaccio. Big Data reference: 2006 World Cup, Italy vs. Australia knockout match. Currently at the center of the enemy's defense, with a total of 8 defenders in front and behind. Goal success rate: 21%. On the right side, teammate Chigiri Hyoma is making a high-speed forward run to support. Big Data Statistics recommendation: Pass to the right half-space!"
Only a 21% success rate. There was no reason to be stubborn.
BAM!
Tendou didn't hesitate. He didn't even look, and he was too lazy to even turn his Six Eyes. He just blasted the ball towards the right half-space of Team Y's (should be V's) penalty area.
And behind the ball, two figures were rapidly chasing after it.
"Don't even think about it, little Chigiri! My speed is greater than yours!" Tsurugi Zantetsu kept pace, a retort to Chigiri's "idiot four-eyes" comment.
"Who are you calling little Chigiri, you idiot four-eyes!" Chigiri Hyoma unreservedly unleashed his maximum speed, competing in a race with his opponent.
Tendou's reminder from not long ago suddenly exploded in his mind.
"The other meaning of 'his initial acceleration is faster' is that when it comes to a full sprint, my speed is superior!"
The "young lady" roared. Understanding Tendou's meaning, he ran forward recklessly, like a red wild horse that had broken its reins.
And then.
He won. Once the distance exceeded 10 meters, the advantage of his higher top speed became apparent. And at this moment, the ball appeared right in front of his pupils, without him even needing to adjust.
"What a flawless pass, you bastard Tendou!"
"Since that's the case, I'll let the matter of you mocking my crossing being worse than Bachira's slide for now!"
Tap~
Chigiri tapped the ball forward and cut inside, breaking into Team V's penalty area. He had already noticed that Tendou, after making the pass, had also made a run into Team V's box. Because of Tendou's goal just now, Team V's defenders were involuntarily running with him.
This was the best scoring opportunity!
BAM!
Chigiri no longer hesitated. He met the ball with a finesse shot.
...
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