"The assassin, Karasu Tabito, relies on his keen analytical ability to lock onto the weakest link in the opponent's formation, then continuously pressures that player, carrying this approach through to the end of the match."
"Anyone he targets will not have a good ending."
In the control room, the attention of both Anri Teieri and Ego Jinpachi had shifted to this match. This game had too many players they were focused on cultivating.
"That's right. Although they are ranked fifth in all of Blue Lock, Mikage Reo and Chigiri Hyoma are, after all, genius players who passed all my assessments."
"Even though their rankings are more than ten places apart from Karasu's, to be passed so easily... Karasu's ball-shielding ability is truly top-class."
In the world of football, the importance of ball shielding is self-evident. It is the foundation for both offense and defense. A player with excellent ball-shielding ability can always better protect possession, reduce the risk of turnovers, create more attacking opportunities, and delay the opponent's counter-attack.
Whether it's offense or defense, all football tactics are built on your ability to hold onto the ball. But to achieve this is not easy. Controlling your position, correct posture, the use of your arms, lowering your center of gravity, and feints. Only a player who meets these five conditions can better protect the ball at their feet from being easily stolen.
And Karasu Tabito. He met these five conditions. He was especially good at feints and using his arms to keep opponents from getting close. That's why Karasu was No. 5!
BAM!
Hmm?
Just as Anri and Ego were discussing Karasu, a loud bang suddenly came from the field. They immediately looked over and saw what had happened on another screen.
The moment Mikage Reo kicked off, while everyone was wondering how Tendou's team would orchestrate their attack, Tendou met the ball with a furious shot.
Accompanied by a terrifying explosive sound! The ball, after being intensely deformed by Tendou's kick, transformed into a streak of white light and shot towards the opponent's goal.
A full 40 meters from the goal. (The author notes: I don't know if there's accurate data, but referencing Barou's shooting range of 30 meters, the shrunken field is probably about 40 meters long, it shouldn't reach 50 meters.)
From this position, the previous Tendou might not have been able to do it. But his current shooting attribute has already reached the critical point of 89, just one point away from breaking the 90-point mark. He could completely try a speculative shot, even if the goal was also shrunken.
The ball instantly lifted off the ground, tore through the air with a whistle, and aimed for the top right corner of the goal.
A 60% success rate! If he were given this choice 100 times, he would take the shot without hesitation.
SWISH!
The ball flew past the goalkeeper's fingertips and into the dead corner of the net.
"BEEP!"
The whistle blew, and the four English letters "GOAL" immediately appeared on the four walls.
The goal is valid.
1:1!
Tendou's team was behind for less than 10 seconds before they tied the score in a flash.
This goal.
It stunned everyone, including Chigiri and Reo. The two "peepers" in the control room were naturally no exception.
"A direct shot from the center circle!!" Anri covered her mouth with both hands.
"...His shooting accuracy has improved again," Ego said, feigning calmness despite the shock in his heart. "It wasn't a waste for me to give him special treatment."
...
On the field.
Looking at the ball rolling out of the net, Karasu's smile seemed a bit stiff.
This was a goal directly from the center circle. Even if the field was specially made and had shrunk quite a bit compared to a normal one, this was still a goal directly from the center circle. And even the goal was shrunken, making it harder to score.
"What you guys spend all your effort to accomplish, I can do with just one kick. Is that what you mean?" Karasu said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. They hadn't even had time to celebrate before the score was tied by the opponent. A goal like this was the most damaging to morale.
"No. 1... so this is what you're made of."
"Karasu!"
"It's fine. Continue to play according to our plan."
After reassuring his teammates, Karasu once again demanded the ball from Otoya's feet.
"After all, finding the guy who's dragging the team down, exploiting their weakness, and relentlessly attacking until the opponent is finished... that's my specialty!"
He once again found Mikage Reo without hesitation. This was Karasu. Asking him to go head-to-head with the most troublesome guy? In your dreams! Since he was a child, he had always played football using this method with the highest win rate.
So what if you, Tendou, are strong by yourself?
"Damn it!"
Reo gritted his teeth and closed in. The pace of a 3-on-3 match is extremely fast; every exchange is a 3-on-3 in the attacking third. In the midst of close-quarters combat, a goal could be born at any moment.
BAM!
The two of them slammed into each other. Reo was clearly no match for him in this aspect and was pushed back step by step.
"All-around players are often the easiest to become all-nothing. Do you know why, Mikage Reo?"
"Because knowing a little bit of everything also means you're a master of none..."
Karasu continuously stimulated his opponent with words. Every sentence pierced his heart.
Damn it!
Reo used all his strength, but was still pushed out of position by his opponent. The arm that Karasu extended was like a ruler, always keeping him at a distance from the ball.
And then.
"This time, I won't give you that kind of chance again."
"Monster!"
Karasu stared straight at Tendou, and his right foot suddenly shot out, sending the ball to the half-space near the penalty area.
"So it's like this. Don't even think about it." Chigiri, as if he had predicted it, was about to turn and chase back.
But then.
Before he could turn, it was as if something had floated past him. The feeling was chilling; he had been passed, and only realized it afterward.
It was Otoya Eita.
"Otoya Eita, the 'shadow striker' who scores goals from the shadows. It's said that he's a descendant of ninjas," Anri said, rattling off the details of the geniuses in Blue Lock. For any player they were focused on, all their information was crystal clear.
But Tendou felt that instead of calling Otoya a ninja or a shadow striker, it was more like his off-the-ball movement was exceptionally outstanding. He was good at hiding outside the enemy's field of vision and then finishing with a fatal blow in coordination with Karasu's pass. This duo could be called a golden pair.
Otoya let out a strange "bami" sound from his mouth, and with an extension of his left foot, he steadily controlled the ball. All that was left was the final step: scoring!
"You're a lot like a friend of mine."
Hmm?
The moment Otoya was about to take his shot, Tendou's calm voice suddenly sounded in his ear, so calm that it even felt a little cold.
"That guy was also very good at hiding in others' blind spots, active on the court as a shadow."
"But my eyes are very good at finding people like you."
Tendou Kageyoshi?!
When?!
At this moment, not just Otoya, but even Karasu couldn't help but shudder. Karasu clearly remembered that just now, Tendou's position was still near the middle of the field, at least 30 meters from the penalty area. Could it be that his speed was so fast he could even catch up to the ball he kicked out?
"No! He saw through my attacking intention!" Karasu's brain spun rapidly, recalling the scene from before.
He discovered that his own attacking intention, which he was so good at calculating, had actually been seen through!
...
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