The match had just begun, and Isagi Yoichi's team had already launched a fierce offensive. Unlike Tendou's team, the members of their team were mostly strong on offense and weak on defense. For them, using offense as the best defense was the best choice.
With a "bami," Otoya Eita appeared silently, like a shadow, getting to the first ball before Chigiri Hyoma. The next second, he was sprinting along the right touchline, his body cloaked in a layer of verdant green flames, his feet tapping the turf rapidly like a ghost.
It was also at this moment that, with a bzzzt, Tendou exhaled an arc of electricity and flashed in front of him. It was just one person, yet it made the No. 6, Otoya, feel as if he were facing a great mountain, unshakable. A black monster clung to his back, letting out a silent laugh, mocking his opponent for overestimating his own abilities.
"Are you going to take him on, Eita?"
Karasu Tabito watched the two of them. For these players, Blue Lock was both hell and heaven. In just about two months, Karasu felt that he had improved a lot. There were all sorts of genius forwards here. Playing against them always pushed him to his limits, and then he would break through those limits.
He wanted to see if his companion had evolved again after not seeing him for a few days. And if he could challenge the No. 1, Tendou!
The two figures, one black and one green, rushed towards each other at full speed, looking as if they were about to collide.
However.
Otoya did not rashly challenge Tendou. That pair of azure eyes made him extremely wary. The moment he was about to make contact with Tendou, he fiercely kicked the ball out. The ball lifted off the ground from the right half-space of the penalty area, whistling as it headed towards a position near the edge of the box.
"This ball is mine!" Isagi roared in his heart, rushing towards the ball's first landing spot.
This was the first time he was facing Tendou in a match. To be honest, he thought he would be very nervous, very anxious. However, when he stepped onto this turf and stood opposite Tendou, his blood began to boil with excitement.
He admired and worshiped Tendou. This was undeniable. He was often mesmerized by the sight of Tendou galloping across the green field.
But in the end, that was the version of himself that Isagi Yoichi dreamed of. He hoped that one day, he could also be that dazzling.
"Always looking up from behind, watching Tendou's back as I move forward... I'll never be able to see the scenery that's in front of Tendou."
"I will catch up to you, and even surpass you! Starting with this goal!"
Many thoughts flashed through Isagi's mind at this moment. All the cells in his body became active with his fervent fighting spirit. He wanted to use this goal to prove to everyone that he was no worse than anyone else.
But.
With a BAM, just as Isagi rushed to the first ball and was preparing to take a direct shot without trapping it, a crow slammed into him at the perfect time.
In that instant, all the scripts Isagi had constructed in his mind were shattered to pieces. The pressure from Karasu made him completely lose his position, making it impossible for him to take a direct shot. Isagi wanted to fight back, but he was pushed back step by step.
"Just like what that young master and young lady said, your sense of smell is indeed very sharp."
"That guy Eita is always silent when he runs. Ordinary people can't keep up with his rhythm."
"But, just as Eita told you, I'm very good at targeting my opponent's weaknesses. And you, Isagi Yoichi, you are the weak point of this team."
A corner of Karasu's mouth lifted. His formula for victory would not be wrong. If it were, it could only prove that he was not as good as his opponent. But clearly, Isagi was not Tendou. This weak point... he, Karasu, had to target it to death today.
"What are you dawdling for, Isagi!"
Suddenly.
Just when Isagi thought it was all over, a crimson aura was released from behind him. Barou Shouei had come out from behind Isagi, something Karasu had not expected.
"What's going on? Are these guys really teammates?"
Karasu's smile froze. This didn't look like a pre-planned team tactic at all; it was more like improvisation.
"To score a goal for himself... he would even devour his own teammates?"
No wonder they could defeat Eita's and Yo's team. This group of people is quite remarkable.
But.
BAM!
Karasu quickly turned, his powerful right arm shooting out like lightning. Within the rules, he blocked Barou's shot.
"What amazing power!"
The ball was right in front of him, but Barou couldn't use his full strength to kick it because he couldn't break through Karasu's arm! He managed to get a weak shot off, and the powerless ball was collected by the Blue Lock Man.
"Phew, that was close. Almost lost a goal."
Karasu looked at the two in front of him with lingering fear.
"Is he the 'I alone am the honored one' type of player? His physical condition is quite outstanding, and his control over the game is only second-rate, but he will score for himself by observing his teammates' runs and sense of the game."
"I see, I see. Installation complete!"
Karasu said with a relaxed expression. If he had been even a little careless just now, their goal would have been breached by the opponent. He had never expected a team like this. Isagi used his teammates' abilities to get the ball into his shooting range, and his teammate, in turn, used his goal-scoring instincts to find a scoring opportunity.
How should one describe such a team? Very strange, but also very difficult to predict. Their actions were beyond common sense.
"Damn it! This guy... this is the No. 5!"
Isagi clenched his fists, his expression visibly grave. Just now, that one person had blocked both him and Barou. He seemed to have underestimated the geniuses of Blue Lock a little. Tendou, Itoshi Rin, and even Nagi from his own team... these geniuses in the top ten were all too strong.
'Is he that fierce? He blocked both Isagi and Barou by himself?'
'And he's so cocky!'
'Sticking a hand out like that in the penalty area, isn't that a foul?'
'Of course it's not a foul! Do you think football is the NBA, where you get a free throw for a slight touch?'
'That's right. Football is the most physically demanding sport in the world. It's much stricter now; you rarely see 'scissor kicks.' Back in the 70s and 80s, people would really get their legs broken from tackles.'
'Scissor kick? Inspector Wong's signature move?'
'Hahaha, of course, it's not that exaggerated. But I can be sure that if the NBA is a normal show, then a football match is at the level of a restricted show, the kind that needs to be censored.'
'Why do I feel like Tendou's team is even harder to play against than Rin's?'
'And they still have Tendou!'
The netizens couldn't help but worry for Isagi. They suddenly felt that Tendou's team was a bit overpowered.
'Nonsense! Didn't you watch before? When Rin went to challenge Tendou, Karasu was the one who volunteered to step up. He's not afraid of Rin at all. Even if his strength isn't as good as Rin's, he's probably not far off.'
...
Get 30+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"