Chapter 22: Spear versus Shield
In the days defore the match.
Kira led Team Z through grueling training sessions, every moment charged with the drive to dominate their next match. Between drills, he absorbed Attribute Cards from his teammates, steadily honing his skills to a razor's edge. The team also ran intense internal practice matches to sharpen their instincts.
During these sessions, Kira realized Iemon wasn't the average player he'd first assumed. The guy was quietly competent in every area—not a standout, but a dependable all-rounder who could hold the line. A jack-of-all-trades, huh? Kira thought, impressed.
Raichi, as Kira had predicted, tapped into his raw defensive potential. In practice matches, his relentless, in-your-face defending even frustrated Kira himself, marking Raichi as a wall that refused to budge.
Bachira, as always, was a whirlwind on the field, dribbling with a gleeful grin that made it seem like the ball was an extension of his body.
For Kunigami, Kira offered pointed advice during a break. "Your left foot's a cannon, but your right's lagging behind. Balance it out, and you'll be unstoppable." Kunigami nodded, determination in his eyes, and spent the next few days drilling his weaker foot with relentless focus.
Isagi trained hard but was clearly distracted, wrestling with the question of his "weapon." His brow furrowed in thought, chasing an answer that still eluded him.
Team Z was coming together, each member carving their path to improvement with disciplined intensity.
Kira also made a bold call, switching their formation from a 4-4-2 to an aggressive 4-3-3. He, Kunigami, and Bachira would spearhead the attack as forwards, with Chigiri, Raichi, and Isagi controlling the midfield. The remaining players would anchor the defense.
When pressed about the change, Kira grinned confidently. "We're hitting the next match with everything we've got. Full-on attack mode." But deep down, he had a calculated edge. Having read the Blue Lock manga, he knew Team Y would come with a suffocating 5-4-1 defensive setup. To shatter that shield, Team Z needed to flood the opponent's half with attackers, overwhelming their defense with relentless pressure.
...
Match Day
Blue Lock, Building 5, Central Pitch
The day of the match arrived, and Team Z stepped onto the field to find Team Y already warming up, their focus sharp as a blade.
As Kira scanned the opposition, his system flared with notifications:
[Detected attribute that can be absorbed!]
[Vision +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Passing +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Absorb?]
[Detected attribute that can be absorbed!]
[Dribbling +10 (Continuous decay)]
[Shooting +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Absorb?]
"Absorb," Kira whispered, his voice steady.
[Absorption successful. Obtained Ikki Niko Attribute Trial Card x1]
[Vision +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Passing +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Silently chant 'Use Ikki Niko Trial Card' to activate!]
[Absorption successful. Obtained Hibiki Okawa Attribute Trial Card x1]
[Dribbling +10 (Continuous decay)]
[Shooting +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Silently chant 'Use Hibiki Okawa Trial Card' to activate!]
Kira's lips curved into a smirk. He'd kept two slots open for today, and Team Y's players delivered. Ikki Niko's vision and passing were like a sharper, more refined version of Isagi's current abilities. If Isagi can find his spark in this match, he'll level up fast, Kira thought, glancing at his teammate.
"They're here before us?" Isagi said, eyes wide with surprise.
Kira felt it too—Team Y's intensity was palpable. After their 8-0 loss to Team V, another defeat would all but eliminate them. They were playing for their lives.
"That number 9… I know him," Igaguri said, his voice tight. "Hibiki Okawa, Kumamoto Prefecture's top scorer!"
The name sent a ripple of unease through Team Z. This was the team that got obliterated 8-0? The air grew thick with tension.
Kira clapped sharply, cutting through the nerves. "Focus up, everyone! We stick to the plan. Let's do this! One, two, three—"
"Team Z, Victory!" they shouted, their voices echoing with resolve.
…
A few minutes later, Kickoff
Beeep.
The whistle blew, and the match kicked off. With possession determined by rankings, Team Z started with the ball.
"Isagi, let's go!" Kira called, charging forward.
Team Z's 4-3-3 formation snapped into place, six players—Kira, Kunigami, Bachira, Chigiri, Raichi, and Isagi—storming into Team Y's half, leaving just four defenders to guard their goal.
Team Y's players faltered, their voices laced with shock.
"What's this? Did they figure out our tactic?"
"Why are they all rushing forward like that?"
Their 5-4-1 was built to choke out attacks, but Team Z's aggressive surge threw them off balance. Suspicion flickered among them—had their strategy been leaked?
A figure with long bangs, wearing number 7, stepped forward. Ikki Niko raised his arms, rallying his team. "Stay calm, everyone! This is our chance! Their backline's exposed. If we hold firm, our counterattack will crush them!"
"Follow Niko's lead!"
"Defend! Defend!"
Kira overheard their plan but didn't flinch, weaving through Team Y's formation, eyes sharp for a pass from Isagi or Bachira.
Isagi controlled the ball in midfield, only to be met by a Team Y defender. With a deft flick of his left foot, he sent the ball to Bachira.
Bachira caught it with a mischievous grin, his body swaying as he danced past one opponent, then another. Two defenders closed in, but Bachira's eyes sparkled. "Two of you? That's not enough to stop me!" he teased, ready to break through.
Kira's instincts screamed. He spotted Niko moving, his positioning too calculated for a simple defender. He's not marking me… so what's he planning?
"Bachira, pass it back!" Kira shouted.
Bachira blinked, confused, but a blur of movement behind him made his heart race. Niko had slipped around, poised to steal the ball. Bachira quickly tapped it back to Isagi, who surged forward to receive it.
Niko, thwarted but composed, retreated to his defensive position. His eyes flicked toward Kira, a silent challenge. This guy's the real threat, he thought.
Kira exhaled, his mind racing. Team Y's defense was tight—coordinated, strategic. They used double-teaming to block the ball carrier, with a third player like Niko ready to swoop in for the steal. Team X relied on Barou's lone-wolf style, but Team Y… they're a real unit.
This is the team that lost 0-8? Kira thought, a mix of awe and adrenaline surging through him. Blue Lock's intensity was on another level, manga knowledge or not.
The ball was back with Isagi. The right flank with Bachira hadn't worked, so he shifted to the left, passing to Chigiri.
Chigiri hesitated for a moment but read Isagi's intent. Spotting Kunigami in position, he sent a precise pass to the forward's feet.
Bachira's earlier dribble had pulled Team Y's defense to the right, leaving a gap for Kunigami. It was perfect—within his shooting range. He raised his left foot, muscles coiling, and—
Boom!
The ball rocketed toward the goal, its trajectory screaming goal. Team Z held their breath, hearts pounding.
But two Team Y defenders, hands behind their backs, leaped in perfect sync, heading the ball clear. The goalkeeper didn't even need to move.
Team Z's attack was snuffed out.
Kunigami stood frozen, his mind reeling. They let me shoot on purpose? Team Y's center-back had baited him, backed by four defenders ready to cover. Their discipline was unreal.
"Kunigami, second ball!" Isagi yelled, voice raw. "Grab the rebound!"
Kunigami snapped out of it, charging toward the loose ball, but he was too slow. The chance was slipping away.
Then Kira appeared.
He'd sensed the trap the moment Kunigami fired. The space had been too perfect, too deliberate. Team Y's confidence screamed preparation. But a loose ball was a new spark of opportunity.
Kira's legs exploded into action, propelling him toward the rebound. He reached it first, steadied the ball, and angled for a shot.
Just as he prepared to strike, a figure blurred in from the side. Before Kira could react, the ball was kicked away, cleared with surgical precision.
"Nice one, Niko!" a Team Y player shouted.
Kira turned, locking eyes with the long-banged defender. Ikki Niko stood calm, a faint smirk on his face. "I saw where it was landing," he said coolly.
Kira's blood surged, a grin breaking across his face. "Not bad," he said, his voice sharp with excitement. "But let's see if your shield can hold up against our spear."
----
Don't forget to drop power stones and comments for the novel!
For every 100 total Power Stones, I'll drop another +1 bonus chapter!
If you're enjoying the story and want to read future chapters early, just search "Demonic_Fiction" on "P4trƐon" (link in the synopsis)