Chapter 25: Isagi's Awakening
Goal!
Hibiki Okawa roared in triumph, his voice cutting through the Central Pitch. The first half had caged him, but in its dying minutes, he'd broken free, his shot leveling the score.
Niko's heart raced, a surge of exhilaration washing over him. That pass—his pass—had been pinpoint, a bolt from the backline that found Okawa perfectly. He hadn't expected it to land so flawlessly. What a thrill.
"Oooohhhh!" Team Y erupted, their cheers shaking the air. Their first goal in Blue Lock—a mark etched into their short history. Hope sparked in their eyes. They could score. They could win.
Team Z, meanwhile, stood dazed. The goal had struck like lightning, too fast to process. Only a few had reacted in time; the rest were left blinking, caught off guard. But the shock carried a silver lining: it was a wake-up call. Victory wouldn't come easy.
Kira sank into thought. Niko was Team Y's linchpin—should he focus on shutting him down? Their counterattacks were deadly, but as a center forward, Kira couldn't babysit a defender all game. What about Isagi? In the manga, Isagi's sharp instincts had unraveled Team Y's core. Assigning him to mark Niko could free Kira to unleash hell on offense.
"Ikki Niko…"
Kira snapped out of his strategizing to find Isagi at his side, his voice low but firm. "Kira, I've figured it out. Team Y's core isn't that Okawa guy who scored. It's the one with the long bangs."
Kira raised an eyebrow, hiding a grin. Isagi, are you finally waking up? "Got a plan to crack him?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"I'll mark him," Isagi declared, his eyes blazing with confidence. "Kira, you focus on attacking. With me on Niko, their counterattacks are done."
Since when did this guy get so bold? Kira marveled at Isagi's shift. The missed shot earlier had lit a fire under him. While stewing in guilt, Isagi had been dissecting the pitch, catching Okawa's subtle repositioning before anyone else. He'd realized Niko wasn't just Team Y's last defensive line—he was the spark for their counters. Neutralize him, and Team Y would crumble.
Kira nodded, impressed by Isagi's resolve. "You've got this."
A few minutes later, the whistle blew, signaling the end of the first half. The score stood at 1-1. Both teams trudged to their locker rooms.
…
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
Kira chugged water, catching his breath. Blue Lock's intensity was brutal, especially for those without endless stamina. Luckily, defenders like Igaguri had it easier today, practically strolling the pitch.
Isagi spoke up, his voice steady. "Listen up, everyone. Team Y's game is counterattacks. The second they get the ball, our defense needs to be sharp. Watch Okawa's movement especially—their passes are aimed at him."
Team Z's players blinked, surprised. Isagi, taking charge? They weren't used to him calling the shots. But their eyes flicked behind him, seeking confirmation.
Thump.
Kira's hand landed on Isagi's shoulder. "He's right," Kira said, his voice carrying authority. "Team Y doesn't have a monster like Barou, but their defense is tight, and Okawa's offense is no joke. In the second half, I'm counting on our backline."
"No problem, Kira!"
"Leave it to us!"
"We won't let them score a single goal!" Gagamaru vowed, his face set with determination.
The defenders nodded, fired up. But Isagi's mind churned. Kira's presence in Team Z was unshakable—without his backing, would anyone have taken his tactics seriously? Am I leaning on him too much?
He'd come to Blue Lock to forge his own path, not to ride someone else's coattails. Yet Kira's skill and charisma made it so easy to follow him. But he's my rival too, isn't he?
Dark thoughts crept in, unbidden. Should I really trust Kira this much?
"Ah, forget it!" Isagi muttered, shaking his head. "Let's just win this match first."
Kira, mid-discussion with the team, caught Isagi's turmoil out of the corner of his eye. A smirk tugged at his lips. Is this leek finally sprouting? he thought, glee bubbling inside. Grow faster, Isagi, so I can absorb those sweet attributes!
…
Central Pitch.
Beeep.
"The second half begins."
Team Y stuck to their first-half playbook: defend deep, strike on the counter. Team Z held possession but struggled to pierce the defensive wall.
Kira held off on using a Trial Card. With plenty of time left, he wanted to see how the game unfolded.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Kunigami received a pass from Isagi near the penalty area. He unleashed a long-range shot, but the Team Y goalkeeper dove, tipping it out of bounds.
Corner kick.
Bachira skipped to the corner flag, his eyes gleaming with mischief. Scanning the box, he grinned. Found you.
He took a few steps and whipped the ball in, aiming for the goalmouth. It dropped perfectly where Gagamaru, Team Z's flexible wild card, had slipped into position.
Bachira had spotted him early, tailoring the kick for Gagamaru's leap. But as Gagamaru rose to head the ball, the unexpected happened.
Team Y's goalkeeper charged off his line, abandoning the goal. With a powerful punch, he sent the ball flying.
Gagamaru missed, left grasping at air. The ball sailed outside the penalty area.
And there, waiting, was Ikki Niko.
Niko and the keeper were in sync, their plan clear: turn Team Z's attack into their own opportunity. With so many Team Z players committed to the corner, their backline was thin. This counter was primed to succeed.
"Damn it!"
"The keeper punched it out!"
"We pushed too many forward—if Okawa gets that ball…"
Team Z's players sensed the danger. In the distance, Hibiki Okawa was already positioned in their half, poised for Niko's pass.
But as Niko moved to receive the ball, a figure flashed in front of him.
Isagi Yoichi.
"You're Team Y's core, aren't you?" Isagi said, his voice brimming with confidence as he controlled the ball with his chest.
The pass from the goalkeeper was intercepted. Niko stared, stunned. How did he figure me out?
Isagi's lips curved into a triumphant smile. He'd stolen Team Y's chance.
Time to end them.
He accelerated, the ball at his feet, charging straight for Team Y's goal.
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Here's an extra chapter for reaching 100 Power Stones. When we hit 200, I'll release another one. GIVE ME YOUR POWER STONES!!💎💎💎
For every 100 total Power Stones, I'll drop another +1 extra chapter!
If you're enjoying the story and want to read future chapters early, just search "Demonic_Fiction" on "P4trƐon" (link in the synopsis)