"Great success..."
"This match is practically ours now."
Halftime.
In the locker room, Kuon excitedly pumped his fists, "It's really lucky to be on the same team as Ryosuke, otherwise we would be the ones on the defensive."
The wild monster Igaguri nodded, "That's right."
Naruhaya looked at Kira Ryosuke with idolizing eyes, stars twinkling in them, "Hey, why don't you sign an autograph for me now? I have a feeling it'll be worth a lot someday."
"Ah, I want one too."
Imamura raised his hand, not wanting to be left behind.
The atmosphere was harmonious.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, Raichi slammed his fist against the locker door, somewhat annoyed, "Hey, you guys, aren't you getting too carried away? Have you forgotten why we're here?"
"We're here to become the world's best Forward, how can we get lost in someone else's brilliant performance?"
"We need to score ourselves."
"Hmm, I agree with that for now."
Kunigami, who hadn't scored yet, had a high fighting spirit in his eyes.
Isagi Yoichi, Bachira, Chigiri, and others fell silent, but it wasn't hard to see from their eyes that it was clearly a display of surging fighting spirit.
Kira Ryosuke actually quite supported the ideas of Raichi and the others.
After all, for the brutal Blue Lock, if opponents didn't grow, it wouldn't help him much either.
Therefore.
As everyone fell into a quiet moment.
He stood up, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
A faint smile appeared on Kira Ryosuke's face, "I'm glad you haven't forgotten the purpose of coming here."
"Although I can help you advance in this round, we might become opponents later, just like the first 'tag' game. The weak will be mercilessly eliminated, completely losing their qualification to be selected for the national team."
"If you want to stay and become the world's best Forward..."
"Then develop your own weapon, devour me; only then can you take your steps towards becoming the world's best."
Boom—
The moment his words fell.
The fighting spirit of all the Team Z players in the locker room burned fiercely.
That's right!
They were not stepping stones for a genius!
They were all candidates for the world's best Forward, selected from across the country.
How could they be reduced to someone else's stepping stone?
Feeling the countless sharp and fervent gazes fixed on him, Kira Ryosuke smiled. If the venomous insects aren't fierce, how can they become king?
He didn't need a bunch of incompetent hangers-on.
When Team Z walked out of the locker room again.
That strong aura instantly assailed the players of Team Y.
They were somewhat confused; clearly, the opponent was the one with the advantage, yet their expressions looked as excited as if they had been injected with adrenaline, as if they were the ones who were behind and needed to catch up.
In the monitoring room.
"Slurp."
Ego Jinpachi slurped his instant noodles, watching the Team Z versus Team Y match with a deep gaze.
Anri was organizing documents nearby, muttering softly, "Ego-sensei, is it alright? Eating instant noodles every day isn't nutritious enough."
"Hmph."
Hearing this, Ego merely glanced at her, then his gaze returned to the match on the monitor, "I'm just giving back to my past self who couldn't eat anything freely."
Anri shrugged helplessly, showing respect.
Suddenly, her gaze fell on Kira Ryosuke on the screen, her beautiful eyes slightly brightening, "He's really amazing, this kid. At only 17 years old, he possesses such outstanding ball skills. No wonder the media praises him, regarding him as the savior of Japanese football's future."
"With him, perhaps Blue Lock can really produce the world's best Forward."
Ego didn't reply, concentrating on drinking the soup in his cup. Only then did he satisfactorily wipe the stains from the corners of his mouth, his glasses glinting with a bright light under the reflection of the video, "Probably."
"From an individual ability standpoint, he might indeed be the limit standard a Japanese person under 18 can reach."
"However, merely this is not enough..."
His gaze gradually deepened, as if a scene unfolded in his eyes.
In it were a group of blond, blue-eyed guys, showcasing various world-class Forward performances.
It was precisely because he had witnessed too many young geniuses that Ego Jinpachi was so eager to cultivate a Forward capable of contending with the world.
Otherwise, Japan would not escape the shadow of failure.
Kira Ryosuke, in his eyes, had only barely met this standard.
Moreover, the chairman had recommended Kira Ryosuke to other national clubs through the footage of the first-round match against Team X.
This had attracted the attention of many scouts.
Even clubs like Bastard München and England Manchester City had offered youth training spots, inviting Kira Ryosuke to join.
However, due to Ego's intervention, this had been temporarily put on hold.
Although he didn't know how long it could be delayed, Ego was determined to create Blue Lock's true world-class Forward before then.
At this moment, on the green field.
Kira Ryosuke immediately displayed an overwhelming sense of pressure upon entering the field.
He passed with Bachira, breaking through Team Y's dense defensive lines and penetrating directly into the penalty area.
They seemed to be of one mind, their consciousnesses completely intertwined; the ball always reached the other at the optimal moment.
"So good, that's amazing."
"I feel the roar of the monster in your body, Ryosuke." Bachira's eyes held a hint of madness, "This is a collision of monsters, no one can stop us."
Their speed was very fast.
Two defenders knew they couldn't stop Kira Ryosuke, so they tried to break through Bachira.
"Perfect timing."
"I'm having a burst of inspiration right now."
A hint of black flame brewed in his pupils, his feet moved like the wind, using a high-speed step-over to break past one person.
Then he turned skillfully.
The moment another defender came to cover, he flicked the ball with his heel.
"Damn it, it's a rainbow flick! This guy's dribbling is strong..."
The defender lost his balance, only able to shout, "Don't let him pass!"
Bachira stuck out his tongue, observing the pressing defensive line, a strange, eerie smile on his face, "Oh, are you all coming this way?"
"You seem to have forgotten, on the other side, there's a real monster..."
Bang!
In an instant, the ball was swept by Bachira, its powerful spin bypassing numerous defenders who tried to jump and block, sliding towards Kira Ryosuke's feet.
Whoosh—
The moment he received the ball, Kira Ryosuke's brow furrowed.
He sensed a chill.
"Is that Niko?"
"You really saw it too, the flow of the game..."
Niko Isshiki appeared beside Kira Ryosuke at the opportune moment, "That's right, monster."
"Even if my talent and strength are not as good as yours, I will never lose to you in the use of these eyes."
He had preemptively positioned himself where the ball would land.
In terms of height and technique, he couldn't compare to Kira Ryosuke, but Bachira's shot had a high-speed spin. After it stopped, it wouldn't be easy to shake off his defense.
Now, as long as others came to cover.
Then this crisis could be resolved.
This was his keen perception of the field; this time, it was finally his turn to evolve his weapon.
"You..."
"That's quite good."
As the two jostled for position, Niko suddenly heard Kira Ryosuke's voice drift slowly, followed by a slight curve at the corner of his mouth.
Niko's hairs stood on end; he felt like he had missed something.
Then he saw Kira Ryosuke leap high.
He began to rotate in mid-air.
"That's..."
Niko's pupils dilated, "An overhead kick direct shot..."
A powerful, heavy volley.
Carrying a burning flame, it pierced through the goalkeeper's save and hit the net with a resounding thud.
Goal — — — — — —
Kira Ryosuke achieved his second hat-trick.