Blue Lock: Beyond Greatness

Chapter 121: The Wolf-Dog Shines in Heroism

"Get back on defense! Shinichi is coming!" Aiku shouted as he sprinted back, calling on his teammates to quickly reorganize their defensive line while keeping a close eye on Barou's movements.

"Although I've watched some footage of other players' matches, he's not a regular starter. We had no idea what Ego's substitute list would look like before the match, so we don't really know this guy's playing habits."

While it seemed unlikely that a substitute would be stronger than a starter, the real danger lay in the unknown.

A completely unfamiliar player could be overlooked at the right moment and create an immeasurable impact.

Compared to someone like Rin—whose strength was undeniable but whose playstyle was well-documented—Aiku found Barou far more unpredictable and, therefore, more terrifying.

In this rapid counterattack, even Sae and the others had no time to retreat.

On the opposing side, only Shinichi had the ability to send a long ball forward while still keeping pace with the counterattack.

That meant this offensive play would rely solely on Shinichi and Barou going up against the U-20 defensive line.

However, as the only one capable of defending against Shinichi, Aiku had no choice but to focus entirely on him, leaving the problem of Barou to his teammates.

"They've already crossed the halfway line, and Shinichi is about to catch up. Soon, they'll be running side by side. In this situation, what would you do?"

Aiku's radar vision locked onto Barou as he backpedaled, carefully analyzing his movements.

He was confident that, aside from Rin and Shinichi, no other player on the field could pose a serious threat to him once he figured out their tendencies.

Hayate knew exactly what his role was—to be the first line of resistance. Even if he got beaten, it wouldn't matter. His job was simply to expose Barou's playing style and provide crucial information for the four defenders behind him.

Without hesitation, Hayate lunged forward to defend against Barou. But just as they were about to make contact, Barou suddenly slammed on the brakes, cutting outward with a sharp turn. Using his heel, he flicked the ball in the opposite direction, leaving Hayate frozen in place, arms outstretched in vain.

"Oh! The newly substituted No. 13, Shouei Barou, is leading the counterattack! A beautiful outside cut and quick change of direction—he's completely shaken off his defender! Next up to stop him is Miroku, but Shinichi is also catching up! Will he pass? A simple one-two here could easily break through the defense!"

On the commentary panel, Atsuto shouted excitedly, echoing exactly what was running through Miroku's mind.

'Will he pass or not?'

Logically, handing the ball to Shinichi would be the best option. Shinichi could effortlessly get past him, while Barou could reposition himself off the ball, expanding the attacking options. But looking at Barou's expression…

Miroku gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to glance at Shinichi. Instead, he locked his eyes onto Barou.

'From all the match footage I've watched, I don't remember seeing a player who never passes, an absolute lone wolf. But judging by how he just beat Hayate…'

Barou's skill was clearly beyond that of a mere substitute. And yet, he hadn't been given a starting position. That could only mean one thing—

"He and Shinichi are incompatible!"

For whatever reason, they simply couldn't synchronize. He wouldn't be like that short, braided player who seamlessly connected with Shinichi. In fact, he might be even worse at it.

And on top of that, Barou was radiating an unmistakable, unfiltered killer intent.

"This guy… He's not passing. Not a chance. He's going to force his way through on his own!"

Having made his decision, Miroku completely ignored Barou's deceptive glance toward Shinichi. Instead, he held his defensive position firmly.

"A heel flick change of direction—I've got your technique figured out. So I'll give you a step, open up a gap for you to break through, and then…"

As expected, Barou didn't pass the ball to Shinichi. Instead, he took on Miroku one-on-one. True to his style, Barou once again used a heel flick to shift directions, successfully shaking off Miroku.

But the next moment, Miroku twisted his body and instantly caught up to him.

"I specialize in off-the-ball defense. When it comes to positioning, I'm more agile than you. All I need to do is give you a step, let you think you can break through, then read your movement and chase you down as if you're an off-ball runner. That way, I can easily block your path!"

"Beautiful, Miroku!" Even his teammates couldn't help but cheer at his precise and composed defensive read.

But Barou wasn't done. Without missing a beat, he slammed on the brakes once more, executing another heel flick to shake off the trailing Miroku yet again.

"What the hell? Consecutive heel flicks? This guy has such a massive frame, yet he can still pull off these kinds of directional changes? Aren't your knees going to give out?"

But now that it was clear Barou wasn't going to pass, the other defenders no longer had any hesitation.

Teppei came sprinting over to cover for the outmaneuvered Miroku, sealing off any potential escape routes for Barou.

"Come on, you stubborn lone wolf. With the power of the pack, even a herbivore like me can take down a predator like you."

"Tch... A predator?" Barou scoffed, his voice filled with frustration. "I know damn well I can't wipe you all out like Shinichi. I know my actions are leading to inevitable failure. I'm nothing but a loser—a beast with shattered bones, cast out of his own territory."

Veins bulged on his forehead as he fought against Teppei's tight defense. Ignoring the creaking pain in his knees, he slammed on the brakes once more, twisting his body and forcing his way through the narrow gap between Teppei and Miroku.

"What's the point of that move? Our trap isn't something you can break through."

As expected, Miroku and Teppei reacted instantly, closing the gap in a heartbeat. Barou had barely taken two steps before his momentum was completely shut down.

Trapped between them, he looked like a wounded beast—ferocious yet helpless, ensnared in a hunter's net.

Or so they thought.

"As if," Barou growled. "I know I'm at the bottom. But I've never once given up on becoming the king. And for that... even if it hurts more than dying, even if it means doing the unthinkable, even if I have to lick that bastard's filthy boots—I'll endure it all!"

With a furious roar, Barou suddenly lifted his foot. Miroku and Teppei, both solely focused on stopping him, never anticipated that after stubbornly refusing to pass so many times, Barou would choose this moment to let go of the ball.

Despite being tightly marked, he somehow managed to get the pass off.

Up ahead, with a grin on his face, Shinichi received Barou's pass effortlessly. Without a moment's hesitation, he ignored Aiku—even in his FLOW state—spun around, flicked the ball up, and unleashed a thunderous strike.

"Well done, you untamed beast—Barou, the wolf-dog."

BOOM!

The shot exploded like a cannon blast.

Aiku's attempt to block it was futile—his body collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

The ball sailed past the stunned goalkeeper without resistance and crashed into the net.

GOOOOOOOAL!!!

U-20 Japan 2 – 6 Blue Lock Team.

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