Blue Lock: I, Ryōsuke Kira, Start With Thunder Breathing

"What?"

Gin was somewhat surprised. Although he had previously seen Shōei pass the ball in videos, witnessing it with his own eyes still left him with a sense of disbelief.

The previous Shōei was the type who would absolutely never pass the ball even if his solo attacks failed — essentially no different from a toxic player. But now, he seemed like a completely different person.

"It seems the former king has been tamed." Gin said to him.

If this were the usual Shōei from before, he would certainly have flown into a rage after hearing someone talk about him like that.

But now, he merely turned his face slightly and gave him a contemptuous side-eye, "I'm just clearing obstacles on the path to the throne."

The previous Shōei, despite possessing top-tier talent and skills within Blue Lock, was limited by his arrogant and easily provoked personality.

But now, he had changed, becoming calmer. This also meant that he had become even more threatening.

And the recipient of Shōei's pass was none other than Kojiro!

"Leave it to me!"

After receiving the ball, Kojiro charged toward Bastard München's goal at top speed!

Originally, these two couldn't get along, but they shared one common trait — competitive spirit.

Even though their personalities still clashed off the field, under Marc's coaching, once they stepped onto the pitch, they would set aside personal grudges and work toward victory.

Both possessed extraordinary offensive abilities and could tie up opponents, creating shooting opportunities for each other! One could say that the most incompatible duo was actually the most suitable pair!

Lorenzo and Shōei had just attracted a lot of defensive attention, and everyone else was quickly repositioning, providing Kojiro with the perfect shooting opportunity.

At this moment, Genzō was fully focused on the attack. As a former opponent and teammate, he knew that Kojiro's abilities were terrifying, and he needed to maintain absolute concentration.

Kojiro had gathered all his strength into his right foot!

❖ Tiger Shot! ❖

With a shout, Kojiro unleashed the power stored in his right leg!

When the ball collided with his foot, it made a thunderous sound and shot toward the goal like a charging tiger!

This was his signature technique, the Tiger Shot! The shot contained terrifying power — truly a cannon blast!

"Shooting from that position? Who do you think you're underestimating?!"

As the ball flew through its trajectory, Jingo rushed out at top speed, positioning himself directly in front of the goal to intercept the ball with his body!

Though hot-tempered off the field, on the pitch he spared no effort. He lifted his leg as quickly as possible, attempting to disrupt the shot!

But… The power of this shot far exceeded Jingo's expectations!

Like a boulder falling from a mountaintop, it slammed directly into his foot. Despite exerting all his strength, the massive impact forced him off balance and sent him crashing to the ground.

"What... kind of power is this..." Even Jingo couldn't help but marvel.

Despite his immediate attempt to block the shot, he barely altered its trajectory!

Such terrifying power was unprecedented. Though he hadn't really managed to disrupt the shot, he had slowed it down somewhat, giving Genzō more reaction time.

"Though it's the same move, Hyuga's shot has become even more aggressive!"

Thinking this, he leaped upward with all his might, extending his right hand directly toward the ball's incoming path!

Genzō touched the ball!

But the power wasn't enough! He had to extend his left hand as well, using both hands to forcibly save the shot!

Defense successful!

Genzō clutched the ball tightly to his chest. As expected of a shot from Kojiro — that terrifying power was something others simply didn't possess.

However, after forcibly stopping the shot, Genzō felt a twinge of pain in his left wrist.

Before coming to Blue Lock, he had already injured his wrist. To ensure his recovery and prepare for the upcoming U-20 World Cup, he had chosen to come here, which prevented him from performing at 100% of his ability.

But Genzō showed no sign of pain, completely enduring it while shouting to his team, "It's our turn to counterattack!"

He rubbed his left wrist while observing the Ubers team, whose members were rushing back to defend at tremendous speed.

Such outstanding execution was on par with their club's main team, which Genzō couldn't help but admire. The pressure brought by this team far exceeded that of any other!

However, he wouldn't easily hand victory to others!

Genzō launched a long kick, and now it was Bastard München's turn to launch a counterattack!

Their Bastard München was no longer a disorganized ragtag team!

At the front, Yoichi received the long pass. The others immediately started running, surrounding him as they charged toward the opponent's half!

But just as they reached midfield, Ubers players rushed in to press like sharks smelling blood, seemingly ready to devour Yoichi completely!

This was Ubers's terrifying defensive capability!

"Pressing like this?" Although Yoichi's ball skills had improved significantly compared to before, facing the daily encirclement of opponents, he still found it somewhat difficult to handle.

One slip-up, and Ubers would deliver a fatal blow!

But now, Bastard München was different from before!

In the original story, when faced with Ubers's double-team, Yoichi had no chance to pass the ball due to Michael and Alexis's pressure, and Ikki ultimately intercepted it!

But now, things were different!

Although Noel hadn't designed special tactics for Bastard München like Marc had, all the players had still practiced various tactics under Ryōsuke's leadership!

At this moment, seeing Yoichi surrounded, Ashito immediately sprung into action!

He knew Yoichi possessed the same broad vision as himself. Ikki had it too. Ashito needed to consider all these factors and find the most suitable route!

If Ubers's team had formed a high wall around Yoichi, then he would be the one to break down one of those walls, creating a passing opportunity!

"Nice one, Aoi!" Yoichi immediately noticed his positioning and quickly passed the ball to him, relieving the pressure on his own attack.

But the relief was only momentary. The instant the ball reached Ashito, Ubers players immediately changed direction, surrounding him without hesitation.

Not only that, the moment Ashito touched the ball, Ikki pressed toward his kicking foot.

His intention was clear — to prevent Ashito from passing to Ryōsuke!

"You're a player very similar to Isagi, but as a substitute, your ability is still a bit worse than his!" Ikki taunted as he pressed close to Ashito.

Instead of reacting impulsively as he once would have, Ashito kept the ball securely under control while looking for another passing option.

With the passing lane to Ryōsuke cut off, he needed to find someone else with solid attacking ability! Kenyū Yukimiya!

At that moment, Kenyū came to support, rushing past Ashito, who used his vision to immediately spot him, seizing the tiny gap in the surrounding circle to successfully pass the ball to him!

"What iron wall? I'll completely crush you all!" Kenyū shouted with a grin.

Ashito's pass was excellent, allowing him to break through at maximum speed. If he was fast enough, Ubers's defense line wouldn't be able to catch him!

❖ Emperor Style! ❖

Kenyū glanced to the side — Ubers's defensive line couldn't keep up with him anymore, and now he only had to face one last opponent!

Don Lorenzo!

"Hey hey, you used your speed to get here, but this is where you stop, okay?"

Lorenzo smiled at him as Kenyū rapidly considered whether he could get past this final defender...

No need to think! Without interference from other Ubers players, Kenyū was now in a favorable 1v1 situation. That was his specialty!

In a 1v1 situation, he wouldn't fear anyone.

"Listen, you zombie, go back to the underworld where you belong!" Kenyū slightly lifted his foot, hooking the ball with his ankle to shift left.

When he saw Lorenzo's upper body shifting in that direction, he suddenly changed course and broke through on the right!

Clean and sharp like a guillotine — this directional change was Kenyū's weapon!

"Not bad speed, definitely worth the 23 million." Yet facing this breakthrough, Lorenzo remained perfectly calm.

Though his upper body moved to the left, his lower body moved in the opposite direction — he maintained balance on just one foot, his body almost parallel to the ground. Terrifying balance and flexibility.

"This guy..." Sweat beaded on Kenyū's forehead.

Though he knew this guy had this unique ability, he hadn't expected him to be capable of this level.

But Kenyū had been a core member of Blue Lock, and wouldn't be so easily stopped. He continued moving several steps toward the flank, barely getting past Lorenzo.

"Once I'm past you, scoring is inevitable!"

"Is that so? I hope you understand one thing, okay?" At that moment, Lorenzo's face showed a meaningful smile, "Ubers's last line of defense isn't me~ I'm just the bait leading prey into the trap~"

He didn't continue chasing Kenyū, but instead ran in the opposite direction.

Kenyū found it strange, but he had no time to think about it. Now he focused all his attention on this shot!

"Go!" He put everything into aiming for a gap in the goal.

But at that moment, he noticed the goalkeeper's movement change.

Facing Kenyū's highly precise shot, Ken Wakashimazu's right hand transformed into a karate chop — the hand rose and fell!

❖ Knifehand Defense! ❖

With just that karate chop motion, Ken directly intercepted the shot!

This was one of his signature moves, the Knifehand Defense!

He came from a karate family and had integrated karate with soccer, creating his own unique goalkeeping style! The karate chop motion gave him faster hand speed, and that strike was enough to show his terrifying arm strength!

"What?!" Kenyū exclaimed in surprise — the shot he thought was certain to score had been saved in such a manner.

Although he had watched videos of the Ubers's matches, his focus had been entirely on players like Shōei and Kojiro, completely overlooking someone like Ken.

But that instantaneous move was enough to prove this goalkeeper was no ordinary player.

With an annual salary exceeding 70 million as a goalkeeper, in Blue Lock's second stage, only Genzō ranked above him. Even among all personnel, not many stood above Ken.

Lorenzo had deliberately let Kenyū pass to guide him to the side for a shot — this way, Ken could make the save more easily. This seemingly uncoordinated coordination was a display of his trust in his teammate's abilities.

Successful defense, and now it was time for Ubers's counterattack!

"Go, go Ubers, devour them!" Lorenzo shouted excitedly, his skinny body dancing like a skeleton as he ran.

And Ken had already stepped forward, launching a long pass!

❖❖❖

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