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

[Ryōsuke Kira's recent shot was extremely tricky. He had already displayed excellent left-foot technique earlier, but it seems he has improved even further! However, Ken Wakashimazu successfully blocked the shot with an astonishing move!] The commentator excitedly explained the match situation, and then, as if receiving new information, he paused briefly before continuing, [According to data we just received, this appears to be the first time Ryōsuke Kira's shot has been saved!]

Ryōsuke's previous shots had been so deadly that other goalkeepers simply couldn't stop them.

But Ken became the first person to block his shot!

Without a doubt, his abilities as a goalkeeper far exceeded those of the opponents Ryōsuke had faced before!

"You don't seem so special after all." After blocking the shot, Ken's face revealed a smug smile as he shouted at Ryōsuke.

This save completely exceeded everyone's expectations. Nobody on Bastard München could have imagined he would be capable of such a feat.

"Beautiful!" Lorenzo laughed heartily, praising the move.

The save greatly boosted Ubers's morale, and Marc in the stands rose to his feet, cheering loudly.

What they wanted to achieve wasn't just blocking Ryōsuke's shot for the first time — they also wanted to hand Ryōsuke his first defeat!

However, Ryōsuke's face showed no particular expression at this moment, only a smile, 'Wakashimazu is indeed impressive. That move just now, others probably couldn't have done it at all... But I've pretty much determined the range of his abilities now.'

He knew Ken was very strong, perhaps second only to Genzō's save. His recent shot could indeed have been saved by his opponent.

But Ryōsuke still chose to shoot, precisely because he wanted to use this opportunity to see exactly what his opponent was capable of. For him, that previous shot was more of a test.

And now, it was time to increase the pressure on his opponent.

Though he had to admit, Ubers was very powerful, with balanced offense and defense, completely surpassing several other teams.

However, for Ryōsuke, victory was a necessity.

"Ryōsuke Kira, with me guarding the goal, your Bastard München will never break through our defense in this match!" Ken pounded his chest forcefully, as if declaring victory in advance.

"Is that so?" Ryōsuke smiled and said, "We shall see."

Although Ken had successfully disrupted the attack, Bastard München still earned a corner kick.

This time, Ryōsuke personally took the corner.

Despite successfully blocking his shot earlier, Ken knew he couldn't relax. The fact that Ryōsuke could execute such a threatening shot from that angle was enough to prove his extraordinary ability!

He absolutely couldn't let his guard down...

'Will he shoot or pass?' Ken's mind raced, contemplating the possible next move.

Ryōsuke approached the corner spot, nodded to his teammates, then took a step back — and kicked the ball with full force!

❖ Third Form ➠ Thunder Swarm! ❖

Ryōsuke aimed at a specific direction, then kicked the ball hard toward that area! The ball traced a perfect arc through the air... directly threatening the goal!

"So he wants to shoot after all!"

Ken reacted quickly, immediately diving in the right direction, aiming to intercept Ryōsuke's ball!

But as the ball rapidly approached, he sensed something was off. Though this ball had great power, its trajectory in the air had changed, making it far inferior to the previous shot!

This ball couldn't possibly go in! Had he made a mistake?

Ken was confused, his body's reaction slowing slightly.

As he expected, though this ball looked very threatening, due to insufficient accuracy, it slammed directly into the goalpost!

"Just as I thought! Has his mental state been affected?" A smile appeared on Ken's face.

"Strange," Ikki was puzzled. Based on his understanding of Ryōsuke, his opponent wouldn't choose such a forced attacking method.

Why would he...

"No, that's not it!" Ikki used his Metavision to observe the entire field and suddenly realized, "Kira isn't shooting! This is a pass!"

Just as he had predicted, Ryōsuke's intention wasn't to shoot!

Although with his abilities the success rate of shooting from the corner wasn't low, he considered it an inefficient approach. He needed to be more efficient!

If he were to pass directly, the intention would be too obvious, so Ryōsuke used a rather extreme method — using the goalpost for a pass!

Making the ball hit the goalpost, then rebound to his intended passing target! With the enhancement of Thunder Swarm, Ryōsuke could precisely achieve this!

Ikki noticed someone on the other side running toward a specific position and finally realized what was happening.

Rensuke Kunigami! The ball that had just hit the goalpost bounced up, landing perfectly at his feet!

Everything was exactly as Ryōsuke had planned. Almost everyone on Ubers was focused on his "shot" just now, failing to notice Rensuke's position!

"Aaaaah!"

Rensuke roared, veins bulging, gathering all his body's strength into his foot!

In the previous match, he hadn't had much chance to prove himself, but now Ryōsuke had created another opportunity for him! He absolutely couldn't waste it!

All his body's power burst forth, pouring directly into the soccer ball!

❖ Power Shot ➠ Cannonball! ❖

"Impossible! I will absolutely not let you break through Ubers' defense!"

Ken pushed off the ground forcefully, diving out, preparing to use a karate chop to block the shot!

However, at the moment of contact, he realized something was wrong. This ball's power was far greater than he had imagined!

Rensuke had been constantly strengthening himself during this period, continuously honing his weapons. Not only had he developed right-foot shooting technique, but the power of his original left-foot shot had also become even more tremendous!

This was truly a worthy cannon shot!

"Don't underestimate me!" Ken immediately changed his approach, forced to use both hands to intercept the ball!

He had been teammates with Kojiro before, experiencing his Tiger Shot countless times! And Rensuke's shot was no less impressive!

Ken had previously focused all his attention on Ryōsuke, not expecting the previously unremarkable Rensuke to possess such powerful abilities...

However, he wouldn't concede a goal so easily!

"Aaaaah!"

He roared, releasing his power along with his voice, while employing karate techniques to meet force with force, directly punching the ball away!

Save successful!

"What? He managed to save that too?" Rensuke exclaimed in surprise.

"I told you, I'm the number one goalkeeper, don't underestimate me!" Ken shouted.

"Yes, I haven't underestimated you." But at that moment, Ryōsuke's voice came from another position.

The shot had been deflected by Ken, and now Ryōsuke appeared near where the ball was landing.

"Precisely because I know how good you are, Wakashimazu, that's why I'm here." Ryōsuke said calmly.

Although he had created a suitable opportunity for Rensuke, he still believed Ken had a high probability of saving the shot, so he had positioned himself at this spot in advance.

To amateurs, it might seem like luck that Ryōsuke got the ball, but that wasn't the case at all. Luck favors the prepared, and he had prepared well in advance.

He aimed at the goal and raised his foot, "But now, let me show you whether I'm really 'only this good' or not."

With that, he powerfully kicked the ball!

❖ Thunder God, First Move ➠ Thunderbolt Smash! ❖

A thunderous sound erupted across the field as the soccer ball traveled at an exaggerated speed across the grass, heading straight for the goal!

Ryōsuke now had a better angle toward the goal, with plenty of shooting space!

"Damn it!"

Although this shot caught Ken by surprise, as a top domestic goalkeeper, he still relied on his excellent physical attributes, pushing off in the opposite direction to intercept the shot.

He had successfully blocked Ryōsuke's shot before! There would definitely be a second time! This guy was nothing special!

The ball's speed was too fast — if he waited to see its trajectory before diving, it would be too late, so he had to gamble!

"I reached it! I guessed right!" His excellent mobility and bold gamble at the goalmouth allowed Ken to touch the shot, and he even smiled with delight.

But in the next instant, the smile vanished from his face.

The power behind this shot seemed beyond his imagination. Even though Ken was using both hands to block for safety, he felt a terrifying force pressing directly against his arms!

It was like... a meteorite!

The fast-moving ball forced Ken's hands apart, plunging into the net, announcing its dominance like a demon.

Meanwhile, he fell to the ground from the massive impact.

"What just happened..." Ken turned his head in disbelief, as the soccer ball rolled out of the net.

Looking down at his hands, he felt obvious pain, and his arms trembled as if they'd been electrocuted.

What terrifying power...

Ken involuntarily swallowed, realizing this shot was even more terrifying than Kojiro's Tiger Shot.

"To actually break through Wakashimazu's defense by sheer force..." Nearby, Kojiro also looked at Ryōsuke with surprise.

This guy was ridiculously strong.

"That was awesome, Kira!"

On the other side, his teammates rushed over to celebrate with Ryōsuke.

[Ryōsuke Kira first tried to score from a corner kick, but narrowly missed, with the ball hitting the post and landing at Rensuke Kunigami's feet! Kunigami's shot was very threatening, but was still saved by Ken Wakashimazu!

The ball fortunately landed right at Kira's feet, who then used his signature lightning-fast shot to score! Incredible!] The commentator shouted excitedly, [Although they were dominated by Ubers for a while, Ryōsuke Kira has led Bastard München to successfully equalize!]

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"It seems luck was on Kira's side." Nozomi said slowly, watching the screen, "The ball first landed perfectly at Kunigami's feet, then bounced right back to him..."

"No, Nozomi, you've got it wrong. This wasn't luck." Tatsuya said with a serious expression, "From the beginning, everything happened exactly as Ryōsuke anticipated."

"What? That's impossible, isn't it?"

Nozomi couldn't believe his words, but Tatsuya continued.

"No, it's true. He was aiming for the goalpost from the start, using it to pass to Rensuke and create an opportunity."

"From such a distance... using the goalpost to pass?" Nozomi was stunned, finding it hard to believe this could be 'intentional.'

However, he had to admit that someone of Ryōsuke's caliber might actually be capable of it. He truly was someone who could create miracles.

"But there's another issue — the ball landing at Ryōsuke's feet, that must have been luck, right?"

"That was indeed luck — but it was luck that he summoned." Tatsuya explained, "His first shot was to test Ken's abilities, and when Rensuke took the shot, Kira believed the opponent could save it, so he positioned himself at the most likely landing spot in advance, then completed the shot."

"Is this really something an ordinary person can do?"

"I don't know. Even what I just said is merely my speculation." Tatsuya smiled and shrugged, "But because he's Ryōsuke, he can do it."

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