Blue Lock: Beyond Greatness

"I'm going to explode to my limits!" Shidou shouted dramatically, leaping into the air and twisting his body mid-air for a shot. However, a cold but slightly off-putting voice echoed from behind.

"Why are you flapping around here like a flying pest, you antenna-headed insect?"

Reo approached from behind, his aura faint yet palpable. For a fleeting moment, half of his figure seemed indistinguishable from Shinichi's. He raised his foot to intercept, making contact with the ball almost simultaneously with Shidou's right leg.

Bang!

Originally, Shidou's downward strike was meant to launch a powerful shot. However, due to Reo's interference, the trajectory became unexpectedly plain, heading straight toward the goal without any variation. Such a powerless shot was effortlessly caught by Gagamaru.

"Counterattack!"

'This is bad. Reo didn't just mimic Shinichi's defensive skills. He even copied Shinichi's strategy of disrupting the shot instead of outright blocking it, making it easier for the goalkeeper to secure the ball and initiate a counterattack?!' Isagi instantly sensed danger.

But Gagamaru had already launched the ball with a powerful kick. The ball soared high, flying toward the front field at breakneck speed.

"Finally, it's our time to shine," Yukimiya said as he caught the ball. He glanced at the defender in front, Teppei, slightly lowering his posture. A strange brilliance flickered behind his goggles. "I'll use my one-on-one skills to show the world who I am!"

Without hesitation, Yukimiya pivoted, turning half around while stepping on the ball.

Just as Teppei shifted sideways, Yukimiya used his heel to tap the ball backward, swiftly changing direction for a breakthrough.

"This is bad. Dealing with that monster is one thing, but if we can't even stop you guys, this match is doomed," Teppei muttered as he quickly caught up, matching Yukimiya's speed. "I've got you now!"

"Limited vision, even with high speed—prey like that still gets ambushed and killed."

Before Teppei could steal the ball, Kurona appeared out of nowhere. Yukimiya immediately passed the ball, skillfully avoiding the crisis.

"Kurona, what position do you want to play on this team?"

On the field, as Kurona sprinted forward with the ball, he inexplicably recalled what Ego had said to him when he was selected for the roster.

"I want to be a planet revolving around Shinichi, that blazing sun... but—"

"But your skills aren't enough for that. If it were Shinichi in his normal state, maybe you'd manage. But once he enters that state, you won't be able to keep up at all."

Ego, as always, showed no interest in sugarcoating the truth, bluntly pointing out Kurona's shortcomings. "So, here's my proposal."

"Become the force that supports everyone on the field. Stop imagining yourself as a specific individual with a defined role. Think of yourself as a link—something invisible yet binding everyone together."

"A gravitational field!"

Recalling this, Kurona's speed surged again. Under the pressure, Kazuma had no choice but to move in for a block. However, Kurona immediately made a precise pass to the center and swiftly darted toward the receiver.

"It's not about directly controlling your teammates' actions, but rather coordinating with everyone—becoming a bridge that connects them, providing support for the movement of all the planets within the team!"

Kurona locked his eyes firmly on the final defender, Aiku, charging forward alongside Rin, who had just received the ball.

"Time to crush you!"

...

"Impressive, Blue Lock. I thought someone like Shinichi was a once-in-a-century anomaly—a genius who just happened to land there by chance. But now I see you're not just a bunch of ordinary high school kids mindlessly following his lead, drifting through life without purpose."

Aiku could clearly feel the pressure emanating from the opponents before him.

"Everyone here is a beast, desperately fighting to change their destiny... That's amazing. If I had been born a few years later, maybe I would have been one of you. But now..."

As Rin advanced step by step, the gleam in Aiku's eyes grew sharper. He moved decisively to cut off the connection between Rin and Kurona.

When Rin was forced to stop and prepare for a shot, Aiku quickly adjusted his stance, sealing off Rin's right-foot shooting angle.

"This level isn't enough! Show me what you're truly capable of!" Aiku locked his gaze onto Rin's movements.

From game footage, he knew that aside from Shinichi, every Blue Lock player had a dominant foot.

For Rin, it was his right. By blocking that side, his shooting accuracy would drop significantly.

"Blocked? Don't make me laugh! If someone at your level could stop me, how could I ever hope to chase those two bastards?"

Aiku's actions only seemed to provoke Rin further.

In his destructive mode, Rin clearly knew that using his left foot was the better choice in this situation.

Yet the overwhelming destructive urge that had been suppressed since the start of the match drove him to make an unwise decision.

"Since you claim you can block my right-foot shot, then I'll crush you completely with it!"

Rin flicked the ball up, a wild expression twisting his face as he twisted his body mid-air.

He lifted his right leg and struck fiercely!

Even Aiku couldn't predict this reckless move—his block came just a fraction too late.

The ball skimmed past his outstretched left leg, hurtling toward the goal.

Despite the difficult position, Rin's shot maintained a stunning curve, like a crescent moon cutting through the sky.

The deceptive arc misled the goalkeeper's judgment, and with a dull thud as Rin landed heavily on the ground, the ball soared into the net.

GOOOOOOAL!!!

U-20 Japan 1:3 Blue Lock Team

"W-What?! Itoshi Rin scores despite Oliver Aiku's attempt to block! Blue Lock secures another goal!" The commentator's voice came slightly delayed, blending with the roaring cheers from the crowd. "As expected from the younger brother of the genius Itoshi Sae! Though they play different positions, his talent and creativity are equally extraordinary!"

"Itoshi Rin just widened the lead with his incredible shot!"

Rin silently pushed himself off the ground, his icy glare attempting to ward off the swarming teammates eager to celebrate with him.

But no one cared about his intimidation—within seconds, three or four players had jumped onto his back.

"Get... OFF ME!" he growled, forcefully shaking them off. Sitting on the ground, Rin clenched his fist tightly, shooting a provocative glance at Shinichi and Sae, who stood together nearby.

"I'll catch up to you both," he declared, voice cold and defiant, "and I'll destroy you—one by one!"

"No way," he thought fiercely, determination burning in his chest. "I won't let the world's spotlight be completely stolen by you two!"

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