Blue Lock - Conqueror!

The two teams stepped onto the pitch, the atmosphere electric with anticipation. Isagi's team donned white gear, while Rin's team stood out in bold red. It was a clash between the No.1 and No.2 players—a battle to mark their dominance.

Kurona started the game, kicking the ball toward Isagi to signal the beginning of the match. Kurona immediately took the right wing, his speed unmatched except by perhaps one other in Blue Lock, while Nagi positioned himself near the left side of the field, his presence radiating calm confidence. 

Isagi began dribbling up the center, the ball moving fluidly at his feet until he came face-to-face with Rin. Without hesitation, he opted for strategy over flair, sending a sharp pass to Kurona on the right. Kurona, renowned for his speed with the ball and his agility in tight spaces, sprinted down the wing, weaving through the field with effortless precision. 

Aryu, towering and composed, stepped in to intercept Kurona's advance, his long limbs creating a near-impenetrable barrier. But Kurona, unshaken, made a quick pass across the field to Nagi on the left, shifting the play before Aryu could fully react. 

The game was underway, and the tactical battle had only just begun.

Nagi moved swiftly, lining up for a shot, but before he could unleash it, Tokimitsu rushed in with surprising determination, blocking his path. It was reminiscent of what Isagi and Raichi had done to Nagi in their previous match, stifling his scoring attempts at every turn. 

In that fleeting moment, Nagi's sharp eyes caught Isagi moving into a prime position near the box. With a touch of brilliance, Nagi executed a fancy lofted pass, sending the ball gently arcing through the air toward Isagi. 

The ball descended perfectly ahead of Isagi, and without waiting for it to drop completely, he struck it with his left foot. The shot was precise, powerful, and aimed at the top-right corner. The holographic goalie lunged but couldn't even graze the ball. 

The net rippled as the ball smashed into its target. A goal. Isagi's team had taken the lead, and the stage for an intense battle had truly been set.

The intercom buzzed, and the screen flashed the score: **1-0**. Kurona and Nagi exchanged quick celebratory gestures, their excitement evident after the well-coordinated goal. 

Meanwhile, Rin stood motionless near the center of the pitch, his sharp gaze fixed on Isagi. He had been watching closely, observing every move Isagi made, but the result left him unimpressed. 

With an air of indifference, Rin walked toward the center of the field, his expression cold. 

"Mediocre"

He said flatly, his voice cutting through the brief cheers. The word hung in the air, a challenge wrapped in disdain. 

Isagi met Rin's gaze without flinching, the fire in his eyes igniting further. The match was far from over, and Rin's provocation only fueled the intensity of what was to come.

Team White quickly returned to their positions, refocusing for the next play. At the center of the pitch, Rin stood poised over the ball, his gaze sharp and unwavering. As the referee's whistle blew, Rin took a subtle step forward, his body language betraying his intent—a shooting motion. 

Isagi's instincts flared immediately. 

'He's going for it'

Isagi realized, his mind racing. A direct shot toward the goal from the center of the pitch—something unheard of in a normal match, given the sheer distance and precision required. But this wasn't a standard field. The reduced dimensions of the pitch made the seemingly impossible not only plausible but also dangerously achievable. 

Without hesitation, Rin pulled his leg back and struck the ball with incredible power and precision. All eyes followed its trajectory, the tension thick as the ball soared through the air like a missile, heading straight for the goal.

The sheer audacity of Rin's shot left Team White momentarily frozen, their disbelief evident. But in that split second of hesitation, one player moved on instinct—Isagi. 

He had anticipated Rin's bold play, his sharp mind piecing together the trajectory even before the ball was fully airborne. Unlike someone like Julian Loki, Isagi couldn't rely on raw speed to chase the ball down. Instead, he made a calculated decision to intercept it mid-flight. 

With a burst of determination, Isagi launched himself into the air, twisting his body acrobatically to meet the ball at just the right angle. The impact reverberated through him as he managed to stop Rin's dangerous shot. But Isagi wasn't done yet. 

In the same motion, he redirected the ball with a precise pass, sending it ahead toward Kurona, who was already moving into position. Isagi had turned defense into offense in an instant.

In the observation room, Ego's sharp eyes widened briefly, a rare crack in his stoic demeanor. Anri, standing beside him, gasped audibly, her hands instinctively covering her mouth. The sheer brilliance of what they had just witnessed left them momentarily stunned.

On the field, the reaction was no different. Every player stood frozen, their expressions a mix of disbelief and awe. Even Rin, usually unshakable, found himself taken aback. He hadn't just underestimated Isagi's ability to read his intentions—he had never imagined that Isagi would not only intercept the shot but also turn it into an offensive play with such precision.

Kurona, who was perhaps the most surprised by Isagi's acrobatic interception, quickly snapped back into action. Keeping his momentum, he continued his run down the right wing, his instincts driving him forward. 

The field buzzed with urgency as both teams recovered, repositioning themselves to adapt to the sudden shift in play. Nagi veered toward the left wing with calculated movements, drawing the attention of both Kurona and Tokimitsu. His presence was impossible to ignore, and he used it to subtly disrupt the defensive structure, pulling Tokimitsu slightly out of position and creating more space for Kurona to exploit. 

The synergy between the three players of Team White was starting to take shape, a tactical dance that hinted at something much more dangerous than individual skill—cohesion.

Kurona found himself face-to-face with Aryu, but this time, he didn't opt for a quick pass like before. Instead, he relied on his agility and small stature, executing a series of subtle body feints. Each movement was calculated, throwing Aryu off balance just enough for Kurona to slip past him effortlessly. 

In the middle of the pitch, Rin was positioned strategically between Nagi and Kurona, ready to intercept any passes that might come his way. However, Kurona's decision wasn't something Rin had anticipated. Instead of playing it safe with a pass, Kurona pushed forward, taking the game into his own hands. 

Meanwhile, Isagi, fresh from his incredible defensive play, was already sprinting toward the penalty box. His eyes locked on the unfolding situation, calculating his next move. Rin's second reason for staying central became clear—he was wary of Isagi. But even with his sharp instincts, Rin couldn't account for every possibility, and Team White was starting to capitalize on that unpredictability.

Kurona pressed forward, his speed and control carrying him closer to the penalty box on the right flank. The goal was in sight, but his path was far from clear. Aryu, after being beaten moments earlier, made a sharp diagonal recovery run, using his towering presence to close the gap and block any potential shooting angle. 

The two players were locked in a silent battle—Kurona's agility and quick thinking against Aryu's reach and positioning. Kurona's options were narrowing, and the tension on the field grew as everyone anticipated his next move.

The anticipation in the air dissolved as Kurona, realizing his path was effectively blocked, opted for a smart pass back toward Isagi, who was positioned roughly 25 yards from the goal. It was a calculated move, redirecting the play to someone who could reset the attack. 

Most of the players on the field dismissed the idea of a direct shot from such a distance—such audacity was something they would associate only with someone like Rin. Surely, Isagi wouldn't attempt something so reckless. 

At least, that's what everyone thought.

Rin, ever the strategist, anticipated Isagi's move and positioned himself with unwavering confidence. He had already read the situation, believing he had figured out Isagi's every intention. 

Isagi, however, was unfazed. With a calm demeanor, he swung his left leg and shot the ball toward the left-top corner of the goal. It seemed like a bold and improbable decision—one that would test not just Rin's ability to predict but also his reflexes.

'I was right, I read right through your play'

Rin thought, watching Isagi carefully.

Rin felt a surge of confidence as soon as Isagi released the shot. He had anticipated this exact move, predicting that Isagi would aim for the left-top corner. With a satisfied smirk, Rin positioned himself perfectly to intercept the ball, standing ready to clear it from his side. 

As the ball flew toward him, Rin took the leap, his body fully extended, prepared to make the crucial block, and he was certain this would be his moment to shine—until the unexpected happened.

But just as Rin leaped, fully expecting to clear the ball, something unexpected happened. The ball, instead of staying on its original path, shifted its trajectory mid-flight. It wasn't just a power shot—Isagi had applied finesse, subtly curving the ball to bypass Rin's reach. 

The ball sailed just past him, skimming the edge of his outstretched legs, and found its way into the top-right corner of the net. Rin, who was barely inside the penalty box, watched in disbelief as the ball completed its perfect arc and struck the corner of the goal. 

It was a masterful shot—one that Rin hadn't seen coming—and it left him frozen, his legs still reaching for a ball that was already in the net.

Rin collapsed to the ground, his body and mind reacting to the failure in a haze. His unsuccessful attempt to block Isagi's shot seemed to replay endlessly in his consciousness, each frame a reminder of how quickly things had unraveled. He didn't even notice when the shift had happened—when he started going all out against Team White, when the pressure mounted, and when he began to struggle. It felt like it all occurred in a blur, too fast for him to track.

Then, in a sudden, piercing realization, it hit him. 

'Isagi had done this on purpose.' 

Isagi, with his calm, calculated movements, had deliberately forced Rin into this position. Every decision, every pass, every play—it had all been set up to put Rin off balance, to push him into overextending himself and eventually faltering. Rin had been played. And Isagi, with his evolving brilliance, had pulled it off. 

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