Blue Lock: Phantom Striker

The training hall of Blue Lock buzzed with an energy that was almost suffocating. The air smelled of sweat and raw determination, the walls echoing with the sounds of sprinting footsteps and heavy breathing.

After the brutal game of tag, Team Z was being put through another trial...physical assessments.

Each player was strapped with sensors, their movements analyzed by the high-tech systems installed in the facility. On the massive screen, statistics began to appear. Speed, stamina, power, balance, acceleration, and dexterity.

And in the middle of it all, Isagi Yoichi stood still, his heart hammering against his ribs.

"This is another battlefield."

He glanced around at the others, observing their performances.

Kunigami was a powerhouse, his strength and endurance towering over the rest. Gagamaru, with his strange, flexible body, excelled in reflexes and agility. Chigiri, despite seeming uninterested, possessed blinding acceleration. And then there was Bachira, whose dribbling made it seem like the ball was part of his own body.

But when Isagi's turn came, something unexpected happened.

His highest stat was dexterity.

Dexterity. The ability to adjust quickly and control one's body movements perfectly.

The moment his stats were displayed on the screen, murmurs broke out.

"Huh? That guy's got some serious control over his movements…"

"Wait, didn't he score that crazy goal yesterday?"

People were beginning to notice him.

Isagi's fingers curled into a fist.

He didn't like that.

Not yet.

His gaze flickered toward the rankings.

If they saw him as a threat now, they would begin to target him.

So.....

For the next tests, he deliberately underperformed.

His speed was slightly below what he knew he was capable of. His strength, just enough to not seem too weak. His stamina? Average at best.

When the final rankings were displayed, Isagi found himself ranked last. Again.

Some players snickered. Others shook their heads, no longer considering him a rival.

But Isagi didn't react.

Because deep down

"This is fine."

For now, at least.

After the grueling tests, most of the players were exhausted. But as Isagi sat down to catch his breath, a familiar voice called out to him.

"Oi, Isagi! Let's have a little match!"

Bachira Meguru.

His usual grin was plastered on his face, but his golden eyes gleamed with something dangerous.

"One-on-one. You and me."

Isagi hesitated. "Now? Aren't you tired?"

"Nah." Bachira bounced the ball on his foot. "Besides… I wanna see what kind of monster you have inside you."

Isagi frowned. "Monster?"

Bachira just grinned wider. "You'll see."

They stood on an empty practice field, just the two of them. The artificial lights cast long shadows on the ground, making the place feel like an arena.

Bachira placed the ball between them.

"First to five goals wins," he said. "And since I'm nice, I'll go first."

Isagi barely had time to react before

Bachira exploded forward.

His movements were unreal.

It wasn't just speed...it was fluidity.

He weaved past Isagi effortlessly, his feet gliding over the ball as if he were dancing with it. Every time Isagi thought he could predict the next move, Bachira twisted his body in an impossible direction.

Within seconds, Bachira was inside the penalty area...

And with a casual flick, he sent the ball flying into the net.

"Damn…"

Isagi barely had time to process before Bachira turned to him, bouncing the ball in place.

"That's one. Your turn, Isagi!"

The next few minutes were pure humiliation.

Bachira toyed with him.

Whenever Isagi tried to predict his movements, Bachira changed the rhythm. Whenever he lunged forward, Bachira pulled the ball back with an almost inhuman grace.

Goal after goal, Isagi found himself completely outclassed.

"I can't keep up."

"No matter how hard I try, he's always two steps ahead."

But even as he struggled, even as he lost, something inside him began to shift.

His mind, his body,

They were starting to adapt.

By the time the score reached 5-0, Bachira was panting slightly. But his grin remained.

"Haha, you're still too slow, Isagi~"

Isagi exhaled.

Then, he picked up the ball.

Bachira raised an eyebrow. "Huh? We already finished the match."

Isagi didn't answer.

He placed the ball down.

Took a step back.

Bachira watched, confused, until Isagi's body shifted.

His stance...his posture

Bachira's eyes widened.

"Wait… that's my move."

Isagi moved.

Not just randomly, deliberately.

He mimicked Bachira's previous dribble, but slightly altered it, making it his own.

Bachira took a step forward, his heart pounding.

"This guy… he's copying me?"

Isagi darted past him, his body moving in ways he hadn't been able to just minutes ago.

He was learning.

And then.....

With a sudden shift in weight....

Isagi swung his leg in a way Bachira didn't expect.

His non-kicking foot crossed behind his standing foot, striking the ball with an elegant curve.

A Rabona shot.

The ball soared past Bachira,

And into the net.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, Isagi turned his back and walked away, his shoulders rising and falling with each breath.

Bachira, still stunned, just stood there, eyes locked onto Isagi's retreating figure.

But what truly sent shivers down his spine...

Was the thing he saw behind Isagi.

A shadow.

No, a monster.

Its fanged grin stretched wide, its eyes gleaming with pure hunger.

Bachira shivered.

Then, slowly....

He grinned.

"Haha… I knew it."

His golden eyes glowed.

"You've got a monster inside you too, Isagi."