Chapter 12:A Battle of Wills

Team Z had entered the second half of the match with a renewed sense of unity, spurred by Kira's leadership. The confidence of each player had grown, their individual egos momentarily subdued in favor of teamwork. They had realized that to win in Blue Lock, they needed more than just solo effort—they needed to play as a team, even if their ultimate goal was to become the best striker in the world.

Kunigami, standing tall and powerful, received the ball first as they resumed their attack. With a swift motion, he kicked it toward Bachira, who was already making his way down the field. Bachira, quick on his feet, weaved through two defenders with his characteristic dribbling style, a mischievous grin plastered on his face as he danced past them.

Kira, meanwhile, was being tightly marked by Barou. The intense stare from Barou was enough to make anyone falter, but not Kira. With his newly acquired Ultimate Copy skill and the power of his God Speed Impulse, Kira had learned to mimic the very essence of his opponent's moves. As Barou shadowed him, Kira suddenly sprinted forward with lightning speed, leaving Barou momentarily stunned.

"Impossible…" Barou muttered under his breath as Kira raced past him.

But Kira wasn't done. In a bold move, he used Barou's own dribbling technique against him, employing the same aggressive, king-like footwork that Barou was known for. The defender who rushed toward him was easily outmaneuvered as Kira slid past, eyes locked on the goal.

Seeing Kira's breakaway, Bachira didn't hesitate. He kicked the ball toward Kira with perfect timing, just as Kira reached the final third of the pitch. Now, it was just Kira versus the goalkeeper.

Kira felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He knew he had to make this count. With precise accuracy, he struck the ball into the net, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

"Goal!" the automated system announced.

The scoreboard now read 2-1 in favor of Team Z.

A roar of excitement erupted from Team Z. Kunigami, Raichi, and even the previously skeptical Kuon rushed forward to congratulate Kira. Their earlier doubts about his strength were washed away by his decisive play. The goal had reignited their fighting spirit, and for the first time, they truly believed that they could win this match.

However, their celebration was short-lived.

Barou, visibly angered by the turn of events, barked orders to his teammates. He wasn't about to let some "donkey" show him up on the field. His teammates, seeing Barou's determination, passed him the ball the moment they got possession.

"Get ready," Raichi warned Kunigami and Kuon. "We're going to need all three of us to stop him."

The three of them closed in on Barou, marking him tightly, but Barou wasn't fazed. With a powerful surge of strength, he bulldozed past them, breaking through the defense like a tank. Despite their best efforts, Barou's relentless aggression proved too much for them. He charged toward the goal, leaving the defenders behind, and with one precise shot, he slammed the ball into the net.

2-2.

Barou stood tall, his chest heaving from the effort, but his eyes were still locked onto Kira, his expression cold and furious. "You're nothing but a stepping stone," Barou growled, his voice filled with disdain.

The timer signaled the break, and both teams returned to their respective locker rooms. Team Z sat in silence, their earlier energy now dampened by the realization that stopping Barou wouldn't be as easy as they had hoped. Kira, however, wasn't discouraged.

As they returned to the pitch for the second half, Kira could feel the weight of Team X's adjustments. Barou had instructed his teammates to double-mark Kira, making it nearly impossible for him to get free space. This left Isagi unmarked, but despite the open opportunity, none of Team Z's players passed the ball to him. Instead, Raichi and Kunigami found themselves fighting over the ball, each desperate to prove their worth.

"Pass it to me, idiot!" Raichi yelled.

"No way, I'm taking this one!" Kunigami shouted back.

In the chaos, Kuon tried to mediate, but the argument distracted all of them. Barou, with his predatory instincts, seized the moment. He swooped in, stealing the ball from them effortlessly.

"You're weak," Barou sneered as he took off down the field.

With no one able to stop him, Barou made his way toward the goal, bypassing every attempt from Team Z to defend. With a brutal strike, he sent the ball soaring into the net once again.

3-2—Team X was now in the lead.

Barou didn't celebrate this time. He simply glared at his teammates and at Kira, his message clear: this was his game, and no one was going to take it from him.

Frustration began to mount within Team Z. Their earlier teamwork was falling apart, and it seemed like Barou was unstoppable. But then, Bachira had an idea.

"Hey, Kira," Bachira called, "I've got a plan. Let's divert their focus to me. I'll make it look like I'm the one leading the attack, and we can use Isagi as the decoy."

Kira considered the plan for a moment. It was risky, but it could work. "Alright, let's do it."

When play resumed, Team Z began executing their plan. Bachira took possession of the ball, drawing the attention of two Team X defenders who had been marking Kira. Isagi, still unmarked, positioned himself strategically on the field, ready for the chance to strike.

Bachira danced past the defenders with his signature dribbling style, creating just enough space to pass the ball to Isagi. The moment Isagi received the ball, he drove it down the field, his heart racing as he neared the goal.

Just as Isagi prepared to shoot, Barou appeared out of nowhere. The presence of the "King" of Team X shook Isagi's confidence, and he hesitated, unsure if he could surpass the goalkeeper with Barou looming over him.

"Don't pass," Isagi thought, trying to push through the doubt. "I need to score. I need to survive Blue Lock."

But at the last moment, something in Isagi shifted. Without realizing it, he kicked the ball toward Kunigami, who had broken free from his marker. Kunigami didn't waste the opportunity. With a powerful strike, he sent the ball into the back of the net.

3-3.

The tide of the game had shifted once again. Team Z was still in this, and the match was anyone's to win.

As the game entered the final five minutes, Kira had formulated a plan. From his observations, he had learned one critical thing about Barou—he rarely passed the ball. Barou's ego was so overwhelming that he believed he could win on his own, and this arrogance was something Kira intended to exploit.

Gathering his teammates, Kira relayed his strategy. "The moment Barou gets the ball, we need to crowd him. Three of us at least. Don't give him any room to move."

His teammates nodded in agreement, ready to execute the plan.

As expected, Barou immediately called for the ball on the inbound, his fury evident as he prepared to take matters into his own hands. But just as Kira had anticipated, the moment Barou gained possession, three of Team Z's defenders swarmed him, cutting off his options.

Barou's teammates called for the ball, but Barou, unused to being in such a tight spot, hesitated. In that split second, Kira seized his chance. He lunged forward, stealing the ball from Barou with a perfectly timed tackle.

With the ball now in his possession, Kira launched into one final counterattack. He switched between Barou's dribbling style and Bachira's unpredictable footwork, confusing the defenders as he closed in on the goal.

With the clock winding down, Kira lined up his shot. The goalkeeper was ready, but Kira's focus was unshakable. He struck the ball with precision, sending it rocketing into the net.

4-3.

The final whistle blew, signaling the end of the match.

Team Z had won.

Kira, standing tall, turned to Barou. "You're talented, but talent alone isn't enough. You lost because you're too arrogant."

Barou seethed, his fists clenched in frustration, but he had no response. As Kira walked away to celebrate with his teammates, the message was clear—this wasn't just a battle of skills. It was a battle of wills, and today, Kira had come out on top.