[39] The Match Begins

"Don't rush. Let me finish." Ego calmly ignored Rin Itoshi's murderous glare and continued his explanation at his own pace. "Next, I will announce the updated Blue Lock rankings. This time, they are the real deal."

The logo on Shinichi's arm shifted and settled on a large "1." Rin, glancing at the "2" displayed on his arm, grew even more menacing.

"These rankings are based on the time each of you took to complete the first stage," Ego explained. "I'd like to point out, Hiori Yo, your clear time was two minutes slower than Aoishi Tokimitsu's. However, your decisiveness in moving forward gave you an edge. Hesitation can cost you opportunities."

"Y-yeah, sorry, that's just how I am... Haha... Someone like me with no confidence..." Tokimitsu muttered nervously.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, proceed to validate your identities." Ego dismissed Tokimitsu's rambling and abruptly turned off the screen.

The two groups exchanged sharp looks before moving to the door.

The six players pressed their fingers against the wall one after another.

After a brief scan, the fingerprint authentication was complete, and the door opened.

"In the second selection, matches will take place on smaller, customized fields suitable for the number of players. The goals are also scaled down. Both teams will use the same Blue Lock Keeper as their goalkeeper. Additionally, the offside rule will not apply in this stage."

"The winning team will take one player from the losing team and proceed to the next stage. The losing team will lose a player and be sent back to the previous stage. It's a 3v3 match. First team to score five goals wins."

"The third stage of the second selection, 'Enemy Seizure Battle,' begins now."

Beep—

With the whistle's blow, Shinichi passed the ball sideways and immediately sprinted forward.

In almost an instant, he had crossed the entire field.

At the same time, Hiori, receiving the pass, didn't hesitate. With a single strike, he launched the ball into the air.

The soaring ball and Shinichi's sprint converged at the goal.

Boom!

With a powerful kick, the ball smashed into the net. The Blue Lock Keeper, designed with the data of top goalkeepers, stood motionless, like a wooden post.

The fastest sprint combined with an equally precise pass—this was Blue Lock's version of a monstrous fast attack!

"Oh! So fast, so fast!" Kurona, who hadn't managed to intervene at all, widened his eyes and couldn't help but marvel.

However, the expressions on the opposing team were far less relaxed.

"A m-m-monster!" Tokimitsu trembled even harder, his voice quivering as he muttered.

Tanaka didn't fare much better, cold sweat streaming down his forehead as he stared in disbelief at Shinichi, who had appeared behind them in an instant. "That speed... Is he really just a high school player?"

"So fast! A speed-oriented player? Why haven't we heard of someone like this before?" Even Rin was taken aback by Shinichi's speed, though he quickly regained his composure. "Interesting. I didn't expect someone like this to stand in my way before I destroy Itoshi Sae."

"You'll be the whetstone I sharpen myself on before taking down that guy."

"It seems the genius's little brother didn't inherit the same brains." Hearing Rin's self-talk, Shinichi, already jogging back to his half, suddenly turned around.

His burning, black-flamed eyes were devoid of any smile as he stared at Rin with a dead man's gaze. "Know your place. You're the challenger here, you mediocrity."

"Don't let a sliver of success inflate your ego," Rin shot back with a venomous glare. "A guy who treats football like a joke or a game—I'll make sure you taste defeat."

The whistle blew.

Rin, standing at the center line, immediately unleashed a powerful shot straight at the goal.

The ball, spinning violently, rocketed toward the goalkeeper.

After a brief moment of judgment, the Blue Lock Keeper dove toward the ball.

However, due to the intense spin, the ball suddenly dropped, slipping out of the Blue Lock Keeper's grasp.

Just as Rin's midfield shot was about to hit its mark, a foot suddenly intervened, accurately blocking the ball's descent.

The goal-bound shot was cut off by none other than Hiori Yo.

"I've been meaning to say this for a while—both of you so-called protagonists are incredibly self-absorbed," Hiori said, his eyes brimming with precision as countless lines converged in his vision like a radar, mapping every detail of the field.

"You keep ignoring us so-called 'side characters.' Be careful, or you might find yourselves replaced in an underdog's uprising."

The transformed Hiori, fully entering the scene!

"Counterattack, counterattack!" Kurona, having taken control of the deflected ball, sounded the charge for a counter-offensive.

'Shinichi's speed is impossible for me to keep up with. I don't have the long-built synergy that Hiori does, either. So…'

As he contemplated his options, Kurona passed the ball back to the advancing Hiori. "Hiori, Hiori, I'll support you."

With Hiori advancing the ball, Kurona used his exceptional agility to weave around him, maintaining an optimal distance.

He ensured there was always an unobstructed passing lane between him and Hiori, a seamless connection ready for any situation.

"This guy's impressive," Hiori thought, quickly noticing the difference Kurona's movements made.

Hiori felt his options open up significantly.

Kurona's constant motion made him the ideal passing choice, creating a dynamic one-two threat that not only distracted the defenders but also allowed Hiori to push forward with a clear line of sight.

If anything, Kurona was like a satellite orbiting around him!

"Wow, such incredible teamwork. What do we do? They already have a monster on their side... W-we're going to lose..." Tokimitsu stood frozen, biting his nails in panic.

Hiori frowned, thinking, What's wrong with this guy? His feet have stopped moving... Whatever. No matter what you're planning, I'm going to...

"Get past you!"

Hiori easily sidestepped Tokimitsu with a simple feint, completely unchallenged. However...

"I won't give up! I worked so hard to get here, finally found my confidence through football... I won't let it end like this!"

In the split second they brushed past each other, Tokimitsu's thigh muscles tensed, exploding with power as he planted his foot and twisted his body in a bizarre, almost inhuman motion.

In an instant, he was back in front of Hiori.

"Huh? The ball's... gone?" Tokimitsu lunged to steal the ball from Hiori's feet, only to realize the ball was no longer there.

At some point, Hiori had already passed it to Kurona.

In the moment Tokimitsu shifted his focus to locate the ball, Hiori suddenly reversed his run.

Tokimitsu tried to replicate his earlier move to catch up, but his body felt like it was weighed down, unable to generate the same burst of power.

"You're pretty fast," Hiori remarked, his eyes darting around as they processed the flood of information in his field of vision. "But unfortunately for you, my ability to utilize my vision has evolved to a whole new level."

During the first stage, faced with balls coming from all directions without warning, Hiori had been forced to push himself to keep up with Shinichi's speed.

The relentless challenge drove him to evolve, and the result was...

"I used to only process visual information within my field of view," Hiori explained, receiving a pass back from Kurona. "But now, I've learned to process sound as an additional data source."

He continued, "To break past the Blue Lock Keeper's defense, I've also started incorporating my opponent's center of gravity into my analysis. By tracking their balance shifts, I can decide my running direction with precision."

"An opponent like you, noisy and unable to maintain your balance? Just stay in the back where you belong," Hiori declared, moving past effortlessly while Tokimitsu struggled to regain his footing.

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