Ikki knew Reo couldn't defend against Ryōsuke alone, so he positioned himself as backup, planning his moves with the assumption he'd be beaten.
With Reo on the field, their defensive strategy became crystal clear!
Together, they created a tactical trap through their positioning — once they engaged the attacker, they could funnel them toward Jūbē's defensive zone, forming an impenetrable siege.
Reo and Ikki were a perfect match, their sharp observation and superior game sense combining to create Blue Lock's strongest defensive wall!
But Ryōsuke was dead set on shattering this iron defense!
Against Ikki's help defense, he halted abruptly, then made a sharp lean to the right, feinting a breakthrough.
This was pure deception — Ryōsuke deployed Rice Spirit's instant weight-shifting ability.
❖ Rice Spirit ➠ Ankle Breaker! ❖
But Ikki held firm. His recent training had sharpened his defensive skills, and he saw through the fake, pressing forward to restrict the dribbling space.
Yet this was merely Ryōsuke's opening move!
When the pendulum dribble failed, he maintained his momentum, switching to attack the left side instead.
Ikki was forced to backpedal while shifting his weight, fighting to maintain his defensive stance. Though guarding Ryōsuke pushed him to his limits, he managed to buy that crucial second.
This delay gave Reo enough time to recover his position and join the defense!
By mimicking Oliver's movements, Reo's defensive prowess had reached new heights. Like a coiled viper, he wrapped around Ryōsuke from behind, perfectly executing the double-team with Ikki.
"Great defense!" Rensuke shouted from the bench.
Though sidelined from play, he remained intensely focused on the match's outcome.
Without question, Ikki and Reo's coordination was flawless, their defense appearing impregnable.
"But it's still far from enough." Jinpachi spoke slowly.
Ryōsuke was now double-teamed, with Reo and Ikki giving him no space to break through.
With their Metavision, the two defenders could see all of Ryōsuke's possible attacking routes. In theory, they could shut down his movements by defending preemptively.
But theory wasn't enough — Ryōsuke was determined to tear through their defense!
He lowered his center of gravity and kicked the ball slightly outward, appearing to mishandle it.
This was his deliberate trap. If either defender attempted to steal, he could use their momentum against them to break through.
But Ikki and Reo stayed focused, refusing to take the bait.
Ryōsuke had more weapons in his arsenal. In one fluid motion, he pulled the ball back with his right foot and executed a lightning-fast step-over.
❖ Rice Spirit ➠ Lightning Shammgod! ❖
"Such amazing speed!" The commentator marveled.
Just as Ikki locked onto Ryōsuke's movements, Ryōsuke changed rhythm — planting his left foot, controlling with his right, and spinning to fake a breakthrough.
Ikki retreated to block the anticipated position while Reo pressed forward, both reading the movements to maintain pressure.
One back, one forward — their perfect pincer movement would have trapped any ordinary player.
But Ryōsuke was far from ordinary!
With explosive power, he chipped the ball overhead while spinning the opposite way, dodging Reo's steal and creating space from Ikki in one motion.
"Ryōsuke displays unparalleled ball control, effortlessly creating space within the double-team!" The commentator exclaimed.
What looked like mere showboating was anything but — every movement had purpose as Ryōsuke broke through their defensive wall.
Though their psychological and technical battle was intense, to observers it lasted mere seconds.
Ryōsuke slipped through the gap he'd created between Ikki and Reo. Despite their Metavision allowing them to read his potential moves, the difference in technique and physical ability was simply too vast.
It was like setting a trap for a wolf, only to face an otherworldly beast — against such overwhelming power, even perfect foresight meant nothing.
"Damn it!" Reo chased desperately. If only he'd had Ryōsuke's speed and technique, he might have stood a chance.
But Ryōsuke's impossible style of play — especially those supernatural accelerations and stops — was beyond imitation.
Before the match, Reo had studied Ryōsuke's footage, attempting to copy his style. Yet even giving it everything, he could only mimic the surface movements, missing their true essence.
He'd known it just from watching — Ryōsuke's style, a perfect fusion of masterful technique and monstrous physical ability, was a summit he couldn't reach.
"The man himself arrives!" As Ryōsuke breached their defense, Jūbē stepped forward.
This was Blue Lock's final safeguard! With his near-perfect physical talents, Jūbē possessed defensive dominance that Reo and Ikki couldn't match.
From this position, he could completely shut down Ryōsuke's shooting angle!
But as Jūbē moved to intercept, he realized the ball was gone — during his breakthrough, Ryōsuke had already released his pass!
The player now in perfect scoring position was none other than Shūto Sendōu!
"Great pass, Kira!"
But just as Shūto reached for the ball, a blue blur struck like a hidden predator, intercepting the pass!
Yoichi Isagi!
"Just as I thought!" Yoichi had read the entire field's movements with his Metavision.
He knew that even with Ikki and the others giving their all, they couldn't fully contain Ryōsuke. Using this assumption — along with his read of every player's position — he predicted Ryōsuke would pass to Shūto, who had the clearest shot at goal!
Blue Lock's defense succeeded!
"Well done, Isagi!" Ryūsei shouted from the side.
"Now, let's counter-attack!" Yoichi surveyed the opposing half, mapping every player's position in his mind.
They had to strike before the opposition could reorganize their defense!
Kenyū Yukimiya was advancing into enemy territory, Seishirō waited in the middle, and Eita Otoya sprinted down the left wing...
No, none of these were ideal targets!
Kenyū would face a double-team with Sae nearby, Seishirō lacked a proper shooting angle, and Eita was locked in combat with Miroku.
Only one player offered the perfect option — charging down the right wing like a man possessed!
The one desperate to prove his dominance on the field: Shoei Baro!
Though he'd never pass once he got the ball — a true offensive black hole — Blue Lock needed exactly this kind of ruthless striker to shatter the stalemate.
To push this match into beautiful chaos!
This entire analysis flashed through Yoichi's mind before the ball reached his feet, and he whipped his head around to deliver a precise pass to the sprinting warrior.
"Finally, it's here!" Shoei lifted his head to control the ball — then his body exploded with raw power as he charged toward the goal line.
He needed to vent his fury — fury at always losing to Ryōsuke, at not being chosen as a starter, at his team falling behind. Shoei would make everyone recognize him as the true king of the field!
"Kill! Block! Don't let him through!" Kazuma immediately stepped in front of the opponent.
With his terrifying physicality surpassing almost everyone, he was one of the U-20's reliable defensive barriers—
But Shoei completely ignored him, forcefully bursting past his side. No fancy dribbling techniques — just pure physical dominance and raw power!
His already impressive abilities had been honed through three weeks of hellish training. A king returned from hell!
"What?!" Kazuma stood dumbfounded as Shoei broke past him with overwhelming speed and power, unable to even grab hold of him.
"Blue Lock's newly subbed player has terrifying breakthrough ability, my god!" The commentator shouted, while spectators watched in awe at Shoei's lone wolf charge.
Though it looked like reckless solo play, his style differed from Rin's rampaging — where Rin sought to crush every opponent to prove his existence, even taking detours for confrontation.
Shoei's purpose was purer: tear through the defense line, break through the goal!
"You little thief, don't think you're getting past!" Oliver arrived just in time, blocking his path. He could feel the powerful aura emanating from his opponent while analyzing his parameters, 'The probability of stopping him is... 85%! This guy can hardly continue attacking from here!'
"Pass the ball, Maro!" On the other side, Kenyū had used his speed to gain position advantage over the defender, creating shooting space.
Oliver instinctively turned his head to look. If his opponent passed now, it would pose a serious threat to the goal.
"Shut up! No one commands a king!" Shoei roared.
Passing simply didn't exist in his dictionary. Winning through his own strength was the only truth.
"Aaaaahhhhh! Die!" The veins on Shoei's temples bulged as his entire body exploded with power in that instant!
He had already stepped up, preparing to shoot!
"What?! What is this guy trying to do?!" Oliver was dumbfounded, the opponent's actions defying all expectations.
From nearly the right goal line, with an impossibly narrow shooting angle and barely any space for his right foot, Shoei was attempting a direct shot.
Had he lost his mind?! Scoring from here was unthinkable!
Before Oliver could react, Shoei unleashed his shot, channeling all his fury into the ball.
Though logic said this shot couldn't score, Oliver's heart leaped to his throat as he and the goalkeeper both dove—
The ball struck the post at a near-zero angle and ricocheted away!
One centimeter more inside and that shot might have deflected into the goal. But football knows no "what-ifs".
"Tch!" Shoei clenched his fists in frustration.
Oliver exhaled deeply, feeling as if he'd escaped death itself.
But just as he moved to collect the ball, a gust of wind swept past him.
"Looks like I have quite a nice stage here!"
Ryūsei had charged into the attacking zone!
"Is that so?" Oliver's eyes widened at his opponent's sudden appearance.
Was this mere coincidence? Or did he possess supernatural instincts?!
No time to wonder — Oliver rushed to position himself between Ryūsei and the ball.
Too late!
Ryūsei soared high, twisting mid-air like a dancer, using Oliver's torso to pivot while boxing him out — executing a perfect aerial waltz.
This young genius striker, deadly in the penalty area!
"I'm taking your goal's first time in the second half!" He blasted his shot before the goalkeeper could even rise.
The ball hit the net.
[ Scoreboard ]
[ 2:2 ]
Blue Lock has equalized!
❖❖❖
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