"By the way, Mr. Ego, the higher-ups have discovered your player signings, and they're furious." Anri glanced at her phone before turning to him with a serious expression, "They're calling an emergency meeting tomorrow."
"No matter." Jinpachi adjusted his glasses, his gaze fixed on the screen as if the football association's executives were beneath his concern, "Just ensure we get a recording of this game, regardless of the outcome."
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"Damn this guy." On the field, Adam gritted his teeth, wiping sweat from his forehead as he stared at Ryōsuke.
He hadn't expected to break a sweat against mere high school players.
In the previous play, they had started treating it like an official match.
Yet even then, this young upstart had managed to outshine them.
"Damn, if the ground hadn't been slippery..." Dada clenched his fist, refusing to accept reality.
Meanwhile, Pablo held his head, saying, "It's not the ground. This guy is exceptional — no ordinary player. I never expected to find someone of this caliber in this country, especially at sixteen or seventeen. Unbelievable."
"Don't forget, if we lose, we won't get paid at all." Leonardo reminded everyone.
"This must be who Mr. Ego mentioned." Julian observed, his previously indifferent gaze now sparked with curiosity as he watched Ryōsuke.
Earlier, Jinpachi had warned them about a player who might challenge these world-class stars, but they'd dismissed it as a joke.
Now, Julian realized that Ryōsuke was exactly who he'd been warning them about.
Julian approached Ryōsuke with polite deference, "Hello, may I ask your name?"
This simple request signaled his full acknowledgment of Ryōsuke as a fellow player.
"Ryōsuke Kira, pleased to meet you." Ryōsuke replied with a smile.
"How enviable to have a famous rising star ask for your name!"
Nearby, Meguru and Rensuke couldn't contain their amazement.
These superstars hadn't bothered learning any other Blue Lock players' names — they were just faces in the crowd, not worth remembering.
But now their brightest star, Julian, was engaging directly with Ryōsuke, demonstrating just how much respect he'd earned.
"I apologize for our earlier rudeness." Julian said with genuine sincerity.
Since Ryōsuke understood English, he'd comprehended everything Adam, Dada, and the others had said before.
"Though it's against regulations, if you're interested in playing in other leagues, I could make some introductions, including to my club P.X.G."
Although his own contract and club rules prevented him from directly recruiting players, he still dropped this subtle hint.
"Wow..." Ikki was almost speechless. This was an opportunity countless players could only dream of, and now it had presented itself to Ryōsuke.
His performance truly deserved it.
"I'll consider it carefully when the opportunity arises." Ryōsuke replied calmly, "But right now, the match is what's important."
"You're right, and I apologize again for earlier." Julian smiled, his eyes narrowing, "Now then, we're going to get serious. You'd better be ready."
His eyes fixed on Ryōsuke. Even when he had torn through Ikki and the others' defense earlier, he hadn't been completely serious.
But now this player had piqued his interest, and he was finally ready to give it his all. For the first time, he would treat these players as equals.
Though Julian wore a polite smile, his body emanated an overwhelming pressure.
"You mean that speed earlier wasn't even serious?" Ikki gulped.
"Looks like things are about to get exhausting." Seishirō added.
Julian returned to his half of the field and waved to his four teammates, "Everyone, if we lose we won't get paid, so let's give it our all."
"You sure know how to boss people around, kid." Though Adam said this, it was clear he was now fired up for battle.
"Indeed."
"This guy's not to be underestimated. Perhaps my club could acquire such talent someday."
The other players were equally motivated. This was no longer just a test match, but a proper battle.
The game continues!
Pablo passed directly to Julian, who immediately charged forward with the ball.
Through all this, Ryōsuke stood in his path.
"Good positioning — but to me, it's still full of openings!"
In an instant, Julian's presence transformed, his gaze becoming razor-sharp as his concentration peaked!
❖ Flow! ❖
The ability to freely enter Flow state is the first requirement for becoming a superstar-level player!
"Try to keep up with me!" Julian's leg muscles coiled and released their power at once, like a black lightning bolt streaking past in an instant.
❖ Godspeed! ❖
This was world-class explosive speed! Julian Loki, the divine speed prodigy!
"So fast — even faster than before!" Ikki stood dumbfounded. His body hadn't even had time to react before Julian had sprinted from midfield to the goal.
But something even more surprising caught his eye — Ryōsuke was still at Julian's side, blocking his shooting angle.
He had matched Julian's speed!
"This guy is incredible!"
The other world-class players watched in amazement. Even they couldn't keep up with Julian's godlike speed.
But Ryōsuke could.
"We might be witnessing the birth of another superstar on par with Julian..." Leonardo remarked.
Julian's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Ryōsuke.
Throughout his career — in both domestic leagues and international matches — Julian had torn through defensive lines with his speed, creating one miraculous goal after another. Even superstar defenders couldn't contain his attacks.
Yet here was someone matching his speed.
"Not just world-class power, but world-class speed as well?" Julian watched Ryōsuke block his path and limit his shooting angles — a feat almost no one had achieved.
But this only fueled his excitement. Finally, he had found an opponent who could match his speed.
"Can you keep up with this?"
Without slowing, Julian pushed off the ground with all his might, changing direction instantly. His explosive power drove his cleats deep into the soil.
A direction change at full speed!
Julian's talents were extraordinary — he could maintain top speed for long periods while dribbling with long strides. In Flow State, his speed rose even higher.
He was truly the ultimate assassin, able to strike down any opponent!
But Ryōsuke remained unfazed.
❖ First Form ➠ Thunderclap and Flash! ❖
He cut off Julian's path with lightning speed, but his opponent quickly changed direction again, probing for openings.
And Julian's speed climbed even higher!
This was his true speed — true lightning!
"Can you keep up with this?!"
Thunderclap and Flash gave Ryōsuke devastating explosive power, letting him burst forward faster than Julian. But for running, it was limited to short sprints.
Against these inhuman multi-stage long-distance sprints, he might be at a disadvantage.
However, Ryōsuke had developed his counter. After the First Form reached Level 3, through dedicated practice, he had mastered a new technique!
❖ Thunderclap and Flash ➠ Sixfold! ❖
Using the First Form six times in succession!
He gathered Thunderclap and Flash's power in one foot for the initial powerful step, then channeled it into the other foot before landing, allowing continuous bursts of speed. This enabled him to change direction mid-sprint with incredible precision.
This technique built upon Ryōsuke's earlier ability to sudden-stop from high-speed sprints.
Yet the technique had its limitations. Using Thunderclap and Flash repeatedly took a devastating toll on his body. Even in full-concentration breathing state, executing it more than six times in succession would trigger severe leg pain, just as before. Only by advancing his Breathing Technique and First Form could he reduce this strain.
But for now, Thunderclap and Flash - Sixfold would suffice!
As Julian made his lightning-fast direction changes, Ryōsuke stayed locked onto him, an immovable barrier.
"This is truly the realm of monsters..." Ikki whispered, sweat pouring down his face.
The battle unfolding before him defied comprehension — two titans clashing at speeds no ordinary player could match.
Yet Ikki refused to be a mere spectator. Even with Ryōsuke engaged in combat with a world-class opponent, he wouldn't allow himself to become dead weight!
With fierce determination, he sprinted toward his chosen position!
"This guy is matching Julian?!" Dada stared in disbelief.
Such a sight was unheard of, even in the world's top leagues. Players who could match Julian's speed were extraordinarily rare, especially given his inhuman stamina that allowed him to maintain full-sprint speeds indefinitely.
Yet here was Ryōsuke, completely nullifying his advance.
"No, this is beyond mere matching... He's anticipating Loki's movements, taking defensive positions before any shooting chance emerges — he's dominating the exchange..." Leonardo muttered, pressing his lips together.
"Incredible. Kira's speed actually surpasses Loki's. To think Blue Lock harbored such a monster..."
Sweat beaded on Julian's forehead as he eyed Ryōsuke warily. Never before had anyone contained him so thoroughly.
"You're truly fearsome. I can't surpass you in speed." Julian slowed to a stop and looked at Ryōsuke, openly acknowledging his opponent's terrifying ability.
"Having fun? Earlier you said you were done playing, didn't you?" Ryōsuke smiled, "You also said my defense was full of holes. Can't get through such big holes?"
"Sorry, I take that back for now." Julian replied, just as Dada's voice cut in from beside him.
"Hey, pass the ball, idiot!"
Julian relinquished his chance to continue the one-on-one with Ryōsuke and passed to Dada instead.
Though it seemed like an ordinary pass, it carried deeper meaning.
Julian was acknowledging defeat. In their one-on-one battle, he simply couldn't breakthrough Ryōsuke's defense.
Even considering the smaller field size limited his speed advantage, he had to admit that his opponent's speed had surpassed his own.
Just as Julian made his pass, a figure darted in from the side, intercepting the ball's trajectory!
Ikki!
"Where did this guy come from?!" Dada exclaimed in shock.
And now Ikki was launching his counterattack!
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