Chapter 10: Devour or Be Devoured
The moment the equalizer struck the back of the net, Team Z erupted.
"Let's go!!"
"Nice shot!"
"Seiichi, that was crazy!"
They swarmed around Yūshin Seiichi, cheering like madmen.
Off to the side, Isagi Yoichi exhaled quietly, tension leaving his shoulders.
That was close… One more goal from them, and we might've collapsed.
Seiichi Takes Command
Seiichi stepped back from the celebration. His grin faded. His voice dropped.
"From here on out—give me the ball. I'll lead us to victory."
No hesitation. No smile. Just command.
Jingo Raichi scoffed. "Why the hell should we—"
Then he met Seiichi's gaze.
Cold. Focused. Absolute.
Raichi twitched.
"…Tch. Fine," he muttered.
Whatever. I'll just outscore him.
Team X Breaks Apart
On the other side of the field, Barō Shōei was boiling.
His fists clenched. His jaw tightened.
"Just feed me the damn ball!"
"Barō," said a teammate with dyed yellow hair, "you're getting shut down. Maybe we should—"
"Shut it!" Barō snapped. "You losers don't get to tell me how to win!"
The tension rippled.
Team X was unraveling.
A robotic voice echoed over the speakers:
"Team X—kickoff immediately or forfeit."
Momentum Shift: Team Z
Kickoff.
But Team X moved sluggishly.
Their unity was gone.
Seiichi's pressure had shattered them.
Then—
Igarashi Gurimu lunged.
"I've got it!"
He cleanly intercepted a careless pass.
"Nice, Igarashi!"
He turned quickly, scanning—then passed to Seiichi, waiting at midfield.
"NO! Don't let him touch it again!"
Three defenders surged toward Seiichi.
But he didn't flinch.
With a single roll-behind flick, he popped the ball into the air off his heel—
Then tapped it midair with the back of his foot.
The ball floated over the defenders—
And Seiichi vanished behind them like smoke.
"He got through?!"
By the time they turned, he was already storming toward the penalty box.
"Stop him!!"
Seiichi curved a sharp through-ball toward the arc.
Raichi rushed in. One touch. Turn.
BOOM!
GOAL!
Team Z takes the lead—2–1!
"I told you I'd be the one scoring!!" Raichi shouted, pounding his chest.
The Core Takes Shape
There was no more bickering.
Team Z began revolving around one clear axis—
Yūshin Seiichi.
Confidence rose. Structure formed.
Team X kicked off again, but their attack barely crossed midfield.
Kunigami Rensuke won the ball back and passed cleanly to Seiichi.
"Block him!"
Two defenders closed in.
Seiichi weaved between them like wind.
"Passing you is easier than crossing the street," he muttered, brushing past with a heel flick.
Before they could recover, he was already at the edge of the penalty box—
Then—
Barō.
He cut in with explosive speed, meeting Seiichi head-on.
"You're still standing?" Seiichi smirked. "Impressive. But pointless."
Barō gritted his teeth.
Don't fall for his feints. Stay centered. Wait for the opening.
Seiichi read him.
So… you're finally learning?
He feinted right.
Barō flinched.
Then—
Ox-tail dribble.
High-speed roulette.
Barō's footing broke. His position crumbled.
"Damn you—!"
Seiichi slipped past him, barely keeping balance.
But Barō didn't back down.
As Seiichi readied to cross—Barō grabbed his shoulder.
Contact.
"Let go."
But Seiichi didn't even turn.
He flicked the ball across the box with the outside of his boot.
"NOW!"
Asahi Naruhaya charged in.
"That's too far! He miscalculated!"
But Naruhaya dove—
BOOM!
Diving header.
GOAL!
3–1!
Team Z exploded with cheers.
Barō collapsed to his knees.
Seiichi walked past him, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"You should've accepted your role earlier," he said quietly.
Then—softly, so only Barō could hear:
"If you're bad at it—train harder."
Barō's eyes widened.
That line…
It was the same thing Seiichi had said after humiliating him 8–1 back in junior high.
Even now—three years later—he still couldn't catch them.
He clenched his fists.
I refuse to be a side character.
I'll beat you, Seiichi!
Barō Awakens
Ten minutes left in the half.
Raichi intercepted a lazy pass and grinned.
"Time to shine!"
He dribbled forward leisurely—
BOOM!
A red-and-black blur slammed into him.
Barō.
He stole the ball clean and charged.
"Now I see it clearly…"
His eyes burned crimson. Lightning snapped around his frame.
He's awakening.
He blasted past Isagi.
Two defenders converged.
"MOVE!!"
Barō bulldozed through them like a tank.
Then—
Seiichi.
The two collided again.
"Come, Barō," Seiichi challenged.
But this time—he was too late.
BOOM!
Barō shot from distance. A laser into the side netting.
3–2!
He collapsed and screamed toward the ceiling.
"YEEEEAAAHHH!!"
The Final Strike
Seiichi calmly picked up the ball.
"Not bad," he muttered. "You're finally worth devouring."
His eyes gleamed with a deep, electric-blue fire.
Final five minutes.
Kickoff.
Barō pressed again—but this time, Seiichi passed early.
A long slicing ball down the wing—
Isagi sprinted, trapped it on his chest, and drove forward.
This is it. I'm a forward. I exist… to score.
He planted his foot.
Drew back his right.
BOOM!
The shot exploded into the upper left corner.
GOAL! 4–2!
Whistle
Full-time.
Blue Lock Block 5: Team Z wins 4–2.
"YEAH!!" Igarashi leapt onto Isagi's back.
"Nice one, Isagi!" Bachira cheered.
Seiichi jogged over, smirking.
"Beautiful shot."
"Th-thanks… but that pass—" Isagi started.
"Don't worry about it." Seiichi winked. "Just keep growing."
"I still haven't scored!" Igarashi wailed. "Pass to me next time!"
"You're ranked last, you clown," Raichi snapped. "You don't get to ask for passes!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Seiichi chuckled quietly.
His gaze drifted across the pitch.
Barō Shōei stood alone, fists clenched, eyes burning.
He's not finished.
Next time… he'll be stronger.