Chapter 44: All-Round Crushing
Whistle! The match continues.
Yūshin Seiichi's eyes turned cold. He passed the ball off to Rin and instantly sprinted forward.
Itoshi Rin received the ball with composure. As expected, Nagi Seishirō stepped up to challenge him.
But Rin didn't hesitate.
He dragged the ball behind him with a crisp step-over, and in one seamless movement, spun his body.
Marseille Turn.
In a flash, he blew past Nagi.
"Huh—!?" Nagi's pupils shrank.
That movement… it was perfect.
"Not good!" Isagi Yoichi's expression tightened. He abandoned Seiichi and rushed toward Rin.
We can't let him go further! If he breaks the line now, it's a one-on-one with the goalkeeper!
From twenty meters out, Rin took position.
His run-up and posture were textbook—calm, precise, almost mechanical in its sharpness.
"THAT'S ENOUGH, RIN!"
Isagi lunged into a desperate slide tackle.
But Rin had already predicted it.
He flicked the ball upward at the last second, letting Isagi slide harmlessly past beneath him.
He's reading everything.
Isagi's heart sank as Rin reset his stance with eerie fluidity and struck with his left foot.
Boom!
The ball curved like a ribbon of light—twisting midair and cutting into the top-left corner.
Swish.
Ding! Red Team Scores. 1–1.
Isagi stared wide-eyed.
His technique… his vision… his calm…
Rin's presence was suffocating.
"…I'll devour you," Isagi muttered, his fists trembling.
Kickoff.
Isagi quickly pushed the ball to Bachira Meguru. The four White Team members surged forward.
They were strong—yes—but this was a team battle. As long as they used their individual weapons properly…
They could win.
"Chigiri! It's yours!"
Isagi switched the ball to Chigiri Hyōma on the right.
Just like before, his speed would open the attack.
Chigiri's crimson hair flew like fire as he exploded into motion.
But this time…
"So you're confident in your speed?"
A chill ran down Chigiri's spine.
Suddenly, a storm blew past him—
Yūshin Zeya.
"What…?"
Zeya accelerated like a wild beast, overtaking Chigiri and cutting off the ball cleanly.
Bang!
He passed it off to Hiori Yo without hesitation.
"It's okay, Chigiri. I'll handle this!"
Bachira charged forward to intercept, but—
"Too slow."
Boom!
Hiori rubbed the ball's underside and launched it into a rainbow arc toward the Red Team's midfield.
The ball curved perfectly to Seiichi's feet.
"His pass…!"
Bachira blinked, stunned.
That accuracy—without adjustment?
He's even better at passing than me…
"I see you, Seiichi! I won't let you pass!"
Isagi burst forward.
But Seiichi's eyes had already turned cold.
"Too hasty, Yoichi."
With one soft touch off his thigh, Seiichi controlled the ball, bringing it just close enough to tempt Isagi in.
Isagi hesitated.
Do I lunge now? Can I reach it?
That single moment of hesitation…
Seiichi flicked the ball left—then with a bull-tail feint, spun right.
He vanished.
Seiichi slipped past Isagi like smoke, and by the time Isagi twisted around, it was too late.
Boom!
The ball sailed past the goalkeeper, low and fast.
Ding! Red Team Scores. 2–1.
…
White Team stood frozen.
They were being outclassed.
Except for Bachira, none of their weapons were functioning properly.
It was a complete and total shutdown.
Isagi bit his lip.
What can we even do?
"Scary, scary!" Bachira cackled, flicking the ball into the air. "This is fun!"
"Huh…?" Isagi blinked.
"Seiichi, Zeya, Rin, even that passer Hiori… all monsters."
"The thought of beating them—it's too exciting!"
"Bachira…"
"We'll get stronger, right? That's what Blue Lock is for!"
Isagi nodded slowly.
"Let's go."
Whistle! Game resumes.
Isagi pushed the ball to Bachira again, and this time, Bachira surged forward with fierce intent.
Hiori stepped up, but Bachira's eyes blazed.
"If they're shutting down our weapons, I'll just break past my limit!"
Super Step-Overs.
His pace increased—faster than before.
Hiori narrowed his eyes and followed the movement, but Bachira snapped the ball to the opposite side—
Bull Tail + Marseille Turn.
"More, more! Inspiration keeps flowing!"
He shot past Hiori and toward the goal.
Seiichi blocked the path.
"Found you~"
"Too predictable, Bachira."
Seiichi anticipated the direction.
Bachira stepped over, picked the ball up on his heel—and tried to sneak past.
But—
Seiichi was already there.
Bang!
He intercepted midair with a falling bicycle kick.
The ball arced toward the White Team's half—
And Zeya was already sprinting.
"Like lightning…"
Bang!
He slammed it straight into the net.
Ding! Red Team Scores. 3–1.