Blue Lock: Beyond Greatness

"Is it... is it just my imagination? Why does it feel like Shinichi has gotten even stronger?" Tokimitsu looked toward Tanaka, who was sweating profusely as he confirmed Tokimitsu's suspicions. "You're probably not mistaken..."

"This monster... even now, he's still getting stronger!"

At that moment, Tanaka felt he might have made the wrong choice.

After facing off against Shinichi, he understood just how terrifying this monster truly was.

That's why he didn't hesitate to choose to be on the same team as Shinichi.

But now...

If he were to oppose Shinichi, all he'd need to do is perform better than everyone else.

However, being on the same team as this monster meant that to prove his worth, he had to showcase his talents under Shinichi's overwhelming brilliance.

"This kind of situation... it's like a hell-level difficulty..."

...

"Well done." Shinichi smiled as he raised his hand for a high-five with Chigiri, who had just returned.

Chigiri instinctively responded, then stared blankly at Shinichi's retreating back, clenching his fist tightly.

Although he had scored, he wasn't satisfied with his own performance.

That last goal could be described as Shinichi practically feeding the ball into his mouth.

Even if it wasn't him, any other player with decent speed—like that guy called Zantetsu—could have done the same.

This kind of scoring didn't showcase his presence at all!

Of course, while Shinichi's team was dealing with the "struggle" of not simply coasting to victory, the opposing team was drowning in a heavy sense of despair.

In their daze, they seemed to see Shinichi's figure growing larger and larger, while they, like ants, trembled in the shadow he cast.

"As expected... trying to take on the one even that sharp-tongued guy acknowledges as the top player in a one-on-one is a bit unrealistic. From now on, we'll need to avoid him as much as possible and minimize his influence on the game," Reiji gathered his teammates and shared his thoughts.

But he was quickly interrupted.

"Shut up! Just give me the ball. Anyone who dares stand in my way, I'll crush with my football!" Barou growled impatiently, his face dark with determination.

"On the field, the king... is me and me alone!"

"Damn, we've got someone who doesn't listen to reason," Reiji frowned but quickly eased his expression. "Fine then, you go one-on-one against that top player. If you can find an opening to receive the ball, I'll pass it to you."

Barou didn't respond, but judging by the way he marched toward Shinichi, it was clear he had heard Reiji's words.

"Whew... now we've got someone to keep that monster busy while also dealing with the unstable factor. Good, everything is still within calculation," Reiji thought as he glanced at Yukimiya, who seemed a bit dazed.

Reiji didn't think it was Yukimiya's fault for losing the ball so quickly.

Even as an observer, he could clearly sense the threat of Yukimiya's dribbling.

The mistake was simply because the opponent was operating on a level far beyond the norm.

However, there was no need to point this out to him.

While it was unfortunate to lose a potential asset, Reiji had never truly entertained the idea of defeating a team led by Shinichi.

All the data pointed to one conclusion: Shinichi was already on a plane beyond their current stage.

Reiji hadn't forgotten the ultimate goal of this experimental evaluation—to determine the roster for the match against the U20 team.

What he needed to do was maximize his strengths.

Though it left a bitter taste, his target from the start had always been securing a spot in midfield.

"I just need to maximize the strengths of my data-driven football and showcase my ability to coordinate the team. As long as we can hold our own against his team for a while, that will be enough."

With this thought, Reiji resumed play as the whistle blew, this time taking the ball himself and moving down the left flank to avoid Shinichi.

Just as he anticipated, Shinichi remained in the center of the field, hands in his pockets, showing no intention of chasing after him.

"It seems I was right. Whether it's Ego asking him to hold back to give us some breathing room, or simply his lack of motivation because we're the opponents, for now, at least until the score tightens, this guy won't make the first move."

As his calculations proved accurate, Reiji's confidence began to return bit by bit. "Good. Now then, the next obstacle..."

A flash of red hair entered his field of vision, and a slight smirk appeared at the corner of Reiji's mouth. "As expected, if I attack from the left, you'll be the one defending me. Judging by how you ran earlier, you're the type who gradually accelerates to top speed, aren't you?"

Suddenly, Reiji accelerated and cut inside, prompting Chigiri to follow.

However, Reiji abruptly stopped and planted his foot on the ball.

Just as Chigiri braked sharply to halt his momentum, Reiji shifted his weight and launched the ball forward with a sudden burst, quickly picking up speed himself.

The contrast between his stop and go left Chigiri in the dust.

"That means, compared to your remarkable top speed, your explosiveness leaves something to be desired," Reiji remarked casually as he continued dribbling.

Noticing Raichi running toward him, he smiled slightly. "Having been on the same team with you for so long, I've gotten a pretty good grasp of your data."

"Back then, I did lose to you because I hadn't accounted for your absurd stamina reserves. But now that I have a comprehensive theoretical understanding, you're no longer an obstacle to me."

Reiji raised his foot again, feigning a stop.

Raichi took the bait instantly, spreading his arms wide to block him.

But that was exactly what Reiji had anticipated.

Instead of dodging, he stepped forward aggressively.

"So, in moments like this, your straightforward approach leaves your defense wide open."

Reiji slipped the ball through Raichi's legs.

With Barou marking Shinichi, Tanaka defending Yukimiya, Tokimitsu locked in a duel with Sokura, and both Raichi and Chigiri already occupied, the play was now devoid of further obstacles.

The ball reached the completely unmarked Reiji, who executed a fake move to trick the Blue Lock goalkeeper. With a swift push, he set up his shot and prepared to strike—

Smack!

Out of nowhere, a long leg appeared between the ball and the goal, sending the ball flying far away.

Shinichi, having intercepted with a sliding tackle, stood up and glanced at Reiji. "Is your brain single-threaded? When you're analyzing data, it seems like you can only focus on what's right in front of you. Your vision narrows too much."

With that, Shinichi didn't bother waiting for Reiji's reaction and sprinted toward the ball's landing spot. However, someone had already claimed that position ahead of him.

"I'll... take you down!" Barou had reached the ball first.

With dark red sparks crackling under his feet, he quickly shifted the ball and cut inward, darting past Shinichi like a streak of lightning with a series of rapid, precise touches.

Tap.

A barely audible sound abruptly extinguished the momentum of the "lightning."

Shinichi, smiling casually, had deftly flicked the ball into the air with his foot. "When you run too fast, you leave things behind, you know."

"Oh, by the way, I have a question for you... Earlier, you said—"

"What kind of king do you want to be again?"

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