Blue Lock: I, Ryōsuke Kira, Start With Thunder Breathing

Ryōsuke carefully observed Hyōma before him. One-on-one, he could easily outmaneuver his opponent.

He had quietly activated his Divine Reflection ability. After resting through most of the match, his energy had recovered enough to use it again.

With time running out, he would use this play to seal the game!

The copy target is... Yoichi!

❖ Divine Reflection ➠ Metavision! ❖

Using his peripheral vision, Ryōsuke scanned his surroundings, processing information as if viewing the field from a god's perspective. Every player's movement became crystal clear.

Behind Hyōma, several players had dropped back to defend. Though Kenyū had quickly passed after Chris's pursuit, Ranze's position had slowed their counterattack, giving Manshine City time to reorganize their defense.

Haruhisa had stealthily positioned himself near Ryōsuke, ready to pounce. With Chris still in pursuit, forcing an attack would be unwise.

Before the trap could close, Ryōsuke made his decision to pass! Through Metavision, he could see both opponents and teammates with perfect clarity!

While all eyes were on him, another player made a perfectly timed run from the side.

Ashito Aoi!

Ashito's intense focus told Ryōsuke everything — one glance was enough to understand his teammate's tactical intent. He silently moved to coordinate.

Ashito's game sense had grown remarkably, shaped by Ryōsuke's earlier guidance.

With a slight smile, Ryōsuke shifted and released the ball to Ashito, seemingly ceding the attack.

Ashito now stood unmarked, posing a clear threat to Manshine City.

"He chose to pass?!" Hyōma's pace faltered in surprise.

In that moment of hesitation, Ryōsuke burst forward!

That's when the red panther realized the grave danger — this attack wouldn't end with Ashito...

Remembering how the young player had earlier created an impossible assist for Ryōsuke's goal, Hyōma's heart sank.

The real threat wasn't Ashito's direct attack, but his potential pass to Ryōsuke!

Ashito had received the ball and was advancing toward the goal. Just as Hyōma feared, rather than shooting himself, he was looking to create a one-two play with Ryōsuke!

Overview, overview!

Ryōsuke had broken free from Hyōma and the defensive line, creating a clear passing lane...

'No, not yet!' Ashito suddenly halted his passing motion. This wasn't the right moment.

He spotted Haruhisa lurking behind Hyōma like a predator. The opponent had anticipated his intentions and was poised to intercept.

A conventional pass would never succeed!

There was only one choice — attempt the impossible. He had to use his imagination!

Trusting his core player's abilities, Ashito launched the ball high into the air!

His target was clear: Ryōsuke!

The ball soared at such an extreme height and arc that no ordinary player could possibly control it!

Yet everyone knew Ryōsuke might pull it off! They'd witnessed his extraordinary ball control earlier, and they couldn't risk letting him touch the ball.

"So you saw through my plan." Haruhisa narrowed his eyes at Ashito, confirming the young player's suspicions about the planned interception, "But someone else will stop him this time."

Ryōsuke sprinted toward the ball's landing spot, preparing to leap.

But another player blocked his path, determined to prevent a clean reception.

Chris!

"Kira, I've seen what you're capable of! Don't think you'll control the ball so easily this time!" He said with a laugh.

As a world-class star excelling in both attack and defense, Chris used his sharp instincts to position himself in front of Ryōsuke, using his body to block his opponent's center of gravity and prevent a clean jump!

Against such masterful defense, even world-class players would struggle.

But Ryōsuke remained unfazed, smiling back at his opponent, "Sorry, but I wasn't planning to control the ball anyway!"

Even as he spoke, he prepared to force his jump!

"What?"

Chris was taken aback — he had completely locked down Ryōsuke's position, using his arms and body to restrict any movement. His defense was like iron shackles binding his opponent...

Yet for Ryōsuke, such restraints meant nothing.

❖ First Form ➠ Thunderclap and Flash! ❖

He exploded upward, shattering the restriction.

"Using brute force?" Chris's eyes widened in surprise.

Not only had his opponent broken through the blockade, but attempting to receive the ball in this position seemed reckless.

After all, Chris had perfect positioning — even if Ryōsuke won the aerial battle, he'd have no room to shoot. He was still trapped in the defensive web!

But for Chris, this was his chance to prove himself! He wouldn't let Ryōsuke soar above him — he had to show everyone he was the true perfect hero!

Both men launched themselves skyward, battling for the ball!

Victory seemed certain in Chris's mind! Even if Ryōsuke won possession, he'd have neither space nor time to shoot!

And if Chris claimed the ball, he could instantly launch a counterattack with a long pass!

This was Manshine City's signature strategy — lightning-fast counterattacks! No matter who won the ball, he held the advantage!

But at that moment, Ryōsuke, suspended in mid-air, made another move!

The Divine Reflection was still active! The person he was going to copy now was... Tsubasa!

He rotated his body in mid-air, turning completely upside down.

"What is this?!" Kenyū's eyes widened, instantly recognizing the move.

In the previous match, Tsubasa had performed this exact technique.

The Overhead Kick!

"How arrogant! Using an overhead kick in this situation!" Chris shouted.

He was tangled up with Ryōsuke in mid-air — how could anyone possibly attempt an overhead kick? This idea was pure madness!

Chris made physical contact with him in the air, trying to disrupt his movement.

But Ryōsuke's motion continued to evolve, completely unfazed by the interference!

Still suspended in the air, his right foot tapped the ball, drawing it closer to himself!

"What?" Chris stood dumbfounded, unable to comprehend the attempt.

As he began to descend, Ryōsuke's body continued its rotation.

His left foot hooked the ball, bringing it completely under his control! He adjusted his body mid-air, finding the perfect shooting position.

2 Steps Overhead Kick!

"That's the same technique as Ōzora's!" Yoichi exclaimed from nearby.

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Meanwhile, in the Spanish stratum, players were conducting their final training while watching the Bastard München vs Manshine City match livestream.

"Was that just...?" Meguru's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the technique, turning toward Tsubasa beside him.

Tsubasa kept his eyes fixed on the screen, his gaze filled with admiration, "As expected of Kira — to replicate it after seeing it just once."

He couldn't help but marvel at Ryōsuke's ability. Never before had he encountered such a formidable player.

"I hope I get another chance to face him!" Beside them, Lavinho cast a meaningful look at Chris's stunned expression on screen, "Looks like you'll have to taste that feeling too, Chris."

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

"How is this possible?!" Chris cried out in disbelief, unable to comprehend how anyone could attempt an overhead kick in such a position.

Their mid-air collision hadn't fazed Ryōsuke at all — it was like crashing into an immovable pillar!

Ryōsuke had already positioned his leg, taking aim at Manshine City's goal.

While Tsubasa typically followed the 2 Steps Overhead Kick with his signature Drive Shot, Ryōsuke was about to merge the technique with his own!

Tremendous power gathered in his foot, instantly transferring to the ball. The sphere deformed dramatically, as if compressed in an instant...

❖ Thunderous Sky, First Move ➠ Storm Cloud Bicycle! ❖

In a flash, the ball exploded forward!

"I'll block it!" Chris leaned forward to stop the shot with his body.

But in that instant, every cell in his body screamed danger, and he instinctively froze! The shot whistled past his cheek like a bolt of lightning!

Chris's eyes widened, his gaze frozen as the shot's roar echoed like a beast claiming its territory!

When he finally came to his senses and turned toward his goal, he saw the ball rolling down from the net. The goalkeeper's expression mirrored his own.

A chill ran down Chris's spine — a visceral sense that he had narrowly escaped death. He shuddered to think what might have happened had he actually tried to block that shot.

On the field, Ryōsuke's teammates swarmed him in celebration.

Over at the substitute bench, both Alexis — who had been grumbling like a jilted lover — and Michael fell into stunned silence.

Despite their previous animosity toward Ryōsuke, these two matches had forced them to accept an undeniable truth: that monster's abilities were in a league above their own.

Social media erupted with discussions about Ryōsuke's spectacular goal.

"Isn't that Tsubasa's signature technique from La Liga?"

"Ryōsuke didn't just copy it — he fused it with his power shot!"

"I called his first goal the best of the decade, but this one tops even that!"

"Only Ryōsuke could outdo himself!"

"Ryōsuke" and "overhead kick" surged to the top of trending topics, while buzz about the Perfect Hero Chris's appearance faded into obscurity.

Chris had become merely the opening act in Ryōsuke's show. The whole world had witnessed him surpass the second-best forward!

"No, no, no, I should be the protagonist! This was supposed to be my moment — the day I claimed the throne from world number one! How did it come to this?" Chris's voice quavered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

His near-narcissistic pride had never allowed him to imagine that even after stepping onto the field, he would remain in Ryōsuke's shadow.

He should have been the star!

"Sorry, former world number two." Ryōsuke said with a smile as he faced the shocked man, "Now you're world number three."

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