029 Blue Lock: System Ten Years Early

"Hiori, that idiot... actually...!" Karasu stopped in place, panting heavily, his expression complicated as he looked toward the figure cheering and running toward Shinichi.

"Was it because of that guy? You actually got that far ahead of me..."

"Hey, what's with that expression? We haven't lost yet!" Otoya Eita angrily grabbed Karasu Tabito's jersey.

"Look at how pathetic you look—if you can't do it, then give me the ball and play at my rhythm!"

"Otoya..."

"I agree too. Instead of obsessing over how to beat Shinichi, we should play to our strengths. As long as I unleash my ultra-trendy abilities, that'll be enough."

"Aryu, you too..." Karasu Tabito looked at the two pairs of determined eyes. The confusion in his own gaze gradually solidified, and a familiar wicked grin rose at the corner of his mouth.

"So you're that kind of character setting, huh? That's way too pretentious—two idiots."

"At a time like this, still acting tough is totally not trendy."

"Shut up and kick off already."

"Yes, yes, yes." Karasu Tabito raised both hands in surrender, stopped at the center line, and his gaze unconsciously drifted to Shinichi on the opposite side.

"Whew... no, stop thinking so much. Forget those meaningless conclusions. Shinichi's lateral movement really is a bit lacking, but my feints aren't good enough to exploit that—after all, even Nishioka Hajime failed."

"Change the approach. Clashing head-on with the opponent's strong points is indeed futile, but if you can't seize a weakness, then find a way to bring out your own strengths!"

"Your expression's different now. Compared to that deep-seated bitterness from before, you don't seem under that much pressure anymore,"

Shinichi said, as usual standing in front of Karasu Tabito. "Come up with another good idea? You scavenger."

"I really hate your kind of giant-ism. Careful, or I'll sue you for bullying with power, idiot." With a simple change of direction, Karasu Tabito drove the ball straight ahead.

"You're seriously bringing out something with zero variation?" Shinichi accurately read Karasu Tabito's steps, strode forward, and pressed his shoulder against Karasu Tabito's to suppress his speed.

"There's absolutely no change at all, is there?"

"Damn it, that pressure is as terrifying as ever..." Karasu clenched his teeth and raised his arm, but even giving it his all, he couldn't stop Shinichi's advance. Shinichi's shoulder wedged in front of him, forcibly slowing his run—he was about to be forced to a stop...

But he didn't lose the ball immediately after all! Karasu Tabito's earlier judgment was correct. By using his arms, he really could maintain a brief stalemate. Even if failure was inevitable, the time he bought was already enough!

"Tiptoe around—leave it to you, Otoya!" Karasu Tabito kicked the ball hard. Otoya Eita was like a swimming snake, winding and agile, weaving back and forth through the gaps between players, receiving the pass perfectly in stride.

"Same old routine? I've already seen this kind of thing to death!"

However, the instant Otoya Eita received the ball, a black shadow flashed past the corner of his eye. Like a reaper hunting a lost soul, Shinichi clung tightly behind him, those indifferent pupils locking onto him as if to completely devour Otoya Eita.

"Please don't forget the gorgeous me." Aryu Jyubei suddenly barged into the fray, blocking Shinichi's line of sight. He actively entangled Shinichi, using physical contact and his longer limbs to constantly interfere with Shinichi's pursuit.

"Your football is really trendy, but since you've already shown so much, you should stop for now—otherwise you'll end up eclipsing my radiance."

"And there's me too. Since you're bullying with power, don't blame us for ganging up on you."

Karasu Tabito also rushed in from behind, working together with Aryu Jyubei to hinder Shinichi's movement.

"Even if it's you, dragging along two burdens, you'll have to fall."

Under Shinichi's immense strength, Karasu Tabito grit his teeth and endured, his arm locked tightly against Shinichi's chest. Even so, he still felt like Shinichi would break through the two of them in the next second.

"What a pain, Genius!"

"Tch, you nuisances." Shinichi's expression changed for the first time. His strength attribute wasn't as outrageously overpowered as his speed, and besides, Karasu Tabito and Aryu Jyubei both had top-tier physical qualities even within Blue Lock. Shinichi could guarantee crushing either one in a one-on-one, but one-on-two—even for him, instant victory was impossible.

"And while you're being held up by us, that's our window to win," Aryu Jyubei keenly read Shinichi's intent to temporarily retreat and escape the encirclement, extending his leg in advance to block him.

"This spirit of mine—willing to sacrifice for my teammates—is also quite… beautiful."

"Hah, and you still have the nerve to say that now!"

Karasu Tabito's teeth were about to shatter from clenching. So strong! Even though Shinichi's speed had completely slowed, they still couldn't fully stop him—he was pushing them forward step by step like a bulldozer.

"So yeah, we really can't hold much longer. It's all up to you, Otoya!"

Otoya Eita glanced back at the three entangled together, his worries gone. He lifted his foot and struck. When the defender thought he was going for a nutmeg and turned his head, Otoya hooked the ball back with his toe, then twisted his body and burst through the defensive line, his target set straight on the goal.

"Hey, hey, you guys are having way too much fun."

Hiori Yo stood in front of Otoya Eita, eyes wide and hollow like spirals, lowering his center of gravity into a defensive stance.

"Let me join in too."

"The final stage boss, huh? In other words, as long as I get past you, that's enough." As he spoke, Otoya Eita's figure suddenly became elusive. His overwhelmingly agile body constantly shifted its center of gravity, probing Hiori Yo's defense.

'Ugh—so nimble. His center of gravity changes are insane. I can't tell at all what he'll do next.' Hiori Yo struggled to maintain balance while continuously feeding Otoya Eita's information into his mind.

"Half a beat too slow, blue-haired lackey." In a brief haze, Hiori Yo suddenly realized that his center of gravity had been quietly manipulated by Otoya Eita. Otoya seized this hard-won opening with precision and kicked straight into a power shot.

Bang!

The expected sound of the net rippling didn't ring out. Instead, Hiori Yo twisted his body and lifted his leg, barely blocking Otoya Eita's shooting lane with a scorpion kick. The football grazed the back of Hiori Yo's calf, its trajectory completely altered, and struck the goalpost by the narrowest of margins.

"It's not over yet!" Otoya Eita lowered his stance and charged forward again—however, a familiar pressure surged from behind.

"Had enough fun?" Pitch-black hair whipped wildly at extreme speed, the jersey slightly deformed from intense clashes, and those terrifying pupils flickered with a trace of anger.

Shinichi had broken through the two and come back!