Chapter 216: Joint Tryout (12)
"No way, I was expecting an epic clash of titans… and this is all we got?"
"Bruh, refund!"
"Come on, did anyone actually think someone at their age could stop Shinichi? He just used a different method to crush his opponent. Bottom line is, they had no way to deal with someone like Shinichi who has multiple ways to attack."
"Exactly. Honestly, the fact that he toyed with them like that is even scarier than beating them head-on. He's basically showing you that no matter how well-prepared you are, if you can't match his speed, he'll always find a way to blow past you."
"Damn, are you guys all missing the real point here? Was that goal really what mattered most? The real highlight was the one-on-one between Shinichi and Loki! That was insane—two absolute monsters in raw talent. Even with a bird's-eye view, I could barely follow their moves."
"True. I used to think it was a bit much for someone so young to be ranked alongside guys like Noa, but now… I get it. He totally deserves it."
....
A thrilling showdown between the world's two strongest rising stars caused a massive spike in comments on BLUE LOCK TV—and it wasn't just the online audience who had a lot to say.
On the field, the players who'd briefly been filled with hope thanks to Chris's shout were also buzzing with reactions.
"Hahaha! What were you thinking, Chris? That was clown behavior, you know that? What made you think that kid could stop Shinichi?" Lavinho was the first to mock him mercilessly, rubbing salt in the wound. Loki didn't speak, but his expression carried a subtle hint of resentment.
Loki didn't think Shinichi scoring was strange at all.
In fact, globally speaking, there are probably very few people who could confidently say they'd be able to stop Shinichi once he's in full stride.
It was only natural that a young defender couldn't do it. In his view, the goal happened simply because the mentors—including himself—failed to lock down Shinichi. Nothing more.
That said, back when Shinichi was bearing down on goal, even Loki—who felt himself falling behind—had found a spark of hope when Chris shouted so passionately.
Maybe, just maybe, Reo could delay Shinichi for a second or two. But reality completely crushed that hope, and Loki couldn't help but feel a little duped by Chris's outburst.
"Ahem, let me explain!" Chris coughed awkwardly, clearly trying to save face. "Based on my analysis, Reo Mikage might have a hidden talent—even he hasn't realized it himself. A foundational trait that could let him mimic Shinichi's defensive style… namely, ultra-fast reflexes."
The truth was, Chris had never pinned all his hopes on Reo.
He just wanted to quietly test his theory.
If it turned out to be correct, he'd sign Reo later as a potential secret weapon against Shinichi.
But caught up in the heat of the moment—watching that intense one-on-one between Shinichi and Loki—Chris had shouted without thinking.
Now, surrounded by mocking glances and, worst of all, Noa's pitying gaze, he figured he might as well throw his theory out into the open.
He knew that even if he were right, at best Reo would only perform slightly better than the other defenders when trying to stop Shinichi.
"Excellent reflexes, huh? That actually makes sense. Shinichi's defensive style—if a normal player tried to mimic it—would likely cause more harm than good,"
Loki mused thoughtfully after hearing Chris's explanation. "After all, not everyone can accurately assess their opponent's movement and react accordingly. More often than not, they'd get beaten before they even finished reading the play."
"But Reo Mikage seems capable of replicating about 70% of Shinichi's level," he continued, nodding slowly. "Which means his reflexes are already far superior to the average player's. In that light, yeah... maybe he really could slow Shinichi down."
"Not only that," Chris added, "Didn't you see how Reo instinctively blocked Shinichi during that one play? I'm guessing that since he mimics his opponent's playstyle, he gains a deeper understanding of them. That subconscious reaction was likely born out of that familiarity. If he can train that into a conscious skill…"
"Then I could evolve my mimicry," Reo jumped in, his eyes lighting up with excitement, "into a weakened version of Shinichi's Devour ability! Maybe I can't steal someone's weapons like he does, but I can weaken any technique I've already copied. That'd be enough to reduce its effectiveness—at least in front of me!"
Hearing this, even Loki had to admit Chris's theory had some merit. If Chris's entire hypothesis played out, Reo could become a versatile "brake," capable of dealing with a variety of opponents.
With the right support from another mentor, they might even be able to bring Shinichi's seemingly unstoppable momentum to a halt.
Chris and Loki then began mapping out several tactical possibilities based on this idea.
Noa, meanwhile, didn't join their conversation—he simply continued passing the ball around near midfield. About a minute later, the whistle for halftime blew.
Only then did everyone realize how much time had passed in this fast-paced match.
The scoreboard read 23:24—a number so absurdly high that even the mentors were at a loss for words. If you didn't know better, you'd think this was a basketball game.
...
"Whew… you just know that troublemaker Chris isn't done pulling stunts," Snuffy muttered, chugging down a large gulp of his sports drink as he cast a glance toward the bench. His eyes settled on Shinichi, who sat with his eyes closed, seemingly calm. But the steady rise and fall of his chest betrayed the toll the match had taken on him.
Not that it was just him—every mentor was running on fumes. The relentless, high-octane offensive battle had drained them all. Even so, Shinichi remained composed.
Then, without warning, he opened his eyes. The jet-black lightning that had flickered in his left eye was now replaced by a piercing silver glow.
"Obviously… I'm going all out in the second half."
"No matter what tricks they throw at me," he said coolly, "I'll take them head-on—then crush them one by one."
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