After exchanging a quick glance, Ryūma Banjō immediately understood what Yo Hiori meant and could only shake his head helplessly.
Seeing that reaction, Yo Hiori let out a faint sigh—but he also understood Ryūma's concern.
Using that move under the 'God's Eye' would be no different from throwing their lives away.
Yo Hiori quickly adjusted his mindset. He understood exactly what mattered right now.
(This isn't the moment to be stubborn. Even if I miss that move… timing is everything.)
(Right now, the most important thing is helping Ryūma win this match!)
With that resolve in place, Yo Hiori swung his right foot, feinting a pass toward Ryūma Banjō.
Shōei Barō, just about to catch up to Hiori, instantly fell into hesitation.
He had tasted Hiori's ultra–short-distance pass before, and the memory was vivid. If he rushed in carelessly, he might just get played again.
But Shōei Barō was not someone who wavered. After a few seconds of thought, he cut directly into what he believed was the passing lane.
Even if he guessed wrong, he was certain he could block any possible shot from this distance.
Just as Barō reached Hiori, Hiori's foot had already come down—sending the ball flying.
Whether it was luck or pure precision, the ball curled beautifully past Barō's left side, slipping right beyond his reach.
On the other side, Ryusei Shido was holding Ryūma back, ready to stop him from breaking toward the ball.
But the ball never stopped near Ryūma. Instead, it swept past just in front of him, heading straight toward Rin Itoshi.
The elegant curve traced a perfect U-shape across the pitch, opening to the right.
Watching its trajectory, Ryūma thought:
(So that's what you were aiming for, Hiori. Not bad!)
(Your creativity really kicked this match into high gear!)
The situation on the field had become outright bizarre.
Although Hiori's pass was going toward Rin Itoshi, Kudo Tōya was also charging toward that very spot.
Once the ball arrived, it would instantly become a two-way clash.
But that wasn't the strangest part. Even closer to the incoming ball were two more figures—Nijiro Nanase and Kairu Saramadara—who had been locked in position battling each other.
Neither of them had expected the ball to come anywhere near them at such a critical moment.
Because of that shock, they both froze for a moment, not even continuing to hold each other off.
By the time the ball approached, they snapped out of it and resumed blocking each other—but neither had any idea what they were supposed to do next.
"Nanase! Just kick it! Anything—as long as it gets to me!"
Ryūma shouted while sprinting toward Rin.
He knew that as long as the ball reached them, the real chaos would begin.
"Hey, Kairu! Forget everything else—kick it out of bounds!"
At the same moment, Kudo Tōya shouted at Saramadara.
But trapped at the center of the commotion, neither player could act freely. And then—
Without hesitation, Yoichi suddenly smashed a kick straight toward Ryūma Banjō.
Ryūma's eyes gleamed, excitement bursting in his chest.
(Oh hell yes. That's my man Isagi!)
(You… are… my… GOD!!)
Immediately, Ryūma threw his full weight forward, slamming his back into Ryusei Shido.
Without his 'Awakening Moment' active, and completely caught off guard, Shido was blasted back a full meter.
By the time Shido stabilized himself, Ryūma had already taken full possession of the ball.
"Tch!!"
"Don't think you can shoot that easily, 'No.1'!"
Hearing Shido's furious roar, Ryūma laughed inwardly.
(Your mental game's weak, Shido. I knock you back for one second and you're already losing it?)
(If I knocked you flat, would you just explode on the spot?)
(Tch—Tōya!)
Ryūma immediately shifted his footwork—he'd spotted Kudo Tōya charging in from the corner of his eye.
Thanks to 'Slow-Motion World', Tōya's movements appeared slowed; otherwise, that sneaky bastard might've stolen the ball right there.
Failing his ambush, Tōya let out a quiet sigh, then pressed forward again.
Rin Itoshi took the opportunity to break toward them. Ryūma met his eyes for an instant—and understood exactly what Rin wanted.
(Fine, fine. I swear I owe you big time…)
Cutting off 'Slow-Motion World', Ryūma instantly reactivated 'Limit-Breaking State'.
This time, though, there was a clear one-second delay between the two states—no more seamless transition.
(So I really can't switch them freely. At least it's only a second. If it were five or six, I'd be screwed.)
Ryūma burst forward, once again ramming backward toward Tōya.
Kudo Tōya didn't flinch—in a smooth motion, he shifted his body aside with a Chop Feint, dodging the hit perfectly.
But Ryūma hadn't been aiming to take Tōya down.
Almost simultaneously with Tōya's feint, Ryūma, boosted by the Limit-Breaking State, unleashed a full-speed acceleration straight at Ryusei Shido.
Shido, ever cautious, had been watching Ryūma out of the corner of his eye. The moment Ryūma made his move, Shido slowed and adjusted, trying to circle around from the opposite side.
But in the very next instant, Ryūma forced his body to stop abruptly. Without losing momentum, he spun and slammed his back toward Tōya again.
Unfortunately for him, Kudo Tōya's 'God's Eye' had never once left Ryūma. The moment Ryūma halted, Tōya reacted instantly.
But Ryūma was simply too fast. Even though Tōya dodged the collision, Ryūma still managed to pin him in place.
[BOOM!!]
Kudo Tōya's pupils contracted hard. That sound—he knew it all too well.
"Wh… what?!"
"A shot? When?!"
His shock lasted only a moment. He didn't even bother turning around.
He already understood what had happened—and he had no desire to look at that face, cold as permafrost.
Because the shot had come from Rin Itoshi, who had used the visual blind spots of Kudo Tōya, Ryusei Shido, and even Team B's goalkeeper.
"Sigh…"
As Tōya let out a resigned exhale, the ball soared over the stunned Blue Lock player and slammed into Team B's net.
GOAL!! Team A 3 : 2 Team B