Chapter 20: Eight to Zero?
The match roared back to life, tension crackling in the air.
Team X, led by the indomitable Barou, unleashed their final counterattack. In the last ten minutes, they surged with a burst of stamina that seemed almost superhuman, charging Team Z's defensive line with relentless fury.
Kira, watching the onslaught, had no choice but to drop back into Team Z's half to bolster the defense. Every pass, every run from Team X felt like a hammer blow, testing their resolve.
For Team Z, those ten minutes stretched into an eternity. No one dared blink, let alone relax. The pitch became a battlefield, and they were under siege.
Team X's attacks were a storm, but Team Z clung to a single truth: this was their opponents' last desperate stand. If they could weather it, victory was theirs. They had to hold on.
Barou lived up to his kingly reputation. Despite burning through so much energy, he still carved through Team Z's defense, nearly breaking into the penalty area multiple times. But Raichi and Kunigami were relentless, shadowing his every move, denying him even a sniff of a shot. Attack after attack, Team Z's defenders stood tall, clearing danger with grit and precision.
Beep!
The final whistle pierced the air, sharp and final. Under Team X's despairing gazes, the match ended.
Building 5, First Match: Team Z wins!
Team X's players collapsed to the turf, drained and defeated. "Was it still out of reach?" one muttered, voice hollow. They'd given everything, pouring their hearts into the fight, yet the result stung bitterly.
Barou lay sprawled on the grass, frustration etched into every line of his face. His mind replayed the match, and one figure loomed large: Kira. 'It's because of him,' Barou thought, jaw clenched. 'Without him, I would've dominated. I should've won.' The king who'd never lost a high school match had tasted defeat for the first time, a bitter lesson etched into his soul.
On the other side, Team Z erupted in jubilation. The moment the whistle blew, they swarmed together, their cheers echoing through the empty stadium.
"Woooooo!"
"We did it! The lowest-ranked team pulled it off!"
"Hah! Told you I'd shine out there!" Raichi crowed, grinning ear to ear.
Kira stood at the center, high-fiving his teammates, his smile radiant. But his eyes caught a lone figure sitting on the grass—Chigiri Hyoma, head bowed, lost in thought. Kira knew he was likely stewing over his fall during Barou's goal. 'I'll talk to him later,' Kira decided. For now, he let himself sink into the thrill of victory, celebrating with his team.
...
Monitoring Room
Anri Teieri had slipped away at some point, leaving Ego Jinpachi alone, his eyes glued to the screen.
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
He chugged a water bottle, realizing he'd been so engrossed he'd forgotten to drink. Kira's final goal replayed in his mind. 'It's like he stole Barou's essence and made it his own,' Ego mused. 'Or has he been holding back this whole time, hiding his true strength?'
A faint smirk tugged at Ego's lips. 'Kira versus Itoshi Rin… who's the greater talent? This is getting interesting.'
...
Team Z Locker Room
The air buzzed with energy. Bachira, stark naked, danced around, whooping with joy. "Kira, you were straight-up perfect out there!"
Kira averted his eyes, wincing. "Bachira, put some clothes on. That's a sight I can't unsee."
"Hey, hey, hey! Stop flashing everyone!" Kunigami barked, flexing his chiseled muscles as he waved a fist.
"Alright, alright, Discipline Committee!" Bachira stuck out his tongue, scrambling to pull on his pants before Kunigami could pounce.
Raichi, puffing out his chest, declared, "This win's all thanks to me locking down that spiky-haired freak. You small fry only won because of my sexy football!"
Igaguri snorted. "Yeah? Then why do I remember you getting roasted by his rainbow flick?"
"What'd you say, monk? Wanna fight?" Raichi lunged, mock-threatening.
"Oi! Just stating facts! Kira, save me!" Igaguri ducked behind Kira, who laughed awkwardly as the two started a playful chase around him.
Kira knew the real reasons for their victory. First, Team Z's early preparation and quick adaptation gave them an edge. Second, his own superhuman performance as the ace had tipped the scales. Without those, the match could've gone either way.
Isagi, still catching his breath, turned to Kira. "If we keep playing like this, we can go all the way, right?"
Kira's mind flashed to their future opponents. Their chances were strong, but caution was needed. "Today showed us how tough our competition is. Barou was just the start. The teams ahead will have players like him—maybe even stronger. Most of us in Team Z are lower-ranked. To keep winning, we need to sharpen our unique weapons and fight as a unit."
The team fell silent, absorbing his words. The first match had been a grueling tug-of-war, even with their preparation. Their foundation was shaky, but as Kira put it, they had room to grow.
"Ego-san's 'from 0 to 1' idea…" Kira continued. "We've found our '1,' but it's not enough. A team needs a super striker, and we've got that for now. But our tactics and roles are too basic. We need to evolve."
Beeep.
"Progressing fast, aren't you?" Ego's voice crackled through the locker room speaker, his face appearing on a screen.
"Whoa, there's a screen here?" Igaguri blurted, startled.
Kira wasn't surprised. He'd expected Ego to make an appearance post-match.
"The second match in Building 5 just ended," Ego said. "Team V crushed Team Y, 8-0."
"Eight to zero?!"
"No way! That's insane!"
Team Z's jaws dropped. Kira's brow furrowed. If he recalled correctly, Team V boasted three monsters: Zantetsu Tsurugi, Reo Mikage, and Seishiro Nagi—players with the potential to dominate Blue Lock.
Ego, pleased with their reaction, pressed on. "Your team grasped football's 'from 0 to 1' faster than anyone. You solidified your roles quickest. But that's not enough. If you're just sacrificing for your striker, you're no better than Japan's national team. You must break free of your positions. Ask yourself: what's your weapon? The one thing only you bring to the pitch—that's what will make you stand out in this selection."
As Ego's words sank in, Kira closed his eyes, reflecting. His original strength was his off-the-ball movement, weaving through the final third instinctively, a gift of elite positioning. But as Barou had pointed out, it relied on teammates' passing. Without a playmaker, he was just a buzzing fly, no real threat.
His system, though, was a game-changer. By absorbing others' attributes, he could temporarily outshine even the best—like Barou. The catch? Each Trial Card lasted only ten minutes, forty if used back-to-back. But that was enough to seize critical moments, as he'd done today.
Using Barou's Trial Card had left a mark. Kira felt his dribbling improve; he could pull off a rainbow flick now, albeit not perfectly. Kunigami's left-footed shot had boosted his weaker foot too. With more Trial Cards and practice, those skills could become his own.
Confidence surged through him. The path ahead was clear.
Beeep.
"Let's stop here. Think hard, diamonds in the rough."
Ego's image vanished.
The team sat in thoughtful silence, Ego's challenge lingering. They recalled Kira mentioning their "weapons" the day before. His foresight earned their respect anew, cementing his role as Team Z's unchallenged leader.
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