{T/N: For those who didn't understand the title, Kojiro's kick is called Raiju (Thunder Beast).}
"I leave it to you, Hiori!"
Yoichi raised his foot and sent the ball to Yō, who was waiting on the other side!
"Damn it... was it a trap from the beginning?" Ikki gritted his teeth, recalling his recent actions.
Just now, under defensive pressure from Yō, he had no choice but to pass the ball to Shōei.
However, Ikki knew that this guy didn't have abilities like Metavision, so he hadn't put much thought into that pass.
But now, thinking back carefully, he realized that everything might have been a trap set up by Yō, Yoichi, and Ashito working together!
Yō had deliberately created a gap in his defense to tempt Ikki into passing, making him send the ball to Shōei's feet! Ashito and Yoichi had set the trap, waiting for the "wolf" to fall into it!
The three of them together formed Bastard München's command tower!
Ashito and Yoichi were responsible for observation, while Yō executed the plan. Even though Ikki was excellent on the field, he couldn't compete with all three of them simultaneously!
This tactic couldn't be used a second time, but they clearly wanted to use this opportunity to take the lead!
"Quick, stop them!" Ikki shouted.
"I got it, I got it, leave it to me!"
Before Yō could completely cross midfield, Oliver instantly closed in on him!
"Where do you think you're going, little lamb?"
Oliver's excellent defensive instinct allowed him to completely block the attacking route just through his positioning.
"You're so good. How come I didn't see you play in our match?" He looked at Yō with interest.
Previously, he hadn't "collected" data on this guy, but through his recent observations, he had figured out his technical characteristics.
Excellent ball control, outstanding left foot technique, and solid physical attributes — from every perspective, Yō was an exceptional player...
Nevertheless, Oliver was still confident he could defend against him!
The current version of Oliver had improved tremendously compared to before. In terms of physical ability alone, he should be superior to Yō!
"Sorry, at that time, other teammates were better choices than me." Yō said calmly.
During that U-20 Match, he had experienced feelings similar to what he felt now.
Excitement? Blood boiling? Perhaps both.
But he also knew that even if he had played in that match, victory would have been impossible because his opponent was someone as formidable as Ryōsuke.
He had analyzed various scenarios, and victory was practically negligible — even if Yō had discovered the chain of traps Yoichi had woven, against Ryōsuke's absolute strength, it would have been meaningless.
But now things were different, and his heart yearned for victory!
'Oliver's defensive ability is too outstanding; going head-to-head with him isn't the right choice. He seems even stronger than before!' Yō calmly analyzed the situation.
The possibility of forcibly getting past this defense with his abilities wasn't high. Moreover, he noticed that behind Oliver lurked the true predator.
Lorenzo!
Even if he seized the opportunity to bypass this heterochromatic-eyed opponent, he would fall into the Zombie's trap and likely wouldn't even have space to pass the ball!
After his calm analysis, Yō slightly turned his body and passed the ball... letting someone else break the deadlock.
Soccer isn't a one-man game.
"Sprint, sprint! Go, Hiori!"
At that moment, Ranze burst forth from the side, coming to receive Yō's pass!
Using quick, small turns, he rapidly created space and received the pass!
However, Ranze didn't hold onto the ball for long; he also played the role of a transit station in the team! His responsibility was to create opportunities for Ryōsuke!
"Go! Go!" Ranze immediately distributed the ball the instant he touched it, sending a long pass to the other side.
To where their absolute core was positioned!
At this moment, Ryōsuke had space for a breakthrough.
"Don't think you can get through!"
But at that instant, someone tightly stuck to his back, not giving him space to receive the ball: Kojiro!
This fierce beast was now completely focused on Ryōsuke, his body pressed tightly against him, like a tiger pouncing on its prey, targeting its throat!
"Kira, you may be strong! But you can't possibly be stronger than me! I am this country's number one forward! Whether it's you or Tsubasa, I will surpass you both!" Kojiro roared.
He simultaneously unleashed all his strength, firmly holding Ryōsuke, using his body positioning to prevent his movement!
SSS-level strength — for an ordinary person, it would be impossible to escape this tiger's grip!
But Ryōsuke was no ordinary person!
Kojiro had already exerted almost all his strength against him, but his opponent didn't budge an inch.
"How is this possible?!" Kojiro could hardly believe what was happening before him.
In terms of strength, he had never lost to anyone!
But at this moment, he couldn't make Ryōsuke move even slightly. It was as if he was trying to push a mountain.
"Sorry, Hyuga." Ryōsuke said calmly, his expression looking very relaxed, "Are you and Barō here today to compete for second place?"
"Stop talking big!" Kojiro immediately responded.
He believed that even if he couldn't completely overpower Ryōsuke in strength, his opponent must also be using all his strength in their confrontation!
In that case, he wouldn't be able to jump, let alone receive his teammate's pass!
But Ryōsuke's nonchalant demeanor made Kojiro feel a sense of foreboding.
Could it be that this guy was still holding back? How could that be possible!
But just as Kojiro was still hesitating, Ryōsuke had already jumped up!
At the same time, Divine Reflection activated!
❖ Divine Reflection ➠ Seishirō Nagi: Perfect Ball Control! ❖
Ryōsuke, using Kojiro's body as support, bent his body into a bow shape and successfully received Ranze's pass with the tip of his right foot. Then with a gentle flick, he sent the ball soaring over both his and Kojiro's heads!
He quickly landed, immediately turned around, and successfully received the ball behind his "supporter"!
His movements were just like Seishirō Nagi himself...
But even more impressive!
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
"That's Nagi's technique again!"
In the England Stratum, watching the live broadcast, Reo involuntarily exclaimed in surprise.
Even with his excellent mimicry abilities and having been by Seishirō's side, he himself could only recreate this technique to about one hundred percent...
But Ryōsuke had mastered it, and what he achieved wasn't just one hundred percent, but even one hundred and one percent! His movements were even more impressive than the original!
Ryōsuke had already used it once before, and using it again now proved that the first time wasn't mere coincidence!
"Ah, he's using it again!" Seishirō watched the screen with a calm expression and continued, "Should he pay me royalties for that?"
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
Meanwhile, Ryōsuke, using Divine Reflection to copy Seishirō's Perfect Ball Control, used the ball-stopping motion to get past Kojiro, seemingly about to break through at maximum speed!
"Don't underestimate me!" Kojiro immediately turned around, using all his power to chase after him.
But at that moment, Ryōsuke, who had been moving at high speed, suddenly stopped. His ability to halt while at full speed demonstrated his terrifying power and control!
Because of his sprint's momentum, Kojiro found himself a body's distance away from Ryōsuke!
However, he wasn't worried; this distance wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He could better use this gap to prevent Ryōsuke's breakthrough!
But there was one thing he hadn't considered — this one body's distance was also enough for his opponent to take a shot.
Ryōsuke faced the goal and stepped forward!
"You're planning to shoot from this position too?!" Kojiro stared in disbelief at his opponent.
His Tiger Shot just now had been impressive, but Ryōsuke was attempting to shoot from much farther away from the goal!
How could it possibly go in from such a distance?!
Moreover, their goalkeeper was someone of Ken's caliber.
"What's wrong? Surprised?" Ryōsuke said with a smile, "Earlier you claimed your shooting had surpassed mine, right? So try to surpass this shot too!"
It had been some time since he'd used it — the shot that had shocked the world during the U-20 Match!
Distant Thunder!
Compared to before, Ryōsuke's Distant Thunder had reached new heights in both skill and mastery! Range, accuracy, power, and speed — his technique had advanced to an entirely new realm in all aspects!
"Go! Pierce through Ubers's goal!"
Ryōsuke shouted!
❖ Thunder Strike, Second Move ➠ Crackle Cross! ❖
At the same time, his rapidly heaving chest accelerated the intake of air. It rushed into his lungs, merging with his blood like surging river currents washing through his vessels!
His powerful heartbeat sounded like war drums!
But this sound was drowned out by an even louder noise!
BOOM!
It was the explosive boom produced the moment his foot made contact with the ball! Even louder than Thunderclap and Flash — it was genuine thunder!
"Tiger Shot? Now witness what real lightning is!"
As Ryōsuke spoke, he unleashed the ball with desperate force!
"Don't think you can score!"
Kojiro attempted to use his body to block this long-range shot!
Given this distance and Ubers's defense, Ryōsuke shouldn't be able to score, but Kojiro had an ominous feeling — he had to block this at all costs!
But just as he was about to intercept the shot with his body, Kojiro suddenly stopped. It wasn't by his own will; his body seemed to lose control, refusing to move closer!
It was pure instinct — fear coursing through his body!
Every cell within him screamed to stay away from that shot!
Like a biological protection mechanism — even a fierce tiger at the top of the natural world has things it fears: those monsters that transcend biology and the natural order!
Kojiro was afraid, his body instinctively recoiling!
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
"Kojiro actually dodged?"
In the Spanish Stratum, Tsubasa watched the screen with surprise.
Kojiro's defining characteristic was his reckless determination; no matter what attack came his way, he would always give his all to stop it.
But just now, Tsubasa clearly saw him avoid it!
What was happening? Could it be... that Ryōsuke's shot made even Kojiro feel afraid?!
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
At that moment, Ryōsuke's ball flew past Kojiro's face. He could clearly hear the sound of it cutting through the air, his eardrums and cheeks feeling a sharp ache.
It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck down beside him — as if he stood just one step away from death!
And that ball was now heading toward the goal with a terrifying arc and blistering speed!
Ken didn't pay attention to Kojiro's actions; he was completely focused on Ryōsuke's shot!
"Aiming for the corner!" He shouted as he eyed the ball, "But he won't break through my defense!"
Ken once again used the Triangle Jump defense — a move others simply couldn't perform. By using the force from kicking the goalpost twice, he was able to leap high, attempting to intercept the ball before it dropped into the corner!
Even if he couldn't fully save it, changing the shot's trajectory would be enough!
But in the next instant, he realized how naive his thinking had been!
The power of this shot... was much heavier than all the previous shots combined!
Boom!
Ken had no way to stop this ball!
His high-jumping body seemed suddenly weighed down by a thousand pounds, plummeting along with the ball into the net!
"What?"
"What level of shot was that..."
"That's simply a monster..."
Everyone looked at the scene before them, dumbfounded.
❖❖❖
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