"What... what!?"
Before Shōei Barō could even react, Ryūma Banjō suddenly exploded into motion. In the blink of an eye, he had completely blown past Barō, leaving him in stunned disbelief.
By the time Barō snapped out of it and tried to give chase, it was already too late.
After sprinting only a few meters, Ryūma swung his right leg back in a wide motion—preparing to shoot.
At that moment, another figure stared at him in despair.
It was Meguru Bachira, sprinting back with everything he had.
(Damn it! Why!? If Barō could've just held him off a little longer...)
(No—Ryūma's just too strong... Is it really over? No!!)
(Wait! Just wait!!)
(Give me... one last chance!!)
But Ryūma had no mercy. His right foot came down with full force, striking the center of the ball.
[BOOM!!]
The ball blasted toward the White Team's goal like a cannon shell.
(It's over... man, I'm starving~)
(Huh? Wait—Isagi!?)
"HAAAH!!!"
That's right—Yoichi Isagi let out a roar, completely ignoring the force behind Ryūma's strike. He threw himself forward and blocked the shot with his head.
As if the heavens had answered Bachira's desperate prayer, the deflected ball landed right in front of him—on the far right wing, the spot farthest from Ryūma!
[And then—the boy took his first step!]
Bachira's eyes lit up as he received the ball. Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted toward the Red Team's half.
Isagi, ignoring the pain throbbing in his forehead, pushed himself to his feet and chased after him, shouting:
"Bachira, attack!!"
As soon as Bachira entered the Red Team's side, the towering figure of Jyubei Aryu appeared in his path.
Gritting his teeth, Bachira locked his gaze on Aryu, his mind in turmoil.
(No! Don't come out, "Monster"!!)
(If you appear—)
(I won't be able to stop looking for you!!)
(At first, it was fine... because with you, I wasn't alone!)
(Thanks to you, I could keep believing in myself——)
(That's why I could meet my "friends" here in Blue Lock.)
(Thank you, "Monster," for always being by my side...)
(But! From now on—I won't walk with you anymore.)
(Chasing after your way of playing can't help me reach Isagi and Rin——)
(Disappear!! Please, just disappear!!)
(I don't need the "Monster" anymore!!)
By now, Bachira had almost reached Aryu. Yet in his eyes, the "Monster's" shadow appeared beside him once more.
(If someone ran into that open space, I could make a perfect pass to catch Aryu off guard...)
(No! Damn it!!)
(My body's already used to searching for the "Monster's" style!!)
He stopped mid-run, staring at Aryu ahead of him as his heart wrestled violently.
(The "Monster" who played with me since I was a kid... once my "hope"...)
(Somewhere along the way, it became a "curse" that chained my imagination.)
(Playing alongside that "Monster" became my lifelong obsession.)
(Then I met Isagi in Blue Lock... and he became my true "Monster.")
(That feeling... was too amazing——)
(Playing soccer with Isagi became my reason to exist.)
(I became someone who couldn't play without him.)
(If I don't break this curse... I can't move forward!!)
"Bachira! I'm here—pass it!!"
Isagi had reached Bachira's right rear and was shouting anxiously. He could see Aryu's long leg shooting out, clearly aiming to snatch the ball from Bachira's feet.
Bachira's expression twisted, his teeth clenched as he screamed inside:
(I'm not passing it to that "Monster" ever again!!)
Just as Aryu extended his leg, Bachira mirrored his movement—sending the ball between Aryu's legs in a flash.
"Forcing a nutmeg? You're seriously so trendy, Bachira↗!"
Isagi's eyes widened in disbelief.
(What's going on with Bachira...?)
(I've never seen him dribble so wildly—or look like that!)
(Something in him... has changed!!)
(This isn't the Bachira I knew!)
The Red Team wouldn't let him go unchecked. Seishiro Nagi sprinted ahead to intercept, frowning.
(What's with him? Bachira's presence feels completely different right now...)
But Nagi didn't have time to think—Bachira was already closing in.
On the opposite side, Hyōma Chigiri rushed up and called out:
"Bachira! I'm open!!"
Bachira's jaw tightened as he glanced toward Chigiri's position—and once again, he saw the "Monster."
(I told you—I'm not passing!!)
At once, his footwork shifted. Combining feints and a sharp touch, Bachira flicked the ball through Nagi's legs as well, bursting past him in one motion.
(Another nutmeg—back-to-back?!)
Nagi froze in shock, then spun around—only to see a familiar figure stepping in front of Bachira.
"Hey, little bee... you're not planning to dribble past our whole team, are you?"
Ryūma's violet eyes gleamed as he moved in to intercept.
Running parallel to Bachira, Shōei Barō shouted furiously:
"You lost it, Mushroom Head!? Pass the damn ball! You can't take him alone!!"
Bachira frowned, his gaze fierce, eyes blazing with determination.
(Shut up!! This isn't recklessness—it's awakening! The moment I break my curse!!)
As Ryūma moved horizontally to block him, Bachira burst toward the opposite side, tricking Ryūma into thinking he was dodging.
Of course, a stamina monster like Ryūma wouldn't hold back—he'd charge again without hesitation.
Just as Bachira predicted.
When Ryūma saw him dash the other way, he immediately accelerated to intercept.
And the instant Ryūma caught up—Bachira flicked the ball between his legs again, spinning around to slip right past him.
(Damn it! Bachira's completely awakened!!)
Seishiro Nagi watched in stunned disbelief.
"He's going all out... At this rate, we won't be able to stop him!"
"Bachira's different now. The three of us—block him together!!"
With that, Nagi charged first. Jyubei Aryu had already recovered and joined in, alongside Rin Itoshi, who had been waiting deeper in defense.
The three surrounded Bachira at once.
At that moment, Yoichi Isagi finally caught up—but this time, he stayed silent.
Because he knew it—Bachira wasn't the same anymore.
Right now, Meguru Bachira was the most unpredictable, untamable force on the field—
a wild card no one could anticipate!!