Chapter 119: The Fire Ignites
The tunnel of the Blue Lock Stadium felt like a pressure cooker. The Blue Lock Eleven marched forward in a tight, disciplined line, their shadows stretching long against the concrete.
Waiting for them at the mouth of the tunnel were the giants themselves—the Japan U-20 National Team, clad in their pristine white kits.
"Check it out. The Blue Lock lab rats are actually here…"
"They look intense. I'll give them that."
"Doesn't matter how they look. Let's see if they can actually play ball."
The U-20 players didn't bother hiding their whispers, sizing up the strikers with a mix of curiosity and condescension.
Kira's eyes immediately locked onto Itoshi Sae. The genius midfielder stood apart from the rest, his presence like a cold front moving through the tunnel.
[Detected attribute that can be absorbed!]
[Absorption successful. Obtained Itoshi Sae Attribute Trial Card x1]
[Dribbling +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Passing +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Technique +18 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Silently chant 'Use Itoshi Sae Trial Card' to activate!]
- - -
[Detected attribute that can be absorbed!]
[Absorption successful. Obtained Oliver Aiku Attribute Trial Card x1]
[Defense +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Strength +5 (Continuous decay)]
[Reflexes +5 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Silently chant 'Use Oliver Aiku Trial Card' to activate!]
Kira felt the rush of the system as the cards slotted into his inventory.
Sae remained staring straight ahead, acting as if the entire Blue Lock squad was invisible. Rin, however, was staring a hole into the side of his brother's head, his jaw clamped shut in a silent rage.
"Damn… the air in here is heavy. I love it," Karasu muttered, his pulse quickening.
Yukimiya adjusted his glasses, a sharp smirk on his face. "Now this is a stage worth standing on."
"The aesthetic of this showdown… it's flawless," Aryu added, his long hair shimmering under the tunnel lights.
Kira led the formation as the captain, putting him face-to-face with the man at the front of the U-20 line—Oliver Aiku.
As Kira drew level with him, the stubbled captain turned his head, a confident, knowing look in his eyes. "So, you're Ryosuke Kira."
Kira didn't break stride, but he met Aiku's gaze. "You've heard of me?"
"I've seen the tapes. I have to admit, you've got serious potential," Aiku said, his tone casual but edged with iron. "But don't get your hopes up today. As long as I'm on the pitch, you aren't touching the back of the net. Not even once."
"Is that a challenge?" Kira shot back, his voice steady. "Then I guess I'll just have to break that record in front of everyone."
Aiku chuckled, unfazed. "Bold. I like that. Oh, and one more thing—that former teammate of yours, Shidou? Don't count on seeing him today. He's stuck on the bench."
"We'll see how long you can keep him there," Kira replied.
The conversation ended as the stadium lights flooded the end of the tunnel.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your players to the pitch!"
The roar of the crowd hit them like a physical wave. Over sixty thousand people had packed the stadium, creating a wall of sound that vibrated in Kira's chest. Flashbulbs went off like a thousand tiny stars in the stands.
The stadium was a sea of blue and white. Japanese flags waved in every section, but the biggest banners were reserved for one man: Itoshi Sae.
"U-20! LET'S GO!"
"SAE! WE LOVE YOU!"
"SHOW THEM WHO'S BOSS, SAE!"
The sheer volume of the cheering was dizzying. Kira took a deep breath, the air thick with the scent of freshly cut grass and the heat of thousands of bodies. He couldn't tell if the temperature was actually rising or if it was just the adrenaline boiling in his veins.
Either way, he was electric. This was what real football felt like.
"Welcome, everyone! You are watching the most anticipated match in the history of Japanese youth football," the announcer's voice boomed through the speakers. "I'm your play-by-play commentator, Atsuto Tereasa."
"The energy in this stadium is absolutely off the charts. Joining me today is the legendary football analyst, Natsuki-san. Natsuki, what's the vibe down there?"
Up in the commentary box, Natsuki adjusted his headset, leaning into the mic with visible excitement. "Tereasa, I've been waiting for this since the day it was announced. This is Itoshi Sae's homecoming. The world is watching to see if the U-20 can handle the hype."
Tereasa nodded, shuffling his notes. "Let's look at the lineups. The National Team is coming out in a classic 4-2-3-1. As expected, Sae is slotting into the attacking midfield role right behind the striker. Natsuki, how do you see this formation playing out?"
Natsuki cleared his throat. "The U-20 defense is an absolute fortress—it's the backbone of this team. But with Sae orchestrating the transition from back to front, I expect their offensive efficiency to hit a level we've never seen from a Japanese youth squad."
"And what about the other side of the pitch? The Blue Lock Eleven?"
Natsuki's tone shifted, becoming more skeptical. "Well… they're a group of unknowns. I'm told the entire roster is made up of strikers. Frankly, it's hard to take a team like that seriously on a professional level. It's an experiment, nothing more."
"A bold take. We'll see if those 'unknowns' can make a name for themselves today."
***
In a quiet suburb of Saitama, Kira's sister, Rinko, was glued to the television.
"What a bunch of hacks," Rinko muttered, glaring at the screen. "They haven't said a single word about Ryosuke's team. So much for 'professional' commentary."
She crossed her arms, a pout on her face, but her eyes were shining with pride. She had never truly taken Ryosuke's talk about being a pro athlete seriously—it always felt like a childhood dream. But seeing him stand there on national television, wearing the captain's armband and leading his team onto a massive stage, it finally hit her. Her little brother was the real deal.
***
She wasn't the only one watching. From high-end sports bars in Tokyo to mobile screens on the subway, the entire country was tuned in. The ratings were shattering records for a youth exhibition.
Back on the pitch, the two teams took their positions.
The referee checked his watch and blew the whistle.
Kira had won the coin toss, giving Blue Lock the first possession.
The game was on.
Kira didn't just blindly charge forward. He followed Ego's blueprint to the letter. He dropped back to receive the ball, immediately linking up with Rin and Isagi. The three of them formed a shifting, lethal triangle, pinging the ball between them with surgical precision as they moved up the field.
Even though it was their first time facing the U-20, there wasn't a hint of nerves. The synergy between Kira, Rin, and Isagi was flawless, carving a path through the initial pressure as they crossed the halfway line.
A murmur of surprise rippled through the stands.
The fans had expected the Blue Lock players to be outclassed, but their technical ability was undeniable.
"Oh? Look at that passing. Blue Lock's ball movement is surprisingly sharp," Tereasa noted, his voice rising in surprise. "They clearly came prepared."
"It's just fancy footwork in the midfield," Natsuki countered, his bias still showing. "You can pass all you want, but they aren't going to get anywhere near the goal with that. They're just playing into the U-20's hands."
"I don't know, Natsuki… wait! Look at the formation! Blue Lock is shifting!"
Down on the field, the movement was rapid and calculated.
Karasu, playing as the defensive mid, suddenly dropped back to join Niko and Aryu, forming a solid three-man backline. At the same time, the wingbacks—Bachira and Chigiri—ignited their engines, sprinting forward to join the attack.
In an instant, the 4-5-1 evolved into a hyper-aggressive 3-6-1.
On the sidelines, Coach Yasumori Hoichi's face paled. "What kind of suicidal strategy is this?"
By traditional standards, it was a massive gamble. It left the defense exposed and relied entirely on winning individual battles. But this wasn't a traditional team. This was a team of egos.
Blue Lock had just bared its fangs.
Isagi, tracking the movement with his peripheral vision, saw the overlap. As the U-20 defenders closed in on the center, Isagi didn't hesitate. He launched a high, arching long ball toward the left flank.
Bachira tracked the flight of the ball, killing the momentum perfectly with his foot as he brought it down.
He looked up, his eyes wide and hungry, staring down the U-20's defensive midfielder, Haru Hayate.
"So," Bachira whispered, a playful but dangerous smile on his face. "Where should I start the dance?"
"Unbelievable! Blue Lock is ignoring the safe play and going straight for the throat!" Tereasa shouted. "Number 8 is holding the ball. Is he actually planning to take on Haru Hayate one-on-one? That's incredibly gutsy—or incredibly stupid!"
Natsuki just sneered. He didn't believe for a second that a high school kid could beat a national team regular.
But Bachira wasn't just any kid. And this wasn't just any game.
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So... where are my Power Stones? WHERE ARE THEY?!?!