In the training room, Isagi Yoichi and the others were enthusiastically discussing their preferred weapons, but Bachira Meguru and Kira Ryosuke were nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, in one of the central training grounds of Building 5.
Kira Ryosuke stood twenty-eight meters from the goal, took a short run-up, and then unleashed a powerful shot.
"Bang."
The football, like a cannonball, instantly buried itself in the net.
Both its power and spin reached astonishing levels.
"Still a little short..."
Ryosuke felt it.
Perfect imitation was about to allow him to replicate Midorima Shintarou's ultra-long-range shot.
And he wanted to transform this ability into a shot, using that incredibly sharp precision and ball sense to achieve what only top players could accomplish: a "Worldie."
Once he possessed this new weapon, even if he didn't penetrate deep into the penalty area, he could still pose a deadly threat.
"Clap, clap, clap..."
Just as he was about to extend the distance to thirty meters, Bachira Meguru's applause came from behind him.
"You're really diligent, aren't you? So even a genius has such a hardworking side behind the scenes."
Bachira Meguru playfully stuck out his tongue, "That last shot was way too powerful. Even an experienced goalkeeper probably couldn't stop it."
Ryosuke wiped the sweat from his body, "That kind of power is only possible without a defender. My physical stats are still a bit worse than Kunigami and Raichi's, and that's my weakness."
He clearly understood his own shortcomings.
That's why he insisted on training after matches.
Ryosuke looked at Bachira, "Why are you here..."
In his impression, Bachira was a sleepyhead who would sneak off to sleep whenever he had a chance, and he only completed his daily training as a matter of routine. Extra training on his own was simply impossible.
Bachira saw through his thoughts.
He grinned, "Well... although training is indeed troublesome, after seeing your cooperation with Isagi, I always feel like the monster inside me is itching for action."
"You feel it too, don't you?"
Bachira's eyes were like black holes, like an abyss, threatening to suck people in.
"If you just want to talk about such boring topics, then get lost and don't interrupt my training."
Ryosuke wasn't in the mood to play along with his chuunibyou antics. He took another football from the spare ball basket, placed it at the thirty-meter mark, and suddenly unleashed a powerful shot.
Bang!
The football was like a falling meteor.
It cut an astonishing arc through the high sky, then suddenly plummeted into the net.
At that moment.
Not only did Ryosuke himself feel a difference, but Bachira, who was watching from the side, was also stunned.
That ball?
Although it wasn't quite a Worldie yet.
What was with that strange curve?
It dropped sharply the instant it passed over the top of the net.
He looked at Kira Ryosuke, "Hey, Ryosuke-kun, the monster in my heart is stirring. How about we have a match?"
Ryosuke had the same idea.
Through perfect imitation, his growth rate was extremely fast. By constantly recalling Midorima Shintarou's techniques and integrating his own understanding of football, he had successfully evolved a shot similar to a high-arc shot.
As for whether it could be used as a weapon, it still needed to be tested in a match.
He desperately needed to practice to experience more flashes of inspiration and evolve his weapon.
Ryosuke slowly extended his hand, his eyes extremely serious, and said, "Come on, Bachira, I'll make you understand the difference between a mortal and a king."
"OK."
Bachira confidently called for the ball.
In 1v1s, he had been exceptionally talented since childhood, possessing various monstrous dribbling techniques.
In this regard.
He believed he wouldn't lose to anyone.
After receiving the ball, facing Ryosuke's tight marking, Bachira employed a high-speed step-over. His dazzling techniques were exceptionally fluid, not inferior even to world-renowned youth academy geniuses.
However.
Kira Ryosuke's Eye of the Heavenly Emperor never lost track of the ball. His body movements were minimal.
Almost every time he positioned himself, he could block Bachira's attacking route.
"Oh..."
Noticing the hunter-like aura emanating from his opponent.
Bachira felt a chill run down his entire body, and his intuition told him that if he didn't change his approach, the ball would be intercepted.
"Is this the kind of pressure Barou faces?"
Bachira's pupils grew more excited, "This is so interesting! If I can beat you, I'll definitely become the best in the world."
"Then I'll get to see all sorts of monsters..."
He suddenly touched the ball with his toe, and the ball bounced up. Bachira Meguru laughed, "How about this move?"
He shifted the ball's center of gravity to the right, as if to accelerate and break through.
Taking advantage of the gap as Ryosuke moved forward to block, Bachira suddenly hooked the ball with the outside of his foot, guiding it to the opposite left side.
The entire sequence of operations flowed smoothly.
Bachira had used this move countless times, always with success. In his previous school team, he had encountered many strong defenders, who were all tricked on their first encounter, allowing him to break through with ease.
"An aerial Elastico?"
Ryosuke had to admit Bachira's imaginative dribbling skills were truly out of this world.
Even U20 members couldn't stop him.
However... Ryosuke had awakened his Eye of the Heavenly Emperor.
Want to break through him?
Still too naive.
As Bachira extended his long tongue, ready to savor the fruits of victory.
Ryosuke mercilessly delivered a fatal blow.
To dribble in the air, the supporting foot must bear the entire body's weight.
This meant that the moment Bachira released the ball's force during his dribble, a weakness was born.
Although it was a very subtle point, even if an ordinary person understood it, their body wouldn't have time to react.
But the Eye of the Heavenly Emperor didn't rely on reaction; precise prediction was all it needed.
Bang!
The ball, as expected, was intercepted the moment it landed. Ryosuke accelerated with the ball, without a moment's hesitation.
He carried it into the thirty-meter range of the goal.
Black flames shimmered in his pupils.
After a loud bang, the football "boomed" directly into the net.
"How is that possible?"
Bachira felt as if the monster in his heart was trembling, signaling the terrifying nature of the person before him.
To see his monstrous dribbling for the first time and immediately be able to cut off his lifeline.
Could this... truly be achieved by mere reaction?
Bachira laughed, "It was indeed the right decision to come to Blue Lock. Meeting a genius like you is truly exhilarating."
"In the next match, let's resonate with our monsters even more, Ryosuke."
Bachira had already decided that he wanted to play with Kira Ryosuke more. Whenever he was with him, countless ideas would surface in his mind.
Ryosuke raised a finger.
"Don't talk nonsense. If you want my approval."
"Then hurry up and attack! Training time is almost over; don't make me bored."
This practice continued until dinner time.
Bachira collapsed on the ground, panting, "Ryosuke, you're too strong! I couldn't even score a single point against you."
In his confrontation with Ryosuke.
Besides excitement, Bachira also harbored a hint of powerlessness.
His movements, his techniques, once demonstrated in front of Ryosuke.
The opponent could perfectly replicate them in the next attack, and even execute them better than he could.
It was as if he was facing a constantly evolving mirror image of himself.
When the two returned to the locker room.
The others informed them of a match announcement.
Their next opponent was Team Y, also from Building 5, but with a slightly higher overall ranking than them.