Chapter 11: The Winner's Privilege
Although they didn't know what "warming the bench" really meant, Isagi Yoichi, Igarashi Gurimu, and Chigiri Hyōma all understood one thing that would never change—
Their soccer careers could very well be ended single-handedly by this "King" staring holes into their backs.
Ōkawa Hibiki and the other players surged forward, closing in on Bachira Meguru to steal the ball.
Since Naruhaya Asahi's side had the most people, passing it in that direction risked interception, so Bachira passed to the nearby Chigiri Hyōma.
The moment the ball touched Chigiri's feet, he felt countless gazes shift onto him all at once.
A multitude of eyes—forced into desperation—clung tightly to him.
Pass it to me!
No! I don't want my soccer life to end in such a pathetic way!
I won't let you trample on Team Y's pride anymore!
Just from those desperate eyes, it was obvious they were willing to foul if that's what it took—they would never let Team Z score comfortably.
What kind of feeling was that?
Chigiri couldn't explain it.
But seeing Team Y's attacking players throw themselves at him like madmen, their slide tackles so wild that his legs felt seconds away from being shattered—
It made instinctive fear crawl up his spine.
On one side was the pressure from Naruhaya Asahi, that tyrant.
On the other was the very real threat that these attackers could destroy his leg trying to steal the ball.
Crushed by the weight of both, he began accelerating uncontrollably, trying desperately to escape these damn lunatics.
Without realizing it, the right foot that had always been chained to the ground tore both the chain and nail straight from the turf.
The sensation of wind cutting against his face—the feeling he thought he had lost forever—returned to him.
Chigiri once again felt his personal weapon: speed.
As his long hair whipped wildly in the wind, he finally realized—
His right leg was no longer bound.
In that moment, his gaze changed.
His vision held only one thing: the goal.
If it breaks, then so be it… Even if this is the last time!
Let's go, my right leg!
Show these annoying bastards what you can do!
Chigiri shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring—
His speed climbing higher and higher, like a top-class racing machine with a full tank roaring down the track.
"The world's number one striker… is ME!!"
He was completely immersed in his own explosive rhythm.
The shocked, unwilling gazes of Team Y behind him no longer mattered.
Those trying to chase him looked like dust kicked up in the distance—unable to even touch the speed he was proud of.
Chigiri tore through the field like a storm, instantly blowing past Igarashi Gurimu and Raichi Jingo who tried to step in to intercept.
The two barely saw a blur flash past before he was gone.
Their stunned reactions only fueled Chigiri's exhilaration.
Leaving others behind was everything to him—
A pleasure only he could experience.
Without hesitation, he sprinted full force with the ball, charging straight toward the penalty area.
His momentum was so overwhelming it made onlookers shiver.
Finally, from a distance away from the goal, he struck with a fierce kick.
The ball shot out like a cannon shell.
This was the goal Chigiri set for himself—
Faster speed, higher step frequency, hotter passion.
Before the ball hit the ground, before the goalkeeper could block it—
He blasted it straight into the goal.
A loud bang echoed.
The ball hit the net cleanly.
[0 : 9]
"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!"
At the moment the ball entered the goal, the boy who once fell due to injury vanished.
Chigiri Hyōma, reborn, leapt high into the air, showing a radiant smile he had never shown before.
Watch me, you damn King!
Watch me—every single one of you!
This is Chigiri Hyōma!
"Eh!!!"
Imamura Yūdai and Iemon Okuhito shouted in shock as they saw someone move even faster than Naruhaya.
The others reacted similarly—but most felt excitement.
After all, the team had gained a new trump card: a weapon called speed.
"Isagi, Igarashi… you two are the only ones left."
Naruhaya Asahi's words poured over the heated field like a bucket of ice water.
Soaked in sweat, Isagi Yoichi had been happy for Chigiri's awakening—
But the moment he heard that sentence, his hot sweat turned cold.
He looked up at the countdown.
Two minutes left.
No… no… I don't want to sit on the bench…
Seeing this, Niko Ikki signaled to the others—Team Y's counterattack would begin.
The match resumed.
The ball was now at Ōkawa Hibiki's feet.
Except for Isagi and Igarashi, everyone on Team Z had scored and was safe.
Naturally their desire to score had dropped drastically.
Team Y silently rejoiced.
Everything was going according to plan.
During halftime, Niko had already analyzed Team Z's whole strategy.
Bachira's dribbling combined with Naruhaya's long passes formed a formation, supported by full-team offense.
Anyone facing that would be pushed to the brink.
If Team Y tried to win normally, it would be impossible.
But letting Team Z score endlessly would destroy their pride.
So Niko proposed a plan:
Surround Team Z's players who had already scored—
Force the ones without goals to get points, reducing their desire to attack.
Simultaneously, increase the pain associated with scoring so they'd hesitate.
When time was almost up, the players who had already scored would relax, maybe even allow a goal.
As expected, with two minutes left, those who had scored were relaxing—
While Isagi and Igarashi's eyes filled with despair.
Seeing his teammates fail to intercept due to laziness, Igarashi exploded:
"Hey! You guys are forwards, right?! Intercept the damn ball!!"
"Ha? And why should I?" Raichi dug at his ear lazily.
"Should I get the ball and help you, the last-place loser, score?
Besides, time's almost up. Why would I bother doing pointless work?"
The others didn't agree verbally, but exhaustion from nonstop chasing had drained them.
With such a huge score difference, many didn't mind just gifting Team Y a goal for dignity.
As for what would happen to Isagi and Igarashi under the tyrant Naruhaya…
That wasn't their problem.
With 1 minute 30 seconds left, Isagi watched the ball approach their goal.
His pupils dilated.
No… I don't want it to end like this…
"Nei~ Who told you idiots you could relax?"
Suddenly, a violent gust swept across the field.
The wind hit so hard it was like the roar of a beast—
And with it came a black shadow streaking forward like lightning.
"It" shot past Isagi at terrifying speed.
The gust it created sounded almost like a sonic boom, making his eardrums ring.
Before he could process what happened, his body moved on instinct—
He spun around and sprinted toward Team Y's goal.
The one intercepting Ōkawa was the player with the best stamina all game—
Naruhaya Asahi.
As a tyrant on the field, he had superb endurance and speed just below Chigiri's.
Against someone as "frail" as Ōkawa, Naruhaya had no fear.
Seeing danger, Ōkawa formed a plan—
He would pretend to fall and draw a foul.
But Naruhaya read him instantly.
In the blink of an eye, he placed a heavy hand on Ōkawa's shoulder, pinning him to the turf.
The pressure was immense—like a massive baby elephant lightly placing its leg on a human shoulder.
Whether the human lived or died depended entirely on the elephant's whim.
Fear swallowed Ōkawa whole.
His mind went blank.
His motion to pass froze entirely.
He was Team Y's ace striker after all—
He regained his senses in a second, trying to pass—
But the ball was already gone.
And the "little elephant" was sprinting away like a lightning bolt.
Ōkawa tried to chase but his legs turned weak, barely able to keep him standing.
"DAMN ITTTTTT!!!"
His scream of despair couldn't stop Naruhaya.
The tyrant coldly prepared to pass toward Team Y's box.
Meanwhile, Niko had reached his spot.
Naruhaya had the strongest physical ability on the field;
Without a speed forward to match him, stealing the ball was impossible.
Ōkawa knew that from the start, though he clung to hope.
But it was fine—Team Y still had a chance.
Naruhaya always passed to whoever had the strongest desire to score.
Right now, Isagi Yoichi had the highest.
So logically, the ball should land in front of Isagi.
Team Y had specifically exhausted him; with his stamina drained, they could swarm him and steal the ball.
Then they'd pass back to Ōkawa for a dignity goal.
As expected, Team Y reached the ball first and passed to Niko.
The ball sailed toward him—
But his instincts screamed: This won't work.
Time slowed.
Somehow, Isagi—who should've been behind—appeared in front of him and intercepted.
Niko's pupils trembled.
Why are you here, No.11?
"Don't underestimate people. Your team kept chasing Kunigami, Chigiri, and Kuon—
But rarely Raichi, the selfish one.
Your plan was to wait until the end so Team Z's desire dropped and you could score, right?"
Countdown: 30 seconds…
"I knew you were Y's commander.
Your teammates always look at you before acting.
So all I had to do was run in front of you—
They'd pass right to me."
The grass-haired boy sprinted with everything he had—
Alone in Team Y's half, with most attackers still stuck in Team Z's zone.
Countdown: 10 seconds…
"All of your movements are clear as day from my perspective."
The Y goalkeeper watched the boy approach, forcing courage into his voice:
"Damn it—
I won't let you keep doing as you please!"
Hah. Who cares what you think?
Isagi's eyes locked onto the most goal-saturated point—
He struck.
Bang.
The ball pierced the goalkeeper's blind spot.
[GOAL!!!]
[0 : 10]
[MATCH END]
A complete and total slaughter.
"Nice job, Isagi."
The team gathered, relieved he escaped disaster—
But Isagi slipped past them and walked toward Team Y's side.
Passing collapsed, despair-filled Y players, he didn't even know what emotion he was feeling—
Until he saw Niko Ikki, hands on the turf, looking up at him.
Through his revealed sky-blue eyes, Isagi saw unwillingness and despair.
Then he understood.
Behind the cameras, Ego Jinpachi's grin twisted with satisfaction.
Behind Isagi, Naruhaya Asahi cracked his neck—
Seeing Isagi grow this fast made his earlier nausea worth it.
Following Y's plan had trained him well.
Now it was time for the boy to enjoy the privilege of being a winner.
On Blue Lock's grass, Isagi felt the intoxicating sensation of being a victor—
The feeling of crushing the futures of eleven players…
It felt amazing.
Naruhaya watched his protégé savor victory, then turned to deal with the "trash" on the team.
No one dared stop him.
Igarashi Gurimu, who scored no goals, could only watch the tyrant approach.
Still hoping to lighten the punishment, he tried to hype things up:
"W-wow! Who would've thought the opponents were so weak! Good thing we prep—"
"Your jersey."
"Huh? What?"
Naruhaya reached out his hand.
"I said, return Team Z's No.13 jersey, you useless little trash."
"Understand?"